Nestled near the Eastern wall of the Fort that rests against the Mississippi river bank is the detainment shelter for troublemakers. It is an open space surrounded by tall, spiked logs. One heavy gate bars entry, leading to a smaller enclosed guard post with a row of doors leading to the cells.
There is a communal cell for large groups of men as well as a few separate, smaller cells. Its a wooden construction unlike a more modern, urban jail, but its solid.

Small (in this case metal barred) windows give a view of the inside of the Fort along the interior walls of the cells so that prisoners can get some light and be observed safely or spoken with.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 20:44, Mon 17 Feb 2014.

Full denim dressed a tiny brunette appeared at times at windows of the communal cell.

She periodically hanged herself to the bars of the window pullinning herself up to have a better view of the people movin in the fort.

She was wearing a huge cowgirl hat. Not something practical a real cowgirl would appreciate but a decorative showy leather hat, with golden shinin buckles. This made the pair with a big inlay belt buckle.
This garish accessories contrasted with the numerous blood stain that cover her western shirt and jeans.

Having arrived with the Caravan Janice had slunk off after her bite-check to drink and hopefully find something to eat. One of the older women had given her something small, but it hadn't satiated her always ample appetite. Stupid whores, don't they know a good Christian woman when they see one! She thought vehemently, glad for the shelter of the Fort but not for the heathen ways of its inhabitants.

She had to dig up some dirt on people quick if she was going to outmaneuver that slut Cookie and that bastard-rearing woman Karen.

After getting some space from everyone the plain, rotund woman had spotted someone peaking their head periodically out behind bars.

Must be the jail.. She suddenly felt worried. Why on God's green Earth would these people be locking up poor helpless women. Grasping her blood covered cross dangling about her gelatinous neck she made her way over the bars.


Catching the girl as she turned to look out the bars, Janice surprised her, entering the field of vision of the prisoner. "Oh my Lord, are you alright sweat pea? What are doing in here, are the men taking advantage of you?" Janice wasn't really concerned for the other woman, she was concerned only for herself. Heaven forbid one of these uncouth minorities try and get fresh with her. After all she WAS a catch. She had to know more, know what these folks were about so she could use them.

Jessica just got immediatly excited about someone outside giving her some kind of attention. She was there since days and her natural superficial careless approach was put on probation. She waved to the woman trying to convince her to came closer.
Hei there! do you have a cigarette? said with heavy italian accent.
She didn't replied to the "takin advantage" subject the moman mentioned but she addressed a meaningful glance to the group of prisoner at her shoulder
This message was last edited by the player at 12:13, Thu 20 Feb 2014.

Janice scrunched up her face when the prisoner addressed her so carelessly and on such a sinful subject. Sure she herself puffed a cigarette now and again, but she was a grown woman. This young thing in the prison was a tobacco fiend on top of being a prisoner and on top of being a shady Italian or err Spaniard.

The portly woman's sympathetic demeanor had dissolved almost instantly and she rapped her knuckles against the bars, creating a loud clattering sound of bone on steel, hoping to disturb the young lady. "How dare you ask me such a thing!" Her eyes were aflame with malice and judgement, her predatory instinct enthralling her subconsciously with the prospect of someone helpless and caged.

"Now speak up you Spanish fly and tell me what you're doing here or I'll tell the Fort people you were trying to escape." Janice threatened, her voice low and almost hissing, her heavy cheeks tightening as she supplied a churlish grin. "Now play ball or I'll see to it that they hang your sorry immigrant ass! Start with your name!"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 04:42, Fri 21 Feb 2014.

Jessica winced back. She was observing the woman even before they were talking and she had the impression she was a bit weird but she wasn't expecting such an aggressive reaction. Immediatly changing approach she decided for a submissive attitude. I am sorry Ma'am. My name is Jessica. They locked me here with... no reason Ma'am. I was just trying to survive, desperatly, as every one some shinig tears appeared in her big dark latin eyes I beg you Ma'am. Help me! Men try to fondle me here. I dont know how to defend me by their sinful ambushes.
Jessica spoke this last words almost whispering. She was aware someone in the cell would have listen about the bullshits she was telling.

The intense, chubby woman regard Jessica carefully, her dark brown eyes darting as she read the imprisoned younger woman's body language with the scrutiny of border security. She was caught between letting her racism get the best of her, or twisted beliefs against the male gender. Janice didn't want to believe that Jessica was telling her the truth, but then again the poor girl began crying and reminded her of Suzy.

"Calm down, Suzy, calm down, we'll get you out of here soon enough." It was notable how Janice made no attempt to apologize for her violent outburst against the Italian born woman.

"I just got here, but I can try and find a way to get you out. I'm afraid I can't trust most of my people, they are mostly whores and foreig-..erm, fools. Allies had been scant among the Caravaners. Janice had endeared herself to zero fighter types and the only friends she had were non-violent types who had died in The Tower back in the city.

"How did they catch you, who were you with before this place?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:45, Sun 23 Feb 2014.

Jessica used the time the woman was talking to istinctively study her facial mimicry. She wasn't a psychologist but just someone used to make use of other’s feelings and desires for her own purposes. Hard to decipher which were the real thoughts beyond that mask of stress and frustration.

"Not a surprise you haven’t any power." She told to herself "Whoever would take in consideration the opinion of this unscrewed bigot?"

Whoever was this Suzie she didnt try to correct the woman about her error. She, at least, said something about takin her out of there. She had to make an attempt.

“Ma’am. Thank God, you are not from this place. Everyone here consider me an object and nothing else.
But you are free and you look like an influential person. I’m sure they will pay attention to what you say.”

Jessica had not many cards to play. She was also concerned that exaggerate in adulation and moralism referrments could make the woman feeling mocked.
“There’s no reason me to be here. They can’t justify this unjust punishment” She finally said wiping a tear from her tanned wellshaped cheeckbones.
Janice was the last type of person she would have asked for help in everyday life. But she had no choice.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:03, Sun 23 Feb 2014.

Janice clearly liked getting her ego stroked, even when she wasn't quite sure the compliments were legitimate. "Well I was runner up at my Middle School prom for Queen." She flattered herself, practically fawning over her own delusional past before reasserting her wandering, erratic attention to Jessica.

"I'll figure something out, I'll talk to some of the whores from my group, I'm sure they'll be more likely to agree with me than those rapist men that all men are." Janice almost teetered into another half rage half confused rant before she caught sight of an Asian man escorting that disgusting Doctor Vega across the compound towards the stockade.

"Dear Lord, someones coming. He has the man that kidnapped our group before we came here. I hope they string him up like a draft dodger!" She shifted her ample weight, considering her options and then quickly reaching up her dirty, loose fitting sleeve.
The harshly pious woman slipped the object, her switchblade, inbetween the bars to Jessica before turning to get away before she was noticed speaking with the prisoner. "Use it if anyone gets too close."

-to Fort Exterior

Jessica observed the movements of the woman half listening to her weird words. She wasn’t expecting the kind of help she received but her reflexes were as trained as everyone after months of daily life risks. She quickly move her leg hiding the kinfe under the sole of her pointy cowboy boots helped by the wide flare bottom of her jeans.
Focused on this she didnt care that much about the men the woman was pointing at. As soon as Janice moved away she turned and emitted a sigh of faked frustration letting herself falling seated down on the ground. Doing this she was able to finally recover the switchblade and hide it inside her left boot.

Vega spoke not a word as Saito lead him to the stockade. He walked as though his actions weighed heavily on his shoulders. Vega did not resist being brought into the cell, simply walking in and seating himself in the corner. As the metal bars closed before him, Vega sat silently, appearing to be deep in thought. He stared at the floor, paying no attention to the woman in the cell next to his.

Doctor Vega's face caught some light, shining through the windows. His face was bruised and spotted with blood. His dark, creepy eyes were pointed at his feet, unmoving.

Fascinated by the unusual aspect of the new cell guest she got closer to the grate dividing the two cell to have a better look.
This action causes her breasts, wrapped in the tight denim shirt, to get seudctively pressed on the cell bars.
Smiling, with her eyes invisible due to the wide shadow of her hat she observed the man.
He look weird, weird and dangerous she thought The kind of man who has not fear to do what necessary to survive.

she tried to attract his attention

Hey...   she said almost whispering be noticed by him but not many others

Hey you.... she repeated observing the wicked eye of the man

Definitly she thought He could be my exit from this nightmare
This message was last edited by the player at 10:48, Tue 04 Mar 2014.

Vega kept his pose until Saito left the jail. As he became suddenly alone (other than the presence of his fellow prisoner) for the first time since the attack in St. Louis, Vega let out a very soft laugh through his nose. Just this morning Vega was participating in world-class research to save humanity from the brink of extinction. He had electricity, running water, the use of a computer, and a staff of dedicated people under his command. Now he sat in this dark jail cell, running the sole of his Oxford shoe across the dirt floor. Vega smiled a strange, self-satisfied smile.

"Hello there." Vega spoke softly to the woman speaking to him from the adjacent cell. He did not whisper, but kept his voice low. Vega stood and came face to face with the woman. "My name is Vega." He offered his hand through the bars to greet the woman.

Cookie sauntered over to the stockade, looking for anyone that might be a guard, and thus able to direct her further.  "Yo !" she said, waiting for a response.

As Cookie approached the Stockade there appeared to be no guard on the outside making a show of force. However there was some movement beyond the gate barring further entry into the cell door area.
When the Caravaner called out for attention the gate shifted and a tall, rugged and generally insalubrious man stepped into view, pushing open the door but standing in the way. He wore a mangy old hat, the words covered by blood and mud.

"Why hey there Muffin." Sam grinned a yellow smile before spitting tobacco juice across Cookie's foot. He wore dirty old clothes, probably the last that Cookie had seen him in sometime back. A bowie knife was sheathed to his belt, the buckle undone for easy retrieval. Sam appeared otherwise unarmed, but one never knew with him.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Wed 19 Mar 2014.

In reply to Sam (msg # 15):

Cookie batted her eyelashes at him, putting on her 'give me lots of tip money' smile.  This was not the time to show attitude back as she wanted something from the jerk.  It was all about means to an end and she figured honey caught more flies than vinegar.  "Hiya, just wanted to see somebody in the lockup, 'zat okay wit you ?"

In reply to Cookie (msg # 16):

The large southerner's eyes dared Cookie to do or say anything, and he was disappointed when she didn't take the bait. His grin widening a little, the nefarious individual slowly closed some distance between himself and his former fellow Caravaner. Sam came to a stop right in front of her, perhaps a little too close. "You left me for dead, bitch." He sneered suddenly, his breath terrible, keeping his voice low. His eyes shifted quickly to see if Toby was watching before matching Cookie's once more. Perhaps he'd seen Toby. He stood down, somewhat.
"..Sure, you can see a prisoner. I have to be there too, though. Safety and shit."
This message was last edited by the player at 06:44, Sun 23 Mar 2014.

In reply to Sam (msg # 17):

"Oh, I knew you'd be JUST fine," Cookie said, fearlessly smiling back at him, though she was itching to see what she had left by way of muscle to power the slugger...and this was a human.  Well, sort of...she was starting to make exceptions now for killing - or at least a beatdown.  And being called a bitch was sort of completely normal for the New Jersian, so that was easily shrugged off.  "Lead the way, Sam, thank you."  she said, keeping the tone light.

Sam kept his crazed gaze locked with Cookie's for a few uncomfortable seconds before he relented further. The ragged Southerner stepped away from her and gave her her space back, though she hadn't acted as if he'd taken it in the first place.

"Yea yea.." Turning his back to Cookie he led the short distance into the stockade, through the metal gate, with the guard-apparent locking it behind them.

Giving a snort in the direction of the appropriate cell door, he approached it, taking his sweet ass time.
"Hey dead-man, you got a visitor." Sam called out to the prisoner before unlocking and opening the door, ushering Cookie in ahead of him, "After you." His yellow smile revealed itself again. He really did intend to sit in on the conversation.

Cookie rolled her eyes, but made sure it wasn't in front of the crazy guy...to be more clear, the crazy STUPID guy, not the crazy smart guy, aka Vega.

"Hey," she said chirpily, "I hear you know a lot about science.  Maybe you can tell me about your theory about the, well, uh, undead walking around thing ?"  A scientist always has a theory.

Vega sat in a dark corner of the cell, his back against the wall and his feet up on the "bed" (if you could even call it that.) "Why don't you tell me, Maxine, your theory on human rights after the end of civilization?" Vega leaned forward, revealing the layers of bruises and cuts on his face, all of different ages, starting with those received from his fight with Hector, to fresh cuts and a bleeding nose obviously incurred early this morning. His wrists were raw and red, clearly from being restrained. But Vega was not restrained now... The man's skin was pale, a feature that now more than ever set apart the darkness of his eyes. His face was covered in dark stubble and his hair was a mess, crusted with dried blood. "I haven't eaten in three days. I'm not much in the mood for science right now." And with that Vega laid his head back against the wall.

The imposing southerner sneered at the prisoner, not amused by Vega's attitude. Surely he'd taught him to mind his manners these last few days. Apparently not. "What'd I tell you about manners, dead man?" Sam made a fist, cracking a few knuckles for effect. "When we ask you questions, you answer them, boy." Sam took a step towards Vega, implying imminent abuse if he didn't answer Cookie's questions.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Sun 30 Mar 2014.

In reply to Sam (msg # 22):

"Gee, that's too bad, Doctor," Cookie said, a glitter in her eyes that belied her sweet smile and sugary tone.   She wouldn't ask where he got her name; she never used it, which meant he had access to information not readily available to the general public. "I have DEFINITE theories on human rights, including redemption.  I might also let him kill you, so I could demonstrate my thoughts to you - and then I'd smash in your undead skull.  Or you could spend the last bit of time you have telling me who you are, why you did what you did, and who gave you the authority, the supplies, and the manpower to do it all ?" 

Vega stood from his dark corner and rushed the cage. He was face to face with Cookie, completely ignoring Sam's threats. "Why don't you go and get me some of that breakfast out there. While you're there, talk to Lyle and Hector. I'm sure they can fill you in on the little details. But for now, I'd rather sit here and await my death than talk to you. Go take your ten dollar smile and your cock-sucker attitude and go see someone who gives a fuck." Vega returned to his bed and laid his head down. "Bring me something to eat and maybe we'll talk."
This message was last edited by the player at 07:05, Mon 31 Mar 2014.

The slovenly southerner was unamused by the prisoner's rush to the bars of the cell within a cell. Sam did the scaring in the Stockade, not the prisoners.
Sam showed no hesitation in his actions as he unlocked the second cell door leading into Vega's cage. Advancing on the prisoner he leveled a steel toed boot into Vega's laying form, aiming for the stomach.

"What'd I tell you, boy!? What'd I tells ya!?"

Vega absorbed the kick with his belly, forcing a painful "ugh" from his mouth. If three days of beatings hadn't prepared him for this moment, then they were for nothing. Vega sprung forth landing a left hook to the side of Sam's head. The punch was certainly not the best Vega had ever thrown. Three days of abuse and without food left Vega's strength leaving a lot to be desired, depending on which side of it you were on... But Vega didn't let up. He'd keep swinging until Sam or someone else stopped him.

Cookie had only moved back when the fighting started; an icy cold hatred was running through her, such as she'd felt when the initial theft of her people had begun.  She watched Vega as if he was some kind of interesting insect she was debating crushing.  Then she thoughtfully raised the bat, waited until Sam was out of the way, and smashed Vega with it as hard as she could, which was considerable, given her anger at the present moment.  She'd thought about what Toby might say about this, and decided that payback was a bitch, and so was she.

Sam was surprised by the initial smack that the prisoner dealt him. It knocked his dirty old cap right off his head, revealing that Sam's hair was as greasy as his beard. "Son of a bitch." The southerner growled, quickly adapting, pusing Vega back slightly and stepping back as well so he could cock a fist. Before he could swing it, however, Cookie slammed her bat into the prisoner.

It surprised Sam, who smiled, delighted with the surprise. Licking his lips he urged Cookie to continue, "Get em again, beat him like a mangy dog! Kill em! Learn em a lesson for what he done."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:18, Wed 02 Apr 2014.

Cookie stepped back, changed her grip, and headed a mean strike between Vega's legs.  That ought to take the fight out of him.  She then surveyed the results with the same dispassionate look.  "You need to learn that the lab rats can still bite," she said, in a flat voice. "But it seems it will be a short lesson with no time to make amends.  Name some more names and I'll lessen your suffering."    She'd break every bone in his body and leave him to die slowly otherwise.

The force of the bat striking his skull sent Vega to the ground. There he lay, moaning as the blood trickled across his forehead. The already dark cell faded to black as visions of the awful things he'd seen ran once more through his mind. Vega would be able to answer no questions today. If tomorrow did indeed bring with it a new day, perhaps Cookie's concussive show of force would be enough to persuade him to cooperate. That is, however, only if the severe head injury does not claim his life overnight...

In reply to Vega (msg # 30):
Cookie eyed the downed man, then the guard.  "If he dies tonight, it would be easier to deal with him if he has two broken arms," she said, hefting the bat in that same thoughtful way.  "He used the Caravaneers as lab rats, turning them undead.  I don't have any fellow feeling for someone that treats humans like animals."

<FROM Stables>

Lyle walked through the dooe without any warning. He took a quick glance at the downed figure of Vega, and shrugged it off. That bastard had it coming, it was only a shame that Lyle wasn't the one to actually do it. Seeing the girl he needed, Lyle cleared his throat and jabbed his thumb out of the door. "Jersey Girl, I need to rap with you. Wanna step aside or just chat it out here?" He leaned on the wall of the entrance. Waiting for the woman's response.

<FROM STABLES>

Justin followed Lyle up to the door and let him walk in by himself. He wasn't quite as bold to barge in on the meeting or whatever was going on in there, so he just hung around by the door waiting to be told to come inside or for the others to come back out.

"In a minute," Cookie said, tone level as a ruler, and methodically smashed the humerus of both of Vega's arms. *CRACK* -pause- *CRACK*.  They needed his brain - he didn't need his arms.  And killing was really too good for him, though she admitted he might have a fatal concussion now thanks to her - a broken-armed zombie was fairly ineffective.   She calmly shouldered the bat and looked over the other shoulder at the guy who'd hailed her. The look on her face was a pleased smile, with flat dead hazel eyes...nasty job well done.  She flashed a stunning smile to Sam, swung around on one Bates boot heel and faced the man who'd spoken. "Let's have a word outside."  And sashayed out, as if she'd just stopped into a boutique to do a little shopping.

As Cookie took her steps out, Vega's broken body began thrashing violently. He was having a seizure. His limp, broken arms sung unnaturally. Suddenly, he vomited. Vega had no food in his stomach, but the amount if internal bleeding he'd suffered colored the vomit entirely red. The blood continued to run from his mouth as his body came to a stop. Vega was dead.

But perhaps his death would still prove to answer some questions. Given enough time, Vega would not turn...

The brutality of Cookie's demeanor didn't phase Lyle. In his opinion the man deserved it. He didn't have any mercy when testing and killing others, so why should they have any for him. Pausing for a moment to see Vega cough out his last moments of life, Lyle headed out of the stockade with the jersey girl.

"Okay two things." Lyle held out his thumb and index finger. "One of them is pretty important, the other is just being a pain in the ass." He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder and pointed to the garage on the other side of the fort. From here it was easy to see all the parts that laid across the floor and the hoods of the cars popped open. "Firstly. We need more parts to get the cars running. I fixed them all up the best I could with the parts I had, but it still left only five of their cars in running shape. Our cars are fairing better, but they are on their last legs too." Lyle pulled out a small list he scratched together from a worn paper and pen. He made a detailed list of everything they need and what they have. It was best to be prepared just in case they run into any abandoned cars and had some spare room left. "Unless I can get all the cars fixed, I don't think we can get everyone out safely if an emergency hits."

Lyle let Cookie inspect the list to see if there was any corners they can cut. "Secondly. You need to get fat Janice off my back. I know it's more of a personal problem, but I can't keep working when that bitch is on my case about everything."

"It wouldn't be much of a problem if she pulled her weight around here. But all she does is yell and threaten me and Jee." Lyle looked back inside and pointed to Vega's body, "I mean fuck, that asshole would have been more help..." Lyle slowed down when he noticed something. More importantly the lack of something. Stepping back inside Lyle looked into the cell and carefully looked at Vega's body. There was no up and down movement in his chest. He wasn't breathing. "I think he's dead."

In reply to Lyle Carranza (msg # 36):

Cookie eyed the list.  Unlike most females, she'd had to depend on a variety of beater vehicles to get her around New Jersey, where people did not walk unless they HAD to, so she was familiar with basic maintenance.  "Work with what you have, try to find out where there are any auto supply stores or local garages that might have stuff, anyplace that has a motor pool will have a repair shop, you may need to make a raid," she said, as calm as ever.  "You'll have a few days to accomplish that, I have another matter to attend to.  As for Janice, leave her to me." She didn't really care if Vega was alive or not; he'd demonstrated a complete disinterest in being helpful, so he may as well become undead...and if he didn't, she could use him as a basis for research.  "We're not staying here indefinitely, we have to get our own place.  Now why don't you tell me everything you know about that Vega ?" 

Sam's mirth continued as Cookie tormented the former tormentor, his hoarse laughter bouncing off the prison walls as the man continued to stonewall the interrogation. He had to hand it to Brownie, she was colder than he'd given her credit for. She'd left him for dead weeks before, so it was nice to see her at least get her hands dirty.
Before she stepped out to handle one of her men Sam returned her smile with his own yellowed jaws.

"Get the fuck outa my stockade, grease monkey." Sam would scold Lyle, spitting a stream of tobacco juice at the man's feet after he'd entered the cell. "Say your piece to Maxine and get lost or you'll be the one cleanin up this mess."

Naturally he eavesdropped on the conversation occurring within his station, being obvious about his close presence all the while.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:07, Sun 06 Apr 2014.

Lyle glared a bit at Sam when he spat at his shoes. Goddamn hick. But he returned to stare down Vega's body. "Now hold on, both of you." Quietly Lyle started counting, keeping a mental timer as to how long it would take for him to turn. Lyle had seen people turn quickly from a bite, even while they were alive, but also sometimes a person could stick it out for a while longer. This was another thing, Vega was dead and yet he hadn't come back yet. "How long has it been since he croaked? Probably 4 or 5 minutes, shouldn't he had turned by now?"

Unholstering his fire ax from his side, Lyle stuck it between the bars and nudged Vega's limp body with it. "This is weird. As weird as geeks can get at least." Standing to his feet, Lyle looked over at Cookie. "Maybe it's just me, but it shouldn't take this long. Somethings up."

Cookie rolled her eyes.  MEN.  Wasting time arguing. "Girls, girls, you're BOTH PRETTY," she quipped.

She eyed the body with a vague interest.  Had that maniac actually come up with a vaccine ?  Or did not everyone change ?  Or was he still alive ?  "He was working on a vaccine, I think, if what he was doing to our people was a field trial," she said.  "Not that he'd share that information or its results with us.  Give him a kick." 

Sam grunted and spat tobacco juice at Vega's corpse, "They don't always turn, dumbass.." He didn't want the two near the body, or lingering around, and he especially didn't care for the grease monkey. "Ain't your name Carranza? Sounds like a taco-vendor name to me. You and Toby should get along." Sam nawed on, trying to get in Lyle's head.
When Cookie spoke up the southerner shook his head, scoffing slightly. "This is fuckin' brilliant, a rookie mechanic and long time waitress solving mysteries together."

Anne Marie walked from Toby's office to the jail house. She saw Sam and two of the Caravan members, Lyle and Cookie, standing just outside the door. She couldn't hear them at first, but Sam looked like he was being aggressive, and Lyle looked concerned about something. Cookie seemed nonchalant, un-phased by whatever was going on with the two men.

She reached the trio in time to hear the crack about the mechanic and the waitress solving mysteries.

"Hi Sam, making friends?" She teased him. Sam was a little rough around the edges, but she could stand him. In a fight, she'd rather be on Sam's side than not.
That's when she noticed the blood specks on Cookie's jeans. Then she noticed them on Sam's clothes too. It looked fresh, fresh blood was distinct from the regular grime that usually covered Sam's clothes.

"I love your jeans by the way Cookie. So sorry about the blood on them though, where did that come from?" She said with a smile. It had been so long since she had been shopping and she could not help but envy Cookie's style, even now with Zombies crawling all over the place.

Lyle crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. "Eventually, all of them turn." He ignored Sam trying to bait him into a fight. Even though Lyle was sure he could take on the man, he wasn't stupid to try. Turning back to the corpse, Lyle slipped his ax through the bars and nudged Vega again. Still no response, still no breathing, and still no turning.

When the door swung open, Lyle turned to see Anne-Marie. He gave her a nod. He didn't mention the body, she'll soon find out anyways, and either Cookie or Sam would explain. What Lyle really wanted to do now was figure out why Vega isn't turning.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:21, Thu 10 Apr 2014.

A big figure filled the doorway. "Now ain't that a bit rich comin' from a dixie hick", the big biker said. He wished, he had been there for the interrogation, but seeing, Vega was already dead, he simply shrugged. No point crying over spilled milk, even though it would have been good to keep the modern-age Mengele alive.

"Shame you don't know the whole story, but then, what were you, the mayor of the trailer park ?" Cookie said sweetly to Sam.  She was debating using the bat on him, but who knew, muscle might be needed.  And you couldn't kill everyone that annoyed you, otherwise you'd be digging graves all day.

She gave the girl a look that said, 'And your little comment just MADE my DAY', then, with a blank look on her face, shrugged the shoulder not holding the bat.  "See ya," she said.  No explanation would be forthcoming to anyone.  "If he wakes up, ask him about his experiment - if he tried the stuff on himself ever.  Or spike his head, whichever you need to do." 

When Anne-Marie arrived on scene Sam answered her with a characteristic expression, spitting a heavy wad of tobacco onto the ground amongst the group. He offered a sinister grin to Lyle as the man stopped short of challenging him for his lack of social grace. He was altogether pleased with himself until a familiar voice emitted from the entrance.

"I don't recall inviting you into my prison, but then again I guess you'd feel right at home, jailbird." The large Southerner turned to face Jay, his yellowish smile widening, "You ever take it up the ass in the pen, boy? How'd you like to be my whistlin' dixie?"

Cookie's comment earned a grunt from Sam who was more focused on ruffling Jay. "Just get the fuck outa my stockade, Maxine."

<<from exterior>>

Alex follows Dominic to the stockade, which seems at the moment to have a crowd gathered in it.

As he enters, he hears a tobacco chewing fella say,

There is obviously a sense of tension here, which of course puts Alex into his ready-for-combat mode, however, he calmly says, "I'm looking for Lyle."

"Stay in the prison, best place for you, saves time anyways," Cookie said with casual insult to Sam, along with the one-shouldered shrug, and sauntered out.  "Yeah, what now ?"  she asked the gathering crowd, narrowing her eyes.  A drop of claret dripped from the bat onto the ground, new stains having been recently added to its inglorious palette.

Alex does his classic assessment stare..."I'm here to see Lyle about some mechanical advice, that alright with you?", matching the bat carrying woman's attitude.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:38, Thu 17 Apr 2014.

Lyle steps up to the new guy, "That's me." Turning back to the group, he just shrugs it off. Cookie will deal with the Vega and Sam problems, and besides Lyle actually had his own plans that he didn't want the others to know. For now he'll see to what mechanical advice he can give. Lyle looked over to Justin, "C'mon Jee."

"Just so you know. We're low on parts. I'll give it a look but I ain't promising nothing." Lyle stepped out of the stockade, glade to get the hell out of their. The tension was so thick, it was almost suffocating.

<TO The Exterior>

A long pause as Lyle leaves the stockade, Alex is face to face with Cookie, "Ma'am, name's Alex, nice talking to you.", he leaves.

As he catches up, Alex says, "Well, I'm looking to make my bike a bit more stealthy, can you help me with that?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:45, Thu 17 Apr 2014.

She smelled the blood before she saw the body. The prisoner lay on the ground, next to the small wooden Civil War era bed, blood pooling underneath his head, bruises forming on his exposed skin, his limbs extended at odd angles. It was gross, really gross, but Anne Marie was getting used to things like this. Everything in this new world had become gross.

Anne Marie stood staring at the mangled body for a moment as the men outside traded snarky remarks. She began to hear other voices. More people were coming up to the prison, and more people wouldn't make this situation any better.

"Sam!" she cried, summoning the southern brute inside the prison complex. "Can you get some of these people out of here? We don't need rumors flying around about what happened here. By the way, who... nevermind."

"Cookie," Anne Marie ran out the front door to where Cookie was standing with some of the men. "Toby wants to see you. Can you come with me?" she said in a tone that indicated she was not really asking. If Cooke wanted to show everybody how sassy she was than Anne Marie would just have to follow her lead.

"I don't recommend you steal parts from my bike," Cookie said to the scruffy armyish guy Alex, and Lyle.  Sheesh, as if they should require reminding on something basic like that, but that was kind of the day she was having.  She eyed the Fort girl with the same narrow look and a head tilt that conveyed annoyance.  Jersey girls had attitude in buckets. "I just CAME from there, what's he want now ?"  She rolled her eyes.  "And you people gotta learn to keep prisoners properly contained, especially the dangerous ones.  And you need better guards than that one."

"Thanks for the offer, but I don't do impotent old men", the biker replied. "But it sounds like ya have sum experience in the matter, eh." The biker didn't seem to get agitated by the redneck. Instead, he turned at Alex. "I can take a look at yer bike at some point", he said, though he was not clearly making any promises on the exact time. The clothing the big tattooed man had suggested, he knew quite a bit of bikes - the black leather kutte-vest suggested a biker.

"Sam'd be better on the other side of the bars, and I'd lose the key when he's in."

---> Exterior

Upon entering the stockade Dominic marvelled at how crowded it was in there as Cookie and one of the fort women argued with one another and Alex having found Lyle and Justin was just passing him through the doorway; the Frenchman nodding his head in farewell to the stranger.
Moving deeper into the building so as to find out what had attracted so much attention he catches sight of the brutally beaten body on the ground "Merde" he mutters under his breath as he realises what had occurred. He couldn't say that the guy hadn't deserved it but there had to be far better ways to go.
It was just as he was about to leave that he catches the tail end of Jays comment; turning to catch sight of Sam for the first time "Fils d'une chienne....he's worse than a bloody cockroach!" he exclaims shocked to see the Southerner still alive after their last encounter. The same encounter if he remembered correctly where NM caught his bullet.

Cookie eyed Dominic with an appraising look.  Very apt !  "Ya got that right," she said.  "Come on, youse guys, we gotta have a talk, and I gotta go talk to the big boss here...Again...."  she levied a deep sigh into it, and strolled away from the stockade before she was drawn to use the bat again on some deserving individual.

----> Exterior Scenes
This message was last edited by the player at 19:40, Fri 18 Apr 2014.

"Well Sam as always it’s been a pleasure" Dominic said without even attempting to hide the sarcasm in his voice. Turning his back on the Southerner he turns and follows Cookie out of the stockade; with Vega dead there was no need for him to be there anymore.

---> Fort Exterior

((OOC:Sorry for late posting, life is in the way as always~))

Justin nodded to Lyle and followed him out of the stockade, the entire scene was an...interesting development to say the least. He allowed himself to listen in on the conversation and observed the argument, that Vega character not turning worried him a bit. Justin had seen plenty of zombies, and he knew how they acted, how they turned, how they moved, and him not turning worried him. He didn't really have an opportunity to examine him for bite marks, or anything else like that, but still, he was shady to being with to say the least.

>>TO EXTERIOR<<

Jay gave a nasty grin at Sam before exiting the building. -> Fort Exterior

TIME BUMP

Shortly after the departure of the away-team.

The late morning sunlight filters in through the bars of the jail cell. The dead man's body has been moved and a new resident lies incapacitated on the bed in the corner.

Flashback

The night of The Fall

The Atlanta PD Tahoe was parked half up on the curb in front of the house. A black mailbox laid in ruins before it. The lights were flashing, the driver's door was open, and not a soul was stirring anywhere to be seen. The silence of the aftermath was eerily peaceful. But Karen found no peace in her heart as she slipped in the smashed open sliding patio door. Her sidearm was out before her, under-mount flashlight beams bouncing off blood-stained stainless steel appliances. Karen's breathing was hard and fast. There was a tempest of terror behind a very thin wall, that wall being simply the hope that she'd find her boy alive in this house. Karen stepped over Allison's brutalized body, her boot squishing against the carpet. Dave was at the base of the staircase. But the dead were not here. Karen took note of the bullet wound in Dave's forehead and moved on. Up the stairs, she looked right, clear. She moved left. Clear. Karen opened the last door at the end of the hallway. And there she saw him.

Kaidan!! Put the gun down, it's over now. I'm here.

Present Time

Fort Dixie, Stockade

It was the sound of the gunshot that always woke her up. Karen wrenched herself upwards and into a sitting position, hair falling in her face and gasping for air. The side of her head was searing. She sat, trying to catch her breath, cold sweat dampening her back. She clutched her head with two hands and tried to gather her composure.

"Oh good, I'm glad you're awake." Anne Marie said, sitting on a wooden stool across from Karen's jail cell. "You know, if you hit a person in the wrong spot, or right spot, depending on how you look at it, they might never wake up. You suffered quite a blow to your head, knocked you clean out. I bet it probably hurts real bad, doesn't it?"

Anne Marie didn't wait for an answer. "Yeah, it sure seams those Caravaners you came in with don't really like you a whole lot. I've heard the story, and I have to say, I see their point. But, you know, the world is a complicated place- always was really- and I can see something else too, Karen."

"You have a background in, what was it, SWAT or something? Thats cool." Anne Marie hopped off the stool and walked toward the bars. "You know our situation with those people out in the woods, you know exactly what we need. I think someone like you could be very useful in that situation. But we have to trust you Karen."

Anne Marie begins to pace around the hall, changing the subject. "Your son went out to St. Louis you know. He and some of the guys went out there for something. Did you know that?" Anne Marie was beginning to work her way under Karen's skin.

Keren kept her position, sitting on the bed, staring at the floor. This was not the first time she'd been held against her will and she was not happy to be back in that situation. Ann-Marie kept talking and Karen pretended not to listen. Until she mentioned Kaidan's whereabouts.

"Then you need to let me the fuck outta here so I can go out and bring him back!" Karen demanded fiercely, rising from the bed and grabbing the bars on either side of Ann-Marie's face. "You want to trust me? Give me some goddamn space to earn it then."

There was a brief knock at the door to the cell area before Loa entered. The young doctor (veterinarian) appeared uneasy but tried her best to conceal it. She was only moderately successful. After a few years experience in field work she had learned how to mask her emotions to make things easier on a patient, but she was jailer. Sure she understand, that Anne-Maria enrolled her for her sympathetic disposition, but she couldn't help but feel at odds with it all, even though she didn't know Karen, or for that matter, Kaidan that well.

Though she had never gotten along with him much near the end, her heart yearned for Tim to be back, so at least she'd know she'd have him, even if he could never have her back.

In Loa's hands was a tray holding some warm food and some modest medical material. Loa said nothing, glancing to Karen with some poorly disguised empathy before averting her gaze to her feet. She seemed to be waiting for A-M to tell her what to do next; it was obvious there was subtext to the two's relationship.

"Oh good" Anne Marie said as Loa entered the room "Loa here is going to take a look at that bump on your head. If you behave, she has some nice warm food for you." Anne Marie took out a metal hoop with keys dangling from it. The item looked as old as the Fort it self, its metal color had long ago faded to rust, just like the jails bars in the prison. "Loa, go ahead" Anne Marie used the old keys to open the cell door, and allowed Loa inside to do her examination.

As Loa went to work, Anne Marie began looking around the jail house as she spoke to Karen in her cell. "Trust. You know, nobody trusted me when I first came here. I'm not from around here and at that point people weren't very trusting of outsiders. I'm from New Mexico, a flight attendant. I'm used to being an outsider. Toby, he stood up for me. He convinced the others to let me in, said I would have to earn my way, but he would vouch for me. So I earned my way. I repaid my debt with the only currency worth anything anymore; hard work and loyalty."

Anne Marie walked over to the bars again, looking right at Karen as Loa looked at her head wound. "Trust will be given in exchange for loyalty Karen. We will let you out- but you are to stay here. No going to look for Kaiden, no running away. If you stay, and help us take care of our security, then when Toby returns we will talk about your permanent role here at Fort Dixie, along with some privileges. You'll have a safe home for you and your son, food to eat. But if you leave Karen, if you sneak off... you won't be coming back. Trust for loyalty Karen. Do we have an understanding?"

Karen calmly allowed Loa to tend to her wound. As the woman poked an prodded and nudged Karen's head, she listened to Anne-Marie. Trust for loyalty. Karen had played that game before. She'd been playing it her whole life really. She played it with her parents when she was a teen. She played it with her boyfriend when she got pregnant with Kaidan. And she played it with the United States Marine Corps in Iraq until her convoy was blown to shit and they shipped her home with nothing but a "thank you kindly" and a Purple Heart. That was pretty much when Karen grew tired of playing the trust for loyalty game.

Then Anne-Marie told Karen the rules of the game. "No, no, no! You don't understand, they're not safe there!" Karen waved Loa away as she shot to her feet and approached Anne-Marie. As the words left her mouth, Karen knew how they sounded. They sounded like Cookie was right about her. They sounded like she knew about some yet hidden danger back in St. Louis. But that wasn't the case. She clarified.

"They... Are not safe there... With him."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:56, Tue 17 June 2014.

Anne Marie frowned. "Look, Karen. You're a military girl, you know how this works. Around here I'm your commanding officer. You're free to go, but you report to me." Anne Marie turned to leave to prison building. "See Gabe about your shift on the wall. Congratulations, you got what you asked for." She walked purposefully out the door leaving Loa and Karen in the prison.

To Toby's Office-->>

Ann-Marie was clearly unwilling to comprehend the gravity of the situation. As the stone-cold woman left the building, Karen muttered "fuck..." and walked out a moment after her, not paying any mind to Loa.

Karen felt trapped. Ann-Marie had her by the balls now. Karen didn't want to face life out there on the road again. There was safety in numbers. It was proven by how the Caravan banded together to sack St. Louis and get their people back. Nobody had ever had her back like the Caravan had each other's. Still, Karen found herself hopelessly on the outside of the Caravan group. The Fort seemed the only hope for her and Kaidan now.

------> To Exterior
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Mon 21 July 2014.

-Time Update-

Luke quietly approached the stockade after observing the guards, Colton's men, step away from the stockade upon the entrance of Toby. Of course Luke wanted to welcome the guy, but he had business of his own, and the head honcho was going to have to be the distraction that would allow the mustachioed millenial prime ration snatching time. It wasn't a regular thing with Luke, mostly because they never had any food to steal, but he was getting desperate, they all were, and weaker by the day. Since Colton arrived, despite the nastiness, they were likely to eat soon, and Luke rationalized that all he was doing was 'ruining his appetite' for the dinners that would inevitably be dolled out once the trade was completed.

Practically purring with self congratulation regarding his subterfuge, the young man silently closed the stockade door behind him. Sure it might be trouble to get out without being noticed, but he'd worry about that when his belly was full. He'd just say he were guarding supplies..yea..

An airy breathing sound hissed out of the handful of rock and timber cells, the contents dark except for the indistinguishable shapes of Black-Rabbit's undead mules, swaying in their chains and rot.
Stupid bandits, way to guard our own stockade, and as if there is only one set of keys, dumbasses.. He thought to himself, even the voice in his head sounding tired and hungry.

His own key easily gave him access to the cell, and while the presence of the undead disgusted him, he knew they were effectively de-clawed by the natives, their jaws, their arms, all gone. Mainly they served as repellent or shielding, yet not even their presence would restrain him from getting into the bags they carried. Heh, coulda sworn this one looks like Tim..

Being as quiet as possible, and avoiding the 'mule' as much as able, Luke was able to unbuckle one large pack, catching it barely as it fell from the threadbare shoulders of the biter.

Fuck this is heavy, must be good stuff..
This message was last edited by the player at 07:26, Sun 11 Jan 2015.

Luke sat on the cell floor, the undead chained to one another and the wall, breathing in that airy, jawless way. Such was his hunger he cared not for their faded gazes. Thin fingers fumbled as they tried to quickly undo the bag's clasps and zippers to get at the contents. This task should have been easy, but the cell was dark with the only light coming from the bars that viewed the inside action of the fort courtyard. That and Luke was in a hurry to remain undetected but fulfilled.

Giving up, he unsheathed a small blade from his his belt, expertly stabbing the side of the bag and twisted the blade handle, before drawing it back like he was killing a walker the long way. Tossing the knife aside he held his hands aloft under the slit in the bag to catch whatever spilled out.

"..The hell.."

Sand. It all just poured out through the cracks in his cupped digits. Its a trap!

-from Fort; Exterior

Sam was first in through the stockade door, swinging it open wide and continuing to move the twenty or so feet to the last cell on the end of a row of various sized cells. Behind him Luke, Saito and Mahmoud would provide covering fire as the battle began to turn to the benefit of the undead. Colton's people tried to regain control while the Fort inhabitants unfortunate enough to become trapped were killed by either walker or bandit. The smoke billowing into the sky became darker and darker as not only building but people and biters were engulfed in wild flame.

Toby was soon to arrive on scene, wounded and out-of-sorts. Sam gave him a wary, condemning stare before revealing the stockade keys that by all rights Toby should have had. Perhaps Sam had swiped them, or the southerner hadn't trusted Toby with their only way out.
Silence aside, a composed but hurried Sam led the way into the dark cell. It was empty but for a couple thin, frail furniture items. Perhaps this was the 'luxury' cell.

Quickly he threw aside the small table and chair that barred way to the outer wall. Passing off his axe to Bill, he  squatted down, running his finger tips through the dirt of the cell floor. After what seemed like too long, his fingers found purchase in the soil, and he pulled upward as he rose to stand, pulling lose a stiff panel of wood. It revealed a tunnel just wide enough to fit a man if he sucked in his gut. Despite the potential freedom on offer, the tunnel was forebodingly pitch black..

"Get in, and keep goin till ya get out." He stated simply, in a tone that dared anyone to question him as he turned to shoot a steely look at everyone, knowing he didn't have to remind them how close they were to being burned, eaten or murdered.
"Chief and yours truly'll follow yall and close the hatch." Sam volunteered himself and Toby, again sharing a silent secondslong moment with his superior before stepping aside to let everyone file in.

"Now get the fuck in that there hole." Was all he added as he accepted his weapon back from Bill.


OOC:
Note: once you enter the tunnel, please end your post with -Escape and/or -to Chapter 4. A new thread will be provided in the next day or so for the new period of the game/time shift of a few months.

-from Fort Exterior,

Cass stayed close to Ricky, surprised that they made it even to the stockade from the madness outside. Weak but determined to live, she clutched her rescuer's shirt with one hand as if she might be swept away in all of the confusion of the scattered group of survivors entering the stockade. She noted some were missing amongst the gathering, the doctors for the Caravan and Fort were missing as well as some of the younger members of the groups, such as the brothers and the boy named after a state.

"Lets go in together. I will keep holding on to you so we don't get separated." The frail but focused young woman whispered to Ricky, distrustful of the intimidating man who showed them the tunnel, yet understanding their options were limited.

-Escape to Chapter 4 (whenever Ricky goes, Cass will go)

from Exterior --->

Karen threw her arms in the air as Dominic and the chopper crew took off and began circling the Fort. She thought of the sound of the helicopter that had airlifted her nearly shattered body off that roadside in Iraq, and the feeling of lying there in the dirt, bleeding and burnt, waiting for them to get her. Karen pointed her arm straight out, and said "We're going under the wall" as best she could with hand motions. With everyone sealed inside the brig and the dark tunnel opening up to swallow the Caravan one at a time, she volunteered. The ex-cop drew the gun she'd been issued before she was ex. The one with the under-mount flashlight, and pointed the blue beam into the chasm. She had no way of knowing where it lead, how long it would be, or what hazards lay before her, but it didn't matter. Not while knowing what hazards lay behind them all. Karen slid her body through the trap door, silently agonized by the thought she'd never see her son again.

Exit Karen

Holding the axe, Bill watched as Sam displayed the trap door, the last means to escape. Bill had never known about the trap door, but he was beginning to realize there were a great many things he didn't know going on here, like the tension growing between Toby and Sam, exchanging stares.

Karen was the first to dive down the tunnel, and Bill admired her courage. Bill had so many questions, but there was no time. Sam took back his axe, and Bill's proximity to the trap door suggested that he go next. He eyed the small group of survivors in the room. Some of Bill's only friends in the world died tonight, but he couldn't think about that right now. He didn't know what was on the other side of the tunnel, but he followed Karen down into the darkness.

-Escape!

-from Fort Exterior

Once inside the stockade, Hector was able to reunite with Aishe, who had long thrived upon remaining unseen and pulling through when the going got rough. A smile from the tall survivor broke his stoic composure, if briefly. Letting his friend Aishe go first into the dark and, in this situation, welcoming tunnel, he followed soon after. This was going to be bad on his back.

-Aishe and Hector Escape!

The cowboy was physically exhausted an losing blood fast. His arm was broken and with both the medically talented people circling high above he was unlikely to get any relief any time soon. Hopefully he could fashion a make-shift splint on the other side of the tunnel, wherever that was...

Having caught up with his brother now, after the incident in Nashville which left him feeling much the same as he did now, was conflicting. Benson knew he would never again trust his brother because of what happened, but he also knew that Brady's skillset would help the Caravan make it through a hopeless winter. The almanac was calling for a particlarly cold and wet winter in the south this year, if that meant anything.

With Brady's help, Bohannon lowered himself through the hatch and disappeared into darkness.


Exit Benson Bohannon
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:45, Sat 21 Feb 2015.

Brady never expected to see his brother after Nashville. He also never meant for the gun to go off. But in this moment, in the heat of battle with Fort Dixie burning to the ground and his brother bleeding out, Brady Bohannon didn't know what to do. There was no opportunity for apologies or explanations or rationalizations about what happened. But now he saved his brother's life. He was trapped under that guy with his arm smashed to bits. And now he wasn't. So they had to be even, right? Brady never knew Benson to be the forgiving type...

Brady helped Benson down the hole and into the secret tunnel. Secret even to him. Toby never said anything about it to anyone, apparently except for Sam. What was going on between them anyways? Brady didn't know and right now he didn't really care.

Exit Brady Bohannon

<< -From Fort Exterior- <<

Ricky was glad to see just how many people made it this far. He could feel Cass' grip on his shirt and he placed a comforting arm around her. Growing up, he never really had to play the strong-older-brother role and he was never good with helping others emotionally, so this was all a little new to him. His heart raced in his chest and the sounds of fighting outside only strengthened his resolve to make it through this alive. He nodded his head in acknowledgement to Cass' suggestion of entering the tunnel together. "Just a little further and we're home free."

>> -Escape >>