It had been a little over three months since that satellite exploded in orbit and ceded the atmosphere with radiation that caused the dead to come back to some semblance of life. Since that time the responsibility, and later the willingness, to combat the undead hordes fell to law enforcement. Few remained. Many departments, agencies, and task forces had been completely wiped out.

Struggling to find family, friends, resources, or simply a safe place to lay their head for a night. Kayla Redding and Zack Mathews had ended up as part of a group of nomadic survivors on their way to a supposed refugee sanctuary in Mobile, Alabama. Their circuitous route took them too close to Chattanooga, Tennessee and a horde of tens of thousands of migrating undead.

After a rolling ten day fight with the undead the group was broken into three parties scattered over about twenty miles of the hilly, forested terrain of northwestern Georgia just east of a town called Ringgold, Georgia. There, finally getting clear of the hordes of undead, the groups began using portable C.B. radios to try and coordinate their groups into linking up again. Then terror struck in the form of a local group of survivors made up of heavily armed teens and former Army infantrymen.

The ambush was overwhelming. The marauding survivors were armed to the teeth with real firepower; rifles, sub machine guns, and machine guns scavenged from a local WWII and militaria  museum. It was appalling. People died before they even realized there was a fight. Kayla was taken aback, years working murder cases involving children in sex slavery, gang warfare, and terrorism was bad enough, but now she was literally fighting for her life by killing teenagers.

Zach was equally shocked, but along a slightly different line, most these kids weren't that much younger than he was. He easily could've been an older brother to any of them. It was a terrible situation. In the end he simply did what had to be done to survive and hoped the consequences to his sanity would be something he could live with.

They escaped, kayla and Zach made it out, there where several others who survived as well. But the others had fled in different directions trying to escape as well. The pair of former cops wound up traveling all day an night to ensure that they weren't being followed before they came across a broad, five lane highway. The roadside sign said US 41. The area was built up with many roadside houses, a aging flee market, several strip malls, and a few stand alone service stations and shops.

Of all places, they slept in a boxy recreational vehicle that had broken down sometime long ago. There were scattered cars along the roadway. Many of the shops had been looted, or burned, or both. The R.V. was clean and still had cushions in the beds. And nights in Georgia in the summer were warm, often hot. But sleep came easy to the duo that night.

This night was shaping up to be most difficult of Kayla’s life and as she tucked Dani into bed she thought for a moment about how it all began.

---

Kayla turned down the television as soon as she heard her cell phone ring.  Zack had gotten her message and was on his way over and he had even stopped for coffee.  Kayla chuckled slightly knowing the rookie knew his place; she had taught him well.  They were finally scheduled to work their first night shift together, but there was something she needed to get off her chest first.  So she headed back across the living room of her modest apartment and turned to the kid sitting at the kitchen table, "How's it going, baby girl?" Kayla asked her as she sat down in the chair beside her.

She shrugged.  Sometimes she never said much.

"Whatcha drawin'?" Kayla asked her, looking at the yellow paper on the table with some lines and scribbles drawn across it.

"The city," she said, not looking up, just staring at her paper, working on it slowly with a crayon.

"Looks good," Kayla told her as she reached out to pluck one of her little braids.

The girl grabbed it and turned to Kayla with a big smile.  "MOMMY!" she said.

"What?" Kayla asked her.

"I'm trying to color."

"I noticed."   Kayla plucked the braid again.

This time Dani swatted at her hand, "I'm going to color you if you don't stop, Mommy," she said, turning towards the older woman with a big grin and a crayon grasped in her hand.

"All right, you win girl.” Kayla held up her hands in surrender; another ring of the phone, Zack was on his way up.  “Do you think you could color in your room for a minute, there is someone I want you to meet."

Dani giggled and nodded, jabbing the crayon playfully at her mother as she stood up with her crayons and darted off to her room, her little ringlet curls bouncing as she turned to leave.

Kayla gulped as she heard a knock on the door, the moment of truth. She blinked and looked down the small hallway towards Dani’s room with a smile once last time.  She composed herself and moved to the door. Tugging at her shirt, making sure her uniform and badge were perfect, she pulled it open, with a bright smile on her face.  There was a twinge of hope in her eyes. Zack didn’t seem like most other men, ya he was young, but maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be like the others.

The door opened and Zack looked at her, he felt that he may have been slightly early, given the hurried nature of her hair-grooming but Kayla had that sort of timeless, slightly wild beauty and he knew she looked good no matter she did.  “I brought coffee,”   He smiled and after much indecision and awkwardness about greeting his superior, he gave her the cup

“Thanks for the coffee Rook,” she said with a smile taking the offered cup “I might just make a cop out of you yet.”  Rook, short for Rookie was something they called all new officers.  The nickname was almost a right of passage.  “Ready for your first night shift?”

Zack practically ignored the older woman and looked past her as he saw the figure of a young girl standing behind Kayla. He kneeled down to her level and smiled at her, trying his best to sound friendly without being too patronizing.  “And who might you be?”

Danielle had snuck out of her room and was standing next to her mother, her hands clasped neatly in front of her. She watched as Kayla flung open the door. She was acting strange. She hadn't seen her mother so frantic about something in a long time. The look on her face, she looked really happy and...worried.  She looked at the man as he came in and moved down to her level. She blinked and smiled demurely.  “You dress like mom, only not as much shiny stuff.” She spoke matter of factly, highlighting the numerous ribbons and devices that adorned Kayla’s uniform.

“Zack, this is Dani…”  Kayla moved to the side as Zack spotted her daughter. This would be interesting.  She was slightly uncomfortable, she really wanted…needed… this to go well… “…my daughter.”

For Zack the whole thing was a bit unsettling at first, as he had never seen Kayla wear any sort of wedding ring, or even mention a husband or daughter.   Luckily, Dani had a long mental list of questions she wanted to ask him and conversation flowed like two people who’d known each other for a long time.  Soon he relaxed and let his mind absorb all of Dani’s words until after what seemed like an eternity, the young girl’s baby sitter arrived.

“She’s quite a talker isn’t she?” Kayla quipped as she shit the door to her apartment behind them. “Once she gets to know you, she goes non-stop.”

“Yeah, I noticed that.” Zack responded.


“Let’s go Rook, this shift isn’t going to start itself.” Kayla teased the young man as Zack walked around their patrol taking inventory before hoping in the drivers’ seat.  “I know what you’re thinking.  No I’ve never been married.  Turns out most men don’t want to date female cops.  I guess we intimidate their manhood or something.”

That made him laugh “I mean…” he could totally see himself not being the only man intimidated by Kayla.

“And those that do, well let’s just say most of them are only after one thing.  Believe it or not I used to be rather lascivious, that’s I how ended up with Dani.  I was really worried when I found out, balancing a promising career with a kid.  Besides what would my partners think?  But Captain, he helped me keep it quiet.  Let me consult on cases from home as I began to show and he told everyone I was working an undercover assignment.  A small price to pay to protect his star detective.”  Kayla couldn’t be certain who Dani’s father was it could have been any number of former lovers. “He’s pretty much the only other one at the prescient that knows, and I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Well you don’t have to worry about me spilling it…hell I don’t know the first thing about kids.”

Kayla smiled at him with a beautiful look in her eyes, “well if you want, I can teach you.  Dani is easy, if you play, or sing, or dance with her you are a friend for life." She had been quite unprepared for motherhood herself, and never been the teacher but perhaps this was the time for her to teach Zack about something besides just being a cop.  “Because it doesn’t take the detective in me to see that she likes you.  She doesn't like most men.”


"How man have you..."

Her eyes snapped wide when she heard him start to ask the question. Oh Sweet Lord, did he really think that was a good idea to ask a superior officer, or any woman for that matter? Was he really that naïve? She had to shut this down now.  "Don't even go there Rook..."

to be continued...

This message was last edited by the player at 05:27, Sun 21 Mar 2021.

On patrol that night Zack was amazed by what he saw. Parts of Atlanta were becoming a ghost town. His own prescient was able to barely muster a quarter of the number of officers required for a normal shift, and as soon as things started getting worse the department had gone from the standard 9 hour shifts to 12 hours, 7 days a week.  He hadn’t had a day off in nearly two weeks.  The parking lot at the neighborhood grocery store was barren, just days earlier it had been the sight of a brutal riot after the store manager had sold out the last of his grocery inventory.  That night he’d spent hours standing the line next to Kayla dodging the Molotov cocktails, bricks and actual human excrement that was hurled at them until a federal task force was finally able to get the crowd to disperse.

Tonight there were just a few would-be patrons seated in their cars, most of them elderly retirees. Zack assumed that they waited there in desperate hopes of seeing an approaching delivery truck.

Most of county sheriff’s department had quietly left town last week, on pretense of helping the more rural areas outside the city.  Most of the deputies just quickly got in their vechiles and drove out of town and left a considerable quantity of gear behind in their haste.

Finally, closer to downtown they drove by the police department’s headquarters building. He counted only five cars and SUVs there. “Sweet Jesus,” Zack muttered to himself. “Where did everyone go?” Zack had heard that there were desertions, but since he was new to the force he hadn’t realized the extent of the problem.

Suddenly in the seat next to him Kayla shouted, “No!” and slammed her fist on the dashboard.

The morning was a hot one. Kayla awoke early, left Zack sleeping and crept through the RV checking the area around them. She didn't see much in the way of wandering undead. That was good. There weren't any signs of people either. the little stash of water and food left on a nearby parked car with a sign reading 'this is to help' was still there. so, no one had passed by. She sighed.

There was a sudden booming echo. It was an explosion to the west. It wasn't a big boom, but it was enough to be heard for miles, maybe up to twenty miles. Explosions had a way of displacing air violently creating disproportionately loud reports. Still, it was close enough to walk to. And a bomb meant people. People who could be in trouble.

The beginning...continued

“We can’t just take with her us, in all this.”

“You don’t think I know that.  Don’t you dare tell me how to raise my daughter.”  They had rushed over to pick up Dani in the middle of their shift after Kayla had gotten the frantic text message.  Seems the father of the Dani’s sitter had fallen ill and she could no longer look after the girl.  “I can’t ask you to leave shift, but I sure as shit can’t forget my daughter.”  Kayla admired the young man’s optimism but she knew there wasn’t anything they could do.  They had received 157 new calls for service in the last hour alone, the requests were piling up twice as fast as they could clear them, tonight they had less than a dozen officers left on patrol for an area normally staffed by over 50.  At this rate, by tomorrow Zack would be the only one left.  “Look just take us to my place and if you want to go back out there I won’t stop you.”

A queasy feeling gripped her stomach as they drew closer to her apartment. They’d already passed several boarded up and burnt out buildings, had the looting made it to her apartment too?  Would she even have a safe place to take Dani to?

AS they rounded the corner, see could that a few of the front glass windows had been busted out, and occasional splatters of blood  coated some of the glass that lied strewn about on the stairs leading to the upper floors.  The doors to several units were swinging freely in the night air as Zack brought the vehicle to a stop.  “You gotta be fuckin’ kidding me….You think you can watch her for a bit. Maybe I can see if there is anything left.” For the first time she could remember the grizzled homicide detective looked scared.

Dani looked at Zack smiled and smiled big, "Stay.  Stay Pway wif me.”

“Just ten minutes, please.” Kayla just looked helplessly at him.  "I'm going to go see if I can get some of her things and my things.. Then I'll figure something out.  Ten minutes, please rook..."

“Do you want me to go with you, we could get more stuff, or would you rather I stay with her.”

"Stay with my baby... she is what matters." Kayla looked at him, "And I don't trust many people with her." She told him.  "Thanks Zack." she leaned over the center console and impulsively hugged him for a moment, nothing more than a friendly hug but she couldn't help but notice his body was hard and muscular.

She made her way to her apartment. Inside she went into her bedroom first and changed. She quickly put on jeans and a white shirt that clung to her curves and tucked into the jeans. She put on tennis shoes and then packed a few things, some pajamas and a few personal toiletries. She went to Dani's room and did the same, using one suitcase and then grabbing Dani's favorite pillow and blanket and then moving back to take it to vehicle. She gave the first bag to Zack and smiled, "I'm going to go grab whatever food I can..."

She went back and this time she packed a box of goods and a bag of food from her freezer along with some other snack things she used for Dani.  She heard an explosion outside and screaming and she decided it was time to get moving. She didn't bother locking up her apartment and made her way back with the box and the bag. She was good at carrying a lot of things at once. She set the items in the vehicle and took a seat  "Ok....."

“You know, it might be a little cramped, but ya'll could stay at my place, assuming its still standing.  Just for a little bit, just until you know what’s going on.” Zack lived in the smallest unit in his building, a small one bedroom one bathroom apartment that he could barely afford. Kayla's place was no doubt larger, more familiar for her and the child and no doubt more comfortable but hopefully his place hadn't been ransacked.

---

Last night in the RV had been an unexpected but welcome respite from everything that had happened over the past few months.  Between the barricades and the walls, Atlanta was hardly recognizable by the time they'd left, they'd been lucky to get out when they did.  Then the traveling and the fighting...so much fighting...

Luckily Dani had gone to sleep with out too much trouble, as she closed the door to the RV's bedroom to allow the girl to sleep she couldn't help but be happy her little girl had a real mattress to sleep on.  The rest of the evening had been a surprise...

She and Zack shared a bottle of 18 year old scotch she'd salvaged out of her apartment back in Atlanta. Her captain had given to it her as a gift when she'd made detective, one of the youngest in department history.  They'd gotten halfway through it before the clothes came off.  Over the past couple months she'd become like a mother to the young cop, and Zack for his part had become the closest thing to father Dani had ever had.  Still, last night was the first time in months she'd felt like a woman, and for Zack she suspected perhaps the first time he'd ever feel like a man.  Part of her wished they'd mad love under different circumstances.

She had woken up on the sofa in the main room of the RV that also doubled as the kitchen still wrapped in Zack's arms. After getting dressed and being certain Dani was still asleep she had decided to let younger man sleep as she snuck out of the RV to search the surrounding area.  She had just stumbled on the abandoned car and the goods left inside when she heard the boom.  Immediately her attention went to the two people still inside the RV, Zack and Dani.

Last night had been nothing short of incredible, he'd forgotten all about everything that happened thanks to a couple memorable hours with Kayla Redding, THE Kayla Redding.  A woman whose incredible talents were surpassed only by her beauty, a woman who was a great mother and an incredible friend and mentor.  Of all the women it had been her..

For a moment it had seemed almost too surreal, but the booming echo had stirred Zack from his sleep and reminded him just how real everything was.  He hoped to feel Kayla in his arms but she wasn't there.

"Mommy?" Dani rubbed at her eyes calling for Kayla above the startling noise.

'Oh God...Dani' Zack thought to himself as he shot out of bed, grabbed his gun belt and equipment and ran towards the little girl's voice.  "Dani.." he cried out "its okay."

"Mista Zack?"

"It'd okay girl, I'm here." He scooped the girl into his arms and headed towards the door of the RV.  Hopefully Kayla was close by and hadn't gotten herself into trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:55, Tue 30 Mar 2021.

As soon as she heard the sound Detective Redding went to work.  She immediately ducked behind the nearest suitable cover and worked to determine not only where the sound may have come from, it had appeared to be a good distance away, but in this strange new world sudden loud noises almost always meant trouble, it just depended on how long, and that meant they would likely have to get moving.  Once she knew she was safe from any immediate threat she drew her Glock pistol and began making her way back towards the RV.

Checking their map it became apparent that the blast most likely originated in a city around eight miles away. The city of Dalton, Georgia looked to a large town more than a city. Judging by the map scale Kayla, put it at 40,000 or so. So, plenty of opportunities to encounter the undead.

"Momma?"

"She's right outside, why don't you go get your things sweetie." Zack patted Dani on the back and then ushered her off towards the bedroom at the back of the trailer.  Unsure of when, or if they would return to the RV, Zack set about hastily packing whatever he thought be useful into whatever space they could spare, he immediately set about throwing whatever stuff he could into their bags, Kayla's, his, random things from the RV, it didn't matter there would be time to sort through it all later.

He flung open the door for Kayla as she got closer, "we heard it too.  Dani's in the back.  I'll grab whatever I can," he burst out before the detective could even speak.  He'd barely managed to throw on a pair of jeans after waking up before the noise came and still hadn't put on a shirt as Kayla came barging through the door.  "Cruiser, or are we going to try this thing?" he asked as he continued to frantically pack whatever belongings he could.  Their Police interceptor SUV had served them well since leaving Atlanta and still seemed to be running well, but the prospect of the comforts offered by the RV weren't lost on him either.  Then again neither of them had any idea if it would even run.

The sound of engines drew their attention.

Up ahead at the intersection of the state highways several people riding four-wheeled ATVs sped past. The last in line suddenly let off of the accelerator as the helmeted face looked in their direction. A moment later Kayla and Zach could hear the other machines power down. It was obvious the riders where coming back.

"Riders.  Several of them.  We have to go." Kayla said as she darted into the SUV, she had managed to look in their direction, but she still wasn't sure how many riders there were in total or if they were armed.  Wearing nothing but jeans with his muscular chest and arms bare, Kayla was forced to look briefly at her younger companion. Under a different set of  circumstances she might have centered her attention on the young man for a bit longer. Sure he was a dozen years her junior but she still appreciate a good looking man she saw one, unfortunately right now she gave little more than a quick glance as she turned her attentions towards the back of the RV.

"Momma?" she heard Dani cry as she headed straight for the RV's bedroom and wrapped an arm around her daughter as she scooped her up into one arm, her other hand not far from her pistol.

"Move your ass Rookie.  Lets go."  She had no nidea who these people were, or what they wanted, but regardless she wasn't willing to bet that they were friendly.  The choice was to either run in their vehicle, or make a stand here in the RV.  Getting caught out in the open during an assault was not a good idea.

The ATVs slowed down. The riders stopping along the abandoned vehicles and checking gas tanks looking for any fuel to scavenge. They were still distant, maybe one hundred fifty yards or so. The riders dismounted and went vehicle to vehicle gathering what gas they could find.

Surprisingly, the riders all looked to be teenagers. Most were male, but two were girls looking to be between fifteen and eighteen. They wore old OD green or camo uniforms and field jackets making Kayla think of old war museums about World War II, the Korean War, and Viet Nam her father and uncles used to visit. They were all armed with older style weapons, most common to the World War II, such as submachine guns, pistols, and semi automatic rifles.