There'll be trouble when the kidz come out

[lucetimods]

Who: All remaining draftees
What: Zombies! Zombies! Zombies!
When: The 29th to 31st
Where: Vaskoth
Summary: Please read here for event information
Rating: B for BRRAAAIIIINSSSS

On the 29th, the Malnosso announce over the radios that the power cap will be lifted to a full 100%. Carol broadcasts a message.

On the 30th, the Malnosso declare Vaskoth completely lost. Those with radio access will discover that the enclosure is to be bombed.

On the 31st, survivors will have one last chance to evacuate or try to find the cure. 3PM is do or die.

Comments

[Action]

[specializing]

He seemed to deflate when she carelessly touched the edge of his weapon. Davis lowered it, seeming to have lost some of the fire there. He turned around instead, walking a few steps away. In that moment, they were too close for comfort.

"They're good for fighting. They're good for a lot of things." He turned his head to catch her in his peripheral. "But they're only as good as we were. Not better. Not enough."

[Action]

[liaising]

"They could be. One day. Perhaps one day soon."

Her upper-body twisted just to keep track of him; she turned at the waist instead of just turning her head. "Don't tell me you've given up on them...."

As gently as she'd tapped his gun, she tapped her right temple -- indicating his missing glasses. Although it might look as though she was referencing some grander motive, she was only commenting on the lack of accessory. "Did you lose them?"

[Action]

[specializing]

A nod. "The new ones."

There was a meaning there. He hadn't had new ones in a long, long time. He moved to one of the carts, gathering up a backpack and looking through the supplies in it. Counting them meticulously.

"First day, even."

[Action]

[liaising]

"Then I know what gift to send you on your next birthday." A pause. "You always were a fright to shop for. What do you give the man who once knew what it was like to have everything...?"

Carol was just that sort: the sort to send annual gifts and letters and leave messages for a man she'd long ago (and mutually) agreed to maintain an uneasy, distant armstice. It didn't matter whether she recieved replies or not. It never mattered whether he returned her calls when she was in town and asked to meet up for lunch. She did it anyway.

It was the right thing to do.

"I'm glad you found something for which the old ones were worth losing."

[Action]

[specializing]

"That remains to be seen."

He turned around, backpack under one arm. As he stood in front of her, exactly within arm's reach, he held it out for her.

"Supplies. Jewel will escort you to wherever you're going, but she's coming right back when she does. And that's only because she doesn't have the right kind of body to be infected."

The life of someone under his command was one of the most valuable things he had to offer. It was never offered lightly.

[Action]

[liaising]

Arm's reach. It was as good as anyone could hope for, really. And Carol felt grateful for it. She felt grateful for his help; his support; his sacrifice. Years on, she still felt grateful for him taking that ever-vital first step.

Careful not to touch even a fingertip of hers against a fingertip of his, she plucked the bag from his hands. She lifted it free.

"Thank you, Davis. Thank you so much." Her words broke beyond the genuine warmth she showed for just about everyone else. This gratitude came from the gut. "I won't keep her; she -- like the rest of your team -- are too important to tie up on escort missions. But..."

Carol gingerly threaded her arms through the straps. "I'll thank you again on the other side," she said with a fierce hope that they would both survive it -- penaltyless.

[Action]

[specializing]

There an unusually solemn look on his face. For those who knew him well, it would be best described as worry. For anyone else, it was just business.

He placed his hands back on his weapon.

"Stay alive. Find a cure."

It was the only warming words he had. He turned to go back to his own duties.