Earth Abides by patricia51
(Six years after "Showdown" K-Mart and Angie are among those chosen to begin the exploration of the world as it exists and reclaiming it for humanity. What will they discover along the way? Primarily K-Mart and Angie.)
(Note: The title comes from the 1949 post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel of the same name where a mutated variety of measles nearly wipes out humanity. A remarkable story it's still well worth reading. And THAT title comes from Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 Verse 4: "Men go and come, but Earth abides". Also, since this follows my series of stories beginning with "Tripod" remember that events diverge from the movies beginning with the battle with the Super Undead Crimson Head Zombies in Las Vegas during RE:Extinction.)
(Graduation)
"Good Afternoon. Welcome honored guests, distinguished faculty, proud parents, students, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to this auspicious occasion, the graduation of the first class of the New University of Alaska.
"There was a time when we thought this would never happen. There was a time when the infection was spreading over the entire Earth and no one could see any hope. Governments collapsed, cities fell, the airwaves went silent and darkness covered the world. Mother Earth herself fell victim, the very ground under our feet becoming sterile and unfit for life.
"Alaska held on. Somehow, some way the infection didn't reach us. But we were alone we thought, alone except for the ever increasing hordes of the undead, the few refugees from around the world and the packs of vicious predators human and inhuman who preyed on them. The old University closed. There was no time for learning. The young men and women were desperately needed to help reinforce the nearly overwhelmed National Guard fighting to save our state; the instructors needed on the front lines of industry and salvage to try to keep the lights on.
"For a time it appeared as though, to quote an old movie 'we came close to going out forever'. But we hung in there and this is the result. We grew stronger. Schools started again. High schools reopened and finally four years ago the New University of Alaska was established and this class began its journey, a journey that doesn't end today but only changes from this campus to embrace the entire world.
"And what a class this is and what they have gone through to have the right to be here today. Regardless of what field they have chosen to major in the core courses required of everyone would make the jaws drop of earlier college students, faculty and administrators.
"Beyond the traditional areas of study the graduates here have learned unarmed combat and marksmanship, survival skills to allow them to live in the wilds or in the infested cities. They have learned to maintain and repair motor vehicles, equipment of all types, drive and fly a variety of transport from eighteen wheelers to helicopters.
"But traditional courses have not been ignored. Our graduates have received a firm grounding in the humanities; history, literature and all the things that connect us to our past and remind us of what it means to be human. Mixed in with the course in their actual majors and here we have them; graduates who know literature, the sciences, and life skills that would qualify them as Navy SEALS.
"From here we send them forth to reclaim our world. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the graduating class of the New University of Alaska!"
Applause rolled across the crowded amphitheater. A handsome woman walked to the podium. She and the bespectacled man, both in their flowing black robes, exchanged slight bows and then shook hands.
"Thank you for those inspiring words Doctor Hofstadter."
"Thank you for the opportunity Dean McMann."
The Dean spoke briefly and then turned to the table beside the podium. "I am proud to bestow the first diploma awarded by the New University of Alaska to our Valedictorian and hear her remarks. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Angela Valentine Redfield."
Jill Valentine Redfield clutched her husband Chris's arm as they watched in pride as their daughter accepted her diploma and took her place behind the podium. The couple's other two children sat with them, determinedly keeping their mouths shut as their parents had required of them before allowing them to come. Beside them sat their oldest friends, Alice and Carlos Olivera-Abernathy with both their sets of twins waiting as patiently as possible for their daughter's turn. Sam and Claire Treadwell were immediately behind them with their three children.
"Thank you Madame Dean," Angela began. "Honored guests, proud families, friends and fellow graduates. As our honored speaker said, there was a time when none of us would have ever dreamed that we possibly could be where we are today. We didn't dare dream because all of our dreams were filled with nightmares. Nightmares that did not come from creatures under the bed or in the closet but were unfortunately frightenly real. In fact I am quite sure that each and every one of us came so close to death, a terrible and horrifying death that we all have stared right into its face.
"That we are here as a group is due to many factors. But to me the most important one is the care, protection and love given to us by our parents."
The young woman paused for a moment to regain her self-possession before continuing. "Like many, most of us even, my parents are not my birth parents. That makes them even more precious to me for they chose me to be their daughter, protected me with a ferocity that previous generations would have found unbelievable. They have cared for me, stood between me and anything that threatened me over a journey that seems impossible now. The taught me to live, to fight, and to survive and more than that they enveloped me in a love so wide and deep that sometimes I wonder how I could possibly deserve it.
"To quote a famous American General and President on the eve of another daring event that changed the history of the world 'we are embarked on a great crusade'. Let us conduct ourselves as we reclaim our planet in such a way that our parents will be proud to consider us another 'Greatest Generation'. The world is waiting for us. Let us take it by storm!"
The audience came to their feet as they applauded. Angela bowed to the assembled dignitaries on the stage and stepped up to the beaming Dean McMann who handed her her diploma and shook her hand before giving in and hugging the valedictorian. Angie waved her diploma and blew a kiss towards her Mom and Dad. Getting control of herself the dean began to call the rest of the graduates to the stage one by one.
Everything went smoothly until the name "Dahlia Olivera-Abernathy" was called. K-Mart grimly accepted her diploma even as Dean McMann attempted to hide a grin. The young woman glared at her parents, who were equally unsuccessful at stifling their laughter as the Dean was. The blonde girl looked around to see her very best friend in the whole world who was the only person other than her parents who knew her real name was doubled over with a runaway fit of giggles.
Having expressed her displeasure by stomping off the stage while her aggravation was increased by the applause of her classmates she confronted her parents with her hands on her hips.
"You promised!"
"I'm sorry sweetheart," a completely unrepentant Carlos replied. "We just couldn't resist."
Surrounded by her extended family, including her Aunt Jill and Uncle Chris and Aunt Claire and Uncle Sam the teen finally relented as Angie embraced her and admitted the whole thing was her idea.
"Your face!"
"Okay, so you got me," K-Mart admitted. She pasted a fierce scowl on her face. "But just remember. Payback is a..."
"K-Mart!" Alice broke in.
"A son-of-a-gun," K-Mart managed to finish meekly.
"That's better."
Since the graduation ceremony had taken place on Friday afternoon the celebration carried on most of the rest of the weekend. It was Sunday night before the three families sat down together.
"So sweetheart," asked Carlos, "Have you made any plans yet? Any objectives?"
"I'd like to know that myself," added Jill. K-Mart and Angie exchanged looks.
"Okay," the former said. "I'll start off. This is an idea that has been on my mind for years now. I've already discussed it with the Research Board."
Chris held up his hand. "That's the government agency that is supposed to be coordinating all the expeditions you graduates will be going on right?"
"Exactly," replied Angie. "After all, they don't want us just wandering aimlessly around the world. Plus that way if one party runs into trouble the Board will know where the nearest available assistance is, be it another expedition or haven or allied force."
"So where are you planning to go K-Mart?" asked Alice.
"I'm leading a team to the former North American facility."
"Why?"
"Remember when we searched the place during our stay there before beginning the flight up here?" K-Mart asked.
"Of course."
"I found those papers referencing you Mom. We looked but never found anything more concrete. Now that Umbrella is no more, at least globally although we understand there are pockets left primarily in Europe but they're too busy fighting for survival to bother us I'm going in there with my team to see if we can reactivate the Artificial Intelligence that was damaged during the fighting between the remaining Crimson Heads and Captain Slater's people. Not only would we hopefully find Doctor Isaac's research on the zombies we might find out what he had discovered about you Mom and your bonding with the T-Virus. With that knowledge there's no telling what we could accomplish."
"It will be dangerous honey," pointed out Sam Treadwell, the former Umbrella helopilot. "We let the fence down and the zombies in as a cover for what we took from there."
"I know Uncle Sam. But it's not like I'll be going alone. I'll have one, perhaps two computer specialists, a biological researcher and a few other friends from the University class to ride shotgun. What zombies got in are probably still active but there shouldn't be too many. The rest should have wandered off or decayed by now. We'll be careful."
"How will you get there?"
"Sea voyage to Dwayne and Morganna Hick's refuge on the California coast. From there over land by armored vehicles that we'll ship there, stopping at the Hidden Valley along the way. Eight or ten of us should be in and out in a few days." Her eyes twinkled. "We even left some food in storage there as I recall and who knows Aunt Claire, maybe we missed some coffee." Laughter filled the room as Claire Treadwell's addiction to coffee and its lack were well known among the group.
"Okay K-Mart, you seem to have thought it through," Alice admitted. "Be careful."
"We will Mom."
"Okay then," Jill turned her attention to her daughter. "Are you going with K-Mart?"
"No Mom. I'm leading a team to Raccoon City."
(To be continued)
(The Hidden Valley appears in "Tripod". The Hicks refuge is in "Homeward Bound".)