Chapter 1 The Commander and The Girl

Black clouds rolled across a restless sky thunder and lightning swirled around the restless forest as midnight blue eyes stared with a predatory gleam watching their pray silently waiting for it to grow closer. The growls and the shuffling of feet grew loader and closer and at the same instant that the first bolt of lightning ripped across the sky an arrow left the bow and hit the skull with a dull 'Thaw Whack', as the pray fell a woman came from the shadows of a large pine tree. She was about twenty-five with icy midnight blue eyes and black hair that was held back in an intricate french braid that ended at the small of her back. As she stared at the walker that was now dead at her feet she regarded it -almost like you would dog crap stuck to your shoe. Suddenly a young blond girl about twelve stumbled out of the under growth she was wearing a blue rainbow t-shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of what seemed to be once white sneakers, clutching a small doll as if it would protect her from all the wrongs in the world. The girl began to stumble over her words, "W-who are you?" her voice was soft but thick at the same time almost as if she was trying to be strong but not doing a very good job.

"Hello little one-" The blue-eyed woman said in a sharp and thick British accent "what are you doing out here all alone? It's not safe with the deadins running these woods you could get hurt." As she spoke her voice grew soft and the predatory gleam left her eyes as if it hadn't been there to begin with.

"I-I got separated from the group we-" she took a breath to steady herself. "We were scavenging over by the highway but a herd of them came through I ran two of the walkers tried to chase me. Mr. Grimes came and lured them away though, he told me to back to the highway, but got chased now I don't know where it is." She replied her voice still shaking much to the blue-eyed girls' disappointment.

"I'm not going to hurt you little one my name is Karalin Alexandria Cross Ex-Black Operations Commander I was sent here to clear up the deadens, my friends call me Kara though." Her voice was tinged with sadness and her eyes gained a far-off look as if she was reliving bad memories.

KCPOV

I had just got back from a mission in Iran when my friend and second in command Cecelia -or Circe to most people- and my twin brother(who was also my Co-commander) Zero walked in and Circe picked up a katana from the table covered with the different weaponry I take with me on missions and began cleaning it her honey blond curls coming out of her bun and falling in front of her sky blue eyes, where Zero preferred to sit next to me and begin nursing a glass of bourbon.

"So, are you going to tell me what the oh so important mission that you had to do solo this time was?" Her normally soft voice came out sharp with a teasing edge. And with a giant grin on her face she put down the katana and picked up an intricately designed ninja star -that was both beautiful and deadly- it gleamed wickedly in the moon light.

"Well I was sent to take down some scientist, but I wanted to see what he was doing and let me tell you that is some crazy shit-" I took a moment to shake the image of the face of the little girl as she was eating her creator "- like zombie apocalypse shit!" I began to hyperventilate near the end, my voice became hysterical and thick with unshed tears. Suddenly Zero spoke up from beside me.

"Circe go get Alek and tell him to report here imminently for debriefing." His voice was smooth and composed the exact opposite of mine she gave him a sharp nod and dashed off to find my third in command as soon as she left I felt hot tears run down my face as a sob ripped its way up my throat. He turned and drew me into his arms I rested my head on his chest drawing comfort from my twin as he murmured the normal honey coated lies even if he didn't believe them himself. He knew I hated killing children and it did this to me every time had to kill one. As soon as my breathing became normal again he tilted my face up so that he could look in my eyes when we talked.

"Now what happened?" I abruptly turned from his gaze fearing what he would see in their depths.

"I killed a child Zero a child that ATE the scientist that I was sent to kill! And guess what?! They want to send us and our team into that hell pit of a country to decontaminate it! I'm scared Zero I can't let Circe, Alek, You, or the team die that way I won't! Yeah, we heal fast, yeah, we are hard to kill, yeah, we are immune to a lot of shit but when we agreed to become lab rats and soldiers' zombies weren't in the package! We had nothing to do with what happened to those people, it should not be our responsibility to clean it up!" By the time I was done with my rant I was breathing hard and my sadness was replaced with white hot fury.

"Kara, it may not be our responsibility, but people are dying, and we know how to handle this kind of stuff where normal soldiers don't, we can't leave those people to die." His voice and logic rang true and my anger vanished only to be replaced with guilt.

"Zero I'm sorr-" I began only to be interrupted by Alek bursting into the room looking as if demons from hell itself were chasing him only to see that nothing was wrong. "Alek tell the team to pack their bags we're heading to Georgia."

"Understood Kara, do you feel alright?" For once his cocky smirk wasn't in place but a look a concern in its place.

"Yep, F.I.N.E. (Fucked up, Insecure, Neurotic and Emotional) " I replied with a smirk knowing he knew what I meant.

As Karalin came back to the real world the young girl stuck out her hand and spoke her voice still slightly shaking "N-Nice to meet you Ms. Kara, I'm Sophia" Karalin looked at the girl with pity though not a common emotion from the hardened commander as she saw herself in those teary blue depths.

"Now Sophie I'm not a miss call me Kara and I'll call you Sophie. Is that alright?" As she spoke a small smile lit up her face at the end though she forced herself to crush it.

"Oh yes Miss- I mean Kara, Mama will be so happy-"

"Whoa there little one I never said I wanted to meet your mum," Not wanting to hurt the girls' feelings she crouched down to her level and spoke softly "I don't mind talking you home but I'm not sticking around I have people I have to watch over." She told her softly but sternly the archers thoughts going back to the squadron she left camped out about a quarter of a mile away under the watchful eyes of her Co-Commander. She had promised them that she would be back before dark and the storm had begun to mess up her internal clock that the three years of being a Black Operations Commander had so perfectly tuned so she knew it (or better yet hoped) that they still had a couple hours of daylight. "Now let's go before you catch cold, okay?" Little Sophia looked at her almost she was a particularly hard riddle, with utter bewilderment that Kara had denied meeting her mother.

"Okay." Sophie's voice for the first time since Kara had met her was strong and filled with determination.

"Now the house is this way, the guys may be a little rough around the edges but they won't hurt you, as long as you don't attack us. So be good, because the boys may be harmless but the girls in the group are not to messed with not unless you have a death wish that is." Her voice was soft and filled with humor that was uncommon for the seasoned warrior.

"Okay." The young girls voice was nothing more than a fear filled whisper as she began to think of the unusual ways that this woman could harm her.

Kara began to think that she may have hurt the child's feelings she tried to think of ways to cheer her up and get her to think of the fact of walking in to a den of trained and seasoned assassins wasn't that bad. "But I think that they will like you ex-speciously my weapons officer Clarice she loves kids, so I think if anyone hurts you you'll be safe because she will kill them with no problems what so ever." This seemed to put the child at ease thinking that she would have someone she could talk too.

"Oh, is she nice? Is she pretty? Is she mean like you? Will she play dolls with me? Will she come with us to see my mom? How many people are in your group? Is your group going to join ours? Will I ever see you again?" She fired the questions so fast and so sudden that it caught Kara off guard, her eyes eager and excited to meet someone like her and wasn't as cold as the commander.

"Yes, I guess so? Now listen here I'm not mean I'm just…different." She was insulted that she had been called mean she wasn't trying to come off as mean she was horrified of what the sick scientists of America had created and then ran from after they set it loose on their own people, on innocent men women and children. But most of all she was scared of what it would to her and her team, who they would be when they returned… if they returned that is. "I think so, only if I take her off duty, twenty-two people, I don't think so and not to seem cruel but not likely." Her tone was soft but detached as if the words were coming from her lips, but she wasn't the one saying them. But Sophie didn't see that all she saw was that with every word she spoke she became less of a friend and more of the commander that people both loved and feared. She turned her back on the girl perfecting to stare into the woods and hide within herself. "Shall we get moving now?"

"Yes Ma'am" This time as she spoke it was less of an excited chirp and more of a defeated whisper as she looked at the woman who seemed to carry the weight of the world on her shoulders. Quick as a flash Kara looked back to her and spoke as if she was no longer a twenty-four-year-old woman but a cold commander that would do anything to complete her objective.

"Good, I want to make it back to camp before dark and we have to check the perimeter before we can head back so we need to move quickly." Her voice was still detached like she didn't care what happened to her, like she was merely someone in the way of her objective but what Sophia didn't know was that to complete her objective Kara would have to kill her due to the virus in her bloodstream. And that went against her main rule 'Children are off limits' and every time she went against it she lost another piece of her humanity and in her opinion that was the most important thing a person could have in this world. Then she silently turned her back and walked into the shadows and the girl silently followed her into the darkness.

Karalin and Sophia hadn't spoken the entire walk back to the camp, Kara was lost in thought though Sophia had thought she was mad at her and was trying to figure out why. As they neared the camp Kara seemed to relax and become more youthful as soon as they reached the first row of tents Sophia saw that Kara had begun to walk less like a tired person but like the strong and calm commander that she was. As they neared the center of camp she saw that all of the soldiers had lined up and in front stood a man that reminded her of a superhero.

As Kara neared they all stood up straighter and spoke in synch "Good evening, Commander Cross." They had spoke with large smiles and mock salutes most of them then promptly dispersed to tend to their respective duties leaving only five people left.

Kara turned to the two in front who happened to be the large superhero that had light blond hair that seemed white and icy blue eyes that reminded the girl of a certain commander though his seemed warmer and full of laughter. Next to him stood a small cat like woman with blond hair and bright mischief filled blue green eyes. "This was your idea wasn't it?"

"Oh sister dear I am appalled that you would think I would do this to you, I am innocent. Innocent I tell you!" He said this with a large fake pout on his as the blond pretended to be wiping tears off her eyes.

"You wound me," She put a hand over her heart as if it actually hurt her "we would never do something so mean to you!" The blond said with more fake tears.

"Whatever, Clarice can Sophie stay with you in your tent, please?" Her words may have sounded to anyone else as a request but to her team they took it for what it was...an order.

A petite blond spoke from behind the other two, her voice the exact opposite of Kara's, Kara was strict and hid herself from everyone but a select few and Clarice seemed to be cheery and open with all. "Of course! I love kids! We can do each other's nails and hair. We can play dress up and do each other's make up! What do you think?" Her voice came out in a scarily cheery tone. And Sophie began to think that staying with Kara might to be best but before she could say anything she was dragged to the blonds' tent.

"Well Cee, Zero, Alek, Jason, I'm heading to bed I'll see you in the morning. Night!" Her tone screamed 'let me sleep or I will kill you!' But before they could reply she had disappeared into the confines of her tent. They slowly looked at one another it was strange for Kara to come back with someone or for her to come back in a bad mood even more to go to bed early she always stayed up late and woke up early. Her behavior put the four on high alert the commander was scared, and they knew it but there was something else that was bothering her something deeper that no one not even them knew about and it scared them.

As soon as Kara went into the tent she went to sleep, and the nightmare started.

It began as any other of her dreams she was with her team on the battle field fighting horde after horde of the undead her katanas hutting through the skulls of the enemy. Her body coated in the sticky and dark blood of those that she had slain, the pungent aroma burning her nose. Her muscles burning as she fought one enemy after another only for every one that she cut down three more took its place. Overwhelmed she desperately pushed forward seeking if anything to protect her team. She turned from her newest kill desperately searching for her comrades only to see that her and Zero were the last ones standing. She forced her way through the dead to be at her brothers' side, as she got to him they fell back to back as they fought. Soon the two of them became overwhelmed, just as the corpse was about to take a bite out of her Zero stabbed it with his long broad sword, with a smile he reached down to help her to her feet. As she gripped his hand allowing him to pull her to her feet she noticed one of the dead had noticed that their pray was distracted. Almost as if in slow motion she watched unmoving as it grabbed him and took a large bite out of his throat. He turned and choked out a single word as his bleeding and broken body met his death. Seeing as her brother, her sweet brave brother was ripped apart his screams for her to run etched in her brain. Being forced to see everyone she ever cared about be ripped apart and eaten by those things their screams tearing at her insides demanding that she do something but no matter how hard she fought she couldn't move. In an almost fog all of the dead faded until there was only a small group left, she tightened her grip on the dual katanas in her hand desperate to draw strength to the last piece of her brother she had left. Only to drop them to the ground as the first of the dead turned to meet her, she saw Circe. She quickly scanned the faces of the dead, each one was a fallen member of her team prompting for her to fall deeper and deeper into despair. This was her greatest fear, to be the last one standing or to be forced to kill her own team. She steeled herself and quickly reminded herself that these things were not her team, but a mockery of their bravery and dedication therefor it was her duty to make sure that their souls were granted passage to the underworld. With that she drew her daggers and met her comrades in battle for the last time. She paid little attention to who met her blades but cut through them all the same, until the last one standing was her brother. With a silent prayer she asked the gods to forgive her what she must do, she stabbed him in the temple. She stood over the body for only a moment before she fell to her knees and wept for the souls of the fallen, thoughts of how this was her fault as she was the leader therefor their deaths were her fault. She sat there and wept for what seemed like hours before she could hear what seemed to be footsteps coming towards her thinking it was another of the dead she simply sat there waiting for it to be over. After a few moments she opened her eyes only to be met with the laughing green eyes of her elder brother, "It's time to go home, little bird".

She woke with a gasp the dream still etched in her brain haunting her like a bad ghost. "Kara, are you alright?" A loud but still whispering male voice spoke from the shadows broke the silence.

"Oh, Zero I didn't know you were in here, I'm fine. Did you…?" she trailed off before she could get herself to say it too afraid of what he would say.

"No, now go to sleep, I'll be right here to scare the nightmares away." his voice was teasing but still distinctly concerned.

"Promise?" For the first time since she got here her voice was weak and scared, almost childlike and it scared him seeing his strong stone like sister that way.

"Yes I promise, now go to sleep. Unless you want to talk about it?" His voice filled with concern and a bit of hope that she would share her burden with him.

"No, I'm fine big brother. Now would you mind getting in the bed I'm getting cold." Her voice filled with a teasing aura, a rare thing since they had been deployed to this hell hole to Zero though this was a sign that his sister was healing and would be back to her normal self soon. With a smile he crawled into the small bed and covered both of them with the large comforter allowing her to snuggle up to her brother. As she took a deep breath of his scent of sandalwood, sage, and something that was uniquely Zero she couldn't help but see him as he was in her dream. Shaking herself she forced herself to focus on the fact that her brother was with her alive and gods help who tries to take her big brother from her. With that she began to fade into a dreamless sleep to her brother humming 'Carry On My Wayward Son by Kansas'