Chapter 1:

Zak stared out at the horizon, the destroyed and decaying buildings of the Las Vegas strip. There was a warm breeze blowing and it rippled his soft brunette hair. He wanted to cut his hair but just couldn't find the time. Zak rubbed a hand down his face and scratched at the stubble. As he stood there, he thought about his age, guessing he was probably somewhere around twenty years old. He remembered his life at the Chicago QZ, eight years previous. That life seemed as if it had never existed.

Zak looked down at his right arm and shook his head. He couldn't believe that he was still running with the remaining fireflies. Back when he'd lived in the Chicago QZ, he and his best friend Angel had constantly ranted about how retarded they were, and how there was no light to find. He still thought the fireflies were idiots. the only reason he'd even allowed himself to go with them when they'd found him on the side of the road was because he'd been starving. That had been close to a year ago, when he'd been looking for his good old buddy Angel.

"Hey! Dejenueva!" Zak looked behind him and sighed. Here came Tony. Probably coming to remind him that he needed to rest before he went out on the "mission" Beckie was sending him on. Tony stood beside Zak and put a hand on his shoulder. "You look good with that automatic. It suits you." Zak looked down at the automatic rifle in his hands.

"You know she's sending you out today right?" Zak nodded. "I also know the only reason I'm going is because I'm expendable." Tony laughed and shook his head. "Naw man, she just knows your the one who's least likely to withhold information." Zak shrugged. "I'm willing to bet the only reason I'm getting sent on this wild goose chase is so you guys can figure out what kind of enemy you're dealing with."

"Well you think what you want, but you'd better hurry on down to the meeting room. Beckie plans to send you out before sunset. And don't be a smartass. This is our only chance of finding the light."

Zak rolled his eyes as he turned and headed towards the empty elevator shaft that he could climb down inside the palace station with. "What light?" He called to Tony before beginning down the ladder.

Joel walked calmly through the streets of Bertrand, rubbing at his back with his hand. It had been a long, uneventful night on watch. At least he'd been able to do it with Dante. The guy was filled with enough dirty jokes, it would probably take years to hear them all. When Joel reached the front door of his house, he unlocked the door and stepped inside. He stretched real quick and walked into the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror.

Over the last five years, Joel had aged pretty well. His hair hadn't gone completely gray like he had expected it to (he only had a few gray streaks in his hair) and his beard had only been peppered with the color. There were no new noticeable lines or wrinkles in his face and he hadn't gotten flabby either. From what he saw, he looked nothing like his old man had looked when he'd reached fifty-five.

Joel flicked on the bathroom light (Over the last several years, Tommy had gotten a crew of men to travel around, find power generators for each house. Almost every house in Bertrand now had electricity. Only thing they were missing was running water.) Joel sighed and flicked off the bathroom lights before stepping out into the hallway before Walking down it to Ellie and Devin's room.

Ellie at on the bed, they had long since gotten a bedframe for their mattresses, with her Walkmen on, earbuds in her ears and a book in her hands. "Hey Ellie, do you want any breakfast?" Her music was obviously turned up loud, she had no idea Joel had just spoke to her. With a huff, Joel looked around the room before picking up one of Devin's Walking Dead comics off of the floor and tossing it.

The he comic book hit Ellie on the stomach, causing her to nearly jump out of her skin. "What the fuck Joel?" She asked, taking the earbuds out. "I asked you if you wanted any breakfast." Joel said. Ellie shook her head and sat up. "Devin wants to show me something, or something. Maybe when I get back."

"Well, where you goin'?" Joel asked casually. Ellie chuckled and climbed out of bed and slipped on some shoes. "Relax Joel. I'm twenty years old anyway. I'll be fine." Joel nodded his head and gave Ellie a one-armed hug (the only kind of hug he could give) before letting her begin down the stairs.

Devin walked with Ellie almost bouncing with excitement. Ellie watched him. His hair had gotten a bit longer, it seemed like it never came out of it's ponytail (as if she had room to talk), he had a full beard, only a small bit of hair wouldn't grow over the scar tissue by the left corner of his lips. The scar still stood out, a long, white half circle on the left side of his feet. Over his right eye was an eyepatch. Chad had once picked it up as a joke, but Devin decided it would be better to wear that than constantly have gauze wrapped around his head.

After several minutes they came to the house that used to belong to Gareth, but now belonged to Tommy. Devin walked over to the garage, bent down and grabbed the bottom of the door. "Been working on this foe over a year." He said before pulling up the door and pointing towards what lay in the middle.

It was a Harley Davidson-a hog. Ellie looked at Devin, who shrugged his shoulders. "Gave it a test run last night. She rides like a dream." Ellie chuckled and shook her head. "You want to take it for a spin?" Ellie looked at Devin. "You sure?"

"Joel would kill me if I put you on that thing and wasn't sure." Ellie laughed. "Let's go."

Joel nearly nearly had the shit scared of him when he stepped into the kitchen to see Lizzie and Rebecca standing there. Joel always though Lizzie was a little weird. She wore one dress all of the time, and absolutely refused to wear shoes. Every time Joel saw her she wasn't wearing shoes. Joel probably would've left her walking on the side of the road if Devin hadn't have said he knew her.

"Heey Joel." She said in a singsong voicd, hopping up onto the table and swinging her feet back and forth. Joel looked at them and saw they were wrapped in a thin layer of gauze. "How are ya' Lizzie?" Joel asked. He gave Rebecca a quick peck on the cheek before opening up the fridge and looking around in it.

"I'm fine. Have you seen what Devin's been working on? Can't believe he got the Davidson working." Joel looked back at Lizzie. "Davidson? Harley Davidson? A motorcycle?" Lizzie nodded her head. Joel shook his head. "If they get hurt I swear.." Joel began to mutter to himself.

AN: Oh boy. There are still fireflies around! What is their plan? Is this guy Zak about to go on a search for Ellie? Who knew Devin was a good mechanic? Eh, the kid just keeps coming with more surprises.

Anyway, I will see you all on the next chapter.

~Exangellion