Prologue

Rick was busy in his office, planning crop rotations and discussing natural pest control with Marge, the woman in charge of farming in the Alexandria Safe Zone. They were just finishing up when Benji sauntered into the coolness that solar powered air con of the building still provided this time of the year.

"Good to see you again. We were starting to get worried, you were gone so long." Rick greeted the man in his deep southern drawl.

Benji was team leader of one of Rick's scavenging groups and they had been gone for over a month on a run. As medicines were starting to run really low almost 5 years after the world had gone to shits they had started looking in veterinary clinics. It had been Daryl's idea, remembering how that was what they had done when the sickness hit the prison. He said back then there had still been plenty of things on the shelves even after they had been there and maybe the situation would be similar at veterinary clinics and collages up here. Turned out he was right and in one of those clinics they had found a map showing all clinics and schools registered with that veterinary association. Benji and his team had left with the map to check some of them out. But Rick had never expected them to be gone as long as they had.

"Well, it was as if we were on this incredible luck run. We found so much stuff, hardly any walkers and we decided to just keep going as long as the going was good," he paused quickly before continuing, "Sarah and John are bringing it over to the medical center now so hopefully there will be lots of stuff they can use."

Rick hummed and made a mental note to head over there later on to check the haul out himself. But he would give the guys in medical enough time to take inventory of the things before he went over to bother them.

"I actually came to see you for another reason too. We did eventually run out of luck... and ran into quite a bit of trouble. Big bloody herd ambushed us down in northern Georgia, would have gotten us too if this other group hadn't saved our asses. Car broke down, we were low on ammo and John had hurt his ankle so running wasn't an option. But this group came along, they were good people, saved us even though they didn't have to. Never asked for nothing in return. They had a safe camp that they took us back to, helped fix John's foot up. Their place was good too, high walls, growing foods, keeping animals and doing well. Not as big as here, didn't have all the luxuries and advantages this place has but they were doing well. Funny thing was, before they let us come back with them they asked us these questions. Same three questions your group always uses."

Rick's eyebrows shot up at that, he had never come across anyone but them that used a safety system like that to determine if people were trustworthy.

"Exact same?" he asked Benji who just nodded.

"Yeah, I thought it odd, so I mentioned it to the young woman asking me the questions. She was one of the founding council members of this place. She first thought it odd too. But she reckons she knows you guys and has come back her with me. She and her "best friend", though if you ask me they are more than just buddies" Benji finished the last statement with a cheeky grin that totally lacked in malice. He was a joker, quick to poke fun and make a joke but he was a good guy through and through without any judgments for those sort of things. The world didn't have any space left over for silly bigotry ideas, anyway people could find and grab some happiness was fine by him. His last statement did throw Rick though, as he had no idea of anyone who could fit the description Benji had just given.

"She's sure she knows us?" Benji just nodded.

"From where?"

"Well, she wanted it to be a surprise when she sees you, so she has sworn me to a certain level of secrecy. And since entertainment is pretty rare nowadays I agreed. The puzzled look on your face right now is totally making it worth it." he finished with a big ass grin. "She is down at the gates, refusing to disarm until she has spoken to you."

"Alright, let's go and see who this mysterious lady might be then..." Rick wasn't sure whether he was feeling irritated or excited by the secrecy but he guessed he should be happy. Whoever this person was, it was rare to be reunited with old friends in this world. He nodded his head in acknowledgment to people as they greeted him on the street. Alexandria was becoming quite the bustling little community now. Since the trouble with Negan and his Saviors over two years ago all had been quite and the community had been allowed to grow and blossom. It gave Rick hope for the future, for the future of his children. Even if it would never be as before, maybe it could still be good.

As he neared the gates he could see two women at the base of the guard tower speaking to Jane, the last member of Benji's team. There was a tall, slender but strong looking woman with a certain grace to her stance, dark hair and a fair complexion. Rick was immediately sure he had never seen her before. She must be the friend Benji had spoken of. The other woman had her back to him and even though there was something familiar about the petite blond he could not place her. She wore high rising combat boots and tight fitting pants. He could make out the handle of a knife sticking out of one of her boots and she had a revolver on each hip. He could see a light colored top with a dark green leather vest over it. On her back she had two short swords mounted that made him think of the teenage mutant ninja turtles. Her hands and forearms were wrapped with bands of fabric in a similar way to how fighters used boxing tejp. He guessed it would provide protection against bites from walkers as well as protect her skin in a fist fight. Her light blond hair was pulled up in a high bun that was secured with some sort of hair sticks. The way she held herself made it clear that she was a fighter, she looked strong, confident and ready. At the sound of their footsteps coming closer she turned around and Rick thought for a second that he was going crazy. Her face had lost the roundness it had first held when Rick meet her on the farm. It had the angles of a grown woman now and all traces of innocence were gone from her face but the eyes held the same kindness that he remembered. This warrior woman wore Beth Greene's face!