Authors notes: Ok I realize that this chapter may look alittle strange, I am attempting a new format at the request of one of my readers so please bare with me on this, and just as a forewarning, what is said in this chapter is only my personal idea of what might be the reason all of this happened, its not based on any real person, or my opinion of any real person it is just an idea.
Rick was speechless as he stared at the man who had saved his life when he had first awoken from the coma. Morgan stared back at his lost friend with equal surprise. Everyone else in the room stared in confusion. After a moment, Rick was finally able to speak.
"How did…? What are…? IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU MY FRIEND!" he suddenly exclaimed rushing forward to embrace his friend.
"YOU TOO MAN! Where have you been? We tried to come to Atlanta but I didn't hear from you over the radio. I was afraid they had gotten to you or something. We met up with this group of young boys pretending to be gangsta to protect them grandmas, and stayed with them until the place was overrun by the walkers. Man, we thought we were dead until this fine young lady and that ferocious little vixen came riding in from the sun set to save us." He said motioning to Claire who grinned from ear to ear.
The survivor's gasped upon hearing that the elderly had been attacked. They often thought about the little make shift hospital back in Atlanta, praying that the elderly and their families were still safe. Rick especially felt guilty for leaving the group of elderly behind with only a few of his guns. If the situation had been different he would have gladly given them his guns as well as offered his services in protecting the weak.
"So did everyone make it here safety?" he asked as he looked at Morgan with hopeful eyes.
Morgan's face fell, and Rick saw sadness there. "No," he whispered, "Morgan…not your son…"
"NO, no...he's fine. He's at school right now. No," Morgan quickly responded, "No, but several of the boys were lost attempting to protect the elderly….and abuela….We tried to get her to come, but when Philippe fell…She refused to leave him."
Morgan's head fell, "You know man, I will never forget the sight, of her sitting there holding her grandson, praying to the Lord for forgiveness for the walkers… It still haunts me."
All were silent for several minutes remembering the sweet old woman who wanted nothing more than for her grandson to have a better life. Rick would never forget the first time he saw the elderly lady walk in between the armed men pleading on behalf of her grandson. Suddenly the silence was broken.
"Well, I'm glad that you have found some friends here. Morgan, why don't you show our new friends around the place, I have a few more things to get done before I have to go and check on Daryl and Shane." Claire said smiling to the group.
Morgan nodded and smiled, "You are going to love this place man. We are safe, there are no walkers, the food is great…man I tell you, it's like we have normal lives again. I even have a job!"
The group slowly turned to leave with Morgan and rick leading the way before Andrea stopped and turned back to Claire. "What a minute, I have a question. Why wasn't this fabulous cure of yours ever distributed when the attacks first broke out? All of this could have been avoided. My sister would still be alive." She demanded putting her hands on her hips and glaring at the other woman. Claire rolled her eyes as she turned back around to face Andrea. This woman was really getting on her nerves. She was really starting to wish she could tie her to a pole and let Melody use her as target practice. Slowly she looked over the group and then the woman who challenged her.
"For the same reason that Melody and I left the military for the second time, the government did not allow it."
Everyone in the room froze and turned to face Claire with eyes of disbelief. "What do you mean?" asked Dale, not sure if he had heard the doctor correctly.
Claire sighed, set her clipboard down and leaned against the desk. "It was originally developed as a bionic weapon to be used against terrorism. There were originally two viruses, one that would cause a sickness that would result in death, code named rat poison. The other was a disease that attacked the brain destroying all higher brain function. This caused the host to be reduced back to a primitive being that craved only food. They're basic brain functions were heightened to make up for what was lost and heightened their predatory instinct. That disease was code named rabies. Well, a genetic mutation formed in one of the test rats that was given both viruses. The viruses became a single deadly virus. The new virus was named destroyer because it could potentially destroy the human race. There was a single vile of the virus, but it was enough. That vile was held by the president himself for safe keeping. The United Nations thought that this was a weapon too dangerous to be held by a single nation let alone a single man, so they demanded that he hand over the destroyer virus. The president refused stating that it was developed by the United States and therefore was the property of the United States and would be used for the protection of the United States. This enraged our allies as well as our enemies, who felt that we as a country would use the virus to attempt a global take over. You didn't know it but less than a year ago there was a nuclear standoff between the nations. We were at the brink of World War. Finally the United Nations as called for peace. All countries were to stand down. What we didn't know was that the United Nations had turned on us. They had met with our enemies in secret and decided that we as a country had grown too strong for our own good, and it was for the greater good of all people that our nation be disbanded and our land and people be divided back into its original owners. When this plan was uncovered the president went insane and decided that he would not allow our country to be taken and disbanded. So he sent out a letter to the richest business men in the country, offering them a chance to pay for their lives and those they chose to keep alive. He brought congress and the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court together and released the virus on them first, destroying any other power in our country but his own. Then he staged attacks on all of the foreign embassy's to keep any from informing their respective countries. After that he began to strategically release the virus upon the citizens, beginning with the cities that had high concentrations of immigrants or those he deemed lower than the superior race he intended to create. Armed forced were sent to every city to "clean up" and help move along the evolution of the superior race. Melody and I received a summons back to active duty, at first we didn't return until after our city was attacked. I was immediately put to work on creating a cure with our special ops team in France. When we finally succeeded, the cure was taken by the president's agents. Melody was sent to fort Benning because they were found out to be spies, when in reality the soldiers were refusing to kill innocent people in the name of the presidents "New World." She was deemed a traitor, and since I was her handler I was ordered to put her down. I refused to kill my best friend, as did our entire team when ordered to kill the both of us. So instead we talked the soldiers from fort Benning into joining us, and we left right before the Presidents army destroyed the base. We came here where the marines were attempting to hold their own, and the rest is recent history." She said staring dead pan at Andrea and the rest.
The group was dumbfounded. None of them could believe what they had just heard, least of all Andrea.
"….You are so full of shit. There is no way the president would allow this to happen. What proof do you have?"
Dale grabbed Andrea's arm knowing that she was quickly coming upon a line that would mean trouble for her. Andrea turned to glare at the old man. Through her eyes she reminded him of the fact that he was the reason she was still here, and the hatred she held against him for it. She jerked her arm away and turned back to Claire who was now holding a piece of paper in her hand.
"To my loyal agents, the time has come for our nation to shake off its impurities and trespassers. Our nation is threatened from within and from those who claim to be our allies. It has become necessary to release the destroyer virus to cleanse our nation of those who seek to destroy us. I your commander in chief am declaring Marshall Law in the attempt to bring our great nation back to a state of power. Now is the time to destroy the weak links and severe the connections that weaken us. Therefore I am ordering you to return back to active duty to ensure our survival as a nation. You may feel reservations about the duty to which you are called, but I assure you that the lives you take are all in the name of our great country. Those you are ordered to kill are not an important part of the nation anymore, and it is an honor for them to die in the name of raising the country. They long for release from the terror that is the destroyer virus and as loyal soldiers you will be doing them as well as your president a great service."
Suddenly a loud crash erupted throughout the hall. Everyone turned to see Melody standing in the doorway. At her feet was a silver tray with silver instruments and broken glass. The look on her face was one of pure rage. She instantly turned and stormed off down the hall, her footsteps echoing through the silence of the large building. A second door slam caused everyone including Claire to wince.
"I'm sorry," she began, looking at the others, "This is a bit of a sensitive subject for her. She…well…some of her wounds are still pretty….~sigh~ Let's just say, she was never the same…" she said turning sadly back to the computers.
"So, why did the united nations not come to our aid?" asked Glen looking curiously. Claire turned back to him sadly.
"Unfortunately, our government has spies in many nations, and ….how could any of our allies come to our aid when they are battling the destroyer virus themselves? The president has the cure, which he is selling to the highest bidder. Any country that wants to remain intact and its people not decimated has to play by his rules."
"So how is it that you have the cure?" asked Rick
"Well, I did create it after all, I would hope that I would remember how to make a cure. Besides the fact that I withheld several of the vials on the off chance that our president turned out to be a psychotic, dictator that wanted to use the cure to basically take over the world."
A bell rang off somewhere in the distance. Claire heaved a deep sigh as she turned and walked over to the large cage of walkers and pushed a large button on the wall. The cage suddenly began to sink back into the wall. The survivors turned to look at one another in confusion. But it was Morgan who spoke up.
"Looks like she's at it again." He said smiling at Carl.
"Who?" asked Rick looking highly confused.
Claire was taking off her science coat, to don the long corset coat she had been wearing the first time they met her. It was she who answered Rick's question.
"Melody,"
"What about her?" Glen asked his eyes brightening with excitement.
"Well, it seems she is angry enough she is going to train. God help them." Claire said as she walked past them and out of the building. The group quickly followed her.
"I don't get it what's going on?" asked Carl jogging to keep up with Claire's long steps.
"Well, all of the soldiers here train of course. It keeps up their fitness and skills, and it's a good stress reliever. Well… when Melody is upset…she trains, and unlike the other soldiers, when SHE trains for any reason it tends to be something of a public spectacle. She's something of a superstar among the soldiers." She answered as they walked towards an old sports arena where soldiers and citizens alike were quickly gathering as if to see a famous band.
They walked into the arena and followed Claire up to what was the old announcer's box, where they got a clear view the stadium. Blood stained grass still covered the field where sporting events were once played. The seats of the stadium were quickly being filled by spectators. Suddenly another familiar face came running up to join his father.
"Dad, Dad has she started? Have I missed her?" he asked running to his father not even noticing Rick.
"No, son she hasn't" he said to Duane before turning to Rick, "He's one of her biggest fans."
Glen turned to look at the boy, a jealous look on his face.
Claire smiled at the thought of Melody's reaction to being told that she had fans. Suddenly from the far side of the stadium Melody appeared walking in from the old team entrances. She walked towards the middle of the field not even looking at the audience who erupted into a roar of applause at her appearance.
"What exactly is that she's wearing?" asked Carol admiring the dark metal and leather outfit worn by Melody.
"That is a special Kevlar that I developed specifically for her. It is impenetrable to human scratches and bites, the same way chain mail suits are to sharks."
Melody made it to the center of the field where a tall wooden post stood. There she was met by two guards who proceeded to tie her hands behind her back to the post and blind fold her.
"What are they doing?" asked Rick quickly becoming concerned.
"Well, it appears that they are tying her up, it's part of the training, not to mention if they didn't it wouldn't be fair for the walkers now would it." She said in a voice as if her answer were the most logical answer in the world.
When the soldiers finished tying her up they quickly left the stadium. Claire stood at the control panel and pressed a button that turned on the intercom.
"Melody, you ready?" she asked.
Melody raised her head to look at the box before lowering it slowly.
"Alright honey, I'm going to start you off with twenty."
The survivors turned with wide eyes towards Claire wondering twenty what. She hit a buzzer, and the crowd's cheering grew. Two doors down on the stadium slowly opened and walkers began filing out one by one, ambling towards her.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!" Rick roared. Claire rolled her eyes
"Just wait…" she said crossing her arms and watching the field.
The first walker made it to Melody. It was a large man who looked as if he had once been a football player. She stood completely still until it reached out to her. Then she kicked up with her legs and wrapped her feet around his head and twisted. A moment later he was on the ground dead. The next two walkers quickly met the same fate. Suddenly, several came upon her at the same time. Melody maneuvered and was quickly freed from her bonds. She grabbed the first walkers' neck and snapped his head backwards. After that the survivors could hardly see her movements on the field. One very large male walker ran at her only to be seen moments later crawling away dragging his shattered legs behind him. Bodies flew everywhere. But everyone gaze was transfixed on Melody. She moved and jumped and spun almost as if she were a dancer. One moment she would be inches from being bitten only to do a graceful spin and disappear. After a few moments it was all over. Melody stood in the middle of a circle of corpses, not even having broken a sweat. She slowly reached up and took off the blindfold. Claire smiled and pressed the button again.
"Round two," she said as the doors opened.
This pattern was repeated five times until bodies littered the entire stadium. The final walker charged her roaring in anger and hunger. Melody simply reared back and punched it in the face with all of her might. Its facial bones shattered and caved in beneath her fist. The walker's body shuttered as it sank to the ground. Melody's breathing was a bit more labored than when she started. She walked over to a weapons stand that the survivors hadn't noticed, and picked up what looked like a sword. Then she walked back to the middle of the field and stood looking up to the box.
"Are you sure Melody?" Claire asked over the intercom. Melody nodded
This time Claire reached to press a different button. A loud alarm sounded as another door opened. A large walker raced out of the door at an incredible speed. The survivors gasped at the sight of the walker. He was larger than any of the others. Blood looked as if it were leaking from his eyes, ears, nose and mouth. He moved as if he were more animal than human. He ran towards Melody, who didn't even turned around to look behind her before she jumped straight up into the air, and spun around. She kicked the walker square in the chest sending him flying backwards. Again he came at her, roaring in anger. She dodged again this time swinging her sword to cut him across the chest. This only seemed to infuriate the walker even more. He grabbed at her, this time nearly grabbing her. He swung at her and hit her shoulder knocking her off of her feet. She quickly rolled and narrowly missed being grabbed by the walker again. She got to her feet and rubbed her throbbing shoulder.
"Uh oh," said Claire, "Now he's made her angry."
Melody suddenly charged the large walker who also ran at her. There was a quickly flurry of movement before they stood back to back a foot apart. The walker stood for a moment before his head rolled off of his shoulders hit the ground quickly followed the large body. The crowd roared in approval. Melody simply threw down the sword and walked out of the stadium field.
"What was that?" Rick asked still staring in amazement at the field where the body of the giant walker lay.
"That was a phase four. I'm actually surprised she let him get a hit on her. She looked as if her shoulder hurt her. He probably dislocated it. If you'll excuse me I need to go check on her." She said before she walked out of the commentary box and disappeared into the dispersing crowd.
The survivors suddenly burst into chatter talking of all they had seen that day.
Glen was beside himself in his excitement over the coolness of Melody and how he wanted to become an agent just like her and Claire.
"WOW dad, did you see her? She's AMAZING!" Carl exclaimed looked up at Rick.
Rick smiled down at his son before looking back up to where the fiery red head had disappeared from the field. "She sure is, son... she sure is."
A few minutes later found Melody and Claire in one of the old team rooms of the stadium. Claire sat on a medical table staring at the ground. Claire was standing beside her, working on her shoulder, which was a dark blue and purplish black, and looked almost deformed. Claire glanced up at Melody.
"You need to let it go Melody..."
Melody simply stared down dead pan at the floor.
"I mean it," Claire continued, "You are getting careless, what happens if next time, one of them actually does get a hold of you. You've seen what they do to people."
Melody shot a sideways glance at her friend.
"Don't give me that tone of look. You are perfectly able to speak. Which by the way you need to start doing. You are slipping farther and farther away."
Melody's eyebrow shot up before she turned to look back down at the floor.
"Maybe I want to slip away. Maybe I want one of them to get a hold of me. Maybe we would all be better off if I let one of them crush me, or infect me."
~SLAP~ The hit was hard enough that Melody's head snapped to the side. Pain shot through her injured shoulder. She had to wait a moment staring down at the floor to collect herself before she slowly brought her head back up to look at her friend with a furious gaze. Claire glared back with tears shining brightly in her eyes.
"Don't you EVER say that again. I know that you miss him...that you miss them all. But you have to let them rest in peace!"
Melody glared at her friend before speaking in a low voice, "But they weren't allowed to rest in peace were they..."
Claire's tears now boiled over. "You gave them peace, Melody. You released them from a fate literally worse than death!"
Melody's head dropped and she whispered, "it was my fault," tears began to run down her cheeks.
"No, it wasen't, it was his fault...and you know that." Claire stated.
"Because I said no..."
Claire suddenly burst into sobs and threw her arms around her friend. A look of shock crossed Melody's face as Claire pressed into her shoulder. She gasped and bit down on her lip against the pain.
"I can't loose you!" Claire cried as she sobbed into her best friend's shoulder. Melody brought her good hand up to pat her friend on the shoulder, and slightly applied pressure attempting to get her off her injury.
"Oh come come Claire," She began wincing as Claire continued to sob, "You know that suicide isn't in my repertoire, I like myself too much. Besides...you've patched me up from worse. Remember Singapore, or Moscow?" She said now really attempting to push her friend off of her. She was quickly becoming dizzy from the pain.
Claire laughed in her tears, "Yea, I thought you were dead, when we found you hanging from that tree." Then her face grew serious again. "But you need to start being more social to others, and stop being so depressed. Did you see all of those people who came to watch you train? The soilders, the citizens, the children, they all want to get to know you, and get close to you...You need to give them a chance."
Melody stopped trying to push her friend off for a moment and gave her a look of surprise.
"There were people there?" she asked curiously.
Claire rolled her eyes, "Yes there were people there. That is exactly my point! Melody please promise me that you will start trying to be more social to more than just me."
Melody rolled her eyes back at her friend. "Do I have to?" she whined. Claire shook her head yes.
"Fine, I will try, but I make no promises" Melody sighed, A big smile broke across Claire's face.
"Thank you, that's all I could ask for"
"But only on one condition," Melody stated holding up her good hand.
Claire looked at her suspiciously, "What's that?" Melody turned and looked at her and then down at her shoulder. Claire tilted her head in confusion before she looked down and realized that she still had her arms wrapped around her friend and was bearing down on her hurt shoulder. She quickly jumped off with a look of surprise.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," she exclaimed suddenly grabbing the shoulder, and snapping it back into place. Claire simply grunted and closed her eyes in pain and shock. Then she opened her eyes and looked at Claire
"Ouch"
Later that day the survivors were riding around with Morgan on a touring cart.
"Well, that is the bakery, and the deli, and the school..."
Carl looked at the school yard where the children were playing. Duane looked over and saw the longing look on his face. He turned to the front.
"Hey Dad, Can Carl and I go play with the other kids?"
Morgan turned to Rick, "Do you mind?"
Rick shook his head and smiled, "Not at all, go ahead and have fun."
The boys shouted their excitment and jumped off the cart to race to the playground.
"I'm glad you found your son." Morgan said smiling at his friend
Rick smiled back, before his attention was caught. Melody came trotting by on a giant black horse, with a long mane and tail. Morgan turned to see what Rick was looking at before a knowing smile crossed his face.
"She's beautiful isn't she," he said turning back to Rick.
"Yes, and somewhat terrifying as well. What happened to her?"
Morgan's smile disappeared momentarily, "No one really knows, and those who do, know better than to talk about it encase she over hears. She's a little beast. I never knew that people like her really existed. I thought they were just in comic books and movies. But, Ive seen that little girl do things that nearly turned me white..." Then Morgan looked at him with a serious face, "You need to be careful, besides the fact that she would probably kill you as soon as look at you, there is not a soldier or man on this base that wouldn't kill someone for even making her cry, her or Claire. They are like America's sweethearts to these guys. Rick, I mean it, trust me you do not want to piss her off."
Rick barely heard Morgan's words. Melody had rode the giant horse up to a nearby store where she dismounted and went inside.
"I just want to get to know her is all," he said jumping of the touring cart. Morgan shook his head and smiled as Rick made his way towards the store where the fiery red head disappeared.
Andrea had stayed in the hospital complex. There was something she needed to do. She walked the halls looking for him, until she found the room where he was being kept. She slowly opened the door and quietly walked in. Daryl was fast asleep in a big hospital bed. He was hooked up to all sorts of machines that were taking his vitals. The machine beeped softly along with his steady heart beat. She walked up to the bed and stood over him for several minutes just watching him. She had come to care for the wild redneck in the weeks they had spent together. She only wanted what was best for him. She didn't want to see him suffer like her sister had. Slowly she pulled out a gun that was tucked in the rim of her pants under her shirt. She pointed it at him with tears running down her face.
"I'm so sorry,"
Author's notes:
Dum, Dum, Dum! I hope you enjoyed the chapter! As always helpful criticism is welcome rude criticism will be deleted and or answered in the appropriate way, so don't waste your breath if you intend to be rude. Thanks you are amazing!