November 10th 2011
I stood looking at the walker, Dr. Han with me, I spoke as she was documenting. Enid was taking pictures to help while Addy was out scouting. "Decomposition, they are showing signs now," this was a breakthrough but only more time and weather elements would give us more data.
I had a few animals here now; their blood had no bonding agent with the virus. Miller spoke, "What are you saying, Sawyer. Dumb it down, lass,"
He was a hardcore man but a total sucker for girls, "That depends a lot on the environmental conditions where the zombie finds himself. But the first thing that happens is the eyes go dull, and they decompose quite quickly," I pointed to the eyes. "They are showing signs the virus is having an effect and time will be the best data we have,"
Enid asked, "Why?"
"After nine months, depending on the environment, there wouldn't be eyes anymore. They're big sacs of fluid, so they're the first things to go. And within 24 hours, decomposition begins. It starts with discoloration in the lower abdomen, and within three days the entire body is showing signs of decay. The initial stages happen quite quickly. The cold will keep them intact longer, and here in the south and east the winters are longer so they could survive longer," wish Jenner was here, he would be thrilled with this. But on his last transmission he confirmed he let them go, it was Jenner and a woman who just gave up, that was his end game a peaceful death with no coming back.
January 1st, 2011…
I walked with Miller and Wentworth, "I am taking a team, it has to be me, a local hospital will have what we need. Plus the food is running low the crops will grow now with the summer heat here, our well is still in order with no signs of taint,"
Shaking his head, "Wentworth put a small team together, she will have an armed guard she is to be protected at all cost. I will be here," we had had issues with some pretty bad people trying to get in, in no way would we put the ones we took in at risk. Family's will not be at risk, and like that, a buzzer went off on my waist, "We have in coming,"
Enid was with me, "Mama, here I bagged this for you," an ear, she got me an ear, she handed it to me, "Thank you, get this to Dr. Han at once," every time she helped it gave her more and more confidence.
I stood tired and worn as a group walked in together the first test was the giving of their guns, to put their trust in us. Enid and Addy are out of breath when they reach me, I talk first, "Welcome to Haven, hand over your weapons if you do not you will keep them as you're escorted out," my voice rang clear eyes so scared and worried looked at me.
But one by one they handed them over, "Shay, please get names and occupations from them. After Niki, food and water, and a place to rest," we built more as the months passed, it had been only seven months into the outbreak at this stage.
I saw a dirty face that hit me like a ton of bricks, Gage. I yelled, "GAGE?" his dark blue eyes shot up at the voice and his name being called in such a manner. He was good friends with Daryl and Merle a slow smile came to his lips. "My god, Sawyer!" without thought I hugged him, but he hugged back just holding on to the other as he chuckled. "Why am I not surprised, Adaline is with you,"
"Trouble follows trouble," Addy hugged him too.
I ask him, "Daryl, have you seen him?"
He sighed, "Not for about two years, the man he was never the same after you vanished. His Pa was behind it all Merle found out but never wanted to hurt his brother by tellin him,"
"What was your job before the outbreak?" Shay asked he gave her a look. "Farmer," I smiled I could have told her this.
"Get him as the lead hand on the crops," my voice louder now. "You will be given a weapon and training as long as you are a productive member you will have a family to have your back,"
I had to go, "I am leaving on a supply run," I say taking an empty pack and my weapon the Taurus Millennium G2 Pistol.
"Sorry Gage, this is Enid, my daughter," he gave me a look. "Yeah Daryl is her pa," but him never coming made much more sense now.
"Hello Enid, damn Sawyer he has a daughter,"
Then another voice hit me, "Your daughter is beautiful, Sawyer," my eyes wide seeing Mabel alive, I never pegged her for being able. But she was here standing a foot in front of Addy and me, her face was a tad dirty, but she held herself well.
"Mabel, how the tar did you make it this long into the outbreak?" my words not thought out and hurtful, but she laughed it off, she changed.
Her eyes on Gage, "I wouldn't have by any means, but luck was on my side when Gage came to my rescue," he just hugged her close, oh have tables have turned and gave her a rough lesson.
"Come on Dr. Sawyer, we need the daylight," Wentworth called to me. "Sorry, I must go,"
Gage followed, "Not without me," I let him come he knew the woods; he knew more than the Military about the countryside. Walkers everywhere, but our goal was the small Quest lab and small-town hospital; I walked with Wentworth my gun out as we slunk through the hall's it looked as if the military put up a hell of a fight, blood was smeared on the tiled floors.
I whispered, "Cover my back, Gage. Locate supplies, split up,"the same routine in any town we hit, same movements, sometimes it went well, and times like these it all went to hell.
The lab was filled still so we collected all we could before hitting the hospital where the problems began. It was overrun feasting on the elderly who had been left, the ones in the I.C.U and a few left asleep would never wake again. "They left many behind, the ones who could not outrun or protect themselves got left," I whispered my knife embedded in a walkers head, seeing the clouded eyes and the detachment from the cornea, mentally documenting it all.
Gage moaned, "There are too many we need to go,"
"Leave then," moving down the hall we need supplies, and I wasn't leaving without them. I saw Wentworth his signal was green; we got what we need "Its green, we go," I motioned taking my filled bag only to be knocked down by a walker who came from a small alcove. I grabbed its arms seeing it was a child, a child of ten years with a bald head. Tears were coating my face, I never saw a child walker, but this one was left here to die a painful death. Enid, she had to make it and to make it I had to find a cure or vaccine, that was my end game not peaceful death for me.
Gage snapped her neck pulling me to my feet, 'I am sorry it was my first child, and all I saw was my daughter," the team moved as the horde of walkers was coming closer and closer, their smell becoming even more unbearable. They had deformed bodies, and limbs were sticking out at odd angles. Their bloodshot gray cloudy detached eyes darted over the place, looking for food. Reaching arms, flesh peeling, in short, they were terrifyingly grotesque. Groans and moans came from their open mouths, wanting human meat.
I took another out without sound trying my best as the rest fired, we have made to much racket, and the horde came hearing the dinner bell chiming. I was covered in grime and some blood when we reached home base, "ADDY," was called, the sun was coming up.
She was not bright eyed and bushy tailed, "Fine," she knew the reason for her early call, I hugged her before leaving to Enid who was sleeping she looked like her Pa when she did, her mouth open only slightly.
Nearly fainting at the small tap on my shoulder, I just closed her door walking with Gage and Miller. He spoke in a severe tone, "We can't risk you going on run's, tech another what you need,"
Gage cut in, "Sawyer what is going on,"
Leaning against the wall, I informed him, "I run this lab, this haven. I am the lead Doctor; I came from the Atlanta CDC before it blew. I am trying to isolate the virus, its properties, anything and everything about it to try and create a vaccine since I don't think we can locate the strain to create a cure," he looked impressed before he chuckled.
"If Daryl could see you now, he always said you do good things, he once thought of leaving you since he figured he only hold you back," my head down at his words, would he have held me back.
"Don't need to hear about him, get some sleep,"
We have stayed safe due to our remote location, yes a fair few times we have nearly been overrun by walkers. But humans are what we should be worried about since the evil shall inherit the earth.
May 18th, 2011…
"I isolated a lead point; the virus makes Rigor mortis null in void. It also reanimates the lower stem cell," Dr. Rice gave me a look.
A few looked lost, "Within three to six hours of death, all the muscles in your body release lactic acid. You go completely rigid; it's like a full-body cramp. It dissipates within a few days, so then your zombie could move around again, but immediately after death, you wouldn't be able to move at all. So the anit-gen in the virus overpowers the rigor mortis so the walkers can move freely. But they're decaying slowly; the data doesn't lie. Most have been dead for months some as long as eleven months; soon they will get easier to kill,"
I continued, "Your gut is full of microbes, and that's what starts the process of internal decomposition. Also, your cells themselves are starting to break down. So everything soft and squishy besides your bones is liquefying, starting with the internal organs. They go fast. After that, the skin sloughs off. It's called skin slippage, where the epidermis detaches from the underlying tissue and just kind of slides off. But that's after the organs are fully mushed, and all the bacteria are starting to migrate throughout the body. But the virus is slowing it but not hauling it,"
Enid cut in, "But not in the animals, even the fish you put into the tank with a walker," she was right.
"Yes sweetie, I think the vaccine will be in the chemical make-up of an animal. They are somehow immune to the virus," I tested any animal I could.
I thought, "I need ant's and their queen," their makeup is unique.
In August when the weather shifted the decay lessoned, but here I stand toe to toe with a man named Negan, a baseball bat on his shoulder. "I will not bend to your will; we will not follow your rules in any way. You might walk away from here this is not someplace you can conquer. This is a branch of the CDC we are creating a vaccine for the outbreak not tasseling with thugs," he only had a few men with him, but he was surrounded even by people he couldn't see.
A man spoke next to him, "Like a cure, you doin it?"
I flashed my badge, "Trying, but seems we have conflicting desire's. Your hired hand has just threatened a huge group of Military men who want nothing more than to wipe scum out before I finish my work," more and more trained men found us, and we flourished helping those we could while we Doctors worked around the clock.
The men looked at me, "Show us your work and we will leave,"
"Escort two through the lab they touch one thing kill them, leave Negan with me," he smiled like he caught some pray.
"You are looking for a husband?" he quipped "Married, but thank you for the offer. Than he eye's Addy who glared back. "Ain't happening,"
I stood scared to death and shaking from the inside while Enid stood next to me, a gasp was heard. "They doin it Negan, they're working on a cure," Simon spoke in awe.
Negan spoke once again, "Come on boys, let's leave the good doctors to their work. If you need a thing don't hesitate to come to the Sanctuary, we will of course aid in any way,"
"I am sure for a price your group would help,"
He smiled, "Could be food or a simple kiss from you hunnie. We have many groups under us and would be willing to help," like that they left us in peace only due to the work we were doing, now if he was correct, he was a tyrant who was holding other groups under his thumb taking all he could.
Once they left and I was confident they had no intention of return did I turn to Wentworth. "Find the leader of the ones under his thumb, bring them here,"
He left with three others.
June 2011
Wentworth walked in with many, but I held up my hand as I was speaking to Dr. Han. "After discovering the remains of an ancient Nanio- gene within the genes of a queen ant, I have been concentrating on the research of ants in general," finishing as he sighed in awe, Animals I understand more than humans.
His tone low, "The decay process is still in effect; the bodies are more pliable filled with more liquefied internal organs. From reports from our two scout teams they have also lessened in hordes," this was more good news the decay process would wipe them out not to keep up trying to find a cure.
Enid spoke, "Mother," my eyes on hers as she stood by a boy her age with long dark brown hair and eyes to match.
Who is this kid and why was he near my daughter?
Standing, "Wentworth, took long enough," but he scoffed "Yeah had to avoid detection and find the right people, now can I go see my wife,"
"No, she doesn't love you anymore, she told me she is my best friend," the look on his poor face he thought I was serious but when Enid laughed, he groaned. "Sometimes I hate you,"
"Sorry, for my lack of welcome. These day's who can you trust?" then it hit me I saw the face before.
I cocked my head, "Rick Grimes, CDC," I spoke, he gave me the same look until he smiled. "Dr. Sawyer, finally we meet. This is my girl, Michonne we are trying to run a peacefully safe-zone, Alexandria. This is Jesus he is a friend and representative for Hillside as their leader, and her husband are in her second term, last is Jerry from the Kingdom," Jerry was too jolly to be the leader.
"Where is the Kingdom leader, I am sorry, but you're too jolly to lead. Being in charge makes you more like us, tired,"
Jerry laughed answering, "He was too fearful to leave his people," he was not an actual king. "Who is the boy next to my daughter?" my fun nature went as my body was ready to give.
Rick smiled, "My son, Carl,"
"Nice to meet you, Carl, Enid show him around and have some food, please. Have Shay bring some for them after their trek here," she bounced off happy, "Come on, I can should you some cool stuff," he was game as they like teens raced out.
"She has no one her age here, so burdened for being so young. So, please sit," I offered as Shay walked in with Mabel.
"Your daughter found a man, and you can't manage," Mabel joked. "Slim picking in this world," I offered as they left food it was not some grand feast, but it was good.
Michonne spoke, "We were told you had a run in with a man named Negan,"
"I did, and he left us in peace only because the work I do here. Which Rick knows so no need to delve into it. I am close to a vaccine, or at least we think so it will have to be tested. We have a code we want Negan and only the like-minded thinkers to be taken out. They are like roaches who feed off others while taking advantage, are you now at a disadvantage,"
Addy took her seat next to me, "This is Addy, Addy, Jesus, Michonne, Rick, and Jolly Jerry," short and sweet.
Rick looked grim, his face devoid. "They killed so many of us already, took more than half of our stock along with every gun, they have the high ground,"
I held my hand out; papers dropped in my hand, the inventory sheet was long we had access to the base's that others could not enter. "Hillside, what is your current status,"
"Addy, document Alexandria first," she was fast and her hand writing perfect for reading.
Jesus was um, well damn. I get on my knees and worship him. "We are also at a standstill food is nearly gone, guns are gone they keep us under an iron fist," his voice was anguished this was harder on them, we have been lucky one year in to avoid it, that was until now.
Jerry and the Kingdom are in the same stance. I have no doubt Negan will be back for us in the end, so we had to aid and make sure we had the right allies.
I set paperwork down, "We will help, we have enough to go around right now. We would like you as allies not enemies; we have a common goal, peace for our children. I used to be fun and everything but then the outbreak now I am cold and about work, stay the night and think it over," I offered, but Michonne stood.
Her voice sweet, "We need no time to think, we welcome Haven we will stand by you as long as you stand by us,"
"That goes for Hillside,"
"Least not forget the Kingdom, Negan needs to go,"
I agreed, "I will need to visit Hilltop and the Kingdom myself to hear from your leaders. We will give supplies and guns with ammo; I offer Carl a place where he will be out of harm's way in this upcoming battle,"
Miller cut in, "That you will stay out of, you're important to us," rolling my eyes at him. "Shut it; I boss you old man now," joking in a manner he understood.
His grumbling was heard even as he walked from the room. "We should leave at nightfall to Hillside," Jesus looked at the sky through the window.
"I think leaving Carl is best; we will all go to Hillside and the Kingdom,'
My daughter was half mad she wasn't allowed on this mission but happy she had a friend here now; Carl looked very okay with staying. "Han, clean his socket and make sure he is in good health, losing an eye is dangerous and give the boy a gun,"
December 2011
The snow fell, but soon the heat would return, Carl and Enid are glued to the other, and for once she was in her element. Rick was with me, "If you can get Negan alive it be best, I am not evil, but we will be in need of bad people to test the vaccine on. It is a sad fact, the O-Virus has no bearing on animals so they will not be used," he nodded understanding me on a personal level, Michonne held their little girl Judith who would be staying as well. I yawned, "My apologies,"
"You should take a break,"
"No time, months go by in the winter were our research stalls. But as you saw they would die off, and it is maybe another nine months from going into effect. The cold weather stalls that,"
I was rather fond of Tara, they expressed wishes for my introduction to all their family but right now my place was here.
"She will be fine here with Addy,"
