The triangle of Rick, Michonne and Abraham, was about to be no more. At least for awhile. And that would be because of an invention that Eugene was helping with, that would go very wrong.
He was helping with the new technology that David Pilcher had not lived to see come to fruition. Though, if he had to be honest, the 'technology' looked like a rip off of Star Wars! Or more specifically, The Empire Strikes Back...
Eugene stood in the large warehouse and stared at about 50, large robotic vehicles that looked like replicas of an Imperial Walker. Only David had named it a 'Command Walker'. Eugene would have taken off points for the unimaginative name, except that it could do much more than what the movie vehicle had been able to do. Besides shooting fire and rays, there was an acidic substance that practically melted the hybrid undead and the regular undead-but, if the person in the cockpit was not careful with it and it got onto the walker itself, it would begin a slower disintegration process that would eventually render the technology worthless.
Today, the Command Walker would be tested. And hopefully, this invention would go a long way in expanding life here on Earth. Especially with half the population here undead.
Meanwhile, Michonne began the process of moving her things out of Rick's House and into Carol's. Tara had been staying with Abraham, so she was packing at that house. At one point, Michonne heard a noise downstairs. She left the bedroom and made her way to the first floor, where she found Carl and Ben Burke, in the kitchen. Michonne eyed the clock. It was a bit early to be out of school.
"Hey, guys! Did school let out early?" she asked.
"Are you back for good?" Carl asked instead.
"I am. But I'm going to be living with Carol."
Ben, who had swallowed a cookie, spoke up.
"That's because Sheriff Grimes thinks your baby is his, right?"
Carl looked at Ben, who shrugged, before looking at Michonne.
"Dad and you are having a baby?"
"Well, Carl, it could be Abraham's. That's why I have to move out of here. Until I'm sure." Michonne answered.
"Well I hope it isn't," Carl said, "sorry, because I know you care about Abraham and all that. But I hope it's Dad's."
"So do I," Ben said, "by the way, can I live with you all?"
Michonne blinked.
"Errr, are you still having trouble with Kate and Harold?"
Ben sighed.
"I feel like I'm this close to killing them while they sleep."
Carl nodded, as if he agreed with Ben.
"Yeah, Michonne, it isn't safe for them. I mean Ben needs to live someplace else for their safety. Carl said solemnly. Michonne raised a brow.
"Is that right?" she answered. But she looked at Ben. That WAS kind of a harsh thing to say.
"Okay, both of you get back to school and then Ben, come home here. I'm going to go and talk to Kate and Harold." Michonne told them. She looked around for her keys, picked them up and left the house. Ben grinned!
"Did you notice that SHE gave me permission to stay here, like SHE'S going to be living here too?" Ben asked Carl.
Carl grinned as well.
"Yeah, I know. It won't be long now."
"Well what do you think that Abraham guy is going to do when he sees her living here?" Ben asked. Carl shook his head.
"I don't know. But you know what? Doesn't Pam fix people up around here? Why can't she just find someone for Abraham?" Carl asked. Ben walked to the refrigerator and took out some milk. He then returned to the counter.
"She did. Her name is Arlene Moran. But, she's kind of blah. I don't think Abraham likes her like he likes Michonne." Ben said. Carl silently agreed.
Michonne remembered Kate saying something about her and Harold owning a toy store or something. Michonne parked by a craft store, got out and looked around. She spotted a sigh that said 'TOY STORE' and figured that had to be the one. She walked across the street towards it. When she got to the other side, she was a bit thrown to find Morgan suddenly in front of her!
"Michonne. It's good to see you back." he said quietly.
"Well it's good to be back. If you'll excuse me..."
"Michonne, I have an invitation for you. Sasha and I are getting married. I know people have their problems with me, but I really wish people would think of Sasha. She's done nothing to deserve no one coming to her wedding."
"I didn't realize no one was coming," Michonne said, now looking at the classy looking invite, "I'm sure people will come around in time."
"Michonne, this is Sasha we're talking about! Hell, I've been to plenty of weddings where I either barely knew either the bride or groom, or didn't like one of them too much, but I still put in an appearance. This is wrong and you know it."
"Morgan, what do you want me to do? I have my own problems here!"
Morgan hesitated, then revealed his idea.
"Could we make it a double wedding? I think people would show up if they knew they were at least seeing Rick and yourself."
Michonne suddenly felt tired. Too tired to explain that there would be no wedding until the paternity of her baby was known. She touched Morgan's arm.
"I'll talk to everyone. And you can count on my being there. But my wedding to Rick is up in the air." Michonne told him. Morgan did not ask why, since he could sense that it was not something she wanted to share.
"Anything you could do would be appreciated." Morgan said softly, then walked off. Michonne took that conversation to mean that things were still bad between Morgan and Rick.
Michonne dragged her eyes off of Morgan's back and walked towards the toy store. She suddenly stopped short when she saw something strange.
Father Gabriel Stokes, looking shiftier than hell, with his eyes darting about, knocked on the front door. There was a sign in the window that said CLOSED. In the middle of the day?
Michonne watched as the door opened a bit and Father Gabriel was let in. What the hell was going on? Did she have the right store?
Michonne walked up to the door after Father Gabriel was let in, peering at the CLOSED sign in the window. After a few moments, the door opened and Arlene Moran, of all people, answered the door.
And she was wearing a Zorro mask.
"Michonne! I heard you were back in Wayward Pines! I also heard that you're preggers and the baby probably isn't Abraham's. You know...Pam did designate Abraham to be with me. To like, me my husband. So I'm assuming this means that you're finally going to marry Rick and leave my man in peace?"
Michonne stared at this woman for a few moments, before speaking.
"Why are you wearing a mask?"
Arlene stared back, unblinking, before her hand went up to her face and she touched the mask.
"Oh. It's a toy! I planned to give it to my nephew this Christmas."
"Your nephew is in Wayward Pines with you?" Michonne asked. Suddenly, Harold Ballinger appeared in the doorway.
"Arlene, your lunch break is over and Rick is probably looking for you." he said. Michonne noticed he was half buttoning up a shirt. Arlene slowly removed the mask, gave it to Harold and walked past Michonne out of the 'store'.
Harold focused on Michonne.
"We haven't had a chance to meet, I'm Harold Ballinger, Kate's husband. It's nice to finally meet you." he said, offering his hand. Michonne did not want to shake it, since she didn't know where the hell it had been! But she politely shook it.
"Harold," Michonne said, while trying to blot out whatever Father Gabriel was doing in there, "Ben wants to live with Rick and I. I told him it was alright."
Harold looked confused by this and Michonne noted that he was not a bad looking man. He and Kate actually looked good together.
"I'm sorry, why would you do that?" Harold asked.
"Because he basically told me he had thought about killing Kate and yourself while you slept. I just thought it would be better if he just stayed with us." Michonne replied.
"He's a teenager, Michonne. They talk like that..."
"No, they don't. The ones that do, 'talk like that' before they shoot up a mall or something. I'm thinking of Kate and you. I know it hasn't been easy for Ben living with the two of you. Rick and I will look after him."
Harold eyed her.
"So you're telling me you're taking our son?"
Michonne sighed.
"Harold, look, Ben never liked Kate anyway. This will be a better situation for him. Plus with what I saw today, I think it's probably just best if he does not EVER return home with you two."
Harold folded his arms.
"What have you seen?"
Michonne rolled her eyes!
"Oh come on, Harold! There is some kind of dirty shit going on in there! Why is Father Gabriel in there?"
"Who?" Harold asked innocently.
"I'm not the morality police. But Ben shouldn't be exposed to whatever Kate and you are doing in there. So I'm going to be going now."
That should have been the end of it. Sort of. But then Harold did the most unbelievable shit.
"Michonne, Kate and I were going to ask Rick and you to join our little 'club'. Only it would have just been the four of us. Kate finds Rick extremely attractive and I think you're totally hot...especially now that you're pregnant." Harold said and reached out to caress one of her breasts!
Michonne shoved him so hard, that Harold went spiraling back into the store and fell against a shelf of wooden toys! Kate came out, topless, but wearing pants and screamed!
"HAROLD! OH MY GOD!"
"My arm is broken!" Harold hissed, now looking up at Michonne. "I'm filing charges! And don't think your boyfriend sheriff is going to get you out of this one! Ethan may have covered for you when you assaulted Nana Jones and got her reckoned! But no one is going to stand for your getting away with a second crime around here!"
Michonne smiled.
"I'm pregnant. It was the hormones that made me do it. That and your trying to cop a feel. And somehow, I do think Rick will believe that!"
Kate suddenly looked fearful. Harold didn't look so sure of himself either.
"Ben will be living with Rick and I from now on." Michonne said quietly, before turning to leave. She realized that maybe she should let Rick know about their new house guest as well.
Michonne drove up to the police station and parked, hoping against hope that Rick was out on a run. He had been so pissed off when she had seen him at the command center, she didn't know if she was up for anymore arguing.
She stepped in and saw Arlene, looking almost as pure as the driven snow, or a good imitation of it, sitting at the secretarial desk. The idea of Abraham being put with someone like that made her sick!
Rick came out of the back and looked surprised to see her. Pleasantly surprised, actually. Michonne took that as an encouraging sign that he would say yes about Ben.
"Hi." Michonne said to him.
"Hi, yourself. Are you packed and out of our home yet?" Rick asked lightly.
Arlene interrupted.
"Michonne, why are you not living with Rick? Are you back to living with Abraham? Because Pam did put us together."
Michonne cleared her throat and ignored Arlene.
"Can we talk alone?" Michonne asked. Rick nodded and took her arm, leading her back to his office. He mouthed to Arlene to 'hold his calls', then followed Michonne into his office. He closed the door as she sat down in the chair in front of his desk. Michonne looked up on the wall and saw a picture of Ethan and another sheriff before him that happened to be black.
Rick sat down in his chair.
"What brings you by?" Rick asked, trying to keep the hope out of his voice that Michonne had come to tell him that she believed the child she was carrying was his, and that she had said goodbye to Abraham for good.
"I was packing when Carl and Ben came home. Ben is having hard time with Kate and Harold. He wants to live with us and I told him he could. I then went to see Kate and Harold at their store to tell them about it, and things got kind of gross." Michonne confided.
Rick eyed her.
"Okay, let's go back here: you invited Ben to live with 'us'. But according to you, there is no us. So who is going to be looking after Ben while you are living with Carol and Tara?"
Michonne just stared at him. Somehow, she had forgotten about her own living arrangements. In her mind she had already made plans on just how to keep an eagle eye on two teen boys as well.
"Well...Rick...errr..."
"Errr, nothing! I depend on Carl to look after himself while I'm here. Carol does me a tremendous favor by looking after Judith and she adopted Sam. Are you planning on keeping Ben with you over there?" Rick asked her, knowing he had her in a corner.
"Part of Ben's wanting to live with us...you, is Carl's being there! Ethan was kind to me and I feel like his son would fit in well with Carl and you."
"And you." Rick said, leaning back in his chair. "The only way I'm going for this is if you're living with us too."
"Rick, Kate and Harold are perverts! Their 'toy store' is a front for some kind of sex club that Father Gabriel and your secretary out there, are a part of! And Harold had the NERVE to tell me that he and Kate had planned to ask us to be part of that crap! Ben cannot live with them!"
"I agree. He needs you. Carl and Judith do too. As will our child."
Michonne was silent for awhile before speaking.
"Okay. I agree. It's not fair to invite Ben to live with you and then not be there for him. I'll stay but I don't want any interference about seeing Abraham."
"And I don't want my unborn child interfered with by his cock!" Rick suddenly snapped.
"But I suppose it would be okay if your cock 'interfered' with this baby, hey?"
"That baby is mine! I feel it in my bones, Michonne, so yeah, it is. Look, I have to get over to the command center. Eugene and Pam have this new technology that should help keep us safe. They want me to see it. Why don't you come with me?" Rick asked.
"New technology? What is it?" Michonne asked curiously
"Come with me and find out." Rick repeated. Michonne nodded and stood up. She was very interested in seeing anything that could improve their chances of survival here or anywhere else. She would wait to speak to Abraham about her decision to stay in Rick's house later.
But when Rick and Michonne got to the center, Michonne was shocked to see Eugene and Abraham, dressed in some sort of work suits. Actually, they looked more like space suits or something!
Abraham glared at Rick and pulled Michonne away from him.
"What are you doing here? Pam told me you were resting at Carol's. I don't like the living arrangements but as long as you're not at Rick's AND I can see you daily, I'll live." he said grudgingly.
Michonne backed back.
"What are you doing?" she asked in a hollow voice.
"Eugene and I are getting ready to test this baby! Michonne, you should see what these robot things can do! If things go like they should, we might be able to expand Wayward Pines, a little at a time."
"Abraham, why can't Eugene do this alone? Or take someone else?"
"Honey," Abraham said soothingly, "it's a big giant robot. We're steering it. We're shooting rays at those undead bastards! Nothing is going to hurt us!"
Pam walked over.
"Abraham, it's time. Michonne, staying to watch the show?" she asked, looking a bit concerned. Michonne nodded and she barely felt Abraham's lips as they brushed hers. He walked off towards Eugene, who seemed just as excited-or as excited as Eugene could look.
Rick walked over to where Michonne seemed to be standing and staring into space.
"What is it?" he asked. Michonne looked at him.
"Nothing. I'm just going to sit down." she told him. Rick watched her, then stared after Abraham, before sitting down next to her. He reached for her hand and laced it with his.
"He's going to be fine. This is a good thing." he told her.
"He knows he's going to be a father," Michonne said quietly, "but he would risk his life like this? He might not make it. He knows that and..." Michonne trailed off. Rick squeezed her hand slightly. He sensed for the first time, that Michonne was seeing something in Abraham that she didn't like or something that scared her. Rick squeezed her hand tightly again, as Abraham and Eugene managed to get into the Command Walker, via a door in the robot's foot. Soon, they could be seen waving from a window that would've been technically, in the head of the robot.
From his vantage point, Abraham could see Rick holding Michonne's hand, and that was when he realized how deathly afraid she actually looked. He knew she thought he was taking a chance here. But he also fully believed that their child, and this world, couldn't keep fending these things off. They needed to conquer them in some way. He turned from the sight of Rick and Michonne and grinned at Eugene.
"Let's power this baby up and kill some walkers!"
Eugene gave him a thumbs up sign, then put on helmet, before sitting at a control module.
The Command Walker was lifted, via two helicopters, over the wall that kept Wayward Pines from the things on the other side, and left it to do it's thing.
The undead slow ones, the hybrids and the ones called 'Abbies' swarmed the Command Walker instantly! Eugene began firing rays at masses of them, while Abraham hit them with waves of fire.
The only problem was, that the 'Abbies' could actually climb. And the few that were surviving the rays and heat, managed to climb up the command walker and smash in the window where Abraham and Eugene were!
The screen in the command center, where Pam, Glenn, Rick and Michonne were watching this go down, along with others, dissolved into snow! Pam turned towards two men and ordered them to get helicopters out there! Glenn told someone else to see if they could get a signal.
After a few moments, the signal was re-established. The Command Walker was lying on it's side. The window where Abraham and Eugene had been was devoid of glass and Eugene was screaming as he was being eaten alive!
There was no sign of Abraham.
Michonne got up from her chair and walked up to Pam.
"I want to go with those men to the site! Eugene has to be put down and Abraham has to be found!"
Pam looked shaken. She looked over at Michonne.
"We can't afford to search for anyone, Michonne."
"You can by air!" Michonne yelled. "Remember when he fell over the wall before and we thought he was gone? He's not gone! We need to at least get to the wall and help him back in!"
Glenn had the cameras that were by the wall, sweep the area. No one was near it, except for a few surly looking undead.
"He's not there, Michonne! I hate this as much as anyone! But he's gone...he's probably still in the robot someplace..." Pam trailed off.
"Fighting for his life!" Michonne snapped. She turned and began to walk with the men assigned to the helicopters. But Rick blocked her way.
"No. I'm taking you home." Rick told her.
Michonne ignored Rick's words and tried to walk around him. There were men about to get into helicopters now! If she didn't catch up to them...
But Rick blocked her way again.
"No! It is over. We're going home!" he said gruffly and put a tight arm around her waist to drag her off towards an exit.
"Rick! Let go of me! Don't make me fight you or the baby could be hurt!"
"Then don't fight me then!" was Rick's answer and Michonne had no choice but to give up her resistance to his hold on her. This could not be happening! Not again! She had been sitting there, thinking that he was not going to come back from this, and then Abraham literally did not come back from this! Why had he agreed to go with Eugene? What had happened between the last time she had seen him, when he was dragged off on Pam's orders, and now?
Meanwhile, a desperate Abraham found himself running for his life...which meant he was headed further away from the wall that held Wayward Pines, Michonne and his unborn child, behind it.