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You know what to do - R&R :)
Merle studies the map, clenching it in his left hand. "Turn left next road and we drive 'til it dead ends." Pete nods and complies, the vehicle driving comparatively silently to the cars he's used to. The two haven't spoken much throughout the drive; Merle chose pretending to sleep over discussing their current situation.
"What's our plan when we get here?" Pete asks. Merle considers the question as he studies his arm blade.
"Drive up. Hope they let us in 'fore a horde traps us. Tell the truth and hope they listen."
"Hopefully there's someone out there."
"They gotta have a watch. Rick's a real prick but he knows what he's doing."
"Rick?" Pete chuckles softly. "Wonder why Daryl chose that as his fake name."
Merle scowls. "Prolly in case I heard it. 'Ay Merle, you met the new guy, Rick, yet?' Definitely get my attention."
"Look at that!" Suddenly ahead, a large compound rises out of the ground. Early morning streaks of light glint along the roof and barb wire fence tops. The ground level of the fence is surrounding by a thick, solid wall of assorted barrels, crates, and the like.
Merle whistles. "Never thought a prison'd be such a nice sight." Forms move along platforms at the front fence. "They see us."
Pete slows the car as they approach the gates. Walkers turn and growl, limping for the sound and movement. Archers atop the gate platforms bring down the ones between the car and the gate before the wooden doors swing open, knocking a few walkers into the spikes next to them. A woman gestures for them to enter. Pete gases it and lurches into the protective space. The doors close behind them, holding them outside of the main compound by one set of chain link.
"Lower the windows and raise your hands!" The woman commands, her gun ready but aimed down at the car door. A man stands in front of the car, halting forward progress and studying them with gun in hand. Another guard stands on Merle's side.
Pete lowers his window and Merle smiles at the woman. "Michonne! We meet again." Michonne's face twists into a deeper scowl. Her fingers flex on the gun.
"What the hell are you doing here, Merle? And who's with you?"
"I just came to see the sights. Quite a place you fixed up for yerself, if I do say so. This here is my tour guide, Pete. Daryl's with us in spirit." Merle watches her face carefully. Her eyes widen when he mentions Daryl. They gotta talk to us, now.
"What do you mean in spirit? Where's Daryl and Andy?"
"Daryl is in quite the tough spot. His girlfriend's nice and safe though. Take us to the Council and we'll tell you all you need to know." Michonne chews her lip.
"Get out of the car. Slowly. Keep your hands up! Or hand I should say," she sneers. Pete raises his eyebrows, noting the hostility. The two exit the vehicle and are immediately patted down and stripped of weapons.
"Stay here and search the car. Bring an inventory list to the council room as soon as you're done," she orders, addressing the other two guards. She turns back to the pair, holsters her gun, and draws her katana. "You two. Let's go."
{0.0}
Michonne passes Carol on her way to the Council room, just as she hoped. The walk is quiet, though many of the prison survivors stop to stare at the two men with their hands on their heads as Michonne follows them and directs their path.
"Carol, gather the Council and tell them to go straight to the meeting room." She nods in bewilderment, her eyes flashing wildly over Pete and Merle before she turns and darts off.
"You in charge here, Michonne? Quite the step up from homeless scavenger," Merle says tersely.
"No talking," she snaps back.
"Please tell me how you being a jackass is going to help us," Pete says flatly, smacking Merle in the back rather than addressing him.
"It's showing I'm being myself. I got nothing to hide, no artificiality I'm upholding. Not tryna manipulate or trick nobody."
"Artificiality? I'm surprised you even know that word exists. Now shut up!" Michonne orders. "Open that door on the left." The large, mostly metal room is brightly lit from the strong sunlight streaming in. A few people mill around, off to work in the infirmary down the hall or the food storage room.
"Up the stairs." Their feet clang, echoing down the halls. "The room just ahead on the right. Light switch is on the left wall by the door."
Merle flicks on the light and the three enter the room, Pete and Merle studying the long, narrow conference room with interest. They both continue to the end of the table and sit at the head. Merle leans back and shuts his eyes with a content sigh. Pete shakes his head in disapproval, remaining upright and rigid. Michonne leans against the wall by the door, the tip of her katana hovering just above the ground.
"So what-"
"Sh," Michonne puts her hand up. "Wait for the Council. We can all talk together." Pete snaps his mouth shut and studies the lean, dark woman. She balances the katana effortlessly, and her eyes shine back at him with a cool firmness.
They wait in silence for twenty minutes until, finally, the door swings inward and the whole Council streams in. Rick enters first, clearly distraught, Hershel limping just behind him.
"Officer Friendly! And the whole gang. Thought ya saw the last of me, didn't ya?" Glenn and Maggie enter last, Glenn clenching Maggie's hand tightly, both of their expressions hard as stone. Merle's face softens slightly, allowing an apologetic look to flash at the couple, surprising them both.
The group stands at the opposite side of the room warily.
"Please, sit," Merle mocks sardonically. Pete shoots him a murderous glare.
"Would you shut up already? This is actually important." He sighs and looks back at the Council. "Look, we came here because we need your help. And we think you'll be inclined to give it. Sit, listen, and we can discuss." Rick regards the stranger levelly. Eventually they all sit at the table save Glenn and Maggie, who choose to stand and leave the seats next to Merle and Pete empty.
"We don't know you. But you probably know us, with Merle and all. Let me be clear that we are in no way interested in helping him, and you'd feel the same if you knew him like we do. Being Daryl's brother, we can offer a secure place to stay until he returns, but nothing more." Pete nods considerately.
"I appreciate that, but we aren't looking for somewhere to stay. And there's a good chance Daryl won't be returning - alive at least - without your cooperation." The Prison group's faces fill with shock. Pete continues, trying to be as clear as possible. "Merle and I come from a survival group a few hours away, based in a metal manufacturing compound. I founded the place with four people I have been surviving with almost since this disease broke out. Merle came to us a few months ago, and we offered him a spot in our ranks.
"Last week, or this week I'm not really sure, a man and woman showed up. They called themselves Rick and Alex. Two days ago, they "met" Merle, and last night the three tried to leave quietly. However, they were interrupted when a group of strangers rolled up to our walls.
"A man with a megaphone, hiding behind his line of cars, threatened to kill us all and take our supplies if we don't hand 'em over willingly. Either we die and they take our stuff, or they take our stuff, ration it to us, and control our people. They will return in three days to hear our decision.
"Merle, Alex, and Rick came inside and told us the truth. Their real names are Andy and Daryl, Daryl is Merle's brother, and they recognized the man's voice. They called him the Governor." Merle starts speaking.
"Last night the leaders decided to come to ya'll for help. Andy stayed with the group to train their people in fighting and shooting. Me, Daryl, and Pete came here to offer an alliance to kill the Governor once and for all. If we don't stop him now, and he gets control of Riverside's people and guns, he's coming for you next." Merle finishes and watches them expectantly, for once not scowling, glaring, mocking, or sneering.
"So you two come to us, without Andy or Daryl, and expect us to believe this story.. Involving Andy and Daryl? We don't know you're with them," Rick points out.
"But how would they know Andy's name?" Tasha points out. Rick frowns, unsure.
"Oh... About that," Michonne says. Eyes train on her. "I mentioned Andy down at the gate when he brought up Merle."
"So they didn't mention Andy until you had already done so?"
"Correct."
"You said Daryl came with you - what happened to him?" Carol pipes up in concern. Merle looks her over, silently laughing sadly at her obsession with his brother.
"We were tailed as soon as we left Riverside. They tried to knock us off the road. We thought we got away but another car came out of nowhere and t-boned the driver's side. Merle and I got out, but they took Daryl and left. He was unconscious and pretty beat up. We found a car in a neighborhood and came here."
It's silent for a second and Merle remembers something.
"We have Daryl's crossbow. If you don't believe us."
"Anyone could have that type of crossbow," Tasha says. Merle doesn't recognize her but instantly dislikes her for continuing to argue Merle and Pete's intentions.
Glenn pipes up from the back, trying to balance an excited grin and an angry scowl at the same time. The result makes him look like he's in pain.
"And you said we'd never need them! Isn't this what we made the codes for?"
The rest of the council looks around in shock and amused disbelief that Glenn's idea is actually going into effect.
"Did Daryl say anything to you before they took him?" Glenn asks intently. Unlike everyone else, he knows everyone's code phrase by heart.
Pete and Merle both scrunch their faces, thinking hard.
"Boy kept mumblin' somethin' 'bout Dixons killin' Dixons. I guess he was tryin' to tell me he weren't gonna die. How could he if only a Dixon can kill a Dixon?"
Glenn knowingly looks around at everyone else.
"That's the one."