Blaszczu2500- Yes Larry and Lilly are indeed part of the Woodbury community, and I plan to add just a couple extra characters from Telltale as well but they are the key ones. As for Lilly, she will indeed be taking the spot for the novel version of Lilly, which to me isn't too different seeing as she was originally intended to be the same person anyhow.
Gracie Miserables- I'm glad you're liking the story and I'm really excited to start using The Governor as well as the other characters that'll be added, and I'm sure you'll along with the others will love what I got!
Whitetiger789- Thanks, hope you like this one!
The Good The Bad The X-boy- I do indeed have plans for all the characters in Ericson's, they'll be coming in later in the story but I can't wait to see them in this story line.
Enjoy
Chapter 20: The Nickel Tour
Tyreese, Axel, Chuck, and Mark stood at the fences the sun now fallen behind the mountains and darkness overtaking the prison yard. Tyreese gripped the fence and let his head fall against the chains, staring at the road intently, willing the others to return. Mark paced slightly while Chuck leaned against the fence and Axel stood firm, paying more attention to the dead wandering towards the fences. "Getting real dark," Axel sighed,
"Yup," Chuck nodded before shaking his head, "Where is that boy?" The older man asked concerned with Lee's continued absence,
"I'm sure he's fine, Lee's a tough fucker," Axel replied with a smile, "Probably ran into some folks that needed help or something like that, him and Rick would stop everything to help them, you follow me?" Chuck let out a small grunt, reluctantly agreeing while continuing to stare up the dusty prison road,
Mark continued to pace for another minute before walking up to Tyreese. "So what are we supposed to do, just sit here? It doesn't look like their gonna be back anytime soon man,"
"Yeah Mark were gonna sit here, going outside and looking for them in the dark is only gonna lead to one of getting killed, so we'll wait right here until they come back," Tyreese sharply replied, "We need to be here and ready for when they come back to get the gate open so the dead don't pile up around them,"
Mark let out a sigh, "I know, I just hate being stuck here not able to help, I knew I should've gone with them,"
Tyreese glanced over to Mark and let out a short understanding nod, "I think it's best if we back a little away from the fence, the more walkers that see us the more that'll pile around the gate, we don't want to block them out,"
"Yeah, here, I'll go get some chairs," Mark replied while turning and heading up the prison yard,
Meanwhile back inside the prison the others were reluctantly getting ready for bed, without a good portion of their group. Lori brought Carl into her bed tonight, trying to find comfort with him instead of worrying all night for her husband, "Hey, um, so when dad gets back we're thinking of moving around the cells and getting you one for yourself, what do you think?"
"Can I bunk with Duck?" Carl asked with a sleepy smile,
"As long as Kenny is okay with it, of course," Lori warmly replied,
"Cool," Lori slowly laid down, "Mom, don't worry about dad, he's always doing this stuff and every time he's okay,"
"I'm not worried sweetie," Lori replied with a reassuring smile, "Goodnight," Carl smiled back and shut his eyes, Lori turned and let her smile fade, staring blankly with worry.
Just outside Lori's cell Molly found herself laid away with worry, Michonne still hadn't returned and she couldn't help but feel that she should have forced her to stay. Molly knew the dangers outside, and not just the dead, but Michonne just didn't want to hear it. At least, that's what the blonde woman kept telling herself as she laid in her bunk. Molly was only stirred from these thoughts as she noticed a figure slowly shuffle past her cell.
On instinct the woman jumped up and ran out, "Who's there?" Molly hissed trying to make out the person in the dark only to see Sophia turn and silently stare up at her, "Oh...um, sorry kid, I thought it was...someone else," Sophia blinked in response, offering no response, "You alright?" Molly asked with an uncomfortable shift in her stance, still Sophia was silent, "Did you need...uh...water?" Sophia finally nodded, "Oh okay, sure, let's go get you some." Molly said while stepping forward, lightly placing a hand on the girls back leading her towards the cafeteria, "You know, you're gonna have to start talking soon," Molly softly said to the girl as they walked.
In the meantime, Carly was doing her best to manage Clementine, as well as, Duck for the night, without for Lee and Kenny around she knew she couldn't just leave them alone tonight, but still, she wasn't exactly sure what to do. Duck, surprisingly, was far easier to handle, a bit more unfazed by his father's absence, his worry faded enough that he was passed out by the first hour, Clementine however was having more trouble.
"Do you think he's going to come back?" Clementine asked Carly in a worried tone,
"Of course he'll come back Clem, Lee wouldn't just leave, this is home," Carly replied with a reassuring tone,
"But what if he got attacked by the walkers?" Clementine nearly whimpered, "What if I never see him again,"
Carly let out a slow breath, trying not to let that fear she shared as well show in her response, "Lee's safe, he has that big riot suit on, no walkers can get through it, he's probably going to be here first thing in the morning, so the sooner we go to bed, the sooner we'll see him,"
"Oh...okay, yeah, you're right," Clementine replied with a bit more hope, "Thanks Carly,"
"Of course, good night Clem," Carly replied as she shut her eyes, her heart thumping hard as she feared the worst for Lee as well as the others.
Hours passed by in the prison and before long it was midnight, the moonlight illuminated the four men in the yard that sat in plastic lawn chairs as well as the shambling corpses on the other side of the fences. The dead had slowly been building up around them but the darkness was helping from them hoarding up, so if Rick and the others were to return they could still safely get them inside. However, that hope of their return tonight was slowly fading in each man.
"So fellas, we just gonna sit here all night?" Axel asked glancing around to the others,
"If that's what it takes," Chuck replied, "I ain't got nowhere to be, you?"
"Suppose I don't," Axel admitted with a small smirk,
"We gotta stay, if they do show back up tonight, were gonna have to move fast to get them back inside safe," Mark firmly stated,
"My thoughts exactly, everyone up for it though? You guys gonna be able to stay awake?" Tyreese asked,
"Always been a night owl, best time to think," Chuck calmly replied before sighing, "I do wish I had something to wet my whistle with though,"
Axel let out a short chuckle, "Same here, been too long since I had a drink. But yeah, I ain't been around these fucking monsters anywhere long enough to sleep this close to 'em, you follow me?"
"I do," Tyreese nodded in agreement, "The stench alone will keep me up,"
The four men went silent for a few minutes before Axel spoke up, "Worried about 'em?"
"Do I wish they were back, of course, worried though? Not at all," Tyreese replied, "Rick and Kenny? They are the toughest sonofbitches I've ever met, we may have been butting heads recently but I still respect them and I know they aren't gonna do anything stupid out their. They can handle it." Tyreese wholeheartedly stated, "And Michonne's fine, she was out there for months with Molly, she knows exactly what she's doing,"
"Plus Glenn is one of the craftiest dudes I've ever met," Mark said with a short laugh, "He got in and out of Atlanta for weeks on his own, a little walk down the road is nothing for him,"
Axel nodded back, happy to hear the confidence in the men's voices, "What about you two with Lee? Figure he's closest thing you two have to a friend these days,"
"He's one of the good ones," Chuck replied, "He's smart and capable but even still...out there, I don't have a clue what could be happening, "But something held them up, ain't nothing at the helicopter coulda taken this long, you know?"
"Hell if I know," Axel quickly spoke up, shaking his head becoming a bit down by the conversation, "So, y'all moving to A-Block?"
"Was thinking of it, until I heard Julie asking Ben about it the other day, so I don't think I'd be too welcome," Tyreese replied with a frown, "What about you Mark?"
"Absolutely," Mark grinned, "First thing I'm doing is grabbing a couch from one of the offices and pulling it right into my new spot. Can't wait to finally feel comfortable in a bed, even if that bed is really a couch," The man joked, "What about you two?"
"Probably," Chuck shrugged, "Be nice to be near the library, ain't a better way to pass the time these days,"
"I honestly don't know," Axel said after, "It's just nice to have the choice. You know, it's funny, I was a prisoner here but it's strange how different it becomes just by sleeping with the cell door open. The place becomes something different entirely,"
"It's a new world man, nothing of that old world matters anymore, prison, home, no longer a difference to us," Mark simply replied
"Yeah, we sleep in concrete boxes with bars on all the windows and every day we see fences and barb wire. And yet, we're happier then we've ever been since the start of this whole thing," Tyreese added,
"Yeah...I never had to deal with that, I was never terrorized by these things, never hunted, I was in here before and after they started coming back. So yeah, it's a new world, but god help me I think I like this one better," Axel said while hanging his head, a bit ashamed of his own thoughts.
Another hour ticked by and back in the prison Hershel was woken by his daughter Maggie, the girl had a pit in her stomach and couldn't find any respite without Glenn laying next to her. On top of the loneliness she felt a complete lack of safety and found herself running to her father like a little girl who just had a nightmare, "Daddy, are you awake?" She quietly asked as she entered his cell,
"I am now, what's wrong, Maggie?" Hershel groggily replied,
"Glenn still isn't back and I don't think he's coming tonight. I doubt I'll even be able to sleep but I hate being in that cell all alone, is there any way I could…" She softly asked with a pleading look,
Hershel let out a sigh and scooted over, "Come on, I move to the wall,"
"Thanks dad," Maggie said while moving over and getting into bed,
"Ssh, don't wake up your brother," Hershel hushed while he laid back down.
In the cell below, Andrea too found herself sitting up in bed next to Dale, unable to sleep a wink, "Hey, you awake?"
"Andrea, five of the only people I know to be alive are out in the wild tonight. They are outside with all those damn things lining our fences everyday, Lee has never been out there once, and for us it's been months since we had to even step foot out there. They probably are dead, and if not, they will be soon and I can't do a damn thing about it," Dale replied in a frustrated tone, "So yeah, I'm awake darling, and I'm probably going to stay this way until the sun creeps up,"
"So you're worried about them too?" Andrea asked,
Dale let out a breathy laugh, "You're lucky you're so damn cute, yes love, I am very worried," He said with a sincere, yet sarcastic tone,
"Me too, I doubt I'm going to be getting any sleep either," Andrea mumbled while hanging her head,
"Well that's no good, one of us needs to get some sleep to take care of the twins," Dale said with a small smile,
"The twins! Of christ I forgot about them...even after all these months I forget that...well I'm a parent now," Andrea gasped,
"That's right, We're parents, we're responsible for them," Dale nodded,
"You think they're okay alone in that cell? I still worry," Andrea admitted,
Dale let out a slow exhale and nodded, "Those boys, they are tougher than we think. Kids are resilient and they have to be more than most. Losing both their parents at the same moment, just in the blink of an eye is so terrible but they've been...adjusting well I think. They asked to have their own room, so we let them," Dale continued with a near proud tone, "We aren't forcing them to do things they don't want just yet but we'll have time to raise them properly. We have them right next door with the door shut tight and they are more than safe until morning."
"Still…" Andrea sighed,
"Seems like you're doing enough worrying for us both, so I guess I'll have to just put my worries to the side for tonight and get some sleep. One of us has to be there to pour the cereal tomorrow morning," Dale sighed as he shut his eyes,
"I love you Dale, good night," Andrea softly said,
"I love you too," Dale whispered back, attempting to get some sleep for the sake of his sons while Andrea say staring off in the distance wondering where the others were now.
Back in Woodbury, Martinez looked to Bruce who gave him a nod as he headed off with the group's weapons, "Alright, you're all good to go. Sorry for all the theatrics, but we can't afford to take chances these days, I hope you understand,"
"Not like we had much of a choice," Kenny muttered in response,
"Easy pal, let me bring you over to the big man in charge, he can answer any and all questions I'm sure you all have," Martinez easily replied, not fazed by the groups suspicious or angry stares, "Follow me,"
"Please Martinez, that's not necessary," A calm friendly voice said just as the man took a step, in front of him was a thick tall man wearing a raggy pair of jeans, a turtle neck sweater with a brown khaki vest over it. He had long slicked back dark hair with a fu manchu mustache to match, a revolver hung from his belt though his hands were nowhere near it as he was flanked by a portly man as well as Larry, both of whom carried assault rifles, "I can take it from here,"
"You see, I told you this dumb fuck was bringing in people! They lead a goddamn horde with them, and see what they're wearing! He's gonna get us all killed!" Larry yelled out,
The man turned and with an easy smile said, "Of course I see that, but we trust Martinez to keep the wall running and deal with any folks who mean us harm. Clearly these folks haven't caused us any harm and now that they are disarmed I'm sure we can handle it from here. Why don't you head on home for the night, Larry, I'm sure Lilly is worried,"
"I...but...fine, yes sir," Larry grunted, clearly showing an internal struggle to not argue against the man.
The man nodded, "Thank you,"
Larry began to turn before his eyes locked onto Lee's, staring at him intently for a long moment, "You? Where the fuck do I know you?" Larry muttered,
"Larry," The man said a bit more forcefully, "Go," Larry shook his head and left muttering under his breath, "So sorry strangers, he means well, but he lacks a certain level of tackt. So if you'll follow me, I can show you around, Martinez, you need to stay here keep the dead these people no doubt brought with them off the walls, okay?"
"Yes sir Governor, I didn't know you were coming down here tonight, I was just going to run them over to you now," Martinez explained,
"It's no problem, Martinez," The Governor easily replied, "I was coming down because Oberson's team finally is returning, he just paged me,"
"Oh really," Martinez said replied while quickly turning and jumping up on the wall, "I think I see him!"
The Governor turned to Rick's group and gave them all a friendly smile, "So sorry strangers, it'll just be one more moment," Moments later Martinez and a few other men from the wall pulled the gate open a second time, this time allowing a large box truck to pull into Woodbury.
The vehicle pulled to the side and a few men jumped out, the man in charge quickly handed off a clipboard to Martinez. He wore a faded air force jacket with a well kept beard but rather large and bushy hair both streaked with grey, showing the man's age. "We took inventory, but we'll need to do it a second time to make sure it's correct, section two dash three has been cleared and reinforced,"
"Right," Martinez nodded before turning to one of the other men's from Oberson's team, a man wearing all biker leathers and a skull bandana over his head, "Jeff, take who you need,"
Oberson noticed the Governor and walked over, bypassing Rick and the others completely, "Phillip," He said in a respectful tone, "How is everything here?"
"Running as smooth as ever," The Governor replied, "I was actually about to give these strangers the nickel tour,"
Oberson finally turned and inspected the group of survivors wh silently continued to look and watch at all the activity happening in front of them, "When did they show up?" He dryly asked,
"Just now," The Governor chuckled, "Here come with us," He said inviting the man along only for Oberson to give him an understanding nod, "Alright folks, sorry for the wait, please, come with us,"
Rick glanced to the others, while all showing rather reluctant looks they knew they didn't exactly have a choice in the matter. They followed Oberson and The Governor as they walked leaving the large bodyguard to follow just behind them so no one straggled off. As they made their way up the street Rick asked the obvious question, "Governor?"
"As yes, it's a title I wear with a smile. It's more of a joke of course, but I thought fuck it, who's going to tell me no. I almost went with the president but Oberson here talked me out of it," The Governor replied with a lighthearted chuckle, "I always did want to be a Governor though, so I saw my chance and I took it."
"So what are you, fucking "General" or something?" Kenny snarkily asked,
"No, no nicknames," Oberson replied,,
"So since you're the one doing the talking so far, what's your story stranger?" The Governor asked Rick,
"No story, We've been traveling since the start and we noticed the helicopter. We were close enough to investigate just not closer than you, right?" Michonne interjected,
The Governor turned his head, and in a rather serious tone said, "I believe I was talking to the man here, ma'am, hope you understand,"
Rick's eyes flicked to Lee, trying to get a quick read if he felt lying was best, before going back to The Governor, "Yeah, that really is our story, we've just been traveling going from building to building, trying to find somewhere safe. What about you? You guys seem to be holding down this place pretty well, what do you have a couple blocks fortified?" The deputy asked trying to change the subject back to them,
"Four blocks actually, were working on the walls for the fifth right now, but it's slow going. We have about fifty survivors here now, there was a time we were getting more every week but you folks are the first new ones we've seen in nearly a month." The Governor replied, "When I first got here, it was just a few buildings, and after we got rid of the old management...well, things just a lot better for us all,"
"Old management?" Lee asked,
"A few miles up the road," Oberson answered, "There was a national guard station, when shit hit the fan, the group of them abandoned the station and came here. They protected us few survivors of the town and put them to work on securing a safe district in town."
"Oberson here rose up the ranks pretty fast, having just retired from the air force after all they all got quite chummy," The Governor joked,
"I wouldn't say that," Oberson denied, "I just knew what I was talking about, and I knew how to handle the biters so we'd be okay,"
"But what happened to the soldiers?" Glenn curiously asked,
"That would be where I came in," The Governor piped up, "I arrived a few weeks into this mess, Oberson showed me what was going on and before long we both realized the hard truth, those men were monsters. Taking whatever they wanted, killing whoever stood in their way, for the good of the town we had to take a stand and get rid of them. Which we did, and because of that, we've done quite alright for a little hold out of civilization,"
"So you guys killed the soldiers here, and just took over/" Kenny frowned,
"They weren't soldiers anymore, just a group of bastards waving their guns around helping themselves to whatever, and whoever they wanted," Oberson snapped back, "If we didn't kill them they'd have killed us,"
"Anyway, after all that happened, we went up to that old station and took what we could, there was weapons, ammo, fuel, everything we needed to protect and arm this town," The Governor continued,
"But what was all that about clearing a sector and reinforcing it?" Lee asked in confusion,
The Governor couldn't help but let out a small laugh, "That would be part of what Oberson here calls, "Woodbury's Final Solution", right?" He said causing Oberson to shake his head in minor irritation, "Oh don't be so sensitive about it," The Governor scoffed before looking over to Lee, "Honestly, it's a very clear cut and smart plan,"
"Wait are you the people boarding up all the buildings?" Glenn asked in surprise,
"Yeah, and that's only part of it," Oberson nodded, "I found a map of the town in the city zoning office, I cut divided it into sectors so a few times a week we go out, we go into a sector, and we clear the buildings. Kill the dead inside, take everything that isn't nailed down and then board them up, that way nothing else will infest them again. Makes it safer for everyone in town that way,"
"I noticed some writing on the boards though, what is that about?" Lee asked,
"Simple way to keep track of what was there and when it was done. We mark the day we cleared it, how many walkers we killed and how many survivors found as well as how many were eligible," Oberson simply replied,
"Eligible?" Kenny replied with a raised brow, "What does that mean?" Oberson and The Governor remained silent,
As they walked each of the survivors couldn't help but start to feel a bit more uncomfortable, each looking at each other and what was around them. As they turned a corner, they all spotted a few bright spot lights aimed down on a large field, "Where are you taking us, is that a baseball game?"
The Governor shook his head, "No, you're actually lucky, you all showed up on a perfect night. There's a fight tonight," Oberson let out a scoff and shook his head, "Oberson never really approved of them, doesn't understand about keeping people entertained," The Governor smirked. As the group entered the stadium The Governor paused holding up a hand towards the lights, "Curious about the electricity, well thank god for rednecks. They never wanted their races to be bothered if the town lost power so the whole place is hooked up to a giant generator. We usually keep the fights to the day but on special occasions we like to light it up for a night," The Governor explained while the group looked out at the field that had nearly two dozen walkers chained up and dotting the edge of the field.
Just then the man known as Bruce who had taken away the groups weapons from earlier approached the others, Oberson walked over muttered something into his ear before the pair returned to the group, "Here, I have a private booth just up here, you can all get a good view," The Governor quickly said leading the five up the stairs of the stadium to the announcers booth,
"So what the fuck, you making the fucking walkers fight each other?" Kenny asked in confusion,
"The walkers? Lord no, that's not real entertainment. We got real live people fighting down there. They beat the hell out of each other, you know, put on a real show for everyone in town," The Governor replied,
"Are you fucking serious?" Lee asked in near disgust,
"I'm sensing some disapproval there stranger, Look, people get restless without entertainment and without television this is the next best thing," The Governor retorted,
"That doesn't make a damn lick of sense, you fence off an area then cart in a damn horde of these fucking things?" Kenny grunted,
"He's got a point," Oberson said with a sideways glare to The Governor,
The Governor returned with a smirk as the group entered the announcers booth, "Well yeah, we did have a few accidents at first but they calmed down once we started feeding them," The Governor admitted while Oberson shut the door behind them, flicking the lock ever so easily.
"Feeding them?" Rick repeated in shock, "What the hell are you feeding them?"
"Well stranger," The Governor smiled as Oberson, Gabe, and Bruce all pulled guns out, aiming them at Rick, Lee's, and Kenny's heads. "We're feeding them strangers," He finished with a devilish smile.
Alright everyone here we are, The Governor has hit the scene and yes the new surprise addition alive members of Crawford are here! Oberson has a near equal state of being the leader of Woodbury as The Governor and we even have more characters to meet afterwards! Please let me know what you think about Crawford Oberson being alive for once and actually being a leader/lieutenant for The Governor! I'll see you all in the next chapter!
