Dr.William Birkin

The elevator doors slid open, level three, the bottom of the shelter and the center of the maelstrom. David walked out, browning hi power aimed and ready. Another labyrinth of corridors greeted him. Walking forward he heard voices. Piers and Markenson...

Edging forward, he knelt beneath a window looking into a large lab and overheard the conversation.

Piers stared down the barrel of the glock which Markenson had shoved into his face. "Don't do this..it's not necessary!". "Its too late...the survivors are in the church..Isis is here, we are as good as dead...You did this to us you maniac...I'm going to enjoy sending you to hell..." laughed Markenson, enjoying Piers' fearful expression. "Too late you idiot..the tyrant is out...kill me and NOTHING can stop it..." laughed Piers. The glock lowered, Markenson backed off and sighed "How convenient for you..well...you've postponed your death warrant for a few hours I suppose...anyway...we should begin cleaning up our mess...kill the prisoner, Sunderland's probably dead by now..". Piers nodded and hit a button.

Down the hall a guard nodded after receiving the transmission and began walking towards the holding cell...

David stood up, loaded his Ingram and ran full speed down the hallway. Turning the corner he ran directly into the gun sights of three guards on patrol...

"HOLD IT!" screamed one of the guards, aiming his ak74. David began to lower his weapon. But before he could, a roar shook the hallway. The first sweeper BOW had failed Markenson, but the second wouldn't...

Joker

"Sir! This is Echo Team! We are under heavy B.O.W. attack! We need assista..."

The link went dead with the sound of Echo Team's lead sergeant screaming out in agony, the sound of his pain replaced with the sound of static. Keel's brow furrowed... how did Blair pinpoint their position so fast?!?

It had been about 20 minutes since Echo Team's last communique. If a B.O.W. was involved, that almost certainly meant the entire team had been wiped out. His failed attempts to get any kind of status report merely proved that. Echo Team was assigned to security detail on St. Joseph's Church, the very same place two of his three mission objectives were, along with a menagerie of others. But, for all he knew, they were dead too. "Fuck!", Keel spat. His mission was basically a failure. Two of three mission objectives were more than likely dead. The third was missing.

"Wait!", Keel thought, some hope entering his mind. He gave a radio to one of the youths... Ryan Bartlett, wasn't it?

Quickly grabbing the radio and setting it to Ryan's radio channel, he tried to get a response from Ryan...

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Ryan watched with the others as Winsor and Nathan "exchanged pleasantries".

John let out a low whistle as he watched with the rest as Winsor planted one on him.

"Well what d.." He was cut off as Ryan clamped a hand over his mouth telling him this was not the time. John seemed to understand and kept quiet.

But, for what Ryan heard, he knew what John was going to say, or, at least, what he meant.

"So, the Ice Queen can warm up to someone after all", Ryan silently mused to himself. Winsor had finally found someone she could become attached to. Normally, Ryan would have chalked it up to Nathan trying to flirt outrageously, but Winsor seemed to give as good as she got.

Jarred finally interrupted the moment.

"Well, now where do we go?"

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Within the Church...

"Ryan... Ryan, are you there?", the radio inside crackled.

Keel could hear nothing but static. Either Ryan had lost the radio or he was dead. If it was the latter, it was a safe bet the others were too.

"Might as well find out...", Keel thought to himself, hoping that the radio had just been lost.

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Back on the street...

"Well, where can we go?", John asked. "We've been to the GPD, that place is as dead as they come, I tell you."

Vanessa nodded her agreement with John's statement, looking somewhat saddened at the thought of her old friend Richard, now part of the unholy crusade to murder and devour the living.

"Ok, so not there", Ryan said. "Rose Hill Cemetery is nearby, but I seriously doubt anyone wants to enter the 'Lion's Den'..."

Ryan almost felt like laughing at the very fact he even brought it up. His mirth soon faded as he realized everyone else was not so good-humored about his suggestion.

"Or there's the Gaines News Station...", Ryan said quickly, trying to end the awkward moment.

"Why the hell would we want to go there?!?", Jarred asked. "There's nothing that can help any of us there. Besides, I hate the limelight."

"Not me", Nathan chimed in, much to the laughter of the others.

"Who said they'd want you to be filmed?", Ryan retorted. "We can get the word out to the public. We can make sure that everyone knows about the fuck-up Blair made here."

"Why should we?", Winsor asked.

"Because, if we do, we can make sure that every Joe Average of every town makes it their mission to run Blair the fuck out of town. Every town. We can shut them down completely in 10 minutes...", Ryan explained.

"...So this shit will never happen again", Jarred finished. He had to admit, it was a good idea.

"So, are we in agreement?", Nathan asked. Everyone seemed willing.

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Sierra Team had just finished their sweep of the area surrounding the church. Moving inside, the luminescence of the weapon-mounted tactical lights pierced the dark shadowy recesses of St. Joseph's. Rubble and broken glass marred the usually clean interior of the church, blood trails and body parts bringing defilement and sacrilege to a holy place.

After being satisfied that the search was thorough, Sergeant Farrell keyed his radio to report the situation.

"Sir, this is Sierra Team, we've got one hell of a mess down here. Echo Team's basically been made a graffiti mural in this place. They're all KIA..."

Keel was jolted from his wandering state of mind by the radio call.

"What about the survivors we picked up? Any sign of them?"

Sgt. Farrell looked to his team for confirmation. All shook their heads.

"That's a negative, sir. Survivors unaccounted for."

Keel sighed, almost with relief, as he heard the news. The loss of Echo Team was a tragedy, but the youths weren't amongst the dead. His objectives were not among the dead. That could only mean one thing.

Looking up as if he was staring into the heavens itself, he whispered...

"There is a God..."

Carlos Oliveira

Everyone piled into the jeep as John started it up. It was a tight squeeze but they all managed to get in. John stepped on the gas and they sped away. A short while later they arrived at the news station. John parking out front they climbed out and started for the door. Nathan lighting a smoke as he opened the door with his free hand. The six youths headed inside only to find that someone or thing had been there first.

"Well I guess this means I don't get my close up?" John quipped.

"Oh you'd get your close up alright John, but only if we knew for sure your looks wouldn't break the camera!" Winsor snickered.

Nathan tried to muffle his laughter but couldn't.

"Muff,....muuu.. Bah! Ha ha ha! Damn that was good!"

"Oh ya? Well at least I'm not sucking face with mister jock'o over there!" John shot back unable to hold his remark .

"Jock'o!?! You trying to start somethin' John?" Nathan asked taking a very deliberate step towards John.

"Whoa guys...." started Ryan.

"What if I am? You gonna do somethin' about it? Or is she?" he said pointing to Winsor.

"Wanna take it outside punk? I'll be more then happy to give you an attitude adjustment!" said Nathan in a heated tone.

"Sure lets g....!" John started.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP BOTH OF YOU!!! YOUR ACTING LIKE GODDAMN CHILDREN WITH SOMETHIN' TO PROVE WHILE PEOPLE AROUND US ARE DYING!!" yelled Ryan finally angry enough to raise his voice. He really didn't know who would win but from what he knew about Nathan and his Father he wasn't sure John would last long,...but then again he really didn't know John that well either.

"Your right Ryan. Sorry John. I'm...just a little stressed that's all. This isn't what I had in mind when my father said we were moving to Gaines." Nathan answered looking to John.

"Your right. Sorry Nath. I'm just stressed too I guess. Sorry Winsor." John replied.

Winsor just stood there glaring at him as Nathan pulled her close.

"Com' on guys. We've got work to do." Jarred said.

They started walking towards the back while Nathan held Winsor back.

"I'm sorry about what John said Sam. He was outta line. I know this is hard for you. It's hard for me too......but ya know if we let him get to us then were never gonna find out how far we can go together right? If anyone starts anything just shoot off a comment about Nessa and Jarred. That'll shut them all up ok?"

"Your right Nath but he pisses me off! I wish a zombie would just come along and eat him!" she said through clenched teeth.

"Hee hee that would be funny but I really think he's a good guy. It's just like your saying though sweety,.....'We are all from different clicks in the school'. But ya know what?"

"What?" she huffed.

"I'd rather be in your click then his." Nathan finished smiling and adding a wink.

"Let's just get this over with Sam. And after maybe we can start our lives over,...together. I don't have anyone else left for me,....except you. I don't want to lose you because of what John or anyone else thinks. Lina did that to me once and I couldn't handle it again. After this is over how's about we work on me and you and not what other people think?" Nathan asked.

"We'll see. If we ever get out of this nightmare. I'd like that a lot Nath. But I swear if your toying with me I'll hunt you down and kill you myself!!" she shout out.

Nathan smiles and laughed,.."Does this help boost you confidence in me?" he asked as he pulled her close and kissed her deeply. His arms holding her tightly as she clung to him.

Nathan pulled away and she smiled.

"Just remember what I said that's all. And for now can we keep this away from the others. The last thing I need is their attitudes!"

"Not a problem." Nathan answered back smiling.

Together they headed for the back room.

Ryan was trying to figure out the controls for the broadcasting system while Vanessa and Jarred went looking for a camera.

"Dammit! This thing isn't working!" Ryan said in frustration.

"Did you turn it on?" asked John.

"What?!? I though it was on?"

John walked over and turned a dial until it clicked. Nothing happened.

"That's odd? Power must be out." he suggested.

"Well don't these places have back-ups for emergencies?" Ryan asked.

"Yeah they do. Should be downstairs." John replied.

Nathan and Winsor walked in and strolled up to the control board.

"What's goin' on?" Nathan asked.

"Powers out, but there should be a back-up downstairs." said John.

"Well just show me the way and I'll have you up and running in no time." Nathan stated with a smile.

"It's in the basement. Just go through the first door we passed in here and go down the stairs, ya can't miss it,....it's the one marked "Basement"" he laughed.

"Ha ha very funny. Se you guys in a bit." he said as he started towards the door.

"Hey I'll go with you." said Winsor as she sprinted towards him.

Ryan shot a look to John to make sure he didn't say anything stupid to break the peace. John seemed to get the hint and kept quiet.

Vanessa pressed Jarred to the wall and smiled deeply into his eyes.

"It's about time I got you alone."

"Ha ha! you got me alone? I thought I was getting you alone?" he answered back.

Together they shared a look before Jarred placed his lips to hers and started to pull her tighter against himself. They were stopped by John's voice.

"Hey guys? What's taking so long? There's got to be dozens of cameras in here!" as he strolled around the corner.

Vanessa backed away just before John came into view. He looked dumbly between the two before speaking,....."I'm not interrupting anything am I?"

"You wish." Vanessa said with a roll of her eyes.

"Lets find a camera and get out of here. This place is giving me the creeps." said Jarred as he started looking for a light switch.