-The Assembly Hall...-

"So that's it then. The only way to get to the chopper is to get up to the platform," Craig pointed to the desired location on the map and the others crowded around him to see.

"So what's the big problem?" asked Dunn.

"Well for one thing, the only way to get to the platform, is through the the main base. And we all know how screwed up it is in the main base," answered Craig, "Not only that, but if I remember corerectly, the fourth and fifth levels are all sealed off, cutting off our access to the roof where we can get to that platform."

"Any way we can get onto those floors?" asked Shannon.

Craig pointed to another spot on the map, "Hmm, you know I don't know this place all that well, none of us do, but if I'm correct, if we can get a team up here, to the Main control room in the guard tower then we'll have a chance.. From there, the floors in the main base can be opened but who knows how many of Monsters are up there. Once it's opened though, the second team can head up to the fourth and fifth floors and make it to the chopper."

"Wait," interrupted Curtis, "Why does there have to be two teams. Why don't we all go as a group, head up to the control room, and then make our way to the main base together.

"That's a good plan father," noted Craig, "Only problem is, we're short on time time. We need a team to make it up to the platform fast, to meet with the first chopper. Otherwise if the pilots don't see anybody there waiting, there going to take off and have to do a whole circle through the storm. Who knows how long it'll take them to come back."

"Well, I for one don't want to spend another night in this hellhole," said Shannon.

"Amen," said Curtis.

Just then, Tricia came into the assembly hall.

"Hey Tricia," Craig gave her a quick nod of greeting, "'Bout time, where's Tyler at?"

Tricia shrugged, "How should I know."

The door to the assembly hall opened again. This time it was Tyler who walked in. He approached the group but when he got close to Tricia she completely ignored him.

Craig perked an eyebrow as he looked back and forth between the two, "Uh... everything ok?"

"Yes," said Tricia and Tyler at the same time. Curtis winced at the harshness in their voices.

"oookay, well, I guess our main problems, besides the thousands of flesh-eating monsters, is that psycho Billy," said Craig.

"No, Billy's taken care of.." Tyler paused as he shot a glance to Tricia, "We don't have to worry about him anymore."

"Um.. allright," started Craig,"well can someone get Eric, he's in the storage room getting our equipment together,"

"I'll get him," offered Tricia. She made her way out of the room without so much of a glance at Tyler.

"Wow," said Dunn, "Did it just get really chilly in here or what?"

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Ok...ammuntion check, weapons... check, vest.. check, Eric snapped his green vest on over his blue wifebeater. He slid his bowie knife into his belt, right beside a desert eagle holstered by his waist. He grabbed two duffle bags from off the table in front of him, setting them on the floor where he checked to see if it was filled with as much artillery as they could handle. Then he proceeded to zip both bags up.

He heard a loud bark to his left and turned to see Xena, a large bandage wrapped across the dog's upper body, come bounding into the room and start growling at him. Following the rottweiler, was Tricia.

"Glad to see you're ok," said Eric.

"Um, thanks, " replied Tricia.

"I was talking to the dog."

Xena ran over to Eric and started biting on the duffle bag. Eric had to practically rip the duffle bag out of the rottweiler's teeth.

"So, everything ready?" asked Tricia.

"Ready, set, go," said Eric, zipping up the last duffle bag, "We finally found ourselves a wild ride."

Tricia perked an eyebrow at him. There was definitely something different about the young soldier that she just couldn't put her finger on. She walked next to him and picked up one of the duffle bags, deciding to lend him a hand.

"So the last couple of days, I hear you haven't been being a total jerk to everyone anymore," said Tricia, as she slung the bag over her shoulder.

"And?"

"Guilt trip?"

Eric shrugged and slung his own duffle bag around his shoulders, "Well it's my fault isn't it. I let Billy out of that cell, and I didn't do anything when shannon warned me about him. Now Madison's dead."

"I didn't figure you for the kind of person who takes blame on themselves." Eric stayed silent for a second, thinking to himself.

"It's not your fault Eric, you couldn't have known."

"You know Tricia, this whole 'you being concerned about me' is starting to freak me out." Eric made his way to the room exit and Tricia followed him.

"We're not all going to make it are we?" said Tricia as they reached the doorway.

"Nope, but as long as I make it, that's all that matters," said Eric with a grin.

"Ugh, your such an asshole."

"See..." said Eric, "..Now there's the Tricia I've come to know and love."

Together, the two headed out of the storage room and back out to the assembly hall.

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The groups assembled to carry out the mission, and finished up the last minute preparations. Eric was checking the sights on his weapon when Craig came over to him.

"Yo, a toast to our last mission man," Craig was holding two flasks, one of which he handed over to Eric.

"I don't know about you, but I'm anxious to leave a goodbye-present for those undead freaks out there," said Eric, while loading his colt.

"Amen brother," Craig raised his flask into the air, "For Kara."

Eric nodded and raised his flask two, "For Marissa."

The two soldiers, two best friends, downed their whiskey flasks and then tossed them to the floor.

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Team 1 - Eric, Shannon, and Dunn

Team 2 - Craig, Curtis, Tyler and Tricia.

Team 1 was assigned to be the ones to head to the main base first, clear it out, head up to the rooftop and meet with the chopper.

Team 2 would be assigned to head to the guard towers and into the main control room where they would open up the fourth and fifth floors of the Main Base for Team 1.

It sounded so simple.

Night would be coming to an end soon, but the clouds were so thick and amassed together that not a single ray of light would perfortate through the mob, and so the the entire fort was shed in shadow and rain.

Team 2 were zigzagging through a series of compounds blocking their way, along with whatever assortment of tents were erected along the fort grounds. They were all dressed in army raincoats but it didn't help against the pounding rain and the ice-cold winds.

Craig led them to a part of the base where none of them, including himself had ever been before. In front of them was a slippery staircase that wound its way against the side of the north inner- wall. "Here we go" Craig whispered as he grabbed the dripping side rail and took the first step onto the staircase. The others followed soon after.

Step one complete.

Team 1 scurried through the rain as fast as they could. They were stopped by about three zombies blocking their paths, but Eric quickly dispatched them with a few rounds from his colt. Within seconds, he, Shannon and Dunn had reached the front doorway of the Main base and pried it open.

Darkness.... and the bellowing screams of undead hordes awaited them as they slowly stepped inside.