Fifteen minutes have passed while the group of Saviors had met Dr. Samuel Hayden, all surrounding him as they guided him with assault rifles through the dense forest. Dean rolls his eyes at Mark and Laura, who both are currently asking a variety of questions about Hayden's aspects. The android complied with all their demands. As for Derek, though, he was busier thinking about what to grab for lunch on the way back to the Sanctuary.
"Your robot body doesn't tire, does it?" A note of mild jealousy appeared in Laura's tone, smirking.
"Although it does not, I sometimes demand in search of energy sources to maintain life in me sustainable." Hayden remained passive in this conversation.
"What would you think you'd find around here?" Mark asked, still interested.
"God, you guys have been asking the giant robot questions for like twenty times now." Dean groaned, feeling agitated.
"Yeah, well I would like to know unlike you and Derek, Dean." Laura countered back with a sneer.
"Well, do you know what I would like?" Dean asked, his rage hidden behind his annoyed frown.
"What?" Mark replied.
"For you guys to SHUT UP," Dean answered with a scowl at the scarred man. "None of those questions will matter yet, and don't get me wrong! All of this isn't where the robot gets a get-out-of-jail-free card. Let's not wait around any more. Negan can handle the talking a lot better once we get back."
Laura shrugs with a smug look. "Okay, how about I'll be quiet while you blabber like a dumbass and then attract rotters with that beautiful voice of yours. And besides, you still want us standing around while you piss on a tree earlier? You know where the Sanctuary is, Dean."
Dean started grumbling, getting annoyed the hell out by Laura's cruel cockiness. Guessing this was payback for him and his friend flirting with the female lieutenant. Hayden silenced the chuckle that he wanted to let out after that before it could transmit his voice synthesizer. His amusement soon got tarnished when Dean glared daggers at Hayden.
"You think this is funny, robot!?" Dean snarled at the robotic behemoth.
"I'm sorry," Hayden said honestly. "I won't do so unless your Lieutenant here decides to cease the amusement of your vexation or not. After all, she is in charge of this patrol, correct?"
Laura couldn't help but slightly giggle at Hayden's remark, remembering minutes back when Dean suggested that Laura would keep an eye on him. Dean became so tempted to turn round and shoot the giant android in the head, even though Negan might give him a more satisfying death. But something about Hayden seemed scary. It was as if he would put himself into more trouble, just like how Hayden gazed him down moments ago. His face seemed to eclipse the sun, and the azure glowing light of his singular eye swarmed about his face as a radiance's might. Dean's mind could only draw together a half-thought about Hayden's gleam, about how it seemed to burn between the perimeters of blackness, and trailed off into silence until feeling blank on the inside.
"How farther are we now?" Hayden asked unsurely.
"We should be getting back to Sanctuary pretty soon, doc." Laura answered, "Recently, we remembered passing by this small abandoned settlement earlier today. The place was filled with roamers around each shop, over by the hill even."
Mark added, "We were able to get past them quickly enough, but God knows how this will turn out again, having you with us this time."
Hayden had been listening to Laura the entire time, "So, these Possessors as you say they are; they come in groups by sound or prey, correct?"
Laura raised an eyebrow at this, incredulous. "Possessors? Is that what you call the dead?"
Hayden almost stopped talking after what he just mentioned. He also remembered that these survivors have never heard of living on different planets. Their Earth here has never terraformed and colonized the other planets in the Solar System.
"Well, let's just say...a former friend of mine had most of the people she worked with exposed to bio-waves without further effects." Hayden expresses with different gestures. "Some would enter a state of posthumous vigor. For example, they become sectional when defied by the living. During isolation, extraordinarily enter themselves in a latent state for extensive periods. They will stand, unmoving, for days or weeks at a time until presented with a live food source or threatened by a predator."
For the first time, Laura had almost become convinced by the way Hayden explained, yet her expression was somewhat doubtful and bewildered. Same thing with Mark, who kept his gaze upon the towering android as calm as he could. Dean kept gazing ahead of the forest while ignoring how genuinely polite and friendly Hayden was despite being a cyborg of some kind. Dean could feel the power radiating from the robotic scientist and grew doubtful about Negan's ability to win against the likes of him. His intentions were impossible to determine by his characteristics and how easily he could gain people's interests, but he still looked as intimidating as ever.
Mark began to speak, "That sounds weir-"
"Yeah, yeah, rotters getting exposed to different kinds of shit we've heard of. Can we get on with it?" Dean cursed, glaring at Hayden and Mark.
"Dean, we're only halfway far once we get back to the Sanctuary. The only thing we got to do now is getting right past that horde again from the small ghost town." Mark explained to Dean, who scoffed in reply while walking onward.
Laura pats the robotic android's arm. "Don't worry about Dean. He's just jealous cause he ain't got a super cool robot body like yours."
"Laura, I swear to god-"
"Hey, guys?" Derek asked, "I don't mean to interrupt anything or something, but I can't help but notice that there isn't any sound of rotters nearby the small town full of shops."
"For fuck sake, Derek." Dean interrupted. "Just because there aren't any rotters, doesn't mean we're in trouble here and now. Those dead fuckers are probably off somewhere doing the same creepy shit that they do-"
"I wouldn't be so auspicious about it, Dean," Hayden divulged as he points over by where the small town was; especially the solitude aspect it had manifested.
"The hell are you talking about...?" Dean trailed off as he looks over where Hayden was pointing.
Each of them was already above the hills, giving them a clear view of a terrifying sight they've never seen before. It seemed to resemble an undead herd or swarm. However, they were all on the ground either dead, mutilated, smashed, melted, and obliterated in pieces everywhere. Hayden could take note that this area was a journey of madness, still reeling in the full disgusting details of what he examined in the distance. Then, feeling spent, he turned his head over to see the frightened expressions on each Savior soldier's face.
Laura took note of Hayden's statement before observing the genuine horror afar, staring with wide eyes. Gaping down below at the sickening view, Mark desired to throw up at this point as he hurries away to a tree where he barfed. He was far beyond petrified at what he was witnessing. Dean was startled in his eyes while Derek wasn't even facing the gory landscape anymore, covering his mouth in disgust.
"What the fuck...?!" Mark cursed aloud, "What the hell happened here?!"
"Everything here looked like they just got blown up by something or whatever! There's no way any of those other communities could've done this by themselves without guns," Laura alleged in a whispering tone. "Could they have...?"
Derek disagreed, "There's no way Alexandria, or Hilltop, or even the Kingdom could've done anything like this! Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. They would've needed a bunch of guns to tear through this place down."
Hayden hummed for a moment, feeling a bit uneasy inside. "Hmm, maybe. But I highly doubt any other human would do this..."
Mark looked up at the unmoving android, "Did you do any of this?"
"Certainly not, Mark. If it were me, I would've been overcrowded by the undead in a mere second. I'd rather not be the foolish type than to do something that we are observing right now. All of this could be much bigger than you'd ever imagine." Samuel responded, looking down at the scarred man.
"Not sure yet. But it sure as hell isn't your average gang of hoodlums, that much I know. Well, I got check this out," Dean uttered and starts to drag himself down the hill.
"Wait a minute, Dean," Mark alerted the male Savior, "We don't know if anybody else is down there still. It might risk us of getting into more trouble again."
"I can assist to investigate the place and make a recording of any hostile threats around the forest area." Hayden began as he tried to walk past Dean, but he placed a hand that prevented the cyborg from going any further.
"Oh no, you don't! You are staying here," Dean ordered as he gave him a fierce glare. "Until we get a full assessment of you, we are letting you leave our sights unless you're with another Savior."
"Dean, he could be helpful to us," Mark insisted.
"He's our intruder, Mark. Get that through your scarred skull." Dean glowers at Mark, silencing him.
"Shouldn't this be Laura's choice to decide on the matter? She is in charge of this entire patrol if not mentioned before, so I trust what she'll speak on her mind." Hayden noted, earning a smirk from Laura.
"Seems relevant to see somebody who knows how to give a person respect when it's needed." Laura gripped her assault rifle, nudging at Hayden. "Tin-man here will be accompanying me, so you should better learn from him now on."
Dean scowled angrily and exclaimed, "What are you going and telling him this shit for, Laura? He's our intruder, remember?"
"Then try doing a good enough job of embarrassing yourself on your own, Dean. Any objections, dipshits?" Laura shot back.
While both Derek and Mark didn't seem bothered by Laura's sudden transaction, Dean looked utterly pissed off as he could only send out a few cursing mutters to himself while glaring at Hayden.
"Fine, fuck you guys." Dean turned away, "Derek will come with me. We'll check those guys there and be careful. Some of them might still be moving."
Derek soon nodded as he follows Dean, leaving Hayden and the two Saviors behind to make their way down for themselves. After he carefully arrived down the hill, Hayden trudges around with Laura and Mark alongside him so that he didn't make a break for it.
Mark then comes up to Hayden with a mere shrug, "Don't mind Dean giving you an earful, doc. Once he gets going, there's no bringing him back. His bark's worse than his bite."
Hayden silently nodded as Mark continues to check around the place, cringing at the sight of the dead walkers everywhere along the ground. Hayden's head scrolls over to Laura, noticing how tense she was at this strange sight. She didn't know why she became so scared all of a sudden. But the way they looked right now, shattered and torn like they were broken bottles or sheared cardboard. Laura partially saw one shop's walls with gaping holes and smeared blood everywhere.
"Are you sure it wasn't you?" Laura asked.
"I'm uncertain as well, but I'll have you know that I wasn't the cause of this." Hayden addressed her, causing her to look back.
"Oh, come on, doc. You got yourself a robot body, so what harm can't you do?" Laura said, looking more unconvinced.
"Let's just say I'm only virtual as the defensive type; more likely to avoid trouble but put an end to those who endanger first."
Laura crosses her arms. "If that's true, then you could've left while you're at it. Why need our help?"
"Because it won't matter for long when humanity starts to decay through madness, and we will become extinct. Besides, if I hadn't approached you in the first place, who knows what other groups would consider me as per se." Hayden said, his tone returning normal despite his statement before.
Laura seemed that for at least this moment, he was being genuine and had no ulterior motives. "Nice to see you getting along with us. Hopefully, Negan does so, too. Check the rest. And look for ammo. We're trying not to run low."
Mark approaches one of the bodies and pokes it with his rifle. "Full of holes, some of them look like they got melted by fire or something. Still, who do you think could do shit like this?"
"Think about it. You're Negan, then what do you do?" Laura said to Mark as Hayden turned to her, walking over to another corpse.
Laura begins to notice a dead walker with something strange on its forehead, and it seems to look like an unworldly symbol. "Check this out, guys. Where do you suppose that would come from around here?" she asked.
As soon as Hayden inspects the satanic-looking symbol, he hummed for a second, "Considering the possible amount of bodies left here in the most disturbing means, it's a FUBAR. Something terrible has happened here beyond anyone's control, possibly for your sakes as well."
"A what?" Mark asked.
Laura groaned, "It means fucked up beyond all recognition, Mark. Hayden here just cracked the case somehow. All of this wasn't just your rinky-dink pissing match. We better get out of here and warn Negan about this."
Hayden notices Dean and Derek coming back to them, but Dean's face was terrified. "We're done here."
Laura was just as confused as Derek is, but she believed Dean had seen what she observed herself. From what Mark could perceive on Dean's uncommon reaction, he knew that this strange incident had already come down upon each of them. It will get notified to Negan as soon as possible. The two of them were quiet about this as Hayden looks back at the abandoned town filled with mutilated corpses.
"You good?" Laura asks Hayden, noticing him when he looked back.
"Yes, let's continue." Hayden nodded, following the same routine as their intruder.
Unbeknown to any of them, the air crackled with energy somewhere, not all that far within the trees. For a long time, the wildlife scattered, already sensing the mysterious disturbance when arcs or lightning unexpectedly danced in the field until a portal suddenly appeared. Out of it stepped many bipedal and shadowy-looking creatures that felt vengeful, unworldly, demonic. Not before long, glowing eyes emerged within the deep shadows, alongside several more ghoulish eyes that belonged to the legions of Hell. All of them were simpering as they took in their new surroundings.
It was a new world. So pure, so innocent. They would love to corrupt it.
As the van zoomed across the road with enough speed, the Slayer jogged his memory with the whole story about the Saviors. A man named Negan killed two of their most valuable fighters in the group through the event of Negan's "game" to pick who would be on the receiving end.
Furthermore, Negan takes another two of his people because stupid mistakes get made, but one of theirs escapes. Negan has beaten Rick's group, and they've failed to win. Plus, they all have to give him half of their supplies.
And he even carries a bat in which he calls Lucille.
The Slayer snorted at the fact that Negan's authority only works with people who fear death, but he has experienced death left and right, hither and thither, all through the legions of Hell and back on his Earth.
Rick had given up and was no longer the same leader as he once was before since he was willing to mutilate one of his son's arms on Negan's order. Negan bluntly tells Rick he must chop his son's arm off so that he'll realize that Negan is in control. Rick eventually becomes resigned to doing it, but at the last second, Negan stops him.
Slayer crosses his arms in his thoughts about what Negan did to break Rick.
Well, that mind fuck was complete.
So pretty much a lot of mind games happened to Rick from Negan. No injury came towards Rick, even though Negan does toss him into a small herd of zombified fuckers. Rick may know how strong his group is, but he does underestimate how big Negan's group was at the time. A leader must still show courage. At that point in this world, the Slayer would be thinking that Rick here would have plenty of people willing to die fighting rather than be captured and tortured.
Peering through the musty glass of the van, the Slayer let out an exhausted sigh, taking in the luscious greenery of the forest as the van sleekly drove along the spiraling country road. Golden radiance shone brightly through the crooked trees, an eerie whistling occurring while the branches swayed side to side in a rhythmic motion.
The gentle hum of the engine soothed the Slayer's slightly, fluttering his baggy eyelids, protesting against the idea of relaxing. The Slayer knew better than to stupidly allow himself to fall asleep while taken by these strangers. They could do anything to him, but he'd be ready to fight and fend for himself.
"We've also allied with other communities that have experienced the same thing as us." Michonne mentions, to which the Slayer nodded.
Rick added as he drives, "Hilltop has, but we don't think the Scavengers haven't been under Negan. The guns in the back are for them, and their leader Jadis won't join unless we give her weapons."
The Slayer furrowed his eyebrows, presenting a deep scowl at that statement. It's going to be Olivia Pierce all over again. The Slayer was already tired of people who cared about the easy way or the right way. Speaking of people, it makes the Slayer ponder a lot about Jadis, wanting weapons for some stupid reason they have. But they better not be taking away his guns for anything else either.
VEGA: {Slayer, these humans are not trying to sabotage you and your weaponry. But if these Scavengers would have tried posing a threat to Alexandria, you'll know how to stop them eventually.}
The Slayer frowned a bit at VEGA's statement as his fists clutched into a trembling manner by the time Michonne notices his behavior. The Slayer pointed at his weapons furiously before striking a thumb back to him, showing that they belong to him only. He shook his head back at Michonne with the same eyes as before, showing distrust to both of these survivors. Rick had already slowed down the van into a full stop, looking a bit stern at what the Slayer's actions have caused.
"Look, we've both already decided not to take your weapons too," Rick explained, turning to face the Slayer. "We're not trying to hurt you or anything, but please understand. We want to get enough people together to fight the Saviors because of what Negan has done to innocent lives."
"As for Jadis, we're only going to give her half so that others in our group can defend themselves too. I understand how hesitant you are about this deal, but we need your help in all of this. Do you understand, big guy?" Michonne chimed in, looking at the Slayer with a firm yet sad expression.
The Slayer stared at both of them hard, still unwilling to speak as he observes Rick's stern yet painful expression, particularly Michonne's as well. From what the Slayer could see in their eyes, they looked hurt deeply. There was an ocean of grief in both their eyes. Whatever they are, they were genuine, but they were in pain. The kind that most buried deep in their souls, but on any occasion, would get discovered.
So Rick may have his reservations about his community, but he doesn't reveal that to the group. Negan's group has subjugated several settlements like Rick's, but now, the future is for his group to unite with the communities and defeat Negan somehow. The Slayer sighed as he starts putting his weapons into a pile of his own. Then, he presented a thumbs-up for Rick to determine that the Slayer understood, followed by a nod from each person.
Afterward, Rick began to drive down the road once again while speaking, "And the Kingdom, well, their leader didn't want to get involved. I tried my hardest to convince him, but I believe he doesn't want to cause conflict between him and the Saviors. I think he only wants peace and continues giving them supplies."
The Slayer listened carefully to Rick's every word, causing him to think deeply about the Kingdom's leader and the choices he makes. It makes as much sense to think of heavily armed people succumbing to fear and awe by some guy in a leather jacket carrying around a bat with barbed wire. It's easier to imagine that some man with a living tiger could be any protector in a world where the dead roam around.
"Hopefully, when we win, they wouldn't have to give not one thing to them. It'll be up to us to reorder everything once he's gone." Rick finishes just as Michonne points ahead, having him nod. "We're here."
Rick puts his foot down on the brake, and then the Slayer looks up at the giant gate. The Slayer should assume this must be Alexandria. The place here looks like it's safe from any of those zombies, though the Slayer wouldn't imagine what it would do for demons if they were ever here.
As Rick gets out of the car with Michonne, he looks at the Slayer, "Wait here."
Rick comes forth to the main gate and gestures ahead, having the gate slide open to reveal a group of people. Rick walks up to them; one of them was named Rosita Espinosa, a woman with the cap on, frowning at him.
"Where have you two been?" Rosita asked.
"We've been around getting supplies. Sorry I've been gone for a while, Rosita." Rick answers, causing Rosita to cross her arms.
"What did you guys find?" A ponytailed woman named Tara asks.
"Weapons, Tara. Lots of weapons enough for Jadis and her group," Rick replied, to which Rosita glared.
"She's not having all of them." She said, her eyes still onto Rick along with everyone else.
"Of course not, Rosita. We split a share for her people while we get the extra half."
"I guess that's something to turn up to, maybe," Rosita says, looking behind her, "Tara, let's go-"
"Hold on, everyone. We also found...someone else." Michonne said.
Predictably, most of the remaining survivors and residents in Alexandria were taken aback at this.
"What?" Rosita asks in disbelief.
"What do you mean, Michonne?" Tara asks.
"We have somebody else to join up with us, Tara," Rick responded as he looks behind him to see Michonne opening the van's backdoors.
Everyone's turned their attention to what it was before apprehension ran through them for some reason. Rosita and Tara stopped and looked at their new arrival, both eyes holding confusion yet fear at the same time. With each thought becoming too simple, the Alexandria residents didn't assume the Slayer's armored boot to step right out. Voices were wondering what was going on until when they see the Slayer in his armored Praetor Suit. Mostly dark green, silver, black, and bronze, with slightly lighter legs and helmet. There were also signs of blood splatters due to when the Slayer took that entire walker horde.
"W... Who is that!?"
"Whoa! That guy is huge!"
"I don't like this one bit."
"How can we be sure this man won't turn on us!?"
Most of everyone's thoughts centered around the Praetor Suit regarding the mysterious origins of where it comes from previously. The Slayer remained silent just as he stepped out of the van and then began to stretch out. He began to work out the muscles for a short while, not giving a damn to whoever was inspecting what he'll do next. Many survivors were unsure what to make of the Slayer, given how much armor he displayed, especially the stone-cold aura that had flowed through each individual.
Their eyes met a terrifying figure that had already come out and walked next to Rick. Just after the Slayer got out of the van, he received an unwelcoming look, while others looked scared. The Slayer was looking up once more, and his eyes ran across the area, counting several or more survivors here. Beautiful suburban houses diverged around. Cleanly wiped pavements without a single drop of that vermillion liquid sputtered all over them. Neatly cut emerald-colored grass stretched across the town with small plants sprouting from the crumbling soil.
Before the Slayer could even step three feet onward, various Alexandrians came rushing to welcome back Rick and Michonne. But once they caught sight of the armored man behind the couple, their bladed weapons had gotten drawn and aimed at him. It was as if they thought he would harm them while pulling such a bounty into Alexandria.
They were mental.
The Slayer calmly held his combat shotgun down by his hip though he was gripping it tightly if he needed to fire it quickly. He hated weapons getting pointed at him for no reason other than human nature. It was hard for him to tell if or when people become aggressive since none of them were making a move and kept glancing at each other. Though their amassed weapons amused him; was that a frying pan?
It made him want to laugh. The Slayer wouldn't shoot at these people unless they fired first, but he was grateful for his vigor that rippled with anticipation. Not many humans stuck to it, but sometimes, the Slayer never attacked first. It was his rule because otherwise, it could cause a misunderstanding.
"Rick, what the hell is this? Is he part of the Saviors?" Rosita asks, doubtful for a second.
"No. He's not with anyone." Rick shakes his head hastily, trying to get rid of the building tension.
The Slayer could tell that this woman was fast approaching this gathering, and she did not look happy. His arrival must have interrupted something. She acted like somebody trying to function like a predator; the Slayer just snorted in contempt. It was a wonder that these people needed so many supplies and were hostile about it when faced with so many at one time.
"Well then, how do you know that he could be a spy," Rosita asks, shaking out of her involuntary pauses.
There was little doubt in the Slayer's mind that this woman often demanded and ordered rather than ask and offer. The way the group was eyeing the van behind him with barely concealed hunger. He couldn't stand that look in other people, not since he knew what that felt like before.
"Trust me, Rosita. He's not a spy. Hell, he pretty much...showed us the truth." Rick sighed with a hint of gestures.
"What do you mean by showing?" Tobin asks, along with a few other residents who very much wanted an explanation too.
Before Rick could explain, Tara got a little too eruptive about how the Slayer looked, while a teenager named Mikey looked fascinated by the Slayer's armor.
"Yeah, but why does he dress like it's some buff armor-like getup?" Tara asked, looking at the Slayer with a hint of hostility.
"Well, you have to admit, Tara, he looks like a badass! I still wonder where'd he got it somehow. He's like a character from a video game!" Mikey said.
When Tara and Mikey soon came closer to the Slayer, he became more scrutinized by the surrounding yet fearful residents. Many of these people didn't look agreeable to Rick's idea of bringing the Slayer here to his community. Some of them do not look like the type that savagely mutilates their enemies because they want to save bullets.
The Slayer could guess that being a savage doesn't guarantee safety for their rules around here. And that working together and being sharp increases their chances of survival, which the Slayer can somewhat respect.
Tara replied, "Mikey, the armor looks nice and all, but don't you think it's a bit too much? I can't even see his face with that helmet on him."
"Well, then," Mikey scratches his head, suggesting, "Maybe he could take off the helmet-"
The Slayer's head snapped over, eyes fixing on both Tara and Mikey as they jolted backward in surprise.
"What the...?!" Tara uttered, her eyes turned wide.
The survivors jumped at the sound of the Slayer's neck turning, and so did Rick and Michonne. His immediate state of movement pretty much got a hold of everyone's attention. Several residents who each had weapons of their own almost caught them off-guard, making them hold their ground from the likes of the Slayer. Tara couldn't help but feel uneasy when she inspected the Slayer's helmet through the green visor that prevented anyone from seeing his face.
Tobin quickly came over and pulled Mikey away from getting closer, "Son, keep away from him."
"But Dad-!"
"Now," Tobin repeated with a firm tone, causing Mikey to back off from the Slayer.
"Hey, what the hell is your deal!? Do you even see what you're doing?" Rosita asked, glaring at the Slayer sternly with her arms crossed.
"He's not here to hurt anyone, and I'll be sure of it, Rosita." Rick proclaimed, reassuring the Slayer once more. "It's fine, big guy."
It was slightly amusing to watch Rosita puff up, yet the Slayer hated getting into a confrontation because of someone else's attitude or preconceived notions. The Slayer shook his head at how arrogant Rosita sounded as if she was expecting him to give up everything and leave his well-being in their hands. Still, the sudden thought of this woman and her attitude came to mind shortly after that, and it made him snort in amusement.
Rosita wasn't taking too well if the clenching of the other fist was any indication. Yet the Slayer knew it was going to get violent anyway. Rosita seemed to be the kind of woman who spoke with her fists and not with her words. The Slayer rolled back his eyes at Rosita's boldness. As much as he hated doing this, but these survivors weren't a threat to him. The Slayer backed down temporarily, giving a thumbs-up for Tara and Mikey to know that it's okay.
"O-okay..." Tara muttered, almost scared, yet didn't want to show it as she walks back.
"Aren't you going to say anything?" Rosita asks coldly, glaring at the Slayer without any second thought of what he'd do.
But she only met silence as the Slayer stood there like a statue for what seemed like an eternity. He wasn't going to answer Rosita for any satisfaction that she wanted for herself, and especially not for everyone else's at all. All the Slayer did was keep his glaring eyes towards the woman who impatiently awaited an answer from him.
"Well?! Come on, fess up!"
Silence. Utter silence. No angry reply, no unusual shouting, just deep empty silence.
"Can't talk," Rick answered for Rosita. "We believe it's because he's mute."
Rosita glared oppressively at the Slayer as she didn't look convinced, and neither did some of the others. From the looks of a few people, the Slayer can see nothing but awe and distrust in his presence. Their fear and worry for themselves would begin to increase more if Rosita continued to push him further. The only person that the Slayer can see upfront was Mikey, who looked intrigued, alongside his father that looked nervous.
"He has also brought weapons with him," Michonne commented as she looks at the Slayer. "But they don't seem like anything I've ever seen before."
"Well, at least we have more guns then, right?" Tara affirmed.
"That's the thing," Rick scratches the back of his head. "He doesn't want us to take his guns."
"Are you serious? Isn't it enough that you guys let him into our community? Now he needs to rub it into our faces?" Rosita scoffed, glaring at the Slayer some more.
Rosita lunges to the front, walking up to the Slayer with a fierce look glaring an inferno into his visor. The Slayer's face underneath remained fireproof, smirking a little as if to invite challenge. The Slayer was highly unimpressed by Rosita before him, and he could faintly hear the stumbling of a walker outside Alexandria's gate. If he were in this woman's shoes, he would be ashamed of himself.
How did these people survive?
There had to have been more people than Rick and Michonne had told him about to get to this point.
Without taking his eyes off the woman and his group, the Slayer flicked out his energy sidearm to the left and loosed a charged energy shot before Rosita could think of moving. The resounding thunk and small scream gave him a small satisfaction he wallowed. The Slayer knew that the others were examining the walker that got brought down by him.
The Slayer's shit-eating grin was all too apparent, though, and he did nothing to hide it. He'd pretty much just told Rosita that killing didn't make him flinch, nor did it bother him in any way. The Slayer made sure to raise his eyebrows. Living or dead, he'd defend himself to death.
One of the residents, Francine, shook all the more in fear. "R-Rosita! Just let him-!"
But Rosita didn't stop, and the words just blustered out of her mouth, "I can see you smiling under that damn helmet, asshole! You're only lucky that they hitched you a ride over here instead of leaving you for the walkers! I would want to know if you'd still try to keep your guns to yourself. We don't care if you-!"
"Rosita, shut up now." Michonne scowled at her almost fiercely for her to halt the response.
"But he-!"
"NOW!"
Everyone held their breath as Michonne paled a bit, as well as Rick a few moments later as they both realized the implications and what that would mean to the newcomer. The Slayer was almost impressed by this, though he could hint a bit of fear in Michonne's expression. After all, Michonne might as well know just what the Slayer was capable of doing.
Although Rick became only a bit astonished by Michonne for raising her voice, he was aware of the ordeal earlier. Murmurs have already spread around the entire area, to which the Slayer ignores every single whisper they were letting out while Rick and Michonne heard everything. But then a bald, dark-skinned priest with an anchor beard comes walking up to the Slayer, exhibiting a small smile like any regular person.
"So, you're staying with us, my good fellow?" Gabriel asked with both hands behind his back.
Like always, the Slayer didn't even grunt or talk at all. Only silence was broken by his shrugged gesture, raising a thumb to point at Rick for the answer of letting him stay here.
"I said he can stay with us for now, Gabriel," Rick proclaimed again. "The point is that this man here is mute, so we'll have some difficulties communicating with him unless we got pencils and paper, or if anybody here knows sign language to help out."
With that said, everyone was still suspicious of the Slayer, including those two chicks, Rosita and Tara. Rick had just told everyone that the Slayer was mute, and they still didn't believe him. The Slayer furrowed his eyebrows, looking at Rick after his statement.
"But what if he's only faking it, deciding not to talk at all if he knows something? I know this guy's keeping quiet for a reason." Rosita argued, still unsure about letting the Slayer stay at Alexandria.
"I tried to, but he didn't budge at all," Rick answers to Rosita, who struggled to contain her anger from escaping her teeth. "Michonne and I already concluded that he's mute."
"But what about his name? You didn't tell us his name." Francine spoke out, crossing her arms.
Rick shakes his head with no other option. "Don't know. He doesn't even remember his name at all."
Rosita looked like this was a bunch of nonsense. "Fucking bullshit! If he doesn't remember, then where the hell did he come from?" she scoffed.
"He was with someone else before, named Dr. Samuel Hayden, but he must've gotten betrayed by him, and he's on his own for now. Not to mention how it was strange enough that he gathered so many weapons for himself." Michonne explained.
"And that shouldn't matter right now, would it? The man here deserves at least a bit of acknowledgment for being isolated like that so recently." Gabriel commented, holding out his hand to the Slayer, and gave him a welcoming smile. "Welcome to Alexandria. I'm Father Gabriel, a pleasure to be meeting you."
The Slayer was surprised to see someone, a simple man no less, walking up to try to strike a conversation with him. How does a man walk up to someone he has never met and talk like they knew each other for years? Regardless, it looks like he's still trying to greet the Slayer just as he shakes his hand, confirming with a single nod.
"Father, you don't even know him," Francine shouts out.
"Francine. If Rick trusts him, then I must trust this man as well." Gabriel said, smiling.
"So do I," A teenager with the bandaged eye named Carl Grimes said, "Dad knows what he's doing. He wouldn't just take people if he knew he couldn't trust them."
"Yeah, but your dad has made mistakes," Mikey spoke out, shrugging a bit.
"That's just being human; we all make mistakes," Carl replied.
"Carl...stay out of this," Rick ordered.
Carl looks at Rick with newfound courage. "Dad. If you trust him, then I do as well. We should give him a chance."
The crowd started chattering to each other while the Slayer pondered to himself. There was a mixed response. No matter what the Slayer did and how much he does for people or anybody for that concern, they would always go and underestimate him as a potential threat to everyone. A frown curled itself upon the Slayer's lips at these thoughts of his, shooing them away one more time as his eyes ignored the crowd of Earth's survivors.
"STOP!" Rick shouted out.
The crowd eventually stopped to look at Rick, except the Slayer wasn't paying much attention to anyone now. The Slayer's vision went fuzzy for a moment, and then everything was much more well defined, as he could see details of the community's beauty that he had never seen before. The Slayer could see a few children and other adults from afar. His gaze continued as the Slayer let out a small sigh of reminiscing the scenery but quickly shook off the feeling as best as he could.
Rick sighs while shaking his head. "Listen, we need people for this war. If we're going to take on Negan once and for all, then we need this man's help as well."
"Does he want to be part of it, or does he just want our supplies?" Rosita said, still not trusting the Slayer for a second.
One male resident named Aaron looked over at Rick. "Well, can he fight?"
Rick looks at Aaron for a bit. "Yeah, Aaron, he is a fighter. I've seen how he had killed walkers. He even-"
"The man took down a walker horde by himself." Michonne cuts Rick off with a concerned overtone.
It just came out of nowhere to the remaining residents here. The Slayer didn't acknowledge whoever watched him. But by then, every Alexandria resident stood shocked and confused. Amazement went through their minds right then and there. Both Rosita and Tara only showed a lack of conviction about how somebody could do such a thing.
Though, the two of them, along with everyone else, questioned the credibility of Rick's side of the story. It was no one's fault but his own, as the Slayer would find out from the soft murmuring of the other residents. His eyebrows rose as he listened to their muttering, thanks to his enhanced senses. They had plenty to say about the Slayer that would probably make him grimace.
The Slayer could hear one of the residents whispering that he could be nothing more than a troublemaker Rick and Michonne had picked up. Of course, the Slayer had hoarded his weapons to himself and acted very odd towards everyone. Others did nothing but agree, probably thinking people would take their side. But the Slayer shrugged off that pang with a healthy dose of self-respect and tolerance.
They wonder if the Slayer could be mentally unstable, therefore a potential threat to the group dynamic. Rick has no reason to make up such a tale, especially one with that level of detail. So, more than likely, the event in question had occurred.
Aaron looked a bit convinced as he asks, "How?"
Rick looks back at the Slayer, standing in the same spot while glancing off around the place before he looks at Gabriel.
"Watch over him, Gabriel," Rick ordered. "Show him around or anything."
The priest soon nodded to Rick's order, made his way, and gestures the Slayer of showing him around Alexandria. The Slayer looked back and forth between Rick and Gabriel until he shrugs slightly and follows the priest past the residents nearby. The Slayer strained to listen better when he heard Rick's order but then decided the better use for his time would be to accompany the priest for the time being.
While alongside Gabriel, the Slayer could tell that the priest was already calm and generous enough to stick around. Not to mention that Mikey kid earlier when he became so fascinated about the Slayer's Praetor Suit and its origins. Walking down Alexandria's road with Father Gabriel, it took both of them straight to where we can observe the church up ahead. Residents out front from their homes stared at the Slayer as they have never seen anything like him before. Some of the people spoke as they relayed their day's activities to each other, catching every side glance they shot at him. Although, in all likelihood, the Slayer could not fault anybody here.
His eyes scrolled over to where Gabriel had given the marine an assuring nod that everything was okay, but the Slayer wouldn't let his hopes up that quickly. Even though he was sure that the zombies wouldn't wander their way into Alexandria from outside, the Slayer couldn't help but keep his weapons handy. He kept his combat shotgun in his hands, knowing that the people thought of him as an enigma, but he was far more from it. The sooner they realize that, the better it would be for all of them.
Back with the others, Rick and Michonne had begun to explain to the group of survivors and residents upon the first meeting.
"When Michonne and I were about to head back here, we both heard sounds of weapons shooting all over the place," Rick told everyone honestly, running a hand through his hair. "After we got there, a walker corpse was in the middle of the road, and soon there were more of them coming out. That is until he came out of nowhere and blew one into bits. Then, he rips a walker's arm broken and shoves its bone through the head."
When looking at Rick, Michonne added, "It didn't stop there. The man took us both down, and we thought it became the end for both of us. But thankfully, the man decided to oblige our decision by bringing him along. He was covered in all that dirt and blood until I went and found where the small town remained scattered with dead walkers everywhere. Some were on fire or looked like they got melted by the weapons he had. Several trashed through a few abandoned workshops and stomped to the ground, ripped apart and crushed."
"The single thing we don't know about him is the strange weapons he has found. He also had a chainsaw carried around with him." Rick finished the explanation.
While glancing around, the couple saw each survivor and resident surrounding them, all of their shocked reactions varying. Each of the residents exchanged glances towards one another, murmuring with slight discomfort and curiosity. Nothing new there, but still, it felt much more terrifying than what Negan would do to them. For somebody who could somehow take down an undivided horde of walkers by himself, the residents of Alexandria nearly found that impossible to believe.
Rick sighed a bit before looking back at the others again. "Look, everyone. I don't know where this man came from or how long he's been out around here, but we gotta be careful around him."
Rosita frowns at him, "Then why did you bring the guy here in the first place? If you two are so afraid of him, why'd you let him go alone with Gabriel just now?"
Rick looks at Rosita sternly, "That man wouldn't hurt Gabriel on purpose. And besides, I have faith that Gabriel can handle himself just fine after that time with Jadis' group."
Michonne glares back at her. "Rosita, we can't let him go wandering around everywhere and maybe even get spotted by any of the Saviors. You already heard what Rick said. We need people to win this war, whether we like it or not."
"Everyone, if you don't want him here right now, then he can come with us to meet with Jadis. We'll give the man a chance to think about his decision." Rick stated as he gestures a hand sideways.
"So, what?" Rosita said, "Now, he's suddenly part of the team just like that? Rick, you've told us that this dude viciously killed a walker without a second thought. How will this-"
"At least I would have my eye on him while he's with me, alright?" Rick finishes.
"He's got a good point, Rosita," Aaron says. "Look, we all aren't aware of what he's capable of, but maybe this man you and Michonne found can be somewhat helpful to the group, right?"
The crowd started chattering again before Michonne clears her throat to get their attention.
"We have to get going, now," Michonne said, with Rick presenting a nod.
"Alright, come on," Rick replied, having everyone else head on over to find the Slayer and Gabriel.
During that time, Gabriel explained how the place here used to be a peaceful community where people could kick back, hang out in a traditional kitchen, and enjoy some old fashion running water. A haven, completely safe from the destruction of the world, but from what the Slayer had heard from Rick, Alexandria was designed pre-apocalyptic as an upscale gated community, built for sustainability. There was water, solar panels, sewage systems, and lovely homes.
Alexandria's everything anyone needed, especially if the rest of the world is getting swarmed by undead hordes and vicious survivors willing to do anything to stay alive.
Gabriel had told the Slayer about the first residents, including former Congresswoman and town leader Diana Monroe. They were evacuated there in the early days of the apocalypse and told to wait for military rescue. As the Slayer could probably guess, the army never made it back.
The people left behind built a wall to enclose Alexandria and began to fortify the area. They organized groups to do supply runs, built up impressive stockpiles and recruited other survivors found outside the walls. Life in Alexandria remained almost regular, but most of the residents were too sheltered.
They grew too weak and didn't have the skills to persist in the disturbing reality of this world. All these people, here and there, pretended they're in some regular American suburb on their day off from work having a little to-do. Even though Rick and his group didn't fit in too smoothly at first, but they did everything they could to get rid of a ready-to-burst quarrel of walkers and save the community.
An attack from a vicious group called the Wolves. The escaping zombie horde throws a wrench at things and caused devastation. The remaining survivors and residents rebuild as best they can until Negan came in and started controlling these communities left and right.
"Hey!"
The Slayer blinked a few times before turning his head to see Rick and his company.
"You, big guy. We're going to see Jadis and her group. Wanna join us?" Rick asked, coming over to the Slayer.
To answer Rick's question, the Slayer shrugged with a nod. He was probably going to get bored waiting around in this place with all the whiny residents here.
"You'll be coming with me. Michonne's with us too," Rick says before looking at the priest. "Gabriel, you can come since you introduced us to them."
"Alright, then." Gabriel nodded.
"Anyone else?" Rick called out.
"I'll come with," Tara spoke up.
"Yeah, I'm coming too," Rosita chimed in.
"Alright," Rick said, looking back at the Slayer. "You can go to the van if you want."
Carl walked right over to Rick and asked, "How long are you guys gonna be gone? You and Michonne were gone for ages."
"We won't be gone long, Carl. I promise." Rick answers.
"Okay..."
Rick looks at Carl in the eyes. "How's Judith?"
"She's inside the house taking a nap. I'll go and check on her, Dad." Carl assures, smiling softly.
Rick smiles back at him before they both hugged. "I'll see you both soon, okay?"
The Slayer couldn't help but frown to himself at Rick and Carl, noting the small bond that they're having just now. That kid had to become raised in a world like this and grow up surrounded by this violent and deathly atmosphere. The Slayer also can't help but feel like something was reminding him whenever he watched Rick with his son. As if something else had happened way before that he could ever think about right now. It made the Slayer remember when he learned of a heathen Night Sentinel called the Betrayer that lost his son, but there are still details left out.
Even though the Slayer didn't belong in this world, it sure does live up back to his Earth. Some of the things Rick told the Slayer on the way were beyond horrible. It made the Slayer wonder. Is this going to be his new home, or will he find a way back to his own and take revenge on that bastard who used him? Before the Slayer could think of anything else, Rick gave a loud couple of taps from the van.
"We're waiting, c'mon!" Rick called out to the Slayer, causing him to give a thumbs-up to Rick.
The Slayer trooped over to the van like before, getting into the back as always. Rick shuts the door and gets in the front with Michonne next to him. The others: Rosita, Tara, and Father Gabriel, were already fastened in the other car, with Tara giving the signal to Rick. They were ready to go. After each vehicle initiated its engines, the group made their way past Alexandria's gate and outside down the road. It was time to see what this Jadis is like.
A/N: [Chapter is done! I was looking forward to seeing how I wanted everyone's reaction to the Slayer coming to Alexandria. Especially with how Rick and Michonne explained things about the slaughtered horde of zombies. It's plain to see that the residents in Alexandria aren't so welcoming towards the Slayer, but we'll see how long that will last. Hope to see some of your comments and favs/follows real soon. Later!]