A/N: okay, first, i am so excited to update with this chapter and happy to get it out today (cuz its my b-day!) and i did my best to make up for the long time in between updates. so on with the show and i hope you all enjoy!


We had been walking for what felt like years, in reality it had only been a few several miles. Once we left the morgue we all had a new source of energy and a little pep in our step. After the horde was successfully gone and the few stragglers were taken care of, we made our way through the town looking for any supplies. Except when we realized every car in the town had already been rummaged through we didn't have much of a choice then to push on to the next town. After stuffing the last few Nilla Wafers filling up the few water bottles I had that didn't have a hole in them in my bag I was ready to move on.

"Everyone ready?" Warren asked as she threw her bag on, unfolding a map and pulling out a compass. We all nodded our heads in agreement, ready to move on and get gas for the truck.

"How far are we going to have to walk?" my brother asked not happy about it.

"Murphy," I said walking over to him and resting my hand on his arm, "Shut up."

"Is this entire state uphill?" Murphy asked as we had been walking for a while now. I had to admit I was starting to get tired but I knew Warren would get us to where we needed to go.

"Where are we anyways?" I asked out of curiosity, I would have thought we would have hit the next town by now.

"According to this map, we are in the Black Hills of South Dakota," Warren said as we made our way to the top of a small hill. My bag was starting to weigh me down and I was ready for a break of any kind.

"I miss the truck," I said pouting slightly getting a laugh out of 10k. After his outburst earlier of motor-mouth, he had opened up a lot to the group and I could feel myself falling for him even harder. I had to admit I had feelings towards the fellow sniper but I wasn't going to let anyone else know that. Although, my brother seemed to let on to me more than he said he did.

"At least we're out of that damn horde," Warren said as she went back to reading the map again.

"There's nothing to kill out here," 10k pouted as well getting bored of just walking.

"Hey," I said grabbing his arm as I slipped on a root that stuck out of the hill we were climbing, "That's fine by me." Helping me up he grabbed my hand pulling me up to the solid ground he was standing on.

"We need to find somewhere to make camp soon," Doc said finally speaking up, "My dogs is getting tired."

"Well, there's supposed to be a little town nearby," Warren said as she lead us to the ledge of another large hill we didn't want to climb, "Called Edgemont. I'll take a compass reading at this next ridge up here."

"Can't we take a break?" I asked as we finally came to a stop.

"Yea, a small one," Warren said as she turned and glanced back at her map trying to get her direction. Just when I was about to throw my bag on the ground and sit down Cassandra pointed out something she thought was important.

"Oh my God," she said nodding her head in the direction she wanted us to look, "Look." Following her gaze I looked up to see Mount Rushmore, only it was a tagged Mount Rushmore, red spray paint coming out of the president's' mouths.

"Now who in the hell did that?" Warren asked as she walked up to join us all, disappointment evident in her voice.

"Some daredevil with a sick sense of humor," Doc said with sarcasm.

"Is that Mount Rushmore?" 10k asked looking over to me for an answer.

"Yup," I said as I walked up next to him, "If there is one good thing that came out of the apocalypse, it's the traveling."

"This is why we can't have nice things," Murphy said disappointed as he looked on.

"Probably the same guy who tagged the Liberty Bell," I said as I set my backpack down, even if only for a moment.

"I think it's awesome," 10k said with a smile to my side. I turned to look at him as I started laughing. Doc laughed with me clapping a hand on 10k's arm.

"Of course you would," I laughed, getting another smile from the sniper.

"If I ever catch who did that, they're gonna get a whoopin'," she said as she turned and looked at her map and compass again, "Come on. Let's find that town, it's gonna get dark soon." As she turned and walked away I picked up my bag, slinging it on with a thud. 10k and I turned to join Warren, Doc not far behind us. However, my brother wasn't too happy at the fact everyone was leaving him.

"I thought we were taking a break?" Murphy asked, almost panic in his voice and he turned and looked at Warren's back walking farther away.

"Break time's over big brother," I said as I walked over to him and slapped a hand on his shoulder. He only turned and looked at me, irritation plastered on his face.

….

"We've been walking for hours," Murphy said as he angrily pushed a tree branch out of his face, "Admit it Columbus, you're lost."

"Give it a rest Murph," I said out of breath as I moved a tree branch far enough for 10k to get by behind me.

"Warren knows where she's going," Doc said stopping and facing Murphy, defending Warren, "You know where you're going, Warren?" Doc leaned down and whispered to Warren making sure she actually did in fact know where she was going. I knew she did…at least I hoped.

"Well we should've hit the town by now," she admitted. I knew she was disappointed in herself but she would figure it out.

"And anyways, Columbus was lost when he discovered America," I said with an attitude placing my hands on my hips.

"Yea," Murphy said with just as much attitude, "And look how that turned out." He imitated my stance as I stood there staring him down, eventually sticking my tongue out at him and turning back to Warren.

"Check this out," 10k said nodding to something that was in front of him. I turned around to look at what he nodded at, seeing a big white building fenced off. All I could think was, 'how did I not notice this before.'

"That's not a town," Murphy said turning and looking at the same thing I was.

"Not a town but it's something," I said looking forward to the possibility of either more people or just somewhere to sit down.

"Now being Doctor Brightside for the moment," Doc said trying to calm the fire that Murphy was about to start with his attitude, "Maybe there's something useful inside."

"I say we go check it out," I said as I readjusted my bag on my back and turned and looked at Warren as she nodded her head in agreement.

As we picked up and made our way over to the white building I took out the revolver on my thigh and got ready for anything that was going to come to us. Bringing up the back of the group with 10k we both had our backs to each other as we kept out an eye for any unwelcome guests.

"Just like home," Murphy said irritated that he had to continue walking on.

"Oh come on Murph," I said as I looked around the corner of the building, "Don't get your panties in a wad."

"You know what, this actually might be a safe place for us to get some rest and load up on some supplies," Warren said as she led the way of our convoy.

"I could use an hour of sleep," Cassandra said as she walked by me to join the others at the front of the line.

"I could use five," I said wanting nothing more than some time to finally get somewhere safe. Noticing a door just ahead of us, I motioned to it as Warren told Doc to go check it.

"Why do they still lock doors?" Doc asked as he walked up to it only to find it wouldn't open, "Luckily I have a skeleton key." He took out his crow bow that he always carried on his belt loop and jammed it between the door and door frame breaking the door open.

Warren being the first to walk in we all lined in behind her weapons out and ready. Doc followed behind her and my brother behind him, Cassandra not far behind. 10k and I were left outside trying to figure out who went in next.

"You first," 10k said looking at me and motioning towards the door, "I got your back." I nodded my agreement and walked in behind Cassandra.

"I see chivalry isn't dead after all," I said joking and turning to 10k. I was immediately welcomed to pipes and metal workings all over the place walking through the door. Immediately I didn't notice anything dangerous or possibly out of the ordinary.

"So," I started, turning and looking at Doc next to me, "Does Doctor Brightside have a Darkside?"

"Well, we aren't going to find much food or ammo in here, that's for sure," Doc said as he looked around the room we were standing in. Warren joining us again we all stood in the middle of the room for a moment.

"If we wanted industrial pipes, this would be the place to be," She said as she stood next to Doc. 10k finally joined us, standing next to me, looking the room over. We looked around finding anything, only hearing Doc and my brother arguing over a jug of water that Murphy found.

"That could be some industrial type water that'll rot your insides," Doc said trying to reason with Murphy.

"Pretty sure his insides are already rotten," I said as I walked by patting my brother on the arm as he took a swig of water. 10k was behind me as we were looking around hoping he may find anything useful.

"Shhh," Warren said making us all instantly hush and look to her, "Over there." Looking to where she was pointing down the hall there was a Z, but it wasn't just any Z. This one looked like it was glowing a bright green color.

"Take cover," Warren yelled to us but in a hushed tone. 10k was quick at my side as we all ran behind what looked like used to be a door. Grabbing my upper arm gently 10k and I hid behind the wall the best we could. I had out my revolver, checking to make sure it was fully loaded, 10k standing in front of me slightly, almost protectively, when all of a sudden someone to my right farted, and rather loudly. I quickly turned and looked to the rest of the group for an answer when I should have known who it was the whole time. Everyone immediately turned to Murphy as he looked around to the rest of us as well.

"Sorry," he whispered, embarrassment evident on his face, "It got away from me."

"If I die because you farted, I'm taking you with me," I whispered angrily at my brother. I wasn't going to let him be the death of me this way.

"Shhh," Warren said, trying to listen to how close the Z had gotten to us now. Straining my own ears to hear as much as I could I was startled when the Z came around the corner, ready to attack. I gasped as 10k's arm shot out in front of me as Doc jabbed the Z in the head with his crowbar.

"What in the livin' hell?" Doc said as we all looked down at the Z on the floor.

"It's glowing," I said as I walked around 10k and joined Doc.

"It's like a zombie ghost."

"Why is it glowing."

It wasn't much longer than a few seconds that more Zs came walking around the corner, all of them glowing just like their late friend.

"He's got friends," Warren said grabbing my attention again as I aimed, killing one that came around the corner towards us. Just as I was about to shoot another Z the door behind me busted open. Two people running through in bright yellow hazmat suits.

"Don't touch them!" the man yelled as he came around in front of me shooting the Z I was about to.

"What, why?" I asked thoroughly confused. Standing next to 10k another Z came around the corner. 10k being the closest to it he pinned it up to the wall as I took out a knife from my boot, getting ready to stab it in the head.

"Back away from the Zs, it's not safe" the woman in the hazmat suit yelled as she came up behind me and shot the zombie in the head. I turned and looked at her, placing my revolver on my thigh. I bent over looking at the zombie she just killed about to poke it with my knife when I got yelled at again.

"No, I said don't touch them," the man yelled again. I stood again after stuffing my knife in my boot again. I looked from 10k to the two new people in the room not knowing what to think of this interruption.

"Why, are they contagious?" I asked looking at the Zs then back to the man that was yelling at us all.

"Radioactive," he said like it was something we should have known.

"Radioactive, how is that possible?" Warren ask in disbelief. I looked at 10k before I looked down at the glowing Z again, hoping that we didn't just get radiation in our system.

"I'll show you," the man said as he removed his mask, making me feel better that maybe we weren't in as much trouble as I thought we could have been in.

We all followed the two people in silence as they walked us through the forest we had just left. Walking behind 10k I made up the end of the line with my eyes out for anything that would be a potential threat.

It wasn't until I walked into the back of 10k that I realized everyone had come to a stop, looking up to another large white building that looked like a nuclear plant.

"There you go," the man said as he waved his hand towards it. There was smoke coming out the top as it was hissing, acting like it was going to blow.

"This is gonna be one of them days, ain't it," Doc said as we all looked ahead to the new challenge we faced.

"If you don't mind my asking, what were you folks doing wandering out there near the reactor?" the man asked as he lead us into the town we were trying to find. I was glad to finally be in some kind of civilization even if it was a ghost town.

"We were lost," Murphy said as he turned and look to Warren.

"We weren't lost," I said defending her getting a glare from my brother.

"Our vehicle ran out of gas 20 miles from here," Warren said also glaring at Murphy, "We took a shortcut through the woods so we could avoid the Zs."

"Well, you're not lost anymore," the man told us as we made our way through the empty town quickly, "Welcome to Edgemont, South Dakota. Population: three, not counting you. The name's Wilbur Grady, this is my daughter, Amelia." Wilbur made introductions as I had to walk quickly to keep up with everyone.

"I'm Roberta Warren, this is Murphy and his sister Raven," Warren started, "That's Cassandra," before Warren could introduce everyone Wilbur started coughing, having to lean up against what used to be a gas station. We all stared at him as he coughed, wondering if he was ok.

"Is he ok?" I asked as I came up to stand in between 10k and Doc. We all stared on in confusion watching him cough and not be able to catch his breath.

"No," his daughter said, "Radiation poisoning." She turned to the group almost pleading with us.

"I'm fine," Wilbur said grabbing our attention now, "Let's get your folks checked out and get you some food. Our place is just around here down the road a little ways." Wilber started walking, the rest of us following him.

I turned and looked at 10k not knowing if maybe this was the safest thing for us to do. I would have rather we got gas and left, but food did sound good at this point.

After following Wilbur and Amelia for the short distance through the town we came across a small hanger that looked like it had almost become their home. We all piled in as the two grabbed their Geiger counter to check the levels of radiation we all had.

"What's these for?" Doc asked as Amelia came around to us all handing out pills.

"Iodine," Amelia said as she handing me a pill and screwed the lid back on the bottle. Doc made a noise like he was disappointed that it wasn't something that could be a little more fun. However, Amelia didn't see the humor in it.

"It'll keep the radiation from accumulating in your thyroid," she said as she stared at Doc with almost a shocked look at how he couldn't find that important.

"Oh, right," he said as he threw it back but still obviously disappointed.

"Look like you're still within safe levels," Wilbur said as he walked over to the airplane, setting his tools back where they were, "But you're lucky we came along when we did. Most of the Zs around here are highly radioactive."

"As if being brain-eating zombies wasn't bad enough," Doc joked caused me to life slightly from my spot next to 10k.

"Okay, I have a question," Murphy said getting antsy, "Shouldn't we be in one of those suits too?"

"Radiation levels aren't too bad out here. But you'll probably get cancer in about twenty years," Wilbur said with a small laugh. I could understand where my brother was coming from, but we had more important things to worry about.

"Somehow that's way down on my list of worries," I said looking from Warren back to Wilbur.

"Yea, but our more immediately problem is the reactor core melting down," Wilbur started explaining, "We don't fix it soon, than everything within a 300 mile radius will be glowing."

"Seriously?" I asked starting to get worried that maybe we should have just kept walking.

"Okay, well…" Murphy was even more ready to go now as he walked across the hanger to his little back pack, "It's been nice meeting you. But we have places to be, places at least 300 miles from here." Murphy threw his bag on, walking to Warren thinking she was about to follow him.

"Good luck with that," Wilbur laughed, "Every vehicle in town is gone or can't be driven."

"Then I guess we should start walking," Murphy said throwing his arms in the air fed up with the twists this guy kept throwing at him.

"Murphy just calm down," I said trying to help the situation but I knew it probably wouldn't help.

"You wont make it," Wilbur continued to explain, "We have less than 48 hours before the core starts to melt down." This was a lot to take in and it didn't help that I had no idea how to fix a nuclear plant.

"Then why are you still here?" I asked trying to wrap my brain around why they hadn't left when everything went to hell for them.

"Because there's still a chance to shut this thing down, save a chunk of God's country from being irradiated for the next 10,000 years. Besides," Wilbur looked down at his hand, looking at his skin as the discoloration became worse, "I'm already a goner."

"What about your daughter?" Murphy asked walking across the hanger again, "Did she sign up for this suicide mission too?"

"Murphy that's enough," I said standing trying to calm to situation. 10k apparently able to catch onto my distress snaked his fingers into my hand gently, letting me know he was there for me, giving my hand a firm squeeze before removing his completely.

"I'm staying to help my dad," Amelia explained to my brother.

"I told her I didn't need her help," Wilbur said defending the both of them to Murphy, "But she wouldn't listen."

"I'm a pilot, I'll fly us out of the hot zone," Amelia said as she looked at her father. I could tell she just wanted to help him and would do anything for him. As they continued arguing 10k coaxed me back to sitting on the box, getting at least some form of rest, knowing we would probably have quite a journey ahead of us.

"Wilbur, I know it doesn't look like it but this man is the only known survivor of a zombie bite," Warren said as Murphy tried sassing his way out of the situation, giving the pair of them a sarcastic wave.

"Thought there was something wrong with him," Wilbur said laughing. When he said that I felt a tinge of anger run through my body.

"His blood carries antibodies for the zombie virus," I said as I jumped up to defend my brother. Amelia and Wilbur both looked at me before their gaze went back to Murphy.

"He's our last best hope for humanity," Warren standing beside me. However our hopes at talking them into help us were short lived when Wilbur let our a loud laugh, so hard that he started coughing.

"Yea, right, and I'm the Easter bunny," Wilbur joked. I only stared him down with my arms crossed over my chest before I glanced over to Murphy.

"Show 'em," I said as Murphy unbuttoned one of the top buttons, pulling his shirt down far enough to show them one of the many bites me had. I immediately turned back to Wilbur to see his reaction to my brother. His smile quickly faded once he said that we were telling the truth and that he needed to help us.

"Now look man, this dude here's the real deal, and a lot of people got killed getting him this far," Doc said coming to our defense as well.

"So tell us what we need to do to shut down that reactor," Warren said as he turned and looked at her again.

"Unless of course you have eggs to lay Mister Bunny," I said as I went over to stand next to Murphy. The both of us had our arms crossed as we stared at Wilbur with our heads cocked to the side just slightly, not even realizing we were standing identical.

"Lets get to the reactor, then I'll come up with a plan," Wilbur said as he turned and started grabbing different tools and putting his suit back on.

…..

"So, here's the plan," Wilbur said as we made our way through the forest again, towards the reactors, "I need to get to the control room to see if I can figure out why the fuel rods aren't dropping down to the cooling pool to stop the reaction." We all followed him all the way up to the chain-link fence around the compound, "Use whatever you have to keep the Zs from getting too close. They are very contaminated. One hug and you'll be dead in a few hours." Just then a Z came up to the fence, trying to claw its way through.

"Don't hug the zombies," Doc said as he drove his crowbar through the Zs skull.

"Got it," I said as I took out my revolver from my thigh holster.

"You three stay here," Warren said pointing from me over to 10k then to Amelia, "Raven, 10k you two cover us from over there. If we don't get back, you get him to California somehow." 10k grabbed my arm lightly as guided me over to a small hill where we could get a better view of the lay out. I crouched down on my knees, aiming my revolver through the fence, 10k close behind me, his gun almost touching my shoulder as he aimed, shooting a Z.

"Two thousand, three hundred and four," he said quietly, barely loud enough for me to hear. I looked over my shoulder at him smiling. As Murphy and Amelia threw open the gate I watched as the rest of them ran in the compound watching as for the most part they didn't need much help. As they rounded the corner and disappeared 10k and I lowered our guns, not in any immediate danger at the moment. I walked over to where my brother was standing, far enough away from the other two.

"What's been up with you lately?" I asked as he turned around to look at me.

"I don't know what your talking about," he said as he crossed his arms over his chest, I could tell he was getting antsy.

"Murphy please," I said making him look at me, "You've been acting weird, weirder than usual." I could tell he was off, something wasn't sitting right with him, "Come on, I'm your sister."

"I've just been thinking," he said quietly and leaning in a little closer to me, "Maybe it's time for a different kind of mercy."

"They're back," 10k yelled grabbing my attention, turning to see the group minus Wilbur coming around the corner. I quickly walked over to the gate with Amelia opening it for them as they made their way through.

"I'm almost to the control room," Wilbur said over the radio to his daughter.

"So now what?" Murphy asked from my left to Amelia.

"Now we wait," I said looking over to him.

Now sitting around the fence we had to come up with a new plan. Not long after the group came back Wilbur came around the corner obviously in distress. Before he could even make it to the gate he collapsed, Amelia not thinking opened the gate and ran to her father. But I knew it was in vain. Like he said himself he was a goner the moment he walked in there. But it still broke my heart watching her go through the pain of losing the only person she still had in this world.

Sitting in the grass with 10k I was pulling at the grass trying to rack my brain for an idea.

"So that thing is still ready to cook off. Well I'd like to know what we're supposed to do about it," Doc said getting nervous, throwing off his bag and throwing it down on the ground.

"We can't run," I said looking up to him now, "We are still within the blast zone." Still pulling at the grass and trying to think of something I was absent mindedly throwing it off to the side and into 10k's lap.

"We go in," Warren said finally speaking up.

"And do what?" I asked finally realizing what I was doing turning to 10k. I whispered 'sorry' to him as he dusted himself off.

"Grady was the one who knew how to shut that thing off," Doc practically yelled, "I'm a doctor, dammit, not a nuclear physicist."

"Alright, since when did we walk onto the Enterprise?" I asked trying to make light of the situation. However, Doc seemed to be the only one who got the reference, laughing slightly at my joke. Warren and the others walked over to where Amelia was sitting on a rock, still mourning her father. They asked her if she was able to stop the reaction herself, and I was not at all surprised when she said no.

"Awesome," Murphy said as he came up to stand next to me and 10k. However, things started to look up when she said there was one other man who would know how to fix it, but she said it would be a challenge to get him to talk to us.

"We need to try," Warren said, pleading with Amelia to take us to him.

…..

Walking through the woods again, we came across what looked like an old cabin that was fenced off with barbed wire, a skeleton hanging off the side.

"We have to stop here," Amelia said as we all stopped, looking the scene over in front of us.

"We're still fifty yards away," Murphy said not understanding why we just didn't walk up to his front door.

"My dad said the place was booby-trapped," Amelia said as 10k and I both leaned down to look over the landscape, Doc standing in between us. The few places I had managed to occupy when I was on my own I always had a set up similar to this. Traps for Zs, but easy enough for other humans to navigate if they paid attention.

"Have we completely dismissed the idea of a phone call?" Cassandra asked behind me, not convinced that we could make it.

"When you find me a phone that works then we can talk," I said turning to her before turning back to this man's yard, trying to figure out the lay out of the traps.

"This is your kind of set-up," Warren said as she walked up and kneeled down in-between 10k and myself, "How do you two think we get in?"

"Without us getting killed, do keep that in mind," Murphy said making his point clear. I turned around and eyeballed him, we had more pressing issues right now than his sass.

"Well, Homer's set-up is aimed at stopping Zs, not a team of people," I said looking over to Warren and 10k, "I made a setup like this once."

"If we keep a sharp eye out for landmines, trip wires," 10k finished for me, him and I always knew what the other was thinking.

"We'll be fine," Warren said looking in between 10k and myself. We both nodded our heads looking for her as well.

"Ok," she started as the three of us finally stood, "You three stay here, give us a 40 second head start. We'll flank him and come up from behind." I stayed behind with Doc, Murphy and Cassandra, giving the others there head start. I mentally counting down in my head until we could make our move. Motioning for the others to join me at the gate I moved the post out of the way, tossing it to the side.

"Watch for the mines," I whispered as the followed close behind me, pointing to my side as we passed one. I could see the other half of the group as they made their way onto the back porch. As we snuck our way closer to this man's home I stood as watch under an arch way motioning for the others to make their way. Doc was in front of me know, leaning against the wooden siding until the rest of us joined behind him, Cassandra and Murphy in line behind me. As Doc counted to three he made his way around the corner to sneak up onto the porch if need be. However, as soon as Doc made it around the corned, me not far behind him, he went flying back, from a boot straight to his chest. I couldn't help the yelp that came out of me, surprise plastered across my own face. I grabbed the revolver from my thigh, cocked it and was aimed at the man who had a shotgun trained on Doc.

"Don't move," this man yelled, as Doc was gasping for air, Cassandra at his side, "You have three seconds to tell me what you're doing here."

"One." I was racking my brain with a plan, not prepared to have to keep someone from getting shot.

"Two." Just when I thought things were about to go from bad to worse, relief ran through me as I saw 10k sneaking up behind Mr. Stubbins, knife out.

"Don't do that, sir," 10k said as he grabbed Homer by the shoulder, his largest knife out and at the man's throat. I kept my grip tight on my gun.

"Go ahead," Homer said almost like he had given up, "Do me a solid. Just don't leave me a Z."

"I would never do that Mr. Stubbins, we just need you help." 10k said still not moving from his position.

"Hello to you too," Doc said with sarcasm as he still laid on the ground. I couldn't help but turn around, looking at him on the ground, a small smile spread across my face.

…..

After some talking down, 10k got Homer to lower his gun as he lowered the knife at his throat. We all followed Homer into his home and the only thing I could think when I walked in was how wonder it looked. Organized, clean, almost like the apocalypse wasn't on the other side of the door that I just walked through. All his rice, flour and cans were neatly stacked on his shelves, maps and plans all around, along with a bottle of vodka I saw on the table. We all filed in in a line, 10k and I standing at the end of the counter under the archway connecting two rooms

"Grady was a good man," Homer started as he dropped a tub onto his table, "If anyone could SCRAM that reactor, it was him." Homer walked around the table placing a hand on Amelia shoulder, showing his sympathy for her.

"SCRAM?" I asked looking from 10k back to Homer, not knowing what was being said.

"Safety Control Rod Axe Man," Homer said explaining the acronym, "Goes back to the first reactors. The only safety system they had was literally a man with an axe, whose whole job in the event of a meltdown was to cut the rope holding fuel rods over the cooling pool." That made everything Wilbur was talking about make sense in what he was trying to do.

"That's what dad was trying to do," Amelia said catching on to the same thing I was.

"How much time do you have?" Homer asked looking from Amelia to our group.

"Umm," my brother said finally piping up, " How much time do we have? You're in the soup with us, Homer."

"You seemed to have confused me with someone who gives a damn," Homer said anger returning to his eyes as he turned away from Amelia, them landing on Murphy.

"According to Grady, less than 40 hours," I said trying to calm the heat that was building in the room quickly.

"And we do give a damn," Warren said as she walked around to Homer's left, "Now you're going to help us or are you gonna sit here and let us all die?" Homer sat there momentarily thinking that over like he really had to decide. He looked around to all of us, his eyes resting on 10k for a moment then made there way over to me as well.

"Well there's one thing we might try," Homer finally said, "But I'm gonna have to show you," he pushed himself off the table he was leaning on as he walked over and grabbed something else to toss onto the table we all stood around, "We're gonna need weapons, equipment. Come on, load up," Homer unzipped a small black bag he had just grabbed, "It's not as if I'm gonna be needing this stuff."

I watched as everyone else went through the bag quickly, grabbing all the ammo and guns they could before Warren zipped it up again. I was happy with everything I had and honestly not much room left for anything else other than food or water. That was when I looked over and saw Murphy pulling a blanket off what looked like boxes on top of boxes filled to the brim with more vodka.

"Hello vitamin V, the elixir of the zombie apocalypse," Murphy said as he unscrewed a bottle and started throwing it back. I quickly walked over to him, grabbing the bottle from his mouth and setting it on the table.

"You should know better," I said to him as I slapped it down on the table.

"I was drinking that," he said pouting to me as I turned and walked away looking for 10k. I needed someone's company that more common sense then my brother did at the moment.

"I don't care," I said as I turned and walked away trying to find 10k. walking through the kitchen and into what looked like a sun room I saw him standing over some documents. I quietly walked over, standing in between him and the telescope that was pointed out the window.

"What are you looking at?" I asked as I leaned back against the table he was looking down to and crossing my arms, "I couldn't handle Murphy anymore, I felt my own IQ dropping listening to him complain." 10k smiled at that as he looked back down to the documents trying to figure out what they were.

"I have no idea what these are but they look cool, they could help us stop the reactor," he said just as Homer walked around the corner and into the room with us.

"You're looking at the original building plans for this reactor," Homer said as he made his way across the room, "I was part of the design team."

"That must have been pretty cool," I said with a smile, genuinely interested in what he was saying.

"You know," Homer said as he crossed his arms, looking from 10k to me, "The two of you remind me of my son and his wife." I could instantly feel my face turn red as I turned and looked at 10k, luckily whose face was nearly as red as mine.

"Oh, no, we aren't together," he said motioning between the two of us as he looked back over to Homer.

"Yea, sure, and I'm the Easter Bunny," Homer laughed.

"What is it with this town and the Easter Bunny?" I joked thinking back to what Wilbur had said not too long ago.

"They said that too at first, then six months later they ran away and got married," Homer smile thinking back to that happy time in his life, tears coming to his eyes.

"We heard about your son," I said quietly, Homer looking at me through tears.

"I'm sorry," 10k said trying to console him the best he could. We didn't know this man but I could tell 10k looked up to him after being told he reminds him of his son.

"There's nothing worse than outliving your own child," Homer said looking down to the ground, trying to force back the tears that were threatening to spill over now, "Nothing." He quickly walked out the room leaving 10k and I alone once again.

…..

"Northern Light, come in," Warren said as we all walked through the woods once again going into the hot zone.

"I don't know what you want with that old piece of junk, nobody to call," Homer said leading the group to the reactor.

"We got somebody that might pick up," I said as we came across a Z that was hanging onto the fence trying to get to us.

"Something wrong Homer?" Cassandra asked as she came to stand next to me. Homer shook his head, explaining how he felt and I had to agree with him. Homer nodded towards 10k, him taking that as the go ahead to give the Z in front of us mercy.

"Alright, back to business. From here on the area's hot right?" Homer asked looking around to all of us, I quickly nodded my head yes, "You got two clean rad suits in there. One for me and," Homer slowly made his way over to looking towards 10k, the realization just sitting me what he was wanting, "I need somebody to back me up."

"No," I said looking from 10k over to Homer, I couldn't take the chance to loose someone else.

"I'll go," Warren said stepping up to take his place.

"You can't go," Doc said stepping up as well, "Who's gonna get him to California if something goes wrong?" Warren turned to look at me.

"Don't look at me, he never listened when we were kids and that hasn't seemed to change much," I said knowing that if it was up to me, even my brother wouldn't listen.

"Ok, alright," Warren said realizing this was the only option we had, but I was still going to do what I could to make my opinion known.

"No," I said again, still no one listening to me.

"Just remember you have ammo now, but not an infinite supply," Warren said trying to prep him for what he was about to do, my voice drowning out.

…..

"So, what now?" Murphy asked angry that the plan didn't work. 10k and Homer had gotten back not long ago telling us what had happened and how they tried to use a little robot named Robbie, only for it to get ruined by Zs, "Plan B or is it C? Give me plan D, E, F?"

"Hey, hey, hey," Warren said walking up to Murphy trying to get him to calm down, "Not helpful." I stood next to my brother with my arms crossed honestly wondering the same thing. If this plan didn't work, what else could we do?

"All right," Homer said from the golf cart he was sitting on, "Robbie failed, but I can still do a manual SCRAM."

"How?" 10k said speaking up from his seat on the ground next to me, "That place is filled with Zs."

"Maybe go in heavier," I suggested, not willing to let 10k go in there alone again.

"Yea, take us along this time," Doc said supporting my idea.

"We probably only got one more shot at a SCRAM," Homer said as he stood, taking a canteen of water from Cassandra.

"But won't you need heavier suits to do something like that?" I asked, not totally convinced this would work. Homer nodded his head and he gulped down some water.

"And where do we find those?" 10k asked still sitting on the ground.

"In the lab, not far from where we lost Robbie. Four can go in," Homer said pointing down to the suits that were currently laying on the ground that him and 10k just took off, "Two in these suits, me and the kid in the heavies." I didn't like that idea, that made me nervous.

"Okay," Murphy said not convinced with this either, "But what happens if plan C doesn't work and we wind up with our very own Fukushima Chernobyl whatever?"

"You mean what happens to you?" Cassandra said with an attitude.

"Hey," I said looking at her, "That's a bit uncalled for."

"Yea, I didn't ask for the job of saving the human race," Murphy said leaning forward slightly, getting defensive.

"Hey, you're just as guilty, you can tone it down a bit," I said placing my hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him. Something I seemed to be having to do a lot lately. Cassandra only rolled her eyes and huffed as she walked away, over next to Warren.

"What about Amelia?" I said thinking out loud. Warren seemed to catch on to what I was thinking, however Amelia seemed to look a little worried.

"Would you be willing to fly him out of the radiation zone?" Warren asked as we all looked to Amelia for an answer.

"Actually, to be honest, I don't have enough fuel," she admitted, "I lied to my dad or else he would never have let me stay behind." I let out a frustrated sigh, not knowing what else our next move could be.

"Okay, a buddy and I once converted a Dodge Dart to run on alcohol. A light plane engine isn't that different and you had a serious supply of vodka back at the house," Warren said being the bright mind in this situation. Homer nodded telling Warren that she was more than welcome to it.

"Okay," Warren said getting her mind reeling, telling us all where we needed to go, "Doc and Cassandra, you go with Homer and 10k, you cover them. Murphy, Amelia and Raven come with me."

"Given we have no other choices, I shall embrace the inevitable," Doc said as he raised his canteen to the group as everyone piled onto the golf cart. I quickly turned to 10k as he stood next to me.

"You better make it out of there in one piece," I said turning to him. He gave me a smile as he wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug.

"If this works, we'll meet back here to celebrate, come on guys," Warren said hollering after us, the rest of them waiting for us to pile on with them. Homer watching us with a smile on his face.

The four of us sped off as fast as we could after dropping Homer, 10k, Doc and Cassandra off as close to the door as we could. We quickly grabbed as many boxes of vodka as we could fit onto the cart, Murphy however making things harder not wanting to lift a finger and only drink his fuel.

"Please be advised we have entered the tunnel to the reactor core. Over and out," Doc said as he came over the radio. I let out a sigh of relief knowing they were ok.

"Let's see what's going on with this baby," Warren said as she jumping up quickly, walking over to the engine of the plane. Amelia grabbing the vodka that was sitting in the back.

"So Amelia, my dear," Murphy said as he got up with a bottle in his hand that was nearly half empty already, "Where might we be headed in this fine piece of aeronautical hardware? Considering it's only my life and the human race at stake."

"Murphy stop being so melodramatic," I said as I helped carry boxes of alcohol to Warren for her to fill up once she converted the engine.

"Don't get mad at me just 'cause your boyfriend is in the reactor plant," he said as he slumped back down on the cart.

"He isn't my boyfriend," I said, my face slightly heated and turning red. Murphy only grunted as he threw back the bottle again, taking a big gulp.

"Sheridan, Wyoming," Amelia finally said. I was silently thanking her for directing my brothers attention somewhere else than me at the moment. She went on to explain that it would be far enough away from the fallout and her and her father had heard there were humans there.

"I just hope it works," Murphy said not thinking this would work and if it did it would be a miracle.

"Piece of cake, all I need is some tools," Warren said as she rubbed her hands on a rag that was nearby.

"Murphy," I said walking over to him and taking the bottle out of his mouth, again, "Would you stop drinking your fuel and help me fill the damn tank?"

"I don't know where the tank is," he said genuinely upset that I took it.

"Well, it's not in your mouth," I said as I grabbed a couple more bottles, taking them to where I had placed the others.

…..

It wasn't long until Warren said she had fixed it and we were in business. Filling the tank to the fullest that we could we made our way out to the field behind the hanger, Murphy loading his backpack into it. I grabbed the last couple bottles of vodka that we had in the cart, taking them over to where my brother was so I could store them on the plane. Warren had walked around to the other side to say her goodbyes to Amelia, giving her some last minute advice.

"Well, big brother," I said as I turned around to face him, unexpectedly getting choked up slightly.

"Don't be like that," he said softly as he patted me on the shoulder looking down to me as I cleared my throat.

"We finally meet up again and now we have to go separate ways again," I said as I put my own hand on his that was still on my shoulder.

"I'll see you in California," he said as he pulled me into a hug. Murphy had never been someone to show their emotions and I always took advantage of it when he did, even when we were small.

After saying my goodbyes to Murphy and Amelia I walked over to the cart again, rubbing the tears from my face. I was going to miss the pain in my ass that my brother was but I knew I would see him again, at least I hoped I would.

Sucking up the emotions I was feeling Warren joined me on the cart as we watched Amelia and Murphy take off. We quickly took off again, not wanting to waste anymore time.

"Doc, this is Warren and Raven back at the plant," Warren said into her radio as we pulled up next to some abandoned trucks.

"Hello, Roberta, welcome back," Doc responded, "Please be advised we're now entering the reactor core on the other side of the facility."

"Is there anything we can do?" Warren asked as we listening to what he had to say.

"Oh, just the usual prayer," Doc joked, "What's the status of that precious cargo?" As Warren was on the radio I walked over to the trucks trying to figure out which one would be the escape vehicle.

"Yea, he is airborne," Warren said getting off the cart and trying to get ahold of Citizen Z again, "Alright Ray, which one of these fine vehicles is our ride out of here?" Warren asked as she made her way over to me as I went through both trucks.

"Well, the silver one seems the most promising," I said as I through the back door open just as three Zs came around one of the buildings. Luckily whoever this man was he was quick to answer this time.

"I need a little information on glowing zombie," Warren said after they made introductions.

"Okay," he said through the static on the radio, "Checking zombie-pedia."

"Really?" I asked confused as I turned around to Warren as she shrugged and shook her head.

"It's called 'Angel's Glow.' Comes from nematode bacteria," he explained as the Zs started to get really close now. I pulled out a knife from my boot, not wanting to waste any ammo unless I just had to, "Somehow the radiation affects zombie skin and lets bacteria grow there. The bacteria grows when exposed to high levels of radiation."

"That's great and everything but are they hot or not?" I asked taking the radio from Warren as she pulled out her machete, I just wanted to get to the point. I didn't need the whole back story, I only wanted the summary.

"Don't let them spatter you," he said almost too late for us. Luckily I was quick enough to pull out my revolver and take out the closest one as Warren took out the next. Aiming and shooting I shot the last one, blood and brains splattering against the side of the building behind it.

"Are you still there?" I heard on the radio that I had thrown to the ground.

"Yea," Warren said as she picked it up and handed it over to me.

"We don't have anywhere else to be," I said, looking back at the get away truck.

…..

It wasn't much longer until we saw Doc and Cassandra make there way out of the building. I was happy to see them safe and alive but my mind immediately went to 10k and if he was safe.

"Guys," I yelled as I ran up to them, wrapping Doc in a tight hug, "Where's Homer and 10k? Did they make it?"

"They are on their way there now, they should be coming over the radio any second," Doc explained as he held out the radio, all of us listening to the gunshots as 10k killed the Zs they came across. I walked with Doc and Cassandra down to the small creek as they washed their skin off, trying their best to get rid of the feeling of radiation. I was zoned in on what was being said over the radio I hadn't noticed I started pacing back and forth. For the most part all I could hear was gunshots and doors slamming opened and closed, that was until I hear someone grunting and a gunshot like something bad had happened. My mind went into overdrive and my heart started pounding.

"What's wrong, what happened," I asked as I walked up to Doc, who was still holding the radio. He only shrugged as he held the radio out so we could all hear.

"That guy came out of nowhere, I couldn't move fast enough," 10k said.

"It's one of those good news, really, really bad news things. The suit is breached," I heard Homer say.

'Whose suit is ripped?" I asked frantically, I was frustrated it wasn't getting any answers.

"Can I tape it?" 10k asked.

"Son, I've accumulated so many rads in my life I was probably a dead man the moment I walked through the gate," Homer said, I could hear the sorrow in his voice and I felt for him.

"There has to be something I can do," 10k pleaded. He always had such a good heart and was a genuinely good person.

"Aren't you going to add to your count?" Homer joked, even on the brink of death.

"Two thousand three hundred and sixteen," I said before we heard 10k say anything over the radio. Doc and Cassandra both turned and looked at me as 10k repeated the same number I just said. We sat there as Homer and 10k tried to pep talk the other trying to build there courage to move on.

"You need to go on for all of us," Homer said giving 10k the courage he needed, "And especially for that girl. The two of you, live the life my son and his wife couldn't." My head immediately shot up to the two standing in front of me, the two of them staring back to me as well. I stood straight again, listening to the two of them make the rest of the way to the reactor cooling pool, finally getting the problem fixed. However, another problem arose when I heard Homer tell 10k he wanted him to give him mercy. I knew 10k couldn't do it, he already killed his father once and this man was like a second chance that got ripped out from under him again. 10k pleaded with him not to make it do it, only for Homer to do it himself, dropping into the cooling pool, getting cooked instantly. I heard 10k yell to him over the radio and my heart split in two hearing the desperation in his voice, even over the static. I couldn't handle the heartbreak anymore and quickly turned on my heels looking for Warren before she left on the golf cart. Asking her if I could tag along she nodded her head as I sat down on the passenger seat.

Her and I made our way around the compound on the golf cart, making our way back to the gate we came in earlier that day. We knew Doc and Cassandra would be there and 10k would be coming out that way and I planned on seeing him walk out alive.

As we pulled up it looked like he had already made it out the door but not yet to the gate.

"Here he comes," Doc said quietly turning to us all as he got ready to open the gate and give him back his bag. However, as 10k made it through the gate Doc handed him his bag only for him to throw it down on the ground violently still walking like he was on a mission. That was until he walked right up to me, placing both his hands on the side of my face, his lips crashing into mine. I didn't know what to think, honestly my brain couldn't even process what had just happened, but I wasn't about to pull away.

"You go, kid," Doc said behind us as he whistled. Pulling away I looked up at 10k seeing the dried tears that were on his cheeks from the moments that had just happened not long ago.

"I'm sorry about Homer," I said quietly enough only for him to hear it. He was about to say something when Doc came walking around the two of us, joining Warren on the cart.

"You remind me of my ex-wife, back from Costco," Doc said throwing his bag down.

"Who would marry you?" Warren asked as she turned around, visibly disturbed by what Doc just told her.

"Several women I'll have you know," Doc said turning back to her as well, offended by her comment.

"So did it all work? Are we safe?" I asked as I turned back to the reactors.

"From the meltdown, nothing else," Cassandra said, full of joy once again.

"Is this a battery charger?" Doc asked as he looked at everything that Warren had piled onto the back of the golf cart, "So we cant get back onto the trail but where to? We've lost patient zero." I immediately felt a tinge of emotion at that thought but it was quickly cut short when as if almost on cue Murphy came walking up the hill in front of us.

"Great news," he said out of breath as he dramatically walked towards us, "The vodka made perfect fuel for about ten minutes!"

"What happened?" I asked as I left my spot next to 10k to walk over to my brother I thought I had lost once again.

"Crash landing, about a hundred miles out of town," my brother explained. I was impressed, I didn't know he could even move that much.

"Wow, you covered a lot of ground," Doc said behind me, just as impressed as I was.

"Or ten miles," Murphy said as he took off his jacket, throwing it over my head like he used to when we were younger, "It felt like a hundred." Immediately he made his way to the cart, throwing himself down in a seat and opening another bottle of vodka, throwing it back.

"Well, what happened to Amelia?" I asked as I removed his jacket, only to get my answer as a Z that looked strangely a lot like her walking in front of me. I quickly pulled out my revolver again aiming it at her.

"You just let her follow you?" I yelled turning back to the cart towards Murphy.

"I couldn't give her mercy, that didn't feel right but this did," he said, looking like he couldn't tell what the hell he was thinking. Just as Warren walked towards me, nodded her head for me to give Amelia mercy, Murphy jumped up from the cart, running in front of me.

"She is not hurting us," he pleaded, "I don't know, maybe it's time for a different kind of mercy." He recited the same words he had told me earlier and I knew something was wrong with him. We all stared at him in disbelief as he turned and looked at Amelia again. I lowered my gun and placed it back in my thigh holder turning to pile onto the cart with everyone else.

"Climb aboard," Warren said as she got in the driver seat. I watched as Murphy raised his bottle to Amelia as she reached out towards him before he climbed in the passenger seat.

We all sat down in silence, tired and shell shocked from the events that took place today. However, we were back at square one now, no car and still 2,000 miles from saving humanity.