CeeCee paced around the truck in thought, her hands working mindlessly to assemble and disassemble her weapon. Her mind working through all the possible ways they could rescue her brother, if you could call it that.
"We'll get him back." Penny broke the silence, their voice as even and calm as always.
"Yea, but this time it'll be into a highly organized unit." CeeCee answered, not stopping her movements. "Unlike a barn. We also don't know where the compound it."
"You're not alone." Penny reminded, turning to the moving partner. "I am also skilled in breaking into high security places, I managed to place a tracking device on Jake when he had passed by."
"So, what's the plan?" CeeCee asked. "Get close, armor up, weapon up, rest up, then scout?"
"Essentially, yes." Penny nodded. "We need to gather as much information we can about Negan before we storm in."
"Jay's a deadman." CeeCee mumbled. "Negan probably wants him dead by now." CeeCee stopped at this point, taking her seat back into the passenger seat of the truck cab.
"We'll get him back." Penny spoke as they settled into the driver's seat, starting up the truck once more. "Jay isn't that stupid… I hope." The last of the sentence mumbled under their breath as they pulled the car into drive and went on about the drive. Penny pulled out the gps for the tracking device to ensure it was working.
"Who are you?" The weird looking man asked, staring at Jay. Jay rested against the wall, leg chained against one wall to reduce possible escape.
"A fantastic person." Jay responded with a smirk, eyes trained on Dylan, the man sent to break him. "I don't know why you keep asking, I'm going to be the same person regardless."
"Do you realize you won't get freedom, or food until you submit?" Dylan growled, staying in a crouched position by the door. Jay nodded, pretending to think. "Again, who are you."
"Damn I thought it wouldn't change but…" Jay trailed before making eye contact again, a serious expression filling his face. "I'm a fucking flamingo."
"Fuck this." Dylan growled, pulling himself into a stand. "Starve for all I care." The man growled, making his way out before slamming the door shut. Jay hear the distinct sound of a lock closing before he sighed.
The teen settled himself on the floor, regardless of the restrictions of food they weren't going to deter him. He had his sister and pal looking for him, and knowing Penny, they know where to go.
"This is ridiculous." Jay sighed, eyes trained on the seemingly empty space in the corner. "How do they expect to turn me when they starve me? I mean come on, treat me right and you got me in your lap."
"I don't think you'd like them to hear that." A laugh only Jay could hear echoed through the space. Emily, the girl Jay was speaking to, responded. "Wouldn't it be smart to just play along?" She asked, running a hand through blonde hair.
"Yea, smart." Jay grumbled. "But not fun, that's for sure."
"Remember what Penny said?" Emily spoke, resting a hand on bent knees. "Behave, save them time, so they don't come back to a corpse."
"Fuck, you've got a point." Jay groaned, flopping his head against concrete. The thud and sting didn't pull a reaction from the teen, and he kept eyes trained on his friend. "But I'm not going to take shit." He growled, glancing at the closed door.
"No one says you have to." Emily laughed, shaking her head. "I'm just saying that you should at least see what this place is about."
"Ugh, Cee and PenPen better hurry their asses up." Jay complained, rolling onto his side. "I miss my knives."
CeeCee sat, perched on one of the many trees, her hands flipping one of Jay's knives as she stared at the compound in the distance. The compound was simply an abandoned factory, surrounded by a wall of marshmallows to protect and alert if anyone gets to close.
"Supper's done." Penny spoke as he got closer to CeeCee, head tilting towards the small camp they had settled to make.
"Thanks, I'll eat it tomorrow." Cee responded. "Before we go in. What do you think our chances are?"
"Eighty percent if Jay was ordinary." Penny answered, turning their own gaze to the compound. "However, with Jay, it's ninety percent."
"Not bad." CeeCee mused. "How soon do you think we can make the move inward?"
"That's hard to say, until we do a perimeter check." Penny responded, mind working through all they've noticed thus far. "If it's much like we see now, at most two days."
"That's probably a day too late." CeeCee responded. "Knowing Jay, he'll get himself killed with in twenty-four hours."
"That might be true." Penny agreed, before countering. "Jay managed to catch Negan's interest meaning he won't dispose of him so fast. Five of his men were also killed, meaning Negan maybe keep Jay safe until five days are up."
"Fair point." CeeCee responded, before turning her focus on the other person. "You should get to bed, I'll join you soon."
"Good Night." Penny nodded, making their way towards to camp before throwing over their shoulder. "If you need anything, you'll know where I am."
"Good night." CeeCee responded, training her focus once more on the compound.
"Just because I like fire, doesn't mean I'd set everything on fire." Jay emphasized, throwing his hands into the air. His eyes burrowing into Emily as he heard the lock come undone before the door pulled open. He didn't pull his attention even as the other person entered and closed the door.
"Who the hell are you talking to?" Negan asked, as he crouched in a similar way Dylan had the few times he showed up. Jay watched as Emily saluted before making her way out, then turning his focus to the other psychopath in the room.
"No one, unless the dead spirits of others that were here count." Jay responded nonchalant.
"Fucking bold of you to assume anyone's died here." Negan responded. Jay watched as the other male rested Lucille against the wall, noting how it was just out of his reach.
"Takes a crazy to know a crazy."
"Really kid, who the fuck were you talking to?" Negan chuckled, settling himself in a seemingly comfortable position. Jay noted that unlike the other guy, Negan took a more relaxed approach. Maybe Emily was right about someone hearing.
"If you must know…" Jay sighed, before making eye contact with Negan. " I talk to demons. Running Hell and all ain't easy from up here." His response pulled a booming laughter from the other man.
"I like you kid." Negan mused. "What was you and the demons on about?"
"You know, the weather, and what's for dinner." Jay mused, turning his gaze to the empty corner and back to the man of the hour. "Oh, also how stupid y'all's conversion tactics are."
"Oh, do fucking go on." Jay wasn't completely idiotic, he knew a threatening tone. The wording wasn't the give away, it was the dangerous spark in Negan's eyes. Then again, Jay wasn't really someone to care much for his safety.
"Just that I don't think starving someone who survived out there scavenging and going days without food is a smart option." Jay mused, talking with his hands as he spoke. Negan paused, eyes trained on Jay before a smile slipped onto worn features.
"How about we talk more about this interesting shit over fruits?" Negan asked, knowing a healthy plate should be making its way to his room about now. The spark that light up in Jay's eyes told Negan that was the right choice in getting the survivor on his side.
"Now that shit…" Jay smiled, pointing a finger at Negan. "Is the way to get me on your side."
CeeCee broke the tree line, making her way over to her friend. Penny settled on the ground, hands working quickly to continue to make the weapons they may need. Penny nodded as Cee dropped a two bags by them. One was of scrape and metals that could help, the other filled with meat.
"How useful do you think marshmallows will be?" CeeCee asked. Penny paused, eyes landing on the compound. The dead fence holding steady as other marshmallows roamed the area around.
"If executed right, it could work." Penny answered, turning back to the job at task. "What's plan B if execution fails?"
"Make a lot of noise, and go in guns blazing." CeeCee stated.
"Not the smartest plan." Penny responded, pausing before continuing. "We'll camouflage. In the ruckas, we get Jay and make our way out."
"Do we have to?" Cee asked. "I'd rather make a scene and risk dying to save Jay."
"I don't think Jay would like that very much." Penny sighed, shaking his head.
"Okay, okay. But…" CeeCee added. "We're bringing an extra bag for Jay."
"That's the plan." Penny nodded.
"I'm guessing night?" Cee asked. Penny response was a nod. "Wait, that's not a plan B. That's an attachment to Plan A."
"If we can't sneak out, you can make a scene." They sighed.
"Okay." CeeCee nodded. "I'm going to go grab more stuff."
"Only if we CAN"T sneak." Penny reminded as the other on made her way out the space.
"Yea yea." CeeCee waved them off. Penny glanced over as the other made her way out of view, before turning their attention solely on their work.
"These two." Penny shook their head with a sigh.
Fruits was one way to get Jay to go anywhere. He was always open for fruits, but in this apocalypse it was much harder to find or grow fruits. So, after entering the room after a brief tour and seeing the huge tray filled with fruits, Jay might have figured he died and went to heaven.
The tray was not only covered in the obvious, but also held more tropical fruits, including Jay's favorite… Mango. Jay followed Negan's lead in taking a seat at the table where the fruits were laid out.
"Did we die?" Jay asked, motioning to the fruits. "I don't know if my demons would like me being in heaven." Negan laughed at the comment.
"Have at it kid, it ain't going anywhere." Negan smirked. "Tell me about the fucking demons you deal with."
"They're not much." Jay chuckled, grabbing a handful of grapes before continuing. "They just try to stop me from dying."
"If they do that shit." Negan started. "What the fuck does your crew do?"
"Make sure I don't die either." Jay mused, before chuckling. "Well, my sis doesn't, but Penny keeps us alive."
"What's the point of that shit if you got the demons?" Negan asked, helping himself to the pear.
"Disgusting." Jay responded, glaring at the pear. "Disgrace of a fruit."
"Next time I'll know to use fucking pear, instead of isolation." Negan grinned.
"Bold of you to assume I'll be alive for the next time." Jay countered.
"You told me about the shit that keeps you from offing yourself." Negan laughed. "Easy to know there will be."
"Sometimes I go deaf." Jay retorted, seriousness in his tone. "But physical action stops me… Oh shit."
"Oh shit?" Negan questioned.
"I've been abandoned." Jay whined, shaking his head. "They aren't gonna come."
"Why the fuck wouldn't they?" Negan asked. "From what I saw, they'd fucking die for you."
"They got a limit though!" Jay retorted. "Three days, after that you're on your own. Survival rules and all."
"Which of you made the rules?"
"Penny." Jay responded, shaking his head.
"The pink headed dude?" Negan questioned. "He sure as hell seems like the leader."
"Excuse me?" Jay placed a hand over his heart in offense. "We all make the rules."
"Oh, he's the fucking leader that makes you believe this shit is a democracy." Negan chuckled, shaking his head.
"Uh, no." Jay shook his head, popping a mango cube. "Penny can't handle all of this on his own."
"Anyone can handle two fuckers." Negan retorted. "It's not like handling hundreds."
"Excuse, might I add that these 'fuckers'-"
"Negan-"
"This better be fucking important." Negan growled, turning to the savior who just burst in.
"I apologize, but the west side is encountering…" The savior glanced over at Jay before turning to his leader. "You need to see this."
"Don't fucking move." Negan ordered, before following his man out. Jay didn't see the point in the order when he heard the clear sounds of a lock being clicked.
CeeCee severed the last chain holding the marshmallow, guiding it in the direction of the horde chasing after a car filled with meat. She watched as Penny slide through the gate, before following them.
"We keep to the shadows." Penny whispered, as the duo hide from a rush of savior headed to the compromised section. Penny continued their way, Cee silently following as they made their way into the largest building.
"Do you think he'll be on the top floor?" CeeCee asked, nodding towards the stairs. "Seems most villains hold prisoners up there."
"Well, if they have a dungeon, no." Penny countered, nodding toward the stairs leading below the ground floor. "Let's check down first, then make our way up."
"Why not split up?" Cee asked. "We don't have enough time."
"We'll only check the highest and the lowest." Penny countered. 'Won't take too long."
"Fine." Cee respond, the duo making their way down the stairs. There wasn't much stairs between the ground floor and the lowest floor.
The pair made quick work of checking each room, working swiftly and keeping the slightest ear out for any sign of a savior making their way down. It was only a few minutes into the search when the clear sounds of hammering footsteps sounded from the stairs.
"Knock out." Penny warned CeeCee as they readied for the oncoming enemy. They would rather have as little blood shed as possible with Negan's men.
Cee nodded, taking a space closer to the entrance. Having found all the cells empty, the duo were ready to make their way up. Two saviors breech the doorway, having been met with a hard hit to their temples before either could process the two standing nearby.
The two quietly made their way through the building, only using hand signals and nods to alert the other person. In the travel, four more saviors were knocked unconscious before they made their way to the top floor. CeeCee and Penny had enough sense to only focus on any doors that were locked. Mostly finding doors unlocked or wide open.
It was finally once bursting one door open and being met with a whole apple flying through the doorway alerted them both they found the right room.
"You're willing to fight Negan?" Penny asked, Cee continuing their train of thought.
"Good thing we came just in time before you got yourself killed."
"Hey, Negan has a key." Jay deadpanned. "Can you blame me?"
"A key to death?" Cee asked.
"No, to the door." Jay sighed. "Y'all weren't that quite in trying to get in."
"So you thought an intruder was breaking in?" Cee asked. "And didn't even think it was us."
"..." Jay paused. "You guys know how stupid I am already."
"I know that's why you wasted an apple."
"Shut up." Jay whined, barely catching the bag that was tossed to him. A gross stench fuming from the bag.
"Get covered." Penny ordered. "We need to get out before Negan realizes the subotage."
"Ugh, this again?" Jay complained, opening the bag to reveal rotting marshmallow parts. "We just got clean clothes too."
"Like four days ago." Cee corrected.
"They aren't dirty unless you fuck with them, or a week passes." Jay retorted, sticking a hand into the bag to continue to complete the task ordered. As much as he hated this, he knew enough to know the time crunch the trio was on.
"Next time." CeeCee responded. "Don't get captured."
"Not my fault psychopaths find me interesting." Jay mumbled.
"Yea, yea." Cee shook her head, motioning to the door. "Let's get going." Jay grumbled, before he nodded. He turned the blood coated bag inside out and tossed all unopened fruit inside. Once finished, the teen turning in time to catch the daggers tossed to him by Penny.
"Knock out only." Penny warned, hearing the growing sounds arising in the floors around them.