Chapter 20-Oops

Michiru turned around and stared at the sun spilling through the window blinds. Squinting, she continued to stare at it. Dust particles danced in the air, making swirling patterns as a breeze blew through.

Elsa Grey was still snoring, on occasion muttering something. Michiru got up from the floor and stretched. Sleeping on hard wood floor was not easy for her joints and muscles.

Last night, after they got to the top of that roof, Michiru was mortified to find out that the brilliant plan of Elsa's was to zip line across to the other building. Not normally scared of heights, but the thought of zip lining over a pit of zombies had momentarily paralyzed Michiru.

"Come on, it's easy. Just make sure to release this safety hatch once you get over there and then send the zip back." Elsa said as she fasten the hook on Michiru's belt.

She was still silently preparing herself when Elsa sent her flying. She clamped her mouth shut, even though she wanted to scream. Instead, from Elsa's point of view, she glided it across bravely and landed gracefully.

"Not bad." Elsa patted her on the back once she landed too. "Thought you would scream."

Michiru waved her hand, "Piece of cake. Now, are we going to zip line across all the roofs?"

"Nah, let's stay here for a bit. This used to be a dorm and I am expecting to find some goodies here." Elsa winked and darted towards the stairs.

An hour of scavenging later, Elsa proudly showed off her goodies. Some snacks and a lot of beer. Lots and lots.

"Nah." Michiru tossed the beer can back at Elsa. "I will keep watch. You sleep."

Elsa pouted and then tossed her head back as she chugged. "Darn. I was hoping to seduce you once you get drunk..."

Michiru opened her mouth in surprise and then closed it. She chuckled softly to herself but she kept a straight face..."you need beer to seduce a girl?"

Elsa widened her eyes but quickly recovered. "Ouch. Say, you got a girlfriend or boyfriend tucked away somewhere? 'Cause I am no home wrecker..."

"We are practically married. Also, we are raising a little girl together." Michiru said as she handed a photo to Elsa.

Elsa slammed her beer down hard and her mouth dropped. "Tenou Haruka? Seriously? You are dating her?"

"What?" Michiru perked up her ears, sensing a good story coming.

"That douche bag beat me at every single track and field competition. Then, she had the audacity to steal a girl from me at the bar." Elsa handed the photo back and shook her head.

Michiru traced her finger around Haruka's face. "Yeah, she flirts a lot. Or at least, she used to."

"I heard she was rich before, right? Rumors had it that her father bought her a helicopter and a Ferrari for her 16th birthday. Crazy, right?" Elsa waved her hands wildly, as she down her third beer.

Michiru nodded. One thing was for sure. Apocalypse didn't discriminate. Rich or poor, everybody fell. Haruka was such a free spirit before, a bit arrogant but she hid a good heart underneath it all. She used to laugh more too.

"Hey, you are up." Elsa's voice brought Michiru out of her train of thought. "What's for breakfast?"

Michiru tossed the cracker box at Elsa. "So, we should get going soon. I want to make it to the infections disease building over there, and meet up with my friends."

"Any of them single? And gay?" Elsa spewed out some bits as she talked with her mouth full.

Michiru shook her head. "You are unbelievable. Anyway, I saw the zombie herd had thinned somewhat, we should make a run for it."

Elsa peeked out the window. "No can't do. Two against that many, that's suicide."

"Or zip line again?"

"Maybe. But first, let's go down a few floors and scavenge some more. I am actually running out of food back at my camp. If you help me, I will help you get to your friends. Deal?" Elsa wiped her hand on her pants and the offered it for a shake.

"Fine. And by food, you meant beer?"

"Best currency out there besides cigarettes and pain killers." Elsa grinned. "I can trade a whole basket of food with 2 cans of beer. Say, you ever been to the trading post? Best place ever, you can get pretty much anything."

Michiru gathered up her stuff and was standing by the door. "Ready yet? Come on..."

"Coming, coming..." Elsa said begrudgingly.


"Hey, wake up." Mako gently tapped on Setsuna. "The herd is thinning. We should get moving."

Setsuna rubbed her eyes and sat up. Immediately regretting her action, she bought a hand to her forehead. "Oh...how much did I drink last night?"

"About 3 cans before you passed out. Are you okay?" Mako frowned and searched Setsuna's face for clues. Mako had sensed something was wrong since yesterday.

Setsuna merely shook her head. She grabbed a nearby bottle and took a sip of the water. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have drank last night."

"Hey, we all need a little unwinding. Sometimes warm beer will do." Mako patted her friend on the shoulder. "Now, let's go see if we can find Michiru."

Moments later, Mako and Setsuna made their way down the long hallway toward the stairs.

Suddenly, Mako stopped and she brought one finger up to her lip, telling Setsuna to be quiet. Footsteps were heard coming down the stairs.

"Here." Mako grabbed Setsuna and crouched down, behind the stairs door.


Michiru trailed behind Elsa, who was talking her head off. She was pretty sure she had learned every single thing about Elsa, down to the details of her favorite brand of coffee.

"We should keep quiet. Don't want to attract zombies."

"Whatever. They can't take the stairs." Elsa waved nonchalantly and continued on with her tale. "So I said to the hot chick, let's go to my place. Sure, she said. Then she went to the bathroom and came out with her tongue down Tenou's throat. Urgh...I swear if..."

Elsa's speech was halted in mid sentence. She held up her hand to stop Michiru. She mouthed the word "people" and slowly drew her knife from her belt.

Michiru nodded and gripped her spear.

Elsa started to head toward the doorway. Suddenly, a familiar figure jumped out and flung Elsa over her shoulder.

"Mako, stop. She's with me." Michiru yelled before Mako's fist made contact with her new friend's face.

Mako's eyes lit up and she ran up to Michiru. "You are here. You made it." A bear hug quickly followed, leaving Michiru gasping for breath.

"Too tight...too...tight."

"Oh sorry, I am just glad to see you." Mako released her hug and smiled apologetically.

"Mako, Setsuna, this is Elsa. She saved me from a child zombie yesterday." Michiru did a quick introduction and everyone said hi.

Elsa rubbed her shoulder and winced in pain. "Remind me not to cross you." She steered clear of Mako and stood next to Michiru.

"Okay, now that we are all here, let's get out of here." Setsuna started to walk down the stairs.

"Wait, we can't fight through that many zombies." Elsa protested. She looked at Michiru pleadingly.

Michiru smiled reassuringly. "Is Mako scary to you?"

Elsa nodded. She darted a gaze to Mako, who now looked harmless enough though.

"I once saw Mako handled twenty zombies all by herself, bare handed." Michiru's high praise caused Mako to blush intensively.

Elsa looked at Mako again and nodded slowly. "O...Kay. Fine."

The four of them continued on, making their way down to the first floor. Mako scanned the hallway and then signaled all clear.

Outside the door, Mako could see the zombies walking about aimlessly. As soon as they open that door, they would swarm them for sure.

"Alright. Form a square. Back to back. We can fight through this..." Mako tightened the straps on her backpack and then stretched her arms, readying herself for a fierce battle.

Setsuna and Michiru nodded too, agreeing with the plan.

Elsa took a step back and grinned apologetically. "Sorry, change of plans."

"What?!" Mako asked angrily. Suddenly, something exploded from a far. Ropes were thrown from the sky and a few soldiers descended.

Machine guns were drawn and bullets rained down on the undead. In record time, the soldiers neutralized the zombies.

Michiru turned and stared at Elsa in disbelief. "Who are you?" Her head rewinded to last night, as she tried to remember what she said last night. It was becoming clear that Elsa was foe instead of friend. All that chatting she did, it was to bait Michiru to give away crucial information….

"Like I said, change of plans. You are all coming with us." Elsa pulled out a handgun from nowhere and aimed it at Setsuna. "She's the important one right? Don't try anything or I will put a bullet in her head."

The soldiers came in and put them in handcuffs. Michiru turned to Elsa again. "Why are you doing this?"

Elsa sighed and walked closer to Michiru. "Just be glad that it was me that got the call. I was really at the trading post nearby when I heard the orders and I volunteered to keep an eye on you guys. Just be glad it was me and not the other team…"

Mako tugged violently at the handcuffs and rammed against the soldiers. Elsa pulled out a tazer and zapped the giant, until she was no longer a threat. Elsa then turned to Michiru and her face was dead serious.

"Beach house, facing the ocean, surrounded by forest? It was a nice picture. Thanks, Michiru. I will bring everyone in." Elsa said in a cold voice as she placed a black bag over Michiru's head. "Couldn't have done it without you..."


A.N.

Anime Michiru would never made this kind of mistake. However, human Michiru never went through the trauma of being a senshi, so I am making her slightly less paranoid.