Sorry it's been so long since an update. RL got very busy and I also had a case of writers block on this story line. During that time though, I did write on a story of a different flavor which you will see popping up soon after this chapter is posted. Please take a look at it.
I do not own Highschool of the DEAD or its characters.
Update: 10/20/13
"A major problem I see currently is laundry," Saya told the officers. Tomasa nodded as she continued, "We have about ninety people in camp now with a close to 50/50, man/woman ratio. Those I have talked to all said they have about two changes of duty clothes, with maybe one set of off duty wear. Everyone is currently hand washing their clothes and hanging them out on lines. My questions are, will we be getting shipments of uniforms anytime in the future? Also what about underwear? Should we be raiding stores for it? What is our policy going to be about commandeering supplies?"
Nakajima sighed, "The current policy is take what you need and keep notes on where and when you did. If the owners are ever found alive, the government will compensate them in some way. There are uniform stocks around the country, but right now they are not high on the list of needed items. For now just try to keep stocked in cargo pants, dark shirts and good boots. Undergarments just use what you can find."
"What are the current items on the wants list?" the girl asked.
"Food, weapons and ammo, fuel and/or transportation, medical, clothing and everything else comes after those." Nakajima replied.
Saya looked at her notes, "One more item we need is…ah…" Saya blushed as she looked at Shizuka.
"Condoms," Shizuka said.
Rika and Tomasa chuckled as Nakajima grunted, "Yes, I understand. Best advice I can give you is collect what you can from stores and we will try to find supplies in the future."
"That's all I have currently," Saya said as she sat down.
"Very good, Takagi-san. I see why the Captain was eager to keep you on his staff. Let's see, Busujima-san; please tell us about you training plans."
Saeko stood, "I intend to canvas the troopers to find out who already has hand-to-hand and hand weapon knowledge. Once I know that, I will start a rotating practice program, starting with basics, and moving to more advanced training as I see who does the best. We have plenty of practice and battle-ready weapons. We will have more once we can find someone that can finish the blanks we brought. I will write a letter to my father asking for advice on finding such a person. May I ask that you to deliver it to him when you go back, Colonel Nakajima?"
Nakajima nodded that he would.
"The dojo itself needs to be enclosed in some way, but I would also like to keep it where we can open it in the summer when needed. That is currently all I have."
"You did not mention training uniforms or protective gear. What do you intend to do about those?" Nakajima asked.
"I feel normal gym clothes will do for this with some practice pads. We are not going into competitions, so there is no need for formal kendo gear. This training is for killing Them; no other reason. We should be able to pick up what we need at sporting goods stores," Saeko told him.
"Very well. Have your letter ready by tomorrow and I will make sure it is delivered," the Colonel said.
Saeko bowed and sat down as Nakajima looked down at a note in front of him, "Toda-san, what about weapons?"
As Toda got up and started reading off of his notes, Takashi looked out the window from where he was sitting out of the way. He and several others like Tatsumi, Giba, and Shion, who were non-coms, sat in so they could be up to date on the running of the camp.
Hmm…I wonder where those two are going? Takashi thought to himself, as he watched Alice, Masahiko and Zeke heading up the street, with Alice leading the way.
Masahiko had bounced back from the news of his father's death but Yukari was still suffering. Takashi could not imagine how she felt even after all the friends and family they had lost. To him and the others, it all seemed like a dream that they knew was true, but was unreal also. He looked over at the woman he loved and it tore at his heart to think that one day it might be him, or her getting that notice.
The kids were out of sight when he looked back out the window, his mind had turned elsewhere.
000
Earlier in the day:
Alice sat on the porch overlooking the courtyard with Zeke. She knew everyone was busy, but she was getting bored. She understood they were building a safe place for them to stay and live together, but that still did not give her much to do.
She was a smart little girl, sometimes smarter than Saya, who thought she shielded Alice from some things. She loved her brothers and sisters, who sometimes acted more like mamas and daddies to her.
Masahiko came out of the house and sat down beside her.
"Is okaa-san alright, Masahiko?" she asked.
The boy nodded as he scratched Zeke behind the ears, "She's still resting and Marikawa-sensei is watching her."
They had been sitting for a little while, just petting the dog, when Masahiko asked, "Alice, how did your dad die? Was it one of the monsters?"
Alice shook her head, "No, he was trying to get some people in a house to take me in. We were inside a wall with a metal gate, but the monsters were everywhere outside. Someone in the house opened the door and stabbed him with a spear. They said they were sorry and closed the door. Daddy was on the ground bleeding and there was a dog barking. Daddy told me to find someone to take care of me and find someplace to hide. Then he died. I was crying and the gate came open and the monsters started coming in after me. Then they all started to explode. I didn't know then what a gun sounded like, but it was Kohta nii-chan shooting them while Takashi nii-chan came to get me. Zeke showed up and was trying to protect me when Takashi nii-chan got there. He was killing the monsters with a crowbar and then a gun. After he got some room he put me on his back and stuck Zeke in his coat. He climbed up on the wall and walked on top of it till the rest came in the Humvee and got us."
"Uwah!" Masahiko said wide-eyed. "That was cool!"
She smiled at him as she swung her feet back and forth, "We have been together ever since. I love them and don't ever want to leave them."
They looked up as the big helicopter and an airplane looking thing flew low over the town and headed south. They both waved and Alice thought she saw oji-san Phillips waving out one of the windows at them.
They had been playing ball with Zeke for a while when Alice said, "Let's go see Toda ojii-san. Kohta-kun might be there too."
She headed out the gate and up the street with Zeke and Masahiko at her heels.
Arriving at the armory, she found Kohta sitting at the workbench with a rifle taken apart in front of him.
He turned to them and said, "Hello, munchkin, what are you and Masahiko up to?"
"We got bored and were looking for you or Toda ojii-san," she told him.
"Did you see the aircraft leave?" Kohta asked. They both nodded and he asked, "Can either of you tell me what they were?"
"The long gray one was a canook, but I don't know what the other one was," Alice said as Masahiko just shook his head 'no'.
"That's Chinook, munchkin. The airplane looking one is a US Marine Osprey. It can take off like a helicopter and fly like an airplane."
"Chinook, Osprey," Alice and Masahiko repeated.
"That's correct. Now, what kind of chopper does Cowboy fly?" Kohta asked.
"Apache!" both the children cried out. "Death from above!"
Kohta laughed and clapped, "Very good! Now remember, let's not tell Saya onee-chan about our lessons. She would get upset and we don't like to upset her."
"Kohta onii-chan? When are you going to show me how to shoot a rifle?" Alice asked.
He patted her on the head, "One day munchkin, we don't have one that I think you could handle right now, even if Saya-chan would let me. I promise though, one day I will."
She nodded and hugged him. She started out the door and Masahiko asked, "Where are we going now, Alice-chan?"
"Let's go see Paddy-kun and look at the tractors!" she said as Kohta laughed at the two adventurers.
Paddy was not in the mechanic's shop so they played on the farm equipment till Alice got bored with this also. She sat on one of the big machines and tried to think of what to do next.
She jumped down and headed for the trees that created a border between the landing field and the town buildings. Finding a suitable one, she climbed up and perched on a limb.
"Alice, be careful!" Masahiko called out as he ran up.
"It's okay, I climbed the trees in my yard all the time back home," she told him.
She paused as she looked out across the landing field toward the ditches with their protective berms. Watching closer, she was now sure of what she saw the first time.
"Dean-chan? Please go get Takashi-kun or one of the others and bring them here."
"What? Why Alice-chan? Are you stuck?" he asked.
"No, I see something and I need one of the oldsters. Go now please!" she said again.
Now worried, Masahiko took off running. Zeke sat at the base of the tree and looked up at her whining.
Less than five minutes later Masahiko came running back, with Takashi jogging behind him.
"Alice-chan why are you climbing trees when you can't get down?" Takashi asked.
"I can get down, onii-san. I am pretending to be stuck because there are people watching us from the trees."
Takashi froze as what she was saying sunk in, "Can you tell me where, without pointing, and is it real people or Them?"
"Across the field and over the ditches, they are in the trees near the two tallest ones. They are moving like real people not like the monsters," she told him.
Takashi looked that way quickly and turned back to her. "I can't see them because of the dirt berm," he said. Leaning over, he addressed Masahiko, "Dean-chan, go to Rika-san or the Captain and tell them I said 'Quiet Alert, Live People, Outside the Ditch'. Then bring one of them back here to me. Can you do that?"
The boy nodded and repeated the message before racing off.
He and Rika were back in minutes. Takashi stood with his back to the landing field and told Rika what Alice could see.
"Alright first thing I want to do is get Alice down from there," Rika said.
"I can stay here and watch!" Alice told her.
"No," Rika replied. "You are in an exposed position. Do you know what that is?"
Alice sighed, "Kohta says it means the enemy can see you but you might not be able to see them."
"Correct smart girl. I don't want them to realize you're spying on them. Takashi is going to come up and 'rescue' you."
"Ok," Alice said as Takashi started climbing the tree.
He got to where she was and then hugged the trunk so she could climb on his back. He turned toward the landing field as he started down, but could not see any movement in the distance. Back on the ground he squatted down and let her get off.
Rika bent over and gave her a hug, "Good girl, you did well. Now I want you and Masahiko to go to the mess hall and stay there until we say it's safe. Takashi and I will be right behind you."
Alice and Masahiko ran back to the mess hall to find the troops standing in front of it and Tomasa talking to them in a loud voice from the porch.
"We are going to start patrols and scrounging today. Squad one will go north with a Humvee, a truck and ten troopers. Squad two will do the same to the south. Vehicles will be pulled around in a minute so those assigned go gear up. Carry rifles if you have one. Paddy, Hirano, Wakanae and Giba, you are on Stryker maintenance, go. Everyone else, Busujima-san wants to speak to you about sword and hand-to-hand training. Dismissed!"
Tomasa leaned over to Tatsumi and said in his normal voice, "If anybody spying on us is close enough to hear, that should throw them off track." Tatsumi nodded.
Tomasa turned to find the children leaning against the wall behind him. He reached out and rubbed Alice on the head. "Good work, scout. Now you two get inside and help hold the fort till this is over."
"Yes sir!" they both exclaimed and went inside to find Rei and Saya loading their rifles while Saeko put an edge on her sword.
"What is this I hear about you climbing trees?" Saya asked with a frown on her face.
Alice sighed.
000
Saeko stepped onto the porch as the trucks pulled up to load. She waited till they drove away and then addressed the forty or so people in front of her.
"We all know what we are doing here. So while we are waiting, I want to know who already has training in kendo or sword." Seven raised their hands. "Good," she said. "What about karate or some other hand-to-hand style?" Three of the first group and ten more raised their hands.
Saya came out the door behind Saeko and said, "Excuse me, Saeko I'm going to join Kohta and Paddy, if they get into a fight that will put Paddy driving and Kohta on the gun, but no one to spot for him."
Saeko nodded, "Maybe you need to take someone with you for Giba-san also."
Kurogane was standing close to the porch and he cleared his throat, "I'll go with you, Takagi-san."
Saya nodded and they started up the street as Saya muttered, "I just hope they don't have any of those damn RPG's."
Saeko turned back to the main group, "Well, let's settle down and talk till whatever is going to happen does. I know you have fought undead or you would not be alive, but have any of you been in combat with real people before?"
Six, which Saeko knew were SAT troopers, raised their hands.
A small woman down front looked like she was going to be sick. She reminds me of Nakaoka Asami, Saeko thought.
The young woman looked up at Saeko, "Have you ever killed anyone real, Busujima-san?"
Saeko nodded and said with sadness in her voice, "Yes, but never in anger. I have dispatched a few who were bitten and wished to die human. I have been through only one, what Hirano-kun would call firefight, but I stayed inside the Stryker till it was over."
Sitting on the edge of the porch Saeko leaned forward slightly and said, "May I ask your name?" to the woman.
"Urabe Mikoto, Chiba traffic enforcement," she replied.
Saeko nodded, "Well Urabe-san, if you want, you can stay and help the medics if they need it."
Urabe bowed and thanked Saeko as Alice and Masahiko barreled out the door and headed toward the house compound.
"Where are you two going?" the swordswoman called out.
"To get mama and sensei!" Masahiko called back as they broke into a run.
Saeko looked back at the troopers and smiled, "Even the smallest have their duties here."
Several chuckled and most of the rest smiled.
They lost the smiles as their radio-coms crackled, "Six, Squad 1 in position, over." It crackled again, a moment later, "Squad 2 five more minutes, over."
"Roger 1 and 2, Six over," they heard Captain Tomasa respond.
Saeko slipped off the porch and walked over as Shizuka and Yukari arrived with the children.
"I have one young officer that would prefer to help you if it's alright, do you think you will need more?"
Shizuka thought a minute and shook her head. "I don't think so because Cookie and his people are non-combatants. If we need help, I'm sure they'll pitch in. I just hope we don't need it."
Saeko nodded and motioned for Uraba-san to follow, as the medics and kids went inside. She turned back to the others as the radios crackled again. "Six, Squad 2 in position, over."
"Strykers roll out, Squad 1 make your move, Six out."
Saeko heard the engines from the Strykers roar to life. Half a minute later, they pulled out of the drive that went to do the shop. Stryker 1 turned north and #2 came roaring down the street south.
It raced by in a cloud of dust going at least 60 km/h. Giba and Kurogane waved from the top as they tore by.
Saeko pulled her pistol and checked its load as she had been taught to do. Looking up, she noticed the motorcycle patrol officer, Samejima, watching her as he did the same. Nodding to her, he turned and helped a couple of the women that were having problems checking theirs.
Rika came running down the stairs from the communications room. "I need ten to stay here with Busujima-san!" she called out. About half the group raised their hands. Turning to Saeko she said, "You've been talking to them, pick quickly."
Saeko pointed out ten and they stepped away from the others.
"Samejima, take half of the rest and head towards the east perimeter, you will be called Squad 4. Patrol there until recalled. I don't want to get flanked. Everyone else, you're Squad 3, follow me. Saeko, you're reserve squad." Samejima nodded to Rika as everyone headed out.
Samejima turned back to Saeko as he started away. He pointed to her and then held his hand up to his ear like he was holding a phone. Understanding his meaning, call if you need us, Saeko nodded and waved.
000
A few minutes earlier:
Saya and Kurogane walked up to the Strykers as Kohta and Giba were checking the machine guns. The Strykers were on the opposite side of the mechanic's shop from where the unknown forces were and therefore hidden.
Kohta ducked down inside the APC when Saya climbed up the back ramp. "What are you doing here, Saya?" he asked.
Saya noticed he had on a helmet that had a radio mic built into it. That's new, she thought.
She gave him a quick kiss, "Paddy is going to be driving and you're on the gun, so you need a spotter. I don't want you getting shot by an RPG or something because you didn't see it."
He frowned, but understood her logic. He unplugged from the Stryker's radio and stepped around her. After rummaging around in some of the built-in lockers, he came out with a normal style helmet. Turning to her, he held it up and said, "You need to take your pigtails down and let your hair hang in the back for this to fit. I'm not having you sticking your head out in a firefight without some protection on."
She nodded and pulled the ties from her hair. Thinking about it, she reached around and tied it in a low single pigtail, at the base of her neck, so the helmet would sit on her head right.
Kohta put it on and took it off her, several times as he adjusted it to fit. After getting it to his satisfaction, he hooked the chin strap and pulled it tight. Then he leaned over and kissed her for a minute.
"Hey, Hey!" Paddy said as he climbed in the back. "Save that for later, troopers!"
"Shut-up, Irish! I'm sure Rei is sweating bullets worrying over you right now," Saya snapped.
He nodded as he climbed past. "I know. I'm worried about her too."
Saya stepped forward and squeezed his shoulder as he sat down in the driver's seat, "Don't be, Saeko is right outside the mess hall with a bunch of troopers."
He nodded and started warming up the systems so they could get started fast when the order came.
"Six, Squad 1 in position, over," the radio crackled. "Squad 2 five minutes, over."
"Roger 1 and 2, Six over," they heard Captain Tomasa respond.
Paddy looked back, "We ready, Kohta?"
Kohta gave him a thumb up as Saya opened the left hatch so she could look out.
They waited quietly till they heard, "Six, Squad 2 in position, over."
"Strykers roll out, Squad 1 make your move, Six out."
The engine roared to life as Paddy hit the starter button. Seconds later they were moving with the second APC behind them. They turned left at the end of the driveway as Stryker 2 turned right.
Saya watched as Stryker 2 raced away at high speed. Turning forward, she saw the first two drawbridges down but the third still up with the bridge guards standing next to it. Paddy turned left onto the third perimeter road, inside the third ditch, and moved as quickly as he could towards the point they wanted to give fire support from.
Saya quickly realized that Kohta and equipment on top of the Stryker would block her vision when they reached their stop. She reached out and tapped Kohta on the arm. "I'm moving to a rear hatch so I can see better," she told him. He nodded in response.
She dropped down, closed the hatch and moved to the back of the cabin. Opening the driver's side rear hatch, she stuck her head up, laid her MP5 on the deck in front of her, and readied her binoculars.
She heard gunfire start as Tatsumi came over the radio. "Six, they have refused surrender and have opened fire on us! Over!"
"Six to all units! Weapons free! I say again, weapons free! Six over!"
A/N: Writers block is just a tough thing to get over. I knew what I wanted to say and where I wanted to go, but I just could not get it to come out coherently. Well that's over now and I hope you enjoy the chapter. As always have a nice day and please leave a Review and/or Favorite.