Hey Zombies

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Proposals

His heart wasn't going to take it. Of course, taking blood out of a 90 year old man seemed risky to Krieg and his crew, but they never figured it was inevitably fatal.

Krieg had to break the news to Miles and Arnold privately.

"Your father would be under a lot of strain. We can successfully draw the proper amount of blood from his system, but he won't be able to recreate the cells even if we gave him fluids. He'll eventually fall into a coma and will not wake up."

Miles nodded, realizing it was a risk, "Well okay then. Can't do the operation then, we'll have to help Charlie another way then right?"

"Dad you heard him, Grandpa's the only one with Charlie's blood type." Arnold looked at Krieg, "You're saying it's only a chance that he'll die from it right?"

Krieg sadly shook his head, "There's nothing we can do to save him. His body is surprisingly healthy for a 90 year old man. We pulled up old doctor reports, and theoretically he could have lived to be 150; but on the inside, his heart is still not fit for something of this size."

Arnold couldn't understand. It was the first time that not everybody could be happy. It had to be one or the other.

"Just so you know, Phil already authorized the procedure." Krieg added.

"What?!" Miles asked frantically. Arnold was equally shocked.

"My crew is prepping him in the infirmary as we speak. They're also moving Charlie in, they'll be operating within six hours." Krieg said, "If we don't start soon, Charlie will die."

"Wait doc, you can't just..." Arnold started. Krieg interrupted him.

"He said you guys would react this way...I'll take you to him."

With that, Krieg led the two towards the operating room. Arnold's eyes welled up immediately upon seeing his grandpa on the bed. He looked at him with faded blue eyes.

"Heeey short man! How about these army beds huh? Aren't they soft?" Phil said, laughing.

Miles felt equally saddened.

"There's my boy..." Grandpa said, looking at Miles. He raised his hand and Miles returned by grasping it, "How's my son doing, after heroically defending us in the ravenous deserts of Nevada?" Phil cackled and coughed simultaneously.

"Take it easy Grandpa." Arnold said. With that, he let go of Miles' hand and his own dropped back to his side.

"Oh stop it Arnold, here you are ten years later, surrounded by the undead, and you're still the same worry wart I raised with Pookie." Grandpa looked at Miles and their eyes met. Miles immediately turned away, almost out of shame.

"Arnold." Phil said. Arnold looked directly at him.

"There's something I need you to do for me before this happens." Phil lifted both his hands, they shaked with his old bones and such, and he grasped something around his neck. He unclasped it, put it in one hand and dropped it in Arnold's hand.

Arnold opened it to reveal a golden chain, and attached to it, a silver band with a small diamond clipped on it.

"Your wedding ring...! Dad!" Miles said.

"Oh it's an old thing, don't treat it like it was expensive...at the time." Arnold was amazed at how his grandpa was still able to joke.

"Take it, go to Helga, and bring her back here with everyone else. These people are your family, they're my family, remember. I want to see you guys married before I leave this world."

"Grandpa, please, don't say that, it's not over." The tears began to well again in Arnold's eyes as he talked.

"Arnold, listen to me." Phil said, raising his voice, and lifting his hand. Arnold took it in his own hand, "Grieving in this world only gets you killed. Remember what I've told you when you were younger. You gotta keep your eye on the target, focus keeps you alive."

Arnold tried to reply, the fact his own grandfather was telling him these things was unreal.

"Arnold, do what your grandfather says, okay?" Miles said. It was the first time he didn't speak to Arnold as a survivor, or a soldier, he was speaking to him as a father. It was the first real moment he and Arnold shared since the chaos began. Arnold nodded and left the room, leaving Miles and Phil alone.

Miles looked at Phil, and sat down in what was previously Arnold's seat.

"You raised him good dad." Miles said.

"Oh stop guilting yourself like that, you're still the one who brought him into this world, amidst a volcanic eruption, and those raging pirates. When you left, you didn't know you weren't coming back at the time. And look where we are now."

"We should've stayed. Eduardo could've done things on his own."

"My son," Phil started, Miles took his hand, "The day you all came back was the happiest moment of my life. Ten years ago. Ten years-" Phil lost his breath.

"Take it easy pops." Miles said, "You sure you want to do this?"

"I've had it with these crazy kids killing the undead, either that or its this good stuff they're putting in me that's making me so tired." Phil cackled. Miles smiled, a single tear formed inside his eye lid. Phil looked at him.

"Miles, you brought a great talented boy into this world. Make sure he thrives in it." Phil said.

"I will dad, I'm gonna miss you." Miles replied.

"I'll miss you son, I'm so proud of you."

Phil needed rest before the operation. It would commence in two hours. Miles left the room while Krieg's chief assistant gave him some morphine to sleep. Krieg was waiting for him outside the infirmary room.

"Miles, you need to come with me." Krieg said. They walked down the halls back to the soldiers' quarters where Krieg led Miles into the main briefing room.

Goose was waiting for him, along with two corporals whom were guarding Victor sitting in a chair.

"I know it's a hard time for you Miles, it's hard for all of us right now. But we need to start thinking of the next step."

"I know." The reality settled in Miles' brain. The grief of him having to break the news to his son and his family, that they had to go back.

"You were aware Victor was in possession of Eduardo's plane, correct?" Goose asked.

"That's right." Miles replied.

"But you claim in your reports upon arriving that you thought Victor was only providing maintenance for the vehicle. You had no idea of his intentions to reenact the Hades Initiative."

"Just get to the point General, we don't have to play this game." Victor chimed in. Goose rolled his eyes in irritation.

"Were you aware of the tests being executed at FTi Omega approximately three months ago? The samples of the sleeping sickness you had collected during your time in San Lorenzo, Victor authorized their testing which created the first victims of Shadow-1. Did he disclose any of this during your time in FTi Kappa?"

"He said none of it, he tied my wife and I to chairs and kept saying we were part of a greater plan. They stuck needles in us, threatened our family, and didn't have the guts to even blink." Miles said as he approached Victor, menacingly.

"That's enough Miles." Goose said.

"What would you know Colonel?" Victor said, looking up at Miles, "I was the one doing the science, you just handled the brawn, and you think you can judge me and my work?"

Miles punched him. The impact cracked his knuckle and twisted Victor's neck. The soldiers standing next to Victor restrained Miles.

Victor coughed up a spittle of blood, spat it out and began to breath heavily, "I'll wear that like a badge of honor Colonel."

"Miles, stand down, that's an order. It's been enough of a blood bath already. You need to hear what Victor has to say." Goose said. Miles still struggled keeping his hands to himself but for the moment, he was calm.

Victor straightened the chair, and sat back down in it, checking his lip.

"I already cured one of those kids, the next one won't be for free." Victor started, "The Corazon shard I had in my thumb is worthless now. When Charlie awoke, fully cured, Shadow-1 completely disintegrated from his system. We know from blood tests.

"When Krieg cut out the shard in my thumb, it appeared the anomaly that gave the shard its eerie glow seemed to fade away. It won't work on anyone else. However, we know for certain, this is a cure. We just..." Victor trailed off.

"We have to get the rest of it..." Miles finished, as he processed the thought in his head.

"Correct." Victor replied.

"Does our fringe team in San Lorenzo still have it?" Miles asked.

"We're not exactly sure." Goose added, "We lost contact with the fringe lab about four months ago, long before the outbreak here. Anybody we sent down there, we lost communication with, and any drones we flew over either went down from interference, or were deliberately destroyed."

"You think someone attacked the base and took control?" Miles asked.

"Like I said, we're not sure. The last few bits of data we got from them in the weeks prior were interesting to say the least. We couldn't analyze much here considering our funding went mostly towards technology and military. FTi isn't well known for pseudoscience, mind you, not since your reports ten years ago which were written off as delusional. It was two weeks after we lost contact with them that Victor sent the authorization codes for human testing at FTi Omega." Goose looked at Victor, "Which I can most likely personally conclude was your way of taking matters into your own hands, would I be correct?"

Victor looked up at General Goose, "I had theories, but you wouldn't have given me the green light to test them if I shed light on them."

Miles placed his palms on his face and stretched his cheeks downward in reaction to Victor's response.

"Okay, so what do we do." He asked.

"We go down there, we salvage any data they've collected, we bring the Corazon artifact back here. Hopefully we can develop an artificial cure that could render immunity as well as cure the infected of their condition."

"Who's we exactly..." Miles asked.

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Helga was in the hangar, helping her father clean up their sleeping quarters. Bob took a box from Helga and handed it to Tai whom was released earlier that day along with Mai and Nadine.

Space was minimal and they had to stay organized with their location. Helga heard Arnold coming from several feet away. They locked eyes and Arnold knelt down next to her.

"What is it?" Helga asked.

"Charlie's not doing great, he needs a blood transfusion and Grandpa's the only one with the right blood type." Confusion was the general reaction.

"So Phil will give blood and they'll both be okay, right?" Suzie asked. Arnold shook his head disappointingly.

"That's bullshit! They can't just kill someone to save someone else's life." Bob said.

"He already gave the go ahead." Arnold said, "Grandpa is volunteering for this, there's nothing more we can do."

Gerald and Phoebe who were standing by approached Arnold. Gerald placed his hand on Arnold's shoulder.

"I'm sorry man..." Arnold pulled Gerald in for a hug.

"He wants everyone in there, they're gonna be operating in the next couple hours." Arnold said, announcing to the whole group.

"If you would rather stay, look over your own space, that's fine, I won't think any differently of you."

"Phil's part of my family, Arnold, he's my family, I won't stop loving him if he is dying." Tai said.

"You can bet I want to be there for him too." Phoebe added. Everyone seemed to step forward.

"Well head on in if you're wanting to see him. Ask a guard to take you to Phil Shortman's room." Arnold said. One by one everyone proceeded to exit the hangar.

"Helga." Arnold said, stopping her. Bob looked back and Helga beckoned him to continue. Bob smiled, nodded, and left with the others, holding Suzie's hand in his.

"Your father and Mrs. Kokashka seemed to bond quite a bit." Arnold said once they were alone.

"Yeah, dunno what to think of it, she seems a little quieter for Bob than Miriam was..." Helga said, horrifying flashbacks to the day she saw her mother die ran through her head. She tore her beanie from her head out of frustration.

Arnold approached her, "We're not here to think of the past, we're here to move forward." He said. Helga looked at him as he placed his hand on her cheek. She put her own hand over his, savoring the warmness it blanketed her face in.

"Why didn't you give up on me? After what I did to you, at the house..." Helga asked.

"I knew you meant well," Arnold said with a smile, "You did what your gut told you to do, it was for the best."

"I put you and Gerald in danger, with my stupidity, I just wanted Charlie to be free."

"And you got him free, we got Sid back on our side in the process. There's nothing more to fret about. Charlie needs us now more than ever." Arnold said. Helga nodded, still gripping Arnold's hand which was still flattened against her cheek. Arnold then pulled it away and reached into his shirt pocket.

"There's something that Grandpa asked me to do, and I couldn't think of a better time to do it before we started risking our lives again." Arnold said. Helga was all the more puzzled.

Arnold then took a knee, lifted his hand from his pocket, and fumbled with the object he had taken from the pocket in his hand. He then opened Helga's hand and placed the metallic object in it before closing it.

Helga opened the hand again to reveal the glimmering ring given to Arnold by Phil. Her hand still rested in Arnold's palm. She looked at Arnold, her eyes were already tearing.

"Will you marry me?"

Helga felt like her fourth grade self again. The kiss on the roof at FTi's first headquarters, their tango at the April Fools Day dance, the kiss on the beach during the commercial shoot. Helga felt a warmth that did not come from heat, it came from her heart.

Arnold stood, Helga gripped the ring in her hand and leapt at him, pulling him in for an enticing embrace, refusing to let go of his body like it was her damned birth right to hold him so close.

Helga sobbingly replied, a large quivering lipped smile on her face, "Yes, Arnold, yes!" Arnold smiled, smelling the faint aurora of Helga's natural scent in her blonde hair. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the embrace for a few more moments.

Little did they know, Gerald and Phoebe stood by the exit, after everyone else left. They leaned against the wall, Gerald had his arms crossed, and Phoebe pressed her hands against her lips, giggling.

"It's about damned time..." Gerald murmured. Phoebe elbowed him.

"You know you owe me a dinner date now right?" She said. Gerald looked at her in disarray.

"That bet was made six years ago!" He whispered loudly. Phoebe just rolled her eyes and smiled.

"Come on, let's go see Grandpa Phil." She said, dragging Gerald out of the room. Miles was waiting outside. Gerald and Phoebe noticed him.

"Real sorry about your father, Mr. Shortman." Phoebe said.

"Yeah, I know how you feel, with my family and all..." Gerald added.

"It's alright guys, go on, he'll be happy to see you two." Miles said as he beckoned towards Helga and Arnold whom were walking their direction.

"Helga, you mind if I talk to my son privately real quick?" He said when the two were in ear range.

"Um, sure Colonel, he's all yours." Helga said. She looked back at Arnold as the two shared a smile. Helga released Arnold's hand and left the hangar, walking past Miles.

Arnold watched until she was out of eye and earshot.

"You okay dad?"

"Yeah Arnold, I'm fine. It's just hard, first your grandmother, and now your grandfather." Miles said.

"We've lost enough, I get it. Have they been talking up any plans yet?"

"That's what I need to talk to you about Arnold, 'they' is now 'we'." Miles said. The statement was clear enough for Arnold to react, but confusing enough for him to ask for more.

"Victor's been able to prove the Corazon can cure this virus or infection, whatever's been taking these people over. Unfortunately, we don't have it here, it's still in San Lorenzo. So..."

"So they want to go back." Arnold finished his father's sentence. Miles nodded reluctantly.

"Victor was able to save Charlie with the shard he had in his thumb, he thinks if he had the whole artifact, whatever energy it gives off, it appears to 'scare off' the infection if you will."

"I thought FTi wasn't known for studying supernatural or fringe science. No one believed your reports when we first came back from our trip ten years ago. What's changed?" Arnold asked.

"You saw what happened to Charlie right? You were in his head, you spoke to him didn't you." Miles said.

"Yeah but, that can't be the only way."

"It's all we've got right now Arnold, you're gonna have to trust me."

"You were there dad, you told me, you told me how Victor tied you down, tortured you, stuck needles in you and mom, and whoever else he had locked up at Kappa. And now all of a sudden, you're working together to save the world."

Miles couldn't respond, his mistaken consciousness blocked him from being genuine. He took a breath, placed his hand on Arnold's neck, and pulled him in close.

"I made a bad call son. It cost several people their lives. For all I know, it could've been my fault that this is happening to the nation. But you can't think that I would deliberately want to cause the hundreds of thousands of deaths that could be occurring right at this moment."

Arnold just looked down, a subtle warmth from his father's hand, feeling comfort and despair simultaneously. He looked up at his father, his eyes showing the same emotions.

"I'm sorry Dad. I never doubted you." Arnold took a deep breath, getting back in touch with reality, "So what's the plan?"

"Ten years ago, you won your class a trip with an award winning essay. You took a plane down to San Lorenzo and there you found I and Mom. We need everybody who was on that plane a decade ago, including you and Helga."

Arnold was surprised.

"Mom and I are going too. We won't dare let them split us up again. Victor's got some crazy theories that I didn't believe once myself, but seeing everything that I've seen, I gotta believe him."

"Why everybody? Why can't we keep them here where they're safe. I don't want Helga to go through that danger again." Arnold argued.

"She'll be fine. Everybody will be fine..." Miles paused, his next thought was a crazy one, he didn't know whether or not Arnold would believe it.

"What is it dad?" Arnold said, recognizing the puzzling look on his father's face.

"The Green Eyed People..." Miles said. The thought sounded cryptic but understanding at the same time to Arnold. Before he could ask...

"Miles, Arnold." said a voice. Miles and Arnold turned to see Krieg standing in the hangar entrance.

"It's time."

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Phil was washed by comfort with everybody that came through that door. But the moment that Miles entered the room, and introduced Arnold and Helga into the room as an engaged couple, was the moment that Phil knew he was going to take with him for eternity. Arnold looked at his grandfather. Phil looked at his grandson, both smiled. A single tear rivered down Arnold's cheek.

"I see we've got plenty of witnesses." Goose joked. The whole room laughed.

"Wait, what about a priest!?" Eugene chimed up, a clear utter excitement in his voice from the announcement, "We have to have a priest or reverend to make it official!"

"Calm down Eugene, I'm sure there's someone on post." Miles said.

"We have to start the operation soon Miles, we can't delay or Charlie's condition will be compromised." Krieg said, having to damper the mood.

"I can do it." Said the one person whom no one expected to speak. Everybody looked towards the bed at Phil whom had his hand raised.

"Dad, you're not a minister, I never saw you practice." Miles said.

"Oh you missed a lot more than I anticipated when you were gone. Remember the 81-curse?"

"Yeah, every man in our family hasn't lived past 81."

"You got it wrong sonny-boy, it was 91, and look where I'm at now you little rascal." Phil said, cackling, "Anyway I got some lessons from a preacher and he had me ordained after my little fiasco at 81, freaking out I was gonna die and all."

Miles let out a heartwarming smile.

"Come over here you kiddies, let me wed ya." Phil said, cackling once more. Arnold and Helga walked through the crowd till they stood over Phil's bed.

"My brain's a bit fuzzy thanks to all those damned zombies, but I think I can get this right. Okay." Phil adjusted on his bed, "Who gives this woman to this man in marriage?" Phil asked. Silence for several minutes. Phil looked past the foot of his bed where Bob was looking at the ceiling, Suzie next to him.

"I said which bubbling baffoon with a last name PATAKI, gives this woman to be wed?!" Phil said, much louder. Suzie elbowed Bob quite aggressively.

"Ehhum, me, Big Bog Pataki. Sorry." Bob said, embarassingly.

"Sheesh, got worse potatoes in your ears than I do..." Phil said, "Alright, dearly beloved, we are all gathered here today to witness the bonding of two young souls in love, Helga Pataki, and Arnold Shortman (especially an extremely handsome young soul I might add)." Phil cackled, Arnold blushed and Helga elbowed him, winking.

"Eh um, seemed to lose my place, Arnold you got that ring on ya?" Phil said.

"Yes Grandpa."

"Good, put it on her finger." Phil said. Arnold turned to Helga, took the ring from his pocket, and placed it on Helga's ring finger, a perfect fit.

"Now Arnold, do you take Helga Pataki as your lawfully wedded wife? In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, whatever challenges you may face, till death do you part." Phil said.

Arnold looked at Helga for a moment, then he said, "I do." Phil smiled wider this time.

"And do you Helga take-"

"Yeah yeah grandpa, I take this handsome little man as my husband, can we get to the kissing?" Helga asked, her girlish nerves from elementary school came back to her.

Phil coughed, "Sheesh, guess you're not a guy after all..."

"Watch it gramps." Helga said, jokingly.

"Well then, by the power invested in me, and by all these great people in this room, whom have always been like my family the last decade, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Helga didn't hesitate, her lips smacked onto Arnold's faster than a cheetah on its prey. The room roared with clapping. The claps echoed down the halls, whoops of joy. Guards posted at the nearest corners were confused by the noise.

Phil watched, from his laid down position, the clapping, laughter, and whoops for joy, watching these two bond in matrimony, surrounded by loved ones amidst a crisis. He smiled.

"'Atta boy Arnold...atta boy..."Phil said as the drugs began to take their toll on him, anesthesia taking him under. Arnold noticed his grandpa, his head drooping to the side.

"Grandpa? Grandpa!" He said, shaking his body violently.

"Clear the room guys, we need to start operating now!" Krieg said, busting into the room with his small group of doctors.

Krieg couldn't have taken Arnold away by himself, he would've needed a crowbar. General Goose started to file everyone out into the hallway. Tai, Mai, and Nadine held each other closely, Bob and Suzie were close, their hands still holding tightly. Last came Miles and Stella, dragging a teary eyed Arnold before Krieg had to shut the door, with his crew, and the unconscious Charlie and Phil.

Miles attempted to get Arnold under control, "Arnold, ARNOLD! It's okay. It's okay!"

"I needed to say bye! It can't end like this." Arnold continued to push. Miles held him back.

"He got his last wish didn't he? Arnold look at me. SON!" Miles gripped Arnold by the two sides of his head, "Grandpa is helping us. We need Charlie for the expedition. I'm gonna miss him just as much, but I'm glad, I'm glad we were able to give him peace. He got to see his grandson get married. He can go happy." Miles said.

Arnold looked at his father before breaking down into his chest. Miles held his head tightly, like a father should. Stella walked over and placed an arm on Miles' shoulder before wrapping him in a hug as well. Helga than approached them, resting her head on Arnold's shoulder as he cried, holding her husband closely. One by one, the rest of the group joined in. Gerald, Phoebe, Sid, Stinky, Eugene, Harold, Mai, Tai, Nadine, Bob and Suzie.

Everybody had a reason to grief, everyone lost somebody. But they all knew, that moment when they saw Helga and Arnold as happy as they were. In a world of chaos, that moment gave off a single spark in all their heads. Everyone realized, there was a time for grief, and then there was going to be a time for hope. It was time for the next step

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To Be Continued.