Chapter 10
I walked out into the kitchen the next morning and found Glenn seated at the table. I smiled.
"I remember my first hang over. It's a bitch." I said.
"Never ever, ever, ever let me drink again." He moaned.
I smiled and Jacquie rubbed his shoulders. I smiled at Shane as he walked in and he smiled and nodded. T-dog had a towel over his shoulder and a frying pan in his hands. He was making eggs. He looked at me and smiled.
"Hey Prue! You want some eggs!?" He asked.
I smiled and nodded. I looked over at Shane's neck and smiled small when I saw my herbs had done their job. Daryl came in and I smiled at him. I saw a very small smile on his face when he looked at me. His eyes however were where the true smile was. I looked over at Glenn who now had his head on the table. Dale came in and looked at Glenn and then at me. I started to laugh and Dale smiled and shook his head. Andrea came in next and my smile faded. She was still haunted by what happened to Amy. I stood up and walked over to her. She looked at me with dead eyes. I put my hand on her arm to show her I understood, but she walked away and I sighed and looked down.
"Hey doc I hate to attack you with questions first thing…." Dale started.
Jenner smiled.
"But you will anyway." He answered.
"We didn't come here for the eggs." Shane said.
Jenner sighed and led us into a room full of computers.
"VI do a playback of TS19." Jenner said.
The large monitor turned on and a human brain was shown.
"Is that a brain?" Carl asked.
"An extraordinary one. VI playback first event."
Jenner showed us how the infection killed and then re-started the brain stem. The only problem was there was no cure and they still knew not what it was.
"Doc I hate to ask but what happens when the clock hits zero?" Dale asked.
"The generator runs out of fuel."
"And then?" Rick asked.
"VI explain."
"When the time runs down station wide decontamination will occur."
That worried me. I looked at Rick and he shook his head. He, Shane, Glenn and T-dog went to find the generators and some more fuel. I went to the kitchen and found a bottle of Vodka. I started to chug it and then someone stopped me. I looked over and saw Jacquie there. I looked at her and raised my eyebrow.
"What else could decontamination mean Jacquie? I think we all know what it means." I said.
"Maybe we're wrong." She said.
"Jacquie….."
I hugged her and then I went back to my room and grabbed my things. I hooked my sword and dagger to my belt and took my quiver and bow. I put my pistol in the holster at my waist and grabbed my bag. I walked back into the computer room and looked at Dale. I walked over and put my hand on his shoulder. Daryl came into the room with his things and then T-dog, Rick, Shane and Glenn came back. The others soon followed.
"Anything?" I asked.
"Found the generators and a lot of empty fuel cans." Glenn said.
I looked at Jenner slowly.
"What is decontamination?" I asked.
"The entire building shuts itself down and then H.I.T's."
"H.I.T's?" Rick repeated.
Jenner didn't answer.
"VI define!" I said.
"H.I.T's a high-impulse thermo baric fuel-air explosive consists of a two-stage aerosol ignition which produces a blast wave of significantly greater power and duration then any other known explosive except nuclear. The vacuum-pressure effect ignites the oxygen between 5,000 and 6,000 degrees and is used when the greatest loss of life and damage to structures is desired."
"It sets the air on fire. No pain, an end to suffering." Jenner said.
I looked at him in disbelief. Rick looked at Lori.
"Lori go and get our things! NOW! We're getting out of here." Rick said.
However I watched Jenner close the door. I snapped. I lunged forward and grabbed him.
"You open those damn doors now!" I snarled.
"Prue calm down!"
Shane and Rick pulled me back. Daryl grabbed an axe and started to hack away at the door.
"Jenner we don't want this!" Rick said.
"Yes you do. You said so last night. You said it was only a matter of time before everyone you loved died." Jenner said.
I put my hand over my face.
"I had to keep hope alive." Rick said.
I sighed and then grabbed another axe and ran at the door. I hit them as hard as I could.
"Those doors are designed to with stand a rocket launcher." Jenner said.
Daryl turned and ran at him.
"Yeah well yer head ain't!" He said.
He was about to hit Jenner with the axe but everyone ran forward to stop him. I gave the axe to T-dog and walked over to Carol and Sophia. I put my hands on Carol's shoulder and glared at Jenner.
"You can't keep us here like this." Carol said.
"Wouldn't it be kinder…..to sit here and hold your loved ones until the clock runs down?" He asked.
"My daughter doesn't deserve to die like this." Carol cried.
I squeezed her shoulders and Shane went forward with a gun. My eyes widened.
"SHANE NO!"
He screamed and then started to shoot the computers. Rick ran forward and fought him until he was on the ground.
"Are you done now?" Rick asked.
"Yeah man. I guess we all are." He said.
I walked over and knelt down beside him.
"There is still hope." I whispered.
He shook his head and looked away. I sighed and then stood up and ran to the door. I started to punch at it and kick it.
"I PROMISED THEM! I SWORE I WOULD SURVIVE!" I screeched.
I fell to the ground with tears coming down my face. Daryl came over and picked me up and held me close.