Subject: Holly Price
Everybody stood in the main area waiting for Drew to return, and instead Pete came bursting through the doors with excitement filling his eyes. "Come out here quick." Pete said as Holly, and the other eleven people followed him out into the open area. "What's going on? Drew didn't ditch did he?" Lola asked. "No. He's given us something spectacular." Pete said. "Means he probably won't fight." Lola whispered to Holly. As they rounded the corner with Pete they saw something they never would have thought existed this side of Bullworth. The group looked at what appeared to be a transportation vehicle of some sort. Armored to the teeth, cannon like a tank, Gatling guns on either side, and it was definitely a sight to see. "That's a fucking tank." Johnny said. "Only better." Pete said.
"Who knows how to drive it though?" Lola asked. "Little do you know, it actually handles exactly like a car, the cannon and guns are used separately by the passengers." Pete explained the instructions. "That's great and all, but why would we even need to get out of it?" Johnny asked. "Extraction mission. Zoe is trapped in their compound; Drew's trying to locate it right now. He'll be back soon enough, but he just told us to head out soon." Pete explained. "If this is an extraction, why don't we let some of the injured people operate the guns, and the ready people go for it?" Crabblesnitch asked. "Better idea than I thought it would be." Johnny said. "We need at least five people to operate, and one able enough to drive." Pete said. Crabblesnitch already went to gather people as the others loaded up. Holly walked up to Pete and he greeted her. "So this is it huh?" Holly asked. "What do you mean?" Pete asked.
"Ride or die time. You know this could be the last fight we ever fight." Holly said. "Are you making moves on me?" Pete asked. Holly rolled her eyes. "I could be." Holly said. "We'll make it. Trust me, there's no way we will lose." Pete said with a hand on Holly's shoulder. "You are kind of adorable you know that?" Holly asked. Pete cracked a slight smile as he looked into Holly's eyes. "We're going to make it." Pete nodded in affirmation. Just as Crabblesnitch came around the corner with the people, a loud booming sound was heard in the distance. "What was that?" Holly asked. Everybody came out of the tank vehicle and looked around. Johnny looked into the sky for another sign and saw something approaching fast. "Is that a missile?" Johnny asked.
Pete and everybody else looked up to where Johnny looked and Pete cracked a smile. "No. It's Drew." Pete said to Holly as she looked at him in surprise. Drew landed in what appeared to be a flight suit of some kind and hit the ground with a tremor. The helmet automatically retracted to reveal Drew's face as he looked over his comrades. "Anybody order Superman?" Drew asked jokingly. "My God." Johnny said. "Just a human." Drew said. "Where's their base?" Pete asked. "Not very far. They set up their new camp in the retirement home, but they've got the surrounding area set up like a personal concentration camp. We try striking them without the tank it will be like trying to break somebody out of Alcatraz. Luckily for us it will be a cakewalk. I tried scouting as much of their weaponry as well as the people being held. Weapons don't go beyond them having anything heavy enough to destroy the armor in one shot. It should take plenty, but they've got guard towers set up. Each tower has a grenade launcher or an RPG set up. There are four towers in all. They've got plenty of LMG bunks set up all around so watch your back when going in. As far as where they're holding Zoe I couldn't find her in range, so as far as I know she is being held inside a building, more than likely at the heart of it all. The plan is the tank will ram the front gates to get through, but that is only after the towers are destroyed, but I will take care of those. After the towers are through your biggest issues will be the LMG posts, and any infantry you might encounter. Remember twelve of you are able enough to run and gun your way into the buildings, so watch your back, keep low, and once you get hold of Zoe get out of there safely, bring her to the tank, and get the hell out of there. You get left behind at the camp, that's it; nobody is coming back for you. Once Zoe is on, you'll have one warning to get to the tank, and once its gone, you know what happens. We can't take any risks, and if someone has to get left behind so be it. It sounds cruel I know, but the tank can only take so much damage before its completely useless, and you will risk everybody's survival, my suit is also on a limited lifeline, meaning it may not last as long as the tank. Can it do much more? Yes, but it does take energy. That last trip alone the lifeline went down to ninety percent, and that was just flying. So we know the plan, and we know the priority, the risks, and everything. We ready to move out?" Drew asked.
The crowd nodded and yelled their accolades. Holly loaded up with everybody in tow and they drove off to the base. Drew stood at the far end of the tank still in his suit with everybody else on either side or standing with him. "How we looking up there?" Drew asked the driver. "How far is the north side?" The driver asked. "About a couple miles up from the old boxing gym. Once we go past the plaza where all the shops are, let me know, and I'll get out. Pete I'm leaving you the radio, so when I tell you, start the assault." Drew commanded as he handed Pete a radio. "By the way did anyone see if Katie survived?" Drew asked. "Who?" Holly asked back. "The little girl, Ricky's kid sister, Katie. She's still at the school right?" Drew asked. Johnny looked up at him without Drew noticing, and he thought about it along with everybody else. "I don't know. I haven't seen her much since she lost her brother." Pete stated. "Looks like we're rescuing two people, not just one." Drew said as the driver gave the signal. "Keep the truck parked here, don't let anybody in, and wait for the signal." Drew said as the back of the truck opened and Drew stepped out and flew up.
"Do you know where she is?" Pete turned to Holly. "Never met her." She said back. "Didn't want to say anything, but she might be dead." Pinky said. "Don't fucking say that you condescending bitch." Johnny said poison practically seeping from his teeth. "Easy. The enemy is out there. Solve your emotional issues later." Pete said. "It's true Johnny. Do you really think they wouldn't have killed her by now, or even Zoe? We're on a suicide run, and the chance they are even alive is really slim. An even smaller chance that anyone will get out alive." Pinky explained. "What would you know? You're treated like a fucking queen and you don't do anything, even Pete contributes more than you, even Gary did when he wasn't moping around, at this point if it was up to me, you'd be out of this group for good!" Johnny yelled. Pete stood up trying to calm everybody down. "Take it easy." Pete said.
"No. Thanks to her that's why Drew is so messed up in the head, he feels entitled to take care of your selfish ass, and that's why everybody else is dead! That is why the school got attacked a billion times, that's why Jimmy, Christy, and all those kids are in the infirmary, because she makes him weak! Face reality Gauthier, you contribute absolutely nothing, and somehow get everything. You're lucky Drew took a liking to you, cause I would have destroyed you. He doesn't care about anything else but you, we come second, and you're his number one. So fuck you." Johnny said. Pinky slumped back and looked out over the small crowd of people waiting for her to reply. "You're right Johnny." Pinky stated. "Damn right." He said as he got close to the door and waited.
10 minutes earlier
Subject: Katie Pucino
Katie stayed in her room behind a barred door along with Zoe, who was battered and bruised by the outside group. Katie had seen what happened to people who didn't comply with the group, and Zoe was only an example set by them. The two girls were outnumbered, and Zoe was in no condition to fight, or for that matter move. Katie didn't take any abuse, and she had Zoe to thank for that. She regretted letting Zoe take the fall, Katie said she was a Pucino, and they don't feel pain. At least they didn't until Ricky died. Katie was heartbroken to say the least, but she didn't beat herself up over it, and she remained strong.
"Hell of a day huh?" Zoe asked drifting out of consciousness. Katie only nodded affirmation. "Katie please don't blame yourself, I couldn't let them do that to you. It's not as bad as it looks anyways." Zoe explained. "Then why did you protect me from it?" Katie asked. Zoe was taken back by the question. "You're prettier than I am." Zoe joked as Katie only chuckled. "You think they might come for us?" Katie asked. "Them, or the military?" Zoe asked back. "You know who." Katie said in all seriousness. Zoe sighed as she pondered over it herself. "Not likely the military will make house calls. They are a one LZ and done kind of deal. Guess we'd just have to rely on the school, if anybody's still left." Zoe explained. "Drew's alive. I know that." Katie said.
"Wouldn't count on him anymore. He isn't the type to come back for somebody unless it gives him an edge. I'm useless right now, and I doubt he knows you're gone. Even if he did, you haven't done much. We were just pawns." Zoe said. "Don't say that. I know he'll come." Katie said. "Why are you so certain? Why because he said he loved you? Well that's what leaders do Katie; they lie, and make promises they can't keep, just so they can get your approval. If he was really fighting to protect you, you wouldn't be here, and you'd be back at the school or even flying away with the imaginary military. Face it kid. He isn't coming. That's your downfall Katie, you trust people too easily." Zoe said almost too harshly.
Katie wasn't fazed by it though, and she looked out the barred window. "You should just have a little faith. That's your downfall Zoe." Katie said as she looked over. Just at that moment they heard the men below scrambling to find weapons as explosion went off at the north entrance towers. The towers at the back could be felt where the girls were. "That's gotta be the military." Zoe said as she picked herself up. "The military wouldn't attack civilians, even if they are a threat." Katie said. She then looked out the barred window again and saw the front gates crash open from a monstrosity of a vehicle lighting the place up. Zoe came over to the window and saw the cannon and the machine guns cut down multiple militias.
"My God. What is that thing?" Zoe asked. Katie turned to Zoe and smiled. "Our rescue team." It was all she said to get Zoe to understand. "Like I said. Faith." Katie said again as she watched the small group of people led by Pete of all people go through various sections taking out stragglers.
Subject: Unknown
The man quickly ran down the hallway into the underground control room to find his superior officer. The nervous worked acknowledged his General and they sat down. "What does the situation look like?" The general asked. "The entire countries going to be moving underground sir. Too many people are dead to get a good read on its entirety. However, we've received some good news, from a small town in New England of all places. One of the scientists from the lab might have just found a way to get rid of all of this. She sent a message in Morse Code to our communications team less than 0600 hours ago." The meek man told his general. "And why exactly am I hearing about this now instead of six hours ago?" The general asked somewhat angered.
"We weren't sure if it really was her, but we looked her up, Jill Cranston, don't know how someone like her managed to survive all this time, especially by herself. We got her on a chopper about an hour ago and she's headed this way." The man said as the general mulled over the situation. "She's the only one that survived?" The general was confused by this, and wasn't sure what he should believe. "Sir, the dead walk, insects are the size of a teenager, and we got an old Egyptian God to guard that area, how one women managed to survive shouldn't surprise you at all at this point." The man spoke freely without permission. "On record. Be careful what you say. When is she supposed to arrive?" The general asked. "About half an hour. Should I give the okay to destroy Bullworth? She said that's where the hub is at this point." The man said. The general thought about it and looked at the map behind him as he saw how fast it was spreading, and from the general New England area. The general would have hated to destroy his old hometown, but if it helped avoid destruction of an entire country as well as the world, he would have to take the risk.
"This woman. What was her name again?" The general asked. "Jill Cranston. She discovered cures that helped the incurable. She's pretty much a modern Jesus." The meek man said. "She better be of some use. I'd like to have some peace of mind knowing my brother and his wife didn't die saving my grandchildren in vain." The general said. "Permission to speak freely sir?" The man asked. "Not like you haven't been already." The general said with sarcasm. "It's not likely they are in New England. Even if they were, I highly doubt they would have survived. I respect you sir, but I'm just trying to show some reality here." The man said as the general sighed.
"Have some men cover the surrounding area at Bullworth, I want to make sure it is leveled completely." The General ordered. "The bomb will neutralize everything, you don't need a group of men to confirm something like that." The man said. "Have it done. Bring the woman in as soon as soon as she lands." The general ordered. The man nodded and scurried off. The general then walked over to his desk and looked at a picture of his brother and his wife with their children. "We fight until the very end brother. You proved that. Just hope your boy and girl are safe, and if they aren't they'd better be with you." One of the lower commanding officers came through the door and looked the general in the eyes. "Am I interrupting anything General Pucino?" The man asked. General Pucino looked at the photo of Ricky and Katie together and got up to face the officer.