Chapter 3

Okay so first of all this story is doing a lot better than I thought it would. So, thank you to all those who are reading it. 2nd I need help. I am not going to do any Q&A for this chapter because there were not really any questions. With that said I personally find this chapter boring and lacking depth. Now the show itself did a great job with the whole drama thing but I felt like I did poorly. So any help on where I should take the next chapter would be welcomed.

Other then that enjoy the chapter and see you next time.

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As I rode in the police cruiser with Rick, I looked at my screen again to see that my total amount of credits rose from 246 to 261 in the last hour. A full fifteen credits increase in less than an hour. That had me a bit worried as we had just gotten under way and did not have time to stop to kill anything. Which meant Morgan was keeping himself busy. Whether that was because he meant to keep himself busy or was in some kind of trouble was unknown at this time. I hoped it was the first and not the latter, however. While I didn't think of the man as a pawn to be used, him just going off and dying before he could be useful to me would be disappointing.

Looking over at Rick I for a moment think about telling him about what is going on but keep quiet. Because the fool would most likely want to go find Morgan and his son if he thought even for a moment that he was in some kind of trouble. I couldn't have that since I had just got a new quest.

Current Quest

Raid your first warehouse. Reward one hundred credits.

It was a fairly simple quest and something we were going to do anyways. And no offense to Morgan but I had to think about what was best for the group and not the individual no matter how much I liked him. I wasn't about to let Rick risk the lives of everyone for one man and his son just because there was a sudden increase in the number of credits I had.

That was why when we stopped at the road that me and him used to enter Atlantic City, I said nothing when he went to leave Morgan some supplies. Only speaking up to say, "Hey Rick hold up a moment."

"What is it?" Rick asks me. He already had Shane against him for doing this and didn't what to hear Jose speak out against him as well.

"Let's not leave shit in the open like that. I will leave a message for Morgan." I say then pull up my shop screen and pick leave message.

"You can do that?" Rick says right when a blue screen the size of a small poster pops up in front of Jose.

"It would seem I can." I say then start to write a message while Rick goes to hide the supplies he intends to leave behind.

"Now do you know someone else won't see that sign?" I hear the sweet voice of Andrea ask in her bitchy tone.

I swear you leer at someone's tits for just a bit, and you marked for life. Turing towards her I again look at her tits. Since she already disliked me it didn't really matter if it did. Then I answer, "The description says only those part of my party can see it. So, it should be fine."

For her part Andrea just glares at me but before she can tell me off Shane says, "That seems useful."

"I agree. It will allow us to leave messages for each other without anyone else being the wiser which is important in the world we now live in." I say to him and see he gets my meaning. Trust was not a luxury we could afford to have for much longer. Best we start thinking about ourselves now rather than later.

Once Rick had hidden the supplies, we all got back in the cars and continued on our way. As we did, however, I took stock on what had changed so far. Morgan's son was still alive as far as I knew, Jim who I was sure died in the TV show was still alive, Ed hadn't gotten the shit beat out of him yet and Merle was still around. Fairly sure Amy died too, and Morales and his family didn't split off. Fuck have I changed to much already I wondered to myself. While my long-term goal was to get the fuck out of this world my short term one was to use what I knew about the TV show to give me an edge in surviving. But now that certain people were still alive, what was supposed to happen may not happen.

Like Carol my never become the bad ass she later became in the show because Ed was still around. Making her little more than deadweight but deadweight with potential. While I would have preferred for Ed to die on his own it looked like I would now have to plan a way to kill. Preferably I would have liked Carol to do the deed herself but that most likely would never happen. So, the only question was how do I kill him without raising suspicion. After all, while I was pretty sure the group would kill me outright if I just shot him in the head, I didn't wish to take the risk. Well, I was sure something would come to mind sooner or later. Opportunity after all comes to those who wait.

As we keep driving, I feel like I am forgetting something. Then out of nowhere I hear a loud pop from behind us. Looking back, I see the RV is smoking. Ah right that did happen in the show didn't it. Getting out of the car, I go and sit on top of the trunk of it while Rick goes to see what had happened. While he does that, I spot Shane who was making his way slowly over to me. Then leans against it right next to where I was currently sitting. I say nothing to him. Taking a sick type of pleasure at the uncomfortable silence that was hanging between us.

After a while however Shane speaks up, "Rick told me everything."

I just keep smiling and say, "I guessed as much. He trusts you. Especially after I told him about how you risked you own life to go back for him."

Shane looks away and tightness his grip on the rifle he had with him and says, "I tried, I….

"Let me stop you there Shane," I interrupt him and then get off the trunk of the car and turn so I am facing away from the group then say in a low voice, "I don't care that you were fucking Rick's wife."

I watch him tense up even more, but I continue anyways, "All that matters to me is we or perhaps it's better to say I live to see the next day. I gain nothing by him knowing you were fucking his wife."

"So, what your keep quite so long as I do what you want?" Shane asks after turning around as well.

I laugh just a bit and say, "Shane do I look like the type to blackmail another?"

"Yes," Is his cold answer which is followed by, "You're a criminal, a murder most likely. It wouldn't be beneath your type to do such a thing."

Shrugging my shoulders I say, "Ture but you see Shane I am not looking for enemies in a lawless world. I need allies and as many as I can trust. So, the question is can I trust you Shane not to put a bullet in my head while I am not looking or can I not?"

"You got some nerve to ask me of such a thing." Shane says aggressively.

"No Shane I don't. You see, like I said to Rick, I know now it ends. I know what type of man you are and will become. My suggestion to you is forget about Lori. That road doesn't end well for anyone." I say just when I hear Rick's voice behind me.

"What you two talking about?" He asks as we turn around to face him.

Looking at him I tell him, "Nothing just going over what you told him. Have to say Rick you don't' know now to keep a secret. Who else have you told?"

Rubbing the back of his neck and looking guilty Rick says, "No one, but I trust Shane with my life. I figured it couldn't hurt to tell him."

I roll my eyes, "Well whatever I will leave it to you discretion Rick. So, what is up with the RV?"

"Hose is busted. We are going to have to find a new one before we can leave." Rick says to us.

"I can buy us a new one. It shouldn't cost too much." I offer making it seem like I didn't know this actually took place.

"No best to save the credits for now. Besides the there are plenty of trucks and cars around here. Chances are one of them has one we can use. I instead I wanted to talk about raiding a warehouse seeing as we are going to be waiting for a while. According to the map the nearest one is less than an hour's drive from here." Rick says to us.

"Are you sure about that Rick? Splitting the group up to head to a warehouse that we don't even know what is in it?" Shane asks.

Looking at his best friend Rick says, "I know it's a risk, but I was thinking we send a small group of people. Maybe three or four just to check it out and see if there is anything useful there."

"And let me guess you're going to be one of those people?" I asked in good humor as I know Rick wouldn't send anyone to do something he wasn't willing to do himself.

"Ya I was thinking me, Glenn, Morales and…"

"Me" I finish for him.

"What? No, you should stay behind. If anyone else has to go it should be me." Shane says.

"Shane is right we can't risk you on something like this." Rick agrees with Shane which makes him smile a bit.

I however don't agree with them, "Sorry Rick but as I said before where you go, I go. So, if you are going to raid a warehouse I am going as well. Plus, I got a quest for raiding a warehouse. 100 credits to be exact. Not much but still it's something."

"100 credits? You would put yourself at risk for 100 credits? Us at risk for that much." Shane asks.

"Well, when you put it that way it just sounds stupid." I say with a smile.

"That's because it is." Shane says aggressively.

"Shane is right we can't risk you. You are to import to the group." Rick says to me.

"Doesn't matter still going. After all, if things work like I believe they do this quest could lead to bigger quests with bigger rewards. Which is the most important thing of all." I tell Rick, who I can tell understands what I am saying but at the same time sees me as his best hope to get his family out of here. He didn't want to risk that but then he had little choice. If I wanted to follow him, I would. There was little he could do to stop me.

Knowing this he angry says, "Fine but you stay in the back and if things get out of hand you run understand."

"Rick." Shane says but then I speak up.

"Rick I would have done that anyways." I smile at him.

-Later-

It had been about an hour in a half, I supposed sense we started off towards the warehouse we were going to hit. And as we traveled, I took in who ended up coming along for the ride. Glenn the little helper had of course joined us as well as Morales who would do anything for his family. So, that wasn't a surprise. Who was a surprise on this little journey of ours was one Daryl Dixon. I had the feeling the man didn't like me a whole lot. What with me pointing a gun at his brother's head and all that, but for some reason he had joined us. Not an unwelcome tag along by any means but unexpected.

Merle of course decided to stay behind. After his little scare on top of the department store roof he didn't seem to be keen on going on another run. Perhaps that was why Daryl was here. It didn't take a genius to see that the only person that group was more worried about than me was Merle Dixon. No one liked him, well I like him he was a funny fuck, but no one other than me and his brother. And because of that shit he pulled on the roof that worry had turned into a bit of hostility. Hostility that was in turn pointed at Daryl due to association. Perhaps sensing this he decided to join us to show their worth. Though in my personal option their worth was beyond question.

Well, whatever the case I felt safer knowing Daryl was here. No offense to the others but they were not ready to face the world as it was yet.

"So, any of you kill a person yet?" I ask in good humor but the look in my eye betrays a coldness I didn't realize was there.

"Seriously, Jose?" I hear Rick asks from up front.

"What I am just asking Rick. We have no idea what we will find when we arrive at the warehouse. Best to check to make sure they are ready." I say with a shrug of my shoulders.

"We haven't. Have you? Glenn asks, looking a bit worried now.

I just smile at his question. Which is really the only answer they need.

"Alright we are here. Remember Jose stays in the back." Rick says and everyone nods their head.

While I could tell that on the surface none of them liked the thought that my safety came before their own, but they had all somewhat accepted it. So, when we got out of the van, they immediately stepped in front of me as we made our way towards the warehouse. Looking at the sign above us it's not a company I recognize, and the outside tells me little about it.

With Rick in the lead, he motions for us to follow him to the back to see if we can find an easy way in. We were in luck as we find an 18-wheeler parked out back with one of the dock doors open. Clearly whoever worked here was either careless in their security or things went to shit in there and they fled without a care.

"How much you guys what to bet the keys are still in there?" I ask as we move up to the 18-wheeler and open the door. Finding that it was both empty and the keys were still in the ignition.

Climbing up into the truck, Daryl quickly turns it and the 18-wheeler roars to life, and I look around to see if it had attracted any unwanted attention. It did as I spotted a group of walkers coming around the corner.

"Rick heads up." I called out to him.

Turing and looking at where Josa was pointing Rick sees a group of about 16 walkers making their way towards them.

"Shit." Rick says but is able to keep a cool head and pulls out his gun. "Everyone inside." He orders and we quickly do as we are told once Daryl moves the truck.

Once on top of the dock, however, instead of closing the door we wait for the Walkers to come closer. Seeing as they can't climb the dock like we can, we use that to our advantage. Killing all the walkers and earning a few credits for it. Only three for me but more than enough to complete one of my quests.

Current Quests

Quest completed. Kill 20 Walkers, Reward 1 Credit per kill. 20 additional Credits after reaching 20 kills. (20/20)

Quest updated. Kill 30 Walkers, Reward 1 Credit per kill. 30 additional Credits after reaching 30 kills. (20/30)

Total credits available 297.

Looking at the slight increases of my credits again I smile. It was a slow progression but still very much welcomed. If this one quest kept updating, then eventually I could make some real credits without having to take on bigger risks.

Once the Walkers are dealt with, we head inside the dark warehouse. Pulling out our flashlights we go around opening the other dock doors for some more light. Thankfully finding the warehouse empty of all life. At least as far as we can tell. Still, we all move carefully as we start to open up the boxes, we find looking for anything that was useful. Yet while the warehouse was of significant size, we had little luck finding anything.

"Any luck?" I heard Glenn ask me.

"No nothing, its all-nuts bolt and other hardware. Useful stuff but nothing we need right now." I say opening up another box and finding boxes of nails.

"Shit." Is all Glenn says in turn.

"Hey guys I found something we can use." Morales calls out to us, and we rush over to see what he has found.

"What you got Morales?" Rick asks.

"Looks like about 12 5-gallon jugs of water" He says to us as he shines a light on the water.

"Well, that is something?" Rick says.

"Better than nothing." Daryl says. Feeling just as disappointed as the rest of us. We took a big risk coming here and the only thing we found was 12 jugs of water. It was a big letdown.

"Alright let's grab them and go. We have already been gone too long." Rick says, and he was right. What should have taken us an hour at most to get here had now last past 2 maybe boarding on 3 hours

It takes us little time to pack up the water jugs and leave the warehouse and once we are all back in the van Daryl says, "Well that was a fucking waste of time."

"Not completely." I say as other quest in complete and I earn an additional 100 credits pushing my grand total 399. Looks like Morgan and his boy killed a couple of more. I will have to remember to thank him one day.

-Back with the main Group-

A few hours later as we pulled up to where the main group was, we could all tell something had happened while we were away. The very moment we got out of the van we saw Carol was currently in tears and everyone was looking at Shane in a mix of fear, caution and praise. Well nearly everyone as Merle was just smiling in good humor. It didn't take me long to realize what happened as Ed was currently on the ground looking all busted up. Well, isn't that a self-fulfilling prophecy? I knew Ed would fuck up sooner or later but really less then a day after the day he was supposed to die, and he gets his ass handed to him. What an idiot.

"What happened?" Rick asks as he runs up to Shane.

Who starts a long-detailed story on what happened. Pretty much the dumb ass did what he did in the show and hit Carol at the wrong fucking time. Shane lost his temper and beat the hell out of him. The strange thing was that Merle joined in. I don't' remember him being the type to come to the defense of a women. Well, whatever didn't matter, all I knew was by looking at him Ed was not going to be walking on his own anytime soon.

Now there was a discussion on what to do next. If it had just been Shane who beat the shit out of Ed, the man would probably still be in good enough shape to move on his own and not be a burden. Add in Merle however and the man was in bad shape. Yet because Ed was such a asshole few people felt pity for him, and most were only scared of Shane because of the amount of violence he used. Something that wasn't unexpected from Merle.

So of course, I speak up and add my two cents, "We could just leave him here."

"Jose, not now." I heard Rick say to me from where I was standing.

"I am just putting it out their Rick. It is an option." I say back to him.

"Leaving him or anyone behind isn't an option." Rick says to me.

I shrug my shoulders and say, "Whatever you say boss but don't forget Rick we live in a world of those who are useful and those who are not. Now a child like your son and Sophia are an exception but adults are not. What does Ed bring to the group as a whole. As far as I can tell he has proven to be useless so far. Not volunteering to do anything and not contributing. The group as a whole doesn't need someone like that or someone who can't control his own temper and ends up getting the shit kicked out of him. But hey I am just saying. I don't really know the man after all."

My words are cruel, and I can tell they don't sit well with most but at the same time no one says anything to dispute me. Not even Carol who was still crying and being held by Amy right now. Clearly, I had hit home, and the man was an even bigger useless piece of shit then I thought he was.

Walking up to Jose, Rick stops in front of him and says, "We leave no one behind. Regardless of their uses or lack of. We are not those type of people."

I just look him and the eye and says, "You're not Rick, but I am. But I have said it before you're the boss so I will follow your lead."

Looking me in the eyes for a while longer Rick turns around and walks away and asks for help putting Ed in the RV. Needless to say no one was rushing to help but eventually T-Dog steps forward and helps. But that was just in the man's character. Even if someone was a piece of shit it wasn't in him to leave a man behind.

As they pack Ed into the RV, I keep my eyes on Carol wondering should I play devil's advocate. Whisper in her ears to kill the man and be done with it while he was helpless. Na bad idea, I wasn't close enough with the group to do that. So instead, I went to hang out with Merle. Seeing as I was one of the few outside his brother who could stand the guy.

"Didn't picture you as the type to come to the defense of a women." I say casually.

Just smirking at me in an almost mocking way Merle says, "What you think old Merle is some women beater? Well let me tell you something I maybe an asshole but I don't beat on broken women."

I give a dry laugh and say, "Or allow someone else to do so apparently."

We stayed quiet for a while just watching the group go about things while Dale and Jim kept working on the RV. Having just found the part he needed to replace the hose.

Till Merle says, "You really leave Eddie boy behind?"

"Man is deadweight. Deadweight nowadays is worse than useless. It's a liability. At least his wife makes herself useful." I say in a dead voice that lets Merle know I was more than willing to deal with the problem if it came to it.

This makes Merle laugh a bit and he says, "Fuck boy you really are a killer aren't you."

Looking up at him I say with a somewhat twisted smile, "Don't let my age fool you, Merle."

We then go back to watching the group without saying another word to each other. Seeing as we didn't need to. After all we were coming to understand each other quite well. We were both violent men. With the only difference being that I had already been pushed to kill before.

Soon enough we were back on the road with me being in the cop car with Rick again. Guy didn't really like me being off on my own. Not that I blamed him as I gave him no reason to really trust me. And with my willingness to suggest we leave Ed behind he wasn't really in the talking mood, so I filled the time again by looking at my store screen. With a list of infinite things to buy from it was just good sense to look through it as much as I could. That went especially for the sales page that changed every 12 hours.

Sadly, nothing went on sale yet that I thought was useful at the moment. Sure, a watermelon or a box of granny apples at 5 credits was a good deal but we had more than enough food for now. Water wasn't a problem either, gas just a bit but we were still good to go there. Bullets we had enough of as well but edge weapons and stuff we were short on.

"What was that about back there?" I heard Rick ask me.

"Ah so now you wish to talk. Nice to know it was getting a bit boring in here." I say it in an assholeish way.

"Will you please take this seriously. You just suggested we leave a man behind to die back there." Rick snaps at me.

Which doesn't affect me whatsoever. "Yes, and your point is?"

"We don't leave people behind Jose." He says to me once again.

I give him a friendly look that doesn't really reach my eyes. Not that he can see with his eyes on the road and says, "Sorry Rick if I don't overly care what happens to a wife beater and child molester."

"You don't know he has done that." Rick says to me in a heated voice, but I can hear the doubt in his voice.

"What that he beats his wife? Come no Rick, I think that is fairly obvious.:" I say to him in a mocking tone.

"No, that he has touch Sophia." Rick points out.

I laugh just a bit and say, "Rick really? You're a cop, you have seen his type before. We both know you have. How I am a horrible human being. I know that all too well but when I was sitting on death row, I had I guess you can call him a block mate. He was a child murderer and rapist. You know what he and Ed had in common?"

Rick just clinches her jaw at hearing my question and doesn't say anything. So, I continued, "Whenever he talked about what he had done he always got this look in his eyes. The same look Ed gives Sophia. The only difference is I am not behind bars anymore Rick. He fucks up and will kill him. Regardless of what comes next."

Looking at Jose for just a bit then turning his head back to the road, Rick continues to say nothing. What could he say to that? He would be lying if he said he didn't suspect something as well. He wasn't a fool after all. He had seen more than his fair share of child molesters and they were all the same. They all had the same look in their eyes when looking at kids. But suspicion wasn't the same as proof and he wasn't about to let Jose kill a man without proof.

It never crosses his mind that he had already accepted that sooner or later Jose was going to kill someone.

-CDC-

Pulling up to the CDC building the first thing anyone sees is a miniature war zone. Dead bodies of people, both civilian and military, where present. Looking out the car window Rick turns to me and asks, "You sure someone is here?"

"Yep." Is all I say to him before opening the car door and getting out.

Rick follows along with the others who all look scared at the scene before us. Taking the lead Rick moves forward, followed closely by me and the others all with their guns out. I can tell almost immediately that everyone is off put by how I was casually walking without fear and my gun still behind my back. Like a man walking through a park as the sun goes down.

By the time we get to the shuttles everyone is nearly panicking except for me. I just lean up against the shuttles and chill. Watching as everyone else panics with the only notable difference being that Shane, unlike the show, doesn't suggest going to Fort Benning as he no longer thought it was an option. But eventually I have had enough of this and look at the cam and say, "Hey I know you're there. I know you're watching whoever you are. So, watch closely."

Everyone stops and watches again as something that wasn't there before takes form in my hands. This time it is a single green apple.

"Crazy right, but we are living in a crazy word. And if you think that is the full extent of my ability you would be so wrong. Now come on open the doors and let's talk about you keeping that promise huh?" I say and everyone looks at me. Not fully understanding what I am saying.

On the other end Jenner looks partly fascinated, partly freaked out. What he had just seen was a scientific impossibility. Something from absolutely nothing and while he was feeling devastated at the loss of his last sample and overall failure to find a cure for the virus. The scientist in him was fascinated by what he had just seen. What's more he knew about his promise to his wife. How, that was another question.

"Come on hurry it up. I don't have all day." The young man says while looking back at the setting sun then says, "Okay maybe I do. I don't' have all night. Chances all by morning I will be dead if you don't open up."

Jenner looks away from the screen unsure about what it is he should do. The timer on the clock was running short. There was little hope left but again something from nothing. The scientist inside him was yelling at him to open the doors. To find out what else he could do and maybe just maybe keep his promise to go for as long as he could and find a cure. So, with a heavy hand he opens the shutters.

Back outside everyone just stands there as Jose calmly eats the apple he just bought. More than a few thinking he has gone crazy or maybe he always was. Then start to yell that it was time to leave. That is till they hear the shutters unlock and start to open. Much to their surprise and Jose's amusement.

Looking at them I toss the apple behind me and say, "Well would you look at that. Someone was home after all. Shall we."

All at once they rush in and are met by Jenner who wastes little time walking up to me.

"How did you do that? What did you do? It's impossible to make something from nothing." He says to me holding a gun. Which was more for his protection than anything else. He didn't know these people and he got a front row seat in seeing what people can do when desperate.

"I will tell you later, but shouldn't you first take our blood or something. Oh, and close the doors before something gets in." I say to him and watch as he comes back to himself.

What follows is pretty much the same as in the TV show. The man leads us in, tells us a few things and what not. Then everyone goes to eat and enjoy what food the CDC has to offer, which is quite a lot. All the while Jenner just looks at me. That is till Shane asks about what had happened here. However, in a calmer and more even tone than in the show. It would seem the map I showed him really shook up his faith in his own judgment.

Once he is done explaining what had happened, he looks at me and says, "What about you. What I saw on the camera. Was it real?"

"Oh, it was fucking real alright." We all hear Merle say in his ever-crude way.

Looking at the man who just spoken up then back at everyone else and sees it on their faces. It was real though many of them didn't quite believe it themselves. Those looks were as good as any evidence that could have been presented to Jenner.

"How?" Jenner asks me.

I shrug my shoulders and say, "Don't know, woke up one day and suddenly I had this ability to buy things from some kind of system."

"System?" Jenner asks but then is nearly blown away as the blue screen appears before his eyes.

It takes him a moment but soon enough Jenner hits the accept invite button on the blue screen and sees the system with his own eyes. I can easily tell he is fascinated by what he sees before him. Becoming somewhat lost in what he was seeing. After a while however he closes it than says to us, "I need to show you all something."

He then leads us out of the cafeteria and to the CDC main room. Turing on the video display screen it starts to show us how the virus works. Upon seeing this everyone has a mix of emotions as they have all seen loved ones die since the outbreak began. I look on with no emotions whatsoever, however. Having no love ones to speak of in this world.

"Is there no cure." I hear Rick ask and Jenner answers in the negative.

"No, the French where the closest but time ran out for them as well." Jenner says to Rick.

"Ran out?" Shane says.

At this question Jenner pauses debating if he should tell them everything. Then looks at the young man sitting down without a care in the world. It was crazy, it shouldn't have been possible, this ability of his but he saw it with his own eyes. They had asked him for a chance and now he saw a chance of his own. The only question was did he dare, no did he wish to take it? Surprisingly, the answer was yes.

"This place it runs on electricity like anything else. When the city lost power so did this place, so did the world for that matter." He says in sorrow. "When that happened the backup generators came online to keep this place running for a time. You see that clock there it tells us how much time we have left before the power goes off for good."

"What happens then?" Lori asks.

Jenner hesitates for a time, but I help him out, "The building blows up."

They all snap their heads towards me and see the dead serious look in my eyes. Then look back at Jenner who was shocked that I knew that. Which only added to the puzzle slowing forming in his mind.

Still, he is only taken off balance for a bit and says, "He is right. Standard protocol dictates that in the event of a total power lose the building will detonate with enough heat to wipeout all life inside the building."

Everyone and I mean everyone goes pale at hearing this, but it is Lori who voices the question, "Wh…why."

I answered for Jenner and said, "Come now Lori this place is the CDC. This is where our ex-nations scientist study things like the Ebola virus. Do you honestly think they wouldn't have samples inside the building? And can you imagine what would happen if something like that or worse got out."

"He right, weaponized viruses the likes of which you don't what to see escape this place even during an apocalypse are in here. No chances can be taken." Jenner says to them.

"How long do we have?" Shane asks, feeling antsy now.

Jenner just points at the clock display above use. "That tells us exactly how long we got till the generators shut off for good."

Everyone looks at the display and sees it's not long. Less than a day and you can see the hope in their eyes start to die.

"Honestly I was just about to give up and sit here till the clock reached zero." Jenner admits to them.

"Was?" Rick asks.

"Yes was." Jenner says then looks at me and asks, "This system or whatever it is. I don't know what it is but just looking at it, it stands to reason that it allows the main user of the system to buy anything correct."

Shit this guy was smart, I think to myself. I mean of course he was he was a scientist. But to come to that conclusion all on his own with little information. Well, it just said how smart he was.

"That's right." I answered him.

"Then you can buy a cure for this. Bring an end to all of this right?" Jenner asks.

"Sure, I could but like I told them when they asked me the same thing buying said cure would cost more than I can afford at this time. With that said I can buy what you think you have lost. Samples, data, hard drives from all the other labs. Basically, whatever you need to continue your research and all at somewhat cheap rates." I answered him.

"What about lab equipment, I would need lab equipment to continue my research." Jenner says to me.

"More expenses but doable. Though I recommend we just take what we can from here while we still have time." I say to him.

"We don't' have time the generator is about to go out." Jenner says trying to think about what could be taken in such a short amount of time.

"Wait, wait this place runs on a generator, right? Can't you just buy gas to keep this place running Jose?" I hear Daryl ask.

Looking at him I say, "Depends on what it runs on. If it's a diesel engine, like most heavy-duty generators, then it will only cost me 30 credits a barrel. If regular unleaded, well the price has jumped from 40 credits to 60 in the last day."

It was surprising that diesel was cheaper than unleaded right now. Considering it was the other way around before the world ended but then I suppose no one was driving heavy-duty trucks right now.

"It runs on diesel. A barrel will give us at least a few days so long as we don't use that much power." Jenner says.

Rick looks at me and says, "Alright we have a plan then, Jose find the generator and buy as many barrels as you can. You may use up all the credits you have right now, but we can earn them back later. Right now, we need to start packing everything up and find some trucks to move the equipment the doctor needs."

Giving him a two-finger salute I leave the room. Hearing a ping in my head.

Quest complete: Head to the CDC and recruit the lone scientist Dr. Edwin Jenner Reward 500 Credits.

Total Credits available: 899

Ya I am just going to keep that to myself. No need to tell everyone I have more credits than they think I do. The last thing I needed was for them waiting to stay here longer then needed. Especially as I just got my next quest.

Current Quests

Find Hershel Greene and recruit him. Reward 750 credits.

Looking at the quest line I thought to myself that I was going to do that anyways. While Jenner had his uses Hershel was capable of surgery. Something that the group would badly need down the road. As for the others on the farm, well they didn't matter as much. Though I guessed his daughters would have to come along for obvious reasons. And not just because Maggie and Beth were hot.

Once I am down by the generator, I look it over and all the empty barrels of gas. Then spend the better part of 180 credits for six barrels. Then start to fill up the generator like I would the gas tank of a car. As I do I spot Shane making his way down. He doesn't look particularly happy but not truly upset.

So, I smile at him and say, "Hi Shane."

"Jose," Shane says then walks over leaning against the wall next to me.

After a while of silence, Shane says, "So was this it? Was this the plan? Come to the CDC and find this Jenner guy in some hope of helping him find a cure?"

I just laugh a bit at hearing this and look at Shane and say, "Come on Shane do I look that stupid to you. I don't believe even for a moment that with the help of the system that man will find a cure and even if he does, we are still surrounded by 5 billion plus dead people."

Narrowing his eyes at me Shane asks, "Then why? Why risk bring us here?"

Smiling at him I say, "Because Jenner is useful. With his knowledge on infectious diseases, he could in theory make the medications needed to fight off said diseases. After all people are going to get sick sooner or later Shane. Or do you honestly think that our luck will hold over through winter."

Shane says nothing to that but does say, "Shit you don't care about the group at all do you. You say we can use him but really, it's you who could use him. We are just along for the ride."

I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Does it even matter if that is the case, Shane? At the end of the day, you are alive, and my ability gives us the best chance to survive till I can open that door to somewhere else. And like I told Rick my chances of living on my own are small to say the least as the real monsters start to come out."

"Real monsters?" Shane asks.

"Come Shane you know of whom I am talking about. The most violet, brutal and twisted creature of all. There is an old quote that said at his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst. Well, there is no law anymore Shane. Its all about survival." I say to him.

It was something Shane didn't need to be told. In the hospital when he tried so hard to save Rick, he had saw the worst of man. The killing of innocent people who had yet to turn or be bitten. It haunted his dreams even to this day and as things got slowly worse, he could feel himself change into one of those beasts. It was a change he wasn't fully against, however. If they were going to live to see tomorrow, they would all have to harden up. Something he wasn't sure Rick could do.

Once the generator is full, I step away and start to make my way up the stairs but not before looking back down at Shane and say, "By the way good job on putting Ed in his place. Personally, I would have killed him but if he steps out of line again that could be fixed. Still good job."

-A few days later-

Over the next couple of days, the group as a whole were busy. Packing pretty much anything and everything that wasn't nailed down. And boy was the CDC packed with all types of supplies. As it stood, we wouldn't have to worry about running low on food or medicine for a while. The only problem we did have was how we were going to move everything. The van we had, and the RV could only be packed with so much stuff and that was without counting the equipment Jenner would need to continue his research.

Eventually it was agreed we would have to go searching for a several large U-Haul trucks or an 18-wheeler. Neither really being something any of us wanted to have to deal with as they were large and noisy, but beggars can't be choosers. We didn't have a choice if we wanted to take everything with us. To do that some of us would have to leave the CDC. Something Jenner didn't like seeing as he didn't want to open the doors again till it was time to leave. But the man was smart and understood there was no way to load everything we wanted and needed to take with us in a days' time. That was why Daryl, Merle, Shane, Ed and I were standing at the doors waiting for them to open. We were the search team and kill team. Or job to do exactly that. Search for the vehicles and kill what walkers we could for the credits as gas would not come easy or cheap. What with diesel jumping in the past couple of days from 30 credits a barrel to 60.

That wasn't a surprise as the rarer it became the more expensive it would become to buy. What was surprising was that Ed was coming alone with us. Well maybe it wasn't that big of a surprise. Ed was a bully who just had his ass handed to him by a bigger bully in the form of Shane. Not that Shane was really a bad guy at this point in time, but the statement still fit. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the dumb fuck thought that going with use was the perfect time to seek revenge. Too bad for him, I was looking to get rid of him myself and was wondering if I could get the others to go along with me.

Putting that thought to the side for now, I walked out with the others. Staying close as none of us knew were to even start looking for an 18-wheeler. Just by taking a quick look around let us know there wasn't one anywhere around. Which meant we would have to go into the city to find one. So going to one of the cars we get inside it and start it up and make our way into the city.

Back inside the CDC Jenner watches on one of the cameras as Jose and the others drive off before he closes the shutters again. Then looks at Rick who had stayed behind instead of going like he had wanted to and asks, "Are you sure this is a good idea Rick?"

Over the last few days Jenner had gotten to know the group better and found most of them likeable. Jose, however, wasn't one of them. Of all the members of the group he had talked to Jose had been, while not the most unpleasant as that trophy went to one Merle Dixon. He was the most uncomfortable one to speak with. After his initial surprise of Jose's powers dissipated, Jenner had started to notice Jose's overall attitude and outlook on, well everything. The man didn't care, it was as simple as that. When he talked to you there was no emotion in his eyes. No empathy, no remorse whatsoever. You were a tool to him. A tool whose only value was in what you could offer him in return for his help.

If it wasn't for the few moments Jenner had seen actual fondness for the kids in his eyes, he would think that Jose really was a complete sociopath. Who was only containing to live because that was what was expected of him. So, there was some compassion in him but not a whole lot of it. He would definitely turn on them if he found it in his best interest of at least that was what Jenner believed.

Looking over at Jenner, Rick says, "No, but we are going to have to trust them on this."

Which was sadly all they really had to go off of. Rick understood all too what Jenner was most likely thinking and he couldn't disagree with the distrust he felt towards Jose. Honestly, he still didn't trust Jose himself and felt like he never would be able to. With that said he had to trust what Jose said. He needed them for now. The only question was what would happen if that all changed . Would Jose keep his promise of taking them out of here or was that just a lie he told to get what he w anted. Only time would tell.