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At the head of his troops, Major was able to quell the uprising—aided outside the walls by the US Army, who killed every zombie who poured through the opening and took them away. Including Angus McDonough. They got that execution on video, for all to see, much to Major's relief.

Without "Brother Love" stirring up zombies, and without Chase Graves' draconian measures stirring up humans, maybe New Seattle had a chance. At least, that's what Major had to believe, since the problem was now firmly in his hands. He wasn't going to be able to do anything for anyone if he didn't believe it was possible. So he firmly squelched the little voice that said there was already more than ample proof that humans and zombies couldn't live in harmony, and set to work trying to figure out how to run Fillmore Graves, how to make sure all of New Seattle's zombies got fed properly, and how to keep the peace.

One of his first stops was Liv's apartment. Peyton told him Liv was still sleeping. After the week she'd had, Major didn't blame her. And to have had to watch her new boyfriend be executed right in front of her, after she'd been the one to put the final bullet in Drake's head, after she'd seen her first zombie boyfriend murdered before her eyes … It was a lot. It was too much for one person, even one with Liv's strength.

He realized Peyton was still standing in front of him waiting for a response, and he nodded crisply. "I understand. Let her sleep as long as she needs. If you can let her know that—"

Liv's voice broke into his sentence. "By 'her', you mean me? What do I need to know?" She came toward him down the hall looking exhausted and wary.

Major couldn't take his eyes off her, so grateful they'd been in time yesterday, that he didn't have to live in a world with no Liv in it.

So Peyton spoke for him. "Liv, Major is the new commander at Fillmore Graves."

"Congratulations," Liv said sarcastically.

Major ignored the sarcasm. It was well deserved. "I was just telling Peyton that we've instituted a change in policy. Smuggle all the humans in you want. We encourage it. Your enemy won't be Fillmore Graves. It's the US Army that will be standing in your way. They're still dead-set on stopping you." He was hoping, by placing the blame on the government outside the walls, he could bring together those inside the walls in some kind of solidarity.

"They won't be stopping me. I'm retired."

He was relieved to hear it, although a bit alarmed, too. Liv giving up her crusade was a Liv to be concerned about. Fortunately, she had Ravi and Peyton and Clive looking out for her.

Justin, who hadn't left his side all day, seemed less relieved. "Really?" he asked, concern and surprise in his voice.

Liv went on as if he hadn't spoken. "And in a couple hours, I won't even be a zombie."

"The same cure I saw you two give Major, I assume?" Justin asked.

Ravi shook his head. "No. Something new."

"Mass producible?" If that was true, if it were possible … But Major had only begun to dream when Ravi shook his head.

"Far from it."

Major looked down at Liv. He needed to leave—a thousand things were calling his attention—but he had to speak to her first. "Liv. I am so sorry we didn't get there in time to save your boyfriend."

"Me, too. His name was Levon. And he'd be alive if you hadn't kidnapped me." She was holding back tears, and Major wished he felt guiltier, but the truth was, if he had it all to do again, he absolutely would.

Gently, he said to her, "I know. But you'd be dead." She didn't have to like it, but her safety was always going to be his priority.

Figuring that they had said enough, he left her apartment and went back to the compound, where he was expected at a particularly galling meeting.

While he waited for the other half of the meeting to show up, Major thought about the challenges ahead of him. "What do I do about Hobbs?" he asked Justin. Hobbs had clearly played up Chase Graves' insecurities, and his endgame was still in question. The man couldn't be trusted.

Justin leaned over the desk, considering the question. "Head on a spike?"

Major smiled. "You know, he came to me before all this went down, asking if I would take Chase's job."

"Deep freeze, then."

That sounded reasonable.

At that moment, the office door opened and Hobbs himself came in. "Commander, I've retrieved the men you wanted to see."

And behind him, two of Major's least favorite zombies: Blaine DeBeers, and Don E. "Commander, huh?" Don E drawled. "Quite a day."

Blaine made an exaggerated bow. "And why have we been summoned, Lord Commander?"

God, this guy was an ass. Major wished he could have him killed. Instead, he was going to have to reward him. Funny thing, life. He got straight to the point. "I'm sure you two have heard that we will no longer be receiving brain shipments from our friends in the United States." Blaine nodded, and Major continued, "You now possess the most valuable asset in all of New Seattle."

Don E frowned. "We do?"

Blaine gestured for him to shut up.

"You know how to smuggle brains into the city." Major pushed his chair back and came around the desk to face Blaine. "We're going to need you to increase the flow of brains by a factor of twenty. It'll be dangerous, but you'll have the muscle of Fillmore Graves working on your behalf." In the silence that followed his statement, Major appealed to the only part of Blaine that could be relied on: his greed. "I could ask you to help us because failure means the destruction of our zombie homeland, but I know that wouldn't count for much with you two."

"You can't pay the rent with patriotism," Blaine said.

Major ignored him. "Instead, what I'll offer you is wealth. And, better than wealth, respectability. Where you were once pirates, scoundrels, villains …" He smiled. "Why mince words? A couple of low-life murderers. A year from now, you'll be patriots. There'll be statues of you in the town square. Zombie children will be taught nursery rhymes about your exploits. Zombie teenagers will go to DeBeers High." He could tell by Blaine's silence that he was very tempted by the worm, despite his awareness that there was a hook there, as well. "There'll be Donnie's Deep-Fried Brain Stands all across the city."

Blaine stepped forward, his eyes on Major, trying to decide how far he could push him. "All of our debts, forgiven."

Hobbs raised a finger. "Uh, maybe we should—"

But Major had anticipated this one. It hardly seemed to matter—Blaine was never going to pay, anyway. "Done." He reached out and shook Blaine's hand, much as it made his skin crawl.

And the deal was made. Major only hoped it wouldn't come back to bite him—and, by extension, the city of New Seattle.