Godzilla: New Dawn

by Tardispilot297

Years ago monsters roamed the world. Until one day mankind found a way to wipe them out, including the legendary king himself Godzilla. Now in the harsh wastelands of what remains a survivor comes across a young girl who just might hold the key to humanity's survival. Note: Preview is now up!

7. Chapter 7

Chapter 7- The Collaborator

Hey there guys, gals, and non-binary pals! Tardispilot297 here bringing you another new chapter of Godzilla: New Dawn! And on my B-day no less. I hope you guys have been enjoying this story so far. Also I'd like to announce that I will be opening a chapter commission section for this story. If you guys have any suggestions, ideas, or requests about what you wanna see happen next in this story just propose them in my PM box. And if I like what I see you may just see your ideas appear in a future chapter. That goes for you guys reading this on AO3 as well.

That said I will be sure to share credit where credit is due. After all, this community of ours is all about positivity and friendly cooperation. And now without further ado ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

The sun shines high signifying the commencement of early noon. The once vibrant and luxurious state of the art shopping mall now lies abandoned in a state of decay. Where once hundreds of people walked the halls in between the several shops and restaurants now barely a soul could be seen. The only sounds of life being that of the birds chirping within the newly grown trees sprouting up from the shattered floor tiles. Until new sounds join in slowly growing louder with each passing second. Before long bullets start flying through the air as three heavy vehicles chase down a single old truck with three of its five occupants sitting in the truck bed firing back at their pursuers.

What was supposed to be a simple rest stop quickly turned into an all out death race between the group and a gang of jackers. Goji and Rodney both fire their guns while Angelo helps to switch weapons and reload them when they run out. While in the front seat Jaime keeps her head down while CeCe drives the truck laughing like a maniac. As far as she is concerned she's having the time of her life. Rodney on the other hand is not having quite as much fun as she is.

Rodney: (Shouting) Stop fuckin around already CeCe and get us out of here already!

CeCe: (Scoffs) Relax boys. I got this. (Turns to Jaime) Hey shrimp? How about some tunes?

Jaime reaches over and hits play on Goji's tape in the player which starts blasting a song.

*Can't Stop Me Now by Queen starts playing*

CeCe presses her foot to the gas pedal and pulls back on the gear shift causing the truck to speed up as one of the jacker cars comes up behind the truck with guns attached to the front firing at them. Goji and Rodney duck from the incoming fire. Goji reaches into a nearby duffel bag and takes out one of CeCe's nail bombs and holds it up to Rodney. Rodney nods and waits for an opening in the gunfire. In an instant Rodney stands up and fires a shotgun blast shattering the car's windshield and allowing Goji to throw the bomb directly into the car. The two jackers look down at the bomb rolling around at their feet.

Jacker: Holy shit!

The bomb explodes sending its metal and glass contents through the inside of the car and shredding up the two jackers like meat in a blender. The car swerves and crashes into an old furniture store and explodes. CeCe sees the explosion and cheers.

CeCe: WHOO! (Shouts to Rodney) Okay, We got Barry, so who's left?

Rodney peeks to see the two remaining jacker cars still in pursuit.

Rodney: (Shouts) Looks like Gary & Larry!

CeCe: Got it!

CeCe turns the wheel and swerves the truck around a corner with the tires screeching along the tiles. The second jacker car lines itself up and the roof opens up to reveal a jacker aiming an RPG at the truck. He fires off a shot but barely misses as the rocket flies over the truck and hits an old calendar Kiosk causing it to explode. The contents go flying in all directions with one calendar landing on the truck's windshield. The page reveals a tall muscular guy striking a pose and wearing nothing but a pair of swimming trunks. CeCe's ears spring up as she squeals a little and sticks her arm out to try and grab the calendar. She just barely reaches it when another rocket comes flying at them and Jaime reaches over to yank the wheel so they can avoid being hit causing CeCe's prize to slide off the windshield and go flying off out of sight.

CeCe: No! (Whimpering) My precious!

CeCe glares into the rearview mirror as the two cars start to close in on both sides. The other car being equipped with a fifty caliber gun in the back. Once it gets close enough CeCe rams the truck into the fifty cal car which spins around as the jacker starts screaming and firing the gun. Instead of hitting the truck, he ends up hitting the other car and killing the jackers inside. This allows the truck to speed away from them and get a good distance from them. The truck turns a corner only to be met with more of the mall.

Goji: Where the hell is the exit?

Rodney: It's like a goddamn maze in here!

CeCe: Hold on boys! I got you!

CeCe spins the truck around another kiosk which displays a map of the entire mall.

CeCe: (Looking over the map) Ok so, if we're here, then the exit is… Oh shit guys, they have a Footlocker!

CeCe's excitement is short-lived as they come under fire from the fifty cal car now parked just a few feet away from them.

CeCe: Oh! Son of a bitch!

She turns the wheel and speeds the truck down a different path with the fifty cal truck still chasing after them. The two vehicles racing through what's left of the food court as the bullets continue to fly through the air. CeCe glares at it through the side mirror and grabs hold of the parking brake.

CeCe: (Mumbling to herself) Wait for it. Wait for it.

She turns the wheel and pulls on the brake causing the truck to spin around just as the car is about to pass by. CeCe then reaches for her sawed off and fires point blank at the jacker driving blasting his head apart and causing the car to crash straight into a palm tree and sending the jacker gunner flying through air before getting impaled on top of a nearby fountain and having their blood spill out along with the water. CeCe shifts the gear back and drives the truck away from the food court with the exit finally in view. She also manages to spot a pair of white sneakers on a display up ahead and snatches them as they speed by. She then hits the gas hard with the truck crashing through the glass doors and speeding out of the mall and back onto the highway. Goji moves over and looks back into the truck.

Goji: Jaime! You Ok?

Jaime: (Giving Goji a thumbs up) Yeah! Still here!

Goji lets out a heavy sigh and sits back into the truck bed.

Jaime: Except, I kinda need to use the bathroom.

Goji looks over at her and glances over to the truck's fuel gauge.

Goji: That's fine. Pretty sure the truck needs a top off anyways.

A half hour later they manage to stop at an old gas station with Jaime just finishing up and staring at the dirty mirror. She then reaches behind and pulls out the gun she took out of the spider's lair and aimed it at her reflection.

Jaime: Pew, pew. Pew.

She looks over the gun and takes out the clip to examine the bullets still inside. She places the clip on the counter and grunts a little while pulling the gun back. She had seen her dad do this a few times when they were on the road. When the gun finally pulls back a single bullet flies and lands on the floor with a loud clinking sound. Jaime reaches down and picks up the bullet and examines it. She then holds the now empty gun up and aims at the mirror again. She closes her left eye and stares down the sights at her "target" before finally squeezing the trigger causing the gun to click. Jaime grins a little and lowers the gun. She looks over it again and brings it up to her face and sniffs it a little out of curiosity.

While her dad had taught her some of the basics on how to handle a gun Jaime never got to actually hold one. That is until that day when she aimed a gun at that woman soldier who was trying to kill Goji. At that time she felt a tinge of fear at holding such a weapon, but this time she was given time to study one in her hands and thus become much calmer and confident at holding one. She starts to put the bullets back into the gun and places it in her backpack. She checks to make sure none of the others are around to see. While she was sure CeCe and Rodney wouldn't mind if she had a gun, Goji on the other hand would never have allowed it. So she made sure to keep the fact that she now has a gun to herself and why she hasn't told them about it since the cave. Jaime gathers up her stuff and walks out of the bathroom.

Outside Rodney keeps a lookout on top of the truck while CeCe struts around trying out her new shoes. Goji and Angelo crouch down by one of the several abandoned cars with the former unscrewing the cap of the fuel tank. He places the hose into the car as Jaime walks over to them to see what they're doing.

Jaime: We have to do this every hour?

Goji: Gas breaks down over time. This stuff's almost water.

Angelo: You know I remember hearing stories about how "Back in the day", everybody could drive 10, 12 hours on one tank.

Jaime: No way.

Goji: It's true actually. You could go anywhere.

Jaime: (To Goji) So where would you go?

Goji: …. Someplace quiet and peaceful.

Goji takes the other end of the hose and blows into it while also sucking a bit of air back in. Before long liquid starts to come through the hose.

Jaime: Nice! How does that work?

Goji: It's a siphon. It's when liquid... travels against gravity because pressure...

Jaime: You don't know.

Goji: I know it works.

Jaime laughs and turns to walk away a few feet.

Goji: Hey. No wandering.

Jaime: (Turns back at Goji) Okay. This is your fault then.

Jaime starts unzipping her backpack and takes out a small book which she starts to read aloud.

Jaime: "It doesn't matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery." (laughs)

Goji and Angelo look over at her confused until she shows them the book cover.

Jaime: "No Pun Intended, Volume Too" by Will Livingston. "Volume Too." Look. You get it? "Too"? Like, T-o-o.

Angelo: (Laughs) Where'd you get that?

Jaime: Found it in Goji's pack a few days ago.

Goji: You went through my pack?

Jaime: Dude chill I was just being curious.

Goji: That's no excuse, now put it back.

Jaime: Aw c'mon just a few more.

Angelo: Yeah c'mon Goji.

Goji lets out a tired sigh and caves into their requests.

Goji: Fine.

Jaime: Ok. Oh wait, Hey Rodney, CeCe! Come over here I wanna tell you guys something!

Goji: (Mumbling) Jesus.

Rodney and CeCe walk over to them as Jaime turns to the next page and clears her throat.

Jaime: Ok so, "What did the mermaid wear to her math class?" …. "An algae bra." Like, ( laughs ) algae bra.

Rodney: What is happening right now?

Angelo: Jaime's reading some jokes out of Goji's joke book.

CeCe: Shut the fuck up. (Turns to Goji) Since when are you funny?

Goji: I-I only grabbed it in case I needed to burn the paper to stay warm at night.

Rodney: Riiight. Sure you did.

Jaime: Ok here's a good one. "I stayed up all night...

Goji: No.

Jaime: "wondering where the sun went... and then it dawned on me."

Goji stares at Jaime blankly as the Trio around him starts to snicker.

Goji: Jaime, Feel free to wait in the truck.

Jaime: Ugh, okay, but just know, you can't escape Will Livingston. He'll be back. There's nothing you can do to stop him.

Goji: (Shouting) And put that book back where you found it!

Jaime: (Shouting) Ok fine. … as soon as I've finished reading it!

Goji groans as CeCe and Angelo finally burst out laughing.

Angelo: Oh man. I can't believe you carried a book like that around with you.

CeCe: Seriously Goji you've been holdin' out on us.

Rodney: Ok "comedy hour's" over. We gotta hit the road.

CeCe and Rodney walk away as Goji crouches back down while Angelo steadies the gas can to make sure nothing spills. Before long they get back on the road with Goji driving while CeCe and Angelo are napping in the truck bed. Along the way they start passing by hundreds of cars that appear almost to have been pushed aside by something large. Jaime looks through the window as they pass by, noticing the damage on each one.

Jaime: Must've been some truck.

Goji: Yeah, they used to stick big-ass plows on them, and clear the roads for their tanks and such.

Jaime: I wanna see a tank.

Rodney: You will kid. Tanks, choppers, all that stuff. But they'll fight the wrong enemy. Just scattered around now.

Jaime reaches down into a pack and looks around for something to lighten the mood.

Jaime: I got somethin'. (Pulls out cassette tape and hands it to Goji)Here. This make you guys all nostalgic?

Goji: (Takes and looks at tape) This is actually before our time. (Hands tape over to Rodney)

Rodney: Yeah. It's a winner, though.

Rodney sticks the new tape into the player and a song starts to play.

*Alone and Forsaken by Hank Williams starts playing*

Jaime starts digging through other packs until she finds something else.

Jaime: Oh, man. Got somethin' else.

She pulls out and opens a magazine with a muscular man on the cover.

Jaime: It's, uh... light on the reading, but it has some interesting pictures.

Goji and Rodney both look over and see the type of magazine she's looking through.

Goji: Oh. No, no, no. Put that back.

Rodney: Yeah. That's not for kids. Jaime.

Jaime: How would he even walk around with that thing?

CeCe wakes up from the commotion and turns around to see what's happening. When she sees the magazine in Jaime's hands her eyes almost shoot out of her skull.

CeCe: (Shouting while reaching her arm in) Hey! Hands off that!

Jaime: (Backs away from CeCe's reach) Hold your horses. I wanna see what all the fuss is about. Why are all these pages stuck together?

All three of them sat speechless.

Goji: Uhh... the...

Jaime bursts out laughing at each of them.

Jaime: (Laughs) Oh my god I'm just fuckin' with ya guys.

CeCe reaches over and snatches the magazine out of the laughing child's hands. Goji and Rodney just sit there groaning. They continue driving along the highway passing by several other incredible sights. Such as a large herd of buffalo and the remains of an amusement park. They cross over a bridge where the river below is filled with all manner of boat wrecks and assortments of smaller junk. They also pass through what can best be described as a vehicle graveyard where different types of trucks, humvees, and even tanks lay abandoned and covered with foliage. Eventually they reach a patch of woodlands when the song finally ends. Goji looks over to see how tired and cramped everyone feels.

Goji: All right. That's enough for today.

He pulls the truck off the road and across a field towards the woods ahead. They drive a few feet before stopping in the middle of the woods. The group starts to get out and begin setting up a place to sleep for the night. Angelo and Rodney start unloading their gear while CeCe opens up the hood to give the engine a quick look over and make sure everythings still working perfectly. Goji gets to work cooking dinner using a small grill and pot filled with food out of a soup can. Finally everyone sits down and starts eating. Jaime practically shovels her food into her mouth.

Goji: Slow down.

Jaime: This is slow. What am I even eating?

Rodney: That is 20-year-old Chef Boyardee ravioli.

Jaime: (mouth full ) That guy was good.

CeCe: I actually agree.

Angelo: Ditto.

Jaime looks around at their surroundings.

Jaime: So how long we staying out here?

Goji: I figure the four of us sleep tonight... and drive in shifts tomorrow all day, all night, get us to the next state by next morning.

Jaime: So can we start a fire? I'm freezing.

Goji: Now, why am I gonna tell you no?

Jaime: Because Feral KKs will see the smoke.

Goji: No. Feral isn't that smart.

Rodney: He's right. This area is too remote for Ferals, anyway.

Jaime: So KK packs?

Goji: Not just that.

Jaime: People?

Goji silently nods. While some humans don't outright attack KKs on sight there were still most who wouldn't even hesitate to try and kill them and even torture them for fun or worse.

Jaime: So what are they gonna do? Rob us?

Rodney: Oh, they'll have way more in mind than that.

Jaime looks around the group and sees nothing but serious and solemn faces. Obviously each one had a good idea about what Rodney meant. Jaime decides not to try and push the subject any further.

Jaime: Okay.

Later they start to each lay out sleeping bags for the night and get ready to sleep. Jaime starts to get into hers when she starts sniffing the inside of it.

Jaime: Huh. Actually smells kinda good.

Rodney: Well, that would be Frank's then.

CeCe: (chuckles) Yeah the old man always did like his stuff to smell nice and clean.

Jaime: Oh. Then would you wanna switch?

CeCe looks at Jaime with a smile.

CeCe: Nah. You go ahead and take it, shrimp. I'd probably just get the inside all greasy anyway.

Everyone starts to settle in for the night with Goji taking out a pistol and checking it before placing it under his pillow. Rodney notices this but keeps quiet and places his own rifle down next to him. Angelo reaches over and turns off the lantern at the center of their camp covering everything in darkness. Until Jaime turns on her small flashlight from her backpack. She shines it on Goji's joke book and starts reading a few more pages. She closes the book back up while turning the light off and turns over to look at Goji.

Jaime: Goji. (louder) Goji.

Goji flinches awake while subconsciously reaching for the pistol but calms down when he realizes that it's just Jaime.

Goji: What?

Jaime: Can I ask you a serious question?

Goji: Yeah.

Jaime lets out a heavy sigh and looks back at him.

Jaime: "Why did the scarecrow get an award?"

Goji turns over and looks at her. Jaime just looks back eagerly awaiting his reply.

Goji: Because he was outstanding in his field.

Jaime: (laughs) You dіck! Did you read this?

Goji: No. Now go to sleep.

Goji turns back over on his side. Jaime lays back down against the ground looking up at the stars. At first her thoughts were about how peaceful it all was, but then her thoughts fell back on what they talked about earlier. And those thoughts brought up memories of when the JDF found them along with Maya and that KK pack that had been chasing her before she met Goji. And that just reminded her about what had happened to her dad which caused her to tense up and grip the sleeping bag tightly.

Jaime: Hey Goji? Those people you and Rodney said... there's no way anyone knows we're here, right? No one's gonna find us.

Goji lay on his side silently for a brief moment.

Goji: No one's gonna find us.

Jaime: Okay.

Jaime relaxes a little and turns over on her side, closing her eyes. Goji on the other hand tenses up a bit and looks out into the dark woods. Almost like a predator keeping an eye out for any signs of potential prey. Rodney turns over in his sleep and slightly opens up his eyes to see Goji sitting up with his back to everyone else and holding his pistol in a certain manner. He notices the way Goji was moving his head slowly back and forth as if securing a perimeter. He also notices how he keeps switching the gun's safety on and off in a particular rhythm. Rodney knew that mannerisms like that don't just develop solely through survival. Behavior like that comes from at least a few years of serious training. Specifically the kind of training for a JDF soldier. Rodney had seen it plenty of times back in his old hometown whenever JDF convoys went through the area. Sometimes they'd stop in case one of the vehicles broke down and they had to fix it. The soldiers on guard duty behaved in the exact same manner Goji is doing right now. Which begs the question, Just who the hell is Goji?

The next morning Jaime stirs awake to the sound of something bubbling near her. She turns over and sees a small metal pot sitting on the mini grill with steam coming out of it. She looks around and sees everyone else waking up with Goji standing and eating something out of his pack. Jaime crawls over to the pot and opens up the top to see brown liquid bubbling inside. She sniffs it and twists her face in disgust.

Jaiem: Ugh! The fսck is that?

Goji: (Looks over) You don't like coffee?

Jaime just looks back at him and drops back onto the ground with an annoyed grunt. They finish breakfast and head back onto the road. Goji takes the first driving shift while Rodney and CeCe hang out in the backseats with Angelo sleeping in the truck bed. He drinks some leftover coffee in a thermos. Jaime sitting in the passenger seat just looks at it with disgust.

Jaime: Is that seriously what those Starbucks places used to sell?

Goji: Well, theirs was a lot fresher than what Rodney saved up, but, yeah, this is what they sold.

Jaime: Smells like burnt shit.

Rodney: Hey you try finding decent coffee in a town infested with bugs!

Jaime slumps down in her seat.

Goji: Hey c'mon, Eyes on the map.

Jaime reaches for the map on the dashboard and opens it up.

Jaime: 76 north and then... 70 north for, like, ever.

CeCe grabs the back of Jaime's seat and leans forward to look over her shoulder at the map.

CeCe: Where up north did you say this Monarch facility was again?

Jaime: I told you, my dad said there was a lab located in a place called Kafa… Kafefe… Kafka…

CeCe: (Annoyed groan) Oh just gimme that.

CeCe snatches the map and looks over to see the name of the place that Jaime tried to pronounce. Unfortunately she has no luck with it either and hands it off to Rodney.

CeCe: Hey. Rod what does this say?

Rodney: (Reading map) It's Kaffeklubben. It's an island.

CeCe: (Handed back the map) Ah, man. That is deep up in there. And you're sayin that's where your moms holding up?

Jaime: Yeah.

CeCe: And if she's not there?

Jaime: She is. When we had to leave our home Mom promised that we'd meet up there. And she never breaks a promise.

CeCe: Why'd you guys separate to begin with?

Jaime: It's a long story.

CeCe: Is it longer than 25 hours? 'Cause I think we got plenty of time.

Jaime takes a deep breath and straightens up in her seat.

Jaime: Mom's what people used to call a "cryptozoologist." She studied Titan biology. And she was damn good at it too. So she got recruited into Monarch right outta college. A few months later, they ship her off to Tokyo to study reported Titan sightings. That's how she met my dad.

CeCe: And what was he? A scientist too?

Jaime: Sort of? He was more of a bio engineer or something? It doesn't matter. Point is, they meet up, work alongside each other, fall in love, and get married. Cut to 12 years later, The Titans get wiped out and the KK stuff happens. They discover how the aftermath of using the weapons caused a substance called G-Cells to spread out across the planet affecting plants, animals, even people. And then Mom makes a discovery. She tells Dad that the rising G-Cell levels in the atmosphere is causing the planet to slowly heat up from the inside. And that if the process continues, eventually Earth will just be one big ball of molten rock floating out in space. So they come up with a plan that's gonna help save the world.

CeCe: And that plan is you?

Jaime: Pretty much.

Rodney: Sounds more like a pipe dream to me.

Jaime: Yeah well believe what you want to but the fact is it's true. They came up with this idea of neutralizing the G-Cells by creating a synthetic version to make them more stable. Using the DNA of a special kind of Titan and the formula used for one of the weapons that killed them, they injected the synthetic cells into Mom while she was pregnant with me. Once I was old enough we'd all leave together, but then some stuff happened, we got separated, and me and Dad had to leave without her. So now she's out there waiting, and... I gotta go get to her.

The three adults glance at each other silently.

CeCe: What if you don't find her?

Jaime: I will.

CeCe: How do you know?

Jaime: Much like her, I'm persistent.

Goji glances at her with a look of concern. Sure there's the distinct possibility that her mother could be waiting for her up north, but then again, the world can be quite the unforgiving place. Then he thinks back to what Himura was trying to say to Jaime about her mother. And judging by the look she had on her face he doubted that it was anything good. Nevertheless he made a promise to Jaime that he'd help her get up north. Whatever they find when they get there will be left up to fate.

Goji: Well listen we got up pretty early. If you wanna grab more sleep...

Jaime: Pfft. I'm not even tired.

A few hours go by as Jaime lightly snores in her seat. Rondey and CeCe do the same in the backseat with their backs leaning against each other. Goji continues driving until he looks up ahead and stops the truck. This causes everyone else to stir and slowly wake up. Jaime stretches a bit and looks around to see hundreds of abandoned cars all around them. Up ahead lies a tunnel that's blocked off by a large truck and several smaller vehicles. Goji gets out of the truck and grabs a shotgun.

Goji: (To Jaime) Stay put.

Rodney grabs his rifle and gets out to go with him. They both walk up to the blocked tunnel entrance and search for a way through. Goji crouches down and looks underneath to see that the other side of the tunnel is all clear. He stands back up and looks at Rodney.

Rodney: What do you think?

Goji: Not sure yet.

They both walk back to the truck and get back inside.

Jaime: Where are we?

Goji takes a look at the map.

Goji: (Reading map) Kansas City.

CeCe stares straight ahead of them.

CeCe: Damn. How far back do we have to go to get around this?

Goji traces his finger over the map and looks back up at the tunnel. He sighs and puts the map back down.

Goji: Screw it.

Goji starts the truck back up and turns them back around.

Jaime: What are you doing?

Goji: We can jog right around this tunnel... take the next ramp... and we're back on the road.

Rodney: And how long do you think that'll take?

Goji: Minute tops.

They drive up onto a ramp and head into the city. Suddenly a minute becomes an hour as they drive aimlessly through the dilapidated city ruins. Everyone's head is on a swivel as each looks for signs of them going in the right direction.

CeCe: Where the fuck is the highway?

Jaime: (Looking at map) I don't know. I can't tell from this. I'm all turned around.

Rodney: Don't look at the state map. Look at the inset.

Jaime: Well, I don't know where we are in that either! This is my second day being a fucking navigator, man. I mean, I think we're heading north?

Goji looks around as he drives.

Goji: It's gotta be around here someplace. Angelo, you see anything up there?

Angelo: (sighs) Nope nothing.

Angelo looks around until he spots something out of the corner of his eye. He turns his head and his eyes grow wide in shock.

Angelo: (Whispers) What the fuck? (Shouts) Stop!

The truck abruptly stops with the tires screeching to a halt.

Goji: What is it?

Angelo: (Pointing) Look!

They all look in the direction Angelo is pointing and look just as shocked as he does. Further down the street lies a large concrete wall with a sign that says "CHECKPOINT NORTH 7" and a front metal gate that is wide open. Such a structure in a city like this could only mean one thing, A JDF safezone. Or more accurately a JDF base. If that's the case then things were about to get very troublesome for them. Or at least they would have if there were any signs of life around or on top of the wall. However instead everything was dead silent with absolutely no signs of soldiers around guarding the gate. Goji understood all too well what that meant.

Jaime: Is that a JDF base?

CeCe: Yeah, but where the fuck is JDF?

Suddenly the sound of someone crying out causes each of them to look ahead and see a man seemingly hurt and stumbling in the street.

Man: Hey! Please help!

Seeing that man was all Goji needed to figure out what was happening around here.

Goji: (To Angelo) Hold onto something back there. (To Jaime) Put your seatbelt on.

Jaime looks at Goji confused.

Jaime: Aren't we gonna help him?

Goji: No.

Goji slams his foot on the accelerator and the truck speeds right towards the wounded man. Just as he is about to get run over the man manages to successfully move out of the way with very little effort. His wounds reveal to be nothing but an act.

Man: Fuck! Go, go, go!

The truck speeds down an alley when Jaime looks up and spots something up above.

Jaime: Goji!

Goji looks up and spots another man above on a fire escape who drops a cinder block down on them and smashes the windshield. The truck swerves a bit but Goji maintains control and keeps going. Suddenly the truck shakes as the tires blow out after running over a long spiked chain being thrown across the street. The truck swerves back and forth with the tires screeching loudly. Goji looks ahead through the cracked glass and spots another man up ahead aiming a gun at them.

Goji: Fuck.

He turns the wheel to steer them away as a gunshot rings out and hits the side of the truck. They soon smash through a glass window and crash into a pile of washing machines. The truck stops dead with dust flying around everywhere. Goji pants heavily as he manages to get his bearings back.

Goji: Everyone, okay?

Rodney: Yeah.

CeCe: Got a bitchin headache but I'm good.

Goji: Jaime, Are you okay?

Jaime: Yeah.

Goji: You're not hurt? Nothin'?

Jaime: I don't think so.

Rodney: Ang, You okay?

Angelo: (groans) I am fine. I'm okay.

More gunfire explodes into the laundromat as more glass shatters. Angelo screams while falling backwards out of the truck bed.

Goji: (shouts) Belts off. Fast!

Everyone quickly piles out of the truck and gets behind cover as the gunfire continues. Rodney, CeCe, and Goji manage to grab their weapons and Angelo passes along a few of the extra guns. One of the people shouts out to them.

Person: Let's see you, mοthеrfuckеrs! Give us your shit, you all make it through this! I promise!

Goji desperately looks around and sees a mid-sized hole in the wall closeby.

Goji: (To Jaime) Hey, you see that hole? Can you squeeze through?

Jaime quickly nods her head as the gunfire starts back up again.

Person: Last chance!

Goji: Okay, When I say go, you crawl to that wall, and you squeeze through, and you don't come out until I say, okay?

A gunshot shatters the truck window above them. Jaime covers her ears from the continuing gunfire. Goji grabs her shoulder.

Goji: And they're not gonna hit you. Look at me! They're not gonna hit you. You stay down, you stay low, you stay quiet.

Jaime: Mm-hmm.

Goji: Okay. (To the Trio) When I say go, everyone covers Jaime. Got it?

Rodney: Yeah.

CeCe: Got it.

Angelo: Okay.

Goji: Alright. Ready? (shouts) Go!

Everyone stands up and starts firing back while Jaime quickly crawls along the floor towards the hole. Jaime manages to crawl inside while Goji shoots and kills one of the attackers.

Person: Fuck! You mοthеrfuckеrs!

Rodney fires a shot at the second attacker but misses. The person grunts as he moves to a different location. Inside the wall Jaime breathes heavily as she hears the sounds of footsteps approaching. The glass on the ground glass crunches with each step until suddenly two gunshots sound close by, forcing Jaime to cover her ears. Something hits the ground with a loud thud near the hole. Back outside the second person lies dead on the ground having been shot by Angelo who is heavily breathing on the ground with his left leg bleeding from being shot earlier. CeCe goes over and wraps a cloth around his leg.

Angelo: (grunting) God that hurts.

CeCe: Be thankful the guy was a lousy shot.

Angelo: (panting) Did we get 'em all?

Rodney: I don't think so. I saw a third one take off that way.

CeCe: Then lets go get the fucker.

CeCe runs out of the laundromat with Rodney shouting after her.

Rodney: CeCe wait!

Goji: Go after her. I watch over things here.

Rodney nods and takes off after CeCe leaving Goji alone with Angelo. Goji walks up to him and picks up his rifle while looking at the nearby corpse. He pats him on the shoulder.

Goji: Nice shooting big guy.

Angelo chuckles a little until he looks behind Goji and shouts.

Angelo: Behind you!

Goji turns around and swings the rifle at the attacker, throwing off his aim as he fires his gun. The attacker then tackles Goji into a washing machine as the two of them struggle to gain the advantage over the other. The attacker jams his rifle into Goji's throat and forces him down on the ground. Angelo tries to get up to help but falls over onto the ground. The attacker pins Goji to the ground and starts crushing his throat.

Person 2: Now you're gonna fuckin' pay! What you fuckin' did, you fuckin' killed yourself, mοthеrfuckеr!

Goji chokes under the pressure on his throat as he desperately tries to shove the attacker off. Gasping and choking for air Goji's legs start flailing, unable to get any grip on the smooth floor. His vision starts to blur as everything around him slowly starts to fade. In the past Goji wasn't afraid of death. Some day he may even welcome it, but right now as he draws what seems to be his final breath, all Goji feels right now is something he swore he'd never feel again… Fear. In what seems to be a bright flash the attacker yelps and falls over in pain. Goji coughs as his throat is relieved of pressure and air is allowed back into his lungs. Gasping and wheezing he looks over to see Jaime standing nearby holding a gun with a smoking barrel. Her breathing heavy as she slowly walks over to the attacker now laying on the ground bleeding. He looks up at the little girl pointing a gun at him and starts to beg.

Person 2: No, no, no, no, no! It's okay. It's okay. It's over. We're not fighting anymore. I'm gonna go home. I'll tell everyone you're good. (cries) I don't know what to do. My legs don't work.

He sits up panting with tears in his eyes and blood from his mouth.

Person 2: My mom isn't far, if you could get me to her.

He starts to panic as he sees Goji slowly getting back up with a groan.

Person 2: We could trade with you guys. We could be friends. I didn't know. I'm Bryan. I'm Bryan. What's your name? (sniffles)

Goji stands completely up as Rodney and CeCe come back. They both stop silent as they see the sight before them. Goji walks up to Jaime and reaches out his hand. Jaime hands over the gun without saying a word. Goji stuffs the gun in the back of his pants as Bryan continues crying. Goji slowly turns around and faces Bryan.

Bryan: Wait, wait, wait. (crying while taking out a knife and tossing it on the floor) You can have it... It's a good knife.

Goji steps over and picks up the knife. He turns back to Jaime.

Goji: Get back behind the wall.

Bryan: No, no, no, no! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please, please. We could just talk. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please! Please!

As Bryan is pleading, Jaime just looks at him before turning around and walking back to the hole.

Bryan: No, no, no! Please! No, please! Please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

Jaime climbs back through the hole and just waits and listens as she hears Goji's slow footsteps walking along the floor.

Bryan: Please! You don't have to! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please! No, no, no! We can just talk! Mom! Mom! Mom!

A dull thump silences Bryan's screams as he starts gasping and choking before growing dead silent. The only sound that can be heard now is Jaime's heavy breathing until Goji calls out to her.

Goji: Jaime, The others and I gotta get in there.

Jaime quickly wipes away the tears and sweat off her face.

Goji: We can't fit through.

Jaime looks around the room she's in and sees a desk with a pile of junk on top propped against the door.

Jaime: There's some stuff against the door.

Rodney: Well, can you move it?

Jaime goes over and starts pulling against the desk and allows the others to push through the door and get in. Goji carries Angelo inside while Rodney and CeCe go over to the desk pile and stand next to it.

Rodney: Let's go. Fast.

CeCe: Right.

They both grunt as they move the desk back against the door. The room fills with the sounds of panting as everyone takes a breath. Goji looks over at Jaime who just looks at him back. After a brief awkward silence Jaime tries to reassure him.

Jaime: I'm okay... I'm good. (digs into back pack) I, uh, got some food in here still, and I got your light still.

Jaime hands Goji the flashlight which he takes.

Jaime: What now?

Goji glances over to a nearby door.

Goji: We go up.

Jaime: To get a better look?

Rodney: Hopefully, we spot a clear route out.

Goji slowly checks to make sure the path is clear of attackers. He looks back at Jaime.

Goji: Stay close.

Jaime: Got it.

They start to go through with Rodney helping Angelo through the door while CeCe covers them from the rear. Angelo winces slightly at the pain in his leg.

Rodney: Easy Ang, I gotcha.

They come out in an alley on the side of the building. The sound of a car passing nearby prompts the group to pick up the pace. They step out of the alley and duck behind a minivan as two more cars pass by. They then hear the sounds of shouting coming from the laundromat.

Person 3: Bryan! Bryan! They got fuckin' Bryan!

Goji quickly runs across the street to the building next door and pries open a door. He gestures for everyone else to follow and they manage to get inside without being spotted. Once everyone is inside CeCe grabs a piece of metal to jam the door shut.

Meanwhile in another part of the city guards stand watch at what was once the JDF base of operations in Kansas City. Only now the base was under new management. The locals along with a few dozen KKs were now in control. The result of an uprising that had occurred just a few weeks prior. Inside the holding cells an interrogation is being conducted with one of the prisoners going by the name of Edelstein being strapped to a chair.

Edelstein: I told you. I was alone. I haven't seen any of those people since that night. What else do you want me to say?

Interrogator: I don't know. The truth?

Edelstein looks up at them in complete disbelief.

Edelstein: Kathleen.

Kathleen sighs as she straightens up her posture and reads off of the piece of paper in her hands.

Kathleen: The Bergquists, hm? No? Mark Anthony Halpin. Carrie Schreiber. You haven't seen them?

Edelstein shakes his head.

Kathleen: The Chans? Henry Burrell.

The more Edelstein shakes his head, the more Kathleen loses her patience as she folds up the paper and stuffs it in her pocket.

Kathleen: Okay. You know where Henry is.

Kathleen walks over to a sign on the wall that reads a list of "Rights prisoners are entitled to" and starts listing them off one by one.

Kathleen: (sighs) Lawyer. Medical attention. Family visit.

She then looks around the inside of the cell.

Kathleen: I wonder if this is the cell... where my brother was beaten to death.

Edelstein: Listen Kathleen, you were wronged. And I'm sorry. But this has gone too far. It has to stop.

Kathleen turns back to him.

Kathleen: Oh, it has to stop now, you mean? Now that you're in the cell. But before, people dying was okay. When you were safe and protected, and ratting on your neighbors to The JDF.

Edelstein: They put a gun to my head.

Kathleen pulls out a gun and aims it at Edelstein.

Kathleen: There. Have I satisfied the necessary conditions for you to talk?

Edelstein looks Kathleen directly in the eyes.

Edelstein: Kathleen, for God's sake. I delivered you. I held you in my hands. I never told them anything about your brother.

Kathleen chokes back any tears that start to form.

Kathleen: But Henry did. And we know that he's still in the city. And I think that you know that, too.

Kathleen steps closer until the gun is directly pressed against his forehead. She sniffles a little, still fighting back against her emotions.

Kathleen: (sighs) Where is he?

Edelstein just stares up at her. Kathleen's face twists slightly trying to appear strong.

Kathleen: You think I won't do it?

Edelstein just breathes in and shakes his head.

Edelstein: I'm your doctor.

Kathleen continues to stare him down until the loud sound of a truck horn honking catches her attention. She turns around where the sounds of distant chatter can be heard outside. She leaves the cell and goes to see what's happening. Kathleen pushes through the crowd until she finally sees the three dead bodies laying on the ground. Where was once Bryan's lively expression is now replaced with a cold, lifeless, unmoving face. Kathleen had known him and the other two for years. They were her friends. Her comrades. And now all that's left of them are three dead husks of their former selves. And in a matter of moments her shock and sorrow turns to anger and hatred. She looks over at her second in command Goro, a lizard-like KK with dark green scales covering his head and face and bright green lizard eyes. Goro heads their brigade of KKs who helped fight beside the residents against The JDF.

Kathleen: Who did this?

Goro: We think it was outsiders. We found a truck, loaded. It's not a JDF vehicle, but they were heavily supplied. Could be mercs.

Kathleen sorts out the information in her head.

Kathleen: Well, if Henry has a radio... maybe he found someone out there. He... M... Maybe he called these guys in.

Kathleen glances over at a medic checking one of the three that was still barely alive.

Kathleen: Will he live?

The medic looks up at her with a solemn look on his face. Kathleen grows desperate.

Kathleen: What if I had a doctor?

Medic: (shakes his head) There's no chance. I'm sorry.

The fleeting hope in her eyes vanishes and her desperate expression now becomes cold and emotionless as she trunks around and walks back to the prison. She addresses the guard on duty.

Kathleen: Open it.

The guard opens the cell door and she walks into the doorway before stopping while taking out her gun and firing. Edelstein's body falls to the floor with a thud with a small pool of blood forming underneath him. Kathleen takes a deep breath and heads back outside to address the crowd. She walks back to the center and gestures to the three dead bodies on the ground.

Kathleen: This is Henry's work. Understand? And he won't stop until we stop him. Find who did this. Find every collaborator and kill them all.

The crowd starts shouting and immediately starts to gear up and move out. Utilizing all of the vehicles and weapons salvaged from The JDF's arsenal, they spread out through the city to hunt down the ones responsible for killing their friends. They start by searching residential buildings first and patrol one street at a time. All the while they fail to notice the eyes of Rodney watching everything from a covered window above. The group had managed to hole up in an old pawnshop and wait for things to quiet down. Next to him Jaime manages to peek out as well at the group of people looking for them.

Jaime: They're not JDF, and they're not all KKs, so who are they?

Rodney: People.

Goji: Are we okay in here?

Rodney: For a little bit, maybe. Looks like they're checkin' out apartment buildings first. But they'll be coming through these places soon enough.

Rodney steps away from the window and crouches down next to Angelo.

Rodney: How's the leg?

Angelo: A bit sore now but I'll manage.

Jaime continues to look out the window and spots a tall building in the distance.

Jaime: There's a really tall building, like, four blocks away.

Rodney: Yeah. Saw it.

Jaime: (Turns back to the group) So that's the one?

Goji: As soon as we don't hear a truck, we move. Fast as we can.

Jaime walks over to sit down across from Goji who places a hand against his forehead.

Jaime: Are you okay?

Goji hesitates to answer.

Goji: I'm all right. Are you all right?

Jaime: Yeah.

From the tone in her voice Goji can tell she doesn't believe him when he says he's alright.

Goji: (sighs) Thing is, … is I didn't hear that guy comin', and... you shouldn't have had to... you know?

Jaime understands exactly what he is referring to.

Jaime: Well, you're glad I did, right?

Goji: That's not the point. You're just a kid. You shouldn't know what it means to... It's not like you killed him. But... shooting or... I know what it's like... first time that you, uh, hurt... someone like that. If you, uh... w... uh... (sighs) I'm not good at this.

Jaime: Yeah, you really aren't.

Goji: I mean, it was my fault. You shouldn't have had to. And I'm sorry.

Jaime sits quietly for a bit until she wipes her face with her sleeve.

Jaime: (sniffling) It wasn't my first time.

Goji turns to her and looks her in the eye. One look and he understands what she means. After all, before they met she had been on her own for about three days. It's impossible to go through that amount on your own without at least having to defend yourself at least once. Goji takes out the gun and unloads it along with the bullet still in the chamber. He stands up and crouches down in front of Jaime, handing her the empty gun.

Goji: Show me your grip.

Jaime takes the gun and holds it in one hand. She makes sure to keep her finger off the trigger.

Goji: Now, who taught you that?

Jaime: JDF school.

Goji: Figures.

Ever since the safe zones were set up JDF made it a requirement in schools to include lessons in weapon safety and basic survival skills. Goji grabs her other hand and instructs her how to hold the gun properly.

Goji: Your thumb... over your thumb. Left hand... squeezes down on the right. You got it?

Jaime: Mm-hmm.

Goji lets go of Jaime's hands.

Goji: There ya go. Look it.

Goji grabs hold of the gun and tries to yank it away only for Jaime to keep a tight grip on it. Their little game of tug of war causes her to laugh a little. Goji lets go while Jaime looks over the gun that still remains locked in her iron grip. She aims it straight forward with much greater confidence.

Goji: Okay?

Jaime nods. Goji reaches down and picks up the ammo clip while Jaime gives him back the gun. Goji loads the gun and hands it back to her. Jaime reaches out and takes it, reaching behind her back to stuff it down the hem of her pants.

Goji: Uh-uh. You put it in your pack. You'll shoot your damn ass off.

Goji stands up groaning and walks over to the next room. Jamie pulls the gun out and looks around. Making sure the others aren't watching, she puts the gun in her jacket pocket. Goji comes back and signals to everyone that it's time to move. CeCe and Rodney help Angelo up onto his feet while Goji yanks off the piece of metal jamming the door shut. Jaime walks up to him and watches as he gets ready to open the door. Goji glances at her from the corner of his eye.

Goji: We'll get through this.

Jaime: I know.

Goji nods at her and slowly opens the door as he peeks his head to check if the coast is clear. He quickly walks out the door with Jaime and the others following close behind him.

Elsewhere Kathleen stands tensely as she looks over what's left of the laundromat. A few of her men scour and rummage through the truck salvaging the leftover supplies and weapons left behind. She hears footsteps behind her and turns around to see Goro walking up to her.

Kathleen: No sign of them. You?

Goro: Yeah.

Goro turns and walks back up the street with Kathleen following behind him. The two of them enter an old building where Goro gestures for them to head upstairs. They walk all the way up to the third floor generator room where Goro reaches up towards the ceiling and pulls down a built-in ladder that leads up to the building's attic. He turns on a flashlight and hands it to Kathleen who starts to climb up the ladder and into the attic. She starts to look around, shining the flashlight throughout the entire room. The light stops when she discovers a set of children's drawings of super heroes all over the walls. She continues her search and finds a pile of empty food cans on the floor next to a dirty plate along with more drawings and a makeshift bed. It only stands to reason that this place was where Henry had been hiding out this whole time. She trunks around and makes her way back down the ladder.

Kathleen: They're out of food. Henry won't let Gabe starve. Double the guards around our provisions. He's fucking close. I can feel it.

Goro: Yeah.

Kathleen looks at Goro's face. She can tell that there is something else Goro found.

Kathleen: What?

Goro sighs and leads her down to the basement. Once there he slowly walks up to the door and readies his rifle. He looks back at Kathleen before slowly opening the metal door. What they see inside shocks Kathleen. The entire floor is cracked and looks barely stable enough to set foot on. There had been no recent earthquakes in the city so she knew the cause had to be what she feared most. When The JDF took control of Kansas City they drove hundreds of KKs down into the city underground tunnel system. Through the years it acted as a slum/concentration camp where the residents were forced to live in harsh and uninhabitable conditions. During the uprising a number of those KKs climbed out and aided in the fighting, but there were others who stayed below and went deeper underground. There they slowly gave into their more primal instincts and slowly devolved into ferals. For a long time now they had remained underground. However if what Kathleen was seeing was any indication, it was probably only a matter of time until the feral pack breaches the surface.

Kathleen: Fuck.

She looks over at Goro who looks just as disturbed by this discovery as she is. Granted KKs were just as tough as ferals, but depending on how big the pack had become any fight they faced would most likely end in a total slaughter if they weren't prepared beforehand. Suddenly a rumbling sound is heard as the two of them look to see the ground start to move and rise up and down as if it were water.

Kathleen: Fuck, fuck.

Her and Goro immediately rush out of the room and slam the door shut with Goro aiming his rifle ready for anything that might try and get through. After a minute or two everything quotes down again causing both Kathleen and Goro to sigh in relief.

Goro: When do we tell the others?

Kathleen: Not yet. Let's just handle what we have to handle. We can deal with this after.

Goro: Kathleen...

Kathleen: After. Seal off the building for now. Okay?

Goro: (nods) Yeah.

Kathleen turns around and heads back up the stairs while Goro just keeps his eyes on the closed metal door. He can't help but get this sinking feeling that from here on out things were only going to get much worse. All he could do was pray that they find Henry and those mercs before the ground starts caving in around them. And if that should happen before they've prepared for it, then God help them.

Night covers the city as the stands at the entrance into the skyscraper. Goji puts his hands together and looks at Jaime.

Goji: Okay, You're just gonna put your foot here.

Jaime does what she's told and places her foot in his hands.

Goji: Now, One, two...

Goji lifts Jaime up, boosting her to the vent above the door. Jaime freaks a little as she tries not to fall.

Jaime: Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. Straighten up.

Goji: It's ok. I got you.

CeCe hands Jaime her pipe weapon which is used to break open the vent. It hits the floor with a loud clanking noise as Jaime grabs hold of the opening and climbs through, landing feet first on the floor.

Jaime: Okay, I'm in.

Rodney: Take a look around first.

Jaime doesn't reply back to him.

Goji: Jaime.

A loud clanking noise is heard from inside. Goji tenses up as he starts feeling nervous.

Goji: Goddamnit.

Just as he gets ready to try and kick open the door, the door swings open to reveal a smiling Jaime with a smug grin on her face.

Jaime: Where would you be without me, huh?

Goji stares at her unamused.

Goji: By now, out west.

Jaime: Oh, yeah. Walked into that one.

The group enters while turning on the two flashlights they still have. They look around to find themselves in the building's parking area. They keep walking until they spot a doorway leading to the staircase.

Goji: All right. We'll make our way up, and come morning, (To Rodney) You fly out and take a look at the city, and find our way out.

Rodney nods in agreement to Goji's plan and they enter the staircase.

CeCe takes a look at the building directory on the wall.

CeCe: We're goin' up 42 flights?

Goji: Forty-five.

He shines his flashlight up to reveal a long and winding stairway up above.

Goji: But no... not all the way.

Jaime: How far?

Goji: As far as we can make it.

They start to make their way up the stairs. After what feels like hours Jaime breathes heavily as she trudges up the steps.

Jaime: (To Goji) Hey, you know that guy who said he was hurt? How did you know it was an ambush?

Goji stops to catch his breath.

Goji: I've been on both sides. It was a long time ago. We do what we need to survive.

Rodney: You and the rest of your buddies in The JDF?

Everyone stops and looks at Rodney in shock.

Rodney: I saw the way you behaved the other night. How you place your gun under your pillow while you sleep, and how you stand guard flipping the safety on and off repeatedly. And earlier when you saw the looks of the abandoned base, Almost like you knew exactly what had happened. The only people I've ever heard act like that have been JDF soldiers. And last I checked they don't often allow KKs into their ranks. So tell us, How'd you learn all that?

Everyone stood silent in the stairway. Jaime and the others look up at Goji waiting to hear what he has to say. All the while Jaime notices CeCe's hand slowly inching over her sawed off at her side. Goji let out a deep sigh.

Goji: Because they trained me.

CeCe: Bullshit.

Goji: It's true. At the place where I grew up they took me in and raised me on how to be a soldier, a KK marine. They taught me the basics of how to handle blades and firearms to how to track and scavenge out in the field. And it wasn't just me, My brother, too.

Jaime: You have a brother?

Goji: … I did once.

Silence falls on the stairwell again as Goji remembers the pains of his past.

Jaime: Did you kill innocent people?

Goji turns and looks at Jaime who stands where she is with a look of curiosity. After a while she starts to feel awkward as Goji just keeps on staring at her. Until finally Goji clears his throat and starts moving up the stairs again.

Goji: C'mon.

Everyone follows without another word being said. They continue climbing up until they reach a door which Goji pushes open. He flashes his light around before walking in and letting the others through. Each one stumbles in panting hard having gone up so many steps.

CeCe: Holy shit.

Rodney: Yeah.

Angelo sits down on the floor as Jaime walks over to see the floor number on the wall.

Jaime: Thirty-three floors. That's good.

Rodney: (looking over at Angelo) It's gonna have to be.

Goji walks over and offers his hand to him.

Goji: Come on.

Angelo: Yeah just, (pants) Gimme a minute.

CeCe comes over and grabs his arm, pulling him up.

CeCe: Get up, you lazy ass.

Angelo gets to his feet with a loud grunt.

Angelo: Lazy ass. 350 lbs, you little shit.

CeCe: (laughs) Oh quit complaining. Besides, you might've actually lost a pound or two back there.

The group starts walking down the dark hallway when they come up to another door with a glass window. Goji grabs a nearby fire extinguisher off the wall and uses it to smash through the glass. He reaches his arm through and unlocks the door from the other side. They enter what looks like an office lounge and start setting up places for them to sleep for the night. As Jaime and Rodney start placing couch cushions on the floor, the sound of glass clinking catches Jaime's attention and turns around back to the door. Goji starts spreading pieces of broken glass along the floor in front of the closed door.

Jaime: Goji? Goji.

Her calls to him go ignored as he works on his current task.

Jaime: (louder) Goji.

Goji: (turns around) What?

Jaime: What are you doing?

Goji: I don't want someone sneakin' up on us while we're sleeping.

Jaime: Ohh, I get it. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Are you sure you're gonna hear it?

Goji: Of course, I'll hear it. That's the damn point.

Jaime: Okay. Well, good night.

Jaime lays back with a sigh as she settles in.

Goji: Yeah, good night.

Goji lays down on his own set of cushions along with the others. Jaime closes her eyes but opens them back up again and turns over to look at Goji.

Jaime: Hey Goji?

Goji: Yeah?

Jaime: When we were talking about how you were trained by The JDF... What did you mean when you said you "did" have a brother?

Goji turns over on his side with his back to her.

Goji: I don't wanna talk about it.

Jaime: (turns back on her back) All right. You don't have to. I'm just sayin'... it just seems unfair, you all alone... having to deal with all of this... does it get easier when you get older?

Goji: No, not really.

Jaime lays silent for a bit and then sits up to look at him.

Jaime: The reason I asked whether you'd hear the glass or not is 'cause I've noticed you don't hear too well from your right side.

Angelo: Actually yeah I noticed that too. Back at the laundromat. Is it 'cause you were shot there once or something?

Goji: Probably more from shooting. (To Jaime) So if you wanna keep your hearing, you stick to that knife you got. Ok?

Jaime: Ok.

Jaime lays back down on the cushions and closes her eyes. Goji and the rest of the group do the same as the room grows silent. That is until Jaime opens her eyes again and asks Goji one more question.

Jaime: Goji?

Goji: Hm?

Jaime: Did you know diarrhea is hereditary?

Goji: What?

Jaime: Yeah. It runs in your jeans.

Jaime snickers a little as the joke sinks into everyone's minds. CeCe and Angelo each crack a smile while Goji mumbles to himself with a small smile on his face.

Goji: (softly) Jesus. (silently laughing) That is so goddamn stupid.

Jaime: You laughed, mοthеrfuckеr.

Goji: I didn't laugh.

Angelo: Yes, you did.

Goji: Jesus, I'm losin' it.

CeCe: Yeah, You're losin' it big time.

Eventually everyone starts laughing for what feels like the first time in many years.

Rodney: Ok that's enough. Everyone go to sleep.

CeCe: (laughing) You go to sleep...

In response CeCe gets a cushion thrown at her face causing her to laugh even more. Finally everyone settles down and gets to sleep. Everything feels so peaceful that Goji lowers his guard and lets his eyes close and rest. From then on there's only darkness throughout the night. The only sounds that can be heard is Goji's steady breathing and calm heart beat. Then another sound starts to be heard. What soon turns out to be a muffled voice.

Jaime: (muffled) Goji? (louder) Goji!

Goji snaps awake to see Jaime and the others wide awake and being held at gunpoint by a man standing behind them and pointing his gun directly at the back of Jaime's head. Goji instinctively reaches for his gun under the cushion but is frozen in place by the presence of someone standing over him. He turns over and sees a boy who is aiming a gun right at him. The boy appears to be about Jaime's age with light faded orange hair and three tiny horns on his head. His face is the color of turquoise with the facial features resembling that of a mixture between a cat and a toad. His ears shaped into sharp points with a streak of dark orange covering the top part of his face. The boy raises a single finger to his mouth, gesturing for Goji to remain silent.

*10 days earlier*

The crowd continues shouting in the streets as after three weeks of constant fighting, peace and justice is finally theirs. The uprising to take back their city from the oppression of The JDF ended in a complete and total victory with every last soldier and officer either dead or in chains. The crowd chanting one single word.

Crowd: (chanting) Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!

The residents of Kansas City, both humans and KKs alike, celebrate their newly won freedom. At long last they no longer have to feel fear or be treated like slaves or prisoners in their own homes. One citizen throws a brick at The JDF logo painted on a wall.

Person: Fuck you, JDF! Fuck you!

As the celebrations continue, elsewhere people were enacting their own version of judgment onto the surviving JDF personnel. From beating them to death with bats, nightsticks, and pipes, to tying them to chairs and shooting them in the head. Another group of people cheer as an officer is strung up and hanged in front of what was once city hall. Nearby a female soldier screams as she's being held down by several men as they viciously tear off her clothes. (Please note that I do not condone stuff like this.) A humvee drives slowly up the street as a man speaks into a loudspeaker.

Man: (over speaker) Kansas City belongs to the people. Collaborators, surrender now, and you will receive a fair trial. We have control of the Safe Zone and the open city. Anyone caught hiding will face charges of counter-revolutionary activities. Kansas City belongs to the people. Collaborators, surrender now...

A truck with a spotlight follows while dragging behind a dead soldier with multiple knives stabbed into them on a rope attached to the rear bumper. The spotlight shines over the alleys and buildings while just barely missing the two figures hiding behind a pile of wooden crates. A man and a young KK boy watch as the truck rolls by. The man turns to the boy and signs with his hands.

Man: (signing) Look at me. Not at that. We're almost there. Two more blocks. Stay with me. Stay with me.

The boy nods his head trying hard to hide the fear on his face. The man stands up and checks to see if the area is clear. He then gestures for the boy to take his hand and the two of them take off running in the opposite direction of the truck. Meanwhile a group of people breath heavily, some even whimpering, as they all sit inside a cold, dark room. The door opens as the lights turn on and Kathleen enters, followed closely by Goro, and grabs a nearby metal chair dragging it over to sit in front of the group of people. As she sits down distant gunfire sounds somewhere outside. No doubt more prisoner executions by firing squad. Kathleen sits silently looking over the group of scared people sitting before her.

Kathleen: You know Goro, I used to be so scared of these people. Now look at them. (To the group of people) Did it feel good... betraying your neighbors to The JDF? Watching us get thrown in prison, watching us hang, so that you could get medicine, alcohol, fucking... apples? Did it make you feel better? Did it make you feel safe? How does it make you feel now?

No one in the group looks her in the eye as they all remain silent. Each person is fully aware of what they did to warrant this kind of treatment. The shame of it showing clear on each of their faces.

Kathleen: Well, I'm not JDF. Lucky for you (chuckles) No one here has to die. Yeah, we could put you on trial. You're all guilty, so that's how that'll go. And you'll do some time. Easy. But first, you have to do something for me. Where is Henry?

The group continues to remain silent. In slight frustration Kathleen claps her hands together loudly as if to get everyone's full attention.

Kathleen: You're informers... inform. Where is Henry?

Her question is met with more silence.

Kathleen: (sighs) I guess they don't know.

She stands up and turns to Goro.

Kathleen: Kill them.

As she starts to walk away one of the group shouts at her.

Informer: He's with Edelstein.

The captives start murmuring while Kathleen turns around and walks back in with a look of surprise on her face. She looks directly at the person who spoke.

Kathleen: Edelstein was a collaborator?

She lets out a sigh as she looks over the rest of the group.

Kathleen: Well, he was a lot more discreet than you fucking idiots. (turns back to the informer who spoke) Where are they?

Informer: He said he was meeting up with Henry and Gabe.

Kathleen: 'Kay.

Informer: He had a place to hole up in the open city in case things went bad.

Kathleen: But things have gone great, h-haven't you heard? Kansas City is free. Hole up where?

Informer: He-He didn't say. I swear, I've told you everything I know.

Kathleen: Of course, you have. You're a rat.

Kathleen turns and leaves the room with Goro in turn. They walk into the next room and address a group of their fighters who have been standing by awaiting their next set of orders. Most of them are part of Goro's fighting KK unit.

Kathleen: He's still in the city. Okay, I want our people going door-to-door until we find him.

Goro turns his head towards Kathleen with slight confusion.

Goro: Now?

Kathleen: Oh, I'm sorry. How long do you think we should wait? Should we wait a day or two? Should we wait a week? Oh, fuck it. Let's give him a month.

Goro: I'm not saying' we do nothin'. We already got a perimeter around the city. We can wait him out. Door-to-door would take a lotta men, and there are other things that probably need...

Kathleen: He's not my seventh priority, Goro. Is that what he is to you?

Goro thinks for a moment and shakes his head.

Goro: No.

Kathleen, looking satisfied with his answer, nods and starts to walk away until Goro calls out to her and gestures back to the other room.

Goro: Are we really puttin' 'em on trial?

Kathleen answers the question without any hesitation.

Kathleen: No... We are not really putting them on trial.

Goro nods in acknowledgment of what she's telling him to do with the prisoners.

Kathleen: When you're done, burn the bodies. It's faster.

Kathleen leaves the room as Goro nods to his men before leading them into the other room. A few seconds later indistinct chatter and screams flow out followed closely by gunfire. Meanwhile Henry and Gabe enter an old building that's been seemingly abandoned. Henry shines a flashlight around to make sure it's safe and then quickly closes and locks the door. He looks down at Gabe.

Henry: (signing) We're going up.

Gabe nods and turns on his own flashlight. Henry pulls out a pistol and the two of them proceed up a flight of stairs. They make it to the third floor where Henry looks around and heads to the door to the generator room. He opens the door and leads Gabe inside. Suddenly a figure steps out from behind a generator shining a light at them. Henry aims his pistol ready to fire but stops when he sees who it is. Edelstein stands there holding his own pistol but lowers it and lets out a deep sigh when he recognizes Henry. Edelstein then reaches up and pulls down the ladder leading to the attic and steps aside to allow Henry to climb up first. Henry then reaches down and helps Gabe up the ladder by grabbing his arm and pulling him up. He then does the same for Edelstien as Gabe wanders off to explore the rest of the attic.

Henry: You sure they don't know about this place?

Edelstein: I got it from a... a JDF officer. (reaches up and turns on the lantern hanging from the ceiling) Patient. Owed me a favor. He said he found it himself, never told anyone about it.

Henry: And what if they get to him?

Edelstein: They already did. He won't be talking.

Henry: (softly): fսck. (exhales) Okay. Water? Toilets?

Edelstein: Uh, the apartments below are tied into the Safe Zone main. We can use those, but we have to be fast and careful.

Henry: Food?

Edelstein: Whatever you brought. I barely made it out as is.

Henry: So we're fսckеd on food? Ammunition?

Edelstein: (holds up his pistol) Empty.

Henry: Yeah, so is mine.

Edelstein: We weren't shooting our way outta this anyway.

Henry: No... so we'll sneak our way out.

Edelstein: How?

Henry: Tunnels.

Edelstein: Tunnels? Why go to the trouble? You can kill yourself right here.

Henry opens up his bag and goes over their supplies.

Henry: Twenty cans... and six pounds of jerky for the three of us. If we stick to the minimum, I think we can make it 11 days? So that's how long we have to figure it out.

Edelstein turns his head and looks over at Gabe sitting in a corner playing with a pad and pencil tied to a string around his neck.

Edelstein: Is he scared?

Henry: (looks over at Gabe) Yeah... Well, he saw a lot. Nothin' I can do about that now.

Edelstein: He's scared because you're scared. Henry stops sorting through the bag and looks between Edelstein and Gabe. He takes a deep breath and stands up to go over and sit down next to Gabe. Henry looks at him and points at the pad as if to ask what he was drawing. Gabe takes the pad off around his neck and shows Henry a picture of a superhero's face with a classic mask drawn over their eyes. Henry knows right away which hero it was supposed to be. He looks over at Gabe.

Henry: (signing) Super Gabe.

Gabe: (signing and pointing at Edelstein) What did he say?

Henry: (signing) He said we're safe here. No one's going to find us.

Gabe: (signing) Are you sure?

Henry: (signing) One hundred percent.

Gabe looks at him feeling unsure.

Henry: (signing) Hey. Look at me. Do I look scared?

Gabe looks at him and shrugs his shoulders.

Henry: (signing) There is one problem though. This place… is ugly.

Gabe nods his head. Henry reaches behind his back and smiles as he pulls out a bag full of old crayons. Gabe's eyes grow wide with surprise and a smile forms as he reaches out for them only for Henry to playfully pull them away from him. Gabe smiles at him as Henry finally gives him the bag. Gabe starts looking through it, digging his hand into the pile of crayons. He takes one out and hands it to Henry who smiles as he accepts it. The two then begin quietly drawing on the walls together. Days begin to pass rapidly with the walls of the attic now covered in different drawings. Each one depicts a superhero fighting bad guys with a different set of powers. Henry pulls back the covering on the window and looks outside. There he sees dozens of troops scouring every inch of the city. Most likely looking for them. Henry feels a tug on his sleeve and turns to look at Gabe.

Gabe: (signing) I'm hungry. (points at a can of food)

Knowing that it was the last can of food Henry is hesitant to open it right away.

Henry: (signing) We'll open it later.

Gabe slumps his shoulders and starts painting on a piece of paper with a paint brush colored orange. Henry covers the window back up and moves to the other one and looks through it. With how many people there are searching the area it feels like it's only a matter of time till they're discovered. Suddenly he hears knocking on the floor behind him and turns around to look back at Gabe.

Henry: What?

Gabe: (signing) I'm hungry.

Henry: (signing) Later.

Gabe: (signing) When is he coming back?

Henry: (signing) I don't know.

Gabe: (signing) It's been a whole day.

Henry picks up on Gabe's impatience.

Henry: (signing) It's hard to find food.

Gabe: (signing) But he is coming back?

Henry tries his best to hide his doubts.

Henry: Yeah... yeah.

Gabe finally calms down and goes back to his painting as Henry covers the window back up. Night falls with only the sounds of crickets chirping coming from outside. Gabe sleeps soundly while Henry sits up wide awake waiting for Edelstein's return. Of course he already knew that if Edelstein still hadn't returned, then it's quite possible that he never will. And with that thought came others, like what if they get caught as well? How was he going to keep his little brother safe? And more importantly what will happen to him after he is most likely killed like all the others? Henry glances over at the little boy next to him sleeping soundly without so much as a care in the world. After their parents died he swore he would look out for Gabe no matter what. Even if it meant doing things he wasn't proud of and felt nothing but shame for. Like informing The JDF about KKs hiding out in the city and certain people sheltering them. All so his own little brother, who couldn't help the way he had been born into this world, could live some kind of normal life. He didn't care about food or luxuries for himself. All he cared about was providing comfort and security to his family. Which is why he knew that no matter what happens, even if it ends up costing his own life, Henry would do whatever it takes to get Gabe safely out of the city. Henry sighs as he finally lays back and closes his eyes. The next morning Henry gently taps Gabe's shoulder, stirring him awake. Gabe sits up and Henry decides to be completely honest with him.

Henry: (signing) He isn't coming back.

Gabe gives him a look of understanding. It pains Henry to see his little brother growing so numb to the knowledge of losing someone.

Henry: (signing) I'm sorry. We don't have any more food. We need to leave.

Henry starts to explain his plan.

Henry: (signing) I've been watching them. I know their patterns. We can make it on foot.

Gabe: (signing) Did they kill him?

Henry hesitates again but decides to just tell him the truth.

Henry: (signing) Probably yes.

Gabe looks at the floor for a moment before getting up and giving Henry a hug. They sit there for a few moments as Henry feels the sadness coming from Gabe about how they lost a friend. Henry glances over at Gabe's drawings on the wall. Ever since he was little, Gabe has always dreamed of becoming a superhero. It's how their parents always cheered him up whenever he felt ashamed of how different he'd look from all the other would sit him down and their mother would say "Never forget Gabriel, no matter what anybody else says, you'll always be our little superhero." Remembering her words Henry gets a small idea to help Gabe cheer up a little. He pulls away a bit and looks at Gabe.

Henry: (signing) Close your eyes. Not too tight, but don't open.

Gabe sits on the floor and closes his eyes. Henry steps over to the cans of paint and grabs a piece of cloth. He dunks it lightly in the can of orange paint and gently strokes it over Gabe's eyes. When he's done Gabe opens his eyes as he takes out a small knife and uses it to show Gabe his reflection. The streak of orange paint resembles that of a superhero mask. Just like in his drawings. He had become a superhero. Gabe smiles along with Henry who puts the knife away and ruffles Gabe's hair. Henry puts Gabe's jacket on for him and starts to pack up their things to get ready to leave. They make their way down the ladder and down the stairs to the door. Henry grabs a nearby stool and stands on top of it to peek through the window. Everything is quiet for now. Henry gets down off the stool.

Henry: (signing) It's okay.

Gabe looks at the door nervously.

Gabe: (signing) You don't hear anything?

Henry shakes his head and gets ready to open the door when suddenly he hears the sound of tires screeching and an engine revving outside. Followed closely by a loud crash and gunfire prompting Henry to grab Gabe's shoulders and move him to stay low. Gabe looks at Henry with a look of fear.

Gabe: (signing) What's going on?

Henry: (signing) Shooting.

He hears people shouting and more gunfire. Henry gestures for Gabe to stay put and goes over to look out the window again. He sees across the street a truck crashed inside the laundromat and four people hiding behind it each firing guns. Henry had never seen them before so he figures they might be drifters or scavengers who got themselves ambushed by Kathleen's people. He sees one of the attackers try to flank them by going inside the laundromat, only to be shot in the head by the big one who ends up falling to the floor. He then sees the other three stand around for a moment before two of them, one woman with long ears on her head and a man with a beak and red leather wings, come running out and heading up the street a bit. He quickly gets down hoping they didn't spot him. He briefly peeks out again before stepping off the stool and going over back to Gabe who has been afraid the entire time.

Gabe: (signing) What's going on now?

Henry thinks of what to say when he suddenly gets another idea. From what he saw these drifters had fought back against the other people and won. Which stands to reason they were experienced fighters. And seeing how they weren't enemies, perhaps there's a chance that they could become allies. It's a long shot but right now they're in a desperate situation.

Henry: (signing) New plan.

Hours pass as they do their best to follow the newcomers to one of the taller buildings in the city. From what Henry has been able to make out there are about five of them in total. Four adults and one kid who looks close to Gabe's age. Three of them were definite KKs based on their appearances with the large one looking like his leg was hurt. He and Gabe wait a few hours before they head inside the building and climb up the stairs. They walk the dark halls until Henry hears the sound of glass crunching under their feet and stops Gabe from walking further.

Gabe: (signing) Noisy?

Henry: (signing) Noisy.

They both move to the sides of the hall to avoid the glass on the floor.

Henry: (signing) You know what to do?

Gabe nods his head. Henry hands him Edelstein's empty revolver and shows him how to aim it correctly. He takes out his own empty gun and starts leading Gabe down the hall to the door at the end. They manage to make it inside and find the group asleep on the floor. Henry steps closer until one of the woman's ears perk up and she sits up wide awake. He aims his gun at her before she has a chance to try anything. The woman grumbles and holds her hands up as she whispers to the others.

Woman: Hey guys, we got visitors.

The rest of the group starts to wake to see Henry pointing his gun at each one of them and getting behind the girl while Gabe aims his gun at the man asleep on the floor. Now all that was left was to hope that Henry could convince them to hear him out without them killing him.

*Present Day*

Jaime: Goji. (shouts) Goji!

Goji wakes up to see Jaime and the others at gunpoint from a man standing behind Jaime and aiming a gun at the back of her head. He turns over and sees a young boy aiming a gun down at him. And gesturing to him to be quiet.

Henry: Eyes on me. Eyes on me.

Goji turns his head to look at the man.

Henry: You don't have to worry about what to say. We don't wanna hurt you. We wanna help you.

Goji lays on the ground staring at him.

Goji: Okay.

The man stands there looking nervous.

Henry: Okay, um... I don't know what the next step is with something like this, but if I lower my gun... we didn't hurt you... so you don't hurt us... right?

Goji looks him straight in the eye.

Goji: That's right.

The man looks at him with suspicion.

Henry: That's a weird fuckin' tone, man.

Jaime: That's just the way he sounds. He has an asshоlе voice.

Jaime looks at Goji in annoyed desperation.

Jaime: Goji, guys, tell him he's okay.

Goji continues to stare at him along with CeCe and Rodney.

Goji: Everything is great.

Rodney: Yep.

CeCe: Just peachy.

Jaime gives all three of them a "What the fuck?" face as Angelo groans while shaking his head.

Jaime: Dude.

Henry: Fuck!

The man takes a deep breath to calm himself down.

Henry: Okay... listen... I'm gonna trust you guys.

The man waves at the boy to get his attention and starts signing at him.

Henry: (signing) I'm going to trust them.

Goji glances over at the boy who signs back.

Gabe: (signing) Are you sure?

Goji took a guess that the boy was actually deaf and couldn't hear what was going on.

Henry: (quietly): Yes.

He turns back to Goji and the others.

Henry: But if either of you guys try anything... yeah?

He gently presses the gun closer to Jaime's head to better illustrate his meaning.

Henry: Yeah?

All five members of the group exchange silent nods.

Jaime: Yeah.

The man turns back to the boy and gestures for him to step back. The boy complies, still aiming the gun at Goji's head. Goji looks between the boy and the man.

Goji: Can I sit up?

Henry: Yeah. Slow. Get up slow.

Goji slowly sits up from the floor with his hands up. He turns back to the man.

Goji: Who are you?

Henry: My name's Henry. (points) That's my brother, Gabe.

Henry lowers his gun.

Henry: I'm the most wanted man in Kansas City. Although right now... my guess is you're running a close second.

An hour or so later the seven of them sit down to an early breakfast with Henry and Gabe behaving like they'd haven't eaten in days.

Henry: Where'd you get these?

CeCe: From my ol' man. He's dead to me. Both figuratively and literally.

The group continues eating in slightly awkward silence. Goji looks over at Gabe and hands him the remainder of his food. Gabe takes it and starts signing at Henry. Henry looks over at Goji.

Henry: He says thank you.

Goji smiles and signs back "Your welcome" surprising both of the brothers.

Henry: Where'd you learn that?

Goji: You wander around long enough, you pick up a few things.

Henry nods his head.

Henry: I'm guessing you don't have much, so... this means a lot.

Jaime glances over at Gabe.

Jaime: How old is he?

Henry looks over at Gabe and signs her question to him. Gabe signs back.

Henry: He's twelve.

Jaime: Cool. I'm Jaime.

Angelo: My name's Angelo, but my friends call me Ang.

Rodney: (raises a hand) I'm Rodney.

Goji: I'm Goji.

Henry signs to Gabe all of their names. Rodney and Angelo look over at CeCe who just sits silently until the latter smacks her arm and gestures for her to introduce herself too.

CeCe: (small sigh) I'm CeCe. Look, you ate, we didn't kill each other, let's call this a win-win and move on.

Henry finishes eating and dusts his hands off.

Henry: Well, I'm betting... that y'all came up here to get a view of the city and plan a way out. And when the sun's up... I'll show you one.

The group looks at each other thinking it over.

Night turns into day as they all look out over the city in one of the building's conference rooms while Jaime hangs out with Gabe not too far away..

Henry: Welcome to Killa City.

Goji and Rodney scan the view.

Goji: No JDF.

Henry: Not as of 10 days ago, no.

Rodney: You know, We always heard KC JDF was...

Henry: Monsters? Savages? Yeah, you heard right. Raped and tortured and murdered people for 20 years. Both humans and KKs alike. Course the KKs were a little worse off. Being forced to live underground. No better than slaves.

CeCe: Fuckin' fascists.

Henry: And you know what happens when you do that to people? The moment they get a chance, they do it right back to you.

Goji looks over at Henry.

Goji: But you're not JDF.

Henry: No... worse. I'm a collaborator.

Rodney and the rest of the Trio start to look at Henry with hostility in their eyes. They knew all too well what it meant to live around collaborators. Before the town they lived in had been evacuated and abandoned. Neighbors turning on each other, Families torn apart, people being rounded up and put in the backs of trucks. The day everyone left without them almost felt like a blessing.

Rodney: We don't work with rats.

Henry: Yeah, you fucking do. Today you do... 'cause I live here and you don't. That's how I followed you here. I know this city, and that's how I'm gonna help you get out.

Goji gives him a look.

Goji: Why help us?

Henry: I saw what you guys did... the way you killed those men. Now, I know where to go but I don't know how to make it through alive, not if it's just me and Gabe.

Goji: You seem capable enough. You're armed.

Henry: You're wrong, and wrong. Never killed anyone. And pointing an unloaded gun at you was the closest I've ever come to being violent.

CeCe scoffs at him in disbelief.

CeCe: You slippery little bitch.

Henry: So that's the deal. I show the way... you clear the way.

Goji thinks it over when Jaime and Gabe start laughing. They look over to see Jaime showing Gabe an old comic book from her pack. Henry smiles.

Henry: Haven't heard that in a long time.

Goji looks between Henry and the two kids and sighs, shaking his head. He glances over at Rodney who silently catches on with what he's thinking. Rodney gestures for Angelo and CeCe to follow him to a corner of the room where they start to quietly discuss what to do. After whisper shouting back and forth the Trio each takes out a coin and flips them in the air. Once they see the results they step back over to Goji and Henry. Goji has a pretty good idea what the result was. Rodney turns to Henry.

Rodney: So how are we gettin' out?

Henry takes out a piece of paper and a pencil and starts drawing up a map.

Henry: (marking on map) Highways... Downtown. Us. This whole area belongs to Kathleen.

Goji: She's in charge?

Henry: Leader of the resistance. You can see the way we're bounded by highways. They got people posted all around the inside perimeter. If we get close, we get caught. No question. So how do we get across?

Henry looks over at Gabe and knocks his hand on the table to get his attention. Gabe looks over and Henry starts signing at him.

Henry: (signing) How do we get across?

Gabe nods and starts writing something in his notepad. He holds it up to everyone to reveal the word 'TUNNELS'.

Henry: (snaps) Boom.

CeCe: Kansas City has a subway?

Henry: No, but they do have maintenance tunnels. There's a bunch of buildings all put up by the same developers. And they share these tunnels, including… (marking on map) a bank building here. So we enter the tunnels here... (tracing along map) travel underground, and pop up here.(marks map) Westside North. Residential. There's an embankment on the other side of the houses. We head down, pedestrian bridge over the river... free as a bird.

Rodney nods his head.

Rodney: You're right. It's a great plan. So what do you need us for?

Henry: You noticed anything strange about this city? I mean, other than the strange shit you've already seen?

Jaime thinks on it for a bit.

Jaime: No Feral KKs?

Henry: Oh, there's Ferals. Just not on the surface. Like I said JDF drove all the KKs underground 15 years ago, most of them came back up during the uprising but a good number of them stayed underground and turned Feral. Those that tried to make it up to the surface The JDF put down. It's the only good thing those fascist mοthеrfuckеrs ever did.

Angelo: So you want us goin' into a tunnel?

Henry: Everyone thinks that it's full of Ferals, including Kathleen, which means that we're not gonna be running into any of her people. But you see, what I know is... it's empty.

Goji: You've been down there?

Henry: No, but the JDF guy that I worked with told me that it's clean, completely clean. They cleared it out. All of it.

Jaime: When?

Henry: Like... three years ago.

CeCe scoffs. The group look at eachother with doubts.

Henry: Okay, maybe, there's one or two, but you guys handle it.

Angelo: What if there's more?

Jaime: Or one of those big ones that resembles a small Titan?

Henry looks at Jaime in slight surprise.

Henry: Wait, you... you ran into an Alpha?

Jaime: Three of 'em.

Henry: And you're still alive. You see? You're the right people. If it gets bad down there, we turn around, and run right back out the same way we came.

CeCe: Oh, that's your great plan?

Henry: No, that's my dicey-as-fuck plan. But as far as I can tell... it's our only shot.

Goji stares at him in thought which gets interrupted by Gabe banging his fist against the table. Everyone looks over while Gabe signs at Henry.

Gabe: (signing) What are they saying?

Henry signs back while also talking out loud.

Henry: They're saying they're going to help us escape. (turns back to the group) Right?

Jaime looks over at Goji awaiting his decision. He stands there trying to think of an alternate solution. When nothing comes all he can think of are the words "Aw Crap". Some time later the seven of them enter another building and quickly run inside. According to Henry the entrance to the tunnels is located somewhere nearby. Goji looks around and sees every entrance to the building is glass with big windows covering most of the sides. Basically the last place you want to be to move around unnoticed.

Goji: We need to get outta sight.

Henry starts to look to try to remember the correct path to take.

Henry: Uh... I, I-I think it's this way.

He leads them all down a hallway which leads to a door at the end which reads 'AUTHORIZED EMPLOYEES ONLY'. Henry takes out his flashlight and opens the door and heads down some stairs. Everyone else pulls out a flashlight while Goji closes the door behind them. Henry looks over at the entrance to the tunnels ahead.

Henry: This should be it. You ready?

Goji turns to Jaime.

Goji: Get your gun out.

Jaime takes the gun out of her jacket pocket. Goji stares at her for a moment and proceeds to walk past her to walk with Henry at the front. They enter the tunnel with the sounds of water dripping echoing all around them. They take a few steps forward, shining their flashlights all around and down the tunnel. For the most part the tunnel is completely empty.

Henry: You see? It's empty. The plan is good.

Goji: Shh.

Goji turns to Henry.

Goji: "The plan is good"? We've been down here two seconds. We don't know anything.

Henry: (To Jaime) Your dad's kind of a pessimist.

Jaime: He's not my dad.

Goji: I'm not her dad. Just point your light forward... and be ready to run.

The group traverses down the tunnel with their lights forward and weapons ready. They walk for what feels like miles and miles with no signs of life anywhere. They soon turn a corner and find something completely unexpected. They enter a chamber which has been painted to look like something out of a children's book. Jaime stares in awe.

Jaime: Whoa.

Along the walls are green hills, smiling flowers, a rainbow, blue sky and people that resemble animals. The door to the next chamber is painted to resemble the entrance to a castle. Gabe smiles looking at it and points to the door as if asking if he could open it. Henry smiles and gives him the go ahead gesture with his arm. Gabe walks up and reaches for the door. Goji sees this and grabs Gabe's shoulder and pulls him back away from the door shaking his head at him.

Goji: No.

Henry pulls Gabe back behind him as Goji moves to open the door. He opens it slowly and takes a look inside for any danger. He steps through and the others follow him inside. What they're mer with causes them to stare in shock. The entire section of the tunnel looks like one great big daycare center. Shelves lined the colorful walls filled with books, toys, and all kinds of art supplies. Small tables and chairs sat with empty plates and scraps of paper. On the wall at the end is a set of three lines making an arch with the word 'GOAL' written over it. From the ceiling vents allowed sunlight down giving them natural light. A white board sits nearby with a list of rules, chores, and names written in red marker. The group explores the room further and finds makeshift shower stalls and old mattresses strewn together on the ground. Big enough to fit ten or twenty people at a time. Henry had already said that there were KKs that used to live down here, but even so… finding a place like this seemed almost unbelievable.

Goji: I heard about places like this. People went underground after everything fell apart. Built settlements. Most of them didn't last though.

Jaime: What happened to them?

Goji: Maybe they didn't follow the rules and they all got overrun with Ferals.

Jaime: Mm.

Jamie walks over to Gabe sitting at one of the tables looking at a toy car. She leans over and pushes it off the table causing it to drop on the floor. Gabe just looks at it while Jaime chuckles to herself. Rodney looks around and spots a drawing taped to the wall. He walks up to look at it and sees a pair of two people dressed in blue and brown each holding a gun. Above their heads were the names "Donny" and "Ish" with words at the bottom reading 'OUR PROTECTORS'. Looking at it gives him a small sad feeling. What had life been like for the people who lived down here?

Gabe looks down at the floor and reaches down to pick up an old comic book like the one Jaime showed him before. He shows it to Jaime who becomes very excited.

Jaime: No way! I love these. I have issues... four, five, six, 11.

Gabe grabs his notepad and starts writing something. He shows Jaime words that reads 'I have 568."

Jaime: Ah. So cool.

Henry watches the moment between them fondly. Smiling at the fact that Gabe had made a new friend. Jaime moves in close to Gabe's face and starts speaking slowly for him to read her lips and sign along.

Jaime: (slowly): "To the edge of the universe... "and back. Endure and survive."

Jaime starts signing along with him.

Jaime: Endure. Survive. Endure. Survive. (shouts) Fuck yeah, man!

The two kids exchange high fives several times as Jaime laughs loudly.

Goji: Hey, keep it down.

Rodney: He's right, kid. We're not out yet.

Jaime turns to them in slight annoyance.

Jaime: Ah, c'mon. Can we just rest here for a while?

CeCe: You've gotta be kidding.

Jaime: Why not? There's, like, actually shit to do here.

Henry: (To Goji) Wouldn't be so bad to wait the light out a bit.

Rodney: Safer in shadows when we pop back out on the other side too.

Goji looks over at Jaime who is putting on puppy dog eyes. He sighs as he looks up at the ceiling. One of these days he really needs to stop being such a big softy. The group settles in for the long haul and manage to find ways to pass the time. Including playing a few games of soccer. Angelo acts as the goalie while Jaime and Gabe pass the ball to each other. Jaime kicks the ball hard and sends it flying in-between Angelo's legs.

Jaime: Yes! (high fives Gabe) Come on! Yeah! Come on. Pass it back.

Angelo: (reaching down to pick up the ball) Ok here it comes.

Angelo rolls the ball over to Jaime who passes it to Gabe who makes it past Angelo for another goal. Gabe chuckles with enjoyment as Angelo rolls the ball back. CeCe adds two more marks on the scoreboard which now reads 'TEAM SHRIMPS 22, TEAM FATBOY 3'.

Jaime: Yeah!

Nearby Goji, Henry and Rodney watch as the three of them continue playing. Rodney looks between Henry smiling and Gabe playing and laughing. A feeling of guilt washing over him.

Rodney: Okay. If you were collaboratin' to take care of him, I... I shouldn't have said what I said. I don't know your situation. And I'm not sayin' they should let it go but...

Jaime: (talking in the background) Ah, that was awesome!

Rodney: Look, all things considered, seems kinda cruel... To send a whole army after you for that.

Henry takes in a breath.

Henry: You know, I wasn't, uh... exactly telling you guys the truth before... about me not killing someone.

Goji and Rodney turn to look at him.

Henry: There was a man, a great man. You know, he was never afraid... never selfish... and he was always forgiving. Have you ever met someone like that?

Goji thinks back on his past. The face of one such person clear in his mind.

Henry: Kinda man you'd follow anywhere. I mean, I wanted to. Well... I would've. Yeah, but, uh, Gabe, he, uh... he got sick. Leukemia.

Henry looks back at Gabe as he and Jamie laugh.

Henry: Yeah, anyway, um... there was one drսg that worked, and, whoa... big shock... There wasn't much left of it and it belonged to The JDF. And if I wanted some, and still keep Gabe from going underground... it was gonna take something big. So I gave them something big. That one great man. The leader of the resistance movement in Kansas City. And Kathleen's brother.

Goji and Rodney look at him letting what he said sink in.

Henry: Yeah, so, you still think they should take it easy on me? Or am I the bad guy?

Goji and Rodney remain speechless.

Henry: I don't know what you guys are waitin' on, man. The answer's easy. I am the bad guy because I did a bad guy thing.

Henry looks over at Goji.

Henry: But you get it, though. You might not be her father... but you know how it feels to have a family. See, I could tell.

Goji looks back at Jaime and Gabe who have now switched things over from soccer to Angelo lifting the kids up by his arms and roaring like a dinosaur. Jaime and Gabe hanging from his arms like a pair of chimpanzees and laughing like mini hyenas. For a few brief hours, Jaime gets to experience life as just a regular kid. No traveling across the country, No life or death situations, just a little girl playing games with her friends. Even CeCe can't help but smile and chuckle at such a wholesome sight. If only these moments could last forever. Unfortunately all good things must eventually come to an end. A lesson Goji has taken to heart most of his life.

Goji: We've waited long enough.

Goji and Rodney stand up from the table and walk over to the others. Henry takes a deep breath in and out before standing up as well. On the street above Kathleen's troops continue to go door to door searching for their quarry. All the while Kathleen stands in the middle of a quiet empty apartment up against the wall between two windows. She looks around at the place she once called home. From the skateboard on the floor to the pretzel shaped lightswitch on the wall. So many fond and distant memories here. Memories she sometimes wishes she could forget. Maybe then she wouldn't have to feel pain. A knock on the door brings her out of her trip down memory lane. The door opens allowing Goro to step inside.

Kathleen: And?

Goro: We haven't found 'em yet.

Kathleen: What about the man who killed Bryan?

Goro shakes his head. Kathleen lets out a long sigh through her nose.

Kathleen: Well... we're not doin' so good.

She looks back at Goro slightly confused.

Kathleen: Who told you I was here?

Goro: Your mom.

Kathleen: Why are you talking to my mom?

Goro: We didn't know where you were.

Kathleen: Oh.

She takes a few steps forward away from the wall.

Kathleen: Have you been back to the room you grew up in?

Goro: No. Fuck no. It's a couple hundred miles away. It's not exactly worth it.

Kathleen: Right. When Michael and I were little... This room seemed so big. I was really scared of thunder so when there was a storm... Michael told me that this wasn't... a room at all. That this was actually just a big, wooden box. A big, wooden box that nothing could get inside of... and it didn't matter if there was lightning or tornadoes or gunfire. (tearfully) He said as... long as we were together... in our perfect box... we would be safe.

Kathleen walks over and places her hand on an old wooden bed frame where she used to sleep as a child.

Kathleen: He did that for me. And he did stuff like that all the time. He was so beautiful.

She turns back to Goro with a sorrowful look and feelings of shame.

Kathleen: I'm not. I never was. He would be horrified by the things I've done. And if you've come to tell me... that Michael wouldn't want me to hurt Henry... that he would want me to forgive... I know that, too. He told me. The last time I saw him alive in jail... he told me to forgive.

Kathleen shakes her head. Her feelings of shame being replaced by anger.

Kathleen: And what did he get for that? Where is the justice in that? What is the point of that?

Goro walks up to her placing both hands on her shoulders.

Goro: Your brother was a great man. We all loved him. But... he didn't change anything. You did. We're with you.

Kathleen nods her head, swallowing the last bits of her sadness. She looks back up at him not with a look of sorrow, but with a look of determination. The determination to find the man who killed her brother along with those who killed her people and make every last one of them suffer for it.

Kathleen: Good.

The group walks through the darkened tunnels until they come out into a wide underground parking lot. Goji takes a look around.

Goji: (To Henry) Do you know where we are?

Henry: Yep. The other side.

Everyone turns around to see Henry shining his light at a sign on the wall with a street address. The exact one they were aiming for. They walk out of the structure where it's already pitch black out. Continuing along the street walking through the darkness. Before coming back outside they had all switched their flashlights off. Gabe looks up and tugs on Henry's sleeve getting him to look down at him.

Gabe: (signing) Why can't we use our lights?

Henry: (signing while gesturing to Goji) He says so we don't draw attention.

Gabe: (signing) But no one's here?

Henry: (signing) I know. (speaking) No. No one is here. No one's gonna be here because... my plan worked.

CeCe rolls her eyes.

CeCe: (groans) So much goddamn talkin'.

Henry: I'm just saying... I delivered.

CeCe: Yeah whatever. Where do we go from here?

Henry: (pointing) Make this right, go down the street, embankment behind the last house... and we're out.

Jaime: So we cross the river and then what? Where ya gonna go?

Henry: Don't know yet.

Jaime: Well, we're going up north.

Goji's head snaps around to glare at her.

Jaime: What? It's a huge area. It can fit two more people.

Henry and Gabe exchange nervous looks.

Henry: Yeah... maybe we just call this one a success and say our fond farewells.

Jaime: No, I know he can be a bit grumpy at times but he'll change his mind. Trust me. This is how it goes. He's like, (deep voice) "No, Jaime. Never, ever, ever happening."

Each member of the Trio chuckles at her Goji impression.

Goji: What is that?

Jaime: (normal voice) It's my impression of you.

Goji: I don't sound anything close to that.

CeCe: I don't know Goji, It is a pretty good likeness.

Rodney: Yeah it sounds pretty close to me.

Goji grumbles which only adds to the laughter.

Jaime: (chuckles) And then I'm like, "I'm gonna ask you a million more times." And he's like...

A sudden burst of gunshots interrupts Jaime and causes her to yell. Everybody crouches down with Henry shielding Gabe and Goji shielding Jaime.

Goji: Move, move! Go!

More gunshots fly overhead as they scramble to cover behind an old van.

Henry: The fսck is that comin' from?

Goji: Shut up.

Goji peeks his head out a bit and looks around. He spots a brief flash coming from a window of an old house down the street. The gunshot comes close to hitting him but misses and shatters the glass of the tail light. Henry tries to peek as well, barely avoiding the next gunshot that flies past his head. Needless to say they are pinned down.

Henry: Fuck. Let's move. Let's go.

Henry grabs Gabe's arm and the two stand up and start running.

Rodney: What are you doin'?!

Henry: Gettin' the fuck outta here!

They make it a whole two feet until another bullet nearly hits Henry in the leg. He immediately pulls Gabe back the way towards the group.

Henry: Oh shit, oh shit! What do we do?

Goji peeks out once more to confirm the location of the flash he saw earlier. He ducks back down at the next gunshot. Now that he knows exactly where the shooter is he comes up with a plan. Goji takes out his pistol to make sure it's loaded and turns to face the others.

Goji: All right. Rodney, with me. The rest of you stay here.

Jaime: What?

Goji turns to Jaime.

Goji: If you don't move, he's not gonna hit you. Rodney and I are gonna go around, try to get in the house through the back, and then we'll take him out.

Jaime: But if you go out there, he's gonna kill you.

Rodney: Wouldn't bet it. It's dark, and he has shit aim.

Goji: Listen to me. Nobody's gonna kill me.

Jaime: Then he's gonna kill us.

Goji looks Jaime directly in the eye.

Goji: Do you trust me?

Jaime looks at him and then nods. Goji turns back at Rodney.

Goji: On the count of three you go right, I go left.

Rodney: Okay.

The two of them move into position. CeCe grabs Rodney's arm.

CeCe: Hey Rod, don't get your ass shot now.

Rodney gives her a grin.

Rodney: Hey. It's me, remember?

Goji peeks around the car waiting for the perfect moment to move. Another gunshot sounds and Goji starts giving Rodney a silent countdown with his fingers. After the next gunshot they both take off moving from car to car and making their way towards the house from both sides. The shooter takes a shot at Rodney shattering the glass of a car window as he runs past. Gunshot after gunshot sounds as they both get closer to the rear of the house. Goji makes it first and looks for a way inside the house. He spots something out of the corner of his eye and turns his head to see the bridge over the river in the distance Henry told them about. Another gunshot sounds and Goji turns back toward the house and finds the back door. He walks up and turns around at the sound of movement in the bushes with his gun raised. He holds fire when the source turns out to be Rodney coming out of the bushes. They both turn back to the door and move in. Goji slowly opens the door and the two of them sneak inside. Rodney takes out his own pistol and the two of them start to search the house. Another gunshot from the floor above prompts them both to slowly head upstairs. They reach the top and Goji spots a door to a room ajar. He signals Rodney to move to one side while he takes the other. They slowly move towards the door and ready their guns. Rodney stretches out his arm and slowly pushes the door open so Goji can look inside. He peeks in and is surprised about who is inside. Goji enters the room and raises his gun at the shooter. The old man turns around halfway in his chair to face him holding the rifle in his hands. Goji takes a step toward him.

Goji: Put the gun down, slide it over to me and then stay up here for another hour.

The old man looks away in irritation.

Goji: That's all you have to do.

The old man turns back to him and looks him directly in the eyes. Goji shakes his head at him.

Goji: Please don't do it. Please.

The old man looks down at the rifle in his hands as Goji prays in his mind that he doesn't do what he fears he's going to do. Suddenly the old man quickly turns back to him as a final gunshot rings out. Jaime and the others peek out from behind the van. Back inside the house Rodney walks into the room and finds Goji standing over the dead body of the old man on the floor. Rodney looks over at Goji and sees the guilt on his face. Rodney finally has a small idea why Goji wasn't with The JDF anymore. Their missions often involve carrying out actions most would view as damning to one's soul. And from the look on his face, Goji had done more than his soul was willing to take. And having to kill the old man just adds it on. Rodney places a hand on Goji's shoulder trying to comfort him.

Rodney: He made his choice. It was gonna be either you or him.

Goji: I know.

Goji reaches down and picks up the old man's rifle and hands it to Rodney. He examines it and pulls the bolt back ejecting a round out of the rifle. Overall it was a vast improvement to his old hunting rifle. They get ready to leave when the sound of walkie-talkie static causes them both to freeze in place. They look around and start to hear a muffled woman's voice.

Kathleen: (over walkie) Anthony? Anthony?

Goji looks down to where the old man was sitting and moves the chair aside. He finds laying on the floor a walkie-talkie. He reaches down and picks it up.

Kathleen: Anthony, hold them where they are. We're almost there.

Both he and Rodney realize that the walkie was a short range communicator. Which means that the woman on the other end, and however many people with her, wasn't far away.

Rodney: Fuck.

Back with the others they each start to hear a distant shout coming from nearby telling them to run. They all stand up to see where it's coming from. Except for Gabe who desperately starts tugging on Henry's sleeve and pointing at something in the opposite direction. Goji and Rodney spot a small convoy of vehicles heading straight towards the others.

Goji: Run!

Rodney: Run! Goddammit!

Inside one of the vehicles Kathleen sits next to Goro as he drives the vehicle. They receive a transmission from the lead vehicle.

Man: (over walkie) There's cars everywhere.

Kathleen grabs the radio and speaks into it.

Kathleen: Why do you think you're in front? Clear them.

The lead vehicle, a large truck with a metal plow attached to the front, accelerates and races forward. Rodney takes aim with the rifle and tries to shoot the driver. The bullet ricochets off the bulletproof glass as the truck smashes through cars like a charging bull.

Henry: Go! Go, go, go, go!

Henry and the others stand up and start running. Rodney fires off more shots only for the bullets to bounce off one after the other. As they run CeCe takes her sawed off and fires blindly at the truck behind them. The truck continues unimpeded as the group keeps running. Jaime pulls out her gun and starts firing shot after shot at the truck. Rodney fires at the windshield again only for it to once again deflect the bullet. Rodney pulls the bolt back when the gun jams. Rodney grunts as he tries to fix it. The truck continues accelerating forward smashing through a few more cars. Jaime pulls the trigger again but the gun clicks and she trips and falls to the ground. The truck starts speeding directly at her threatening to run her over. Goji sees this and grabs the rifle from Rodney and uses his strength to unjam it. He tosses it back to Rodney who takes aim again. This time he notices a crack in the glass through the rifle scope and aims directly at it. He fires one last shot and the bullet shatters the glass and kills the driver. The truck turns in another direction with its tires screeching across the pavement. It keeps going until it crashes into an old house. Jaime stares at the crashed vehicle breathing heavily as more vehicles start screeching to a halt. Dozens upon dozens of troops jump out armed to the teeth with military weapons. Jaime starts to get back up as the crashed truck starts to catch fire underneath. Jaime makes it to her feet when the truck suddenly explodes into a large ball of flame destroying the house and sending flaming debris everywhere. The blast wave forces Jaime back onto the ground. Henry runs over to her and helps her to her feet.

Henry: You okay?

Jaime: Yeah.

They run to join the others behind a car as Kathleen and her troops march forward. Goro looks up and spots Goji and Rodney in the window and aims his rifle at them.

Goro: They're up there.

Rodney and Goji get away from the window and take cover behind the wall.

Rodney: Fuck.

Goro shouts orders to the troops.

Goro: Two and two! Around the back, take them out!

Rodney starts reloading the rifle while Goji tries coming up with a plan. Kathleen walks forward looking around for her intended target.

Kathleen: Dead end, Henry. Gonna step on out? Save us some time?

Henry and CeCe both check their ammo. Unfortunately there just aren't enough bullets to get them out of this.

Kathleen: No? That's all right. Doesn't matter.

Henry looks over at Gabe's frightened face. He realizes then and there that there was only one way to get his brother out of this alive.

Henry: (shouts) I'll come out!

Kathleen looks in the direction of his voice.

Henry: Just let the kids go!

Kathleen: No. Sorry. The girl is with the people who killed Bryan. And Gabe... well, Gabe's with you.

Kathleen's troops start to surround the car.

Henry: You don't understand!

Kathleen: But I do. I know why you did what you did. But did you ever stop to think that maybe he was supposed to die?

Henry can't believe what she's saying.

Henry: He's just a fucking kid!

Kathleen: Well, kids die, Henry. They die all the time. You think the whole world revolves around him? That he's worth... everything? Well, this is what happens when you fuck with fate.

Henry turns to CeCe and Angelo.

Henry: Get ready to take the kids and run.

CeCe and Angelo look at him in shock. Angelo shaking his head.

Henry: Yes. Do it.

CeCe turns to Gabe and takes his hand as Angelo does the same for Jaime.

Kathleen: It's time, Henry. Enough!

Henry breathes heavily and exhales.

Henry: Okay.

Henry stands up and comes out from behind the car with his arms raised. Gabe tries to get up to follow but CeCe stops him and gestures for him to stay put. Henry takes a few steps forward and looks directly at Kathleen who just stares blankly back at him.

Kathleen: (shrugs) It ends the way it ends.

She takes out her gun and aims it at Henry ready to fire. In just a few seconds she will at long last have her revenge against the man who killed her brother. Her finger starts to gently squeeze the trigger as Henry braces himself for what's about to happen. His only consolation is that he found good people to look after his brother when he's gone. Suddenly loud rumbling can be heard nearby as the crashed truck starts creaking and leaning forward. All eyes turn to the truck as it starts to sink into the ground and fall into a large hole forming beneath it. It quickly drops down and crashes with a loud thud. The rumbling grows louder as sounds of snarling start to mix in with the existing noise. Everyone raises their guns in the direction of the large hole expecting the worst. Goji and Rodney step out from behind cover and look at the hole. Rodney instantly takes aim and Goji looks down at Jaime and the rest and starts racing out of the room and down the stairs. Suddenly everything goes silent as everyone stands frozen waiting for what happens next.

Until all at once a massive pack of Feral KKs spew out of the ground like water shooting out of a geyser. All of them snarling and screeching as they claw their way up to the surface. Each one resembles a humanoid horned quadrupedal reptile with a large head and a small frilled crest. They have multiple spikes on their face and a raised fin on their backs. Their skin is light brown and covered in circular patterns and they each have a long tail sporting a sharp blade at the end. Kathleen's troops immediately open fire on the pack as they swarm out of the hole. With each Feral that falls however, three more appear to take their place as they start to overwhelm them. Henry takes the opportunity and starts running back to the others ducking behind the car. The Ferals start to push harder as they rip and tear through everything in their path. A few even reach the car and climb over to rip at the group. CeCe and Angelo manage to kill one or two of them with a third one charging at Jaime and Gabe, Only to get its head cut off by a swing of Goji's machete. Another Feral tries to pounce on Goji from behind but gets shot in midair by Rodney who continues sniping more ferals around them. The group makes a run for it through the chaos both sides relentlessly tear at each other. Dozens of people yelling and screaming as they're swarmed and torn apart limb from limb. One person gets tossed through the air and falls on the ground tripping Jaime who gets separated from the others.

Goji stops and turns to look back trying to find a way to get to her. Instead he sees her looking over to a nearby van with an open back window. Sensing what she is planning to do Goji takes out his pistol and gets ready to cover her. Jaime starts crawling quickly along the ground as Goji fires his gun killing any and all ferals that close in on her. During which Goro shoots his rifle keeping Kathleen safely close behind him. He looks around as his troops start to get overrun and shouts out orders to the ones still in a few of the vehicles.

Goro: (shouts): Run 'em down! Run 'em down!

A few vehicles speed forward running over multiple ferals. Jaime continues crawling until she manages to get to her feet and climb into the van. A feral tries to climb in after her but Goji fires three shots into its body effectively killing it. Jaime climbs up to the front as Rodney takes out the ferals clawing at the outside of the van. Goji tries to get closer to the van but gets cut off by more ferals and has to fight them off with his machete. Nearby one of Goro's KK troops screams as they get mauled and devoured by three ferals at once. Still holding onto their weapon they aim it upwards so that when they pull the trigger, their head explodes into blood and brain. Goro continues to fight as he protects Kathleen. Until he starts hearing a deep grumbling which grows louder and louder. He looks to the large hole and sees something big climbing out of it. Based on its size it could've only been one thing, The Feral pack's Alpha. The Alpha stands up onto its bulky hind legs and lets out a tremendous roar. Its appearance resembles a large mammal-like reptilian creature with reddish-brown skin, a single large horn on its forehead which is followed by several backwardly-curved spikes on the back of the head, and large, floppy ears. It has canine-like facial features that look fairly similar to those of a Bulldog or pug, with large, expressive eyes and a short muzzle. It also has two sets of segmented, plate-like structures on its back and tail. Goro opens fire on the Alpha but it appears to just shrug off the bullets as it picks up the closest victim and slams them onto the ground, squishing them into bloody meat.

Goro reloads his weapon and continues firing at the Alpha which seems to finally notice him and roars before slowly charging right in his direction. Goro turns to Kathleen and gives her an order.

Goro: Run. Find cover. Don't look back. Run!

Kathleen stares at him for a moment before doing what he says and running as he turns back to face the Alpha. His gun fires a flurry of bullets as it continues charging at him until the gun clicks. Goro starts yelling as the Alpha grabs him and lifts him up off the ground. It then starts pulling him in two separate directions until eventually his body gets torn right in half killing him instantly. The Alpha roars as it tosses the bottom half of its prey aside and begins feasting on the flesh of the top half starting with the head. Back inside the van Jaime watches as the feral pack continues ripping people apart around her. She's so entranced that she fails to notice a smaller feral climbing in through the open window. Rodney sees the feral and tries shooting it through the glass only for the bullets to bounce off the metal. The tiny feral screeches at Jaime and tries to climb over the seats to get to her. Jaime panics as she searches for a way out. She grabs hold of the passenger door and shoves up against it. She ends up falling out and slamming the door shut with her foot. The now trapped tiny feral screeches and claws at the glass in a futile attempt to reach Jaime. Jaime gets back up and tries to find the others. She soon spots through the chaos Goji, CeCe and Angelo fighting off the pack while Henry and Gabe are pinned under a truck with two ferals trying to pull them out.

Henry: Help! Get the fսck away! Get the fսck off me!

Jaime looks up at Rodney who understands perfectly what she has in mind. Jaime starts running through the chaos as Rodney provides her covering fire with the rifle. Jaime makes it halfway when a speeding vehicle almost hits her and runs down the ferals chasing her. She shrugs it off and keeps going to where Henry and Gabe are. Henry gets pulled out from under the truck as the feral gets ready to stab its tail blade into his body. Jaime jumps it from behind and stabs it in the neck with her knife. The other feral pulls Gabe out who starts scratching and kicking desperately at it.

Henry: (yelling) Gabe!

Gabe lunges forward and bites down on the feral's leg and sends short bursts of electricity through its body, stunning it in place. Jaime rushes in and stabs the feral in the neck a few times until its head explodes from a bullet from Goji's pistol. He, CeCe, and Angelo make it to the three of them and help Henry and Gabe to their feet.

Jaime: Come on, come on! Go, go!

They start running for the hill as Rodney runs out of the house to join them. They meet up and start making a run for it until a voice shouts behind them.

Kathleen: Stop!

They turn around to see Kathleen pointing a gun at them. She stands ready to pull the trigger and unload the gun into each one of them. That is until she notices Jaime's eyes looking elsewhere behind her. Kathleen turns around and sees the tiny feral, having escaped from the van, climbing over a large rock toward her. Before she has time to react the feral lunges at her and knocks her to the ground where it proceeds to bite and claw at her. Kathleen screams in pain as her flesh is torn from her body until finally the feral's tail blade stabs into her neck, silencing her screams by having her choke on her own blood. Goji looks back towards the bridge and shouts to everyone.

Goji: This way now! Move!

The group flees as the ferals kill off the last of the troops still fighting them. They begin to charge further into the city. Swarming the streets like a living flood. The Alpha roars as the city fills with the sounds of screeching, screaming, and gunfire. And on this night, the streets of Kansas City start to run red with blood. The once free city is now nothing more than one big killing jar.

Miles away crickets are chirping outside a small motel. Inside each member of the Trio is passed out inside one of the rooms. In another room Henry and Goji sit around while Jaime sits in the next room reading Gabe one of her comic books from her pack.

Jaime: (mimicking laser sounds) "Pew. Pew. As the Raven 01 approaches the red planet."

Henry looks at the two of them with concern. He still remembers the look of fear on Gabe's face as well as the fear on Jaime's when Goji and Rodney split off from them.

Henry: You think they'll be okay?

Goji looks over at the two children.

Goji: Yeah, I think... it's easier when you're a kid anyway.

Henry: Sounds like you speak from experience.

Goji turns his head to face him.

Goji: You don't have anybody else relying on you. That's the hard part.

Henry: Well... I guess we're doing a good job then.

Goji looks back at Jaime, focusing on the comic in her hands.

Goji: What's that comic book say? "Endure and survive"?

Henry: "Endure and survive." That shit's redundant.

Goji: Yeah, it's-it's not great.

Henry: (laughs) No.

Goji chuckles a bit and thinks back to what Jaime said before everything went crazy. About letting Henry and Gabe come with them up north. At first he was against it because of how dangerous it was going to be, but after all that's happened and seeing Jaime laugh and have fun with Gabe makes him rethink his decision. And with the addition of the two brothers their group would number at around seven instead of just five. And as the saying goes, "There is safety in numbers". All that's left is to run it by Henry.

Goji: Look, I don't know exactly how we're getting up north. Given our loss of transportation we're probably walking. But... you know, if you want to.

Henry: Yeah. Yeah. Um... Yeah, I think it'd be nice for Gabe to have a friend. I'll tell him in the morning.

Goji: You're really ok with this? Chances are it's going to get worse before it gets better.

Henry nods his head.

Henry: New day, new start.

Goji smiles and nods. Back in the other room Jaime continues reading Gabe the comic.

Jaime: (reading) "Bingo! Should we knock?"

The sound of footsteps approaching causes Jaime to look up and see Henry standing in the doorway. She gestures for Gabe to look at Henry.

Henry: Hey. (signing at Gabe) You need sleep.

Gabe, looking a little disappointed, gets up from sitting next to Jaime and walks over to lay down on the bed next to them. Henry looks over at Jaime and slimes at her nodding his head. Jaime nods back as Henry closes the door. Waiting a few seconds after Jaime stands up and walks over to Gabe lightly smacking him with the comic book to get his attention. Gabe turns over and sees Jaime holding up the book with a smile on her face. Just because they need sleep doesn't necessarily mean that they need to go to sleep just yet. Gabe sits up and Jaime sits down across from him. She opens up the comic and leans over to show him where they left off.

Jaime: (reading) "I don't see any weird movements. "Stiff? Negative. "Damage here in Sector 153. "Stella, can you hear me? I read you."

Jaime turns the page.

Jaime: Okay, from here.

Gabe taps her hand interrupting her. He takes out his notepad and starts writing in it with one hand with the other hand still stuffed in his jacket pocket since they arrived at the motel. He hands it to her and she reads what he's written down. The sentence reads 'Are you ever scared?' Jaime looks back at Gabe and writes in the pad as well.

Jaime: (speaking as she writes) Do I not look scared?

She hands it back to Gabe who reads her words and looks at her with a doubtful expression. He writes down something else and hands the pad back to Jaime.

Jaime: (reading) "Never."

She looks at him and grins as she writes again in the notepad.

Jaime: (speaking as she writes) I'm scared... all the time...

She shows the pad to him before adding something else.

Jaime: (speaking as she writes) … of scorpions!

She shows the pad to Gabe who gives her a look that says "Yeah right". Jaime smiles a little as she writes down something else. This time the sentence she shows him reads 'I'm scared of ending up alone.' Gabe looks at her and he can tell that she is telling the truth. She writes down something else and hands the pad back to Gabe. He looks at it where it reads 'What about you?' Gabe writes down his answer and hands it back to Jaime.

Jaime: (reading) If you turn into a monster is it still you inside?

Jaime looks at Gabe confused until he takes his hand out of his pocket. What was once human looking with turquoise colored skin now has claws and turquoise scales. A sure sign of Gabe's mutation becoming more drastic. No doubt an after effect from the fight with the ferals earlier. And with that comes the danger of becoming overcome by basic primal instincts. And when that happens…

Jaime: Ah, fuck.

Jaime looks at Gabe and looks back to the door. If Henry finds out about this it would kill him. She tries to come up with an idea when she remembers what she can do. She quickly writes down in the notepad.

Jaime: (speaking while writing) I can help. My body ... is medicine.

She shows Gabe the pad and he looks at her confused. She gestures for him to take her hands. Gabe looks at her and slowly reaches out to her. As soon as their skin touches Gabe starts to groan in pain with Jaime doing her best to help him through it. After a few seconds Gabe lets go and pulls away from Jaime. He looks down at his hand and sees it slowly returning to normal. Gabe's eyes widen with shock and surprise as he looks back at Jaime who pants quietly. He grabs the notepad and starts writing in it. He shows it to Jaime who looks at the page which reads 'Don't tell Henry' Jaime smiles and takes the pad writing down her next words and showing it to him.

Jaime: I promise.

Gabe looks at her and signs the word 'Promise' to her which she mimics along with him.

Jaime: Promise... (mouths) Promise.

The two smile at each other as Jaime leans forward and wraps her arms around him giving him a hug. Gabe returns the hug and the two of them just sit there quietly for a bit. Jaime pulls away and the two of them go straight to bed. She reaches over and turns out the light and closes her eyes. Her face smiling at the thought of using her abilities to help her new friend. The cawing of the birds signifies the coming of the dawn as the sun rises over the small motel. Jaime stirs awake and looks over to see Gabe sitting up with his back to her.

Jaime: Hey.

She gets up and starts to walk over to him. As she does she notices Gabe eating something. Most likely a small snack from his pack. She walks up to his side and stops cold when she finally sees what he's eating. In his hands, stained with blood and looking more reptile-like, he holds a small rat as he digs into it ravenously like a hungry coyote. She stands there in complete shock until Gabe spots her out of the corner of his eye and turns to her snarling with blood covering his mouth and rat innards in his teeth. His eyes no longer held that of a child, but rather of a wild animal. Gabe had turned feral. In the other room Goji and Henry lay on the floor sleeping until they hear Jaime yelling and screaming. They sit up and suddenly the door to the other room bursts open with Jaime forced to the ground by Gabe as he snarls and roars trying to bite into her. Henry stares in shock and horror at the sight of his little brother turning feral. Goji immediately reaches for his gun but Henry grabs it first and stands up aiming it at him.

Henry: Nope, nope, nope.

Goji tries to make a move to help Jaime but Henry fires a shot near his feet to keep him there. Jaime screams as Gabe starts clawing at her.

Jaime: Goji!

Rodney and the others burst in through the door. Henry aims the gun at them.

Henry: Stay back!

Goji yells lunging at Henry but Henry moves faster and shoots Goji in the arm. Goji falls back to the floor clutching his arm as Henry aims the gun back at the trio. Henry looks back at Gabe and Jaime and aims the gun pulling the trigger. The gunshot rings out as Gabe falls to the floor silent and unmoving with blood gushing from his head. Jaime sits up breathing heavily as she looks at Gabe's dead body. Everyone stands frozen as Henry just stares at the body on the floor. A large red stain, expanding on the carpet. Goji looks over at Jaime.

Goji: Jaime.

Jamie turns her head and looks at him still in shock.

Goji: Are you okay?

Goji takes a step towards her but stops when Henry aims the gun at him. His breathing is quick and uneasy. Goji slowly puts his hands up and tries to calm him down. Rodney extends his arm to block CeCe from jumping in and intervening. He understands all too well how delicate the situation is right now.

Goji: Easy, easy, easy.

Henry looks around the room breathing heavily as the others slowly back away from him.

Goji: Henry, gimme the gun.

Henry looks back at Goji. Goji lowers the tone of his voice and slowly reaches out to him.

Goji: Henry, gimme the gun.

Henry: What did I do?

Goji: Shh.

Henry: What did I do? What-what-what did I do?

Henry starts shaking with tears forming in his eyes. He turns back to Gabe laying on the floor.

Henry: Gabriel?

Goji: Henry, gimme the gun. Gimme the gun.

Henry chokes back the tears and turns back to Goji.

Goji: Gimme the gun, Henry. Gimme the gun.

Henry turns to look at Jaime who looks scared and on the verge of crying herself.

Henry: Shh.

Henry brings the gun barrel directly against his head.

Goji: (shouts) Henry, no!

The gun fires with the side of Henry's skull exploding outward with blood painting the wall next to him and causing Jaime to scream. His body hits the floor with a loud thud. Everyone looks down in horror at the body. The left foot is still twitching slightly. Angelo runs out of the room and falls to his hands and knees puking on the ground outside. CeCe falls back against the wall breathing heavily and looking down at the floor. Rodney takes a step forward staring at the blown out skull that was Henry's head.

Rodney: Oh God.

Jaime just remains sitting on the floor still trying to register what had just happened in the span of a few seconds. An hour later Goji and Rodney start digging into the two piles of dirt and bury the bodies lying in the two fresh graves not far from the motel. They use the shovels to smooth over the dirt as the others walk over to them carrying their packs. CeCe walks up to Rodney and hands him his pack and rifle. Jaime walks up to Goji and drops his pack next to him while continuing to walk towards one of the graves. Goji looks down at his pack and looks back up at Jaime. Jaime walks up to the grave and gets down on her knees holding Gabe's notepad in her hands. She looks at the pad remembering all the fond memories of the time they'd spent together. How they laughed and played and how he confided in her about what was happening to him last night. And how she believed for the briefest moment that things were going to turn out ok after she "helped" him. She places the notepad down on top of the dirt and stands up to walk away. She turns around to face Goji.

Jaime: Which way's north?

Goji looks around and points out the direction with his head. Jaime starts walking away past him and the others without looking up at any of them. Goji walks over to the notepad and looks down at it. Written on the page are just two words 'I'M SORRY'. He stares at it for a moment realizing what it means. Jaime stops and calls out to the others.

Jaime: Let's go.

Goji looks back at Jaime who starts walking again and picks up his pack to start walking after her. Rodney and the others follow along behind him as the group silently and solemnly begins their long trek up the highway.

Man, I cannot tell you guys how difficult it was writing this chapter. Damn near cried once or twice myself. And of course this was an extra long one, but then again the best ones always are right? Anyway I hope you guys at least enjoyed reading this chapter and are looking forward to the extra special one coming in two months.

List of KKs

Goji: Godzilla

Jaime: ?/Oxygen Destroyer Hybrid

Rodney: Rodan

CeCe: King Caesar

Angelo: Anguirus

Goro: Gorosaurus

Gabe: Gabara

Feral KKs: Jiger

Feral Alpha: Baragon

And now replies to reviews of this story…. Is what I would normally say, but since I technically already replied to one in a different story chapter I'll just go ahead and remind everyone about my chapter commission section. Again if you guys have any ideas, suggestions, or chapter ideas of what you'd like me to add to this story simply PM me the details and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. In the meantime stay tuned as I shall be posting episode 2 of Mega-Man: Robotic Hero Season 3 next month. So until next time, this is Tardispilot297 saying… ALLONSY!