A/N Thank you all so much. Are you ready for fireworks?
Fireworks
Daryl's trying to explain but Carl's not buying it, "Listen kid, I get it. It probably seems like we're gonna have a real party out there settin' off fireworks n blowin shit up, but that ain't what it's gonna be like. Shit man, if I didn't think I had ta go, I wouldn't. I'd get myself back home where I belong, with my wife and my boy."
Carl's not convinced, "I'm not a kid you know. I'm 12. I'm old enough to fight. I know how to use a gun and I'm good with a knife, you know it's true Daryl. You taught me those things. Besides, I'm practically a man, I don't need to be babied."
"No one thinks you're a baby, but that don't mean we think ya gotta go ta war either. We need ya here, watchin' your sister, my dog too, and there's a whole lotta other people here who are gonna need your help." Daryl lays his hand on the young man's shoulder and continues, "Goin' ta war ain't just about the fight ya know, the ones who stay at home gotta do their share too, it's just as important as the fight. Ya got a lotta people to protect, and that takes a real man. They need ya Carl."
The boy does not look convinced or happy, but Daryl promises, "In another year or two, you'll be ready. For now, how bout ya work on gettin' this shit packed up. Please. That's the help I really need."
It turns out it wasn't just a few illegal fireworks some guy had in his garage. Carol and Abraham came home with a whole lot more explosive power than anyone expected them to. They brought timed fuses, electrical igniters, mortars and firing panels, and even extra gunpowder. Whoever the guy was who had all this shit, he wasn't playing. He had everything a person needs to put on a 4th of July show over New York harbor.
They all fully appreciate what this means. Fireworks aren't just fun to look at, they can be deadly weapons as easily as they can be pretty displays. The group plans to turn these particular fireworks into weapons.
When the pair returned with the goods last night Rick called an unplanned meeting to discuss the next move. It was decided then that a preliminary team of Carol, Abraham, Daryl, Michonne, Jesus and Dr. Eugene, Group One, will go to Terminus ahead of the rest of the group. They'll leave as soon as the rigs are packed and they'll be hauling all the fireworks, detonators, fuses and so on to the staging site.
Michonne and Dr. Eugene have it worked out. They've drawn a map of where each blast will be ignited, carefully marking the sequence of the explosions. The group will sneak into the Terminus compound and lay out their wiring, along with setting up all the components, like the mortars and fuses and the gunpowder, and the fireworks themselves. Once everything is in place they'll be ready for the greatest fireworks show the State of Georgia has ever seen.
It was Dale who came up with what they all think will be the determining factor of the whole operation, "Why not set up some of the dynamite inside the camp right along with the fireworks? That way when the fireworks explode the dynamite ignites and explodes too." So simple, and yet none of them thought of it. If it works, it will could very well be the game changer.
Over a matter of several minutes a sequence of explosions will light up Terminus from every angle, and that will undoubtedly set up plenty of chain reaction fires in its path. The intention is not only to catch the residents of Terminus completely off balance by creating chaos and confusion, but also to get the herd of walkers that the cannibals keep all riled up.
Just as the firework eruptions and first round of dynamite explosions end, a new round of launched dynamite, coupled with Molotov cocktails, will begin. In the midst of all of that, strategically placed snipers will be picking off any cannibals or walkers they spot trying to leave the compound. En masse and one by one. If this works like they all hope it will a huge threat will have been eliminated. The creepy bastards of Terminus are about to fall.
Although he wants nothing more than to get home, Daryl isn't even trying to kid himself, he's pretty damn excited to see how this explosive shit turns out.
After carefully studying Michonne's maps the group picked up on what they all agree is a vulnerable spot in the Terminus security system. That's where the first team, the fireworks crew, will do whatever it takes to break in and lay their groundwork. That's going to take some time and that's where the very nervous Dr. Eugene will play a big part. He will ensure they get the wiring, the fuses, igniters and other components placed just right, then the dynamite strategically located. If it all goes off like they want it to, it's sure to be an amazing fireworks display.
One of the toughest aspects of all this is, they're going to have to try and make themselves invisible while they get in and setup for the explosions that will follow. They've got a small, solid team and Daryl thinks they can do it.
Daryl's leading the first group which consists of Carol and Abraham, they're key. He's seen those two in action at Woodbury and the pair of them are a whole army just by themselves. An extra benefit with Abraham is he's well-versed in both explosions and special ops missions. Jesus is small, quick and ninja-like. He'll be able to maneuver his way in and out of even the toughest spots, unseen. Michonne is full-on badass all the time, Daryl likes fighting shoulder to shoulder with her.
Daryl's feeling positive about the group's ability to slip into Terminus undetected and stage it all, setting the plan in place. The group will make camp over night, but no fires, no nothing. They'll just be staying out of sight and trying to get a little rest. The second group, led by Rick, will arrive at the staging site early tomorrow. They'll have the remainder of the dynamite, the cocktails, the catapults and plenty of other weapons.
Rick's been torn. He wants to go with the first group to see how they do and to scope out Terminus up close, before they go into battle. He won't though, he has to put the family first and he feels strongly that it's his place to go with the second group, the launchers and snipers.
Tyrese's muscles and Carl's eagerness to prove himself a man are working together. They have two prison vans and one passenger van fully and tightly loaded with all the firework components. One of the vans is pulling the small trailer Daryl and Michonne brought from the construction site and it's loaded with dynamite. There's just enough room left in the passenger van for the personnel.
They say goodbye to the family they're leaving behind and start the long slow drive to Terminus.
00
Merle's never taken a dog hunting with him, but he decided this was the time to start. His brother has told him plenty of stories about his hunting trips with Jack, and he's pretty sure that with the dogs' help he can find the hunting spots his brother likes to frequent. The places where they have the most success, shit, Daryl never comes home empty handed.
Jack's alpha is Daryl, there's no question about it, but Jack is also aware that Merle and Daryl have a strong bond. That's the only reason Merle thinks Jack and him might be able to work as a team, because the dog trusts him. Merle's got a pocket full of dog treats as he and Jack get ready to leave. Beth smiles and says, "You be safe Merle. Remember, we've got plenty of food to get by for now. You don't have to take any risks."
"Don't you worry sis, I think I'm passed my risk takin' days."
Frankie hugs him as she disagrees, "I don't think you'll ever be over those days Merle Dixon. Just be careful husband, the boys and me need you back here with us."
"Yes Ma'am, me n Jack'll be home soon, won't we Jack?" The dog has no idea what they're talking about, but he knows a question when he hears one and he lets out a soft, affirmative woof.
That's when Jamie starts to cry, wanting to go with his Uncle and his dog. Merle is as comforting as he knows how to be, but also stern, "We already talked about this boy, ya just ain't quite big enough yet. Besides, the first person ya gotta hunt with is your Daddy. Now stop your cryin' n maybe I'll bring ya home a surprise. A'ight?"
The little guy sniffs, "Okay."
"Hey, see there? That's the first time I heard ya say that word right, you'll be grown up in no time."
Jack's riding in his usual spot, right up front, as they head out on the old three-wheeler pulling Daryl's homemade game trailer behind them. Merle is taking it slow and easy just waiting for the dog to let him know when they should stop riding and start walking. A dog like Jack remembers everywhere he's ever been and what he did when he was there. He'll have his way of letting Merle know when the time is right. All Merle has to do is pay attention.
Sure enough, when they've gotten a few miles from home Jack starts to act anxious. Merle knows they're close. He slows and stops next to a big tree. Yep, he's in the right place, he can see the signs. Even winter and spring couldn't get rid of the evidence that a vehicle has been this way many times.
Merle grabs his weapons. He's not an archer like his brother, but he likes to keep himself fully weaponized and ready for anything. He's got a scabbard with a shotgun on one thigh, and a sheath with a huge Bowie knife on the other. He keeps a pistol in a shoulder holster, and he's carrying a rifle. He looks at the dog and tells him, "A'ight Boy, if it can be eaten then we're killin' it today. You just lead me to em."
Jack seems to understand completely what those words mean, and once they've walked about a mile south and west, Merle feels Jack's snout bump his thigh. He stops, looks at the dog and the dog sits. Jack looks at Merle, raises his nose as if pointing, and aims it to the east. Merle gives the animal a good neck rub and a doggie treat, whispering, "atta boy," and starts walking in the direction the dog pointed.
While Merle's out hunting Beth is keeping herself busy making candles in the outdoor kitchen. Frankie has offered to help, and she manages to do a little of this and that, but those twins keep her so busy. If Roy dozes off it seems like Mick is suddenly wide awake, and vice versa. What never seems to fail is the twins always get hungry at the same time. Frankie apologizes, "I'm afraid I'm more trouble than I am help."
Beth smiles, "Don't be silly, my gosh Frankie, you're the busiest person on this mountain. I'm just happy to have your company."
Frankie's been careful about saying anything, but Daryl's been gone so much longer than any of them thought he would be. This has got to be hard on Beth. So, while little Jamie is busy with the ducks, Frankie asks, "How're you doing Beth? I mean really. We all thought Daryl would be home by now."
Beth has just poured the wax in the first set of molds, and now she takes a seat. She wants to be brave but she can't seem to help that her voice is a little shaky and there are tears in her eyes. Before she knows it, she's lost all control and she's crying when she answers, "He thought he'd be home no later than the next evening. That's what he planned Frankie. All he was supposed to do was go get the woodstoves or the insert or whatever. I have no idea where he could be or what could have happened."
Frankie feels terrible for even asking, she's on her feet now, one baby sleeping soundly in his cradle, the other cradled in the crook of Frankie's arm. She walks over to Beth and places her hand on her shoulder, "I'm so sorry I asked Beth. I didn't mean to upset you."
"No Frankie, it's not your fault, I probably needed to get this out anyway." She breathes in and says, "Oh who am I trying to kid, I cry myself to sleep every night. I'm so scared I'll never see Daryl again," then the crying turns hard and jagged, "I don't want to lose hope but Dear God, it's been two weeks, where could he be? He wouldn't just leave us all."
"No Beth, please, please don't lose hope. Merle hasn't. He says Daryl's the toughest man he knows, he said, and I quote, 'the kid could survive anything, it's just the way he's built. If he's gone he's got a good reason ta be,' So please Beth, please don't be so sad. Maybe it will help if we say a little prayer together."
It does help to pray and to know Merle hasn't given up. If Merle can believe, then she should be able to believe. Daryl will be home as soon as he finishes doing whatever he's out there doing. Please God, please make it true.
By the time Beth has all the candles poured she planned going to make today, it's lunch time and Frankie suggests, "I've got stew in the pot, why don't you and Jamie have lunch with me. Afterward, you take him and one baby to your place for nap time, and I'll have the other baby help me clean up the candle mess."
Beth smiles, "That's so thoughtful and it sounds perfect Frankie, thank you. I appreciate it all, especially the positive outlook. I need to work on getting mine back."
"Don't be silly Beth, anyone in your position would be going crazy. You're holding it together like, well like I can't even believe. I could never be as brave as you."
Jamie goes down quickly, he was up early seeing his Uncle Merle off and he's had a busy morning working in the greenhouse, gathering duck eggs, and mostly playing with the ducks.
Although Beth could use a nap herself there's something she'd much rather do than sleep. She wants to sit by the fire and hold little Roy, and that's just what she does. Later she'll discover she must have fallen asleep right along with him. She wakes to the sound of the three-wheeler and a baby still softly cradled in her arms and sleeping soundly.
Thank God, at least one Dixon man is home.
Merle's all smiles, "I tell ya, I ain't ever goin' huntin' without Jack again. He's the best huntin' partner a man could have. He led me right into a herd a deer. I got us two, but the dog didn't stop there. He barely gave me time ta field dress em when he wanted me gettin' some sage hens. I ain't shot a bird on the wing in a long damn time, I forgot how fun that can be, and Jack retrieved em like he was born to it. Anyway, thanks ta Jackie boy here, we got six a those."
Beth, still with a baby in her arms is all approving smiles, "That's a lot of food Merle. Thank you to you and Jack, and I'm so glad it was fun."
"Wait up now Sis, that ain't all we got. I got us a turkey too. I'm hoping Daryl'll be home in time ta help us eat it."
There's a tugging on his coat and Merle looks down smiling as the little boy asks, "My s'prise?"
"You bet I got ya a surprise. Right there in that gunnysack I got ya some rabbits. You n me are gonna build some real nice hutches for em and we'll start raisin' em."
00
Group One encounters several walkers, but none the small group can't easily and quickly put down, and they keep moving on. It's as they get close to their staging area that Daryl sees the movement in the trees. He says to Carol, "Slow down, I'ma roll outta here. I'll use the side door."
She's confused, "Roll out the side door?"
"Yeah, I think we got company up ahead, hidin' in them trees. I'm bettin' they're lookouts for this Terminus place. I'll take care of it, you just keep drivin'."
"You want help?"
"Nah. I got it."
"Do you want me to wait?"
"No, I'll catch up."
By the time the questions are asked and answered Daryl's already crouched down low and has made his way from the front passenger seat to the back. Abraham grabs the handle of the van's side door and gives Daryl a nod, Daryl nods back, the door slides open and Daryl leaps out.
He moves quickly, he doesn't want to give these guys time to spot him or to radio anyone that they've seen someone. He sprints up the side of the hill and disappears into the trees and underbrush, careful, just like he is when he's hunting. He does everything he can to avoid crunching leaves or making any other noises by brushing too close to limbs or bushes.
It's not long until he hears voices. The voices are talking about something that doesn't have anything to do with survival or eating people or strangers approaching them. It sounds like football talk. As he gets closer he sees them. Two guys, nothing special about them. Medium height and medium build, each getting near the end of a cigarette.
Daryl knows he's got one option. Kill or be killed.
He pulls his knife, runs up behind the guy on the right, grabs his forehead and forces the guy's head back, slitting his throat. With that done, he shoves the knife into the man's skull. The whole operation takes no more than 20 seconds.
The second guy is caught completely by surprise and unprepared, but he quickly regroups and starts to pull his pistol. Daryl can't let that happen, the last thing they need is gunfire. It would alert the people at Terminus to their presence.
The knife is still clinched in Daryl's hand and before his adversary can lift the pistol into shooting position, Daryl has thrown the still bloody knife. It's not a dead-on hit, it pierces the guy in his left shoulder and he falls backward onto the ground. That's enough damage for Daryl to hurry to him, step firmly on his right wrist and pull the gun from his hand. Daryl gives his adversary a scornful glare as he pulls the knife from his shoulder, sneers, "Ya ain't s'posed ta eat people ya muther fucker," and stabs him in the forehead.
After examining the bodies for anything of value, Daryl makes the rest of the trip on foot. He could use the this time alone, and he knows where his group will be stopping.
He arrives shortly after the others, and they all seem to have him figured out, at least well enough that they don't ask a lot of questions about what may have happened. Still, the man comes very close to smiling when he shows them what he has. It's a card, like a key card. They won't have to outsmart the security system now, he's sure it opens the Terminus gates. They all smile back feeling even more positive they can make this happen quickly and smoothly. When dusk comes they make their way to the staging area.
The wide swath of railroad tracks is on one side of the enormous concrete building, they'd be out in the open and easy to spot if they tried going in that way. There's an area on the other side though, not far from what was once the main terminal entrance. There's a lot of overgrown brush, shrubs and trees. The Termites have surrounded the area with barbed wire, but that's nothing a pair of cutters can't make short work of. There's nothing much on that side of the structure. It's like a big concrete parking lot, but at one time it was probably the staging area for railroad car maintenance. Now it's where the group will enter and begin setting up their munitions. They all smile when the key card opens the gate.
The team works through the night setting their explosives, and for the most part, things go smoothly. It's not without its encounters though. Some guy comes up behind Abraham and demands, "Who the fuck are you?"
Abraham doesn't miss a beat, he quickly turns and hits the guy so hard on the head with his clenched fist, the guy stumbles backward and falls on his knees. That gives Daryl just enough time to send a bolt through the assailant's head. Abraham nods a "thanks," Daryl nods back, and they get back to work.
Carol wanders into a room full of candles with all kinds of weird symbols drawn everywhere, and there's a woman who appears to be praying or meditating, and giving off a very creepy aura. They both stand completely still as they're scoping each other out, then the woman offers, "Welcome to Terminus dear, are you alone?"
Carol's smile is both sad and sweet, "Yes, I'm alone. My whole family is gone. Thank God I made it here. I've seen your signs and heard the radio messages and I've been walking for days. I'm Carol by the way."
"Hello Carol, I'm Mary. My sons Gareth and Alex, and myself, oversee Terminus. They're out right now finding more people to help but you'll meet them soon. I just know you're going to like it here, and you won't have to worry about being alone."
Carol's still smiling as she casually walks closer to the woman, while discreetly moving her arm so the knife she's got hidden up her sleeve drops down and into her hand, "Oh I know I will. What a relief to be here." Tears fill Carol's eyes, spilling out and running down her cheeks as she quietly speaks to the woman, "I'm just so grateful Mary. I'm grateful and happy and looking forward to life here. You're a wonderful person to help so many people. Would it be possible to shake your hand?"
Mary's enough of a narcissist to be flattered and to mistake Carol's acting as sincere admiration, "Of course my dear," and just as Mary reaches out her hand, Carol smiles happily and plunges the knife deep into the woman's heart.
She retrieves the knife and as the woman is breathing her last breath Carol smiles again, "You won't be alone Mary, your boys are waiting for you in hell," then plunges the knife into Mary's head.
By the time Group One has made it back to their camp dawn is breaking, and here comes Group Two.
The catapults are quickly set up, the snipers are in place, and everyone holds their breath to see what happens when Dr. Eugene hits the switch. It doesn't disappoint. The rockets sale through the air and the sound is deafening like a million bombs exploding at once, when suddenly there's a huge explosion and roaring fire fills the Terminus complex as bodies are launched into the sky and it's suddenly raining walkers and Termites.
They don't wait, they give it all to them at once. Group Two begins launching the dynamite and the Molotov cocktails the second the fireworks stop, and the family knows, with their Terminus leadership gone and there camp blown to bits, they've successfully destroyed the threat.
The family scavenges everything they can fit in the vans, the trailers and the beds of the pickups that group two brought. They find a room full of Terminus prisoners and free them, and they also find four container cars in a back lot next to the loading dock. They open the doors and let the prisoners go. Many want to follow the family to the prison, and Rick agrees but lets them know they'll be vetted before they can enter.
When the smoke clears Daryl tells Michonne, "We got a deal and I ain't waitin' any longer. As soon as we get ta the prison, you n me are gonna go get my stuff n I'ma get my ass home."
"That's fair, but can I take a shower first?"
He snickers, "Yeah, I better do that too if I want my wife ta hug me."
Michonne smiles, "I'd like to meet your wife someday, she must be quite the woman."
He nods, "Yeah, she's the light."
00
They've let the turkey hang for three days, then Merle plucked it and cut it into quarters for the Dutch ovens. Beth has seasoned the meat with her fresh grown herbs, and they even picked some new potatoes and added them to the pots. Merle shows Jamie how it's done as he digs the hole and lines it with warm coals, refusing to let Beth help carry the pots, "They're heavy." He sets them in the hole, covers them with more coals and then dirt, and tells Jamie, "That turkey's gonna cook nice n slow all day long, and when it's done it'll be juicy and tender. We're gonna be eatin' good. I heard there's even some a them English peas for our dinner."
Beth's smiling but then looks down like she's examining a spot on the ground. She doesn't want Jamie to see her tears. She doesn't want anyone to know her faith and hope have once again faded.
00
A/N Thank you and please leave a comment. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. I'll be back next week with more of The Man on The Mountain. I hope you'll be here too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee