Aberrant: Dead Rising - Chapter 4b: Fox's Refuge

[Courier]

Originally Posted By: Jasmine Gentian

"Your, um.. boyfriend, I take it?"

Being very careful with the hand preserving what was left of his dignity James gave a short, but formal bow and replied, "James."

Originally Posted By: Violet

Violet giggled joining the amusement about James. "Yes, that's him - in his full glory I must add.", she winked at him and blew him a kiss.

James gave Violet a wink back and replied, "Thankfully this towel is preventing that" and with the formal dignity of a cat resumed walking.

Quote:

Turning her attention back to Jasmine her joy about James' return reflected in her eyes and a squeeze of Jasmine giving her a brief hint of Violet's superhuman strength. "James' return means that the Captain has arrived, too. Lets wait for him to get changed and settle down a moment and then we all go to have a talk with the Captain. How does that sound?"

On the way out James replied, "Other than my pants and getting bitten a couple more times it was a good run. We got the gear and no one got hurt. Ran into some more mutant zoms though. I'll tell you about it later."

James walked away to change.

[Dawn OOC]

"Sir, we had a bunch of new people show up. Eleven, five women and six men in two groups. One of the women has been moved into Violet's." There was something off in the Gerald's voice. Ger was a steady guy, and had been in the National Guard, and Fox knew that he knew not to say some things over the channel. "The rest are in the mess at the moment, or have been set up in the converted sheds. We're keeping a casual eye on all of them. Got any orders?"

[Jasmine Gentian]

Jasmine bit back a grin, and nodded. She didn't necessarily feel the excitement that Violet obviously felt, but that wasn't surprising.. she didn't KNOW any of these people. She was, however, relieved that the situation with the other group could be dealt with. It was a bit uncomfortable, having the feeling that you had been given some very important information, and you were the wrong person for it to have been given to. And she was a bit nervous at the idea of meeting Captain Fox. She didn't really know what to expect. But Violet's excitement WAS infectious, and she squeezed her hand back, her own squeeze hinting at a similar hidden strength.

[Venus]

"Don't worry too much about the Captain. He is a very nice man and handsome. He'll be glad to hear news from outside - even if they are more of a warning.", Violet had finally released Jasmine from her half embrace and slowly let go of her.

"Honey, hurry up! We've got to talk with the Capt'n!", Violet raised her voice knowing that he would hear her unless he was under the shower - but going without her under the shower was a crime in her house and these were her four walls.

[Priest]

As they were riding back, it was clear that Leo had something on her mind. As they pulled up to the gate and were passed through, Leo turned to Priest,

"I need to talk with you and Fox."

"What about?" Priest countered.

"I think I found a way to make an effective refinery at the base."

Priest knew the problems with a refinery. Of course, there was the danger of contamination, or explosion, but the big one was power. You need a great deal of power to refine gasoline and it's other deriviatives.

"Go on?"

"Well, I came across an article in Air&Space about solar receptors for the International Space station. A new generation. Anyway, using those specs, I think I can build a solar powered refinery that would use organic material as it's base. It all seems so clear now."

Her eyes were on fire. Something was burning behind those eyes.

"Okay ..." Priest rumanates, "what's the catch?"

"No catch really. The place that made these is close by," she says, but looks away. "It's in Dallas."

Dallas ... Priest's home before. Now she wanted him to go back to Dallas. They city had almost made him a corpse once.

"We'll go to Fox with this."

[Courier]

Upstairs James found an extra (new) pair of pants and rapidly changed. He decided to leave the backpack and the rifle upstairs, and looking considerably more dignified, he went back down.

James said to Violet, "I'm back, and happier."

Switching focus to the new woman he continued, "And greetings, what's your name?"

[Jasmine Gentian]

"I'm Jasmine. Jasmine Gentian. I just got here this morning.. it's a pleasure to meet you. Violet's told me a bit about you."

She held out a hand politely. For someone who looked so young, she conducted herself in a fairly professional manner.. she had, after all, been introduced to more doctors and nurses than she cared to count. When he shook her hand, it was a firmer shake than one would expect from looking at her, and her manner was all business.

"I'm sorry Violet had you rush for my sake, you're probably ready for a break from your mission. But Violet thought I should meet Captain Fox, and there are some other new people here besides the group I arrived with. They need to speak with him.. they told me a little of what's going on, but he should be informed, I think."

[Courier]

Quote:

"I'm Jasmine. Jasmine Gentian. I just got here this morning.. it's a pleasure to meet you. Violet's told me a bit about you."

James replied, "Pleased to meet you Jasmine. Only good things I hope."

James thought, *Attractive young female... Violet is either recruiting or socializing or both. Good for her I guess.*

Quote:

"I'm sorry Violet had you rush for my sake, you're probably ready for a break from your mission. But Violet thought I should meet Captain Fox, and there are some other new people here besides the group I arrived with. They need to speak with him.. they told me a little of what's going on, but he should be informed, I think."

James said, "That sounds bad, informed of what? Let's start walking over, Fox should be unloading the guns and stuff. If he's not I can radio him."

[Venus]

Violet took James' arm and interlocked herself next to him laying her arm casually on his back just above his buns. It looked like he belonged right there next to her. The two were quite a sight like directly out of a Richard Corben-Comic.

Violet reached out with her other arm inviting Jasmine to join them. "Common, lets go. No reason to lose more time. The sooner we get this done, the more time we've got later for ourselves.", a brief mysterious smile flashed over Violet's face as she finished her sentence.

[Jasmine Gentian]

Misinterpreting Violet's signals, Jasmine took her hand and squeezed it briefly. Then she let it go, and walked over to the door, opening it for James and Violet to pass through. She still had her "business face" on, and Violet could tell it was nothing personal.. she was still distracted with what was happening, and seemed to have a lot on her mind. A quick scan of her emotions indicated to Violet that she was still nervous, despite Violet's reassurances.

She followed them both out the door, and for a moment she hesitated, unsure where to go. It didn't take long to figure out, though. The main stretch leading down into the base seemed a bit busier than usual, there were a few people heading in that general direction, and Jasmine followed them, as well as James and Violet. Once they got past some of the outlying tents and RVs, they reached a building that Jasmine assumed must be the armory. There were men there, unloading things from a truck into the building, which had it's heavily reinforced doors swung open at the moment. Jasmine hesitated slightly, waiting for James or Violet to introduce her to the Captain.. she had no idea which one of the men he was.

[Mr Fox]

Fox replied to Ger over the raido, "We'll have a debriefing at 19:00 hours about the mission. If you need to talk to me before then meet me by the armory. We're unloading the goods we picked up."

Fox was still hovering in the air above the truck directing the organized chaos of the unloading and when he noticed the group approaching from Violets. The unloading was nearly done anyway, so he shouted his last order, "Lock up the armory and bring me an updated inventory to the mission debriefing at 19:00 hours."

He sailed over towards Violet, James and their guest and landed in front of them far enough away to not be over heard by anyone at the armory. Looking to the woman he said, "I'm Captain Morgan Fox, welcome to the Refuge. Violet, by the looks of things you have something to tell me. Ger tried to tell me something was up but couldn't say it over the radio. What's going on?"

[z-Jules WhiteElk]

Jules stood near Morgan, a notepad in her hand. She was scrawling notes occasionally, but mostly she was listening to Morgan issue orders and talk. She paused to give Violet a nod, before returning her attention to her task. When Morgan flew away, she watched him before returning to her task, whatever that was.

[Priest]

Priest came walking up with about half his crew. Andy, Willie, and Colt were helping with the unloading. That left him with Leo, her gearhead stuff hanging off her clothing. An aviator cap and goggles were on her head. She had a pistol on her hip. A leather and Khaki jump suit covered the rest of her body and combat boots completed the ansemble. She kept her eyes focussed ahead and slightly down. She seemed grim, as if she knew she was going to get some bad news.

Rhonda took up the rear, her long, blonde hair pulled back. A shotgun rested on her shoulder and she carried a 9mm on her hip. She wore a white wife-beater that did little to conceal her delicious young figure. He jeans were tight and her calf-high suede mocassin boots with frills made her look as much a fashion model as post-apocalyptic world. He smiled at Jasmyne, someone close to her age, and new.

Sarah came along in the middle of the pack, looking as young and precocious and innured to the world's horrors as only a kid could. She carried her own pistol on her hip as well, and had a machete strapped across he back.

Leading the crew came Priest, his black clothing and armored police vest accentuated by his assualt rifle cradled in one arm.

He looked over at Jamsyn and nodded then took a moment to examine and grin at James' new attire. A friendly nod to Violet followed.

He turned to the Captain and got right down to it.

"Fox, something came up on the road home. Leo's been thinking and she is sure she can build you a refinery powered by solar cells. All it will take is for us to go to Dallas."

Priest sounded like a dentist had told him he had a mouth full of cavaties. Rhonda gasped, Leo looked grimmer still and Sarah reached out and took her father's hand and looked up at him.

[Jasmine Gentian]

Jasmine jaw dropped slightly as she watched Captain Fox FLY over to them. She knew she had.. abilities. She would have been dead by now if she didn't, and the things she could do she never would have been able to dream of before, even without the cancer that had weakened her body to a state of constant exhaustion. But.. nothing she did was like THAT. Nothing that spectacular, that.. obvious! At least.. nothing that she knew of, anyway. She stares at the Captain for a moment, her eyes slightly wide as the other group of people came up and spoke with him. But the mention of the word "Dallas" shook her from her reverie, and she cleared her throat slightly to draw his attention. She held out a hand to Fox politely.

"Speaking of Dallas, Captain.. My name is Jasmine. Jasmine Gentian. Originally from Dallas. I hope I'm not interrupting anything, but Violet actually brought me here to speak with you.. although it's not actually me you need to speak with. It's important, or I wouldn't bother you with it."

[z016]

Gabriella nodded and slipped back into her own seat. "It's okay, y'know. To be afraid, to be angry. To want someone to blame, or someone to believe in. Look at this place."

She waved her hand to vaguely encompass the compound. "They believe in this Captain of theirs and the chance at being more than just refugees from life." She smiled and it was the sun coming out from behind dark clouds. "And if God is too troublesome for your heart right now, believe in yourself. We all have that small, quiet voice that knows what to do. Whatever we call it. We just have learn to be quiet and still enough ourselves to hear it clearly."

[Mr Fox]

The captain watched as more and more people converged on his location. Well, I think this is going to be an interesting night.

Looking at Leo, "That would make me a very happy man. We can't run off gasoline forever. We've got maybe 6 more months, 12 at the absolute outside before the stuff sitting around in tanks separates out and goes bad on us. A refinery will be great."

Turning toward Jasmine he smiled and offered her a firm shake, "Glad to meet you Jasmine. I'm not sure I understand what you are getting at, but I'll hear whatever you have to say."

Looking to the gathering, "Ok, this is getting big and it looks like it's going to take some time. Lets head over to the HQ and get comfortable. If there are any others that need to be involved in this little discussion please round them up and bring them along. Let meet there in 10, then we can get through all this in one go. I've also got some news for you all that we discovered on our expedition." He looked at the others as they just stared at him questioningly for a handful of seconds. "Well, lets move people, we've got discussions to have and plans to make." He smiled and made shooing gestures before turning and leading Violet, Priest, James and Jasmine toward the HQ building.

As he walked he pulled the walkie from his belt, "Ger, meet me at the HQ in 10, over." There that should get everyone together so they wouldn't have to have the same discussion 5 times.

[Dawn OOC]

At HQ...

Ger acknowledged and was waiting for him there. He eyed the crowd following him and said softly, "Captain, I'm having the new folks brought over to talk to you - from what my men have overheard, it's pretty panic-inspiring. I've kept a lid on it, but it's sure to get out and upset people. Are you sure you're wanting to have all these people here for the first briefing?"

In the cafeteria...

An armed approached, his rifle slung. "Ladies and gents, the Captain is back and I believe you wanted to see him? If you'll follow me, I'll take ya over to HQ, where he's gathering folks."

[Jasmine Gentian]

Jasmine followed the Captain to the building he had dubbed HQ, along with Violet, James, and all the others whom they had met up with at the armory. She followed them inside, to the briefing room, and remained quiet as he was speaking with another man off to the side. After their conversation appeared to lull, she stepped up to the Captain.

"Sir? What I meant earlier is that there are another group of newcomers here. The group I came in with isn't all that newsworthy.. three guys - Alan and George are brothers from Kansas.. I don't know much about Jose, I think he's been through something rough. And there's an older woman named Anne, probably in her sixties, and her granddaughter, Marion. We met up with them near Oklahoma City. But there was another group that arrived here today.. I had a chance to speak with them, and they have some important information you need to hear about attacks against settlements like this. I didn't get a lot of details.. I apologize. But you should probably have someone find them, and bring them here.. it seemed pretty urgent."

Jasmine had no idea that part of her news had already been delivered, or even that Fox was aware of other people. All she knew was that someone needed to know about what she had heard, so that they could find out what the whole story was. Hopefully it wouldn't be as serious as it had sounded, not with all these people around and their - even her - special powers. She delivered her news calmly, meeting his gaze directly as she spoke. She was, perhaps, one of the steadiest and most serious teenagers he had ever met.

[SalmonMax]

Myf sighed unhappily and shrugged.

"This isn't the same. It's...one thing to have a hard day and snap at someone, and completely another thing to..."

Why not tell her? She's already half-convinced you're God. Why not seal the deal?

"Lets just say for me, that small quiet voice is dangerous."

She looked up when a soldier addressed her and the others in terse tones. When he was done, she got to her feet.

"Okay then. Lead on."

[Dawn OOC]

The group trooped out of the mess hall and onto the path that curled around the pre-fab mess hall. They passed several concrete structures before coming around a corner and finding the largest building yet. The concrete building looked like a bunker, save for the doors thrown open wide. Inside, people were gathering nervously.

A couple of more men gathered around them and made a wedge which began to work their way through the crowd. The people parted slowly, all of them staring at the new arrivals with a mixture of suspicion and awe. The suspicion came from the rumors about their arrival and what changes they might bring; the awe was solely for Gabrielle and her beauty. More than one man who might have otherwise sought to claim her found themselves unwilling to besmirch her purity.

Standing at the front of the room was a very attractive and eye-catching man. He radiated authority, and most of the people here clearly deferred to him. "Captain," the guard who had provided escort over, "these are the new people." He stepped aside to let them speak.

[SalmonMax]

Myfwany steps forward, feeling a little awkward, but too stubborn to admit it or show it.

"Captain, I'm Myfwany Shattuck. I'm a doctor and I recently came here from the vicinity of Beaver Lake. There's an enclave there called Lost Bridge, and they have a serious problem. One I think you should know about, because it may one day affect you too."

"There's a crazed cult leader nearby them who is aggressive and completely blinded by his religious fervor. He brainwashed one of his followers into allowing herself to be infected with the zombie plague, then sent her into the enclave with the idea that she would turn once inside and wreak havoc...spreading the disease and ultimately destroying the enclave from within."

Myf stopped for a moment and watched the reactions. Before more questions could start springing up, she went on.

"From what we saw, a tactic like this could be very...effective here. I wanted to warn you that it was happening. Not here, not yet. But anyone out there with a big enough grudge and a small enough conscience could do it. You should have more controls over who comes in, and keep visitors in more secured areas until their condition can be verified medically. I mean, no offense...it was refreshing to be trusted...but once me and my friends got in, we were free to roam as we pleased, splitting into smaller groups and circulating freely among the residents. That's just asking for contagion, even if not zombie plague then other diseases that will be making a comeback with the dissolution of vaccinations and other medical safeguards. Measles. Smallpox. You get the picture. I like what I've seen here, Captain. I don't want to see it the victim of an epidemic."

[SkyLion]

Jon walked back towards the lights of the central compound, the dusky sky proof that even with Hell on Earth, the sun still rose and set, the Universe and it's mysteries just as large and breathtaking as always. The first glints of starlight winked coyly in the hazy midwestern air.

Jon barely noticed the calm contentment possible in the moment, so focused was he on wrestling with his plight. He had finally been able to address his hunger and his belly was now still, full and sated. The thought made him want to vomit but he knew that wasn't really an option anymore. Worse, the horror of it all had begin to fade, subtly. A creeping numbness, rendering him cold from the inside out...adapting to what he had become. A carrier.

Infected.

His brooding was interrupted as he stumbled upon the gathered briefing. He walked up to the rear of the crowd, his stature easily allowing him a clear view as he caught the last of Myfwany's admonishments.

[Courier]

Originally Posted By: Violet

Violet took James' arm and interlocked herself next to him laying her arm casually on his back just above his buns. It looked like he belonged right there next to her. The two were quite a sight like directly out of a Richard Corben-Comic.

Click to reveal.. (Picture of Violet and James)

Originally Posted By: SalmonMax

Myfwany steps forward, feeling a little awkward, but too stubborn to admit it or show it.

"Captain, I'm Myfwany Shattuck. I'm a doctor...

James thought this was good news but waited for the other shoe to drop.

Quote:

"There's a crazed cult leader nearby them who is aggressive and completely blinded by his religious fervor. He brainwashed one of his followers into allowing herself to be infected with the zombie plague, then sent her into the enclave with the idea that she would turn once inside and wreak havoc...spreading the disease and ultimately destroying the enclave from within."

James got very still and waited for her to finish. For someone he'd just met she was hitting all his buttons. He asked with deceptive mildness,

"Do we have a good idea where this cult leader can be found?"

[SalmonMax]

Myfwany looked at James and nodded.

"We know exactly where he can be found. We also have a good idea of what kind of defenses he has. If you have the manpower and the will to stop him, we'll share that with you. It won't be easy though...and you have to remember that most of the people there are victims. We can't just blow the building up."

[Mr Fox]

Morgan listened to the Doctor speak, what she said made sense, it was a very easy tactic to use to attack others. "Well, that's certainly bad news. Ger, from now on, new arrivals will be kept outside the fence for 24 hours under observation, that's enough time to detect zomb infection. We will continue to share food and water with them and treat them with friendliness. If they turn out not to be infected they will be allowed in to trade or stay as they choose."

Having settled that matter he looked back to everyone in the room. "We have several issues to consider and we need to prioritize what order we are going to deal with things."

He looked around the room making eye contact with everyone present as he continued.

"First, while we were out today we discovered that Lawton has a number of zombies with some mutated strain of the plague. These things are super zombies. Luckily they did not seem to be intelligent, but they were certainly stronger and more deadly than the norm. They produce some kind of acid slime. We will need to go back there and wipe them out to prevent the spread of that mutated strain. And I pray that all zombies don't start mutating like that after a time. The bright side is that James was bitten and slimed and was not effected by it so if we go back prepared we should be able to handle them."

Seeing first the horror and then the slight relief on everyone's faces he continued to the next point. "Second, we were told yesterday about a prison in New Mexico that is basically a sex slavery operation where the prison warden and guards have turned the inmates into unwilling victims. They are also taking in anyone that happens upon them and locking them up as well. Jules here is an eyewitness to some pretty serious atrocities. That needs to be stopped. We cannot sit idly by and allow such atrocities to occur when we have the power to stop them. There isn't enough of the human race left to ignore such abuses." There was a righteous indignation to the Captain's bearing and voice that was both inspiring and frightening, inspiring for those who agreed and frightening to anyone who would do such things.

"Third, this new news of the cult leader. Like the situation in New Mexico that has to be stopped. Since this one is using his followers in an aggressive manner rather than passively capturing the unwary, I would make this a top priority. He has to be stopped before he can destroy other settlements. Life is too precious to be snuffed out in such a cheap and vicious way."

"Fourth, and this may be the doing of that cult leader, we also received word yesterday that a band of scavengers were killed recently. They were good people and did not deserve that fate."

"Fifth, there is a rogue government group based out of Virginia that destroyed a facility just north of here a few days ago, they were apparently researching the zombie plague. The were killed to a man with only one woman and her small children surviving. Their lab was destroyed along with all their research. I think this is a low priority compared to the other things that have immediate consequences."

"Sixth, we need to get this solar powered refinery under construction, Leo knows how to make it work and put it together. I'll put her in charge of this. Leo, get with Ger after the meeting and he can detail you some people to assist with what needs to be done. We will have to make a trip into Dallas to get some of the equipment, but I want Leo to get started on what can be done in preparation for this. As important as it is, we need to deal with at least the cult leader first since he is a clear and present danger to our community. But we are in a race between getting this up and running and running out of usable fuel. On that note, I want everyone to know and understand. We need to abandon gasoline vehicles in favor of Diesel. If you don't already use Diesel, find replacements. Diesel was originally designed to run off a variety of fuels and they are much more tolerant of things like biofuel which we will be able to produce."

"Seventh, I will pay a bounty for any useful textbooks that anyone brings in. It's been six months since the plague and I think it's pretty safe to say we won't ever be going back to our old lives. In a single generation there won't be anyone left who knows squat unless we teach them. To that end, I want to start a library to preserve as much useful knowledge as possible.

I don't want any damn copies of Joan Collins biography, but any book that teaches something useful, or classic pieces of literature will be very welcome. As one of the projects that need to be done we will be building a school and a library. There's no hope of rebuilding what has been lost, but it's time we start building a new society and that means training everyone here how to do useful things."

"Ger, I want you to organize the women and children who aren't involved with other things and get them started first on the school, then once that's complete on the library. Second, I want every able bodied person in this refuge to put in one hour a day working on the school and library, one hour a day helping with the refinery, and one hour a day working on the outer wall, and one hour a day clearing the fields and helping raise crops. The rest of their day can be organized in whatever useful capacity that makes sense and is agreeable to them."

He looked to everyone gathered and there was a definite sense of awe and command coming from the Captain, "It's time to start doing more than just surviving. It's time to build something and look to the future!"

Click to reveal..

The captain is using both Awe-inspiring and Commanding presence. Not to change anyone's views or opinions but to inspire confidence and give hope.

[SalmonMax]

At the Captain's words, Myfwany's mouth dropped open in shock so overwhelming that for a second she thought she might actually faint.

Mutant strains that produce zombies that don't infect people?!

"Captain Fox," she managed to say. "I...I need to know more about this...these super zombies you found. Did you say that they don't pass on the plague when they bite? Are you SURE?"

[Mr Fox]

Morgan shook his head, "No, I didn't say they won't pass it on. Just that James was not infected. James like myself and several others here are immune it appears. The immunity came along with other gifts like flight and super strength." Morgan punctuates his words by lifting a heavy desk next to him one handed as if it were no effort at all.

[z-Jules WhiteElk]

Jules took off the light jacket she was wearing, revealing her short-sleeved shirt. Leaving her spot just behind Morgan, she walked to Myf and extended her arms, which were marked with bite scars. "I've lost track of how many times I've been bitten," she said, her black eyes serious. "I think I'm proof that some people are immune."

She glanced back at Morgan. "I haven't thought about it before, but I think that I'm a super, too. Morgan thinks I am, and I have some tricks. Just nothing as cool as flight."

[Jasmine Gentian]

Jasmine stepped to the side as Myfwany approached the Captain to speak. Most of what she told him was a reiteration of what she had told Jasmine earlier, but when the woman mentioned HOW he was using others, her eyes widened a bit and she shook her head slightly, a bit stunned.

She watched the Captain as he spoke, absorbing everything he said. His words caused her to relax as he spoke, despite all the dire news he was forced to give, and the seriousness of the discussion. Here was someone who took charge, who knew how to lead and organize people. She felt the weight of responsibility ease somewhat.. the only interactions she'd had since leaving Kansas City's horrors were the small group she had brought to the refuge, and she had been ill at ease, knowing that she had to direct them in order for them to survive.. whether they had realized it or not. She was used to being told what to do, not having to tell other people, and it was comforting.

At the end of the speech, she stepped closer to the Captain, and cleared her throat slightly to draw his attention. She looked as if she had something important she wanted to tell him, or ask him, but as Myf spoke she quieted, and waited. She wanted to see how he would answer this question.. how he was dealing with regular people who didn't have abilities. She had known she couldn't come down with the virus.. she had been bitten a few times herself, and nothing had come of it, though the first time she had spent two days looking for a gun and ammunition to try and blow her own brains out before that happened. It was her luck, she supposed, that she hadn't been able to find one. Eventually she had realized that it had been two days, and she showed no signs of turning. It wasn't the last time either, and from what Violet had said, all of these super-powered people were the same.

She listened as Jules spoke, and nodded slightly, clearing her throat again.

"I've.. I've been bitten several times too. Nothing has ever happened to me. I've been fine."

[SalmonMax]

For a second Myfwany blanks out...it's too much to handle. The next thing she knows she's sitting on the floor looking bemused.

That's not possible.

Immune.

Conflicting emotions screamed, threatening to tear her skull in half.

"Captain," she heard herself say. "I...need to take samples from you. From everyone who's immune." Focus on the essentials. The rest, the irrational stuff, that could wait. "I'm a pathologist. If I can isolate the mechanism of your immunity..."

She trailed off, unable to speak the hope that had driven her these last six months for fear it might be snatched away.

[Priest]

Priest squeezed Leo's hand when Fox mentioned the refinery, even though he knew what this might bring. They would be seperated for quite some time, as she got this project off the ground and he got back in the business of scavanging. There were other communities to spread the word to about this latesst insanity - the sending of infected volunteers into crowed sanctuaries.

Fox really seemed to have a plan and it was a good one. He couldn't help from wondering, at the back of his mind, if they weren't spreading themselves too thin. They could do all of this, right?

Click to reveal..

Priest has a high willpower, so he's allowed to be a bit skeptical even in times like this.

Looking over at Dr. Sattuck, Leo suddenly stepped forward. She offered to help her up.

"Before Z-Day I was a medical technologist. Maybe I can help."

[Mr Fox]

Morgan smiled a warm welcoming smile at Myfwany, "I will be happy to help. I hope you will consider staying with us. We could really use someone with your talents. If necessary we can scavenge you up some lab equipment and set you up a facility, but I'm afraid that will take a little time. As you just heard, we've got some other issues that have a greater priority."

[z-Jules WhiteElk]

Jules helped Leo help the doctor up, then put her jacket back on and returned to her spot behind Fox.

[Jasmine Gentian]

Jasmine stepped forward, this time speaking firmly.

"Captain Fox? I could probably help with that a bit.. I'd like to volunteer to go with you to Dallas. I know you don't know me very well, but I'm from Dallas, and.. well, I had been planning on going there myself, to try and see if my family.. well, if anyone was able to escape, if perhaps they left me any information. The only reason I mention it is because my mother.. she was a nurse. There's a small library at my home of medical books, dictionaries, reference material, and the like. And.. they had a small generator, in the basement too. Our power used to go out a lot. If they're gone, or.. well, I don't see any reason why we shouldn't go get those things for here, and anything else that might be useful. And I'd be happy to help you and your crew with anything else in Dallas you need help with."

Her words tumbled out in a bit of a rush. She knew she must look pretty silly.. this petite teenage girl, seventeen, maybe eighteen years old.. she couldn't actually remember, she had no idea of the date. Offering to go with them into Dallas, into one of the most highly-infected areas nearby. But she knew she could help, and she didn't really care how it looked. At least.. at least she'd get the opportunity to find out what happened to her parents.

[SalmonMax]

Myfwany nods in thanks to the woman who helped her up, but remains focused on Fox.

"Captain, we're talking about a cure for the plague here," she stresses. "Or at the very least a vaccination. An end to this! What could be higher priority than that? The emergence of human beings who are immune is the breakthrough medical science needed! Now all I need is some decent equipment and some samples and..."

"We could end this."

[Priest]

Leo puts a hand on Myf's elbow.

"Doctor, we are going to need some serious equipment to investigate this virus. Electron microscopes, Mass specrtrumeters, ... all kinds of stuff. And that is going to take power. Better labs tried and failed during the outbreak. What we have is more time, but we need to build up a base of scientific ability here first."

Sadly, she looks at the ground.

"We can't just ask for the Cure and expect it to appear."

[Mr Fox]

Morgan nodded to Jasmine, "You'll definitely be on the Dallas mission and we'll help you get to your parent's home even if I have to fly you there myself." He gave her a reassuring smile.

Looking over to Myfwany, "I completely agree and we'll do all we can to help you. Ger, add a lab into the list of top priority projects, but keep it as quiet as you can. One lab was already attacked and destroyed, we don't want to be a second. That part of the reason we went after those weapons today. Myfwany, the cure or a vaccine is very important to me and you are welcome to start working on that immediately, but there is a higher priority and that is survival. A vaccine won't do any good if we have people looking to attack us. We have to deal with that cult leader as a first priority. I would like volunteers to help me with that. I'd like to see to it as early as tomorrow in fact."

[Priest]

Priest steps forward.

"I'll go, but I think I'll let my people stay ouf out of this one. They can be getting ready for the Dallas or New Mexico runs. No sense in bring more people than we need to topple this dictator."

[Jasmine Gentian]

Jasmine nodded, and smiled back in return, a look of relief on her face. She listened as Fox spoke again, and nodded.

"I'll help you out with that as well, Captain. If I can be of any help that is.. I suppose it depends on what you're planning on doing with him. A lot of the people there are victims.. people who have been brainwashed, right?"

[SalmonMax]

"Yes," Myfwany said to Jasmine.

She reached up to pull on her own hair briefly, then said, "I'll go too."