The Zombie Apoc-Fur-Lypse, Group 5, Scene 2
The Zombie Apoc-Fur-Lypse
Group 5, Scene 2
copyright 2010 comidacomida
"Got one here!" called Ty, drawing everyone's attention to an old fashioned car reminiscent of a
model from the 1940s.
"Wow... looks like a restoration project someone was working on for awhile..." Jared commented,
"almost like new."
"Yea... well... except it has a break problem... won't stay put." the wolf smirked, "Works out
brilliantly for us though."
Ty and Jared managed to get the vehicle turned around and rolled into a more central location.
Jake and Finley were busy trying to figure out how best to jump start an old Vauxhall, but
didn't appear to be having any luck.
"It might be out of petrol." Jake ventured a guess.
"No... it's obviously a battery issue... just look at all the corrosion on the terminals." the
mouse countered.
"Are you sure?" Jake questioned, "Maybe there's a good battery in another one of the cars around
here..."
"I would wager that it wouldn't be worthwhile... chances are with such a bad connection the
starter is most likely in poor condition as well." Finley offered.
"So you're an expert in automotive as well are you, Doctor?" Aldo inquired, coming over to join
the two at the car they found.
"No... but I've dealt with enough ignition systems over the years to--" he paused as the orca's
left eye tweaked slightly, "What?" the mouse questioned.
"Nothing... I'm just..." Aldo searched for the right word, "...perplexed." he finally settled
on.
"Oh... it's quite simple, really." Finley explained, pointing into the bonnet, "The battery is
connected to various parts of the vehicle, but it the starter is what is responsible for
igniting the--"
"Never mind..." the orca stated, holding his hands up, "Is that a usable car or no?"
Jake and Finley looked to one another, and the mouse looked back to Aldo, "It is not,
unfortunately. Have you had any luck? I'm hoping we might find a fertilizer lorrie in the lot
somewhere... if it has the right kind of phosphorous-laden formu--" but by that time the orca
had walked off, fox in tow.
"So what did YOU find, Mr. Ruben?" Jake asked. Aldo didn't bother correcting the fox with his
real title, and he simply stood Jake in front of a medium sized lorrie, like the kind used by
small businesses or for moving furniture.
"The back of it is broken... doesn't have a roll-down door... but if we can find something to
block it off with I think it might work." the orca explained.
"Hey! Guys!" Jake waved to Ty and Jared, "Over here!" despite it being a call, the fox kept his
voice down. It was getting dark, and none of them could be completely sure if any of the
walking corpses were around.
The group gathered up at the back of the lorrie and looked into the wide open and empty storage
space, "So..." Finley glanced into it, "Looks like a decent find... so long as we can keep the
zombies out... or make them wish they'd stayed out." he chuckled quietly to himself, whiskers
twitching.
"Well... seeing how we have the lorrie and one other car, I think we're limited on choices." Ty
offered, motioning to the old car he and Jared had managed to move, "I think we can get that ol'
motah moved over and it should at least give us some protection... far cry from a car fort
though if you ask me."
"We can't all have castles." Jake offered, "But, man... what I wouldn't give to be in Oakfield
Castle right now... THEN I'd feel safe."
"Right... except that's the largest tourist magnet in Ratherbigshire... I couldn't even BEGIN to
imagine how many zombies'd be there." Ty countered.
"Many, do you think?" Finley's whiskers twitched all the more, "I'll keep that in mind."
"I think we ALL need to keep that in mind." Ty stated, "And focus on the task right now."
It wasn't a difficult project getting the car moved, but maneuvering it was a little more
difficult. In the end, Jake got inside and steered while the rest of the group pushed. Once
the car was in position, Finley went about working with Ty to try and force the bonnet up into a
more vertical position. It wasn't a perfect defense but it did provide the group with a little
more cover from any of the walking dead.
Jake went back to a car the group had passed. Both side doors were locked but the boot was
popped open. With some careful maneuvering, the fox managed to wriggle inside, pushing the back
seats down. He grabbed some quilts that had been in the back seat and went back to join the
group.
"Nice find." Jared said, "It might not be winter, but I don't think the back of an old lorrie's
gonna be too warm... at least those'll help." Jake smiled at the praise, and the two brought
the stack of blankets over to make the lorrie a little more habitable.
"Something to eat wouldn't be bad either." Aldo noted, rubbing his stomach, "I don't think I've
had anything to eat in two days."
"Agreed." Finley noted, "Well... there was a half eaten taco yesterday... the original owner
wasn't around to object." A few group members made a face at that, but Finley shrugged, "My
body needed fuel, and it was there... you cannot be picky and hope to survive."
"Well... there was a bakery shop across the way... we could--" Jake spoke up.
"No need." Jared responded, holding up a plastic sack, "I didn't find a movable car, but I did
find one that had a few things from Asda." he began passing out tinned foods.
"But the question is..." Aldo stated, accepting a tin of fish, "Does anybody have an opener?"
Jared grinned, drawing out a set of knives, "Not exactly made for opening tins... but they'll
work." and, as a demonstration, he held out a can of mushy peas and, throwing it into the air,
he tossed up his knife as well. The tin came down in one paw, and the knife in the other. The
top of the can fell onto the ground in front of Jared's feet, a small amount of mushy peas
adding a wet *splop* to it.
"Wow..." Jake murmured. Jared bowed slightly to the fox.
"Impressive." Ty spoke flatly, "Now if you're that good with knives, maybe you'd like to take
first watch."
"Relax, Ty..." offered Aldo, "He's just trying to lighten things up."
"Well... understanding the severity of the situation is important... that's what's going to keep
us alive." the wolf countered.
"It's alright, Aldo..." Jared responded, "I'm too restless to be tired... I'll keep watch."
"Pairs will work better." Finley attested, working the pop-top off of a tin of beans, "Just in
case you aren't as restless as you think."
"Good idea." Ty noted, "What about you, Jake?"
The fox's ears perked and he looked to the wolf, "Me?" he inquired, then shrugged, "I guess...
don't know how much sleep I'll get anyway... I keep thinking about those zombies..."
"Alright. Good." Finley confirmed, taking another swig of his cold beans, "It's settled then.
Everyone see about getting some rest, and we'll consider getting into that mall come tomorrow."
"I still think we have a better chance doing it tonight." Aldo reasserted the earlier notion.
"There'll be more light in the morning." Ty noted, "And I'd rather see the zombies before
walking into them."
"Speaking of..." Jake spoke up, and he grabbed one of the thinner pieces of linens and moved to
the opening of the lorrie. Stretching as high as he could, the fox managed to snag one of the
runners for the roll-up door that wasn't there. He jammed the metal through the sheet, then
walked it across to the other side to do the same thing, covering the opening of the lorrie with
the cloth. "Now we can see out, and nothing can see in." the fox smiled in victory.
"Brilliant." noted Finley, "The starlight outside still provides enough light to filter through
the sheet. As long as we don't have a light source inside the lorrie with us we should be able
to see out of it without any-- well... like Jake said." the mouse grinned.
"Nice work, Jake." Jared smiled, giving him a pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks." the fox replied, climbing up into the lorrie, "Come on.. the sooner we're under cover
the safer I'll feel."
"Right... like standing behind a newspaper makes you feel safe when you're staring down a run
away car." Aldo mumbled to himself. The group followed Jake and climbed up into the back of the
lorrie, and everyone began settling down.
Ty pulled the edges of his coat up around him and zipped it up, taking his blanket and setting
it out on the floor. Finley and Aldo laid down back-to-back atop their comforter, which was
made for a larger sized bed. The remaining blanket wasn't quite as large, and Jake sat at the
edge of the lorrie looking out, holding it in his paws. He glanced at Jared.
"Nah... you go ahead and use it." the panther smiled at him, "That shirt looks pretty flimsy,
and the cold will help keep me awake."
The fox shrugged, and settled down next to him, wrapping himself up in the blanket, "Thanks."
they sat quietly for several minutes gazing out of the lorrie and into the faintly-lit car park
and the unmoving metallic cars that sat there abandoned. Jake spoke up after a few quiet
moments, "Hey Jared?"
"Yea?"
"Where'd you learn to use knives like that?" the fox looked over at him.
"Hawaii."
"Hawaii?" Jake asked incredulously.
"Yea... I spent a few years there trying to find myself." the panther replied.
"And... did you?"
Jared shook his head, "I thought I did... but I think I was more hiding from myself than
anything."
"Oh." the fox answered, slowly lowering his head to rest it on the panther's shoulders, "It's a
cool trick." the comment came out a little forced, as if he didn't know exactly what to say.
"Thanks." Jared answered, eyes still gazing out into the night. They were quiet for another few
minutes before Jared spoke up again, "So this boyfriend of yours..."
"Josh." Jake offered.
"Josh... yea." Jared's tail flicked, "You love him?"
Jake nodded against his shoulder, "Yea... he's the reason I'm still here. I think I'd have
given up when this whole thing started if I didn't have someone like that to look forward to
seeing again."
"hmm." Jared offered, noncommittally.
"What?" Jake asked with a half laugh.
"I think you'd do just fine... you're pretty brave, I bet." the panther offered a half smile at
Jake.
"Nah..." the fox answered back, "Why do you think that?"
"Well... most blokes I know wouldn't go about advertising they have a boyfriend... they'd just
say 'partner' or 'significant other' or something." Jared shrugged.
"Nah..." Jake waved away the thought, "It's just one of those things." the fox looked to the
panther, "I mean... never letting anyone get to know you? Not letting anyone accept you for
you? Hell... I'd be afraid something was gonna happen... someone was gonna find out, and there
wouldn't be anything I could do to stop it; it'd be like right now, only all the time. No
thanks... I'd rather live in the open." he chuckled, "Anyway, you're pretty courageous
yourself."
"Nah..." Jared repeated Jake's earlier tone, and he turned away.
"I mean it... going half way around the world to Hawaii? How many years were you there?" the
fox questioned.
"A few." Jared answered simply.
"I think THAT takes guts." Jake smiled.
The panther was quiet for a few moments, then he glanced at the fox and gave a half-smile,
"Thanks." They sat together for several more minutes, their quiet conversation having slowly
drawn out into a comfortable silence. The peace of the night wasn't to last, however, when
Jared stood up with a start, "Hey! Everyone... get up!" he spoke in a harsh whisper.
The group was roused quickly and went to observe what Jared had seen. Far across the car park,
right near the motorway, the group saw a single figure making its way across the motorway.
Although the light was too faint, no one missed the limping, shuffling motion it came toward
their general direction. "Oh god... it's coming this way." Aldo murmured.
"That's not a bad thing... there's only one." Finley stated.
"Wait... look." Ty interrupted the two, pointing at the figure. It had stopped, and was
actively fishing around in a pocket, "Zombies do NOT make use of their pockets." the wolf
ventured.
"Are you sure?" Aldo asked, "I saw a zombie carrying around a pint glass."
"There's a difference between not opening a hand and actively putting things into and taking
things out of a pocket." Ty countered, "Look." he pointed to the figure again, who, after a
second, made use of what was in its paw, and a light beam became obvious to the party.
"It has a torch..." Finley noted, watching the focused light shine across the car park.
"SHE has a torch." Jared corrected, "If she's not a zombie, then she's not an 'it'."
"Fair enough..." the mouse offered amiably, "SHE has a torch."
"And while she's standing out there she might as well be a beacon." Aldo assessed, "We have to
get her to come under cover... what the hell is she even DOING out walking around?"
"Maybe she's suicidal." Finley offered, "These kinds of events can do that to people." his
whiskers twitched, "I'm going to go talk to her."
"Me too." Jake spoke up. He climbed down off of the lorrie and helped the mouse down as well,
"Give us some warning if you see any zombies around."
"And call attention to us?" Ty questioned. He received several dirty looks for the comment, but
did not rephrase it.
"They're just going to see if we can get her to come in where it's safe..." Jared noted, "if
she's out there then she's a target... and if she attracts too many zombies, then that makes US
targets too."
"Fair enough..." Ty stated, "but she's gonna have to learn that there's more people around than
her, which means no more signal lights." nobody objected to the comment.
Jared, Ty, and Aldo watched as the mouse and fox crept across the car park moving from car to
car, approaching the lady with the torch even as she meandered in their direction. She noticed
them when they were a dozen feet away, and she casually threw her torch in their direction.
"What in the bloody hell?" Ty questioned.
At that, Jake reached down and picked up the torch, turning it off. Finley approached her and
began speaking; a conversation ensued. All three talked in low, quiet tones and, while Finley
and Jake were motioning back toward the lorrie, the woman, an aging, macaque casually reached
into her pocket and pulled out another torch, turning that one on as well. Finley said a few
more words to her and she shrugged, turning it off. At that, the three returned to the lorrie.
"Cadence," noted Finley, drawing the sheet away from the entrance, "This is Aldo, Ty, and Jared.
Gents, this is Cadence."
"Hmm... I expected a few more of you." the monkey noted flatly.
"And I expected anyone who lived this long after what happened out there to have a little more
sense about her." Ty fired back in a neutral voice.
The monkey laughed at that, "Oh... you've got a bit of spirit in you, boy... I can see how you
managed to keep going." she coughed after her laugh, and groaned as she slowly climbed up into
the back of the lorrie, assisted by Finley and Jake, "So tell me... why do you think I'm so
senseless?"
"You're walking around shining light all over the place... one of those THINGS could see you,
and then it's all over." the wolf stated, "Is that so hard to imagine?"
"Perhaps those 'things' don't see like you or I, and light doesn't matter." Cadence countered.
"Or maybe they DO." Ty responded, "is that a risk you're willing to take?"
"I'm an old lady, boy... wandering around in the dark is risky-- I could fall and break a hip.
THAT danger I'm sure of... but without some kind of teleological proof that light isn't more
useful to me than them, I think I would prefer it."
"Teleological?" Jared asked, a blank expression on his face.
"It's a scientific term... we went over that in chemistry class a few weeks ago." Jake smiled.
Finley turned on the torch he had picked up off the ground and shone it at the monkey, "Dr
Cadence VanHousen." he read on a name tag clipped to her white coat.
"Correct." noted the monkey, "But it's pronounced 'Van-Hoo-Sin'... not 'Van-House-en'."
"You did a paper on molecular alterations based on physical modifications made by a quantum
particle loop." Aldo spoke up.
"Oh... you read that, did you?" the monkey questioned, sounding bored at the recognition.
"I wrote my thesis on it." the orca announced, awe evident in his voice.
"Hmm... then you're younger than you look." Cadence stated simply.
"Wow... we have a lot of scientists here." Jared asserted.
"There must have been a convention in town." Jake smiled.
"What were you doing out on the street, Dr VanHousen?" Aldo asked.
"Experimenting." the monkey answered, as if it were so obvious an answer that he should have
already known.
"Experimenting?" Finley questioned, "I'm afraid, madam, that you're running a very dangerous
experiment if you propose to subject yourself to those... things." and he turned his torch off.
"Very dangerous experiments... isn't that the norm for you, Dr Weatherburton?" Aldo mumbled.
Nobody acknowledged it.
"Yes, well... what I might learn could be more valuable than my own life." Cadence answered in a
very casual, matter-of-fact tone, "Is that not the greatest calling a scientist could hope for?"
"At least she speaks a little bit of sense." Ty commented, reaching across in the darkness to
take the torch from Finley before retreating further inside the lorrie's cargo space, "Would all
of you join me over here for a minute, please?"
Several shrugs went around in the group as they exchanged glances, and Cadence spoke up, "That's
a fair enough request. You heard the boy... let's go."
"Oh... I meant just THEM, Ms VanHousen." Ty explained.
"Doctor." she noted, and sat down, "Very well... I'll just keep a look out, shall I?"
"Brilliant." Ty answered flatly, and waited until everyone huddled around him.
"So... what?" Jake asked.
"I think we need to lose the daft bird." Ty explained, "She's obviously a few beakers short of a
full lab."
"while I appreciate the metaphor, Ty," Finley began, "I would like to point out that she is a
physicist, and isn't likely using any--"
"Just... never mind." the wolf put his paw over his face, "She's just not a good idea to have
around... she's going to end up getting killed, and she'll get us killed with her."
"She needs help, Ty... just like any of us. We can't turn here away because she's
inconvenient." Aldo countered.
"Yea... I mean... would you suggest that we leave one of US behind if it stops being
convenient?" Jake asked.
Ty didn't answer at first, and there was a quiet pause. When he finally did speak up, it wasn't
to address the fox's question, "Alright... she stays... but she'll have to contribute."
"Oh, I most certainly will, young man." Cadence spoke up. Ty's face went blank, and his ears
drooped for half a second, "Oh, don't look like a kicked dog... of COURSE I heard everything you
were saying... if you really wanted privacy you should have had ME go into the lorry and you
talk out here... enclosed structures heighten volume and help carry sound waves further... it's
very basic physics... I take it they didn't teach you that in nursing school?"
"Nursing--" Ty paused, "I never said-- how did you--?"
"Ah... the young generation of the future... so eager to succeed but so blind to the world." she
chuckled, grunting and groaning as she got up from her seated position. She limped her way
over to the group and took two of the blankets from the floor of the lorrie and set them under
herself as she sat down, "You know... I have half a mind to tell you five are the mad ones."
"Or she has just half a mind..." Ty mumbled under his breath.
"Enclosed structure... volume amplification... remember?" Cadence said to Ty. The wolf's ears
reddened.
"As I was saying..." she continued, taking out several torches from her pockets
"Just how many of those things do you--" Aldo began
"AS I WAS SAYING--" Cadence interrupted the interruption, taking out one torch per person, "I
would suppose (correctly, I assume), that you mean to enter the mall. I would propose that you
change your plans slightly, as I believe you plan on going in the morning."
"It's the best way to do it." Ty answered, "We can see better."
"But those things might see better too." Cadence countered.
"I thought you were wandering around at night with a torch because you thought they DIDN'T see
the way we see." Jake said to the monkey.
"It's obvious she's not consistent in her logic... hence, she's crazy." Ty added, "So let's
just--"
"Logic... feh... you kids don't know anything of logic these days." Cadence grunted, "No... it
makes perfect sense. I said that I didn't know whether or not they saw the way we did... I am
acting in accordance to what I know for certain-- that I see better with light than without, and
that, if I MUST move at night, I would rather do so with light."
"Well there you go." Ty stated, "We all see better with light... so we wait until morning to go
into the mall."
"Ah... but those things may ALSO see better with light than without... so you will be that much
more obvious in the daytime." Cadence countered.
"She's making my head hurt." Jared stated.
"What she says DOES have some merit." Finley offered.
"Agreed." Aldo acknowledged, "And I'd rather go into the mall at night anyway, like I've been
saying."
"Well that doesn't make it safer... if zombies DO see by light then the torches'll just give us
away." Ty argued.
"I think it's just more right-proper to acknowledge all of the variables. We must make our
decision based on what we know, and not what we conjecture." Cadence replied.
"I feel like I'm in the middle of a science lecture." Jake mumbled to Jared, who avoided
smirking at the comment.
"Would everyone come with me for a minute please?" Ty spoke up, and moved to the opening of the
lorrie, keeping Cadence to the back.
"Ah... so you can learn. Good." the monkey smiled.
"Listen..." Ty noted as he formed up the huddle, "She is only going to get us killed. If she
wants to treat this like a science experiment then I don't want to be a lab mouse."
"Pardon--" Finley spoke up.
"Oh... right... test subject." Ty tripped up, then took a moment before continuing, "I think she
needs to learn a little about how being part of a group works. We tell her what we're going to
do, and she'll have to live with it... otherwise, we let HER to into the mall to get things for
us, and if she attracts zombies then she won't be near us when she does it."
"You're talking about using her as a distraction." Aldo objected.
"No... I'm talking about sending her in to do the supply gathering for all of us if she thinks
that's what's safest to do." Ty answered, though the tone of his voice and the wavering
expression on his muzzle hinted that Aldo might have been closer to the full truth.
"We could all go." Aldo stated.
"And we could all die." Ty countered.
"Or, we might succeed, and Cadence's plan ends up being worthwhile." Finley offered.
"Alright... well... the way I see it, we can just wait til morning and make her wait... or we
can send her in now to gather things for us."
"We have a fall-back shelter... maybe we can go in now... the zombies might not see very well in
the dark either, and we can go in WITHOUT the lights." Finley suggested, "It's a decent
compromise."
"But we wouldn't be able to see the zombies... that's the whole issue." Jake stated.
"There's always Dr VanHousen's plan." Aldo spoke up.
"Oh..." groaned Ty, "For the love of..."
<END SCENE>
It's that time again, Apoc-Fur-Lypse fans! Group 5 will continue their attempts at survival,
and have elected to go set up a barrier of cars and create a campsite in the car park of the
Lowtown Ratherbig Shopping Mall.
Here is a behind-the-scenes look at the breakdown of the action for this scene.
There was a four-way tie with Finley, Aldo, Ty, and Jake each receiving 1 vote. To determine who got the bonus plot point I did a roll of Luck for each of them, with the highest total winning.
The numbers were thus: Jake won with a total of 15. Finley came in second with 14. Ty had 10 and Aldo came in last with 9, thus, Jake gets the extra plot point. Remember to vote for your favorite characters folks; don't leave it up to dice alone!
The group has to collect enough vehicles to create a reasonable wall.
**Survival (11) to locate easily movable vehicles. At least 3 characters need to succeed on
the roll. A roll of 15+ results in finding a drivable car with the keys still inside.
Jake 4 + trait of 4 _ = 8 FAILURE**_
Ty 9 + trait of 5 = 14 _ SUCCESS _
Finley 0 + trait of 4 = 4 _ FAILURE _
Aldo 5 + trait of 7 = 12 _ SUCCESS _
Jared 7 + trait of 1 = 9 _ FAILURE _
_The group must settle for taking cover in the back of a lorry with the entrance blocked by a
sedan._
The group keeps a look out during the early evening.
**Awareness (12) to look for trouble.
Jake 1 + trait of 5 = 6 _ FAILURE**_
Ty 0 + trait of 7 = 7 _ FAILURE _
Finley 1 + trait of 6 =** 7 _ FAILURE**_
Aldo 0 + trait of 7 = 7 _ FAILURE _
Jared 5 + trait of 10 = 15 _**SUCCESS
Jared sees movement from the north side of the car park.**_
Convince Cadence to get under cover.
**Influence (10) to get Cadence to join the group in the lorrie.
Jake 5 + trait of 5 = 10 SUCCESS
Ty 4 + trait of 2 = 6 FAILURE
Finley 9 + trait of 6 = 15 SUCCESS
Aldo 2 + trait of 2 = 4 FAILURE
Jared 5 + trait of 1 = 6 _ FAILURE**_
Cadence joins the group in the lorrie.
Decide if Cadence is worth keeping or if she's going to be a liability.
**Tenacity (11) with the group acting based on votes for or against.
Jake 0 + trait of 5 = 5 _ FAILURE**_
Ty 3 + trait of 8 = 11 _ SUCCESS _
Finley 7 + trait of 2 = 9 _ FAILURE _
Aldo 6 + trait of 2 = 8 _ FAILURE _
Jared 4 + trait of 2 = 6 _ FAILURE _
Cadence will remain with the group.
Determine the group's next unofficial leader.
**Influence roll, highest wins. Ty gains +1 for being leader this scene.
Cadence 4 + trait of 5 = 9
Jake 1 + trait of 5 = 6
Ty 9 + trait of 2 = 11+1
Finley 2 + trait of 6 = 8
Aldo 8 + trait of 2 = 10
Jared 6 + trait of 1 = 7**
_ Ty is the unofficial leader again. _
Each character involved in this chapter now loses 1 Plot Point for successfully surviving
without a Harrowing Event taking place.
Non-contributing readers, you may vote for your MVP to regain their lost plot point. Anyone who
does not have a character involved in this story arc may vote. You may vote by personality,
contribution, style, personal preference, or any method you like to make sure your preferred
survivor continues to fight another day. The winner of last scene was Jake. Congrats, Jake!
Contributing readers please choose the next direction for the group. Remember, the group does plan on entering the mall.. The ad hoc leader gets 2 votes while everyone else
gets 1.
Option 1: Go into the mall as planned now that the group has a fall-back shelter.
Option 2: Use Cadence's plan the group's foray into the mall.
Option 3: Wait until morning-- it'll be easier in the mall with some sunlight coming inside.
Option 4: Send Cadence away and use her as a distraction for any nearby zombies (with a
successful Tenacity check, target of 9).
Plot Point Opportunity:
Each contributing reader may now spend a plot point if they desire. Any character spending a
plot point can get Cadence to speak coherently and offer up one or more useful pieces of
information that MAY later help the group.
Congratulations to Group 5 on surviving the second chapter of the Apoc-Fur-Lypse! As more plot
points disappear things will get much more... interesting.