As Henry and Jayden were walking at the side of the road they finally spot a car in good condition stopped at the other side of the road, about 50 feet away from them. The two run towards it and start examining it. "Man this car is looking good." Said Jayden as he was walking around it. "Yeah" Let's just hope that it has gas. You remember what happened to the last car in good shape that we found!" Said Henry as he opened the car, grabbed the dead guy from the driver's seat and threw him outside. The car was a blue 1969 Pontiac GTX, with some very nice 14 inch American Racing wheels and a powerful 440 cubic inch V8 engine.


"How's the fuel tank?" Shouted Jayden from the outside as he opened the trunk. "It's great! Three quarters full!" Said Henry as he looked at the fuel indicator gauge. "Great! Then were rollin'!" Said Jayden as he closed the trunk, opened the door and sat on the passenger seat. "Did you find anything in that trunk?" Asked Henry as he turned his head right and looked at Jayden. "Just some food. But by the looks of it, it was perishable. I threw it away." Said Jayden with a dissapointed look on his face. "Shit! Some luck huh?" Said Henry as he slammed the dash with his right hand. "I wonder if she's okay. I really hope well find her." Said Henry with the look of a sad man. "Don't worry man! We'll find her. I'm sure she's okay. You said she's a smart girl." Said Jayden putting his left hand on Henry's right elbow and trying to console him. "I hope you're right! I'd hate to think we've made it all the way here for nothing." Said Henry as he twisted the ignition key. The engine started to rumble as Henry was revving it. He then turned the car around and continued on the road to Seattle.

Well time was getting on and maybe that something that this group of strangers could possibly agree on, Katrina had of course calmed down a lot and lowered her weapon once she realized she overreacted to nothing really. The only biggest threat it seemed at the time was the kid shooting one of them but Katrina was not one to argue at the given opportunity to actually not get a shot by a kid after surviving a whole year, It was tough and by no means something to be exaggerated as no doubt everyone else was in that same boat and did what they had to to keep going for this long.

Katrina listened to the group carefully taking note, Carter seemed to be the one to take the lead in trying to calm the situation further with some introductions and one after another they did just that. But time was still moving on and along with the noise that has been created by them, They needed to find shelter or at least somewhere better than a open road to rest, well that is if everyone would actually be able to trust one another enough to actually get rest or sleep. It was clear even after the introductions that there was still a little uneasiness within the group but it was understandable, All that was left really was for Katrina herself to speak up.

On one side she didn't really want to tell all but on the other hand it was so great to meet other people who at least somewhat didn't want to massacre each other over supplies among other things. Before Katrina could do so however Niko had spoken up once more, The guy seemed to be really good at annoying Clover and his attitude sucked but if he had been by himself all this time then maybe he had forgotten what companionship was, He came across as a bit of an ass to Katrina but he did have his point of the fact they all needed to get moving. But it did spark of another response from Clover, the kid had attitude and one hell of a mouth to boot as her comeback was brilliant as the last comment made Katrina couldn't help but smirk at the teen as she got in the truck that the Puerto Rican assumed belong to Carter and Clover. "I like her" Was all she said quietly to no one in particular.

It then came to the point though as Carter pointed out it was a 'last chance to share' And although she still didn't trust any in the group as of yet it would be foolish to try and survive the night out here alone and the chit chat had helped her make her mind up which vehicle she would get in, She looked towards Carter. "Name's Katrina.. Lets just say I came from Jersey when all this happened and have been fighting to survive ever since, I could say more but I agree we need to move." Katrina simply replied before remembering something "Give me a moment" She then added as she went back behind the car she was hiding behind earlier and proceeded to wipe her weapon on the permanently dead corpse to clean it a bit before standing back and sheathing her weapon in its sheath on the back of her belt, She would have to give it a second clean once they found somewhere safe, picking up her backpack, Katrina placed it on her shoulder and moved.

She then proceeded to walk over to the truck that had Clover in and spoke up to Carter as she walked past him to his truck. "If you don't mind I'm riding with you cowboy" She said smiling hoping it lighten the mood a little bit before she opened the front passenger door and climbed into the truck placing her backpack on the floor and did up her seatbelt she and closing the door shut behind her, Katrina noticed Clover sitting in the back but she refrained from saying anything to her for the time being, Still the teens last comment was still a little amusing to her.

Shudder He was pretty much frozen solid in his clothes since he hadn't yet found a place he could stop and dry off. He just didn't care anymore. All he could do was continue walking down the highway. For his entire day he would mumble mindlessly to himself, not even sentences... just random words. "eggs, milk, ammo, Julie, bars, tennis." He was going completely insane. He shivered in his wet clothes, before shakily pulling his backpack from his shoulder and opening it. there wasn't nearly enough food left, and he would soon have to start scavenging for some more food and supplies. He was tired... no exhausted. He sighed, before continuing his mindless mumbling. The croaking moans of a walker were now familiar to him. The sound lurched into his ears and he peered around. One of them was stuck beneath the wheel of a truck. He sighed, before reaching for the bat stuffed into the top of his backpack. He brought it down on the trapped corpse's head several times until he was done.

He peered inside the vehicle, and tried the handle. It was open. He swung the door open and out fell a dead woman. But she was dead. Her brains covered the windscreen. He pulled the corpse out and searched the interior. Open the glove box he found very little. A few pain killers and cookies. He sighed but was grateful. Closing the truck door he sorted his backpack out and continued down the highway.

After a while he had to rest. This could be the end for him. It wasn't exactly safe to take a nap here, but he couldn't do anything but drop to the floor and lay against the tarmac. His eyes pinged open at the sound of voices. He bolted upright before skimming to the side of the road and finding some cover. People? They had guns. They weren't safe people. But then again... he gripped his own shotgun. So did he. He decided that it would be best not to startle a group of people with guns in times where the dead came out from nowhere. He held his shotgun up in the air and came out. See? He was totally insane. But then again, he had nothing to lose. "Hey there! You folks friendly?" He made it clear that his shotgun wasn't intended to threaten them. It wasn't like he had any choice either. He needed some help.

As Niko was about enter his truck his head snapped to the right. It was dark but he could still make out the figure that began to talk. Without even hesitating Niko took his rifle and flipped the safety off and pointed it at the mans head.

Is this dude a fucking idiot, Niko thought. Approaching a group while flailing your weapon and make loud noises to attract walkers was not smart. Niko thought of all the choices ge had. Blowing the dudes brain out of his usless skull was a good idea.

Niko began to speak. "Drop your fucking weapon and kick it over to us. Then get the fuck on your knees and put your hands on your head."

"Make a wrong move and ill blow that usless fat you call a brain out your fucking skull."

Niko shouted "DO IT NOW"

Niko kept his aim on the mans skull, ready fire if he chose to do something stupid.

Ignoring the threat, Mark took another step forward. "Ive got food, I just need a ride." He took a further step forward before stopping. "I dont want any trouble." He gripped his shotgun. "And you sure as hell aint getting my gun." He sighed. "Just calm down, I have food... you can have some... here." He threw the backpack down and fetched out a few cans, showing them to the group. "Like i said, i dont want any trouble. I just need a little help." He took a step back. "...or is human nature a thing of the past now...?" He frowned, before making eye contact with the man who had threatened him. "Considering you JUST told me to lower my voice, shouting and cussing is a little hypocritical dont ya think? hell... youre making more noise than a baby boy..." He sighed. "I'll ask again... are you guys friendly, or do i need to pack my shit up and keep walking?"

Niko started to get angry, the idiot obviously couldnt see he was outgunned, and that niko had more range. Niko sighed, he may have to shoot the idiot.

"Last fucking chance, if you take another step I fire. I dont wanna hurt you, but do what I tell you. You got five seconds, if I reach the 1 second mark and you arent on the ground I will fire."

Niko took a deep breath and re-adjusted his aim, he began to count down hoping he would listen."

Mark sighed. "Go ahead and shoot me. At least I wont have to live in this world a second longer." He took another step forward into a better lit area. "But just let me say this, do you really want the blood of a man asking for your help on your hands?" he was silent. "Im telling you again. You aint getting my gun. Im also telling you. I dont want any trouble. I just need some help." He stuffed the shotgun into the bag on his back barrel first. and folded his arms. "Are you gonna give me a hand? or can i just keep walking?" He was silent at that point.

Clover shifted uncomfortably in her seat. Apparently talks were going better than expected, especially if Carter had allowed the woman inside the truck. The sound of the door opening had startled her but now that the initial shock was over and Katrina had firmly taken her place, something else was bothering her. That seat she was in belonged to someone else.

"What's..." She'd been inside the cab for a while now trying to keep quiet and to herself that when she finally opened her mouth, the word came out as a whisper. Closing her eyes, she shook her head and tried a second time. "What's your name?"

Clover closed her eyes again as she waiting for the woman to speak, hoping that she would answer correctly...

...Skylar...Skylar...Skylar...

Maybe if she repeated the name over and over in her head, that's what she would hear.

"Drop your fucking weapon...!"

Clover's eyes shot open and she twisted around to look outside. Most of the conversation being exchanged between everyone left had been muted to a point that she could only understand a dull mumbling of words. However, Niko's yelling and what he was saying put her on edge immediately. She tried to make out who he was talking to until another new face with a shotgun walked past her window toward the three men.

"You've got to be kidding me..."

---

Carter stepped away from his truck just as he was about to climb in and drive off only to see one more stranger invite himself to the party. Another young man as far as Carter was concerned, every thing was younger when compared to him. He wore warm thick clothing that seemed in surprisingly good shape, not to mention the gear he was carrying around seem... full. This man was clearly alone and seemed to be doing rather well by himself. More importantly, it was almost immediately clear that he was no bandit. He had on everything he held dear, that much was clear. Furthermore he was outnumbered and if he tried to kill anyone, he'd quickly find himself in a puddle of his own blood. No... this man wasn't a bandit. In fact, considering the group he found himself in, the plus one may be the last thing they needed to round off a solid team.

Niko, although somewhat unpredictable, had at least some apparent knowledge of firearms. His possession of a working vehicle gave him more value than anything else. With more space in the back, they could double the amount of loot they carried back during runs. Sure, he may have to rip out his radio and speakers but other than that, the man had his use. Ryan had proven earlier that he could at the very least handle walkers up close and personal with any assortment of melee weapons. In the new world, knowing had to swing a crowbar maybe universal knowledge but some people still relied on firearms instead. Stealth was important and Carter knew Ryan was only two steps away from becoming invisible. Then there was Katrina. The woman had surprising charm even if she did seem a bit jumpy. However she too knew how to handle her own and as if to add a cherry to Carter's desert, she carried with her an axe. To round her off, she had a disarming voice. There was a hint of Spanish tongue and with the looks she brought to the table, she could get into the mind of any man and leave him defenseless. It was a skill that other men didn't have and one very important to their party. Of course the same skill was a double edged sword but he was sure everyone would keep in line. As far as Clover and himself was concerned, they both had survived with just each other for many months now. More faces just made things easier on themselves.

"5......4....."

Carter turned toward Niko, his rifle raised with the intent to kill. It was a noble effort, especially after the debacle he'd created for everyone earlier but they didn't have time to hold anyone up anymore. The last light of the sun was going out, the remaining slivers of orange and red disappearing in the sky. If they didn't leave soon, they were going to have trouble getting to safety later without attracting a horde of walkers with the noise from their trucks.

"3.....2....."

He quickly stepped in between the rifle and it's intended target and put his hand up in front of Niko, shaking his head slowly so he'd lower the gun.

"No." He started before turning around to face their new friend. "Listen, I've run into too many new people to give a fuck about anyone else. I'm tired and it's already late so I'm giving you two choices and one chance." A small drop of moisture landed on his left hand. Carter looked down to see the small bead of liquid quickly disappear. "You can either join us as we seek shelter, or whether this storm by yourself."

The word storm held more than just one definition to Carter. The new world was a storm and to fight it alone was suicide.

"If you intend to join us, then you'll have to convince me why we should keep you. A few cans of food and a loud mouth isn't isn't going to cut it."

Mark smiled. "Now here's a man with some sense." he slapped his hand on his knee. "I just need a ride, and i'll be outta your hair, unless... you know... you needed some more company...." He looked down. "Been on my own for this whole thing you see..." He sighed. "I... dont have any special skills if that what you mean... I... I guess you'll just have to take my word." He looked in his bag. "You can have some of the food I have left if this doesnt work out... for.... your troubles..." He snapped his fingers. "Aha... ive also got about 50 rounds for that rifle sonny jim was pointing at me a second ago. you can have them. I dont need them... along with some other dead ammo I dont have the guns for." He thought about mentioning the fact he had escaped Washington state prison... but he decided against it.

I know, crudpost is crud.

Meanwhile: Nisqually Winds Mountain house; Mt Rainer, Washington:

Mr Cunningham walked out the front-balcony of the service-center/chatue, and breathed-in the surrunding landscape.

Racked behind his neck was a rifle, one of those blackpowder revolver jobbies. He yawned. and peered through a spotting-scope mounted to the railing.

In front of him, laid a seasonal-road... seasonal had it been kept under maintnance. These days it was not, and he would have to wait even longer for the winter snow to clear and the mud to dry; he could just walk, but then he'd leave most of his things behind.

On the road was crawler, one of the many shamblers he'd run-over while driving here, or had been crippled when he decided to sacrifice a building to a gas-explosion to thin the local population. No matter how they came here, the winter-thaw and mud had slowed their approach to such a point that he could easily dispatch them... provided he was ready for it. Besides, this broke the monotony of being apparently the last man on earth... he chuckled at the idea of him being a 'man'... he was just a kid, now a few years older.

Zooming in on one, he saw one of the first horse-flies spring out of dormancy, buzzing around its head with impunity, crawling in its nose, laying more maggots, and crawling out, basking in the sunlight, then finding another place to nibble on...

Three years ago: West Coast Armory Indoor range; Bellvue, Washington:

"Hey, 'eagel-eyes' if you're so great, why not hit that fly?"

Back at St Clarence academy, his attention to detail, straight-laced attitude, and minor indian heritage, had earned him the derisive nickname 'Eagle-eye'... they were on the target-range with a few classmates, trying-out for the local indoor gun-range with air-rifles in the mid-july heat, the AC broke-down and with two dozen bodies inside a confined space things heated-up quick. A fly was becoming quite a nuisance and landed on one of his classmate's targets... hence the challenge...

Robert Cunningham, wasn't really sure he could hit such a small target, it was smaller than a bullseye at those ranges, it also moved... even then, he sighed, let all the air out of his lungs, took a half-breath of fresh air, and then held it as he waited, watching and trying to predict the random movements of a creature whose brain was the size of a hang-nail...

Now

A shot rung-out, nearly deafening Robert. The fly had stopped just on the left brow of the undead creature when he had pulled the trigger... Checking through the scope, he noticed the hole in the woman's skull was about a quarter-inch too close to the bridge of her nose to have made it...

"Dang, I missed again. Looks like your race won't go extinct this year, little fella. I was always more of an Ip-sik shooter, anyways."

Carter looked the man over one last time. He seemed capable and the ammo was a nice trade although he wasn't so sure giving it all to Niko was a good idea. However, beside Clover who was still just beginning to grasp the concept of using a rifle with a scope and how to use it effectively, Niko was the only other one who seemed to have previous experience... at least he hoped. Like he tried to convince himself earlier, the man had his uses and the rifle was one of them.

"Give him half of the rounds and then decide who you're riding with." With that he began to limp back to the driver side of his truck and climbed inside. That was all he could do now to ensure their new friend was trustworthy, It wasn't much but they didn't have the time to nitpick all the details like they did with Ryan. They had to leave. Within a minute, the truck roared to life as did the gas light reminding him that his fuel was low. According to maps he'd read earlier, the safest place to stop next was Camp Thunderbird only a mile or so down the road and it was as far as he was willing to push his truck with it running on fumes.

Putting the truck into drive, he waited for the man to make a decision.

I think i'll ride with you my friend. He picked his backpack and satchel up and made his way over to the truck. Handing half the rounds to the man who had threatened him before, he muttered to himself quickly again. He got into the truck and smiled. "Thank you my friend. I owe you..." He was silent for a little while. "maybe god is still around somewhere." He smiled again. "The name's Mark. But like you said, its getting dark... we should move on." He sighed and rubbed his head. "I've... kinda been around here for a while." He thought about prison. "... you might have already thought about this, but camp thunderbird is just up ahead. I passed it on the way down here... there's plenty cars there, you could siphon some fuel. I guess you could say I was local. But yeah. Camp Thunderbird is pretty safe."

Niko sighed, what was he doing, pointing his gun at a man who justed wanted help. He slung his weapon around his back and made his way too his truck. As he opened the door he looked at the man and took a deep breath.

"Sorry, im a bit jumpy alot has happened today. If you choose to ride with them I completely understand. Ill be following you Carter, you know these roads better than me."

Niko opened the door and got in his truck. He put the keys in, he was ready to leave

There was a few minutes of silence in the truck, Katrina dimply didn't want to aggravate the girl after all she had just gone through but Katrina could understand her jumpiness and she to was a bit jumpy and it felt strange being with people once again and in a strangers truck, back in the day before this her father would of gone ballistic over such a thing. The guy's seemed to be sorting themselves out and the Puerto Rican relaxed back in the chair for a moment closing her eyes, sitting down right now felt like heaven.

Eventually the silence was broken when clover whispered something to her, But before Katrina could ask her to repeat the young teen actually cropped up the question of asking her name, Of course she caught her name because the teen went back into the truck before Katrina could say a single word. She sat up a bit opening her and smiled looking at the girl through the mirror. " My name's.....'Drop your fucking weapon'...!" right in mid speech there was a sudden commotion outside the truck.

Katrina didn't even notice another guy turned up and it made her worry inside as she shot up looking intently out the window to see Niko pointing his weapon at a new arrival with a shotgun turned up. And like they planned it "You've got to be kidding me..." Katrina said but right exactly the same time as clover, Scary and amusing all in one as the two girl's quietly watched the situation as Carter turned diplomat once more, The situation was tense for a bit but he seemed to get through to the other men including putting himself in the line of fire, A brave man the seemed to be but never could one judge a book by its cover. Soon enough people starting getting into vehicles as they got on the move, Once more Katrina relaxed into the seat once more with a smile on her face. " How do you do that?" She asked Carter.

The man last mentioned was now leaning on a tree by the road. He had been walking for a while now, and his face was red. He takes one of the water bottles, and after taking the cap off, chugs the whole thing down. After tossing it away, he gets off the tree and starts walking down the road again. After a good hour of walking, he stops. He swore he heard the sound of a car door closing. After a while, he shrugs, and walks over to the side of the road to rest. He takes out a piece of venison jerky from a bag in one of his vest pockets, and nibbles on it.

Matt nodded once and started to turn back towards the camp, snapping back to the side when he heard a voice.
"And just why would you do that?"
He asked quietly, his rifle angled towards the man but not raised. Matt berated himself silently for allowing the man to creep up on them. At the same time, he was impressed at how quiet the man was.
"By the looks of you, I take it you're that poor sap they beat up and robbed a little while ago?"
He asked.

Nero

Nero drove quietly as the wind was coming through windshield and hitting them both, he sighed as he looked over at Shawn who was huddled over to the side staring off into space. Now that he had time to think of his actions perhaps he had been a bit too hard on Shawn back on the road, he was just a kid and he smacked him across the face like and insensitive prick. Even though Shawn had to learn how the real world was now, beating it into him was not the way that Nero wanted to show him, he had let his anger get the better of him and that worried him. It just seemed like the longer he went on the less control he had over himself when it came to emotions and critical situations. Nero was losing it, the solid rock he once had been was cracking more an more the longer this world remained a place of death. Nero did not fear death as much as he feared what might happen if by some chance his mind were to just snap. To become what he had long fought against, his very enemy becoming his closest friend, that was something he just didn't think he could become. Yet the old Nero would have never smacked Shawn like that when he was struggling just to keep himself together, was he becoming a monster now himself? What could you do when all your memories seem to fade away, and in your mind your hope is gone and you have no more good thoughts to keep you sane? Had that man who attacked them been a good man before all this began?

It was easy to believe that the men who stole and killed others were like that even before this happened, but when you force someone to survive in a world like this, kill who they love and drive them to the point of desperation... even a good man can become bad. This is what Nero feared for himself, that his hopelessness and his emotions would drive him to a point where he did not care anymore what he did to others, that like the man on the road would just kill them and not even give it a second thought. Looking over at Shawn Nero reached his free hand over and placed it on the boys shoulder and squeezed, slowly he brought his head up and looked at Nero with red puffy eye's, had he been crying the whole time in silence?

"I'm sorry Shawn about what I did back on the road, I let my anger get the best of me, it does not make it right my apologizing but... even though you think I am strong I am not as strong as you might think. This world has taken its toll on me too, and even I question if there is any point in continuing on when I hold no hope that his can ever end. I am not one to share my emotions or things about myself, but perhaps that is also why I hold so much anger within myself, I was lonely before this began because I was too stubborn to share my life with the people I loved, even my son."

Nero averted his eye's as they were tearing up slightly, he held the tears back however unable to let himself ever cry in front of someone, Nero then felt a hand on his own, looking over Shawn had put his hand over Nero's on his shoulder. Shakily Shawn spoke as he sniffled a for a couple seconds:

"My life was not all that much better, my father and my Uncle I loved them with all my heart, but we did not always get along or see things eye to eye. They loved me but they couldn't accept who I was, they always wanted me to be more like a man like they were. I couldn't tell them a lot of things about myself because of that, I spent most of my time alone I didn't have any friends. When this happened... I don't know everything just... seemed to stop for me, all the things I had hoped to do... gone. I was lost from the very start and now I can't say I have found any footing. However... when you slapped me I began to think that perhaps, its time to start growing up and stop crying, crying did not help me when that man was attacking me. He just kept coming as if it urged him on, I am going to try to do better I promise you."

Nero looked over at Shawn as he gave his shoulder another squeeze, he had strength in him and that was always a good sign, returning his eye's to the road Nero looked ahead and to his surprise he saw a large group of people, they seemed to be getting into trucks.

"Oh great not more people..."

Nero had no real intention of stopping even for a second with that many people in one place, not after the last time, instead he quickly switched lanes and went to the farthest lane away from them.

"Hang on Shawn were going to go through quick as possible, don't worry."

Nero put his foot on the gas, the speedometer went up to 100 as he came up on the side of the group and in an instant he flew by them and left them in the dust, looking in the mirror they didn't seem to be trying to follow him, that was good at least, but Nero kept the speed up just in case. He had no intention of repeating the last incident.

Carter stared silently at the empty dark road ahead of him, Katrina's question pulling threads of reason out of his head.

"Everybody has a purpose... or a unique set of skills." He was silent for a second, almost as interested to hear what he was going to say as everyone else was. Clover too remained silent waiting for him to say something."Mine happens to be-"

Headlights illuminated the cabin and he immediately fell silent. Through the rear view, the glare of an approaching vehicle could be seen.

"Christ... more people."

Clover twisted around in her seat and tried staring out the back window but couldn't make out anymore than he could. As the lights approached, she could feel the adrenaline pumping into her bloodstream for the hundredth time that day and instinctively she reached for the pistol holstered on her hip. Her hand rested against the cold metal ready to pull if she needed to.

"Nobody do a thing." Carter said, watching the glare grow larger and larger by the second. It was too late for them to do anything. The fact that the truck had already been running with the headlights on had given them away long before they'd seen the approaching vehicle. However, it suddenly changed lanes and within a few seconds, blasted by the group and continued down the road at a blaring pace.

Everyone in the truck took an audible breath of relief. Whoever it was clearly didn't want anything to do with them and giving chase was about as dumb as shooting yourself in the foot.

---

It was only a handful of minutes when Carter spotted something on the side of the road. He slowed the truck down to a crawl and let the headlights bathe the man in light. He was alone surprisingly given that it was now dark and there was light rain pelting him on the head. In any other circumstance he'd continue driving but something told him to stop. He'd ask himself later what that was.

"Clo." He nodded toward the man as they pulled up next to him.

Clover herself was surprised he hadn't already run into the forest and as usual, it made her all the more skeptical. However Carter had always been a better judge of character as he'd proven multiple times today. If he wanted her to check him out, she would. Although she hated the idea of surrounding herself with more people, she understood the concept of safety in numbers. Making friends was more of a necessity now than something she actively searched for.

She rolled the window down, her's being one of only two capable of doing so and pointed a flashlight and her gun at the man. He had a strange face, not one that evoked friendship or trust. In fact she felt all of the opposite emotions. However, it was his attire that really confused her. There seemed to be chainmail covering his head and attached to his waist was of all things... well she didn't know what it was exactly although she'd seen it in numerous medieval films and pictures. As she tried to take it in, a small smile spread across her lips as she thought about how ridiculous he looked. The man himself simply stared back at her with a surprised and confused expression on his face which she returned with her own.

"Lose your castle?"

Glancing over at the truck, then back at the siblings, before nodding decisively. "Good idea, Claire. The truck will provide a bit more cover for us if they aren't friendly, and will give us a quick 'out' if we can't overpower them," he stopped himself, before revising his statement: "No matter what, we need to be going there peacefully. We aren't thieves, and we have to give them a chance in case they are friendly - just like you gave me a chance. I was unarmed, and you coulda' shot me, Chris." He then looked over at Claire. He wasn't fond of putting her in potential danger - or either of them, for that matter - but knew it was necessary for all of their survival, on the off-chance the people at the fire weren't open to talking anything out. "If they're about to attack, get behind the truck or find something solid for cover. I'll try to pin them down with suppressive fire while you get to safety." Getting his keys, he made his way to the old two-door Toyota and started the engine. Taking a deep breath and laying the shotgun on his lap, he leaned out the window and beckoned Chris and Claire to get in.

Niko's truck slowly halted, the head lights of his truck let him make out a man in chainmail. He was rather shocked and wondered what museum he pulled it out off. It was probably a good defese against walkers. Niko didn't care, he wanted to leave, he needed some rest.

Niko then flipped the dome lights on in his truck, he grapped the metallica CD and put it in, he set the volume down to level that could be heard if you were in truck.

There he sat waiting to get back on the road.