[IC] Not Your Average Apocalypse

[The_Full_Spektrom]

"Glad to have you aboard. My name, if you were too lazy to read the last letter, is Zak. That's all you really need to know me by, as there is no purpose of my last name anymore. I was a reporter for Fox News and even CNN before the Keyfalls started. Now, I survive. Me and my pet Sapphron, here, my Bald Eagle. The United States doesn't really exist anymore, so technically, it's not illegal.

Anyway, I am glad you have shown interest in my calling. I have a caravan to meet you at Beggar's Point in two days. It has some supplies that may help. Do not worry, no one else shall be there. I arranged to have it.... cleared within a day.

That is really all the information I have for you at this time. If you wish to send any sort of letters back, anyone within your group can. Just keep the paper weight total under 1lb to make is easy on Sapphron. She tends to fly slower if the weight is too much.

Good luck on your trip, Zak."

As the letter was put down, all eyes turned to your small group reading the letter. It is up to you to make a decision. The rest of the group counts on it.

---

"High Commander Grant, there is a letter from you. It's marked urgent." The page was frantic as he spoke in to the comm system.
"Bring it to me," Grant's gruff voice came back through. During the original Keyfall outbreak, most of the major cities and governments had collapsed from a high amount of Keys. Now, 15 years later, the amount of Keyfalls per day had reduced to less than 10 across the entire planet and governments had been able to be set up. Grant, a former US Marine, was able to form together a vast army of over 10,000 men and claim most of the east coast, save for the Georgia and Florida areas. His border inward stopped at the Appalachians, as it was a natural barrier and prevented too much movement of the armies. Now, with his overall population reaching almost 300,000 in civilians and another 100,00 in military force, even with the small amount of land, Grant's territory, named The United Republic of America, was left alone and his army a force to be reckoned with.
The page entered, clothes messy and hair matted with sweat-- Virginia Summer heat will do that to you-- and handed Grant the letter, waiting patiently by the door for orders.
"You, uh," Grant started.
"Howard, sir. Lieutenant Howard." The page finished.
"Ah. Yes, Lieutenant Howard. Take this letter to General Davis and have him read over it and get back to me."
"Yes sir." And with that, the page took the letter and was gone, closing the door behind him.
"So," Grant spoke to himself, "There's a reporter, and he's recruiting civilians to help his cause. I guess that's just one more thing to keep my eye on."

[MST3K 4ever]

The small group huddled around the opening of the cave as the last words of the letter had been read. There was great discussion about the meaning of the letter. What if it was true? That there was someone looking to organize for offensive gave some in the group hope. Others saw it as a trap to lure people out into the open to be attacked by the Government.

As the debate went on for a few moments back and forth finally a loud whistle from deep within the cave echoed throughout. Some grabbed their ears while others looked at the source of the sound. Chris Ryan stepped towards the opening of the cave and stood in the middle of the group. Chris was somewhat new to the group he had only been with them for a few months, but in that time he had proven himself to be a good source of knowledge and a steadying influence. The group had been under attack by a band of marauders and they would've been over taken but Chris appeared out of nowhere and helped them fight back. He helped turn the tide and was asked to be a part of the group. Chris agreed to stay for a time but only as a member and not as one of the leaders. He said he would rather let his actions guide others into service.

No one knew a lot about Chris other than he could handle himself in a fight, and that he had a good sense of judgement on matters that could divide the group. Other than that he kept to himself and said very little. Chris would pitch in to help without even asking, he never took more than his share of food and in many cases shared more than he ate, and anything he decided always was for the better of the group. Marco the leader of this group often looked to Chris for council, but Chris made it very clear he didn't want to lead this group. He saw himself as a soldier who could help out from time to time and nothing more.

Chris motioned for the note and someone handed it to him. Chris looked it over and then held it up to torch and studied it like it was a rare butterfly. He handed the note back to the person who gave it to him and Chris said, "The note is authentic. The quality of the paper is not high quality it's something you would find as scrap paper. The wording isn't from someone the Government. They mention an Eagle it's a symbol the Government isn't interested in symbols they're much more focused in on something tactile and not abstract thinking. Besides they're mentioning for one person if it was trap they would talk about in terms of a group of us going."

Many within the group nodded and there were others who just sat in silence. Someone from the group asked, "So where do we go from here?"

Another person replied, "We have to send someone."

Chris went back to his spot in the cave and gathered his gear. He walked to the front of cave and said, "I'll go. I have no true connections to this group, but you all have become family to me over these last few months. I would consider it my duty to go at this time. This way if by chance I'm wrong none of you will the pay price for my mistake."

Marco the group leader said, "Go now Chris. Return if you can and remember you will always have a home with us."

The two men shook hands and Chris said, "Take care of one another."

With that Chris set out to Beggar's Point.

Okay Ryan let's hope you know what you're doing

[MarsAdept]

The voice of a man fell silent over the group as he finished reading the letter from the reporter. I was going to call him the reporter. It sounded cooler than Zak. Anyways, could that man read any slower. I had stumbled across an odd group about a month back. We were headed in the same direction so I tagged alone. The group had a man and a woman and a series of orphaned kids. Not all could be attributed to the woman, while some clearly could some were just to old for her. However, I came along and was the second oldest female in the group. I felt like the strange Aunt that no one wants to meet at a reunion. I should probably ditch this group before that man decides to make me his second wife.

Aside from me, the man was the only one who could read and he could not do that very well. He stuttered and mumbled as he went. He had to restart every sentence. No wonder the children did not know how to read. I listened and got the important points, however the whole time I was focused on the bird. I tried to reach out and pet it but it scooted away from me. I tried to slowly reach out for it again and that Bald Eagle flew to a higher branch beyond my reach. From there, it and I just stared at each other for a while. I did not know why it didn't like me. I had no plans to eat it. I just wanted to pet it.

Anyways, as the man finished the letter, he turned and looked at his 'family'. He explained his view on the matter and his wife just seemed to agree. I knew how this group was when I first spotted it. That hillbilly of a man made all the decisions and his wife was the only one who had any opinions that could challenge his. More than once since I have been here have I clashed with that man. Not physically, yet. I tried to teach the kids skills like reading and survival, but he did not want that so he stopped me. His wife naturally supported her husband like a good housewife and that was that. The children had no say ever. Anyway, the man thought it was a trap and that even if it was not one, there was no way they could get to beggar's point in two days. That last part was true. Some of the kids could not waddle that fast but then again the man stopped whenever his feet started hurting so we averaged a few miles a day.

This is where I politely interrupted, "Sir, I can cover that much ground in less time than needed. If the caravan is not already there, I can probably get there before it. If it is a trap, i could see it and warn you off. If it isn't, i could delay the caravan long enough for the family to arrive."

The man gave me a cold look and replied, "No, I will not risk my family on this fool. Trap or not. The keys are dangerous and it is only by own hands is this family stays safe. You wish to go, then go. You are but an unwanted dog anyways." He waved me off.

I smiled. I did not like being insulted like that but it didn't matter. It did not effect me. It was perfectly clear to me that he did not want me to interfere with his control over his family anymore. I collected my things and left the camp headed to Beggar's point. I felt bad for that group. If what he believed was true, if he could believed his own dogma of being the one thing keeping his family alive, then the day he kicks the bucket, his family will be soon to follow.

I put them behind me. They were not kin to me. After I got over a hill and out of sight I started running. I took up a pace that could carry me easily for miles. Beggar's point was waiting for me not far ahead.