C537 Early Wake Up Call

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After hours of relentless combat, Peter stood in the center of the once-infested street, his sword glistening with a grim sheen of blood and entrails. Despite the gruesome scene surrounding him, Peter himself appeared untouched, not a speck of gore marring his form. His clothes still pristine, betrayed no sign of the violent battle that had just unfolded.

The street, now a graveyard for the undead, was strewn with the lifeless bodies of rotting zombies. Most lay headless, victims of Peter's swift and precise strikes, while others bore the scars of bullets, courtesy of his allies providing cover from a distance. The combined effort of Peter's group and the military had effectively thinned the herd, clearing the immediate threat that had besieged the hospital.

The air hung heavy with the metallic scent of blood, and the eerie silence that followed the chaos was only broken by the distant moans of straggling zombies. The once-swarming horde had been decimated, and though more would inevitably trickle in, the majority that had overwhelmed the soldiers was now vanquished.

'That should make things easier for them…' Peter thought as he flicked his wrist, flinging the blood off of Michonne's sword.

Amidst the gruesome aftermath, Peter surveyed the scene with a detached sense of accomplishment. The military, having observed his unparalleled prowess from their vantage point, opened a makeshift gate, and Major Lewis, flanked by armed soldiers, stepped out to greet him. The soldiers looked at Peter in a mixture of awe and disbelief, unsure if the man before them was an actual human being or not.

"Quick, come inside before more of those damn things show up," Major Lewis called, his skepticism from earlier replaced with a clear respect.

With a nod, Peter made his way towards the gate, the soldiers parting to allow him entry. As he approached, Major Lewis couldn't help but express his astonishment, "I didn't think you'd last more than a few minutes out there. I know I wouldn't…"

Peter, with a wry smile, replied, "I told you I'd clear the horde."

The soldiers, sensing the newfound opportunity for safety, quickly scurried to close the gate behind Peter, securing the hospital grounds from the lingering threat outside. As the barricade locked into place, Peter radioed his group, instructing them to bring the cars and drive to the hospital. The soldiers, now allies, were prepared to welcome them inside.

Within minutes, the distant hum of engines grew louder as the convoy approached. The soldiers, their weapons at the ready, allowed Peter's group to pass through the gate. MJ, Sarah, Joel, Tommy, Sarah, Michonne, and Andre emerged from the vehicles, their expressions a mix of relief and anticipation.

"Tommy, guard the cars until we're sure we can trust these people." Peter ordered and Tommy nodded, standing beside their vehicles with an assault rifle in hand, eyeing anyone that came near. "The rest of you feel free to explore. This place might have a working shower, so take advantage of it while you can." He gestured towards the hospital entrance.

As the group entered the hospital grounds, the atmosphere inside was a stark contrast to the chaos outside. Patients, soldiers, and survivors alike gazed at Peter with a mix of awe and reverence. Some whispered prayers, others stared in disbelief, and a general sense of gratitude filled the air.

…

As the group, including MJ, rushed excitedly into the hospital, drawn by the prospect of a working shower after days on the road, Peter turned to Major Lewis. He gestured toward a quiet corridor and, with a nod from the Major, they headed toward a large office. The door swung shut behind them, guarded by soldiers stationed outside.

Inside the office, Peter and Major Lewis settled into seats. The Major couldn't help but sigh, a mixture of exhaustion and relief evident in his eyes. "Thank you for your help. You have no idea how close we were to being overrun…"

Peter shrugged, "It was no problem at all. But I have some questions and I'm hoping you'll have answers for me."

Major Lewis nodded solemnly, acknowledging the gravity of the situation. "Ask away. I owe you that much."

Peter leaned back, studying the worn features of the military officer. "First off, what's the status of the government? Are they still operational? Any efforts toward finding a cure or containing the outbreak?"

Major Lewis's expression darkened. "We haven't received any contact from the government since the outbreak. My guess is that the White House and the rest of DC fell during the outbreak. Im afraid that we're on our own out here."

The silence that followed hung heavy in the air. Peter pressed on, "And the military? Are you all still working as one cohesive force, or is it scattered?"

The Major sighed, his shoulders slumping. "We're fractured and I don't know how many of us are left. I was sent here to evacuate civilians and contain the outbreak, but since we arrived, we've heard nothing. We're running low on supplies, food, and ammo. Every day is a struggle to keep the infected at bay while we try to save as many as we can."

Peter absorbed the information, his mind working quickly. After a moment of contemplation, he looked directly at the Major. "Here's my offer, Major. Join me. I have food, ammo, and a plan to get more. Together, we stand a better chance. What do you say?"

Major Lewis hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. "I can't make promises. I'm still hoping for orders from higher-ups, but I'm not holding my breath."

Peter leaned forward, his gaze intense. "What if I can help with the food and ammo shortage? Will you consider joining forces and working together to clear this town of the infected?"

The Major raised an eyebrow, skepticism etched across his face. "Clear the whole town? That's a tall order, even for someone like you."

Peter smirked, a glint of confidence in his eyes. "How about a deal then? If I help solve your food and ammo problem, then you and your men agree to follow my orders until the town is clear. We work together to clear the town, and when it's free of infected, you and your men can decide whether or not you want to stick around. Deal?"

Major Lewis contemplated the proposal, weighing the risks and benefits. "Solve my immediate problems and we can work together to clear the town. But we need those supplies fast. We won't last another couple days without food. And if we can really do as you say and clear the town without any unnecessary losses, then I'll gladly join you."

Peter extended a hand, sealing the agreement. "You have my word. I won't put any of your men in unnecessary harm, and by the end of the week, this town will be completely free of infected."

As their hands met in a firm handshake, Major Lewis couldn't help but feel a mix of uncertainty and hope. The alliance forged in that small office would either be their salvation or a path to greater peril.

'Hehe, it's finally time to start building our base of operations…' Peter thought as he looked out of the windows, surveying the town outside with a greedy look in his eye.

Suddenly, the Major spoke, breaking Peter from his thoughts. "So, how are you going to solve our supply problem?" He asked and continued before Peter could answer. "I know you have supplies of your own, but 3 cars of food can't feed over 50 patients, 20 hospital staff, 300 civilians, and 500 soldiers. And you certainly don't have enough ammo…"

Peter smiles assuredly. "First, I'm willing to share my supplies if it comes to that, but it won't." He shook his head. "For food, most supermarkets have probably been looted by now, and they wouldn't have enough food for everyone here anyway, so we'll go for distribution centers."

Companies often store a significant amount of their food inventory in distribution centers or warehouses. These facilities are strategically located to streamline the distribution to stores in the vicinity of them.

Peter continued. "I don't have the exact locations yet, but it won't take long to find the closest warehouses. Though when I do find them, I'll need your men to help transport everything. After all, if it's just my group doing it, we'll only be able to bring back a small amount. Ideally, I'd like to get as many trucks as we can and completely empty every warehouse we loot."

The Major nodded his head. "Sure, I'll assign some men to help deliver the supplies. What about our ammo?"

Peter smirked. "Fort Benning is close by, isn't it?"

————

As Peter continued his discussion with Major Lewis about securing supplies, MJ, having just taken a warm shower and changed into fresh clothes, set out to explore the hospital. Her mission was clear, locate the person they had initially come for, the one she and her husband deemed crucial for their group…

Rick Grimes, the former sheriff's deputy who had been in a coma since a life-threatening gunshot wound, was their next potential recruit.

Wandering through the hospital, MJ discreetly searched every room. After a few minutes, she eventually arrived at a room on the fifth floor. Pushing the door open, she found Rick lying motionless in a hospital bed, a silent figure oblivious to the chaotic world outside.

His face seemed peaceful, untouched by the horrors that had unfolded during his slumber. MJ couldn't help but feel a mix of sadness and pity. The man before her had slept through the entire outbreak, his wife was cheating on him with his best friend, and he wasn't meant to wake up for another month.

With a cautious step forward, MJ approached Rick's bedside. She confirmed his identity, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment before she turned her attention to the task at hand. She knew what needed to be done. Peter had taught her a healing spell, a modest yet effective technique to awaken those in a deep sleep or coma.

Checking the surroundings to ensure no one was watching, MJ cast the spell. A soft glow enveloped her fingers as she extended her hand toward Rick. With precision, she tapped his forehead, unleashing a surge of Eldritch energy.

In response to the mystical touch, Rick's eyes snapped open. A sudden gasp escaped his lips as he jolted upright, disoriented and struggling for breath. The medical equipment in the room, powered by the hospitals emergency generators, beeped urgently, sending signals echoing down the hospital corridors.

Nurses, alarmed by the commotion, hurried to Rick's room. Their faces registered a mix of surprise and confusion as they witnessed the seemingly miraculous awakening of a patient who had been in a deep coma for over a week now.

One nurse eyed MJ warily and asked, "What are you doing in here?"

MJ shrugged. "I was just walking by and heard the beeping…"

A/N: 1845 words :)

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