125.0

[encryptedlock]

[UNSC Filter]

[York writes a page number in the journal.]

I'd like to talk about this, if you're all willing. You think we could meet in the hangar in about an hour?

[/UNSC Filter]

[The rest is dictated to the castle at large.]

Well, it's that time of year again. Time to plan Halloween costumes for some, and time to prepare for potential attacks for others. We've had a few over the years, from demons to vampires to everyone's favorite, the brain-eating undead. So tell me, Paradisa.

Do you know what your zombie plan is?

Comments

[ontheclockpro]

Sure do.

What's some good reading material during a zombie invasion?

[encryptedlock]

Let's see. I'd have to say, "Great War Z". It's a total classic.

dictated

[midget]

Is this what you think about in your spare time?

[ She "tsk"s. ] It's not like "zombies" are much of a threat.

[encryptedlock]

Sure, sure. That's what everybody thinks until the zombies attack. Sheer force of numbers will win out over power any time. Just look at Russia.

[midget]

No, that's not how it works. Zombies are mooks. You can take on a million of them and come out without a scratch.

[encryptedlock]

It probably depends on the type of zombie. The ones we've had here before seem to be like you're describing, but--better safe than sorry. Besides, what if they're super zombies?

[midget]

Then kill them anyway. With all the heroes and game breakers in the castle, do you really think they could be a threat?

[encryptedlock]

Only if they're not prepared, see. They might do stupid things like separate from the group or fail to double-tap.

[midget]

Double-tapping wouldn't be effective against so-called "super zombies" anyway.

Take my word for it, I'm an expert on the undead.

[encryptedlock]

Better than not even trying to double-tap. I mean, okay. Why would you ever assume something that's already dead is down for sure with just a single bullet? It's basic survival.

And the normal people may not be savvy enough to hole up, call for backup, and then don't fucking leave your safehouse for any reason until the backup appears.

[midget]

They should at least possess that level of genre savvy. [ Tch. ]

[encryptedlock]

You'd think, right? But I'd put down money that not only do some people not know what zombies are, they don't know what movies are to try and educate themselves.

Action

[inmylight_commander]

[Kat's already in the hangar, journal closed, completely engrossed with her newest project; a tank. This should be evident by the array of schematics on her worktable and the beginnings of a frame she's currently putting together.]

Action forever!

[encryptedlock]

[And York's there pretty quickly, of course.]

Well, well. What do we have here?

Ditto!

[inmylight_commander]

Hm? Oh, this ...

[She seems a little distracted, but once she notices him she'll set the tools aside for a moment.] Just scratching an itch. The plan is that it will eventually be a Scorpion.

[encryptedlock]

Sweet. Let me know if you want another pair of hands sometime, yeah?

[He leans up against a wall.]

So how you been?

[Construction tends to mean "restless", in his experience.]

[inmylight_commander]

We'll see. Right now I'm enjoying the simplicity of myself and the metal.

[She goes back to what she was doing, trying to craft just the right response. York's assessment was, of course, spot on.]

Been alright. Just can't stop thinking about things I shouldn't be thinking about. [People, situations, all the fun of the nightmares and the lingering fallout thereof hasn't quite left her yet.]

And you? Waiting for Carolina? I can't remember if she's up there or not ... [When Kat gets involved in a project, she gets involved.]

[encryptedlock]

For everyone who wants to show up, yeah. Did you see that journal entry I posted about?

[She was the other one who had been involved in the Peace Patrol, after all; her opinion was pretty telling.]

And, well, yeah. I guess I've been thinking a lot too, the past couple of weeks.

[inmylight_commander]

Trust the castle to bring up what we're trying to leave behind. [Expect leave behind wasn't quite right ... she'd never forget the war, or her teammates, never, but trying not to focus on them every moment of the day made existing here a lot easier.]

I haven't looked at the journal for a while, let me check. [She pauses to dig it out from under the pile of schematics and flip it open, leaving greasy fingerprints everywhere, and skims over York's entry and the one her references.]

Hm.

[encryptedlock]

I think that's the point. We can't really leave it behind, because a part of it comes here with us. [He crosses his arms.] Sure hope no one here ever has to deal with it, though.

...Yeah, my thoughts exactly. I want to know what everyone else has to say.

[inmylight_commander]

I'd be leery about anything centralized since the Peace Patrol, but bring in money as a motivator? You're just going to have more problems than solutions.

[Because Kat's own paychecks at home weren't ever as rewarding as taking out a corvette full of aliens. Speaking of which,]

If they do, at least they have us. [Slight, slight pause.] If that happens, I won't let you down. Not again. That's a promise.

York

[youfallback]

Copy that. I'll be there.

[She pauses, before] Want to come over after?

[ontheclockpro]

Oh yeah? Based on the zombie invasions you've had here, is it a good representation?

[encryptedlock]

It's less about the attacks and more about the aftermath. But I could definitely see something like it happening.

[encryptedlock]

I know what you mean. Why do people even care about money here anyway? It's not like it's hard to wish up something valuable and then sell it in town for money, and that's only if you actually want money for something. I'm not going to bother to say "need", because you don't need it here. [That is one of the things that hadn't sat well with him, so he was glad Kat was dubious as well.]

Hey. I'm not worried in the slightest that any failure of mine is a responsibility of yours. For all we know, that dream was always going to fail somehow. That's what nightmares are all about.