#revision 1

[curriespost]

You Would Never Believe It. A Short Story.

[dothackxcross]

Episode Three

Sora's the TERROR OF DEATH?!!

by Micki Chiba

Commercial: WHAT WITH THESE TOADS!! having problems frogs invading your place? 

*Frogs were showing up all over the place, of various breeds*

Let the "terror of death" do it for you!

*A so-called 'Product' related to The Terror of Death was appearing*

By having Haseo doing he horrible screaming it causes him summon the famous 1st phase: SKEITH!! With in seconds Terror of Death kills your invaders and causes them not return!

Call now and we'll send a barbell guardian for free!!

ToD death squad...don't expect anything else...

(putting users in coma..blah,blah,blah..)

.//x-cross starts in 3...2..1..NOW!!!

Pi: previously on .//x-cross..

Reiko: she's using that SAME tech to trap you!!

Javier: I was HIRED to make sure there's nothing horrible to report on the Western Front and that CC Corp is being competent, doing nothing to jeopardize the rest of us on either the Western or Eastern Fronts," *Notes further on* "After that cock-up on my part, I'm not surprised if there's more pressure on the Western Fronts if Grandma Earth and the Netherrealm get it, unless the Infernals stumble on it first, NEITHER are on the 'deserving' list of such Magi-tech anyway...

*kirito applies more the seed programs while checking any missing data*

*Pi apply anti-hack data on R:1s...all of the sudden R:1's go rouge...*

Pi: this is worse..the R:1's got RETROVIRUS!!

*Mikasa take AmuSphere off* 

Mikasa: I was on Mimiru for a minute,but it keeps showing a "system error".. *SYSTEM ERROR SFX*

*it starts the .//root theme *

Mikasa: I'm glad Wiseman responded as he did..he told us to either curate PC or have previous old PC that we had from R:2 or R:3 days... Usagi is brand new I just recently started cause of rumor of Amanda Winn Lee goes on the WORLD....

An: I did, too!!! But, it's a Male PC like I had before. I created it in R:3... helping some group that has a guy named Con-so-whatever!

Mariko:I don't have one yet...But, Wiseman told me that BT had to quit the WORLD cause of Supermodel success.. She recently curated a PC but never got a chance to use it...so,he's giving me her PC to use until BT decides she wants it back.. if not, I'll still use it and he also gave me rare item to use on her..

Mikasa: What are we waiting let's GO!!

*All three nod*

Mikasa,Mariko and An: <<LINK START!!>>

Javier: OH FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!

*On the WORLD*

Julianne: Wow! it hasn't change that since I played R:3 but the Town has...

Usagi: Whoa! you're "blade banshier"?

Julianne: Yeah, that I started with..

*looks at her outfit and notices that it been altered to look female and status says FEMALE*

*Julianne Screams*

Julianne:What the hell did they do to you?!

Usagi: I thought you said you was a Male in this game,but, you're a "Female".....!

Julianne: I was!! T_T this is cruel joke...

Meschelle: What's going on? *looks at her outfit* Wow! BT has great taste for Japanese fashion.. 

*touches her hair* only if she QUIT picking that one from Naruto.. UGH!! I pictured me singing with the TERROR OF DEATH!!

Usagi: I don't blame you for that. I heard rumor that the Terror of Death went after thousand Users to get some stupid information about tri-edge...

*Julianne and Meschelle look stunned O.o*

Usagi: What? what did I say?

Julianne: You supposed that he knows about Sora?

Meschelle: *Shakes her head*No clue..anyways I got to @home to the Guild called "Raven" to meet a PC named Yata...

Usagi: Show you around...

Meschelle: like you always do?

*As the girls leave, suspicious shadow with evil eyes popping out..*

Mysterious PC: Whahaha....Oh my I have a "fan service" and they know the "terror of death"...*chuckles* I'll take care him sooner or later...

*Haseo Logs in and look up where hears the voice*

Wannabe(The Message gets across to The World all in thought-speak): IT'S THE HITMAN, THE HITMAN IS HERE!!!

Haseo: WOULD YOU SHUT UP!! I swear I heard that voice before....I got to see Atoli for one her quests.. (thought): annoying!

* RAVEN GUILD *

Yata: Welcome back Subaru...to the"World".. as you noticed lot things has changed..

Meschelle: Why wasn't allowed to logged into Subaru? All I got is a "SYSTEM ERROR"....

Yata: the answer is simple..Your old PC gone Rogue...It has a "Retro-Virus" when it was updated to Revision four..You should look in your Inventory.. It's Weapon that can restore Old R:1s..Originally I was going to give to Nala, my other account but I think you are more suited for this..

*Looks at the Spear of Engelight* 

Meschelle: Wiseman,I hate PKing..but...If it's for Subaru,I WILL DO IT!! *looks at Yata* Where Is She?

Yata: She's at  Δ Hidden Wondering Knight...and she not alone...( It shows Mimiru and Tsukasa...)

Meschelle: I have couple of friend that can help on that...

*Meschelle opens the Menu,Adds Julianne and Usagi to the Party *

Yata: She's not alone...Two others are there..

*Meschelle Agrees*

*Leaves Raven Guild and head for the Chaos Gate*

Usagi: What in the WORLD going on?

Meschelle: Our PCs are at Δ Hidden Wondering Knight and I need to PK them or RK them....

Julianne: Are trying to be like "Sora"?

Meschelle:.....No...*shakes her head*

Usagi: She has no choice..our PCs are at risk!

*all three of said the keywords teleported to the dungeon!*

*Δ HIDDEN WONDERING KNIGHT*

*Three arrived, Mimiru attacks Julianne*

Julianne: UGH!! *holds her sword against Mimiru*

Usagi: Hold Her off!! I'll use a boost song for you!! *singing Pon Pon PON*

*Julianne get  a boost from usagi and throws Mimiru in air *

Julianne: THAT'S WHAT YOU DID TO ME AS TSUKASA!!

*Then Subaru attack Meschelle*

*Usagi sings pon pon pon to Meschelle and give her boost as she switched her weapon to the Spear of Engel-light..

Meschelle: Sorry, Girl I got to do this....

*HITS SUBARU with holy lightning Shocks Subaru knocking the retrovirus out of her,turning her back to normal....*

Julianne: I got you,Subaru!!*catches Subaru*

*As she Places Subaru on the Ground,She gets attacked by Mimiru!*

Meschelle: Hang on Julianne!! Usagi give me a boost!!

Usagi: OKAY!! *singing SAO opening song*

* As Meschelle get a victory boost, She hits Mimiru with holy lightning,Shocks Mimiru knocking the retrovirus out of her,turning her back to normal..*

*Julianne lays Mimiru next to Subaru*

Julianne: Tsukasa,you're next!

*Just as tsukasa summons barbell guardian,he gets hit with holy lightning shocking him,knocking the retrovirus out of his body and turning him back to normal...*

Usagi: HOLD ON TSUKASA!!  *just as Tsukasa falls,she grabs him*

Julianne: *crying* you're OK!! *holding her other PC* I'm not letting you go! NOT NOW,NOT EVER!!

*Meschelle get thought speak message*

I GOT A GUILD WAITING FOR YOU...IT'S HEALING CENTER FOR OLD R:1's Bring your Old PC's there...Yata..

*Meschelle Looks at the menu and transfers Mimiru,Subaru and Tsukasa to Healing Hands Guild *

Meschelle: there they should be safe...

Meschelle (thought) : Wiseman any healers there?

Yata (thought): Yes,some from another guild and our own healer,Atoli...

Meschelle: Atoli? who's she?

Usagi: We'll find out..*she sees the message* *Usagi Looks disgusted*WHAT!? I was invited to this guild?! I wanna join the "AMANDA WINN LEE FAN GUILD!!" It's a guild for Alluring Songstresses..

Julianne: I got one too!! I wanna Join The Endrance fanclub..

Meschelle: Let's go back and check the new guild...

*the trio exits the dungeon and returns to town*

*HEALING HANDS GUILD*

*Looks in the guild sees beds with PCs in them...*

Meschelle: It's a "hospital" in the game... Now I understand why he gave me this guild..that's my purpose! to help others....

Julianne: Well,we can't allow other R:1's roam free,now can we?

*All three nod*

Usagi: let's log out now and celebrate!!

*Trio Logs out*

*Real World* 

Javier: *Goes to check on Nurse Aki* "Tell me more on the HH group sometime, from the sound of matters some Godlings involved with Medicine might have checked on or approved of the studies personally..

*Yata sends an Email to Javier*

*It states Javier been invited to HH guild*

*Has a look at the invite* Javier: I rarely go directly to 'The World' In-Game rather than In-Person by Dimension Doors, but on the other hand," *checks for current physical conditions* "I better go check the list of spells I've got, just in case...

Mikasa: Wow! that was a blast! won't we do that after work,Ok!

Both: Sure!!

*Few days after Trio played the world, after few R:1 was taken down,Haseo get little info on the Rumor board*

Ryou: Oh God..What the HELL is this!!

*BBS Forum Board: RUMORS*

*RUMOR: Topic: PKer killing R:1s!*

Java: like the topic says..

I3 ATTRICE:R:1's what's that?

SUNSHINE: Are you that stupid? R:1 is short for Revision one and the PKer went grab those ones...

*Checks with the Nurse during the talks* SILVERS:The Old R:1 days had the Old Dot Hackers on board, and they answered the calls to Arms and War back at those days..

MR TROLL: YEAH,right! I heard she killed them!!

IZAYIC: Yo! It's not like here where I lived besides how do you know if  they are true. you are no different than the dollars..

MR TROLL:SHUT UP YOU MORON!!

SILVERS: Seriously wants to know who the hell is MR TROLL talking about..

Haseo: What the Hell are guys talking about?

IZAYIC:We was talking a Pker who kills R:1's...

SILVERS: It's just like some of those days on Britain a few years back, remember all those killings going on with no visibly fatal Piercings going on? Or how London was under attack for that matter?" *recalls those incidents with how Voldemort's lot compounded the Attacks on London a few years back, very well* That's a few years back, granted..

JULIA:I KNOW THE PKER!! It's a girl in a blue dress and have cresent tattoo on the forehead and I saw working with my friend Watanabe!!

*Checks on whomever the Hell some nutcase was aiming at*

Haseo: Watanabe? who's the hell is he? If the PKer after him,I can take care of that for you..

SILVERS: Careful, this guy's not like most of the folks you're used to dealing with...*recalls the likes of Ovan, the Azure Knights and Cubia being among the Non-standard foes...suspecting this one's closer to them than the usual fare Haseo puts up with most of the time*

JULIA: He's a friend of mine's He used have R:1 account and he went to retrieve it back but..I'm afraid she'll PKed him for sure..

Haseo: Where is he located at?

JULIA: He's at Δ Hidden Shining Sword

Haseo: Thanks.. I'm going to head there..

*Logs off from the forums..*

*'Other Me' thinks to self on the following* Javier: I was gonna hire him to go take care of it personally, maybe even join him if needed...

Ryou: <<LINK START!!!>>

*THE WORLD*

MickiChiba: PAUSE!! We'll be right back after these messages!!

*CC corp commercials*

MickiChiba: UNPAUSE!! and We're Back!!

*Haseo Logs in*

Haseo: Who ever it is, I'm gonna PKKed her!

*Haseo Uses the keywords teleports to Dungeon*

*Δ HIDDEN SHINING SWORD *

*As Haseo arrives,he witnesses Meschelle attacking Sanjuro*

Haseo: OH HELL NO!!!*Pull out his Scythe and then sees Meschelle PKs Sanjuro..witnesses AIDA coming out Sanjuro* What the hell is this?

Watanabe: Good Work,Meschelle! I'll take care from here!!*He opens the Menu teleports Sanjuro to the HH Guild*

Meschelle: You're Very Welcome,My old friend...

Watanabe: I'll see you soon,my old friend.. see ya! *Watanabe exits*

*Just as Meschelle exits,Haseo attacks her..*

*A voice was arriving from nowhere in terms of thought-speak*Silver Cross: HALT!!!

*Haseo stops the attack*

Haseo: You know that's kinda rude...you're attacking an R:1?! 

Meschelle : I DIDN'T PK him!! I RKed him! *As Meschelle walks off Haseo attacks her*

*Silver casts AP DO goes to hit Meschelle*

Haseo:HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!!!" *Holds his Spin Gai Gu at Meschelle and then she remembers a familiar technique from an old friend of hers.*

*As the weapon lands close to Meschelle, recognizing Sora's tech..and the past how she met Sora...*

Sora:  So,you kept your promise!

Subaru: Are you Mr. Sora?

Sora: It’s weird to be called “Mister”..but,yes.. I’m Mr. Sora…

Subaru: Let’s get straight to the point…What did you want to talk about?

Sora: Hmmm…

Subaru: If you have nothing to say,then I am leaving…

Sora: Ok,then let’s get to the point..The Key of Twilight…

*Subaru surprised*

Sora: Sounds interesting,does it?

*Subaru leaves* Subaru: There is no such thing…

Sora: Oh,oh..you don’t listen to what other people say..That’s not good..that’s rude..

*opens his Katar* STOP RIGHT THERE!!

*Heartbeat sound effects as she uttered her old friend's name...*

Meschelle: S...O...RA?!

*Heartbeat sound effects continue As Meschelle's words echo's into Haseo's thoughts,Haseo is surprised what she says..*

Haseo: I'M NOT SORA!!  WHO THE HELL IS THIS “SORA”?!  

WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM!?!

I DON'T KNOW THE JERK!! 

WHOEVER HE IS!! 

FORGET I'M OUTTA HERE!!

*As Haseo Leaves towards the gate*

Meschelle: Wait!! come back!!*regrets on saying her old friend's name...* Oh what have I done...*put her head down..*

*Meschelle exits the gate, returns to town and Logs out*

Haseo: Damn! that girl is so irritating!! *Haseo Logs out*

*BACK TO THE REAL WORLD*

Ryou: What's with that girl?? why would she say I'm Sora? I don't get it..*Looks at the letter* Silver wanted me to look at this..*opens the letter and looks at it.. it's written in some type of weird language*

Javier: *gulps* May the Heavens prove this is a bright idea at this time..

Ryou: I Can't read *BEEP*ing  letter!!

Javier: SHIT!! That hit's getting under my skin more than I'd realized, on TOP of my cock-ups for the past few months, what's gotten into me lately?!

*As Ryou crawls into bed, creeps out by thoughts of a mysterious past...*

Tsukasa: Are you coming too,Sora?

Subaru: Are you Mr. Sora?

Mimiru: Sora! not you again!! 

*Ryou falls asleep struggling in his slumber*

Ryou (in thought): Who am I ? and who this "Sora" and Why they KNOW ME?!!

*Spent time Meditating for the rest of the night, dwelling on the happenings*

*shows closes things get pitch black Sora laughing in background*

* it starts dot hack sign ED* 

Tsukasa: Hello,Guys..Tsukasa again and it's getting crazy for us PCs!

Mimiru:what are you talking about,Tsukasa?

Tsukasa: there's a rumor mill going the BBS and it seem to targeting Meschelle and what makes it worse Username by Mastu coming to challenge her on PK contest..

Meschelle: that not what happens,Tsukasa!!

Tsukasa: Next time on .//x-cross..Mastu ready to accept the RK challenge!! See you until then!!

[writingtowardskrikkit]

TYPE UP ALL THE THINGS or Revision 1 of Parts 1, 2 & 3.

She'd been sitting at the corner of Fourth and Main for the last two hours. The sun had started setting only a few minutes after she had arrived and the colors were just becoming those brillant shades that show just before the sun completely disappears.

From  her spot on the bench she could see the edge of the sun, just barely hidden by the building on the right side of the intersection. Just a small bright pin of light as the rest of the sky dazzeled in maroons, red and yellows of every shade. Just as the pin of light disappeared beyond the end of the sidewalk a glint of it flashed off a tear that had fallen from her already red eyes. 

The street was deserted, as it was most days, the buildings that had once been full of life were now crumbling. She'd been alive back in the days when this city was full. When the worst you could come across during the day was a person rushing to their job pushing you down or a car's horn blaring even though they were three feet from you as you ran across the road.

She sat there on that bench, it's edges falling and the once bright paint of gang signs were barely visible now. The last colors dimmed from the darkening sky, few stars shining through the haze that lay over the city as if it was tucked inside a blanket for the night. She stands up then, takes a deep breath and runs her hands over her face, drying the tears that had streaked down her dark brown skin. 

She stoops over, her black hair fell over her eyes, where it was just barely long enough to be a bother, she absently tucks one side of the hair behind her ear as she pulls a duffel bag from under the bench. She grabs the strap and throws it over her shoulder in a move that was well known and then drags out a pistol from where the bag had been. The pistol she slides into her pocket and then pulls another, larger, gun from under the bench before straightening up again. She takes one last look toward where the sun had disappeared and then walks in the opposite direction.

"Jackson!" A movement was heard from the floor above, a slow slide and a short scuffle before feet were heard slipping their way down the back staircase. She stands in the doorway, her bag over her shoulder and the gun settled in her hand, her finger sitting on the trigger, when a face pops out from around the corner that leads to the stairs. The face is darker than her own and a child's but well worn. The black hair stands on end, its pieces reaches a few inches from the scalp. His smile shines through the darkness, the white of his eyes glowing above it.

"Did we get anything? Did we! Did we!?" He bounces down the last stair to the main floor, his clothes hanging on him in dirty rags, a cloud of dust could have been imagined hanging around him if one was inclined to imagine anything. He continues to bounce over to her as she hears more movement from above her and move footsteps tramping down the stairs. "Come on, Loren!" He is pulling at the duffel bag on her shoulder completely ignoring the gun she still gripped in her hand.

"Jackson!" A firm voice echoes down the stairwell and he freezes. He turns quickly towards the stairs, his back rigid and his hands down at his sides. Another male walks around the corner separating them from the noises on the stairs, he's much older than Jackson, his face worn with a couple more years than Loren's. His blond hair is starting to get a tinge of brown in it again from the dirt that hangs around everywhere. He stands up straight, walking toward Loren with a purpose. He stands a few inches above her but she some how manages to look at him and not up at him. Only when he is next to her does she lower the gun and pull the strap of the bag from her shoulder. "We will see, upstairs." He puts a familiar stress on the last word and one could almost see a smile start to form on his face as Jackson practically flies towards the stairs. He turns back to Loren and really smiles, "Loren."

"Iain." She throws the strap of the gun over hear head and settles it on her shoulder, double checking the safety she then moves the gun so it lays at her back and draws an arm around Iain's waist, tightening it slightly in a small hug. Iain returns the gesture, "All safe and sound then?" With a nod they release each other and head up the stairs after Jackson and the feet that had followed him.

On the second floor there are ten kids younger than twelve sitting in a loose circle in the middle of the floor. Signs of their recent activities lay about the floor, pillows, books, punching bags and wooden sticks had been tossed half-hazardly toward the wall in the excitement. Standing around the room behind them stood six more, ages ranging from twelve to nineteen. Three more people were sitting at the three windows that lined the outside wall of the room, twenty-one, twenty-two and twenty-four respectively. 

Jackson sits at the far end of the circle, his usual spot, so he could have a clear view of the door. To his left sat Seth, then the twins, Holly and Henry, next sat Kim, Gloria and sprawled half on his side was Geoff. Mike, Jane and Rosanne finished off the circle of the youngest. Around the room, some leaning against the wall others standing at ease, stood Richard, his twin, Bill, Thomas, Hank, Angela and Luna. At a nod from Loren they all relaxed, Richard, Bill and Angela continued their after shift stretches. Finally, at the windows sat Stella, George and Adam, the oldest except for Loren and Iain. None of them so much as twitched as the youngest gave out a holler when Loren and Iain walked in. Their gazes were fixed on the outside, arms wrapped around the rifles that were settled on the window frames. Iain follows Loren as she walks around the circle of kids giving them each a short hug, and going to each of the older ones with a hand shake. She settles her hand briefly on the shoulder of each of the ones sitting at the windows  and then leads Iain through a door at the other end of the room. Once he walks through Loren shuts the door behind him and turns around to see him tossing the bag on the makeshift table inside.

"I hope this trip was a good one." He doesn't really need to ask, not only had he felt the weight of it but he had already unzipped the bag and was peering inside, but it was a ritual that they went through, it was more closely related to a knee jerk reaction than a thought process. As he leans over the bag and starts pulling things out Loren walked up next to him and wrapped an around around his waist, setting her head on his arm. 

The cans of food he carefully slams down on the table and smiles, a small chuckle escaping, when a cheer comes in from the main room. He counts the cans carefully, turning each can so he can read the labels. He sets the boxes of amo in the center of the table, they will also be counted later, the knives and other small weapons he places to the far left, handling each carefully before setting them down on the table in an order only he knows. He raises an eyebrow as his hand settles on a couple of handguns, their cold metal contrasting with the soft cloth they are laying in. Iain pulls his left arm from under Loren and she slides an inch away as he pulls the guns out, one in each hand, a smile lights up his face as he aims them towards the outside wall. Sighting down the lengths of each in their turn he tests their weight and then lowers them down to his sides. A second later he raises them up quickly, testing the draw rate, smiling the whole time. One of them was a standard glock, everyone above the age of thirteen had one of their own, Loren's is still weighing down her jacket reassuringly. The other is a six shooter, its barrel gleamed in the half-light coming in through the boarded up window. He sets the glock on the table, one side of a frame for the smaller weapons, and before he sets down the other he runs his hand slowly over its side, feeling it's worn design and then he sets it gently on the other side of the knives.

Finally, he pulls out the cloth that had been shoved into the bottom of the bag. He takes more care looking over these than the rest, this is what Loren went out looking for a week ago. Their last move had caused more problems than it had probably solved. Half of the kids in the next room were sporting large holes in their clothes, and two of them had had to abandon their shoes a few hours before they made it to this building because they were doing worse to their feet than the broken ground did. He pulls out one piece at a time and after examining them for any really bad tears, tosses them into different piles on the floor. A few pieces she had picked up to use for patches, the rest were in good enough shape to wear. Iain picks up the bag to toss into a corner, it moves, sending a weight down to the bottom. After setting the bag back on the table he pulls out two pairs of shoes, worn but with plenty of life still in them. He lets out an uncharacteristic shout as he puts them on the table and picks up Loren, giving her a spin around the room. Any traveling without those shoes would have been short and almost useless. When Iain sets her down he sighs, his smile fading a bit. "It was a good one." He looks back at the table and then turns again to her. "This will last us a few months if we can keep moving."

"Keep moving east." She pulls away from Iain and sits down on the floor, leans her back against the wall and stretches her tired legs out. "I saw animal tracks heading that way while I was out, the other tracks were following them, at times it seemed like they had been keeping pace with each other." Iain sits down next to Loren with a slight huff.

"There are some to our west as well, and others passed us heading north not two days ago." A deep breath from Loren. "Some of the kids aren't ready yet."

"They have to be, we have no choice." He put his hand on her thigh, running a thumb over her dirty, holy pants. "We've been through this city, what we haven't found yet will most likely never be found." He slides down the wall a bit, his hand sliding from her thigh to settle on her knee, Loren lays her head on his shoulder and takes another slow breath. "There is danger in going, there is no hope if we stay."

It was the next afternoon that found them strapping on bags to their backs. The night before was spent planning out a route and figuring out who needed what before they headed out. That morning was full of packing, organizing and Loren along with Angela had patched up the worst tears. They were setting up to head out again after only a month of downtime. After the last outing they had been hoping for a few months, if not more, to get the youngest ones better prepared for traveling. But some things never work out the way anyone hoped.

After lunch Iain and Loren had the kids line up and divvied out the bags that they had packed that morning. The lightest bags went with the youngest and as the age went up the weight did.

Jackson is at the front of the line and Loren settles his bag on his back as Iain grabs his own bag. With Jackson's usual cry of "it's too light" Loren laughs and half pushes him out the door behind Iain. Behind Jackson comes his best friend, Seth. His dark hair is becoming a bit shaggier than he usually likes it and his curls are hanging over his dark brown eyes. With a smile he shoulders his own pack and runs after Jackson. Behind him stands Holly and Hnery side by side. Loren turns Holly around and ties her straight blonde hair into a quick braid and flips it over the girl's shoulder as she helps her into her bag, Henry pulls his from the pile and swings it over his shoulder, Henry's hair is trimmed really short but is the same blond as his sister's. Jane and Mike come up next, followed by Adam. Adam slings his pack on his shoulders and helps Mike into his as Loren slides on Jane's. Adam slips his rifle on to his side and leads them outside, he runs his hand through his spiky black hair before ruffling the red hair of Mike and the blond of James, laughter follows them out. With the help of Stella, they get packs on the best friends, Kim and Gloria, each wear their auburn hair in tight buns at the back of their head. Stella follows them out, her pack slung on one shoulder and her rifle settled on the other. Richard and Bill come up through the line next as Loren lifts Thomas' bag for him. the twins match each other in stature, look and smiles, all the way from their brown shaggy hair, green eyes down to their bare feet. Loren reaches behind her and pulls out the new shoes, tossing them at the smiling pair. A shout of glee has Thomas looking back at them as he steps out the door. Rosanne walks up with Luna, they pull their bags from the floor and step to the side so Hank can grab his own. The three of them step out into the building's shadow together. Angela walks up slipping her glock into the holster on her hip and smiles to Loren. After sewing up all the holes and tears that were in dire need, Angela had pulled out a pair of scissors and handed them to Loren. Now her copper hair was almost shaved to her scalp except for a couple inch long patch at the front of her head going to the left. her bangs hang down in front of her eyes as she bends to pick up the bag and then slips both straps over her shoulders and heads out the door. Finally, Geoff comes stumbling up with George at his heels. Geoff's hair was a tangle of almost white blond, he continued to rub sleep out of his eyes as Loren slide his bag onto his shoulders and George urged him outside. George turned back around once Geoff was with the group, his bright red hair was the same as his sister's, Rosanna, both of them wore it short.

"All clear inside." Loren smiles.

"Thanks." With a nod George joins the rest of the group outside as Loren slips her own bag onto her shoulder and slips her rifles strap over her shoulder too. One last look back at the, once again, abandoned building and she walks out the door with the others.

This time they had decided to plan for trouble which always took longer to get ready to head out then any other time, but Iain and Loren had decided they'd rather take the time than get caught off guard again. The youngest kids are standing in the center of the loose group, surrounding them stood the older kids. In a holster on every hip of the fourteen year olds and up held a gun and a knife was in easy reach for all of the kids older than ten. The rest were protected by those who were armed. Iain stands the farthest away, he faces the building, keeping an eye on the kids to keep them from wandering too far away. Once Loren was in sight of all the kids standing at the back of the group Iain nods to the oldest kids and they move closer, their eyes never settling on any one thing. The rest of the group follow and settle into a comfortable crowd with Iain at the front, Loren at the back and the oldest four filing in the empty spaces at each side. another nod from Iain, this one is directed to Loren and he turns around and starts walking them down the street, further east.

The youngest are most excited for the trip. They aren't allowed out of the buildings without supervision and never for more than half an hour and rarely if ever. They are never bored when they are taking a break in their trips because they are always learning, but nothing beats the smell of fresh air, the sun on your face and the miles of space to look at when you're young. Every set of eyes are roaming the broken city that lay around them. The oldest scan them for threats, the youngest for the wonders. Loren smiles at the sparkle in Jackson's eyes. Most of the city is still a mystery to them, not only had they been kept indoors but when they had stepped into the city for the first time it had already gotten dark and the shadows were more menacing as they danced with the lightning flashing up above their heads. Loren found herself kick starting a few of the kids with a sharp whistle when they stopped to hold their faces up to the sun. She could see Jackson withing the small group trying his best to skip over the broken road at his feet.

A few hours later and the group had become one small mass so close together Loren could picture how the city once rolled with people as packed. A crack appears in her smile as she watches the mass move as one, suddenly jerking to one side as someone trips or stumbles on the relics from the past. Iain leads the group again, they had switched an hour in and again a few minutes before. A few of the youngest kids are being carried by the younger teenagers. Loren notices the sour look on Jackson's face as she does another quick head count, his eyes are slowly loosing the battle to stay open, some of his elders are already napping on shoulders. Loren had passed through here four days before looking for supplies. A mile further lay a building in relatively good condition where they planned to spend the night, they continued to push forward.

By the time Loren moved to the front to navigate off the main road and to the house all the kids under ten were being carried by anyone who could carry the extra weight, some took shifts. Loren is carrying Jackson on her back, his warm breath ghosting over her ear as he slept. She finally spots the building and motions to the eldest and as she stands guard with the kids in the shadows Iain brings the others around the building and through it. Ten minutes later Iain is at the doorway propping the door open as the kids pile into the dark, cold building.