Game Post: World War Z.

[mm_lettie]

It is the time of the Great Panic. Even the United States can no longer build up the plague as simply another epidemic - SARS, ebola - and they cannot not deny that Phalanx, the supposed 'rabies' vaccine, is useless against the Solanum virus. The plague has already spread through India and China like wildfire, and the whole of Africa is about to

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Outside New York - Reclamation

[nita_callahan]

Nita Callahan misses the time when she thought the Powers That Be had a handle on things.

The wizardly response to the zombie threat began shortly before most of the world's governments, but not enough earlier that they were able to turn the tide. Earth's Planetary wizard put in place a planetary quarantine the second the extent of the plague became clear, which means that Earth's wizards have been on their own. And their numbers, just like everyone else's have dwindled.

Nita mostly does small-scale clean-up these days, working her way through neighborhoods and towns that were abandoned and overrun by the zombie hordes. Her talent for working with living things turned out to apply just as well to disposing of undead ones. It's lonely sometimes, but at least she's helping.

It's past time to restock her supplies, so she's headed for the nearest still-populated town.

[totellthetale]

"I'm heading into town," Josiah says. "My cupboard's getting a little bare." The presence of the town, Josiah has found, makes for a decent situation for someone who'd rather keep to himself. Most people want to be closer to town, so there are more abandoned homes to choose from, and more zombies get killed, so the area is a little clearer. Not safe - no such thing these days - but getting some sleep without a guard downstairs isn't automatic suicide, either.

[nita_callahan]

"You and me both."

She eyes him as he gets closer, shifting her grip on the pack.

"You live around here?"

[totellthetale]

He pulls up even with her on the road, but keeps a generous distance between them. She's obviously as wary as he is, if not more so, and he doesn't blame her one bit. Some humans can make zombies look positively merciful.

"Yeah," he says. "Off the beaten path a little. Or whatever the hell passes for the beaten path these days."

[nita_callahan]

A quick grin, in spite of herself. "Wherever the Zs have been shambling? Those paths are pretty damn beaten."

[totellthetale]

Josiah looks a bit wry.

"True," he concedes. "Z population's a little lighter in these parts, though. You've probably noticed."

[nita_callahan]

"Yeah. It's a nice break."

She glances at his gun, his hands, his face -- then relaxes. A little. Frankly, if he were planning on mugging her, he would probably have made a move already, and so far he doesn't seem crazy.

"I'm headed for town myself." She swings her bag onto her back again, though she doesn't close the distance between them. "I could use a local guide, if you're free."

[totellthetale]

He smiles, a lot more relaxed and natural than the one he'd first greeted her with.

"I think I can make room in my schedule."

[nita_callahan]

She snorts and tips him a wave.

"Much appreciated. I'm Nita."

[totellthetale]

"No problem," he says. "I'm Josiah. Nice to meet you."

[nita_callahan]

"Yeah, you too."

She gestures down the road. "Lead the way. Is there much of a population in this place, or are we looking at looting grocery stores?"

[totellthetale]

"Mostly still looting," he says as they walk, "but most of the more convenient stuff is pretty much wiped out. You got cooking gear?"

[nita_callahan]

". . . Do a couple of cans of Sterno count?"

[totellthetale]

"Depends. You got anything to put the lentils in?"

He grins briefly. "There was a little canned stuff last time I was there, but it's mostly down to dry goods. You could probably barter to use someone's equipment before you go."

He might offer later. As it is, he doesn't know yet if she's someone he wants to spend all that long with, and probably an offer of care to accompany me back to my conveniently isolated residence wouldn't go down too well with her right now.

[nita_callahan]

Nita wrinkles her nose. "I don't know -- I might be able to rig something up, but I'd rather try to find tin cans or something. I move around too much to make carrying real pots or pans worth it, you know?"

[totellthetale]

"Yeah," Josiah agrees. "That's half the reason I settled. Never learned how to pack effectively."

Josiah is not one of nature's born travellers.