Chapter 25: Ch 25 Decisions and War
The next week we found out Glenn and Maggie were ambushed and taken to Woodbury. Glenn told us everything with Cora's help and Michonne's memory for an accurate strategic planning.
I had a team of combat ready soldiers in basic armor, M4's, and two RPG's. As much of the layout as possible. We hit them quick hard and fast the soldiers all had ear buds. We kept in contact at important times.
They had twelve mags each, there attachments on the rifle were a mix between M203's and shotguns, ACOG scope, adjustable stock, silencers. They had bangers, frags, smoke.
We moved that same night. Quick, quiet, masterful. We got in. With Michonne's help. Killed everyone on the way in. Hid the bodies as we dropped them. We put the clothe bags over their heads and lined them up in the two rooms they had Glenn and Maggie to throw them off after I took their gear into my inventory.
We were quick and methodical. Had a drone follow us and Michonne. Recording everything. Conversations and the fight.
I told them on camera that they were safe that if they come again then we'd kill everyone innocent or not because they chose to follow him and not come to us after the warning I'll be sending. Or some maybe loyalists to him and come back for revenge.
After we treated them we moved out just as fast. Michonne did her thing and fought with the Governor. Then ran out and we ended up staying at the building close to Woodbury where we could easily snipe anyone.
Some soldiers stayed in contact sending reports back to base about movements and convoys. Everything that may be useful in the success of killing the Governor. Or maybe let it play out like canon.
While the soldiers were staying on reports on enemy movements we the rest of us came back. Hershel happy that we got Maggie and Glenn back home safe and sound. They did a full health check and released them back to duty.
Rick barely hanging on. But he's getting better after the rescue mission. Michonne tells him her experiences with grief visions. They'll only go away when you make peace with not only yourself but with the memories of the person or people.
I can see Rick changing slowly but surely with proper guidance and understanding. He's evolving with the world. Thanks to Michonne's help he welcomed her to the group and we accepted her.
Governor found out about the prison in an old map and a local who new some of the area. Then he started his plan and sit down. Still with the missing eye just on the opposite side and more brutal looking. He wanted the same thing as before. Michonne.
We decided to play it out. Only this time I told her up front. I gave her two hidden blades taught her for a couple days straight on how to use them. Then as few small hidden guns. One on both ankles, one on her chest, one on the inside of her long her, and the last one at the small of her back just inside the pants. Maggie and Patricia checked to make sure they were hidden well even through pat down searches. They were methodical about it.
She was impressed and felt safe and secure. I even made special cuffs she can bust through herself using extremely brittle material. They way and feel like the real deal until they snap apart. She trained doing it while she was training with the hidden blades. Then the faithful day arrived and Rick decided not to in the end and had a big fight with the Governor.
We ended up getting for war again like in canon. Tyreese, Sasha and the two guys showed up. Wanted to join us. But Rick was still out of it. I asked them each the three magical questions.
1. How many walkers have you killed?
2. How many people have you killed?
3. Why?
They were dumbfounded at the questions but they answered I shot Ben and Allen. They asked me why and I just tossed them a file and they paled. In this universe they were incarcerated for brutal rape and murders.
I told them my two rules. About never harming women or children unless your life is on the line. Or in war. If they surrender or are completely psychotic then there's no place for them here let alone this world. It's fucked up enough as it is and don't need to sleep with one eye open every time you're relaxing.
Mental fatigue is worse than physical fatigue in some aspects.
After some time the Governor ended up attacking again. My soldiers ended up being along all the people he could with them after showing proof that the Governor was fucked up that if they stayed that was fine it just means you want war with us.
They were warned that if they betrayed us I'd hang them up side down after flaying them and kept alive while children throw water balloons filled with lemon juice as practice for throwing grenades or water guns filled with lemon juice to practice firing real guns. From pistols to rifles. They need to practice stances and be in shape.
They paled at the thought of it. Half agreed to go. The rest were loyalists and thought we were lying.
My soldiers were helping them while secretly planting C4 EVERYWHERE! When the people attacking come back they'll get blown up. Leaving the Governor alone just like canon but calling all nearby walkers.
Then just like canon. The Governor ended up killing his own people while only leaving I recorded it with a drone I had sent following them. To show the new people. As the governor left Karen came out and the drone approached her she was startled and scared.
I told her to calm down that she was safe that we saw everything from the cameras on the drones. That she can come to the prison if she wanted to. Told her to raid whatever she could from the aftermath as she came back. She got a car. Loaded it up with what little weapons and ammo she could find on everyone that was killed in cold blood.
I warned the others and reported what happened. Hershel and Patricia went to check on her because she maybe hurt or in shock and did a full medical exam as the others from Woodbury showed up as Karen finished her exam.
They all ended up getting and exam. And sorted out in the prison. I had the sorted by families, couples, and then singles, then single men and women.
I was asked why this way. I looked at them like they were retarded and explained slowly like they were children.
Well if your single you wouldn't mind. Because you would have hooked up by now. Couples need to release pent up energy throughout the day can't do that if there's kids around. And the single women don't wanna be hounded like a peace of meat when the walkers already do that.
They saw my point and conceded to that. Told them if they end up as a couple they'll be upgraded to the couple area when you break up then back to the singles area.
Simple rules. Told them keep the drama to your own spots and don't fuck around. As long as it's entertaining then drama away if it's annoying then we'll ignore it as long as it doesn't hurt anyone outside of the relationship.
They saw wisdom in that and others didn't understand but just went with it. Fucking idiots I thought to myself as I shook my heads and took off to play with Amy and the girls. My actions dumbfounded every new arrival. Because at first I was a warlord now I was a happy go lucky guy playing with his wife and kids.
The ones that knew me best told them how I was and they'll get used to it. My twins and the baby Judith was the camps hope for survival in this new chaotic world. Because they haven't seen kids this young since the collapse.
After two weeks everyone pitched in and were completely acclimatized to the group and their new environment. Saw that Rick and I weren't tyrants. They felt safer there than they ever did with the Governor.
At night I mentally called a meeting with everyone asking if we should offer the bio chips and nanites to everyone. Or just the ear buds we'll do for now. They all agree for the ear buds only. It's too soon to offer them anything that precious and limited.
I agreed with them and asked if anyone had anything they told me no and went to sleep comfortably that night. We spent a month like this and then the out break happened.
Just like canon the flu got to over half the camp. But the thing with Carol never happened because I kept her busy with tasks.
I had Lizzie take care of Karen and the others to get training but she ended up killing six people instead. We found her passed out next to the bodies and she kept screaming just a few more just a few more. She snapped stabbed Tyreese in the arm with a new scalpel. No idea how she got it.
But we locked her up separately. Then she went ballistic saying she just wanted to kill more rats and have fun. Every single person felt scared and unwilling to let her go but she couldn't stay either. So I offered to just have her fight one of my twins if not both.
They asked about my rules and I told them that it doesn't apply to my daughters because they're younger. Than Lizzie by like three years so it won't be in violation of our morals and there hands are clean. That we were Vikings so our morals and beliefs weren't the same as them. They conceded and accepted it.
I talked to my girls and told them the situation. What the wrong things she did and what they wanted to do. They offered single combat one on one no interference. I agreed and set up the match. We did like Woodbury kinda. We had made an arena.
I asked Cora to keep watch over the prison and to record the event. So everyone can watch. We said this is a trial by combat. Because everyone deserves a fighting chance. To live daily. Even in this accursed world we need rules like these. You can challenge anyone of age.
The one being challenged can either accept or decline. Challengers set the rules when challenging others but only if the results are fair this was different a trial by combat well either condemn or release the prisoner if everyone's concerns are about there morals. And keep doing it if the crimes are unique like it is now.
A child murderer has been challenged by my daughters. In single combat no interference. The challenger gets to decide which of the two she'll fight to the death. If she wins same thing everyday till she dies because no one has the balls to kill a psychopath in child form.
I told them I understood the dilemma and had offered this solution and everyone agreed after they understood the crime and situation.
"I choose ZaZa." She said. ZaZa looked at me and I simply nodded with my face stoic unreadable. But my baby caught the clenching of my fists and it made her happy that her daddy was worried. But now she can make him happy and proud.
ZaZa stepped forward everyone quiet as they watched the kids get ready to fight. I raised my hand looked at both fighters and they simply nodded to show they were ready to begin. Their eyes never breaking from each other. So I brought down my hand in a slicing motion signaling for them to start.
Lizzie yells like a crazed animal and dashes towards ZaZa with a kitchen knife in hand wanting to slice her. But failed badly because ZaZa side stepped at the last second tripping her. She hit the floor face first with a large crack.
The sound was her nose shattering on the cement and ZaZa quickly pulled Lizzie's hair back and unleashed a bunch to he back of her head while unleashing her hidden blade ending the cries of pain she screamed for 5 seconds total. Everyone dumbfounded at the result.
ZaZa looked at me with an innocent smile as pure as sun light in spring and ran to me.
"Daddy I did it!" She exclaimed happily. "I put down the bad guy! Am I a superhero now like you?" ZaZa asks with pure innocence and curiosity.
I just smiled, hugged her, kissed her. Throwing everyone off guard. They were wondering what the hell is going on.
"Yeah my little shield-maiden you're a superhero now. Remember you have to protect all the children you can and eliminate all bad guys." I answered lovingly.
Everyone within ear shot looked around all thinking the same thing. 'What the fuck guy aren't you a bad guy for training your girls like this?'
I announced that the trial by combat is over. I looked at Tyreese. My face solemn eyes filled with painful understanding and asked him that this case was unusual and unfair. But need to know if you're able to accept the outcome of this case and feel content enough that we dealt with the perpetrator to the best of our abilities.
A child dying is never easy not matter the situation but we never betray family. That was my firm belief. Especially now that we're in a world of the dead. He contemplated his answer and just nodded in understanding.
"Ty it's not always easy. Even before the collapse their were always cases and situations that put us in these type of emotions and it'll get worse." I looked at everyone and asked them if they knew my first black ops mission. They shook there heads no. I told everyone to put on the ear buds and new glasses Cora made for situations like this.
I played them the scene of the men being tortured and killed. The woman toyed with for there ass and pussy and mouths. Same with the barely teenage girls being naked and being walked around like dogs out in the open. Some children being used as cock sleeves. My anger and fury ragging forth and just started cutting people down while at the age of six.
Everyone paled and threw up and cried at the memories I showed them. I looked into the eyes of each and every person around and they looked at me and didn't know what to say. How can you even form a sentence after witnessing something like that let alone experiencing it. Then I looked at Tyreese.
"Tell me Ty. How is that any different from this?" I asked as I looked at the sky tears welling up in my eyes because that compound was were I met my wife. My twins mother.
"The situation is different true but the principal still stands." I said voice cracking. Everyone quiet. Not wanting to interrupt.
"Justice isn't always about right or wrong in many aspects. Vengeance or forgiveness. Sometimes it's about closure" I continued solemnly.
"It's to let the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace as much as possible. You help them achieve that. Start telling them you did your best. Then learn to forgive yourself for not being there in time or saving more." I stated voice breaking little by little at the memories of Claudia.
"Maybe by admitting your faults honestly you can gain their forgiveness. Or maybe not. You won't know until it's your time. And that time isn't now. So go my friend. Grieve for your loved one. Tell her what's in your heart. What you felt before and after. And how you feel now." I finished. I started to walk away and then stopped.
"Ty I traveled to many different places. Some believe that the body of the dearly departed is like a phone to the other side. Just like some believe that their prayers can be heard by god in a church. Our loved ones too can hear our voices. Some cremate their loved ones so they can move on with peace of mind and reincarnate into a better life or wait for us with drinks in hand. Like I said who knows? Only when it's your time will you get that answer. It might be none or maybe all." Then I walked back to the truck leaving everyone dumbfounded at what I've said.
What I had voiced my opinions about my way of looking at life and death. He was of a different religion and they all have different perspectives and views and didn't really understand the true depths until now that they got a glimpse of others views and philosophies.