Zombie Story: Threads of a Tire p2

Huh. I found a boat back in France, and went across the Channel, then came here. I mean, I've been walking through most of Europe for the last five years, but I'm good.

"We should get moving. I dislike idle times." I said matter-of-factly.

"I can fit one, maybe two people on the back of the cart, get in, or get left behind." I said rev-ing the engine.

I got on the cart. As did White Dog. There was just enough room for Alex.

"C'mon, hop on."

=I hopped onto the cart=
Hey, anyone else getting a Bad Company reference here?

I laughed and put on my best Haggard voice.

"There's gold in them hills Preston!"

Then I used Sweetwater's voice.

"Did you just declare war on a neutral country?"

=I laughed a little myself. Hey, it was the end of the world, and I found my friends. I think I was inclined to laugh to my hearts content=

I smiled crookedly, remembering the reference. I started going forward, people moving out of the way, and then I made a sort of U-turn, to exit the small town, and start a new adventure. Sort of.

"So, out of the four Bad Company soldiers, who do you think you are? I totally think I am Haggard. Nic has to be the Sarge, and Alex, you gotta be Sweetwater. White Dog here is Preston, don't you think?"

Eh, I'm not sure I'm Sweetwater. Nic should be Sweetwater. He knows a shitload, and always spouts random facts.

"we haven't spoken in over five years, and you presume to think that I haven't changed." I said, coolly. I continued driving on the road. not a zombie in sight. or people, or anyone following us.

Well, have you ceased to know a shitload? And have you ceased to sprout random facts?
=my arms were crossed=

=hops on the moped and follows them=


wonder how long these ones will last

=Xazhi had remained relatively quiet on the cart. He was tired, but in more of an out-of-energy way than a sleepy one. He decided to ask them something=

Do any of you know a southern boy lookin for his sister? He had a dog named Bo with him.

I nod.

"Yea, I helped them get set up. You met them too?"

I was the one that brought him and his dog here all the way from Boston. I was wondering what ever became of him.

"Well, he met his sis, and I imagine they are just hanging out, glad to be alive at this point."

=Xazhi smiles and looks off to the Horizon=

Wish i could say the same for Adam.

"Adam?"

=His expression becomes grim=

He was my younger brother. We decided we were going to take the Comet back to Boston and see if we could ferry people over to Ireland and the UK. While scavenging for supplies, he was bitten. After a brief fight with the horde, and a lengthy argument, he forced me to put a bullet in his head...

"Comet?"

=He chuckles=

Yeah, Its my ship. Named the thing after my old Spaceship.

=He pulls back one side of his coat and undoes a pin he had stuck to the inside of it, over his heart. It was a pin he had made of the Delta Wing, the insignia of X No Delta. He shows it to Garth=

I tried to paint my old insignia on the side of it, but i'm a shit artist.

I look at the symbol.

"That looks familiar..."

=Xazhi is confused=

How so?

"Saw it on a website. An old forum I would go on a while ago."

Well, that wouldnt surprise me. I made the emblem in Halo, originally. I wasnt the only one to use it, but the coloration and pattern were unique to me.

=He takes the pin back and pins it to the inside of his coat over his heart again=

"Yea. I had one in there as well. A dark grey gas mask with orange-ish flames behind it. I thought it looked awesome."

=Xazhi chuckles=

Sounds like it.

"So, why are you going to England?"

=speeds up beside the cart=

so what now?

Well, the truth is im not really headed anywhere. I figure as long as i can survive, i'm doing it right.

"Sounds like us. Welcome aboard our sorry excuse."

Glad to be.

=He chuckles. After a few minutes of silence...=

So... pudding strikes again.....

I laugh at that old reference.

"Indeed it has."

Wait... he got that...?

=His tone becomes more serious. He looks away again=

...

I blame Quill.

"I personally blame Zeru. It's probably his fault, somehow."

=He looks back to Garth, confused=

... Who are you...?

"Garth Hood. I told you that, remember?"

I look at him quizzically.

"Who are you?"

Hood.. Hood. Hood... No, i dont think that was his name...

No one. I thought i knew you. I dont think i do.

"Who did you think I was?"

An old friend. Part of a group i was once a part of, who's names i have forgotten in these years since we spoke last.

"Well, what group? Maybe I was a part of it."

=Xazhi thought for a moment=

There is not a snowball's chance in hell.

"Well?"

I raised an eyebrow at him.

There is just no way. It would have to be some stroke of magic.

"Well, what is it? Never know unless you ask."

(Nic)

"No. I was just saying that you never know when someone changes. We haven't spoken in 5 years. Remember? A lot has changed." I said to Alex. He didn't know what happened after he left Arizona. I wasn't exactly inclined to tell him.

Maybe a better question would be...

=He looks to Nic=

Are you by any chance a 400 year-old scientist with knowledge enough of biology, chemestry, and physics to bring the UNSC to its knees?

=He crosses his arms=

(Nic)

As we were driving, the new guy, I didn't catch his name, asked me a question. I responded casually: "It is a distinctive possibility that I may or may not be the 400 year old doctor who may or may not have done those things and created the infamously stupid 'Zeru Ishtar'. Does that answer your question?"

I kept driving at a constant velocity, I didn't want to cause the organisms in the cart to experience a sudden state of fear caused by a chemical reaction between neurons.

=He chuckles and looks to Alex=

And you must be the very same one who lead thousands upon thousands of prisoners to the world of Haven, giving them a chance for a new life after their worlds were bombed by a mad man.

=He turns back to Garth=

And that leaves you. Dormii Fortuni et Mali. Savage killer, unrivaled with a blade. But, always one to try and make peace, even where other thought it could not exist. Funny that i should meet you for the first time with my hand on my sword.

=He chuckles again=

It's good to know you all made it out of whatever nightmares befell your towns.

(Garth)
"I'm going to take a wild guess and say you are Xazhi Narok, and Delta? Madman who bombed said planets? Nice to meet you in person."

=i extend my hand for a handshake=