Zombiefest

As the travel continued the young woman was never far behind me no matter where I went, which made bathroom breaks rather interesting. At times when she needed a break she would pull me to a tree and step around it to do her business before returning. If I even made a move to step away, she would cry out in fear. She had somehow latched on to me for some reason.

"She sees you as her savior, you have helped her, offered no restraint to her and most importantly given her freedom of choice. Just help her, as she comes to realize no one is out to hurt her, she will start to gain a sense of independence." Torie said softly.

"No problem not like she is a pain in the ass, at times she points out things the Guards have missed during patrols. She runs as hard and fast as we do, she also knows what is edible and what isn't. She had to have been alone a long time before getting caught by those fools." I replied while the girls head was in my lap and she slept after a hard run.

"When we return we can run a few tests, find out how she has blue eyes and see if it is something like what we have." Torie suggested.

"We will speak to her about it, but in the end it will be her choice." I reminded her and she nodded quickly. During the trip collapsible shower stalls allowed us to shower, water would be heated during the day and used to shower at night then get filtered and pumped back up to the tanks once again to be heated back up during the following day. And yep after her shower we had to replace the filters and refill the tank from the streams flowing just off the Highway.

At what would be the State Line, we found another Stronghold. They had sentries along the walls who were pointing at us. We drove up slowly and parked nearly thirty yards from their gate. I climbed out of the truck with Maria and the young woman. She still hasn't spoken sense calling my eyes pretty and she hasn't responded when asked her name.

"Hello the Gate." I called out. A smaller door opened and three men stepped out and walked towards us.

"Who are you and what do you want?" the front man demanded.

"I am Dakota and we are running a trade route from Reno and out to the West. Stopping at different Strongholds and Forts to get an idea of what we should carry for trade and what you may have to offer as well. We would also be willing to try and aid people by delivering letters to other Forts to see if family members can be reunited." I explained while he listened. After the first Fort we had found two others and both gave a list of things they had they could trade for things they would need.

"And how do I know you aren't just trying to find out what we have so you can steal it?" he asked in reply.

"I have enough ammo and personal to level your walls if that was our objective. It is not, it is as I said it is. I even made up a list of things other Forts needed and are willing to trade. If you like we can look over the list and you can tell me what you find interest in and what you'd be willing to offer if you do not have what they need." I suggested and he nodded slowly. He glanced at me and the young woman several times. I wore my wrap around ski glasses and had shown the young woman how to do the same while we were speaking to the others from the Forts.

"You have many women with you.." he started to say and I held up my hand to stop him.

"I suggest in the interest of maintaining good relations, that you do not finish that line of thought." I said slowly. He narrowed his gaze before nodding slowly.

"Shall we go inside and we can talk while I look over this list?" he suggested. I tilted my head a bit.

"Sir, I seem to recall having stopped by before a while back and you offered trade for my two girls. Then even offered a partial trade just so you and your men could borrow them for a few hours." I said slowly, it was loud enough for the changed to hear clearly and everyone could hear the weapons being locked and loaded.

"If I were to step inside and you tried to use me as a hostage, well, I would never be taken alive. I am a Marine and we're bloody stupid about not giving up. So anything you said to try and use me as barter would only incite them into leveling this place as they would already assume I was dead." I said calmly and smiled at him.

"Now you will call your people and have them step out the gate, no zombies around for miles so we both know it is safe. Any weapons seen will have the person shot. Am I clear so far?" I asked him, he started to say something and I pulled my gun and pointed it at his head.

"You can all live, or you can all die.. your choice." I reminded him and cocked the hammer back.

"Everyone get out of the Fort and leave your weapons behind." he yelled out. Soon men began leaving through the gate.

"Now I want you to look back and insure the Fort is empty. Anyone found inside with a weapon, not only will they die but so will you. So if you think someone might have missed your call, I suggest you give them a shout." I growled at him.

"Johnson get your ass out here now." he yelled quickly. The man came running out carrying a rifle and I shot him in the face.

"Probably should have reminded him no weapons." I muttered sourly as he stared at the mans body.

"I am checking the Fort and you better pray you have not been holding anyone against their will or there will be hell to pay. And I am collecting the Devils Due." I said in warning. I could see him sweating even more.

"Torie man the 50 cal, if they so much as breath funny, cut the fuckers down." I called out. Looking back I used hand signals and two more of my team moved into position.

"You two follow Maria, Sunny and I into the Fort. I want it searched top to bottom." I said and the young woman smiled at the nickname I had given her. As a group we walked into the Fort, I noted the Leader giving a sigh as if in defeat or resignation. The weapons left were mostly empty of shells, they could not average two shots each much less mount a defense.

"Major, we have a problem..." the radio called in and I moved with Maria and Sunny to another building. The building was one large room with double beds on each side along the walls, small dividers separated them and on each bed a woman was chained to it.

"All Units, cut them down, save the ammo unless they run. Use speed and blades." I ordered and soon the screams and cries of the men beyond the wall started and ended just as abruptly.

"I need the female crew to report within the Fort's Walls, bring water, food and first aid." I said slowly. I looked over at the two guys who looked stricken to have found the women like this.

"Guys, good work, please see if you can find a cutter or even the keys to those locks. Check the lead pig first." I told them, they quickly moved out. Maria moved forward and began speaking to them in soft tones while I sat down feeling sick for having left them here all that time ago. The fact was I had suspected, but didn't want to know or get involved and they paid for it. Sunny sat beside me and curled against my side, she never seemed shocked or startled when I reacted violently towards others, she just took it in stride.

"Oh God.." Torie whispered from the door even as one of the guys handed her a set of keys.

"We found these, only set we found on him. The others are searching the other bodies and checking the buildings." he reported and I nodded.

"Thank you, these women will need time to settle, see what sort of supplies this place had for food and confiscate whatever you find." I told him and he sent out the order as he walked out.

"Oh! Dakota!" Torie called and I moved quickly with Sunny to the furthest bed. The woman was lying on her belly naked and her back, buttocks and legs had been whipped and the wounds still seeped with her bleeding. The bedding, white sheets were soaked in her blood.

"She fought back, they left her as a warning for us not to fight." one woman said softly. I walked over and knelt down and could see her face had been beaten as well.

"Do you wish to live?" I asked her softly and she nodded.

"Are you willing to suffer even more pain in order to live?" I asked her. Her eyes widened a bit but she nodded again. I pulled my glasses off and allowed my eyes to glow.

"Are you certain, because once I do this, you will never be the same again. You will be like me and my Family and my People." I whispered to her. Her eyes watered as tears welled up.

"You will be my family, but it takes pain in order to heal and live from this." I said and gently squeezed her shoulder. When she nodded again, I leaned close and kissed her cheek. I pulled my knife and sliced my palm as the blood flowed and let it fall into her cuts. She shivered and gritted her teeth.

"We will stay for the night here to help her through the worst of the first stages. Lets clean up a bed and move her carefully to some clean sheets, get her cleaned up, very carefully." I said quietly. To my surprise Sunny caressed her hair and gazed at her while everything was set up and then she was carefully moved, several of the whip marks reopened during the move and she moaned and cried out in pain. Then Maria and Sunny used soft cloths to gently wash her down and cleaned the wounds.

The Fort turned out to have it's own fresh water supply and the strange noise was coming from several wind turbines that were still capable of supplying power given the right equipment. I had everyone writing down lists of things that would be needed to bring it back up to standards in case anyone ever wanted to resettle it at some point.

"I already have an idea on who might want to move here rather then stay with the changed." I said slowly as we sat around helping the poor woman through the heat and muscle cramps. "We will make it known that it will not be tolerated to act like these fools or decide that they will completely cut off from us. This is a good Outpost location, they can settle here but they run it by the rules we use at the Reno Stronghold. They can't do that, they are free to leave and move beyond our reach."

"Until a proper system of Government comes to power, I will continue to operate under the last order given by the Government, Martial Law was declared by all the States which put the Military in control of the Law. Not going to push our rules we follow on the other Forts, but I will not abide rapists, murderers and thieves to stay in control and treat people like slaves and pets for their amusement." I said softly and noted others had moved closer to listen.

"You really are Military.." one of the women said softly and I nodded.

"I run the Reno Stronghold along with General Jackson, both of us served in the Military and we run the Fort under Military rules of conduct. Someone doesn't like the rules, they are free to leave. Rules are simple, long as you help to keep the Stronghold and Community safe, secured and supplied, you have a safe place to sleep, good food, good water and clothing and a hot shower. You gain a family if you want it. You don't want to work for your keep, ain't nothing says I have to feed you or house you. I don't run a welfare state. Even the folks incapable of physical work are capable of watching our walls for anyone or anything trying to cause us harm. One Sniper has no legs, and he remains in the Guard Tower keeping everyone safe." I explained and they nodded.

The wounds on the woman's back were the first to show signs of the Cure at work. She shifted and groaned as the pain slowly increased. Everyone had a hard time figuring out how to help because every time she moved it seemed like she reopened something. I stripped to my underwear and slid on the bed. She looked at me with wide eyes, but I remained beside her and made no other advances. She whimpered softly before moving herself to lay half on my side while I gently held her. The contact made her sigh with relief.

"Sunny, lay here on this side so she can see you." I said and carefully Sunny moved to my opposite side and they were able to watch each other. A light sheet was draped over us while they relaxed. Maria and Torie worked to keep her light bandages moist so the wounds would not crack so much when she shifted. It was going to be a long night, the only bright side was that I had run most of the day before finding the Fort so I would be good when it came to the heat. Sunny had ran the entire time as well so she was good.

Maria and Torie switched off so they could run, catch a few hours of sleep and spell the other. Even with the Cure, her wounds were taking a while to mend. We would have to wait another day at least before she could comfortably be moved to one of the bunks within the trucks. Torie was able to switch with me while Sunny and I ran for several hours before returning.

Seems when the woman woke up she panicked when she did not find me and Sunny with her. We returned and retook our spots and she calmed in no time. I certainly hoped she would not be another who saw me as some sort of savior. The bruises were slowly clearing up and the wounds had become angry red lines, even the scabs had fallen away on their own. Her face would take time though, they had broken many bones while beating her. With IV fluids we got her rehydrated and soft foods helped the Cure to continue the healing, but it would still take time.

"What's your name?" I asked her at one point.

"She doesn't speak, never has and no one knows her real name, just the one those men gave her." the woman who was closest to her bed said.

"Dare I ask?" I said quietly and felt a wetness on my chest and noted the tears from her.

"They called her slut.." she said softly.

"I find nothing wrong with enjoying sex and being referred to as a slut, hell most men are sluts. But I do find it rude to name someone slut. I am sure when she is ready she can let us know her name or help us pick a lovely name for a lovely young woman." I said while a few giggled and snickered.

"Now we will need to get moving, I will pick you up. Your body is still changing and transitioning, and because of the state they kept you in, your muscles may not hold up well. I will take you to the truck and settle you on a comfortable bunk. Your friends will be joining us if that is their wish and you can see them riding with you." I explained to them all. I watched her nod in understanding and looked to the rest of them.

"We will come with you." the apparent leader said as she spoke for the rest, her name is Barbara. I carefully picked up the young woman and with Maria, Torie and Sunny following and then the rest of the women with the aid of others helping to support them from a lack of true exercise, we all left the Fort.

"Lock up the Fort and post the signs." I told one of the Captains, she saluted and got everyone to work. Around the Fort active mines had been placed with signs stating that a mine field was active, warning lights flashed on the tops of the signs so even at night people could avoid the area.

"Alright people, we have wounded survivors in need of real care and it will take time for many of them to recover. We are low on supplies as well, we are heading back. We will not be stopping at the Forts on the return trip, this has gone from a trade exploration to a Survivor bug out. Lets get home and help our new family members get settled so they can heal and recover under proper supervision." I called out to everyone. They all took it in stride and after seeing what they had, many were actually wanting to return home rather then continue. They needed some down time.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"She's hurt pretty bad, even the Cure is having to take time in the healing. Admittedly what would have taken months to heal, will be just a matter of weeks, but still.." Torie explained to everyone around the table. Jackson, Gretchen, Sam, Maria, Charlie, Tami and I nodded slowly as we listened.

"The others will need to heal as well, but mainly trying to get past the pain on a more emotional level. While only a couple had been there a couple of weeks, a few were there for years of abuse and sadism on a level I can not imagine." she added slowly and sat down.

"Okay, lets get the Medical Staff going on doing what we can. Charlie, you and Tami look through the list with the Stock Manager and see if we have anything those Forts can use but do not leave us short to the point that it hurts us." I explained and both girls ran off while Torie went to speak with the Medical Staff.

"Sam and General, I need you both to start thinking about that Fort on Stateline. I want that under our control as not only a Stronghold, but as an Outpost as well so we have an extra set of eyes and ears out in the West. I don't want any..." I was explaining and heard a scream of pain. I would know that voice anywhere and I moved at a speed I did not know I had.

Charlie lay on the ground with Tami kneeling beside her and holding her arm, an arrow was sticking out from it.. A crowd was watching and glaring at several men holding bows.

"They bleed like anyone else, they are monsters and shouldn't be in charge or in the Fort." one of them yelled. My Vision was suddenly focused on the group and my last memory was standing up to face them.

I blinked my eyes several times while looking around, everyone was looking at me with several emotions flitting across their features, what was going on. Looking around I realized I was standing over Charlie and Tami, both were looking at me with wide eyes.

"What's going on?" I asked and a look of relief seem to come over them.

"You went on a killing spree, all those men who attacks us are dead. After the last one fell you stood over us and wouldn't let anyone come near us. You just kept growling at anyone who even made a move towards us." Tami explained. Looking over at the bodies I winced a bit, they looked like a bunch of foolish men who had tried to take on a Nation of Ninja's.

"They fired arrows at you and used swords and knives, one was even carrying a gun. He shot you four times and even hit two others when he missed you. I never saw anyone, even with the Cure move as fast as you did." Jackson said slowly.

"Get the Medical Team in here. And lets get these bodies dealt with as soon as possible." Jackson added while people moved and kept their distance.

"I don't remember anything after standing up to face them. Next thing I know was seeing myself standing over the girls." I said.

"Sunny was the only one you didn't see as a threat, while Torie and Maria could approach you, if they so much as looked at Charlie or Tami you would growl at them. Sunny was able to touch them and gave them water and bandages." Jackson said slowly.

Tami's Point of View more then an hour earlier -

"They bleed like anyone else, they are monsters and shouldn't be in charge or in the Fort." one of them yelled.

I kept one hand covering Charlie's wound in her side and the other covering the one on my own arm. Looking over Dad's eyes changed so much. This was something beyond anything anyone had ever done before with the Cure. He stood up facing the more then twenty men holding weapons. With a loud roar he was a blur of motion using his sword to cut them down, and not just slice them open, the sword was cutting them in half. Limbs flew in one direction, Torso in another. Blood flew through the air while he cut through them none stop.

A gun shot rang out and a guy stood shivering in fear trying to kill the unstoppable machine bent on their destruction. I saw the red blossom as he fired again and again. Dad didn't even react to the wounds, he ran at the man swerving randomly as the final shots missed him. Then his sword sliced up between the mans legs and exited out of his head.