Aftermath Season 3: Civil War

Episode 6: What True Authority?

Hex was working on one of his paintings in his place, alone. Hex has always loved painting, he got it from his mother who would have her art pieces all over the house. He takes a lot of inspiration from her style and personality. His dad on the other hand... He wasn't much to speak of. His legacy lives on in the memory of beer cans and alcoholic rage. Suddenly he heard a knock at his door. Hex got up from his painting stool he salvaged from an art school in a supply run a while back. He opened the door to be met by Jordan. "Hey, what's up?" He asked. "Nothing really, just dealing with the apocalypse and everything that comes with it." Jordan told him, sarcastically with a faint smile. "Ok, but actually... Why are you at my door?" Hex inquired. Jordan paused for a moment, hands behind her back as if this was some professional business meet up, even though Hex and Jordan have been friends since before the world ended. "I just wanted to let you know, since you've kinda just been cooped up in your house drawing and whatever else you do... That 'reliability.'" Jordan did air quotes with her fingers. "For the town's power isn't so reliable anymore." They explained. "So, that's why a day or two ago my lights just shut off for like an hour?" Hex asked. "Yeah." Jordan replied reluctantly. "So like, is it gonna breakout of the cage and go on a murderous rampage killing everyone here?" He asked her, slightly worried. Jordan paused again for a moment. "It's looking like that might be the near future.. And on top of all that, the new group we just let in, yeah they're leader, Tyson is acting a little bit off his rocker." Jordan dumped all that information right into Hex's lap. "Uhm, I need a moment to take all that in, hold- hold on." Hex replied. Jordan pushed Hex deeper into his place so they could shut the door and so they could fit inside. "Okay, we're gonna need privacy for this one..." Jordan told him, dramatically.

BACKSTORY (Georgison)

"Pass the fucking garlic!" Hilary, the head cook screamed at Goergison. God, he was too old for this bullshit. Working in a kitchen half his life has been somewhat draining but it was also his dream career. To be a chef, oh he thought so naively as a child that it'd be amazing- "HELLO?! Get the fuckin' garlic, dude." She took him out of his trance. "Oh! Yes ofcourse!" He obeyed the orders given. He rushed over to the garlic cloves laying on one of the counter spaces in the kitchen. "Just toss it!" Hilary exclaimed. Georgison winded up like he did back when he played in his minor baseball leagues and absolutely fucking missed her hand. "Oh my- I'm sorry. I'll help you clean that up." He offered, soaked in embarrassment. "No, just take a break or something, you need to cool down a bit." She told him. Without any pushback, he put his apron on the counter near the exit and headed outside in the back alley way behind the restaurant. All of a sudden he felt the ground vibrate, and the sound of a loud bang in the distance, he looked over and saw people on the streets all running away from something. Georgison rushed over onto the street to see what this commotion was all about when he looked over to see a massive mushroom cloud of fire engulfing the entirety of Las Angeles from his restaurant. "Fuck! What the fuck!" He exclaimed. He saw the fire wall inching closer and closer each millisecond, he had to make a move NOW. The first thing he saw was a big garbage crate, big enough to hold a mini cooper. "Fuck it, this is my only option." Georgison said, as he quickly flung open the top lid of the crate and jumped inside, closing it right before he felt the shockwave hit the crate shaking it around a lot, hitting Georgison on the head, luckily enough though, he was fine the next time he woke up, being left with nothing but the end of the world. A barren land of death and humanity's loss to itself.

"Look, the monster is fine, that's not the worry right now. The worry is this Tyson guy, you got me?" Jordan told Hex. "Well what do you want me to do?" He asked them. 'Fuck me' Jordan thought. 'No don't think that, what the hell?' They thought to themself. "He told me he was out casted by his previous group, but he's acting very fishy and giving little detail and reason for me to actually believe him." Jordan started. "Yeah? I'm listening." Hex said, intrigued. "He said he wants us to go to his previous group's hideout and get rid of them pretty much, but again, I'm very suspicious of the truth so I'm gonna ask them questions and see if they're really all that bad." They explained to him "Are you in?" Jordan put their hand out flat, expecting Hex to put his on top to prove he was in, like they always have done ever since they were friends. "Hell yes, you know I'm in when it comes to you." He said as he put his hand over their hand. Jordan slightly blushed. "When are we doing this, then?" Hex pretending not to notice. 'You're in on the plan? I wish you were in me' They had more intrusive thoughts. 'NO STOP THINKING THAT!' They argued with their temptating thoughts. "So, when are we leaving?" Hex asked again. "Oh sorry, yeah we're leaving tonight." Jordan told him. "Oh, that's... soon." He said, caught off guard by the sudden change in plans. "I'm bringing Caroline too, so we should be well protected if they try anything on us." Jordan assured Hex. "Okay, well I'll see you later tonight then. I'll bring my own supplies for the trip." Hex told them. "Okay, sounds good." They replied, happily, giving smile as they began leaving his place. "Bye." He said in a grainy, low tone. Jordan blushed again as they were leaving, Hex clearly knew what he was doing.