Chronicles of the Apocalyse (2011)

Chapter 14: Assault on Cratersville

About 60 miles from Cratersville, Zeus Corps armored tanks and trucks are enroute to Cratersville, and a Zeus Corps helicopter flying towards them. In one of the tanks, Barnes is wearing his Zeus Corps armor, and four men are sitting on each side with Epps standing next to him.

Barnes: All right, ladies. Here's the drill. We go in quiet first. We simply ask the inhabitants about the subjects whereabouts. Don't fire until I give the signal. Ohh-rah?

Zeus Corps Soldiers: Ohh-rah!

The tanks and helicopter drive to Cratersville. In the city, Nathan, Billy, Colin, Luke, Sarah, Ashley, Justin, Nora and Walter are sitting down in circle for some lunch, eating salmon, broccoli, and mash potatoes.

Colin: It's amazing. There's still some good food in this world. Nate, your sisters are excellent cooks.

Justin: mmm...yep, Blaine always loved fish.

Walter: yeah, and Ben. He always bragged about how fish could breathe in water with gills.

Nora: Ian was never a fish lover. He was more into crabs. After all....he and I are Marylanders.

Luke: all right, guys.

Luke stands up with his drink in his hand.

Luke: Let's make a toast.....to Ian, to Josiah, and to Blaine.

The others stand up and raise their drinks.

Sarah: may their souls rest easy.

Shortly after sitting back down, Billy is seen fiddling with his necklace, which gains the attention of Colin.

Colin: I gotta ask, Billy. It's been bothering me ever since you got to Cratersville. Your necklace.

Billy: What?

Colin: Every now and then, I see you fiddling with that necklace as if it was a mosquito trying to suck your blood.

Billy: what? I can't fiddle with my own necklace?

Justin: well, from what I've heard the world has seemed to come to an end. At least tell us why you've been messing with it.

Billy: Okay, well, my grandfather, he gave me this when he lost his legs in World War 2. When he gave me that necklace, he said "son, you've got your whole life ahead of you. I give you this necklace to not only indulge it., but to look back on great memories of the past and to pass on to your heirs as well as they will pass it on to theirs.

The others seem to indulge in Billy's speech.

Nathan: You're getting old, Billy.

Everyone else laughs. The guard yells "Hey, Zeus Corps en route!". Everyone gets up and walks out as Nathan and Luke head to the gate. Dante, Killen, James and Jacob are en route back to Cratersville, just as the Zeus Corps squad enters the Cratersville gates. Barnes steps out and goes to the city gates with his troops following him. Luke walks to the gate with his desert eagle.

Barnes: My name is Rick Barnes of the Zeus Military Corporation. Would you please open the gate, please? We have matters in this town!

Nathan orders the point man to open the gate, but slightly. Luke opens the gate slightly as Barnes approaches him.

Luke: evening, sir, can I help you?

Barnes: How you doin, sir? I'm Sergeant Rick Barnes. We've got reports of a man that had just moved in with you guys. About close to 50. Goes by the name of Dante Fenix. Also, you have one of our soldiers.

Luke: "Dante Fenix"? Don't think I've seen him around here....as far as one of your soldiers, we did encounter some yesterday, but they all died I believe.