After The Fall

New Destinations

"I don't know how long we'll be gone," Ken states to Mark seriously, "If things get bad, don't wait for us to come back."

Mark nods, "I understand, but it shouldn't come to that."

"That's not a certainty," Ken sighs, "You promise me you'll put the others above waiting for us."

Mark nods again, "I promise."

That seems to put Ken at ease. He smiles softly, "Good."

Mark smiled lightly back and Ken continues, "You're in charge until we get back, the supplies should last a good long while so that shouldn't be a problem. As for the others, keep Stephanie off her feet as much as possible. We don't know when her baby's going to come, so the more we can prolong it, probably the better. Nate's still recovering, so he shouldn't be out of bed much, but you don't have to confine him there, either. And just use common sense with Mary-Jane, don't let her stay up late or bother Nate too much."

Mark chuckles, "You guys do what you do best. I'm a big, brave boy, I got things handled here."

Jack laughs softly and Felix grins, giving Mark a thumbs-up. Ken chuckles, "Right, of course you do."

"Bring it in," Mark grins, holding his arms out wide for a hug. They all laugh and give Mark his requested hugs.

"What's all this about?" Stephanie chuckles softly, watching the men hug with amusement. Mary-Jane stands at her side, looking curious. She runs up to Ken, eyes wide as she notices their backpacks, "Are you guys going somewhere without us? I want to go!"

Mark goes over to Stephanie and helps her sit on the couch as he explains their new plan to her. Ken kneels in front of Mary-Jane, putting a hand on her shoulder, "We are going on a trip, and you're going to stay here with Mark, Nate, and Stephanie, okay?"

"I want to go with you!" She shakes her head, tears starting to come to her eyes, "You said we'd stay together!"

Ken sighs, pulling the young child into a hug, "Sweetie, we're coming back, I promise."

"Why are you leaving?" She asks, sniffling.

Ken pulls her back gently, smiling softly, "Felix, Jack, and I are going on a trip to get some very important stuff to protect this house for all of us. Because this is going to be our home now. Do you understand?"

Mary-Jane nods, wiping her eyes, "But why can't I go with you? I can carry lots, promise! And I'll be quiet and do whatever you say while we're gone!"

"I believe you," Ken sighs, "But I need you to stay here and help look after Stephanie and Nate, okay? Mark needs all the help he can get, trust me."

Mark rolls his eyes from the couch and Stephanie giggles softly. Mary-Jane crosses her arms, "Really? You're not just making it up?"

Ken chuckles, "I'm not making it up."

The child giggles, "Okay, I believe you."

Ken stands, "Good. So be good, and I'll see you when we get back, okay?"

Mary-Jane nods and Ken ruffles her hair as he turns to leave with the other two. Mary-Jane dashes at Ken, wrapping her arms around him quickly. Ken looks down at her, eyes soft. She looks up at him and she smiles with tears in her eyes, "Be careful out there, Daddy.."

Ken gasps softly, as Mary-Jane hadn't called him that since the night he told her it was okay. He smiles down at her, fresh tears coming to his own eyes now as he ruffles her hair, "I will, kiddo."

She steps back and wipes her eyes with one hand, waving at them as they leave with the other. She then walks over to the couch and sits between Mark and Stephanie. Mark pats her on the head, "They'll be okay."

She nods and just smiles softly.

"They didn't even say goodbye to me," Nate speaks lightly from the doorway of his room, "Rude."

They look back at him and Stephanie smiles brightly, "Hey, you're awake!"

Nate chuckles lightly, wincing, "Yeah, obviously."

She laughs softly and Mark smiles, "How are you feeling?"

"Sore as hell," Nate groans, "but I'll live. Pretty sure anyway."

"Swear." Mary-Jane points at him and he raises an eyebrow at her, "Yeah, and? I don't have any dollars to put in any jars, kid."

Mark chuckles and stands, "You guys hungry? I can divide out some rations for lunch."

"Starved," Nate states as Stephanie says, "Definitely."

"I want sketios!" Mary-Jane demands and Mark chuckles, "I'll see what I can do."

After helping Nate to take his place on the couch, Mark takes residence in the kitchen to do as he proposed, making lunch of cold "sketios."

...

Cry and the others reach the Port, camped by a small number of military personnel. They're stopped at the gate by a young soldier, maybe twenty-two or so, holding them at rifle-point from a handmade guard tower just on the inside of the gate.

"Identify yourselves!" He commands, his voice wavering lightly.

Cry steps ahead of his group, holding his hands up, "We're just travelers, we don't want any trouble. We heard a broadcast about an evacuation here. Is that still the case?"

The young man lowers his rifle a little, "It is.. How many are with you?"

"Six," Cry states.

"What are your names?" The soldier asks.

"They call me Cry, the man beside me is called Entoan," Cry replies, slowly gesturing to his friends in turn, moving so the soldier can see them all clearly, "She's Signe, that's Dan and Dave, and she goes by Minx."

The soldier's eyes narrow, "Why do you three go by nicknames?"

Cry looks back at him, "We were online personalities, YouTubers, so we just go by the names we gave ourselves then."

The young soldier nods, seemingly okay with the explanation, "Wait here. I'll get Sargent Masters, and then you'll be checked for infection. No one moves until then, if any of you advance the gate, you will be shot."

Cry nods to let the man know they understand and he walks away from them, climbing down the tower. Cry looks back at his friends, "Let's hope this goes smoothly."

"Whatever it takes to get where the undead freaks aren't." Entoan states dryly.

Cry nods, glancing back at the gate, "Whatever it takes."