Ryder pulls up by the ship, and Sean and him sees Max and the others coming down the gang plank. Staring in fear as they only see Ryder and Sean...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:14, Tue 27 Feb.

At the far end of the dock, a group of walkers slowly follow the large loud thing they where drawn to. The crew had to unload Mariam and her mom with all haste, not to mention all that medical gear...


This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Tue 27 Feb.

By the time they reached the docks, Ryder was leading a stream of walkers like a marching band. He got out, staring back at the trailing walkers. That was not good. In the lengthening shadows, they could have been a crowd gathering for a baseball game. It would, he thought, have been one macabre game.

And it wasn't hot dogs they sought.

Movement from the ship drew his eye, anxious faces, Laura smiling. And there, on the gunwale, not coming down but watching him thoughtfully, the dark-haired woman, Adria. He met her eyes and a small charge passed between them.

He reached in for the plushie, tucking it into his pocket. It was only when Bill arrived he realized the source of the concern darkening their faces.

"No, we left them at the Walmart," he said, laughing. "They're fine, but we brought some special guest stars for this season." He pulled open the rear door. "Mariam, Aaliyah, meet Bill, Laura, Max, Lupe... the crew. Crew, meet Aaliyah and Mariam."

He made room for Sean to take charge of moving the little girl, stepping away so he could check the Range Rover over. A glance at the walkers had him wondering if he might need to fit bull bars.

In the end, it was a panicked rush to get Mariam onboard before things became too dicey. The bastards had a way of sneaking up on you when you weren't paying attention, and nobody felt safe on the marina.

Now, he stands on the deck watching the unsettled walkers. Between him and them, in the cradle of his arms, Laura leans against the railing. "Is it even safe to go back?" she asks.

"Nope," he says. "Shitload of walkers, gurnacks with guns, bandits. I'll be surprised if I make it back alive. Probably die on the bridge."

Laura smiles. "You'd better not die. I haven't said thank you for Snuggles yet." She holds up the rabbit, makes it look at Ryder. It butts him on the nose.

He huffs a laugh. "If I make it back alive—remote if—I'm sure you'll think of something."

He watches the walkers over Laura's shoulder. The boat is in danger of getting cut off. He makes a note to ask Max if they can steer the boat across the bay, anchor on the other side of the water.

"I will," she promises, looking at Snuggles. There's still some of the reservation from before in her eyes, though.

He hears Juan calling from the prow. The engineer has pulled together a number of his spears and they're good to go by the sound of it.

"Be careful, Ryder," says Laura.

"Always."

He straightens to go and she kisses him then, and there's none of the reservation he saw in that, at least.

He winks at her. "Now I'll definitely be back."

---

OOC: Have the walkers completely cut the dock off, or would Ryder still assess it as possible to get through?

OOC-The walkers are stumbling onto the dock area. While it is a bit of space between the swarm and the car, they are headed in your direction. There is no other sound to draw them away as of now.

Ryder sees Sean overseeing Mariam's situation on the ship.

"I'm going back out," he says. "Some heavy weather out there. If I wait any longer there'll be no getting through at all."

His arms are full of the spears from Juan. "Let's hope these are some use at the Zombiemart."

In reply to Ryder Hudson (msg # 5):

"Wait! Wait! I have way! Please!" Juan says, all while carrying spears to Ryder. "I have prototipo!" After handing over the weapons to Ryder, along with a couple of bows and quivers of arrows.

"You wait to drive, and then wind and throw in another direction, si?" He hands Ryder the metal ball. Sure enough it has a key with a clockwork like winding device built into it. "Once wound, you push button-then throw!" He gestures to a raised lever next to the removable winding key.

"Oh...is Lady Rebecca safe? Oh, and uh...everyone else. Of course!" He quickly adds the last part. "Sancho...er, I mean Jacques and I can come and help!" He offered.

As we cross the bridge and head to the docks, I had a quick conversation with Devon, about the need for a special request for someone joining us. I can't help but stare at the incoming threat trailing behind us; the same horde that consumed my friends last week has come back for more. Their appetite in insatiable. I can't help but think I'll see one of them amongst their numbers. Or, perhaps, the Professor or the Hippie Mama? Either way, I'd prefer not to see them again.

Ever.

Andy and Devon were along railing of the ship. Both came down to assist me in getting Mariam out of the vehicle while Aaliyah walked behind them. I turn to Devon, inquiring. "Did you get everything sanitized? And do you have the medication and water in the room?"

"Yeah, we started as soon as you told us on the radio. Everything is good to go." Devon replies after we embrace. We exchange concerned looks with one another, but both of us turn to Andy, who was always the better host than the two of us. Andy has already moved past us to greet the new arrivals.

"Hey! I'm Andy, I'll help you to the room, we've got everything set and ready to go." He waves to the two new people, offering an enthusiastic wave to the mother and daughter duo. Andy quickly takes control of the situation in assisting Mariam to the single occupancy room. Devon assists by carrying the tanks from the vehicle up into the ship.

I approach Bill and Max, motioning to the ill child. "Mariam is going to need oxygen until her lung infection clears up. Do you think it's possible to have those diving tanks filled on a rotating basis? It's vital for her recovery."

"Here, you'll need this to stay in communication with us and the other team," I say to Ryder once Laura departs and Juan joins us, handing him the walkie talkie before I reach out and give him a hug. "The AR-15 is in the passenger seat. I know Juan has volunteered, but do you want me to go with you?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:20, Tue 27 Feb.

"Thanks Juan." Ryder takes the strange metal ball. "Like an alarm clock, yeah?"

He thinks he sees how it works. Wind it up, throw it where you want the walkers to go, when the alarm goes off, road clears.

"There's no room, Juan. Sure, I can carry you out, but coming back, we're full. Rebecca, Matt, Alex, Bob ... and Sean. We may even need to mount two on Zoe's scooter, depending on how much stuff we scavenge." He nods at the walkie in Sean's hand. "They may need you, Sean. Keep it. You can talk to the boat and the Deadmal while I drive."

"The weapons are great, Juan." He tosses the ball in the air, catching it again. "And thanks for this. I know this is going to be useful..." A quick glance at the walkers. "Hopefully, we won't need it until the store."

He pauses, looking at the crowded marina. He points across the water, to the Newport City side of the bay. "Talk to Max. It may be time to move the boat across the bay. If you do, let Sean know on the walkie."

In reply to Ryder Hudson (msg # 8):

"I no ride with you! Jacques and I ride the Rocinante!" He gestures to his motorcycle with a custom sidecar hooked up. Jacques himself is sitting in said sidecar, his bow and arrows ready for use. Ryder notices Juan is wearing his football player outfit with the metal roadsigns covering various bits of the outfit. "You need all the help you can get, no?" The man points out.

In reply to Sean Anderton (msg # 7):

Bill, Max and few others help unload Mariam, her medical equipment, and her mother from the car. Even as the others are wheeling the sick girl up the gangplank, Max turns Sean. "We may need to pull the boat away from the dock, just in case any more of them show up. We will tell you an alternate dock we can use to pick the lot of you up if need be. Are you going with Ryder or staying to work on the girl?" He says.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:43, Tue 27 Feb.

One quick glance back at the horde and I turn to Max with a reply with my hand on the radio. "That's understandable. Just let me know where and I'll let everyone else know. Devon has a walkie talkie, but you probably have one on the bridge. And, regarding Mariam- all she needs to do is take a few pills, and clear up the infection. Andy and Devon have everything set-up in the room. As long as she starts taking the antibiotics immediately, she should be okay. They will give her Doxycycline- which isn't related to penicillin, in case she's allergic- for her lung infection. She'll be fine."

Turning my attention to Devon, I give him an all-encompassing hug (which he loves because I'm much taller than he) and plant a kiss on his sweet lips. My hand strokes the side of his face as I step away, grinning. "Keep an eye on her and stay near the radio, okay? Love you, and see you soon."

"Alright, let's get going before that gets worse." I motion to the horde behind us as I step back into the vehicle.

"Yeah..." Ryder turns to grin at Juan as he and Jacques clamber into the motorcycle sidecar. "I don't know about the walkers, but I'd be glad to see us coming."

He climbs back into the Range Rover.

"Of course, I'd feel a little more comfortable with a ton of steel and all the luxury Queenie could want, too."

His hands twist on the wheel, watching the dead shamble unevenly towards them. He starts the engine and turns towards the closing horde. "This could get bumpy."

---

OOC: I'm assuming we fixed the tire that was popped, either in order to get back to the ship, or while Mariam was being taken aboard?

Do you want another roll for the return journey?

I join Ryder in the vehicle and shift the AR-15 to make room. I can't help but look back at Juan and Jacques with a worried look. "That's one Hell of a ride. I'd be afraid of those things grabbing ahold of me or something."

The view ahead- a horde of those shambling Ghouls- continued to move in our direction. My eyes glace up and to the left, catching another glance of the ship. "Let's hope the other docks north of here aren't as dangerous. I'm surprised it took this horde so long to make their way down here."