Final Destination

As the four survivors meet back up to talk shop, a few things become readily obvious...

1-A. The people working for the group who orchestrated this emergency aid have made it obvious who they are via armbands.

1-B. You're certain there are some who are not wearing anything that denotes them as part of the "savior group." You can only speculate why they'd hide their affiliation.

1-C. You're certain some of the other survivors have already started working with (for?) the "savior group." You are sure they are survivors, because at least a few of them were on your flight.

2-A. Most standard exits have been boarded up or otherwise secured. The set of doors you entered through when you got off the bus is the only true entrance or exit.

2-B. There are some fire exits that don't appear to be barred from inside, but you don't know if they're blocked from the outside. The alarms do appear to still be functional, however.

2-C. Armed guards are posted at the doors. There are armed patrols that roam inside the Armory (usually groups of 2). There also has to be rooftop access... somewhere.

2-D. You may be able to exit via a second story window, if you can get into an office unnoticed.

3. There are numerous suitable weapons, improvised or otherwise. All of the food establishments have a variety of knives and kitchen tools. Some of the tables have umbrellas. Maintenance closets, while locked, have chemicals and cleaning supplies -- including brooms or mops.

4-A. The upstairs offices allchave simple, standard locks that would be easy enough to bypass.

4-B. There are doors that lead to basement level(s?) that are locked via key card, and would be difficult to bypass.

4-C. Because of the sheer number of people (both "saviors" and survivors) coupled with the security system, there seem to be very few blind spots -- and for those to work, you're hoping no other people happen upon your spot by dumb luck.

5-A. The security system, while unobtrusive, is expansive. Most of the cameras don't look like cameras.

5-B. You have no idea where all those cameras feed to.

6. Yuri has been ridiculously busy all day long.

The group, having decided to more or less play along for now, is able to rest up. It's warm, but sleep still comes if they allow it to. They rest of the day is relatively uneventful, the most excitement coming from the occassional round of gunfire from the roof.

Stan isn't able to get any real traction with volunteering. Maybe it's the limp, maybe it's just because it's the first real day and everyone is harried, but he's told to just relax.

About a half hour before sunset, two tables are set up directly underneath the balcony William addressed the survivors from, with chairs behind them and all the materials needed to collect any last minute turn-ins. There are also some large containers brought out and stacked in the hallway behind the tables.

Shortly after sundown, the PA system will crackle, and a moment later William appears at the balcony -- Yuri by his side -- as a half dozen people with armbands take seats at the tables.

"Good evening, survivors of Seattle. I hope the first day has treated you well -- all things considered, of course. This is a trying time for all of us, but we are committed to protecting who we can. Unfortunately, that means we have to consider risk factors from within. Not everyone may be concerned with opporational security to the same degree as the rest of us, and while it's hard... we have to prioritize the many over the few.

Which is why the first order of business for tonight is to address the amnesty period for electronic devices. You've had the day to think about the situation, weigh the pros and cons, and -- hopefully -- make a decision based on the facts as we know them, and not an emotional response.

This is the closure of the amnesty period. At this time, anyone with an electronic device may come forward and turn it in. It will be stored securely and, once we know the degree of threat any outsiders pose, eventually returned. Please, form lines at the tables below.

If you turn them in now, no harm no foul. We move forward. If you are found to have kept them later... well, we will cross that bridge should the need arise.

Let me ask... is anyone simply unwilling to turn in their device?"

At this point, a number of people are singled out. Every one of them -- a few dozen in total -- is moved to the front doors, and the containers stacked behind the amnesty tables are moved over as well.

William continues. "I appreciate your honesty. We will address your options shortly, once we verify if anyone else will be joining you."

For the moment, the PA system falls silent.

There are lines forming at the tables as people who had their own reservations choose to give in, and there are some people who seem unsure whether to join the lines or the people by the door.

For the moment, everyone is free to act.

If William hears Rain, he doesn't show it. He seems to be having a conversation with Yuri, although between not being able to hear them and a lack of body language you can't get a read on just what they're discussing. Although it does seem to be mostly William talking.

The person who collects your phones will write down your name, date of birth, and they even take a polaroid to put in the ziploc bag so the phones can be returned to their proper owner, thanking you upon completing the process.

All told, it takes between 45 minutes and an hour to either collect the remaining phones being turned in or shuffle some more folks over to the group who refused to turn in their devices.

Eventually, the PA system crackles and William speaks. "I'm glad to see so many have chosen to be reasonable and place the safety of our group as a priority as we move forward in these uncertain times.

For the small number who simply cannot do so... know that I respect your individualism and devotion to true freedom. Which is why the next step is one we take with heavy hearts. We cannot allow people who would put the rest of us in danger to remain within our walls. However, we are conflicted because we want you to thrive. So, even though I was advised not to use the resources, I have made my decision -- I will provide you the tools to gain a foothold in what's left of the world. Every person or group leaving us will be given those tools."

As soon as he mentioned kicking people out, a murmur erupts through the crowd... some people are against the idea, and some people are for it. Regardless, no one actually tries to stop it. And so, the exiles line up and the storage containers are opened, revealing backpacks.

Anyone with a keen eye and who is close enough to the doors to have a clear view will realize the backpacks seem to be color coded, and are given out based on the size of the group leaving together.
Individuals get black backpacks, groups of 2-3 get a grey and a red, 4-5 get one of each. They are then lead outside, and you can hear the city buses fire up.

"I wish they would have chosen differently, but we have to respect their choice," William says. "We've been hard at work today clearing out a cargo ship down on the waterfront, which is where they're being delivered. We have done everything we can to help them. I truly wish them the best."

There is a hint of sadness in his voice, but he pauses and sighs, taking a moment to refocus himself.

"For the rest of us, we have a secure location that we are improving hourly. We have some very talented individuals dedicated to keeping the power and water here at The Armory functioning for as long as possible. Over the next few days, we will be establishing how everyone can contribute to our community. Together, we can survive this."

As the PA system falls silent and William begins to leave the balcony with Yuri, one of their people rushes forward and quickly takes a knee, looking to the ground. A moment later, he rises and dashes off out of sight. Yuri takes off running herself. William simply heads down the stairs, vanishing from sight.

Over the next few days, The Armory seems almost boring. The group of survivors are talked to -- interviewed really -- to find what tasks they may be able to help with.

Stan's knowledge of computers and languages gets him hired on for radio watch. It's below his abilities by a country mile, but he sits in a quiet room and monitors the shortwave radio. It seems that the exiles have a ham radio, and there is an agreement in place that they make contact twice a day. Beyond that, he monitors for any survivor radio activity. It's boring, but it's easy and it keeps him off his feet. On the bright side, it's in a small office on the second floor. However, he's never left alone.

Amaresh is put on watch. She isn't armed, but she's given binoculars and tasked with keeping an eye out for zombies... but more importantly, for anything not dead that's out moving around. She's part of a group that patrols the rooftop.

Rain and Sakura are kept together. The two find themselves helping with food. It's not glamorous, but it's something to do. They also get to eat whenever they want, which is nice. Additionally, depending on what they're actually doing on a particular day, they interact directly with a lot of the other survivors.

Everyone seems to work during the day, which makes meeting up to talk shop and gossip easy.

Every night, box trucks drop of a myriad of goods. Slowly but surely, real beds are being brought in. Areas are being sectioned off in an attempt to give families a modicum of privacy. It's like a cubicle farm... but for sleeping.

Even the food comes in at night. Rain and Sakura have noticed that it is only ever some of the saviors that go out.

While privacy is almost non-existant, and sharing a complex with hundreds of others isn't ideal... for what it's worth, it certainly does feel safe in here.

Stan doesn't handle the shortwave seven days a week, so finding time to chat with the other operator reveals they also have a person with them watching "the comms."

There also don't seem to be many people working on the upper floor... at least, regarding people who aren't part of the providing group. A handful of people pass through the second floor on their way to stand watch on the roof, but even then the majority have armbands. Amaresh is one of about only a half dozen rescues that stand watch, and there's never more than two survivors to a shift... the rest are armbands.

Sakura and Rain will tell Stan that, generally, they have some oversight but it's minimal.