Chapter 6- Peter Peter pumpkin eater

“To stand up straight with your shoulders back is to accept the terrible responsibility of life” -Dr Jordan B. Peterson.

Rick walked through the battlefield of his nightmare in the old-world town and saw the broken child outside one of the homes as he does each night that he re-lived this day since its happening, and he bore it all alone, or so he felt... He prayed to his God, the God that his fathers loved and followed with unceasing devotion. "God take this pain from me if it be your will." Then he looked over to the terrible place where his feet always carried him.

The child still alive somehow cried, with his arms and legs torn off and guts hanging out, the cannibals did God knows what and left him to suffer until they were done with the rest of the family that they chased into this little town. Rick quickly ended the child's suffering. He recited the bible word for word, but at this point in his past he was reciting Mathew 5;21-22 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever says, 'you fool!' Will be liable to the hell fire.

His heart and mind trained to be driven by the power of the words. He did not hate; he simply strived to purify his own heart and mind and moved forward with the passage of time and did his job. If he stopped for a second, he didn't know if he would be stuck forever in an endless loop of hate rather than a simple dream of his past, so he moved on as he always did not give into his hate.

Only two men and a woman cannable were inside the house, halfway done eating the mothers left leg tearing at the raw meat and bone like wild animals while the mother screamed and repeatedly assed out then came back to consciousness when they used drugs to wake her, the father with his eyes cut out and eaten was forced to listen and waited for his own death. Hearing something they all stood and started to turn towards the door.

Rick spoke and the enemies looked at each other and watched their friends body parts come lose. The last thing they thought was, "What?" As they looked to each other and saw each other's arms and legs hit the ground in unison.

The dream began to waver, and Rick gave thanks.

Ricks eyes slowly open and he sat up and smiled at Akari who gave a slight bow and eyes that understood. He sang the words “Such a heavy burden we share, we share. Together together our family.” as he brewed coffee on the heat stone stove.

Rick stretched and listened and smiled then asked. “Where did you get this coffee?”

“From the bean nomads; They keep and sell all manner of bean. it is strongly brewed my friend.” Replied Akari handing Rick a teacup filled with the brew.

The cup was tiny in Ricks hand, and he drank it in a single shot without letting it cool then waited on the others to wake up before he would ask for more.

Akari took Ricks cup and refilled it, knowing Rick wouldn't ask until everyone had their fill.

Sal stumbled out and came to the kitchen and Akari handed him a cup.

Sal said, “Thanks dad” and sat at the table and took a sip then looked up to see Akari gently smiling at him.

“I have been dad, yes.” He laughed.

Sal smiled groggily.

Roma and Merik gave the signal before re-entering the house. The sound of the door woke everyone, and the smell of coffee drew them into the living area. They always were up before everyone and asleep after everyone

They had Rabbit meat for breakfast and eggs from vicious wild chickens. They were small and had short arms covered in feathers and a scaly hard beak filled with razor sharp teeth so gathering wild eggs was dangerous unless you knew what you were doing, and you are fast or strong and insane.

Id found the suitcase and came down the stairs with it. “I found this cool case! Can I have it, Sal?” He asked with bated breath.

Sal finally waking up with the caffeine in his system and looked at the case and at Id.

“Uuuuhh, sure. It's yours.” Knowing how happy it would make him.

“Thank you! Id said in bliss.

He ran up back up the stairs to organize his pack and new carrying case.

Dumping the contents into a large pouch very carefully, he immediately lost his concentration and missed the pouch, hundreds the little clear spheres but he caught them all before any hit the ground, so he counted it as a win.

“I like that game.” He chuckled.

Lifting the pouch to his eye level he felt the weight and wiped his mouth and concentrated on the stand where the case laid and the new home for the cases contents. Using all his concentration he sat the pouch down as if it would lose a trap with a single false move, then he cheered! “I did it!” Looking at the bags where Jenna and Paul lay which made him sad. He frowned and slowly walked down the stairs to organize his herbs and medicines near his friends, not wanting to be alone at this moment but inside he wanted to run as if a giant boulder chased him away.

Akari cleared a spot on the floor in front of the couches, so Id had room to spread out his pouches.

Everyone was up and awake talking around the kitchen table looking at a hand drawn map of the area. Sal was tasked with writing in the places he's been so they could search those areas first, but he used symbols and drawings instead of words, so everyone was confused.

“What is the meaning of this one here?” Rick pointed to the train yard.

The symbol looked like a steering wheel.

“It is transport.” Sal said confused.

Rick rubbed his chin. “And what of this one,” pointing to the hardware store.

“That is a hammer.”

“Hmmm.” Rick said.

Sal saw their confusion. “How about I just write it instead.”

Akari cut in and spoke. “Both is good my friend, use both.”

Roma, Meric, CIN Blase and Mandy often explored the ancient surrounding ruins. Their eyes were wide, and they listened intently.

Mandy spoke up in her sweet little voice. “There is a symbol on doors, it is a circle shape and a expands in a triangular shape and has two legs at the bottom. It looks like a poorly drawn human.”

“Thats the girls bathroom. Thats where you would go.”

“It is for little people to bathe?” Mandy said confused.

“It's to use the bathroom you know, when you gotta go.”

They all looked at him blankly, so he gave up on answering then said, “I'm getting a bit overwhelmed with the questions right now. Maybe we can go over this kinda stuff later.”

They all agreed.

Sal moved onto the next thing he could think of and wrote in distances to all the locations so Master Akari assigned groups and duties.

“Blase and CIN, you take all the odd number houses and Rick and Mandy please take the even number houses on this block.

“Can do partner.” Replied Blase.

Rick replied, “yes sir.”

“Roma, Merik, go far to these outlying spots south of here.”

Id cuts in and says, “But Master I can get there faster.”

Akari puts his hand on his shoulder and says, “My friend We take the far area to the north. They will do a more thorough search in the south, plus I want you near me in case I need someone fast.”

“Sal, and Id, you are with me. We head for the train yard.”

Sal said, “I woke up here at home I don't know if it would be all the way out here.”

Akari replied. “If there is a cure, we do not know how long it takes to have effect or if sleep active it or nay number of things. We must be very thorough either way.”

“Yes master.” He replied formally not wanting to use the wrong title or words.

Akari replied “You can call me Akari if you like, that is a traditional title and one my friends have adopted because of my great age and mastery of wood working.”

“Yes master.” Sal started to say then said, “Ok.” with a smile.

“Blase said that's a new word.” and laughed at its funny sound.

CIN explained, “It means ok.”

They all went their own ways.

Rick and Mandy made their wat through the homes. He felt uneasy with the zombies walking around in their suits but didn't want to act without their group's approval. The code abides. Mandy found many pieces of clothing and jewelry and she drew the clothes as quickly as she could so she could catalogue and recreate the ancient fashion and put her own flair on it.

She drew the last piece from this house and put the outfit back where she found it and laid the jewelry back where she found it so when all the people came back, they could find the things they loved right where they left it. Rick talked of people coming back to life so she was determined not to take anything that didn't belong to her. A squeak escaped her mouth because she was so happy she might see her family again.

Rick walked in the room. “Are you done with all your searching?”

“Yes, and I got all my drawings done too.” She said radiating happiness.

The air was cool in the refurbished house Sal fixed up. Mandy looked back where she put the shiny jewelry and thought of Sal, “He fixed all of this up by himself? This whole block and parts of the town is so big. He is so little compared to all this.”

Rick looked at her and gave a little smile then turned and spoke. “We have a lot more to do, lets finish our big task and make it little.”

“Yay!” She was delighted with his phrasing.

They made their way to the next house but Mandy stopped and looked uneasy so Rick felt the air and ground with all his abilities to perceive and felt the hum. He ordered Mandy to get behind him, the hum grew louder and louder until it was a roar.

The large moving metal box could be seen coming down the road with ten more behind it. Rick had seen these before in intel reports from Jet city. Their King Jetsen was obsessed with ancient tech and was attempting to bring these rolling fortresses back.

Taking Mandy by the hand they waited.

“Jetsen.” Rick said to Mandy.

“We can't let them kill our zombies,” Mandy realized what they might be doing.

“Do not worry little lady, I'll make sure they know we claim this town.”

The lead car pulled up at an angle and the ten behind him parked in formation.

Jetsen was sitting in the front seat and jumped out.

“Rick.” He said with a sadistic smile. “You still playing around with the kids, why don't you join the real men and save this world.”

Rick kept his face neutral and replied. “Saving it or helping you to destroy then recreate it in your image?”

Jetsen chuckled and said “Same old Rick.” Then laughed manically.

Rick spoke “This town is in the neutral zone and i am going to protect it.” stating it as plainly as he could.

Jetsen laughed even harder at that.

We will eliminate every last zombie we come across and at that his men began making noise and hooting and yelling. The zombies in this neighborhood were all used to the noise now and they did not react at all.

Seeing no zombies at the moment Jetsen frowned and said, “We will find them all and kill them all and you sissies won't be able to stop us.”

“I will stop you when I am forced.”

Jetsen was mad at Ricks calm demeanor. He would not react to any of the taunts so he said hit it Roy and their fortresses began to roll. Jetsen stood on the roof and yelled “Slice” sending shockwaves at the speed of sound towards Mandy.

Rick said “Barrio” neutralizing the attack. Then looked at the read fortress and hummed deep in a bass tone and the vehicle fell apart at the seams. All the bolts were cut, the men crawled out and ran and got into the rear fortress and it drove away quickly.

Mandy stood up and almost started crying. “I'm sorry Rick, I'm sorry I couldn't do anything.”

Rick looked at her in the eyes and said, “Do not apologize little one, do not let him get in our heads or they win the good book speaks of massive ships being steered by small rudders.”

The mobile fortresses head west and Roma and Merik watch them from far off so they come and see who and what was going on.

“It's Jetsen, yuck.” Merik said.

They both walked out in the open and the cadre of metal monsters stopped.

“Jetsen what are you doing?” Said Roma first.

“Roma, Merik how do you do?” Jetsen flashed a smile.

“We are doing patrols now that we have our fleet, if you want to join a force that is going to win and take over as the one and only government. No one or thing can stand to this detachment. Only a hundredth of our full strength. Imagine what we could do together!”

Roma shook his head. “We are for law and order not forging the world in your image, Jetsen.”

“Pity, well I think you'll change your mind. I'll be seeing you all around.” Jetsen laughed maniacally and they disappeared into the distance.

The brothers spit on the ground then went on their way searching.

The train yard was huge and clean. Akari stopped their group at the chopped-up train parts.

“Did you do this son?” Akari asked.

“I don't think so but I don't remember anything but waking up at home.”

“Let us search here for a moment.” Akari suggested.

They all moved each piece together and found nothing. They searched each cart and each train engine top to bottom. There was nothing in the warehouses or the stores. They ever searched the rotting apartments that didn't get fixed up yet.

They stopped for tea and saw the sun slumping downward in the sky so Sal, Id and Akari headed home to regroup with their friends.

It almost sounded like polyurethane rolling on concrete and it started lightly then roared. The three stopped and looked around and they saw a massive zombie with a large head and on a massive vehicle frame like a skateboard. The roar of engines behind it and gun fire.  Bullets hit the zombie but had no effect, two fortresses were in pursuit.

They flanked the zombie, and it hit the vehicle's but didn't even dent the metal. He grabbed a man out of it and ate him. Then pushed it into a building so it was stuck. The men ran but most of them were eaten. The zombie saw Sal and Akari and rolled towards the group as fast as he could. The secondary vehicle took the opportunity and ran away picking up their survivors before leaving the unlucky group of strangers.

Id was able to get a bunch of hits in with his daggers coated with their toxin, but the zombie was too massive, and it had no effect. Akari used darts and ran to move to higher ground pulling Sal with him. Sal panicked and didn't know wat to think of the massive zombie, he didn't know what was happening.

The zombie swiped and hit Sal scratching him with his massive hands with black zombie blood covering half of Sal's body and throwing him through a wall of a bank. Ids hand barely missed Sal sending Id into despair. Tears welled up.

“I wasn’t fast enough.” Ids entire body shook, and he collapsed mid run and rolled and crashed into a wall. He stood quickly and started running putting it out of his mind as Rick taught him or he could make a mistake and die “We will deal with it when were safe...” Ricks words and deep voice entered his head.

“No!” Akari yelled.

Getting his wits back he jumped into the air and ran up the side of the building throwing darts and back flipping off the wall making it onto the zombies disfigured back hitting him with his Cain sword then jumped off his shorter arms with Id and running to the top of the building to watch and wait.

Id and Akari watched the zombie on his skateboard scratching at the base of the building in a rage building more and more. Not slowing down at all.

“Poor Sal.” Id said. Sadness welled up inside of him. “Why Sal, he should have run. Why didn't he move faster.”

“He isn't used to our world, he didn't know.” said Akari.

“A roar came from the bank building where Sal crashed into. Sal crashed through the wall and let out a loud roar again. His eyes glowing red. Sal waved to his friends with a louder growl.

Sal ran and a cone of mist formed around his body as he exceeded the speed of sound, and he slapped the frame throwing it through the bank and destroying the bottom half of the building his friends were standing on and it tipped over and fell. Akari and Id jumped and flew and landed on the roof of another building.

The zombie said “Nooo! My skateboard!”

Sal growled “Sorry”

The zombie replied “why?” Then the zombie ran at his enemy and Sal grabbed his arms and held him down.

Akari's jaw was on the floor, and he came back to his senses then told Sal to run and very carefully fill your case with Death Nettle. We must put them in a coma and soon before they hurt themselves or anyone else!

“Did they talk!” Yelled Id.

“Go quickly! Yes, they talked but go.”

Sal looked down at the massive zombie and growled, “Friends.”

“Friends.” Said the zombie, then Sal let him go.

The zombie pointed to himself and said “Retard, who are you.”

Sal growled, “Sal.”

The zombie started laughing when a sack of herbs flew into his mouth, and he fell asleep.

Id flew in to hit Sal, but he grabbed Ids arms and growled “Hello, Id.”

Ids struggled to get away, but his eyes got big when Sal used his name.

Sal thought back to Jenna and how she left him and ran away with Jake. His eyes went normal, and he attempted a smile and started talking again with a guttural voice that growled out from deep inside of him.

“Our friend is tired I think.” He chuckled as he let Id down then he Said “Hello Akari.” Who had been standing behind him the whole time.

Akari waited to see what Sal would do and how he would act because Jenna only knew him as a zombie.

“Please move our friend so no one else finds him.”

“OK.” Sal said.

He moved him inside the crumbling building and piles up debris to hide the entrance.

Sal kept stopping and inspecting every little thing he found interesting, so Akari and Id move on ahead, the sun fell, and it was getting cold and very dark. Everyone was back and waiting for them. Roma stood watching and waiting and greeted the pair and immediately asked where Sal was and explained the situation and heard what had happened with Jetsen and his goons and how they were trying to recruit people. Roma and Merik went to follow Sal from a distance and see how he was acting just to be safe and to hunt and scout for Jetsen or his right-hand man Roy.

The brothers caught a few large Rabbits and a chicken then some eggs right after then they watched Sal for two hours then finally approached.

Sal waved to them and growled “Hello friends.”

They both laughed and greeted him then walked him home.

Sal went straight to his room and saw the body bags on his bed and went straight to the guest room and mimicked sleeping like he did when he's a zombie.

Everyone was awake and Sal came out to see them and smiled and planned on going to the train yard to finish where he left off but then his friends all wanted to ask him questions.

Sal saw his suitcase and growled “My case.” and smiled at Id.

Id asked, “Do you want it back? You said i could have it.”

Sal said, “It was my treasure, but you can have it.”

Id opened the case and showed Sal all the neat things he found and stored. Sal asked, “Where are my shinnies?”

Id took Sal to the pouch where he placed all the little orbs into and Akari saw it and knew it was ancient medicine.

He said, “I think our search is over friends.”

Sal smiled big and said “Friends.” He did something good, and his friends were so happy, his mouth couldn't help but to move into a smile and Sal didn't even have to try.

They tried out the medicine and gave it to Jenna first. She woke up and yawned and stretched and came alive and asked for some coffee.

Then she saw Sal her zombie friend and remembered everything and said “Sal!”

He smiled again and said “Jenna, Friend. I missed you”

“I have so many questions.” Her face was almost white after hearing Sal speak in a guttural growl.

“Where is my husband!” She immediately asked when she remembered.

Akari's hand gently pushed her shoulder down and he told her to lay still and recover. Id tried to hand her a cup of coffee but didnt notice Akari took it and sat it on the bed side stand because he just wanted to see if she was alive again.

They gave Paul the antidote and watched as his skin tuned flesh colored again and he began to breath. Jenna watched and cried as he started to move and make noise, then speak.

Paul kept mumbling about his family and saying, “Keep them safe. Please. Keep them safe.”

Jenna put her hand over her mouth and couldn't stop crying. Paul held her in his daze and wouldn't let her go. They all left the room and gave them time to recover together. Every single eye teared up. They all stayed quiet and pondered what this meant for them and their friends and loved ones. Id spoke a mile a minute and talked of all his friends he wanted to see again and everyone's loved ones that he knew of.

Akari asked Meric and Roma to travel to Casa Grande and tell the scientists there about the cure and have them analyzed it to see if they can find out what it was made of and to see the orphans and give them hope about the cure they found. They had the only scientist who defected from Jensen.

Akari sat with Id on the couch and listened to him talk and then they went to all the people of the neighborhood and gave his great great great great great greatgreat great grandparents.

“All these people are going to have so many questions.” Akari laughed.

Id thought it was funny too and gave out a big laugh.

Their minds swam in air and they weren't sure if they were going to die or if they were so happy, it felt like they couldn't breathe but each breath tasted like candy. Their hearts sang.

Roma and Merik made it to Casa Grande after a month's ride. They were greeted by a blind man standing guard at the gates with six guards who watched him. They would switch out every four hours and say their guard's creed every time they relieved a guard from duty.

The blind man would repeat the words every time, but he would stay until the guards made him rest or if his wife hobbled out on her prosthetic leg and made him come in and eat.

“Her children were older now and helped with the orphans, but she would say, “Spend time with all our children,” You must rest too. Because he would only sleep when he couldn't stay awake anymore.

“Yes, my love,” he would say and come in and rest.

Merik greeted the blind man after his wife told him to go in and rest, his wife saw them and was overjoyed and gave them places to sleep and learned of their mission and the cure.

“It has been many generations, and it will be more, rest first and eat, we will fix our world one step at a time.”

“Yes ma’am” Roma and Merik said.

They slept deeply for the first time in moths but were woken up by a scientist who couldn't wait after hearing about the cure.

The brothers showed him the antidotes they had.

“My name is Peter, I have seen these before at Jetsen's, but they destroyed them all. They did not want them to get out, how did you get these?”

“We found them on a zombie who knew our friend.” Said Roma.

“A zombie!?”

The brothers laughed in unison, “Yes.”

“Never mind, I do not have the equipment here, we must go, now.”

“Go where?”

Peter looked at them and frowned and gulped.

Roma and Merik looked at each other and knew where they had to go to get the equipment and smiled at each other.

“Jensen won't even know we were there.”

“We will probably die.”

The brothers laughed out loud and smiled.