User:Karen Howard/Archive/Dec06

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December December 31, 2006 Location: McEvoy Drive Railway Station (Gatcombeton) I was glad to arrive at Calvert -- its rather nice, as Malls post-quarantine go, though a little chilly due to all the broken windows. It snowed and was a rather lazy day today, aside from the revelers in the Mall and surrounding buildings for the New Years. While many were preparing to party, I searched for useful items to take back with me. By the time I was satisfied wit what I had recovered -- medical supplies, a it of ammunition and a couple changes of warmer clothing -- I left and retraced my route back to the safehouse I had used last night to rest for the night. My sleep was interrupted however -- many firearms went off at midnight, which made me wonder if that ammunition could have been better put to use against the undead... December 30, 2006 Location: McEvoy Drive Railway Station (Gatcombeton) It a few hours after dawn when I woke to find the snow clouds had yet to release any more precipitation. Reluctant to leave the warmth of the study, but feeling restless, I decided to do something different today. I decided to go to one of the nearby Malls. With how I was getting a bit cooped up inside the mansion and there where lots of zombie around Bale Mall; I'd heard Calvert Mall was zombie-free, so I decided to do a supply run there. With my pack mostly empty, I ventured outside, taking to the carefully constructed bridges between the buildings; with all the snow and ice, I had to be careful with my footing and was forced to take more rest breaks then I normally would to warm up. When I had to stop for the night, I found a safehouse that was reasonably warm and with high barricades. I think I'll do plenty of scavenging, take back as many supplies as I can carry and help whomever needs me... December 29, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) The sky was cloudy when I woke in the morning, but it wasn't snowing anymore, so I ventured out after a quick breakfast to scout around the mansion and to scan the zombies swaying around outside. I managed to kill a rotter that was lurking around the NT building before retreating inside to the relative warmth of the study. The rest of the day was slow and long, so I spent it mending some of Nicholas's more worn clothing, as well as whatever of my allies needed repair before the sun set taking away my light. After a small dinner, I curled up in the chair beside the hearth for the night... December 28, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Well, I rose with the sun and headed out for where Nicholas had gotten killed. He was swaying peacefully outside the church and I used a revivification syringe on him and ducked into the Church to wait for him. He entered moments and we left for the Mansion together to rest -- with the cold, I find we're taking frequent naps in order to conserve energy. After my nap, I patrolled briefly, retreating indoors again for the day when the snow started to fall once more.At least its nice and cozy on the sofa with Nicholas sharing his warmth... December 27, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Again, I woke late to find it was very very cold and Nicholas having already gone out, so I stayed indoors except for a couple brief patrols outside. I didn't know where Nicholas went to until I went on my evening patrol and saw him dead outside the Church; which means he's either been freshly killed or just revived. Good thing I keep a syringe for him, just in case -- I'll check later... He didn't join me for supper, so he's probably needing a revive; the snow's falling again and I huddled beneath my old blanket on the sofa in the mansion' study, trying to get some rest so that I could revive Nicholas first thing... December 26, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) I woke late to discover that we're snowed in from the heavy dumping of snow from last night, so going out for scouting was a brief affair; I mostly gathered anything that could be used for firewood -- newspaper and broken bits of wood too small to be used in the barricades. After my brief jaunt outside, I hastily returned to the mansion -- I preferred staying in the study where its much warmer! With not much to do, I turned in early for the night, curled up on the sofa Nicholas had dragged over by the hearth; with the warmth of the fire, my layers of clothing and Nicholas's bodyheat, I was downright toasty... December 25, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Today is Christmas Day, and I woke to a helicopter flying over the city. I ventured out a bit to scan a few zombies and played a bit in the snow -- I'll admit, the zombies made nice targets for my snowballs. After I was tired, I went indoors and I prayed in the church again, hoping almost for a miracle on this most blessed of days. After my prayers, I headed to the police department to look for ammunition with little luck, only finding a few shotgun shells. The snow started to fall during the dusk and I returned to the warmth of the hearth, which Nicholas stoked up with battered bits of the barricades from the mansion and surrounding buildings. The day was quiet for the most part, even the zombies seemed less inclined to attack the barricades or even the living; of course, that could be from the cold... December 24, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Well, its Christmas Eve and I slept in to celebrate. Around noon, I woke and nibble don brunch before bundling up and heading outside into the snowy day. After my scouting and shooting at the random rotter, I paused inside the church beside the Mansion to pray. I didn't stay long, due to the zombies milling about a few blocks away...and the fact its so very cold. The Church is dark, with a cold wind bringing snowflakes inside, and I don't dare sing a hymn due to fear of 'waking' one of the zombies nearby -- of course shooting that rotter might have woken him, but I'm hoping not. I just want to spend a few more minutes here...in this Hell on Earth, this is as close to God as I can get, it seems... I returned to the mansion and curled up by the study's hearth after a scare meal; I drifted off to sleep wishing for something better in the morning... December 23, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) I woke up stiff, but warm; what I was laying on? It didn't feel like the chair or sofa... In fact, it moved! Startled, I lifted my head to find that I was lying on Nicholas's lap! Mortified, with my face burning and heart pounding in my embarrassment, I jumped up off him but then everything started spinning as my knees buckled and my vision went black... When I woke up again, I was beside Nicholas and was quite embarrassed for the rest of the day, even as I helped him with the barricades in the main hall. Its one thing sleeping beside him to conserve bodyheat, but to invade his personal space like that... How embarrassing...! December 22, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) After a late, sparse breakfast, I bundled up and Headed outside, scouting around the mansion; several buildings had zombies standing outside them and many of the buildings were broken into and ransacked. I came across a zombie with cortex damage and killed it; I'm quite impressed with how my aim has improved! After repairing what building damage I could, I returned to the Mansion, curling up on one of the comfy leather chairs in the study for a nap. I was abruptly awakened, but at fist I couldn't figure out by what. There was no loud banging on the barricades. Confused, I left my comfy chair and went to investigate. The barricades had been tampered with! I went to repair them when a movement caused me to spin around and come face to face with a zombie. What?! How?! I automatically reached for my pistol before realizing it was with my gear, by the chair I had been sleeping on. So I was left to grapple with the zombie in hand to hand combat, with only my knife to defend myself with. Unfortunately even with the sounds of our fighting and his snarls, no one came to my aid. The bites and scratches I received were agonizing and I kept missing with my knife due to my panicked state. No, no, I don't want to die-- December 21, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) I woke as a zombie managed to break into the Study, killing a survivor and destroying the Christmas tree and our generator! Depressed, I headed outside and scouted the zombies; most were swaying so I used my DNA extractor on them. One, a rotter my scan told me, was starting to wake up, so I fled, firing a few shots behind me as a warning not to attack; it must of worked since it didn't lumber after me. My aim is getting much better too -- the more experience I've gained from the training I'm receiving is doing wonders... December 20, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Waking late in the morning, I headed out after a sparse breakfast into the snowy day to scout the zombie population, and found another of my allies swaying outside the Necrotech building. I used my last syringe to being him back to life and entered the building to search for more syringes. My luck was rotten -- I only found one and kept coming across GPS units. Disappointed, I vowed to search again later, returning to the Mansion for an evening meal and a good night's rest... December 19, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Once more I woke early and with a resolute step, I headed to Bale Mall; while there, I found a couple generators, a set of wirecutters, and much needed medical supplies. Gleefully I set one of the generators I had brought back to the Mansion up in the study -- now we just need fuel to power it and we can listen to the radio as well as light the Christmas tree! Oh how beautiful it will be when it's all lit up...! There was a blur of activity as everything was set up, making the dark library seem more cheerful, more inviting. The memories of happier Christmases prior to the Quarantine seem to blur with what's occurring as I drift off to sleep... December 18, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) I woke early with a sense of excitement; after all, Nicholas and I were going to Bale Mall to look around for provisions and supplies. It wouldn't be like my hurried glimpse -- we were going to make an actual Mall Trip. To my surprise, there was a Christmas tree and lights set up when we arrived! I was pleased to discover that Nicholas liked the idea as well and headed to the park where he cut down a tree with his fire axe; he surprised me when he brought it in -- its not very big but we had to shuffle the barricades a bit to bring it into the mansion. It's currently in the study and I sung 'Deck the Halls' as he set it up. One could almost forget we're in the midst of a war between the living and the undead. Nicholas made a comment I quite agreed with... I also really like this mansion... It almost feels like a home. It was that thought that seemed to make me extra warm as I drifted off to sleep beside the hearth... December 17, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) With the cold of the winter, it was hard to wake up; but I had to -- I needed to find provisions and medical supplies. After crawling from the warmth of my blankets and nibbling on a light breakfast, I warmed some of the rainwater that had gathered overnight, washing my face and hands to help me awaken properly. I notice the clouds remain overcast, but no sign of continuing rain, or worse -- sleet and hail. With the temperature dropping, I expect that we'll have a white Christmas. After finding some much needed medical supplies in the hospital adjacent to the mansion, I left to scout around the mansion. Carefully taking DNA scans of the zombies I came across, I kept track of where the older, more dangerous ones were while seeking those whom were survivors trapped in a state of undeath; outside the NectroTech building, I saw an ally of mine in the state of undeath. Of course, I immediately remedied this with a revivification syringe and headed back inside the Mansion to get out of the cold and to get some rest. December 16, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Waking around dawn, I went out after my light breakfast and did a little exploring around the mall today. I didn't find anything; of course I wasn't there for long since the overcast sky was darkening once more, emitting a few rumbles of thunder. I set up a radio transmitter I had found in the study so that when the Mansion has power, we can hear the chatter about the city and broadcast our own messages. Pleased with the day, I curled up by the study's fireplace for the night after my evening meal... December 15, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Waking late, I found the rain had stopped but the sky was slightly overcast. Its a slow day; I've briefly ventured to the NT to find the generator's smashed. There's few zombies around the mansion and one trapped inside a nearby junkyard that I might use for target practice later. I spent most of my time using what daylight there was to clean and patch my clothing; I'd building a fire in one of the mansion's large fireplaces and used some scavenged grill components to boil the rainwater for sterilizing my medical equipment and for drinking water. It felt nice to be what passes for clean in present day Malton and made me long for a real bath. I found a few pillows in my exploration of the mansion and set up a nice nest for Nicholas and myself; hopefully, with the fireplace and our combined body heat, it won't be too chill tonight... December 14, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) I woke late in the morning to a slow, dreary day today; I briefly ventured outside the mansion, took some DNA scans of the zombies around and found an ally of mine zombiefied; the application of a revivification syringe took care of that, thankfully. Returning to the Mansion, I decided on a nap after setting up the pots I found in the mansions kitchen to collect rainwater -- it'd be nice to refill out canteens and wash our clothing and bodies... December 13, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) After waking early, I ate a light breakfast and made my way over to the NecroTech facility once more, finding it barricaded and with running power; I was able to find syringes, GPS units, and a spare DNA extractor. Seeing as I'm cautious of how much I can carry, I only took the syringes, leaving the GPS units and DNA extractor for those whom might need them. Pleased with my findings, I returned to the mansion for my evening meal and to turn in for the night... December 12, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (Lamport Hills) The Police department came under attack again a few hours after I woke up, forcing Nicholas and I to retreat into the Mansion. I found it easy to cart around the shotgun I'd found earlier with the strap Nicholas had fixed after his trip to Bale Mall. I ventured to the nearby NecroTech building and found it occupied by a member of the undead kind so I returned to the Mansion and prepared to bunk down for the night in the ballroom. December 11, 2006 Location: Rolls Road Police Dept (Lamport Hills) Two zombies tore down the barricades early this morning; The noise woke me and as I rolled for my pistol, I shouted a warning to Nicholas while I opened fire at the zombies. The undead intruders were swiftly killed by the other survivors inside the Police Department and the barricades were swiftly raised again. I dozed off then woke again to search for ammunition, finding a couple flare guns, a pistol clip and a handful of shotgun shells. Satisfied with my findings, I settled in for the night after a quick meal... December 10, 2006 Location: Rolls Road Police Dept (Lamport Hills) It was a slow day; we woke early and spent the day playing cards and searching for anything useful. I did come across a shotgun that had been abandoned in a locker. I'm not very strong to be that good a shot with it so I'll probably carry it around for Nicholas or one of my other allies to make use of if needed. Who knows, maybe I can learn to use it. It didn't have a strap on it -- there was the remains of one and that, combined with the fact it was empty, is probably the reason it had been abandoned; Nicholas, however, is quite resourceful and improvised a strap for me... Its strange being able to sleep with a shotgun of my own beside me...but it's a nice sort of strange... December 9, 2006 Location: Rolls Road Police Dept (Lamport Hills) Waking early, I at a light breakfast and after washing my hands and face, headed for the NecroTech building beside the mansion. I'd learned how to make one of the revivification syringe and after creating one, used it on Nicholas, who was swaying outside the Cinema. We retreated back into the Mansion being held by our allies. It was a bit boring without much to do aside from looking around the abandoned residence. I was too tired to venture out of the Mansion to look for medical supplies, so exploring for a better place place to sleep and checking the barricades seemed like the best thing to do. It was dreadfully boring. It was too dark to play cards like we've done before and Nicholas and I were sitting in the ballroom when he suddenly stood up and walked over to me before bowing and holding out his hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked, much to my surprise. Dance? Here? to what? "What? But there's no music! And the banging on the barricades and the moans of the undead don't count." I reminded him. "So? I'm bored, you're bored, and we're in a ballroom... Could there be any better time to dance?" he asked with a small grin. "Well...why not?" I sighed, taking his hand. He pulled me to my feet and we drifted around the shadowy, abandoned ballroom. Unused to dancing without any music, I began to sing my favorite Christmas time hymn "O Holy Night". Perhaps it was because of my singing and our distraction we didn't know there was a zombie in the mansion until it attacked Nicholas. I tried to stop it and it turned it's attention to me. He grabbed our respective packs and yelled for us to flee to the next door Police Department. I broke the zombie's hold and grabbed my medical bag before we fled the mansion. Inside the police department, we treated out injuries before deciding it would be better to not tempt fate and just go to sleep... December 8, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) Once more we woke to another break-in of the undead variety, and I managed to kill one of them by myself! I'm so pleased -- those lessons in marksmanship from Nicholas and the others have really helped! I returned to my scavenging for provisions and supplies, using this to keep myself occupied; I find that its better not to let one's mind wander in this city. One a plus side, my exertions made me sleepy enough to retire early for the night... December 7, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) There was another break-in by zombies in the early hours of the day, the loud racket waking the others and myself; unfortunately, Nicholas was killed in the resulting battle. Along with the search for provisions, I've been hunting for a revivification syringe so I can bring him back to the land of the living in the nearby NecroTech building, which had a few zombies that managed to break in there as well during my searching. I had managed to find one, but I was attacked and infected via a zombie bite. Thankfully the antibiotics from my medical supplies took care of it. Unfortunately, it made me rather sleepy... December 6, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) I awoke early and managed a small breakfast; I noted I'd have to look for supplies again soon. I went through my morning adulations to the best of my abilities, relaxing slightly at the chance to be able to do so; lately I've been so rushed and the danger so present I've not been able to. I'm a hygienic woman and not being able to properly clean myself with the limited supplies on hand makes me...well...far from happy. One thing I sincerely miss, beside a decent meal and nights sleep, is the ability to be able to take a shower or long hot bath whenever I like. I had just repacked my supplies when I heard a deep groaning from the lobby. Shouldering my pack, I checked and saw the barricades had been destroyed. Biting back a curse, I spun on my heel and headed for where the other survivors still slept on. "The Barricades are down! Zombies are inside, wake up and get out!" I took my own advice and fled via the rooftops to the Southall Mansion -- I found it clear of zombies and with the beginnings of barricades being constructed. I worked on finishing their construction for the rest of the day, only stopping for brief rest breaks. Nicholas joined me and things went along much more swiftly. By nightfall the barricades were up and other survivors were joining us inside the mansion. December 5, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) I woke late this morning to zombies breaking past the barricades; Nicholas and several of my allies were killed and they rose as members of the undead themselves. I used my last revivification syringe on Nicholas before bolting, searching through the mansion to see more of my friends dead and zombies tearing down barricades. I scanned several of them, finding my scanner had difficult with some of the ones that appeared more...'worn' and decayed. These were apparently the alphas of the zombie pack and I retreated as fast as I could to the nearby hospital to stock up on medical supplies. After searching as much as I could, I returned to the mansion to rest for the night... December 4, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) With food becoming scare once more, I only nibbled on some stale crackers for breakfast after waking a few hours after dawn. On a positive note, I've figured out how to use the NecroNet and have spent my time scanning the zombies around us and tending to the wounded that come through; in my spare time I've been looking for medical supplies, since most the wounded coming through have been revived from a state of undeath. It was well into the evening before i had a chance to finish off my provisions and fall asleep... December 3, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) After waking early and a quick breakfast, I patrolled around outside the mansion, scanning the nearby zombies for any of my allies. So far no luck, but I did come across several of my Brainiac colleagues in need of medical assistance. I tended to them and went back to studying the use of the NecroNet before eating my evening meal and tucking in to rest in a corner of the ballroom... December 2, 2006 Location: Southall Mansion (East Boundwood) I awoke to the barricades raised again and the reassuring voice of one of my allies telling me everything would be alright and I could rest easily; I took his advice and drifted back to sleep. I was startled awake an hour or so later by another survivor screaming about being infected and needing medical treatment. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I checked my supplies and saw I wouldn't have enough to fully treat the man. I hurried to the hospital and began searching for supplies; luck was with me but searching in the dark...I forgot how hard it was... When I returned with what few supplies I could find, I found the man had died; not by infection, but at the hand of my allies whom he had harassed. Really, the man should have known to be more careful then to startle someone awake in this city, what with a great deal of them having very itchy trigger fingers thanks to the zombies outside. With the alarming lack of medical upplies in my medical bag, I returned to search the hospital as long as I could before returning to the mansion for an evening meal and much needed sleep... December 1, 2006 Location: Dorrington Road Rail Station (East Boundwood) I woke not too long after dawn and went about searching for provisions; I was in luck and able to secure more then enough for a few days' worth of meals. After breakfast -- part of me wondering if I'd ever be able to eat the hearty meals I used to enjoy prior to the quarantine -- I headed out to search for more supplies. Well, I had paused in the mansion to rest after searching for medical supplies and was woken from my nap by a man screaming for help...who was promptly killed by the zombie he had led there. I hurried to wake the other occupants of the front hall when the zombie attacked me, I fought it off long enough for my soldier friend Nicholas to arrive. He unleashed his shotgun on that undead fiend and even let me finish it off! My first zombie kill, I feel so proud! And sleepy. Must be coming down from the adrenaline rush...