[hr][hr][center][h1][i][b][color=steelblue]Ash Holloway[/color][/b][/i][/h1][img]https://78.media.tumblr.com/85b1d99e40c547d7e771e7688130f28a/tumblr_ojog8uNf9k1qdhps7o2_r1_500.gif[/img][/center][hr][center][color=steelblue][b]Location:[/b][/color] Hordebuster, Roscoe Rd. (D6) -> Roscoe Rd. (C5)
[color=steelblue][b]Skills:[/b][/color] Engineering, Mechanic [/center][hr][hr]

	Ash thought yet again that this was probably the first actual conversation he had with Riley. Due to their massive differences of upbringing and social status, it was unlikely to the extreme that they would have ever had a personal talk of this nature back Before. Let it never be said that an apocalypse did not make for strange bedfellows. Even so, the fact that he was so wrapped up in his own brooding and turmoil for so long was poor excuse not to get to know the people who counted on him for leadership and counsel. Not just that, but as per usual James was right with his own homespun, backwoods form of wisdom, when he said that Ash needed people to keep him in touch with his humanity. Character flaw or trauma of the sudden change in the world, he could grow dark. Maybe if he opened himself up to others, as his recently deceased friend had suggested on numerous occasions, he might have fixed some of the horror that went on inside of his head. With Newnan collapsing and the death toll massive, including those close to him, perhaps it was time to follow his late friend's advice and throw himself into making human connections. 

	But first, he was about to make a different sort of connection with those two corpses shambling in the middle of the road in front of him. They were dispatched in the manner that many others were that hour; destined to be shuffled away by the cowcatcher style plowhead on the front of the damn nigh trademarkable vehicle/second home that was the Hordebuster. The massively altered truck that was designed to save lives, sadly now could only haul three away from a crater that used to be home. But it felt somewhat satisfying to obliterate a couple more of the Dead on the way out. 

	[color=steelblue]"I think I'm the opposite of you, Riley."[/color] remarked Ash, [color=steelblue]"You loved your job and so did I. We're pretty much the same there. But you are a performer. I'm a U.S. Army Engineer. Or was. You can't do a job that you love so much anymore. I [i]can't stop[/i] doing my job. Walls, fortifications, motor pool... Clean water, renewable fuels, organization, leadership. Training soldiers. Manning the line. Making the hard choices with resources. I don't make friends really, but I kept as many people as I could alive for as long as I was able. I loved my job, and I can't stop doing it, ever."[/color] 

	For a moment, he looked haggard. Older than his 32 years because of his expression alone. It was the look of a man who had seen too much and knew it would only end when he did. [color=steelblue]"I'm tired, Riley. So goddamned tired."[/color] Ash began drumming his fingers on the steering wheel as he continued down Roscoe Rd. He was anxious to get where they were going. 





[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=dc143c]Thalia Carmichael[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/e4117d5f-65c8-4b8e-98df-5810a59267c5.jpg[/img][hr][b][color=crimson]Location:[/color][/b] Eden, Trees just South of Tennis Court (E11) -> Bushes in front of Main Building (E10)
[b][color=DC143C]Skills:[/color][/b] Stealth, Survival [hr][hr][/center]

	Their hope at a clear path to the door had evaporated the moment that Thalia laid her hazel eyes upon the scene. At least three between them and the door, and a couple off to the left. Over open ground as well. She might be able to nail one or two of them with her pistol before charging forward, but at best that would give away their position and kill any chance at getting in undetected. Not to mention that they were approaching from lower ground. Over the rise of earth, there was no telling if there were other sentries on standby, and how many there might be. These things did not add up to a successful end to the day. 

	There was one saving grace to the situation, however. What appeared to once be topiary was left to grow mostly unchecked. It did not constitute a fully safe path with obstructed cover, but it did make for a halfway decent approach from the side. Running up on superior numbers, even with the element of surprise, could end in total disaster. No, to Thalia's thinking, they needed to get closer before opening fire, use the bad guys' own men for cover. If she timed this right, she could even do it at a run, so long as they were focused elsewhere. But first...

	Thalia reversed her grip on her new Beretta, James's old sidearm, just long enough to give Thana a more accurate view of her middle finger. The barest hint of smile pierced through the ashen skull painted over her face, and she said with her Boston accent peeking out a bit, [color=dc143c]"Sorry Navy. You're not my type. I might feel different latah, but right now I need you to covah me. We have to hit the front doah loud. Run in along those bushes, we can get into pistol range before they know we're theah."[/color] Being as this was about to be a gunfight, Thalia slung Astrid's shield across her back and readied her machete in her now free hand opposite the firearm. That kind of shield would be of little help against bullets. She looked a little too comfortable as she kept low and darted across the road in a nigh-suicidal advance against superior numbers. They had made it to the building. It was about to get loud anyway. Might as well get that first, hopefully unbalancing hit in as soon as possible.