[color=6b8e23]“I’m glad to meet you properly, miss Bourton.”[/color] He said with a smile, as the pair made their way into the parking garage. He had to admit, he liked her. She was being incredibly brave given the situation, especially for someone as young as she was. And she seemed to care for the other survivors’ wellbeing, which he took as a good sign.

As one of the survivors commented about the gunshot as they entered the parking garage, Michael decided he was having none of it today. [color=6b8e23]“What gave it away, Sherlock? The loud bang?”[/color] Michael said sarcastically to the survivor, before shaking his head slightly. As Claudia handed the keys over to Michael he nodded as he gently took them with a nod, before climbing into the Volkswagon and plugging the keys into the ignition. He planted a foot on the break as years of muscle memory informed, and then turned the ignition. The engine attempted a stuttering start, and after which he slapped the dashboard with an exclamation. “Come on, ya piece of shit!” He said, before attempting to start the engine again, which resulted in a few more moments of stuttering before the engine roared to life. “There we go.” He said, as he visibly relaxed, and gently patted the dash, then closed the driver-side door and rolled the window down. [color=6b8e23]“All aboard.”[/color]

[i]“Hold on, why’s the old guy driving?”[/i] One of the survivors asked, to which Micheal snapped back without even looking as he adjusted the mirrors. [color=6b8e23]“I’m sorry, have you driven in a warzone before, smartass? ‘Cause last I checked, you weren’t in Korea, and you look a mighty bit too young to have been in Vietnam.”[/color] He said almost off-handedly, as he took a second to change the partially used magazine in his gun for his spare, fully-loaded one, in case he needed the extra rounds.

For a moment as he put his hand on the gear shift, he stopped as it came rushing back, practically hearing the bullets whizzing past his head, the distant detonations of recoilless rifles and artillery shells, and the hoofbeats of a certain horse. He paused for a few moments before he retook control of his senses, and shook his head slightly before bringing his eyes up, and putting the van in gear.