Boston Bridge

The Dead Don't Die.

Billie Atwood

Location: West Caldwell, Shell Gas Station
Skills: N/A

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Disappointed with the group, Billie stuffed a couple of water bottles and a snack from the stash of food into her backpack. Arguing against the plan would only fall on deaf ears and she felt it would lead to further distrust. Maybe June was right on one thing. If the group were to start voting on who to oust, her recent episode placed her on the chopping block. As Flynn broke the news to the officers, she stayed near the front of the MRAP near Gus. If the officers were to react violently, she wanted to be far away from them. To her surprise, they didn’t react with gunfire.

Billie tightened the backpack around her while exiting the vehicle. “I’ll go look inside the semi.” She hopped out of the back and gave the officers a wide berth. After the bitten man reacted violently in the gas station, everyone evacuated in every direction. Billie lifted the handle from the semi truck and rolled the door open. Empty. Goddamn fucking empty. Not a single case of food, not a case of clothing, not any cases of drinks-water or otherwise. Of all the semi trucks she’s seen, why was this one empty? "Fine.” She turned away from the truck before seeing a dolly inside. Billie hopped inside the back of the semi-truck to retrieve the dolly. Could they feasibly restrain someone inside of here? To be locked inside for an hour would be hell. Each passing minute waiting to just see if you turn? What if someone succumbed to the rabies before the others? What if the infected broke their restraints and attacked everyone inside? Billie shook her head as she brought the dolly outside the cargo bin. ”Dolly here. If there are any cases inside, this should help haul them over,” she informed the group. ”I’m going to check out the cab, maybe they left the keys.”

With the dolly left with the group, she rushed towards the cab. If there were keys, maybe they can get the best of both worlds. Lock up the bitten inside and drive to safety. Billie opened the front seat door with a small smile. She expected it to be locked. Billie shuffled around the inside of the cabin searching for the keys and anything useful. The glove box proved disappointing, just the usual registration and presumably company documents. She shuffled up to pull down the mirror. To her surprise, the keys fell right down into her lap. ”Yes!” She raised a fist in victory to herself before placing in the keys. Hearing the semi-truck start, she leaned back with a smile. Billie closed her eyes, picturing herself driving off in the semi truck into the far distant mountains near some truck stop. Away from everyone. Alone. She spent a good minute picturing the bliss before returning to the MRAP. ”Good news,” she said, dangling the keys to the group, "I have the keys to the semi. We could restrain those bitten in the back of the cargo space and still drive to the cabin. Kill two birds with one stone." If the group agreed with the plan, next question came down to who would drive?

Diane Foster

Location: Caldwell Mini Mar, West Caldwell, New Jersey
Skills: N/A

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AJ’s request to stay at her dad’s house stung Diane. Only a few short hours ago did the hysterical mob bash through the school’s doors for their children. Then the blood. The quaint hallways filled with school banners and excitement for a new school year to be met with a rabid horde. She left them. She abandoned her students. Out the fire escape. Gone. She understood why AJ wanted to hide at her ex-husband’s home. He kept the house in the lovely neighborhood with the large home, a giant bedroom for AJ, the home AJ grew up in. Why would AJ want to stay in Diane’s apartment? Why would AJ want to stay in the cramped apartment still filled with boxes from the move? Diane didn’t keep all the luxuries Paul could afford. ”I know AJ, but we live on the fourth floor. We’ll have a better time hiding up there, right? Easier to hide away in.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a woman who introduced herself as Kaitlyn. Definitely too old to be AJ’s friends, but these must be the people she met. Diane released the tight grip around her daughter and tried her best to compose herself. "Hi, Kaitlyn, I’m Diane, AJ’s mom. Thank you so much for watching over my girl, I appreciate it.” She turned back towards Paul then back towards Kaitlyn. There was an appeal to go with them to just get away from her ex, but she still wanted to go home. ”I appreciate the offer, really, I do, but I think we are going to go back and hide at home. I mean with the military here now, I think we can trust them to sort things out. They should be bringing in the National Guard at any moment now.”

Halo: Edge of Midnight

LCpl. Kajina Yates

Location: Anvil Station, Commissary.
Skills: N/A

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After spending her morning training inside one of Tapo’hatam and her CO’s war games, Yates retreated to her bunk for meditation. Tensions between the humans and the Covena-no, not the Covenant. They were the Swords of Sanghelios now. Some wounds and attitudes take years to adjust. Yates sat down on her bunk and crossed her legs. Mediation became a useful tool after training as a way to ground herself back into reality. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Starting with the sensation of her legs, Yates moved her attention upward throughout her body to regain control. This exercise helped focus her attention away from any distracting thoughts and emotions. After spending ten minutes in meditation, Yates rose from her bed with better composure.

The commissary provided a space for both human and alien to exist in each other's space without the pressure of training or military operations; however, divisions still arose. She couldn't tell the type of cliques that formed within the Sangheili, Unggoy, or Kig-Yar, but within the UNSC it remained clear. The Spartans often distanced themselves from everyone else but each other, the ODST often stayed clear of the Spartans, but were easier to intermingle with the marines. Yates chose to seat herself with her friends and team from this morning's war game. She glanced across the cafeteria spotting Tapo'Hatam. His name frequently appeared in the war-game debriefings, yet she never officially met him. How many times has Yates' name crossed his desk? She averted her gaze to return to her beans and rice. It was nothing special, but quite filling. Though, her mind drifted to the food and drinks served for the Sangheili, Unggoy, and Kig-Yar. How different was their physiology that they couldn't share the same food? Certainly there had to be something from the Kig-Yar diet that could be edible to humans?

The Dead Don't Die.

Billie Atwood

Location: West Caldwell, Shell Gas Station
Skills: N/A

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Why were they all against her? How could everyone inside this cage be this irresponsible with their safety. She scoffed at Kali's ignorant statement. They were not the authorities. The military and police failed in maintaining order in the streets. The bridge into New York was currently at the bottom of the Hudson River as they argued. Right now everyone in the MRAP needed to evacuate to Gus' cabin for quarantine; but it was Lex's comment that stung her the most. "I'm on our side. I'm on our side. We just can't risk infection. I'm on our side," her voice quieted near the end. Billie removed her hand away from the rock hammer at her side. The only one here inside the MRAP on her side was Gus.

As June joined the others in advocating to let the police in, she questioned the reliability of each person. Everyone inside this cage voted against their own safety. She raised an eye on June's statement regarding casting out others due to their usefulness. Billie leaned against the door with her arms crossed. "What are you on about? We're talking about quarantine measures!" Billie viewed June becoming increasingly immature these past few hours and careless, such as purchasing energy and snack food instead of useful provisions.

Once June mentioned trying to restrain them, Billie scoffed at her comment; however, the more she thought about it, the more reasonable it sounded. "Sorry, um, sorry. That could work. Keep them restrained and locked away. That way we know for sure if the bites actually do anything." Billie peered out the window to see the tractor-trailer Flynn mentioned. How long do we want to wait though? What if the time for each of the bitten to react to the rabies differs? Do we wait for all of them?" She didn't want to dismiss the idea outright, but she was concerned for the logistics. "Especially what do we do when things take a turn for a worse out here? Shouldn't we focus on getting to safety as we are at it?" Billie retreated to a seat to be further from the rest of the group, which didn't give her much space.

Diane Foster

Location: West Caldwell Streets
Skills: N/A

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The phone call from Diane's side became repetitive. After each block she would update AJ on their position until finally spotting AJ with a group outside a gas station. "Stop the car!" She shouted towards Paul as she undid her seat belt. "She's there, oh my God, AJ she's there!" Once the car came to a stop, Diane slammed the door open without care for Paul's property. "AJ, AJ, AJ, oh my god you're alive!" Diane rushed towards her daughter with her arms wide. Crying, she skidded to a stop as she wrapped her arms around AJ. "You're alive, you're alive, you're alive." Diane cupped her daughters face between her hands. "We're going to go back to the apartment and hide until everything blows over. Come on, lets get back home."

The Dead Don't Die.

Billie Atwood

Location: West Caldwell, Shell Gas Station
Skills: N/A

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With Lex's suggestion of Isaac's condition being heat related, Billie brought the man another water bottle from their storage. Panic attack mixed with riding in this hot box could lead to his condition. She glanced at the separate water bottle Kali brought Isaac only a few minutes ago. "I know you have water to drink, but here is some more to cool you down. Apply some to the back of your neck or splash your face. It could help cool you down." She forced a smile to Isaac as she set it down next to him. If Isaac was wounded, she couldn't see any sign of it. Billie placed a hand on the back of her neck and squeezed. This happened before, especially back in the chemical labs in school. Sometimes one of her classmates would forget to properly vent the experiment leading to dizziness. Heatstroke became commonplace in the hot summers back in Arkansas too. The sooner they reached the lodge, the safer they would be. As Isaac turned to speak to Kali in a private manner, she turned away to address the group.

As Flynn, Lex, and June each argued to let the officers in, she kept a hand near her hammer as she backed up to block the MRAP doors. She didn't plan on using the hammer. Attacking the group would be a surefire way of getting her left alone in those streets with those things, but she wanted to feel safe in some way. If they forced the doors open, would the cops turn on the group for locking them out? Cops be damned, she didn't trust them anyways."Are you fucking kidding me? Y-Y-Y-You want to let them in? How the fuck do you think it is spreading?" Billie yelled at the group. "Have you forgotten the past four years, ya idiots? Covid! We had covid-fucking-nineteen! Whatever that is," she gestured out the door, "it's...it's...the military is bombing the bridge to New York for god's sake! We can't risk letting them in. We need to quarantine ourselves." As her fist clenched, she took in a deep breath trying to calm herself. "We're not voting."

Diane Foster

Location: West Caldwell, Shell Gas Station
Skills: N/A

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Her daughter was alive, thank God AJ was still safe. Even though the speaker was on so Paul could listen in, she still turned to him to repeat the information. "Do you have that Paul? At the mini-mart, next to a boba place, Trinity Academy is right there next to it." She gestured to Paul to start driving. "We should be right there, sweetheart. Keep talking on the phone, keep telling us anything going on, we should be there in just one minute." Diane anxiously shuffled her seat on the verge of tears. AJ was so close but still too far away. "AJ, AJ, who is Kaitlyn and Shin-ae? Are they your friends? Are they from the team? And who are they talking to? Who is it?"

Diane grabbed her backpack into her lap hoping it would contain something useful inside. The history textbook and work laptop took up a bulk of the space, what could they be used for? She fumbled through her purse for her pepper spray. Diane clutched it tightly in her free hand ready to spray those freaks outside. Memories of those people rushing into the school flooded back. How could they storm the school sustaining such injuries? Would pepper spray even work?

Halo: Edge of Midnight

She had to sell her soul to Microsoft to get out of New Mombasa

Halo: Edge of Midnight

LCpl. Kajina Yates

Kajina Yates
Kajina Yates

^{"For Mombasa."}

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Kajina Yates _________________________________________________________ 28 | F _________________________________________________________ UNSC | New Mombasa, Kenya, East African Protectorate, Earth W E A P O N S & E Q U I P M E N T W E A P O N S & E Q U I P M E N T _________________________________________________________ [+] - W E A P O N S & E Q U I P M E N T ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ BR75 Battle Rifle ◼ Mk50 Sidekick ◼ M1 Combat Knife ◼ 2559 Battle Dress Uniform ◼ CH252 Helmet Attachments: Video Camera, flashlight ◼ Standard Issue Medical Kit - S K I L L S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ Light Infantry Training ◼ First Aid ◼ Basic Engineering Training - O T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N _________________________________________________________ [+] - M I S C I N F O ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ Trained Nurse ◼ Joined a civilian militia during the Battle of Mombasa ◼ Enlisted with the UNSC Marines after evacuating New Mombasa ◼ Rank: Lance Corporal - T H E M E S O N G ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ Departure - Alexey Omelchuk ◼ Halo Combat Evolved, with Halo 3: ODST as a close runner up -

S E R V I C E R E C O R D... S E R V I C E R E C O R D... ________________________________________________________________________________________ Kajina Yates was born and raised in New Mombasa. Her father, Baraka, worked as a mechanic while her mother, Taji, worked as family court lawyer, leading to a comfortable life in the city. Growing up she heard all about the horrors of the Human-Covenant war, but for much of her youth, it always felt like a far-away problem. As she grew older, the realities hit hard as her childhood friends enlisted with the UNSC. Yates feared joining the front lines, so she decided to enroll in medical school. She wanted to give back to Earth and support the war effort in other ways. At twenty years old, on her way to her college, the Prophet of Regret's fleet invaded New Mombasa. War came home. During the emergency, the university became an emergency shelter for civilians looking for evacuation out of New Mombasa. While waiting for a pelican to arrive, a horde of Covenant aliens infiltrated the holdout. There, Yates would see the brutality of the Covenant firsthand. Fortunately, she escaped the university and focused on running out of the city. During it, she stumbled upon an M6C/SOCOM (M6S) laying on the ground. Seeing her home destroyed before her eyes, she joined a civilian militia group composed of the city's police, civilians, and with the aid of the UNSC. She remembers shooting at a horde of grunts, but in the haze of smoke, Yates doesn't know if she hit any targets that day. She was present to witness both the carrier engage in slip space and the glassing of New Mombasa. Once out of the city, Yates immediately enlisted with the UNSC marines. Once she enlisted with the marines, she received training for a light infantry role and as a combat medic. She was eager to get out on the field, but before she got out of training, the Human-Covenant war ended. A month later, she learned her father died during the invasion of New Mombasa. Her mother was still alive and could look after her siblings. With New Mombasa gone and furious with herself for not enlisting beforehand, she continued to serve with the UNSC marines. ________________________________________________________________________________________

Halo: Edge of Midnight

LCpl. Kajina Yates

Kajina Yates
Kajina Yates

^{"For Mombasa."}

C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T C H A R A C T E R P O R T R A I T _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y C H A R A C T E R S U M M A R Y _________________________________________________________ Kajina Yates _________________________________________________________ 28 | F _________________________________________________________ UNSC | New Mombasa, Kenya, East African Protectorate, Earth W E A P O N S & E Q U I P M E N T W E A P O N S & E Q U I P M E N T _________________________________________________________ [+] - W E A P O N S & E Q U I P M E N T ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ BR75 Battle Rifle ◼ Mk50 Sidekick ◼ M1 Combat Knife ◼ 2559 Battle Dress Uniform ◼ CH252 Helmet Attachments: Video Camera, flashlight ◼ Standard Issue Medical Kit - S K I L L S ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ Light Infantry Training ◼ First Aid ◼ Basic Engineering Training - O T H E R I N F O R M A T I O N _________________________________________________________ [+] - M I S C I N F O ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ Trained Nurse ◼ Joined a civilian militia during the Battle of Mombasa ◼ Enlisted with the UNSC Marines after evacuating New Mombasa ◼ Rank: Lance Corporal - T H E M E S O N G ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔ ◼ Departure - Alexey Omelchuk ◼ Halo Combat Evolved, with Halo 3: ODST as a close runner up -

S E R V I C E R E C O R D... S E R V I C E R E C O R D... ________________________________________________________________________________________ Kajina Yates was born and raised in New Mombasa. Her father, Baraka, worked as a mechanic while her mother, Taji, worked as family court lawyer, leading to a comfortable life in the city. Growing up she heard all about the horrors of the Human-Covenant war, but for much of her youth, it always felt like a far-away problem. As she grew older, the realities hit hard as her childhood friends enlisted with the UNSC. Yates feared joining the front lines, so she decided to enroll in medical school. She wanted to give back to Earth and support the war effort in other ways. At twenty years old, on her way to her college, the Prophet of Regret's fleet invaded New Mombasa. War came home. During the emergency, the university became an emergency shelter for civilians looking for evacuation out of New Mombasa. While waiting for a pelican to arrive, a horde of Covenant aliens infiltrated the holdout. There, Yates would see the brutality of the Covenant firsthand. Fortunately, she escaped the university and focused on running out of the city. During it, she stumbled upon an M6C/SOCOM (M6S) laying on the ground. Seeing her home destroyed before her eyes, she joined a civilian militia group composed of the city's police, civilians, and with the aid of the UNSC. She remembers shooting at a horde of grunts, but in the haze of smoke, Yates doesn't know if she hit any targets that day. She was present to witness both the carrier engage in slip space and the glassing of New Mombasa. Once out of the city, Yates immediately enlisted with the UNSC marines. Once she enlisted with the marines, she received training for a light infantry role and as a combat medic. She was eager to get out on the field, but before she got out of training, the Human-Covenant war ended. A month later, she learned her father died during the invasion of New Mombasa. Her mother was still alive and could look after her siblings. With New Mombasa gone and furious with herself for not enlisting beforehand, she continued to serve with the UNSC marines. ________________________________________________________________________________________

The Dead Don't Die.

Billie Atwood

Location: West Caldwell, Shell Gas Station
Skills: N/A

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Billie gripped the back doors while crouched down. Upon hearing Flynn asking about a medkit she called out, "I have one in my backpack, along with pain pills, hold on." She scooted back from the doors towards her seat. "Tell me, Isaac, what is the problem? Fever? Anxiety?" From the grocery bag, Billie began pulling out the gas station medication. It wasn't perfect, but it would do. She had a collection of ibuprofen, motion sickness pills, antacid tablets, as well as allergy medication. Billie eyed Isaac up and down with concern. She didn't see any bite on him like the man from the gas station, but was he sick like them?

Seeing the officers rush towards the MRAP, Billie tried to inform the group. Before she could get a word in, Gus slammed shut the doors and locked the MRAP. "Bit?" She glanced between everyone in the car trying to gauge their reaction. She opened her mouth to say something, but her voice stopped. This was safe right? If the rabies had a fast transmission rate to enter the system of a person with an equally fast reaction across the body, quarantine must be maintained. However, not everyone here might agree with these precautions. Instead, Billie decided to keep her lips shut for now.

Diane Foster

Location: West Caldwell, Shell Gas Station
Skills: N/A

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Diane scrambled to her phone hearing a Taylor Swift song she set for AJ’s ringtone. “AJ? AJ! AJ! AJ! AJ! Where-”, she stopped talking once she heard her daughter’s voice on the phone. Shin-ae? Kaitlyn? Diane didn’t recognize the names of them, but assumed they were fellow classmates of AJ. She sank in her seat hearing the news of Mr. Everett. Why him? Everett was one of her close work friends from the school. With the start of the new school year, she informed Everett of the divorce and her concern for AJ's mental health. Afterwards, she asked him to help keep an eye on AJ for her. He was good, he was nice, he was helpful. She placed a hand over her mouth to prevent herself from crying for Everett. Saving AJ was top priority.

Diane placed the phone on speaker to allow her ex-husband to listen to the call. When it came to AJ, she was willing to cooperate with him. She still believed he cared for AJ. "L-Listen to me, AJ. Stay right where you are. I’m with-I’m with your dad. We have the tracker on your phone, but can you tell us exactly where you are? Are you safe? Are you hurt?”

Halo: Edge of Midnight

Note me down as interested, likely for an ODST

The Dead Don't Die.

Billie Atwood

Location: West Caldwell, Shell Gas Station
Skills: N/A

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In a moment of adrenaline paired with panic, Billie stopped breathing while waiting for an infected casualty to rush towards them. Just one good swing against the head. If this rock hammer could bust through rock, it would bust through a skull just fine. When Kali placed a hand on Billie's shoulder she nearly jumped. Jolted back to attention, she took a deep breath. In and out. In and out. "You're right. You're right. I just didn't-", she paused. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to rush in to help. How could she just stand there doing nothing?

As Lexi and June hopped back into the van, she eyed the haul. Junk food? Energy drinks? Sports drinks like Gatorade or Powerade she could understand, but not energy drinks. At least Kali brought water. Billie was about to complain when Gus beat her to it. She shook her head and clenched her fist. As the two reported the attack she began to look them up and down for injuries. Were either of them contaminated? How could they even tell? Billie grabbed the back doors of the MRAP and peered towards the gas station. "I'm glad you two made it back. Good job back there, Flynn. And June." She narrowed her eyes towards the gas station doors. A pair of sunglasses would be handy right now. "What is taking those cops so long?"

Diane Foster

Location: Flashback, Few days before the Outbreak, Personal Apartment
Skills: N/A

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"That bastard!

She didn't mean to throw the glass. She didn't mean to shatter it against the floor; yet, she needed to break something. Months and months and months of court hearings, packing up nearly twenty years away, arguing over what was hers and what was his, fighting for her child, for that cheating bastard to appeal the court order. AJ would be eighteen in two years, and that sick man still had to find a way to ruin her life. He couldn't wait? He couldn't allow Diane to be a mother for AJ?

Diane sunk down sobbing onto the kitchen floor while gripping a paper towel roll. "He doesn't even love her. He never loved me. Despite all of Paul's attempts, she still got the better end of the deal in the court proceedings. "I'll use all of his goddamn money to pay for my goddamn lawyer." Diane reached for her phone wanting to call her lawyer, but as a sobbing mess, she couldn't muster the energy. "Was I never enough? I did everything for him and was I not enough?" She slumped onto the floor staring at the broken glass. "I hate him, I hate hime, I hate him..."