1 Prologue: No Rest For The Wicked

Leo groans as he wakes up. It's been roughly three months since the outbreak. It was first discovered years ago, but it was dormant.

Scientists studied it and it's few cases at the time, no big deal. But then it mutated recently, still with an extremely low mortality rate. Only the elderly and weak were in moderate danger.

The media of course blew it out of proportion and caused a global Safer At Home policy. It was in place for months, half the year specifically, until it suddenly mutated again into something lethal. Those who were infected soon died; those who had already died…

Leo wakes up in his house, still alone. He habitually flicks on his lamp light to no avail.

"Right, the power cut out a week ago," he mutters; with nobody to maintain the generators at power plants, electricity stopped flowing from them and there was soon none left in the flow. The water still functions fine, but he still filters it a couple of times to be safe; the infection is airborne, contracted through spores and fungi. Yep, zombies, and not just any zombies; it's symbiant-induced zombies.

This means that the virus controls the host, and there's no turning back; so destroy the host to leave the virus incapacitated. Thankfully, it is only transmitted through spores, not bites, saliva, nor blood. Headshots aren't necessary, but that doesn't mean you can't either. When it mutated the US military put in place Conplan 8888, a contingency plan to take effect if a zombie apocalypse were to take place.

Of course when the military got involved riots began and factions were made. The two main factions are the Peacekeepers (military) and the Entente (separatists), neither side is winning. Every victory has a loss and vice versa; the Entente has its own sub-factions, extremist and sane, but, as the name says, they bind together when need be until they have time for their internal quarrels.

Recently the Entente moved in on Sector I, Palmdale's just been rehabilitated last weekend. No more curfew and ration cards and licensing. Honestly, both sides are okay when it comes to living conditions.

The Peacekeepers provide stability and safety. The Entente provides complete freedom. As you'd expect each has its own downside.

Peacekeepers are how you'd expect military life, with rationing and bed-times and overall totalitarianism, for most divisions anyways. The Entente is chaos in certain places as anarchy is in place. Without their extremists, both factions would have great living conditions; all that can be done is dream until then.

"Delta come in," his walkie talkie spews, "Delta come in."

"This is Delta Nine, I copy. Over," Leo groggily replies.

"This is Sierra Seven, you had me worried there! Over," it replies, or rather she. Sierra Seven is her codename, picked it herself, whoever she is. Playing along, Leo chose one for himself and started entertaining Sierra's imagination; it's what keeps them happy during these trying times.

"What worried you? The fact I might be MIA or that you no longer have someone to entertain the handful that you are? Over," Leo mocks.

"Ehh, both. Over," Sierra laughs. He can hear the smile on her face. Static breaks out on the radio.

"You're breaking up, I'll drop by. Over."

"Copy that, over and out."

Leo puts his walkie in his right pocket. He slings on his holster and bandolier. His dad's shotgun hangs on his back, fully loaded; a sad empty pistol holster hangs from his waist, but it's knife holster wields his gut knife.

Sierra, being Leo's neighbor, knocks on his door.

"It's me, Sierra," she calls. Leo opens the door.

"Really?" He jokes.

"No I'm an undercover Peacekeeper spy, on the ground!" She teases. Leo closes the door behind her as she throws herself onto the couch. Sierra groans loudly at their situation.

"Do you think we'll get Hunters or Fireflies?" She perks up.

"I doubt we'll get Fireflies again, but here's hoping," Leo sighs, pulling out his flask and taking a swig.

"What's in there this time?"

"My old man's vodka," Leo replies. Someone else knocks on the door.

"Help! Help! My friend's been shot, she's bleeding out!" They call, knocking harder. Leo and Sierra get chills, for they recognize the voices. The knocks turn to bashes, the door more unhinged after each.

"Leo you bastard!" Conrad yells through the door, "Leo you fucking dead man, face me!"

"C'mon we gotta go!" Leo calls out to Sierra as she packs more stuff into her bag. Leo jumps down the stairs and runs to the kitchen, grabbing Sierra by her hand.

"There's no fucking time we have to move now!"

Conrad and his team finally kick the door down and open fire. Sierra pulls Leo down as they take cover behind the walls and island. She returns fire with her pistol while Leo moves to the garage door.

"Move I'll cover you!"

Leo aims but a hail of gunfire forces him back into cover.

"I'll get to the roof and flank them!"

Leo opens his mouth but Sierra's already out the door.

"Hey! She's escaping to the roof!"

Leo fires a hole in someone's chest to remind them of his presence; another hail fire ensues.

"He's running to the garage! Cut him off!"

Leo pulls a metal shelf down behind him, buying himself some time. Conrad's men bash the door to open it.

"Quit running you bastard! Your time's run out!" Conrad yells through the door. Quick on his feet, Leo starts opening the garage door. The straining metal creaks open as Leo kicks into overdrive.

"Fuck, Peacekeepers! Look alive!"

"Hunters! Keep your eyes open!"

The perfect diversion, a faction battle, is all Leo needs to escape. Leo finally gets the door open and is met by goons pointing their guns at him. Suddenly, a bunch of tiles crash upon them, killing them instantly.

"I got you!" Sierra calls from the roof, "Meet me at my house in a week!"

"I'll come to you on the roof!" Leo calls back.

"They're on me just go!"

"I'm not leaving you behind!"

A wave of men get onto the roof and chase after Sierra before she can keep arguing. As they run on the roof tiles fall and force Leo to run and escape.