Ch, 17 Just dial murder

A couple hours later Clem and Julius are in fresh clothes happily playing street fighter while surrounded by snacks, and a Shrek played on another TV. Clem was still going on about how insane the technology in the bunker was. Fresh food sent from the supply room, air conditioning that adjusted before she said a word, a machine that basically printed whatever clothes she wanted to wear, all of the games, movies, and music at her fingertips, not to mention that there was a hot tub which she may or may not have dozed off in…To say the this place was a paradise wouldn't be much of an exaggeration.

While they were relaxing, the sat phone rings. It almost went unanswered during a heated match, but much to his frustration Julius lost fast enough to answer the call.

"That girl should not be this good," he mutters answering the phone. "What?" He snaps not caring who it was, he was blaming them for his loss.

"Julius, Julius are you there? I really need your help," it was Alicia talking in a panicked whisper.

"What's going on now? You guys aren't on the way yet, are you? Where's Mac?" Julius says thoroughly annoyed with their situation.

"No he hasn't gotten back yet, and he isn't picking up." Alicia says trying to keep her breathing steady. "Do you think you can get in touch with him, quickly."

Julius sighs. "I'll see if I can get in touch with him. What's your situation, I'll have him go to you."

"Well…"

A little while ago

The group waited inside the helicopter as instructed, however as it got later into the evening there was still no sign of Machiavelli or Heather. It was only a matter of time before they returned and then the trip was back on. But…

Alicia opened the door. "What do you think you're doing?" Madison asked stopping her immediately.

"I have to go." She answers.

"Can't you hold it? Wait until Mac gets back."

"I've been holding it since he left." Alicia answered with a frustrated sigh. "Believe me I'm not jumping at the prospect of going outside myself, but I'm not going to sit here and piss myself. Only one person here wears diapers."

"Alicia-"

"It's ok, I have to go too. We can keep watch for each other." Ophelia volunteered grabbing a rifle.

"Make it quick. Don't go far," Daniel whom had been watching the outside for any more signs of trouble growled before going over the proper way to use the gun. He kept repeating that they be cautious and stay quiet. Anything could happen.

A little way beyond the tree line but still within shouting distance, Alicia felt she had gotten some privacy when she heard a snapping branch nearby. She looked around "Oph-"

"Don't say a word or you die," A hidden member of the previously massacred team hid to save himself and waited for a chance to strike back, then the two of them walked right over to him. Pressing the rifle to her back he ushered her away from the group deeper into the forest. They'd make perfect bait for the rest of the group. "Walk."

They had gotten a short distance away when Ophelia noticed them. "Stop!" She tried to take aim but the gunman was much faster. He opened fire, but Alicia tackled him and threw off his aim, still a bullet hit Ophelia and she went down.

Alicia seized the opening to run, leading him away from Ophelia. She jumped off a ledge and hid in a small opening in some rocks hoping he would pass by. The gunman searched around, wandering a short distance off. She used this chance to call Mac. No answer. Not sure what else to do her next best bet was to call Julius, though she still felt awkward about how their last conversation ended. Still, she dialed one and here they were.

"Oh wow, you took the phrase getting caught with our pants down literally…" It was pretty funny, but he held himself back. "The decision to call me was a wise, one. It just saved your life," Julius chuckles.

Alicia ignored the smug chuckle and got to the point, "what should I do?"

"Can you see the man from where you are?"

A quick peek out confirmed he was still in the area, searching for places she might be hiding. "Give yourself up, I won't hurt you if you do." He says stepping slowly through the brush.

"Ok, dial one-eight-seven."

Doing as instructed the phone opened a camera. "This is not the ideal time for a selfie Jul-"

"Take a picture of him…these phones have a last-resort self-defense function. To be safe throw a rock or something as far away from yourself as you can, he'll probably open fire that way or at least go check it out. Use the opening to snap the picture and drop the phone. After that, I'd wait a few minutes to be sure there are no walkers are left within earshot and then head back towards your group. Good luck, and don't die." Julius hangs up.

"W-wait what? " Alicia wasn't sure what good a picture was going to do, but she didn't question it. She was out of options. Doing as she was told, she throws a rock into some distant bushes.

"Got you now little bitch!" Taking the bait, he advanced on the bush giving Alicia a chance to get the picture and drop the phone. Before it hit the ground the phone sprouted legs like Mac's backpack and scuttled after the target. By the time it was noticed at his feet, the phone exploded sending small shards everywhere like shrapnel. The gunman was blown to pieces in a quick and fiery blast. Alicia didn't have time to appreciate how powerful the small device was when she heard raspy growls in the distance.

"He was really right about everything," Alicia thought irritated by how it all happened to the letter. Obviously, the smart thing to do now was to be quiet and wait as the small mob passed by. She holds her breath as they wander by. Slowly but surely, they all go on. After the last one passes by, a throwing knife pierces its skull, quickly followed with another for each member of its group. Machiavelli and Heather descend from the trees and inspect the area finding the parts of the phone and its victim.

"Who'd have thought Alicia would have to use the kill order so quickly?" Heather asks, "I wonder if she got away safely?"

"She did, it'd be a waste of a sat phone otherwise …" Mac says pulling his knives from the walkers.

"Hi," Alicia says emerging from her hiding place as if on cue.

"So you're not useless, just a snitch,"

Machiavelli says walking towards the others.

"What? Alicia couldn't fully hear him, but it was clear he was irritated about something.

"Why are you all the way out here Alicia?" Heather asked.

"Can I tell you after I pee?" Alicia answers finally safe to go.

Back at the camp they arrived before the search party consisting of Madison, Nick, and Travis, got very far averting another crisis. Liza had seen to Ophelia's wound which was fortunately just a shoulder wound. Her arm would be useless for a while, but she would recover. While Alicia tells the others how she survived, Mac goes to check on the baby who had started to tolerate some of the others. However, the little guy lit up seeing Mac return. "Has he eaten?"

"Yes, I think that's the only reason he let me hold him," Griselda chuckles.

"Good, I'm going to finish the coating and add fuel then we're leaving-"Mac stops and considers giving them a few hours to actually rest. Even though he was still fine, he could see how tired and stressed the others looked.

"We can make an actual meal and take a few hours to rest, we'll leave at first light. This area is clear. He says going to pull the tools back out.

"Heather, get those turrets back online for me. Please and thank you."

"You got it." She goes to work.

"If no one else is going to say anything, where were you?" Liza asks. "We've been worried sick about you!"

"Thank you, but your concern is not necessary. I'm the most capable person here in every facet, and thanks to me we're safe for the time being. So how about thank you?"

"Look Mac, we get that you're the most 'useful'" Travis air quotes, "but you don't have to act like an ass. Elizabeth is just saying that she cares what happens to you."

"You do what you have to do, but we like you kid so don't get yourself killed," Daniel adds. A few of the others nod in agreement.

Mac thought about their words for a second then just went to work. He wasn't apologizing so there was no reason to talk about it more. They shouldn't have anything to say about his methods and ideals since they get results. Not to mention he could kill them all in a heartbeat, where was the fear and respect? To top it all off he was still mad at the snitch siblings... he'd definitely say something hurtful. More importantly he wanted to be finished by nightfall which is almost upon them.