Radio Star [P7Final]

An unsettling calm descended upon the group as a gentle gust of wind blew through the nearby trees and brushes.

Rick hand shook as he reached for the radio and turned it off, he seemed to have aged a great deal. With a dejected expression he began eating his canned beef with his eyes in a daze.

The group ate in silence, only the sound of rustling tree branches could be heard. Grim finished his lunch and began packing up. As looked up he saw his son heading into the bush. "Son, where are you going?"

Jyn turned his head around and replied. "Toilet."

"Don't go too far." Laura said, concern in her voice.

Jyn nodded before disappearing into the dense brush.

Rick looked at his daughter who seemed to be distracted and constantly looking over her shoulder.

He reached out and touched her shoulder.

"Ah!" Mary jumped up in fear, she looked at her father and the surprise on her face turned into tears.

"It's coming closer dad, the constant buzzing...and that disgusting smell..." She leaned into her fathers shoulder and began to cry.

Rick patted Mary's back. "It's okay honey. Grim, we need to find some people quickly. Mary hasn't killed anyone in 6 days."

Grim nodded solemnly.

"If it keeps on like this.. I'll have to-" Rick was cut off by Mary.

"No! I won't do it Papa!" Mary held her father tightly as she bawled into Rick's shirt.

Rick patted her back, his gaze was warm yet there was a solid determination glowing in his eyes. He wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice himself for his beloved daughter, even against her wishes.

"Ah!" Jyn's scream came from the distant brush, it was short and full of fright.

"JYN!" Both Grim and Laura shouted at the same time before rushing towards the direction of the shout.

After rushing through the dense bushes Grim and Laura found Jyn next to a river, he was perfectly fine and only a little frightened.

"What's wrong!" Grim held Jyn and asked with worry.

Jyn pointed his small hand towards the river.

"Oh my..." Laura gasped as she covered her mouth.

Grim looked and saw what looked to be over 40 dead bodies littering the banks of the river, a few more were floating down the river. His eyes narrowed as he spotted something.

From behind him, Rick and Mary appeared, they were both out of breath and Rick seemed to have cut his cheek on a branch. They both were shocked at the scene.

"Jyn, follow your mother back to the rest spot." Grim looked at Laura and she nodded.

As Jyn and Laura left, Grim turned to Rick and pointed to a spot on the river bank. "That one over there, he's still alive."

Rick nodded with a thankful expression.

"I'll be waiting for you at the rest spot, don't be too long." Grim walked back towards Jyn and Mary.

"Dad...Hand me the gun" Mary looked at Rick, her eyes had a hint of desperation to them.

Rick shook his head. "I'll help you. There's no need for you to trouble yerself Mary."

"You can't keep helping me forever Papa, one day you'll be gone and I'll have to do it on my own." Mary looked into her fathers eyes with a faint but firm resolve. She didn't want to be a burden to her father anymore, she wanted to help him and protect him.

The deepest wish in her heart at the moment was to prevent the current situation from ever happening again. She didn't ever want to see Rick sacrifice himself for her.

Rick sighed and handed over a revolver. "Be careful."

With the gun in hand Mary walked over to the area Grim pointed to. There was a young man there, soaking wet and shivering. His chest heaving up and down.

He was quite handsome with black hair and blue eyes. A high schooler by the look of it as he was wearing a tattered uniform. There was a bloodstain on his stomach in the shape of a claw slash, a deep wound considering that fresh blood was leaking from it.

"Cough! He-help, please" The young man looked at Mary pleadingly.

"I'm sorry..." Mary took the gun and with shaking hands aimed it at the young man's forehead.

"N-no! s-stop!" The young man was frightened and attempted to crawl away.

"I-I have to, if I don't it'll get me!" Mary shouted weakly, her cheeks were soaked in tears. She was mentally trying to justify what she was about to do but all it did was make her tears fall harder.

"I-I don't want to die!" The young man cried out, he stopped trying to escape and looked at Mary with fear in his eyes, suddenly he gasped and pointed at Mary's face.

"W-what? What is it?" Mary touched her cheek and looked at her hand, it was drenched in a black liquid.

"Ahhh!" Mary screamed in terror.

*BANG!*

The gunshot echoed throughout the area and a long silence followed.

After waiting a few minutes, Grim, Laura and Jyn saw Rick and Mary walk out of the bushes.

Mary was very pale, a smudged black stain was on her shirt.

Grim glanced at the two and said. "We're running out of supplies. East Star city is close, lets go."

"Yeah..." Rick nodded tiredly.

The group packed their things and left down the road towards the city.

...

In a hidden underground facility miles below the surface of Telos, there was an office. The inside of the office was bright white. Various flags decorated it's blue walls.

In the middle of the office there was a large steel desk with several holographic screens being projected from it's center, several men in white coats were seated on them. Sitting at the desk was an old man in his late 60's. His wrinkly face was quite average yet it didn't dampen the aura he radiated, the aura of a leader.

"There aren't anymore methods we can try president.. we've tried everything." One of the white coated men on the holographic projection's said with an empty look as if he had given up.

"Everything?" The old man repeated with a tired voice.

"Yes, absolutely everything.. there's nothing else we can do.. I'm sorry."

"I see.." The old man muttered as he closed his eyes.

The man on the projection understood what would happen next, he sighed. "Farewell president, it's been an honor working with you."

The screen cut off leaving a blank screen.

"Farewell."

"It's been a pleasure."

The rest of the white coated men bidded their final goodbye's before cutting their connections.

The old man stared at the screens blankly, a tear dripping from his eye.

*Knock* *Knock*

A knocking came from the room's only door. Seconds later, a man in a butler suit entered.

"President, shall I bring the prisoner? It's been 6 days already." The butler bowed and asked.

The old man shook his head and stood up. His expression was vague and indiscernible, yet it couldn't hide the immense sadness in his wary, old eyes.

"It doesn't matter anymore.. " He muttered in a croaky voice. "Prepare all channels, I'll be addressing the world."

The butler's expression changed, he bowed and replied. "As you wish president."