Finding Jesus

The next day Rick woke up early. These past few months Rick had began a work out regimen. He would do some stretching and then do a 100 Push-Ups, 100 Sit-Ups, 100 Squats, and then run ten kilometers. (that's 6.2 miles) He figured if it was good enough for that baldy it was good enough for him. After that he would practice his marksmanship and shoot various firearms, while performing drills. Then he would practice with a heavy duty machete he bought. He would go over this routine everyday. He knew he needed his body to be able to react without him thinking to survive the hell that was coming. Afterwards he would go find Carl and spend some time with him.

Rick was looking forward to Shane returning. He had become attached to the man in this life. Shane was easily likeable and was extremely reliable. Shane had called earlier and advised he would be back at the compound in a couple of hours. Rick was looking forward to going through all the inventory Shane had purchased.

While he was waiting Rick made his way to the secret server room. He wanted to go over the plans again with the A.I. The marine in him liked to have exact planning. He was adaptable but he liked having a good guideline. Even though they could communicate through the nano-link he still liked the server room. There Rick could think without interruptions.

"Hello Rick. What can I assist you with?" (A.I)

"I was coming to check up on everything and see if we are still in line with the schedule, and to see if there were any new updates." (Rick)

"Sir everything is still within the acceptable time frame to be finished before the apocalypse. However I wish to make some adjustments to the original design. The compound inside the wall is just under a square mile or six hundred and forty acres. If looking at it from a birds eye view. Starting at the front gate the storage area where we will house all the building materials, and heavy equipment warehouses is located there. I suggest we place the metal forging area there under ground. This will help limit the sound from spreading to far. We can have everything installed quickly and have a chimney stack come out of the ground. Second I suggest we install a series of tunnels between all of the buildings, and a large underground bunker that could house our people. I understand that this area is very secure, but under your motto one is none and two is one. I feel it would be better to have a backup in case our walls are ever breached. It doesn't have to be overdone or state of the art. Just secure have a few weeks worth of rations, and a water and air supply. These are the suggestions that I have for now." (A.I.)

"How long would all of this take?" (Rick)

"It doesn't have to be completed before everything starts. We just need all the supplies beforehand, after we go on lock down we can complete it then." (A.I.)

"That's fine go ahead and order all the materials needed and have them shipped over. Is there anything else you needed to report?" (Rick)

"Yes sir, I have located Paul Monroe. He is in Virginia and is currently working part time at a martial arts gym. I have all of his information here." (A.I.)

Rick received the information through the nano-link. "Looks like I'm going to Virginia tomorrow. Thanks A.I." As Rick said this it dawned on him that after a year he was still calling it A.I. "Hey A.I. do you have a name or something you prefer being called?" (Rick)

"My previous user called me Hermes, he said it was because I could go anywhere. If you want you can call me the same." (A.I)

"Alright from now on I will call you Hermes. Contact me if anything else develops." (Rick)

Later that day Shane had arrived back at the compound. Behind him was a long caravan of box trucks and semi trailers. He had them follow him over to the warehouse area. When Shane got out of the truck he was in Rick and Carl were waiting for him.

"Uncle Shane!" (Carl yelled as he ran and gave Shane a hug)

"Hey little man how's it been? You been listening to your dad? I heard you were becoming a badass woodsman." (Shane)

"I have, I love it in the woods. I can track deer now. Daryl also has been showing me how to set traps to catch rabbits and squirrels. Dad said this weekend we could go hunting together, I'm going to get a buck." (Carl)

"Well I'm excited for you to show me how it's done. Why don't you run along now while I talk to your dad for a bit." (Shane)

"Alright I will go play at our house." (Carl)

"Wait to you see what I got. You are going to love some of this stuff." (Shane)

Shane showed Rick everything he bought. Most of it was guns and ammunition, there was two semi trailer full of different handguns, rifles, heavy machine guns, there was even RPGs and hand grenades. There was two box trucks full of ammunition. There was all types of defensive armor, bullet proof vest, riot gear, and military style clothing. They had a car hauler with humvees on it. A flat bed with a disassembled helicopter. It looked like it was from the soviet era.

"Check these babies out." Shane walked over to two flat bed trailers that were covered in tarps. On the back after they were uncovered sat four futuristic looking tanks. "These are called Ripsaws. They are very fast lightweight tanks and can hold up to four people. I had to pay a pretty penny for these and had them rush ordered. To get them in time We had to pay above retail price but I figure for whatever you got planned these will be very helpful." (Shane)

"This is amazing, we can mount some .50 cal machine guns to the top and have them controlled from the inside." (Rick)

Shane just stared at Rick. "You really need to tell me what is going on. It seems like you are preparing for a war, or the end of the world." (Shane)

Rick sighed. "I promise once I get everyone together I will tell you everything. Just trust me a little while longer." (Rick)

"Lets get all this loaded up." (Shane)

"Hey do you want to go to Virginia with me tomorrow? There is someone there I want to recruit." (Rick)

The next day Rick and Shane were on their way to Virginia it was a several hour drive. They spent their time catching up and telling jokes.

Shane and Rick were talking about the differences between men and women.

"I'm telling you man women don't know how to turn off lights. They are born thinking the switch only goes one way. On. They're struck blind the second the leave a room. I mean every women I ever let have a key, I swear to God. I would come home and the house is all lit up. And my job apparently because my chromosomes happen to be different is I then gotta walk through that house, Turn off every single light this chick left on."(Shane)

"Is that right?" (Rick)

"Yeah, baby. Mhm. Oh reverend Shane is preaching to you now, boy." (Shane)

Both laughed.

"Then this same chick, mind you she'll bitch about global warming. You see this is when reverend Shane wants to quite from the guy gospel and say, darling, maybe you and every other pair of boobs on this planet would just figure out that the light switch goes both ways. Then maybe there wouldn't be so much global warming." (Shane)

"You really say that?" (Rick),

"Yeah, well a polite version. Still man that earns me this look of loathing you would not believe. That's when the exorcist voice pops out." (In a deep voice)"She goes you sound just like my damn father! Always yelling about the power bill, telling me to turn off the damn lights!" (Shane)

"What do you say to that?" (Rick)

"I know what I want to say. I want to say, bitch you mean to tell me you have been hearing this your entire life, and you are still too damn stupid to learn how to turn off the switch? I don't actually say that though." (Shane)

Both laugh and continue to talk and laugh for the drive. Later that day the arrive at the location Hermes had given Rick. Both men go inside and begin looking around. It doesn't take Rick long before he sees the man he is looking for. Paul Monroe AKA Jesus.

Rick walks over to Jesus. "Hey how you doing, I am looking for a trainer, and you seem to know your stuff would you be available?" (Rick)

Jesus looks up and sees both Rick and Shane. "Sure what kind of training are you guys looking for? Are you wanting a few hours a week or something everyday?" (Jesus)

"Well that is want I want to talk to you about. My name is Rick Grimes, and this is my business partner Shane Walsh. We own a large company and we are looking for someone to train our employees. It would be a full time position, and you would have to move to Georgia. I would pay for any relocation fees, and you can name your salary." (Rick)

"Seriously? Why me? How did you guys even hear about me? I am a nobody, never trained anyone special, and I kinda just float around." (Jesus)

"There is not much to the why or how. I have a dedicated employee, who finds people I believe haven't realized the true potential. You happen to meet that description. All I can say is the is the real deal. This job will change your life and give you a chance to flourish like you never have. If you accept I will need you in Atlanta before this Saturday night." (Rick)

"You will pay me whatever I want? How about a hundred thousand a year?" Jesus had thrown out a number he thought was crazy and no one would pay for him.

"Done. I can pay you for the first year upfront. Do you need assistance moving your stuff? I can have a truck sent to your place today." (Rick)

Jesus was shocked, he kept trying to wake up and see if Rick was full of shit. He then heard a notification from his cell phone. Looking down he saw that his bank account amount had changed and there was now over a hundred thousand in there.

"No I don't need any of that, I am actually staying on one of the guys here couch. If you can give me a ride to his place I can get my bag and leave with you if you want." (Jesus)

"Great lets go." (Rick)

'It's nice to meet you. I think you are going to like it with us." (Shane)

After the drive back to Atlanta, Jesus had the typical reaction of being overwhelmed by the compound. Rick had set him up in one of the apartments and told him to make himself at home. Afterwards they met up gave him a tour of the compound. Jesus had nothing to do until the meeting this weekend so he decided to check out Atlanta and have some fun. Glenn decided to go with him and show him around.

"Hermes what is the status of the disease, has it started to spread yet?" (Rick)

"Sir there is still some small pop ups but nothing major as of yet. The frequency of the attacks is increasing though."

It was now Saturday and Rick had requested everyone to the conference room. In the room was Rick, Michonne, Shane, Glenn, Hershel and Maggie, Jesus, Daryl, and Merle. There was also a few other people he already recruited.

There was the man he appointed to be the head of his hospital. His name was Rajesh Khattar. Rajesh was thin brown skinned Indian man. He had thick black hair, brown eyes and a full beard. He had ran the hospital in Atlanta. He was one of the people Michonne had hired for Rick.

The second person was his lead engineer. Her name was Emily Riddle, and she was one of the people that helped design the Mars rover. She was excellent with robotics. Emily was a thin white woman. She had dirty blonde hair, blue eyes, and a nice c cup. She was attractive but did not put much focus into her looks. She was in her late twenties and had no children or husband.

The other person was his lead foreman. Brian Smith, Brian was in his late forties, He was a white male and had salt and pepper black hair, brown eyes, and had a lean cowboy build. He had a wife and son who had both moved too the compound.

The last was the black smith. Samson Freeman, Samson was a black male in his late fifties. He had a shaved head and brown eyes. He was tall and had a very robust strong build. He was the hardest to hire, and Rick had to agree to move his entire forge over. Samson also requested to go on a shopping spree buying anything that caught his eye. Rick guess that Samson's forge may be one of the best stocked in the entire world. Samson specialized in making blades, he found a love for metal working in early teens and ran away to travel the world learning different techniques. He was one of the best blacksmiths in the entire world.

"Now that everyone is here, I am now going to explain why I have brought everyone here. Why I built this place. What I am preparing for. This may be hard to hear, and even harder to believe. Less then seven months from now, the apocalypse is going to begin. There is a disease that will cause people to become cannibals and attack anything living it sees. It will then eat them. The disease will the spread to the victim and will cause them to do the same. You can shoot the people, stab them, hit them with a truck, burn them, even cut them in half but the will still come at you. These people will die then something in the brain will change and partially re-animate them. They will become senseless monsters that only want to eat. I know this hard to believe but I can show you. Hermes start the video."

The blinds in the room started to lower and a TV came out of the ceiling. Shortly after a longer version of the incidents Rick played for Glenn played. By the end everyone in the room looked scared and had so many questions.

"How do you know all this?" (Michonne)

"I stumbled upon it while I was a cop. Right before I won the lottery, I didn't believe at first, but after I quit and had time to research it, I found more and more evidence that this was real. And that the world governments were doing everything they can to cover it up." (Rick)

This was the story he and Hermes had come up with.

"How does it work?" (Rajesh)

"I am not entirely sure. What I do know is that if you are bit, you die. Also it seems like there is another version of the infection, in two of the videos we see someone we believe to not have been bitten die and then get back up and attack people." (Rick)

"Why don't we tell everyone? We could save so many lives if we just make everyone aware." (Maggie)

"Maggie I thought this way at first. But we can't, the government is doing everything that it can to suppress this information. If I was to just start displaying this all over the internet, they would be here in about an hour. They would probably kill me and shut this whole place down. The only thing I can do is try to save as many people as possible." (Rick)

"Once this starts I don't think it will be stoppable. Think if there was a hundred of the infected in Atlanta. In less then an hour that hundred would be over a thousand. It would continue to spread killing everything in sight. The military couldn't stop it. They would begin to pull all the soldiers back to protect key people and places. They would bomb major cities that they believed were beyond saving. I plan to wait out the initial part in here. We will be safe, and have, food, water, and shelter. Then we will go out and try to save anyone we can." (Rick)

"I know this has been a lot to take in, why doesn't everyone head back to their places and think about what they want. I wont keep anyone here, but I need you to keep quiet about this. We will talk tomorrow afternoon." (Rick)