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Aiden stepped closer to the group and examined the congregation closely. Many of them were small and thin, nothing cut out for the roles they'd need to take.

"Who made you leader of the pack?" Aiden replied harshly. "What experience do you have? Have you killed anyone before? Do you know how to lead a team? As far as I can see, I'm the only one with any kind of combat training here, save for the cop. So I propose we vote for the leader here, eh?" Aiden walked up to the front, next to the man. He leaned up to his ear and whispered, "A successful speech starts with a name." Aiden grabbed the man's arm and lowered it to his side. He turned back to the group and looked over them. "Corporal Aiden Ward, at your service. United States Army Ranger trained, vehicle and weapons maintenance specialist. If you like to think you'll see your family, or make a family, sometime soon, you'd probably be better off with me."

Everyone had started crowding around Marcus so Mattaeus join the group. After he had finished his explaination of the situation the center stage was taken over by Aiden pushing himself as the best leader for the group. Matt didn't like either of them but he preffered Marcus. He spoke to Aiden asking "Your just a corporal, how long have you served in the army?"

Marcus put his pistol away and lit his pipe. "Yeah..." he said with a grin as he blew a ring of smoke into Aiden's face. "Because the army's so ----ing great, isn't it? I'm sorry, but who was it who failed to protect the nation from the greatest plague in history? Oh yeah! The United States military." He paused for a moment, taking another puff from the pipe. "Sure, I'll play." he said with a chuckle. "Marcus Cortés." he stated proudly in the same tone that Aiden had used, mocking him in a blameless way. "Ass-kicking specialist, and one of the few survivors of the Boston ME pandemic. If you like to think you'll live, or make it past these damn fields that lay ahead of these gates, you're better off with me. Because frankly, if you follow him, you're not likely to accomplish either one of those."

He looked around. The man from the boat hadn't arrived yet. "Christ! Elizabeth, see what's taking them so damn long!"

Lizzy nodded, embarrassed by both Aiden and her own father. She left for the docks as quickly as possible.

"Served for eight years after graduating Ranger school," Aiden replied with a smirk. "And sir," he mocked, turning to Marcus, "have you tried fighting AIDS? It's in the blood, my friend. It's just a lot easier to spread when you've got a bunch of [&@%!] biting each other, y'know? And if you're so quick to criticize me, what did you do before the [&@%!] hit the fan? And do we really need to insult one another, friend?" The emphasis Aiden put on the last word stang. "I just mean to ask you, what skills do you have that can help us out?"

Rory spoke from the rest of the survivors, "Don't you think should win over your unit before you start bragging about how you think your better than us, Ranger. No one will want to follow a hothead. After all, once people decide you are too insane to keep them alive, they will split. Leaving you... alone." She lowered her voice to a sinister purr but, loud enough to be heard. "You don't want that do you?" Rory turned to the rest of them.
"Everyone will be just as worse off if we don't stick together. I think that a joint leadership should be made for the best." She turned toward Aiden. "I'm just as much stubborn as you are a d*ck."

Marcus was stunned by Rory's sudden outburst. He turned to Aiden after putting his pipe away. He already hated this guy, and hardly anyone had spoken to him throughout the entire day. "I was never quick to criticize you. You're just too damn quick to consider everyone else to be mere 'civilians' compared the the big bad army guy. What skills do I have to offer the group? Kicking the [&@%!] out of zombies and little pricks such as yourself. My father taught me everything I know about combat. I never needed any fancy pants army training. And neither did anyone else present here. They're all survivors, just like you. That's a rare sight in this world. This means that they have just as much...if not more skills in the arts of combat than you."

(God this inflated quickly)

Valjean looked at Elizabeths' father

"Sir, let me assure you i wasn't making a move or anything, if she wanted to help i had a spare weapon i meant nothing by it.. if you beleive i did then my apologies"

Checking the courtyard he noticed...oh christ Mr.Angry

"Look people i personally don't give a [&@%!] who leads as great and sexy as i am i don't think i'll be the best leader because i don't know my way around here(Just transferred,Plot hole ftw) have i vote but think the Lady..Rory that's it, would be the better canditate over the ranger graduate*Scoffs*"

Bravo to Duh for the best ownage of the roleplay

"And we're back to the insults and threats?" Aiden laughed. "This got out of hand really fast, huh?" Aiden drew his 92FS and back away, before pointing the pistol at Marcus's daughter. "Alright, everyone. Let's calm down for a second here! We're being savages, and that's not what democracy is about." Aiden used his other hand to reach into his breast pocket and pulled out a cigarette and lighter, sticking the cigarette into his mouth and lighting it. "Now, let's do this like Americans, huh? We've got me, Marcus, and the girl. Let's cast our ballots, huh? If you want me to lead, raise your left hand. If you want Marcus to lead, raise your right. If you want the woman to lead, raise both of your hands and leave yourselves defenseless." Aiden laughed at the thinly-veiled joke and re-holstered the pistol. "And don't worry, sir. The gun was empty."

Drathan eased up on his assault rifle for half a second, placed his glasses on his face, then straightened his aim at Alex.

Rory politely smiled to Valjean. "Merci. N'entendez pas l'homme, il est fou." She spoke the phrase softly with a little help from her high school French classes.

"Go f*** yerself. I bet you could do that with both hands in the air!" She retorted before everyone started raising hands and deciding.

From behind Alex, the beautiful red-haired woman appeared. "Wait, stop!" she shouted to Drathan, stepping in front of the man. "Whatever he said to make you so angry, he is sorry! But we need your help! They are deporting survivors to England on the other side of the island! Please, trust us and dock your boat. We need your help!" A tear ran down her face. She didn't know why. She had no emotional attatchment to Alex, nor Drathan. She hadn't even spoken to Drathan...ever!

Meanwhile...

"I think someone should put a loaded gun to your forehead and watch your reaction." he was trying to hold himself back from delivering a crushing blow to the soldier's face. But he wanted everyone to be on his side. He wanted to be the mature one. But it was his daughter that could have been in danger! He curled his hand into a fist, but then let his fingers relax. He would let it slide. But that sealed the deal for Marcus. He and Aiden had become enemies.

Drathan saw another, more graceful figure appear from the shore, and responded by clicking the rifle into full auto,
ready to spray the two individuals with half inch pieces of lead.

"What the hell is going on here!? I see nobody with a pulse for a month, and suddenly it's like you mother****ers are multiplying!"

He was visibly shaken, and his grip on the Beowulf was wavering.

Felix did not sit well with the turmoil brewing within the group. The man who grabbed him earlier made it clear to the detective that he was brutish, and almost mercenary like. So much for a US Ranger. This situation was going to inflate way too quickly. If action isn't taken there could be blood. Felix quickly intervened, drawing a potentially unwanted amount of attention to himself.

"Excuse me, everyone!" Felix shouted with as much authority as he could muster, with hopes of cutting of this Corporal's raving off.
"Corporal, I'm sorry we didn't have the time to exchange more formal pleasantries earlier, but I believe you know my name. It's Detective, not Cop, Felix Monteries. I don't go around writing parking tickets to idiotic drivers. I find mentally insane men who would rape and murder small children. I help murder victim families get back on their feet from psychological disarray. And lastly, I try my hardest to keep people safe." Now the center of attention, Felix continued with dignity, circumcising the group's perimeter, drawing their eyes as he walked.
"I have no reason to think your a capable fighter, but you need to watch your tone," Felix narrowed his eyes on Corporal Ward, "And I have no doubts you are an experienced leader, but when it comes to zombie fighting I doubt your loud mouth and vicariously toned attitude will do nothing but get innocent people hurt." Felix took his attention off Ward.
"People, I just want to see this group to safety. I'm a protector of people. I have no intentions in using bullets to solve this dilemma." Felix was well aware of the weapons drawn and was in no mood to see this turn out to be a friendly fire blood bath.
"Put your weapons away, there’s no reason for this petty sh*t." Felix directed towards Ward.
"I may not be in the military, but if I learned one thing from my experience in the work of criminal justice is that discipline is key. And you seem to be lacking it."
Felix made a daring move, combining both his psychological training with his own wits. He pulled his Colt .45 from his coat, eyes widening amongst the group, but then turning to confusion as they saw him drop the clip inside it to the ground. He cocked back the chamber, releasing a round into his palm, and then setting the weapon and the bullet onto the ground. He then pulled a spare .45 clip from the coat and did likewise.
"Now tell me, Corporal," Felix began again, with a mask of courage overlaying him. He approached Aiden tenaciously. "What will be your next move? Start shooting? Kill everyone here? As soon as you pull that trigger people are gonna jump on you like lobsters on a dying fish. And say you do use your fabled combat skills to shoot your way out of here. Then what? I guarantee within a week you'll be zombie chow." By this point Felix was in the Corporal's face.
"Your not going to do anything, and I'm willing to risk my own life for the lives of these people here on that wager. Put the gun down." Felix made it abundantly clear through physical gestures that at the moment he was unarmed. He then put his hands behind his back, locking Aiden's eyes, staring him in the face.

Aiden stared the man down, quickly drawing the pistol from his hip holster. He hit the magazine release and dropped it to the ground as well. He stepped back and chuckled.

"I like you. Assertive. You've certainly got me on your side," Aiden laughed heartily. "You all just needed a push to get your blood boiling! Now you know what it'll be like for the next couple of weeks." Aiden stepped away from the detective and closer to Marcus. He leaned in close and whispered into the man's ear, "You've got a nice girl, never planned on hurting her. However, I guess I owe you one now, then?" Aiden smiled, but retreated back hastily. He knew that making enemies wasn't the best course, but would help strengthen the bonds of the rest.

Alex was still on the docks waiting for the boatman to come to shore. He shouted "listen! we're not zombies or something else we're just survivors of the plague and we need all the help we can get! Just come ashore and come inside!"

*Valjean has just lost all respect for Aiden after the gun incident. i know it wasn't loaded but still that guys a dick*

Valjean ran up to Aiden

"Speaking of owing people one!" Followed by a full force punch in the face.
"WHO THE F*** ARE YOU TO THREATEN OTHERS!WELL!(Pull out sidearm, control anger) Do Anything like that again and i'll put one through your head"
"Rory...i'm with you for this one, at your service, by the way...Marcus is it, i noticed you wanted to do that, but all of a sudden the super sexy Valjean jumped in and stole the thunder, gather round for autographs (Chuckles)"

Marcus was angry...mostly angered with Aiden, but angry about something else as well. But he dodn't know what.

"Anyway..." he said with a frown. "When Alex and Elizabeth return from the docks, with or without the man that had been driving the boat, we'll open these gates and get off of this zombie infested island!"

Meanwhile...

Elizabeth stood beside Alex. It was getting cold out. She put her hands on her shoulders. "Please," she cried out to Drathan. "You'll die if you stay on that boat! We're leaving in moments. The fort won't be safe for you anymore! You're better off with us!"

Drathan had half a mind to pull the boat out of the harbor and just make like a tree.

"These people are all insane." They kept telling him things that made no sense, that couldn't be proven,
and for some reason they kept thinking he wanted into the fort.

"I'M ON A FREAKING BOAT WITH THREE MONTHS OF PROVISIONS, AND I'M SITTING ON AN ARMORY OF WEAPONS!
WHY THE HELL WOULD I WANT TO LEAVE IT?"

He fired a warning shot just below the woman's feet, hoping it would scare some sense into her.

From atop a window sill overlooking the courtyard, Adam began laughing loudly. "The pig is right. Perhaps, just for one moment, you morons could stop comparing the sizes of your penises and discuss your actual plans. Now if there's anyone among you who have half a brain you should realize that all these self-appointed leaders are either too stupid or arrogant to lead a group anywhere." He paused, hoping that at least someone would pay attention to what he had to say. But he wasn't holding his breath.

"You, super trooper," Adam said in a derogatory tone while pointing at Aiden, who was picking himself up off the ground. "You're a moron. I'm not even going to waste my time explaining myself to you. Let's just say that if you think he's right you should join him and head over the wall immediately."

"But you, old man, you should know better," he said pointing at Marcus. "The man that's on the boat out there is firing off rounds right now, and I can only assume he's killing the people you sent out there to commandeer his boat. Frankly I don't blame him. If you had a boat would you hand it over to a group of idiots? Do you have a map? Have you considered your route? Let's say, by some miracle that you are able to get him off the boat: what are you going to do with him? Invite him along for the ride after you shanghai him? I think he'll be less than receptive to that idea. What about fuel?"

"The truth is, I've been here longer than any of you, hiding out here since before the outbreak even occurred, and I assure you that this place is as safe as any airport which may or may not be extracting survivors. Our food reserves are just fine, there's an entire field of corn out there, and with chef's help I can make corn into a whole host of things, including corn syrup and alcohol. Now if there's somebody here who can rig that boat engine to run on alcohol that means we can fish, too. We can use the same distillery equipment to produce alcohol-based fuel and desalinate water. We have everything we need here. Unless, of course, any of you trigger-happy goon dicks have a better idea."

Marcus cocked an eyebrow after hearing Adam's words from the higher floor. "Hmm...Been here since before the outbreak, eh? Well then, I'd shut the hell up if I were you. You don't know what it's like in the real world! A world not ruled by men and women...but by man-eating men and women. You can't see them now. They're hiding. Thousands of them...just waiting in the corn. Waiting for ignorant folk such as yourself to wonder out there seeking corn or other recources. Did you ever stop to think that the corn itself may carry the disease? And fish...don't even get me started with the fish you may find in these filthy waters! We need to leave this island while we can. Sure, the walls will hold now. But in another year or two? Nah! And by that time, we'll have no AMP to save our sorry asses."
Marcus spit on the stone path. He was sick of fighting. "Besides...Some of us with find it to be a bit of a challenge to live with each other here in this fort for more than a single day!" He glanced at Aiden.

Suddenly, he heard a gunshot from the back of the fort. It sounded like it was coming from the docks. His heart sank. His eyes were completely filled with not only anger and fear...but flames. He had not felt so afraid for the safety of his daughter since the Boston ME pandemic (which was another case in which Elizabeth was in danger). He pushed through the other survivors and made way for the docks with the speed of a racing horse.

Meanwhile...

Elizabeth was shocked by the bullet that had nearly sliced her foot in two. "Jesus Christ!" She jumped back with a short scream, hiding behind Alex. She no longer wished to speak to this man on the boat.

Just then, a bullet screamed past her head, long with Alex's. Someone had fired a pistol from behind her. She hurled her head around to see her father with a pistol held in front of him. His frown was demonic. He had had enough. He stepped in front of Alex and Elizabeth, firing another three shots at the boat. Every shot hit the lower side of the boat. He was intentionally missing. He was an outstanding marksman. But he didn't want to kill another survivor just for using his instincts to, as he thought, protect himself from a group of madmen.

Marcus realized that he could've easily been shot down. But he hoped that this odd stranger would understand that the group of survivors were his allies, not his enemies. But if he didn't, Marcus intended to live or die fighting.