The story begins.
| Spoiler warning! This article contains details about the plot. |
Arrived at Abel Township. So many mysteries. Maybe I'll get a chance to solve them. But first, need to get fit enough to be an Abel runner.
Cast[]
Plot[]
Survived the crash[]
While en route to Abel Township from Mullins Military Base, your transport helicopter, "Jolly Alpha Five Niner", is hit by a rocket attack and crashes. The crash site is full of zombies and Sam Yao, the radio operator from Abel, begs you to run for your life.
Heading for Gryphon Tower[]
Sam is excited to see you escaping the zombies on foot, but warns of a "small army of zombies" to the east. Dr Maxine Myers, Abel's medic, interrupts to ask you to collect medical supplies from the old Robinson Hospital.
Searching the Hospital[]
Sam decides to call you "Runner 5", as Abel recently lost a Runner with that number. Sam explains that the Runners gather all of Abel's supplies, given that there's not enough fuel to use cars. He also asks you to keep an eye out for any "official-looking files" in the hospital - they might be important.
Escaping the Hospital with the CDC File[]
Dr Myers recognises a box you have collected as an important CDC file, and insists that it might be worth your life to protect. Unfortunately, Sam also informs you that you have attracted the attention of a swarm of zombies.
Running for Safety[]
Sam is alarmed at how fast the zombies are moving. They are gaining on you quickly. The lead zombie appears to be the old Runner 5, Alice. Runner 7, Abel's head of Runners, transmits a word of encouragement.
Arrived at Abel Township[]
As you reach Abel with the zombie in tow, Sam is distraught to watch Abel's soldiers shoot the old Runner 5. Finally safe, you are greeted by the people of Abel.
Transcript[]
HELICOPTER PILOT: So you’ll see the township as we loop around. Not much more than a few fences to keep the zoms out. Tiny little island of humanity. I just don’t know how they live like that. Well, I guess they won’t be living like that much longer.
So, I expect you’re not allowed to say what you’re being dropped into the township for, huh? Nah, I thought not. I know how it works. They don’t even tell you until you get there.
[static] Abel Township, Abel Township, this is Jolly Alpha Five Niner from Mullins Military Base. We’re five miles out, approaching from the east at 1,100 feet, bringing in med supplies, some backpacks, shelters, and a temporary loan of one of our people. Abel Township – Jolly Five Niner, requesting permission to land.
RADIO OPERATOR: [static] Yeah, got that… uh, I mean, uh, roger that. You’re clear to, um… [clears throat] yeah, you can - come on in.
HELICOPTER PILOT: Roger, Abel Township. Heading down now.
I can see as clear as day we haven’t got half the supplies we usually bring. Yeah, I know. You don’t know anything. Project Greenshoot? Need-to-know basis? A briefing to follow at Abel – sorry, I couldn’t help hearing when you boarded - and then you’ll find out what your mission really is. But you know, if you and me pooled info, maybe we could -
[distant shooting] What the hell? They’re shooting! That’s not coming from the township. Who the hell has a rocket launcher in this sector? Who the hell has a - ? [explosion]
We’re hit. I’ve lost the tail rotor. Mayday, mayday, mayday! Jolly Alpha Five Niner is going down three miles east of the township. Two souls on board. Aircraft is gray with black lettering and trim. We’re going in hard! Brace, brace, brace!
RADIO OPERATOR: [static] This is Abel Township calling, this is Abel Township calling. Supply copter, can you hear us? [whispers] They’re going down fast, holy moly… [out loud] Can any of you hear us? [whispers] Open your chutes! Jump, jump! [helicopter crashes]
[static] Hey, hey! I, uh… this is Abel Township calling, over? Uh, they’re not answering. Their comms equipment could have been fried. [static]
[foliage rustles]
[static] Listen, if you’re alive, if there’s anyone alive, this is Sam Yao, from Abel Township. I’m just the… I’m just the radio operator, man, I’m not supposed to handle this stuff! [static] You’ve come down in a nest of hostiles. They’ve heard the noise, they’re coming! There are - thirty? No, forty - aw, crap! Uh, you’re only safe path is towards the tower. You should be able to see that from where you are. If there’s anyone alive there, just move. [static] Move!
SAM YAO: Wow, there’s… there’s someone alive down there! Hey, can you hear me? … No answer. But still, they’re on the move. Heading for the tower, just like I said. Okay… helicopter person. If you can hear me, you’re doing great. The main group’s behind you, and you’re going to come out of this forest soon, but there’s a… yeah, I-I can’t think of a phrase that’s not “small army of zombies”. Sorry, don’t do so well under massive pressure.
There’s a… well, one of those, directly to the east of the trees. So, if you head more towards the old saw mill - you should be able to see its massive red signs from where you are… man, look at that, they’re changing direction! They can… You can hear me! [laughs] Okay, okay, we can keep you safe. It’s cool, it’s cool, we can bring you in. [a whisper in the background] No, we can’t ask them that! They might be injured!
MAXINE MYERS: Well, all the more reason to ask them that! This is Doctor Myers, only medic here at Abel Township. Lord knows I’m sorry to ask you this, but your route will take you almost past the old hospital. We know there are medical kits still there from the first wave of infection - if you could pick up even one or two, that would help us.
SAM YAO: It’s too dangerous! You know what happened to Runner Five!
MAXINE MYERS: The zoms have all followed the noise of the crash!
SAM YAO: But what about whoever fired that rocket launcher?
MAXINE MYERS: If someone wants to kill that messenger, taking an unusual route will make it even harder, not easier! I don’t want to be hard-headed, but everyone in this township earns their keep. You should be able to see the Robinson Hospital now. One of the buildings - Gryphon Tower - it’s the tallest in the abandoned city, and if you can’t find anything… we might not be able to let you in when you get here.
SAM YAO: Okay, okay… Man, that’s great, you’re making good time. No broken legs, I guess. [laughs] Hey, uh, listen… I’m gonna call you Runner Five. Um, just ‘cause… well, I don’t know your name, and we just lost a runner, in that same hospital you’re running through now. She was so fast, really funny, and clever. Me and her, we sort of… [sighs] She was amazing. But hey! You could be our new Runner Five! If you make it back alive…
Yeah, um, the runners are pretty important to keeping us going here. Any fuel we have goes to working the generators, and the truth is, if you’ve got two legs and you can go above a slow shamble, you’ll be able to stay out the zoms’ way, am I right?
Yeah, okay, your pace is good, but, um, maybe head through the ground floor of the hospital. There’s a little swarm gathering in the parking lot I don’t like the look of, and um… Yeah, yeah, that’s good… You could even pick up anything interesting you pass. We think there might be some… well, we sent the old Runner Five there looking for some file the Doc’s interested in, so uh, you know, if you find anything official-looking lying around, just bring it home.
SAM YAO: Hey, there you are! I’ve got you on camera now. Great to see you, even though you’re kinda blurry. [laughs] Uh, what’s that you’re carrying? Look at this, Doc - Runner Five picked up something in the hospital.
MAXINE MYERS: Is that the Centers for Disease Control file?
SAM YAO: What’s that?
MAXINE MYERS: Runner Five, I don’t say this lightly - that box could be worth your life to protect. Don’t drop it.
SAM YAO: What is it?
MAXINE MYERS: Oh, it might be nothing, it might be everything.
SAM YAO: So, a pretty narrow window of definition.
MAXINE MYERS: What’s that shadow over there?
SAM YAO: Aw, aww, no! This was what - when we sent her out, this was what happened! They’re following you, Runner Five. The swarm from the car park, they’re following you! Now, move as fast as you can!
[zombies moan]
SAM YAO: They’re so fast. Why are they so fast? Runner Five? Runner Five, keep going.
MAXINE MYERS: Runner Five, you’re not far from the gates now. If you can keep going, we’ll send some people with guns out to meet you. Only one zombie is close to reaching you, just keep going as fast as you’re able!
[zombie moans]
SAM YAO: Oh, God… it’s her. I can see her… it’s Alice. It’s the old Runner Five. She’s the one chasing you. She’s… she’s still wearing her headset! She’s…
RUNNER SEVEN: [interrupts] Runner Five, it’s Runner Seven here, head of runners. The doctor’s told me you found something useful in the hospital. We’re sending out a couple of people to bring you in. Don’t look back, she’s right behind you!
[gunfire]
ABEL GUARD: This way!
SAM YAO: They’re going to shoot her. I-I can’t watch, I don’t want to…
MAXINE MYERS: It’s what she would have wanted Sam, you know it is. She wouldn’t have wanted to live like this.
ABEL GUARD: We’ve got her covered!
[gunfire stops]
SAM YAO: Raise the gates… Raise the gates!
[gate siren blaring, and the mechanical sounds of the gates raising]
VARIOUS UNIDENTIFIED VOICES: Welcome! - The Major will want to see you when she gets back. - Hey, great to see a new face! - Want some water? - What were you doing in that helicopter, anyway? - Did you bring any food? Any canned food, dried food? - Hey, you’ve picked up some med packs!
SAM YAO: Hey! Good to see you in the flesh… the totally-unbroken, skin-not-bitten-by-zombies flesh, right? Step back, step back everyone, don’t crowd! Give Runner Five some space! Can’t take in so many new faces right now.
UNIDENTIFIED VOICE: [whispers] Do you think that’s who they’ve assigned for Project Greenshoot?
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