Ch.73

There were other such groups, but the Wolves had been wiped out when we came across them along with Terminus, the Reapers and the Whisperers, the last being the hardest crazy to bring down because there were just so damned many of them. Still, perhaps that's why Negan and his pompous crazy group stayed away. On the bright side they weren't the craziest group we brought down by the time we reentered Atlanta.

My people just called them Ferals, but basically they were Reavers. They did everything walkers did including cannibalism on humans when they were still technically alive themselves, if however…feral. Thankfully there weren't many of them and I wasn't as slow as the average human. We took Atlanta back, block by blocks building by building.

Most of the walkers there had starved to bone thin so overpowering them was easy, if however time consuming. I took the sewers and subway tunnels alone, killing tens of thousand across the city within the first day before seizing all access to the tunnels off using overturned vehicles wherever necessary. I'd gone speed force because I wasn't spending months clearing the sewers alone.

After that I took underground parking garages and any place too dark and big for my people to clear easily. We kept in contact with the prison once the radio towers were up and running on generators. Two weeks into our take-back of Atlanta, I was called back because of a serious matter and not because of the babies. The chopper picked me up and we flew back while I left my men in charge.

They knew how I handled things and simply went from there. T-Dog and his group were heading out to Atlanta for several survivor groups to make political alliances with them so I had to pick him up along the way. I told the Lieutenant to take us back and when we arrived, I met with the council immediately. They told me of three people, one of which claims to be heading to DC with the cure and they wanted me to weigh in on it for the truth as well as a possible escort deep into unknown territory.

I buried my sword into the table and told them. "If it's real, I'll escort them there myself and kill anyone or thing that gets in the way of it. But if it's not-"

I growled. "I've got men out there alone clearing buildings and basements of Atlanta trying to take back the damned city like this council ordered. I cannot and will not waste my damned time on a lie or a pipe dream."

Daryl sighed. "Easy brother, you've been in the wilds too long. Come back and calm down. We know how you feel, we have just as much rising on it as you, remember that."

I pulled my sword out and sheathed it. "Then let's go meet this hope of yours, cause I've got places to be and a war to wage."

I turned to the two men at the door. "Lieutenant, refill the chopper and get your men refreshed. I want to be gone in five hours even if that's to head to DC as far as half the fuel tank will take us."

He nodded. "Yes sir, General."

I scowled and he smirked before leaving. I grunted. "I ain't no damned General."

Maggie spoke up. "Well, you look more like a Walker and what is that smell?"

I grimaced. "Sewer and dead bodies. I've been wading through shit and Walker corpses for the past week to seal off all sewer and subway tunnels to kill them off and prevent more from getting in. Life out there ain't exactly the four seasons sweetheart, why else would I be cranky?"

Hershel spoke up. "Perhaps you'd like to get washed up before you meet with our newest guests."

I grunted and Sasha came with me, saying I needed hosed down before I step foot in the RV. I huffed. "Ain't been gone but a few weeks and already takin over my home."

Andrea snorted. "Well, you did put babies in us so you'll just have to put up with it, mr.Caveman."

I grunted and was dragged out by three crazy pregnant women. An hour later they were satisfied and I smelled like sex and flowers, mostly flowers though. I met with Abraham Ford, Rosita Espinoza and Eugene Porter in the small prison yard. There the council set up a picnic area so they were eating when I came out.

I set down my sword and told them as I sat down. "No bullshit, no lies. I've cleared a path into Atlantan and a hundred mile diameter perimeter from this point in every direction. My men and I are prepared to escort you into DC through walkers, savages and hell itself, even taking back the capital if we have to. So you tell me right now, is this cure of yours real? Cause if it's not and we get to DC, God help you all, because you'll be walker bait for my group to take out hordes for whatever life remains in your bodies after I beat you half to death."

I was intimidating as hell to exactly one of them. The female was stone cold and the ex army Sargent was right there with her. The Mohawk wearing genius of the group fidgeted. Abraham set his food down saying. "It's real. Eugene here is a-"

Eugene spoke up. "It's a lie."

The other two look to him and Daryl got pissed, grabbing Eugene by the shirt. "You best day that again and speak plainly."

Eugene explained. "I lied to them and let them and lied to you. I figured the safest place was protected because I knew something valuable. I'm not strong you see, and-"

Daryl was forced to drop him cause Abraham slugged Eugene down. Men pulled him back and I stepped over Eugene. "You want food, safety, not to have to die a horrible death, I get that. But if you're to stay here you will be useful. These people here are workers, leaders and hard men and women who know what it's like out there. So if you stay behind these walls, you will do every god damned thing they ask of you while making your skills know, am I clear?"

He nodded fast and I turned to Abraham and Rosita. "Are you fighters or cowards? Cause so don't have time for cowards, that's the council's lot. If you can fight, learn how to take down hordes and you're willing to do the hard work necessary to take back this world, the Reclaimers are recruiting. If not you can choose to be a scout, a picker or put on guard guard duty while cycling around with the rest of the lazy lot behind these walls."

There were a few scowls, but Abraham asked. "You're taking back the world?"

I nodded. "We're the front lines in this war. We eat what we find, kill whom we must and our primary goal is to take out walkers, no matter the number or location so the rest of humanity can return to civilization and survive this shit. We ain't a large group, but we've killed every Walker between here and Atlanta, reinforced defenses along the way so our people can make ties with other groups and send back whatever large quantities of supplies we come across so the civilians here can rest easy."

I put my sword back on my back and sighed. "I ain't gonna lie, it ain't easy. We don't use guns unless we have to and we don't come back to sleep here until a job is done. The hours are shit and odds are you'll be dead in under a month if you aren't properly trained, but we're making a real difference and that's all I can give you besides the fact that I won't lie to you."

Rosita said she was in before Abraham could speak, but he agreed nonetheless. I nodded. "Then we leave in two hours by helicopter. I've been away from the front lines too damn long as is. If not for a possible cure I wouldn't be back here now."

They agreed and got cleaned up while I turned to Daryl. "See, I can be reasonable or social."

He grunted. "Like a bomb."

I shrugged. "Still better than hearing Rick bitch about fertilizer."

There were chuckles and Andrea rubbed her stomach. "How long do you think it to be before you finish in Atlanta?"

I looked to hers, Sasha's and Amy's bellies before sighing. "Two months to reclaim it, another month or two to fortify it and two or three weeks to return with whatever people and supplies we can find. Besides the Ferals, there are very few groups near Atlanta we've come across and those that are, aren't looking to join without assurances so we're alone for now."

T-Dog spoke up. "My people and I are on the way there now to see what we can do to help get them on our side or at least talk them out of any hostilities for now."

I scowled. "What makes you think they're hostile?"

He grunted. "Cause they met you but guy."

I huffed and stroked Sasha and Andrea's bellies while Daryl told us. "I'll see about getting some people together that aren't training. The coalition seems strong so maybe we can get the other groups to pitch in if we offer guns to the rest to help defend what they've got seeing as how we're already talking about giving them the damn tanks. How fast can you do it with a hundred more men?"

I grunted. "Trained like our people? It'll cut the reclamation in half at best and the fortifications down to weeks if you can send in the builders now to help fortify the streets we've taken."

Daryl nodded and Amy smiled. "That's good, you'll be back in time for the births."

Maggie smiled as well from Glenn's arms. "See, I told you everything could work out."

The council had other duties so I had to say goodbye to the three beauties. Eugene was my main concern so I sat in for his interrogation, making sure he spoke the truth. When he was done, he said he felt like he'd be killed if he lied. Hershel told him that was me because of my cuddly personality and uncanny ability to smell lies.

He patted him on the back and told him. "Have no fear, you passed and that's what matters now. Come with me, you'll work in the science building and teach groups on the weekends. The council will deliberate and we'll find you a place and position based on your cooperation and commitment."

I left and met up with T-Dog in the parade fields where the chopper and tanks are for now. Abraham and Rosita were there with him so I turned to the pilot. "Take us up Lieutenant. We have a war to get back to. Drop Mr.T off with his people before getting us back to where we ought to be."

He smiled. "Sir yes sir, General."

I scowled and Abraham asked if I was a real General. I shook my head and T-Dog told them. "It's an expression. Half the guys on the walls and all those with us are ex military or national guard survivors. Oz here chose to go out and lead a war against the walkers to try and take back our world."

The Lieutenant spoke up. "Most of us thought he was crazy but now we're sitting in the safest zone that was the hottest area for miles. We sort of had to hold our tongues and eat our own boots when he agreed to the council's orders to retake Atlanta and fortify it. Half the land around the prison is crop fields and houses going up for life outside the walls these days. The General here more than earns the title and respect, still it drives him to annoyance that we call him it."

I grunted. "There ain't no government anymore and we aren't the military, Lieutenant. I didn't join them then and I ain't joining them now that they're gone. I just kill walkers and make the world safer, not march around barking orders and signing requisitions or whatever the hell it is Generals do. I ain't no damned politician. I leave that to T-Dog and those who give a damn what people think."

The Lieutenant chuckled and told Abraham. "Just give it a week out there. You'll be calling him General as well if only to see the veins in his neck bounce in annoyance."

T-Dog spoke up. "I thought Reclaimers called him something else."

The Lieutenant went silent and his copilot spoke up. "The Grim Reaper. That's because he clears towns by himself, entire city blocks and sewer systems as well. Leaves a trail of bodies and nothing else in his wake. Yeah, they call him that, but then the pickers call them the reapers as well. Kids back at camp are told to be good or they'll be a reaper when they grow up, serving at the side of Death itself."

I closed my eyes and ignored the gossiping bullshit. When T-Dog said we were here at his stop, I clasped arms with him. "I'll be waiting to hear the news of your arrival."

He grunted. "See you on the other side then."

We stopped him off and continued on to Atlanta where we got off and they refueled in the safe zone. I turned to James, my second in command and a paranoid bastard when it came to walkers. He and Abraham shared a unique feature, they were redheads of the orange variety. He told me what I missed and I grunted. "You see what these two are capable of and introduce them to the rest. Teach them the ropes."

He scowled. "A babysitting job?"

I gave him my look that said he'd do it and get it done or he'd be in the sewers pulling bodies until we seize control of Atlanta. He turned to Abraham and Rosita. "You two can follow me or go back home. Do as I say do and you may get to kill a few walkers if you're not shit at clearing rooms and setting up a perimeter."

He turned back to me. "They need you on forty-second. Some busted building and other nonsense."

I grunted. "Cause you just know how I love no sense."

He snickered and took them away while I took my crossbow, pike and grabbed a walkie.