Ch 14 On The Road Bonding Part 2.

Daryl and Glenn had started eating an MRE Bjorn had given them with some fresh water bottles. They checked their gear again making sure to grab a couple more bags of jerky and MREs for the task just in case shit hit the fan. He then takes out a map he found in the hunters shop and asks

"Hey ghost lady could you memorize this map and update it as we go in case we tear it or get split from each other?" Surprising Glenn with a smart idea.

"Yes Harley boy." She confirms with a mocking tone.

"Harley boy?" He asks confused."

"Harley Davidson is a motorcycle company young one." She clarifies with a teasing tone as if chiding a child.

He scoffs and Glenn smiles at the interactions.

"Ready Daryl? I'm all set. I can move fast and quiet but I'm not much of a fighter. At most I can be a distraction while you finish them off if need be. I can run circles around them all day. And I'm getting better with this katana." He smiles as he equips the katan securely on his back.

Then they have their own APs with an extra one rolled up in the saddle bags brand new unused.

"Yeah I'm good." He replies. "Just don't get yourself trapped and I got your back. Don't get cocky with all the fancy gear. I know what it's supposed to do but let's not test out the hidden flaws they may have." He advises. Glenn nods in agreement and they take off slowly at first. Keeping away from any and all vehicles they can in case one pops out of nowhere.

Glenn's a bit faster so he takes off a bit ahead because his reflexes are god tier and they know it. They go around three miles ahead scouting every side street and alley by sight in both directions not getting lost with Cora's help.

Glenn hides after the 10th mile with Daryl across the street and they told Cora to go for a bit in the drone as they let it zip through the air. Daryl keeps on guard while Glenn studies the city with a Birds Eye view. The city was extremely quiet even after it started getting dark which unsettled them both because something was wrong. There weren't any signs of walkers nearby at all.

"Hey Glenn let's get up to a roof for the night." Suggests Daryl and Glenn agrees.

"Cora is there a building that has the best vantage point with easy street access?" Asks Glenn using Cora's abilities to the max with Daryl. They were fast, quiet and extremely efficient together.

Cora guides them three blocks down they lock the bikes to a dumpster on wheels that blocked off an alley after they moved it without making much ruckus. There was a steel ladder to access the roof and they climbed it all they way up and picked a good spot after setting out the drones for Cora to keep watch for them.

"Scout team to base." Says Glenn playing the part of a secret operator. Daryl's scoffs in amusement. But doesn't say anything.

"Base to scout team this is Shane what's the report." Mocks Shane in light amusement.

"We went about 10 maybe 11 miles ahead. Scouted the surrounding areas but there is no walker in sight. This isn't normal. Especially during the dark. It feels wrong." Replies Glenn in seriousness.

"Rodger that. What's your position right now? Are you both safe?" He asks urgently.

"Yeah we climbed up a roof it's secured one way up and down through a side alley off the main road." Replies Daryl. "We used Cora's abilities to scout out a mile in each direction and it's too quiet for a city that was over run with the dead no less than a week ago." He adds worriedly.

"Understood get some rest for now and work your way back when you're rested and ready. Don't take risks or chances. Take your safety first." Shane instructed.

They both agreed. Ate an MRE talked about their lives a bit. And joked about what they missed eating. Before going to sleep.

Morning came quick and they did the same thing they did the day before after touching the ground. They made it back safely and gave everyone the reports while Bjorn loaded the bikes back up.

"Do you two still want to drive out on the bikes or do you want to ride in the trucks? Cora can drive the bikes if need be." I ask the Dixon brothers as we all sat down to eat while the twins give them a plate of food and sat by them.

"I like driving the new bikes they're quiet and comfortable not to mention I can tell how fast they can go by how smooth they ride. Thee great Merle is impressed soldier guy." States Merle in a tone of respect catching others off guard at his recent changes. Still a dick but a respectable one.

Daryl smirks and nods in approval. Then asks if he and Merle can use the drones while they lead as scouts I saw no reason not to so I let them have two more each. Cora can scout and keep everyone safe. Her capabilities are a god send hahaha. I mentally cackle like a madman and Cora just agrees.

"Just be careful guys." I say as I look at Daryl. "From what you and Glenn reported it's way too quiet so shit can hit the fan at anytime so make sure you're geared up and ready. Take what you need from the truck. Arrows pistols ammo. Everything can be replaced but your lives can't." I tell them seriously looking at them in the eyes with respect and worry.

They're surprised by the affection and get a bit awkward because no one ever gave them respect like that let alone trust or shown a hint of worry.

"You guys are family now." I state. Then gesture at my girls. They just stair at them worriedly.

"Be safe please." Says ZaZa as she hugs Merle

"Come home safe please." Says NaNa as she does the same with Daryl.

This took the brothers off guard and they looked at each other both wondering what the hell is going on.

""Ok little shield-maidens off you go." Says Merle as we finished our meals the girls give them another hug and I helped them up to the back of my truck.

"Like I said family". I said with finality as I grasped Merle's forearm and Daryl's as well. Then went to our assigned duties. I load up Duane, Carl, and Sophia on to my truck and the women as well.

Andrea wanted to ride in the RV with the guys to talk about a few things and Amy agreed to it. To just be safe.

Then we hopped up on to the front of the truck and started making our way to the CDC after getting set up in the convoy formation the same as the day before.

Cora and I mentally plan to hack and steal all possible information from the CDC. See what kind of juicy stuff we can make after we get all the information we can. From medical knowledge to experimental. Hopefully we can get some useful data. If not this was just a wasted trip.

'Hey Cora do you think we should attempt to save Jenner or just let him 'op-out' like in canon. To be honest I have no idea what he could be useful for except that weird flu in about a year and a half from now.' I mentally ask Cora as I contemplate the choice I have for me up ahead.

'Master if we are able to download everything of use from the cdc then Jenner will be useless to us either way. I think just stick to canon but it's entirely up to you.' She states with hard facts. And she was right to say so. It'd be a big ass dilemma for me to attempt him to come with us but who knows we'll play it by ear. He'll may have a use at some point in time. Either medically or as canon fodder who knows really. Life is full of surprises.

I tell Rick to switch with me because I want to just chill but I don't say that. I just tell him I can't and probably won't always be around so he has to drive this rig in my absence and to get practice unless he is already to old to even drive. Don't wanna hurt his carpel tunnel after all.

I laugh at the look he gave me and tells me to move over. So we switched as Glenn laughs at our banter. We get close to the CDC and we noticed bodies everywhere Merle and Daryl tells everyone about the massive rot that's polluting the air and they put on their rebreather.

I tell the convoy to stop and have the brothers ride back to my truck. After that everyone except the kids get down and I hand them all a rebreather as we gather around at a safe distance from the main gate of the CDC building.

'Cora can you execute our plan from here?' I asked mentally.

'No master. We may either have to get next to the building or go inside to the main counsel room.' Cora answered slightly abashed for her incompetence. I reassured her and got back to my conversation with the group.

"Ok everyone as far as I can tell there is no solar panels which is fucking retarded by the way but eh rants for another time. What we need now are barrels of fuel just in case we find people wanting to go up in flames in there. Either diesel or gasoline." I state facts as I look around. Trying to find some answers as I spot all the military gear just waiting to be looted.

'Cora quickly make a flash drive or something you can plug into the computer that can give you access or copy all the CDC's information and data. I want to loot this place.' I commanded Cora. And she completed it and made several copies as I placed them on Rick and the others discretely. One wireless and one manual. We'll see which one works. Cora assures me it's no different from me being down there personally so I end up trusting her capabilities.

"Ok so who all wants to go to the building?" I asked everyone as I start loading the motorcycles on to the sides of Valhalla.

Daryl asks Cora to scout out with a drone and she does while we plan for the next step waiting for her report.

"I think we should bring at least 2 barrels of both types of fuel just in case and our AP's." Morgan speaks up. Merle surprisingly agrees with him.

"Old darky here is right. If shit hits the fan we won't need to repack up everything we own. And can just scatter off from here." Adds Merle getting a cold stare from Morgan as he speaks.

Daryl nodding in agreement except for the insult part.

"Yeah can't be too trusting right off the back with these people they might want to experiment on us instead." He adds looking a bit timid at the giant building. Merle chuckles but some see's his reasoning.

Shane again all bitchy about Fort Ben. Honestly I'm starting to get tired of his bs but I want Rick to kill him so he can grow. Carl shouldn't have to. He wasn't raised like me nor my girls. Maybe at some other point in time maybe but not now.

We get 4 barrels that I conveniently found by an old busted LMTV as well as more barrels but only these for now with a pallet and a pallet jack so conveniently laying around damn our luck is good but why the hell isn't anyone looting or looking around? My eye twitches at the absurdity of it all. So we get them and move them as silently as possible to the doors of the building.

Walkers wake up like in canon and Rick goes crazy till it's opened up they all run in except for me and Jenner closes the door after I kick the barrels inside while fighting off the walkers. Tell them to just close the doors so Jenner does.

Then talk to them through the ear buds and they sigh in relief that I'm safe and ask me what was wrong with me and I tell them to look around. Only Sophia and Carl were inside because Duane was in the truck sleeping with the girls and Amy watching them while Morgan and Merle were shooting and still are from on top of my truck.

That realization hit them all hard and I tell them all to calm down go straight to the basement and begin to switch whatever fuel out.

This surprises Jenner but doesn't say anything. I ask Cora to make my chat private with Daryl.

"Hey man when you can I stuck a little device into your pocket I just need you to plug it in please." I pleaded. He agrees. "Don't worry about your brother I got him. I promise. They're all worried about us but Rick reassured them that we're fine. He than takes them to the computer room while telling them about the virus.

Cora quickly instructed Daryl which computer to plug in the drive so he does. As Rick finished up talking to Jenner Daryl takes back the drive with mission success. They all go to fuel up the generators again. And they all relax and get drunk. They have their drama moments.

While us on the outside on the other hand keep killing all the walkers while we loot anything useful mainly all the ammo and some guns just for spare parts. We loot the bodies for extra things. Meds and food in crates and other things like tools and parts. I didn't want any of the vehicles because I can always "find" better ones anyways. All walkers are dead and we start clearing the area.

The three of us went through two silencers each. They couldn't hold up to the amount of ammo we expended in this endeavor.

We start to make a massive bonfire with the bodies in the middle. We make sure to constantly have on our rebreathers. We have no idea what can or will happen if we inhale all this rot especially after we cook the bodies. We add some gasoline and diesel we found to the pyre as well just to make sure we can burn them to ash. Instead of just charred corpses.

Merle says thanks for trying good luck in the next life and tosses a road flare into the pit and they just get ingulfed in a massive fire ball. It was beautiful in all honesty.

Next time on TWD…