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week 7
WEEK 7
!getting to the bridge
This week’s main task will be crossing the very famous Golden Gate Bridge to get to a specific bay on the northern end of it. Getting there from the wharf seems like a short trek — deceivingly so. There’s a high volume of abandoned cars on the way there, which makes traveling along the roads a very slow task, indeed.
Inside the cars, there are occasional remains to be found inside, belonging to people who seemingly just starved due to inability of getting out of the city. From the looks of things, maybe when all this started, a lot of people were trying to flee north. Inside the cars, there are actually a number of usable things: spare guns, bullets, stale processed food still in bags, et cetera. You’ll just have to steal from these people who never stood a chance.
Further north, towards the mouth of the bridge, the congestion only worsens. Debris from car accidents, seemingly from people trying to zip around one another, makes traversing the terrain as one group impossible. The party will need to clear some of this debris in order to make it onto the main part of the bridge — preferably in pairs, with one person moving and one person on zombie watch. Upon closer inspection, there are zombies of the crash survivors still among this debris, who have been pinned in the same place for years….
Worse yet, all the noise as you all approach the bridge will begin to draw hordes from the city. Not just any regular sized horde, but a massive one, similar to the kinds that had roamed Los Angeles; hundreds, maybe thousands of undead. The group will quickly become overwhelmed if they do not find a path to squeeze through the debris before the hordes get to them; they can try their luck darting through and over crashed cars, but it’ll be a rushed and panic-inducing escape. Some may find it wiser to try to fight… but those that do will eventually become overwhelmed themselves.
Puppy and Ninety-Nine, who stay back to fight the threat, are eventually overwhelmed and consumed.
The only good news is that the horde cannot make it through the huge pile up as well as the party did; their rushed movements mean that they hinder each other in squeezing through the small spaces required of them. A steady trickle of undead will come from behind from the stopgap, rather than a rush.
Inside the cars, there are occasional remains to be found inside, belonging to people who seemingly just starved due to inability of getting out of the city. From the looks of things, maybe when all this started, a lot of people were trying to flee north. Inside the cars, there are actually a number of usable things: spare guns, bullets, stale processed food still in bags, et cetera. You’ll just have to steal from these people who never stood a chance.
Further north, towards the mouth of the bridge, the congestion only worsens. Debris from car accidents, seemingly from people trying to zip around one another, makes traversing the terrain as one group impossible. The party will need to clear some of this debris in order to make it onto the main part of the bridge — preferably in pairs, with one person moving and one person on zombie watch. Upon closer inspection, there are zombies of the crash survivors still among this debris, who have been pinned in the same place for years….
Worse yet, all the noise as you all approach the bridge will begin to draw hordes from the city. Not just any regular sized horde, but a massive one, similar to the kinds that had roamed Los Angeles; hundreds, maybe thousands of undead. The group will quickly become overwhelmed if they do not find a path to squeeze through the debris before the hordes get to them; they can try their luck darting through and over crashed cars, but it’ll be a rushed and panic-inducing escape. Some may find it wiser to try to fight… but those that do will eventually become overwhelmed themselves.
Puppy and Ninety-Nine, who stay back to fight the threat, are eventually overwhelmed and consumed.
The only good news is that the horde cannot make it through the huge pile up as well as the party did; their rushed movements mean that they hinder each other in squeezing through the small spaces required of them. A steady trickle of undead will come from behind from the stopgap, rather than a rush.
crossing the bridge
The main body of the bridge is clearer in terms of cars… but treacherous in other ways. The lack of maintenance and constant weight on the bridge over the years has worsened the swaying that occurs when winds from the bay blow over — it never feels truly stable, as the group traverses ahead. The ongoing rampage on the southern end of the bridge isn’t helping, either, as more and more weight tries to come on to the bridge.
Of the abandoned cars that are on the main part of the bridge, some of them have lost the ability to stay parked, and thus roll with the movement of the people on it and the wind.
Hella is hit by one of these rolling cars. Satoru Gojo loses their balance, and is nearly thrown off the side from the swaying.
The zombies that are trapped on the bridge do not often see humans, as there have not been people traversing the bridge in such a long time: it makes them less coordinated than the zombies that have adapted to the city, and less fast. It’s the obstacle course of debris and the unstable terrain that makes evading these ones hard, not their speed or hyper aggression. As Puppy and Ninety-Nine fight from behind, there are a few city zombies that make it through to advance from the rear steadily in pursuit. Some of them may be holding things they could have torn from Puppy and Ninety-Nine’s inventory (or body...), so there are a mix of threats.
Thanks to Puppy and Ninety-Nine’s sacrifice, only Sigewinne is infected.
Towards the end of the bridge crossing, the steel cables high up above start to creak menacingly. That’s right: the bridge is starting to collapse. Concrete crumbles, and metal bends — the only mercy the group is afforded is the collapse starts from the southern end, where the massive horde was. However, pieces of bridge and thick cable still fall from the sky indiscriminately, footing becomes even more perilous than previously seen, requiring characters to take risky jumps to survive at times.
In the final sprint to the end of the bridge, Vinsmoke Reiju is pinned under a falling beam, rendering them temporarily immobile in the panic.
Of the abandoned cars that are on the main part of the bridge, some of them have lost the ability to stay parked, and thus roll with the movement of the people on it and the wind.
Hella is hit by one of these rolling cars. Satoru Gojo loses their balance, and is nearly thrown off the side from the swaying.
The zombies that are trapped on the bridge do not often see humans, as there have not been people traversing the bridge in such a long time: it makes them less coordinated than the zombies that have adapted to the city, and less fast. It’s the obstacle course of debris and the unstable terrain that makes evading these ones hard, not their speed or hyper aggression. As Puppy and Ninety-Nine fight from behind, there are a few city zombies that make it through to advance from the rear steadily in pursuit. Some of them may be holding things they could have torn from Puppy and Ninety-Nine’s inventory (or body...), so there are a mix of threats.
Thanks to Puppy and Ninety-Nine’s sacrifice, only Sigewinne is infected.
Towards the end of the bridge crossing, the steel cables high up above start to creak menacingly. That’s right: the bridge is starting to collapse. Concrete crumbles, and metal bends — the only mercy the group is afforded is the collapse starts from the southern end, where the massive horde was. However, pieces of bridge and thick cable still fall from the sky indiscriminately, footing becomes even more perilous than previously seen, requiring characters to take risky jumps to survive at times.
In the final sprint to the end of the bridge, Vinsmoke Reiju is pinned under a falling beam, rendering them temporarily immobile in the panic.
the other side
With the bridge collapsed, and many losses on their hands, the group may be relieved to find that the northern end of the bridge seems… quiet. Almost eerily quiet. While context clues seemed to point to the fact that not many zombies have made it past the bridge, it’s another thing entirely to see it.
North of the city is full of what used to be nature conservatories and national parks, meaning that the terrain is oddly serene and beautiful compared to the terrifying perils of the bridge. Make your way down to the bay you’ve been led to, and check the map: your final destination is an island. It’s called ‘Alcatraz,’ whatever that means…
Wild crabs, fish, and birds are in abundance here, and none seem to be infected.
There are also a number of abandoned boats on the rocky shore, some manually operated and others with engines. It might be time to look for something that can fit all of you, and practice operating them. When night falls, the sky is clear and full of stars — look closely, and you'll see shooting stars here and there, twinkling against the sea of darkness. If only you'd have been able to make a wish earlier, right...?
Once you’ve had time to recover, it’ll finally be time to see where it is this doctor has led you all.
North of the city is full of what used to be nature conservatories and national parks, meaning that the terrain is oddly serene and beautiful compared to the terrifying perils of the bridge. Make your way down to the bay you’ve been led to, and check the map: your final destination is an island. It’s called ‘Alcatraz,’ whatever that means…
Wild crabs, fish, and birds are in abundance here, and none seem to be infected.
There are also a number of abandoned boats on the rocky shore, some manually operated and others with engines. It might be time to look for something that can fit all of you, and practice operating them. When night falls, the sky is clear and full of stars — look closely, and you'll see shooting stars here and there, twinkling against the sea of darkness. If only you'd have been able to make a wish earlier, right...?
Once you’ve had time to recover, it’ll finally be time to see where it is this doctor has led you all.
getting my pre-bridge angst!! wildcard
The bloody hoodie that's seen her through the worst of this second leg of their trip can't hide it now, but she can cradle the worse of her arms - the one bearing the bracelet - in its kangaroo pocket, containing the ashy, carbonated material that threatens to slough off at any moment. She'll be thankful for it later when she needs to cast the bangle off and run, but for now, it's annoying - it's the last thing she wants anyone to see.
Especially Hella, who will understand what it means. Sallow-skinned and worried she might bite, she's nonetheless carried Hella as much of the walk en route the bridge as she could. It's too bad. She liked the water at the wharf better.]
Hella. Mice can't swim. [And neither can she - neither can both of them; the abandoned shopping mall had been all the more dangerous for it. She sets the other girl down on her own two feet] If anything happens to the bridge, keep running.
sniffles
All signs... point in a direction she doesn't like.
Hella is silent as Ninety-Nine puts her down, going willingly — perhaps even passively, instead of hopping down like she usually might. Her expression is hard to read, perhaps especially so for Ninety-Nine, who has a difficult time recognizing nuanced feelings in most other people outside of Hella. She looks... like she's holding something back, which she never does, especially in front of her companion. ]
You can't swim either, dummy.
[ They're both just mice that happened to escape the cage. She huffs, eyes looking ahead at the unending congestion of cars. It's not that she wants to be in a bad mood or make Ninety-Nine feel like this is her fault... but she doesn't know how to confront the conflict in her heart. There's a dread that hangs over her that she's never felt before — not even when Ninety-Nine had been packed away for her execution. Back then, she'd been confident she could at least do something.
Now, she's not sure if there's anything she can do to slow the wheel of fate. All Sinners will become Corruptors eventually, it's just a matter of when. And Ninety-Nine's time seems to be approaching more and more swiftly. She lingers close to Ninety-Nine's side, but she shoves her free hand in her pocket, the other holding her pipe at her side. After a long pause: ]
...You're trying to get rid of me again.
[ An accusation like that from Hella could be playful, in different times. But here, she sounds far too sure, and far too somber for it to be anywhere near funny. ]
no subject
It isn't that. [A dog being scolded, Ninety-Nine lowers her eyes guiltily. She kept things from Hella to keep her from getting hurt, but she's never been good at deception, and her body is an even worse liar than she is. Though she wants to make choices governing her destiny for herself and be remembered as being more than a monster, maybe doing something so cruel to the source of sunshine in her life means that she already become one.]
The way's narrow, so we can't all cross together. But you're good at finding paths where they don't exist... [Hella is tiny and agile and should be able to sneak her way through where someone like Ninety-Nine would need to tear through the rubble. She rubs her dry, flaking mouth on the collar of the hood.] I'll catch up. I won't let you out of my sight.
no subject
Her nose scrunches up, thinking of when she'd first been arrested by the MBCC. Back then, she'd thought that even if they were separated, she'd be able to slip away, too, and look where that got her. ]
But I don't want to split up. What's the point of getting through faster if you're not there?
[ Firmly, stubbornly. With Ninety-Nine, she can be blunt as she likes with how she feels, so she gives it to her straight. Is she being something of a petulant child about this? Maybe. But she needs to make it known that on every level, including the physical, she is against this plan. ]
You don't think I can help you, is that it? Huh?
[ If it were possible, a little steam would be coming off the top of her head, her own temper getting the better of her because she simply doesn't know where to direct it. It's not Ninety-Nine fault things are like this, but the wound is still raw from Hecate pushing her away when she needed help, too. It's obvious Ninety-Nine isn't well, and she feels betrayed that her companion would keep something like this from her, after all she's seen her through. In her mind, Ninety-Nine should know more than anyone that Hella would have never treated her any different, nor would she have let anyone else. If anything, she would've worked harder to take care of her... ]
That's why you didn't tell me. [ A beat, and she kicks a rock as they walk, looking down at the ground rather than forward. Very unlike Hella, who's not prone to sulking, unless it's for a bit. ] Everyone keeps doing that.
no subject
She knew that Hella would never agree to let her go. She's seen it time and time again, first when the FAC at large condemned her for her uncontrollable Mania infection and overrode the Bureau, and again when Ninety-Nine had raged at the children in the desert. It's part of what makes Hella so brilliant and bright: She doesn't ever, ever give up. The gratitude Ninety-Nine feels can't be expressed in words. She isn't sure she'll ever really be able to show Hella the full scope of her feelings. If there's any time left to buy, she'll pay any price for it. Because Ninety-Nine wants to stay, she knows that their best chance is in letting her keep her distance.]
It's not that. [Even this small amount of deception-by-omission has been agonizing for her. She doesn't understand how some people go through their lives lying all the time when just this much has been so intrusive.] I don't know how long I can protect the rest of you. [Most importantly, she doesn't know how long she can keep Hella safe... but she's gone from caring about just one person to caring for them all.] If there's a fight, it might be like what happened before. Let me fight for you...Hella...
["I was just glad you were there," Haru had said. Maybe it's true, but now fighting feels like the only thing she can offer them.]