The Battle of Bar Harbor

"Hi, I'm Sieglinde Krüger and this is Jackass!" Ziggy muttered to herself, realizing this was probably the dumbest but also bravest thing she had ever done. Although going to war was definitely a step up from getting piss ass drunk and riding down a ramp in a shopping kart. Oddly enough, she felt less nervous than she probably should be. Maybe it was the conditioning from living in a post-apocalyptic world together with her natural urge for adrenaline and will to tackle anything that scared her. And the fact she had good people were watching her back did a whole lot too.

She listened to Mallory's briefing and even though she had heard it before she still soaked in every word like a sponge. As soon as the second wave was in they'd take to the rooftops and support where needed. They'd be relatively safer than the people on the ground too. Ayita seemed more nervous though, and Cam confirmed that thought when she asked her, reassuring both her and Ziggy weren't going to let anything happen to her.

"Niemals, never!" Ziggy answered. "We can't die, we haven't had a change in underwear for ages! No god is that cruel right?"

Ziggy made a funny face at Ayita. She didn't know why the subject of clean underwear came up again, but it did. It was still a source of humor after all. If they'd just so happen to come across a store that sold underwear, Ziggy wouldn't hesitate to fill her pockets with it. Preferably a pair of boxers. Thankfully Thomas was there too to lighten things up too.

"And it just so happens to be I'm too pretty to die!" Thomas said. "Look at this chiseled jaw, this perfect nosebridge! Yup, way too pretty to die!"

Thomas did a happy dance making an ass of himself. He then turned toward Ellie and quit dancing. Surely he couldn't boost his own ego without boosting hers as well right?

"And this one! Just look at this one!" Thomas said as he grabbed Ellie's face and kissed her nose. "Sheer perfection! A true goddess! And gods don't die!"

"You... you're right!" Brody interjected. "I can't resist it anymore! Come here let me kiss you bro!"

"Oh baby how long I've waited for this!" Thomas said. "Sorry Ellie, it was fun while it lasted!"

Thomas and Brody flew eachother in the arms in a kind of humorous homo-erotic display. Anyone could tell they were acting of course and it became more than obvious when they leaned in to kiss eachother but backed out at the last moment and both laughed.

"No homo bro!" Brody said.

"No homo bro!" Thomas answered. "Well... maybe a little!"

Ziggy laughed at this display and oddly felt more at ease than she did before. She hoped it had the same effect on Ayita. Whether it was Thomas and Brody acting to lighten their nerves or if they felt really at ease at the thought of going into battle didn't matter. It was a welcome distraction of what laid ahead. She kissed Ayita again before letting go of her hand of a moment to grab her backpack near the fire. Another young guy near the fire came a bit closer to her.

"Hey Ziggy, if you die can I have that badass jeep you've been bragging about?'" The guy asked.

"Never in your lifetime!" Ziggy laughed. "If I die I'm getting buried in it!"

Ziggy walked back to Ayita and the others. The order to move out had been given and while they started walking Ziggy felt in her inner pocket. The keys to Abamo would remain there along with a little note in case she did die. It stated that the car would go to Ellie, and to use it to get to Wisconsin. After that Ziggy wrote that it would be her wish the car would go to anyone else who wanted to go find their family. Before they moved out however, Ziggy wanted to say goodbye to Sara.

"Sara, we'll see you in a bit." Ziggy said. "Don't do anything stupid which is weird coming from me I know, try to do your job but don't take any risks okay?"

Ziggy wasn't going to remotely even give a hint of saying goodbye to Sara. She just gave Sara a hug and kissed her on her geeky forehead. Ziggy then started walking with everybody to battle. After about half an hour walk they arrived near the forest on the hill that overlooked the town. From here on in it was passed on from the front to keep low and talk in hushed voices. Ziggy saw a good spot and gestured the others over. She wanted to set up here but with Cam being the one in charge, Ziggy felt she should ask permission.

"Cam, shall we set up here?" Ziggy asked. "Looks like a good spot!"

Waiting for Cam to either agree or disagree Ziggy looked out. This place did provide a wide overlook to the wall. Ziggy could see the guard towers that were manned and people walking on top of the walls. The town was lit up which made their task of sniping easier, but it also meant they had to be careful not to be seen before everything started.

Mal chuckled and shook her head at Troy's comment about Frank wanting to switch places with him because he was going with the hottest girls in camp. Claudia was less subtle in her reply, visibly cringing and putting up her nose at the idea.

"Urgh, Jesus H. Christ!" Claudia said disgusted. "I'd say you guys are fucking dogs but I actually like dogs!"

Claudia got to work on putting on her gear and then the drysuit. Mal did the same, first putting on all her tactical gear before crawling into the drysuit. It was a tight fit but it would at least keep them dry and from freezing to death in the cold ocean water. Claudia zipped up Mal and then checked her suit to make sure everything was air tight. Mal then did the same for Claudia and Troy. Once the suits were secure, Mal grabbed her M4 assault rifle and the M9 and M1911 MEU she had sealed in an air tight bag, putting the M4 on her bag and the handguns in a satchel, swinging it around her back. Claudia did the same and when both she and Troy were finished Mal and Claudia grabbed the bigger duffelbag which contained extra weapons and gear, including packed backpacks and a shotgun for Mikayla and a few other weapons. They carried them to the small boat outside of the camp near the rocks, where the person who was going to drive them close to Bar Harbor was waiting for them.

After loading up the boat, the boat's driver started the small outboard engine and drove them to the insertion point. Mal didn't speak, she was already getting in the zone and just enjoyed the ocean's horizon. After ten minutes or so, they reached the place where they would insert themselves. Mal put on the aga mask and the rest of the scuba gear. Once they were ready, Mal carefully lowered herself into the water as not to make noise, but she couldn't help but hiss as soon as she felt how cold the water really was even with a drysuit. As soon as all three of them were in the water, they opened their bottles of air and went under.

Not being able to use lights in the dark water, Mal had to lead Claudia and Troy through the murky waters popping her head up carefully every so often while her two friends carried the dufflebag which contained the gear all the while swimming behind Mal. Claudia and Troy were physically stronger than Mal so they were the ones who carried the dufflebag. After 45 minutes of navigating through the dark ocean they reached the shore of Bar Harbor. A piece of wall was built into the ocean and was complemented by makeshift rafts with barbed wire attached to it. The rafts were anchored down to the ocean floor and were connected by fishing nets. Grabbing a knife attached to the suit, Mal started cutting through the net, creating an opening large enough for the three of them to fit through along with the dufflebag. Once they were through, Mal navigated Claudia and Troy underneath a wooden jetty. Once they were all under there, Mal took off the aga mask and gestured at Claudia and Troy to do the same.

"Sounds like someone's up there." Mal whispered. "Let's hold up for a moment."

Above them were two guards, standing near the jetty near a docked sailboat. They were having a smoke and were just chitchatting.

"Y'hear about the gunshots in the forest yesterday?" the first guard asked. "Seems Claudia and her cronies were doing some heavy shooting!"

"Think they're up to something?" the second guard asked. "We might be in trouble if they did!"

One of them flicked a cigarette into the ocean and then they both started walking away. Mal swam up to the side of the jetty and pulled herself up, making sure they were gone. Once she verified they had gone, Mal pulled herself up on the dock. Claudia did the same and both girls pulled up the dufflebag before helping Troy come up as well.

"The boat right there, go!" Mal said.

A derelict boat which was still seaworthy was moored down near them. Mal entered it making sure no one was inside. Once she made sure it was clear, she waved Claudia and Troy to come in. Once everyone was inside Mal started to take off the scuba gear and the dry suit. In the boat it was out of sight and even if someone would find it, they might just believe it had been in the boat all along. Mal then unpacked her M4 and the two handguns and got geared up, waiting for Claudia and Troy to do the same. Once they were, they could go.

"Alright, you guys ready?" Mal asked. "Mikayla's restaurant is just down the pier. She's either there or in her family's house on the edge of town right Claw?"

"Most likely yeah." Claudia replied. "The messages she sent implied she's still working her old job, which means taking care of the restaurant. Just hope she's got Red and the teen with her. If not, we can't waste any time looking for them!"

"I promised her sister and Justin we'd find her Claw!" Mal said.

"Yeah and if we do that'll be great!" Claudia answered. "But if we don't we can't risk anything for either of them!"

"Right, right!" Mal spoke. "Let's just hope Mikayla was smart enough to have them with her!"

Mal loosened her neck and shoulders. It was time to go.

"Good to go Troy?" Mal asked. "Remember, we're doing this quietly. Use the shadows and move from cover to cover. I'll lead, Claudia you watch our six!"

"Got it!" Claudia said. "Let's do this!"

Mal looked at Troy and waited for him to say he was ready. She gave him a reassuring smile too. They both weren't new to this kind of stuff but a caring smile from a friend could go a long way.

Carrying a crate of salt, Mikayla was being escorted from the big storage near the docks back to the restaurant by that creep Wendell. It wasn't a mandatory escort, ever since word got out she was in an 'official' relationship with Big Dick they had given her some room to move. But Wendell had ulterior motives but what they were remained to be seen.

"Yeah I'm here." Wendell answered Kenji's call. "Just escortin' the Forrester girl back to the mess hall."

'Girl'. Mikayla rolled her eyes at still being considered a girl even though she was 32 years of age and had been a married woman for 13 years before they killed her husband. And Wendell could've been potentially the one that killed Ryan as well. Only certainty she had was that it hadn't been Everett, but only because he was killing other people at the time. But if she could she would slice up all of Big Dick's lieutenants, just to make sure whoever did it. She'd have her revenge one day, and the thought of that was what kept her going and why she abided Wendell creeping on her.

"Pity boss wants you all to himself." Wendell said, licking his lips while staring at Mikayla's behind. "Probably jealous of his halfwit son being able to bang ya. And what was up with that anyway huh? If anything, you shoulda been bangin' me! And I'd have given you a whole lot more than moonshine believe me!"

"Yeah well you couldn't brew the flammables I needed for the molotovs I've hid all over town." Mikayla thought to herself, trying not to cringe. "And compared to you Spiff is a real gentleman!"

Feeling Wendell's gaze on her the entire time back to the restaurant, Mikayla opened the back door into the kitchen while struggling with the crate. Wendell didn't even have the decency to open the door for her while her hands were full. She put the crate down on a nearby counter. Fearah was still washing dishes and Joe had swung by as well. Like every night, Mikayla preferred to have both of them close by just in case Claudia would make her move.

"Now that I'm here, you gals might as well fix me up a little snack!" Wendell said. "I've worked up quite the appetite since dinner service!"

Mikayla turned around and leaned on the counter. This time she didn't hide her annoyance to Wendell.

"Yeah, not gonna happen." Mikayla said. "Food is rationed for you, just like everyone else!"

Wendell did not like that answer and stepped forward, grabbing Mikayla by the arm, looking real angry. He was the type of guy who couldn't take no for an answer.

"You're gonna fix me some food, or Big Dick's gonna find out you're still bangin' Spiff!" Wendell threatened. "And with that alcoholic habit of yours I won't have any trouble convincing him!"

"You son of a bitch!" Mikayla said. Even if Wendell lied, there was a chance that Big Dick might believe him. Her previous interactions with Spiff were no secret to anyone, and it was widely believed she did it to fuel an alcohol addiction on the count of Spiff providing her with moonshine.

"Fine!" Mikayla spoke, jerking herself loose from Wendell's grip. She couldn't afford to fall out of Big Dick's good graces as long as he was in charge. Not with the added freedom she had gained ever since she agreed to be 'the boss's girl'.

Grabbing Joe's little writing pad, Mikayla had to keep the act up that the redhead was deaf and wrote 'Wendell hungry. Few potatoes left, peel them and wash them along with some lettuce.'

Mikayla then went into the cold storage and grabbed two fish filets she had cleaned earlier that day. She returned only to see Wendell had taken quite the interest in Fearah. Mikayla stopped and anger was now visible in her face. That fucking creep was up to something.

"Good Lord above..." Wendell spoke in a lustful voice as he eyed up Fearah top to bottom. "Why do you have to tease me like that girlie-poo?"

Fearah obviously was doing nothing of the kind, but unlike before this time Wendell didn't stick to words. Instead he grabbed Fearah from behind, pressing his crotch into her behind and started feeling her up, also taking a whiff of her hair.

"Mmm, you smell good!" Wendell spoke. "Wonder if you taste as good as you smell?"

"Let her go!" Mikayla shouted as she stepped forward, pulling on Wendell's shoulder. Wendell didn't appreciate that and shoved Mikayla back. Mikayla was able to grab herself at the counter, otherwise she would've fallen down.

"Let her go Wendell!" Mikayla shouted again. "She's only sixteen!"

"So? A hundred years ago girls her age were already having children!" Wendell said. "And considering we're back to those days I wouldn't mind putting a few McRafferty's in her!"

Wendell put his nose against Fearah's neck and rubbed it against the side of it. Mikayla knew she had to think of something to keep the young girl from getting molested or worse, raped by this bastard. On the counter laid a cleaver and a kitchen knife, and even though every instinct Mikayla had to grab it and stab this fuckwad to death she knew she couldn't. They'd catch her, Fearah and Josephine and they'd be dead themselves before morning.

"T... Take me instead!" Mikayla said. "If you really want it that bad, just do it with me. I'll cooperate, I promise. Just please, leave her alone!"

Wendell let go of Fearah and turned toward Mikayla. He faked a loud laugh.

"Do you?" Wendell asked. "Believe me, it's very tempting. But you'll run to the boss crying I raped you before I even had a chance to bust a nut! No thanks, she'll be coming with me after I'm finished eating!"

At that moment, Wendell eyed up Josephine and it seemed he had a taste for her too.

"And Red here too!" Wendell said. "I like it when they're all quiet like sometimes too!"

"Not gonna happen!" Mikayla shouted. "If Big Dick finds out you raping young girls...!"

"Rape?" Wendell asked. "I'm gonna teach this sweetheart here what it is to make love! And you're gonna tell the boss, really? Do you think you're the first girl he's been banging? Think he draws the line at eighteen years?"

Wendell started laughing out loud. And then as suddenly as he started laughing he stopped. The smile on his face suddenly became serious and his eyes widened. His mouth was wide open and blood started pouring from the corners of it. It was then Mikayla saw a blood stain on his shirt which grew bigger until finally the tip of a blade tore through it, becoming bigger as it was pushed through his chest. Then, the blade disappeared quickly back into the chest.

Wendell fell down with a surprised look in his face, dead as dead can be. It was now Mikayla could see the person that had been wielding the blade.

"Hey Mikks!" Claudia spoke. "How you doin'?"

Having set to her task of washing the dirty dishes from the days dinner service Fearah kept her head down as Mikayla had instructed before she left with the guard to collect something from storage, what it was Fearah didn't know. The man that had chosen to provide "Guard" duty for them that night was a coward of a womanizer named Wendell, the kind of man that never wanted to put in the effort to woo one over and would rather use his position to bully his way into their pants. It wasn't the first time Ferarah or her sister had met someone like it but it still made her nervous being around him.

"I hate that guy." She muttered to Joe as she looked to where she sat next to her. Looking at her until she saw the response that she wrote on her board Fearah chuckled. "Yea, he really is isn't he?" She responded. About to open her mouth to say something else she stopped short as she heard the back door open again. Through which stepped Mikayla, her arms full with a box while Wendell just stood behind her checking her out. Fearah shook her head and returned to doing the dishes. As much as she wanted to help Mikayla's words stuck in her mind, 'keep your head down.'

Hearing Joe get off her box to help Mikayla get the boxes inside it wasn't long until they all heard Wendell made a remark that none of them were surprised to hear. Choosing to stay quiet herself Fearah glanced over to Joe who just stared on as if she heard nothing, She still couldn't get over how dedicated she had become to the role of the deaf girl that she played but then again with what was at stake Fearah could understand the amount of work she put in. Fearah was still curious about Joe, not wanting to ask anything personal while the town didn't belong to them Fearah hadn't asked most of the questions she had for her, Top on her list being did she come from the town as well? or was she an outsider like herself and her sister?

Returning her gaze to the dishes she was tasked with cleaning she listened as Mikayla and Wendell had their back and forth for a while in peace, a peace that was of course not set to last. Before she knew it Wendell had chosen her as his target of his 'affection' for the day, if you could call whatever his sex crazed mind thinks affection is as any form of the word that is. Feeling the mans gross hands wrap around her mid section and pull her into him Fearah had to take a deep breath to keep herself from defending herself. Wanting nothing more than to kick the scrotum licker in his groin as his hand began to explore her body Fearah clenched her fist and took a deep breath. Thankful to hear Mikayla try to get him off her she stood and bared the treatment like the good soldier she was.

The treatment from the man last far longer than she ever wanted Fearah nearly snapped when she heard the man mention that he wanted to fill her with his children and pressed his nose against her neck. "You low life's are all gonna get what's coming to you." She muttered under her breath as she heard him begin adding Joe to the list of girls he wanted to bone. Not that he would get to though because mere seconds later blood began flowing out of him and he toppled to the ground. "What?" She questioned in confusion as she felt his grip on her loosen. spinning to face the man to see what happened the site of his corpse greeted her, along with a woman she didn't recognize. About to open her mouth to ask who she was the question was answered before it was posed as she heard her greet Mikayla in a very familiar way. "Friend of yours?" Fearah asked as she watched the two exchange words.

Wondering who the woman was Fearah looked on with an air of apprehension as she saw two more join her shortly, another woman and a man, The woman she heard Mikayla mention was named Mallory, a name that sounded oddly familiar. "Wait, Mallory as in the Faraday lady Sara mentioned when her Zigs and Ayi stayed with us? You guys are from.."  Fearah started before going quiet again to not let anything slip unless someone was still listening.

Shortly Fearah heard as Mallory began greeting the rest of them, when it came to her and she heard mention of how her sister sent them to find her and how they looked identical. Fearah chuckled. "Sarah sent you huh? Let me guess, she decided she'd rather stay in a bush somewhere outside town and use our rifle to pick people off for ya?" She asked in a half joke, "I-I'm nothing without my sister ma'am...." Fearah mimicked her sister before snapping out of it with a laugh as she heard her say that they really were identical. "Well we are twins after all." She chuckled as she brought a hand up to rub the spot Wendell had made contact with on her neck. "She can be a little whiny at times Miss Mal, hope she didn't give you any trouble. How's everyone else?" She asked.

Getting confirmation from the trio Fearah smiled, as much shit as she gave her sister she did love her, and in a way she felt the same way, although she wasn't nearly as lost without Sarah by her side as she knew Sarah was without herself.

Listening with a smile on her face as Fearah spoke to the forest people that had shown up Joe got up from her box and approached them, coming to stand next to Mikayla as she spoke Joe kept her board held against her chest. When the conversation shifted to her and how she was eager to help she felt her cheeks go red as she smiled.

"It was the least I could do." She wrote on her board and showed them after hearing the compliment from Claudia. It felt amazing being complimented by the woman that did nothing but belittle her before sending her there, even if it wasn't over just yet and she knew there was sure to be more yelling from her in the future it was nice knowing that she had at least a little bit of a nice side to her.

The reunion being cut short from the sound of someone entering everyone hopped into action, Fearah dashed off towards the door to buy them some time as the new faces set to carrying the body into the cold storage as Mikayla had ordered. Letting her board fall and dangle by the cord around her neck Joe grabbed the mop and bucket from the corner and began cleaning the streaks of blood caused by the dragging of Wendells body. In the distance she could hear Fearah begin mentioning a spill that they had to clean up and that they'd be with them in a second. Fortunately it sounded like they were buying it.

Finishing getting the last of the blood up just in time Joe set the mop back in it's place and dusted herself off just as she saw who was coming round the corner. Smiling and nodding at them Joe returned to her box and looked away as they all liked her to do if they were going to talk to someone, thinking that if she couldn't see them then they're conversation never even happened in her mind.

Returning from the front Fearah looked to Mikayla and nodded as she motioned for her to take Joe to the back. Walking over she took joes hand and led her to the back area away from Mikayla to let them discuss what they had come to discuss. "You guys better jump out of there and save her if things go south." She muttered under her breath, shooting a glance towards the storage room before passing through the back door and into the rear area of the restaurant away from Mikayla and the people that had come to see her.