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FUBAR
Mar 29, 2014 17:21:29 GMT
Post by Teacakes on Mar 29, 2014 17:21:29 GMT
Just kidding. I haven't even looked at the titles, lol.
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FUBAR
Mar 29, 2014 17:21:46 GMT
Post by IDEK on Mar 29, 2014 17:21:46 GMT
wait a sec, the only acronyms you've used are FUBAR, SNAFU, and EVAC!
THE REST AREN'T ACRONYMS AT ALL!
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FUBAR
Mar 29, 2014 17:28:51 GMT
Post by Rock114 on Mar 29, 2014 17:28:51 GMT
You're right, I've failed. Time to delete the rest of the story and wallow in self pity.
And just to make sure, you know what the acronyms I've used mean, right? I'd hate to find out that someone didn't, which would make them confused as to why they were used as titles.
EVAC, sounds like it's short for Evacuate, FUBER is Fubar, I don't know about no.2 and... SNAFU - Situation Normal, All Fucked Up (basically, things are fucked up) FUBAR - Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition (another way of saying things are fucked up) EVAC - Yes, short for "evacuate"
Since Conner is in the military, I thought it appropriate to use a few military acronyms in the titles.
You've caught me. There's no hiding anything from your keen, investigative mind.
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FUBAR
Mar 30, 2014 16:55:39 GMT
Post by Rock114 on Mar 30, 2014 16:55:39 GMT
Chapter 7, Part 2 Turbulence
Everything was blurry for Kelley. Not a single thing he could see ahead was in focus. It was all a mishmash of dull, faded colors as they entered the air above Macon. He couldn’t focus on flying, the thing he used to love as much as life itself. Flying was his life, as it had been for his best friend and copilot, Hanson. Hanson. The name crept through the dark places of his mind that showed him horrible images of his friend still down there, at the mercy of the walking dead, as flesh was torn from his body by their cold, deathly hands. Alongside Hanson’s name floated another in the ether of his thoughts: Farley.
Farley. That killer, murderer. That coward. To his side, Farley was the only thing he could see clearly, the focal point of all of his pain and rage. Thoughts flashed through his head, thoughts of Farley suffering, in pain, dying. He nearly smiled at them, but his fury wouldn’t allow him the pleasure until Farley was on the ground with a knife in his chest. It would be a simple thing, really. He kept a knife under the instrument panel in front of him, for situations when he needed it. Hanson had always told him he was paranoid-
Hanson. You’re dead now.
Farley killed you.
He really needed that knife. Slowly, steadily, his hand crept to the position under the panel where the survival knife was secured, and felt a cold sense of familiarity come over him as his fingers wrapped around the blade’s hilt. Closing his eyes, he prepared himself to plunge the knife as far as he could into Farley’s chest, and then deeper still.
The next thing he knew, Carter's rotting corpse had grabbed him from behind. He felt teeth sink into his neck and begin to tear, and agony flooded through his body as a piece of his neck was torn away. Carter bit him again, and the pilot's hands flew up in an attempt to pry the dead thing off of his neck. Blood spurted from the wound, coating aircraft's controls in blood, as the helicopter began to plummet.
They were somewhere over downtown Macon when he felt the aircraft begin to fall from the sky. Sergeant Albert Gregory Keenan was an old soldier. The army was his constant companion, his career, his life. He’d been all over the world in his time, and some places he thought he’d never leave alive. Halfway around the world and 40 years earlier, he’d been in another helicopter as it rushed to meet the ground, belching smoke and flame as it lost control and crashed into a faraway jungle… It was happening again. Another crash, another squad full of hopeful, young, soon-to-be-dead men. It was a familiar situation for him. He'd gone through this scenario time and time again, as if it were a curse from the fates, sentencing him to relive his mistakes for all eternity.
But he’d be damned if he let it happen again. Not this time. Unfastening his harness, Sergeant Keenan calmly stood, blood drenching his uniform, and staggered across the vehicle. He saw Kelley jerk sideways as Carter bit him again, and felt the helicopter began to go into a death spiral as it headed for the city below. With all of his strength, he wrapped his hands around Carter’s neck and heaved. The creature that had once been one of his soldiers was torn free of the pilot, a bloody strip of flesh still clenched in its teeth. The thing swatted at Keenan as he slowly dragged it, but he couldn’t feel anything. The bullets he’d taken earlier had deadened most of the feeling in his body.
He took a deep breath as he stood in the open door of the helicopter, arms hugging Carter’s animated corpse to his own body, and jumped. Keenan, still holding Carter's body, was thrown free of the doomed aircraft. I finally did it, he thought. For once I didn't stand back and let my men die. He was surprisingly calm. A feeling of peace washed over him as the ground raced up to meet him and he closed his eyes...
Conner had no time to process what had just happened with Keenan as the aircraft spun out of control. He held onto his seat tightly. The wind whipping through the open bay of the helicopter nearly tore him free of the vehicle. He managed to keep his grip until it collided with a building, when the force of the crash sent him rocketing across the cabin and into the back of Kelley’s seat. He struggled to breathe as everything went dark around him, until blissful unconsciousness claimed him and he went limp.
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FUBAR
Mar 31, 2014 22:14:08 GMT
Post by Rock114 on Mar 31, 2014 22:14:08 GMT
Chapter 8 Broken Arrow “…ir Focre Ba… we read… rley…dead inside… perime… eached… overrun…”
The subtle crackling of static guided Conner back into the world of the living. A massive pounding in his head felt like it was driving a nail or three into his brain as everything slowly came back to him. From the front of the wreck, a new voice emerged, one unbroken by interference.
“Robins AFB, say again? We went down somewhere in the city, possibly somewhere downtown. We need extraction, situation will soon become extremely hostile, over” “Sorry Farley… can’t send… base… casualt… inside the walls… not enough amm… no birds in the air…”
“Robins, are you saying you can’t get to us?” Farley. That was the voice’s name. He was starting to remember what had happened now, slowly shaking off the confusion created when he had become intimate with the back of the pilot’s seat.
“Affirmative… unable to… swarming… everywhere… calling in Broken Arrow… on your own…” With that, the radio went silent. A despondent sigh echoed throughout the twisted remains of the vehicle as Farley shifted himself to look back into the vehicle.
“Thanks for joining me, sunshine. In case you don’t know what’s going on, we’re fucked.”
Rubbing his temples, Conner slowly rose. The floor of the vehicle was slanted, likely meaning that it had crashed at an angle. Farley was lower than him, so the aircraft’s nose was down. The tail had likely caught on something higher, possibly a roof or a power line. “What else is new?"
“Charming.” Cautiously, Farley stepped out of the copilot’s seat. “I just got out of contact with the AFB. They’re calling Broken Arrow.”
The phrase didn’t mean anything to Conner. "Remind me, what does that mean? I don’t think I’m completely back yet."
“It means we’re on our own. ‘Broken Arrow’ means that they’re about to be overrun, and that all aircraft in the area divert to their location and begin dropping bombs.”
“Jesus… right on top of them?”
“Yeah. They’ll be bombing the inside of the base wherever these walking corpses are thickest. If the base resorted to calling in airstrikes on top of itself, they’re done for.” As if on cue, the two men heard the roar of jet engines in the dark sky above them and paused to listen to them until they were out of hearing range. “Those guys are on their way to drop their payloads on the base. We can’t go back.”
A short pause. Then Conner remembered. "Where's Kelley?"
Farley gestured to a silhouetted figure slumped in the pilot’s seat. “Dead. Carter tore his throat out, as well as part of his face. I wouldn’t recommend taking that helmet off. It’s not pretty.”
“Dead as in actually dead, or is he going to get up and walk around?”
“I haven’t been able to destroy the brain, so he’ll be getting up any minute now. A few of those things are out there and I didn’t want them to find us before you got back on your feet.” Another flight of jets screamed overhead on their way to the battle at Robins, flying low enough to send vibrations through what was left of the helicopter. “Let’s go.”
“It’s the least we could do.” Carefully, Conner eased himself out of the twisted remains of the helicopter. The helicopter had crashed into a building, so now he was inside. Through the darkness, he could barely make out overturned shelves and rubble scattered across the room. It looked like some sort of store, ruined by the crash. "He was one of us. We saved us from that hellhole back on the interstate." Farley landed next to him, rifle in hand.
“No, I saved us. He wanted us to go out and die to save his friend." Conner's piercing glare looked like it could shear through steel. "Besides, we’ll need every bullet we have to survive this thing. That’s just the way it is, man. It’s about survival now.”
"You left him back there. We left everyone."
Snapping back, Farley clenched his teeth. "It was that, or die! I had to do it, and I'm sure as hell not apologizing for saving your life."
After a long moment of silence, Conner ventured a question. "If it came down to it, would you leave me?"
"C'mon, there's probably a bunch of them on their way here right now. And if you don't mind, I'd rather not have to wait until our fan club shows up to start hauling ass." As usual, Farley was deflecting the hard questions with humor. Conner chose not to continue that thought. Sadly, Conner gave one last glance at Kelley’s limp form. In the darkness, he almost couldn’t see the blood smeared all over his uniform or the areas of his neck where the flesh had been stripped away by Carter’s teeth. “This shit is seriously FUBAR," he intoned, somberly. "I wanna get out of this place."
"You and me both, brother." They exited the destroyed building while explosions sounded in the distance, to the south at the Air Force Base. Once across the street, they both turned to look at the shattered remains of Everett’s Prescriptions and the metal tomb, tail still sticking through the roof, that housed the body of a once jovial pilot. After a moment of silence for him, and the ones they’d lost before, they turned and began their journey. Farley, as always, was the first to speak. “Where to, pal?”
“The only place we can make a difference,” Conner replied. “Atlanta.”
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FUBAR
Mar 31, 2014 22:21:03 GMT
Post by Rock114 on Mar 31, 2014 22:21:03 GMT
I hope you guys have been enjoying this story (and that you read the latest chapter before this post, because spoilers), because All That Remains (hah) of it is the Epilogue. Also, keen readers may notice that Conner's story has come around to briefly join up for the third (chronologically, second) time with the story of the game. The squad's helicopter was the one that crashed into the Everett pharmacy in Macon, and Kelley, their pilot, is the walker that attacks Lee during the supply run at the beginning of "Long Road Ahead".
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FUBAR
Mar 31, 2014 22:22:02 GMT
Post by Bioshock Infinite WD on Mar 31, 2014 22:22:02 GMT
I hope you guys have been enjoying this story (and that you read the latest chapter before this post, because spoilers), because All That Remains (hah) of it is the Epilogue. Also, keen readers may notice that Conner's story has come around to briefly join up for the third (chronologically, second) time with the story of the game. The squad's helicopter was the one that crashed into the Everett pharmacy in Macon, and Kelley, their pilot, is the walker that attacks Lee during the supply run at the beginning of "Long Road Ahead". Nice.
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FUBAR
Apr 1, 2014 16:34:47 GMT
Post by Teacakes on Apr 1, 2014 16:34:47 GMT
I hope you guys have been enjoying this story (and that you read the latest chapter before this post, because spoilers), because All That Remains (hah) of it is the Epilogue. Also, keen readers may notice that Conner's story has come around to briefly join up for the third (chronologically, second) time with the story of the game. The squad's helicopter was the one that crashed into the Everett pharmacy in Macon, and Kelley, their pilot, is the walker that attacks Lee during the supply run at the beginning of "Long Road Ahead". I figured out that Kelley the pilot was the same pilot walker from episode 3
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FUBAR
Apr 1, 2014 20:47:32 GMT
Post by Rock114 on Apr 1, 2014 20:47:32 GMT
Epilogue 18 Days In, Atlanta Outskirts Everything was wrong. This shouldn’t have been happening, but it was. And through it all, nothing changed. The world still spun, the seasons still changed, all while the human race edged closer and closer to oblivion. He was on his knees, unable to muster the strength to continue standing in the face of the death of civilization. A hand rested on his shoulder as Atlanta burned before them, corpses flooding the streets, some even walking around, searching for prey. “Conner, get up, man. There’s nothing we can do.”
“That’s it, Farley. It’s over.”
“No, it’ll be fine. We can-“
“We can what? You were at Echo. You saw how everything fell apart. Now it’s happening here, too. It’s happening everywhere.” He wanted to do nothing more than lie down and die. A knot of frustration was tied in his chest, and he vomited. Nothing came out but bile and he shoved Farley away as his friend attempted to help him. “Leave me alone.”
“This is nothing, Conner. We’ll just-“
“Nothing?! Look at it Farley! This is the end! For us up here, for the people down there in the city, this is the end for everyone everywhere! And we can’t do a goddamn thing!” Farley tried to respond, but Conner pushed him away. “You want to know what’s really nothing, Farley? Nothing is exactly what they all died for back in Macon. Keenan, Kelley, Hanson, none of it mattered because we lost!” He took handfuls of dirt and, finally standing, hurled them ineffectually in the direction of the dying city. “FUCK FUCK FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK! GODDAMNIT!” Collapsing, he found himself on the ground once more, drained of even the slightest bit of energy.
“Conner, get up. It doesn’t matter what’s happening down there, because we’re still alive. We can survive this.”
“You’re right. Nothing matters anymore. Nothing we do will make a difference, nothing we do means anything. We’d be better off if we’d fucking died in that crash with Kelley.” His shoulders sagged in defeat. “It’s only a matter of time, Farley. Sooner or later, our numbers are gonna come up and some asshole is gonna punch our tickets for us.”
Subdued, Farley countered him. “You don’t know that. Things might be fine up north, or out west.”
“You know I'm-"
“Conner, shut the fuck up and listen. Everyone we ever knew is dead. They died for us, so we can continue to live. If you just lay down here and die, then everything the people we knew died for back in Macon really will be for nothing. You can’t just give up.” Conner sat there on his knees, silent, unmoving. He looked almost like a corpse, silhouetted against the backdrop of a burning city.
“Am I interrupting something?”
Farley spun as a new voice reached his ears. Conner continued to sit, staring out at the remains of Atlanta. He raised his rifle and flipped of the safety. “Who are you?”
The woman who had snuck up behind him was average height with black hair taken up in a bun. She had dirt clinging to her clothes and face, but a hopeful expression served as a foil to Conner’s hopeless and empty face. “I’m Beth,” she said in a melodious voice, “and I just wanted to see if you needed any help.”
“I’m Farley,” he said, cautiously, “And the guy over there is Conner.”
Beth extended her hand, but Farley kept his assault rifle trained on her. After a few seconds, she threw up her hands in mock surrender. “Okay tough guy, you win. My group and I came to Atlanta because we heard it was safe. Obviously, that’s not true,” she said, nodding in the direction of the fallen city. “They sent me ahead to scout the area and make sure it was clear. Since we’re not going into the city anymore, I’d hate to come back empty handed. If you two don’t have anywhere else to be, I’m sure they’d appreciate the extra hands.”
After a few moments of silence, Farley lowered his weapon. “I think we could make room in our busy schedule. Let's get out of here, Conner.” Farley and Beth began the trek back, strolling up the road as Beth described her group.
Slowly, Conner hoisted himself up off the ground. “Conner, you okay?” Farley’s words received no response. Sparing one last look at Atlanta, he realized that a part of him had died along with the rest of his squad as the sobering reality that nothing would ever be okay again hit him like a wall. Silently, steadily, he marched up the road after Farley and Beth, keeping himself at a distance as they walked ahead of him. It was for the best. If he got to know that woman, or the people in her group, he would only be hurt again when they died. Just like everyone else he'd ever know. He knew his time would come, eventually, and he wondered if it would be so bad if his time came sooner, rather than later.
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FUBAR
Apr 1, 2014 20:52:22 GMT
Post by Rock114 on Apr 1, 2014 20:52:22 GMT
Well, to everyone here who read my story, thanks! Let me know what you all thought of it, what you liked or what could be improved, things like that. If you guys want more of Conner's story, there are two who years before he meets his end, and plenty of stories that can be told in that time. Let me know if you'd like to see his journey continue, I might already have a few ideas.
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FUBAR
Apr 1, 2014 20:55:14 GMT
Post by Master Psychic on Apr 1, 2014 20:55:14 GMT
I would like to see Conner's story continue.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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FUBAR
Apr 1, 2014 20:55:51 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2014 20:55:51 GMT
Well, to everyone here who read my story, thanks! Let me know what you all thought of it, what you liked or what could be improved, things like that. If you guys want more of Conner's story, there are two who years before he meets his end, and plenty of stories that can be told in that time. Let me know if you'd like to see his journey continue, I might already have a few ideas. What happens to everyone after this,as in the survivors Connor and Farley?
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FUBAR
Apr 1, 2014 21:01:14 GMT
Post by Rock114 on Apr 1, 2014 21:01:14 GMT
Well, to everyone here who read my story, thanks! Let me know what you all thought of it, what you liked or what could be improved, things like that. If you guys want more of Conner's story, there are two who years before he meets his end, and plenty of stories that can be told in that time. Let me know if you'd like to see his journey continue, I might already have a few ideas. What happens to everyone after this,as in the survivors Connor and Farley? Conner's ultimate fate, as well as Beth's, is told in one of my other stories, Down by the River. Farley's fate, however, isn't yet set in stone.
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FUBAR
Apr 2, 2014 0:29:57 GMT
Post by Autobot Sonic on Apr 2, 2014 0:29:57 GMT
What happens to everyone after this,as in the survivors Connor and Farley? Conner's ultimate fate, as well as Beth's, is told in one of my other stories, Down by the River. Farley's fate, however, isn't yet set in stone. Could you maybe do a epilogue short story explaing how he met Roman and the parts of Down by River from his point of view?
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FUBAR
Apr 2, 2014 0:34:55 GMT
Post by Rock114 on Apr 2, 2014 0:34:55 GMT
Conner's ultimate fate, as well as Beth's, is told in one of my other stories, Down by the River. Farley's fate, however, isn't yet set in stone. Could you maybe do a epilogue short story explaing how he met Roman and the parts of Down by River from his point of view? I actually had a longer story in mind, involving Beth and the group she mentioned (one of my other OCs from DbtR), as well as exploring what happens with Farley. If I do end up continuing Conner's story, rest assured that I'll put his meeting with Roman in at some point. As for writing his parts in DbtR from Conner's point of view, I was definitely considering that, but if it comes it will likely be after the current one I'm planning to write as a separate entity.
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