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Jenner has just informed Rick that to say the world they must kill Vanessa, the one person immune to the infection. Will Vanessa go through with it and will Rick allow a member of his group to be sacraficed?

“The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or theone.”

I sit in my room and stare at the sterile walls. Spendingthe last week working with Jenner on this cure, he finally tells me something Inever thought I would never hear. That I must die so others can live. Isn’tthat a kick in the butt. I survived a zombie apocalypse only to forfeit my lifefor a possible cure. I can hear Rick and the others talking in the next room. Ididn’t know how I was going to face them. Jenner is in there as well arguinghis case. I wasn’t able to give him an answer right away. I needed to think.

“I’m not trying to sound harsh or cruel, but the facts speakfor themselves. Vanessa’s brain is the key. I need to collect deep tissuesamples that will ultimately kill her.” Jenner paused. The children werethankfully in the game room with Carol, Lizzy didn’t need to hear this. “You’retalking about someone’s life.” Dale spoke up. “You’re asking her to killherself in the hopes that the brain samples you collect will enable you to finda cure. There’s no guarantee, is there?” Dale asked.

“No, there is no guarantee, but I’m sure I can find it. I’vebeen studying the samples I have since this all started; I’m also recording allmy findings and sending them out to any other CDC that could still be inoperation so if I’m not successful, someone will be.” Jenner pleaded. “That’sjust it; if you’re not successful Vanessa would still be dead.” Dale countered.

“This will be her decision.” Rick spoke. “We’re not going toforce her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.” “And how is that going towork?” Shane’s voice sounded. I hadn’t heard much from him lately, but hesounded determined now. “So she decides she doesn’t want to save the world,then what? We just go on from here? One of those things bites us and shewatches us die while she gets to live? Well that doesn’t seem fair. She has thepower to help us all and if she says no, she’ll be dooming everyone.”

“Is it fair to ask someone to die for others like this? Youmake it sound like she had a choice in being immune. That she had control ofthat. What if it was you, Shane? What if you were immune? Are we suppose justexpect you to die for us? Are you prepared for that?” Dale asked.

“I hate to say it, but Shane is right.” Daryl’s voiceexpressed. “We’ve been hiding out trying to just survive; now we have a chance,we should take it. I’m tired of running.”

“So kill her. Just kill her likes she’s nothing. She savedour lives on that mountain, or did we all forget?” Emotion filled Dale’s voice.He is always so kind-hearted, I took an instance liking to him. “No one’s saying that, Dale. We’re justsaying that…” I walked in and interrupted Shane. The room was silent and Ilooked about. Some were able to look me in the eye, some weren’t.

“I’ll do it. I’ll do it, Jenner.” I spoke softly, my voicefilled with fear. I tried to hold in the quiver in my voice but couldn’t. Itried to be strong but tears soon flowed down my cheeks. I turned and walkedout the room and found a dark corner to cry. I don’t know how long I was thereuntil Lori laid a warm hand on my shoulder. We exchanged looks and I fell intoher arms. I thought at times that Lori could be full of herself but in thatmoment I needed a kind face. I had to face the fact that I was going to die butthat the others and Lizzy were going to live.

The day of the surgery came faster than I would have wanted.Jenner was meticulous in the preparations and the documentation. He had beenusing video journaling to document his research and sending out a signal in thehopes that someone was watching the feed. He had been doing the same with hisresearch on me. I walked into the exam room and lay on the table. Jenner and Rick were there, I guess Rick wasgoing to assist while Shane, Daryl, and Glen stood in the observation area towatch. It was hard to try to explain to Lizzy what was going to happen, shedidn’t take it well and locked herself in her room. I heard her crying behindthe door and my heart hurt. Now that I’m lying down, I stared at the ceilingreflecting on the life I lived. Not sure that I made all the right decisionsbut I think l lived a good life, I just wish I had more time. Jenner inserted aneedle in my arm and my mind thankfully started to go numb. He looked me in theeyes and I could see he wasn’t a bad man, just a man who lost a love and wasdoing the best he could. A warmth fell over me and the fear I feltevaporated. The outside edges of myvision rolled over black and I sank into oblivion, ready for what the afterlifehad to offer me.

“Okay, Rick I need you to hand me the tools I ask for,quickly. The ones we went over, remember?” Jenner asked me. We had gone overthe procedure an hour before, I didn’t want to volunteer but someone had tohelp Jenner. I thought this was wrong, but Vanessa seems willing, however therewas fear in her eyes and it wasn’t easy to watch her lay on that table.Suddenly, Lizzy burse into the operating room.

“You can’t!” she yelled, tears drenched her face. “Lizzy,you need to leave, now.” I calmly told her but she was scared. “No! I won’t letyou kill her!” Lizzy ran to the monitor and yanked on the tubes, the leads fell out of the machine and themonitor went blank. I grabbed for her but she dodged my hand and headed for thesample table. Using the stool she began to smash the samples left and right.

“NO!” Jenner shouted. “Daryl, Glen, get in here!” I yelledto them but the sound of the computer’s voice over the loud speaker stoppedthem. “Contamination eminent. Facilitywill be sealed. Containment protocol active.”

“Shit! You have to get out of here, now!” I had a strugglingLizzy in my arms, “What? Why?” Jenner started unhooking Vanessa and lifting heroff the table. Lizzy stopped fighting sensing an urgency in his voice andJenner placed Vanessa in my arms. “Because this building is going to bedeystroyed. To protect against pathogens being released, the computer has sensea threat and it’s going to destroy the whole complex. You have to get Vanessaout of here now!”

Jenner pushed us out of the operating room and sealed thedoor shut. I watched him run past the broken samples into the main control areato the console. “Daryl! Here, take Vanessa. Shane, get everyone and whateversupplies they can carry back to the surface, hurry!” Shane, Daryl, Glen andLizzy ran off with an unconscious Vanessa, I ran to the nearest intercom.“Jenner, we’ve got to go! Come on!”

“I can’t. The computer is sealing everything down. I need totry and get the outer doors opened or you’ll never get out.” Jenner pressedbuttons on the console and began speaking into the microphone. “This is Jenner,I hope someone has been receiving this. The surgery to extract brain tissuesamples has failed. Vanessa Summers is still alive and it is vital that ifsomeone out there is hearing this finds Ms. Summers and takes her to a medicalfacility to complete the procedure, if she’s willing. You don’t know howimportant this woman is.” I ran. Back to Lori and Carl and the group waiting inthe outer lobby. The steel doors remained shut as a countdown started. Everyonewas here but…”Where’s Jacqi?” I asked.

“She’s staying.” Andrea answered but sounded disappointed.At that point the door began to rise and we filed out quickly. We were unableto grab as much food and water as I hoped and it seemed that we were no betteroff now than we were when we arrived. Once inside the convoy, the buildingexploded in a brilliant fireball. The heat was felt through the minorprotection of the camper. The sound was deafening. Jenner and Jacqui were gone and so was thehope of finding a cure. Jenner must have been talking to whoever he thought waslistening, pleading with them to find Vanessa and complete what he started.What if someone was listening? Did Jenner just turn Vanessa into a target? Andwhat if the people who were listen had less than good intentions? I glancedback at a sleeping Vanessa in the rear view as the convoy headed out, how safewere they really now? How safe was she? The thought of a cure would be temptingto anyone left alive, but what is someone desperate willing to do for that?

“Guys, listen up. Jenner didn’t have a chance to finish whathe started, but for right now, I think it’s better if we don’t spread the factthat Vanessa is immune to anyone outside the group; for her safety and for ourown. Agreed?” Lori, Dale and Andrea nodded their heads. At their first stophe’ll make his decision known to the others.



The group in Atlanta was not aware of man in an expensivesuit sitting at a monitor; he had just finished the video stream of Dr. Jenner’sresearch and an immune test subject peaked his interest. “Colonel Marsh, do you know what people would do for thechance to live without fear of infection?” A man in camo stood just behind the manin the suit. “I doubt money is of any interest to anyone any longer, sir.” Heanswered. “No, not money Marsh; power and control. I want you and a team to goto Atlanta with a team of your best men and bring this Vanessa Summers back fortesting.” Suit man printed out a picture of Vanessa and handed it to ColonelMarsh.

“What if she refuses?” Suit man simply smiled back at him. “Convinceher.” “Yes, sir.”

To be continued…..

Vanessa and the group are with Dr. Jenner at the CDC. Jenner works frantically to find the cure before his time runs out but Rick may not like what he discovers...

I didn’t really liked being looked at as a lab experiment
but with all the tubes and wires and lead hooked to every exposed skin on my
body, it was hard to see myself as anything but. The testing got underway the
next day, luckily I didn’t have a hangover like Glenn, he sure can’t hold his
liquor. Everyone was still sleeping in enjoying a secure night’s rest,
something we haven’t had in months. Jenner and I were the only ones up and Jenner moved about the lab like a school boy.He had been eyeing me all throughout the dinner last night and not reallyjoining in the festivities but it was probably because he wanted to get the testsstarted right away. I can understand that. I just found out for sure that I’mimmune but I started to have second thoughts about letting too many people knowthat as well. The group had to know, of course they were there when the resultswere read, but what about people outside of the group. Will this new found giftturn out to be a curse in disguise?

“So, what other tests can we run? I feel like you’ve taken aliter of blood from me already.” I said with a slight smile but I did feel alittle dizzy. “I’m sorry, I promise I won’t take too much but I need to be verythorough. I also need to document everything. It’s not going to be easy andwill be very extensive. I hope I won’t cause you much discomfort. You have torealize that I’m very grateful to have you here.”

Jenner’s response was somewhat comforting but mostly soundedrehearsed and forced. After hours of work I left to eat lunch. Jenner asked meto keep the leads on my head so he didn’t have to replace them, he was going totake pictures on my brain next. Joy, I thought. “You look funny.” Lizzy smiledas we ate the sandwiches Carol made. “I feel funny, Lizzy.” I told her thetruth but with a weak smile as well. I couldn’t show her or the group mydiscomfort. They all seemed to treat me differently today, as if they know howimportant I am. I didn’t ask to be this way. I always seemed to remainunnoticed in my previous life before the world ended. I was simply one inbillions, didn’t stand out and didn’t want to. I never liked being the centerof attention and preferred a quiet corner instead of a stage.

There was no hiding now. “How are the test going?” Rick satnext to me and asked with concern. I found that Rick fell into the leadershiprole of the group by nature and not by design. He didn’t even know his familythat he was searching for was with this group until he showed up. I envy thefact that he still had his loved ones but also pity him for that same reason aswell. In this new world you could lose the ones you love in an instant. Ididn’t plan on having Lizzy join me as well as find her way into my heart butnow I can’t imagine losing her. Hopefully this so called cure that Jenner istrying to find can save her from a life as a walker. I don’t think I could puther down should she turn.

“It’s going okay. The test are intrusive to say the leastand some hurt, but I think past the pain.” I say pity in Rick’s eyes in thatmoment again. “I’m sorry.” Was all he said, but it was enough. That he wouldfeel sorry for me for having to go through this to benefit others. I pridemyself on the fact that I don’t cry, and I wasn’t going to start now, but tearscame close. Luckily Jenner walked in with a determined face and I knew hewanted to get started again. “Vanessa?” He asked. “Yeah, coming.” I stood andcarried the wires from my leads with me and we went back into the lab that Iwas beginning to despise.

I can see a light at the end of the tunnel now. I tried tohold out hope that there was some reason I was still alive, that my family wasstill alive, but being surrounded by walkers puts a damper on your longevityprospects. I still find it hard to believe this is the way of the world now. Itseems like one minute I’m a Sherriff working a job and now I’m in the middle ofa nightmare. Then we met someone like Vanessa Summers. A person immune to theterror around every corner; now at an CDC medical facility with a doctorworking to find a cure. It almost seems meant to be.

I wander into the lab to get an update on Jenner’s progress.“So, what do you think? Anything so far?” “Rick, I didn’t hear you come in.”Jenner was startled and slightly agitated. “You okay? I mean, I know I’m nodoctor but do you need help with anything?” I ask. “No, I’m…I’m just tired,that’s all. It’s a lot of work and little time.” I look on the examine table and Vanessa wasunconscious. She would have looked like a peaceful sleep save for the tubes andwires coming from her.

“How is she?” I’ve been concerned with Vanessa lately, shelooked reluctant to tell us that she could be immune and even more reluctant totell Jenner. “ Vanessa’s doing well. I have her sedated right now. I’m running teston her brain. I’m trying to localize specific patterns.” Jenner had taken thegroup earlier into the main control room to watch the experimental feed on“Patient TS-19” and the transformation her brain went through with theinfection. It proved difficult to watch and know that could happen to all ofthem. “Do you really think you can find a cure?” Jenner looked at me with tiredeyes. “This infection works like a bacteria, infecting the brain and killingit. If there is a way to stop that from taking place even if the person hasbeen bitten, it would be in Vanessa’s brain.” I started at the monitors for amoment, heard the constant beep of the heart and the hum of the machines. Ididn’t know what I was looking at but with Jenner’s next words, it wasn’t good.

“Rick, can I ask you a question?” I turned to him. He satback down on the stool, his white lab coat falling to each side. “Sure.Anything I can do to help.” I wasn’tfully prepared for what he was going to ask of me. “If you had to sacrifice oneperson to save others, would you? Would you kill to save your son, your wife?”Jenner asked quietly and sincerely. “I’ve been doing that since I woke up fromthat coma. This world is full of dangers, the walkers just trying to eat you. Idon’t remember how many people I’ve killed.” Jenner shook his head. “No, that’snot what I mean. You see, the answer to all of this,” he motioned at the laband probably the world in general, “is located in this woman’s brain. Only, it’snot on the surface. I would have to dig down deep, very deep to get the samplesI need. The truth of the matter is, Vanessa won’t survive the procedure. She’llbe brain dead but she would save all of our lives.”

“You mean to kill Vanessa?” My knees felt weak. “You can’t.You just…can’t!” I was getting loud. “But I have to. It’s not a decision I cameto lightly. Trust me, I’ve tried everything and this is the only way. With herbrain samples we can save ourselves and maybe all of human kind. Look aroundRick! This is our extinction level event. We can’t outrun this. We can’t hidefrom it. All we can do it fight it and with Vanessa’s help we can.”

“How? By killing her? By cutting open her brain and watchingher die?” I thought back to Vanessa as she saved our lives on the mountainside. She was a fierce fighter and an asset even more so that she’s immune. Butto think about killing her just to save themselves…

“Does she know?” I asked Jenner. “No, not yet. I wanted…..Iwanted to be sure.” “You have to tellher. She has to decide.” Jenner lookedat me. “I’m afraid if she decides not to help.” “So, she wants to live. Is that so bad?” I spoke as I walked to thedoor. “It is bad, for the rest of us.” Ihad nothing left to say to Jenner and I walked out. I went straight to thekitchens and found a bottle of liquor, I didn’t care what it was as long as itwas strong and mind numbing. This was not good. How could they asked Vanessa todie for them?

To be continued…..

I don't mind the time between seasons because it will make for better programming however, there needs to be alternatives to fill the void. I'm done going through the usual movies: 28 days later, NOTLD, even Evil Dead(Love it). So I'm trying to find series similar to Walking Dead. I did manage to find an anime series "High school of the Dead". If you're a fan of zombies, you need to pick this up. The drawing in amazing and the storyline focuses on a group of teenagers and one busty nurse who are trying to survive in this ZA. It follows them on their journey to find saftey and their families. There is some adult situations, nothing too graphic but I wouldn't recommend this for the kiddies, it is a cartoon but it's anime, there's a big difference. So let me know what you watch in this empty void of no Walking Dead.

Continued...Vanessa awoke to the realization that there could be a possiblity that she is immune to the infection. Now Rick and the group enter Atlanta hoping someone there can help them find out for sure.

Bodies littered the CDC in Atlanta, walkers, half eaten citizens, and brave soilders who fought until the end. All now lay silent and still before the hope that was once the CDC. We approached the building with night quickly falling. The last thing I wanted to do was try to fend off walkers after dark. Rick was desperate. I could hear it in his voice and his fists as he banged them against the sturdy sounding gates. There was no getting in, I could tell that from the street but sometimes people need to come against a brick wall to know it's solid. The group was scrambling for a way in or out. We ran out of food before entering the city and water was quickly dwindling as well. Suddenly, the gates lifted and light flooded the outside just as a horde of walkers approached. There was no turning back now. Inside we were met by a lone man with fear in his eyes but determination in his voice, he ordered us to bring in our supplies before the gates closed for good. His said his name was Jenner and that he was a doctor. Perhaps this trip was no lost after all. "Everyone needs to be tested, that's the price of admission." He said and I wondered what he would think when he tested my blood. Would he confirm that I was infected just not showing signs or that I was indeed immune?
"Doctor, before you draw my blood you should know something. I was bitten." The fear on his face was expected but not the surprise after that. "More than a few weeks ago the first time. I was bitten again before we traveled here as well."

"And you haven't turned?" He was shocked. "No...at least...I don't think so. Well, you tell me." I studdered. I haven't shown much trepidation these past few weeks, even in the midst of attacking zombie hordes. But I was more scared now with that little needle in my arm then I was before. I think I'd rather take on zombies again then know the results. Jenner showed us to the empty rooms to freshen up and then he disappeared into the lab with my sample in his hands. Dinner time had come and I felt more full than I had in weeks. Everyone was getting tipsy on the wine and everything seemed rather normal for a bit. This is the most I heard Carrol speak in a long time. She was normally quite and reserved, it was nice to see the group smile again, laugh at Carl's cringing face while tasting the wine. Lizzy asked for a taste too and she made he same face. I haven't laugh in ages but the room fell silent when Jenner walked in. I couldn't read his face or maybe I didn't want to. I stared at my fingers and drank more wine.

"Well, Jenner? What do you think?" Rick spoke in reference to me. The group looked from me to Jenner and back again. "Umm. It's incredible really. There was no trace of the infection in your blood at all. You're completely immune to it." Jenner smiled while the group erupted in praise and joy. All except Shane. I've noticed he's been somewhat distance lately. "I can't believe this is really true but I ran the test three times. Where there's an immunity there could be a vaccine to protect other people from getting infected. But there could also be a cure as well. I just wish I had...." Jenner stopped short as if he didn't mean to say that sentence. "I mean, I'll need to get more samples. Run some more in depth tests if you don't mind."

"Of course not Doctor. Run all the test you need." I looked at Lizzy for first time with the hope that the world she was forced to grow up in will change for the better. What other reason did we have for surviving if not to save the human race as a whole. "I'd like to start right away too." Jenner spoke again. "Oh, uh sure." I went to stand up. "Come on Doc, we just got here and we needed a reason to celebrate." Dale smiled. "I'd say this is a great reason, huh?" The wine flowed freely and the group was in high spirits. But I couldn't help feel like something was wrong. When things are too good to be true, they usually are. It may be the product of my over active imagination but the feeling stuck with me all night.

To be continued...

Story til now: Vanessa left the camp after telling them she had been bitten. She wanted to make sure Lizzy was safe before starting ou on her own until a horde attacks the camp again. She makes the choice to return and help out but will the group accept her back in?

I looked on as the men surrounded us. The bad people were here and Vanessa wasn't here to protect me like she said she would. Lori with a soothing voice moved me and Carl back towards the camper. Dale's camper, I think. "Lizzy, hurry sweetie." She said. Mom used to call me "sweetie" too, but she's gone now. Maybe even dead, maybe even here with these bad people. I wish Vanessa was here. Why did she have to leave? "Vanessa should be here, she can help." I said to Carl. "She was bitten, she would have turned into them." He pointed a small finger to the zombies being shot by the men, his dad too. "No, she's different. You don't understand, she's special." Please Vanessa, come back, please. I said in my mind. The zombies were close. There was no way out anymore. The camper was surrounded on one side and a cliff was on the other. The woman and kids were inside the camper, crying. I wasn't going to cry. I can here the men outside yelling that they were running of of bullets. It doesn't sound good at all. "Vanessa!" I screamed out the window. I hope she can hear me.

The horde was huge, much bigger than the one before had to be. At a glance, I could see that the camper was surrounded on all sides. The men tried hard to keep the horde at bay but were probably running out of ammunition and strength. THe children and women were inside the camper. "Vanessa!" I can hear Lizzy's voice scream. It gave me the push I needed to get up the rest of the hill and strike. I pulled my sword from it's sheath and lept over the few zombies closest to me to somersault and land in the center. "I'm out!" I heard Rick yell. "Me too!" Spoke T-dog, I don't really know his true name. I backed up to the men who regarded me from interest and caution. "The good thing about swords, they never run out of ammo." I spoke with my bad still towards them. I grabbed the hilt and sliced side ways through the heads of three zombies I just lept over. I cut them at the jawline and they fell to the ground, their scaples spinning like tops on the hard packed earth. I spun to the left and drove the blade through the head of two more standing one in the front of the other. I felt the crack of their skulls in vibrations through the steel. I can also hear the clicking of empty cartridges and threw my pack towards Rick. "Here! Stay against the camper should any of them get through!" Rick dug into the pack and drew out an assortment of large knives, he handed them to the others while Shane used his shot gun as a club. With lightning speed, I spun out of the way of an incoming zombie and chopped him at the knees. The legs fell uselessly but the torso still struggling. I twisted on my left hand and brought the heel of my right foot down on his head. He lay motionless.

I made quick work of two more zombies but I was getting tired. My swings were weaker and less effective. I was also getting sloppy, a walker came up behind me and sank it's teeth into my left shoulder. I cried out in pain and it's teeth sank in deeper. I brought my blade through it's head between the eyes and it let go. The rest of the horde were put down but Rick and the others but I could feel the warmth of my blood as it fell to my fingers. The group took stock of the bodies that lay at their feet. Amazingly enough, no one else was bit save for Vanessa, but that didn't matter much to her. "Vanessa!" Lizzy yelled as she ran from the camper, Lori trying to stop her. "Lizzy, stop! It's not safe, stay there until it's safe, you understand?" I yelled back at her, my vision of her was getting blurry. I'm going to pass out and they are going to kill me. At least, I won' see it coming. The black edges of unconciounes crept in and I fell.

The group stood back. They were amazed at Vanessa and her skill with the sword. She easily killed more than half of the horde on her own but a visious bite on the shoulder brought her to her knees and she fell. She was still breathing though. Daryl walked over with an arrow he retrieved from a walker's brain and loaded it in the bow. He pointed the bow and Vanessa's head. "Stop!" Dale yelled to him. "You can't do this. Not like this!" He pleaded.

"She's been bit, twice that we know of. She has to die." Daryl yelled back at him, his voice tinged with regret. "But she saved our lives, we owe her that. We owe her not to kill her while she's unconcious at least. She hasn't turned!" Dale presisted. "At least she won't see it coming. We should all be so lucky." Daryl mirrored Vanessa's thoughts. The group turned to Rick.

"We'll wait, at least until she turns. Then when it's time....I'll do it." They were grateful to her for saving them, but sadden that she wouldn't be around longer. Days passed and the group set out for Atlanta. Jim got the fever and was in the back room with Vanessa still unconcious. Her shoulder was bandaged and thankfully there was no fever. The group pulled over to let Jim out. He can no longer travel and asked to be left on the side of the road. A single shot rang out as the group pulled away.

Days after that Vanessa moved and her eyes fluttered. "Rick!" Jac yelled out the window since they were stopped looking for water. "She's waking up." Rick, Shane, and Jac stood at her bedside. Vanessa didn't get a fever but they were still weary of who will wake up. Vanessa the human or the walker. Rick took out his revolver and stood ready. Vanessa slowly looked at them and spoke. "I'm not dead yet." The shock on their faces was almost comical. Within and hour, Vanessa was up and about almost as if she was never bitten. Her wound was healing and she show no signs of turning.

"This is amazing. This could mean you're immune somehow." Rick smiled for the first time since meeting him. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, it could just mean that she's taking longer to turn." Shane spoke up. "But Jim was bitten and within hours he got the fever. Vanessa was bit days before coming to our camp and again during the fight and she hasn't turned at all." Dale concluded. "Even still, I'll make sure to let anyone know if I'm showing signs, for the safety of us all." "How can we be so sure?" Daryl asked. "You can't, but I'm asking you to trust me." "Trust is a commodity that's in short supply." Daryl spoke again hinting at intelligence underneth his survivalist facade.

"Well, you have to try." They continued to Atlantic but with new hope that in their midst they had a possible cure.