...
A little over a month after "Z-Day" the streets finally looked clear enough to head out to find the parts we needed for the stationary bike generator we decided to build. Before now we had only gone on short runs to places we already knew the locations of in order to get food, ammo, or other essential survival supplies. This was going to be a more experimental run, searching different possible locations for the parts to build a generator that would store power built up using a stationary bike. Having a manual powered generator would be great, but having one that we could store up power for later use on would be even better. That way we wouldn't have to have someone on it 24/7. We had already scrounged up a gas generator earlier on, but didn't want to have to rely on it. Better to have that as a backup.
Brandon and I had loaded the truck up with as much ammo as we thought we would need, each of us carrying a rifle, handgun, and melee weapon. It hadn't taken the two of us too long to figure out what was going on on "Z-Day," though we were still a bit weary about lopping off someones head... Watching our neighbor be torn limb from limb, and 3 hours later watching the corpse drag itself down the street using it's only remaining arm solidified our belief of what was going on though. Leaving the others (at this point it was just Crista and Alec), to guard the "fort," we took off for the nearest gym. I figured that the best stationary bikes we could find would be in a gym, so we figured that would be out best bet. Luckily there was one rather close to our apartment.
Getting to the gym was easier said than done. Abandoned cars, fires, and of course the ever-present dead made it tricky. We had to pick off a few on our way there, but it seemed the majority had moved into the city proper. Picking up an appropriate sized brick, Brandon hurled it through one of the plate glass windows in the front of the building. Using the butt of his rifle he cleared out the shattered glass and climbed through while I guarded his entrace, watching the street for any zeds or people. Not that we knew what to do if we found any survivors yet. We were still unsure how we survived, so finding others hadn't quite entered into our game plan yet. Hearing two gun shots from inside, and not seeing any immediate threats outside, I climbed inside to see a corpse lying motionless near the front desk, Brandon reloading the clip in his handgun. I nodded to him and moved over to inspect the stationary bikes. Finding one that didn't rely on electricity to run was tricky, but we found two of them in the corner. It took both of us to lift one, they were heavier than we expected. We moved it to the broken window and I cautiously climbed out. A zed had wandered over to the truck, but I imbedded my machete in its skull and pushed the body away from us. Getting both bikes into the back of the truck took a bit of heavy lifting, but luckily we had both started working out vigorously since "Z-Day" and had shed a little fat and picked up a little muscle, so it wasn't too exerting.
The next part of our little plan required picking up two more generators. We needed more parts than one would give us, so we figured if we could grab two it would give us some room to tinker with the design we came up with too. This was the harder part though. We had already been to the only places we could think of to find generators, and they had all already been picked off. So our options were to "acquire" one from a home. Which means driving around aimlessly till we find one. Not fun with all the zeds running around. But it had to be done or getting the bikes was all for nought. Luckily, we had already noticed a generator by one of the houses near our apartment building, so we could pick that one up on our way back, but now we needed to find a second.
Brandon took the wheel while I "manned the guns" and we started to explore. Brandon always feels more comfortable driving, and he likes to think I'm a better shot than he is, so it's a comfortable arrangement. Making our way up Brighton Ave. was easier than trying to get down Comm. Ave. but there were still a few zeds to take care of. We headed up into the residential area and scouted around for generators. We had agreed it was probably to dangerous to break into houses still to look for one, which we knew would make the search harder, but we figured not having to deal with zeds hiding around corners, or worse, survivors. We were rather uncomfortable with stealing from other survivors, unless they stole from us first (which is a story for another day).
Slipping down some back roads to avoid a larger group of zeds (who probably heard us anyway, I wish there was a way to make the damn truck quieter...) we noticed a house with a generator sitting next to it. Brandon killed the engine and coasted the truck to a stop in front of the house and I opened my door, swinging from the side of the truck into the back and grabbing a rifle, checking out the area for zeds. Seeing none we got out and, leaving the rifles in the truck, moved to the house. We scouted around and found two in the backyard we took out with our melee, the large hammer Brandon had found the other day making quite a mess. Wiping some of the gore off of my shirt I smirked at him and motioned towards the generator. It seemed to still be in working order, though not running, and we unhooked it from the house and started to lug to back towards the truck. The generators are far more compact than the bikes, but much heavier. We had to set it down and take a breather twice in the thirty-five yards from the side of the house to the truck.
It was on our second breather in the front yard I noticed the mass of zeds coming down the street. They had followed the truck and were coming after us. Swearing, I hauled the generator up on my back, a move I regretted that night, but the adrenaline I had pumping through me at the time made it possible. Brandon covered me to the truck and I dumped the generator in the back and climbed up, grabbing a rifle and covering Brandon as he started the truck and took off. The zeds had just reaches us as we pulled away, and I had to take care of a few who had grabbed the truck as Brandon peeled away. we took a wide route back towards the apartment, trying to lead them in the wrong direction for a bit. One thing we had learned quickly is it doesn't matter how far you go, if you take a straight path to your destination, they'll manage to follow you. We passed north of the apartment and picked up the second generator, then went wide of the apartment again until we were sure we had led them on a decent chase. Brandon cut the engine of the truck on the hill coming down towards the apartment, using momentum to get us the rest of the way to the driveway. Not having the truck running and making a ton of noise on our own block was generally a good idea, any zeds that might have wandered into the area weren't immediately notified of our presence. Whoever was watching for us on the roof has already gotten ready for our arrival, and Crista and Alec pulled it shut behind us. We unloaded all the equipment into the basement and headed upstairs, leaving the seeminly easy part for the next day, building the new generator...
I'll have our engineer draw up some schematics for the generator later perhaps, and post them. I'm not sure why I was thinking about that day today, but I felt it might be an interesting story to share. One of the more eventful days since "Z-Day" actually. I can of course offer more details on the generator and how we plan for an excursion if you like, it might be useful for you.
Until then, I'm signing off.
~Ian
No comments:
Post a Comment