As the months of confinement and torture dragged on, Elijah Mason found his thoughts drifting more and more to Irene Putman, a vampire he'd first met back in the 1960s and hit it off instantly with her. It had been a pleasurable surprise to find out that she was one of Isaac's Fledglings as well and they had been together for a handful of years before parting ways on an amicable note. They'd seen each other on-and-off over the years whenever the both of them showed up for Isaac's holiday dinners starting several years later. However, his thoughts that night had turned to the more recent span of months he'd spent with her...

Center for Disease Control
Atlanta, Georgia
November, 2499

It was a typical sunny day in Atlanta, although for Eli and the rest of the vampires that had volunteered to help find a vaccine didn't see much of the sun these past few weeks as doctors and scientists poked, prodded, and questioned them nearly to death. Elijah really didn't mind. After all there was a purpose to the questions, to the poking and the prodding. There was a reason for the strenuous exercise routines. Everything that they learned about his species brought them that much closer to a vaccine and quite possibly a cure.

The day was just ending for Eli as he left the training room, a towel draped around his neck and winded after working several hours on the treadmill for his handler. Heading toward the dining hall, he stopped several times along the way to chat with personnel and other vampires he'd befriended before finally reaching his destination. Grabbing a bottle of water, mostly unnecessary for his kind but it made the humans feel more comfortable, Eli took a seat at a table with a sigh. Pulling the towel from his neck, it was dropped onto the table before he unscrewed the cap on the bottle and took a sip.

Returning the cap to the bottle, Eli closed his eyes and sat there at the table in silence. The vampire felt good, although given his current state, it was a bit odd not to feel the beat of his heart pumping through his veins. In a way... he almost missed the feeling. It was rare for him or his species to feel tired, but... That afternoon, Elijah sure felt tired after running on the treadmill for as long as he had. In fact, the vampire was seriously looking forward to a shower and many hours of sleep.

The Story So Far...Sylvia Wilde, Second-in-Command of Territory 21, reported to Territory Leader, Amaru that without proper medication and medical treatment, a patient of hers wouldn't last much longer. The only known place Sylvia knew of where to find the specific treatment was smack in the middle of a massive Revenant infestation. Since the Collapse, no one ever ventured in this part of Territory 21 due to the sheer number of Revvies. Yet, not only did Territory 21 need this precious medication, but there were other medical supplies that Territory 26 and 30 would need. A plan was formed, a date set, and representatives from each Territory were chosen.

As the creator of the plan and the only individual who knew the location of the medical building, Sylvia Wilde was the first of Territory 21 chosen to go on the mission. Prudence Lautari, a scavenger and trader in the Territory, volunteered to lead them as she knew the best way to get to their intended destination. Due to his Gift and combat skills, Johnathan Ackerman from Territory 26 was chosen to accompany the party on their mission along with Deirdre Prewett, a combat-ready vaccinated human and Irene Putman, a trusted vampire in Isaac Holt's inner circle were assigned to the mission from Territory 30.

The goal of the mission was quite simple: Get to their destination, retrieve the necessary supplies, and leave with as little conflict at possible. Rarely do such work out as planned, however. Not only must the group travel on foot, increasing their travel time by quite a lot, but they are racing against the impending thunderstorm coming their way. Time, unfortunately, is not on their side. By the time they reach their destination safely—much to their surprise—the storm is upon them and with sun gone, their party is ambushed by a single Revenant as soon as Sylvia starts toward the hospital entrance.

Completely caught off-guard and terrified, the good doctor is unable to use her vampire powers but Deirdre Prewett and Irene Putman easily take out the insane Revenant with their firearms. Afraid the noise will attract more of the creatures, Johnathan Ackerman takes point and clears the broken glass at the entrance to increase their chances of entering undetected. ( Once inside, they find the lobby eerily void of chaos and destruction save for the glass from the broken windows... )

Who: Isaac Holt & Introducing Irene Putman
Where: Territory 30, Holt Tower
When: Saturday, June 15th, 2501 @ 8:00pm
Rating: PG-13 for language
Status: Completed

It was just turning dusk as Irene turned off the unkept freeway and into the Chicago metro area on her motorcycle. There was no traffic, of course, there usually wasn't much to begin with since the collapse but especially not this near to night time. Everyone in their right mind was already well indoors and hidden away from the creatures that came out in the night. Irene wasn't worried for herself so much, she could see the towers ahead of her that was her ultimate destination. It would be close, but she knew she could make it before dark.

The vampire was eager to see Isaac again, as it had been a handful of years since she had checked in. That was totally unlike her considering how loyal she was to him but with everything going to hell in the last few years it had been easy to lose touch and also lose track of the time. She'd started her search at the last place she had known him to live. That being the home he and Diego had been living in together. Upon finding that house basically nonexistent anymore, the vampire's search took her to the leader of that sector where she got the full story of what had gone down. Well, at least the story as far as the other vampire had known it. The important part was that Irene soon had a destination of her maker's final whereabouts, having learned that he was now a territory leader in Chicago.

Just as she had anticipated, the sun was just dipping fully behind the horizon as she pulled to the front of the towers. There were guards there to meet her and she gave them each a friendly greeting. Her helmet was pulled off so that her face was easily seen and, when asked, she told them her name and her intentions. She didn't recognize any of them and she imaged they didn't recognize her either but it was really no matter as she was soon waved into the underground parking garage where she could leave her bike and enter the tower.

( Read more... )