A Bar a Vampire and the Apocalypse

After my talk with Erin we exchanged contact information and I went to my office and looked over reports and did paper work for a while. A few hours later Sarah came up to give me a breakdown of what we learned and the people that were interested in helping us.

“That is a better list of people than I was hoping.'' I said looking over the spreadsheet on her tablet. There were 150 unique classes of the over three thousand people that talked to Sarah. It was about what I was expecting. There were a lot of repeats and only a few truly unique ones. Those all being the intermediate ranked ones. There were only five such classes.

While the skills on the other hand were much more interesting. There were well over five hundred, and that was not even all of them. Sarah made an executive decision to stop recording them after she got that many. She had not even been one hundred people in when she stopped. Obviously we need more manpower if we want to document all of this. But that was what the other information was for.

Almost everyone gave us their skill set. We had people from doctors to trash sorters that gave us their profession. Many of them also gave us one or two other skills they had confidence in.

“To be honest I am surprised we are not still out there. For some reason people are all for helping us. I was expecting that people that knew they did not have very helpful skills would not sign up but they did. I don't think more than a hundred of the people that were there did not come up to us. It was also rather orderly though I believe both can be explained by your unintended demonstration. I think people see you as a pillar of stability and they want to cling to it. So everyone wants to help.”

Nodding, I said “I guess so.”

After things were packed up, not cleaned up because it was more of a mess than Friday. Everyone turned in and I took another trip into the dungeon, once again leaving a river of blood in my wake.

###

The next couple of days went by with quite a bit of change. We were organizing the list of people, their skills, professions and classes, on what we could use right now and who to pick from the list or useful ones. Ana and Maria began to learn how to butcher the beasts of the dungeon. After checking it out they all seemed edible so they also began to experiment with different ways to cook the meat and such.

Then there were the people coming over to seek out others to go into the dungeon with. They were getting to know each other. To help these people we asked a handful of the military men to help out the people to form groups. They were all more than happy to. They even formed groups of their own together when they weren’t helping the others. My combat crew was also working away at improvement under my supervision. I even had some of the people there along with the military men join them in their training outside of the dungeon.

We also decided that leaving our doors open would be a good idea. Not only to give our two friends with bar based classes more levels but also for people to be able to gather and discuss things. Along with being able to have conversations with those in my group. We wanted to be a part of the community, maybe leaders in it but not rulers or untouchables. I also really did not want people to fear me after what I did to the gang. Now was not the time for fear but hope, determination and resolve.

In no time at all Saturday came around and the first group was to enter the dungeon. The first group to enter was a group of retired 7 military with the gentleman from the Q&A leading them in. They were all in camo outfits and combat boots. All of them had knives, three had guns, two had batons and two had swords. Where they got the swords I had no idea. No one that came forward to sell us their weapons had a sword worth a dam. Curious, I identified all of them.

Level: 16

Race: Human

Highest class: Squad Leader level: 3

Level: 14

Race: Human

Highest class: Gunman level: 2

Level: 13

Race: Human

Highest class: Soldier level: 1

Level: 12

Race: Human

Highest class: Soldier level: 0

Level: 13

Race: Human

Highest class: Gunman level: 1

Level: 11

Race: Human

Highest class: Swordsman level: 0

Level: 13

Race: Human

Highest class: Swordsman level: 1

Most of them had rather high levels for one or less levels in their classes but I guess that is to be expected with well trained and in shape retired military. Smiling at them I said.

“Good luck may your ventures be fruitful and safe.” The men turned to me, gave me a quick salute and headed in.

I wanted to go after them to watch over them but I couldn't. Not only would it reduce the amount of experience they would gain from me playing over watch but I had other responsibilities today, such as looking over and reviewing all the people that wanted to enter the dungeon, doing interviews with people we wanted to hire and well just being around for people to see me and knowing I am here to protect them.

After all the groups I deemed ready made their way into the dungeon I had Stewart stand guard. He was rather imposing after all the training and dungeon runs.

Level: 22

Race: Human

Highest class: Brawler level: 9

No one would want to mess with a man as big as him that they know has double the stats that an average human has. Let alone the fact that he also has levels in his skills and such that implying an unknown level of power. Moving out onto the street which we have taken over. Not like there was much traffic as it was but we have this block blocked off. This way we have more room. After how many people there were the other day at the meeting we decided this was necessary for a variety of reasons.

Now that we have the landed road closed down we have lots of room to work with. We have Cameron with a group recording skills and experimenting with them. Seeing it was her idea she volunteered to head that project. She also got a couple of her friends she trusted to help her out in the project, Carl being one of them when he was not doing something for me.

In one of the still intact buildings there is a group of teachers and parents having a meeting on how best to restart schooling while the schools are closed. They are also debating whether they want to teach off the state standards or adjust what they teach to be more useful to the current events. Samantha is sitting in with them, both our representative as one of the 4 parents in our group and the one heading up the information retention project. She is sharing the materials we have gathered to help the teachers work.

In front of the entrance of the bar we have an area set up for the kids of the parents that are over here to play. There is also a part of the bar that is sectioned off with games and such for them. Those working in the bar are watching over the kids inside and out. One of them sits outside for a while and they rotate out and throw out the day.

All and all things were going fairly well. But good things can never last. Me and Sarah were sitting down in the downstairs office with one of the cooks that wanted to join us when all hell broke out outside. Countless gun shots could be heard out in the distance.

“Well shit.” I muttered to myself. I guess something like this was eventually going to happen. I mean if killing things in a dungeon can help you level, why not humans?

Gathering myself I spoke. “Sir sorry for the cut off but we will have to come back to this later.”

I then turned to Sarah and started giving her instructions. “Sarah grab the twins and get everyone you can inside or in the back parking lot. Then find Edward. I want you to have him join up with Steward and go into the dungeon. We need those that went in there back out here especially the military folk. We need man power.”

Sarah nodded and then said “What will you do?” I smiled and replied.

“Be a deterrent and get everyone else to safety.'' With that said I made my way out of the down stairs office and onto the bar floor. Everyone was in a panic. Thinking I might as well bring some order to the chaos I spoke of the noise.

“Calm down! Panicking will only make things worse. Keep calm and collected and we will all get through this. I know a lot of you have family and friends out there but panicking or running into a gun fight will not do you or them any favors. Listen to Sarah Trevor and the twins, while we have people go into the dungeon to get our combat ready friends back out here to help defend us. I will be going out to gather those outside to safety. I will be back afterwards.”

There was still fear and worry on everyone's face but I did enough to get them to listen to instructions. Everyone parted as I made my way outside. The moment I got out the door the sounds of gunfire redoubled. It must be a cluster fuck out there. I first moved to the building with all of the teachers, while working my way over there I saw that it looked like Cameron and Carl had already gotten the skill training group moving and the kids were being ushered in by Ana. Walking into the building across the street I saw all of them discussing furiously on what to do.

“We should stay here if we go with everyone else we will be in place to run if something happens.” A middle aged woman said.

“There is power in numbers and all those with combat classes will be there once they get out of the dungeon. Let alone Vivi, no one wants to mess with her after what happened at the meeting.” A middle aged man said

“You are all cowards. I thought you were teachers, are you just going to let all those kids be scared and die over there. You are pathetic. I'm going over there to defend the next generation because god knows my time will not be that much longer.” A man in his 60s said. I respected him for his bravery and resolve. I identified him.

Level: 13

Race: Human

Highest class: Teacher level: 2

‘Nothing to note there.’ Samantha was sitting quite with the group, having long noticed I walked in.

“Why are you all still sitting in here?” I made myself known. Everyone who did not already see me turned to me. Before anyone could say anything I continued.

“I don't have time to babysit you all right now. So this is how things are going to be. If you are not in or around the bar when something happens I will do nothing to defend you. My priority lies in those that come to me for defense. You can hide behind my shield but I will not move my shield to defend you. Making eye contact with Samantha she nodded and got up. As she did, I turned around and walked out while she started putting down the law.

Coming back outside I could see some of the fights down the street. Some of them were just beating on each other while groups a little further down were shooting at each other. But they all pointedly stayed away from my block. Looks like they finally got the message. Seeing people still about on the street I ferried them all towards the bar. Once everyone was in place I stood in the middle of the street making myself clear to see. That is when I saw the sergeant from the town hall who I later found out his name was Eric come out of the parking lot and approach me.

“Sorry your first dungeon run was cut short, I hope it was still fruitful.” I said

“It was both fruitful and enlightening. Next time we go in we will be better prepared and more successful along with it hopefully lasting longer.” Eric replied. I nodded.

“Do you mind meeting up with Sarah and Edward to create a watch and perimeter with anyone else with a combat class or sufficient combat experience. We need to show the people here there is a plan and people to protect them.” Eric saluted and was off with his group to do as I instructed. I like Eric, I will have to see how things play out with him. He might give us a well needed perspective in our meetings.

I stayed where I was making sure no one came too close or I would make good on my threats. There was one point where it looked like a group of people were at the end of my block. One of them looked over and pulled a gun up and took aim on me. Three different people in his group tackled him to the ground and started berating him. That brought a smile to my face. A couple of the people in the group bowed to me before they all ran away. I just smiled and waved at them.

Things seemed to be calming down by the time sunset hit. That was when I heard an ear piercing scream coming from the bar. I shot towards the bar and rushed to find what happened. People instinctively made way for me as I looked around. I made my way through the bar and out to the back and behind the mound the dungeon tree was on was a scene that made my blood run cold. There, surrounded by people and with Camron by his side, was Carl on the floor pale as a ghost with a bite mark on his neck dead. On his shirt was a note that I walked over and picked up as Cameron was crying by his side. Opening the note my blood went from Frozen to lava in an instant.

“Hello Mother”

Everyone could feel the shift in my mood and everyone took another step back even as hard as that was with how many people there were. I looked around and saw Eric, Sarah and Edward coming over. Sarah gasped when she saw Carl and looked over to me, her eyes growing wider. I shook my head and spoke softly “Take his body up stairs Sarah your in charge I have something that needs to be done.”

It looked like Sarah was going to say something but Edward put a hand on her shoulder and shook his head. She claimed her mouth shut and got things moving again.

I walked away while everyone else stood there in shock. It looked like my wayward son finally found the balls to face me. But it looked like he did not learn his lesson from the last time he faced me. It's time I put an end to his disobedience forever.