Chapter 1: Ashes of a World
Donove:How did it come to this? The question swirls in your head as you scrounge around the shelves for any signs of edible food. It looks like this store's been looted clean. This is the day. The day the Stellar Cellar ran out of food. There are numerous packets that lie empty and crushed on the floor. A can of soda has been spilled, but the contents are all dried up. It seems this place is a bust. You stick your head out of the door and call out to Nikolai, who's been raiding a store next door.
"Hey! The Cellar's all clean. You?"
Nikolai doesn't appear out of the doorway, but he responds from the back of the store. "Yeah, I found some protein bars! They're good for another week. There's a bottle of water here, too."
That's good news. The street is empty, which is a good thing. No looters, no infected, as far as you know it's just you, Nikolai, and Michelle. This street, you remember, has a few clothing stores, some convenience stores, and an office building and a supermarket. It's midday.
Nikolai:Jackpot! Two clean, unexpired protein bars! Jumbo size too, but you wonder if they taste any good. The store is completely empty aside from the two bars, which you found stashed in the manager's desk along with a bunch of papers. You also found a bottle of water in the mini-fridge, but it's lukewarm, probably because the power's been out for a few days. You hear Donove call from the store next door.
"Hey! The Cellar's all clean. You?"
You don't bother coming out of the store. "Yeah, I found some protein bars! They're good for another week. There's a bottle of water here, too."
Baker Street is empty. The only souls here are you, Donove, and Michelle. It's midday.
Michelle:You're in Fanny's Fab Fabrics, one of the clothe stores you've dreamed of shopping in. The quality wasn't noteworthy, it was mostly the brand that carried weight. You wished you could show your clothes off to all your girlfriends. Right now, what you're worrying about is getting some jackets. It's January now, and its windy and cold. Thankfully it doesn't snow here, but you need some warmth. You've grabbed three thick jackets. That should keep you warm.
You can hear Donove call out from the Cellar across the street and Nikolai respond saying he's found food. That's good news. You still have some food in your pack, but the protein bars are a great addition. Fanny's Fab Fabrics has been looted before. All the chic and expensive jewelry and perfumes have been stolen, as well as the high heels and designer purses. Thankfully the sports section is still here, with some sport shoes if you want any. All the baseball bats are gone, though, along with golf clubs and other weapons. There are a few backpacks too, but all of you have backpacks right now.
This street used to be a hotspot for middle-class people to shop and go for groceries, bustling with students and average joes, but its empty today. It's midday right now.
Milos:This street is new. The only landmarks you knew on this planet were the ones outlined to you by the rebel commander, but that was before this world went to hell. A few trashcans are turned over. A bench is smashed in half. The windows to the stores are broken. You see a few stores that you recognize: a small Interstellar Cellar, a Fanny's Fab Fabrics, and a big Galactic Market. There are some other local stores here as well.
The jazz player that you met yesterday is having trouble keeping up with your pace. "Eh? Hurry up, Jazz Man! You're slowing me down."
Tux cracks a smile. "Sorry, Macho Man, but I have a health condition. I just need a quick breather. Let's stay and look around here for a while, why don't we?"
It would be good to stock up before you go. Your canteen is half empty, and your down to your last two rations. The street is empty. It is midday.
Tuxedo:You're having trouble breathing now. The pace you've been going is way too fast, and the cold wind isn't making breathing any easier. What street is this? You don't think you've shopped here before. Mostly you've done your shopping in Maple Avenue, but that place is crawling with infected. You see a bunch of shops here, intergalactic and local.
You can't keep up with this man anymore. You stop and catch your breath. "Eh? Hurry up, Jazz Man! You're slowing me down."
"Sorry, Macho Man, but I have a health condition. I just need a quick breather. Let's stay and look around here for a while, why don't we?" you reply with a smile.
This would be a good chance for you to slow down. You could probably use some food as well. It's midday right now.
Donove:Health: Good, cold
Thoughts: Sane
Needs: Full
Inventory:
Sports shoes
Hoodie
Track pants
Bag of cheetos
Water bottle
Nikolai:Health: Good, cold
Thoughts: Sane
Needs: Full
Inventory:
Leather shoes
Polo
Pants
2 Protein Bars
2 Water bottles
Canned peanuts
Michelle:Health: Good, cold
Thoughts: Sane
Needs: Full
Inventory:
T-shirt
Skirt
Loafers
3 Thick Jackets
Canned beans
Canned peanuts
Milos:Health: Good, cold
Thoughts: Sane
Needs: Full
Inventory:
Combat boots
Bullet-proof vest
Track jacket
Track pants
.24 Blaster (9/9) (2 clips left)
2 Rations
Tuxedo:Health: Out of breath, cold
Thoughts: Sane
Needs: Full
Inventory:
Tuxedo
Suit Pants
Walking cane
Water bottle
Canned soup