Off-Topic: he already has a pistol, The R Man.

Day 24

There was some explosions in the middle of the night. Luckily our makeshift bunker has been started and we were testing it out for the night. I tell the kids to stay back and get out of our actual home, then head outside.

Two helicopters found their way to our city, while a jet screams overhead and launches a missile at a third, which explodes instantly. Security, no doubt. The remnants of one helicopter are sinking. The other has crashed into yet another two MG nests, on fire. Only one guy crawls out, and is bleeding profusely. The crowd screams in outrage, realizing it is Zeke. He wants mercy. One man gives him mercy in the form of a full machine pistol magazine. This particular machine pistol has a drum magazine.

When all sixty bullets have made their angered arguments to Zeke, the crowd cheers. A high-ranking man grabs Zeke's radio and heads off, while a team of other members throw his body into the water. He sinks like a rock.

It turns out Zeke was disobeying direct orders by attacking Container City. Some commander who held a really strong grudge against him got permission to give the order to completely erase all records of the traitors' existence, both in terms of records and actually living. I shudder at the revelation. Talk about a dishonorable discharge.

Our boss tells half of the labor force to work on the MGs and sends the rest off to build bunkers under their homes. Thankfully, I have already started on ours. Because our crate is on top of another one, I simply had to burn a small hole through ours. It's not a very far drop, and the hole's too small for any of us to fall through in our sleep, so I don't have worries about one of us falling and getting injured badly. I get everything polished as well as possible to lower the chances of any infections due to rust. Now all that's left to do is barricade the bottom crate and find some supplies. I hope I can get some epi-pens for our bunker. I'm not so certain about food or ammunition.

Off topic: okay hold on. What’s with the helicopter attacking a hospital? I’m not trying to screw anyone’s creative genius, but that doesn’t exactly follow the story… Ed Stern (I think) said that this was NOT hero cops versus terrorists, or freedom fighters versus oppressive police force.

It seems like the security is being put in a bad light. They would never attack a hospital: in one of the videos they say: “weapons cold, in and out before they know we are here, Do Not fire unless fired upon.” I get that my post(s) are not perfect and I’m sorry if I’m being a jerk, but shouldn’t we try to stick to the original story?


Edit:@Dark,# 28 : Okay. I just thought we were trying to stay true to the story.

Day 25

i noticed the two guys in black that were talking to Zeke a while back on top a building, i wonder if they are spying on us as their equipment is far too well kept. i decided to tell my boss about it, he yelled at me "Where are they! And Why didn't you bring it up sooner?!", Startled i replied "didn't know who they were, just was suspicious..." My boss stormed out of the warehouse and looked around, the two guys were gone, but as he was walking back into the building, i noticed a worried look on his face. i asked him who they were, which he replied "Securities Wet Work Crew, we got to hurry and finish our stuff and hide it before they get a reason to clean us." I asked about the "Zeke Incident" which he replied "it must have been some mission to wipe everyone out, which Zeke failed and they covered it up with it being disobeyed orders." Curiously i replied "how do you know this?" he replied "I saw them do this stuff when i used to be security, but left because of insubordination."

This is starting to get really bad, going to stock up on food and ammo when i can...



@Hickory: We are just rolling with the story, i answered this as a "black ops clean up"

Day 26:
We took down a few MG nests today at work, the boss says that we need to "Expand our lines."
we were able to get most of them back up by the end of the end of the day.
I don't know if two absent guns will be too much of a problem, hopefully it doesn't turn out to be.

On my way home this afternoon i think i saw a Security scout
this tiny guy was jumping across the rooftops effortlessly, he had a camera in hand,
stopping to take pictures of the 'street' every few rooftops.
He jumped over my path, off the wall of a container, again off another, and right in front of me.
It wore a green mask, and looked at me with it's little yellow eyes.

what do i do, what do i do, what do i do?!
I was too scared to move,

His radio fizzed on,
"Bug! Regroup 2 klicks East of base A.S.A.P "
I remained frozen, as I watched it gradually work it's way back up the roof,
He stopped at the top, gave me a sort of peace-sign/salute kind of thing
then dropped something down to me, and He was long gone before it fell in my hands

it was some sort of machinery, very small, and in incredible working condition
I found nearby market that was still open and asked the cashier what it was,
he called it a "gun-buff" and demonstrated how it could be inserted into a gun to make it more powerful,
of course he asked me where i got it and if i wanted to sell it,
i refused and told him i just found lying on the ground, it didn't seem like he believed me, but he did not question
it anymore.
I can't believe that someone from the security would just toss me such a valuable thing without thought.
But it still worries me, how far was this scout from his base?
why did he need to regroup?
and if I would have to use this gun buff sooner than expected?

OffTopic (again): I was hoping someone had read my post on the avatar background story, and realized I was trying to reference my character (Zeke BTW)... lol, cool story though.

Day 27

Well, I started fiddling with that "gun-buff", I'm completely confused with this thing. I imagined it would help push the bullet through the barrel at a faster pace, and cause it to be more effective, but it hasn't shown much change from the un-buffed pistol. Several neighbours questioned where I got it, and I refused to say anything to prevent looking suspicious.

Jack wants to learn how he can help build a better shelter, I laughed, then I realized that I haven't laughed or really had a moment of happiness (except getting Rebecca out of the hospital where I can keep her safe) since I been on this ARK. It made me think for several minutes if theres anything out there. I taught Jack how to put in metal groves around the doors to keep them from being loose, it made them heavier, and I think it may be a problem if we need to get into the shelter quickly, I might tear it down, but Jack seems proud that we were able to build something quite so effective.

The nighttime was quiet, me and Rebecca sat on the roof, just talking... she took me about Dr. McCloed, the appearance she explained sounded like Zeke... but, I don't think it was him, she explained Zeke as friendly, and caring person. I repressed my thoughts on the previous events, and almost felt sorry for Zeke... almost

Side note
Actually, you know what? Why am I even using this damn journal? Everyday I write in it and I don't even know why, maybe its helping keep my sanity, or maybe even somewhere in my mind I think one day, someone will find this journal and record everything that happened on the ARK after all this is over. Well, I guess I can take a few days without this damn book. I'm gonna spend it on something else.

Day 28.

Off Topic: Well since Blaven put that he won't write in it for a few days then I guess I'll put it back on the post number, so I'll try and take a stab at it.

Day 32

I guess I should start writing in this journal again.

The past 5 night that I didn't write in this journal were filled with more and more gunfire. One night I hear a cry for help outside of my "home." I get up and look outside and see a kid probably 16 or 17 years old shot and bleeding from the arm. I take him in and try to find something to cover up his wound. Luckily I find a piece of cloth lying around outside, I take it in and patch him up as well as I can. Things get quiet after that and I take a good look at him. He has a mohawk, a pair of shorts on with a shirt and some shoes, kneepads, and he cut two tires in half an strapped them on his shoulders. I was curious so I asked him if he was part of all that gunfire out there, he said yes. I asked him what his name was he said he couldn't remember, but people called him "Dude." I asked him why he couldn't remember, he said his boat crashed here 2 years ago when he was 14 years old. When he awoke from the crash a man came up to him and asked for his name, he couldn't remember. When he got up, he looked to his right and saw his parents dead. I asked how he knew it was his parents, he replied that he saw their faces before the crash. Then my final question was why he fought, he stated that there was nothing worth living for if he didn't have a family so he risks his life in the fighting.

I feel bad for the kid, and wonder what I would be like if I lost Rebecca and Jake.

Would I be like Dude?

Off Topic: That was my stab at the journal thought I did pretty well imo :biggrin:

Day 33

I let the Dude stay the night to heal his wounds, the Dude thanked me for letting him lay low in the shelter, so he gave me a few bullets for my pistol, and told me that the gun buff needed to be installed into the clip of the gun. It turns out the gun buff makes the barrel of the gun more heated causing the bullets to almost become fiery, not exactly turning the bullets into incendiary ammo, but just heating the bullets causing them to rip through Kevlar and flesh more easily. Hell, the entire gun seems to glow.

I decided to work extra hours at work, hoping to each alittle extra money towards something to keep the kids busy, they just always seem bored. I was working on a new sentry blueprint with a couple of my co-workers we decided on calling it "level 2 sentry", I know its not very creative but we plan on having 3 different turrets, a level 1, a level 2, and a level 3.

My boss called into a small room with a few crates, three chairs, and a painting on the ARK before the people like me (refugees) got here, seeing that picture made me realize many of the people on the ARK would be better off if we left the ARK... but then my boss told me to sit down, and a rather large man locked the door behind me. My boss told me that I was fired for bringing the Security forces to our doorstep, I stood up in reaction to this news, but the large man grabbed my shoulders, and pushed me down back into my seat. I calmed myself and then told them I haven't done anything to attract the security's attention, my boss told me that the 2 men that were watching me awhile ago, were high ranking scouts, and they saw me talking to Zeke awhile ago, and they were apparently trying to get me to talk about what Zeke had said to my daughter... I should probably talk to her later. My boss thanked me for my help over the days, and the new blueprints, and then he gave me enough money to purchase something for the kids. I was quickly thrown out of the room, and I left the site clutching the money I was given, my former co-workers looked at me from above the railings with anger, god what have I ever done to anger everyone?

I went through the marketplace looking for something for the kids, I found an old board game called "Mono-pally" or something. The kids seem to love the game, I've been reading this book I picked up called "Of Mice and Men", its about some two farm workers in the old times, they talked weird and I had to re-read lines several times. But its a good story, even though its missing pages and hard to understand.

The kids have gone to bed and I haven't slept yet.. I've been thinking about what has happened over the last few weeks. I could've sworn I saw Ivan walking around outside, I got my clothes on, and walked outside to speak with him, but as I walked to where I last saw him everything went white... I think it was a flashbang cause my ears were ringing, and several people wearing kevlar vests ran by into the street I lived on, I couldn't do anything cause the guy in the green mask was sitting maybe 4 feet away from me. He told me just to keep my head down, they didn't plan on hurting anyone. I watched as they cuffed several people I only knew as neighbours, and walked off with them, the man in the green mask talked into his radio and told his squad not to enter my home... I wonder why they went into all the houses but mine... I got up and the man in the green mask gave me a salute gesture, and said "You keep them kids safe, bud." I got up and walked back into my house and instantly fell asleep. My god what am I gonna do?

Day 34

My ears still ringing from last night, the kids keep trying to tell me all of their new games and stories, i keep telling them to slow down or speak up... Since i got let go from the warehouse i need to find another job to keep food on the table or lack there of, i wonder why that guy keeps helping me or keep me from getting in trouble (though he did get me fired...)

the "city" so to speak is kind of vacant since that recent raid, people give me bad looks, do they think that i ratted them out, i hope they don't try to get back at me by going after my kids...

Ivan is gone again, i wonder why he came back and where he went, the dude who was staying at my house is gone and left at the same time as Ivan, i am alone with my kids who still don't know what is going on, unless the two guys that were talking with Zeke told something to Becca, hmm... maybe that is what all of this is about, it seems when those two show up bad things happen, i mean Zeke seemed really nice until those two showed up and he went psycho...

Got word of another job, though it seems like everyone wants the job, maybe my time working on stuff and building armor may give me the edge on getting that job. As i was walking to the site to see what job it was, i was confronted by two giant black guys, they seemed intimidating with all of the band-aids and cuts on their face, they didn't seem like the others with their clothing still in good shape. They spoke to me, "you looking at getting the Job? you kinda small but you might be able to do it...." the other cut him off "think he can lift those mounts, the dude is a pip-squeak, hell bug is barely able to, and he is a workout maniac."

I replied to them "i need the money, i don't care what it is, i want that job, i can build anything, and put it together, i need that job..." they looked at me and laughed, "i see why bug tells us that he has never seen anyone work so hard for money, well go talk to that guy." they pointed and there was one of those guys in black, and he wasn't wearing his mask...

I approached him, he looked at me, and replied "What can you do, we got a lot of Rambos, Swedes, Medics, and Bugs, what can you give us?" I was trembling as his scars really showed his story, a total hardcoe soldier, I replied "Rambo? Swede? Bugs?" which he answered "Soldiers, Big guys, Operatives" i told him i can build stuff, which he gazes at my stature, and replies "we could use you, see you at 0500 hours." I didn't know what to think, what does he mean 0500, am i going somewhere, he didn't tell me where. as I was leaving i could overhear the two big guys arguing and that "guy in black" told them "shut it, you pair of lummoxes." which they immediately stood at attention. I am wondering what i just got myself into and if i just risked my children's lives.....

Day 35

I couldn't sleep. I kept tossing and turning. Eventually I wake up my kids, tell them daddy's got a very early morning job, and tell them to stay in the bunker for the day. I don't know what I did, but it's not worth using my children as guinea pigs to see how much they really hate me.

Turns out I got out just in time. No one is moving. The city is dead silent, with the occasional breaking of waves on whatever crates are still afloat. I spot a big burly dark-skinned man who looks like a bouncer of sorts with a deep blue shirt and pants. He's got sunglasses on, even though the sun is barely breaking out of the dark clouds. He knows I'm the guy he's looking for. With a slight nod he walks off, and I follow cautiously.

He leads me to a water camouflaged boat with two other guys in it. One is some tan-skinned guy who looks like a sort of cop. The other guy is none other than the green-masked fellow, the Bug. The men say nothing until I get in the boat, and when I'm in, everyone pulls out stored paddles and begin rowing. I think they expect me to do the same, but before I check underneath my seat for a paddle the cop grabs me at the shoulder. "You're gonna need those arms. You ain't got none," he says in a rough accent.

When we are far away from the Container City, the Bug talks. He tells me there are other Container City civilians with me, and that we're not doing anything directly related to the war. He asks how I got into this stuff, and I reply that I lost my job because I failed to report Security sightings. I'm not too pleased about the fact that these guys are all Security and that I got fired because of them. But upon hearing this, none of them are either.
"Frick, man. We never intended any of this." That was the cop guy.
"You'd think that our man here would be promoted or something for ratting on us." I don't see why the Bug would think that to be a good thing. Their lives were at stake.
"Is he at risk for helping us out?" The cop seems genuinely concerned.
"Probably." The Bug's tone is neutral, even though he was quite helpful before.
"You know what you're signing up for, buddy?" The cop turns to me.

I honestly don't know.

"This is serious crap. I don't know why we have to involve civilians in this." The cop tells me something I haven't heard before.
The Bug is silent.
The cop is silent.
The bouncer is silent. But he's been like that to begin with.
I'm just worried about what I have to build.

We finally reach the mainland dock. A lot of the workers are giving me shifty looks. The shoddy "clothing" would obviously make them suspicious, but they say nothing. Eventually, as we head further inland, making a few turns here and there in the quiet streets, we come across what appears to be an empty apartment complex. Later I would find that every house had some sort of armed Security member in it and that had I gone alone, I would have been mowed down in a split second.

The Bug enters the complex and knocks on the floor. A panel opens and some Security guys let us in before they head off. The supervisor there acquaints me with some other civilians, and for once I am glad to see people with improvised clothing as well. I'm redirected with another guy to an assembly line of armor, and the kind that's actually not made from scrap metal. It takes a little while to get used to the modernized machinery, and a couple of failed attempts have resulted in a waste in precious resources, but in the end I learn how to get things done. We finished twelve suits of armor in one day. That's plenty more than what the Resistance can do. In addition I get better rations and nicer water. Working here has its benefits, but I know that if I keep this up I will eventually be discovered and hunted down.

At the end of the day, as the workers pack up to go, the Bug and a few of his friends drop by to take us home. Seeing my failed attempts, he points at them and asks the supervisor if the workers can get their hands on them. The supervisor says yes, and in a matter of seconds what scraps of failed armor I made are being treasured by the civilians, including me. I get the feeling that the Bug is a really high-ranking person if he gets to do things like this for us. It's really late into the night when we get out, and I feel the stress. I hope the kids are okay.

As soon as we workers get off and the boats silently depart, I rush back to my crate. The kids are all right, thankfully, albeit bored out of their minds. I tell them today has been quite cool before I start nodding off to sleep. When I get the time I need to weld these messed-up armor pieces to the inside of my clothes. Maybe they'll act as excellent body armor.

Day 36

starting the second day at the new workshop, and tension seems to be even bigger since Bug was tellin' me that the big bosses are coming... I am guessing we have to work extra hard, the other workers seem very shaky, but i don't want to give the security any reason to "fire" me. as we arrive the bouncer seems still resilient as ever, but upon closer inspection he is sweating bullets, this is getting serious.

Inside of the warehouse, everyone is working like mules, non stop, we were able to get a couple breaks. during one of my breaks, i saw Bug talking to the guy that gave me my job and overheard one of their conversations: Bug approaches the guy in black "What up Voodoo?" Voodoo replies "SPOT Check, making sure you knuckle heads are producing quality armor for the troops." Bug laughs "Yeah, a few duds but average of 12 top quality armors for you rich kids" and i saw a smirk on Voodoo's face which seemed to show a scar across cheek reaching his ear. As Voodoo was walking away, one of the workers bump into him, i thought the worker was good as dead, but without even saying a word, Voodoo stops and helps the worker up. This surprised the worker who replied "thank you sir" , and he replied "don't want to impede your important work on protecting your fellow citizens." I quickly finished my break and got back to work, which seemed a little less tense after witnessing that exchange. We ended up producing double what we did yesterday, Bug approached the supervisor asked him to give double the amount of rations and water for all of the hard work. I am starting to wonder why they are perceived as evil, but to think of all of the raids they do, maybe people don't see the good things they do.

As we leave from the warehouse Voodoo orders the bouncers to grab me and a couple workers, i recognized them as a couple workers that also worked with me at the resistance warehouse. Are they Interrogating me? What do they want to know? Does it have to do with Rebbecca? They separated us and i watched as they threw the first of other workers in the room, I could hear the yelling but it was all muffled by the room. The worker left crying and a little bruised, my hands started to rattle the chair i was sitting in, the soldiers grabbed me by the collar and tossed me like a bag of potatoes into the room. I get up off the floor and Voodoo yells "Sit The Hell Down!!!" scared i follow his orders, he then drills me "What do you know about Ivan?" "Where did he go?" "What Does He Do For Them?!" stuttering I tell "I d-d-d-don't know he-he-he's is my neighbor." Voodoo yells back "Bull [censored], you know what he does, you know who he is, Who The [censored] Is HE!?" I yell back "I Don't Know!!" Voodoo yells "Get this guy out of here, he doesn't know anything, debug him and send him home with extra days ration." Kicks me out of the room which felt like it almost broke a rib, but i was relieved that they didn't kill me, but it made me wonder...

What Bug?
Who Bugged me?
Who is Ivan really?

I went back home a lot later than yesterday and my kids still seemed like normal bored as ever but were happy to see the amount of food i brought home tonight....

Day 37

I woke up and started toward the door when Jack fidgeted. He woke up and looked at me for a while, then asked me why I came home so late. I told him work has been really hard lately, and I think he bought it, since he went straight to sleep afterwards.

When I got to the boat, I noticed the bouncer had gotten a bruised eye. He tried to hide it behind his sunglasses and I didn't ask him about it, lest he show me how he got it. The boat trip was almost completely silent - no one said a word and everyone had a grim look on thier face.

Work was fast and uneventful, and we managed 21 suits of armor before the day was done. The supervisor said if we kept up this quick rate of production, each of us could keep a full suit of armor, but not today. He said "his comrades needed more for the preperation". I'm deeply disturbed - for what are they preparing for?

On the way to the boat home, the bouncer stopped me. He asked me if I had any weapons. I wasn't sure what to say, since they might confiscate my pistol if I told them about it, so I said no. He grunted and walked away, and came back with a moderately rusty revolver. He put it in my hand and said "Keep it. You never know when you might need it." I thanked him, and walked to the boat as fast as I could without running at full speed.

Why in the world would they give me a revolver?
What would have happened if I confessed about my pistol?
Are they planning something?

I came home to find Jack and Rebecca already asleep. I took out the revolver and examined it. It was a silver color, with patches of rust on the handle. On the side, a name was engraved - "Caesar". I hid it in the bunker and tried to sleep. All the questions kept me up for hours.

Day 38

Tension, tension, tension. That's all this day was. The boat is cramped and the mood is one of fear; apparently something has gone very wrong with extracting some of us. That's not hard to judge when the civilians look around abruptly and the barrels of Security weapons are smoking. I ask them what went on but none of the Security guys reply.

Work is a sudden job. Some massive maintenance bot has been wrecked by a few grenades, as well as a few Molotov cocktails. We needed to replace any destroyed mechanisms with functional ones as well as install a new front and arm system. It wasn't an easy task. The whole day was spent reinstalling new parts and welding on new plates of refined metal. As I finish welding one, I knock on it to test its sturdiness. The Resistance would need at least twelve pieces of sheet metal to match the durability of this thing.

A pair of new treads, fifteen new CPUs, thirty-two steel plates, four new gears, a 40-HP battery motor, several push guards, and a new cutting arm later, the bot is complete. The result is absolutely astonishing, though I know that it still won't stand to the punishment it endured in the first place. What it will be used for is something I'm not certain, though I have a bad hunch about its purpose. I don't know what it did before and I don't think I will ever know.

On the boat ride home the Bug speaks up. "You guys got arms?" he asks.
Some of the guys shake their head no. I don't say anything, but the bouncer knows that I've got a gun already.
The cop pulls out a little box from under his seat. Inside are a few very clean and pristine handguns. Some ammunition is in a separate section of the crate.
"Keep 'em very close by your side." The cop has an uncertain look on his face. "You're gonna need 'em."
I reach in to grab some clips, but the bouncer grabs my hand. When I glance up in shock, he hands me a speed reloader and a pouch of heavy ammunition. "Those bullets won't work," he says in the deepest voice I've ever heard.
A guy looks at me. "You got another gun?"
Uncertainly, I pull out the revolver. He whistles. "I've worked on guns in another part of town and I've only had the pleasure of working with that beauty twice before," he tells me in an odd country accent. "You keep that safe now."

When we land I tell the kids to hide in the bunker, while I sleep on the top crate. Something's going down and I don't like it. I pull out the rusty old pistol and the revolver, and I load both. I put the buffing system in the revolver. I think it'll pose a hefty sidearm. I spend the night working on trying to install any scrap armor, Security factory or not, because I don't want to be sleeping when something happens.

Day 39

Another day off was a welcomed treat. Between the long hours and being to paranoid to sleep well I felt haggard. I looked at my reflection in the water and grimaced at around day break. I looked as bad as I felt and it was a very large wake up that I needed some serious sleep. The kids spent the day playing that board game quietly, it was second nature for them now to stay quiet because they know how dangerous it could get around here. After working on my armor for most of the last night I passed out on my bed after my walk to the water. I woke up at around six pm. It was needed but my nerves still felt frayed. I told the kids I was heading out and without asking they went to get into the bunker. I gave them both bear hugs before I went though. This had all been hard on them as well. I told them I was sorry again and left. I decided it was best to leave my revolver at home in the bunker. I have been teaching Jack how to hold a gun, he's young but its a very different world and being young sadly no longer excuses you from the horrors that life can bring to you. The pistol I found I had hidden in my armor in a secret compartment. With that out of the way I went to the only place in the slums that sold drinks.

I drank what the bar owner laughably called quality booze. It tasted like feet and dirt and was about as smooth as broken glass. Still after drinking two glasses I felt myself calm down and relax for the first time in awhile. A woman sat adjacent to me in the bar. She was certainly cute and it had been awhile since I saw a woman that didn't look like a muddy old hag, come to think of it I hadn't seen many women at all. She smiled at me and I back but decided that I shouldn't really be involved with anyone, even for a night. If something happened to my kids because I was off having a good time I'd never forgive myself. I walked out the rusty old door and turned around to see her smile faded as she looked at me. I gave her an apologetic look and had a quiet walk home. The kids were sleeping under their blanket in the bunker together. I changed the Revolver back for the pistol in my armor and now its time to get to sleep.

Day 40

While walking to the boat, I got the odd feeling someone was watching me. I turned around, and I could have sworn I saw Ivan staring at me for a second. By the time I tried to focus on where he was, he was gone. I spent a few seconds staring at where he was, then heard some running behind me. I started to get paranoid and sprinted full speed to the boat. I think I even reached for my revolver, but I don't quite remember. When I got there, I told the bouncer I was being followed, and he swore at me, saying I shouldn't have led them here. He and the Bug had a look around, but didn't find anything, or anyone. However, the Bug did notice a Barrett light rifle dropped on a rooftop. He said it was pointed at the boat, that someone was going to take a shot. The bouncer stared at the rooftop where the rifle was, and asked me if I knew how to fire my revolver. I said I needed a lot more practice, that I couldn't handle it well. We got on the boat rather quickly.

After a few nervous hours of making armor, the Bug interrupted us - he said there was something to be done. I started to object, but I figured he must have had a really good reason to stop armor production. He led us to a firing range, where he told us to take out our guns, but to keep them pointed down. He then asked which of us could shoot. Only one person raised his hand, but when he noticed he was the only one, he nervously started to put it down. The Bug said it was OK, that he would teach us all to shoot.

Two large people dressed in armor from head to toe brought in scarecrows, one for each of us. The Bug then told us to shoot the targets, and to take our time. I braced myself and fired my revolver, but it was so much stronger than the old pistol I had that it literally flew out of my hands. I heard several of the officers laugh hysterically. I tried again, bracing myself even further, but the kick almost broke my elbow. I figured it must be the gun buff I put in earlier. I tried two more times, but I didn't have any sucess. Afterwards, when everyone ran out of bullets in thier magazine (Some people didn't know what was going on and continued pulling the trigger. All I could hear was non-stop clicks and laughing officers), we inspected our targets. I had actually hit twice out of four shots, but at a range of 20 feet, I had a lot of practice ahead of me.

We practiced a few more rounds, with some men coming in and giving everyone fresh clips in between. The Bug then sent us home, but not before giving us the brand-new sets of armor we were just working on before the "break". Some people tried it on immediately and fell in love with it. I'm not sure what I should do with mine, since I know the neighbors would quickly mob me if I wore Security armor.

When the boat dropped us off, we started toward our homes when the bouncer told us with great urgency in his voice "Whatever you do, sleep with your gun and do not come to work tomorrow. You got that?" I nodded yes, and walked back to my house. I was far too worried about what was going on. Free armor, two days off, firing lessons...

I got home to find Jack playing the monopoly board game by himself. Rebecca was asleep. I took the time to try and learn how to play, but Jack fell asleep mid-game, so that was the end of that.

Day 41

The beginning of the day was for the most part uneventful. I wanted to take a walk but with that whole possibly getting killed by a sniper thing that happened yesterday I decided to stay in. The bug showed up a few hours after dark outside my house and I invited him in quickly. My kids were a bit timid and stayed behind me at first. After I introduced the bug to my kids, they warmed up to him relatively fast. He told me that two of the usual workers simply vanished and one was found shot dead in his bed. Sadly their was no place for the kids to go and not hear this conversation and they looked at me terrified. The bug suggested that me and the kids actually move to a place much closer to work on the security area of the Ark. He could see I was having conflicting thoughts about this. He explained that I could still remain neutral in all this but they just wanted to protect their workers better and living in a slum may not end well for us as it had not for the others. He made a convincing argument. He also told me that the security have a school and that it is of course much safer and cleaner over on their side of this floating world.

I looked over at my kids and saw their dirty faces and tired demeanor. They hated being here as much as I did. The bug informed me the place was already set up so whenever I wanted to leave but preferably soon. Knowing that all my neighbors and who knows what else wants me dead I decided now was the best time to go. The kids and I gathered up our belonging what little we had and said goodbye to our rusty broken shelter we came to call home. The bouncer was waiting in the boat looking around carefully at the tops of buildings and we vanished off into the night. We arrived at a dock a little while longer than it typically takes to get to work. The bug brought us into our new home an actual place made of something other than rusty metal and tarps. Stone walls and a wooden floor with a carpet, it was in a semi crowded area and looked like this area used to be living quarters for maintenance many years ago but it was fantastic anyway. It even has indoor plumbing and working electricity. It was like the old world here and I did my best to fight back the tears of happiness. The bug could see it of course and looked humored by my reaction. The kids of course ran around full speed checking out the apartment and yelling their discoveries.

The bug mentioned that now I was in more security esq territory I should probably wear the armor that was given to me to better blend in with everyone else. The bug in his infinite kindness even gave my kids a bunch of new clothes. He mentioned that we should all probably take showers and pointed me over to a small room we had all missed that was actually a tiny bathroom. He told me that showers should be no longer than 5 minutes each and that it was reserved for once every three days at most. Still it was amazing rather than bathing in the ocean, which was gross. A nice hot shower and a warm actual bed. The kids still had to share a bed, this place was pretty small after all but no complaints from any of us, that's for certain. I thanked the bug for everything he had done for us and he even gave me tomorrow off to bring my kids to school and take in the sites, then he walked out the door waving while walking away into the darkness. Apparently he had enrolled them for me, how did he know I was going to accept this? Did I seem that desperate that he was able to plan ahead for me? I suppose I did feel that way though, must have been written all over my face.

Day 42

I woke up this morning, for the first time since we got on the ARK well rested, looked to see the kids still fast asleep, looked out the window to see the sun rising. Today seemed like an actual day for me, woke the kids up got them dressed in their new clothes.... I shed a couple of tears thinking if Sarah was around to see them go to school in nice clothes, Jack broke my moment of sadness with a big hug and kiss on the cheek which made me smile. Rebbecca immediately responded "What about me Daddy?" which i picked both of them up and said "I love you both."

As we walked outside of the house i was almost blinded by the cleanliness of the city we were in, slowly we walked over to the school and i was met by a school teacher. She looked at me then looked down to see my kids hiding behind my legs. The teacher greeted the kids "so you two must be our new students that the Lt. Col. enrolled." My kids immediately replied "you mean Mr. Bug?" and with a small chuckle the teacher responded "I guess that is what he likes to call himself." i was shocked that the school teacher talked about Bug like he was just another guy and knew what rank he was, hell i never heard anyone call Bug by his rank. She looked at me and said "so is this their first time at school?" i replied "no, this is the second school they have been to, the first was before we got on the ARK." Which she then responded "hopefully they aren't too far behind and they are going to be in good hands." and instinctively i replied "I can tell..." which then i caught myself flirting, made me very embarrassed but as i looked at her i noticed a nice smile. before she could say anything the school bell rang and she brought the kids into class, I yelled over the bell "what time do they finish?" and she replied "1300"..

I decided to go to the local range in the area, to try and get used to the buffed up revolver. When i brought the pistol to the target range i could see people look at me like i was doing something wrong, then the supervisor came over to me and said "this range is too small for your pistol, use the one nearby.." I looked dumbfounded and glanced in the direction he was pointing and saw that he was pointing at a security range instead of a public range. I responded "why is the range to small?" he replied "you put a gun buff in it right? well you need to get help from guys that use those all the time."

I proceeded to the range and fire a couple shots, i seemed to keep making the same mistakes like yesterday, which a hulking man walked over and asked "you even know what your shooting?" I replied "not really.." He grabbed the gun held it for a couple seconds then returned it, and said "that is the Caesar model, 10mm, with a gun buff." I looked at him still clueless, which then he said "since it is a big caliber revolver, you should hold it differently, your letting your arms shoot, not your body." and proceeded to help me hold the weapon and fix my stance. He replied "try it now, i think it will be easier to manage." I proceeded to shoot all of the rounds in the cylinder and i looked at the target. 4 of the 6 were in the chest and the last 2 seemed to drop lower. I looked back at the man and said "thanks, who are you?" which he replied "they say i am a freak about guns and stuff, so they call me The Freak." He left the range and i continued to practice for a couple hours before i proceed back to the school.

I arrived at the school 10 minutes early and saw several families waiting, they looked at me then started to greet me. it went well till the last couple looked at me, and the husband spoke "How was the range?" I was a little puzzled until he said "I can smell the gun powder, how was the range?" I replied "it was okay, still new to it." which he ended the conversation "good." I wonder if he was trying to think if i was in security or something, but the school bell rang and kids bolted out of the doors, screaming running into the parents arms and i looked through the flood, and see my kids looking around for me. I proceeded to wave and they rushed over to me, nearly knocking me over yelling "Miss Erickson is the greatest." and i looked up to see her smiling, she proceeded to say "take good care of them, they are very bright." I wonder if I should continue to be flirtatious or not...

Off topic: I may have missed it but did we give them an age?
Day 43

I'm glad to see the kids have something to wake up for! They love school; they tell me of stories that they read, how to multiply and divide fractions, kids they met... Jack was teasing Rebbecca about a boy she was talking to, she was red in her face and I laughed... Sarah, our kids finally have a good sense of hope...

Bump due to correction.

See he fixed it. I'm glad you noticed dude. Also no we never gave them an age but we mostly refer to them as young. So chances are 10 to thirteen I would imagine. That's just what I always pictured them as. Jack I imagined as thirteen and Rebbecca like a year or two younger.

same here, if they were any younger, it would make it harder for him to leave the children at the house...

Must be some odd society if they are 11 and 13.

Off Topic: to get back on topic...

Day 44:
Raining today, everything seems so peaceful though for some reason...Well as peaceful as it can get around here. The gunfire and explosions had quited down and sounds further away, which is good for not just me, but Jack and Rebbecca. They seem to be in better moods too!

A few hours have passed, after that last message....And it turns out I was wrong about the "peaceful" aspect of things. Bug stopped by while I was at today, didn't say anything to me, he seemed to be upset with something ( I could tell by the way he was moving quick and tensed up). He and the Supervisor got into...something...Not my place to say, but something about harboring "them"
I gave him a smile and a "Hey, how have you been?"
He just nodded and said "Busy, I can't stop to chat, sorry."
I understand... I mean he seems like an important man...

Picked up Jack and Rebecca from school, and had another flirtatious encounter... Maybe I should ask her out? But then again, how would the kids feel? Or what if she shoots me down? Or, most likely, I'll just chicken out... Sarah, what should I do?

Day 45

Typical day of work, everyone is in pretty good moods and their is a certain calmness about it, although we are of course working hard as always. I heard talk that some of the Resistance leaders were caught but who knows really. I just want this place to be stable for myself and my kids. If this place goes down in flames the chances of us surviving again and finding a place as good as this is practically nothing as far as I'm concerned. I feel funny saying as good as this place. I'm in a place in the middle of a civil war and go to sleep to the occasional sound of gunfire and such but this is as about as good as I feel were going to get for now at least. On my lunch break I picked up the kids and Miss Erickson came out with them again. The kids gave me quick hugs and waited near me while I talked to her. After the usual small talk she said something like "Since you seem to be shy I'll pick you up tomorrow at eight, hows that sound?" The kids looked at me first stunned but after a quick moment off talking it out amongst themselves Rebbecca gave me the thumbs up. With my kids approval I graciously accepted and I dropped them off at home before swinging over to an actual deli to grab some lunch before rushing back to work.

The bug came up to obviously seeing the happiness all over my face and asked me what was with the large grin. I told him and he chuckled and said "good for you man". It really pays to be working for security, if I had known it was this good I would have tried harder to get a job with them from the start! Oh well live and learn and all that. After work the kids were waiting at the door and after some dinner they told me it was okay to date again for the second time. They understood that I wanted some company and they knew what I had been going through so they okayed it. I was amazed at my own kids having this level of maturity. I'm not sure if it is this whole growing up in a new far harsher world that made them like this, but whatever it was I'm happy about it. Anyway I should turn in early, got a big day ahead of me tomorrow.

Day 46:
Last night the gun fire was present as always, though this time it was different. This time it was closer. closer than it had ever been, even when i was on the refugee side of the ark. I think i could hear the occasional screams. They were light because of the distance, but still present. This was worrying for me. What were they doing? here i was on the founders side, thinking it was safe because of the clean and tidy look, well at least in comparrison to Container City. I guess this goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover.

The morning was alright, there was no gunfire, it ussually doesn't carry through to the morning anyway. Miss Erickson told me she was looking forward to tonight during the regular small talk we have before i had to leave my children and go to work. When i got to work the bug was talking to two men i hadn't seen before. He looked tired, well atleast his body expressions told he was tired. I did not say hi to him, it looked like the conversation he was having was important. We worked hard through the day on the armours. We made 4 more than our previous best and when the bug came back to our workshop at the end of the day he was quite pleased with the work we had done. He told us that we could have another ration increase and i was happy that i would have more food for my family, not that we didnt have enough, the rations were much better on the founders area of the ark.

As 8 o'clock drew nearer i became more and more nervous. It was my first date in a long time, though when she arrived my butterflies seemed to dissapear. She looked great. The night was fun and the conversations seemed to flow well.When i dropped here off at her house i was nervous again though, i wasn't really sure what to do, it was my first date since Sarah. I think she new that it had been a while since my last date and when she said goodbye and thanked my for a great night before walking into her home. After she closed the door i looked down at the new watch i bought, seeing as my other was stolen. It read 11 o'clock, it was later than i thought, i had to get home soon so i could get my children to bed.

About halfway back to my house, i heard some gunfire in the distance. When i heard it i was instantly worried about my children and began to walk faster and faster. I had almost built up into a sprint before something happened that made me stop. A thin man crashed into me, knocking me over and then kept running, without looking back. I did not want to follow but something made me, i dont know what. When i turned the corner that the man had just turned i saw who it was, he was standing there looking straight at me. It was the hooded man, The Anger was what he was called. Our eyes met for a few seconds before he turned and ran away with the agility of a cat. I stood there frozen for a few seconds before the bug showed up, stopping right nexto to me, panting. He told me i should not be out this late, its not as safe as i would think. He then escourted me home.