FLASHBACK: WA - WDC - The Sanctuary - Outside (Day 170-?)

[DarkSideCookie]

Washington DC - 'The Sanctuary'

The Saviors' camp named 'The Sanctuary', located in Washington DC.

Events start taking place on Day 170, the building not completely developed yet.

[DarkSideCookie]

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Day 170

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[Ariel]

"Stand up straight...extend your arm...don't stick your chest out so much, okay?" A group of teenagers hung back behind Ingrid as she stood up beside Chase to instruct his stance, no younger than nineteen himself as he had an arrow drawn back into a bow the group had found along their travels. Not as shiny as Ingrid's, but it got the job done. The group had grown larger along the trio's travels, following Negan's calls and commands. At the realization that quite a few of the new teens in the group had no idea how to fight and defend themselves, Negan and Nora called in a favor to Ingrid to be the one to level with them and show them the ropes. The task made Ingrid roll her eyeballs inwardly, but if she could at least get these kids to grasp the basics then it wouldn't just benefit their own lives but the lives of the entire group in case they were to ever run into trouble. So, there they all stood in the thick of a wooded area outside of a compound they had newly discovered. Unsure of what to expect when they dive in to clear the building, but it looked like a solid foundation. Perhaps a place to finally settle their group? Ingrid had to make sure these kids were ready to face anything under any circumstances before Negan made the call to move in.

"How's this? Do my arms look flexed? Bet you if Tina saw how hot I look right now, she'd be sure to go out with me," Chase chirped cockily, his complexion melding into a sultry smolder. Ingrid's mouth gaped slightly in shock, slowly shaking her head back and fourth at him. Unbelievable... Ingrid thought inwardly as Chase turned his head to face the evil eye that was glaring back at him. "What's with the face?" Chase asked, yet he couldn't have asked quick enough before Ingrid's palm smacked up against the back of his head, "Ow! Hey!" Chase squealed, disarming his bow to rub the newly formed sore spot courtesy of Ingrid's firm reflexes.

"Take this seriously! Or don't do it at all and die in that compound. I'm trying to help you learn how to save yourself, not pick up chicks." ...Dick, Ingrid so badly wanted to say the last part out loud, yet kept it to herself. She had already yelled at him, no need to add salt to the wound. Or inflate his ego any more.

"Whatever you say, teacher." Chase threw the remark at Ingrid with heavily added sarcasm before loading the arrow once more, but this time following Ingrid's previous instructions. A moment of silence filled the air, only the rustling of the leaves dancing in the wind intruded before Chase let go of the arrow and allowed it to glide through the air, missing the target completely. Chase allowed the bow to fall at his hip as he frowned in disappointment, "Didn't work." Chase scoffed, kicking the dirt in front of him in defeat.

"Did you really think it was gonna be that easy?" Ingrid asked her class clown, placing her hands on her hips in an I told you so manner.

Chase shoved the bow back into Ingrid's hands, "You always made it look easy." Chase wallowed back behind Ingrid to rejoin the group that was awkwardly standing around, waiting for their turn. Ingrid sighed heavily, forgetting just how much of a task teaching archery to a group of teenagers was. Teenagers in the apocalypse were even more angsty. Could she really blame them? "Next!" Ingrid called, waiting for the next young contender to step up, knowing their time was coming to a short close before they were about to move into the unknown.

[Kristi Lynne]

They had been on the move for weeks since leaving the fort. They had picked up more people, more vehicles, and more weapons along the way. Negan seemed to have a way of inspiring strangers to join their group, and it was debatable whether that was due to his charisma or just being a better option than facing the uncertain world alone. While there was some strength in numbers, it also meant more mouths to feed, more civilians to defend, and spreading further resources that were already growing thin. 

They needed to find something more permanent, a place that they could fortify and build up. And they thought they might have found such a place in an abandoned steam plant by the highway. The huge building had the advantage of height, the possibility of generating its own power, and even land around it that could be used for planting crops. But the days spent watching and waiting had given them no clue what was inside. While Ingrid was busy teaching some of the younger members of their group a crash course in combat, Nora was leading a sort of war council in a large tent. 

"I don't like going in blind," she sighed, crossing her arms and regarding the makeshift 'map' on a picnic table in the center. They'd used random objects as markers, trying to figure out who and how they would approach the building. "If there's walkers inside, we've no idea how many. That's a lot of floors to clear with a limited amount of ammo. And if there's people living there...." Her voice trailed off, knowing how fiercely someone would protect what they had already laid claim to. No one was exactly in a negotiating mood these days.

Nora indicated one part of the map with her right hand and a second location with the other. "There's too much open space between the treeline and the main entrance," she explained. "Not to mention the barbed wire fencing around the perimeter. If they have shooters in the windows, we'll all be dead before we hit the door." 

[DarkSideCookie]

While each member of the group, meanwhile grown into a whole community, was dedicated to their own personal job, especially those with special training skills just like Ingrid and Nora, Negan had become the absolute monopoly for everything that required a decision. He had a wide range of knowledge, and for things he didn't have, he knew who to ask, which meant, in the end, the decision would still come from him and nobody else. However, this self-declared position at the very top of the ladder had built kind of a bridge between him and the rest of the group. While there were people who never reached out to him in person, there were some supposed to as often as possible, having to keep him briefed about everything going on. Ingrid and Nora were still his number one contacts, but the bossier Negan became, the more it seemed there was a bridge between the trio, too; One of emotional nature. He was their boss now, and he made no exceptions when showing authority.

Due to the job he'd given Nora, Negan was checking much more often on her than on Ingrid. He was not so keen to watch some clumsy teenagers swinging a bow. Nah, that was his sister's thing. He had enough trust in her abilities to leave that to her. Not that he hadn't in Nora's as well, but she was a lot closer at the front, with the planning and scheming, which was more important to him. Besides, Negan still seemed to reach out to her as often as he could; Something that hadn't changed. Anyways, they never had taken back up that thread, or rather, task that had almost happened between them. Did that make him stop thinking about it, though? Surely not.

Nora was in the middle of her council when Negan entered the tent, speaking up before she even could have given him a greeting, a habit that he had started to build over the last weeks. "Where are we standing?"

[Kristi Lynne]

"Where are we standing?"

Nora nodded to Negan in acknowledgement of his presence. "Still trying to come up with a brilliant entry plan that won't get us all killed," she advised. 

"Well, sounds like we need to get somebody in there to get the lay of the land," Dwight suggested.

"It's too dangerous," she stated.

He raised a hand to cut off her protest. "I've scoped out plenty of buildings. Negan, too," he added. "Better to risk one of us than all of us."

[Ariel]

Dismissing the kids, they began to disperse back into their little friend circles as Ingrid made her way towards the tent where the current meeting was happening. Seeing Negan disappear into the tent not much long ago, Ingrid felt like the meeting was most likely well underway and would be a perfect time for her to make her entrance. Approaching the tent, she lifted the loose entry flap over her head and emerged inside.

"Well, sounds like we need to get somebody in there to get the lay of the land," 
"It's too dangerous,"
"I've scoped out plenty of buildings. Negan, too," "Better to risk one of us than all of us."

Although the meeting had commenced, it sounded to Ingrid as if there were a lot of mixed feelings and ideas. The course of direction hadn't been set or solidified mainly because of the unknown they were about to dive into. And Ingrid knew she had dived into many unknowns along her journey thus far. "If someone needs to go, I volunteer," Ingrid interjected into the room full of arguing adults, "I've gotten close enough to see that there are a set of stairs that escalate upwards along the outside of the building. There are windows - I can sneak up and get a good look at what we're dealing with." Ingrid suggested, trying to make the decision making as easy as possible even if things might seem dangerous.

[DarkSideCookie]

While Negan was listening to everyone's ideas on their current situation, he actually preferred the one with risking one instead all of them. People were resources, so it was about losing as few as possible. Besides, since their group had emerged into a whole community, Negan had stopped forming emotional bonds. That was until Ingrid suggested herself to be the one to risk.

"If someone needs to go, I volunteer,""I've gotten close enough to see that there are a set of stairs that escalate upwards along the outside of the building. There are windows - I can sneak up and get a good look at what we're dealing with."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Negan intervened immediately, a hard expression on his features. "We need you here and can find somebody else for this job." This was another way to say that he cared too much for her to allow that she risked her life for this.

[Kristi Lynne]

"If someone needs to go, I volunteer. I've gotten close enough to see that there are a set of stairs that escalate upwards along the outside of the building. There are windows - I can sneak up and get a good look at what we're dealing with."

"I don't think that's a good idea. We need you here and can find somebody else for this job."

"Sorry, kid, but that's a no," Nora stated, echoing Negan's thoughts. "Anyway, we need you to lead any offensive action we decide to take." She didn't wish to dampen Ingrid's enthusiasm, but the girl was one of their best fighters and couldn't be risked on a recon mission. Plus she still had that youthful sense of invulnerability, thinking she wouldn't be the one to get hurt despite all they'd been through.

"There might be a way," Dr. Shaw quietly offered. The fort's former doctor had kept his head down and stayed busy among the group, mainly to escape Negan and Nora's wrath. He was far from forgiven but his presence was tolerated because of his much-needed medical skills. "Has anyone considered camouflage?"

"What kind of camouflage?" Nora asked.

"The dead -- they don't seem to notice one another. And if you were to look, smell, and move like them, you'd be able to walk among them. And get close to the building without drawing the attention of anyone inside."

"Sounds crazy, but it might work," Dwight remarked. "We get close enough, we could cut the fence and slip through it in one of the blind spots, here at the corners of the building."

[Ariel]

"Sorry, kid, but that's a no," "Anyway, we need you to lead any offensive action we decide to take."

Ingrid pursed her lips into a half frown as Negan and Nora both opposed her suggestion to go. Taking a step back in the conversation, she crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for a better idea, but she understood that they were right. If it came to a battle of any kind, Ingrid would be needed on the front lines taking down who needed to be taken down and protecting her people from any sort of harm.

"There might be a way,"  "Has anyone considered camouflage?"

"What kind of camouflage?" 

Ingrid unfolded her arms as her ears peaked up at the interesting suggestion. He had something interesting to say for once, something that could perhaps be vital to the mission that was about to unfold. Ingrid pointed her attention in the Doctor's direction as he elaborated on the method.

"The dead -- they don't seem to notice one another. And if you were to look, smell, and move like them, you'd be able to walk among them. And get close to the building without drawing the attention of anyone inside."

"Sounds crazy, but it might work,"  "We get close enough, we could cut the fence and slip through it in one of the blind spots, here at the corners of the building."

"Have you met us? We're experts at crazy," Ingrid peered over at Dwight with a playful grin, but one that also was growing with hope. Ingrid was surprised by the idea was absolutely brilliant coming from Dr. Shaw as she threw her glance over at him, "For someone who doesn't have much experience with the new outside world, you really thought outside the box. Way to go, Doc," Ingrid complimented him. After what went down at the Fort, she hadn't had much respect for him considering they almost lost Nora. Perhaps if this idea did work, it would give him an opportunity to build up his dignity within the group, "What do you think, Negan? Sounds fool proof, worst case scenario that it doesn't perform as well as we'd like, we can always retreat and regroup." Ingrid suggested as she looked up at Negan to await his answer.

[DarkSideCookie]

Even if anyone's but his wasn't the last word to something, Negan was glad to hear Nora agreeing with him, never mind if out of real approval or just because she didn't want to argue with him. He didn't want that, either, not right now at least. Sometimes those little arguments were funny, though.

When, suddenly, of all people, their doctor was speaking up, throwing in a not-so-stupid idea, Negan was visibly surprised. He didn't say something yet, but his facial expression made clear that he would at some point. And also that he wouldn't miss commenting on the fact that he hadn't expected something like that from a doctor. However, he was spare with words of praise, especially when it came to people he didn't like, so Negan would wrap that up in sarcasm or something.

"Sounds crazy, but it might work,""We get close enough, we could cut the fence and slip through it in one of the blind spots, here at the corners of the building."

"Have you met us? We're experts at crazy,""For someone who doesn't have much experience with the new outside world, you really thought outside the box. Way to go, Doc,""What do you think, Negan? Sounds fool proof, worst case scenario that it doesn't perform as well as we'd like, we can always retreat and regroup."

Negan didn't like Ingrid praising the man already now, as much as he could appreciate the plan himself. "Sounds like a plan from someone who likes to stay on the theoretical side while sending others to possibly die," he couldn't help throwing some mud at Dr. Shaw after he got praised a little. Without waiting for an answer, Negan turned his full attention back to the rest of the group. "But I guess we don't have another. We're gonna do that."

[Kristi Lynne]

"What do you think, Negan? Sounds fool proof, worst case scenario that it doesn't perform as well as we'd like, we can always retreat and regroup."

"Sounds like a plan from someone who likes to stay on the theoretical side while sending others to possibly die. ... But I guess we don't have another. We're gonna do that."

With the plan being more or less agreed on, once Negan had declared it so, it was then time for everyone to go their separate ways to work on their own contributions. 

“How many dead folks do you think we need, Doc?” Dwight asked, putting himself in charge of gathering the materials for the proposed camouflage.

“Um, two? Maybe three, to be on the safe side,” Dr. Shaw replied. "And preferably recently deceased. If the decomp is too far along, it won't be effective." 

Dwight nodded in understanding. "There's a neighborhood about a mile down the road. We'll go see what we can find." He clapped one of his hunting buddies on the shoulder and they ducked out of the tent.

Nora moved off to the side to speak with the doctor. “You really think this will work?”

“I wouldn’t suggest it if I didn’t.”

“Good, because if this is some desperate attempt to gain Negan's favor or try to prove something --"

"No, no, that is not--" he protested, before placing a hand on her shoulder and taking a step closer. "Look, I am not Negan's favorite person, I get that. And I will spend the rest of whatever short life I have left apologizing to you for what happened back at the fort. But that’s not what this is. It's about finding a safe place, for all of us, to start over. This is the way I can help.”

Nora studied his face, knowing that his intent to help everyone was sincere. "Okay, okay," she sighed in resigned acceptance. "What do you need from me?"

"Some ponchos, or hooded jackets. Ones that people will definitely not want back." 

She followed Shaw's lead out of the tent and out to find the needed supplies among their fellow travelers.

[Ariel]

"Sounds like a plan from someone who likes to stay on the theoretical side while sending others to possibly die,"  "But I guess we don't have another. We're gonna do that."

As Negan made the final call, those around them sprang into action. Dwight and some men took off to gather some dead for the crucial part of the plan and Nora conversed with the Doctor on the side briefly before making her exit to go and gather some supplies needed for the mission. Still standing by Negan, Ingrid side glanced over at him to take in his reaction. He threw shade at Shaw, and rightfully so. What the Doctor did back at the Fort was horrible, and he was lucky that he was still walking on his own two feet. Though, they seemed to all be on the same page with the end goal - and that was to get to somewhere safe, a place that they could possibly even call home.

"Look, he's not exactly my cup of joe either," Ingrid spoke to Negan, confirming the fact that the Doctor still wasn't entirely forgiven, "But like a wise leader once told me, people are a resource. He's nothing more than that," Ingrid pressed her lips together in a closed grin as she turned her body to the side to face Negan, "Besides - since it was his idea, you could always put him in the front of our poncho-wearing-guts parade." Ingrid inwardly chuckled, giving Negan a pat on the shoulder as she began to slowly pass by him, "Speaking of which, I guess we better get ready?" Ingrid asked as she pointed her head towards the exit of the tent.

[DarkSideCookie]

Negan made no secret of his opinion about Dr. Shaw, yet, at this moment, watching him conversing with Nora, there could be something seen on his features that he would make a secret of, indeed. He didn't like that, lately, he seemed to get along with her much more than everyone else. That might be because he thought to know her best, but Negan was doubtful about that. No matter the intentions, he didn't appreciate it. Above all, because of the feeling that it brought up in himself. Jealousy.

"Look, he's not exactly my cup of joe either,""But like a wise leader once told me, people are a resource. He's nothing more than that,""Besides - since it was his idea, you could always put him in the front of our poncho-wearing-guts parade."

Negan didn't say anything to that, just threw her an inaudible chuckle as well, although barely turning his head in her direction. Just when he shouldered Lucille to get to work himself, Ingrid spoke up again.

"Speaking of which, I guess we better get ready?"

"Let's get it done," he confirmed with a slight nod, then left with Ingrid towards outside.

[Ariel]

***Later That Day***

Hunkering down in a mound of flesh and blood, covered all over her body. It wasn't ideal, but it was the course of survival Ingrid knew they had to take in this dire moment. Keeping silent, she often made eye contact with Nora and Negan, in hopes that they would discover their next moves. They had taken a few rookies on, ones that they knew were competent in. One in particular, that she had trained and scolded in his last training session. They didn't want to lose any more people, and yet the people in company had been growing thin. Ingird figured she could handle maintaning her position while keeping an eye on the newbies. They moved forward towards the building in a synchronizing manner, hoping for the best outcome possible. Everyone remained silent, for they knew that this mission was vital to their survival no matter the cost.

[Kristi Lynne]

It had been hours since they’d heard from Dwight and Greg. The two had left on their mission to scope out the building, wearing the gory camouflage that had allowed them to move through the dead, just as Dr. Shaw had suggested. But Nora had lost sight of them as they followed the fencing along the parking lot’s edge. They were supposed to radio back with what they’d found, but the walkies had been annoying silent.

Rather than put anyone else in danger -- and to pacify an increasingly worried Sherry -- the decision was made for Nora, Negan, Ingrid, and a few others to venture into the building themselves. And even though the blood and guts did keep them from gaining the walkers’ attention, it took every ounce of Nora's strength to not react when they came close or even made contact with her.

Eventually she spotted a break in the chainlink that looked clean enough to have been deliberate.  Perhaps this had been Dwight’s way in. “The fence,” Nora whispered to Negan, who was closest to her among the crowd. She slowly but deliberately worked her way to the opening and stood by it so that the others would notice.

On this back side of the building was a loading dock where empty and rusted tractor trailers stood waiting to be filled. But Nora noticed that one of the docks was clear and its door was partially open. “Get everyone to that open door,” she advised Negan before he started to duck through the fence.

[DarkSideCookie]

Negan truly could imagine being covered in something less disgusting, but the flesh and blood seemed to keep the dead at bay. So this part of their plan has worked out already. However, when they weren't hearing back from Dwight and Greg, they all grew worried regarding the second part to turn out well. There were some people he could live with being sacrificed, no matter how cruel that might sound, but among them was not Dwight.

“The fence,”

Negan turned his head to the side, rather unhappy about Nora taking the risk of whispering to him, but then he saw the break in the chainlink himself. He nodded in silence, then again to her instruction, although he was even unhappier with that. Not only because she was giving instructions in the first place but because she was playing the hero here, going in first. Anyways, this wasn't the right place and time to argue about it or to argue in general.

He carefully and quietly turned and stepped back towards the part of the team walking last. Instead of words, he decided for gestures towards the break in the fence right in front of him. But Nora could forget about him letting her go much further without catching up on her. As soon as he was sure they got his hint, especially Ingrid, who he deemed their leader and protector, Negan made his way through the hole in the fence to following Nora's steps.

[Ariel]

Ingrid attentively decoded Negan's gestures, instructing the group to slip through the break in the fence and make the open loading dock door their destination to slip inside. Nodding to show that she had a clear understanding, she offered Negan some support by making sure everyone knew what to do and to follow the boss's lead. One by one, everyone moved swiftly yet carefully through the hole in the fence and onto the large, abandoned property crawling with a handful of walkers. Ingrid had her bow and arrow readied as she pointed it down at the ground as they moved in case they had any close calls. As they carefully moved through and around groups of walkers towards the open door, Ingrid thought that for a vacant fortress such as this one, that there would be more swarms of the dead than what presented. Ingrid carefully halted before she walked into one of the walkers laying dead on the ground with what looked like a bullet wound to the head. She thought it to be odd, and then a slightly alarming feeling began to rise within her. Ingrid slowly made her way up to match Negan's steps, walking beside him, "There's fresh kills on the ground...bullet wounds...do you think it was Dwight and Greg?" Ingrid whispered lowly to Negan to consult with him in case they truly weren't alone.

[Kristi Lynne]

"There's fresh kills on the ground...bullet wounds...do you think it was Dwight and Greg?"

"Let's hope so," Nora replied, having moved close enough to hear Ingrid's observation. Because if their people weren't the source of those shots, then someone else was. She cast a quick and wary glance up at the building, looking for any sign of movement in its windows. But so far their party had been able to cross the empty parking lot without being intercepted. Either no one was watching them, or someone was deliberately waiting for them to come inside. 

Nora paused by the loading dock door, scanning their surroundings until she was sure that everyone else was safely inside. Then she ducked underneath it herself and let her eyes adjust to the darkness of the large industrial space before clicking on her flashlight. At the moment, the place seemed thankfully clear of people and walkers, but scattered with pallets of cargo. Where should they even start looking?

Nora figured her best option was to follow the clues -- look for any footprints or signs of disturbance along the concrete floor. It was faint but there were distinct droplets of blood leading deeper into the building, blood that she assumed had fallen from the gory camouflage ponchos that Dwight and Greg were wearing. She looked around for a door or a stairway but continued to find only more wooden crates. A tarp covering one stack had slipped off, revealing a spray-painted label that made her blood run cold. 

"Negan!" she called, discreetly but urgently. "We need to find our people and get the hell outta' here. Now!" She held up the flashlight beam to show him the words 'Fort Belvoir' stamped on the crate. They had barely escaped with their lives the last time, and Nora was not about to push her luck by taking them on again.  

[DarkSideCookie]

"Negan!""We need to find our people and get the hell outta' here. Now!"

Negan was surprised, to say the least, about Nora's exclamation for a retreat. He didn't see that as an option though, especially not after all the effort to get here. Seeing what made Nora come up with it even added to that thought. They might have left Fort Belvoir rather hurriedly, but that didn't mean Negan would duck his head in another confrontation. Their group had grown into a whole community since last time.

Negan turned his head back to Nora after just a couple of seconds. "No, we don't. If anything, this here makes me want to line our pockets even more," he stated with a pointer at the two words. There was a look in his eyes telling this was not for discussion. Also, Dwight and Greg were still somewhere inside. He surely wouldn't just leave them behind.

Negan got ready to move on then.

[Ariel]

"Negan!""We need to find our people and get the hell outta' here. Now!"



"No, we don't. If anything, this here makes me want to line our pockets even more," 

Ingrid walked up beside Negan and Nora to see what it was that they were talking about. She was overcome by a sudden sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach when she saw the Fort label on the crate they were staring at, "Shit," Ingrid muttered in disbelief. She thought that they were done with these assholes, but Negan was right. They needed to press forward, especially if their friends were in danger. She threw her gaze over her shoulder to Chase who had been trailing behind her, "Be on your guard," She instructed him, motioning a nod to load his bow before following Negan and Nora.

[Kristi Lynne]

"No, we don't. If anything, this here makes me want to line our pockets even more."

"Be on your guard."

"Wait, wait, wait," Nora urged, as everyone else seemed eager to press forward. "We are seriously outmanned and outgunned here. And we are probably walking right into an ambush. First thing we need to do is lose the camouflage. Safe to assume they've cleared the bullding of the dead, and we need easy access to our weapons." She shed her guts-covered poncho, tossed it aside, and helped others to do the same. "Then we go two by two, watch each others' backs. And no guns unless you have to." Any advance warning of their presence would give up what little advantage they now had.

"Anybody looked in these crates?" Chase asked, tapping the nearest one with the tip of an arrow. "Could be something useful inside. Guns, grenades, smoke bombs. They might know we're coming, but that doesn't mean they have to see us."

Nora blinked in silent consideration. "I thought you said he was dumb," she remarked to Ingrid. "There's gotta' be a pry bar nearby. Let's see what we can find."

[DarkSideCookie]

As everyone around him started making plans and deciding for the group, going into action already, Negan grew more discontent. He didn't like getting told how to do it, no matter if they had good points. But he was probably still involved with too many emotions regarding everything that had happened at the Fort, with Nora especially. And emotions always stood in the way of a clear mind, a mind much needed for making wise decisions. So, for once, Negan left it to them, silently agreeing to the plan by taking action himself, yet not without a slightly pissed expression on his face.

[Ariel]

"I thought you said he was dumb," "There's gotta' be a pry bar nearby. Let's see what we can find."

Ingrid let out a light snicker of amusement, grinning to herself as she began to look for something to wedge open one of the crates, "Kid's full of surprises," Ingrid remarked as her eyes led her to a prybar in the corner of the room. Taking a few steps away from Nora, she bent down and swiftly grabbed the prybar before walking back over to the crates. Wedging the object into the side of the top of the crate, Ingrid pulled down on the prybar. A slight popping sound of the wood indicated that the top of the barrel was loose enough, and putting the prybar to rest on top of the neighboring crate she lifted the top open to take to reveal it's contents, "Jackpot," Ingrid affirmed as she started to retrieve the items in the crate and hand them off to Nora and those surrounding her, arming up for whatever would be ahead of them. Machetes, knives, shotgun shells, and luckily a few guns. "Hopefully these won't come in handy, but we'll be ready for anything now." Ingrid commented as she took one of the smaller black manchettes for herself and fastened it downward steadily into the side of the belt of her pants. Didn't hurt to add new toys to the collection, after all, "Should we keep moving? There's gotta be a door or other way further into the building from here." Ingrid asked out loud as she tried to navigate her sight further into the very dimly lit room.

[Kristi Lynne]

"Hopefully these won't come in handy, but we'll be ready for anything now. Should we keep moving? There's gotta be a door or other way further into the building from here."

"Okay," Nora agreed. She had decided against raiding the crate, preferring to stick with the gun and knife that had served her well so far. You didn't go into battle with a weapon you couldn't trust. "But same rules apply," she added. "Watch each other's backs, and no guns if you can help it."

Leaving behind the crates, Nora picked a direction to head further into the building. A pair of dull metal doors swung open onto what seemed to be the center of activity -- a wide expanse of concrete floor bordered by walls of windows climbing high into the sky. Many of the glass panes had been broken, letting sunlight filter into the dusty industrial space. The massive motors that had once generated steam and energy sat silent.

But not totally silent. Nora thought she heard voices. Heard, but couldn't see the source of them. To the right, there was a railing that seemed to ring the open space on a second story level. "Ingrid, take your friend, get a look from up top," she instructed. Ingrid was the best shot at a distance, and hopefully she would keep the kid from getting trigger happy.

Exchanging a look with Negan, she edged as close to the wall as she could before peeking around to see if she could locate the noise's source.  

[DarkSideCookie]

Negan was still slightly frustrated as he watched Ingrid go into action and get them new weapons. Negan, however, was doing pretty well with the one he had because when it came to trusting a weapon, Lucille would always be his first choice. But being no fool, Negan equipped himself with one of the knives as well, siltenly agreeing with Nora's words of warning as for firing guns.

While Ingrid took a position in the observation deck, Negan followed suit with Nora's actions, edging to the wall opposite her. He caught the look upon him and replied with a slight smirk. No words left his mouth, but his eyes spoke words like what now, officer? As much as he disliked someone else taking over the reins, Negan could find weird pleasure in Nora being the one who did. It had something very sexy to it, making him, like so often, easily forget the situation around them.

[Ariel]

"Ingrid, take your friend, get a look from up top,"

Ingrid nodded in agreement, and at that the immediately nodded at Chase, instructing him silently to move forward with her. Through the thick darkness, they managed to reach an end point where a door was available. On Ingrid's count, they moved swiftly through the door's crevasse. They were immediately welcomed with sunlight as well as a stairwell in which they could climb. As silent as they could, Ingrid and Chase crawled up the staircase while they could hear a commotion below. Due to the adrenaline, it was minor and they were focused on getting to the top to get a better look at their surroundings. And when they came to a crouching halt, they peered through the railing to discover that their people were indeed being held hostage, at the likes of these evil people. Ingrid's blood began to boil as she watched these outsider inflict torture methods on Dwight, his screams engulfing every inch of her eardrums.

"So, when are we going in on these bastards?"

A sudden voice interjected through the air around Ingrid and Chase. It was Roger. But how...and above all else, why did he follow them up here?!

"Roger?! God damn it!" Ingrid uttered lowly as they watched the scene unfold below, "How fucking hard is it it to stay within protocol?! When you move, you move. When you stay, you stay! Jesus christ." Ingrid exclaimed as she shook her head in anguish. Roger was good. Not only that. Roger had been simply amazing ever since they had formed their new group. She had taken a fond liking to the scruffy boy with empathy. But she sure as hell hoped that he wasn't about to do anything stuipid.

[Kristi Lynne]

Nora did her best to avoid being seen as she tried to assess the situation. To their present advantage, the attention of the other men and women in the room was completely taken up by their hostages. Dwight and Greg, securely bound back-to-back in chairs, looking bloody and beaten already. Nora felt her anger rising, at the cruel captors but mostly at herself for not getting there sooner.

But what was also clear was how their small party was outmanned and outgunned. Those gathered were their former neighbors, friends, co-workers at the Fort. Nora could imagine the awful things they'd been told by the higher-ups when Negan and the rest made their exit. That must be why they would stand idly by and watch these men be tortured.

And standing out among them was the man who had tried to seal her fate back at the fort's hospital. Dr. Ecksley seemed to have taken control of the group in the Colonel's absence. She felt the knot tighten in her stomach as he demanded from Dwight to know where his people were. So far he hadn't give up their camp's nearby location, but how much longer could he withstand the pain?

Nora retreated back from the wall's edge, closing her eyes to gather herself. "It's him. Ecksley -- he's here," she whispered urgently to Negan. 

[DarkSideCookie]

Negan watched with greeted teeth as his men were questioned, bound to chairs. Of course he bothered because of them personally, but also because of these people breaking into his territory, his community, spoiling his resources.

Only when he heard Nora's voice next to him, he looked up again, still a rigid look on his face. Yes, he had seen him. The very man that had been responsible for Nora's condition at the Fort. And he would like to finish him just here, right now. Maybe not the smartest idea, but when in anger, Negan was known for not wait and sit but take a risk instead.

"It's him. Ecksley -- he's here,"

Negan lifted one finger to his lips to silence her, yet the look in his eyes told of the conflict in himself, same as of his wish to take action. And so he did then. But he would not bring everyone else in danger as well. This was something personal. Instead of just letting the anger get the better of him though, nearing them with his tongue and weapon ready, he decided to make an entrance after all. They might be outnumbered, but at least had the surprise effect on their side.

With the famous Savior whistling, Negan entered the stage, Lucille shouldered casually. "You really think it's a grand idea to fucking torture my people? If you'd like not to get killed, I suggest you stop this and apologize," Negan said calmly yet with a tone that spoke of feigned self-confidence. They couldn't know how many of them were behind him.

[Ariel]

The three members that took the high ground fell into silence as they watched the scene unfold below. Dwight and Greg were in pretty grim conditions as they appeared to be beaten and caked with their own blood. The audacity that these people from the Fort had made a sickly feeling in the pit of Ingrid's stomach. Suddenly, the interrogation happening below was interrupted by a familiar whistle, one she had heard before. 

"You really think it's a grand idea to fucking torture my people? If you'd like not to get killed, I suggest you stop this and apologize,"

Negan suddenly stepped out from his hiding place, taking center stage with his bat draped over his shoulder. Ingrid trusted him, but also wondered what it was exactly that he had up his sleeve. She knew that they would have to be patient and wait for the moment to strike to save their people.

"Get your arrow ready, but don't load yet - not until I tell you so." Ingrid instructed Chase in a whisper tone as she discreetly drew one of hers from the quiver on her back, and Roger following suit by making his gun available. They had to be ready to cover Negan in case all hell breaks loose.