Karma // 10k Fic // Completed

Dad's Aren't Really Our Thing

"We made it to the control room." He spoke out sitting on the chair, typing on the computer. "And there's our problem. Cooling pool three," he spoke thinking out loud.

"Can you SCRAM it or not?" I asked, growing a little impatient.

"According to the controls, all the rods are enabled but something is physically blocking the insertion. We need to remove it." He said, slightly confused.

"By hand?" I was baffled.

"Not by our hand," he said. He got out of his chair and went into the cabinet behind us. "This is Robbie. He will roll into the core and do a manual SCRAM. He can cut through anything. This little darlin' can vaporize steel." He said proudly. He started driving it around and slicing through z's that got in the way. He even made one's head explode. The camera was shaky and ultimately cut out. "We lost Robbie," He said. We went back to the group. We needed a better plan. 10k was untied and looked pissed.

"What the hell Karma" He yelled.

"I did what I had to do" I responded innocently.

"Shut up and come here," He said grabbing my wrist pulling me into his chest. He held me tightly as the others were talking about a plan not paying any attention to us. Warren split off and Homer came over to us and told us the plan.

*15 minutes later*

We kept pushing through. The deeper and deeper we went the hotter it got.

"How you feeling?" I asked 10k.

"Like a baked potato in this thing." He responded.

"Reactor core is right down this corridor," Homer said.

"Then why are we standing here?" Doc questioned why we weren't moving.

"Because it's highly radioactive in there. I'm going into the core to manually insert those rods," he spoke out, turning around.

"By yourself?" 10k asked.

"Out of my way, sonny," Homer told him.

"I'm sorry. You need backup." 10k responded.

"10," I said out of shock.

"Suit yourself," Homer said to him.

"You guys go. I've got it." 10k said looking directly into my eyes. I know exactly how he felt now. He's doing this to prove a point. I gave him a hug before Doc called me back. Once we were out we went to the stream to wipe off. I stayed sitting down until I heard the commotion behind me. 10k threw his bag on the ground and stormed off towards my direction.

"You did everything you could," Cassandra told him. He brushed past her and kept walking. His arms wrapped around my body and he tucked his head into my neck. My hand instinctively went to his hair and my other hand on his back. Tears ran down my neck.

"I will always be here for you to cry on," I whispered into his ear. I hushed him lightly. "It's ok. I've got you" I whispered. I kept this up until Murphy showed up. We all got onto the golf cart Warren found and kept going. Warren drove with Murphy next to her. Doc and Cassandra sat in the middle. And 10k and I were in the very back. He just laid his head on my shoulder and stared off. My arm curled around his face, my fingers getting tangled up in his hair.

We found gas for the truck and started on our way again. 10k kept his counting up and I played with my necklace. I don't really know where I got it from and Charlie said I had it before I came to him. Citizen Z told us about this place with food and water. It sounded nice. I took my curly hair down from my ponytail and left the elastic on my wrist. My hair fell to the middle of my back. I am so tired of zombies. I wish things would just go back to normal. Well, normal for me isn't exactly normal.

We walked into the dark humid place. We grabbed the flashlights we found and lit our way to see. I held my pistol in my right hand resting on top of my left wrist, holding the flashlight. What's that smell?

"Murphy, did you fart again?" I asked looking over to my left. He scoffed and pushed me away from him. I laughed as I fell into something, knocking it on the ground.

"Shh. We don't know who else is here." Warren scolded us. Two figures came up from the staircase. Their flashlights blocked me from seeing their faces.

"Hold it right there," Warren said as she held up her gun. They shined the lights on our faces and Murphy spoke up.

"Oh, it's the damn wonder twins," Murphy said when we noticed it was just Mack and Addy. I hugged them both tightly. Everyone joined in welcoming them back. I'm so glad our group is back together.

"I mean never, ever, in a million years, truly did I think I'd see you guys again," Doc spoke up.

"Citizen Z send you guys?" Mack asked settling down and not so on edge anymore.

"Yeah. He told us there was food and somebody named Chester who could help us out." Cassandra explained. They looked good for the apocalypse.

"Yeah, he told us that too. We're starting to have our doubts." Mack admitted.

"Okay, well he should be, you know what, right down there. Let's hit it." Warren ordered. She had more pep in her step now. Our family is back. I lifted Cassandra's other arm onto my shoulders, being similar in height. She let out a grunt and I glanced up at 10k. He looked down at me but we didn't speak. Opening the door, Warren called out. Nobody responded. No surprise there.

"Well, I guess we found Chester," Warren said walking into the room with a dead dude chilling in the chair. He had a bullet hole in his head. Judging by the exit wound, I'd say it was a .9 mm. Addy walked in front of him and I didn't pay much attention to her. Until she took her bat to the already dead guy's face repeatedly.

"Somebody got up on the wrong side of the apocalypse," Murphy said. I think that's the first time I agreed with him. I nodded my head along with Doc. The rest of us just looked at her worried. All except Mack, he seemed used to it.

"Chester? You got them yet? You got my team?" A voice spoke out.

"God?" I asked looking around for the sound. It kept talking and we followed it into an old interrogation room. The monitor was on and showed a skinny guy with a headset.

"It's your old pal, Citizen Z. Oh, it's everyone. Hi, everyone. Hi! Addy, looking gorgeous as always. Oh, hey uh, you must be Mack. Huh, kinda thought you'd be taller." He took a shot at Mack.

"I thought you'd be old enough to shave." I stifled a laugh and choked on my air. Warren nudged my side.

"Hmmm. Hey, Murphy. Squeeze in so I can see you. Oh, hey." He laughed nervously. "Yeah, lookin' good, sir." He trailed off as he saw Murphy. He must've noticed Murphy is a walking crayon.

"So guess what? I've got good news. California's back. They're alive and online, well most of them. But they're getting ready for you, and the dream is alive. The mission is a go, thanks to yours truly. That's good news, right?" He asked, hoping we would be thankful for his work.

"Good news would be a package of Oreos and a couple gallons of milk," 10k said plainly. He hasn't been the same since Homer died.

"Oh, oh yeah, right. Sorry. Down the same hall, next door on your left. Should be everything that you need. I can't tell you how good it is to see you all again." He said, directing us to the food.

"Yeah. Good to see you too, kid." Doc said. We all exited the room and went into where we were told the food was. Laid out there was junk food everywhere. We loaded up on food and drinks. I stuck to the healthier options and water to keep my body going past this pit stop. The others just dove in. We went to the garage and grabbed a black Chevy Tahoe. 10k stuck out the sunroof while Warren and Doc were in the front. Mack, Addy, and Cassandra were in the very back and Murphy and I were on either side of 10k's legs. I rolled my window down and rested my head against the side, my sniper sticking out the window rubbing the side of the car. I was killing the z's on the right whereas 10k went for the ones on the left, adding to his count.