Live Lucky

99

"And we can work with the Hilltop" Rick said as he addressed the residents of Alexandria in the church "Maggie and Sonny hammered out a deal. We're getting food – eggs, butter, fresh vegetables. But they're not just giving it away. These Saviors, they almost killed Sasha, Daryl and Abraham on the road. Now, sooner or later, they would've found us, just like those Wolves did, just like Jesus did. They would have killed someone or some of us, and then they would try to own us. And we would try to stop them. But by then, in that kind of fight, low on food, we could lose, even when the crops come in. This is the only way to be sure, as sure as we can get, that we can win. And we have to win. We do this for the Hilltop, it's how we keep this place, it's how we feed this place. This needs to be a group decision. If anybody objects, here's your chance to say your piece"

There was a moments pause as he looked at the others, who were sitting in the pews of the church or standing in the back. Daryl sat down on one end, his arm draped over the back of the pew with Sonny at his side, Dominik next to her, with Shawn and Aiden. When they had returned to Alexandria, Rick had estimated that they now had food to last them a month, which may be more than enough time for their crops to grow, and as it turned out, most of the items in the truck they first brought back had been useless, apart from the seeds. A light creaking sound filled the air, causing everyone to turn to the back of the church, seeing that Morgan was now standing,

"You're sure we can do it?" He asked, looking at Rick "we can beat them?"

"What this group has done . ." He replied "what we've learned, what we've become, all of us -- yes, I'm sure"

"Then all we have to do is just tell them that" not wanting to fight

"Well, they don't compromise" shaking his head slightly

"This isn't a compromise" he replied "it's a choice you give them. It's a way out, for them and for us"

"If we try to talk to the Saviors, we give up our advantage" Sonny said as she stood up "we give up our safety"

"We have to come for them before they come for us" Rick added "we can't leave them alive"

"Where there's life, there's possibility" Morgan said

"Of them hitting us" he argued

"We're not trapped in this" he countered "none of you are trapped in this"

"Morgan . ." looking at him "they always come back"

"They come back when they're dead, too" nodding his head

"We'll stop them" he assured "we have before"

"I'm not talking about the walkers" looking at him

". . Morgan wants to talk to them first" as Sonny sat back down "I think that would be a mistake, but it's not up to me. I'll talk to the people still at home. I'll discuss it with the people on guard now, too, but who else wants to approach the Saviors, talk to them first?"

"What happened here . ." Aaron said as he stood "we won't let that happen again. I won't" looking at Morgan

"Looks like it's settled" Rick concluded "we know exactly what this is. We don't shy from it. We live. We kill them all" Morgan sitting back down in his seat "we don't all have to kill. But if people are gonna stay here . . They do have to accept it" walking down the aisle and out the doors

∆

"Describe it" Rick instructed

"Rectangular building" Andy informed as he drew out a rough sketch "big satellites on it"

"Any windows?" Sonny asked

"I don't remember any" shaking his head slightly "I think they made it so there's only one way in"

"Guards outside?" Rick asked

"Yeah, two of them, at least" drawing it out

"And you don't know how many people they have?" Michonne asked

"No" shaking his head slightly ". . Uh, I mean, no. I saw a place where they stored food. It wasn't that big, so . ."

"You've been inside?" Rick asked

"Yeah" looking at him "they had us load in supplies one time"

"What do you remember?" Glenn asked, putting a blank sheet of paper in front of him

"You didn't see any other rooms?" Maggie asked as he drew out another rough sketch

"No, it's a big place" Andy replied, only drawing out two hallways and a room "this is the hallway I saw. There is more"

"And every time, they had you bring things into here?" Michonne asked, pointing to the room drawn out

"Jesus . ." he muttered "we brought a couple spears for them" drawing on the paper "two of the Saviors took them down this hallway. Now, they must've done something with them because they didn't come back with them"

"Maybe a weapons locker, an armory" Jesus suggested

"Okay" Glenn muttered "we get in there, secure the armory, that's how we end it"

"That's how Carol ended it here" Maggie added

"But we don't know if they have an armory" Andy said, looking at her "or where it even is"

"Well, we got a lot of good guesses" Daryl replied "we've done more with less"

"Ain't that the damn truth" Sonny muttered

"We go in at night while they're sleeping" Rick said

"The guards won't be sleeping" Andy replied "like I said, I think there's only one way in and there is no way to bust through that door without waking up the rest of them"

"We don't need to" shaking his head slightly "they're going to open it for us, let us walk right in. They want Gregory's head, right?" causing Andy, Daryl, Sonny, Glenn, Maggie and Michonne to look at him "we're going to give it to them"

X

A few days after the world came to an end, the sound of chirping crickets annoyed Sonny. The sound made her restless and jumpy, and all she wanted was for the world to go back to the way it was. But she adapted better than she thought she would. Now, the sound of the chirping crickets was calming to her, and would allow her to sleep peacefully. Due to their big day in the morning, Rick had instructed them to get a good night's sleep, which is what she was trying to do. Her head was on Daryl's chest, listening to his beating heart, one leg thrown over both of his, one of his arms around her and his other hand behind his head. Sonny's gaze was to the window, looking at the twinkling stars and the moon shining in the upper corner, unable to shut off her brain,

"Why're you still awake?" Daryl asked

She briefly closed her eyes as his voice rumbled in his chest, a small smile forming on her lips,

"How'd you know?" her voice soft

"Your breathing is different" honesty in his voice "now answer my question, woman"

". . I had a thought" opening her eyes, looking back out the window "I didn't want to say anything 'cause I didn't want to jinx us"

"Tell me" his hand moving from behind his head

His hand grasped the crook of her knee, gently pulling her up, to where her weight covered him completely, something both of them found comfort in,

"What if the satellite station is one of the bases?" lifting her head, looking at him "almost like a lookout. What if there are more, and are surrounding a bigger place? This guy could have more people, and we would be in over our heads with this"

"Hey" looking at her "if any of that happens, we will get through it. Okay? We always do, together"