As seemed to be our new habit, Regan and I met Jax and Wren near the tree line while waiting for Daniel to make an appearance. When the gates opened, it was impossible to mistake the truck with blue and purple swirls for any other as it drove in this direction.
"I presume Nicky had a hand in that paint job?" Regan murmured as we watched the truck draw nearer.
"She has an artistic streak that occasionally expresses itself in unusual ways. If you have any white clothing, I advise hiding it," I said. The truck was finally close enough for me to notice the passenger, which explained why Daniel chose to drive instead of walking over. "I wasn't expecting Nina to show up."
Wren tilted her head. "Does Nicky normally sit in the back?"
"It's safer that way," I said absently. "She's as mischievous as a two-year-old and has zero fear of Daniel. Sticking those two in a confined area for any length of time is guaranteed to create some sort of drama."
Daniel stopped the truck near us. The roof rack was absent, but a big pile of wood was stacked in the back. Daniel carried three small cardboard boxes over. "The food is probably cold by now, but they put a pie tin inside in case you wanted to heat it over a fire."
Jax took two and passed them to Wren, who put them in the dune buggy for later. Regan held his ground with remarkable composure and nodded his thanks as the Terror handed him the third box.
As Nina came over, I asked, "Where did you lose Logan?" It was very unusual to see the two apart when Nina went outside the fence.
"He was talking with Luke on the radio," Nina replied. "There's a set of notes I didn't think to bring, and he's going to write them down for me."
I recalled the boxes of papers, binders, and equipment we had lugged down from Ironwind and how much more Nina had left there. If she kept collecting stuff, we'd need a trailer to haul it all home.
Nicky scratched her head as she examined me. "How did you lose your hoodie this time? After so many years of you wearing those things, seeing you in a t-shirt is just wrong."
"A zombie took offense to it." There was no way I was going to wear a hoodie with a sign of defeat on my shoulder. I pulled a vial of blood out of my pocket and held it out for Nina. "This one was faster than it should have been and didn't respect zombie rules like most of the unranked do. It also had no issues jumping into trees after me."
She put on a pair of gloves and came to take it from me. "Thank you. I was actually coming to get some blood samples from the unranked ferals in the shipping container, so this will be a welcome addition."
"Making any headway?" I inquired. Wren had asked me for an update earlier, but I hadn't been around the scientist much the last couple of days.
"Actually, yes. I'm about halfway through the notes, and everything I learned before is making much more sense. The controlex in Wren's blood sample also finished."
"What did it show?" Wren asked eagerly, her eyes glowing slightly.
Nina winced. "Most triggers were locked into the regular zombie series, so there's an unfortunately high chance you'd lose yourself. It's not something I'd risk with a sane zombie, although it's an option for ferals. I'll keep looking. If nothing else, I have the notes, and we can try making the same type of serum. I'd need to test it in blood samples before re-administering it in case it acts unpredictably."
Wren nodded slowly, her building hope now deflated. "I can donate more blood for testing."
"It will take me a day or two to replicate that serum. Daniel is driving back to Graydon Stronghold to pick up a piece of equipment I need to make it."
"Which means I'm stuck on guard duty again," Nicky said with a heavy sigh. "I offered to drive the truck for him, but he claims he wants to collect blood samples from any unranked he passes."
"If you stay near the gate," Nina said, "you'll be able to keep an eye on the lab. You could dig more pitfall traps outside the fence or build a cage on a trailer like you did at Graydon."
Nicky rolled her eyes. "I'm not a gopher, and I'm not about to dance in a cage for ferals when they keep stealing Trinity's hoodies. If they're that fast, those cages might not keep them out, and there's an equally good chance that Regan might lock me inside if I annoy him again."
Regan looked faintly amused, not denying the claim.
"Such a cage would be helpful," Nina prodded. "Even giving the regular zombies a dose of controlex will reduce the risk."
"If we were truly worried about the risk," Regan began, "then you would use the cure. It is faster and would completely remove the zombie virus."
Nina nodded. "Yes, but that leaves the former ferals comatose, and they die within days if not reinfected. I'd hate for any to die when we have a tentative lead on something that might help the regular zombies regain their sanity."
"Oh?" Regan asked, finally showing real interest in the conversation.
Nina gestured to Wren. "Her blood holds the key, at least if the zombies haven't eaten flesh or humans. I just need more time to figure things out because the original serum isn't stable enough to be a long-term solution. The batch Wren and Jax got in the barn was different from what the main group dispersed, and it was the only batch that allowed some to regain their sanity."
Nicky glanced between Wren and Nina. "Are both batches breaking down at a similar rate?"
"It will be very close because the chemical mixtures were similar, and their bodies are breaking them down at comparable rates."
"Why are zombie apocalypses so frustrating?" Nicky groaned, rolling her head back to stare at the sky.
Daniel snorted lightly. "Not as frustrating as when you get into the tea or coffee."
Nicky lifted her head and flashed a smile in his direction. "Admit it, life would be so boring without me."
"There's a wide gap between peaceful and boring," Nina mumbled. In a louder voice, she said, "Trinity, do you mind going back to Yersin Stronghold once Daniel returns from Graydon? There are mentions of another journal that isn't in the boxes." Nina hesitated, then added, "It's—it's probably in one of Gerald's pockets."
I frowned, more concerned about a particular zombie than in patting down a half-decomposed corpse. "How soon do you need it? The controlex won't be finished until tomorrow night, and I'd rather not cross paths with that Terror until then."
"It can wait a couple days," she quickly reassured me. "Please be careful when you go. I'm not sure how the controlex would have affected Ethan since his triggers are so different."
I didn't recall seeing that name in the journal, but it had probably been recorded elsewhere. It was definitely like Nina to call a zombie by name, even if they were a feral.
"What sort of cage are you trying to build?" Regan asked.
"Something we can put on a trailer and strong enough to keep zombies out," Nina replied. "The one we built at Graydon was cobbled out of spare metal bars. It has to be fairly large so people inside can use syringes on sticks to inject the controlex without the zombies reaching them."
"Then we splash soapy water in their faces to get them off the cage!" Nicky exclaimed.
Regan regarded the redhead for a long moment before turning his gaze back to Nina. "There was a truck in town with corral panels in the back. The steel bar kind. The gaps would need something over them, but it could be used to build a frame."
"Where were they?" Daniel asked. "I can go over there on my way back."
"Closer to the highway, not far from the cluster of hotels."
Daniel nodded, seemingly content with the vague details. Knowing him, he'd probably climb a building for a bird's eye view.
"Do I really have to help build another oversized hamster cage?" Nicky asked plaintively.
"You enjoyed building the last one," I reminded her.
"That was before two somethings stole your hoodie. I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid, and I know they would have had to fight for that privilege."
I shrugged. "Well, you can either help, dig another pitfall trap, or sit in the chair and guard Nina."
"Such a cage won't be easy for a human to build," Regan commented. "The panels I saw likely aren't something she could lift."
Nicky drew herself up. "Beware us short people. We are accustomed to determinedly climbing over whatever is in our path in pursuit of our goals, be it climbing up three carefully-stacked chairs to reach the top cupboard or kicking overly tall people in the shin to bring them down to our level."
"Reaching the top cupboard is not the same as lifting a hundred-pound corral panel over your head," Regan replied conversationally, tilting his head as he waited for her response.
It took me a second to realize that Regan was enjoying the conversation and purposefully taunting Nicky. It wasn't the same kind of banter as she and I normally had, but it was close enough for me to recognize it.
"Who said I was lifting it?" Nicky asked in bewilderment. "I said I'd climb on top of it and help build it, not be the main muscle behind the operation."
"I'm glad to hear that you agreed to help build the cage," Regan replied. Ignoring how Nicky's jaw dropped at having her words turned back on her, he turned his gaze to Nina. "Is there anything else we need to be aware of?"
After a moment of hesitation, Nina replied, "I really hate to ask this, but would you mind donating a vial or two of blood and saliva? Trinity's triggers were altered by the controlex, and with what I'm doing, I believe an unaltered sample from a Nightstalker would make some tests easier. Feel free to decline. I don't want to pressure you."
Regan stilled, and his expression became more serious. He glanced at me. "That is why your Nightstalker cry was different?"
I nodded, keeping my expression slightly bored. "Yes. My blood and saliva work in most of her tests, and Ironwind has a feral locked up for the few times she needs pure samples."
His head turned back to Nina. "This is to help the unranked?"
"Yes. It'll help me figure out exactly how the chemicals worked, which should let me reverse engineer something that can reliably help regular zombies regain their sanity, presuming they haven't eaten raw flesh or humans."
Eventually, Regan reluctantly replied, "Very well. Do you have the supplies with you?"
"They're in the truck. Do you wish to do it now or later?"
"I would prefer to get it over with."
There was no mistaking the distaste in Regan's voice, yet he had agreed after checking Nina's motives. As Nina retrieved her bag, Daniel busied himself by the truck, trying to give Regan some space and trusting me to keep an eye on things. Nicky guided our two unranked friends over to the dune buggy as she talked about what she had packed for their breakfast and asked about their preferred foods, subtly taking the attention away from the less-than-impressed Nightstalker.
Regan glowered at the needle as he shifted his cloak out of the way and rolled up his sleeve. Given his reaction, I was surprised he had agreed at all, but I certainly wasn't about to question him in his current mood.
Nina didn't bother with the rubber band and carefully pricked the needle into his skin with as little contact as possible. As soon as she had two vials, she backed up and held out two more labeled "saliva". Regan spit into them and passed them back.
"Thank you," Nina murmured, bowing her head in appreciation.
He shook himself off with disapproval. "I'd rather not repeat that."
If Nina had somehow forgotten that most Nightstalkers had serious issues with people in their personal space, his tone would have reminded her of that. I had yet to see the bloodlust strain Regan's control, so his sudden mood swing wasn't due to that.
Nicky came skipping over. "I have an entire list of things I'd rather not repeat, and most of them involve annoying Trinity."
"Lucky me," I muttered.
She grinned at me. "Eh, you know we love you. And considering you still put up with us, we know it's mutual, even if someone tries to lock me up occasionally."
With a faint snort, I pointedly looked away, asking Nina, "What are our plans for today?"
Daniel came over. "You can take it easy and just keep an eye on this place. That fence you and Regan built definitely reduced how many zombies are coming from the south."
Nicky snickered. "Take it easy? Right. Trinity just invoked her non-existent luck, so we know shit is about to hit the fan."
A faint growl of reprimand rumbled through my chest. "I think you get to guard Nina today. It'll keep you out of mischief."
"But you know it's true! If that red flag got any bigger, it'd turn into a blanket!"
In an obvious attempt to get the conversation back on track, Nina said, "Regan, Jax, Wren, you're doing a wonderful job of protecting the Stronghold. Thank you very much."
"If there's anything you need, please let us know," Daniel said. "I'll help Nina get a few blood samples from the ferals in the shipping container and take her back to the Stronghold, then I'll head to Graydon. I'm hoping to be back shortly after lunch."
As if his words signaled that this meeting was adjourned, we dispersed. I disappeared into the trees before Nicky could follow me. I wouldn't get a nap in—not this close to the Stronghold when Regan seemed intent on perfecting his tracking skills—but I could take a shift on guard duty and give Regan a break.
Nicky's earlier comment about impending doom followed me more relentlessly than any Nightstalker could have. What were we going to do about the thousands of unranked ferals scattering out of the cities? If it took two Nightstalkers and two unranked to defend one Stronghold, did any of the other places stand a chance?