Early the next morning Jackson was walking out his tent to see David's leaving his tent at the same time, waving before walking over. "Good morning master, would you like me to lead you where we keep the food?"
"Why not" he answered with a shrug following David to the back of the store, where they had a tent set up blocking the door that was locked with a pad lock and two soldiers watching.
As David walked up the soldiers immediately saluted making David raise his hand stopping them. "At ease. open it up" the soldiers open the door for David and Jackson letting them into the back room that was filled to the brim with miscellaneous items from the store.(bikes,toys,tools extra)
"This is where we put everything that isn't food." David explained as they walked toward what looked like a walk in refrigerator and freezer next to each other. "This is where we keep all the food, that didn't go bad before we hooked up a generator."
"Generator?" Jackson asked looking around the darkish room. "The generator is only to make sure the food doesn't go bad. The other generator is powering Tanyas workstation and the radio to contacts the general." David explained unlocking the fridge before walking in.
(The refrigerator was 10ft wide and 20ft long and the freezer being the same size but having less food)
Jackson looked around not believing how much food they had just in the refrigerator. "How manny people do we have?" Jackson asked looking through the wide variety of food. "We have 20 soldiers including Tom and 29 civilians including your group.
Jackson whistled "49 mouths to feed, it doesn't look like a lot of food anymore." David nodded scratching the back of his head "yah I've been having a rough time feeding everyone and rationing it out."
"Where did you put nonperishables?" Jackson asked turning to David who didn't hesitate to lead the way. They didn't have to go far to see the pile of unorganized food packs laying on the ground with a variety of different canned foods. "The general didn't care to organize anything so he just said pile everything here."
Jackson began searching through the different types of pasta and cans, to find the one he was looking for before grabbing a handful, handing it to David. "Hold that for me" David grabbed everything from Jackson, following him to the refrigerator.
"The general is stuck in a warehouse 2 klicks to the north and he wants us to save his ass" David said out of nowhere making Jackson turn to him. "How manny men dose the general have with him and what did they bring with them?"
David wasn't at all surprised about how quickly Jackson started asking questions. "He took a large heavy duty military transport truck with 25 men not including him, armed with AR's, M4's and AK's.
Jackson nodded and kept walking grabbing supplies. David wasn't a cook so he just followed Jackson doing as he said. After gathering what they could in their arms David lead the way to a gas stove.
(Where David lead Jackson was a spot inside the Walmart away from the tents, that only had a gas stove with 4 burners with regular folding tables pushed against the wall, it had chopping block and a couple knifes on it with pots and pans on the floor under the tables)
"Your not fucking with me are you David?" Jackson asked putting the ingredients he was holding on the side tables with David doing the same.
Jackson let out a short sigh "go get Jasmine, Breckin and his boys, we're going to need extra hands." David immediately started heading over to Jasmines tent, while Jackson started to prepare the food they just sat down.
Jasmine didn't take much conferencing to help Jackson but Breckin wasn't the type to wake up early, the past week of the apocalypse he was a king. That had plenty of people following him listening to his every word. So being woken up so early he wasn't in the best of moods, when he woke up he still thought he was king.
"Who would dare to woke me up this early" he grumbled getting out of bed. David begin laughing at Breckin, a laugh that made Breckin's hair stand on end. "Do you still think yourself as the strongest?"
Breckin was wide awake at this point looking around remembering what happened the previous night. "What dose he need?" He asked in a calm tone making David stop smiling "he needs extra hands, so get your guys and follow me." Breckin's men slept in the same tent so David's laugh woke them.
Meanwhile Jackson was cutting up vegetables when two elderly woman walked over to him. One had short black hair 5,6 while the other one was a blonde 5,6. "We where wandering if you needed anything?" The woman with black hair asked in a soft tone with a smile making Jackson turn to them.
"I need everything here cut up, it doesn't matter how small just need it chopped up." He said turning away from them to the stove that was boiling water.
Both of woman picked up a knife and immediately started chopping of all the different vegetables and meats Jackson's had spread out. As David walked up with Jasmine, Breckin and his boys Jackson walked over.
"I need a strainer, a knife sharpener, shredded chatter cheese, corn and grab all the seasonings you can." He ordered, David immediately turned around with Breckin and his boys going towards the back of the Walmart.
Jasmine and Clementine where used to being up early at this point so they were waiting patiently.
"I need you two to find a good place to set up chairs and a spot for the food, where everyone can walk by, grab their food and keep walking."
Jasmine smiled before giving a thumbs up "roger that". "easy Peezy" Clementine added before they walked away.
Jackson turned around to see the woman already done cutting everything waiting for Jackson to tell them what to do next, making him smile putting the elderly woman back to work.
After a while of walking back and forth between the back room and the stove, Jackson had the food ready walking out to the eating area.
(What Jackson cooked was the same as the first day in the restaurant, Beef stew with extra ingredients on the side he added mashed potatoes, corn, green beans and salad)
As Jackson was cooking Jasmine made a spot for everyone to eat and let everyone know breakfast was done. But you could already see a couple people from Jackson group waiting there for everyone else to arrive.
(The spot Jasmine found looked like a stage where someone would give announcements. When some one walked up one side to get their food they went down the other to find a seat)
Like the past week Jackson prepared everyone's plate handing it to them, making sure everyone got a plate. Some people tried to get seconds without Jackson ok, but all it took was a word from Jackson to send them walking back to where they were sitting.
Jackson was feared among everyone in the camp, having Breckin standing close by didn't help the camps fear factor. Eventually everyone was done eating, Jackson's decided this was the best time to speak his mind.
Jackson didn't need a mega phone or anything, the second he started speaking he got everyone's attention. "Almost everyone here has a chance to grow stronger. Not in just your body but your mind, I bet at least half of you think the world will go back to normal. Sorry to tell everyone this but, this is life now and if you don't adapt your going to be eaten alive."
Jackson's words stunned most people like a rock hit them in the head but to some it was common sense. Jackson let his words sink in while they whispered among each other before he continued.
"Yet everyone here just had a feast that filled their stomachs my disciple David" David stepped forward "told me that he was rationing out the food, dose anyone here want to go back to scraps?" Jackson words resonated with the crowd making them shout in response.
"I didn't think so. This new world we live in is nothing like the last, the only thing left is the weak and the strong, kill or be killed. Which one will you be?" He asked and the crowd started cheering "THE STRONG, THE STRONG " Jackson gestured for them to stop and he continued.
"Killing isn't as easy as it sounds, I don't expect everyone to be able to kill without a thought, but I do expect you're full effort in anything I ask." The crowd started whispering among each other until a someone shouted, "so you us to be your soldiers?"
Jackson couldn't help but smile ear to ear looking menacing in the process "soldiers? No. I want warriors." The crowd was stunned into silence until a middle aged man stood up shouting walking to the front of the crowd.
"Who the hell do you think you are kid, warriors? What kind of fairytale are you living in!" Jackson smile stayed on his face as he jumped from the stage landing In front of the man both of them standing at the same hight.
"I'm Jackson Bruce the master of Kritanta, translated means the god of death. Who are you and what are you the master of?" He asked looking the man straight in the eyes making him look away stepping back.
Jackson took a few steps away from the man before turning back to everyone,
"I don't expect anyone to follow me blindly, I would expect some of you to ask questions, I'm always willing to listen."
The crowd was silent once more not knowing what to do before Jackson continued. "The general of these soldiers is stuck inside a warehouse 2 klicks to the north." Jackson pointed deeper into to the city. "And he wants David to take the remaining soldiers to save his ass because he can't do it himself. Do you want someone like that leading you?"
The crowd looked at the soldiers standing around with high powered rifles, they started to imagine if they where gone leaving them to fend for themselves.
The crowd was outraged about the fact the general would leave them to die just to save him.
They shouted about how they shouldn't go out, hearing them out for a bit Jackson clapped his hands making a loud clap silencing the crowd.
"I have a plan, I take a few of the people with me to save the general to show you how capable me and my group are, while you guys sit here nice and comfortable." He said almost mockingly making some people scowl in his direction.
Jasmine, Lori, Fred, mark and Jake walked onto the stage with their weapons holsters ready for anything. "These are just few from my group and they have already taken the challenge without me asking and do any of you see any of them holding a rifle?" The crowd was quiet besides a teenager the shouted "what about her she has a gun".
Jackson turned to jasmine seeing she was unaffected being in the spot light. Jackson walked over to a soldier "would you mind showing the crowd your weapon for just a second?" He asked in a friendly manner and the soldiers walked onto the stage pulling back the firing pin before taking the mag out of the gun.
"That right there lady and gentleman is a AK47 it can have anywhere between a 30 round mag to a 75 drum mag." Jackson pulled back the barrel of his 1911 getting the bullet out of the chamber before removing the clip showing the crowd.
"This is a 1911 it can hold from 7 rounds to 11 without having a giant drum mag. Theirs a big difference between a handgun and a rifle."
The soldier walked off the stage and the crowd was silent once more so Jackson continued "my group will be leaving in a hour or so. David is going to ask everyone to write their name and profession on a piece of paper." Jackson finished, leaving David on the stage to explain the situation to everyone.
Jackson group got off the stage following him, Fred ran up to Jackson side with Jasmine "what's the plan boss man" Fred asked making Jackson smile "clear out whatever's blocking the general and bring him back with any supplies we can." The plan didn't surprise anyone so they followed Jackson to the back room where they kept a pile of miscellaneous items.
Before anyone could ask Jackson why they were there, he started explaining "this is where the military keeps everything that's not food, That's how David explained it. So their should be flashlights, weapons and anything else we might need on our mission."
Everyone immediately got to searching through the giant pile of items looking for anything that might be useful. But all they could find where toys,tools, bedroom stuff and kitchen supplies.
That's when the group started wandering around looking for another pile to search through, until Jake found a locked door with a window and looking through the window their was a soldier sharpening and cleaning knifes.
Jackson loudly knocked on the window getting the soldiers attention. The soldier stopped cleaning the knife and walked over to the door opening it. "What the hell do you want kid." He asked in a casual tone.
Jackson didn't take any affiance "we need some of the stuff you collected" he said back casually making the soldier take a closer look at everyone with Jackson. "What do you need?"
"Flashlights, throwing knifes and maybe a couple guns If you have them." The soldier looked at Jackson in disbelief "you mind if i?" He asked as he pulled out a hand radio pointing at it. "By all means" he said back watching the soldier talk to David.
After a minute or so, the soldier was done talking on the radio, opening the door. "Come on in and get what you need." The soldier said making everyone smile as they walked into the room that had different types of knifes and swords spread around with flashlights sitting in a corner.
The group looked thoroughly through the different blades but nobody wanted anything that they might get killed trying to use. Mark was the first to grab a weapon, his weapon of choice being a Bowie knife.
Not long after Jasmine grabbed a few smaller knifes, tying them around her ankle and thigh.
Jackson decided on a pack of 10 kunai and a few smaller knifes for Clementine and Ema.
Everyone also grabbed a flashlight just incase they wanted to loot or if it got dark. The soldier just watched as they took his freshly sharpened blades.
Jackson walked over to the soldier putting a hand on his shoulder. "You want to come with us? You've already been very helpful, I would understand if you said no."
The soldier looked at Jackson in disbelief "why would I want to help that piece of shit?" He asked in a serious tone making Jackson smile. "Because you will be following my orders and the general will think your still under his. When he sees that you won't listen to him he won't feel like much of a general."
The soldier started smiling "the look on his face would be priceless. I'm in" he said with a more menacing smile then before. "That was my thought exactly. Welcome to the crew, get ready we're heading out in 20 minutes."
The soldier saluted making Jackson turn to him "you don't have to do that if you don't want to you know that right?" The soldier smiled "I'm so used to it at this point, sorry if it bothers you."
"Not at all, since your going to be traveling with us why don't you tell us your name." The soldier stuck out his hand "my name Is Rick" Jackson shook his hand with a smile "Jackson. This is the perfect time to let everyone introduce themselves."
One after another everyone introduced themselves to Rick before going back to their tents getting unpacked before they packed for the Journey ahead.
While They were packing the rest of Jackson's group was exploring the Walmart, talking to the other survivors trying to get used to being around this manny people again. Even Breckin and his boys were walking around trying not to cause any trouble.
David was sitting down in his tent with a long list of names in hand with the other hand massaging his temple. "Useless" he would mutter to himself every now and again as Jackson walked into his tent. "Having any fun?" Jackson asked and David looked up at him still massaging his temple. "Tons"
Jackson chuckled a bit before looking at the page full of names. The paper had 3 rows with 3 categories where you could put your name, man, woman and child also the rectangle where you put your name was split for your profession.
Jackson looked over the paper for a slit second realizing how manny more women their were compared to men. "Yes he did" David said before Jackson could ask his question, "what were the conditions?"
David looked up at Jackson once more "no illnesses of any kind and nobody under the age of 20 or above 55" Jackson waited for him to continue but he didn't. "That's it?" He ask making David nod.
"We're leaving, do what you have to while I'm gone and let Breckin know that I said your the boss till I come back." David gave a half assed salute before looking back down at the paper.
When Jackson walked out the tent everyone from his group was waiting to see them off. "Good luck guys" Zack said as tom walked over holding a black bag "these are some extra magazines for you two." Jasmine walked over grabbing the bag with a smile. "Thanks"
"That's definitely going to come in handy, appreciate it tom." Tom looked at Jackson before he sighed thinking to himself "if it's anyone I trust going out with Jasmine it's him." Before he wished them luck and walked off.
After everyone said their good byes David caught Jackson before he left. "Jackson are you planning on walking their?" He asked as Jackson turned to him "it shouldn't be that hard to find a working car"
David sighed before saying "we have a 3 armored trucks still in the back and your taking Rick he's a good driver."
Jackson looked over at Rick and he shrugged so they followed David through the Walmart to a loading dock looking area where they used as a parking garage. "Here they are, full of gas and fully loaded." David said opening the driver door to the clean exterior.
"Not very stealthy is it?" Fred said punching the side of the truck softly. "Their not meant for stealth. These are machines meant to drive fear into the people heart to remind them that they need the military." Rick said before hoping into the driver seat.
Everyone looked at each other before getting in mark got into the passenger seat while Jasmine and Jackson was in the back seat and Lori and Fred in the very back. "Dose anyone need anything else before we leave? we're not coming back without the general." Jackson asked and everyone checked what they brought making sure they had everything.
With everyone ready Rick started the truck and the Soldiers out side open the gates, Rick put the gas pedal to the floor doing a burnout going full speed out the gates, making everyone put on their seatbelts.
(To all my readers thank you for making it this far I didn't expect anyone to read my novel so thank you for pushing me forward and thank you Fire_Wolf_7602 and Paul_Obot for the power stones)