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Tank, Takeo, and Nikolai sat around the campfire enjoying the sunrise.
“Another day, another horde,” Tank sighed, listening to the zombies crying out in the distance. “I think the warm weather gets ‘em all agitated.” He took a sip of his dilute coffee and tried to remember brighter times.
“Ah, yes. But we get smarter… they don’t!” Takeo added.
Nikolai nodded in agreement, “that’s the power of cooperation and solidarity.”
“You mean what’s mine is mine, and what’s yours is mine too?” Tank teased the Russian.
“Shut the fuck up, man!” Nikolai laughed genuinely, bumping Tank with his shoulder.
“Speaking of team, where’s Edward?” Takeo asked.
“Beats me,” Tank shrugged.
“Last time I saw him, he was playing in the lab. I’ll go check on him,” Nikolai replied, grunting as he stood. He carefully walked down a narrow flight of stairs and through a dark corridor to the concrete-enforced laboratory door.
“Hey, Edward!” Nikolai shouted at the door, “you’re missing out on Tank’s famous American-style breakfast!”
“I am quarantining!” Richtofen shouted back.
“You’re what?!” Nikolai replied, “I’m coming in!”
Before Edward could respond, Nikolai was through the door and standing in the middle of the messy lab.
“Good morning…” Edward replied. A mess of chemical bottles and lab equipment littered the floor.
“What are you doing?!” Nikolai exclaimed.
“Trying to cure the common cold. Or at least quell it,” Edward replied defensively. “I’m overburdened with decidedly inglorious pyrogenic cytokines.”
“Edward!” Nikolai stated firmly. “You are the most intelligent idiot I’ve ever met.”
Edward smiled tiredly and slumped back in his chair. “It was worth a try.”
“Come on,” Nikolai invited gruffly but affectionately. “You’re not going to feel any better sitting in this dungeon of yours.”
“I’m highly contagious,” Richtofen warned.
“I could use a day off,” the Russian winked, offering a hand to the German. “We’ll be fine.”
Edward smiled and took his hand.
*****
“Looks like we’re stuck together today,” Nikolai stated as he sat down beside Edward by the fire. “Tank tasked me with making sure you don’t become zombie chow while you recover.”
“How kind,” Richtofen mumbled, his arms crossed over his chest as he tried to control his shivering.
“Strategic,” Nikolai nodded, as he looked his friend over. “Would you like some vodka, comrade?”
“No, that’s just false warmth,” Edward replied, jaw chattering.
“But it feels real!” Nikolai laughed. “Huh?”
“Gah! No, I couldn’t!” Edward insisted. “Nothing sounds worse, my friend!”
“Suit yourself, I guess,” Nikolai shrugged, taking a sip.
Edward continued to shake while he ate breakfast. Meanwhile, Nikolai tried to ignore his friend’s misory. Besides, Nikolai reasoned, Richtofen probably didn’t want to be fussed over… especially by the likes of him.
“Don’t tell him I told you, but Dempsy’s cornbread was shite today,” Edward sniffled, “bad flavor.”
“What?” Nikolai implored in disbelief. Richtofen’s love of cornbread was second only to his love of life itself. “You really are sick!”
“Oh, you didn’t taste it too? You should be more discriminating, my friend,” Edward crabbed, brushing the crumbs off his pants.
“That’s it!” Nicolai growled, “you need stim shots and a lot of rest.”
“I’m the doctor and that’s my line,” Edward retorted.
Nikolai laughed at Edward’s comically sour mood. “Then for fucksake, Edward. Take your own advice! Get settled in and I’ll grab some medicine.”
Edward silently left the fireside and laid down on his cot in the corner of the small, sheltered sleeping area. He stared at the cracked, leaky ceiling waiting for Nikolai to return.
“Ok!” Nikolai began as he entered the room, “I got you some stim shots and ice cold juggernog.”
“I think I should just let it run its course,” Edward declared. “Suffering is good for the soul.”
Nikolai shook his head as he knelt by Edward’s cot. “No. It might be good for your soul, but not for the rest of us. You should take all of them,” he ordered firmly.
“Ok,” Edward agreed pathetically. He didn’t have the energy to tangle with the Russian in his current state. He watched Nikolai somewhat clumsily ready the two stim shot needles.
Abruptly and without ceremony, Nikolai jabbed the first needle into Edward’s thigh, causing him to curse in his mother tongue. “What do I look like to you? A roast!?” Edward cried.
“Sorry,” Nikolai apologied flatly.
“Just be more - OW! Gentle!” Edward exclaimed as Nikolai treated him with a second stim shot.
Nikolai grimaced and handed him the juggernog as a peace offering.
“How did you know this was my favorite?” Richtofen smiled slightly before downing the drink in one go.
“It’s hard not to, comrade,” Nikolai laughed as he sat with his back against the wall next to Richtofen’s cot. “You seek out those damn drinks wherever we go and as soon as the power turns on.”
“I have a sweet tooth,” Edward confessed. “But I assure you, it is purely tactical. It’s definitely not that it’s raspberry flavored”
“Right…” Nikolai replied sarcastically, “it also has nothing to do with the excessive carbonation.”
“Most certainly not!” Richtofen chuckled through shivers.
“Here,” Nikolai stated as he leaned to his left to snag a wool blanket off his bed and added it to Richtofen’s pile of blankets. “You still look cold.”
“Yes,” Edward replied, slightly taken aback by the other man’s kindness. “Thank you, Nikolai.”
Nikolai nodded. “It is important to take care of your comrades. They’re all you’ve got in this living hell of a war.”
“I won’t forget this,” Richtofen replied quietly as he closed his eyes.
“Yeah, sure. Get some sleep,” Nikolai ordered softly, but still authoritatively, “I’ll be right here. You won’t be zombie-feed today.”
Richtofen smiled. That plan was good enough for him.