Chapter Text
Runner Five rolled their shoulders backward and forward, enjoying the cracking and stretching sensation before setting out into a light jog. It had been a long week, and the unfamiliar tinny sound to the alarm that accompanied the raise of the gates reminded Five that it wasn't over just yet.
"Abel Township, Abel Township: Runner Five is coming home to you. Abel Township, are you receiving?" crackled the voice of Ben Jones.
"Yes, hello" Sam jumped in.
"Brunswick this is Abel. Mr. Jones, it's good to hear your voice," cut in Janine.
"Yours too, Janine."
"Oh, come on," drawled Haley in exasperation.
Five cracked a smile as they heard Sam and Janine. In spite of the satisfaction that accompanied success in Brunswick, it was going to be good to be back in Abel again. Even the banter surrounding the romantic tension between Janine and Jones felt more lighthearted and hopeful than it did annoying or unnecessary.
This was going to be a good day.
Jones was speaking again.
"Thank you for lending us your runner. We've got power. The cameras are as good as they ever were. We've got food for a while. The perimeter is almost secure again. Now we've got a radio link with you."
"That's a good few days of work," said Janine.
"So Janine, as we speak, your runner is carrying a USB stick back to Abel. Consider it many debts repaid."
"That's...thank you," said Janine, apparently almost speechless for once.
"No problem at all," replied Jones.
"Runner Five, hurry back," urged Janine.
Five didn't really need the urging. Not only was the wind howling at their back, driving them almost as much as their eagerness to return home, but there was also the persistent moaning of zombies in the distance sending chills up and down Five's spine.
Five was also very curious about the USB stick. Granted, once it was delivered to Abel, there was no guarantee that Five would learn everything that was on it. But Five hadn't forgotten Janine's briefing before going to Brunswick. Janine's command to guard the item they were sent back with their life, in particular, continued to echo throughout Five's thoughts. The item had to be the USB stick, but what was so important about it?