ulyssesstormrider

[ulyssesstormrider]

Til the End (part 3)

Sitting at the bar at the Wheelhouse, Ulysses drank from a bottle of hooch. Johnny and Breaker were there as well. "I think Dorian isn't going to make it."

"The old man needs his sleep. Tell me the Great Animator's story we were going to watch, Johnny?"

The Ascensorite spoke of the evil queen and her jealousy, the magic mirror, and the poisoned apple. When he spoke of the sleeping girl and her true love, Ulysses interrupted. "Kinda creepy."

"Yeah, but it was okay, he was saving her."

"Should I have kissed her, Johnny? Maybe that would have brought her back?"

"No, Ulysses... it's just a story. And we aren't heroes."

The Rover nodded and continued drinking, letting his priest and brother finish the tale. "Let's get some sleep, Pres... If we are leaving after the trade meet we need some rest."

"Okay, Johnny. You're right."

But Ulysses did not sleep. He laid in the bed he had shared with her clutching a bottle. He found the package sent by her associates in BFG. He would need to speak with Pearl in the morning and send word to Jericho's friends.

He thought about hunting Purebloods and making them pay. The Right Honorable Judge Jas Hook. If the man wanted her dead, he had the authority to make it happen with the legal system of the Trap. But he sent a knife in the dark like a coward, and made sure her loved ones knew it was him.

He thought about the Visionaries and how he would need to arrange some things before leaving. Recent events would not allow him to continue in his role. And now he did not have the spirit to see it through. It was time for the others to step up or continue letting the faith decline in Gatorland.

He thought about his clan and how he had failed them. Even his siblings no longer followed the traditions or the faiths of the Springers. Dorian had convinced him not to vacate his seat as Pres, at least not to make the decision in his grief. Spring was about to start and Ulysses was about to run away from his clan.

Ulysses sat alone in his bunk, drinking and crying and thinking. But he did not sleep.

----------------------

The rest of the trade meet had been a drunken haze for the Rover. He lingered on the edge of the Moot he had arranged with Tina and Gabriel. He watched from a distance as his fellow faithful shared a sermon. He shared words with Akela about her chosen path. He helped Chara and Roxy with some children from a nearby orphanage. But he was not really there.

He gathered his things and those of his dead wife, and started the walk to where his Iron Horse was hidden outside of town. Still drunk he started the machine up and drove to the rendezvous up the coast with the pirates he had been sailing with.

After accounting the events of the weekend he looked into the cold dead eyes of Jericho's quartermaster. "The Kraken is yours now. Remember... Judge Jas Hook."

[ulyssesstormrider]

Til the End (Part 2)

The man dressed in House Hook colors had sprung back through the door and buried his long knife between small weak points in Jericho's armor. Before even rising from the chair, Ulysses's Tenth Doctor was in his hand searing and cutting deep. Johnny on the other side of the assassin battered him with his sword. As the two moved towards him, the killer bit down and started convulsing on the floor, a small bit of foam forming at his lips.

Turning back to the Retrograde lying on the floor, Ulysses dropped the knife and felt at her neck and wrist, looking for any sign of life. Silently praying that she was faking as others moved in drawn by the commotion, he felt the cold numbness setting in. "Get me Breaker."

The Baywalker came through the door. "Tell me you have a Lazarus shot."

"Nah, man. House of Cards might. But they will want 300 for it."

"I don't care how much, I will pay it. Go."

He looked down to those investigating the murderer. A Baywalker no one recognized disguised as a Pureblood. The world was starting to seem distant, like he was watching everything through a haze.

Someone mentioned Dorian and he nodded. "Get him. Run."

Quinn and Breaker returned. "No more shots. The last one was used on Disco." Ulysses wasn't even sure who had said what.

He took the bag Jericho had been wearing, putting it over his shoulder and Dorian came through the door, unarmored, no boots, most of his scarves off. "Give me room."

Johnny and Ulysses cleared the floor around Jericho as Dorian sat near her head. He placed one of Ulysses's scarves over her face and leaned over her, calling to her, trying to draw her back from that dark place.

The Saint had got there just a few moments too late. He finished his prayer, recoiling with pain as he made his final attempt to bring her back. Tears at the corners of his eyes, he looked at Ulysses. "I'm sorry, Pres."

----------------------------------------

Standing on the path out of town behind the Gatorhole, the heartbroken Rover gripped his Lock Key, staring towards the morgue. Johnny and Dorian shared stories with him of fallen friends, remembering the good times. "I hate this fucking place."

"I know you do, bro. All it does is suck everything down into the mud. All it does is take."

"I need you to take my dad's scarves to my uncles and cousins, tell them to pick a new Stormrider."

Dorian paused before answering. "Go for that ride. When this trade meet is over, go out past the Handel, past Bourbon Saints. And when you come back, we will see."

Johnny walked back from scouting further up the path, closer to the morgue. "There has to be a better place."

The three talked about the legendary settlement of Mayberry, and the dream of retiring, leaving Gatorland behind. Ulysses sank into silence and listened to his two friends speak.

Looking around at the others who were standing vigil with them, he coldly considered his own calm. Clinically, he recognized his own madness setting in. With luck, it would only be the fatigue and not something more deadly. With a gallows humor, he wondered how long he would go before someone set his mind right this time.

Ulysses drifted away from Johnny and Dorian, idly wandering into the old morgue yard, almost hoping the ground would swallow him. He had seen others consumed by the Gravemind here. Maybe he could find a way to see her again, make some plea to the monster.

He shook away the desperate thoughts as he made his way around the dilapidated structure of the old morgue. Rounding the fence, he watched those who had gathered to await Jericho's husk with him.

The family was no surprise. He knew they would be here, ready to do their part.

The Sainthood of Ashes. These people had received nothing but scorn from the Telling Visionaries since the deaths of Doc Terror and Cel. Despite this constant abuse Ulysses dealt them, they were gathered to mourn and memorialize Jericho.

Jax and Quinn. Public relations? Trying to mend fences? Whatever the reason they would be welcome when the fighting started.

Boneyard. The one who murdered Johnny and Thumper. Also Ulysses's cousin if Driveshaft's words were true. Had his parents lied to him his entire life? Did that make him a Remnant? Why would the Stormriders have chosen him to be Pres after Thanatos's death? He couldn't even think about these things right now. And Boneyard had been helpful all night, so he pushed the doubt away and let the numbness settle in again.

Bottlecap Joe clapped Ulysses on the shoulder. "I am new at this Honorarium thing..." The Broken Springer let his fellow Rover go through his pep talk. Despite his own dissociation, he knew Joe was sincere and was thankful for the words.

"This is far from the first loved one I have had to put down. I will do what needs fo be done."

Shortly after these shared words, the shuffling steps in the sand could be heard from the new morgue. Ulysses walked towards Johnny and Dorian who stood furthest along the trail. Figures came out of the darkness and into the light of the lantern placed on the road. When he saw her face amongst the small horde, his resolve faltered.

"Back up into the light." Ulysses heard someone shout and he moved towards the fence around the former morgue. Gripping the large two handed club, he rolled his shoulders to get out the stiffness from the earlier fighting.

The gathered mourners met the small horde that shambled with the fallen Retrograde pirate. The Rover stayed to the edge of the pack, fighting those that surrounded his dead lover's shell until he heard the hunter come out of the darkness behind him. The stealthy zed crippled both of his arms and started to rip into his armor. Its filthy claws tore into him and drove him to his knees, pressing down and attempting to bite him.

Resolved to die, he stopped struggling. He waited for the hunter's teeth to rend his flesh but instead he felt the weight of the zed dragged off of him. Johnny pressed both of his hands to Ulysses's back and channeled the Signal into the dying Rover.

Ulysses was pulled back to his feet by Dorian as Johnny pressed the fallen weapon into his hand. Shaking away the longing for the grave's embrace, the Broken Springer looked to the monster wearing Jericho's body. Logan had stunned the zed and its arms had been broken.

Others had dispatched the Glow Boy that had accompanied her zed. The fallen Iron had thrown itself repeatedly in front of attacks meant for the walking corpse that used to be Jericho.

The Gatorlanders stepped back, leaving Ulysses alone against the disabled zed. Tossing aside his Lock Key, he drew his Tenth Doctor and approached as tears streamed down his face. Slashing the body as it gnashed its teeth at him, he imagined a sadness in the creature's eyes. The Rover told himself there was nothing left of her in this shell, but his senses said otherwise.

When he finally out the creature down, he collapsed into the sand and lifted the body into his lap. "Dorian... her scarf. Do it."

The other River did not pause and tied the fabric Ulysses handed him in a noose around her neck. "Ride or die." Ulysses laughed humorlessly. He held her until the body started to fall into the ground taking note of the eerie silence as his fellow survivors backed away. He attached a few pieces of Holy Wood to her clothes and removed other pieces. "Goodbye my dearest friend."

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[ulyssesstormrider]

Til the End (part 1)

The beach at the cove up the coast from Gatorland was bustling with activity as Ulysses's Iron Horse broke the tree line. The crew of the Kraken were loading and preparing to get underway. The grief stricken Rover could feel the questioning eyes of the mostly Retrograde crew pulled up on the two wheeled vehicle alone.

Dead Tom walked towards Ulysses taking note of some of her possessions strapped on the back of the bike. "The Captain running a little late?"

Ulysses could barely meet the Full Dead's eyes. The ride had sobered him up from his binge drinking but the numbness of what would prove to be his fifth bout with Survivor's Fatigue had settled in. "She won't be making it."

Tom's eyes betrayed no emotion, he barely even moved. Ulysses knew the news rocked the cadaverous Full Dead despite the utter lack of visible cues. "We should be off. The zed have been hitting us hard. Better to be at sea."

The Rover shook his head, still straddling the Iron Horse, the machine's motors still idling. "I won't be sailing with you. I just wanted you to hear it from me."

-------------------------------------------------

The Token Day Trade Meet was just starting and the Rover knew he would have to make his way to assist at the watch towers surrounding Gatorland soon. Watchmen had already come in looking for extra supplies.

Sitting next to the Retrograde and holding both of her hands, he spoke with her, easing her woes and exorcising the Separation Anxiety that had plagued her for months. "You are not ugly. Yes you have scars... I have scars. And sure, open sores. And the blood... Here, let me tell you something that I have told another who questioned why I was with you... I have been with legendary beauties. An honest to God Princess of the Rat Trap. And the wastes' most famous madame. But you know why I would choose you every time? You have been the one who has stayed with me through it all... my ride or die girl."

After exchanging a few early Token Day gifts, he grabbed his gear and made his way towards the Wall.

----------------------------------------

He had arrived at the line of watch towers that the townies called the Wall just as it was being overrun. Neighborhood Watch commander Wain Cartwright was yelling out orders to his people to withdraw, recovering as many of his injured as they could. Ulysses ran in and tried to help drag a fallen soldier up into one of the towers.

A coughing fit and the pain in his sides made the task futile. He looked on in horror as grime and blood covered hands pulled the Merican back into the horde below. He would need to get this Black Lung dealt with. Another of the wall's defenders grabbed him by the shoulder. "Doc, glad you're here. We got wounded."

Ulysses turned to see the floor of the tower covered with people, some missing limbs others bleeding out. Blocking out the pain in his chest, he set to work saving who he could and sharing a few words of comfort for those too far gone.

The hordes of shambling rotten corpses continued to pour past the breached defenses. The Watch and those volunteers giving their time to assist made valiant attempts to stem the tide, but there were just too many to stop.

Ulysses remained busy, cauterizing wounds with his Tenth Doctor or setting broken limbs. When he could steal a second to breathe, made even more necessary by the wheezing and coughing attacks, he glanced towards Gatorland, hoping his friends and family were alright.

-------------------------------------------

It had been an eventful morning. Holgnar recounted the attack of the Vorhees and the deaths of the two Final Knights. Io screamed at Ulysses for the Telling Visions' connection to the extremists. Nothing new.

The Visionaries were hated for their fanatics' work. Ulysses was happy to hear that these Nemeses has done their duty, making the town rise up and kill them. And the only deaths were amongst the guilty. Good work, Vorhees. Good work.

The sun had been up for some time when he met with Akela. "Where is Jericho?"

"She is still in our bed. She should be up."

"Do you want me to wake her? I could lick her ear."

Ulysses laughed. "I very much want you to lick her ear and tell her I miss her." The glee with which Akela left to carry out this task chased away the darkness of the night before.

The rest of the morning, Ulysses spent conducting business at the Wheelhouse. Settling his debt with Cara. Building weapons for family. Crafting the gifts Akela had ordered.

----------------------------------------

Business took him outside of town for the rest of the day. Walking back into Gatorland, he noticed the lack of activity at any of the bars. Everyone was gathered around the doors to the hall.

He went to investigate but was intercepted by Thumper. "I have been thinking about my path, grandpappy."

Ulysses groaned at the word, but gestured for the Retrograde to take a seat near the fire pit. The two discussed the priesthood and the faith at some length. He had to admit that Thumper was devoted enough, and could learn to be a great holy man in time. Satisfied that they had

"I guess I better go wake Jericho up."

"Gam gams has been in town for hours now, she is over at the hall getting everyone ready for the attack."

Parting way with Thumper, Ulysses walked to the hall as the defenders outside were moving to their designated doors and groups. He slid an arm around Jericho from behind, hugging her. "Where do you need me, governor?"

She frowned. "These people aren't listening to me. Some of them are going to die."

"We could go hide somewhere and..."

"Yes, please."

He laughed, but she quickly changed her stance. "No, we need to be here. And I figured you would be inside with the other doctors."

"And where will you be?"

"This door."

"Then I am outside too, there are plenty of doctors inside."

"Flank and go back and forth where they need you then. Inside if they need the help."

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The fighting was intense. Waves of zed came in, all hardened by this new disease. Surges would push past the shield bearers at the doors and have to be followed in and cleaned out. Runners would take broken armor to the benches inside and have repairs made while the fighters continued to hold the line.

"They are actually doing what I told them to do. And no one died." Jericho seemed surprised that Gatorland was actually working together.

Ulysses leaned on his Lock Key and drank from a bottle of hooch he had stashed just inside the door. "Yeah, and it seems to have stopped." He dropped into a chair, watching people dismantling the makeshift repair bay in the middle of the hall.

Johnny stood near the door and Jericho dropped to her knees, kneeling next to the chair Ulysses dropped into. The fighting had lasted well over an hour, closer to two. "Guess there won't be a movie tonight."

Ulysses's eyes were drawn to the man who walked through the door, staring too intently at his Retrograde lover. "Can we help you, friend?"

The man dressed as a Pureblood moved on, Johnny watching him as he walked through the hall to exit one of the other doors. Ulysses reached over and brushed a stray strand of Jericho's hair back from her face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You look like you have something on your mind."

"I'm okay.... You know I love you." Her face contorted in pain and then she started to slump forward.

[ulyssesstormrider]

(by Hannah)

[ulyssesstormrider]

(by Sarah Cater)

[ulyssesstormrider]

Ulysses and Jericho (Hannah made this one with some doll maker program)

[ulyssesstormrider]

Survivor's Guilt (by Hannah)

[ulyssesstormrider]

Post Game Hype after August 2017

He trudged through the swamp, mud sucking at his boots. Each step he pulled free of the grip of the wet earth. Each step he contemplated letting himself get dragged down into the muck. It would be so easy to let go. He tried to shake the thoughts, but they never really went away. He was vaguely aware of the two shamblers pacing him. They were slowly gaining on him. He did not quicken his pace. As they got closer, he thought about not fighting them off. It would be easy to let them rip him apart. When the first one clawed at his unarmored back, he turned and made quick work of it with his bladed knuckles. Each strike brought another flash of Roxy's fear filled face. Of Lumina dropping to the ground looking to be dead. Of Bottlecap Joe caught between him and Tobias, backlit by the flames flowing from the other Okeefenokee's outstretched hand. He was still slamming his blades into the unmoving corpse of the zed as the second one reached him. Its outstretched arms grasped for him, pulling him towards the ground. Ulysses let out a long scream as he turned to this second zombie. He didn't even care that its claws ripped into him, not defending himself as he punched this one to pieces as well. Two hours later he reached the beach where he and Jericho had agreed to meet. The Kraken was anchored in the hidden cove. The Retrograde pirate was lounging on the sand next to a roaring fire. She lazily looked to him as he emerged from the mangroves, smiling to him. When she saw that he did not return her smile, she rose, a look of concern crossing her face at the streams of blood from his arms and body. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him, embracing him tight. "Ulysses, where is your knife? What happened?" His only answers were the tears streaming down his face, mixing with his blood.

[ulyssesstormrider]

High School AU Jericho and Ulysses at the beach (by Krystal Watson)

[ulyssesstormrider]

(by Maya Hayder)

[ulyssesstormrider]

Wait

"We were in the same bar. How did you get these shipping schedules?" Jericho looked incredulous at the scribbled notes her husband had just handed her. Ulysses grinned at her. "People open up to Rovers. We're good listeners." They left the dockside public house in Thunder Bay and made their way to the wharf where the Kraken was moored. A few members of the crew met them and Jericho handed the notes off to her partner before dragging Ulysses towards their cabin. Orders were yelled out and the crew got the ship underway as the couple took seats at her table. Ulysses looked over a roughly sketched map of his family home, the Speedway. Staring intently he absentmindedly scratched at the scar on his cheek, his nail reopening the stitches his mother had given him a few weeks earlier. "Stop." Jericho placed her hand over his and he looked up. He studied the mask she wore as she handed him a glass. "It's been a few months shy of a year that those Raiders have held the Speedway. And Colton dead before we could kill the Red Mask together.... Over a year since Knucks died. Almost a year since the Sainthood murdered Doc and Cel." She dropped herself into his lap and pushed the drink up towards his lips. "I know dear... and tomorrow we will be getting some of those much needed supplies for the attack. And Rats to keep my crew paid." And then she flashed him a grin. "Tonight though belongs to us." "You're right. I brood enough. I can't ignore my beautiful wife." "Don't tease me. I know I'm not beautiful." He frowned. "You just have... uh... a skin condition." "You don't have to lie to me." "I'm not a liar... I do find you beautiful." "Yeah, when you're drunk." "It's good for you I drink a lot then." She started to pull away and he frowned again. "Wait... please. Just let me call you beautiful and don't question it, okay. Wait..." She settled back into his lap. "Fine, and finish your drink." "Wait... that reminds me of a song from one of my mom's kings. Or twin kings in this case." "Sing to me?" She put her arms around his neck, looking into his eyes. He set down the now empty glass and brought his hand up, tracing it down the side of her mask before unhooking the clasp holding it in place. He looked to her, making sure she was okay with it before removing the skull and lock mask, setting it on the table. In a low tone, he began. "How you doin' little mama? Let me whisper in your ear." He leaned in close as he sang to her, mimicking the words of the song. She wriggled slightly, tickled by his breath against her ear lobe. "Tell you something that you might like to hear. You got a sexy ass body and your ass look soft. Mind if I touch it and see if it's soft? Naw, I'm just playin' unless you say I can. And I'm known to be a real nasty man. And they say a closed mouth don't get fed..." His song was interrupted by a violent cough and he brought his hand to his mouth. After a long series of coughs, he placed his other hand on the table top to steady himself. "Ulysses... please. You need to get this fixed." "I'm fine." She hopped up and pulled him to his feet. "You are too damned stubborn." She pushed him in to his back on the bed, dropping down on top of him, eliciting another cough. "Be careful." "I thought you were fine..." She smirked down at him. "I am..." He willed himself to breathe, wrapping his arms around her. ---------------------- The next morning they anchored off a small cove along the coast. The crew hiked for about two hours through the swamp inland, carrying weapons and some planks. Avoiding gators and zombies along the way, they made their way to a river. Quickly, work started to lay the ambush. Jericho lounged against a mangrove tree her shield resting against one leg, her blade across her lap. She watched towards the south, playing through the plan in her head. The heat was oppressive, Ulysses mopped sweat from his brow with the scarf around his wrist. The lookout whistled, alerting the pirates to the arrival of their target. "You ready to do this?" "As ready as I'll ever be, husband dearest." He grinned at her sassy response and propped his Lock Key Marlin over his shoulder, getting in place. He stifled a cough and two of the nearby crew shot him malevolent looks, angered that he might give away their surprise. "Now lets go start some trouble." "Your eagerness to always start some shit is only slightly concerning." He pulled at the scarf around his neck, loosening the noose. "You do remember who I am, right?" The small barge rounded a corner in the river and the pole men noticed the downed trees ahead of them. Not alerted to the presence of the pirates, they steered closer to the shore, creeping up the river. He scoffed at her raised eyebrow. "There's no way I could ever forget." The crew watched the couple banter and grumbled under their breath. "Damn right." A loud crash followed her words as ropes and chains were pulled submerging the front end of the barge. The two Vegasians at the front tumbled into the water. Planks were dropped in place and the crew rushed the deck. Ulysses made to run across one of the planks, ready to be one of the first on deck. His normally controlled breathing failed him and his concentration faltered. He slipped and went into the water as well. The barge's defenders surrendered quickly to the ferocity of the pirates' assault. Ulysses was still dragging himself from the muck as the crew bound the hands of their captives. The Rover wrung his scarves out as the pirates unloaded the cargo, preparing it for transport back to the ship. ----------------- Two days later they were in Glowing Springs. The scavenging town was all abuzz about the upcoming summit at the House Cutting Room Fleur estates. Their leader, Captain Murdoc, and a small detachment had sailed their the day before. The crew's quartermaster had sold off the excess cargo from the barge. Some supplies had been set aside for the planned reclamation of the Speedway. The Kraken's officers were sitting around a fire, sharing a bottle and discussing the take. After another coughing fit, he looked at the blood flecks on the scarf around his wrist. "Okay, Jericho... you may be right." The Retrograde gave him a wry smirk and a disapproving sound. "This could already be fixed if you would let Wormy Pete take a look at you." "A sawbones? You're joking, right? I'm not letting that butcher near my lungs." He gave her a smile, marred by the blood on his teeth. "Fine, go... just actually get fixed and don't be stubborn." He gave her a kiss on the cheek. "My love, I will go, get a Cough and Cold from Breaker, get some sleep, and then immediately back here... We have much to do to get things ready for retaking the Speedway." She laughed. "Right... so you're not going to set up any programming at the summit? Not that I'm opposed." Ulysses shook his head. "No... that's Johnny's family." "Wait. That means..." Jericho knew as well as he did that House Fleur was really House Pride. Johnny had told the Telling Visonaries about the return of the disgraced House. Her concern was apparent, even behind the mask. "Yes. And you know I have no desire to be around them." Ulysses had no love for the Final Knights. She sighed, and finally nodded. "Go, get cured, and get back."

[ulyssesstormrider]

Jericho and Ulysses

(by Hannah)

[ulyssesstormrider]

A Day at the Beach

Waving up to the lookout in the tower, he shouldered his bag and started the walk towards the coast. Ever since the Iron Horse broke down, travel was slower and more dangerous. Behind him, the ring of towers and patrols that Gatorland called a "wall" grew distant and the sky was growing lighter. In a few hours, those still at the trade meet would start their days. The business that he had returned for, or at least the most important part, was incomplete. He would have to settle for sending Terra a letter. For now, he had to get to the caravan route, and catch a ride to the coast. Time away from Gatorland was going to be good. -------------------------------------------- Hopping off the back of the truck, he had another coughing fit. Wiping the blood from his lip with the back of his hand, he waved off the concerned look from the driver. "I'll be fine... not much of a walk from here." Less than an hour later he was walking into the oasis, the Bird of Snow hideaway. Ulysses's mother had been staying here since the Speedway and been overrun. He could hear her voice singing, accompanied by two others. The song abruptly ended when the Rovers saw their Pres walk into the camp, concern clear on their faces. They stared at the reopened wound in his face, and the blood on his arms and hands. Running over to him, Taylor called for her doctor's bag. "You're a mess. Lay down." "I'm fine, mom..." Another round of coughing had him spit out a mouthful of blood. "Okay, not completely fine, but it's just Black Lung." "And the blood all over you?" "Dover's, and Rafe's, and Mofo's... surgeries. I cleaned most of it off." Taylor took ahold of his arm and walked him over to a table. They sat and she cleaned the wound on his face. His scar had reopened. "This looks bad, almost worse than when you first got it." Ulysses reached up and touched the laceration. "I don't get it. Everything else heals. Why not this?" The older Rover shook her head. They talked a little more as she stitched the cut closed. ------------------------------------- Hours later, Ulysses was sitting in the sand at the shore, drinking from a bottle and watching the waves. "The Birds are concerned for you. Let one of them take care of the Black Lung? Or the Survivor's Fatigue?" Ulysses laughed and nodded towards the ground, inviting Taylor to join him. She did so, head tilted to look over to him. "No point, mom. I'm still alive, and the world is still Hell. I really don't even think there's anything to fix." "I hope you don't talk like this in front of anyone else. Not very confidence inspiring, Ulysses." "I'm not a hero... or even a good person." This last bit he mumbled into the top of the bottle before taking a long drink. "My uncles picked the wrong Stormrider." "Don't say things like that... You're a better man than Nate was." Ulysses winced at the mention of his dead father. "He... came to my wedding." "Your father has been dead for four years, Ulysses. What are you on about?" "I know it wasn't the real him... but, it was him. Looked like him. His attitude. Knew stuff about me. The Gravemind sent something that might as well have been him." Taylor stared at the other Rover in shock. "Does... does it do that?" "I'm no gravehead... I'd have to ask River, or maybe Gabriel. But the bar is turning into a morgue, or something. Dorian's fucking crazy... hears whispers, doesn't sleep." "You all need to get out of there. Come stay with me and the Birds. Or reclaim the Speedway." "I have been scouting, planning to do just that. The Speedway is home... But nah, not abandoning the town. Still too much to teach Tera and the new government." Taylor laughed. "Teach them, eh?" "Doesn't matter if they don't follow the Signal. Still going to learn its lessons." "You should have been a priest." "I'll leave that to Johnny... and my wife. But I can..." He was cut off by a scream in the distance. The two rose from the sand and ran towards the dunes. The sounds of a fight led them to his cousin Achilles fighting off a Hunter and one of the Birds of Snow named Mariah laying in the sand bleeding and clutching a broken leg. Stepping in behind the Hunter, Taylor returned the favor it had bestowed on Mariah, breaking its leg with a small truncheon. As the zombie turned to face her, Ulysses slid the heated blade of his Tenth Doctor up under its jaw. As the stealthy zed crumpled to the ground, Achilles crushed its skull for good measure, making sure it would not get back up. Taylor had turned her attention to the injured Mariah, quickly bandaging the claw wounds from the Hunter. Ulysses and Achilles kept an eye out as she worked, and then helped Mariah back to the camp. Once there, Taylor worked on Mariah's wounds while Ulysses set her broken leg. His mind went back to the trademeet and the cruel way in which he withheld medical treatment to Dover until he admitted to being an idiot. To make it worse, the Lascarian hadn't been one of those foolishly following the Arcadian into the morgue. "Fuck, I really am a monster..." "What's that?" "Nothing, mom." ---------------------------------- Maps were strewn about the small table, corners held down by bits of scrap or trinkets from the Old World. The Silver Monkey sat in the middle of one that he was currently examining. Ulysses hadn't slept at all. The sky was starting to lighten and soon the sun would rise. He heard movement in the camp, smelled fires being started. He thought of Fileaf, who would have been up and cooking already, and how much he missed her. Leaving the plans for his next excavation in the tent, he made his way back to the beach to watch the sun rise out of the sea. If things went as planned, the Kraken would be anchored off shore that night and he would be reunited his wife. He had spent a month with Jericho and the mostly Retrograde crew of her ship. Not the honeymoon he would have hoped for, but a new adventure nonetheless. And these eight days back on land forced him to admit he actually liked being on the water, at least to himself. He would never say as much to Roxy. Breakfast was ready when he walked back to the Birds' encampment. One of the cooks offered him a plate as he made his way back to the tent. He spent the rest of the morning and afternoon with his maps, and writing a few letters. "Sails on the horizon from the south!" Ulysses looked up when he heard his cousin's call. He packed away his things, eager to see his wife. "Rosaline, soon my love."

[ulyssesstormrider]

(by Hannah)

[ulyssesstormrider]

(Untitled, written by Hannah Mason)

The fading light of the candle flickered throughout the dark cabin. The world was quiet around them in the dead of the night but Jericho was still very much awake. Her clear eyes moved through the darkness as if she was preparing for something or someone to attack even though her body language read that she was completely relaxed. It was all part of life for her by this point. Never let your guard down. Never show weakness. No matter where you are. The calming waves of the water hit the sides of the ship rocking all of the souls on board like a mother with her child. It was comforting to those like Jericho who spent most of their lives on the sea. This was what she knew. This was home. The Retrograde’s eyes moved down when the sound of a low, tired sigh met her ears interrupting the sound of the waves. She stared down at a sleeping Ulysses who was resting comfortably in her arm; his head on her chest and one of his hands laced with hers. A small smile played on the corners of her mouth as she studied his face for a while. With her free hand she pulled the blanket that had slid down back over him before trailing a finger along the side of his face softly. He was a good man from what she knew of him. Always taking care of his family, always being a dedicated Prez, and always treating her way better than any of her few lovers in the past had. Save one of course. She had heard many of the rumors saying that their marriage was one of convenience or that it was just a business deal and the thought made her chuckle to herself. People like to assume way too much. Especially about her. Little did they know that she actually had feelings for him. He told her he loved her too. Then again, so did Whip. At least Hardcastle didn’t play her like Whip did. Just thinking about it made her blood boil. His memory made her muscles clench with anger but she made herself relax when the strain caused Ulysses to stir again. She closed her eyes with a sigh and then looked out the window and watched the water dancing in the moonlight. That was all behind her now. She made her decision like Whip had and Ulysses was hers. It was a gamble but she was willing to risk it despite the more logical part of her telling her it was a bad idea that was sure to end in a shipwreck. She still wasn’t sure if Ulysses was just going to drop her like so many had before but she was going to ride it out as long as he was. He seemed sincere with what he told her. He was an asshole sometimes but she knew he meant it all in jest and most of it was just for the drama of things, which as a fellow TV, she understood. “The drama will always be kicked up to an 11 with me.” She distinctly remembered him saying. He had done nothing but prove that to be true the more time she spent with him. Her mind ran through many of the times he had caused her to shake her head or roll her eyes with his TV drama always driving her nuts even before she joined the faith. Yet she wouldn’t change any of it for the world. In equal parts she remembered the times he made her smile and laugh like no one else had. Or when he would give her a certain look that made her feel like they shared a secret between the two of them that no one else would ever know. The memory of him whispering her name into her ear replayed in her mind constantly. She hadn’t heard her real name spoken in so many years...it felt freeing in a way. Like Ulysses saw past her non physical mask to the woman behind it. He made her feel…wanted. Like she had someone that actually enjoyed having her in their life. Someone that made her feel needed and dare she say… loved? Perhaps that was too much to ask for from the pirate. She had that once and it was stripped from her and every attempt since had been nothing but harmful to her in some way. Would this marriage be the same? She didn’t even know whether or not it was a fling still but part of her was hopeful that he meant what he had said. Because the more time she spent with him the more she realized how much she really did care about him. Maybe this time would be different. Maybe this time he’ll actually care. Maybe… Her thoughts were disturbed by the sound of the men waking up to begin the day’s work and to her surprise the sun had begun to rise. Not that it really mattered since she was on her honeymoon and had no responsibilities to attend to. The time that the newlyweds had spent together showed Rosaline just what it felt like to be appreciated and feel loved again. She looked down at Ulysses one more time before curling up beside him, their faces almost touching they were so close. She felt that warmth of emotion swelling in her but now she didn’t fight it as pressed a kiss to his lips. “I love you.” She whispered to him even though he was in his own dream world before drifting off to sleep herself.

[ulyssesstormrider]

(by Aesa)

[ulyssesstormrider]

Ulysses and Rayne (drawn by Aims)