As Joplin kept Power Wagon ahead of the last Humvee, Jax opened the rear windshield sliding-split window. "Fuck me... where did you find her, Jax? And who the hell taught her to drive like that!?" Asked Rosita, yelling. "I'll tell you later! What's the situation back there??" Yelled Jax. Maddox carefully came to the window. "Aye, it's a single Humvee, and they're trying to wave us down, no guns." Jax looked at Joplin, "Might as well see what the hell it is they're trying to tell us without bullets." He said, with Joplin agreeing. "Right, Jax, there's a lever-action rifle behind the seat, fully loaded as you requested. Don't drop your guard simply because their not armed." Said Maddox, just before leaving the window. Joplin slowed down and managed to get the Power Wagon angled for quick escape while blocking the Humvee from getting ahead of it. As the four got out, Jax handed the pistol back to Joplin and took the safetly off the Model 94 Winchester Lever Action Rifle.
As Master Sergeant Naylor got out of his Humvee, Jax called out to him. "That's as far as you go, partner. Not another step." Naylor didn't take another step, just removed his filtration mask. "You four need to go back. You've been isolated for three years, and have no idea how dangerous the world's gotten in that time." Maddox chuckled with his carbine rifle aimed at Maddox's head. "Right, right... thieves, homeless, and bankers are more dangerous that a literal prison where female prisoners are forced to mate with males ones... I think I'll take my chances in the real world." Naylor shook his head at Maddox's reply.
"No. That's the world you all were stolen from. I don't condone the methods used then, but what I am telling you now supersedes that." Maddox has a corporal give Jax a tablet. As Jax opens it, it begins to play news broadcasts, live security footage from outside the facility... "What... What the fuck is this?" Demands Jax. Master Seargeant Naylor approaches the group. "That... Jax Grissyon of Rural Texas, is known as the Zeta Hyper-Virus. Some egghead created the virus that had reduced humanity to bunker dwelling, terrified, pockets of survivors. Zombies, Mr. Grissyon, Zombies." The four look at Naylor skeptically, before Joplin speaks up. "Why should we believe you? Could be AI Generated footage."
Naylor looks at Joplin and nodded." A good point, but wrong still. Ms. Joplin Durant of Durant Farms in Rural Missouri, if it was AI, we'd have just shot all of you miles ago. If you go out there... you will turn after being worn down, living in nightmarish terror, then getting mauled to death in your sleep. That's what happened to my former unit. Make the smart move, go back. I hate it there myself, but it's better than dying out here." Sighed Naylor. However, Joplin slapped him, hard. "Easy for you to say prick. You weren't being forced to become pregnant, nor imprisoned there. I'd rather die out here, than ever go back." Naylor looked very confused when Rosita pieced things together. "Oh... you didn't know, Master Seargent? That's what your defending and demanding we all return to. An Internment Breeding Prison... poor Joplin there is the only prisoner who refused to get pregnant. Should've seen the mangled morons who tried something."
Everyone is silent for a minute, when the other soldiers join Naylor. "They're really forcing y'all to do that?" Asked Corporal Stephanie Johnson. Joplin nodded, "Thanks to your support, they keep me there for three... fucking... years. Still not pregnant, but I earned one hell of a title... Joplin, the Bloodnado of Ward Four." Jax put his hand on her shoulder, "And if you wanna find out why... you'll have to get through me... twelve-time National Marksmenship Champion." The soldiers shook their heads. Even Naylor couldn't believe the disgusting behavior he'd been protecting. "New idea...", began Naylor, "None of use go back. We do this the hard way... Survive Together." The soldiers and escapees look amongst each other. "If we do, hand over your high-powered weapons, non-negotiable." Naylor reluctantly agree, then Joplin crawls under the Humvee and unbolts the transponder.
"Strap a grenade to it, pull the pin, toss it into water below. I will not let you take me back there." Naylor nodded, "I'm sorry I helped defend that shit." He said throwing the transponder over the bridge's side. Moment's later the explosion informed the base Naylor's team had been KIA'd. Once they two groups had put more distance between the facility and themselves, they all stopped again. "What's our target destination, Grissyon?' Asked Naylor, pulling out a map. "Texas is overrun, hell all of the South, West, and East have been totally overtaken." Jax looked at Joplin, "In that case, how far to Missouri?" Joplin immediately looked at Jax, then agreed with the choice. Naylor sighed, "We're near what was Salt Lake City, Utah. It's a seventh-hour and fifty-eight minute drive from here to Joplin, Missouri. It's a hike without the threat of Zetas, Insanity-corrupted humans, and small tribes of humans who kill anyone and anything on sight. Our best bet, get to Grand Junction Colorado tonight. It's four-hours and twenty-five minutes from here and the sun set's in three hours." Stated Naylor, looking at everyone.
With their first campsite picked, the groups got back to their vehicles, used jerry cans to refuel, and begin the trip eastward. As Joplin drives, Jax hold's her hand. "We'll make to your farm, I promise." Joplin blushes, keeping her eyes on the road... and her heart focused on the cowboy sitting next to her.