Koreatown, Los Angeles, Wednesday

[spin_kick_snap]

After discovering that Anders could heal the infected, the heroes of LA had been buoyed up by the knowledge that they could stop the spread of the zombie virus. Regenerator couldn't change anyone who had become of full-fledged zombie, but he was able to heal those they got to in time. It helped that the victims tended to have as much as a whole day between when they were bitten and when they turned. Stealth got word out to the populations that were most vulnerable, promising 'free and discreet care' to anyone who needed it, for whatever reason, and soon people were coming to them, either to be healed by 'Genny or two get heroes to help transport the infected back. 'Genny set up a walk-in clinic in a warehouse Stealth had procured and rather than patrolling, Banzai had started helping him there. She was fast, she was agile, she was good at calming people down--she made an excellent assistant and a new rapport sprang up between them.

They were saving lives. They were making a difference. It even made having to move back in with her family (under the guise of visiting for 'spring break') more palatable.

This rush of good feeling lasted for three days. Just three days. They knew they weren't stopping new zombies from turning, but between the people they were healing and the zombies the rest were killing, they really thought they were making a difference.

They were wrong. They were so wrong.

It was Sarah who woke Kathy up from her nap, eyes wide and a little scared. The fear alone had the bottom dropping out of Kathy's stomach; Sarah didn't do scared. She'd gone to school everyday through Seventeen territory and hadn't even flinched. "Sarah," she said, holding out a hand. "What is it?"

"Something's happening," Sarah said, going to sit on Kathy's bed and curling up against her big sister. "Something big. There was some kind of terrorist attack today--like a biological thing. People were screaming and rioting and attacking one another on Hollywood and Highland. Just out in the street in the middle of the day! Like--people ripped one another's throats out and stuff. It's all over the net--people were taking videos and running and screaming--they attacked little kids! And the way they looked--!" Sarah shuddered, hiding her face. "It was awful. Like a horror movie but for real. I watched people die. It looked like some were getting eaten."

"You shouldn't be watching this kind of stuff," Kathy said absently, stroking her sister's hair while her mind whirled. "It's just going to freak you out. Don't worry, the superheroes will fix it."

"I hope so," Sarah said, cuddling close. "Cause the videos I saw? It looked like the end of the world."

[NFB, but Kathy's going to be calling people. If you want her to call you (or want to call her), ping in and she did!]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

"You should definitely send me pics of JGOB," Kathy said. "Maybe that'll make me come home faster, you never know."

Except for how she already wanted to come home. This place wasn't home anymore. This was where her family lived and she loved them, but Kathy really wanted to be on the island. She had such little time left there at all, it seemed unfair to make her lose more.

"I do have a favor to ask of you," she said slowly. "But you can't say that I had anything to do with it or it won't work at all."

[soniaroadsqueen]

That stipulation probably should have made Ringo suspicious, but she had already eaten some cheesecake, and Kathy was her senpai. "Sure. Anything you need."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Could you check in with Dante?" Kathy asked. "We left things between us kinda unsettled and I just want to make sure he's okay."

It's just like him
To wander off in the evergreen park
Slowly searching for any sign
Of the ones he used to love...

Ugh, the people in this neighborhood played their music SO LOUD.

"You don't even have to call me back and tell me how he's doing or whatever," she continued. "Just--if he's not all right, I'd rather that someone was checking in on him. And it really can't be me."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Um. Sure? Is there, um, anything in particular I should ask about? Or, um, be on the lookout for?"

She smiled a bit awkwardly. "Even if you know he'll just say he's fine, and can take care of himself."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Oh no, nothing like that!" Kathy said hastily. "Just, you know, talk to him. If he seems normal, that's fine. But, like, if he seems depressed or unusually angry or whatever, it'd good if a friend knew. Because you really can't trust him to tell you what he's feeling so asking would just be dumb anyway."

[soniaroadsqueen]

The request actually worried Ringo a bit because, well, it was kind of weird. Making sure Dante was okay?

But, yeah. She could do that.

"Then consider it done," Ringo said with a smile. "Anything else?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Where's the cheesecake you expressed to me to help keep senpai's spirits up?" she demanded. "You're such a terrible kohai, I can't even."

That was said with a worried glance at the door, to make sure her father hadn't heard her using Japanese in the house.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Oh, it should get there soon. I mean, you know deliveries sometimes."

Because now that Kathy had mentioned it as a joke, Ringo was totally going to do it.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kathy sniffed. "My deliveries are always punctual."

Didn't you know, Ringo? Kathy was meta-for Mary Poppins: practically perfect in every way!

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Right. Sorry. I keep forgetting." Because there wasn't any validating evidence, Kathy!

[spin_kick_snap]

"It's all right," Kathy said, making sure to sound extra patronizing. "I knew you were a little slow from the beginning. It's okay, we can still be friends."

And as the years go by
Our friendship will never die
You're gonna see it's our destiny
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me

There went that weird radio again.

[soniaroadsqueen]

"And here I was being nice to you. Note that I haven't asked what in the world you're listening to. Or why."

[spin_kick_snap]

"Wait, that's not your radio?" Kathy asked, confused. "I just thought you were listening to music really loudly or something."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"You know I don't listen to old music." Ringo rolled her eyes. Come on, Kathy, Ringo had taste!

(For, you know, some value of the term.)

[spin_kick_snap]

"Huh," Kathy said. "This isn't Sarah's usual kind of music, but maybe she just has the radio up really loud?"

[soniaroadsqueen]

"You sure it's not just you?" Ringo teased.

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy sounded baffled. "But I'm not playing music at all! I think I left my ipod back in the dorm, actually."

[soniaroadsqueen]

Ringo snorted. "Do you need me to send it to you?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Nah, that's okay," Kathy said. "I've got music on my phone if I really need something and I'd rather not get my ipod covered in zombie gunk. It'll be there when I get back."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"I guess zombie gunk would be a pain to clean," Ringo allowed.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I mean, unless you want me to add that to the list of your duties as my kohai," Kathy suggested. "I mean, so you have one more to ignore entirely."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"No, no. I'm perfectly happy with my current duties of eating cheesecake and sending you photos."

[spin_kick_snap]

"You are the worst," Kathy sighed. "Such a little sister. You and Sarah would get along famously. I must guarantee this never happens."

[soniaroadsqueen]

"Hmm. Think she'd like AirTrek?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"You are not turning my sister into a rollerblading hooligan," Kathy said firmly, by which she meant, 'Yes, Sarah would LOVE this.'