Andar Muerto (Kasim, Angeleanna, and Phia)

[Kasim Chionesu]

>>“Why watch such a dreadful genre when one, well, lives it. There are plenty of things to be frightened of without television and movies interfering.”<<

Kasim laughed softly. "Yes, well, that was back at Quantaco. Before my life became exciting." And all too scary itself, Kasim thought.

Kasim's fingers gently gazed the dog's back b efore he went to Phia for attention. Kasim smiled softly, but when the dog began growling in warning, Kasim's smile disappeared. His hand strayed to the flap of his jacket before realizing the dog was growling at a local policeman. Kasim sighed and muttered, "Seems Rex here has a problem with authority."

Kasim withdrew his hand from his jacket and instead extended it as he approached Officer Alvarez. "{Good day.}" Kasim repeated in very bad Spanish. He lapsed into English, keeping his speech slow and clear, just so there was no misinterpretation. "We are. My name is Agent Kasim Chionesu, and this is Agent Anna-Sophia Cisneros and Sister Angeleanna Maxwell." After shaking Alvarez's hand, Kasim's tone became serious. "We've already encountered one of the...erm...hostiles, I suppose, which is why we weren't here sooner and are on foot."

[brennalarose]

Phia smiled shyly, absently patting the dog on the head. She vaguely recalled that you weren't supposed to touch strange dogs, but it was too late now.

"{Nice to meet you, Officer}," she said, "Where is everybody?"

Phia dug out a faded bandanna from her belt, mopping the sweat away and squinted in the direction of the doorway. She patted the dog again and murmured a few words of encouragement.

[Sister Angeleanna]

OOC: All right, we lost our Pierce so we shall commence as if he was never there.

---

Angeleanna watched the gregarious canine soak up the attention from the two agents and valued the small break and casually strolled to the closet building they were standing next to and took refuge in the bare shade. It was warm, despite the time of year and coming from New Jersey winter to Mexico winter was a big jump. Closing her eyes briefly she listened to the sounds around her and opened them at the sharp and different bark of the dog. A officer of sorts, she mused at the badge and took a moment to collect herself and turned slightly when her robes caught on the edge of a broken wall. Tugging it gently free she glanced where the material had caught and took a closer look at the thick gouges in the surface and lifted a hand to hover over the marks the size and width of fingers.

There was another near the door. And another above it. Angel leaned back slightly to study the houses they had passed but without actually trekking back to them to look closely she couldn’t tell of there were more of the marks. Strange. That would be definitely something to address to her team. Making her way over to the two, she dipped her head in greeting at the officer.

"Seems Rex here has a problem with authority."

Angeleanna moved stand next to Kasim as the dog had sidled back over to stand with Anna Sophia. “I don’t know, he seems to like you.”

Hector ignored the dog and smiled, his lips tight against white teeth as he shook Kasim’s hand and nodded his head at two women. His smile faded at the mention of hostiles. “So soon?” The officer’ eyes flittered over to the women again as if to check if they were all right. “Did you kill it?” He clucked his tongue and made a show of looking behind them as if expecting to see something.

"Where is everybody?"

“Hiding, mostly. Some are at mass, a few of the elder refuse to let something like this stop them.” He chuckled oddly before flashing his teeth again and eyed the nun. He had been told the American Government was sending agents but this was the oddest rag tag group he had seen. While the man, Kasim, looked the part the addition of the women were not expected. “My jeep is around the corner. I’ll take you the rest of the way.”

Hector motioned again for them to follow him fell into step with Kasim, deeming him the leader by the first to address him. “Ah… might I ask, what did the hostile look like?”

The dog watched the official with glassy eyes and jumped when Phia touched him. He whipped around to see what it was and wagged his tail in reply to the petting. Angeleanna fell back a step to Anna Sophia and absently reached a hand out and the dog and it danced out of her reach playfully and dutifully planted himself in front of the women, sniffing the ground as he walked ahead.

“I found something a little odd,” she addressed her colleague in a low voice. “It’s probably nothing but it looked like… like handprints gouged in the building behind us.”

[brennalarose]

“Hiding, mostly. Some are at mass, a few of the elder refuse to let something like this stop them.”

Phia nodded gravely. It was as she'd suspected. But, she realized that she looked less like a government agent and more like a heavily armed turista. She blushed a little. At least, Sister Angel had a uniform that would command a little respect. Phia immediately regretted the thought. She spoke enough Spanish and looked enough like the locals to pass, if a local with a lot more Hidalgo than Azteca. Maybe they could look past the glittery red rose on her front.

The dog's antics made her giggle. Clearly, this was all some kind of game to him and he'd probably never met a stranger or an enemy. She let him frolic, happy for the company of someone who wouldn't judge her abilities.

“I found something a little odd,” she addressed her colleague in a low voice. “It’s probably nothing but it looked like… like handprints gouged in the building behind us.”

"I wouldn't call handprints dug out of the adobe 'nothing'," Phia mumbled, "If you see any others, point them out. Let's see if we can spot a pattern or something." She scanned the walls for the marks and felt goosebumps rise on her arms. What could be that strong? Surely the dead, rotting and crumbling away as they got up and walked, would have fallen apart if they tried.

"Are there a lot of troublemakers in the ranks of the young folk, Officer?" Phia asked, "Bored kids or such?"

[Kasim Chionesu]

"We were rather taken aback at the speed of our first encounter as well." Kasim said, and he paused before continuing. Anna-Sophia's comment about hoping the zombie hadn't been someone's grandpa flitted through his mind before he continued. "I killed the hostile." If there were to be any blame, or angry family members, Kasim would weather it all. "There was no choice but to do so. It had already killed one of our number and I had to prevent it from doing the same to my colleagues here." His words tumbled out more smoothly than he had counted on.

"Thank you, Hector." Kasim said at the officer's offer of transportation the rest of the way. He cast a glance behind his shoulder warily as they paired off. He was worried something might happen to the women, but Hector's question enabled Kasim to push his worries aside. "The hostile was male, I believe. Yellowish skin, hardly any flesh on the body besides the eyes." His brow furrowed as he struggled with more details. The adrenaline that had pumped through his veins earlier from the fighting made it hard to remember the recent memory. "Dirt underneath the fingernails, old clothing, and long black hair." They had meanwhile approached the Jeep, and Kasim had noticed that the women had spoken a few words between one another in low voices. His forehead wrinkled slightly in concern as he continued. "I think the corpse was at least ten years old and made distinct vocal sounds. I wish now that we could have restrained it for an example or further investigation, but it wasn't an option." Phia asked a question at that moment, and Kasim took the opportunity to check in with the others.

"Chert, Talus...How are you guys doing?" He spoke quietly into his radio.

"The scene is cleaned up and we are continuing." Talus' reply came.

"Officer Alvarez is transporting us the rest of the way in a Jeep." Kasim said. "I guess we'll meet up with you guys again soon."

"10-4, Chia pet." Kasim's cheeks flushed slightly at the use of his codename. A bit silly, yes, but maybe everyone did need to chill out just a bit.

[Sister Angeleanna]

OOC: I’m doing a small time jump here to get this thread moving.

---

Hector nodded his head to questions but his answers were vague and distant as he ushered the three agents into his jeep. He paused before he slid his hat from his brow and set it between the front seat of his vehicle before surveying his town around him. The scruffy dog had followed the group until a scent attracted his nose and with the ease of unruly child, he was gone. The officer helped the closest woman next to him by offering his hand as a boost up and when everyone was settled in, he climbed in last. The jeep turned over with ease and they took off, leaving a trail of dust in their wake. It was a short five minute ride, but Alvarez knew his town and when the call for breaks was needed. It wasn’t very often and the jeep skidded to a stop in front of a gated but otherwise unassuming building.

Angeleanna lowered her hand from her veil in an attempt to keep it on during the wild ride. With the jeeps top down, the wind felt like it was going to rip the cowl from her shoulders. She climbed out of the back, jumped down with a dull thud and smiled when Hector glanced back at her and studied his posture as he turned to talk quietly with Kasim. The nun retrieved her case and bible and strolled around the other side of the jeep to Anna Sophia and take in the police station.

On the other side of the gate, another officer stood in the same attire and armored vest. His youngness showed as he rested a hand across the butt of his handgun as if to reassure himself it was there. He eyed the new company through the bars before tilting his head back to shout at Alvarez.

“{Hector! What took you so long? The boss is crappin’ bricks ‘cause your radios off.}”

The elder officer visibly flinched and took a deep breath before excusing himself from Kasim. “{I brought the Government agents with me.}”

“{Them?}” The boy rubbed his forehead. “{They don’t look like much. What’s with Mary Poppins?}”

Sister Angel furrowed her brow as she concentrated on what was being said and set her one free hand on her hip to stare back at the officer. She caught the just of what was being said and only shook her head.

Hector frowned dourly at his fellow officer. “{Shut it Felix and open the gate.}” He turned back to the group and smiled tightly. “Please, this way.”

[brennalarose]

Phia listened to the exchanges with only half an ear. She couldn't see any other signs of the... She just could bring herself to think of them as zombies. They were someone's family members, for God's sake, dead or alive. She followed Hector, absently noting her surroundings. But, she was really only looking for exits. Paranoia made her feel over-stimulated and she wanted desperately to run.

[Kasim Chionesu]

Kasim tried his best to inconspicuously keep his eyes roving over his teammates as the Jeep bucked and bounced through town. They had lost the driver of the Humvee; he wasn't going to lose anyone else from not being observant. He rocked forward slightly as the Jeep came to a halt and Hector spoke to him before being called over to the gate. He unbuckled himself and jumped from the Jeep and once more looked over Phia and Angel. He walked towards the gates, the babble of Spanish intelligible to his ears. When English once more issued from Hector's mouth, Kasim couldn't help but notice that his smile was a bit brittle looking.

"Others are coming." Kasim said, speaking to Felix. He was unsure if he understood English, so he turned to Hector. "He knows to let them in, right?" He waited for Angel and Phia to enter before following them inside. Kasim didn't know why, but he couldn't help but feel a slight sinking feeling as they entered the police station.

[Sister Angeleanna]

"He knows to let them in, right?"

“Hey American, I am not stupid. I know English.” The younger officer Felix replied in thickly accent words and glared at Kasim. He clucked his tongue and muttered in Spanish when Hector quickly admonished him with a cuff to the back of his head and a scowl sharp enough to cut through a brick wall. The officer then led them through the gates, talking quickly as he gave them a semblance of a tour of the police station. He pointed out the restroom, holding cells, offices as they passed by as Felix brought up the rear.

“This is officer Ramirez,” Hector said, gesturing quickly with a hand as a tall man stood up from his desk. “He was the reporting officer that contacted your establishment. He will take over for me, I need to return to the field.” He tipped his hat slightly and was gone. Felix remained lurking about, studying Phia.

Angeleanna followed, skirting closer to her fellow woman and smiled before offering an arm. “What do you think?” She quickly added, “about the gouges. I saw more but there didn’t seem to be a pattern or design to it.”

Juan Ramirez smiled toothily from behind his desk and pulled his hat from his head. “Good afternoon agents,” he said in surprisingly precise English and made his way from his desk to greet them man and women. He offered a hearty handshake to Kasim and Anna Sophia and paused slightly at the nun before giving a respectable bow of his head before turning to Felix. “{That will be all officer.}”

“I hope your journey was particularly well. Would you like something to drink?” He glanced between his companions before continuing. “If you’d like to follow me, we have a boardroom that’s been set up. Chief Romero expresses his apologies he could not be here to meet you, but he is in route to speak with the local news. They have been… inquisitive.”

[brennalarose]

Angeleanna followed, skirting closer to her fellow woman and smiled before offering an arm. “What do you think?” She quickly added, “about the gouges. I saw more but there didn’t seem to be a pattern or design to it.”

Phia shrugged subtly. "Hard to say. If I had time to study them, maybe..." she trailed off for a moment, then tapped her lower lip thoughtfully. "Trying to get in or climb. Get leverage to stand if they fell. Zombies can be clever little bleeders, 'scuse me, Sister, under the right conditions. If they're strong enough to make those, they could be smart enough to have a reason."

She glanced back at Felix. "And Captain Grumbles here is making me nervous, looking at me like that."

Juan Ramirez smiled toothily from behind his desk and pulled his hat from his head. “Good afternoon agents,” he said in surprisingly precise English and made his way from his desk to greet them man and women.

Phia shook his hand with a soft, slightly shy smile. "I'll bet they have," said Phia, "Nothing for me, thanks." She held back the flood of questions building up in her mouth and her fingers itched to pop open Lovelace and start organizing the swirl of theories and knowledge in her mind. She felt like the answers were just out of reach.

[Sister Angeleanna]

The sister nodded to agree with the younger Agent’s assumptions and she frowned in thought. It would be most bad if the people – Creatures? That had been a man that attacked them wit the fierce and almost fearful wildness – were strong enough to dig into the adobe like that. The nun crossed herself almost absently and touched the cross at her waist as she still clung to her bible. “Are we assuming that reason is the same as whom attacked us?”

"And Captain Grumbles here is making me nervous, looking at me like that."

Angeleanna glanced behind her and smiled at the younger man. It was warmer in the building then outside and the heavy rattling of a dying air conditioner and the thwack of fans did little to cool the heat. The warmth and heaviness of her habit had became like a second bulky and shapeless skin, any discomfort she had when she was younger had simply faded away over the years. “I think he’s just curious, we are adding to the oddities here today.” At the officer’s offer, the nun bowed her head. “Water would be lovely, thank you.”

“{Felix, please get our guests their drinks.}” The officer made a face before walking away, muttering under his breath in Spanish. Juan frowned and sighed, “You’ll have to excuse him. He’s Chief Romero’s nephew and unfortunately he didn’t inherited any good manners.” He lofted a hand towards the back of the building and stepped forward as guide. “I’m not sure how informed you are of our situation, but I have been given permission to allow you access to anything you need.” Ramirez opened a door that lead into a boardroom filled with several officers, a projector and a flurry of paperwork.

[Kasim Chionesu]

"I didn't think you were." Kasim said softly to Felix's words. "I apologize, but I did not know if you spoke English or not." His cheeks flushed slightly and he bowed his head slightly before falling into step behind Hector on the tour of the station.

"Please to meet you, Officer Ramirez, Kasim replied to the man's greeting. "I am fine, thank you." He declined his offer of a drink. "I am quite sure the media has been quite um...enthusiastic about the goings on." As Officer Ramirez stepped forward to guide the small group, Kasim cast a look at his companions and smiled what he hoped was an encouraging smile at them.

“I’m not sure how informed you are of our situation, but I have been given permission to allow you access to anything you need.”

"We've been briefed, but we had a little hands on experience earlier." Kasim said slowly. "We were...we had a confrontation with one of the hostile beings. We suffered one casualty and I am the one who took the being down."

[brennalarose]

The Chief's family and their manners were the last thing on Phia's mind. There was worry on the air, a pinch of guilt, sleepless nights, and variations on anger. She hung back, bracing against the wall. It wasn't difficult to handle. These men were alien to her and she was well-shielded, but the sensations were still there and it dragged a claw of doubt up and down her spine.

"We've been briefed, but we had a little hands on experience earlier." Kasim said slowly. "We were...we had a confrontation with one of the hostile beings. We suffered one casualty and I am the one who took the being down."

"It couldn't be helped," said Phia softly, "It's probably better that the being can rest now. Officer, forgive me if I'm asking a silly or uncomfortable question, but, do you have any brujas or brujos in town or nearby? Any who've made threats or been complained about recently?"

[Sister Angeleanna]

We suffered one casualty and I am the one who took the being down."
"It couldn't be helped,"

Juan held the door open to allow the American agents through and he slid in behind them, pausing to pull a red handkerchief from his back pocket and rubbed it across the back of his neck. He nodded and his gaze strayed from the representatives in drifting thoughts of his first encounter, the pallid color of eyes that bore down him, the stench of flesh and freshly turned earth and the vague flicker of recognition. Ramirez took a slow steady breath and pushed the red cloth into his back pocket.

“Very brave of your, sir. I’ve encountered a few unfriendlies and as odd as it sounds…” He laughed, a quiet forced chuckle that didn’t believe the very words that were coming from him. “They reminded me of the Night of the Dead movies.”

Officer, forgive me if I'm asking a silly or uncomfortable question, but, do you have any brujas or brujos in town or nearby? Any who've made threats or been complained about recently?"

The officer set his hat down on a unoccupied table, jostling for the shrinking space as a woman placed a heavy cardboard box of folders atop it and moved on. “Ma’am, I have seen,” he lowered his voice and leaned slightly forward. “the dead get up and move about like the living. I’m not a religious man but that’ll make a man turn to the heavens fast.”

Angeleanna turned from peering over a man’s shoulder as his fingers flew across a keyboard. She set her wooden case down under a table and pushed it slightly back where she could still keep an eye on it. It alleviated a free hand and obstacle to walk around by the officers. “Fear should never be the only reason to find God. Our heavenly Father is always there, he’s just waiting on us to make the right choice.”

“As it should be,” Juan replied, nodding his head before addressing Anna Sophia. “There are rumors of brujería in the neighboring mountains and near the Cataratas de Agua Azul, the Blue waterfalls,” he added at the nun’s curious look. “but the waterfall is roughly 70 kilometers away, the mountains are much closer. We do have small communities that dot the landscape but our rivers have become contaminated over the last decade. The city has pushed further up and into new terrain.”

“We have a lot of superstitious people but off the top of my head, I don’t know of any complaints. I usually don’t handle the filework.” There was a tinge of sheepishness in his voice as Juan moved a briefcase from the main table and cleared space for everyone to sit. The door opened behind the crew and Felix appeared with several water bottles in hand. He wordlessly handed them out, still grumbling over the fact he had been reduced to errand boy. “{Felix, find our public disturbance reports for the last three months and bring them to me, please.}”

“{Can’t someone else do it? I’m heading out with the guys.}” He caught the older officer’s look. “{Fine, give me ten minutes.}” The man left, shutting the door a little harshly behind him.

[Kasim Chionesu]

Kasim gave Phia a grateful look for her support. He appreciated it greatly, especially since the driver's death was weighing on his mind and he was already questioning whoever it was who made him leader over this mission, and the anxiety that maybe killing the being would turn things sour between the Bureau and the locals. His anxiety was put at ease when Officer Ramirez seemed to laud his actions. "That was a bit what I had been thinking too, sir." He responded to the movie reference.

Kasim was silent as Angel and Ramirez had a little discussion concerning Theology. He would not but in with his opinion or beliefs; personally while he did not go to church every Sunday or wear an outwardly token of his faith, he worshiped privately and alone. He accepted the water with a 'Thank you' and a small smile.

"So you are saying that it's unlikely they could orchestrate this?" He asked after Felix left, cracking the seal on the cap and taking a sip. "I think, Officer, that this could be..." He paused before plunging ahead with his words, "I think this could be perhaps stem from the recent holiday of El Dia de Los Muertos. It would not exactly be unheard of...could it?"