Kapitel 13: Martial Law (1)

"So, the apocalypse is a tournament between the Gods. And they cultivate their power by making deals with humans?" Inquired Diana, looking over her shoulder at Nathaniel who was pushing her wheelchair. During the first stages of the apocalypse almost all technology that functioned using electrical currents simply did not function. The exceptions were limited to prosthetics and any devices created or assembled after the initial wave. This made travel extremely difficult and slow as cars and aircraft no longer functioned. Come mid-January they would be functional again, but Nathaniel wanted to leave England long before then. [I'll need to find the old men and somehow get a boat] thought Nathaniel [fuck this may end badly].

"Yes, that's exactly right. Now what are the two types of humans that have made deals with Gods?" asked Nathaniel with a smirk.

"Hmmmm" thought Diana aloud, "you definitely told me this."

"I did. This is very important to remember when fighting in future."

"Uhhh Angels and uhhhh.." Diana began to answer.

"Also begins with A, think of video games." encouraged Nathaniel, smiling unbeknownst to Diana.

"Avatar?" nervously replied Diana.

"Correct! And now what's the difference between the two?" quizzed Nathaniel, still pushing Diana forward in her wheelchair.

"Uhhhh… well Angels are just humans that have made a deal with a God. A God can have numerous Angels but only one Avatar. Their Avatar is like their representative on Earth, their champion. They're able to receive more abilities from their Patron, their God, than Avatars however aren't allowed to make deals with other Gods. Although it is unlikely for a person to have a deal with more than one God, since then the Gods don't get the full benefits of having an Angel."

"Very good," continued Nathaniel "anything else that makes Avatars inherently more powerful than Angels on average."

"I can't remember!" replied Diana, burying her face in her hands.

"Hey," comforted Nathaniel while placing a hand on her shoulder "it's okay. There's a lot to remember. Avatars are also able to summon their God's Domain. They can also summon relics, items infused with mana that grant additional abilities, created by their Patron God. They also usually get access to special unique abilities that normal Angels of that God could never get access to. Some can even temporarily become a God."

"And relics… they're objects that Gods have out mana inside and grant the user extra abilities without a contract. However if you lose or break a relic you also lose that ability, so it's best to look after them." explained Diana, voice rising with growing confidence.

"Yes exactly! Remember almost anything can be a relic. Items, weapons, even vehicles. It's also important to note that by owning a relic a user also loses the 'human limiter' that prevents humans from exceeding their physical limits. So just because a person isn't an Angel or an Avatar, doesn't mean they can't be strong. Never assume anyone's weak because they could be powerful in other ways. Not bad, kid." elaborated Nathaniel, smirking at the end.

"I'm not a kid!" scolded Diana in a mocking tone.

"You're seventeen, you're a kid compared to me." said Nathaniel. [This Diana is much quieter but also surprisingly more fiery than last time], Nathaniel thought [I wonder how else the others have changed, perhaps the old men are nicer now].

"Hah, hah, very funny Mr Comedian. How do the Gods actually gain power then? If they make deals that allow humans to have access to some of their abilities, wouldn't they technically be using their power?" asked Diana, tilting her head to one side and adjusting her glasses.

"Simple. Whenever you use an ability it costs an amount of energy, which we'll call mana, for simplicity, which is given to whichever God you made a deal with. So the more you use your abilities, the stronger they become. All humans innately generate mana, some more than others. Outside using abilities it can allow humans to momentarily perform almost physically impossible feats - a little like adrenalin. Whenever you're in a 'flow state' when working, whether physically or mentally, you're actually using your mana. Which is also why generally more creative and high performing people have greater mana regeneration and storage. Which I think is pretty cool." answered Nathaniel.

"Wow… that's amazing. So mana has always existed, we've just never been able to use it for abilities?" confirmed Diana.

"Yes, exactly. You're doing very well." Replied Nathaniel with a smile.

"Thank you.. but why don't the Gods just fight and kill each other if they're all trying to become stronger?" inquired Diana.

"Good Grief, you ask a lot of questions!"exclaimed Nathaniel. At this remark Diana turned and looked away, shoulders slouching. Nathaniel's expression softened.

"Hey," he apologised. "I'm just joking with you. I'm sorry. Janu Dori didn't tell you much, I should be more considerate."

"Anyway, the reason the God's don't fight each other directly i-" began Nathaniel before being cut off by the echoing sound of a lone gunshot.

A soldier stepped out from behind a nearby abandoned car. His winter white uniform was decked out with a tactical vest, complete with extra ammunition and explosives. Embroided on his uniform's sleeve was the number one hundred and ten. He held an SA80 UK Army Standard Issue rifle with confident hands. He was a soldier with experience.

"All civilians are to remain indoors until they are evacuated to a Safe Zone." informed the soldier calmly, still aiming the rifle at the duo. "Didn't you see the signs everywhere?"

"What signs?" asked Nathaniel sheepishly, shoulders tensing in preparation.

"The sighs plastered everywhere," sighed the soldier, "explaining the declaration of Martial Law and how all citizens are to remain indoors until we, the military, escort you to a Safe Zone."

"Like that poster over there?" replied Nathaniel, pointing to a poster plastered against the glass window of a nearby shop while taking a half-step forward.

The soldier half-turned his head to look and began "Exactly like tha-" before he was cut off by Nathaniel uppercutting the unsuspecting man in the jaw. Stumbling back, the soldier tried to recover. However Nathaniel did not let him. With two quick jabs - one to the throat and one to the temple - the soldier collapsed in a heap.

"I… uh… why did you.. Why did you do that?" asked Diana cautiously, "he was just doing his job and wasn't going to hurt us, right?"

"We need to leave Britain as soon as possible, the Undead to area ratio is too high. We need more space to run, hide and hopefully start to rebuild." answered Nathaniel while looting the unconscious man. He took the soldier's rifle and rifle ammo, but left the man his handgun and basic supplies. "He specifically might not hurt us, but we can't say for the other soldiers. It's likely the military will splinter into factions, all with their own goals. Remember the most important rule of survival I taught you?"

"Oh yea, you're right. All it'd take is some general to.. like seize control and convince people to follow them with resources or something." said Diana while watching as Nathaniel hauled the unconscious soldier into the backseat of a nearby sedan.

"You're very smart Diana," huffed Nathaniel after finally getting the soldier into the car.

"Why are you stuffing him inside a car though?" asked Diana, fiddling with her hands as she asked her question.

"Well," huffed Nathaniel again after closing the car door, "Like you said he was just doing his job, still loyal despite the end of days. If I leave him out on the street he'll freeze to death and if I take his handgun he'll have no way to properly defend himself against Undead. I can't do that to him, I just can't. If we killed people for no reason how are we any different from the Undead? We're all just humans just trying to survive."

"But… what if he tells other soldiers?" asked Diana, shivering slightly from the winter frost, "and maybe going to a Safe Zone isn't a bad idea… with all the soldiers there."

"That's just a risk we're going to have to take." sighed Nathaniel before continuing, taking off his coat and placing it over Diana's shoulders "I can't tell you how I know Dee, but nowhere in the UK is safe anymore. We need more space, more places to run, hide and gather resources. Long term it is the best option."

"Yea," replied Diana, "you're right. It's too crowded here and is only gonna get worse. I just wished I wasn't so useless. Oh and thanks for the jacket."

"Hey," said Nathaniel in a softer tone, "you are not useless or a burden or a weight to carry. You're incredibly smart and versatile. Don't beat yourself up. How about I teach you how to use a pistol, just in case you know? I don't want you shooting other people though, only Undead. "

"Yea sure, thanks." smiled Diana weakly, "That'd be handy to know."

"Did I just make things awkward?" asked Nathaniel sheepishly.

"Well," said Diana with a growing smile, "You just gave me a mediocre peptalk and then told me you'd teach me how to shoot. For an FBI agent, you kinda struggle with people skills sometimes."

"For a school student you're weirdly excited to learn how to use a gun," laughed Nathaniel.

"Oh shut up, you offered." pouted Diana.

"Yea and you accepted so shut up." replied Nathaniel as he started pushing Diana's wheelchair to continue travelling.