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Junior
Posts: 91
I was hesitant to post about my work here since the focus should be on Chris's excellent story. However, a few others suggested I toss up a post to discuss the story and Chris gave me his stamp of approval. So here we are.
Overview
What begins as a meteor shower sets off a massive volcanic explosion when a large meteor of dense material slams into Yellowstone's caldera. As the Supervolcano erupts, massive amounts of ash encircle the earth, beginning what is known as a Volcanic Winter. As if that wasn't bad enough, the ash carries with it some property that initially kills 20-30% of those exposed, who rise again as zombies. In the story, intial estimates for the volcanic winter are 3 to 5 years, though no expert on the subject is met by any of the main characters.
Zombies
I make no attempt to explain how the ash turns people into zombies. Really there's no need for this sort of story. Since I like both types of zombies (fast and slow), I included both in the story. New to the second section of the Dead Too, Rights series are infected humans and zombie animals. Additional information on the zombies used in this story can be found here while further reading about the Infected, humans changed by consuming the flesh of zombie animals and humans, can be found here.
Abnormalities
A small number of individuals react differently to either zombie bites or initial exposure to ash.These abnormal humans tend to display some aspect of the zombie infection, predominantly through the appearance of milky white eyes. Jaeger, the main character of the story, due to her infection after receiving stem cell treatments, initially manifests a heightened sense of smell and an amazing healing factor. Later exposure to bites by other abnormals seem to incorporate some aspects of their enhanced abilities, such as Maliqe's heighten reflexes, strength, and superb hand-to-eye coordination. These new-found abilities come with a price though; a zombie's hunger.
Post last edited Jan 27th 2011
Jaeger
"Better to have more thunder in the hand and less in the mouth."
My free, online zombie book:Dead Too, Rights.
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Junior
Posts: 91
The main protagonist
Jaeger
Born December 27th, 1977 in Old Trap, North Carolina. Dropped out of high school at 16 to work with her father as an automobile mechanic until she earned her GED at 18 and joined the Navy. Became a Construction Electrician in the Seabees and did tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before being dishonorably discharged in 2005 after ten years of service. Arrested in 2007 for multiple counts of murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection in 2008. Diagnosed with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease) in 2009. Sentence reduced to life in prison without parole in exchange for participation in clinical trials at UCON’s Stem Cell Core laboratory in Storrs. Treatments began in January of 2010. Story begins April 15th, 2010.
Construction Electricians install and repair interior wiring; overhead and underground primary and secondary distribution systems; setup, operate and service electrical equipment; climb poles and towers utilizing lineman's equipment; attach and service electrical equipment, (i.e. transformers, switching equipment, motors, motor controllers, controls and electrical system) perform tasks required in combat and disaster preparedness or recovery operations.
Completed Expeditionary Combat Skills (ECS) training at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi. ECS is a basic combat-skills course where the students spend time in a classroom environment learning map reading and land navigation, battlefield first aid, how to lay out defensive plans, how to conduct patrols, vehicle egress, and many other combat-related skills. Half of each course is spent at a rifle range where students learn basic rifle marksmanship and then qualify with the M16 service rifle. ECS students also learn fundamentals of the M9 service pistol and qualify. At the end of training, new Seabees are ready to perform with their new battalion. During their tenure with an NMCB, personnel may be assigned to a crew-served weapon, such as the MK 19 40 mm grenade launcher, the M2HB .50-caliber machine gun, or the M240 machine gun.
Special Abilities
I don't go into heavy scientific detail on how Jaeger got her abilities. For other abnormals, it seems to stem from something genetic. For her, it may be a combination of genetic predisposition and a benefit of her stem cell treatments. Regardless, her initial abilities were a heightened sense of smell and an extreme healing factor. She recovers from mundane injuries in moments but bites from zombies take awhile. Like other abnormals, she's immune to infection from zombie bites and fluids. As the story progresses, she gains a few other enhancements when another Abnormal dies, returns as a zombie, and bites her. That abnormal's undead flesh also spawns the first undead rats seen in the story.
Post last edited Jan 27th 2011
Jaeger
"Better to have more thunder in the hand and less in the mouth."
My free, online zombie book:Dead Too, Rights.
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Junior
Posts: 91
A link would probably be a good idea.
Main Blog: http://deadtoorights.blogspot.com/
Table of contents is on the left. Links to supplemental pages are across the top. First page is always the News and Updates page. Latest posts are at the top left. Kept it all pretty simple.
Additional Pages:
Premise - Setting - Protagonists - Antagonists - Zombies - Hunter's Home
So that's it! Feel free to discuss the book, the characters, the setting, and ask me what the hell I was thinking when I wrote x,y or z.
Thank you Chris, Demonpitbull and everyone else who have supported me in this effort. Its much appreciated!
Cheers,
Jaeger
Jaeger
"Better to have more thunder in the hand and less in the mouth."
My free, online zombie book:Dead Too, Rights.
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Assistant Dean
Posts: 820
Great to see this here! I even found out a bit of info that I had not previously known (or didnt realize) so thats awesome for me!
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Junior
Posts: 91
I've gotten a few emails over the months with some questions. Thought I'd share my answers here to give some insight into the story.
Q: Why did you make jaeger a seabee?
A: I didn't want the main character to be Rambo with tits but by the same token, I felt she needed to have some combat background. If you try to think about something illogical (a zombie apocalypse) in a logical manner, you'll find the survivors were either lucky, skilled, or well protected. In Jaeger's case, she has the added benefits of her healing factor. That's great for her but doesn't help her help others survive. Basically I wanted a character who knew how to shoot, handle herself in combat, but wasn't perfect.
Q: Is this a superhero story or what?
A: No. Yes. Well, sorta! When I sat down to write the draft outline of the story, I knew right away that I wanted it to cover 3 major periods; initial outbreak (first 2-4 weeks), volcanic winter (5-10 years), and then way into the future where civilization has changed and multiple generations have grown up in a zombie infested world. To that end I decided on the healing factor for Jaeger because I wanted her to be alive centuries later. That allows me to write in a contemporary voice for the generational period centuries later. Imagine a child, three generations after the zombie apocalypse hit, trying to describe an M16. It could be done by a better writer, but this way Jaeger can narrate the story using words we, as modern day readers, can relate to. Anyway, that's why I added the healing factor and the rest just sorta evolved.
Q: Was Jaeger guilty of the murders that landed her on death row?
A: Yes, though I won't go into details. Suffice it to say that Jaeger is one step away from being a psychopath. I wanted her to be dark, dark, dark. I wanted her to seem like the lesser to many evils. She's not a nice person, to say the least, and that's why she's not only surviving in a zombie world, but thriving.
Q: You're writing is awesome. Are you gonna try to publish something or make any money?
A: Thanks! Maybe! Honestly, I sat down and started writing Dead Too, Rights for fun. I wasn't able to find a zombie story that had all the elements I'd love to read about so I decided to write one. Sharing it online was a big step for me. I'm not a professional writer. Never went to college. Never took any sort of classes on writing. Just a high school diploma earned too many years ago. Since I put the story online, every bit of feedback has been positive and encouraging. To answer your question though, I plan to keep DtR free. And free from advertising stuff. I may try to put it up for sale at some point but honestly I'm having too much fun writing to see it actually end. Other books I've got in mind though...
Post last edited Jan 27th 2011
Jaeger
"Better to have more thunder in the hand and less in the mouth."
My free, online zombie book:Dead Too, Rights.
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Sophomore
Posts: 41
I'm really enjoying the stories, great work!
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Moderator
Posts: 647
I concur. Very intense and well written.
  
Wolf Pack Elite
Follow me on Twiiter, Facebook and Google+
Proud member of the 501st Legion since 2006.
Supporter of "Team V"
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Student Teacher
Posts: 253
Very nicely done! Read it in one sitting...Couldn't stop.
If there can be only one....then buddy, I am so tripping you"
 
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Junior
Posts: 91
Been very ill the last few weeks. Will hopefully get back to writing soon. :)
Jaeger
"Better to have more thunder in the hand and less in the mouth."
My free, online zombie book:Dead Too, Rights.
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Assistant Dean
Posts: 820
Get well soon Jaeger! Im glad to see this topic is getting some action. I cant wait to see where the story heads next. I want to find out more about the yellow skins!!
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Student Teacher
Posts: 312
Finally got the chance to check out your story. So far 2 chapters done and I'm hooked. Awesome job!
When there is no more room in hell, the dead shall walk the Earth!
President of the "I believe Cassie is alive" FanClub!
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Sophomore
Posts: 41
Well, I'm all caught up and dying for more! Get well soon!
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Junior
Posts: 91
I'm sorry I haven't added more to the site. At this point I'm dealing with unemployment, who doesn't want to pay me because I'm unable to work. :/ Disability will take forever to start so I'm in financial limbo. Needless to say, the stress isn't helping my health or mental state.
Dead Too, Rights isn't dead. Just resting a bit before it gets up to eat your brains.
Jaeger
"Better to have more thunder in the hand and less in the mouth."
My free, online zombie book:Dead Too, Rights.
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Student Teacher
Posts: 312
Hope everything works out for ya Jaeger. As good as your story is, your mental and physical health comes first. Will be ready to read it when your ready to write it!
When there is no more room in hell, the dead shall walk the Earth!
President of the "I believe Cassie is alive" FanClub!
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Freshman
Posts: 3
enjoying the stories, great work get well soon
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