Enemy Within

Many years ago the human race faced a zombie apocalypse. That is, until the rise of Rezo Corporation. Rezo corp swept across the nation, collecting the undead and saving the day. At the time there was no sight as relieving as the Rezo corp White Coats.

Now, Rezo corp stores are the only source of everyone's new favorite pet: Zombys! These lovable pals have made their way into nearly every home as pets, live-in babysitters, and manual laborers. It is commonplace to see zombys running errands and escorting children to and from school. Better still is the fact that Zombys are immortal! Simply feed them raw meat and let them rest 2-3 days and they're up again.

But, as some unknowing people will discover, Rezo corp has hidden some dark secrets in their off-site facility: the origins of the undead, torture chambers, a private army, and a twisted vision.

Notes

Undead

• Undead have 3 distinctive characteristics: bright eyes, highly noticeable veins around the face and limbs, and discolored skin(ranging from merely pale to blueish or greenish tints)
  
• Raw meat does help with healing, but sugar is a lesser known alternative that next to no one knows about
  
• Brains help zombies regain intellect where meat aids in healing bodies
  
• Undead possess near-superhuman strength and stamina, though these traits are rarely used
  
• Rezo corp Zomby Shops are similar to regular pet shops, with their 'best specimens' in bulletproof glass cages in the store windows
  
• Though they usually speak in slow and simple sentences undead are capable of regular speech if properly cared for
  
• Undead aren't actually immortal. If not properly cared for they will begin to rot
  
• The heart of an undead beats half as fast as a living heart
  

World

• This is a 1900s-esque steampunk world. The zombie apocalypse set everything back, but society adapted
  
• Air travel has been lost to all but the extremely wealthy and as such sailing has become the main means of trade with other countries(with the inevitable rise of piracy)
  
• Rezo corp refuses to supply sailors with undead crewmen, only pirates bring them aboard
  

Rules

1. The Usual
   
2. 1 Undead character each
   
3. If you want a character connected to Rezo corp just ask me for details you need that aren't here
   
4. Have fun
   

Well, this was unexpected thought Abel as pirates raided his clinic. They had brought in a zombie that had an eye fall out, but then knocked him out and restrained him as he was examining his would-be patient. Now they had him tied to a chair, incapable of anything but watching as his clinic was trashed and the poor zombie tried fixing his eye on his own.

((Different pirate crew. Thought I'd give Mesi a reason to find Abel so, here's a zombie in need of her help.))

A zombie wandered into the clinic, one sleeve hanging limp, a severed arm clutched in his other hand. "Hello?" He waved the arm awkwardly at the pirates, who paused to consider him; then threw it at the nearest one, who stumbled into the man next to him. While they were off-balance a woman charged through the back door, sword in hand. She made quick work of the pirates, cut Abel free, and shoved him toward the one-eyed zombie. "Help him." She moved to the door to watch for any of the pirates' crewmates approaching. Her zombie partner, meanwhile, struggled to get his other arm out of his shirt where it'd been hidden. He gave up and just smiled awkwardly at Abel, his elbow still stuck in the sleeve.

Abel didn't question as he grabbed a lollipop and got to work. First he dealt with the loose eye, bandaging it in place and offering a piece of cake to the newly bandaged zombie. Next he carefully helped free the arm from the other zombie's sleeve and said "Nice trick"

The woman spoke without taking her eyes off the outer door. "Lots of ways to cause a distraction, but Kieren loves the 'pathetic zombie' routine. Don't you Kee?" Kieren nodded and smiled again. "Severed arm optional."

Abel responded "I see" as he returned his attention to the unnamed zombie. Cleaning up the finished plate of cake he gently tilted the zombie's head so they were looking at him and said "My name is Dr. Grey, can you tell me yours?"
"Mm... Mmayy"
"Ok May, now I want you to try saying a longer word. Try saying 'lollipop'"
"Lll...Lahll...la..."
"It's ok May, that was just a test. You can stop now" Abel started searching through his fridge and asked "Are you alright Kee or do you need food as well?"

"Kieren," he corrected, not unkindly. "Only Mesi says Kee." He looked to her for an answer.
"We're taking the food. All of it. And we're taking May. Supplies too, maybe. I suggest you grab anything you can't afford to have stolen and get out before their buddies show up. Actually... On second thought, you're coming with us." She turned her sword on him. "Don't worry, we'll make it a brief kidnapping. Home in time for supper."

(Saved from thieving pirates by a thieving, kidnapping pirate -_- At least she was honestly willing to let him keep anything he couldn't afford to lose.)

Thinking for a moment Abel grabbed some small coolers and passed them to Kieran and May, saying "Will you two help by gather the meat and brains? There should be enough containers for most if not all my stock". Passing the woman by the door he said while bagging medical supplies and desserts "I'll take my chances and follow my patient, heh heh though I doubt I have much choice"

Mesi nodded approvingly at his choice to cooperate. "You might have many more patients before this is through. Come prepared. Kee!" He looked over at her, looking vaguely ashamed, with meat hanging out of his mouth. She shook her head in exasperation. "Work while you snack, kid. They'll come looking for their buddies before long."

After gathering everything Abel looked over May once more and said "I don't think May's in any condition to get caught up in a fight yet". Thinking quickly, Abel lifted one of the empty cabinets and said "would you be so kind as to open the door? I'll make an opening for us to either take them out or run for the exit"

((Don't mess with Abel when he's looking out for a patient 0.0'))

"Ah, shit. Here they come. They've noticed their man outside is missing. Whatever you're doing do it fast, and remember - if you try anything funny we'll chase you down" She pulled Kieren and May close and opened the door.

Seeing the pirates run half way down the hall towards them Abel lifted the cabinet over his head and hurled it down the hall, knocking the pirates down and pinning a few under it. Running for the exit he called over his shoulder "This way!"

Mesi quickly overtook him and led the way to the dock, where two ships were moored. They boarded one, where the crew looked at Abel with interest - all of them healthy but undead. Mesi ordered Kieren to take Abel and May below deck, pressing a dagger into his hand. "Just in case they get past us."
"They never do."
"I know. I just like to hear you say it. Don't eat too much of that food. Our new friends will need it." She left, and just as Kieren closed and locked the door they heard her give the order to board the other ship.

Abel caught his breath and took a mental count of what they brought. He noticed May eyeing one of the coolers and decided there was enough to let May have some food. He picked out a brain and broke it in half, giving one have to May and holding the other half out to Kieran and said "You want some too?"

Kieren eyed the brain hungrily but only took a small portion. "Others need it more. Others like May." He nibbled at it, listening for any sound of the fighting reaching their ship. "Sorry Mesi stole you."

Abel put the rest of the brain away and chuckled halfheartedly "technically I wasn't stolen. I came willingly so I could keep an eye on May". Pulling out a new lollipop from his coat pocket he stuffed the old stick in another pocket and asked "so why did Ms. Mesi take me? Am I needed, or simply inconvenient if left behind?"

"For the rest. May's not enough. We want them all. Mesi will free them, and feed them, and you'll heal the hurt ones, so they can be people again. That's what she does." The adoration for his captain was plain in his tone.

Abel smiled softly as he replied "Your captain is a special woman. Not many people would stick their neck out for undead, it's rather touching"

"She's special," Kieren agreed. "She saves us." He pointed to May's bandaged eye. "You heal us. You're special too."

Abel blushed as he turned away and stuttered "w-well, I mean, I couldn't leave poor May in that state. Too few actually care about undead suffering. Just because it takes more for us to feel pain they think we feel nothing!"

Kieren looked puzzled and leaned in close to stare into Abel's eyes. Just then the door slammed open and Mesi entered, cleaning her blade.
"Mesi, he's dead!" Kieren exclaimed.
"Oh really?" She stared intently at Abel, though thankfully from further away than Kieren had. "You look awfully alive to me."

Abel scrambled backward and replied, a bit faster than he meant to "I'm not dead! These are contacts! I-I bought them because...my patients usually feel better when being treated by one of their own!" His heart was racing, but Abel tried his best to stand tall and confident.

Mesi shrugged. "Fine, if it makes you feel better, you're very alive. Now, you ready to work? We've got half a dozen near-starved undead who need you."

Abel adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat before grabbing a few containers and said "R-right, let's get started. Lead the way"