missmara13

So... a long time ago, I wrote a little apocafic called 'With A Whimper', where Ryan led a group of survivors in a sorta zombie-ish apocalypse, and he was all bad ass and constantly on the verge of a nervous breakdown due to the stress, but he protected his people. This is a bit of a future snippet to it, taking place ten years after Ryan and the others made Alcatraz Island their home. It adds several more fandoms to the crossover, most of them just brief mentions, and I'll list all involved fandoms after the fic. Just know, Ryan remains bad ass.

As an aside, it sort of pains me to write Zach as a bad guy because I really do love him in canon... but he is an evil little piece of slime in this 'verse... lol

Ryan ignored Summer and Kirsten as they tried to talk to him about what he should wear. It didn't matter as far as he was concerned, the opinion of some random people he didn't know and who had no control over him or the Sanctuary, just plain did not matter.

"You want to make a good impression," Kirsten said.

"No, I want to show that I'm a competent leader, and a survivor," Ryan said. "I think the fact that after things went to hell, I got third degree burns over a quarter of my body and I survived shows that. I think my regular, sturdy and ready for whatever happens clothes show that. I think the gun in my holster and the knife on my belt show that. Not a white button down shirt and a pair of black slacks."

"Good point," Kirsten agreed.

"It doesn't even matter what they think. They don't have any control over the Sanctuary..." Ryan began.

"But they're going to represent us to the rest of the country," Summer said.

"A country that is even more fragmented and spread out than us. We're in better shape than most of the country. I've got the entire west coast and a couple other territories who look to me as a guy in charge, the man with a plan. I'm not scared of the rest of the country," Ryan said. "We've got the Sons, we've got Eureka, we've got the Wolves... we're golden. There's nothing to worry about."

"Zach Stevens," Summer said simply. "He's a front runner for vice president of the eastern states..."

"I wasn't scared of him then, I'm not scared of him now," Ryan replied. "Zach hides behind others and has them do his dirty work. If he wants to try and take me down? Good luck with that, because his last plan failed miserably. He sent hunters after us, said we were planning to use monsters to take over, and the hunters joined us. We got them to work with the Werewolves, and the Banshee, and the... whatever the hell Stiles is..."

"No one knows," Summer said. "But Zach's..."

"Not a credible threat," Ryan said firmly. "I'm not worried, Summer. Me, Ryan Atwood, practically the patron saint of worrying about worst case scenarios, is not worried. Take a clue, everything's fine."

"if he manages to get the US Military behind him..." Summer said.

"I wasn't going to tell you, because I know you've been worrying about it, but..." Ryan said. "One of the meetings this week? Is with the General who controls Cheyenne Mountain. You know, NORAD? He wants to see what we've done here, from the sounds of it... he's impressed. I think I can get him behind us. Or at least neutral. He doesn't seem impressed by Zach's posturing, and he's got a lot of fire power behind him. If he'll at least be neutral, we'll be in real good position to hold Zach and his ilk back."

"Ryan... a General?" Kirsten asked.

"Yeah," Ryan said. "Don't ask me how that happened, but... he's heard about us, says he wants to take a look at things himself, see what's true and what isn't. From what he said... if we make a good impression? We're talking new equipment for the infirmary, an upgrade to our electrical system, weapons, food supplies... We could be in really good shape if I play my cards right."

"You will," Kirsten said. "I know you, and I know you'll pull this together."

"I hope so."

~~~~

Ryan shielded his eyes from the sun as a helicopter came in for a landing on the field they used as a playground for the kids. As it's engine cooled down and the blades slowed, Ryan approached, well aware that Trey was lurking at the edge of the field and Alex was in one of the buildings over looking it, ready to shoot if necessary. "General O'Neil?" Ryan asked, guessing the oldest man in the group was the one he was expecting.

"That's me," the man said, putting his hands in his pockets as he turned, only to stop short.

Ryan snorted. "And I shock again with the scars," he said. "People are always surprised I survived it, more surprised when they find out it happened four years after things went to hell."

"It's not the scars, I was warned about them," O'Neil said, still staring. "I was expecting you to be a lot older, Mr. Atwood."

"Twenty-seven as of March 19th," Ryan replied. "I was sixteen when it started. Almost seventeen when we first came here." He paused, deciding to test a theory. "But I'm surprised you're surprised. Isn't Zach Stevens considered a front runner for vice president? He's the same age as me."

"He's an idiot," O'Neil said.

"Jack!" a shorter man in glasses said. "I thought you said you'd remain neutral?"

"I told the IOA I was neutral, but Stevens is an idiot and you know it, Daniel."

Ryan grinned. "I like you already, General O'Neil. And you're right, Zach Stevens is an idiot. And an asshole. He got me shot in the early days. He was part of my group, supposedly, but actually working with another group who ambushed us, shot me in the shoulder and upper thigh. Had a former candy striper do the meatball surgery to save my life."

"The more I hear, the more impressed I am," O'Neil said.

"Good to know," Ryan replied. "Come on, there's food in the cafeteria, I think Gemma's on duty today, so it might actually be good and not just edible."

"You're growing crops?" the shorter man, Daniel, asked, pushing his glasses up slightly.

"Yeah. Not very well, but... it's enough. We have a couple small green houses, and we're working on plans for a bigger one. Grow more food, for more of the year. Winter can be rough, since nothing grows unless it's in pots inside, and then it's a little... small and bland."

"We know some people with experience farming in harsh climates, might be able to get you some advice," O'Neil offered. "If you're interested."

"General, I am interested in just about anything that keeps my people alive and safe and preferably happy for another year," Ryan said.

"I'm surprised you haven't planted that field we landed in," Daniel said.

"We use it as a soccer field, football, any kind of sport or activity really. Even if some Crazies made their way onto the island, they couldn't get to that field without going through a dozen or so checkpoints. The kids are safe to play there."

"Are there a lot of kids here?"

"At this point... about two dozen under the age of fourteen," Ryan said. "We've got a school set up, though it focuses more on practical skills than social studies or advanced mathematics. If a kid's interested, we try to find books about more advanced subjects, but... we mostly stick to basic math, science, and reading comprehension, as well as teaching how to repair motors, basic and advanced first aid, critical reasoning and logic. Stuff that will help them, and the rest of us, stay alive. Agriculture is another thing we teach. Everyone takes a turn working in the gardens and greenhouses." He paused before entering the building and gestured at a large mural. "But we don't ignore the arts. What's the point of surviving if we aren't living? Besides, this place can get pretty depressing, murals brighten it up."

"Well, it is a prison," O'Neil said.

"Jack!" Daniel scolded again.

Ryan laughed though. "You know, my brother was in Chino County when it all went down. He was not happy when he realized my 'great idea' was to take over a prison."

"Are there a lot of convicts here?" O'Neil asked, curious, but seemingly not judging.

"My brother is the only one who was incarcerated at the time of the outbreak," Ryan said. "We've got a few others who have spent time in prison on various charges, but mostly stuff that... it's not an issue now. There's one group, they're a... motorcycle club. Most of their guys have done a little time here or there for drug or weapons charges. None of that is really an issue here. Everyone over the age of fourteen gets weapon training, and once they prove they're responsible enough, they are given a gun."

"Drugs are an issue in other communities," Daniel pointed out.

"Because the leadership makes them an issue," Ryan said bluntly. "Do we have marijuana plants on the island? Yes. Do people smoke up? Absolutely. It was one of the best things to help with my pain right after I was set on fire. And having a little of it burning in an incense holder works almost as good as an epidural according to the women who've had kids. It relaxes them enough they aren't tense, which lessens the pain before, during, and after labor."

"So basically it's used medicinally?" Daniel asked.

"For the most part," Ryan said. "A few people use it recreationally, but it's made clear, if it interferes with their work shift, or puts someone else at risk? They will not be allowed any access to it. And if they break into an area to get it? They risk being kicked out." He shrugged. "I've only had to kick one person out in ten years. I think that's pretty good, considering the variety of people we have here."

"It is," Daniel said. "I'm really curious about the culture you've developed here..."

"Culture?" Ryan asked, pausing again.

"Well, some places have tried to be 'business as usual' and have their citizens live life just like before except with more walls and armed guards. Others have become almost cult like. But... it seems different here. You're not talking up accomplishments like getting the generators working, or reinforcing the walls, or raiding parties. You talked about the kids, about school and art, about farming and greenhouses. You talked about what's been used to help women get through tough labor... we've visited quite a few communities, and... this is a first."

"But... that's the important stuff," Ryan said, frowning. "I mean, obviously we made the walls stronger, and we have regular armed patrols. Obviously we got a generator and desalinization systems working. Obviously we go out looking for anything and everything useful in the cities. But that's all about survival, not about living. There's no point in doing the first if you don't at least try to do the second."

"But you don't seem to be trying to live like before," Daniel pressed slightly.

"No... because that's not possible. We can't wake up and randomly decide to go hang out at the mall today, so why pretend? That doesn't mean we can't be happy and build something."

"Exactly," Daniel said. "I think it's great, but it's a unique culture all the same. You said everyone over the age of fourteen get weapons training. Most of the time that's seen in child soldier situations, which this does not seem to be."

"No, it's not. No one has to use a gun. Everyone has to learn how, but once they know, they aren't forced to carry one, they can choose not to use their knowledge. The only exceptions is if you go on a supply run, you go armed, but that's..."

"Practical," Daniel agreed. "I think I'm saying this badly. I'm impressed with what you've built here. And to do so when you're as young as you are."

"He's young but he's bad ass," Jax said as he passed by.

"Says the bad ass biker," Ryan said with a grin. "Jax's mom and mine where friends, so I actually knew him when I was little. Imagine my surprise when he and the rest of the MC turned up looking to join us? They had no clue it was me. It was a member of the club that got kicked out. He couldn't handle the rules, hated that some 'stupid kid' was in charge and not him. His big mistake, the one that got him booted out, was trying to rape a woman. That's the one crime that I will never give someone a second chance on. If someone's caught stealing food or other supplies? I'll give them a second chance. Hell, even murder, I'd look at the circumstances. But rape? Nope. Gone. Not allowed back."

"So there are rules," O'Neil said.

"Plenty of the," Ryan said. "You might have noticed there's people with guns keeping pace with us on the catwalk," he added causally. "We're breaking a rule for the two of you, and they are there to make sure it doesn't bite us in the ass. Normally, anyone comes into Sanctuary, they spend one week in quarantine. They can talk to others, see them, but never within arms reach."

"To weed out slow burns," O'Neil guessed.

"Right. We're waiving that for you, since the assumption is you haven't gone hand to hand with any infected recently."

"Not recently, no," O'Neil agreed. "A few years ago I did."

"Never seen a burn go that long," Ryan agreed. "It's saved us a few times. It's pretty much the most important rule. Although, to be honest, most of my original group would say the most important rule is 'Ryan is in charge, listen to him or else'. I try to deserve that loyalty."

"All anyone can really ask for is a leader who tries to deserve it," O'Neil said with a nod.

"There's a handful of other rules, mostly related to security. Anyone caught shirking look out duty gets to dangle off the cliffs to make sure nothing's blocking any of the inlet or outlet pipes for the water and waste systems. Or they have to deck scrub the kitchen and infirmary. The worst most digusting and tedious jobs we have. Do it again? You spend a night, by yourself, on the mainland. In a building mostly secure, but where not keeping watch could get you killed. Remind them of the danger."

"This is the most stable sanctuary we've come across," Daniel said, clearly surprised. "There's been a lot of cross talk, different things being said, we didn't know exactly what to expect. I assumed half of what we'd heard about you was exageration, people looking for someone to put their faith in and building them up as a mythological hero. But what I'm seeing here... you actually live up to the stories."

Ryan shrugged. "I do my best to help people, to make something good here. I guess I haven't done to bad for a scared kid. And let me tell you, I was fucking terrified. But I used that. I let me fear push me to find somewhere that could be safe. Initially just for my group, but once we were here, and we realized how good of shape it was, we decided to try and help others."

"What supplies do you need?" O'Neill asked. "Equipment, medicine, weapons?"

"Does this mean I impressed you, General?"

"Yes, you did," O'Neill said. "Originally, the plan was that as long as you weren't some tinpot dictator, we'd stay neutral, not support either side. But I'm fairly confident when we report back what we've seen? You'll have some allies in the Rocky Mountains."

"Good to hear," Ryan said. "As for what we need..."

The End

All Fandoms Involved In This 'Verse
The OC (Obviously)
Strong Medicine (The 'doctors from the east coast', they were introduced in 'With A Whimper')
Stargate (O'Neill, Daniel)
Sons Of Anarchy (Jax, Gemma, the 'motorcycle club')
Teen Wolf (Stiles by name, but Lydia, and the werewolves are referenced)
Supernatural (referenced as the 'hunters' Zach and his ilk tried to send after Alcatraz)
Eureka (referenced, they aren't in Alcatraz, but there's fairly steady radio contact)

Ryan has been busy accidentally collecting people and becoming a true leader of men... In this 'verse, he is someone that kids will learn about in school, his legacy will live on for centuries, he'll be considered a founding father of the post-apocalyptic world. And it would embarass him no end if he knew that... lol