#sam yao x five

[artist-issues]

Sometimes I interact with the tiny little Zombies, Run! Fandom and I wonder how some people can view the story the way they do.

Specifically, I keep seeing that Sam and Five are "drifting apart," and I keep seeing lots of attention for Peter. Like, going into Season 6, 7, and 8 (which is the one I'm on now) I kept waiting for something big to happen to suggest that Peter was as impactful to Five as Sam seems to be.

But there just isn't anything. I mean, if you tilt your head and squint, and take everything Simon did or said to Five before dying and coming back as "Peter," and combine that with Peter...you still only have a handful of moments where they even seem close.

Like. Sure. Peter was willing to die for Five several times since coming back, but...he was lowkey willing to die for literally everybody? Because he wanted to heroically sacrifice himself? He had a whole character arc about it?

And it's not like he knows Five better than anyone, either. He has one or two moments where he notices that Five is being asked to do dangerous things even though Five is not indestructible, but that's really it. He doesn't even seem to get more concerned for Five than he does for others; just that one time, in the catacombs or whatever, when he's like "IS FIVE ALL RIGHT?"

And sure, that was sweet, but also, the writers clearly put that line in there so that Colonel Sage could point out that Peter shouldn't sacrifice himself if he really cares about his friends' safety, in general, because he can do more for them alive than dead. It wasn't a line to communicate to us that Peter cares a special way about Five. It was a line to communicate to us that Peter cares about friends, conveniently placed so that Sage could use that to convince him not to sacrifice himself.

Guys, one time should not a strong connection make.

I guess I remember he also said, when Janine was hinting that he was Simon under a different name, that Peter said "I don't want to talk about it in front of Five!" But...again, that's just. Or enough for me to believe that Peter is replacing Sam in estimation.

And speaking of Janine, there is WAY more evidence that Five is getting closer to Janine, if any character. Janine is given much more story focus than Peter, throughout the most recent Seasons. She runs more missions with Five. She's present for moments when Five is given rare character beats, like being visibly distressed at the Glassdoor Monster chasing her or ANNIE playing Five's friends' screams.

Which, is another thing, by the way. When the player is meant to notice that Five is being emotionally traumatized by a demonic A.I., the writers choose to play clips of Simon screaming and dying--sure--but the A.I. also plays those same screams for Janine. And the A.I. spends MORE time replaying Sam's screams and taunting Five with the idea of Sam Yao's mortality.

AND SPEAKING of Sam, the other side of this conversation-coin is the idea that while Five and Peter "get closer" (which I see very little evidence for,) Sam and Five are "drifting apart."

I keep looking for a big falling out, or a difference in the character of Sam Yao's reactions when Five is in danger or has to do something hard or is in an emotional situation, etc. But like...I'm halfway through Season 8 and zip. Zilch. Nada.

There's just as many instances of Sam insisting on helping Five, or appealing to Five, or hinting that he knows Five better than everybody else, or exhibiting special concern for Five, as there have been in any other season. The only thing I could maybe say is that the writers no longer put Sam on every single mission...but that's still not saying much. And all the post-mission email material? It's all still Sam writing to Five. I get maybe one or two letters from other characters, but literally only like, two letters from Peter, at most.

DISPROPORTIONATELY, Sam is still the closest character to Five. No matter how you spin it. And Peter is no closer to Five than Janine, or Jody, or even Veronica.

Now.

I'm not trying to start a shipping war or anything. If you want to say Sam and Five are drifting apart in your specific, in-between-canon-missions headcanon, go right ahead. If you LIKE Peter more than Sam for some reason, go right ahead.

But unless something happens further on in Season 8 or 9 or some extra-mission stuff I haven't unlocked yet, why are you saying they're drifting apart in-canon? Are you just...projecting that on it, because you find Peter more interesting, or because Sam's character has more going on than just "radio guy directing Five and missing his dead girlfriend" in later seasons?

This has been a niche rant that basically nobody but the teeny tiny ZR fandom will bother reading all of, but it felt good to get off my chest. Cuz sometimes, with the self-indulgence/self-insert trends of modern fandom, I think we're losing the ability to understand story. And we just blur the lines between what's actually in the story, and what we like to imagine ABOUT the story.

[kelzebub]

Chapters: 6/? Fandom: Zombies Run! Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Sam and Five, Sam and Peter, Sam and Maxine Characters: Sam Yao, Peter Lynne, Maxine Myers, Runner Five, Sara Myers-Cohen-Yao, Paula Cohen, Tom DeLuca, Jody Marsh Additional Tags: Aftermath of Violence, comment about hypothetical sexual violence (but nothing actually happened), Hurt/Comfort, Family, Found Family, Angst with a Happy Ending, Implied/Referenced Torture, Canon Compliant, Trauma Recovery, Healthy Coping, Supportive Relationships, Angst and Fluff, tags may be added regarding sexual identities, Asexuality, Aromanticism, ace/aro Five, maybe demisexual and demiromantic Five, she's not sure yet, speaking Five, Female Runner Five, There Was Only One Bed Summary:

After raising the flag at Abel, Sam's going to need a while to recover from everything that's happened to him over the past few days. This is an exploration of how that happens.

Takes place immediately after s5m40, spoilers up to that mission.

[delucadarling]

I posted 5,216 times in 2022

28 posts created (1%)

5,188 posts reblogged (99%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@wolfstarwarrior

@steampunkepsilon

@sabertoothwalrus

@crownleys

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I tagged 3,970 of my posts in 2022

Only 24% of my posts had no tags

#reblob - 3,693 posts

#quwu - 1,267 posts

#zr! - 38 posts

#zombies run - 34 posts

#me rule - 28 posts

#zr fanwork - 20 posts

#zombies run spoilers - 16 posts

#not my art - 14 posts

#yeah - 8 posts

#sam yao - 7 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#poor emma has to hear me endlessly say 'it would've been better if [x character] delivered this line because it would tie back to [plot poi

I sent 6 gifts in 2022

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

are you liz and if so why does technology defy you at every turn

If this is about that one post with the fucked up computer that requires black magic and opening the CD drive to function, please know that I was shocked and offended that someone out there is using my username. Also my computer is beautiful and functional and doesn't have a CD drive

12 notes - Posted May 17, 2022

#4

A lil Sammy/Five kiss <3

18 notes - Posted January 9, 2022

#3

Unitaur Sammy getting ready for a little pastoral nap <3

20 notes - Posted January 15, 2022

#2

So markiplier plays zombies run? in the most unhinged manner possible?

Listening to this man talk about the most niche piece of media I love is extremely wild.

48 notes - Posted October 10, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

BACK AT IT AGAIN WITH THE INTERACTIVE FANFICTION

Ever since I first listened to the first mission of Zombies, Run! [redacted] years ago, I’ve wanted to write my own spin and what I think would happen if I was steering the new Runner Five around. So, I finally did!

49 notes - Posted November 27, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[fives-five]

After being ambushed by New Canton, five’s been lost in the empty streets, with a terrible transmission and only an educated guess where she is. Runner Five has to hope that she can make it back to Abel with Sam’s voice in her ear.

One shot of my take on Season One mission, A Voice in the Dark.

[runner5ive]

Secret Santa present for @curly5runs ! Merry Christmas lovely! I drew Kina's Five and Sam Yao as Catra and Adora! Hope you like!

[curly5runs]

I love that a Catra and Adora Sam/Five suggests an enemy to lovers arc; so I made a thing :D

Thank you @iamrunner5 for sparking this new 5am flame ❤

Based from this scene in She Ra

[lucidii]

and I don’t want the world to see me

because I don’t think that they’d understand

when everything’s made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

“Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls

Long time no see! Currently in the middle of the Moonchild arc (it’s a Time) and this song just inspired some 5am, vaguely s3-tinted feels

[incorrectzombiesrun]

Sam: ask them out, they said

Sam: Marry them, they said.

Sam, looking over at Five’s side of the room filled with sports bras: It’ll be cute, they said.

[halfbloodglader]

Not Another Five - Sam Yao x Reader

Sam Yao x Reader - 2,358 words

Notes: gender neutral, can be read as platonic or non-platonic, I guess takes place earlier on in the seasons. Hoping to fill the void of little to no ZR written content! ^-^

"Alright, Five. I'm starting to worry now." He spoke sluggishly into the dead air of the comms shack, still holding onto the thin thread of hope that they could hear him. "No runner gone this long is okay.”

Silence. That was all he'd gotten for the past two nightmarish days. Five went off of the radar a couple days ago completely out of the blue. All Sam knew was that they had been sent to the canyon past the western woods of Abel to see if there was a safe pass through. Because, if there was, it would be Abel’s best route for escape incase of a zom attack that took down camp. After all, a rocky canyon mixed with a river winding below was something the zoms would have a nearly impossible time navigating.

The fact that Janine had sent someone to scout it out confirmed to Sam that it wasn't safe, even with the little information they had. There were so many things that could have gone wrong. Snipers guarding the pass? Probably. A pack of zoms hiding in the woods on the way there? Most likely. The canyon itself being a death trap? Yeah... In all likelihood.

"Five, if you're out there you need to keep running. We just opened up the gates this morning again...and we're waiting for ya! I really hope you weren't out there last night after we closed them. I don't think you were because I never saw you...but who knows at this point. I think I'm starting to hallucinate—“

"Sam," A worried voice filled the room which felt overburdeningly heavy for anyone who entered. "You need to get some sleep. It's been two days.”

Sam slowly looked up to find Janine. Her heart sunk when she scanned over his sunken features and slumped body, seemingly glued to the chair. The boy looked broken beyond measure. It seemed as if Sam here could never catch a break, especially when it came to the people he cared the most about. Especially when it came to his runner Five.

"I can't sleep until I know—" He forced the words out of a dry throat and foggy mind. "Know where they are and if they’re coming home.”

Sadly, Janine walked closer and sat on the edge of the desk. "Sam, we might never know. Two days is a long time.”

"What? You're going to give up on them?" He snapped. Tears suddenly sprung out of his eyes and slid down his cheeks. Surprised, he swiped at his face, unsure of why he was crying. "Why am I crying—“

"It's sleep deprivation. You're past the forty-eight hour mark, Sam. Your emotions are out of whack. Another reason for you to sleep." She reached out and snagged the headset off of his head.

Before she could get it out of his reach, he lunged out of his chair and tore the headset back out of her hands. "What if they come onto the comms! Are you crazy?"

Immediately, he had the headset back on his head, the band on the top sliding perfectly into the groove in his hair that had been there since he starting working the comms. The headset was on him so often, it left him with a nasty form of hat hair. Except here, they called it radio hair.

"I'm just trying to help you." Janine sounded as firmly as possible. Truth was, she really was concerned for Sam. She wasn't sure if he'd ever let up on waiting for Five. For all she knew, Sam would let himself die in here before he could admit they were gone.

Sam leaned forwards to look intensely at the scanners again. He was waiting for anything. "I'm fine, thanks. I can manage.”

There was no breaking him and Janine knew it. "Alright. If you need anything, holler for me."

Slowly, she left the shack with a heavy heart. Sam was so invested in this, not only had he not slept, but he hadn't ate or hardly drank anything. His soul and entire being was imbue in this.

A few of his friends wait outside of the shack when Janine reemerged. She sent them a sad smile and shrugged, obviously defeated. "There's not much we can do right now.”

"He's going to get himself sick." Simon followed Janine across the compound, Sara following close.

"He already has." Janine sighed. "We all need to be hoping Five is still out there right now. Otherwise, we might lose our operator. He can't take anymore heartbreak.”

The day went by as agonizingly slow as the past couple had. Actually, it might have been going by even slower if you asked Sam. Every breath he took stung and his mouth became drier and drier as the hours went by.

As usual, the light in the comms shack was starting to fade. That meant it was nearing evening and another restless night to be spent here in his chair waiting for any kind of signal.

His eyes were strained from staring at the radar for so long, constantly refreshing it. In agony, he rubbed his eyes and squeezed the bridge of his nose between his fingers. After a couple of minutes, deeming it too long to have been looking away, he once again stared at the radar. This time, a flicker. It was as if Five had appeared on the radar for just a second and then disappeared again. In a stupor, Sam smacked his monitor and let his heart try to climb out of his throat.

"Five?!" He shouted into the comms and waited for them to reappear on the screen. He'd seen it, he could swear. They'd been there. No doubt. "Five, if you're there I saw you! If that was you, you're not far from home!"

With a new hope, Sam began scanning around with the cameras. He couldn't see anyone or anything, but he wasn't giving up. For the next fifteen minutes, he switched back and forth between the cameras and scanner, praying for some sign of life. Anything.

The scanner flickered again. This time, the mark had been much, much closer to Abel.

"Five you're almost here! Come on!" He slammed his hand on the desk repeatedly, in both excitement, relief and fear. They might be coming back, but there was no guarantee they'd still be the same runner Five. What if a zom...never mind. He couldn't think about that right now.

"Sam!" Janine once again entered the shack, this time more worried because of the commotion Sam had been causing. "Everything alright?"

"Five!" His voice came loud and clear, face lit up once again. “They're almost here, I swear!"

"Let me see." Janine came in close and leaned over Sam. She hoped he wasn't just seeing things. At this point though, she didn't have her expectations set too high.

"Did you see it?" Sam pointed to the exact spot the radar had flickered. “Right there!"

"Get the cameras up again," Janine demanded.

As they appeared, she scanned the screens hopefully. But, there was no movement. "Is this all the cameras?"

"No, just the gate and west border." He explained.

"Look at the radar, Sam. If that's our Five, they’re coming from the south. No way you'd see them on those! Get up the other two cameras!” She smacked the back of his head, now growing impatient and the adrenaline rushing in her body. Maybe Five was out there still.

"Okay, okay! Geez!" Sam whined as he worked away at trying to switch the cameras. Once he did, he leaned in closer to the screen and his heart slowed to a near stop as he waited for his mind to process what he was seeing.

In disbelief, Janine gripped Sams shoulder so tight he had to smack her hand away. “It’s Five.”

"What?!" Sam whipped around and grabbed the screen.

There was Five. They knew the cameras were on them because they jumped up in the air and waved.

"FIVE! I see you! There's no way you—" Sam tore off his comms with absolutely zero care or thought in the world. He threw down the headset onto the desk and tried to fight his way past Janine and out of his chair. It took a few distressing, messy seconds, but he got out. Then, he struggled with the shack door before throwing it open and quite literally leaping off of the top step of the stairs. He landed roughly and went face first into the dirt, anyone near watching the mess that was Sam unfold.

None of that stopped him, though. He sprinted across the compound and right for the gates which he could now see Five approaching. He ran even faster.

"FIVE!" He screamed, trying to keep himself upright as he ran a little too fast for his legs.

The runner made it into Abel, finally safe. Not thinking or caring, Sam plowed straight into their body and closed them into the most desperate hug he'd ever given in his life. Their arms wrapped around over his shoulders and he held them so tight taking in air was nearly impossible. "Hi, Sam."

After a minute of a nearly rib crushing hug, Sam stepped back to look them over, his hands still on their shoulders. They seemed just fine, other than being a little beat up and soiled in dirt.

"Okay, uhm—" Sam awkwardly let go of Five and turned his gaze to the ground. Not knowing what else to do, he laughed a little to himself and then rubbed his tired eyes. ”I guess I should let you go clean up if you want. Before it gets too cold.”

"Thanks," They laughed lightly. "I'm definitely going to do that. I'll see you later.”

Sam watched as they walked off tiredly to the showers. He had so many emotions running though him right now, he wasn't sure what to do with himself. However, he did know he needed to clean up the mess he'd left in the shack and so he head off to do that.

He opened the door and Janine was still sat on the desk. She looked up to him with a smirk.

"Don't say anything," He pointed a finger at her and sent a warning glare. Of course she had been watching what just happened through the cameras. "But, you should know, they’re fine."

“That was a truly horrific jump you made from the stairs." Janine teased. Then, she got up and head for the door. Before leaving, she put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for not giving up when the rest of us had.”

"Yeah," He nodded shyly.

Sam smiled to himself and then shook his head, forcing himself to focus on cleaning up the shack.

That plan didn't last long. He sat down for two seconds in his chair and immediately passed out. All of his worry had subsided and left his mind to settle. His sleep, however, didn't last long.

Five made their way into the comms shack, knowing that was where they could always find Sam. Sure enough, there he was, snoring lightly in the dimly lit shack.

"Sam," Five whispered as they shook his shoulder gently. It took a few more shakes, but he jolted awake and nearly knocked Five over. He reached out and grabbed them just incase and then let out a sigh of relief. "I came to wake you up."

"Ah, yeah. Okay." He looked up to one of the small windows and noticed it was dark outside now.

"We need to get you to bed." Five laughed as they slung one of his arms over their shoulder and helped him up. "Janine said you've been awake for two days.”

"Well, I wasn't going to sleep when I knew you were still out there." He admitted.

"Thanks for sticking with me." Five gripped his hand over their shoulder a little tighter. "It's a lot easier to keep yourself running when there's someone there with you.”

"You could hear me? The entire time?" His body stiffened a little.

Five snickered. "Oh yeah. You had quite a few things to say that first night, didn't you?"

Sam bit the inside of his cheek. "Ah man...I'm sorry. I said some dumb stuff. My worry got the better of me."

Five looked up to him. "Don't apologize. It was nice. You going over basically every moment we've spent together since the day I showed up was enough to keep me going."

"What happened anyways?" He asked, curious.

"I got to the canyon and started exploring around. A while in, there was a rockslide. One of the rocks hit me and wrecked part of my headset." They made a booming, crashing sound to imitate the rockslide that made Sam laugh. "The slide was so big, I had to go the long way around and try to find my way back. I got a little lost and then ran into a swarm of zoms. But, then you turned on the beacon last night and I was just close enough to see it. Then, I just ran until I made it back."

The pair made it to Sams tent and Five helped him inside. "I was genuinely starting to freak out a little, y’know? I was really worried.” He admitted.

"So was I. I'm back now, though. No more need to worry.” They laughed lightly. "What would I do without you, huh?”

"Honestly, I'm not sure." He beamed. "You'd get yourself into a whole lot more trouble."

"Well, you're not wrong." They pushed his arm and laughed along with him. "See you in the morning.”

“Yeah,” Sam yawned, fighting to keep himself awake. “See you—morning.”

If Five had to guess, Sam was still having a hard time processing if all of this was real or not. He’d probably wake up in the middle of the night in a panic and come looking for them, just to make sure they really had made it back. That’s just who Sam was. He cared for everyone in his life so much it was almost terrifying. 

[dorkylittleweirdo]

Runners can have a little kiss. As a treat

Bonus:

Sam and Jaime's reaction

[radio-cabel]

Maxine: QUICK, YOU’RE LOSING A LOT OF BLOOD. WHAT’S YOUR TYPE?

Five: kind, dorky, adorable, Samuel Yao-

Maxine: YOUR BLOOD TYPE, FIVE!

Five:oh

Five: *looks down at blood*

Five: red.

[dash-willow-west]

Five: my partner must be organized, graceful, top of the line-

Sam: hi, I’m Sam Y- *trips over nothing, spills Marmite all over himself, knocks over papers, faceplants into the ground, cries as papers rain down around him*

Five:

Five: THAT ONE

[kelzebub]

Five is angry with Sam. Sam is hurt and gets angry back. They fight. They make up.

Major spoilers for s8m1 and incidental spoilers up to that mission.

[apocalyptic-byte]

Maxine: Runner Five can only do so much... Sam: Shhhhhh...Maxine. You shouldnt lie like that.  ----- Sam: Seriously. Just look at them! Do you SEE this magnificent beast?  The Runner Five 5am request from @yariem-alkahen ! They decided on the comic runner five! (I hope you like it. i know its not super shippy but i loved this idea. might do a small doodle laer of actual ship art.)

[fives-five]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/38922195

It’s currently my bed time, but enjoy this oneshot i wrote in one sitting, NOW GOOD NIGHT.

[zrtranscripts]

Season 8, Mission 16: Icebreaker

Cracking up

~

[walls rumble]

AMELIA SPENS: I'd say I blame myself, but obviously, that isn't true.

SAM YAO: Amelia, whatever you're up to, this isn't the time! Five and I are stuck on a tiny glacier ledge with the laird and his daughter. There are caves behind us filled with zoms, and the only way back to Mor Island is the bridge in front of us, which is currently collapsing! Or... [sighs] Well, maybe melting's a better word. It's made of ice, and it's got big walls packed with frozen zoms that are rapidly defrosting!

AMELIA SPENS: I'm just pointing out this is all very predictable. I let your little Abel gang chase Jones to the Far Hebrides to retrieve the Edda and cure Janine's nanite poisoning, and as soon as you're out of my sight, you do something to cause disaster in the UK. 

Red fungus is spreading all over the coast. It drifted down from here the day you arrived! I'm approaching Mor Island on the Undaunted. I see you through my periscope. Is Janine there? Nobody else is answering my comms. Oh, don't mind me, I'm only prime minister!

LAIRD REID: Buddy, can whoever's buzzing in your ear help us? That bridge is collapsing from the far end and soggy zombies are coming down it this way.

SHONA REID: Over there, branching off from the left side of the bridge. A gangway made of ice connecting the bridge to another part of the glacier.

LAIRD REID: Aye. The bridge was built for tourists. That gangway's the path to the guest lodge. Good thinking, lass! If we can make it across the gangway to the lodge, Sam's friend can rescue us. Getting to the gangway means using the collapsing bridge, but we've no choice. Everyone, onto the bridge!

SAM YAO: Wait, what? Onto the collapsing bridge? Hell, Five, look behind you. There's a dozen zoms shambling out of Jones' caves. And the laird's run off with Shona! Not sure we're safe with him, Five. I mean, he shot Jones. To protect Shona, but still. Remember the last thing Jones said? There'll be no stopping them now. What do you think he meant? Well, we really can't stay here, though. Amelia, stand by. Come on, Five. After the laird. Run!

~

SAM YAO: Keep going down the bridge, Five! Careful of the ice walls! They're melting fast, and the zoms inside are thrashing to get out.

LAIRD REID: Five, Sam, over here. There's a doorway in the ice wall. It leads to the gangway. Five, kick it open.

[door bursts open]

SAM YAO: Amelia, we've stepped out onto a platform on the side of the bridge. The ocean's below us. There's a gangway from here to the glacier.

LAIRD REID: The gangway's made of ice. Grew over a wire frame like the rest of the bridge. It's melting fast. It might not take all our weight. Shona? You go first. The gangway's only a dozen meters. There's a ledge on the other end with a stairway down to the lodge.

SHONA REID: Dad, no -

LAIRD REID: No time, lass! Take the notes we got from Jones. We'll follow you once you're across. Go. That's it, run!

AMELIA SPENS: Sam, there are too many rocks near the bridge. The Undaunted can't get close. There's a rescue launch, but it won't reach you before the zoms do.

SHONA REID: Dad, the gangway's cracking up behind me.

LAIRD REID: You're over halfway across already, lass. Keep going!

SAM YAO: Five, get back! [ice breaks and collapses into ocean] Amelia, the walkway's crumbled. The ice just... cracked apart into the sea.

LAIRD REID: It's okay. I see Shona. She made it to the glacier ledge on the other side. Fast feet on the girl. We can't follow you, lass! Get to safety. We'll find another path. This bridge is melting fast. We need to firm it up. There's a stockroom halfway along full of the chemicals those scientists on Dearg Island sent us to keep the bridge frozen. It's our only chance. Shona's safe for now. Come on, both of you. Follow me further up the bridge before there isn't any bridge left! This way, run!

~

LAIRD REID: Ach, this bridge is getting thick with defrosted zombies. They're coming out of the walls. [zombies growls, gunshot] And I'm low on rounds.

SAM YAO: Watch out, Five! [ice clatters] Chunks of ice are falling from the girders overhead.

LAIRD REID: This is the maintenance store. It's just a cupboard. Door's never locked. [door creaks open and closed]  See those containers? Chemical X. [laughs] Not much for fancy names, that lot from Dearg, but this'll freeze anything in two seconds flat. It's the only batch we have left, but we don't have a choice.

SAM YAO: So what, what's the plan? We pour drips from the containers ahead of us, freeze the bridge as we run?

AMELIA SPENS: Oh yes, I'm sure that won't end with you accidentally freezing yourselves to death at all.

SAM YAO: Amelia.

AMELIA SPENS: I know you've missed my wit, Sam. No need to say. Listen, I can see the whole bridge from here. There are great sloughs of water flowing off it where the ice is melting. [sighs] If you can reach the next set of support legs, you have a chance. But don't worry. I've got a plan, but you'll have to be quick before the whole bridge goes down. Grab a container each and run.

~

SAM YAO: Hurry, Five! There's barely any bridge left. Just a wire frame and a slippy ice floor. Hard to run straight in this wind.

LAIRD REID: We're here. That there's a suspension tower sticking up from the bridge's frame. There's a set of supporting legs underneath it, standing in the sea.

SAM YAO: You know, Five, this place kind of reminds me of the Golden Gate Bridge. Well, in general shape. Only with melting ice and zombies. The water is just streaming off that tower. There's dozens of zombies caught in the flow.

AMELIA SPENS: Look over the side of the bridge. See that chain of rock fingers jutting out from the waves? You're near shore. Those rocks lead straight to Mor Island.

SAM YAO: And how exactly are we meant to get to them, Amelia?

LAIRD REID: Oh. I think I've a glimmer. See how the wind is pushing all the running water off the bridge towards those fingers in a great arc? If that arc were to freeze, we could shimmy down it onto the rocks!

SAM YAO: That's insane! Amelia, tell me that's not your plan.

AMELIA SPENS: You're such a doubter, Sam! I'd hurry up. The zoms from Jones' caves followed you up the bridge. They're almost on you.

LAIRD REID: Come on, both of you. Get pouring!

[liquid pours]

SAM YAO: I don't believe this, but it's working. The blue liquid from the containers is freezing the water in place in a big glittering arc like another bridge down towards the rocks. A bridge filled with half-frozen zombies, but still.

[zombies moan]

LAIRD REID: It doesnae seem stable to me, but it's better than staying here. Down the frozen path, both of you. It looks brittle, so be swift. Dodge any zombie bits sticking out of the ice. Towards the rocks, run!

~

SAM YAO: We're on the rocks, Five! [sighs] I didn't think we'd make it. I could hear the ice shattering behind us. Ooh. A bit bleak, these rocks. This one's just a fat pillar of seaweed-covered stone.

LAIRD REID: That's Mor Island in the distance. Look at that sandy beach and the green behind it, under black clouds. We need to get back, make sure Shona's all right.

[ice chunk thuds onto rock]

SAM YAO: Hell, Five, the wind's blowing great chunks of ice from the improvised bridge straight at us. [zombies groan] And some of those chunks had zombies stuck inside!

LAIRD REID: Aye, and there's some shuffling out of the sea, too. They're creeping onto the rocks where the pillars get wide at the base. The rocks in this chain are big and close and we can scramble from one to the other if we keep our strides wide. Onward to the beach, run!

~

LAIRD REID: Come on, Five. Over the rocks. Run! Leap, if there's a gap too wide to take in a step.

[ice chunks thud onto rock, zombies groan]

SAM YAO: Wind, hail, and zombies falling out of the sky, Five!

AMELIA SPENS: Fair warning, Sam, I really don't like the look of all those zombies. They're following you straight to the island, which is where I'm going, so I'm ordering the Undaunted to launch a torpedo at the rocks, blow them away.

SAM YAO: What? Amelia, we're still halfway to the shore!

AMELIA SPENS: Oh, I wouldn't worry about it. There's nothing you can do to turn the torpedo back now. You'll just have to be fast enough to outrun it, won't you? I'm very confident you can do it.

LAIRD REID: Look there. That great black shape cresting the waves. Is that a submarine? There's water rippling ahead of it like something's coming this way.

SAM YAO: You know, Amelia, I really wish Janine was here to say something properly cutting. Okay, the coast just ahead, Five. We only need to make it across the next few pillars, then clamber down the last one to the beach. Oh, for God's sake, run!

~

[water splashes]

SAM YAO: [sputters] Thanks for helping me out of the water, Five. Ugh. Oh, I must have underestimated the distance from that last rock. [coughs] Didn't realize we'd have to swim – swim to shore.

LAIRD REID: This is [?] Beach. Oldest sands on Mor Island. I hope my Shona's safe on the glacier.

[explosion]

SAM YAO: Look, I think we've got a more immediate problem, here. That torpedo just hit the fingers. They're gone. And so are the zoms, but... the blast started a massive tidal wave heading in this direction. We've got to get inland, or we'll be washed away. [coughs] Come on, Five. Toward that hill. Run!

~

SAM YAO: It's okay, Five. We made it up the hill. The tide's behind us, sweeping across the beach.

LAIRD REID: And sweeping out just as fast. The storm's dying down, too.

AMELIA SPENS: Marvelous, you've survived. I knew you would. Now you'll be able to tell me what the hell De Luca has been doing on that island, Sam. I spotted smoke rising from the local town. Oh, and the rescue launch from my sub just collected the laird's daughter from that glacier. Rather chilly, but alive.

SAM YAO: Oh my God. Five, look behind you.

LAIRD REID: Good Lord.

AMELIA SPENS: What exactly are you lot gawking at? You, adjust my periscope. Oh. The tide washed a lot of sand off the beach and exposed markings beneath.

SAM YAO: It's like... a slab of flat sandstone where the beach meets the cliff. There's a shape carved on it, and a massive outline of a human. Or... or is it a Neanderthal? It's wearing a necklace with that endless circle symbol, the one we've seen around the island.

LAIRD REID: We've got records on this island going back thousands of years. Never have I heard of this.

[radio crackles]

JODY MARSH: Five, Sam, what the hell's going on? We've just got the fire in town under control. We've been getting garbled messages from Amelia, but everyone's been too busy to answer. Janine says you went after Jones. Did you catch him, Sam? Did you get the control box? Can we cure Janine?

SAM YAO: Jody, there were things that went wrong. Jones is gone. We got the control box, but it's smashed. [sighs] But we're going to get it fixed. Amelia's here now, and we've got a submarine, and I swear, Five, we are going to get it fixed. This isn't over yet, no matter what it takes, we are going to find a way to save Janine.

AMELIA SPENS: And also stop the red fungus on the mainland from wiping us all out, if that's not too much trouble. Honestly, you people. How have you managed anything without me?

~