After getting two more AR's and two silencers, he handed them to Rick and Daryl. After remembering that one of the prisoners had a gun, he also got them a ballistic helmet with flashlights on it, a Kevlar vest, and two extended mags for each, just in case.
"What's this for? You think them walkers will start shootin' back?" Daryl said, looking at the vest and helmet, "There could be survivors with guns inside, wouldn't wanna lose ya, what don't wanna ruin the hairstyle?" Daryl snorted. Gray smirked while thinking back to last night.
(FLASHBACK)
Gray could be seen checking out his HUD after everyone went to sleep, looking for any potential upgrades or anything that could help clear out the prison without risks.
[Status Info]
Name: Gray Ashwood
Age: 27 years old
Race: Human
Gold: 459,177
Gold per hour: 36,964 (24643)
Gold Multiplier: 1.50x
[Clock]
11:36 PM Date: Wednesday 06/01/2011
Buying the next multiplier, he kept looking at the store and found the perfect one.
New Upgrades: (155300 Gold) +0.05x ✔
{Deadshot's Marksmanship} (200000 Gold) ✔
Feeling the usual tingling sensation in his head and body, he finally closed the system and went to sleep.
(END OF FLASHBACK)
Once the three of them were geared up, they started picking off walkers near the chain-link fence. Gray unlocked the gate, and they slipped inside while Glenn secured it behind them.
Deadshot's Marksmanship is ridiculous, Gray thought. I can only miss if I try.
They advanced, spotting five walkers in riot gear. Gray didn't hesitate — five shots, five kills, before Rick or Daryl could even raise their weapons. They pushed forward, clearing every walker outside the buildings, then headed toward Cell Block C.
"Before we start," Gray said, "check carefully. Some of these things play dead. They'll lunge as soon as you get close. We've got ammo to spare — if it's lying still, put a bullet in its brain."
Inside, they found a dead guard slumped above the stairs. Rick went to investigate while Gray and Daryl swept the lower level. Rick returned with a ring of keys and unlocked the main cell block.
They cleared it methodically — two walkers trapped in cells, quickly dealt with.
Rick surveyed the space. "We should get everyone inside here for now. It's safe enough to rest and start cleaning while we clear the rest."
Gray nodded. "I'll move that flipped bus so you can get the cars and bike in."
"Sounds like a plan," Rick said, heading for the gate where the group waited
Rick briefed them quickly: "Cell block's clear. Gray's moving the bus."
Gray led Glenn, Daryl, T-Dog, and Maggie down the road. Glenn shook his head with a grin."Man, that was insane — the way you were shooting, bam bam bam, and they'd just drop."
"Seems like you got a fanboy," Daryl muttered, walking past Gray.
Gray chuckled. "Come on, Daryl! You know you're my favorite!" Daryl just kept walking, flipping him off.
When they reached the flipped bus, Gray simply touched it — and it vanished into his inventory, leaving the road clear.
T-Dog whistled. "Man, I'm glad you're on our side."
Daryl just scoffed and kept walking. At the outer gate, Gray stored the Earthroamer, too. Once every vehicle was through, the gate shut behind them, and they headed back toward the safety of the prison.
Once back inside, Gray began hauling every body he could find into his inventory, making trip after trip to dump them outside. On his first run, he set both Earthroamers in the yard alongside the bus, then came back for more. When the last corpse was cleared, he started pulling out 4-gallon containers of cleaning supplies—mops, rags, buckets—lining them up like ammunition for war.
"Here, take the keys. Both trucks have hoses outside—fill your buckets from there. If you run out, holler, and I'll get more," he said, tossing the keys to T-Dog. Then he turned to Rick and Daryl. "You guys ready?"
Rick nodded. "Yeah. Let's get this over with."
With helmet flashlights cutting through the dark, they moved through the cell blocks, Rick leading, Daryl behind him, Gray taking up the rear. They didn't take chances—every walker got a bullet to the head, no matter how still it looked.
Twenty minutes later, after twisting through the maze of shadowy corridors, they reached a locked double door held shut by handcuffs. Rick put two rounds into the chain. The doors swung wide to reveal a filthy common area. Trash bags were piled in one corner. To the left, behind a barred window, five men stared back at them—wide-eyed, silent.
There you are, Gray thought. Two are trouble. We'll see who's who soon enough.
"Who the hell are you?" Daryl barked, raising his rifle.
"Who the hell are you?" the long-haired one shot back, raising a revolver.
Gray shifted his aim onto him. "Finger off the trigger," he said evenly.
"Answer me first," the man snapped.
"You heard me. Finger off the trigger—now." Gray's tone didn't rise, but his eyes locked on the man's hands. A beat passed. Finally, the prisoner eased his finger away.
"Good. Now drop it."
The revolver clattered to the floor. Gray kicked it out of reach. "See? Not so hard."
"How long you been in here?" Daryl asked.
"Ten months, give or take," said a broad-shouldered Black man.
"Anyone else with you?" Rick added.
"Nope. Just us," answered the only white guy in the group. "You army or something?"
Gray shook his head. "There's no army left. No hospitals. No national guard. You're looking at what's left of organized help." He let that sink in. "You've got two choices: we set you free with food, maybe weapons, and you take your chances out there. Or… you stay, pull your weight—building, scavenging, defending this place. You get shelter, meals, training. Your call."
One man stepped forward. "I got a family—wife, kids. I need to find them."
Oscar, Gray noted. And the white guy is Axel. Big Tiny's easy to spot. That leaves the two assholes.
"What about my moms?" The bigger one asked.
Gray's eyes softened slightly. "You put in work, earn trust, I'll take you to check. Same goes for you, wherever they are."
After introductions—Tomas, Andrew, Big Tiny, Axel, Oscar—Gray's instincts confirmed it: Tomas and Andrew were bad news.
"So. Who's staying?" Gray asked.
Oscar spoke first. "If you promise to help me look for my family, I'll stay."
"You got it."
"Same with me. My mom's," Big Tiny said.
Axel shrugged. "Better in here than out there. I'll stay."
Gray's gaze slid to Tomas and Andrew.
"Nah," Tomas sneered. "Not sharing space with a bunch of pussies."
"I'm with him," Andrew added.
"Even better," Gray said flatly.
They filled backpacks with supplies. Gray even let Tomas keep his revolver before handing each man a fire axe. "Aim for the head," he advised.
"Whatever. Just open the damn gate," Tomas muttered, already striding away.
Gray led them to the outer fence. "Don't come back unless you want a bullet in the brain."
Tomas scoffed. Andrew followed him into the open world.
Back inside, Rick asked quietly, "That really the best choice?"
Gray didn't hesitate. "Told you—I've got an eye for people. Those two were trouble. Even if they'd stayed, I'd have thrown them out or put them down. Better this way." He looked at the three recruits—more hands for the work ahead.