Gemini: The Crime Boss (Chapter 8)

Maker's Note: Due to new expansion packs—things became a little muddled in my mind. I'm not sure how to completely tell this story. If you didn't notice, in the last chapter I went back to a more informal and more personal way of writing. Quite simply, I don't have time to write an awesome story which has resulted in me not playing.   Though I still plan to TELL the story—it'll be more informal and more from my point of view instead of Glenna's. That's okay, right? Cause I have a bombshell to drop!  Also? I took such a long break that Glenna had the baby and I forgot to write the story. So...here's to introducing Cassie Willow.

Cassie was born during a season of change. Suddenly rain began to fall from the sky—something that Glenna has only heard of in history books.  It seems that genetic codes that had once been lost to the world were rediscovered. Why they disappeared in the first place was unknown and why they suddenly reappeared was just as puzzling.

In any event, the days began to change. Suddenly, the temperatures were not constant and one blustery autumn day, little Cassie grew into the cutest toddlers ever.

Monday rolled around and Ames begrudgingly turned his money over to Anarchist—determined more than ever to be done with this mess once and for all.

Remember me mentioning the sudden arrival of seasons? Boy, the kids were sure bummed out to realize that winter in New Genesis is just winter and never Winterfest. Apparently, there's supposed to be a festive day of frivolity but with no money and the complete collapse of the goverment—Anarchist has forbidden Father Winter (who was thought to be a myth) from visiting. Sorry kids...just another reason to work harder at overthrowing the bad guys!

The kids are so heartbroken that Winterfest day arrived and they didn't get to participate. Yet, it was a "holiday" so they were not allowed to go to school. Which meant that the kids stayed at home from school with five onions and two sage leaves to last between them for the entire day. I guess in some ways they did get a gift...they didn't die of starvation on Winterfest day.

Another Monday came and went—no promotions were made and both of the Willow children grew up without a birthday party. It isn't what Glenna wanted but without electricity or the ability to bake a cake, it's not as if they could have thrown a big party anyway. Not to mention, Anarchist is draining all of their funds.

I decided that this was the perfect opportunity for Glenna and Ames to have another baby. More children mean more family members to unlock restrictions and fight anarchist. It didn't take long and another bun was in the oven.

But...another week has come and gone and these two are still on working on seven and eight of ten in their career. They better get their promotions soon because their life is ticking away and Glenna still doesn't have all the answers as to what happened to her or why she spent the last 20 years in stasis!

The Culling: The Maker's Notes (Chapter 7.5)

With the dreams of unlocking chef dashed because I thought Glenna needed only six gourmet skill points as a teen...I have had to shift my focus to unlocking the author skill so that books can be ordered from the bookshelf.

The libraries and the bookstores are gone. Only stray books can be found these days. If your Sim wants to read more than the handful of books that come with new bookshelves, they had better hope they  know a local author or write one themselves.

You may not order books from bookshelves or online, and may not visit library lots (even if visiting other lots is otherwise allowed).
Completion
The written word is indeed powerful and your prolific author has penned enough books to restock the entire region and setup an ordering service for sims to buy books from the outside world. The money earned from all this is used to rebuild the regional libraries.

The maker is not pleased at this latest development. I am beyond frustrated with myself.

Gemini: The Crime Boss (Chapter 7)

Glenna gave a low moan. She never dreamed that she would be giving birth to her first baby in the basement of a bunker—alone. 

With phone lines down, there was no time to call Ames back from work and it was entirely too dangerous for Glenna to make the trip from her bunker to her mother's campsite.

She was alone but she wasn't about to let Ames down. She grit her teeth and determined to deliver him a healthy child.  After several agonizing hours, little Harper Willow made her appearance. 

Ames and Glenna were overjoyed with the birth of their first daughter and set about caring for her to the bet of their ability. It's most important for the Willow children to help right society.

Time went on and before they knew it, Harper was a sweet toddler and Glenna was promoted to Sous Chef. Which is when she realized that there was a fatal flaw in her plans to max chef. Though she had maxed cooking skills...she had not maxed her gourmet cooking skills. Which means that she cannot complete the chef career. With a heavy heart, she broke the news to Ames and put in the paperwork to request a career change to become a writer. Though her plans had changed, she was determine to also see the library restored so that her daughter had the best chance to succeed.

Hours after this major upset, Glenna realized that she was pregnant with her second child. Ames was concerned as to whether there would be enough harvestable food for the four of them. But, he was also happy.

With Harper's birthday just around the corner and this baby due to arrive in eight more months...Glenna is hopeful that she will have advanced to the top of her career so that she can devote time to mentoring her children.

Will she successfully restore the library to it's former glory or will all of her efforts be for nought?

Gemini: The Crime Boss (Chapter 6)

Glenna stretched to relieve her aching muscles. The bed had been more uncomfortable than usual. In fact, Glenna couldn't remember feeling every spring in the mattress. It didn't help that she had been sick for the last three weeks. All day, every day.

Still, things were good. Glenna smiled as she considered how life had changed for her and Ames. They were growing closer and enjoying each other's company.  Her face flushed as she thought on how they spent their evenings together.

Still, there were plenty of challenges to overcome. Repairing the gas lines and electric grid to bring fresh food back to the region was top priority. Especially since Glenna began to suspect that their family would be growing.  If her calculations were correct and her nausea was any indication, she had seven months to make appeals, advance her career and drum up support for the food and power restoration act. Already she had made friends with several local politicians. Only two things stood in their way—Maverick Willow and a solid plan that was ready to implement.

Anarchist, under the control of Ames' brother, Maverick, kept local politicians too afraid to make changes, even if they were ready to move forward.  Ames' began to work harder than ever to take down Anarchist. Though, playing the role of bad-guy was very taxing on him, emotionally and spiritually. 

Still, there was no choice. To restore order, Maverick Willow had to be overthrown and no one could get close to do that except for Ames. He had the connections, the family name and the know-how.

Months passed, Glenna and her mother were able to grow close to one another. There was so much to make up for and still there were questions that neither of them could answer.  Such as why Mirabella Grimm showed no signs of aging, why she rescued Glenna or what her role was—if any—in the downfall of Windenburg.  Who was responsible for the culling and the rise of Gemini?

Heidi shared the fears she had after giving birth to Glenna. The dreams that had plagued her and the deep sense of loss that she had.  Was her depression a result of the traumatic birth or had Mirabella done something to her that day? Oh, how she wished she could remember!

Time marched steadily on, each day brought them closer to the birth of their first baby as well as to each other. Glenna did in fact change her name, much to the delight of her mother who was pleased that her daughter had found someone to love.  The Montgomery family was no more. But, it felt right. One thing Ames' and Glenna knew was certain, their love for one another would carry each other through any secret that they would uncover.

The Culling: The Maker's Notes (Chapter 5.5)

Okay, y'all..these two are growing on me. Glenna has always had my heart but I never expected to love Ames just as much.

When Glenna dropped it on Ames that she wanted to be a Willow...I was floored. This is new territory for me. It's something I never really expected. I never really expected that I'd allow myself to follow their lead and get into the head of my sims.

I truly think that Glenna's ready to open her heart to Ames. They've only known each other for a short while but she would never open her heart by clinging to the Montgomery name. For once, Glenna had to let down her defenses and give everything for a chance at real love. Whether this actually happens or not is to be seen but I think she's really serious about it.

I chose not to show their "bedroom scene" in the chapters of The Culling. This was one part lack of romance interactions in TS4 and oddly, I felt like they deserved their privacy.  Yes, I understand they're sims and they don't give a hoot...but I do. I felt they deserved a small slice of happiness away from the Maker and the Maker's audience.

Anyway, there's not much yet to update in the way of promotions yet...we're working on it. Glenna has three days off from work and Ames is struggling with some guilt over his life of crime. Yeah...yeah, don't even say it. I've lost my marbles and I'm strangely okay with that.

This whole "letting my sims do what they want" thing is so new to me. It's all Fizzy's fault. I'm blaming her for this emotional upset that I'm feeling over letting them do what they want!

Shaking my head, y'all. Someone please save me from this insanity!

Gemini: The Crime Boss (Chapter 5)

Night had fallen and Ames was pacing in fury. Where was she? Had she ran off and chosen to break their vows?  He'd been respectful and kept his distance. He had cleaned up after himself and slept on a cot, never once forcing himself on her.  This was dangerous and she knew it. "Blast it, Glenna! Where are you?" His fist connected with the punching bag.  He poured his fury, his worry into beating the bag into submission.

The sound of a door opening reached his ears and he stilled. "Please, let it be Glenna."  He threw the gloves to the floor and walked up the narrow stairs of the bunker.

Glenna had collapsed against the door. Her face was ashen and tears rolled down her cheeks. Something was wrong.  She was just standing there, broken, and beautiful. He ached to take her in his arms. To ease her pain. He paused.

"Ames, she's alive...my mom. She's, alive!"  She began to tell him about running into her mother when she had gone for her run.   They'd sat for hours, trying to piece everything together.

And then, Glenna had returned home. Their home.  She'd found her mother—family. So, why had she returned? She was no longer alone. She had family—her true family. Surely she didn't need him.

He frowned. Unsure of what to say. He was happy for her but his heart ached. He didn't want to lose her.

  "Glenna, I...I'm happy for you, truly I am. But, what does this mean for us?"

Glenna closed the distance between them.  She peered into his eyes and placed her hand on his chest. His heart quickened, causing her to pull her hand back. Understanding now that he was as attracted to her as she had been to him.  He pulled her closer and covered her mouth with his.  She responded, slowly and then with more intensity. She wove her hands through his hair, urging him to deepen the kiss. 

Suddenly, Ames pushed her away as if he had been burned.  His eyes were filled with regret and longing.

"Glenna, I'm so sorry." His gaze fell to the floor, "I shouldn't have done that."

Glenna cupped his face, "Ames, I promised to be your wife.  I intend to keep that promise.  I want to be your wife, in every way.  And not just physically, I want the world to know that I belong to you. I want to be a Willow. I'm ready to love you the way. If you'll allow me."

Ames met her gaze, "I love you, Glenna.  You're my family, my home.  I'm happy to be a Montgomery if it means I get to be with you. We can talk about this later. Right now, I just want to be with you."

He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bedroom, letting the door close behind them.

 A relationship that had been forged out of convenience would hold challenges. But Ames and Glenna had found real love and that would make every challenge worthwhile.

Gemini: The Crime Boss (Chapter 4)

Ames threw another punch—determined to ignore the fact that Glenna had slipped won the stairs and climbed onto the bed to take a nap.  "Not going there, buddy. You don't stand a chance with her for real." He shook his head and threw another punch.

It was two weeks ago that he had moved from his brother's compound and in with Glenna.  She had been friendly and opened her home to him without complaint but she was distant and he knew in no uncertain terms that romance was off the table. So, why was he thinking so much about her?

He slipped the gloves off went upstairs. He needed time to clear his head and that meant putting distance between himself and Glenna. She had gotten under his skin—something he hadn't really anticipated. Sure, he found her attractive but he had been so focused on the end goal that he hadn't given a relationship much thought.  Now? He couldn't think of anything else except for what it'd be like to kiss her and that was not going to happen.

Glenna heard Ames leave the room and she sighed in frustration.  He had been true to his word, he'd been kind. He had not harmed her in any way. But, he also hadn't dared so much as flirt with her and truthfully, Glenna felt a bit lonely.  Why couldn't they enjoy each other's company?  Maybe some harmless flirting or dancing? It's not like she expected an honest to goodness romance but she had to admit that she'd imagined kissing him more than a few times.

She slipped from the bed and decided to go for a jog.  Maybe the brisk evening air would do her some good—or at least take her mind off of kissing Ames Willow.  Ames Willow-Montgomery as he was going by these days. It was so weird to her. Why would Ames give up the Willow name? I mean, it's not like she'd give up being a Montgomery but he hadn't even asked her what her preference would be.  Could she be his wife that way? Give up her identity? No, he was right, there's no way she would give up being a Montgomery. Especially not to be a Willow.  Funny, she'd known Ames less than a month and he seemed to know her better than she knew herself.

 Glenna opened the door and stepped out into the cool air.  Ames had fallen asleep on the couch and she felt bad about not having the decency to let him get a good night's sleep in the bed. It's not like they had to do anything. What harm would there be in letting him sleep in the bed?  She knew him well enough at this point to trust he'd not try anything. Problem is, did she trust herself?

She did a quick survey of her surroundings.  She felt out of breath—no doubt she was still recovering from her illness that had resulted in her being in a coma. Her heart raced and she felt disoriented, which alarmed her. Glenna definitely didn't want to make herself out to be an easy target but she couldn't fight it any longer. She doubled at the waist, gasping for air and willing her heart to stop hammering against her ribs.

"Glenna? Is that you? It can't be."  Glenna's head turned in the direction of the person that had spoken to her. She let out a gasp, "Mom?! Mom?  How, wha...how?"

"Oh, Glenna! My sweet, Glenna! I thought I lost you.  I looked everywhere for you. I've never stopped searching.

An hour later, Glenna and her mom were sitting across from a campfire, trying to make sense of everything that had transpired.  There were so many unanswered questions for Glenna and for her mom.

Heidi began to fill in some of the missing pieces for Glenna. The illness, the plan to leave everything behind.  How Glenna had collapsed and Heidi had raced to the lab for help. A trusted co-worker would have helped get Glenna to safety. But, when they arrived back at the Montgomery family home, Glenna was missing.

The government had, in fact, dropped care packages containing medication that had cured both Heidi and Scarlet. The two of them clung to each other and made a plan to find Glenna.  But, life had changed for the both of them.

As society collapsed, more and more looters began to smash windows and force entry into the extravagant home that had housed the Montgomery's for ten generations.  Heidi and Scarlet were forced to move to a small camp on the east side of where the library now stood in ruins.  Neither Scarlet or Heidi would leave without Glenna and so they stayed and watched as Anarchist gained control of the region.

Glenna's grandmother, Scarlet, lived for five years after the illness that had been dubbed, "The Culling."   After her passing, Heidi had been on her own.   In all of that time, she had been looking, searching for the daughter she had lost. Never once had she given up hope that Glenna had survived.

Confusion set in for Glenna. She hadn't trusted Mirabella and nothing she had said made sense. Why would she say that Glenna's family perished when there were survivors? More importantly—why had they taken her?

Glenna began to pour out the whole story to her mom. How she woke from a twenty-year coma. How she'd been told that her family had died.  And how the young, white-haired, red-eyed woman had made her uneasy. How she had slipped out from her home and into the night. Choosing to face Anarchist rather than stay in the presence of the young woman.

Heidi's eyes were wide with shock, "You say that a woman with white hair and red eyes was your captor? No...it cannot be. It's impossible.Young, you say? This woman is young?"  The news had visibly shaken the older woman.

Glenna nodded, "Yes, Mirabella Grimm. She is fairly young. Not much older than myself.  Do you know her?"

The color drained from Heidi's face, "Yes, dear...she was the attending doctor that delivered you.  On that night, the last face that I saw before I almost died was that of Mirabella Grimm and her  crazed red eyes!"

The Culling: The Maker's Notes (Chapter 3.5)

Glenna is settling into her bunker and I've been trying to come up with a game plan on how to tackle this challenge.  I also knew that for the aesthetic of my game that I wanted Glenna to have a choice of select men to choose from. Now, the rules state that sims may marry playable sims but not custom created.   For that reason, you have my honest word that neither Maverick nor Ames started the game with a single skill. No job, nothing.

I was a little surprised that she hit it off with Ames but from a story angle, he worked out perfectly. 

As you saw, in the last chapter, he proposed rather speedily.  Remember, I'm playing the apocalypse challenge and using the telephone is prohibited so, we had to get a jump on things when he showed up on Glenna's doorstep. 

With a partner secured, the plan is for Ames to take over Anarchist as the crime boss.

Criminal – Boss
The one thing that wasn’t destroyed by the blast was the local mob. With law enforcement severely weakened and unable to maintain order, the mob has volunteered itself to ‘protect’ the residents. The upside is that burglaries are non-existent. The downside is that this ‘protection’ has a price – everythMing you made that week. Residents are in such bad shape, that saying ‘no’ is not an option.
Whenever you are due to pay bills, pay them (if able) and then reduce your household funds to $0 using the money cheat. (Open cheat console with ctrl-c then enter ‘Testing Cheats on’ without the quotes and hit enter. Then ‘Money 0’ without the quotes and hit enter). You may not spend any money while you have outstanding bills or once the mail carrier appears on the lot until the bills are paid and the household funds reduced to 0.

Completion
Beating the mob is not an option, but if you can’t beat them, join them. As the big boss in charge, the mob plays by your Sim’s  rules. And their rules say ‘no protection payments are to be drawn from my family for life’. And when the boss speaks, the goons listen.

Then, I've decided to start Glenna is on the culinary track. Largely because I had the severe misfortune of selecting a lot that has no access to water.  While Glenna has the skill to cook the fish and  rules would allow it, it would require a loading screen to get to the nearest place to fish which is prohibited by the rules.

Culinary – Chef
The destruction in the region has cut gas lines and made the electricity grid very unstable. As a result, gas and electrical appliances can’t be relied on to cook and preserve food. The citizens of the area are forced to resort to more primitive cooking methods and living off the land to stave off starvation.

You may not purchase, place, or use any refrigerators, stoves, ovens, or microwave ovens or coolers. Non-fish items may not be cooked on grilled on fire pits. If you do not have the Outdoor Retreat game pack, you may make non-fish items on the grill, but must move a fish in your inventory to the family inventory each time you cook a meal.

Completion
After breaking the Simmish Book of World Records for hosting the largest soup kitchen for the region, your culinary master Sim attracts the attention of the world’s most famous chefs. Seeing the plight of the region they form the global food fund to ship truckloads of fresh food to the region as well as repair the gas lines and electrical infrastructure, allowing the people of the region to once again make and eat good food.

Here's to hoping I've made the right choice on which restrictions to lift first!   

Gemini: The Crime Boss (Chapter 3)

Glenna looked around her new home.  It was different than the mansion she had grown up with, that's for sure. Her mind wandered back to happy days with her family.  Her mom and dad had known somehow that this was going to happen. She wasn't sure how but she would find out what happened to them.

She pushed away the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks as she looked at herself in the mirror.  Her appearance still shocked her. The experimental medication she had been given to halt the progression of the illness that claimed the life of her parents had changed her. 

The dark tattoos that marked her chest and back had been one last negotiation with the sleazy crime boss, Maverick.  Glenna had agreed to his terms, she would seek employment and after paying the Gemini Housing District their required fees, the rest of her funds would be turned over to Anarchist.  This would at least afford her a roof over her head and protection from the lawless citizens that controlled the town.

She also wanted these tattoos...maybe she hadn't really been in any position to make demands but for some odd reason he had agreed.  He wanted to know why they were so important to her. She had told him that she thought it would make her intimidating, giving a measure of protection.  She couldn't bring herself to tell him that they were the markings her father had worn.  She wasn't quite sure what they meant but he had told her that she would one day know their importance. 

"What could they mean?" Glenna murmured to herself.   She had no time to reflect as there was an incessant knocking at her door.

It's not like there would likely be a welcome wagon.  She knew no one in this town. Being settled in for less than a couple hours in her new home, it couldn't be Anarchist wanting their money already. No...she had another seven days before that was an issue.  Seven more days to secure a job, pay the bills and then turn over whatever was left to Anarchist.

"Yeah, yeah...stop your knocking! I'm coming!"  Glenna clenched her teeth and flung open the door.

"Maverick? What are you doing here?" Fear gripped at her middle. Getting a visit from the crime boss could only be trouble.

"The name is Ames.  Ames Willow.  I'm Mav's twin brother. I'm here with...a proposition."

Glenna's eyebrown went up in an arch, "A proposition? What do I have that could be of interest to you? I have nothing I could offer you."

Ames gnawed on his bottom lip and uncertainty seemed to flash in his eyes.  "I'm here to offer myself, to you."  He blushed and looked away.

Glenna was shocked and confused, "Excuse me? You're offering yourself  to me?  As in..."

Ames looked horrified at the conclusion she had drawn and quickly interjected, "Glenna, no...I'm not a slime bag!  Mav's family and I love him, but I'm sick of Anarchist. I want to see Gemini flourish. I'd like to see law and order.  There's only one way to do that...someone has to take Anarchist down from the inside.

 Those marks, the ones on your neck, I've seen them before.  My father ordered books to be burned with themes that he deemed dangerous.  He had appointed a committee of community members to read the books in the library and separate any that could be used against Anarchist. Maverick and I, along with a woman by the name of Mirabella Grimm and her apprentice, Titus, were appointed to this task.  I found a book written by James B. Montgomery.  At the time, I thought the book was the writings of a paranoid man.

The writings had outlined government corruption as well as paranoia about mass genocide.  I tossed the books in the flames but over the years, the words have haunted me.  I've always wondered if the symbols prefacing the book meant anything. Then you arrived, demanding not only housing but those same marks.  You share the author's surname..."

Glenna leaned forward, "I don't know what they mean and you've still not explained what you mean by offering yourself to me."

Ames' cheeks flushed, "Well, if you're anything like your father,  you'll have an appreciation for honesty, for law and order.  Everything that Anarachist is not. It is my plan to take Anarchist down from the inside and I want you to teach me everything your father must have taught you. 

Together, I feel like we can bring stability back to the community and as my wife, no one would ever think to ever harm you. 

I don't expect anything else out of this marriage. I don't expect for you to love me but I promise you, I will be faithful. I will do my best to never embarrass you, intentionally hurt you or bring you harm.  I want to be a better man, Glenna.  I think you can give me that.  Teach me about a life worth living.  Give me hope for a better future. In return I give you protection and the resources to make positive changes in our community. Together we start a revolution."

Glenna's eyes were wet with tears, "Okay, Ames.  We have a deal.  I will become your wife. I will help you dismantle Anarchist and I too will be faithful to the vows we speak. But..."

Ames studied her face, "But what?"

Glenna spun on her heel and marched back towards her bunk, "But, you're sleeping on the couch."

Gemini: The Crime Boss (Chapter 2)

Glenna tossed and turned in the small bed she had been offered by Mirabella and her colleagues.  Her mind replayed all she had been told—about how everyone she loved had died as a result of a serious illness. How her life had been spared.  How could it be possible that she had slept for twenty years without aging? 

Glenna had spent the last months rebuilding her strength and learning how to walk again.  Laying in a coma had taken a toll on her body but she was better now.  It was time to go forward with her life.  Should she stay here?  Mirabella, Titus, Fizzy and Kristine, the ones who rescued her; they had said she would be welcome to stay with them. But,  how could she be sure that they had told her the truth about her family? Were they really gone? All of them? 

Glenna shut her eyes as the memories flooded back. It had been her birthday. That was the day when her world had changed. Her sister, Gamorra, had been the first to succumb to her illness.  Truly, it had been an agonizing end—a raging fire that could not be quenched.  There was nothing anyone could have done for her.   Less than an hour later her grandmother faced the same fate.  It was at the last moment that  the inferno that threatened to claim her had been tamed.  She survived but her injuries were extensive.

The horror hadn't stopped there. Glenna flinched as she recalled her father bursting into flames.  His eyes had been wide with terror as he collapsed on the cold, wet, bathroom floor—completely naked and beyond help.

 Her mother was grief-stricken but pulled herself together, insisting that they leave town immediately.  "We have to leave...now. Glenna, you have to promise me that you'll survive. No matter what. Promise me!"  It was the last words she had heard before her world went black.

 She wiped away the tears that were now flowing down her face and she dressed quickly.  She stole a glance at herself in the mirror.  She was the same girl she had always been, young, vibrant—determined.  Yet, she was different. She had changed.  Her eyes, now a golden yellow that faded to an inky black was a starling reminder that she was not the same girl.    She was not the Glenna Montgomery that lived in a wealthy mansion with hired help and every amenity one could afford.  She was not the same Glenna that had a grandmother and a sister to love her.  She was not the same Glenna that had a loving father and a doting mother. No, she was Glenna Montgomery—the orphan.

Was she though? Was she an orphan?  Glenna didn't feel comfortable taking the word of perfect strangers. If her mother was still out there, she would find her. No matter what. 

Unwilling to place her fate in the hands of strangers, she slipped out the door and into the night.

Nothing could have prepared her for the utter devastation.  The library had been destroyed and it looked like people had taken to camping out on the lawn.  The gym was completely overgrown and graffiti defaced the building.  The sound of a dog barking in the distance made her heart race and she increased her pace.

"Where am I even going?" Glenna questioned herself.  She considered heading to the border and leaving town but all around she could see towers with guns, high powered telescopes and the sounds of dogs barking...guard dogs, no doubt. 

With no supplies and no way to care for herself, Glenna decided that it was absolutely useless to try to fight her way out of this.  The only thing she could do was follow Mirabella's advice and seek help.  Plus, the fear that Mirabella had for Maverick Willow piqued her interest,

She unfolded a map of the city that she had found in the desk that Fizzy and Kristine shared. After studying the map,  Glenna made her way to the west side of town. Being careful to not bring any attention to herself, she stuck to the shadows. She moved quickly and quietly, the way her father and mother had taught her.  Her heart hammered in her chest and she prayed that she wouldn't run into anyone.  She'd been trained to survive but twenty years in a coma had dulled her senses. Even when she had been at the height of her training it was unlikely that she could outrun a dog and she definitely wouldn't have been able to dodge bullets. 

It took all night for Glenna to skirt around the gangs that camped about the town and it was daybreak by the time that she made it to the Willow compound. 

A camera whirled in her direction and female guard with icy blue eyes grunted, "I s'pose you're here to see Ames"  It was a demand, not a question.


"Actually, I'm here to see Maverick. Maverick Willow. I am at the right place?" Glenna glanced back down at her map, hoping she hadn't read the thing wrong.

The guard's eyes narrowed and she started to say something before a very young, very good looking man sauntered over, "Knock it off, Cecily. Go inside. Cool off."

She glared at Glenna before she spun on her heel.  She stomped off towards bunker, turning one last time to give Glenna a final warning to, "watch it," before slamming the door behind her.

"Don't mind Cecily. I'm sure you understand how it is.  I'm Maverick, if you haven't figured that out.  Now, what can I do for you, love?"

Glenna scowled, "Well, for starters, whatever silly game you're playing with Cecily, I'm not interested in being a part of it. Second, as I'm told that you run this town, I am sure you're aware that I'm the patient that was being cared at the home of Mirabella Grimm and her colleagues."

Maverick raised an eyebrow, "So, you recovered and they sent you here."

"Something like that, to be honest, I'm not sure I can trust them and I definitely don't trust you." Glenna chewed on her lip, a nervous habit that her mother so often fussed at her for.  But, seeing as I don't have many choices, I'm here to report for work and to ask if there's any housing that I might be set up with.  My parents raised me to be a fast learner and I will do my part to help this town in any way that I can."

"Well know, here's the deal, Gemini belongs to Anarchist. Put any thought to society out of your mind.  You work, you pay us for protection. You leave us alone and we leave you alone as long as you keep us paid up...every Monday if you're wondering.  Drop your check off in the mailbox and someone will be by to pick it up. You don't trust me? Great. You might have a chance of surviving in this town. Don't trust anyone, girl. You definitely shouldn't trust me."

"Does this mean you have a place for me to live?" Glenna struggled to meet his gaze. 

"Darlin' I own this town. I will find you a place to live. There's always some poor fool that couldn't pay the bills.

Gemini: The Culling (Chapter 1)

Glenna Montgomery could feel someone watching her and it was making her uneasy.  Her entire body hurt, even her eyes, which she was struggling to open. After much effort, she forced her eyes to open and then struggled as they adjusted to the light.   She took in her surroundings, bars, restraints and medical supplies. A slow steady stream of  water  ran off a tarp that was rigged across her dwellings. It was cold and the air smelled of smoke and chemicals.

As her eyesight cleared, she became aware of a woman with white hair and flaming red eyes.  A young man was checking her vital signs and making notes on a clipboard. 

"Where am I?" Glenna's voice sounded as weak as her body felt.  She forced herself to a seated position. The effort nearly took her breath.

The young man glanced at the wild-eyed woman as if seeking permission to answer the question. When she nodded he focused his attention on Glenna and answered, "You, my dear, are in the home of Mirabella Grimm and her colleagues, Kristine Lawson and Fizzy.  They are responsible for saving your life...mine too."

The young man stuck his hand out for Glenna to shake, "I'm Titus."  She ignored the gesture and fixed her gaze on his eyes.  They were such a beautiful golden color and split down the iris they faded to an inky black.  It was unnerving and nothing Glenna had ever seen before.

Mirabella sat down on the bed beside Glenna, "Sweetie, I know you must have a lot of questions for us."

"Like why I'm hooked up to an I.V. and behind bars?  Where is my family? Am I a prisoner here?"

"No, you're definitely not a prisoner, dear.  These bars, are for your own protection.  After The Culling, a number of survivors joined together and formed a group called, Anarchist. Survivors like myself have formed agreements with them to insure our own safety. Law enforcement is non-existent so we pay a fee to Anarchist every week and in return, we're allowed to keep our home.  For the most part they'll leave us alone in exchange for cash. The bars are there to keep out the few that decides to rob us anyway."

"And my family?" Her stomach knotted as she waited on a response.

Mirabella's gaze dropped to the floor, "I'm sorry to say it but we were not able to save them.  We had heard reports of  mysterious illness come across the news and within an hour the city was on fire.  Homes were filled with the dead. Fizzy, Kristine and I went to look for survivors.  We found you, unconscious and with a raging fever. Your family had already perished.   We decided to bring you here for treatment.  I am a doctor and Fizzy is a scientist; we felt it was our duty to help.  We weren't sure that we could save you but we knew that we had to try.   We brought you here but we had to quarantine you until we were certain you were no longer contagious. We had to avoid contamination at all costs."

"How long has it been since you brought me here?"  Glenna blinked back tears that threatened to spill over.

Titus cleared his throat before answering, "It's been twenty years."

Glenna's hand flew to her face and she wondered if she would even recognize herself.

"If you're wondering how much you have changed,  you haven't. In the first week, we heard news that hundreds of people had died, not just in our community but in four neighboring communities as well.  In the second week, people were still dying. The results were always the same, sudden illness followed by spontaneous combustion.

 Fizzy made a tough decision to raid a nearby lab for medical supplies and a hazmat suit. She was determined to save you.  With those supplies, she and Mirabella worked tirelessly around the clock to keep your fever down—it was the only thing that kept you from being consumed.  Then, on the third week, a helicopter dropped supplies, experimental medication and vaccines that seems to have halted the progression of illness.  With time it became apparent that it also slowed the aging process.  The medication and vaccine affected you and I similarly...we mutated."  He pointed to his eyes, "We are not sure what caused this mutation but there haven't appeared to be any ill effects.  Still, you never woke up and we couldn't be sure that you would ever recover...until today."

Glenna had so many questions. Fixing her gaze on Titus, she had to ask,  "You mentioned these people saved your life. Were you ill like I was?"

An odd expression flashed across Titus' face before Mirabella quickly answered for him, "Titus' story is one for another day.  For now we need to make plans about your immediate situation.  You've been here for the last twenty years and we all care about you dearly. You're more than welcome to stay here with us.  Anarchist however demands that all able-bodied persons to pay their price and now that you have recovered, you're going to have to make a visit downtown to declare a profession.  Their protection comes at a price and more than likely, they're going to want back pay for the last twenty years that you've been here.  A trip downtown will be no easy task.  The streets are overran with warring factions and you must be careful not to find yourself in the crosshairs. Once you've made your way to Anarchist headquarters, you will need to speak with the crime boss, Maverick Willow about your residency here in Gemini. No matter what you decide, know that we are always here for you."

The Culling: The Maker's Notes (Chapter 0.5)

Welcome to the Maker's Notes on the Montgomery family's apocalypse challenge!  In the very last chapter of the Montgomery Legacy, you saw some pretty big changes taking place. 

Want the truth? Glenna Montgomery got under my skin. As the end of my Legacy Challenge was looming, it became apparent to me that my 10th generation heir had a story of her own to tell.  I was torn.  I don't like listening to my sims. If you've read the Montgomery Legacy you'll know that I'm the kind of sims goddess that takes pleasure in directing and dictating every aspect of my sim's lives.

Glenna had planted herself firmly into the deep recesses of  my brain and no matter how much I tried to silence her, I failed. Finally, I decided maybe I was insane enough to tell the story that was playing out in my head and The Culling was set into motion.

What is "The Culling" you ask? Well according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary,

Definition of cull

to select from a group :  The publisher culled the best passages from the poet's work. Damaged fruits are culled before the produce is shipped.

For the Sims,culling means relationships and family members that have been erased to decrease the population in the game. This is an actual game feature in sims 4 unless you have mod to prevent culling.

I've played Sims 4 since 2014 without restarting it and had around 40 families played in rotation.  My game started having multiple glitches for which it became apparent I was on the cusp of needing to reinstall.
 
I was bothered by the fact sims were missing from my family trees due to the game induced culling. I'd unfortunately discovered the mod to prevent culling after I'd started the Montgomery family.  So, even in my Legacy there were missing founders.  I felt irritation every time I loaded my family's trees.

I knew for sure then that as soon as my Legacy concluded that I would restart my game, no-culling mod firmly in place.  It was the only way to save at least a shred of my sanity.

Glenna's story is a result of this self imposed culling.   She was securely uploaded to the exchange so that I could usher her into a new game.  She was the very first sim placed in a brand-spankin' new install since 2014!

I invite you pull up a seat and watch as the Montgomery family is thrown into a new age.  Their days of comfort are gone.  They have proven to be a successful legacy. The question is, can they now successfully survive an apocalypse?

Most of The Culling will be told as a story.  In addition, there will be periodic notes from me, The Maker, to keep you all updated on which rules and restrictions have been lifted.