Honest Discussions

Posted on Fri Aug 7th, 2026 @ 1:31pm by Deputy Director Roxy Santiago & Governor Connor McLean

2,311 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Escape from the Concrete Grave
Location: McLean Mansion Gold Coast region of Long Island
Timeline: Two months after escaping the City

It had been nearly two months since Connor and Roxy had made their way to his family's estate out on Long Island. During that time, as he figured would happen, several of his former staff, guards and house staff alike, had found their way back to the mansion. The property had since become a fortified compound, with reinforced walls erected around the entire perimeter.

Connor ran the entire operation like a seasoned military commander. He has established strict discipline right away, having to hand out several forms of punishment quickly, yo ensure everyone did what they has to do to protect the whole.

Now, things ran like a well-oiled machine. Everyday, a scouting team would head out to gather more and more supplies, building their stockpile of the various materials needed to survive.

This morning, Connor was standing out on the southern-facing, third floor balcony, using the field glasses he had to scan the area around the compound. A swath, several hundred meters wide, has bee cleared out, granting them a wide area of open country to see and approaching threat.

As he was scanning, he heard Roxy approach from inside the mansion. He smelled the rich aroma of black coffee that she carried before he turned to face her. "Morning, Roxy. How did you sleep?"

"I slept okay" she replied. It was the best that they could expect. "You?" she asked as she handed him the second cup.

Taking the steaming mug with a soft smile, Connor took a sip and replied. "About the same, given the world we find ourselves in." He turned back to scan the breadth of their domain. "Hard to imagine how much has changed in just a few months." He paused a beat, then added, "And how much hasn't changed." He turned back to face Roxy, giving her an unreadable look. "Is there anything you want to say?"

"Supplies are going to get low." She said. "While we have planning more runs, we need animals, to grow our own food." She had a plan but had been waiting for more people to be here so she could implement it.

Connor nodded thoughtfully for a few beats, then asked again, "Is there something else you'd like to tell me?" There was a tone in his voice that made it clear that he might know something very important...something Roxy knew as well but had not told him for whatever reason.

"On the last run, we went past a garden centre, not raided. People are going for the quick win." Roxy looked out past him. "While your family has that small kitchen garden its not going to work for long. And we do not have any livestock. We would need to find them on the mainland."

Connor let out a quiet breath, then blinked as he responded. "You and I have been through a lot since the world went to shit, you've saved my life several times, and I've saved yours." He turned to look out across the expansive property that was their world now. "I've come to not only depend on you, but even start to trust you." He paused to let those words sink in a bit, then continued to speak.

"There is just one thing that is preventing my from fully trusting you." He turned to face her again and asked levelly, "Who are you? In the world before. We were all someone else. I was a criminal kingpin, who would viciously kill my enemies given the chance. Now? Now I'm the leader of a group of survivors who are trying to carve a safe place to live in this destroyed world of ours." He paused a beat, then asked again, "Who are you?"

She studied him for a moment. "Who do you think I am?" she asked curiously. She wanted to know what he thought he knew.


Connor arched the eyebrow that was over his remaining eye as he responded. "Answering a question with a question is never a good way to handle things. Nick!" He called out and from inside, one of his returning minions, a bear of a man, stepped out onto the balcony, brandishing a wicked-looking club.

"Now," Connor repeated himself in a dangerously calm voice. "Who are you?"

Her eyebrow raised and then she casually buffed her nails on her jacket. "Not that it matters now days, I don't have to keep it I guess. Detective Alexis Rivera. New York Undercover Department, Fed 1."

Connor nodded slowly. "I knew from the very beginning," he explained. "My informer had told me that there been an undercover cop in one of the gangs, and a good one at that. All they could make out was that the cop was woman, and a sexy one at that."

She rolled her eyes. "Sexy... that's not why i was chosen. I was not aiming for your gang. I was on another one's case."

Connor nodded as he replied. "I know you weren't. I verify those who become a part of my organization thoroughly. I don't go by just heresay. I actually had people whose sole job was to check the background of every person i dealt with. If there was even a hint of something then that person would not live long enough to betray me in any way."

"So now what?" she asked crossing her arms casually.

Connor was silent for a few beats as he considered Roxy. Finally, he replied. "It is clear to me that the world we lived in is now gone, as are her laws and ways of doing things. Since the moment we met, aside from hiding your true identity, you have proven to be not only loyal, but honorable and willing to work with me to create a new world from the ashes of the old. So I pose to you the question...do you stay here with me as Roxy, and we agree to forget the past of the old world together...or do you resume your old identity, one whom I have never met, know or have any reason to trust, and we react accordingly? The choice is yours."

It was clear, by the expression on Connor's face, that he was disappointed in the deception. However, there was a look in his eye that hoped the woman before him would make the correct decision.

Roxy, wanted to resume as Alexis. "Roxy is a name. Alexis has always been the person beneath it." she said calmly.

Connor was quiet for a few beats, then stepped closer to the woman he had known as Roxy vanish before him. He held out his right hand to Alexis. "It's i pleasure to meet you, Alexis."

Alexis shook his hand though her posture showed she was still nervous.

As they shook hands, Conner tightened his grip a bit more, his hand feeling more like a steel vise, as he spoke with a calm tone that gave a glimpse of the depth of the dangerous man that he could be if he wanted to. "I don't ask for much, Alexis. However, Lie to me again, and it will be the last mistake you make." He locked his left eye on her right eye, as if he was looking directly into her soul.

After a couple beats of silence. He released her hand and turned away, moving back to the stone balcony wall, looking over the area like a king looking over his realm.

She refused to flinch. Alexis merely rolled her shoulders slightly and walked a few paces away. Ever since their escape from the police station she had known this day would come. She had run through scenarios in her head over and over again. And now she was contemplating the one that had made her sick. Leaving. Gathering her belongings, not that she had much. The clothes she had come in and a knife. And Leaving in the dead of night.

Without a word to Connor she headed for the doors.

"You are still welcome to stay, Alexis," he said aloud, as if reading her thoughts.

He turned and faced her again. "You did save my life. You also did help build this new home with me."

He was quiet for a beat, then continued. "I won't lie to you. It did hurt to discover that you had been deceiving me this whole time. Was it just your name? Or was Roxy's story a complete farse? And what of the brother that you told me about?"

"Mateo. He is 5 years younger than me. Our mother died when I was 15. He was 10. Dad was a drunk. I was meant to be a loner undercover but I kept him." Alexis didn't turn back as she spoke. "Undercover means you need to keep things straight. Easier to use true details where possible."

Connor nodded as he listened. "I meant what I said, back in my penthouse. You want to go find your brother, I'll help you. Family is the most important thing now."

She gave a short almost cynical laugh. "He is probably dead. He was at University upstate. And he never understood why I did what I did to keep him stafe. Even if I could find him, he would probably kiss a zombie just to spite me." Alexis turned, looked at Connor. "Best if I go. I will leave after dark so no one sees the split."

He looked at her silently. There was disappointment in his eye as he took her in. "I won't force you to stay. However I do hope you change your mind."

"Highly unlikely. This was never going to work Connor. My past as an undercover cop was always going to be there and will always be there." Alexis gave him a sad smile and then headed inside to the room they both used to change clothes into the ones she had worn during their escape and grab her knife.

Conner stepped inside after her, still giving her space. "What we were before the bombs is not who we are now, Alexis. You were a highly trained undercover NYPD officer. Just like I was a criminal kingpin."

He shook his head as he continued. "Are we both trained fighters and killers? Yes. However, we have a chance here to rebuild something from the wasteland that has become our world. Together, we are strong. Divided...we won't last long against those things out there."

"You won't die Connor. You have this place, everyone we have brought in. You are strong." She said calmly as she gathered her jacket and headed into the closet to change into her own clothes.

"Everyone dies, Alexis," he responded as he stepped to the doorway, but did not watch her change, out of respect. "But not everyone really lives." He let out a breath, then stated, "If you feel that you don't belong here anymore, then by all means, strike out and find your own path. So long as that path doesn't effect me and mine, then we will have no quarrel. However," now he did look at her. "If you are leaving simply because of this one issue, I ask that you reconsider. I am not your enemy and you are not mine. Not anymore. We both survived the end of the world. Our past sins, whatever they were, no longer matter. What does matter, is the here and now. And in the here and now, you are my closest ally and and confidant. Was I disappointed by your earlier deception? Yes. However, I can appreciate why you did what you did. All i was expressing was my desire for no further deception. Not that you were no longer welcome here, in your home."

"And how long until someone else takes exception and you are forced to face it?" She asked softly. "How long until someone tells you lies and you believe them because that is what I was. Am. A professional liar."

Connor was silent for a moment as he considered the questions. Finally, with a soft sigh, he replied, "Anyone who threatens the security of this compound, and the safety of those who live within it, will be dealt with accordingly." He stepped closer, reaching out and gently caressed the right side of your face. "As for you being a liar...you did it because you had to, to survive in what had been my world. It was not done to injure anyone. So I can respect it. Had the lie been to deliberately hurt me or those I protect here, then you would not be breathing right now. Nor would anyone else. If they were in your shoes."

He stepped right up to her, gently placing his forehead against hers, as he whispered, "Please...stay here...stay with me. I need you. You're highly intelligent, one of the best fighters I have ever seen, and I...I have come to...to care for you. Deeply."

Roxy raised an eyebrow. "That.. aside, If you want me to stay I will" She took a breath. "But we need to be honest about my past to everyone. It could be used as a wedge."

Conner nodded slightly. "Nothing but honesty, from this moment forward." He reached out and took her right hand onto his left, squeezing it gently. "Thank you," he said softly.

Roxy nodded slowly and then "I have some stocktake to do." and she headed off, she needed time to deal with her emotions.

Connor watched her leave, then let out a breath of relief. What he said was true. He did depend on her, and he had started to have feelings for her. For now, however, he knew that he had to go slow, give her whatever space she needs.

He moved into his study and started reading the reports from the scouts they had sent out.

~OFF~

 

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