Free The Guardians by Steven Bird

probably in his late twenties.  He took the last draw off of a cigarette and tossed it into the back yard, followed by a beer can.  He then turned and went back into the house.  Jason pulled his hand held radio out of its pouch and whispered to Evan.  "Ev... you there?"
    "Yep," Evan replied.  "We've got movement.  A white male in his late twenties.  Looks pretty trashy.  Also seems to be the source of at least some of the beer cans.  Is there anyone that may be with Isaac that fits that description?"
    Evan turned to Ollie and having heard the transmission from Jason Ollie said, "Not that I am aware of.  Distant family perhaps, but there wasn't anyone living with him prior to the collapse."
    "Well, I guess we need to confront him or them somehow," Evan suggested. "We need to get a dialog going to find out if Isaac is with them or not."
    "Just how do you propose we do that?" Ollie asked.
    "I guess I just have to walk up there and ask.  They may be legitimately here so we can't just attack the place.  And if they see me sneaking up on them, they will have every right to deal with me as an attacker, just as I would deal with them if they approached my house in such a way," Evan said.
    "Makes sense, I guess," Ollie said.  "Sounds stupid as all hell, but makes sense."
    "Jason, do you see Daryl anywhere?" asked Evan over the radio.
    "Negative," replied Jason.
    "Well, I'm gonna make contact.  I'll keep my radio on with my earpiece in and try and hide it under my hat with the wire around the back of my neck.  Keep me informed and do whatever you have to do," said Evan as he got his gear ready.  He folded the stock on his VZ and slung it over his back to where it would not be readily visible from the front.  He also arranged his radio and ear piece in such a way to hide its presence the best he could.  "Well, here goes," he said.
    Evan stood up, walked around the corner, and proceeded up the driveway in plain view.  He got to the front gate and stopped just short.  He put his hands together and yelled, "Hello there!  Is Isaac Murphy home?"
    The front door to the house opened to the inside with the screen door still closed, masking the view to the inside of the house.  A gruff voice yelled.  "He's not here right now, go away!"
    "We are friends of his; we need to talk to him.  We have some stuff to give him," Evan yelled back. 
    "Whatever you have to give him, leave it at the gate and we will come down to get it and give it to him later," the man from within the house yelled.
    "Ev....someone is coming out the back door," said Jason over the radio.  "It's a threat!  He's got an AK!"
    "On my command Jason," Evan said.
    "Roger," he replied.
    "Tell your guy around back to drop his gun or he gets smoked!" Evan yelled.  "The place is surrounded.  We are here for Isaac; we are not leaving without him.  You can cooperate, or..."
    "Or what?" the man yelled with tension in his voice.
    "Or we will treat you like you are a threat to Isaac." Evan relied.  "We don't tolerate people who are a threat to our friends."
    "Get your sorry ass off of this property, it's mine now and that's just the way it's gonna be!" the man inside the house yelled in an agitated and threatening tone.
    "You're leaving us no choice now," Evan replied.  "We would rather not have to look for Isaac by force, but if you insist, that's how it will be."
    Just then, a gun shot rang out of the house through the screen door directed at Evan.  He dove to the ground to take cover and yelled, "Waste'm,"  to Jason over the radio.
    As soon as the word rolled off of Evan's tongue Jason squeezed the trigger and let an open tip .300 Win Mag fly.  It instantly smashed into the man carrying the AK.  It hit the man directly in his chest, blowing out of his back.  The man fell limp to the ground like a rag doll.  Evan dropped to the ground while swinging his VZ into firing position.  He laid just behind a fence post, getting partial cover while he extended