The moon took over the sun in the sky as Ashington Country was basked in darkness. The flickering lights from the cities slowly died out—incomparable to the lightless Grefort City in the night.
Within a dimly illuminated room on the urban fringe, a group of people gathered around a rectangular table.
The lamps burned brightly, lighting the faces of everyone whose expressions were darker than the outside world.
"Commander, the situation is dire," Marco broke the silence. "Electricity has been disconnected. The faucets no longer pump water!"
"He’s right," Elena jumped in, lightly slamming the wooden table. "If the stove is off, I cannot cook good als for everyone! How can I also wash my stuff if water is not available?"
"The lines must have been cut off," Walter, the middle-aged technician who led the maintenance team from before, added. "If we can repair the lines, then—"
"I do not think so, Mr. Hartmann," Coby, the undergrad electrical engineer, interjected. "Repairing the lines at which point even? The entire city has gone dark ahead of us. It is not a matter of repairing them, but can we handle the scale this requires?"
"Then why not repair the source?" Roger, the industrial worker, suggested. He winced as everyone’s eyes converged into him.
"Don’t look at like that," Roger gritted his teeth. "I’m making a suggestion! There’s a reactor up north, near my job. The Commander’s Engineers can repair them. We have seen what those people can do."
Everyone suddenly shifted their attention into Hans who sat at the center. They all wore the expression of He’s right, you know?
"I object," Hans broke the silence. "You should understand the scale of Grefort City alone. The distance from here to the north is at least sixty kiloters on land. I don’t even have to ntion the resistance my soldiers may face along the road."
The room beca silent once more.
Hans was right. Distance was one thing. Going up north was another. The arrival was even a different matter.
"Even if my soldiers reach the destination, the material may have long decayed for my Engineers’ repairs in making a difference."
"Then..." Marco paused. "What are we supposed to do?"
"There’s a river, downstream, near here," Hans shook his head. "Have you forgotten that?"
"You got us, kid!" Roger laughed, clapping his legs in response. "This young man is correct. We are not dying of thirst if we’re sitting next to a river."
Marco frowned, insisting his stance, "But the electricity—"
"I rember now," Coby interrupted. "Mr. Roger, don’t you guys have towable generators in the industrial areas?"
"Yeah..." Roger slowed down. "Why kid? Got an idea about that?"
Coby struck his palm, jolting in place.
"The southern area of the city has small industrial areas," he argued. "If we get lucky and encounter one of them—"
"And if we don’t?" Marco countered. "Won’t we be relying on chances now?"
"Didn’t we always have, Mr. Marco?" Coby harrumphed. "This idea is more feasible than going north. Mr. Marco, I an no disrespect since you’re a respectable math teacher. But do you have a better solution than I do?"
Marco backed down, unable to retort Coby’s question.
From the center of the discussion, Hans glanced towards Coby. An idea suddenly ford on his mind.
"If Coby’s plan does not work, I can direct my scouts into Pandora District," he provided an alternative. "It’s a land for the rich. Finding a mobile generator is more plausible here, don’t you think?"
"The officer is correct!" Coby added. "Even if there are no generators, how about those solar panels? Can’t the Engineers and I install them too?"
As the solutions and alternatives piled up, everyone in the room suddenly felt that the world wasn’t as dark anymore.
"Young man," Walter directed at Coby. "If you need help installing those solar panels, call . My boys have a knack about this."
"Thank you, Mr. Walter," Coby nodded. "Does anyone else have any objections?"
The room paused.
"Young Coby’s words are not unfounded," Arthur finally joined the discussion. "The Commander’s suggestion are also sound. We should listen to the young when it matters."
Marco snorted, ignoring Arthur’s admonition.
"My soldiers will begin the operation in a few days," Hans said. "This requires intricate plans. I hope that everyone understands."
"Commander, you must be joking," Arthur quickly rebutted Hans. "Of course, we do."
"Commander, don’t take too long!" Roger complained. "I am afraid of the dark, really..."
All sorts of praises and phrases were thrown.
Hans simply ignored them, clasping his hands with elbows resting on the table.
Coby has done well. He chuckled. I should reward him after this.
Generators or solar panels—these weren’t part of his plans. It was a cover-up story to protect the system’s existence.
What he aid were the shining gemstones, the golden bricks in the banks.
Without it, he cannot train more troops. He cannot promote to the next Rank.
As his mind raged with thoughts, the commotion suddenly waned.
"Mr. Arthur, is sothing the matter?" Marco noticed Arthur’s strange movent.
"Alas, there is indeed." Arthur nodded towards Hans, shifting their attention to the man in charge.
Hans cleared his throat.
"I am glad that we have co with an agreent with our recent issues," he spoke. "However, the problem does not stop there. The patrols have reported a recent increase in zombie activity within our area. It is not a simple case of wandering, but a deliberate approach into our general direction."
His words struck like lightning into the hearts of every person in this room.
Four soldiers went in, carrying a large canvas—the content familiar to the crowd. With a large stand and a clip, the soldiers presented a map.
"This is Grefort City," Hans’s fingers landed on the center. "And we are here."
Their eyes followed to the bottom of the canvas.
"These wandering zombies were observed coming from the direction northeast of our position—District 14."
His hands circled around the large area.
"I understand your confusion. District 14 is the city’s most recently established district. Your questions are also my questions.
What could be there?
Why would the zombies co from this direction?
What makes District 14 so special?"
Hans stared at the crowd.
"As of this mont, we have no answer to that. Still, everyone should not be worried. I am spreading this news to caution your actions in the future."
"Has the Commander already thought of a solution?" Marco asked.
Wandering zombies was a nightmare, worse those who intentionally approach the urban fringe. Though the residents have seen bloodshed, killing a zombie with their own hands would take more than just courage and strength.
"Good question," Hans smiled. "The fringe will be designated with more patrols to protect the safety of everyone, but I cannot say the sa to those fools who wander outside."
"We will not be negligent, Commander." Arthur pledged. "We will warn the residents of this matter."
"Excellent," Hans turned to the map. "Besides the generators, my soldiers will also investigate the area. Should anything of significance is found, my soldiers will report it. Any threats that erge, they will destroy it."
"The Commander has promised. I am at ease." Marco didn’t argue. All he wanted was the reassurance of security.
"May this threat be curbed as soon as possible, officer," Coby looked around. "Everyone, the officer has done his efforts to secure our place. We should do more in our areas. It would be shaful to face the soldiers if we cannot even do the jobs entrusted to us."
The room was suddenly filled with light laughs.
"Kid, you trying to be a smartass?" Roger gently slapped Coby’s head. "Who you impressing here? That student nurse over there?"
Coby blushed, looking away from Lira’s direction. His reaction ignited the crowd’s unceasing teases.
"Hush now," Hans toned down their excitent. "If the council has no more questions, this eting is adjourned."
"I second the motion." Roger didn’t wait and strode out of the room. The crowd soon dispersed, leaving four people in the room.
"That went better, Commander," Arthur praised. "I was very nervous when it shifted into the report."
"You seem to have no faith in ?" Hans patted Arthur’s shoulder, much to the latter’s embarrassnt.
"Dmitri, schedule a eting with the platoon," he turned to his trusted Scout. "Focus on the patrol changes and our upcoming city operations."
"As you command." Dmitri bowed before stepping aside.
"Kimmy, Yunera," Hans rembered these two superhumans. "You will join Dmitri on this eting."
"Huh?" The two won were shocked, and so was Arthur.
"Your powers need to grow," Hans looked at them as if they were idiots. "What? Did you expect to freeload your life away?"
"But I am soone who cannot fight?" Kimmy argued.
"You’re not the one firing the guns," Hans corrected. "My soldiers are. Dmitri will assign you with safety in mind. You will not be in great danger."
"And what about ?" Yunera was even more bewildered. "Your soldiers already have guns. Why include ?"
"The city is full of zombies," Hans rolled his eyes. "Do you expect my soldiers to fire a single shot? Silent killing is the only way to go, and it’s fortunate that you specialize on this. You should be proud of yourself."
"My blade will go blunt with all the killing." Yunera frowned, clenching the hilt of her sheathed blade.
"Don’t be such a baby," Hans rubbed his forehead. "My soldiers can find replacents in any corner of the city."
"Tsk," Yunera clicked her tongue, "What about our points? We can’t just go out there killing for you while earning the sa amount."
"Fine, fine," Hans raised the white flag. "Don’t ask too many questions now. Why are you both concerned? Shouldn’t you be happy?"
"Happy about what, killing?" Yunera laughed, "Commander, just lay it out to . What ulterior motive has run through your mind? Were you driven by my beauty? Or by this younger girl who’s blind?"
Hans left the room, his eyes absent-mindedly staring on air.
Arthur jogged after Hans, shaking his head as he passed by Yunera.
Silly girl. You still haven’t changed a bit.
"Miss Yunera," Kimmy grabbed the hem of Yunera’s clothes. "...they all walked away."
"I know..."
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