Forty-four

Standing still and shutting themselves off from the world—such a mindset would never ensure long-term survival in the apocalypse. This time, it was only people from Aerospace City, but if word spread and other survivors began to flock here, it would be just like those novels: once people with special abilities appeared, would they still be able to hold their factory? No one could say for sure, and no one dared to be certain—not even those few who had glimpsed the future could guarantee there would be no unexpected changes.

The original group gathered in the conference room to discuss their next steps. The meeting lasted three hours. In the end, they decided to train everyone in the factory. Everyone would have to go out—not to become overlords of a region, but at the very least to avoid being instantly killed by zombies and to ensure their own survival. If someone wished to stay behind, they wouldn’t force them—everyone was entitled to their own way of life. But even those who stayed would have to learn how to defend themselves.

After the meeting, Jin She announced their decision to everyone in the factory. No one objected. They all understood the gravity of the situation, and everyone here had undergone strict screening before being admitted—there were no troublemakers or ingrates to cause frustration. United as one, everyone went about their tasks quietly. When the time came, they would gather in the open area without needing a signal, lining up and waiting for training to begin.

Before the training officially started, everyone dreaded it, but when it actually began, it wasn’t as grueling as they had imagined, nor as exhausting. At the back of the group, Zhu Anfu was panting as he followed along. Having been pampered with good food and care from Yuchi Ankang lately, Zhu Anfu had clearly put on some weight. Even with a bit of daily exercise, it hadn’t been enough to stave off the extra pounds. More importantly, Yuchi Ankang couldn’t bear to let Zhu Anfu do any hard work, so now even a little exertion left Zhu Anfu breathless—which made Yuchi Ankang heartache for him. They both knew they didn’t have to endure this, but for Zhu Anfu’s health, it was time for him to lose some weight.

The training continued every day without reprieve; no one dared to slack off for fear of becoming a burden to their companions in the future. Zhou Zhi and the others kept a close watch on the outside world. The evolution of the zombies was swift—what had initially been limited to a few cities had now spread across the globe.

“I have a very unfortunate announcement to make,” Zhou Zhi stood at the front of the grounds. Every day at this time, he would update everyone in the factory with news from the outside, never hiding or exaggerating anything, always ensuring the truth reached those before him. “We have lost all contact with the outside world. We were relying on satellite transmission signals, but now those have gone dark. I think you all understand what that implies without me spelling it out. Now, I want to hear your thoughts.”

“Director Zhou, are our surveillance systems still operational?”

“For now, yes, but no one can guarantee when they might fail.” Zhou Zhi glanced at the latest internal reports. Who could assure them that the monitors wouldn’t be knocked out by magnetic interference?

“Director Zhou, starting tomorrow, let’s organize patrol squads. We want to see if we can take down zombies ourselves.” Once someone spoke up, others immediately chimed in, each analyzing the situation in detail. Zhou Zhi didn’t object; after so much training, it was time for practical experience—the theory had to be put into action.

The patrol teams were swiftly assembled, ten people per group, with both men and women in each. This wasn’t a leisure outing where men and women split up, nor was it peacetime where women could just stay in the factory, shielded from danger. In the apocalypse, no one had the privilege of being protected. None of the women in the factory claimed to need protection or that they were too afraid to go out; on the contrary, they were eager to put their skills to the test. They understood that when things got truly dire, the only person who could protect them was themselves.

There were no special privileges in the factory. Zhou Zhi and Yuchi Ankang both joined the patrols. Some people objected, saying Yuchi Ankang needed to stay back to cook for everyone. Others said Zhou Zhi, as the leader, should remain in the factory as their anchor. For those who still hadn’t fully embraced equality, Zhou Zhi said nothing—only followed quietly at the rear of the group. Every team included a few soldiers to guide them on patrol and provide tactical advice if they encountered zombies. Though the others had received several days of training, they were hardly seasoned warriors; they might be stronger than the average person, but that didn’t mean they could dispatch zombies with ease.

Whenever a squad prepared to leave, they said their farewells and made solemn pacts: if any of them were bitten or infected, their comrades should end them immediately. No one wanted to be the reason more friends turned into zombies. These exchanges happened every day, not as show, but as the most honest expression of their thoughts—they would rather die than become soulless shells, mere bodies walking without spirit, which to them was no different—perhaps even worse—than being a walking corpse.

Zhu Anfu followed behind Yuchi Ankang. By now, he was used to killing zombies, no longer retching his guts out every time like before. Though he wasn’t entirely unruffled, at least he waited until they reached a clean place before vomiting. Yuchi Ankang patted his back after the latest episode. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were pregnant.”

“Yeah, right—it’s you who’s pregnant. Your whole family’s pregnant.” Zhu Anfu shot Yuchi Ankang a glare, then strode ahead. After a few steps, he realized—wait, he and Yuchi Ankang were family now.

Yuchi Ankang grinned to himself, not daring to laugh out loud. Lately, Zhu Anfu’s temper had grown unpredictable, and if he overheard, he’d probably fly off the handle. The squad moved in fits and starts, dealing with zombies as they encountered them, making a full circuit around the factory before returning. After changing clothes, the team leader would brief the next group about conditions outside. They all noticed that zombies were becoming more numerous around the factory.

“The numbers are really getting out of hand,” Yuchi Ankang muttered after showering, as he went to Zhou Zhi’s room. Zhou Zhi was frowning over a large map. “You once mentioned that foreign powers might invade while our country is weakened?”

“Yes. Even if there are zombies abroad now, there probably aren’t as many as here. Our population is just too dense, and people aren’t united.” Yuchi Ankang looked at the map. “Right now, everyone is struggling to survive; no one has the time to worry about foreign invasion.”

“We should relocate. I’m thinking of leading everyone here.” Zhou Zhi traced a line to a port city.

Yuchi Ankang frowned, “You want to resist a foreign invasion? Honestly, even if they push in, it won’t matter much. This whole region is densely populated—meaning it’s packed with zombies. No matter how many shells or supplies the invaders have, even if they clear this area, the smaller nearby cities won’t be easy to take. We could just stay here, or here, or here. With the speed of our mechs, we could reach any of these spots in less than half a day.”

“Are you saying we should thank these foreign invaders for clearing out zombies for us?” Zhou Zhi studied the points Yuchi Ankang had marked. “Can we improve the speed of the mechs, make them even faster?”

“That would be extremely difficult. With our current resources, it’s impossible. We’re already running low on materials, and some we can’t touch or we won’t be able to repair the mechs we have if they break down.” Yuchi Ankang shook his head. “If only we’d prepared everything before the apocalypse, things wouldn’t be so hard now.”

“Disasters can’t be controlled, nor can wars. You might think your plan is good, but do you really believe those foreigners will act the way you want?” Zhou Zhi gave a wry smile. “War isn’t as simple as you imagine.”

Yuchi Ankang shrugged. He wasn’t a soldier, nor had he ever been to war. He simply analyzed things rationally; if his advice wasn’t accepted, so be it. “Think about it. If—just if—we took this place as our center and captured Aerospace City?”

“Make that our base? We still have a few vehicles in the factory, and plenty of gasoline. But as for the people…” Zhou Zhi was disappointed in humanity. He had no idea how many survivors were left in Aerospace City; judging by the zombies swarming near the factory, it couldn’t be many. He couldn’t even imagine what leadership was like inside. If they took over Aerospace City, they would also have to take responsibility for the people—unless there were no survivors left. Only then would he consider taking over.

The two talked a while longer before Yuchi Ankang returned to his room. Zhu Anfu was already fast asleep. Yuchi Ankang pinched his nose and cheeks, but Zhu Anfu just waved him off and rolled over. Lately, the early mornings, daily training, and constant tension while fighting zombies outside had left him so drained that, once he relaxed at home, he collapsed into bed and fell instantly asleep.

“Xiaofu, wake up. If you want to sleep, at least eat something first.” Yuchi Ankang tried to rouse him, but Zhu Anfu was sleeping soundly, his body still worn out—waking him wasn’t easy. With a helpless sigh, Yuchi Ankang slipped into his private space to check on Dou Dou and Prince. Seeing that Prince kept everything in perfect order and Dou Dou was well cared for, Yuchi Ankang went into the little house, lit the stove, and started preparing food for Zhu Anfu—setting up a little treat for him.

Author’s note: La la la, I updated!