May Peace Grace Us

Chapter 60: Precautions

That episode has taught everyone on the base an important lesson about the time they are all living in now. Life is equally precious for each of them. One careless mistake can throw them to heaven or hell in one swift motion.

As there are no zombies wandering around the base, everyone took advantage of this time to do various things. Supernaturalists did their best to gain greater control over their power as they strived to be stronger the best they could. Stephen and those involved in the security matters welcomed the changes and did their best to satisfy the need to get stronger for everyone.

Just a few days ago some of Stephen's friends came and were a great addition to their population. Though they are quite shaddy as Aila had expected them to be, they are really capable people who are quite reverent to Stephen and hold a great level of loyalty to every word and deed the older Justine commands. Aila thinks that they are just too unreliable-looking, but with their actions currently,- Aial would not be minding their quirks and letting them be for Stephen to discipline and manage.

Travis, Harry, and Jerome were in the labs monitoring those who were bitten and wounded for any changes. The rest in the labs were doing their best to help out where they could in regards to their patients, while most of them are producing enhancers after enhancers in their domain. Jerome was originally with the patrol team, but he was also considered part of the science expert teams, so he was dragged here against his will.

Liza worked her best at organizing the department under her. So far, the plants they had have grown well without much interference from her power. None of them mutated and they had some fresh produce to eat for a while.

Alexa, on the other hand, was doing her best to get the full picture as she had promised the grieving loved ones. She used all sorts of technology to see all angles before she came to a conclusion, the same as Aila did. And most importantly, she has physical evidence to prove her case. She slowly revealed the results of her investigations to the concerned parties as gently as she could so as to not let them be consumed with hatred.

Since knowing the cause and effect, the whole base did not have a good impression on Gerald and had used his name as a curse. Once in a while, the affected parties from the incident reveal their desire to have him ruined. Thankfully, most of them are still rational, so they do not act on their thoughts for now. It would be a great problem if they ran out in this weather with no assurance of getting their vengeance. If they did that, it would greatly affect their productivity and population as a direct consequence of them being irrational in addressing their grievances.

“The whole base is heated somewhat, right?” Stephen said as Aila watched the other residents following Felix’s commands in a formation.

“Well, with that happening it is no surprise there will be a fire burning inside of everyone.” Aila only trailed her eyes on the hardworking people on the field. “I acted even more exaggeratedly than them in my past life.”

“...life was really hard in that place we were not in,” Stephen said as he felt he touched a landmine. Although they had talked about this matter once in a while, hearing of their death was really uncomfortable. The feeling was intensified whenever they heard the subsequent impact it had on his child. “By the way, was there anything we had to address now other than the blizzards this winter?”

“Migrant birds,” Aila replied solemnly. “ Other mutant animals too. Though the animals are yet to be a real threat, we have a mountain nearby and some of them might come down in search of food here. There are some zombies too, though they are fewer in number due to most of them being frozen and buried under the snow and ice.”

“...our people have yet to have any practice on mutant animals.” Stephen was a little worried hearing about the animals. “Dealing with zombies is something everyone is more or less familiar with. If we encounter them during this time, eliminating them will be no problem at all. But the animals are different opponents altogether.”

Stephen’s worries were one of the many worries of Aila. Indeed, in the period they had been trying to be self-sustaining, they had yet to encounter a mutant animal for them to practice on. Engaging a mutant animal is harder and dangerous as it has instincts and smarts that can outwit a human. Not to mention all animals are strong due to their certain characteristics and behavior, humans are far behind on this matter if they don’t have tools to make a difference.

While the base is stocked up with various weapons and supplies, they are not infinite and ever powerful against their enemies. The threats they face are getting stronger each time and their weapons will one day lose every efficacy they have currently. Thus, the sense of urgency Aila has all this time.

“I want to take them out to get used to the mood of fighting,” Aila said as she moved her sights on the mountains. “At the moment the animals are yet to be strong, so they are the greatest practice they could have. Though I’m much more worried about the weather than the animals currently.”

“The blizzards.” Stephen was helpless as he remembered their hiding in their homes. “That blizzard will surely return and might be even fiercer than it used to.”

“Not to mention the temperature will get even lower than it already was.” Aila got an imaginary cold as she recalled the hard winters she had been in back then. It was only due to the joint efforts of everyone that they survived out in the open. “We cannot stay out there for so long dad.”

Stephen did not speak, only waited for the training to be done before he could make a decision. Aila and the hyenas are more in power in terms of the direction the base will develop, many things are still under Stephen’s control. It was the age that made him a leader in public and his relationship with the children gave him authority at the base. Not to mention they are so filial towards him and his wife that most people do not dare to look down or make a slight on him.

So when Felix was done, he conveyed Aila’s ideas. It was Felix who gave an assessment of a person who was suitable to get out there to prove themselves. And it was only both Stephen and him who could only issue the green signals to those who were ready for actual practicals.

Hearing the situation, Felix immediately gave out some names to those who could take this exercise. There were only about ten people and Aila was satisfied enough with the number to get out there. Though she has to bring some more of the hyenas to have better survival if accidents were to happen.

Bella is definitely a must. Like her, the girl has been suppressing her habits all this time. She desperately needed to vent them out before she would be driven crazy by all of this confined situation they were in. Decades of being a free-spirited nomad made her uncomfortable being still and cooped out.

When Bella heard the plan Aila had, she was more than okay. She was so excited and looking forward to it that she even promised to teach their group her own unique insights into dealing with mutant beasts. A bloody smile was carved into her face that had those who saw her scared away.

Aila then inquires if any of the hyenas wants to get into her activities. But too bad everyone was too preoccupied with things to be able to help out. Apparently due to the increased motivations of the residents their hands are full enough that they cannot squeeze anything else on the schedule.

“Well I guess it's just you and me this time around.” Bella has a grin as she wounded an arm on Aila’s neck. “It would be fun and before you know it we got everything done and we’ll be home.”

Aila has a deep sense of trust with Bella. But this time around she has a gut feeling that something is up and Bella’s words are rather contrary to their situation later on.

And her feeling turns out to be right.