Apocalypse: The Savior with System

35 The Arsenal

The day after laying claim over the arsenal, Paul decided to call a meeting with everyone. So far, no one objected, not even Quinn Vega, who did a complete one-eighty and pointedly ignored him and Rahu despite what she’d done to them the night before. While waiting for Andie to get Judith and Eric, both of whom had been in the underground server lab since early this morning, Paul pulled Rahu aside. Quinn smirked at him, her ears glued to her phone, talking to someone she called “Grandma”.

Nobody knew if Quinn still had a living grandma to whom she talked sweetly to but if Paul was to bet his liver, he’d say she was talking to a “codename”.

Paul ignored her and turned to Rahu. “It’s too quiet, don’t you think?”

Rahu grunted. “I expect the government—or at least Morgan’s side of it—to appear on our doorstep within the day. Phelps has been his lapdog for many years, his secrets keeper and a known favorite. Morgan will come here, or send his people.”

“The arsenal belongs to the government—why would Morgan alone deal with the situation, even if Phelps had been a favourite?”

Rahu looked at Paul pityingly. “I keep forgetting you are far removed from the politics of the interim government. You’d know sooner that the country—the world—is now more fractured than it was before the virus came.”

At that moment, Andie appeared followed by Judith and Eric. Eli likewise had just finished cleaning up the second floor hallways. Quinn finally ended her outrageous phone call and perched herself on what used to be a lion sculpture, now missing a head. No greetings were called out but Eric did nod in her direction. Quinn simply nodded back.

Paul looked at each and every face. They were all tired but bravely holding up. They had no choice, this motley crew of unfortunates. He had military training and despite his illness, can still defend himself adequately especially with the system. But the others…

Rahu clearing his throat prompted Paul to start talking.

“Right. So we’ve done what we could to get most of the place running for our purposes,” he began, noting how Judith scowled at Quinn who had not lifted a finger to clear out the arsenal of dead bodies. “But it’s too early to relax. We expect to be attacked before midnight and we must prepare for that.” He glanced at Rahu. “Rahu has set up defense systems and weapons so in that regard we don’t have anything to worry about. Those of you who don’t want to hold a gun, there’s a bunker beneath the server labs where you can stay. I think those of us with training will be able to hold the attackers at bay.” At this, he looked at Eric and then Quinn.

“How’s the download going?” he inquired of Judith’s mission. Eric and Judith shared a glance.

“There’s a bulk of data here which I still have to help Judith sort out,” said Eric. “It might take me days to organize them but we’ve found some information Judith can already start with for whatever she needs them for.” Then he turned to Judith, “Um, I didn’t even ask you what you wanted those Pearse-Sachly stuff for…”

“Vaccine research,” she said quickly. Quinn made a scoffing sound but said nothing.

“I have my own research archives but concurrent data, as well as those that came after, are also necessary for me to continue,” she told them. “I need to have the data from another research conducted simultaneously with mine. Right now you don’t need to know the details yet.”

Paul understood and accepted that. He then turned to Quinn. The woman raised an eyebrow. “I’m getting what I wanted. No need for you to know what it is. But don’t worry, I’ll pitch in during the fight as long as the clean-up’s all yours.”

Paul opened his mouth to say something but decided against it. He planned to ask Quinn for assistance should the arsenal become overwhelmed by the military but the woman beat him to it. It was as good as a “yes” from her.

He sighed resignedly. “Okay. I’ve given you all radios so we can call each other should we need help or see something problematic. Andie and Eli, are yours working?”

“I checked them a while ago; they’re both all right,” said Eli, handing Andie her own radio. Then, Rahu moved and handed them a handgun each.

“I hope you never have to use them but just in case,” Paul told them.

For the next hour, they planned their positions once the attack happens. Quinn boldly declared she would be invisible so they needn’t bother including her. Nevertheless, she stayed to listen. When his shy, retiring friend Eric dared to tell her he thought she had someplace else to be, the woman replied airily, “I have to know at least where you people are going to be so I don’t shoot you instead of the enemy. Get it?”

Eric never spoke again for the entire meeting.

When the meeting was done and some of them went back to what they were doing prior, Eric told Paul, “Quinn Vega’s quite a character, isn’t she?”

Rahu grunted behind them.

“An understatement, for sure,” said Paul, shaking his head. “She’s useful, I can guarantee that after last night but not preferable company.”

“Judith thinks so, too.”

“She told you?”

Eric shook his head. “Not really. It’s quite obvious.”

Paul had to agree. Since Quinn joined their group, Judith’s proverbial claws—and evil eye—have been bared.

“Let’s promise to keep those two as far away as possible from each other for the time being,” Paul suggested, knowing well Judith’s personal biases. “We don’t want trouble brewing inside the place. Not now that we don’t have any idea how Morgan will retaliate.”

Eric scrunched up his face, a habit when he’s deep in thought. “You know what? Morgan might possibly act on the situation but Pearse could do that, too. They’re not going to join hands in friendship and unity over this but politics, you know. Besides, even if this is Morgan’s turf, the arsenal is a government facility with a large data server linking to the government’s. Pearse wouldn’t want to look remiss in his duties if he stays silent on the arsenal.”

Paul understood what Eric was not saying. Pearse and Morgan might not work together but they could both deal with the arsenal in different ways, on two different fronts. He didn’t know if they were equipped to defend against a concerted—but not really—kind of attack from two powerful factions.

Sensing Paul’s sudden doubt, Eric quickly informed him, “I’ve managed to re-program the arsenal’s security and defense network. Those sentry tower guns along with those that Rahu has placed on the top walls every few meters are connected to the internal network. We’d be able to cover the entire arsenal at any time with just a few clicks from my keyboard.”

Relieved, Paul smiled at his friend, patting his shoulder. “Man, I’m sorry I got you involved in this but I’m grateful you’re here, too.”

Eric grinned. “Just like old times, huh?”

“Yeah.”

The sound of something heavy dropping to the floor startled them both. They turned to find Rahu slumped to the floor and ran towards him. Paul held his arm out preventing Eric from coming closer.

“Dude, you’re infected and we’ve been breathing the same air for days now,” Eric snapped, taking out his radio and summoning Judith. “Besides, Judith gave me, Andie, and Eli some of that serum. We won’t die in a long while.”

Judith arrived a few seconds later, panting after running up two basement levels. She administered the serum into Rahu.

“I don’t want to scare you but I’m down to one last vial,” she told them while checking on Rahu’s vitals.

“He’s such a big guy but he’s down and out like this,” Eric remarked, helping Paul turn Rahu over so he could breathe properly even when unconscious.

“Rahu spends more energy than us,” Judith explained. “He does a lot of physical work and won’t listen to my warnings. And because he doesn’t have the system like Paul does, his body suffers from the viral effects more. The serum merely slows down the interphase transition.”

“So if we run out of serum, Rahu will progress at the usual rate?” asked Paul.

Judith shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s also possible that the serum’s effect on an already infected individual can alter how the virus will behave after the serum exhausts all its half-lives.” She looked into Paul’s eyes. “That’s why I need other research material. A vaccine can take so many more years but a serum, while it’s not a cure, can delay progression. The prototype serum has a short half-life. I think I might be able to make a new version that has a longer one.” She gave Rahu an assessing glance. “He shouldn’t be lying down here but can you two lift him?”

Paul and Eric winced at each other. They were saved when Rahu slowly came to, groaning from deep in his chest. Judith rose to her feet. “I’m going back to the lab. I’ll see you later, Eric.”

“What the f**k,” Rahu growled when he realized he was flat on his back on the floor just as Judith left. Paul helped him sit up.

“You, um, fainted a while ago. Judith just gave you the serum, man,” said Paul, inching away when he saw the dark look on Rahu’s face.

“Yeah, well, he looks fine to me now, “Eric said quickly, standing and backing away. “Dinner’s early at five in the mess hall, Andie said to tell you. Er, yeah.” Eric gave Paul a conspiratorial look and followed after Judith. Rahu slowly rose to his feet.

Neither he nor Paul spoke for several seconds until Paul bravely said, “I need you later, man. So, quarters, get some rest…NOW.”

He waited for Rahu to glare down at him or even push him away rudely. The giant of a man with a large gun slung over one shoulder grunted instead and left him standing, heading towards the stairs leading to the quarters.

“I’ll wake you up for dinner!” Paul called out but Rahu only kept walking.

Paul smiled to himself and turned to catch Quinn standing in a corner, watching him with her head tilted to one side, a strange look on her face. He nodded to her, didn’t wait for her to nod back, and walked away.