Surviving the Apocalypse

Training for the New World

After the demonstration with the 37, every resident of Camp Hope knew that there was most definitely a line you didn’t want to cross. They learned even if it was an old woman using the wool to knit a blanket together, they were doing something to be helpful to the Camp that would increase their odds of survival. Blankets they did in fact distribute to the others, as they were some of the warmest ones in the entire Camp. Hanna kept one on her bed, knowing how cold the nights would get in the winter when they were buried under several feet of snow. It however made the next parts easier, as they knew the people representing them on the Council actually helped make the rules more bearable for those in the Camp who weren’t part of leadership.

When the full rules and economic situation was revealed to them, they were surprised that no matter what their job, every resident would receive shelter, food and the security provided by the Camp. Anyone with abilities would be given a single dose of Evojuice for free each morning at breakfast, a second one could be purchased with lunch. They however were expected to train to use their abilities, power them up and if the worst case scenario happened, everyone over 15 would be expected to stand against the horde and fight if needed. Everything was going great until breakfast, when General Montgomery sat at her table with the list of Scavenger Squad and defensive wall construction teams in her hand and a scowl on her face.

“What the hell kind of tactic is this?” Hellen Montgomery demanded sliding the papers over to her. Hanna barely glanced at it while she ate her cinnamon roll.

“The one where I lead Squad 1, Team 1 of the Scavenger Corp as my daily contribution to the Camp.” Hanna told her. “No one is exempt from the rules, especially leadership. Besides, except for me, no one actually has experience doing this. Battle instruction is going to be extremely important during these first missions.”

Hellen actually laughed when she heard that from. Hanna. “I might believe that, if I didn’t have my own suspicions about that ass kicking I got about 6 months ago. It had nothing to do with your father, and everything to do with that healing ability you used on my wrist after you made me suffer 3 weeks.” Hellen said grumpily as Hanna actually laughed.

“Would have been 4 months if I hadn’t, cause that was definitely needed surgery to fix that wrist. And you are right, when I came too in your office, it was because we had just shut down the air defense system because of a major missile attack from the second Dawn. I had just sacrificed 3,800 people I spent two years protecting to being chewed out by you about setting grief aside. I admit, not my best moment. But none of it changes the fact I am the best person for the job. My storage ability means I can pack entire factories worth of supplies without using a single truck. I have my tactics and strategy expertise to know the best way to handle every encounter, the weapons training to actually kill the zombies, as well as 6 years worth of experience killing these damn things.” Hanna told her before she took another bite of her cinnamon roll as everyone looked at her like she had grown a second head. “What?” she asked looking around.

“We have asked about previous loops before, and you are always vague about the answers you give.” Crystal said as everyone nodded as she finally set her fork down, glad this was a leadership meal and not in the main mess hall.

“The previous loops are variations on this same version of hell. My first was done without an ability, barely escaping the house that burnt, and being forced to live by scavenging whatever we could in a Camp no where near as equipped as this one is. Than I woke up for the second loop 28 days before. Just enough time to get somewhat prepared and learn there was a purpose for this hellscape my life has become. Loop 2 lasted just over a year, before my Uncle hit a research lab with a cruise missile and killed me. Loop 3 was just a few months longer than loop 2, before the second Dawn hit us with over a thousand cruise missiles on us because of our air defenses. Sorry, 7 years. Not that it is something I begrudge on anyone, as this is loop 4 for me. 4 times I have watched that nightmare unfold from different perspectives. I have spent years getting to know most everyone at this table twice, and know you all died at least once as a direct result of my actions. Hellen, this is your first time, so I don’t know you as well as the others.

“Whatever my duties here in this Camp, I will perform them each afternoon without complaint. But each morning I will lead Scavenger Team one into that city, to kill zombies and reclaim this valley from them. Nothing anyone says will change it, because of I am killed, I will use it to learn and improve next time. It is my release and how I cope with the horrors I have seen of this world.” Hanna told them as they all kind of just stared at her. Surprised she would be so blunt about it when she generally barely acknowledged she even had the ability.

“This isn’t the last time either, is it?” Crystal asked as Hanna looked at her.

“We have a mission, develop a vaccine that will stop this virus. Until that is done, it will never be the last.” Hanna said before she stabbed the last of her cinnamon roll and stuffed it in her mouth before she took a sip of coffee. “Now, if we are done discussing what I need to do for my sanity, is there anything else we need to discuss?” she asked once she swallowed and everyone looked at their agenda’s.

“I think we can handle most everything else today boss.” Melissa said making her sigh.

“My rampage wasn’t intended to say I don’t want to be involved in the petty minutiae of decisions we need to make in order to ensure the proper operation of the Camp. I will be the first to admit, it has never been this large, but I have every confidence we will adapt quickly.” She said evenly before remembering that she had to accept the rewards from setting up the Camp to activate the resident monitoring system for tasks, points and powers. As well as the ability for each Squad to share powers with the ones in their assigned Squads. Everyone at the table gasped as it took effect, Hanna’s quest/storage system had just been shared with the entire Camp as she was the leader of them all. “Sorry, I forgot there were things to do in order to make that part of our lives easier.”

“How long have you been able to do this?” Hellen asked surprised at her own quests and some of the personal rewards she could obtain as it saw her as the second in command this time around.

“This is a Camp Ability actually and it didn’t complete until 2 days ago. Sorry, I forgot this time.” Hanna said making them laugh as they realized her ability was far more powerful than they believed as they could all see the bonuses that had just been activated for nearly every aspect of their life in the apocalypse.

“What else haven’t you shared yet?” Hellen asked cautiously as Hanna pulled out their first doses of Evojuice.

“One of the benefits of being in a Camp with a leader who has experience. This will increase your abilities strength and overall power level. The first level to 2 takes 5 doses. Level 3 without use of your ability takes 25 doses. Each level after is a factor of 5. So 4 is 125; 5 is 625, so on and so forth. You can have 2 doses a day safely. Also, any ability crystals obtained from the zombies, can be purified and transferred to the living as well. Second dose of Evojuice each day is 10 points. New ability is 50 points, available to only residents. The world can know about Evojuice abilities are our ace in the hole.” Hanna explained to them as they all took the first dose and felt the rush of strength to their abilities. “Just so you don’t have to ask, most people can have up to 5 abilities while less uncommon is 10. Some truly rare ones such as myself can have between 15 and 20 total abilities.”

“How many do you have now?” Hellen asked.

“Healing, magnetism, fire, a shield, quest system, storage ability, temporal reset. So 7 at the moment.” Hanna told them honestly. “The abilities shared by squad members, while independent from their level, don’t count towards that total. That is why once squads are assigned, the only thing that will change them is death or disability. The consequences go far beyond just a single person with the squad ability share.”

“What other kinds of things can this system reward us with?” Peter asked as the holographic projector displayed the Camp Quests for them. All of them having to deal with membership, construction, growth or production.

“All kinds, one is even combat readiness of the Camp as a whole. Not just the Scavengers, soldiers and guards, but every member. That is why we will be instituting the new training schedule for all residents to follow. 0500-0700 Physical training. 0700-0800 breakfast and first Evojuice doses. 0800-1200 morning tasks. 1200-1300 lunch and second Evojuice dose distribution. 1300-1700 afternoon tasks. 1700-1800 Dinner. 1800-2000 Combat training. The rest of the time is for them to spend how they wish.” Hanna said explaining it to them. “Children 4 to 15 will be in school where Math, Science, Tech, reading and Combat will be taught.”

No one argued as they saw the wisdom in it, all of them agreeing it was proper, as the Morals of the old world could no longer dictate how they rebuilt society. In fact, when it was announced to everyone at lunch, they celebrated knowing exactly what was expected as their daily tasks never really changed. Just where they performed them, every person given the choice to choose where they worked in the Camp.

The next day was the first excursion out into the city to clear the zombies with their new weapons, every Scavenger who volunteered getting a crash course in their use and combat training as Hellen delightfully informed them that they would actually have arena fights as part of their combat training. Everything from hand to hand, to abilities to training weapons could be used. Most of the doctors having a healing ability as well, meaning injuries that would generally incapacitate someone for weeks would only take days to mend if bones were broken.

200 of the soldiers had volunteered for the Scavenger Corp, the other 120 volunteering to be escorts for the construction teams that would use Earth abilities to make the walls that would keep their hard earned gains clear of zombies. Each Scavenger Squad was 5 men, 4 squads making a team of 20, 5 teams making a Platoon of 100, 4 Platoons making a Company that they had yet to fill out as they require the civilian volunteers to complete training with the team that General Montague put together from the command unit that she had brought with her.

For the first time, Hanna had the Scavengers, Escorts and Combat Engineers as they were calling the builders, all part of the new military order they were creating. Except this time, it would be built around working closely with the civilians instead of treating them as separate from them. They just performed different roles and took different risks than those fighting the swarms.

They quickly learned however that Hanna knew exactly what she was doing, as the enhanced numbers allowed them to clear two full city blocks in a single morning, the Engineers having plenty of people to cycle through with their power and make the 20 foot walls they needed to stop the zombies from breaking through. The supplies they brought in that afternoon amazing everyone, as it was all made available to them through the Camp Store with the points they earned from their daily assignments.

It was exactly one week after the outbreak when Crystal took Hanna to a little place she had help from a lot of people to make, available to anyone who needed a date night with just their partner. It only took a few minutes for Crystal to notice that she was distracted.

“What’ s eating at you tonight?”

Hanna smiled as she looked at Crystal. “Just worried about how fast everything is going this time. Haven’t ever had a Camp this size, or with this much capability. Concerned it will draw the wrong attention before we are ready for it.” She said as Crystal smiled.

“Well since it seems no one will tell me what my job really is in the Camp, let me ask you this. What is it exactly that has you concerned? What can be done about it in say, the next week?” Crystal asked as Hanna laughed.

“You don’t know what your assignment is?” she asked.

“Executive Assistant to the General of the Army. Whoever the hell that is.” Crystal said as Hanna barked with uncontrollable laughter for several moments. “I am so glad my predicament has you so amused.”

“Thanks dear, I needed that.” Hanna said still chuckling.

“Not even Hellen will tell me who it is. Says if I haven’t figured it out yet, that I was on my own. I figured if anyone would know she would, as she is a General.” Crystal said frustrated.

“Well, she doesn’t have any complaints about your work so far.” Hanna said before taking a sip of the wine as Crystal looked at her.

“You actually talked to her? Who is it? What the hell am I supposed to do?!” she asked in rapid fire sequence as Hanna smiled amused and started chuckling again.

“I guess you could say I talk to her, but than again, so do you most days.” Hanna said keeping up the charade. “I know you help her with a lot of the tasks she needs each day.”

Crystal glared at her. “If you aren’t going to tell me, what good is it having a girlfriend in such a high position?” she asked pouting.

Hanna saw Crystal was seriously concerned about it so she stopped joking. “I apologize dear, I thought it was so obvious everyone in leadership knew. The General of the Army is me, all those things you do for me each day, is you doing your current assignment. If you want to do something else, it could easily be arranged by that girlfriend in such a high position.” She said as Crystal looked at her.

“So when you talked to her?” Crystal asked making Hanna laugh again.

“Well I am a girl, so her would be a excellent identifier. I will admit I do talk to myself quite frequently, just never seem to answer myself though. They tell me that it is healthy though, when I start answering myself is when there is an issue. So yeah, I do talk to your boss quite frequently.” Hanna said making Crystal finally laugh as she shook her head.

“Oh my God, and here I have been freaking out that I am going to piss my boss off somehow and never know it.” Crystal said still laughing.

“No, you are doing a great job. If you want something else though, it can be easily arranged. I personally like that you are my eyes and ears in the Camp and knowing that you will do the job just as well as I do.” Hanna told her as Crystal blushed.

“But if I do what I actually want, who would help you with everything in Camp?”

Hanna smiled. “There are several people who have expressed an interest in being assistants to me. So you doing something else wouldn’t be that big of an issue.”

It was Crystals turn to smile. “Anything I want?”

“Within reason.” Hanna clarified.

“I want to join Scavenger Squad 1.” Crystal said sure of her decision as Hanna nodded.

“Your fire ability would be an excellent replacement for Benjamin and wouldn’t affect the makeup of our shared abilities. As you don’t have a Squad assignment, you would get the shared abilities from the other three as well. If it is what you want, we will tell everyone in the morning and you will join us for training.” Hanna said easily.

“I thought you were going to say it would be to much of a distraction.” Crystal said relieved.

“Make no mistake, it is a distraction that would be completely inappropriate under normal circumstances. But if you want to be on a Scavenger team, I would rather it be one where you are close to me and we can protect each other. It would be far less distracting than having you in a different Squad and having to worry about you regardless. But, when we are in the field, it will be like any other commander and subordinate. You have to carry your weight.” Hanna told her seriously. “That General of the Army can be nice, but she can be a real ball busting task master that isn’t afraid to c***k the whip either.”

Crystal smiled as she looked at Hanna. “Are you trying to excite me with whips and chains?” she asked seductively making Hanna blush.