Surviving the Apocalypse

First Mistake

Within two weeks of having that conversation with her Uncle, she returned to the lab and found the next set of data, the evidence that her Uncle was part of the Second Dawn irrefutable thanks to her father. He had betrayed Marcus Storm to the leadership of Second Dawn, despite being dead set against their plans to create super soldiers at any cost. His outrage about his wife and son, mere acting as her father had even determined it was intentional so that he could start over once they figured out how to control the zombies. The more she read, the sicker she felt as they all heard the missile slam into the building. The collapse of the server room more than she needed to know now, as she knew this would actually kill her before the beam fell onto her. She woke up in the white room again, seriously pissed that she had to start this hell over again.

First thing it did was calculate just how successful she had been, her Camp earning her some serious bonuses to how far back she went before the outbreak. By the time it told her how many days, she was surprised to see she now had 82 days before what it considered the apocalypse. She knew it was one day less than that, as this time she wanted nothing to do with being out when the outbreak of the virus occurred.

The surprise however came when it allowed her to select one of the additional abilities she had managed to obtain to keep. She smiled as she knew without even guessing which one it would be, as it had allowed her to save the life of one of the dogs she had bonded with. The healing ability was the one she knew she wanted in every timeline, her system informing her that 15 abilities was the most she could ever achieve. Most people would be restricted to 10, but her Temporal Reset, Quest System and Storage Space didn’t count towards that total. This surprised her completely, as she assumed they would as they were most definitely abilities.

The next surprise she received was that she had kept the data she had retrieved, even had a list of the personnel that she would be able to recruit and hopefully convince to join her a second time. The only question would be if she could get Crystal to join her Camp this time after her father died. Hanna knew that she would play a key role somehow, despite the fact she had no clue how yet.

Overall the system graded her efforts at a B, her trust in family being the one sentimental attachment she had allowed to effect the outcome. Something she wouldn’t repeat again, her Uncle showing her that attachments to the past weren’t anything worth value. As soon as it finished with her, she woke up in the barracks.

The trumpet sounding alerted her that it was time for physical training, something she knew she needed to do this time around. Despite the fact that her MOS didn’t require it beyond keeping in shape for the obstacle course that her grades meant she just needed to finish. This time around however she wasn’t going to waste the opportunity as she jumped out of her bed and prepared for the day with an enthusiasm that her professors hadn’t seen from her ever.

The hard part was that because she was stuck in the school and campus until finals were completed in three weeks, she was stuck preparing with what she could do remotely. What did surprise her was that this time she had gone back far enough that the Coronavirus had just barely been detected, which meant she would be able to protect the other half of her trust that had evaporated when the stock market crashed.

Because of the way the trust was set up, she moved everything exactly where it would do the most good, the stocks she chose about to sky rocket in value as it would become evident that this strain of the Coronavirus was going to be a global pandemic that would kill a lot of people. Her quests started the same way this time, telling her the rewards that she knew she would be able to achieve if she repeated what she had done. This time however, she had nearly three months to prepare and far more money than the last time.

Just like last time, she bought the collapsed mine and all the equipment, calling Peter when she found his name in the phone book.

“Harris residence.” Pamela said into the phone.

“Hello Pamela, is Peter in?” she asked formally.

“May I ask who is calling?” she asked curious as she didn’t recognize the voice on the line.

“My name is Hanna Storm, you don’t know me yet, but if you will allow me to explain to both of you I would appreciate it.” She said sensing the clear apprehension on the line.

“What is it in regards to?” Peter asked as it was now apparent that she was on speakerphone.

“Your previous job at Halcott Mine, I find myself in need of your expertise. I can offer you the one thing I know that you and the other families that make up your group, if you will listen to what I have to offer with an open mind.” She replied.

“What is it you think would interest me in that place?” Peter demanded angrily.

“I can authorize you to enter the mine with anyone you need to retrieve the bodies of the men trapped inside.” Hanna said bluntly as she heard a gasp.

“What makes you think I would be interested?”

“I am aware that you, James Porter and Henry Wilcox spend most evening in the mine using hand tools to excavate the cave in that trapped and killed them.” Hanna said.

“How in the world?” Pamela asked as he growled angrily.

“And just how do you know that? Have you been spying on me?” Peter demanded.

“No sir, I just happen to know a bit about you and the group of 32 families that have been trying to rescue their loved ones from the depths of that mine without the proper tools. All I ask is that you let me give you my offer, and you can use the boring machine that is in there to excavate it within weeks.”

“You have two minutes.” Peter said to her.

“Fair enough. In three weeks I will arrive there to begin a project that your crew has expertise that will prove invaluable to my project. Yours will be in the mine itself and how to safely operate it. James’ expertise in construction will prove invaluable in making the mine a safe place for you to not just lay your loved ones to rest, but allow you to begin extracting the ores in its depth. Pamela’s experience gardening and with animals will be more useful than any of us can guess right now. Elaina, Monica and Susan also have experience we will need if we are to survive long term, as terrible things are about to be set the world.” Hanna said within the timeframe he had dictated.

“How did you get this number?” he demanded.

“The phone directory has you listed, how I know what I do is where you will need to keep an open mind. For now, I will tell you that if you activate the boring machine as quickly as possible, you will have 75 days to lay your loved ones to rest before the world goes to hell. Within the week, word of this new Coronavirus strain will begin spreading as the world governments worry about the impact it is going to have on the economy. My only warning for now, is that what is to come will make the deadliest version we have ever seen look like a picnic in the park. The rest, I hope to tell you when I arrive in 24 days.” She told him.

“For listening to that you will give us permission to do what we want to retrieve our loved ones? What exactly is in it for you?” Peter demanded surprised.

“With any luck, you and your group will join me as I prepare the mine to be the last bastion of hope for humanity when the world goes to s**t. To show my faith, I have sent an email of what you will be able to verify and when. Believe me or not, the offer is on the table. I hope to see you in 24 days.” Hanna said before hanging up the burner phone she had before she removed the SIM card and destroyed it. She wasn’t taking any chances with her plans this time.

Unlike before, Hanna left the Campus as soon as her tests were finished, the train ride taking two days to take her across the country, every piece of information she had given Peter and Pamela having come to pass just as she knew it would. When she entered the mine compound, she was surprised to see the 65 caskets and coroner van waiting, every corpse that had been in the mine recovered by Peter and their team who stood watching as the last one was wheeled out and loaded.

“It is nice to meet you Peter, I am Hanna Storm.” She said offering her hand as he looked at her surprised.

Every person in his group was surprised at the way she just introduced herself, knowing exactly who she was talking to. He looked at her carefully, stunned that she was so young. “When this started I was skeptical, until what that email held actually started happening. Thanks to your insights, you saved all of us a lot of money in our pension accounts. The least we can do is listen to what you have to say.” He said as she took the chair he offered that had been extra.

“What I am about to tell you is going to sound absolutely crazy, as most of us would prefer to pretend it isn’t possible. I assure you that what I say is going to happen, whether we want to believe it or not. If what I have shown you isn’t proof enough if my sincerity, there isn’t anything I or anyone can say that will convince you otherwise. Everyone that I sent the information on, was given to me by each of you. Why you did, is the part you won’t want to believe. So my offer is where I will start, each of you can decide after I finish if you wish to take the chance.

“Now that your loved ones have been rescued and laid to rest, it is my intention to turn this mine into a bunker. The surrounding land will be made into a secure Camp for survivors of what is going to happen in 58 days. As far as what is going to make this a necessity, on day 59, the dead will rise as zombies with only one goal in mind. Eat the flesh of the living.” She said.

Henry Walker was just as bewildered by that statement as he was the last time. “Why should we believe you?” he demanded.

Hanna looked at him with a serious expression. “I never said you should believe me blindly. I said I would tell you what I know so you could make your own decision. Last time we did this, you were under the impression that Joshua Creek Park would be the safest place for you and your family to seek refuge. How that turned out for you, I have no idea. Those who joined my Camp last time, I provided what information I had about you. As far as convincing you, I am not even going to try. What I am going to spend the next 58 days doing is preparing this place to house and feed as many people as possible. For those who join me, in 50 days I will give each of you $2 million to buy whatever supplies, equipment or tools you believe will be necessary for you to live the way you want. For those who wish to assist and take your chances elsewhere, the deal is the same. 50 days of work for $2 million.”

This time Henry Whitaker stopped in his tracks, the offer of that much money hard to pass on. “You believe what you are saying that much?” he asked.

Hanna nodded as she looked at him. “I have already spent $250 million on supplies and equipment that will begin arriving here and at the warehouse down the road tomorrow. My goal is to make this the last bastion of Hope for any that survive what is going to happen in two months time. Believe me or not, the offer remains the same. Do what is needed between now and then, and you will be given a place in this Camp. All I ask is that you help me help you, as will be the rule for all members of it after the apocalypse begins.”

Peter cleared his throat as he looked at everyone. “Pamela and I have decided we will take the leap of faith. Somehow this young woman knows things about most of us that we haven’t told anyone outside of our core group. Not only that, but as crazy as her predictions were, each and every one happened exactly how and when she said it would. Do I believe zombies will walk this earth in two months. Hardly. Am I willing to see if she is full of s**t for $2 million, damn straight. If nothing else it benefits us, no matter how much we secretly hope she is full of crap.”

Hanna actually laughed at that as she handed him a list. “Anything else you want added to this?” she asked him as she began handing each of the people who had been in the Camp before lists of what they had requested last time.

Peter looked at it quickly before he looked at her. “Why do I get the feeling you plucked this list right from my mind?” he asked.

“Those of you who just got handed a list would probably be asking the same thing. How could I possibly know what it is you need or want to make your lives comfortable here should society fall the way I have said it will. The simple answer, those are the lists you gave me to acquire on your behalf last time. If you didn’t get a list, you weren’t part of this Camp or were to young to be considered for it.” She said.

“Why would I do this, if the children are part of their parents group…” Nathaniel trailed off as she looked at him.

“Because it was decided that at the age of 16, you are close enough to adult hood that you need to begin making decisions for yourself as if you were an adult. That is the same principle this Camp will operate by, and as your birthday is only 42 days away, you will be that age when everything happens. I would strongly recommend you allow your parents some input until everyone decides if they wish to take the risk with me again, but that will be entirely up to you.” She told him as most of the parents nodded knowing it would be sensible if what she was saying actually happened.

“Can we ask what convinced us last time?” Elaina asked suspiciously.

“I don’t have an answer for that question. I have already told you what I know between the email and those lists. Personal decisions like that were left up to each of you, just like it will be this time. Join me or not, anyone who shows up and helps will get the same reward. I will only attempt to convince you by what I do to prepare this place with as much help as I can get. Some of it we will do ourselves, some we will bring in outside experts to perform the work for us. All of it to give us a chance to survive what will be hell on earth.” She told them seriously as they began discussing what was going to happen over the course of time she laid out.