Capítulo 7: Chapter 7: The Engineer’s Dilemma
With Sarah Mitchell on their side, Arnold and Marcus set out the next day to find Ethan Ward. The tension in the air was palpable as they navigated the city streets, now a little more crowded with people going about their daily routines, oblivious to the impending doom. The closer they got to Ethan's location, the more Arnold's mind raced with plans, scenarios, and contingencies. He knew that convincing Ethan wouldn't be easy; engineers like him were logical, skeptical, and unlikely to buy into a wild story without solid proof.
The journey led them to an industrial district on the outskirts of the city. Here, the landscape was dominated by warehouses, factories, and garages, with the occasional small business nestled between. It was the weekend, and Arnold knew that Ethan would be at his usual spot—a small garage where he spent his free time working on projects and tinkering with machines.
As they approached the garage, Arnold slowed his pace, motioning for Marcus and Sarah to do the same. The garage was a modest building, its red brick exterior faded with age, and the large metal door was half-open, allowing the sound of tools clanking and machines whirring to spill out into the street. Arnold could see Ethan inside, bent over an engine block, his focus completely absorbed in his work.
"Let me handle this," Arnold whispered to his companions. "Ethan's a practical guy. I'll need to speak his language if I'm going to get through to him."
Marcus and Sarah nodded, staying back as Arnold approached the garage. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. This was a critical moment; if Ethan refused to join them, they would lose a vital asset.
"Ethan," Arnold called out as he stepped into the garage.
Ethan looked up, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. His brow furrowed in confusion as he saw Arnold. "Do I know you?"
"Not exactly," Arnold replied, trying to keep his tone casual. "But I've heard a lot about you. You're Ethan Ward, right? The guy who can build anything?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Depends on who's asking. You need something fixed?"
"More like I need your expertise," Arnold said, stepping closer. "I know you're good with machines, and I know you're smart. That's why I'm here."
Ethan set the rag down and crossed his arms, his expression guarded. "Look, I don't know what you've heard, but I'm not in the business of taking on random projects for strangers. So unless you've got a damn good reason for being here, you can see yourself out."
Arnold could feel the tension in the air, but he pressed on. "What if I told you that in a month, the world as we know it is going to change? That everything you've built here, everything you've worked for, is going to be tested in ways you can't even imagine?"
Ethan's eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he looked as though he was about to throw Arnold out. But something in Arnold's tone made him pause. "You better start explaining," Ethan said, his voice low and serious. "And it better be good."
Arnold nodded, stepping closer and lowering his voice. "The world's on the brink of an apocalypse. Disasters, monsters, you name it—it's all coming. I've seen it happen before, and I've come back to stop it. But I can't do it alone. I need people who can build, who can think on their feet, who can adapt. That's why I'm here."
Ethan stared at him, skepticism written all over his face. "You've seen it happen before? You're talking like you're some kind of time traveler or something."
"In a way, I am," Arnold said. "I know it sounds crazy, but I'm telling you the truth. I've already convinced a skilled doctor to join us, and we're preparing for what's coming. You're one of the few people who can help us survive. But I understand if you need more proof."
Ethan shook his head, disbelief clear in his expression. "This is nuts. You come in here, tell me the world's ending, and expect me to just drop everything and go with you? Why should I believe any of this?"
Arnold had anticipated this reaction. He reached into his bag and pulled out a blueprint—a detailed schematic of a fortified shelter he remembered Ethan had designed during the apocalypse in his previous life. It had been a game-changer, a structure that had saved countless lives.
"This is a blueprint for a shelter," Arnold said, laying it out on a nearby table. "You designed it in the future—after everything went to hell. It saved a lot of lives, but by the time you finished it, the world was already in chaos. Imagine what you could do if you started building it now, before things get out of control."
Ethan's eyes scanned the blueprint, and Arnold could see the gears turning in his mind. The design was unmistakably his, down to the smallest detail. It was something he had dreamed of building, a project he had toyed with in his mind but never had the resources or time to execute.
"How…how do you have this?" Ethan asked, his voice softer now, tinged with a mix of curiosity and fear.
"Because I've seen the future," Arnold replied. "And I know what's coming. This shelter could be the difference between life and death for hundreds of people. But you have to start now. You have to help us."
Ethan was silent for a long time, staring at the blueprint, his mind racing. Finally, he looked up at Arnold, his expression conflicted. "If I go with you…what exactly are we talking about? What's going to happen?"
Arnold took a deep breath, laying it all out. "Natural disasters, beasts the likes of which you've never seen, and people turning on each other in ways you wouldn't believe. Society is going to collapse, and only those who are prepared will survive. But we can change that. We can be ready. We can build something that lasts."
Ethan seemed to wrestle with his thoughts for a moment longer before he finally spoke. "Alright," he said, his voice firm. "I'll help you. But I'm not doing this because I believe you completely. I'm doing this because if there's even a chance that what you're saying is true, then I can't just sit around and do nothing."
Relief washed over Arnold. Ethan was on board. The engineer's practical mind had weighed the risks, and despite his doubts, he was willing to take a leap of faith. Arnold knew that with Ethan's skills, they would have a fighting chance when the apocalypse hit.
"Thank you, Ethan," Arnold said sincerely. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
Ethan nodded, rolling up the blueprint and tucking it under his arm. "So, what's the plan? Where do we start?"
"We've got a safe place outside the city," Arnold explained. "We'll head there first, then we'll start building. We've got a month before things go south, so every day counts. Marcus and Sarah are waiting outside—we'll fill you in on the details as we go."
Ethan grabbed his tools and packed them into a bag, his movements efficient and methodical. "Let's get to it, then," he said, slinging the bag over his shoulder. "If the world's going to end, we'd better be ready."
As they left the garage and rejoined Marcus and Sarah, Arnold felt a sense of accomplishment. The team was coming together. With Marcus's combat skills, Sarah's medical expertise, and Ethan's engineering prowess, they had the foundation of something powerful—something that could make a difference.
But as they began the journey back to Marcus's cabin, Arnold couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The system had given him a clear path, but it also left him with questions. What more was it hiding? What challenges lay ahead that he hadn't yet seen? And most importantly, would they be enough to stop the apocalypse?
The answers would come in time, Arnold knew. But for now, he was focused on the mission at hand: building, preparing, and staying one step ahead of the inevitable. The clock was ticking, and there was no turning back.
As the group made their way through the city streets, the sun began to set, casting a crimson hue across the sky—a reminder of the storm that was brewing, just beyond the horizon. Arnold glanced at his companions, each of them lost in their own thoughts, and felt a renewed sense of determination.
They were in this together now. And together, they would face whatever came next.
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