บท 39: Back to the camp
Within a day, Liushi acquired 3 mutant beasts cores. He couldn't help but be quite happy about their little trip. The amount of improvement he will be able to do on his vehicles and equipment will be big. What he wanted to improve the most was the medical station. He looked forward to being able to produce enhancement serums.
"There is something I'm curious about" Liushi said. "What have you learned about paranormals, mutant beasts and their cores? Beyond the basics everyone knows."
After hesitating for a moment, the captain started to talk.
There were 3 types of paranormals. The first seemed to be the most common, the 'Enhancement' type. One aspect of their physiology is enhanced by the supervirus mutation. A physical attribute such as speed or durability, a body part like a limb or an organ, or senses. Yang Qingping and Zhang Hai fell into that category, the first for the legs and calfs, the second for the hands fingers.
The second type of paranormal was uncommon, the 'Transformation' type. They transformed a part of their body, or their whole body into a stronger form. Among them, the most common type of transformation is gaining animals-like characteristics. They were akin to were-creatures. The third type of paranormal was the rarest, the 'Manipulation' type. They could take control of something that isn't part of their bodies, like certain materials or even fire.
'Or generate something in their bodies and control it outside, like Zhuying's electricity.'
The mutant beasts core seemed to have a positive effects on paranormals individuals. It seemed like they could be used to enhance a paranormal power to a higher level. Much faster than by eating monster meat. It seemed like paranormals were only on their first stage of evolution, labeled as level 1. Once they reached a certain treshold, they would be level 2. It was also noted that mutant beasts were also getting stronger. They followed the same path, they were level 1, with level 1 cores.
After that, Liushi asked about the state of the country. He already knew about the evacuation of VIPs on the day of the outbreak. Unfortunatly, not all of those evacuations were successful. Some groups found themselves stuck in an area during transit, some were slowed down, some were annihilated.
To his relief, they acted in conjunction with the police, and sent small teams to try and secure the middle schools and highschools at the same time that the VIPs were taken away. The kindergartens were closed since the previous day. With the coming emergency, the government simply didn't have the ressources to also take care of little kids. They were left in their families care.
Liushi kept a wince from his face. He could tell that even captain Long didn't like it. But as the current situation showed, they had little choice. The youngest would only survive if their relatives, or friends and aquitances of their relatives, were there for them. Or if they turned out to be smart and ressourcefull. They were most likely stuck in their homes or appartments, and some may be slowly starving. He made a mental note to make something to help them.
It was all Long could afford to tell Liushi. Still, Liushi gave him some liquor and cigars as thanks. If informations about him were to spread in the military, as he was certain they would more or less keep an eye out for notable survivors groups, at least the word would be favorable. After saying goodbye to the captain, he rejoined Zhuying and her group, and they left Satellite Town.
On the way to their base, he asked Zhuying a few questions about Jingling University,especially the science section and the laboratories. She didn't know much, but she also warned him that there would be a high number of zombies.
She also said that Qingping would be more knowledgable. When he heard it, Liushi held back a frown. Even though the survivors followed Zhuying, he hadn't completly left his guard down around them. That was why he noticed that Qingping didn't like him, that she was jealous of what he had. She didn't seem to like the Wen sisters either, so he didn't want her near them as well.
'I need to add a caution function to the security system, to keep track of people marked as potential enemies, or more like inactive enemies. I better focus on that tonight.'
When they got backto the camp, Liushi went straight to the Doomsday Ride while Zhuying directed the rest of the group. He stopped for a moment, looking over his main creation, before going in. Inside, Xiaotian was waiting for him near the door.
"Welcome back brother Liushi. How was your expedition? Is everything alright?"
"Welcome back" Lu shouted from the back of the living module.
"No problems at all. What about you girls?"
"We've been fine. We have assembled the machines made by your micro-factory" she said, pointing to the back.
"Those drones of yours look impressive" added Lu as she joined them.
The machines in question were bigger than the usual ones accessible to the public at large. They weren't completly remote-controlled. They needed to receive instructions, but they did the flying on their own. If the signal wascut for one reason or another, it wouldn't justcrash down. They needed to be larger to carry the necessary hardware for the automated system, as well as the various sensors and the batteries.
Of the 3 drones he made, the first would be used for recon, the second for patrolling, and the last one for combat. That one was bigger than the other because it would be carrying weapons, permutable weapons. The first 2 drones were also made tobe difficult to see, so under their transparent shells were miniature screens which, together, projeted an image roughly matching the sky.
"They don't just look impressive. They ARE impressive" he said with an exagerrated smug grin. "They are made by me after all."
"Is that so?" said Xiaotian with a mischevious smile. "I hope you are better at controlling them than you are at driving."
"They are good enough to fly on their own with some basic instructions" he said, a bit of red on his cheeks, not looking at her.
"What have you been doing aside from checking on the construction?"
"I didn't have anything to do, so I washed the truck" Lu replied.
"So that's why it was sparkling clean. It surprised me when I got back. Thanks a lot Lu. It must have been a bit of a bother with its size."
"You're welcome. And it was no trouble" her smile fadded, becoming sad. "We would sometimes help our dad with that chore, we are used to it."
"Thanks" he replied in a soft tone.
"What about you Xiaotian?"
She didn't answer and looked away, blushing.
"Xiaotian?"
"... I also want special working clothes, so I've been designing my own."
Liushi stared at her. Lu opened her mouth, then it stretched into a mirthful grin.
"... Is it okay?"
She was looking at him with puppy eyes, still blushing, almost bowing trying to make herself smaller, her hands held behind her back.
'Damn! She can be so cute!' "Of course, no problem."
"Thank you. Hem. Anything interesting you got at Satellite Town?"
Happy for the change of subject, he told them everything that happened, and what he learned about the state of the country. They were happy he got new cores, but with the trip they made they weren't surprised about the state of the country. He did tell them about his desire to somehow help the kids that were stuck in towns and cities on their own, and they promised to help him come up with an idea.
He also told them about the trip planned for the following day. In the morning they would go to the university, and use the rest of the day to go to the industrial park. They would have to take the Doomsday Ride with them, in case the streets got too clogued on the way. Furtheremore, he intended to spend the night there to make the upgrades. He would have access to industrial electrical current, and once the materials got used, he would already be on site to re-supply.
They ate dinner in the house like the previous day. After that, Zhuying joined Liushi and the Wen sisters in the truck for a movie. Since the couch-bed could only handle 3 people, Zhuying didn't waste a second to sat on his lap so the sisters had space to sit themselves.
More like she sat on his groin, and teased him under the excuse of making herself more comfortable. And with the memory of the previous night, it was difficult impossible to stay soft. The presence of Xiaotian and Lu was of little help. Thankfully for him, she refrained from sleeping there, and he told her he would be too busy to join her.
While the sisters were in their beds, Liushi reviewed the entire computer system. He was the administrator, with only him having access to the entirety of the system. As the administrator, the security system would automatically provide assistance against any perceived threats against him. The system was heavily protected, using advanced programming provided by the Starseed.
The visual recognition program was upgraded to be able to discern regular weapons and improvised weapons, including sprays or molotov cocktails. Hostile movements were further defined. It wouldn't do to confuse a friendly pat on the shoulder or the back with an attack. The securitysystem got increasingly more complex, and if not for the new materials used in the hardware of the server, it wouldn't have worked.
Anyone not labelled as friendly or ally would be considered potential enemy, and monitored when in the area. Anyone labelled as suspect would be a priority target of monitoring. The first reaction to a perceived attack would be a non-lethal takedown if the assault isn't meant to maim or kill. If not, then the agressor would have little time to regret his/her actions.
As he though of sprays, he decided to add sensors to detect impairing substances at short range. It wouldn't do to be taken out by an offered drink, a spray, a gaz or a cloth/gauze soaked in drug. That meant a whole upgrade of the NBC protection as well. He was going to be busy the following day.
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