TWD - Zomboid: Chapter 252: Rebecca and Luis (Patreon)

Luke and his group abandoned their ship at the nearest stretch of coastline and boarded an aircraft, carrying everyone across the vast ocean toward the Commonwealth.

Through the window, the Commonwealth came into view below.

Concrete walls were under construction, planned to reach ten meters high and encircle the home of ten thousand people like some colossal beast. Beyond the walls, fuel trenches were also being dug.

Outside the perimeter, Eugene and several others were testing a semi-automatic turret.

They needed two separate targeting systems for humans and walkers. The two had to be treated differently.

Ashley pressed herself against the window, staring at the Commonwealth with wide eyes.

Inside the walls, houses were laid out in neat rows. In the distance stretched a vast expanse of orderly farmland. People moved through the streets, while chickens clucked and dogs barked nearby. It was almost as if this place had been cut off from the apocalypse entirely.

"It's a lot smaller than where we're from, but it's still incredibly impressive. Did you build all this yourself?"

Ashley had imagined the Commonwealth countless times, but she had never expected such a massive fortress. Judging by the unfinished outer wall, what she was seeing now was nowhere near its final form.

"So, Ashley, how does it compare to your home?" Luke asked, a blade of grass between his teeth as he lay with his head in Ada's lap.

Now that Ashley had seen the Commonwealth, there was no chance he was letting her go back. She could stay here and behave herself as a hostage.

As long as she remained safe inside the Commonwealth, even if her father managed to track down its location, he wouldn't dare drop a nuclear bomb on it.

"It looks like a vacation estate."

Luis leaned toward the window as well, clicking his tongue in amazement.

He had originally thought Luke was simply a wandering fighter with extraordinary combat ability. He hadn't expected him to rule over an apocalyptic beacon in the wasteland as well.

Only now did Luis realize that he'd boarded one hell of a ship.

No wonder it was called the [Ark].

With such a huge population base, scientists being recruited from everywhere, and virus vaccines secretly under development, wasn't this exactly what an ark for the apocalypse was supposed to be?

Compared to Luke, every other survivor might as well have been trying to cross the ocean on a banana leaf.

"So you're not a knight after all. You're a great lord..." Luis clapped his hands. "I, Luis, must have spent a lifetime's worth of luck just to meet a hero like you. How does that old saying go again? When you get rich, don't forget your old friends!"

"If you become rich and powerful, don't forget us," Ada supplied.

"No, no!" Luke corrected her. "It's, 'If you become a rich dog, woof at each other!'"

"Woof, woof!" Bruce barked.

The Black Hawk landed on the Commonwealth helipad.

A welcoming party was already waiting outside.

Claire had brought a squad of white-armored soldiers along to make a proper show of it, while Mercer was still dressed in that glaring orange battle armor. The color scheme looked as awful as ever.

"Back so soon?"

Luke jumped down from the aircraft, and Claire came over to meet him.

"Yeah."

Luke nodded and tossed a communicator into her hand. "Get a few people to take the transport aircraft to the designated location and pick up a shipment."

Ada followed right behind him and handed Claire the list.

"Twenty RPG thermobaric rounds, five hundred kilograms of military-grade C-4 plastic explosive, and several refrigerated containers?"

Claire quickly arranged for a transport aircraft to retrieve the cargo.

In the middle of the apocalypse, Luke was probably the only person who could still get his hands on this much unusual equipment.

If they'd had this stuff back then, getting through Raccoon City would have been a breeze.

Luke first introduced Luis to Rebecca.

With her neat short hair and white lab coat, Rebecca was examining cellular abnormalities under a microscope. When she heard Luke's voice, she had the Tolgas take over before stepping away from her station.

"I brought you a big present."

Luke pushed Luis forward.

"He's a researcher too. He has a vaccine for a new virus, along with a mother specimen of the parasite."

"Hello, my lady!"

Luis gave her a gentlemanly bow. "Luis Serra, virologist, formerly of the Core Laboratory of Los Iluminados."

He winked. "I'm currently unemployed and looking for a generous new employer."

"Rebecca's in charge here for now. You'll be her assistant from here on out. Get those virus vaccines developed as soon as possible."

After speaking to Luis, Luke turned to Rebecca.

"You should take a look at his research data too. It might give you some useful ideas."

"Hello." Rebecca held out her hand formally. "Rebecca Chambers. I look forward to working with you."

"The pleasure is mine, beautiful lady." Luis immediately took her hand. "Looks like Luke wasn't lying to me. There really is a sweet female colleague here. Are you seeing anyone?"

Rebecca: "..."

She quietly pulled her hand away.

This guy was definitely not the serious type. He looked more like some kind of rogue researcher.

"Where's Crane?" Luke asked, glancing around.

"Over here."

A weak voice came from the inner room of the laboratory.

Luke looked over and saw Crane lying on an examination table, his hands and feet tightly strapped down.

"Is this... some kind of agent punishment?"

Rebecca adjusted her glasses. "Our experiment has reached its final stage. I've been debating whether we should test it directly on Crane, but it's not as if we can go out and find volunteers right now."

"All right. Just take it easy on him. Don't turn Crane into a Volatile!"

Rebecca nodded.

Hearing Luke's voice, Crane struggled to turn his head toward him.

"Luke... help me out here! Don't be so heartless!" Crane sounded exhausted, like he'd been going at it all night.

"Hang in there, kid. You're the most suitable guinea pig we've got. Don't you want to get off the antidote?" Luke could barely keep himself from laughing.

Even Superman Crane had days like this.

Crane: "..."

"Bro, that's cold!"

"You're contributing to humanity. Who else could do it but you?" Luke said, patting him on the shoulder.

"I don't care who does it. Let me go!!"

Crane struggled against the restraints, though it was mostly symbolic.

With the laboratory situation settled, Luke headed back outside. He still had another important matter to deal with.

Ashley.

She was the president's daughter, after all. Someone of her status couldn't exactly be given shabby accommodations.

Luke arranged a private courtyard for her not far from the core district. The rooms were clean and tidy, and everything she could need was provided, from food and clothing to basic necessities.

He also assigned several special white-armored soldiers to serve as her personal guards and protect their distinguished guest.

In reality, it was house arrest.

An ordinary girl might have panicked after being quietly placed under guard like this.

Ashley, however, seemed remarkably calm.

"Thank you for taking care of me."

Ashley spoke politely to the guards.

Luke raised an eyebrow.

Apparently, he'd been worrying for nothing.

She had grown up in an upper-class family. When had she ever not had bodyguards around her? She probably had people tasting her food before she ate, someone standing watch outside her door while she slept, and a whole line of people following wherever she went.

As for whether these guards were watching her or protecting her, Ashley didn't bother thinking too deeply about it.

What difference would it make?

This place was still far better than the village.

....

(Author's Note

Due to some scheduling and logistical adjustments, I'll be temporarily reducing the release pace for this fanfic from 3 chapters every 2 days to 2 chapters every 2 days.

This change is mainly to help me keep a consistent daily schedule across everything I'm working on without falling behind.

This will most likely be temporary, and I may return to the previous release pace once things are more manageable, though I can't make any promises just yet.

Thanks for understanding and for continuing to support the series!)