TWD - Zomboid - Chapter 262: Rebecca in Progress (Patreon)

Starting the next day, Rebecca began studying Luke’s blood samples.

Luke soon discovered that Rebecca, who normally did nothing but bury herself in the lab, was surprisingly versatile when she actually put some effort into dressing up.

She was a hidden beauty with a style for every occasion.

On the first day, she wore an off-white blouse with the sleeves slightly rolled up, exposing part of her forearms, along with a pair of dress pants. She looked every bit like an elite businesswoman.

Rebecca wasn’t the sharp, intimidating type. She had the gentle, intelligent air of a mature, understanding woman instead.

The outfit only added to her professional charm.

At first, Luke was there to supervise her. After watching for a while, though, his attention shifted entirely to her.

The next day, Rebecca continued giving him something to look at.

She changed into a light-colored dress, with a few loose strands of hair falling beside her cheeks. This time she wasn’t wearing glasses. When she rose onto her toes to reach for a reagent bottle, she looked like a daisy covered in morning dew.

Luke stared for far longer than he should have.

He was almost certain Rebecca was doing it on purpose, trying to use a honey trap to achieve some ulterior goal.

On the third day, Rebecca borrowed Claire’s fashion style.

She wore a simple tank top under a utility jacket, her short hair neatly tucked behind her ears. Carrying a stack of data reports, she strode briskly into the laboratory.

Luis and Eugene shared some snacks as they watched with great interest.

“Man, I really envy you getting to work here all the time. With a beauty like that around, work can’t ever get boring, right?” Luis said solemnly.

Eugene shook his head.

“Envy me? You still don’t get it, Luis. Back when Rebecca and I worked together, she never dressed like this. When a woman suddenly starts putting this much effort into her appearance, what do you think that means...?”

“No way.”

“Hey, I’ve been around longer than you. Say Luke’s only average at fighting walkers and he won’t care. But when it comes to women... tsk, tsk...”

Eugene shook his head again.

Rebecca looked especially bold and spirited that day. Ever since she started researching Luke’s blood, she seemed even more energetic than before.

Over the next several days, Rebecca tried one style after another.

Luke might have been thoroughly captivated, but he still refused to let her keep even a single blood sample. He guarded them more carefully than if he were protecting himself from a stalker.

“Whoa. You really went all out today, huh?”

On the seventh day, Luke watched Rebecca enter the changing room.

When she came back out, she had a headband tied around her hair and a short skirt on, looking bright and energetic.

Her fair legs were smooth and slender, exposed all the way to mid-thigh.

She wore a light blue, low-cut T-shirt on top. She wasn’t especially busty, but the neckline showed just enough.

“I refuse to believe you can still resist!” Rebecca said through gritted teeth.

She had already gone this far, yet Luke was somehow still holding out.

“I’m a seasoned veteran. I’ve had professional training. No matter how hard you make it to keep a straight face, I can hold it together.” Luke looked perfectly composed.

The main reason was that Ada had been keeping her promise lately.

His urges were completely under control. Rebecca could dress up in a hundred different ways, but what good was that if she wouldn’t let him do anything?

Ada’s side had already gotten several version updates.

Pure White Bride, Professional Office Lady, Captured Female Agent, Queen’s Humiliation, Office Scandal...

“I don’t believe you. Just wait,” Rebecca said before returning to her work.

No matter how many outfit DLCs she updated, she remained completely serious when it came to her research.

...

Luke had nothing better to do anyway.

Ever since Crane had been sent to the outpost, there had been far fewer troublemakers. Anyone who dared run their mouth or cause trouble got a nice slap from Superman Crane.

Three smacks were enough to beat the superiority right out of them. “Sir, I swear I’m a model citizen!”

Luke sat in a wheeled chair and rolled from one side of the lab to the other like a living little demon.

“Can you please sit still? You’re doing nothing but getting in the way. Why don’t you go outside and play cards with Luis and the others?” Rebecca frowned. Usually endlessly patient, she was kicking Luke out for the first time.

“See? There you go getting impatient again.” Luke shrugged. “You’ve taken a lot of my blood these past few days. When are you going to get some results? That’s premium stuff you’re taking.”

Rebecca was staring into a microscope without even looking up.

“Soon!”

She answered casually, but the moment the subject turned to her research, excitement filled her face.

“Luke, you yourself might be stingy as hell, unwilling to give up even the slightest bit of yourself for the sake of great science, but your blood is an absolute treasure trove!”

“I’ve already made some preliminary findings. Your cellular activity, regenerative ability, and adaptability against viruses all far exceed normal human limits!”

“Are you absolutely sure you’ve never undergone biological modification?”

Luke nodded seriously. “I’ve explained this plenty of times, but let me make it clear again. I have never undergone biological modification. This is purely years of hard work finally paying off!”

“Time rewards every man who works hard late into the night!”

Rebecca grabbed Luke by the shoulders with complete seriousness.

“So... you should dedicate yourself to great science! Can I cut out just a little tissue?”

“It’ll be quick. It won’t hurt at all!”

“I promise it’ll be easier than a painless procedure. You can relax!”

Luke’s forehead practically filled with black lines.

How had he never realized before just how crazy Rebecca could get when science was involved?

Today she wanted blood. Tomorrow she wanted tissue. The day after that, she’d probably dissect him.

One piece today, ten pieces tomorrow...

“If science were even a little attractive, I might consider donating a tiny bit of my essence to it. Unfortunately...” Luke shook his head.

Rebecca bit her fingernail and stared at Luke’s retreating back with a scheming expression.

If he wouldn’t cooperate directly, then she could always go to Ada. Maybe even Maggie.

...

At the office, Rebecca was kicked straight back out.

She rubbed the mark on her backside and stared at her old friend in disbelief.

“We’re good friends!”

“You can’t even do this one little thing for me? I’m only asking you to collect some while you’re at it. A small 100-milliliter container should be enough!”

“I can even help you come up with ideas!”

Ada shut the door expressionlessly.

...

At Luke’s house, Rebecca was turned away again.

“Get out!”

“Maggie, trust me! I can check the activity while I’m at it. I promise the report will be extremely detailed and thorough!”

“Really?”

“Of course. And while you’re at it, could you maybe cut off a little epidermal tissue for me... and if possible, maybe a little more...”

“Rosita, close the door. Release Beth!”

...

The intelligent, short-haired beauty suffered setback after setback all day.

Her research had reached a critical stage, yet no one was willing to cooperate.

This was science. Science!

Human evolution was right in front of them!

Rebecca returned to the laboratory, where the Tolga brothers were tinkering with something or other.

“Hey, you’re back, beautiful!”

Rebecca trudged back to her workstation, completely dejected.

“Why does this have to be so difficult? It’s not like I can do it myself. That would be way too...” Rebecca suddenly sat bolt upright. “Wait. I almost forgot. I’m a woman too!”

“No, wait, that’s not right!”

“Wouldn’t that make me just like Ada? No, absolutely not. They’d break my legs!”

“Hmm...”

“Even if I went all the way, what if he still refused to give me any?”

“Ugh, what a headache!”

...