Return to Base

The jeep rolled over the last stretch of potholed road. The heavy iron gates opened to the sound of the winch, and the zoo base's high walls shut out the wilderness.

The last pickup drove inside, and the iron gates clanged shut and locked.

The base was tidier than when Lynn had left.

The members left behind confirmed from behind cover that it was the convoy and breathed sighs of relief.

"Boss!"

"Boss Davis! You're back!"

"Thank God! You're all right. That's wonderful."

Relief filled their greetings.

But when they saw the battered vehicles, the weary, wounded people, unfamiliar faces like Rick's and Hershel's families, and the dark, wary expressions on Shane, Merle, and the others, the atmosphere grew heavy again.

The air smelled of gunpowder, blood, and dust.

Lynn was the first to get out, stepping onto the base grounds.

He surveyed the members coming to meet them-two base veterans and Old Joey, whom he had entrusted with management.

Old Joey was a taciturn, dark-skinned middle-aged man, and he was quickly checking the damage to the vehicles.

"Boss, you're back." Old Joey's voice was low and hoarse. "Everything's normal at the base. Defenses are unchanged, and water and power are stable. But... you've been through a lot."

He looked at Rick's blood-soaked bandages, Hershel's dazed state, and the blood on everyone.

"Mm," Lynn answered briefly, turning toward the rear of the convoy. "Jing Hong."

Holding a dark spear, Zhao Jinghong walked quietly to Lynn's side and gave a slight nod. "Mr. Lin."

Her appearance immediately drew everyone's attention.

Shane's gaze darkened, his grip tight on his gun.

Merle narrowed his eyes, sizing up her and her spear.

Daryl watched silently, cradling his crossbow.

Lynn ignored them and gave his orders. "Worker Ant, take some people to unload the vehicles. Inventory the supplies and put them in storage. Get the wounded settled first."

He pointed at Hershel's family. "Give them a separate compartment. Maggie, Beth, look after your father. Ask Min-seon if you need medicine."

He looked at Carol and Sophia. "Give them a place of their own. Lori and Carl will stay with Rick."

His gaze swept over Glenn and the others. "Everyone else, get some rest in the communal dormitory."

"Understood."

Old Joey answered immediately and brought people over to help.

"Davis." Lynn turned to his guard. "You're in charge of rotating the entrance defenses. Raise the alert to wartime level and watch for movement outside the walls. The Jackal..."

He looked toward the water tower deep inside the base. "Have him return to his position."

"Yes!"

Davis took his orders and turned to climb the perimeter wall and assign sentries.

"Dr. Min-seon." Lynn looked at Min-seon, who was checking Rick's bandages. "Prioritize treating all the wounded, especially Rick's and Hershel's conditions. Report any medicine shortages."

"All right." Min-seon nodded and helped Rick up. "Come with me. I'll treat your wounds again."

Rick gave Lynn a complicated look, then glanced at Lori and Carl before heading toward the medical station with Min-seon's support.

Lori took Carl along and followed.

Maggie and Beth supported Hershel as they followed Old Joey toward the warehouse area.

Hershel's clouded eyes swept over the sturdy enclosures, the artificial lake, and the generator. A faint glimmer seemed to appear in their emptiness, only to be swallowed by exhaustion and grief.

Carol carried Sophia away, silently following a team member.

The girl buried her face in her mother's arms, her body trembling slightly.

Glenn, T-Dog, and Andrea were led toward the communal dormitory converted from an animal enclosure.

Dale followed with his radio on his back.

Shane remained where he was.

He watched Lori and Carl leave with Rick, watched Hershel's family get settled, and watched Glenn and the others head to the dormitory. Finally, his cold gaze settled on Lynn and the spear-wielding Zhao Jinghong.

"My gun, and where am I staying, Lynn?" Shane's voice was challenging as he shook his shotgun. "Or are your people the only ones allowed to carry guns here?"

The atmosphere tightened.

Several of the members left behind tightened their grips on their weapons.

Davis looked back from the wall, and Zhao Jinghong slightly adjusted the angle of her spear.

Lynn turned and looked calmly at Shane. "Deputy Sheriff Shane, the base has rules.

"When you're not on guard duty or a mission, all weapons must be registered and stored in the armory.

"It's for everyone's safety, to prevent accidental discharges."

"As for you," Lynn said firmly, "the base needs guards, and the walkers outside the walls need clearing regularly.

"That's where your experience will be useful.

"Davis will assign your specific duties.

"Now, hand your gun to Worker Ant for registration, then get some rest.

"That's an order."

Shane's cheek muscles twitched, fire in his eyes.

He stared hard at Lynn, then glanced at Zhao Jinghong and Davis on the wall.

A few seconds later, Shane gave a heavy snort and reluctantly slapped the shotgun into Old Joey's hands.

"Look after it!"

Shane forced the words through gritted teeth, glared viciously at Old Joey, then spun around and strode toward the communal dormitory area.

Merle whistled and sauntered after him.

Daryl gave Lynn a silent look, then headed toward the dormitory with his crossbow in his arms.

The conflict subsided for the moment.

Lynn lingered no longer and headed toward the command center converted from the old ticket office.

Zhao Jinghong followed silently, one step behind him.

The command center was small but neat.

A large zoo map lay in the center of the table, marked with defensive positions and resource sites.

In the corner were short-range communications equipment and generator-powered surveillance screens covering only the entrance and key passageways. Well-maintained rifles and machetes hung on the wall.

Lynn walked to the table, braced both hands on its edge, and scanned the map. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out, his taut nerves easing a little.

Back. Back safely.

The key targets-Rick's family and the camp's core members-had all been brought back alive.

At the edge of his vision, the scarlet countdown that had been ticking since the battle at the farm disappeared.

A line of golden notification text appeared:

[Ding!]

[Main quest: Survivor Integration (completed)]

[Quest objective: Recruit Rick Grimes, Shane Walsh, Daryl Dixon, Merle Dixon, Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea, Carol, Carl Grimes, Lori Grimes, Dale, and the other core members, and ensure that all arrive alive at the Atlanta Zoo base (completed)]

[Core members who arrived alive: 11 (Rick, Shane, Daryl, Merle, Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea, Carol, Carl, Lori, Dale)]

[Quest reward calculation:]

[Base reward: Survival Points x 1,000]

[Bonus reward (per survivor): Survival Points x 200 x 11 = 2,200]

[Survivor count exceeds 10. Additional reward triggered: team creation permission (6-8 members) x 1]

[Rewards have been delivered to System Space]

[Warning: Main quest completed. Erasure penalty lifted. A new main quest will be issued at an appropriate time.]

The notifications faded.

One thousand base points and twenty-two hundred bonus points, totaling thirty-two hundred.

There was also a team permission, along with a large number of points.

Lynn knew the points were useful. They could be exchanged for ammunition, medicine, and even blueprints and skills.

The team permission was highly valuable.

He did not check the rewards immediately.

The base was newly established, and people were unsettled.

Shane was a problem, Hershel needed reassurance, and the new and old members needed to adjust to one another.

The battle at the farm had consumed a great deal. Ammunition needed replenishing, and the defenses needed upgrading.

He had to regain control of the overall situation.

"Jing Hong." Lynn did not turn around.

"Here," Zhao Jinghong answered behind him.

"Take charge of the base defenses, especially night watches and patrols of weak points along the walls. Coordinate with Davis. Your spear..."

Lynn turned his head to look at her spear. "When necessary, it's the best weapon. Inside the base, subdue anyone who isn't a lethal threat first."

"Understood." Zhao Jinghong nodded. "A spear is a weapon of killing, to be used only when there's no other choice. I know my limits."

Her ancient martial arts creed became a stabilizing force.

"Good."

Lynn nodded. "Familiarize yourself with the surroundings first. Focus on checking the section of wall near the woods in the southeast corner. Visibility is poor there. Davis will assist you."

"Yes." Zhao Jinghong acknowledged the order and left.

Alone, Lynn studied the map, his finger tracing the residential area, medical station, water source, armory, warehouse, watchtower...

His base had its first residents, though there was no shortage of trouble.

But the first step had succeeded.

He had Rick, the core figure, in his hands, and the system rewards had given him more resources.

He needed to hold a meeting, establish rules, and integrate the personnel.

Tomorrow.

For now, he needed to be alone, to think over the dozens of hours he had just experienced and plan the base's future.

Night fell.

Campfires and emergency lights came on inside the base.

People were settling in. Min-seon was busy at the medical station, Davis was assigning posts on the wall, and Zhao Jinghong was patrolling beneath a distant stretch of wall.