Refuge Unlocked

Nia fidgeted, she clung to Dan who was hugging Anna. It was a wholesome sight except it wasn't really considering the bodies that littered around them.

A few bandits managed to get into the base, taking advantage of the cruel downpour of the rain to outmaneuver Dan. Apparently, the bandits forcibly squirmed their way in through the iron gate where Dan left.

The three had been stalking the gate from a distance and rushed their way in after Dan left. Anna was left vulnerable and running. It was 'luck' once more that saved the day in the form of Nia who had been left free to roam after Dan left.

With difficulty, Nia killed the three, using her every strength to overpower the attackers. Nia was lucky that the highly radiated rain had weakened the attackers. The bandits who managed to get in were without any equipment, naked, and bold... very bold indeed.

Nia's warpaint remained on her face, a skull painted over her face. Every day, she would renew her warpaint. She looked curiously at Dan who tilted his head over her. "Take me." Nia requested from Dan, though she could not find the right words to express it.

"Sigh..." Dan huffed as he used his Exo Arm to pry Nia. "You are heavy, go clean yourself. Your clothes are drenched with blood. And your... bandage, let me see... we need to rebandage it."

Dan observed Nia, realizing the gravity of the situation. Nia was pale, evidently exhausted, she also seemed to be limping as the wound on her thigh was drenched with red. The once-closed wound had been forcibly reopened because of too much exertion.

With little effort, Dan bandaged Nia. Bandaging was a skill common to survivors. It was a skill that had been honed repeatedly by the former 'Daniel McAlister' who was Dan's host.

"Rest and recuperate. Just to remind you, we won't resort to such desperate measures as cannibalism," Dan told her in a calm and uncompromising tone.

Nia nodded in half-understanding, she really did not get what was this about cannibalism, while Anna, still worried, questioned, "Dad, are we truly safe now that the bandits are no more?"

"Temporarily safe, fortunately. Yet, we must remain vigilant and safeguard our... place. Life here should be less precarious for the time being," Dan explained, considering the well-being of his family.

Yes, this was a place, and not yet a home to him. Dan knew for this place to be a home, it had to be safe first. For now, what they had here was a refuge, and they were refugees.

Dan prayed in his heart that the other bandits roaming around had been deterred... hopefully. For now, Dan had to re-fortify the place.

"I'm ready to defend this place... with you... if you will let me. My tribe is no more; they've fled," Nia revealed, strangely more eloquent, a bit of her shyness perhaps going away.

After a brief pause, Dan concluded, "For the time being, we can consider it safe. Get some rest now; we'll check on the bandits tomorrow morning."

During the night, Dan allowed Anna to rest on her own, untroubled, feeling less restless as it appeared she was of better well-being. Throughout the night, Dan and Nia did not rest. Dan patrolled the place and secured the base while Nia guarded over the sleeping Anna.

Morning arrived, and Dan, for the first time, accompanied Nia outside, providing her with a knife he had come across. Although Nia's movements were limited due to her injured leg, she followed Dan as he unlocked the front door. Gesturing for Nia to open it, Dan positioned himself with a gun, revealing a landscape scarred by fire and charred corpses.

The heavy downpour was no more. 

Surveying the aftermath, it became evident that additional explosions had occurred, likely from the bandits' explosives. Scattered on the ground were remnants such as an axe, gun parts, and a few barely functional firearms. Dan gathered these items and brought them into the house, systematically clearing out the deceased bandits.

Nia stood as a lookout making sure no one sneaked on them a second time.

Once the cleanup was complete, Dan meticulously washed the door, ensuring all traces of the grim scene were eradicated.

Nia, sitting at the door, expressed an overwhelming mix of emotions, crying both tears of joy and sorrow at the sight of the dead bandits. Anna rushed to comfort her, while Dan observed in silence, uncertain of the appropriate words.

In this emotional moment, the system unexpectedly delivered a cascade of prompts.

[Tame Nia, gain Nia's trust, increase the safety factor by 40! You have obtained a new companion.]

[The base is officially organized as Refuge 01.]

[Current sanctuary level 1, maximum level 10.]

[Marked on the map.]

[The shelter is a safe area, and the arable area has been marked.]

[Marked hunting area.]

[Refuge can be upgraded.]

[After completing planting and breeding, the safety factor reaches 150. Can be upgraded to a secondary shelter.]

Dan smiled. This could be a start. A real start.

"Nia, do you trust me?" Dan addressed Nia who had become lax from where she sat. She seemed surprised by Dan's suddenness.

Nia stammered feeling guilty that she was seen not taking her job seriously. "W-what? I... sorry..." She demured.

"Hah~ hahahaha!" Dan laughed raucously as he was delighted. "No, I meant it, do you trust me?"

"Why?" Nia weakly uttered, as she was confounded by Dan's strangeness.

"Because I trust you," Dan grinned like a kid, innocently. He was happy. He was happy that he had 'tamed' Nia, and that there was meaning to trust people. 

And these things, this trusts, it had to be said, so he said it. "I trust you, Nia."

"I... I trust you too..." Nia said in a small whisper, feeling overwhelmed by Dan's sincerity. "I trust you!" She repeated, louder this time, feeling shame at her own shouting."

"Hahah~!" Dan laughed, and laughed as he busied himself. "Yes, yes... this should be what life should be."