Chapter 35 - Danger Everywhere
One week later, the reconstruction of the base had been completed however, the work was still not done after Zach told everyone to fortify the walls by adding another four layers of logs just to make sure. It's a task that would take time but no one complained about it especially since they had nothing better to do and the fact that there was no longer any danger outside.
On the other hand, Zach and his group of Rangers have kept the base safe from any hurricanes because aside from the first one a week before, they have destroyed more than ten hurricanes after that as every time they had sightings of one, Zach would immediately put an end to it even if they were far from base.
One important infrastructure they built was the construction of a watchtower. There were five of them, one facing North, East, West, and two facing south where the gate was built. It was through the people assigned to each watchtower to report any sightings of hurricanes to Zach which greatly helped them a lot.
Right now, Zach could be found riding on a Humvee together with another three Rangers heading towards a particular location upon sightings of a hurricane. It was something he luckily acquired from the system. Getting them out was quite a problem but everyone already understood the rule of not asking so everyone just accepted things.
Together with him were Ethan, Mike, and Carl, who also drove a Humvee by themselves as it was now their job to put an end to every hurricane they could see outside the base in order not to make them bigger that would threaten the safety of the base.
Coming closer to the hurricane, everyone was not afraid as they had already gotten used to it. Getting in their position, Zach, then gave an order from the radio to end it and not long after that, a huge explosion occurred ending the hurricane with it.
"Let's go. I just heard another report of another hurricane coming from the west." Zach said without any surprise. He has already accepted that there is danger everywhere as hurricanes keep on forming strangely however, since they were already aware of it, the danger it poses no longer threatens them like what happened a week ago.
With that, the group then headed towards the location of the hurricane wanting to end it once and for all as it was now time to return back to eat lunch and have as much rest as possible in order for them to be prepared at all times.
Night came, and everyone was already at their houses leaving the Rangers assigned at night to start working. It was the task Zach had ordered a week since hurricanes will not only form during the day but also at night.
Meanwhile, Zach was having dinner with his family but this time Rose could be found together with them because after Max's death last week, Rose was persuaded by Vanessa to start living with them. Zoey also supported the idea and even let her share her room with her.
"Are hurricanes still forming outside?" Vanessa suddenly asked while looking at Zach. Her son has already proved how brave and kind he was if it was for the safety of the base from the actions he has taken for the past weeks. She was very proud to see him grow up like that but it was also making him worried thinking that it was always him who did such things and left himself prone to danger.
"Yes, they came to form every now and then." Zach replied while taking more food in his place as he was very hungry from working all day.
"I will not stop you from going out but please always be careful." Vanessa then said that Zoey, Jenny, and the rest also gave their support since they could no longer stop him as he had now become not just the leader but also the hero of the base.
Zach couldn't help but smile at their kind and supporting words before telling them that he would. Following that, they then spend time together talking to each other before going to their respective beds to rest for the night.
Another three days passed, and everything inside the base finally looked fine as people started regaining their smiles and moved on from the loss of their love and acquaintances. Everyone was still working excitedly as the fortified walls were already nearing their end and Zach promised that they would celebrate the new year even though it was already late.
The survivors were delighted by such words as they could no longer wait to party and even the women inside had also started helping the men fortify the walls. Zach, himself, was also helping with the construction as he had already left the matter of the hurricanes to Ethan and Mike.
Right now, Zach could be found carrying three logs on each of his shoulders walking towards the survivors assigned to bury them down to the ground. Everyone was already used to seeing it and they all believed that Zach really was different from the rest as he really was much stronger than any one of them.
Putting them down, Zach then looked at the walls being constructed. There might be no point in building them now but who knows if they would become useful in the next calamities to come. He then just headed back again trying to carry the logs that he had put himself in a particular location.
Suddenly, the radio he had on, reported another sighting but this time it was not about a hurricane formation but another thing instead. He then just abandoned what he was doing as he headed towards one of the watchtowers to see it himself.
On the west side of the base, Zach could now be found inside the watchtower looking at the distance through his binoculars. From the report, it really was a group of more than twenty survivors traveling on foot toward the location of the base however, his mood immediately changed upon seeing that not that far from them, a hurricane had started to form.
"Call some men and immediately ready the vehicle!" Zach immediately put down the binoculars as he jumped down and headed stealthily to one of the houses nearby before taking out a number of grenade and putting them all in the bag.
On the other hand, the people assigned to the watchtower have also witnessed the formation of the hurricane not that far from the incoming survivors. They then also heed Zach's order and they immediately head off after seeing him come back with a bag that they knew was full of grenades.
Hurriedly driving outside the base, Zach and his crew headed straight toward the survivors in the distance without them knowing how dangerous they were right now. Zach even started shouting telling them to start running despite still having quite a distance.
Meanwhile, the survivors who were walking to the base were surprised and very happy upon seeing a vehicle coming towards them. They didn't even bother whether the person they were meeting this time was bad or not as they were very tired already from moving. With that, they then also started waving thinking that they might not see them.
"T-They are yelling something." One of the female survivors said while looking at the vehicle in the distance as she could see a person waving while yelling something. She then just told everyone to quiet so they could hear what the man was saying.
"L-Look back. What does that mean?" The woman said upon finally hearing what the man in the vehicle was yelling. She felt confused and it was the same with the other survivors but they still looked back curiously and that was when their hearts started racing.
Not yelling a single word, each and every one of them started running with all their might upon seeing a hurricane coming on their way. Despite being tired, hungry, and thirsty, all of them are forced to release their remaining strength to run as they still want to live.
On the other hand, Zach was quite relieved upon seeing them start running in their direction. He then just looked at the hurricane before telling the Ranger who was taking the wheel to drive faster as the hurricane was getting bigger and bigger.
Not long after that, Zach and the running survivors passed each other. The latter was confused as to why they didn't stop and continue moving towards the hurricane, but it only made them look at them for a second before they continued running as they didn't want to get pulled by the strong wind.
Zach didn't look back at the survivors as they still had something to do as they continued driving towards the hurricane and only after arriving at a reasonable distance did the driver hurriedly turn right while braking giving him the perfect time to pull the safety pin before throwing the bag of grenade towards the hurricane.
Seeing Zach throwing the bag, the driver immediately started driving back and not long after that, a huge explosion then happened which put an end to the hurricane. Following that, they then just stopped at the place where the survivors had stopped while looking at the explosion with surprised expressions on their faces.
Meanwhile, the survivors were still in a trance about what just happened. They all looked at the place where the explosion had happened and saw that the hurricane had disappeared. It was only after seeing Zach and the rest coming down from the vehicle did they woke up and immediately stood on guard upon seeing them holding some guns.
"Is everybody all right?" Zach then strikes the first conversation as he carefully observes the survivors. Eyeing them one by one, he felt like the group was completely harmless so he then took out his radio and called for the nearest vehicle in the area to come and give them a ride.
"Y-Yes. We're good." A woman stepped up and replied as she looked at Zach nervously. This is not the first time they have seen guns as some of their group also had one, but it was their first time seeing a vehicle that was still running.
"Good. But just to be sure, I want everybody to put down all your weapons with you. No need to worry. I promised we won't hurt you." Zach then followed as he could see four men with guns among them but what was interesting was the fact that they were wearing identical suits though it was already dirty, torn, and ragged.
The four men didn't immediately put their weapons down as they looked at each other first before staring at a woman as if they were waiting for her decision. Seeing the woman nodding at them, they could only reluctantly put their guns down on the ground.
Seeing such a scene, Zach looked carefully at the woman as he never thought that she would be the leader of this group however, now that he took a good look at her, he found himself surprised as he knew her. It is not because they were relatives, friends, or acquaintances with each other but because the woman was a popular idol who sings and dances in the past.
Zach then was about to talk to them again but seeing another vehicle getting closer to them, he then just stopped himself as they were probably tired from all that running. He then just told the Rangers to gather the guns and order the driver to get ready as they were now heading back.
"Let us patch you all first before we hear your stories." Zach said before walking towards the other vehicle and there he saw Mike. He then talked to him for a minute before telling the Rangers with him to get out and let the survivors get inside so Mike could drive them back to base. It was also the same with the vehicle he was on as they finally started heading back.
After that, Zach then told the Rangers with him and the remaining survivors to slowly walk back to the base since the vehicle could pretty much carry a small number of people. Knowing this would happen, he was already prepared as he stealthily took out a bag full of bottled water before.
"Here." Zach reached out the bottled water towards the woman. After that, he then distributed the rest to the other survivors. Such generosity was like a godsend to the survivors as they immediately drank it without hesitation.
"My name is Sophia. Thank you for saving us." The woman introduced herself while also not forgetting to express her gratitude not only because they saved them but also because they gave them clean water to drink.
"We can talk to each other back to the base. For now, save your strength and continue walking." Zach replied normally as he continued walking not feeling impressed by her identity since it was already in the past now. He was just surprised at first as it was his first time meeting an idol this close but that was all.
Following that, the moment the vehicle came back again, the remaining survivors then were fetched with Zach and the rest of the Rangers followed after them. And just like what they always did, the new survivors were strictly interviewed under the jurisdiction of Anna and Rose.