The Last Refuge

Colonel Cleaner, as always, was deeply reflective about how everything had transpired.

Because of this, his dream repeated itself night after night, and by morning, he felt exhausted from reliving those tense moments before and after the event.

He often said he woke up on the wrong side of the bed, trembling as he got up to wash his face.

He knew this was one of the few luxuries left for him and his base, so there was no waste of resources, natural or otherwise.

The world had collapsed, and now the survivors had to accept and live with it.

The military base, now known as the Last Refuge, had seen better times, with personnel numbers once reaching 1,500 soldiers, not including officers.

But now there were less than 10 percent of that total, and their numbers were dwindling.

For months, they hadn't found any new survivors to bolster their ranks and improve the defense of the military base.

Despite this, they didn't give up. Two or three times, Colonel Cleaner organized a squad to search for supplies and survivors.

Even though they needed new recruits, when they found someone, there were procedures to be strictly followed.

First, the new arrival would take a cold shower and then go to the infirmary for a basic health check.

Nothing too complicated, just checking for broken bones or cuts that a simple bandage could fix.

Then he or she was taken to the mess hall for a brief meal and short rest before being brought to Colonel Cleaner to tell their story.

Who they were, where they were when everything happened, and most importantly, if they were willing to cooperate and accept the rules of the refuge.

No one was forced to do anything as long as they were just passing through.

Colonel Cleaner would never waste his few resources on people unwilling to collaborate, and no excuses would change his mind.

If someone complained about a twisted or aching arm, he would call on Soldier Dell Moore, known as Crane.

Not because he was particularly strong, but because he was missing an arm, which didn't prevent him from fighting or doing routine tasks among the two-armed soldiers.

If the rescued person complained about cuts and open wounds, Soldier Billion was called.

Not because he had been wealthy, but because he always had a new cut or bruise on his body and was always the first to volunteer for search or reconnaissance missions.

When someone claimed to have a serious illness and couldn't help, Colonel Cleaner would invite them to leave and be taken back to where they were found to survive on their own.

This always worked, and faced with the alternative of being left alone in a perilous situation, any argument from the rescued person would fall apart, making them ready for mutual cooperation.

As a motivational phrase, Colonel Cleaner always told the newcomers:

"We're not on a honeymoon; we're at war. Now move those lazy bellies, grab a shovel or a broom, and let's get to work."

In many cases, the rescued showed willingness to cooperate and a desire to fight in the ongoing war.

They were eager to fight against an enemy unlike any they had faced before.

Colonel Cleaner never encouraged anyone to battle; instead, he talked about how difficult the war would be.

The enemy was not a human soldier and didn't have human weaknesses. It was much faster, stronger, and deadlier.

The enemy didn't use weapons like machine guns or rifles to attack and didn't even wear a uniform.

Instead, it had razor-sharp claws and teeth, combined with nearly impenetrable tough skin, forming part of the adversary's arsenal.

Skins resistant to most calibers present at the Last Refuge.

Not to mention, the enemy had something previously unknown to the soldiers: a phenomenal ability to restore its body or simply rapid healing.

This made them almost immortal, requiring much more than just a bit of luck, a good aim, and, of course, a high-caliber weapon to take them down.

Some of the survivors had not openly encountered the enemy as they had been rescued from homemade bunkers.

After hearing Colonel Cleaner's entire account, many questions remained unanswered.

The colonel loved this and would schedule a visit to the cage, where what he showed there immediately cleared up any doubts about the war and the lethal capability of the enemy.