C10 New Path

Meteorite Era, Year 58, July 16th

Vage Village

Clear skies.

Around 7 AM...

Meow was rudely awakened by a cacophony of metal grinding. "Who's making all that racket? It's way too early for this noise..." Meow complained, getting up to groom its fur before leaping out.

Moorer and Payson were the culprits, having raided the repair shop at the crack of dawn. They found plenty of tools for fixing vehicles, but given their age, the tools were bound to be noisy.

"All set! It's fixed!" Moorer announced as he slid out from under the vehicle, his once pristine white coat now streaked with grime.

Payson looked much the same, his new clothes from the day before now stained with oil. He was carrying two jugs of gasoline, helping Moorer top off the tank.

"Thanks." Once the tank was full, Moorer climbed into the driver's seat. In under a minute, the deep black six-wheeled pickup roared to life.

"Ha-ha-ha! It's alive! It's alive!" The sound of the engine even coaxed a smile from the usually stoic Payson. With this robust vehicle, they were ready to leave and venture into the world.

"Brother Payson... Where's Ashes?" Meow inquired, nuzzling Payson's foot.

"Well... speak of the devil, and he shall appear."

From behind Payson, a grey figure shot over the city wall and landed before the group.

"Hey! Ashes is back! What's up? Find anything good?"

"No..." Ashes shook his head, "Everything in Vage has been taken. I checked all the food stores and only found two self-heating rice meals..."

"Hmm..." Payson pondered, "All the food we have will only last us two days at most..."

"What's the plan then?" Moorer asked.

"I've got an idea... Ashes! Do you have a map? Are there any other places nearby where we can scavenge for supplies?"

"Let me check..." Ashes pulled out a paper map from his sleeve, "There's Gale Town to the northwest, about 50 kilometers from Vage. And there's a quiet settlement to the east, about 40 kilometers away."

"Stop, stop, stop..." Moorer called out, halting the two in their tracks. "Is there anywhere closer? We don't have enough drums to store fuel. I'm afraid you might not make it back if you go that far."

"It's not that far..." Meow countered, "Just 50 kilometers, we can drive there in half an hour!"

"My little elf, you're too innocent. This is a mountainous region. With all the winding roads, who knows how long it will actually take to cover 50 kilometers?"

Moorer had a point. The mountain roads here, with their 18 twists and turns, were a true representation of the entire province. A straight-line distance of 50 kilometers could easily become 200 kilometers on these roads. Plus, it's been 58 years since the Golden Age. Many of the bridges have deteriorated, some even completely collapsed. You could spend half a day traveling only to be thwarted by a broken bridge.

Why didn't they make the roads better during the Golden Age? Simply put, they didn't need to. Back then, every family owned a personal flying vehicle powered by a nuclear fusion battery, capable of carrying a family for hundreds of kilometers. Most resource transportation relied on these flying machines as well.

Road construction was purely for tourism, designed to wind through the mountains for that "close to nature" experience. Since everyone had flying vehicles, they could just fly back home after their adventures.

This kind of road planning wasn't an issue back then, but now, it's a real headache for the survivors.

"...Besides these, is there anywhere else we can scavenge for supplies?" Moorer inquired.

"Let me check..." Ashes said, poring over the map. After several confirmations with Payson, they found only one other place with supplies.

"There's only this spot left," Ashes pointed out on the map with a look of concern. "Bear City, 20 kilometers as the crow flies. Thanks to the elevated highway, the actual distance is just 25 kilometers. The roads are in good shape; I came from there myself."

"Ah, this..." Moorer realized the implication. They were about to snatch food from the jaws of danger!

"Maybe we should keep looking?"

"No way!" Payson shook his head firmly. "We're running low on supplies and there's no time to scout for a new, safe supply point. If we want to survive, that's our only option!"

"Besides, resources in the countryside are usually scarce. If our gathering place there is discovered, we'd be utterly ruined. Establishing a base in the city is relatively safer. With its complex layout and abundance of resources, we can set up multiple bases. Even if one is discovered, it won't mean the end for us all."

"Payson, you've got a point!" Meow Meow, rarely in agreement with Payson, chimed in. "I'm just a cat, but I can navigate the city much faster than out here. With me around, there's nothing in the city that can stay hidden!"

Moorer's perspective was the complete opposite. In these apocalyptic times, walking around the city was asking for trouble. And with that DS organization lurking, getting caught meant no chance of escape. So, Moorer voiced his dissent.

"Now it's 2 to 1, we just need Brother Ashes' vote," Meow Meow declared.

Ashes knew Bear City better than anyone else present. Having grown up there, he could navigate it blindfolded! Plus, as an assassin, his stealth and parkour skills were superior to Moorer's and the others'. With two new team members, including a thinking, talking cat, returning to the city would play to his strengths.

Yet, like Moorer, he was wary of the DS Organization, having firsthand experience with the hospital guard battle that still haunted him. But if they didn't return to the city now, starvation loomed.

"I... I agree to go back, but I'll only consent to us scavenging around the outskirts of the city. We should avoid delving too deep into it..."

"Great! Comrade Moorer, you know the principle of the minority yielding to the majority. I hope you'll respect that," Payson said, beaming.

"...Fine... When are we planning to leave?"

Ashes suggested, "Let's head out tonight. With a bit of luck, we could reach the city by dawn when the patrols are sparse. I know that city well. Once we cross the bridge, you'll follow my lead. We'll hit a few supermarkets on the town's outskirts and then get out of there."

"As for whether we stay or go, we can decide that later..." Payson interjected, "Right now, our priority is to get our gear in order and arm ourselves as best as we can. Otherwise..."

"Otherwise, what chance do we stand with just a baseball bat, a giant wrench, a sleeve sword, a short blade, and a cat? How are we supposed to invade someone's territory with that?" Moorer chimed in, finishing Payson's thought.

"Exactly... Here's the plan: we split up today to scavenge and craft weapons. We'll reconvene here tonight and then depart!" Ashes declared.

The three men and the cat exchanged nods. With a resolute "Let's move!", Payson and the others swiftly departed from the gas station camp. Moorer, however, wasn't in a rush. He already had a plan for weapon modifications in mind.

He glanced at the baseball bat and the leftover car parts, then at the empty beer bottles in and around the service station, a mysterious smile spreading across his face.