"Alright people," Camila called out, her command voice in full effect. "We don't have time to waste. Those who are coming, we need you ready. That means checking your gear, buddying up and making sure your buddy knows what you can do, also eating and bluntly crapping."

  She looked fierce as she said that, clearly expecting some comment about her being unladylike. Nobody said anything, at all.

  "Full gear means weapons AND armor AND tools AND comms gear," Carl added, trying to sound natural rather than just filling the silence. "We'll need to hit up the supply depot that Donnelly's people are maintaining to fill in holes. Which means we might have a problem, especially for the comms gear."

  “Our aim is to get comms gear as far down the chain as possible. IF everyone has it perfect. Otherwise, we have 1 between buddies. IF that fails, we go to pairs teaming up and so on.” David’s explanation addressed the largest concern – the general shortage of radios.

  Sarah Donnelly's logistics crew had locked down most of the organized supplies. They'd been cooperative enough when the Council was distributing things yesterday with broard agreement to who was doing what. Still, radios had been a sticking point. But showing up at oh-dark-thirty to requisition gear for a mission with no discussions, no arguments about priority? That was going to cause friction.

  "Let me handle Donnelly's people," Sarah said. She had a gleam in her eye that suggested she had a plan. "Camila, Mark, Carl. You're with me. We're going to need your particular talents."

  "My talents?" Mark asked, eyebrow raised.

  "Your intimidating deep voice and medical credentials," Sarah said cheerfully. "They're surprisingly effective when combined."

  Charlie snorted. "She's going to use you like a prop."

  "I'm aware," Mark said dryly. "It won't be the first time."

  Katie slipped her hand into Mark's. "I'll come too. Someone needs to make sure this doesn't turn into an actual fight."

  David watched them organize, seeing the evolving dynamic and wondering at the contrast to the chaotic mess they had just witnessed. Was it scale, ability or time that made that difference?

  No, it was purpose. They were all aligned on their purpose and that meant that most of their effort went towards the same shared goal.

  "What about me?" Charlie asked.

  "You," David said, "are going to help me figure out something I discovered. The Obelisk can enable my purchasing Meditate for people. We just need to figure out how to pay for it."

  Charlie's eyes went wide. "Dude, I thought Meditate was off the table until I played nice with Stamina and Health?"

  "I won’t get it for you, or anyone, unless they have the basics down. Or they are really fucked up and it’s the only thing that can help.”

  David qualified his statement, hoping Charlie wouldn’t focus on it and figure out the puzzle he had hung in front of him as a reward for taking care of himself.

  “The Herald suggested it as a reward and gave it to me as my reward for the enemies of humanity quest after I updated it on what we fought. Said it would help."

  David gestured at the dispersing group.

  "Some of them won't come back out, maybe carrot and support is better than a guilt stick."

  "We get more people back fighting in our corner and we are in better shape," Charlie finished. "Smart. Let's go poke the Obelisk."

  The Obelisk was quieter now than it had been earlier. The tutorial groups had thinned out with fewer people active at night, not dropped to zero as they were still backlogged but people apparently preferred to get sleep then work. Still, there were enough people around that David didn’t want to approach, efficiency be damned.

  David closed his eyes and let his Squire title and connection to the Obelisk active. Charlie hovered nearby, his own system interface open as he chased references. It took the two of them a few queries to figure out what was going on.

  There was a reason the Obelisk charged people for everything, and a reason why safe zone occupancy was good. Both generated resources supplementing what the local System passively generated. This allowed it to run and one of the main functions of the Obelisk was obvious when you thought about it – banking the excess to fund future needs.

  It effectively had pools of energy, the interface didn’t specify what sort, just that there was more than one. It then used these to do, well everything with most of it locked off, at least at his level to make sure that System functions and rewards could be paid for.

  A sliver of all that was discretionary. As the owner of the Obelisk, he could assign that to his priorities. He quickly learned that it was very much use it or risk losing it because while a Squire had some access pretty much everything was higher priority than him…

  It was Charlie who found the specifics.

  “Hey Dude, I think I’ve got something. Ask it about open skills development.”

  David did so and immediately got the messages which Had Charlie so excited.

  [AVAILABLE FEATURE: SUBSIDIZED SKILL ACQUISITION]

  [SKILL ACQUISITION IS DIVIDED INTO TWO PARTS. ACQUISITION COSTS AND INITIATION COSTS. FOR MOST UNIVERSAL SKILLS THESE COSTS ARE ROUGHLY EQUAL BASED ON THE TIER OF THE SKILL]

  [BASIC SKILL: 500XP ACQUSITION, 500XP INITIATION]

  [ADVANCED SKILL: 2500XP ACQUISITION, 2500XP INITIATION]

  [ACQUISITION COSTS ARE PAYABLE WITH ANY SYSTEM COMPATIBLE RESOURCE AT XP CONVESTION RATES. INITIATION COSTS MUST BE PAID WITH RESORUCES COMPATIBLE WITH GROWTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL SYSTEM, TYPICALLY PURE XP.]

  David dug into the specifics and found, predictably, that there was a catch.

  [CURRENT ACCESS LEVEL. SQUIRE OF THE SYSTEM LEVEL 1]

  [ACCESS TO CHANNEL DERIVATIVE RESOURCE POOLS TO FUND APPROVED SKILL LIST ACQUISITION COSTS FOR SELF]

  [GRANTING SKILL LIST: MEDITATE]

  [NOTE: SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR APPROVAL IN PLACE TO FUND APPROVED SKILL LIST ACQUSITION COST FOR OTHERS NOT EXCEEDING 10% OF AVAILABLE DERIVATIVE POOL]

  [ACCESS TO XP POOL DENIED]

  [INCREASE YOUR TITLE AND GRANTING SKILL LEVEL FOR FURTHER ACCESS SQUIRE]

  So technically, that was probably more than one problem, but still David was disappointed as he relayed the information to Charlie.

  "That's actually incredible," Charlie breathed, “you can effectively gift people 500 XP worth of skills.”

  David shrugged then replied equally softly.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Yeah, if I’m reading it right. It could also mean that I can discount the cost by 10% of the bill. Regardless they still need 500 XP to get any benefits, without going and fighting stuff that will take ages. I don’t know how fast people passively gain XP if they sit in the safe zone but it really isn’t that quick.”

  "You’re right dude, that's still 500 XP per person," Charlie sounded crestfallen. "I think that amounts to days of XP if you don’t do anything, so maybe not useful in the mad rush we are in..."

  David thought about how the Herald had suggested this as a viable method to get people he wanted back out there over trauma and mentally bumped buying his Squire title up his mental priorities.

  "Speaking of investment," Charlie said, changing the subject after the mixed news about the cool skill they could grant people, and its shortcomings. "I started to do some math on the safe zone upgrades. If we're trying to decide what to prioritize, we should look at sustained value versus immediate impact."

  "Tell me."

  Charlie launched into an explanation that involved far too many variables and hypothetical scenarios. But the core of it made sense. Some upgrades provided immediate defensive or utility benefits. Others improved resource generation over time. A few unlocked new capabilities entirely.

  "The problem," Charlie concluded, "is that we don't know what we're optimizing for. Are we trying to create a fortress? A training facility? A refugee center? The answer changes what we should buy."

  David considered that. "This is part of why we need to wait. I don’t have a good answer for you, and I don’t think anyone does yet. My priority right now is to get people stronger, mostly people I trust… Does that help?"

  "A bit. I'd say we want to lean toward upgrades that improve training efficiency and resource generation. Let the Council worry about making the safe zone more comfortable. We focus on making it more effective at producing competent survivors."

  "That's actually really good thinking," David said. He meant it. Charlie had a way of cutting through complexity sometimes. He started to dive back into things immediately.

  Watching him work, David felt a moment of gratitude. Whatever else this apocalypse had taken from them, it had also revealed what people were capable of when pushed. Charlie, who'd been working night shifts at a fast-food joint just days ago, was stepping up. It made him wonder what the other man’s story was, but he didn’t ask. It seemed irrelevant now.

  David left him to it and moved to find the others. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east, the first hints of dawn painting the horizon. They wanted to move out before too many people figured daylight could let them move and things got chaotic.

  He found Sarah's group at the supply depot, and the scene was about what he'd expected. Camila stood with her arms crossed, radiating aggressive impatience. Carl leaned against a truck, his posture casual but his hand resting near his sidearm. Mark loomed behind them, his considerable height and deep voice apparently being put to use.

  Facing them were three of Donnelly's logistics people, all looking various degrees of uncomfortable.

  Katie spotted David first. "Oh good, reinforcements. They're being difficult."

  "We're not being difficult," one of the logistics crew, a middle-aged man with the kind of clipboard that suggested he'd found his calling in the apocalypse. "We're following procedure. The Council has established guidelines for equipment distribution."

  "The Council can kiss my ass," Camila said pleasantly. "We're taking radios, medical supplies, and vehicle keys. You can either give them to us or we can take them. Your choice."

  The man clutched his clipboard defensively. "I really must insist-"

  "Must you?" Carl's southern drawl was friendly, but there was steel underneath. "See, the thing is, we're going back out to rescue people while y'all sit here playing administrator. So, we're gonna need those supplies. Unless of course you don’t give supplies to people who go out and you know risk saving people, or bringing new stuff back…"

  "Let me clarify something," Mark rumbled, his deep voice carrying easily. "People are dying. Right now, while we stand here arguing. Some of them are our friends, people’s families. We're going to save them. The only question is whether you're going to help or hinder."

  The logistics people exchanged glances. They clearly didn't want to fight. But they also didn't want to be responsible for going against the Council's directives.

  David stepped forward. "Look, I understand you have a job to do. The Council set up these systems for good reasons. But we both know there's flexibility. Did they specifically forbid equipping people who are going out to get more supplies, supplies which will help everyone here."

  The clipboard man latched onto that. "Oh, why didn’t you say that you were going to be bringing food back! Food acquisition teams get carte blanche, we only have enough food to last a day or two and it’s the most urgent matter. That’s officially designated as an emergency by the Council!"

  "No," Camila started to say when Carl spoke over her. "Yes Son. You tell anyone who asks that we will bring back food today. Is there any preference for what sort of food?"

  Sarah joined in, her tone reasonable. "Here's what we propose. You give us the equipment we need and a list of the most urgent food items. We will add ALL those items to our list of priorities. If there is anything else that is urgently needed add that to the list too. We will keep an eye out for all of it!"

  "We can't just-" One objected

  "Actually," the one who raised the idea said. “Actually, we can. I just need to copy that list we were given yesterday evening."

  The objector looked betrayed. "That list is meant to be need to know, not handed out wholesale Julian-"

  "They're right, Rob. People are dying. We have the supplies. Let them go save lives." He turned to Sarah. "You'll sign the equipment roster?"

  "Absolutely."

  "And return what you can?"

  "Whatever makes it back, yes."

  He nodded decisively. "Then let's get you loaded up. What do you need?"

  The transformation was immediate.

  "Radios first," Carl said. "How many do you have?"

  "Twelve handheld units, fully charged, with headsets. Plus, a base station you can plug into a car while it’s running."

  "We'll take all of them."

  After that vehicles and supplies were easy, they ended up with five trucks and the buses they took from the airport as well as assorted supplies. Guns were the sticking point. Apparently, logistics wasn’t responsible for those that was something they would need to get from the Militia armory.

  They worked quickly after that, loading equipment into bags and crates. Rob continued to grumble and document everything meticulously, but he didn't actively interfere. David suspected he was the kind of person who found comfort in procedure when the world went crazy.

  As they finished up, David noticed more people gathering near the vehicles. Their Raiders preparing for departure. Others coming to watch, or wish them luck, or say goodbye just in case.

  Despite the early hour he was sure that even if they didn’t know now the Council would soon be aware of their heading out.

  They were loaded and underway. The radios allowed communication between all the vehicles, and they had already distributed them.

  "Forty-three Raiders, six sixes and one seven strong group" Charlie spoke sitting next to him in the lead truck along with Carl who was driving. "Plus our core group. Which is another Seven, are we going to stick together or are we still going to split up as heavy hitters?”

  “Initially we’re the hammer in the middle with two groups holding the vehicles and five fanned around us.”

  David’s brain said they were about to do something incredibly dangerous with people who were barely trained, using equipment they'd half-stolen, to save friends who might already be dead.

  "You know this is insane, right?" Charlie said quietly.

  "Completely," David agreed.

  "Cool. Just making sure we're on the same page." Charlie grinned. "Also, I bought Health like you said and I’ll get Stamina as soon as we get into some action and I bump my title. Hurt my soul to spend the XP, but I did it."

  "Good. With a few levels in health and a skill you'll live long enough to regret it…”

  The area outside the safe zone had changed, and not for the better.

  The first thing David noticed was the fires. Or more accurately the smoke. There was smoke rising over several spots in the city. Evidence of fires, also he realized there was more noise. Sirens wailed in the distance, so at least someone was out there doing their job as a first responder…

  "The fight for the city has started," Carl observed as he drove. "Do we lunge for the airport or get involved en route?"

  David extended his spiritual hearing, letting his senses reach out beyond normal perception. The murmur of Nath activity washed over him, a constant background static of predatory hunger, more and louder now. He started sifting for patterns and organization.

  It was hard to be sure but he felt as though there were patterns out there in the chaotic soundscape. Likely more R’Nath though he couldn’t be sure.

  "Movement," Katie’s voice came over the radio sharply. "Down the left hand side street we just passed, maybe three blocks out."

  David had missed it but with his spiritual hearing he dispatched a spirit. Zombies, maybe a dozen, moving in loose formation. Hunting.

  “David here. Zombies, small group feels like they are hunting.”

  "They're not near our route," Mark spoke over the radio, "We can avoid them."

  "For now," David agreed. "We need to get to the airport. Based on what those logistics folks said we need to save our people. Also, there’s a whole armory to pick over."

  The convoy rolled forward, navigating streets that bore increasing evidence of the city's collapse. Crashed cars had been a feature, but now there were bodies, not many out in the open but enough to tell a tale of violence. There were also more signs of property damage. Windows were smashed, doors hung open, the accumulated debris of civilization's breakdown.

  David's spiritual hearing picked up something disturbing. Multiple death screams from ahead, maybe slightly off their route but still, Nath dying. Multiple locations, the screams coming quickly. Which meant something was killing them. Something active, mobile, effective.

  "David?" Carl's voice pulled him back to the present.

  "Yeah?"

  "You're doing that thing with yer hearing. What are you picking up?"

  "Fighting. Multiple locations. Zombies are dying, which means something's hunting them." David tried to parse the sensory information into something useful. "Could be survivors who got trapped outside. Could be the smart ones culling the mindless zombies. Could be something else entirely."

  “Well, call it in to the others, seems we are heading into trouble…”