Stockpiling

As soon as I reached Legion Tech, I went straight to the research division. I took the elevator to the restricted research floor and used my access card at the security door. 

After entering the code, the steel cabinet opened and revealed several sealed containers. My fingers trembled slightly as I picked up the first container. “Got you.”

Although my other colleagues were out of state, I knew they could return anytime. If I took everything with me, they might notice and immediately start searching for them.

So, I emptied 1000 chips into my backpack. I’d come for the rest later if I was able to. 

“Where are you off to?” Jenny, another intern asked as I rushed out of the building.

Back in my apartment, I divided the tiny chips into groups of 100. Leaving 200 in my apartment, I planted the rest in different places I had access to. One of them being the bunker in my grandfather’s old and abandoned warehouse.

I wasn’t foolish enough to keep everything in one place. If someone discovered one batch, they would find some chips but not all of them.

After that, I called a popular realtor and went to inspect the most favorable house in the area. It was in a less populated area, slightly away from the city.

The unfinished luxury house stood in the middle of a large piece of land surrounded by an ordinary perimeter wall. Construction had stopped months ago, leaving parts of the exterior unfinished.

As I stepped out of my car, the system immediately analyzed it.

[Property detected.]

[Land area: Suitable.]

[Existing structure: Incomplete luxury residence.]

[Defensive potential: High.]

[Recommendation: Purchase.]

“I already decided.”

The realtor finalized everything and I had the house the next day.

[Primary base location selected.]

[Begin fortification?]

I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

[System will use newbie package to begin fortification.]

[Host will need to kill infected to gain points later.]

“Okay,” I said. 

The system gave me a list of upgrades and construction requirements. The first was the perimeter wall.

[Upgrade available: Reinforced perimeter wall.]

[Estimated completion: 18 hours.]

[Material requirement: Steel, concrete, reinforcement materials.]

I approved it. After that came the gate, heavy security doors, drainage. I also created an underground storage.

[Underground vault available.]

My eyes narrowed. “How deep is it?”

[Recommended depth: 8 meters.]

“Can it store temperature-sensitive materials?”

[Yes.]

“Do it.”

The system marked the location under the house. The vault would be large enough for the things I couldn’t afford to lose. The chips, important documents, medical supplies and all the things I knew would become priceless after the apocalypse.

As the system planned the upgrade, I pulled out my phone and started making calls. I ordered food, water, batteries, solar equipment, drugs, and many other things. For some items, I had to go directly to the sellers and make my orders there.

I arranged for most things to be delivered in bulk over the next few days. When suppliers asked questions, I told them was preparing for a long-term property renovation or a party, whatever seemed more reasonable for the item.

When the first truck arrived and everything was loaded inside, the system spoke again..

[Food supplies detected.]

[Estimated duration: 74 days.]

I frowned.

“Only seventy-four?”

[Recommendation: Increase stockpile.]

“Obviously.”

After that, I went out and made more orders. 

I watched the workers move everything inside while the system quietly organized the storage areas. Hannah called my phone thrice but I didn’t pick up. I just watched the phone ring. 

Then she sent a message. [Where are you? You’ve been acting strange.]

I deleted the message as the system chimed.

[Base construction: 14% complete.]

I was outside when a delivery truck suddenly pulled into the driveway. I reversed. At the same time, a car came around the corner of the road. I hit the brakes and the other driver did the same.

Our cars stopped less than a meter apart. “Seriously?”

As I got out, the other driver opened his door.

My heart leapt when I saw the face. It was Tom Edwards. Of all the people in the city, it had to be him. Tom Edwards was the richest man in the city. I knew him because he was my grandfather’s doctor and he defended me in the apocalypse.

He stared at my car, then at the massive unfinished house behind me.

“Miss Peller?”

“Mr. Edwards.”

He looked around. “What are you doing here?”

I glanced at the house. “I bought this house.”

His eyebrows rose. “Why?”

“Because I like it.”

“This place needs a fortune to finish.”

“I know.”

“You could buy a complete luxury house for less,” he continued. 

“Maybe but I like this one.”

“Why are you buying so many things, though?”

“The world is changing,” I said before getting back in my car and driving off.

I had to be at the shooting range. In my previous life, I had suffered a lot because I didnt know how to shoot. I had to kill zombies from a close range, which was disgusting.

“Have you shot before?” Paul, the instructor asked.

“No.”

I picked up the firearm he handed me and listened carefully as he explained the basics.

My hands were steady but my mind was running wild as I thought of how disapoiniing my end had been. Now that I had a second chance, I was not going to die so fast.