Checkpoint (1)
“Alright, what now?”
At Jang Seo-yeon's question, Go Cheon-su pointed at Yang Min-cheol.
“We'll leave this guy here.”
“What? Bro, I'm not coming with you?”
“Yeah, dude.”
Who would guard the locomotive if everyone left?
“You sure it's okay leaving him alone?”
Jang Seo-yeon looked worried.
“Maybe if I stayed.”
“No way. I don't know how to work the track switch.”
Go Cheon-su's firm reply drew a hollow laugh from Jang Seo-yeon.
“It's not just 'cause you're worried I'll bail on my own?”
“As if.”
He couldn't run off alone anyway until the rail issue was fixed.
“If there are too many at the checkpoint, it'll be tough for me solo. So we gotta go together.”
“Sounds like you're saying you could handle it if there are few.”
Go Cheon-su shook his head. He'd faced tons of monsters so far, but people were a whole different beast.
“I don't have much experience with people. Few or many, I'm short on know-how either way.”
“Hey, who does have experience dealing with people?”
Even as she said it, Jang Seo-yeon sighed, seemingly getting where he was coming from.
“Well, no choice. Your point makes sense.”
“Good.”
Go Cheon-su grabbed Yang Min-cheol's arm and pulled him close, then turned to Jang Seo-yeon.
“Then teach him the basics, please.”
“What?”
She looked utterly baffled.
“Why teach him the controls?”
“So he can bring the train when we switch the rails.”
“Ha.”
Go Cheon-su's thinking aligned with that last viewer opinion from moments ago.
'Yeah, no need to worry about trains front or back.'
Just focus on this one locomotive. Driving on empty roads was way easier than usual anyway.
With the controls down, Yang Min-cheol could be plenty useful.
“I get what you're thinking.”
Jang Seo-yeon still looked displeased.
“But I'm not sold on leaving the loco with him.”
“When do we ever move with total certainty?”
Go Cheon-su shot back sharply.
“Screwing up at the checkpoint and getting stuck here would be worse. Teach him quick and let's move.”
“All polite words, but you're acting like my boss.”
Still, she didn't argue further. Seemed she'd go along with his plan.
“C'mere then. I'll show you quick.”
She beckoned Yang Min-cheol over.
As he approached, she started explaining the controls.
“Listen up. Looks complicated, but don't stress. Luckily, it's a straight shot to the checkpoint ahead, so basics will do.”
Contrasting her tough vibe, she was calm and patient teaching.
“This is the reverse lever. Sets the loco direction—just leave it forward. Most important are the brake lever and engine throttle.”
Technical stuff, but Yang Min-cheol followed fine.
She kept going on handles, signals, and controls.
“……Got it? Now you try.”
She stepped aside for him.
Yang Min-cheol, tense but steady, got the loco moving and stopped it clean.
“This is fun.”
Jang Seo-yeon scowled at his words.
“Driving a locomotive ain't a game. Take it seriously.”
“Ah, got it.”
After chewing him out, she beckoned Go Cheon-su.
“Good enough? Let's go then.”
“Hold up.”
Go Cheon-su gave Yang Min-cheol some instructions.
“Min-cheol, after we leave, sound the horn in 30 minutes.”
“The horn?”
“You gotta draw their eyes.”
If the checkpoint was right by the rails, sneaking in would be tough. Needed a distraction.
“Horn on, then start the loco right away. Won't be safe sitting still.”
“What if they chase from behind?”
“Doubt it, but go anyway. Just stop before the switch no matter what.”
Loco jumping the switch first would complicate things bad.
“We're off. Handle the rest.”
With that, Go Cheon-su hopped off.
Jang Seo-yeon hurried after.
“He'll be okay?”
“What?”
“Kinda worried.”
She glanced back.
Go Cheon-su couldn't help chuckling.
“Thought you were gonna kill us earlier……”
“Had to say it.”
She flushed, then sighed.
“Look at him grinning over driving. Total kid.”
Go Cheon-su agreed with the viewers. Any bond Jang Seo-yeon felt was a win.
“Jang Seo-yeon, this way.”
Straight track ahead, but another tunnel loomed. Too risky inside, so they climbed the hill over it.
“There, see it.”
She pointed through the brush at the checkpoint in view.
Go Cheon-su swallowed.
“Closer than I thought.”
“We're good. They won't know we're here. We crawled slow nearby—no ground rumble.”
“Can't be sure.”
Still, he saw positives. Checkpoint and switch took little space, both hugging the left mountain—easy to approach hidden.
“Let's go.”
He moved fast along the ridge.
She followed.
Sudden stop.
Go Cheon-su blocked her path and froze, finger to lips as he glanced back at her puzzled look.
People ahead, cresting the ridge toward them.
'Damn.'
He and Jang Seo-yeon ducked into brush, biting his lip.
Checkpoint must've sent them early—to secure the tunnel spot, probably.
'One, two, three, four……'
Counting, Go Cheon-su faced a worse snag. Too many to take quietly. Two with rifles made it uglier.
No way he'd walk to Daejeon. Unless no loco.
“……So what do we do with those guys?”
Unfamiliar voices. Soldiers closing in.
“Just shoot if they resist, they said.”
“Snag the loco—that's it.”
“Fucking easy.”
Go Cheon-su's eyes widened at the words.
'What.'
They planned to kill outright?
He'd meant to scout the checkpoint first, then plan takedowns.
But they'd already chosen no-mercy.
Grip.
Jang Seo-yeon, eavesdropping too, clutched his sleeve hard.
Meeting her eyes, Go Cheon-su startled.
'This woman……'
Her gaze had turned feral—pure enraged beast.
Viewers, no spoiler worries now, spilled on Jang Seo-yeon.
'Leave people-killing to her……?'
Go Cheon-su met her eyes as she turned.
She nodded toward the soldiers—let's take 'em.
He gulped.
'Take 'em?'
Facing rifle-toting foes up close, his heart raced.
His checkpoint subdue plan felt naive now.
Mess up here, and no chance for stealthy infiltration or rail tweak.
Grip.
But who was Go Cheon-su? Streamer who'd bulldozed threats to here.
Now he gripped her sleeve.
Signal exchanged.
Plan for the foes set.
“Hey, hurry up. Why so slow.”
Soldier voices now right there.
“We are hurrying. Why kill 'em? Could use as grunts.”
“Looked defiant maybe.”
“Or we grab 'em and have some fun…… Huh?”
Then.
Go Cheon-su and Jang Seo-yeon burst out side-by-side on signal.
Soldiers gaped at the ambush.
Thud! Thwack!
Each grabbed a rifleman.
“You little……”
Go Cheon-su's guy's trigger wouldn't budge.
“No dice, asshole……!”
Finger jammed trigger guard, Go Cheon-su gripped rifle with him, flicked selector to semi.
Go Cheon-su, body tuned and Record Accumulation boosted, overpowered one easy.
“You bastard!”
But others were the issue.
As they lunged, crunch!
“Gaaahhh!”
Jang Seo-yeon's rifleman's scream turned their heads.
“Damn it!”
His wrist spun backward.
She yanked rifle free, kicked out.
Wham!
Chest-hit rifleman tumbled off the cliff.
“What? Killed him?”
She glared coldly at the rest.
“W-wait. Calm down.”
“Just following orders.”
“Orders my ass.”
She advanced, swinging buttstock.
“Guh?”
“Kragh!”
Pro bayonet work they never saw coming.
“This……”
They drew knives, but tide turned.
Crack! Crunch!
One jaw hit each, they staggered.
“Get lost.”
She shoved them cliffward too.
Only Go Cheon-su's rifleman left.
“Raaagh!”
No need for her. Go Cheon-su had snatched rifle, battering with buttstock.
“Urk! Wait! Mercy……”
Rifleman, face smashed screaming, reached for side knife.
Jang Seo-yeon closed, kicked chest.
“Uh, uh…… Gaaah!”
He reeled back into unwanted cliff dive.
Go Cheon-su stared blankly at her from the cliff edge.
She panted, tossed curtly.
“What.”
“……Nothing.”
Wanted to say leave one to report back, but he dropped it.
“Quiet, you lot.”
Go Cheon-su snapped at viewers, then to her.
“Jang Seo-yeon, good work. Impressive.”
“Whatever.”
“Honor to have you as a teammate.”
Subtly upping her from companion, he ejected the rifle mag, checked.
Heavy, rounds fed right-side.
“Ammo's full at least. Ever fired one?”
“Yeah.”
“Quick then.”
No shots yet—unlikely spotted.
Chambering, he muttered.
“Then let's go intense.”