Should We Go to Daejeon Station?
『Chiik... Vehicle... please respond.』
The sudden crackle made everyone flinch.
『Who is on board?』
The voice was distorted, but the meaning came through clear as day.
"What do we do?" Jang Seo-yeon whispered to Go Cheon-su.
Go Cheon-su held up a palm, signaling her to wait.
『...Passengers, please respond.』
Go Cheon-su frowned. 'Who’s on board?'
The question felt loaded with unspoken assumptions.
In that moment, Go Cheon-su snatched up the receiver.
"Yes, passengers here."
Jang Seo-yeon and Yang Min-cheol's eyes went wide in shock. Go Cheon-su pressed a finger to his lips, urging them to stay quiet.
『Passenger, please state your identity.』
"Civilians. We've been on board since the train's starting point."
There was a pause on the other end. After a beat, the voice returned.
『Did you go through inspection at the checkpoint?』
Go Cheon-su swallowed hard. 'Testing me?'
They must've reported the attack at the checkpoint—at least that zombies and assailants were there.
『Did you stop the train?』
The question shifted. Now Go Cheon-su got what they were after.
'Right—if we didn't stop, the timeline doesn't add up.'
If they'd barreled past without stopping, the engine should've been shunted to another track and derailed by now. But if they had stopped, soldiers should've been aboard.
"Yes, we stopped. Once when we arrived at the checkpoint, and once before that."
Go Cheon-su answered truthfully.
『Why did you stop before the checkpoint?』
It felt like an interrogation. Go Cheon-su knit his brow but pressed on with the explanation.
"You heard about it at the small station, right? The engine broke down and just... stopped."
『Stopped due to breakdown?』
"The engineer got it running again, but by the time we reached the checkpoint, they were in a firefight with assailants and zombies. You know what zombies are, yeah?"
Here came the embellishment.
"The assailants all died, but there were too many zombies. We tried fleeing with the soldiers, but it didn't work out."
『Why...?』
"Damn soldiers didn't switch the rails at the junction properly. We fixed it together amid the chaos, but everyone died except me."
Silence again on the line, then a hesitant voice.
『You're saying you survived alone?』
"Yeah. The engineers died too. What the hell am I supposed to do now?"
Go Cheon-su let out a pitiful wail.
"I only know how to hit the brakes. Can I just head to Daejeon Station like this?"
『...How did you get it started?』
"The engineer started it, but he'd already been bitten by a zombie and offed himself. You know—bites infect you. Ugh, I'm losing my mind."
The viewers were eating it up, but Jang Seo-yeon's face was priceless.
"Who suicided...?"
Go Cheon-su clapped a hand over her mouth and continued into the receiver.
"What should I do? You're with the 7.5 Division, right?"
『Yes, but did you really survive alone...?』
"Hey? I can barely hear you!"
Go Cheon-su suddenly shouted.
"Tell me quick what to do! Comms are glitchy!"
『Pardon? Wait a—』
"What? Can't hear! Just get me to Daejeon Station? Yeah? Hurry!"
『...To Daejeon Station! Pull the brakes at Daejeon Station and we'll handle the rest! Can you hear me?』
"Got it! Heading to Daejeon Station! See you th—』
Go Cheon-su trailed off and went silent.
They muttered something baffled on the other end before repeating "See you at Daejeon Station" and cutting off.
Click.
Go Cheon-su set the receiver down and turned to Jang Seo-yeon.
"Phew. Done."
"...?"
She stared blankly before managing, "What the hell was that?"
"What? I said we're going to Daejeon."
"You said we're all dead?"
She pointed at Yang Min-cheol and herself with a hollow laugh.
"Why?"
"C'mon, surviving alone is way more dramatic."
Go Cheon-su glanced out the front window.
"Kidding. I just gave 'em less info."
If he'd mentioned others, they'd demand the receiver. Cross-checking stories would've been a pain.
"They grilled me like an interrogation. Probably intel guy."
He had no choice but to play lone survivor—no room for doubt that way. No time to consult, or it'd look suspicious.
"Why answer at all?" Jang Seo-yeon grumbled.
Go Cheon-su shook his head.
"Had to."
Ignoring would've prompted other checks.
"Better if they think we're heading to Daejeon Station. Keeps 'em prepped there instead of stirring trouble."
"Fair, but..."
She crossed her arms, uneasy. Yang Min-cheol piped up.
"Hyung, doesn't Daejeon Station mean danger anyway?"
"Yeah."
Go Cheon-su agreed readily.
"That's why we'll stop before we get there."
"Before...?"
"Jang Seo-yeon-ssi."
He grabbed her shoulders and plunked her in the engineer's seat.
"Sit—don't wanna derail from nerves."
"Oops."
Grrrind.
As she yanked the throttle to slow them, he continued.
"Any good spot to stop before Daejeon Station?"
"Before the station?"
She pondered.
"Not too far from downtown, but outta sight? From monsters or people."
"Exactly."
"You overhype me."
She sighed.
"Sudden question, no ideas..."
"You're the engineer."
"Brat. Think engineers do everything? Fight too?"
But she answered soon enough.
"Green Arboretum."
"Arboretum?"
"Before Daejeon Station. Near Dunsan-dong, busy area."
Green Arboretum. Not a spot soldiers'd watch right now.
"We'll stop the engine there and hoof it."
"Hey."
Jang Seo-yeon looked worried.
"What's next? Ditching the engine limits us."
"True. No more tracks."
Enemies tracked the rails easy—fixed route.
"We'll snag a car."
"Car?"
"Roadblocks possible, but unrealistic now. We'll find one."
No clue how checkpoint fell, so no deep search likely. They'd just eyeball the tracks for the engine.
"Got it."
"To the arboretum, then."
"Hyung."
Yang Min-cheol raised a hand like a good student.
"Back at the start, that KTX went northbound. Why?"
"Random?"
Go Cheon-su's question made him tilt his head.
"You baby this engine... but send off the precious KTX? Wonder why not keep it in Daejeon."
"Ah."
Go Cheon-su had mulled that too.
'Jeju Island.'
Taxi depot radio mentioned Jeju safe. Casual? Or destination?
'If planes...'
KTX bait, maybe also for northbound evac.
'Check in Daejeon.'
Nearest airport north—KTX headed there? South to Jeju more real now.
"Yo, Go Cheon-su."
Jang Seo-yeon said, steady on the controls.
"Thanks."
"Sudden?"
"What sudden! I'm alive thanks to you. Can't say thanks?"
She averted her eyes, flushing.
"Why yell, then."
"You said sudden!"
Her flustered huff drew a chuckle from Go Cheon-su.
"Yeah, sudden but nice."
"Take it right next time!"
"Will do."
He glanced aside. The dagger compartment.
He eased it open. She ignored it now.
'Forgot it once—nearly died.'
Misremembered carrying it, bad vs first soldiers.
"Anyone see a bear doll?"
Weapons low. Pipe or dagger fine for zombies, not monsters.
No luck—moving target, no fixed spot.
"What?"
Viewers snickered mischievously.
"Ah, sure."
Sadly, he was a pro at that. Greedy kid.
'Look at me now.'
Wish farther when you want it, they say. Who saw NEET apocalypse coming?
'Still...'
Fine. He'd managed so far.
'Let's see what comes.'
Firming his resolve, Go Cheon-su had no clue what dangers lay ahead.