Cruise Ship (1)
The ground kept shaking relentlessly, but the vehicle barreled forward like a mad beast.
"How much longer can it hold?"
Jin So-ryeong's question drew a cold-sweated response from the driver. "I don't know!"
"Drive as fast as you can!" Go Cheon-su yelled, twisting back to look.
At least...
Fortune smiled in the midst of misery—the Big Bodies' heads were fading into the distance. As they escaped the epicenter, the vehicle steadied a bit.
Screeech.
Though it let out an ominous creak that set everyone's nerves on edge.
Fuck, why can't I ever ride something without it falling apart.
It was a hallmark of the apocalypse game, sure, but experiencing it firsthand was a whole other level of annoying. Go Cheon-su could only grit his teeth.
"Whew."
As the Big Bodies vanished from sight, Jin So-ryeong let out a brief sigh of relief. "We barely made it."
"Yeah."
A moment's respite. Knowing there'd be plenty to do once they stopped, Go Cheon-su decided not to waste it.
"Lieutenant Colonel."
"Yes."
"I heard something from Joon. You know, Park Jun."
Go Cheon-su brought up what he'd heard from the boy.
"Some high-up in the air force talked with a division commander."
"Ah."
Jin So-ryeong sighed faintly. "That. I don't know the details myself..."
"Wasn't it you who made contact?"
"No, not me. The comms base received it by chance—from their battalion commander."
"Mind if I ask what it was about?"
Jin So-ryeong blinked in surprise at Go Cheon-su's question. "You want me to tell you?"
"Not everything."
He just wanted scraps on the military's plans—enough to pass along as intel.
"Figured since they reached out to the air force, there might be some countermeasures if the chain of command's still intact."
"I see."
Jin So-ryeong pondered for a moment.
"It's not really classified. The gist was to cooperate across branches, even if the usual structure's shaky."
"Hm. That's it?"
Less than expected. But Go Cheon-su pressed on.
"Still, means some division troops are hanging on, right? Plenty of soldiers resisting this mess?"
"...I'm not sure. Everyone's taken heavy losses."
Go Cheon-su could guess that much. The air force flying cargo planes only screamed massive casualties.
"There is some good news, though."
Jin So-ryeong met his eyes squarely.
"It was the Capital Guard Division that contacted us."
"Capital Guard?"
Go Cheon-su's eyes widened as Jin So-ryeong nodded.
"Yes. Recent contact means they're holding out too."
Capital Guard Division.
Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly.
So the capital region's not totally overrun?
He'd assumed the dense population meant it was wrecked, but this suggested a lifeline.
Bigger intel than anticipated. Go Cheon-su thanked him.
"Appreciate it, Lieutenant Colonel. Knowing soldiers are still out there is reassuring."
"No problem. Glad it helped."
"You sure it's okay spilling this to me?"
Jin So-ryeong gave a wry smile. "We're in this together—might as well share. Besides, it wasn't the air force they called."
"Haha."
Amusing jab. Go Cheon-su chuckled awkwardly anyway.
Guy's got one foot in the grave.
Since the Big Bodies chase, Jin So-ryeong carried an air of resolve, like he'd accepted death as a possibility. Not suicidal, just realistic. This felt like parting words to a comrade facing the end together.
"We've... arrived!"
The driver pointed ahead, revealing the massive port.
"That's... the port?"
The industrial sprawl was so vast Go Cheon-su's eyes bulged.
His school never did trips like this. Whatever other schools did, this was alien to Go Cheon-su—he just sighed.
So this is that thing from the news.
The cradle of giant ships always backdroping economic growth reports. Towering fixed cranes, container stacks, endless docks for incoming vessels.
One problem, though...
"What the hell is that?"
A mismatched ship loomed closest, parked awkwardly nearby.
"What."
Go Cheon-su leaned out the window, staring blankly. The lone ship in view was enough to stun him.
"Lieutenant Colonel!"
Late to call, Jin So-ryeong leaned out too, sighing. "Yeah, I see it...!"
Everyone saw it. A colossal cruise ship, docked nearby.
What the fuck.
Go Cheon-su frowned. He'd expected something big, but not this.
Screech.
The vehicle hit its limit. Go Cheon-su sighed but signaled the driver.
"Pull over."
Once stopped, he hopped out fast with Heukgu.
"Heukgu."
Woof!
"You see that too?"
Heukgu, oblivious to his mood, wagged happily, tongue lolling. Go Cheon-su looked down, baffled.
"That funny to you?"
A luxury cruise liner—something he'd once dreamed of riding. But now? In a horror survival game, it screamed doom.
"Go Cheon-su."
Jin So-ryeong approached, sighing beside him. "This is bad."
He seemed to share Go Cheon-su's dread.
"Look at that ship."
"Yeah. Looks dangerous as hel—"
"Its position."
Jin So-ryeong cut in, grimacing. "It's far from the dock."
Go Cheon-su swallowed.
Oh, right...
Forget the creep factor—the ship wasn't even properly docked. Nowhere near the pier, hovering over concrete at least 10 meters out.
"No one's aboard, right?"
The driver caught up, uneasy. Go Cheon-su shook off bias, scanning the ship anew.
First concerns: Could they board? Was it seaworthy?
Woof!
Suddenly, Heukgu barked at the ship.
Woof! Woof woof!
"What? Something...?"
Go Cheon-su froze, eyes widening. Someone stood on the deck.
"A person?"
White-uniformed like crew, waving as if just spotting them.
"Ah!"
The driver jumped like a kid on his birthday. "People! There are people!"
"...Yeah, people."
Jin So-ryeong lit up too. "Go Cheon-su! People!"
"Sure."
But Go Cheon-su couldn't celebrate purely.
What're they doing?
The figure waved wildly—then stopped abruptly.
The mood shifted. Even the driver stiffened.
"They stopped waving."
"Yeah."
Jin So-ryeong eyed Go Cheon-su uneasily. "Kinda weird, huh?"
"...Dunno."
Without them docking, no way to check.
Any other options?
Boarding a sketchy ship was a hard no. Go Cheon-su wanted alternatives.
Thud.
The ground rumbled nearby, as if denying him.
"Th-this!"
"Not again...!"
Driver and Jin So-ryeong recoiled. Then Jin So-ryeong steeled himself.
"Go Cheon-su! No time! I'll find my contact!"
"Huh?"
"If not, something else! Wait here!"
He bolted alone. Go Cheon-su blinked.
What the.
Unclear what he planned, but Go Cheon-su refocused.
No, he's been here. Not reckless.
"Wh-what now?"
The driver paled, abandoned and panicking.
Tsk.
Go Cheon-su clicked his tongue inwardly. The kid was his age, early 20s maybe.
Full panic mode.
Slight sympathy—he'd freak too, drafted into this nightmare.
"Whew."
Go Cheon-su stretched, scanning around.
"What to do..."
Two choices: Hide. Or board the cruise ship.
Neither ideal.
Even with short lifespans, hiding means hours. No safety guarantee after.
They needed sea escape. Big Bodies show, ship sails—assuming it could. Hiding then retrying Ingok Port? No guarantee of ships.
So...
That damn cruise ship it was.
"Tch."
Viewers confirmed it was boardable.
"Ha."
No way out. Go Cheon-su shifted from the tense driver, hunting for Jin So-ryeong.
Where'd he go.
Wondered if he'd return in time.
If not...
Find a path to the ship. Giant fixed cranes dotted the area.
"No clue, folks."
Internet ghost or not, he'd seen videos, but handling one that size? Nah.
If I have to...
Try something. As he stepped forward—
"Cheon-su!"
Honk honk!
A massive crane truck barreled over, horn blaring. Jin So-ryeong yelled from the passenger window.
"Got what we need!"