Blackout
The next day.
Early in the morning, soldiers showed up at the barracks.
They were unfamiliar faces.
Han Jaejeong, rubbing his eyes as he woke up, stared at them in surprise.
"What's going on?"
"Please hurry and wash up, change, then stand by in front of the barracks. Both of you. You've got five minutes."
"What the..."
The soldiers delivered their message before Jaejeong could even finish and marched right out of the barracks.
Still groggy from sleep, Jaejeong and Youngman just stared blankly at each other.
No way... they couldn't have figured it out.
No one knew the two of them had slipped into the warehouse.
And they'd barely escaped that pitch-black darkness during the blackout.
Youngman shook his head.
"Let's just go see. We'll find out what's up when we get there."
After a quick wash-up at the makeshift sink, the two threw on their jackets and stepped outside. The soldiers from before were standing there in perfect formation.
Jaejeong scowled at the sight.
"Hey, you in front. What the hell is this? You tell me to fuck off without explaining? Rude asshole."
"We don't know either, sir."
"Who called us?"
"Director Park's orders. Everyone's waiting in the tower."
"Director?"
Jaejeong and Youngman exchanged glances.
But the soldiers gave them no time for that.
"He said even this conversation is a waste of time. We'll head out now. If my attitude's the problem, you can hold me accountable later."
They strode off ahead at a brisk pace, leaving the still half-asleep pair to hurry after them.
The thick fog from overnight had cleared, and sunlight poured down.
Squinting against the long-missed rays, the two quickened their steps toward the tower, following the soldiers.
The sudden sound of military boots drew Beom-sik, Hyun-soo, and Anna out of their barracks one by one.
They locked eyes with Jaejeong and Youngman trailing behind, but there was no chance to ask or answer anything.
Arriving at the tower in short order, Jaejeong and Youngman were hustled straight inside without a moment to catch their breath.
"Follow me into the elevator."
Ding!
It didn't take many floors before the doors opened again, right in front of the conference room.
Knock knock!
"I've brought them."
With that, the soldier vanished back into the elevator like a robot.
Inside sat Director Park, the division commander, Jeong I-jin, and a stranger.
"Have a seat."
At Park's invitation, they took spots at the table.
"Sorry to drag you here at the crack of dawn without explanation. The situation's too urgent for politeness."
"What's the problem?"
Jaejeong unzipped his jacket, his body heated from the fast march, and asked.
The division commander nodded a greeting; Jaejeong just tipped his head in return.
Park stood and walked to the window.
Outside stretched the safe zone and Seoul's skyline.
"A massive blackout. Yeouido's completely without power."
"So why call us?"
Youngman asked, his face puzzled.
Instead of answering, Park gestured to the stranger.
The man, who looked to be in his late forties, fidgeted with his hands before speaking.
"I'm a KEPCO employee. We can predict two possibilities. First, a substation or transmission tower failure. That'd mean heading straight to the substation. Second, overload. The outbreak hit on a sweltering summer evening, and Seoul's still lit up like always. Most AC units are probably still running. After all this time, that's plausible too."
The room fell silent as they absorbed it. Someone had to go fix the power supply.
The employee pressed on.
"Either way, headquarters first. That's where we check the grid status. But getting there means leaving Yeouido, punching through hordes of zombies to downtown. That said... if anyone's willing to help, I'll go with them."
"How do you plan to get there?"
Park answered Youngman's question from the window.
"That's why we're here—to discuss the op fully. Speak freely, whatever comes to mind."
A brief silence.
The division commander spoke first.
"It's for later, but might help: since the last rescue op, we've confirmed zombie mutations. We've prepped weapons suited to them."
"Weapons? What kind?"
Park asked, intrigued.
"First, sturdy lightweight nets to snare those ballooned-up giant zombies. We've got about twenty. For indoors, marbles and super-strong adhesive glue scattered on floors—they stick and can't move."
"Got it. That should handle indoor fights fine."
"But here's the thing."
The division commander held Park's gaze as he tried to move on.
"Power's critical, sure. But why the rush?"
"Simple. Public order. Internal security. Darkness always stirs human desires—the thicker, the bolder. Everyone's playing nice now, but night falls, who knows what happens? Same for the vaccine research in the tower. Problems will pile up fast."
"Fair enough..."
The division commander crossed his arms and nodded.
"We can't let it crumble from inside, no matter what. Outside's crawling with enemies out to kill us."
Park finished and waited for input.
Jaejeong, lost in thought, turned to the KEPCO guy.
"Where's headquarters, anyway?"
"Yeongdeungpo."
"Then forget the rest—figure out how to get to Yeongdeungpo first. That sets the team."
Everyone nodded. Killing zombies en route wasn't the priority.
Getting to headquarters was.
The employee ventured cautiously.
"Boat across the bridge, then drive?"
"No. Cars are suicide."
Jaejeong shook his head firmly.
He and Youngman remembered all too well.
Countless infected they'd met driving from the hospital.
One roadblock, and you're dead.
"Best way is..."
Hyun-soo flashed in Jaejeong's mind.
"...along the waterways."
"Waterways? Ah, you've done it before."
Park's eyes gleamed brighter than ever.
"Yeah. But I don't know how far they connect."
"Right. Can't check now..."
Park looked uncharacteristically anxious.
"There's someone we can ask."
"Inside the safe zone?"
"Yes. An expert in that field."
"We need them now."
Moments later.
At Jaejeong's recommendation, soldiers fetched Hyun-soo to the conference room.
Seated, he blinked around in bewilderment.
Park explained briskly and cut to the chase.
"Can you navigate all of Seoul via sewers?"
"Not the whole thing, but yeah, possible."
Relief lit the room; Park summed up.
"We'll boat out of Yeouido. Then sewers to the target. Problem's exiting the sewers into headquarters."
Park eyed Jaejeong.
"Last mart run, soldiers brought fireworks. I hear you know how to use them—with Anna's arrows."
"Hold up, Director."
Youngman cut in abruptly.
"What's that?"
"The order's wrong. No one's volunteered—not Hyun-soo, not Anna, who's not even here."
"Well, obviously..."
"Where's the 'obvious' in this world? We should ask one by one, not treat people like chess pieces. And you, Division Commander."
The division commander's eyes widened.
"Yes, sir? Why me all of a sudden..."
"Army that desperate for talent? Filling teams with civilians?"
"It's just..."
"I'll handle this."
Park interrupted.
"We have great soldiers. But they're trained on humans. No zombie combat experience. Just some shooting while falling back to build this zone. But you folks and your group? And in this mess, what's the point dividing military and civilian? I'm picking the best."
"Still, ask individuals first before planning. Unless you're leading the charge yourself, putting holes in their heads. Might consider it if you are."
Youngman spoke deliberately, forcefully.
Caught off-guard, Park stared silently out the window.
"Fine. How about this? Division commander mentioned new weapons—let's gather the team at the barracks to see them. I'll convince them myself there. If anyone refuses, fine."
"Agreed. Not just now—always. Or that 'zombie fighters' line becomes a leash."
"One thing clear."
Park strode to the table, hand on it before Youngman.
"My judgments serve all because they serve me, and vice versa. Not chess. I'm not sitting idle spouting this—don't misunderstand."
With that, Park left the room.
Infected People