The Weight of Power
The KEPCO employee recalled the zombie movie he'd watched just yesterday.
If the protagonists in that film had possessed this level of combat prowess, would the ending have been different?
What if even one of these two men had been there?
Without a doubt, the conclusion would have changed.
"Where to next?"
Han Jaejeong called out to the dazed employee.
The man snapped back to reality and replied.
"Ah, yes. This way."
With the area secured, the employee took the lead, guiding the group.
But as he rounded a corner up ahead, he suddenly tripped backward, falling flat on his ass.
A zombie had come charging at him the moment he turned.
"I'll handle this."
This time, Kang Youngman drew his razor-sharp machete.
Just two of them at most.
Easy prey for him.
Behind him, Anna nocked an arrow, ready for any surprises.
Youngman steadied his breathing as he eyed the pair charging from a short distance away.
Thud!
He kicked the lead zombie square in the chest, then stomped down on its windpipe.
That kept its jaw locked—no biting.
He thrust the machete straight into the one following right behind, cleaving its skull top to bottom like a target lunging at an arrow.
The watching employee turned away, head averted.
Youngman withdrew his boot from the windpipe and sliced clean through it with the machete.
Black fluid spurted from the severed neck in intermittent bursts, like squeezing out ketchup.
Having witnessed Youngman's prowess, the employee gave up on being surprised.
He probably would've passed out if he'd seen Jaejeong and I-jin taking down that water balloon at the mart.
"Choi Hoon."
Jaejeong unzipped his bag and called out to Choi Hoon.
"Yes, sir."
"Take Chan-yeol and lay a few of these on the stairs. We're making more noise than I thought."
"Aren't these glue traps?"
"Yeah. Prep 'em for any racket from above. Stairs are narrower than the hallway—should be more effective."
"Got it."
Kim Chan-yeol and Choi Hoon grabbed the glue traps and dashed to the stairs.
Choi Hoon examined one front and back before asking Chan-yeol.
"Hey, Chan-yeol, we just peel both sides, right?"
"Yep. Peel one side first, stick it down from the floor up, then the other side. Otherwise, we might step on 'em while settin' up, you know."
"Ah, gotcha. But can you peel 'em off again?"
"Nah, you know that demo? Once it's on, it's done. So we gotta space 'em out zigzag so we can pass later."
Chan-yeol laid out three in a zigzag pattern as he spoke.
"Damn, you're smart."
"What, over somethin' like this?"
As Chan-yeol said, they left a path wide enough to pass and hurried back to rejoin the group.
"We've finally arrived."
Youngman stood before the plaque reading Power Control Room, peering through the glass as he muttered.
But there was a lock here too.
"Does this one make the same kinda noise as downstairs?"
Youngman murmured to himself.
"Just a light electronic beep."
With that, the employee swiped his card, and sure enough, a small click sounded as the lock released.
Inside loomed a massive screen and a long horizontal control console designed for about eight people.
The employee rushed straight to the screen.
He checked the power supply status.
His fingers paused mid-keystroke.
Jaejeong, who'd been scanning outside the window, turned back.
"What's up?"
"This... it's more complicated than I thought. Look here."
The employee pointed to a red-highlighted section on the supply map.
"Transmission tower."
"Can't control it from here?"
"No, gotta go there in person. Looks like an issue with the equipment."
"You sure repairs will fix it?"
The employee hesitated.
"Won't know till we check."
"Right. Then let's move fast since we're here. Aim to wrap it quick."
"That's..."
He trailed off, face uneasy.
"The tower's at the mountaintop. Just to the base of the mountain from here takes hours—even without interruptions, just walking."
"No other way?"
He hesitated again.
Youngman pressed.
"If there's a way, speak up. Why the reluctance?"
"Truth is, we can reroute power. But that'll cut other zones. Think of it like water flow—you divert it, the old path dries up."
"Then just do it."
"Rerouting to Yeouido affects a huge area. No guarantee no survivors there."
"...Come on, man. We splitting hairs now? We need it now."
Youngman pressed, frustrated.
But the employee's expression held firm.
"Two months back, we had SNS reports of survivors everywhere. Over ten thousand confirmed south of the Han. Cut power, they're frozen stiff in a month or two. This ain't a choice—it's life or death."
"So us freezing's fine?"
"We got options."
"What options? That maybe-fixable mountaintop? You go check it yourself then."
Youngman's voice rose.
The employee was just as frustrated.
This wasn't a snap decision.
"How can someone your age be so selfish?"
"My daughter's in the safe zone! You think I'm just savin' my own skin? Hell no! For her, I'd do anything—even take a life. Get it?"
A murderous glint flashed in Youngman's eyes; the employee instinctively stepped back.
As the two argued, the rest of the group wrestled with the dilemma too.
"Enough."
Jaejeong wedged between them, sighing deeply before addressing everyone.
"No perfect answer. Majority vote."
"Good call."
Youngman looked confident.
The employee's face darkened.
Majority meant doom.
"Understood. No need for a vote—I'll do it now."
Resolved, he tapped the keys. The red shading over the tower and Yeouido shifted elsewhere.
Yeouido lit up green once more.
"Well done. I get your feelings, but no choice."
Jaejeong patted his shoulder.
There'd been no real option anyway.
Mountaintop trek was impossible now.
Firework arrows were low, and gambling everything on an uncertain repair? No.
This wasn't right or wrong.
It was survival.
Couldn't account for folks beyond reach.
Who'd shoulder blame for the dead so far? Hypothetical survivors?
At least those might still be alive.
"No guilt. We all chose. They'll head to safe zones once power cuts. By any means. If not..."
Jaejeong trailed off.
He just patted the bowed employee's shoulder again.
Mission done, the group prepped to leave.
Had to beat sunset.
Jaejeong took Anna to a big window.
"Fireworks left?"
"Four. Arrows: six."
"Use two here."
"Do what you want."
Anna readied her bow.
Jaejeong glanced back at the group.
"Zombies clear from first floor, we head out main gate. Chan-yeol, stairs—confirm they're heading out."
"Got it."
By the time Chan-yeol reached the stairs.
"Light it."
Hiss!
White smoke billowed as Jaejeong flicked his lighter.
The arrow flew into the distance; fireworks cracked soon after.
Outside, inside—zombie howls echoed.
All waited for Chan-yeol's signal.
"All out the back door!"
"Move!"
Jaejeong led; Chan-yeol, waiting on stairs, pointed at the floor.
"Glue traps on stairs. Zigzag—watch your step."
As the group emerged main gate, scanning lingering zombies on the street.
[Lock Engaged]
Clunk!
The mechanical lock turned; the door sealed shut.
The group whipped around.
Through the glass: the employee.
Baggy eyes trembling, lips quivering.
A face of total resignation.
"Hey, what the hell? Open this."
Youngman rapped the door, sensing something off.
Tears welled as the employee spoke.
"I'll... stay here."
"Why? Why stay?"
"Gotta own my actions. Twenty-plus years on this job. Those monsters inside? Colleagues, juniors. Can't... can't take it anymore."
Tears streamed down his anguished face.
"Livin' right's how you honor 'em, lad. Hey, if it's that power thing—I'm sorry. Forgive me, eh? Say somethin'."
"Sorry. Even if I go back, survive—means nothin' to me. This ain't livin'."
"What the...!"
"Better to die here doin' what I can till the end. That's truer to me. Short life, but as myself. Not just survivin'. Thanks for everything."
Youngman pleaded; the man bowed politely and vanished into the lobby.
All they could do: respect his choice.
Nothing else.
"Damn fool!"
Chan-yeol and Choi Hoon watched, shocked.
This was choosing death.
While everyone clawed to live.
Sacrificing others to survive.
No different from suicide.
Never questioned why live.
Just kept fighting 'cause alive.
That worldview shattered.
"Even briefly, as myself"—those words burned deep.
"Yeah. Least I decide my end. Come on, old man—this honors him. Savin' him's our selfishness."
Anna soothed Youngman, head pressed to the glass.
"...Aye."
Youngman turned, utterly drained—unlike before.
Soul-less eyes, slack jaw, sagging muscles.
Mind and body spent.
Jaejeong wet his lips.
Bigger blow than expected.
Chan-yeol and Choi Hoon still stared blankly at the glass despite his go-order.
He checked the time.
"I-jin."
"Got it. I'll bring 'em. Go ahead."
I-jin caught on, coaxing the pair across the road.
Tears welled in Anna's eyes up front.
Just two days with the guy, yet bonds terrified her.
Jaejeong and Hyun-soo watched her tears, lips pursed bitter.
One man's choice rippled wide.