With the genetic samples safely secured inside her system space, Raven and Alara left the zoo grounds, as they went to the parking lot to leave central park. This entire trip took less than three days an incredible feat in an apocalypse where every street corner was a potential death trap and transportation was all but dead. Yet, here they are victorious.
Inside the Ironhowl X4, Raven leaned back in her seat, eyes moving across the shifting scenery outside. As they drove out of Central Park's parking lot something odd caught her attention. Across multiple blocks, she noticed groups of cars piled high over subway stairways decending underground they served as makeshift barricades sealing off the underground entrances.
Raven narrowed her eyes, studying the work. It's crude but effective. With enough people, all it takes is shoving a dozen cars or so down into the stairwell. So that zombies will not crawl under or climb over them to enter the underground tunnels, and mutated animals avoid subterranean areas by instinct. Raven has explained this odd behavior to Alara before it's one of the few consistent behaviors she'd observed in undead and mutated creatures.
"Interesting," Raven said. "They're figuring out the zombies behaviors faster than I expected."
Alara tilted her head question, curious but not interrupting Raven, her eyes looked forward at the road, she is happy simply listen to Raven talk.
As the Ironhowl plowed through abandoned electric cars and dented semis with its reinforced bumper, Raven continued to watch the blocked subway entrances roll past her. She considered their potential. If these survivors are smart, they'd create a singular choke point, maybe at Grand Central Station, to control access and monitor anyone moving in or out of the subway tunnels.
But Raven scoffed under her breath. Humans rarely do things the smart way. She could already imagine them squabbling over control underground, playing king of the castle with their petty alliances and politics.
Their journey continued uninterrupted the powerful rumble of the Ironhowl's engine blending with the distant cry's of stray zombies. Alara turned to Raven with a sudden sparkle in her eye, breaking the quiet.
"Raven," she began hesitantly, "can we make a stop? There's a place I want to go… Fabulous Fabrics, in Times Square."
Raven raised a brow. "A fabric store?"
Alara nodded, her voice soft but firm. "They have raw fabrics—everything. I want to stock up for the clothing printer you built. We can make new outfits… combat gear, casual clothes… maybe some fun ones too."
Raven considered it, her mind already racing with the possibilities. In an apocalypse, no one in their right mind would raid a fabric shop. Food, water, and weapons these are the priorities. Making clothing beyond what you could scavenge? Only someone mad or supremely stupid would try that when every second is a race against dead.
Raven smiled. "Fabulous Fabrics, huh? Only you would think of something like that right now, Alara."
Alara gave a small, shy smile, her cheeks faintly red with embarrassment. "I just think… it could be fun."
"Alright," Raven agreed, her fingers tapping against the steering wheel. "We'll swing by. Besides… it might be good to replenish your food supply. You already finished off the last batch of zombie cores."
Hours later, they drove into Times Square, the sky overhead darkening into nighttime. But the moment they arrived, Raven's eyes narrowed. As a massive horde of zombies stretched across time square, moving between rusted taxis and overturned delivery trucks. The entire area looked like a sea of rotting death.
Raven sighed, cracking her neck. After the bear fight, she has no interest in another drawn-out battle. Then, an idea emerged in her mind as a mischievous idea lit up her eyes.
She reached into the system space, summoning a massive garbage truck, its body reinforced with thick armor plates. Alongside it, she materialized a joystick gaming controller, holding it out to Alara.
Alara blinked at the controllerin question, her eyes widening with immediate suspicion. "Raven… why do you have that look on your face?"
Raven's lips formed into a sly grin. "You remember that game you play, Grand Theft Autonomous? The one you played in Sanctuary for hours? Running people over for cash?"
Alara's eyes grew even wider, her voice rising in worry. "I-I played it a bit, but I always go to bed on time! Why are you bringing this up now?!"
Raven's laughter spilled out, rare and beautiful. She pressed the controller into Alara's hands. "Good. Because today, we're going to do the same thing but with zombies. You'll use this to control the garbage truck. Run them over, and make it fun. And the best part? They pay you in food. You've already finished the last of your supply of zombie cores, and we haven't had time to go 'shopping' again yet."
Alara hesitated for only a second before her eyes glowed with excitement. Her fingers curled tightly around the controller, her expression transforming into one of anticipation.
Raven sat back in her seat, folding her arms and watching with an approving smile. Alara's gaze looked forward, locking onto the ocean of zombies ahead. In that instant, her hesitation vanished, time to game.
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