Zack ordered firmly, “Back off.” The meical dog obeyed immediately, stepping back, though its glowing eyes remained locked on the group htened women.

  “Rex, I’m not here to hurt you,” Zack said, his voice calm but steady. To ease their panic, he reached up and removed his facepte, revealing his face.

  The women stared at him, their fear gradually subsiding. One by oheir wide-eyed expressions softened, and tears began streaming down their faces as they broke down, hugging their knees and sobbing. Zack’s jaw tightened as he absorbed the se, trying to piece together what these people had endured.

  It was obvious the prisoners who had takehis pce had stripped every shred of humanity from the survivors. Those who fell for the luring broadcasts and came to the prison were immediately robbed—of supplies, dignity, and hope. Their food, water, and ons were fiscated, and anyone who resisted was either killed ht or thrown into cells to rot. Many died of starvation, their bodies tossed over the walls to feed the zombies outside.

  'Ego,' Zack thought silently. 'How many survivors are left?'

  Ego’s meical voice responded in his earpiece. “Sir, there are 68 survivors: 15 women and 53 men, including 11 who are elderly, ill, or injured.”

  Zack frowned. 'And the food situation?'

  “Excluding preserved human flesh,” Ego replied, “the current supply will st approximately twenty-five days.”

  Zaodded grimly. “We need workers in the industrial zone. We’re short on mahe ones who work will go to the steel mill. As for the elderly and ihey’ll stay here for now.”

  “Sir,” Ego added, “this prison is highly defensible and suitable as a shelter against zombies.”

  “I know,” Zack said. “But we need produ first. The steel mill is the priority.” His gaze shifted to the meical dog. “This pce be our fallback shelter, but I need materials, and that means the mill es first.”

  With the pn in pce, Zack gestured to the meical dog, which approached the iron doors and unlocked them. Slowly, the survivors began stepping out. Among them, one figure caught Zack’s attention: a man in a tattered warden’s uniform, his face bruised and hollowed by exhaustion and abuse.

  “Antonny, former warden,” Ego informed him. “Male, 38, physically weakened, likely due to repeated beatings.”

  Zack walked toward the man, noting how he flinched and cowered, as if expeg another blow. 'He’s pletely broken,' Zack thought grimly.

  “Were you the warden here?” Zack asked, his tone firm but not unkind.

  Antonated, his voice barely audible. “Y-yes… I was.”

  “Good,” Zack said briskly. “You know this pce better than anyone. Arthur is dead, and I’m in charge now.” He paused, letting the words sink in. “I need your help to mahings here. Start by distributing food, getting these people ed up, and s out those who are fit to work. And make sure the pce is spotless.”

  Antonny stammered, “I-I don’t know if I …”

  Zack poio the meical dog, its blood-streaked metal frame glinting ominously. “You’ll have help.” The remnants of flesh ging to the dog’s frame made Antonny’s face turn pale. He nodded quickly, trembling. “Yes, yes! I’ll do it!”

  Zack softened his tone slightly, a nod of encement. “Good. Do what I say, and you’ll be fine. You’ll have food, shelter, and maybe even a shot at a fresh start. But you have to pull your weight.”

  The faint hope in Zack’s words seemed to revive something in Antonny. He straightened up, nodding vigorously. “I-I’ll do my best,” he said, a flicker of determinatiourning to his eyes.

  “Good,” Zack said. “Tomorrow m, I’ll send a helicopter. Pick thirty of the stro people to work at the steel mill. They’ll have food and shelter there. Make sure they’re ready.”

  Antonny nodded quickly, not daring to protest. Zack turned on his heel and strode toward the exit. He saw o ask for anyone’s opinion—this was the apocalypse, and survival was a luxury few could afford.

  Outside, Zack headed straight for the parking lot, where trucks loaded with crates of ons and ammunition awaited. He began unloading them with ease, the hydrauli his MV-01 armor making the task effortless. Within minutes, he had transferred the entire load into the helicopter, leaving just enough room for himself and his equipment. His pact, three-legged meical spider followed, folding its legs to fit into the limited space. The meical dog remained behind, a silent enforcer to guard the prison and eonny’s pliance.

  “Let’s go, Ego,” Zaanded.

  The helicopter’s engines roared to life, and soon it lifted off, disappearing into the sky. After some time, the fuel gauge dipped into the red, signaling their arrival at Tribeca. Ego piloted the craft with precision, l it gently onto the unity helipad.

  “Well done, Ego,” Zack said as he climbed out and began unloading the crates.

  “Wele back, Zack!” Sophia called, jogging over from the mansion.

  “Hey, get Ao help with this,” Zack said, hauling twe crates at once.

  Sophia hesitated. “But… Annie hasn’t returned yet,” she said, frowning.

  Zack’s brow furrowed. Annie had only goo the steel mill, barely a dozen kilometers away. With MV-02, she should’ve been back long ago.

  “Ego?” Zack asked sharply.

  “Sir, satellite ss show Annie is en route,” Ego replied. Moments ter, an image appeared in Zack’s visor. The MV-02 suit was flyiically, veeri and right as if disoriented.

  Zack’s stomach tightened. “What’s wrong with her?”

  Ego’s voice turned urgent. “Sir, her heart rate is critically low. She may be in a semi-atose state.”

  Zack’s chest tightened. “Take trol of MV-02 and bring her baow!”

  The suit’s flight stabilized under Ego’s trol and quickly approached Tribeca. Within mihe silver suit nded in front of Zack, its palm thrusters releasing a pulse to slow its dest.

  “Get her to the basement! Remove the suit, now!” Zack ordered, his voice ced with urgency.

  Ego guided the suit to the basement, where robotic arms disma piece by piece. Annie’s limp body was revealed inside. As the suit released her, she began to slump, but Zack caught her just in time.

  “Ego, s her dition!” Zack demanded.

  “Sir, she’s not breathing, and her pulse is faint. Immediate CPR is required.”

  “Help me out of this suit!” Zack barked, realizing he couldn’t perform CPR while wearing the bulky armor.

  Before he could move, Sophia stepped in. “Let me do it!” she said firmly, taking Annie from Zad yi on the floor. Without hesitation, she bega pressions, her hands moving with practiced precision.