Rain hit the roof in soft, uneven taps as Zane crouched beside the rain collector, wiring in the salvaged solar cells. The interface glowed faintly in his vision.
[Installation Complete: Solar Power Node (Lv. 1)]
New Base Feature: Emergency Lighting Enabled
Next Unlock: Electric Fence (0/3 Components)
The safehouse was evolving.
Below, the survivors—Lily and Mason—rested in the laundry room with their own corner, a spare blanket each and canned beans for dinner. Ava was silent through the meal, not touching her own food.
She hadn't said much since the raid.
Zane noticed her glances, the way her eyes lingered on the solar rig, the lights that now flickered alive in the hallway. It was like she was trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces.
After the others slept, she finally spoke.
"You're not normal."
Zane sat at the makeshift table, cleaning the pistol again. "No one is anymore."
"That's not what I mean."
She leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowed. "You fix generators like you've trained for years. Build walls in hours. Power systems from scrap. You plan like you've done this before."
Zane paused, thinking carefully.
"You ever hear of instinct?" he said finally. "Maybe I've got a little more of it than most."
[Lie Detected: Ava's Suspicion Increased Slightly]
He winced inside but didn't show it.
She leaned back. "You've got secrets."
"And so do you."
They sat in silence for a long moment.
Ava stood. "Don't break what you're building. That's all I'll say."
She walked off toward the rooftop, rifle slung low.
Zane sighed.
[Bond Status: Ava - Wary Allies (Stable)]
The System blinked again.
[New Role Assigned: Leader - Tier 0 Recognized]
Your decisions affect morale, growth, and loyalty. Careful who you trust.
[Base Morale: 52% - Tense Peace]
[Current Population: 4]
[Optional Task: Assign Daily Roles]
Lily: Medic (Potential) / Scavenger
Mason: Mechanic (Potential) / Guard
Zane opened the menu, quickly assigning Lily as a Scavenger and Mason as a junior Mechanic under his supervision. It wasn't much, but they'd earn their keep—and maybe feel like this place was theirs, too.
Just as he closed the screen, another alert chimed.
[Unidentified Signal Detected - 300m NE]
Weak transmission. Non-System Origin.
Possibility: Surveillance or Scout Drone
[RECOMMENDATION: Investigate with Caution]
Zane frowned.
"Someone's watching," he whispered.
He looked toward the northeast windows. Just a stretch of crumbling apartments and overgrown roads.
But the feeling—that hair-raising sixth sense—wasn't just paranoia.
Someone out there knew he existed. Maybe even what he was becoming.
He tightened his grip on the pistol and looked back toward the hallway where Ava stood guard, her silhouette half-lit by the new solar lights.
He couldn't tell her yet.
Not until she was one of them.
One of his.
And for that… the base had to grow.