Free Web NovelChapter 59: Back to Base
After spending two days and two nights outside the base, Theodore was finally able to return. After a long absence, Theodore realized that many things had changed. Now, he could see that their base had started to build a wall.
It was dawn when Theodore and his party arrived, so he didn’t see anyone at the base gate. There were only two or three soldiers standing guard there. Theodore thought about the fate of Geoffrey and Roxanne. Did they manage to get a job that day?
"Looks like I’ll have to say hello to them later if I see them," Theodore muttered softly as he exited the military car he was riding in.
Just as Theodore was about to walk back to his apartment, he heard Victor’s voice in the distance, which made him stop his steps and undo his intention to return home.
"No one should go home first. I still have something to give you," Victor said firmly. He then ordered one of his trusted men to gather the rest of their troops in the barracks.
Although annoyed at not being allowed to go home, Theodore had no energy to argue, so he followed the others, walking towards the barracks where they were first gathered before starting the mission.
Curious why they were gathered there, Theodore decided to find someone he knew to ask what they were waiting for. If there really wasn’t anything important, Theodore really wanted to go home because he was too tired.
It was a coincidence that Theodore saw Roderick and Noah from a distance. Still, he preferred to go to Roderick, considering he was a military member, so he must have more information now.
"Hey, do you know why we’re gathered here?" Theodore patted Roderick’s shoulder lightly from behind. Only when he turned to him did he speak. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
"I thought you wouldn’t want to gather here," Roderick replied skeptically when he saw it was Theodore who greeted him.
Theodore rolled his eyes lazily. "I originally wanted to go straight home, but I was curious," he said as he shrugged his shoulders dismissively. So tell me what you know," he continued unabashedly.
"The Captain will give you credit and food rations for us in return. For your information, you can go to the kitchens around the military base to get rations by showing your coupons," Roderick explained what they were waiting for.
It was only when Theodore heard Roderick’s explanation that his eyes brightened. He had honestly forgotten that he would be rewarded after this mission was completed. freewebnovёl.ƈom
"Looks like it’s worth it to keep waiting here," Theodore said, now more excited than before.
"By the way, the Captain said come to the barracks this afternoon. There’s something he wants to tell you." Roderick turned to Theodore as he remembered the important message Victor had left for Theodore.
"Huh?! Why would he want to talk to me?" Theodore was utterly shocked, wondering what Victor could have wanted to tell him.
"I don’t know, I’m just delivering a message. You better hurry up and line up. They’ve already started handing out credits!" Roderick was seen hurriedly going to get his credits.
Theodore ruffled his hair in annoyance, inevitably pacing his feet to get in line to get his credits and meal ration coupons. Not wanting to think about what Roderick said earlier, Theodore wanted to rest in his house.
. . .
Theodore was finally able to return home, and he noticed the changes in his apartment building; for some reason, he felt that the building had become more crowded than before. Theodore was curious about what was happening in his apartment building.
It was already morning, so people were starting their day, and he met quite a few people on his way home. One thing Theodore noticed was that the elevator in their building could be used even if only twice a day on a regular schedule.
"Wow, I didn’t expect it to take only two days for them to turn this base into a more livable one," Theodore muttered in awe. He was sure these military men had also revamped other apartment buildings in this way.
Since it was not the time for the elevator to operate, Theodore had to take the fire escape he was used to. During his journey to the floor where his apartment was located, he met several people he certainly didn’t recognize.
When Theodore had just set foot in front of his apartment door, he heard the sound of the door opening in the opposite apartment. Theodore turned his head towards the door and saw Geoffrey and Roxanne, who seemed to be leaving for work.
For some reason, Theodore felt like he hadn’t seen the two siblings in a long time, and he felt suddenly awkward toward them.
"Hi, I haven’t seen you guys for a while." Theodore also greeted them awkwardly.
"Oh my, brother Theo, you’re finally home! I thought you were dead!" Geoffrey’s eyes were perfectly rounded, and he was startled when he saw Theodore in his house again that day.
"We were worried about you since you didn’t come home for two days," said a calmer Roxanne.
Theodore scratched the back of his head stiffly, and he didn’t expect them to be worried about him.
"I immediately got a mission when I signed up to join the military squad and could only come home today," Theodore explained briefly.
"You must be tired then. Rest, we won’t bother you," Roxanne replied later. She could see traces of fatigue on Theodore’s face. Although there was a lot she wanted to say to Theodore, that could all be said later.
"Get some rest, brother, Theo; I’ll see you later!" Geoffrey waved his hand as he walked towards the fire escape, leaving Theodore alone.
For some reason, Theodore was relieved to see that the two of them were fine while he was away; with a smile, Theodore turned the doorknob and stepped into his house after a long time away.
Before deciding to sleep, Theodore first checked the state of his house. The more people in the base, the more likely he was that there would be criminally minded people who had committed a crime.
In an apocalypse like this, crime would rise sharply, and people would not hesitate to commit theft or murder. However, Theodore had ensured his home’s safety as much as possible.
But Theodore would be calmer if he confirmed it with his own eyes. Theodore first checked the state of the solar panels he had installed near the balcony of his apartment.
Fortunately, Theodore had installed a security fence around his balcony. Hence, the solar panel was safe even though he could see traces indicating that someone had tried to dismantle the balcony fence.
"I knew someone would be desperate to steal!" Theodore then confirmed that the railing was still safe.
Theodore then turned to his water tank upstairs, and luckily, nothing bad happened. At most, Theodore saw that there was a lot of dust in his house, considering that he hadn’t cleaned it in two days.
After confirming that his house was fine, Theodore took a shower and immediately lay on the soft mattress after cleaning himself.
