System, are you messing with me? - Chapter 43: Chapter 43

When Shu Ning next woke up the world outside was drenched into deep darkness. Only a slight stripe of orange light indicated the rise of a new day. Shi Yong was still asleep on his lap and the youth beside him had at some point succumbed to slumper as well. There was complete silence inside of the car except for the even breathing of  it's occupants as only the driver and Zhao Yang had stayed awake this entire time and both seemed comfortable in the quiet.
"You awoke just in time. We are about to reach our destination."
The Man who had until now steadily watched the world outside of the window now turned to look at Shu Ning. A small smile curved up the corners of his lips as his gaze dropped to the resting child before returning his attention to the other again.
"Hm. Thank you."
Shu Ning lifted the hand that was not currently keeping Shi Yong from toppling over and rubbed it over his eyes to chase away the last traces of drowsiness. It was then that he noticed the gray walls of the Base appearing on the horizon and a wave of relief washed over him. He might not like the idea of staying inside of a safe Base but with the small child now plastered to his body there was really no other choice. So at least for a while he decided to remain here.
The car came to a stop right next to the same listless guard Shu Ning had already met and the driver showed the guy a small metal ring he was wearing. That at least seemed to invoce some sort of reaction from the man as he quickly pulled out a comunication device and waved the vehicle through the gates before the line could even connect.
"Is there a special meaning to the ring. I have not yet seen the guard react so excitedly to anything."
"Yes. It gives us complete clearance inside of the Base."
It was the first time the driver had aknowledged his own presence inside of this car and Shu Ning was a little surprised at that. Still, he leaned forward inside of his seat as much as he could to show the guy that he was listening. The other continued to stay silent though and just when he was about to inquire some more another voice piped up from beside him. At some point Nian Zhen must have awoken as well.
"There are only three rings distributed in total and all three are inside of this car. You understand? The chief gave them to the people he trusts the most, giving them acces to praktically every part of the Safe Base. These small bands are a real honor to posses. They also make it possible to skip the whole isolation thing after a mission outside of the wall."
Just as Nian Zhen had said the car drove past the isolation camp unobstructed and moving through the less crowded areas of the city untill they reached the doors of a white building. It was wider than any of the other houses of the town and more guarded as well as at least four people in military uniforms were positioned about the area.
Warily Shu Ning glanced in their direction when he stepped out onto the pavement. Shi Yong was now standing at his side, still obviously tired and tightly gripping the fabric of his trousers. The guards were not looking in their direction though and none of them were moving to intercept their path either so he allowed himself to relax slightly and gently placed a hand on the child's back. Derwhile Zhao Yang had already opened the door of the building, waiting untill the two of them had passed through the entrance before letting it drop close behind them.
Shu Ning looked around the empty hallway they had entered and questiongly looked at the man at his side but Zhao Yang just gestured infront of him and started walking again. With a frown he followed behind, passing by a few other people who hurried about and ascended a flight of stairs where his silent companion knocked on an unasuming white door.
Zhao Yang pushed inside without even giving the occupant any time to react and stalked over to the wooden desk. Shu Ning walked in behind him and took a short moment to look around the space. The room was decorated like an office, there was a desk, a couch, a coffee table and a small bookcase filled with historical and political text. The male standing behind the desk Zhao Yang had stopped infront of was a tall man with a stern look in his eyes and sharp facial contures. There was a strong resemblance between the two figures accross from each other. But beside that, what actually caught his attention the most was the guy curently sitting on the blue cushions of the couch. It was a person he unfortunately recognized. Xu Dan.
"Father. Let me introduce Shi Wei and his son Shi Yong."
Zhao Yang turned around and beckoned Shu Ning to come closer, completely ignoring the other party inside of the room. With another glance at his supposed stepbrother he did walk over and gave the man behind the desk a gracious salute. Shi Yong tried to do the same but was way more clumsy in the attempt and almost hit his head with the approaching hand. The males features visibly softened at that and a rough chuckle escaped his lips before he could controle himself.
"Well, it is nice to make your aquintance. My name is Zhao Yazhen. How did you meet my son if I may ask?"
"Zhao Yang and his crew were having trouble with some zombies and I helped them out."
"I see. I thank you for that Shi Wei."
Xu Dan who had been silently regarding the people inside of the moment took this moment to make himself known once again. He stood up and approached the people gathered around the wooden furniture and pressed his body in the gap between Zhao Yang and Shi Wei almost throwing the child off balance in the process.
"Chief. My appology for interrupting your conversation with my dear brother."
"Your brother?"
"Yes, sir. Shi Wei and myself have grown up together. I consider us brothers in all but blood."
Shu Ning sccooted further away from Xu Dan but did not comment on the other's words. He wanted to wait and see what the other male had thought of doing now. There was also the question of why his stepbrother was with the chief in the first place.
"Brother. I'm so glad that you made it back alive. You should have taken me with you, you know? I could have protected you."
"No need for that Xu Dan. I am not helpless. I even awakened my own ability in the process."
Xu Dan's eyes widened in shock. Before the other people had interupted, he was just about to tell the chief about the strength of the nucleo. He had found out about them by accident when he tried his healing ability on the corpse of one of the zombies. He had hoped that it would have some effect on the virus inside of the body but instead it got drawn in by a strange object in it's brain. Now that his brother had an ability himself though, Xu Dan hesitated in telling anyone about them. He was worried that such information could also help the other in growing stronger.
"What ability do you have?"
Zhao Yazhen face was back to being expressionless as he appraised Shu Ning's form. Shi yong shrunk back a bit from such a gaze but still kept in touching range.
"Sir. I have a barrier ability which has already developed a lot thanks to the influence of the nucleo."
A sharp intake of breath next to him made Shu Ning look over to his side. Xu Dan suddenly seemed very pale and his trembling hands were tightly fisted into his shirt. The other male caught himself very quickly though and plastered a slightly skewed smile onto his face before opening his mouth to speak.
"What are you talking about Brother?"
"Some of the zombies have a small round pearl burried inside of their brain. It contains some sort of enery that is very similar to out own and makes it possible to - "
"Really now? You dug up a corpses brain? How disgusting you are. It's no wonder that our parents thought to admit you into the nuthouse. I hoped that they could make you better thought."
Shu Ning's eyebrows twitched in irritation and he could see how Zhao Yang frowned in displeasure at the sudden interuption. No one looked as if they minded the implication of such words though. With a wave of the hand the chief gestured Xu Dan to be quiet and for Shu Ning to continue.
"Sir. Those nucleo hold the same type of energy, you see? It is possible for us humans to absorb this power and make it our own. It made my ability grow in strength and only that made it possible to beat those two zombies at the hospital. They were level two and three after all. Way stronger than your usual undead."
"What do you mean with those levels? Zombies are zombies."
Before Shu Ning could think to answer though a hand darted over from beside him and strongly pinched the flesh on his side. With fingernails. The pain momentarily froze him in place and when the silence stretched on for too long Zhao Yang curiously looked over to the two brothers. Xu Dan's fingers were hidden partly by clothes, so none of the others really noticed the silent threat being exchanged.
With a glare and a push of his arm Shu Ning disloged his Brother's hand and continued the explanation. This move did evoke the attention of the father and son though and Zhao Yang mercilessly pulled Xu Dan away from his spot, changing places with the boy.
"The strength of the zombies are not staying the same. Most of them are slow, stiff and unintelligent but I have also already met a few who were agil and quick on their feet. At the hospital was even one that was intelligent enough to use faints in the middle of a fight. The zombies are growing stronger as we speak, but so are the humans. Especially with the nucleo there is a chance for us to prevail against this new threat."
"Brother. That is insane. You are telling us to use an object found in a zombies brain. Who knows what effects this would have on the human body. What if it passes on the zombie virus or makes people go crazy."
Xu Dan imploringly looked at the chief and Zhao Yang. A serious expression was plastered on his face and his hands were entangled at his back, making him seem bigger and more important than he actually was. At least in his head. Shu Ning just saw the haughty air surrounding the other and the slight smile directed at him, as if the boy had already won this argument. Zhao Yang seemed to have caught on to that too. The man had turned to look at Shu Ning, raising both of his eyebrows in question and Shu Ning almost couldn't help but giggle at that. Even the chief looked slightly amused.
"Xu Dan. If I understand correctly than you yourself have tried it out before."
"W-Wha?"
"The nucleo. You should know the effect it has on people as it helped you strengthen your own aboilities. Did it not?"
"I do not what you are talking about."
"Alright. Say what you want. You can not really tell us though that your water ability has naturally progressed further then that of the other water ability users."
Zhao Yazhen's eyes turned icy as he slowly turned his gaze onto Xu Dan. An opressing feeling filled the space between them and the younger couldn't help but take a step back. The chief's voice had also dropped a few octaves when he started to practically growl out his next words, making Shu Ning pick up Shi Wei in protection.
"Xu Dan. You knew about those nucleo and have kept it to yourself? Do you not care about the future of humanity?"
"I-I do. I just... That is...."
"Explain yourself."
"I didn't mean... I was about to tell you, I swear. That was the thing I wanted to talk with you today. I just don't think it is safe yet. There could be longlasting effects and - "
"Longlasting effects? How long have you been consuming the nucleos energy?"
"T-Two months?"
"This long and you kept it to yourself? Get out."
Xu Dan wanted to say some more but seeing the other's unmoving expression he quickly made for the door. When he passed by Shu Ning he hit their shoulders together, glowering the entire time. When only the three of them were left Zhao Yazhen sighed and turned back towards his son, smiling reassuringly at the child clinging to Shu Ning's neck.
"I will check the theorie with the nucleo and see what can be done. You two can go get some rest now."
That was a clear dismissal if Shu Ning had ever heard one. He nodded at the chief who had sunken into the chair behind the desk to work one some papers and then made his way towards the door. This time it was Zhao Yang following behind him the entire way through the building, until they stepped out into the ligh of the day. There they parted ways, not before the other man had told him about the training grounds that his team frequents and Shu Ning could finally take Shi Yong towards the mess hall to get a well needed breakfast.