In the following days, the base resumed its normal operations once again. Aside from the things that had been fixed, everything proceeded in an orderly manner under the supervision of the heads of the various departments.
There was a group of people lined up in front of the infirmary. These groups belonged both to the Fireflies and to the community of the fourteen who had been assigned to the central base, and they had now finished receiving the vaccine.
When they heard the news that they had been assigned to the S.C.T. central base, everyone was surprised. It turned out that many of the people in South Carolina were assigned to Alabama, Georgia, and Atlanta. As for the rest, they all stayed in South Carolina.
No one had known about the vaccine, and when everyone learned about its effects, they cried with joy. No one had to sleep in fear that someone would turn into a walker at night anymore, because being safe behind the enormous walls, there was nothing to be afraid of.
In this base alone there were more than five thousand people, a frightening number considering that this was the smallest base of the organization to which they now all belonged.
Jason, for his part, personally brought Ellie out, who felt as if she were living in a dream.
"Joel is with the horses. After taking care of some important matters, he'll come to see you. This place is safe, but everyone works day by day in the struggle we have as humans."
"I never thought a place like this would exist. I hope they can find a cure with my blood."
Ellie clenched her small hands and felt an incredible weight on herself. Jason, who immediately understood what was happening, could see the determined expression on this girl's face.
He slowly knelt down and looked at the girl in front of him and said, "My knees are already starting to crack, hahaha… Don't worry, Ellie. Maybe in this place you can start a different life with new friends. Since I learned about your situation, you're not someone special, so I want you to live peacefully and not think too much about it. If it works, it works, and if not, it doesn't matter."
Ellie's eyes fixed on Glenn for a moment, and then she was drawn to the movement on the other side of the square and saw for the first time a group of children having fun.
Glenn smiled. No matter how much she had experienced, she was still just a child, and that was her nature.
"Do you want to go play?"
Ellie looked at him with some hesitation. Although there was a trace of longing on her face, she had experienced too many things, and it made her distrust everything around her. Instead of choosing a useless game, she hoped to learn some practical skills.
At that moment, she saw not far away a young boy wearing an obviously large and exaggerated hat. The boy also had a pistol and a machete at his waist.
Ellie's eyes lit up and her attention could not help but be drawn to them. Jason's eyes followed the direction she was looking and also saw the scene.
Those were Carl, Clementine, Enid, Duane, and several other children who had weapons in their hands, and Glenn looked at Shane in surprise, who was walking behind the children. After smiling slightly, he approached with Ellie.
"Shane…"
"Glenn, you're back, my friend." Shane was happy to see Glenn safe and sound.
"Hahaha, Daryl brought back some very shocking trophies. By the way, are the kids already allowed to play with weapons?"
These words made Carl, who was walking at the front excitedly, frown and refute them with some dissatisfaction. "We're not children, we're survivors! Are you saying we can't defend ourselves when you gave me a knife at the quarry, Glenn?"
Glenn felt his body grow tense under the gaze of so many children, so he said, "No, that's not what I meant. This is Ellie, guys. She knows many survival skills that will surprise you. She even killed several walkers on her own."
When he said this, Glenn looked at Shane, and Shane smiled. "Are you Ellie? Do you also want to learn with the others? What makes you so interested in learning to use weapons?"
Ellie's small face showed a thoughtful expression, and she said directly, "Because I want to kick all those walkers' asses! I don't want to bother anyone."
"Oh, that vocabulary hahaha!" Glenn laughed when he heard this.
Carl looked at the girl who was about his age and suddenly felt empathy. He looked at Shane and said, "Shane, we'll teach her."
Shane reflected for a moment, pretending to be deep in thought, and then lowered his penetrating gaze to Ellie. "Well, I already have more than seven kids learning directly from me in addition to the mandatory classes, so I'll have to think about it."
He knew that Ellie was a special case, so he knew he had to consult Jason first about how to act with this girl who seemed normal within what was possible.
"Yes! Thanks, Shane."
Hearing his words, Carl jumped excitedly, and even Ellie, who had been expressionless, showed a small smile at Carl.
Of course, Glenn also noticed the changes in Ellie and could not help but look at Shane in surprise. Now that he saw him, he had a fatherly attitude with all those children behind him.
They had just chatted for a few words when they heard shouting not far behind them.
"Glenn, it's time."
Nodding as a signal, Glenn quickly called Ellie and together with the others approached.
Jason stood on the temporary high platform built from two boxes, looking at the two groups of people in front of him. Except for the girl named Jasmine, who still seemed relaxed, everyone else showed nervous expressions.
"Everyone has been given an opportunity to belong to the S.C.T., no matter what you have done outside our organization. I cannot investigate all of you, so I will give you a chance to survive."
"You will be judged according to the laws of the S.C.T., and you will also be protected by them. Everyone may apply for work in specific areas if you have the knowledge, and if not, you will all be assigned to general construction."
Jason looked at everyone equally and finally said, "I don't want you to disappoint me. I will trust you, and I hope you value the place that will be your home from now on."
"Yes, Commander!"
...
One month later.
Commonwealth base.
Deanna and her group had also joined the Commonwealth a month ago, and at this moment, in a factory-type building on the outskirts of the base, there was a group of people still under evaluation.
This was a large factory building that had been transformed into a temporary detention center. There were many independent units separated by iron fences inside the enormous factory building. There were several people in almost every space. Walking through this unit was long, and there was a long corridor with independent interrogation rooms on both sides. Perhaps it would be more appropriate to call it an evaluation room.
At that moment, Merle was sitting in a seat in one of the evaluation rooms, and in front of him were two middle-aged people in suits and leather shoes, one man and one woman, and bursts of shouting erupted in the room.
"Goddamn it, why the hell can't I get out? Where's my powder? It's just sugar, you idiots."