Chapter 40 – Quiet Before the Streets
The night air over the Takagi estate carried the smell of smoke and gunpowder.
Beyond the high walls, the city was dark and silent except for the faint shuffle of the dead.
Gaius stood near the main gate, his blue armor faintly reflecting the lantern light. The training earlier in the day had left many piles of bodies outside the walls. Now the guards were at work, loading those bodies onto an old flat-bed truck that rattled and coughed as it idled. Its heavy diesel engine was one of the few things left untouched by the strange pulse that had killed so much of the city's power.
He watched as the men he had trained moved with care and order. Two dragged each corpse, heaving it onto the truck bed. Another pair covered the remains with a dark tarp. Their faces were tired but steady. The long hours of rifle practice had made them sharper, more sure of themselves.
When the truck was full, Gaius raised a hand. "Enough for this load."
The driver climbed down, waiting. Gaius reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a folded map. He spread it across the hood of a nearby car, the lantern light catching the lines of streets and alleys.
"Here," he said, pointing to a large empty field on the city's edge. "No houses for a mile. Burn them there. Keep watch while you work."
The driver studied the mark, then nodded. "Understood."
Gaius met his eyes. "When the fire is done, return at once. There will be more to clear."
The man gave a sharp salute, took the map, and climbed back into the driver's seat. The engine rumbled, coughing black smoke as the truck rolled forward. The guards riding along checked their rifles and gave quick waves to the men who stayed behind.
Gaius turned to the remaining guards. "Hold your position here. Wait for the truck to return. When it does, load the rest and finish the burn. After that, you may rest. The patrol will take over the wall tonight."
The men straightened and answered as one. "Yes, sir."
Satisfied, Gaius left the gate and walked back across the courtyard. Lanterns glowed along the path, soft yellow circles against the dark. The night carried a rare calm, broken only by the distant pop of a rifle where a guard ended a stray walker.
Inside the main hall the smell of warm food filled the air. Survivors, guards, and members of the Takagi household sat at the long dining table. Souichiro stood as Gaius entered.
"Join us Sir Gaius," Souichiro said with a small smile.
A wide couch had been placed near the table, built strong enough to hold the weight of his armor. Gaius gave a small nod of thanks and lowered himself onto it. His helmet was already clipped to the magnetic lock on his back plate, as always when he was indoors. He preferred the open air on his face after a day of battle.
The meal was simple, rice, dried meat, and vegetables from the estate gardens, but the people ate with quiet relief. Conversation rose and fell in low voices, the sound of a community holding on to a new sense of order.
Saeko sat beside Gaius, her sword resting against the couch. She studied him for a moment before speaking.
"Would you ever take the armor off?" she asked.
Gaius looked at her, his deep voice even. "I can. But it takes time. Without the help of servitors, removing and fitting it again is slow work. It is easier to keep it on."
"I see," Saeko said softly. She knew of the mechanical helpers he mentioned, though none existed in this world.
Souichiro raised a cup of tea toward Gaius. "With your help, Sir Gaius, we'll save countless survivors and turn this place into a true safe haven for every refugee."
Souichiro was far more relaxed now, no longer the one in command of the estate. Instead, he served as Gaius's secretary, handling the day-to-day management under Gaius's direction.
Gaius Replied, "Indeed we will."
Souichiro Nodded, and took a sip on the tea.
No one argued. They simply ate, the quiet strength of the moment enough.
When the meal ended, people drifted to their rooms. Gaius returned to the quarters set aside for him. He did not need long sleep, but in this strange world without the Danger of Chaos, he found a peace he rarely knew. Even in rest his senses remained sharp; the faint scrape of a footstep in the hall or the wind against the windows would wake him in an instant. But tonight nothing disturbed him. He slept deeply until the first pale light of dawn touched the curtains.
Though even if he slept deeply his senses are far more heighten because of it, he can hear any noise that might get close.
Morning came with a soft warmth. The estate stirred with the sound of men preparing for the next stage of their work. Outside, the truck had already returned from the night's burning, its sides blackened with soot. More vehicles waited in the yard, old vans, boxy delivery trucks, and a few battered jeeps. All ran on diesel or simple engines, survivors of the strange pulse.
Gaius stepped into the courtyard, his armor catching the early sun. Around him thirty men stood ready. Each carried a rifle and wore the light body armor Tony Stark had sent, enough to stop a bite and keep them alive if a zombie lunged from a shadow.
Souichiro moved among them, checking weapons and giving last words. Saya handed out marked maps. Saeko stood with her sword at her side, quiet and focused.
Gaius raised his voice so all could hear. "Today we move into the city. Each team will clear streets, search houses, and rescue anyone still alive. Burn the dead away from homes. Return before nightfall."
He gave out maps, each marked with routes and fallback points. Small groups of men took keys for the waiting vehicles.
When the orders were set, Gaius joined the team heading for the deep city. Their truck held five others: three guards, Rei Miyamoto, and Takashi Komuro. Gaius climbed into the back, sitting easily despite the cramped space. His massive frame left little room for the rest, but no one complained.
The driver started the engine. The truck rattled and groaned as it rolled through the open gate. Beyond the walls, the city lay quiet and gray, buildings scarred by fire and time.
Rei and Takashi sat across from Gaius. They exchanged quick, awkward glances before Rei spoke.
"Thank you, sir Gaius, for helping us," she said, bowing her head slightly.
Takashi followed her lead, his voice steady. "Yes. Thank you."
Gaius studied them. "Do not thank me too soon. We go into the city to save whoever we can and to destroy what must be destroyed."
Rei lowered her eyes but spoke again. "My parents… they both work for the police. I believe they are still somewhere in the city. That is why I am grateful."
Gaius gave a short nod. "Then we will see what we find."
He turned his gaze to Takashi. "And you?"
Takashi hesitated. "My father is an office worker. My mother teaches at a small school. I lost contact with my father even before the pulse. I spoke with my mother only once after it started. She said she was trapped at Hoshikawa Elementary."
(It = The Zombie, since they dont have a definitive term for it, they call them It, or Them.)
Gaius reached for the large city map fixed to the truck's wall. He traced a path with his finger, his memory of the streets already exact. Pulling a small marker from a pouch, he circled the school's location and the fastest route.
He passed the marked section forward through the open cab window. "Driver. Change course. Take this route."
The man behind the wheel glanced at the map and nodded. "Yes, sir."
The truck shifted, turning toward a new street.
Takashi looked at Gaius, eyes wide. "Thank you."
Gaius met his gaze and gave a single, calm nod. "We will see to it."
End of Chapter 40
(Approx. 1,393 words)
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