Chapter 2 - TWD - Titans on the Move

📢✨ Author's Note – Chapter 2: Building Tomorrow ✨📢

Hey Titans! 🚛💥

Chapter 2 is here! 🎉We're diving deeper into Michael's journey—more tech, more worldbuilding, more Nora 😏🌳⚙️

This chapter was all about laying the foundation: cities, systems, and a few light blushes 😳🔥I tried to balance realism with sci-fi, and make sure the banter stays fun while the stakes slowly build. Let me know how it felt!

💬 What did you enjoy most? What didn't click? Got wild ideas for the next direction? I'm always listening! 👂🧠

Big thanks again to UnIReap and Matthew_D_Santos for the sharp feedback—helped shape this whole vibe 🙏📘

Thanks for reading and being part of this ride 💛— UmU / UmU Studios 🧠📖

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TWD - Titans on the Move

Chapter 2: Building Tomorrow

1 month later

Dawn painted the sky in shades of blue and gold, casting light across the gigantic estate with its lush gardens and surrounding forest. Birds chirped among the trees while the scent of fresh soil and morning dew filled the air.

In the mansion's master bedroom, Michael and Nora slept peacefully until—

Beep! Beep! The alarm shattered the quiet at 5:00 AM.

Nora stirred first, shutting off the alarm with a gentle touch. She stretched and yawned, then glanced at Michael beside her. He'd somehow wrapped himself around his pillow like a sleeping panda, dark hair messed up in every direction.

'Cute.' She ruffled his hair gently, smiling as she watched his peaceful face. "You sure sleep like a panda, don't you, Mike."

After freshening up in the bathroom, Nora headed downstairs to prepare breakfast. Nothing elaborate—just grapes, apple slices, and hot chocolate for a healthy start to their day. As she finished setting everything on the table, Michael appeared on the stairs, hair still damp from his shower.

"Good morning... yawn, sniff, Nora." He plopped down on the sofa with the graceful exhaustion of someone still half-asleep.

"A very good morning, panda-san." Nora suppressed a laugh.

"Panda?" His smile twitched at the corners. "So now I'm a panda? What's gonna be next, capybara?"

Over the past month, she'd developed quite the collection of animal nicknames for him: owl, penguin, koala, and now panda. Each one seemed to fit his sleeping habits perfectly.

Nora sat beside him, pulling him into her warm embrace and resting her chin on his head. "See, that's exactly how you sleep, hugging your pillow just like a panda. Hihi."

Michael seemed unbothered by her closeness, picking up his plate of grapes. Over the month, he'd grown accustomed to Nora being clingy and affectionate, something that would make others shy away, but with her, he found himself caring less about such boundaries.

'Well, I wouldn't say I don't enjoy being close to someone like her.' He glanced at Nora as she blew on her hot chocolate to cool it down. He just couldn't bring himself to think anything inappropriate about someone as genuinely sweet as her.

'It's just that at night it gets difficult to control myself. Ahh, Nora, why are you like this?' The thought amused him as he turned toward the glass wall that replaced the usual stone barrier.

"By the way, how's everything progressing with the construction work over there?" He gestured toward the vast field visible in the distance—land that had once been covered in lush gardens but now swarmed with construction vehicles and workers preparing for another day of building.

"Hmm? Ah, everything's moving along well. Mr. Kim and his team finished surveying the land a few days ago, and now they're developing blueprints for the city you want built here. You know, it's massive. It's like we're constructing a new city from nothing. Not something you see every day." Nora handed him a tablet displaying comprehensive reports from Mr. Kim's team about the land survey and construction progress.

'Honestly, I was stunned when I learned the real scale of this land—now my private property.' The reports showed thousands of acres stretching to 10,000 total, covering hills, forests, lakes, plains, ranch land, fields, and his enormous estate. The kind of old-money property you'd only see with generational wealth. Such vast land stretching in all directions, far enough from main roads, cities, or towns, though access roads connected to major highways.

"Hey Michael, why don't we take a stroll out there?" Nora smiled, bringing him back from his thoughts.

"Yeah, sure. Morning weather is just different, and I'm really enjoying our morning walks lately. Fresh air, the feeling of waking up so early—it just hits different." He stood, agreeing eagerly.

Nora grabbed his hand and looked him up and down. "Now slow down, panda-san. The morning walk isn't going anywhere, and how about you get dressed properly first?"

He examined himself—loose tank top and knee-length sleep shorts. "What? I'm dressed fine. Look, it's perfect."

Nora watched him pose proudly like a child. 'What will I do with him? He's just like a cute panda, always needing me to take care of basic things.'

"Fine, but wait for me to get dressed up. I'm not going out there in pajama shorts." She headed upstairs.

Michael stood there confused, looking at her t-shirt and pajama shorts. 'What even is there to change?'

"Don't take too long! Come quickly!"

"Hai!!" Her voice echoed from upstairs.

He smiled and walked toward the glass wall, gazing at the distant land where he'd build his city—his first step toward not just survival, but complete freedom in the coming new world.

Construction Site Office

The construction site office consisted of connected modular trailers, their white walls already bearing dust and mud from honest work. Inside the main trailer, blueprints covered every surface—tables, walls, even taped to windows. The air carried the scent of fresh coffee, marker ink, and men who'd been working since dawn.

Mr. Kim, a weathered Korean-American in his fifties, sat at the head of a folding table, nursing his third cup of coffee while reviewing soil reports on his tablet. Around him, supervisors and engineers occupied mismatched chairs, some eating breakfast sandwiches, others enjoying the rare quiet moment before the day's chaos began.

"You know," Rodriguez, the site foreman, took a bite of his breakfast burrito, "I've been in construction for twenty-three years. Built everything from shopping malls to airports. But this..." He gestured toward the window where surveyor stakes stretched beyond the horizon. "This is something else entirely."

Kim nodded, scrolling through geological data. "Ten thousand acres. That's bigger than some small towns. Hell, that's bigger than most small towns."

"It's not just the size." Sarah Chen, the structural engineer, looked up from her laptop where foundation calculations scrolled endlessly. "Look at these specifications. Twelve-foot-thick reinforced concrete walls around the entire perimeter. That's not residential construction—that's fortress-level engineering."

Jake Morrison, a younger supervisor with dirt still under his fingernails, leaned back in his chair. "My wife asked me what we're building out here. I told her honestly—I have no damn idea. The client calls it a 'private residential city,' but the specs read like we're building a medieval castle with modern technology."

"The water management system alone is insane." Chen pulled up hydraulic diagrams. "Underground reservoirs, redundant filtration systems, backup pumps that could supply a small city. And did you see the power grid requirements? Independent generation, buried cables, enough capacity to run a manufacturing district."

Rodriguez chuckled, shaking his head. "My kid reads those superhero comics, you know? Batman and all that. This whole setup reminds me of one of those secret bases. Wayne Manor or something."

"Speaking of our mysterious client," Kim glanced at his watch, "what do we actually know about this Michael guy? Besides the fact that he has deeper pockets than God?"

"Old money. Like, really old money. The kind of family that's been rich so long they forgot what poor looks like. Last surviving member of some industrial dynasty, inherited everything when his grandfather passed." Chen's voice carried the tone of someone who'd done her research.

"That explains the budget. We've got teams flying in from Germany for the wall systems, Japanese specialists for the underground work, and don't even get me started on the custom equipment orders. This project's budget could fund a small country." Morrison's amazement was evident.

"And that assistant of his—Nora? Sharp as a tack. Handles everything from permits to international contracts like she's been doing it for decades. Beautiful woman too, but there's something about her... like she knows things before you even ask them." Rodriguez's observation carried genuine respect.

Kim looked out the window toward the distant mansion. "Rich kid playing with daddy's money, you think?"

"Maybe, but the plans he approved... whoever designed this wasn't just thinking about luxury. Those wall specifications, the underground bunkers, the redundant everything... it's like someone preparing for the end of the world." Chen's tone suggested she'd given this serious thought.

Morrison laughed. "Maybe he's one of those doomsday preppers. Rich guy version."

"With ten thousand acres and unlimited funding? If the world does end, I know where I'm heading." Rodriguez whistled appreciatively.

Voices outside interrupted their conversation—two people approaching the trailer. Through the window, they could see Michael and Nora walking toward the office, both now properly dressed for the site visit.

"Speak of the devil. Showtime, people." Kim straightened his papers.

The trailer door opened, and Michael stepped in first, followed by Nora. The room's energy shifted immediately—not intimidating, but respectful. This was the man signing everyone's paychecks, after all.

"Morning, everyone. Hope we're not interrupting breakfast." Michael's genuine smile carried the easy confidence of someone born to wealth but comfortable with regular people.

"Not at all, Mr. Michael. Just going over yesterday's soil reports. Coffee?" Kim stood, extending his hand.

"Please." Michael shook hands around the room while Nora moved to study the blueprints spread across the walls, her eyes scanning technical details with surprising intensity.

"How are the families adjusting to the temporary housing?" Nora asked Chen, who had mentioned her kids missing their regular school.

"Better than expected, thanks to your arrangements. The temporary school setup you organized is actually better than their regular one." Chen's appreciation was clearly genuine that Nora remembered such details.

Michael accepted his coffee and moved to the window, looking out at the marked fields where surveyor stakes disappeared into the distance. "It looks different from up here. More real."

"It's real alright. Your project's become the talk of the construction industry. My buddy in Seattle called asking if the rumors about the 'fortress city' were true." Rodriguez grinned.

"Fortress city?" Michael raised an eyebrow, amused.

"The wall specifications kind of gave it away. Twelve feet thick, twenty feet high, with integrated defensive positions. That's not exactly suburban planning." Morrison's explanation was matter-of-fact.

Nora moved closer to Michael, tablet in hand. "The preliminary excavation report came in this morning. Foundation work can begin next week if weather holds."

"Any issues with the underground water management?" Michael scanned the tablet she handed him.

"None so far, though I'll admit, I'm curious about the scale. The reservoir system you've planned could supply fifty thousand people indefinitely." Kim's curiosity was evident.

Michael and Nora exchanged a look—brief, but loaded with meaning the workers couldn't quite interpret.

"Better to overplan than underplan. Shall we take a walk? I'd like to see the progress firsthand." Michael's response was diplomatically vague.

The group gathered their gear and headed outside, where the morning sun was burning off the last of the dew. The scale of the operation became immediately apparent—trucks moving earth, surveying teams with their equipment, stakes and flags marking future structures across an area so vast it seemed to stretch to the horizon.

"Jesus, it's like we're building a small country out here." Morrison's muttered observation captured everyone's thoughts.

As they walked toward the first section of marked foundations, workers across the site began noticing their approach. Hard hats came off in respectful nods, and several groups paused their conversations to wave.

"Morning, Mr. Michael! Miss Nora!" Tommy, a concrete specialist who'd been working the site since week one, called out. His crew gathered around their coffee thermos, grinning as the group approached.

"Tommy, how's the family? Your daughter's soccer tournament was this weekend, right?" Michael's genuine interest in remembering personal details impressed everyone.

"Won 3-2! Thanks for asking, boss. And thanks for letting us use the south field for practice. Kids love having that much space." Tommy beamed with pride.

"How's your wife adjusting to the temporary housing? I know the commute's longer now." Nora's warm concern felt authentic.

"She's actually loving it. Says it's the first time in years she can hear birds instead of traffic. Though she did ask me to ask you..." Jake, Tommy's partner, glanced at Nora with obvious curiosity. "How tall are you exactly? She's 5'8" and felt like a hobbit standing next to you at the grocery store."

Nora laughed—a genuine sound that made even the serious engineers smile. "Six-foot-eight in flat shoes. Sorry for the intimidation factor."

"Damn, no wonder Michael looks so relaxed all the time. Who's gonna mess with a guy whose assistant could bench press a truck?" Rodriguez's whispered comment carried admiration.

Michael rolled his eyes good-naturedly while Nora playfully bumped his shoulder. "He's got other qualities that make up for the height difference."

As they continued walking, Kim pulled out his tablet—a standard construction model—while Nora discretely activated her own device. To anyone watching, it looked like two project managers comparing notes. But Michael could see the difference immediately—her screen displayed three-dimensional holographic projections of the terrain, with real-time soil composition data and structural integrity calculations that updated as they walked.

"The eastern section foundation work is ahead of schedule." Kim pointed to a series of marked areas where excavation equipment sat ready. "Though I'll admit, some of the specifications still puzzle me."

Nora's tablet displayed a cross-section view of the planned structure—massive underground chambers connected by reinforced tunnels, with what appeared to be ventilation systems that ran for miles.

"The underground sections—any issues with the water table?" Michael studied the data.

"None so far, though the pump capacity you've requested could drain a lake. What exactly are you planning to store down there?" Chen consulted her own notes.

Michael and Nora exchanged another one of those loaded glances. "Equipment storage. Emergency supplies. You know how it is with old money families—we're paranoid about being prepared for anything."

Behind them, a group of younger workers had been following at a respectful distance, their voices carrying just enough for the group to overhear.

"...I'm telling you, there's definitely something going on between them. You see how they look at each other?"

"Dude, she's like a foot taller than him. That's gotta be awkward."

"Are you kidding? That's hot. Amazon warrior vibes. Plus, did you see her move those steel beams yesterday? Girl's got serious strength."

"Man, rich people's problems. 'Oh no, my gorgeous assistant-slash-girlfriend is too tall and too strong.' Meanwhile, my wife gives me grief for leaving dishes in the sink."

Nora's enhanced hearing picked up every word, and Michael could see her fighting back laughter. He leaned closer to whisper, "Think we should tell them we can hear them?"

"Where's the fun in that?" she wispered back, her breath tickling his ear in a way that made him very aware of those "something going on" rumors.

They reached a section where massive concrete forms were being prepared—the foundation for what the plans called "Primary Structure Alpha." The scale was mind-boggling: a foundation that stretched for nearly a quarter-mile, with integrated utility tunnels and what appeared to be multiple basement levels.

"This section alone is bigger than most shopping centers. And according to the plans, it's just one of twelve similar structures planned across the property." Kim shook his head in amazement.

Morrison pointed to a series of marked positions along the perimeter. "Those wall anchor points, when we get the final materials, we're talking about a barrier that'll be visible from satellite imagery. Google Earth's gonna have a field day with this place."

"Speaking of materials, the shipments from Germany are arriving ahead of schedule. Advanced concrete composites, reinforced steel specifications I've never seen before. This stuff is rated for impacts that would level normal buildings." Chen consulted her tablet.

Nora's tablet displayed the actual specifications, materials designed to withstand much more than anyone here could imagine. Zombie hordes, for instance.

"Better safe than sorry. The family, well, we had some security concerns over the years. Can't be too careful." Michael's practiced casualness deflected further questions.

They continued their tour, passing groups of workers who universally greeted them with genuine warmth. Over the month, it had become clear that despite the massive budget and mysterious project, Michael and Nora were decent employers who remembered names, asked about families, and treated everyone with respect.

"You know, in thirty years of construction, I've never seen anything like this. The scale, the materials, the attention to detail... it's like you're planning for this place to last a thousand years." Rodriguez paused at an observation point overlooking the vast construction zone.

Michael looked out over his future fortress-city, his mind drifting to walkers and survivors and the world that was coming. "That's exactly the idea."

Behind them, the gossip continued among the workers, now focused on whether Michael and Nora shared a bedroom ("I mean, they came out together this morning...") and whether rich people dating was different from normal people dating ("Maybe they have, like, fancy relationship contracts or something").

Nora caught Michael's eye and grinned. Over the past month, she'd discovered that humans were endlessly entertaining in their speculation about things they didn't understand. And watching Michael navigate his new reality—billionaire heir by day, zombie apocalypse prepper by secret—was more amusing than any entertainment programming in her database.

'Twenty-two months and counting.' She watched him discuss foundation depths with the engineering team. 'This is going to be interesting.'

...…..

The sun had climbed higher by the time they finished their tour of the construction site, leaving behind the organized chaos of machinery and workers for the peaceful beauty of the estate grounds. Michael felt that familiar sense of transition—from the practical world of construction schedules and technical specifications back to the almost surreal luxury of his new life.

"You know, sometimes I forget how beautiful this place is. When you're focused on foundation depths and security protocols, you miss the simple stuff." He walked along one of the stone paths that wound through Nora's carefully planned gardens.

"That's exactly why I insisted on these morning walks. Balance, Mike. Even preparing for the worst, we need to remember what makes life worth living." Nora stopped beside a fountain where water sparkled in the late morning sunlight.

She had a point. The gardens were incredible—not just beautiful, but thoughtfully designed. Japanese cherry trees created natural archways over the walking paths, while underneath, flower beds created splashes of color that changed with each season. Hidden among the decorative elements, Michael knew, were the security cameras and sensors that monitored every inch of the property. But you'd never know it just by looking.

They settled onto the outdoor terrace behind the mansion, where comfortable furniture offered a perfect view of both the gardens and the distant construction site. Nora had prepared this space as their informal planning area—close enough to the house for privacy, but open enough to keep an eye on everything else.

"Coffee?" Nora asked, though she was already moving toward the outdoor kitchen area she'd had installed.

"Please." Michael sank into one of the heavy wooden chairs, his mind already shifting to the practical concerns that never quite left him alone. "We need to talk about what comes next."

"What construction, or next month's extraction?" Nora returned with two perfectly brewed cups and her ever-present tablet.

"All of it, I guess." Michael accepted his coffee gratefully, then looked out toward the construction site where tiny figures continued their work. "Kim's crew is amazing, but they're construction workers, not soldiers. And with the scale of what we're building becoming more obvious every day..."

The attention will grow. I've been watching industry chatter. Your project is already becoming legendary status among construction professionals. It won't be long before that spreads to other groups." Nora sat into the chair beside him.

She activated her tablet, and Michael leaned closer to see what she'd been working on. The screen showed organizational charts, personnel files, and what looked like business registration documents.

"I've been thinking about the security issue. We could hire an established firm, but that brings complications. Corporate loyalties, oversight, people asking questions we don't want to answer."

"What's the alternative?"

"We create our own private security company. Officially, it's a legitimate business offering protection services to high-net-worth individuals. Unofficially, our first and primary client is you."

Michael set down his coffee cup, leaning forward with interest. "Go on."

"Titan Security Solutions—I've already got the paperwork drafted. Proper licensing, legitimate business registration, all the legal requirements. We recruit carefully, focusing on people with the right skills and the right... flexibility regarding unconventional situations."

"Former military who won't ask too many questions about why we need anti-zombie defenses?"

"Exactly. Plus, having our own company provides legal cover for weapons purchases, training facilities, equipment acquisition. And most importantly, absolute loyalty to the organization you control."

Michael found himself nodding as he considered the implications. "Staffing levels?"

"Initially, fifty personnel. Twenty for estate security, twenty for construction site protection, ten specialists—snipers, communications, medical, technical support."

The idea was appealing, but Michael had learned to be cautious about anything that sounded too easy. "Background checks? How do we ensure loyalty?"

"That's where my capabilities become invaluable. I can conduct background investigations that go deeper than any normal security clearance. Criminal history, financial records, psychological profiles, family situations, personal vulnerabilities—everything needed to ensure reliability."

Michael stood and walked to the terrace railing, looking out over his future kingdom. The workers in the distance looked like ants from this perspective, but each one represented a potential security risk, a possible information leak, a human variable in his carefully constructed plans.

"There's another issue—the extraction limitations."

"Two items per month with your double compensation package. It's better than most systems offer, but still if used smartly, one can do wonders"

Michael turned to face her, an idea forming. "Hmm, say what if for next month we get a manufacturing device and technology, it can help us in the long term, and since we are 2 years early, there is not that much rush about it."

"Manufacturing equipment?" Nora's eyes lit up with understanding. "That... that could actually work. The limitation is on extraction events, not on the productive capacity of what's extracted."

"Exactly! So instead of getting individual items..."

"We extract a complete automated manufacturing facility. Set it up in the underground levels we're building, and suddenly we can 3d manufacture a lot of things. I'm sure there exists technology that can change atoms directly."

They sat in comfortable silence for several minutes, both processing the implications. The morning sun continued climbing, warming the terrace and filling the air with the scent of blooming flowers.

"You know, the drones from last month are working better than I expected. Seeing them flying, responding to commands... it makes this feel more real."

"The Transformers security package was a good choice for your first extraction. And that Dune protection suit you extracted last week, have you thought about live testing it yet?"

Michael shook his head. "Nope, apart from the initial test with you, there's not much here to test it with."

"We'll figure out a way. Both items are working great, and I have been able to reverse engineer the drones, which means your manufacturing idea should work too."

The sound of helicopter rotors interrupted their conversation. They both looked up to see a sleek aircraft approaching from the south—another delivery related to the construction project.

"Speaking of progress, that's the German engineering team arriving for the wall installation consultation. I wonder who told them to install advanced insulation in the manor house, especially in the bedroom." Nora turned toward Michael as she got closer to him. Her eyes narrowed, and she spoke, teasing him.

Michael stopped dead in his thoughts as he went through a hundred scenarios in which he could fuck this up and gave the final perfect answer, "It's just construction, you know, don't want to get disturbed by the noise and all, haha… ha"

"Construction noises? Hundreds of meters away, are you sure, Mike, it's just construction?" Nora asked once again, this time leaning even closer to his face, looking down on him.

"Uhm.. you know.. construction will pick and, and just wanted to make sure.. everything is fine and no future issue occurs, yep definitely that's exactly what I planned, yeah." Michael mumbled his way through excuses, finally gaining back his composure.

"You're getting that look again," Nora observed, bumping his shoulder gently.

"Huh, what look?" Michael asked.

"The 'serious panda look'. Very intense, very cute." She ruffled his hair affectionately. "But also very you."

Michael caught her hand before she could pull it away, intertwining their fingers. "Well, not as much as you, you are way more cute than anyone you know."

Nora, who was just teasing Michael so passionately, froze at his words with a deep red blush covering her face. "Don't say something like that, suddenly, and we... we should go inside, the weather is cloudy today, it might rain soon, c'mon, or else you'll get wet."

Michael looked at Nora going towards the manor in a hurry and then looked up at the sky, which was as clear as it could be, and couldn't smile. "Yeah, that sounds about right, it might rain just… not here, oh dear Nora, nothing will come close to you."

They reached the mansion's entrance, where the quiet luxury of their private world waited. But outside, the sounds of construction continued, the helicopter had landed safely, and somewhere in the distance, the drones he'd extracted from another reality continued their silent patrol.

Twenty-two months until the dead started walking. But today, they were building the future.

And for the first time since arriving in this world, Michael felt genuinely confident that the future was going to be exactly what they made it.