A crowd had gathered in front of the bulletin board beside the former resort hotel at Blackberry Ranch.
Today was the first time the points system had been posted on a large scale after being organized by Rickson, Ellie, Mrs. Howard, Guillermo, and Miguel.
The wooden board was packed with members' numbers, names, contribution categories, and final point totals.
Beside it was the latest notice on supply movement, listing where resources had come from and where they had gone.
During their discussions, Guillermo had suggested giving everyone a numbered card to make sorting easier.
The suggestion was adopted.
And so, everyone in the base, from the elderly to the children, received a numbered card.
Number 1 was naturally Calista. Number 2 was Leah, and Number 3 was Rickson. The mercenaries, Dr. Evans, Mr. and Mrs. Howard, and longtime residents such as Martha, Joey, Tom, Mira, and Little Jimmy followed in order.
Most names were followed by sizable numbers, representing the work each person had contributed in various areas since the base was founded.
The bottom three were, of course, the newly arrived raider prisoners. Their points were still negative, far from even reaching zero.
Fourth and fifth from the bottom were their predecessors.
Wagner - Points: 1000/1000 (Has met redemption standards)
Jason - Points: 1000/1000 (Has met redemption standards)
A suppressed stir ran through the crowd.
Those two names represented a past that was hardly pleasant.
Many people still remembered Lorenzo's Red Scarf Gang, especially the residents and National Guard members who had once been enslaved by them.
However, Wagner had been Lorenzo's deputy, and Jason had been the production line foreman.
Neither of them had been directly responsible for guarding or managing the prisoners, so the crowd's emotions stayed relatively steady. After a brief glance, people went back to searching for their own point totals and those of their family and friends.
...
Rock Fortress Command Center.
Calista sat in the main seat, reading through the winter summary report Rickson had submitted.
Leah and Rickson sat on either side of her.
"The points announcement has already been posted." Rickson pushed another document in front of Calista. "This is the final evaluation for those two."
On the first page of the file, two names were listed side by side: Wagner and Jason.
Behind them was a detailed breakdown of their points.
Wagner's record was filled with specialized work: clearing walkers from specific areas, bringing back ten "Sentinel" walkers, handling dangerous equipment...
Jason's record was more grounded: clearing walkers from specific areas, using his knowledge of local buildings to help locate new supply points, and killing a raider during a clash by relying on his street-fighting experience...
Both men's final totals had firmly reached the 1000/1000 redemption line.
"The points review is complete. Wagner and Jason have both met the redemption standards." Leah's gaze swept over the two names, lingering for a moment on "Wagner."
Calista glanced at it. "Then handle it according to the rules."
Leah gave a slight nod and pressed the internal communicator on the desk. "Bring Wagner and Jason to the command room."
The wait was not long.
The door opened, and two fully armed Defense Force soldiers entered first, taking positions on either side.
Then Wagner and Jason walked in.
Wagner was leaner than he had been when he was captured, but his back was straight, and the battle-hardened air around him had not faded.
Jason was different. He had become much more cautious.
He hunched slightly, and when his eyes met Leah's and Calista's, they flickered instinctively. His hands curled without him realizing it.
Especially the little finger Carver had cut off during the interrogation.
Although Dr. Evans had barely managed to reattach it, the finger was visibly crooked, moved poorly, and had a scar circling the base.
The heavy shackles on their feet, the symbol of their status as prisoners, were already gone. The soldiers on duty had removed them according to procedure before bringing them here.
"The points settlement is complete. You have paid off all your debts," Calista said. "From this moment on, you are no longer prisoners. You are official residents of Rock Fortress."
She took out two metal identification tags with smoothly polished edges. Their names and a simple number were engraved on them. She placed them at the edge of the table.
"These are your identity markers. As residents, you will be protected by the base, and you will also bear the corresponding obligations. Housing, work assignments, and supply rations will all be handled according to the regulations."
Wagner stepped forward and silently picked up the identity tag engraved with his name.
He said nothing. He gripped the tag tightly in his palm, then took a step back and lowered his head slightly, showing acceptance and obedience.
To Wagner, it made no difference who he served. Rock Fortress was stronger than Lorenzo, and easier to deal with too.
Jason looked at the identity tag that belonged to him. After a moment of hesitation, he picked it up.
The cold metal spread through his fingertips, making him shiver.
Without thinking, he rubbed the edge of the tag with his index finger.
Jason's plan was to become an official resident, then find an easy job, such as doing odd tasks in the workshop or working at the ranch.
"As residents, you may freely choose your future positions," Calista continued. "Farming, workshop work, construction, or the Defense Force."
Almost the moment she finished speaking, Wagner answered, "I'll join the Defense Force."
He paused, then finally raised his eyes and looked directly at Calista. "This place needs people who can fight, and that's what I know best. Besides..."
Wagner's gaze swept around the command room, his meaning clear. "I still have things in my head that I 'learned' from Lorenzo, things about weapons production and improvement. They should be put to use."
Jason was still hesitating, but when he heard Wagner make his choice without a second thought, he froze and turned to look at him.
His mind started racing. The Defense Force? Is this guy insane? People there put their lives on the line all the time. But...
From the corner of his eye, Jason swept his gaze over the faces of Calista, Leah, and Rickson, then over the soldiers standing rigidly with guns in hand.
No...
Here, the Defense Force was where the real power was!
Only with a gun in your hand and that uniform on your body would no one dare bully you. Only then could you live like an actual person!
If even an old fox like Wagner chose it, then it had to be the right choice!
In that instant, Jason swallowed the words he had been about to say about choosing the workshop. He rushed to speak, afraid that being even one step too slow would make him miss this chance.
"I'll choose the Defense Force too!"
Leah's gaze shifted to Jason, especially the damaged finger, which she glanced over coldly.
"The Defense Force is not a shelter." Her voice was cold, and her tone grew heavier. "It is Rock Fortress's sharpest blade, and also the place most likely to get hurt.
Discipline, obedience, loyalty. Not one can be missing.
The training will be harder, the rules will be stricter, and the observation period will be longer.
This is your last chance. Think carefully."
"People like us are used to rules. You know that." Wagner looked at Leah. He had already weighed everything.
Jason felt the pressure in Leah's gaze and swallowed, but he tried hard to sound firm. "Of course! I-I've thought it through!"
Inside, though, his heart was pounding. Damn it, no matter how strict the rules are, it's still better than having someone cut off your fingers whenever they feel like it!
At least the rules are out in the open!
Leah stared at them for a long moment and said nothing more. "Report to the recruitment office for your enlistment assessment."
She waved a hand. "Remember your choice, and remember my warning."
The two turned and left.
Just before the door closed, Wagner's steps paused, but he did not look back.
The door shut, and the room fell silent again.
"Wagner knows his own value and what he's good at. Jason smelled power," Rickson analyzed calmly.
"People with bargaining chips are always easier to deal with than people who have nothing," Calista finally said, her gaze falling on the window.
"The key is making them, making everyone, understand that their bargaining chips only have value under Rock Fortress's rules.
Keep an eye on them, especially Wagner. He's a good gun, but he could also misfire."
...
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