OutBreak Survival

You turn, intending to lead the way downstairs, you only make it two steps.

The brown-haired young woman hops onto her feet and calls out "Take the four of us!"

You pause, expression blank as you process the request. The brown-haired woman who spoke - Jessica - stands with hands clenched at her sides, chin lifted despite visible nervousness. Behind her, the other three watch with varying degrees of hope and desperation.

"I'll be blunt," you say finally. "The base I've made is intended for dimensional travelers. You're from this world and won't be considered the same way as them."

Jessica's expression wavers but holds. "We understand. We can still work - maids, waitresses, general labor. You've got dimensional travelers with superpowers. They'll need support staff."

You study her a moment longer. Former paramedic based on the midazolam knowledge. Probably useful.

"If you accept, step into a line and follow Mikasa - the black-haired girl in the gray jacket."

Jessica moves immediately. The other three exchange glances before following - first the Hispanic woman in worn jeans, then the Asian woman with tired eyes, finally the Indian woman who'd been sitting furthest back.

Mikasa shifts position near the doorway, Survey Corps jacket unmistakable. Her dark eyes track the four women with predatory assessment.

"Stay behind me," Mikasa says flatly. "Don't wander. Don't touch anything."

You turn toward Sandra. "Please add them to my bill."

Sandra's calculating gray eyes narrow slightly. "Four non-powered young women. Current rate's eight thousand rounds per head. Call it thirty thousand for the lot since you're taking them as-is without negotiation."

"Acceptable, sorry if it's inconvenient timing." you confirm.

Sandra nods once, pulling a small notebook from her jacket pocket to make notation. "Guard barracks are ground floor, east wing. Mugen should have finished eating but he's probably still hanging around the mess area. Boy's always hungry."

You lead your group toward the stairs. Albedo moves beside you in full black plate armor, golden eyes sweeping corridors with predatory vigilance. Musashi follows with casual confidence. Yoruichi grins from her position near the rear, clearly enjoying the spectacle. Maria's violet eyes track the four new additions with analytical precision. Asia walks quietly, hands clasped. Rin maintains her school uniform pristine, posture relaxed. Rika keeps tactical vest and professional bearing. C.C. brings up the rear with characteristic bored expression.

Mikasa shepherds the four women down the stairs, maintaining position between them and the rest of the group.

The ground floor turns into functional military efficiency - converted hotel lobby transformed into operations center. Guards watch from doorways with rifles slung over shoulders.

Sandra gestures toward the east corridor. "Straight through, third door on the left. Mess hall connects to barracks."

You push through the indicated doorway. The mess hall shows metal tables bolted to floor, bench seating, serving counter with industrial kitchen beyond. A man sits alone at the far table - wild dark hair, lean frame, torn red jacket over bare chest, dual swords resting against the bench beside him.

Mugen looks up as your group enters. His expression shifts from bored to interested in seconds flat, dark eyes tracking across Albedo's armor, Musashi's confident bearing, Yoruichi's minimal robe, the others following behind.

"Well damn," Mugen says, standing slowly. "Didn't know the food got this good around here."

His hand drops casually toward one sword hilt.

You raise one hand in a friendly gesture, motioning for your group to hold position a step back. Albedo's golden eyes narrow fractionally but she obeys, armored boots settling into ready stance. The others spread slightly - Musashi leaning casual against the wall, Yoruichi grinning from her position near the doorway, Maria's violet gaze tracking Mugen's posture.

"Easy," you say, crossing to sit opposite him at the metal table. "Flirting with powerful women that clumsily is cute, sure, but generally a bad idea."

Mugen's hand lifts from his sword hilt, dark eyes assessing you with feral calculation. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Brad, popularly known as The Enchanter." you answer simply. "The zombies should make it pretty obvious you're not in your own world. You're what we're calling a dimensional traveler - someone displaced from their reality into this one. There are many others like you, and I'm trying to find a way to return everyone home."

His expression shifts slightly - wariness mixing with interest. "Yeah? How's that working out?"

"Still figuring it out, feels like trying to throw rocks at the moon..." you admit. "First priority is keeping the lost travelers alive. I've made a sanctuary of sorts - an enchanted ship where people don't need to eat, drink, or age. Safe from zombies or just other people."

You pull the Eternal Ring from your inventory, placing it on the table between you. Golden metal catches fluorescent light.

"I'll be blunt - from what I know of you, you'd absolutely hate living on a ship for however many years it takes me to find you a way home. So how do you feel about a job instead?"

Mugen's eyes drop to the ring.

"This ring," you continue, "has been enchanted. The technical details won't matter to you, so imagine this: You put it on and start sprinting out into the desert. An hour goes by - you're sweating but you don't feel dirty. Not hungry, not thirsty. Just a little tired. So you keep running another hour. Nice sweat going, but still not hungry or thirsty. Sun's moved but it doesn't bother you. You could run for the rest of the day and the ring would keep you fed, hydrated, clean, energetic. You'd just eventually get tired and want to sleep."

Mugen reaches forward slowly, picking up the ring. Turning it over in calloused fingers. Around the cafeteria, guards exchange glances - some staring at your group, others watching the conversation with visible shock. Sandra stands near the kitchen entrance, gray eyes locked on the ring with barely concealed hunger.

"This ring is a job," you finish. "Find the other dimensional travelers. Keep them safe. Pass them to me if you can. I'll return you home as soon as I figure out how."

He slides the ring onto his left index finger experimentally. "And if I just take this and fuck off?"

"Then you're still stuck in a zombie apocalypse and out of my hair until I find your way home," you reply evenly. "Your call."

Mugen grins suddenly - sharp and feral. "When do I start?"

You shrug, turning your attention back to Mugen. "Whenever you happen to hear of or find another dimensional traveler who isn't part of my group already. There are two others currently doing the same job - Yusuke and Kenshin. There's a list of others I'm looking for, but I doubt you'll find them while looking intentionally, so just enjoy yourself. Bash a few zombies, cut a few dumbasses in the apocalypse."

Mugen grins wider, tapping the Eternal Ring against the table with a metallic clink. "Now that's a job description I can get behind."

You pivot toward the guards watching from doorways - twelve men total, rifles still slung but attention riveted. "Oh, and for those who just heard, know that the glowing that happened a few minutes ago across the building was me putting those same enchantments on this entire facility. As long as you're working here, food is genuinely optional. So is getting old."

The nearest guard - early thirties, beard unkempt, faded tactical vest - lowers his rifle completely. "Wait, you're saying... we don't need to eat anymore?"

"Optional," you confirm. "Sustenance enchantment removes hunger and thirst. Aging reversal keeps you from aging. Vigor speeds natural healing. You're standing in an enchanted fortress now."

Another guard, younger with buzz-cut hair, speaks up. "How long does it last?"

"As long as you're inside the walls," you answer. "Step outside, normal biology resumes. Stay inside, you're protected."

Murmurs ripple through the watching men - disbelief mixing with dawning comprehension. One guard whispers something to his companion about "magic shit" while another just stares at you with open calculation.

You turn back toward Sandra, who's watching the exchange with sharp gray eyes. Her expression remains professionally neutral but you catch the slight tension in her jaw - she's already running calculations about how this information affects her operation.

"Sandra," you say directly. "Would you want to have our next conversation privately with my group, or publicly after telling your employees what their new working benefits are? Benefits currently limited to this location, standard enchantment package."

Sandra's gaze flicks toward the guards, then back to you. She exhales slowly through her nose - a deliberate pause while she weighs options.

"Private," she decides after three seconds. "My office, third floor. Give me five minutes to brief my people on the basics, then we'll talk specifics about the other facilities and your... priority access arrangement."

She gestures toward one of the guards near the kitchen entrance. "Marcus, get everyone assembled in the lobby in two minutes. Full briefing."

The guard nods, disappearing through the doorway immediately.

Sandra meets your eyes again. "You just made yourself either my best business partner or my biggest operational security risk. Let's figure out which."

You chuckle, gesturing for your group to move toward the eastern wall. Albedo glides forward in her black plate armor, wings folding tight against her back. Musashi strolls casually beside her, hand resting on her katana hilt. Yoruichi stretches lazily, grinning as she follows. Mikasa's Survey Corps jacket open. Maria adjusts her violet-eyed gaze toward you, maid outfit pristine. Rin crosses her arms, white blouse neat. Rika shifts her tactical vest, professional demeanor intact. C.C. walks beside Roxanne, green hair catching fluorescent light.

Roxanne follows C.C. closely, blonde-brown dog ears loose against her head. Her black-and-white maid uniform is clean but her posture screams submission - shoulders hunched, eyes downcast. The four women from the second-floor bedroom trail behind Mikasa, you remember to Appraise them: Jessica Vaughn [Age 23, paramedic] with her brown ponytail and tired eyes, Maria Santos [Age 19, former waitress, captured with sister who was sold two weeks prior] in worn jeans, Chen Wei [age 26, software engineer] looking cautious, Lakshmi Patel[age 21, student biologist] glancing around nervously.

"Best business partner, easily," you say to Sandra as your group settles against the wall. "They'd have found out about the enchantments eventually. Now you have a good excuse to cut off rations for those staying on-site - luxury goods. The Navy's doing the same thing on their ships. Food's only needed for those leaving the building."

Sandra's gray eyes sharpen. She nods once, calculating. "Smart. Converts a security risk into operational savings."

She turns toward the guards assembling near the kitchen entrance. Marcus - the Ranger you saw earlier - has gathered twelve men total. They stand in loose formation, rifles slung but attention focused.

"Listen up," Sandra announces, voice cutting through low conversation. "As of ten minutes ago, this entire facility has been enchanted by our guest here. You saw the glow. That wasn't a hallucination."

One guard - early twenties, buzz-cut, nervous energy - raises his hand. "What does that mean, exactly?"

Sandra gestures toward you. "Brad, you want to field that?"

You step forward slightly, keeping your tone conversational. "Sustenance enchantment satisfies nutritional needs and hydration while you're inside the walls. Aging reversal keeps you from getting older. Vigor speeds up natural healing, don't mistake with regeneration. Cleanliness keeps you clean, no more laundry. Thermostasis maintains comfortable temperature, won't matter if it's heatwave or blizzard those walls will be comfy. Step outside the walls and normal biology resumes. Stay inside, you're protected."

The buzz-cut guard exchanges glances with his neighbor - older, bearded, skeptical expression. "How long does it last?"

"Permanently," you answer. "As long as the building stands and you're inside it."

Murmurs ripple through the group. Marcus speaks up, voice steady. "What's the catch?"

Sandra answers before you can. "No catch for you. This is a working benefit now. Food rations go to personnel leaving the compound on operations. Everyone else doesn't need them."

The bearded guard frowns. "So we're just... never hungry again?"

"Try running laps," you suggest. "You'll know within a few hours."

Sandra nods once, gesturing toward the corridor leading to the elevators. "Third floor. Let's talk details where we have privacy."

You use the telepathy web silently. "Albedo, Musashi, Yoruichi - split coverage. Combatants and support."

Albedo's mental acknowledgment comes immediately. "Understood. Musashi and I will ride first with Rika, Rin, C.C. and Roxanne."

The group moves toward the elevators naturally - no visible coordination, but every position calculated. The first car opens and Albedo steps inside with Musashi, Rin and Rika, black plate armor gleaming under fluorescent lights. The doors close.

You wait with Maria, Yoruichi, C.C., Mikasa and the four women from upstairs - Jessica still watching everything carefully, Maria Santos staying close to Chen Wei, Lakshmi glancing nervously between you and Sandra. Roxanne stands beside C.C., dog ears drooping slightly.

The second elevator arrives. You step inside with the remaining group, Sandra pressing the button for the third floor. The car rises smoothly.

"Your people move like a military unit," Sandra observes quietly. "But none of them wear uniforms."

"Dimensional travelers," you answer. "Different worlds, different training. Same survival instinct."

The doors open onto a carpeted hallway - cleaner than the ground floor, with numbered office doors lining both sides. Sandra leads you toward the corner office, unlocking it with a physical key.

Inside: large desk covered in handwritten ledgers, wall-mounted maps marked with colored pins, radio equipment on a side table, filing cabinets lining the back wall. Windows overlooking the compound courtyard, reinforced with steel bars.

Albedo and Musashi position near the windows. Rika stands by the door, tactical vest unbuttoned. Yoruichi sprawls in a chair near the desk, grinning.

Sandra moves behind her desk, pulling a locked drawer open. She retrieves a spiral notebook - pages worn, edges dog-eared. Places it on the desk between you.

"A High-value list of heavily sedated captives, dimensional travelers" she says bluntly. "Too dangerous to transport without serious firepower or proper restraint. They're scattered from Canada to South America - sellers desperate to make deals before they run out of sedatives. The old high-value network mostly collapsed with fuel limitations and the chaos from zombies plus regular crime waves."

She flips open the notebook, revealing handwritten entries with names, locations, descriptions, asking prices.

"You came in at the perfect time," Sandra continues. "Before this week, moving these five would've required convoy escorts and multi-day transport windows. Now? You can just teleport them."

You lean forward, scanning the list. Five names, each with detailed notes:

Yugito Nii (Origin: Naruto. Power: jinchūriki, Ninjutsu, Chakra. Found injured after a large conflict, after her intervention both parties targeted the unknown woman. Sedated after identity confirmation, injuries healed at a rapid rate. Held in Vancouver by desperate ex-military group, sedated with veterinary tranquilizers, asking price: fuel + ammunition.).

Akame (Origin: Akame ga Kill. Power: assassin-type swordsmanship with special sword, included with purchase. Held in Tijuana by cartel remnants, sedated with industrial anesthetics, asking price: weapons + safe passage north).

Esdeath (Origin: Akame ga Kill. Power: Ice manifestation. Apparently a general in her own world, took over multiple large survivor groups with brutal displays of force and power. Capture method undisclosed, held in Spokane by survivalist compound, sedated with military-grade sedatives running out in 48 hours, asking price: food supplies + medical equipment).

Boa Hancock (Origin: One Piece. detail: younger than depicted. Power: unconfirmed. Held in Guadalajara by former police chief, sedated with hospital pharmaceuticals, asking price: relocation + protection).

Tatsumaki (Origin: One Punch Man. Power: extreme telekinetic. Discovered unconscious after destroying a town overrun by zombies. During transport an unconscious reaction destroyed all nearby vehicles, moved manually to nearby secure location. Sedated with experimental psychotropics, asking price: scientific equipment + data preservation).

"I partially agree with your assessment," you reply. "Make contact with those sellers. They have one day to decide if they want to sell or not. If you can buy them, that would be ideal and I'll provide transport. If not, I'll deal directly and provide payment fitting each seller's needs."

Sandra's gray eyes sharpen. "You're offering to pay what they need, not what they're asking?"

"Their asking prices likely wont understand what I can offer, as you experienced firsthand." you confirm. "When I can offer them sustenance and fuel enchantments easily enough, I can give them whatever keeps them alive and functional. I'm not haggling over dimensional travelers."

She exhales slowly, fingers tapping the notebook. "That's going to make my job easier and harder. Easier because sellers will jump at custom payment. Harder because my cut gets complicated."

"Heh, That's a feeling I know, the entire navy deal and national fuel trade is currently done on credit and no communication." you agree. "There's definitely someone out there who starts saying 'We didn't ask you to do this or this, so we don't have to pay you'... Try and purchase them without naming me first, you might turn a huge profit when you sell them to me, if they refuse then mention my custom payment option. I still need to enchant your other two facilities, then we'll focus on your cut depending on what the others get paid."

Sandra grins suddenly - sharp and calculating. "Deal. I'll start making calls within the hour."

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