Chapter 173: The New Shelter
"Alright... Let’s get in."
The heavy metal doors creaked open as Kai pushed them aside, allowing Aurora, Russel, and Amer to see the main building of the shelter for the first time.
Immediately, the atmosphere shifted. This wasn’t just a survivor’s hideout, it had been an A.I. Army base. The evidence was everywhere.
Although there were no Automated Turrets and CCTVs everywhere like what Aurora imagined for an A.I. Base, she still knew that this was indeed a military base.
There were a total of three buildings in this shelter... The one in the east was the living quarters, the one in the west was the warehouse, but at the center was the main building.
As expected of the main building, it was filled with crates, and they were stacked neatly as if awaiting deployment.
Based on the signs, there were various weapons or supplies, like rifles and handguns.
Still, there were also ammunition boxes that piled high beside them. On the other side, they also noticed blades of varying sizes, some designed for humans, others clearly meant for mechanized soldiers.
But what truly stunned Aurora’s group were the spare parts scattered across the west building’s warehouse floor.
Extra limbs of Sentinels were everywhere! Mechanical Arms with pristine hydraulic joints, even spare legs of Spyders lay bundled together, probably for emergency usage if the A.I. Army needed quick replacements.
And among them, Kai pointed out the most valuable find... energy cells for plasma rifles, still sealed and untouched!
Aurora’s eyes widened. "This... this is incredible. With these supplies, Shelter‑45 could arm an entire battalion."
Kai nodded calmly. "Yes... That’s a nice surprise. I also didn’t expect to find that here. The machines left behind weapons and resources we can use. But we have to ensure that only people we trust can have these... We don’t want another Terrence incident."
Aurora nodded as she recalled the incident.
As they explored, Aurora’s group began to settle into their roles.
Amer, the cook, immediately moved toward the kitchen area.
Unfortunately, there weren’t any gas stoves he could use here, and he had to rely on dried wood for fire.
Though primitive, it had enough space and storage to work with. Kai had already arranged food packs and utensils, but Amer brought his own tools... a ladle, a pan, and a few knives he had kept safe.
"There’s a week’s worth of wood and dried branches... We should be fine for some time."
He pulled out a fire starter, striking sparks until a small flame caught.
Soon, smoke curled upward as he built a cooking fire.
Just like that, he set the pan over the flames, ready to prepare a proper meal. Well, he was sure that these guys were only eating by heating the MREs with some instant noodles...
Since Kai asked him to bring spices and various vegetables, he knew what he had to do...
Soon, the smell of sizzling rations quickly spread, drawing curious glances from the freed slaves nearby.
Meanwhile, Russel, the scout, was already inspecting the perimeter.
He greeted Jonas, who was guarding the wall as expected, since it was also his job back in New Haven Shelter-45.
He then started looking around, and he caught cracks in the walls and weak points near the gate. Without hesitation, he headed to the warehouse that Kai had pointed out and started rummaging through supplies until he found coils of barbed wire.
"Perfect," he muttered.
Using scattered stones and debris as anchors, Russel reinforced the weak spots, placing the barbed wire into improvised barriers.
Within an hour, the holes and cracks in the shelter’s defenses were filled with the help of a few other people who had noticed what he was trying to do.
Kai smiled as he observed all this quietly, impressed by how quickly the group adapted.
Amer served healthier meals, Russel was fortifying defenses, while Claire and the others seemed to be cataloguing weapons and energy cells.
***
Soon, Kai, Jonas, and Aurora were looking at the crop samples on the table...
"These crops..." Aurora muttered as she saw four baskets containing four different crops...
"These are what the slaves were forced to grow," Kai said.
"I’ve already appraised them..."
Kai then shared what he had found out... He pointed first to the potato‑like tuber with violet and orange spots.
[ Mutagenic Root ]
[ Grade: Hazardous Material
Description: A genetically altered tuber designed to produce unstable toxins. When consumed, it can trigger mutations in organic tissue or destabilize biological systems. ]
[ Note: Not intended for food. Harvested as raw material for bioweapon development. Prolonged exposure may weaken the human immune system. ]
Aurora frowned as she saw these...
Kai then moved to the second basket.
Inside were thick, pale stalks with spherical ends...
[ Disruptive Stem ]
[ Grade: Hazardous Material
Description: A modified stalk crop engineered to interfere with human gene stability. Prolonged contact or ingestion can disrupt gene mutations, weakening or nullifying enhancement serums. ]
[ Note: Survivors exposed may lose the benefits of specific gene enhancements temporarily. ]
Aurora’s eyes widened. "That’s... dangerous. If this spreads, it could undo everything the serums gave us."
Kai nodded. "Exactly. They’re cultivating weapons meant to cripple us. Anyway, a few of them nearby aren’t a big issue. Also, I don’t think those with Alpha Gene Enhancements will have issues. Jonas tried... I think only the low-quality ones will be affected."
He then pointed to the third basket. This one contained oily pods...
[ Oil Pod ]
[ Grade: Industrial Material
Description: A crop designed to produce synthetic oil. Not edible for humans. When processed, it serves as fuel and lubricant. ]
[ Note: Survivors cannot consume this safely. However, it may be repurposed as crude fuel for generators or mechanical repairs. ]
"Smells like engine grease..." Aurora muttered as she recalled the Artillery in New Haven Shelter-45.
Finally, Kai gestured to the fourth basket. Inside were small, thorny tubers...
[ Sustenance Vine ]
[ Grade: Hazardous Material ]
[ Description: A vine engineered to produce watery sap. When consumed, the juice fills satiety and prevents starvation, but it gradually poisons the body, weakening organs and causing long‑term damage. The leaves can also be eaten, offering temporary relief from hunger while accelerating the toxic effect. ]
[ Note: Survivors relying on it will eventually suffer organ failure or collapse from cumulative poisoning. ]
Aurora frowned at this as she realized that this crop was what kept the slaves alive.
However, she looked at Kai, confused by what he was trying to show her.
"Wait... Do you want me to cultivate these plants?"