Chapter 8: Graphene Battery
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the third-floor windows, nudging Zack from his deep sleep. He sat up, stretched, and got dressed, casting a brief glance back with a small shake of his head. There was too much to do today; he couldn't afford to waste time on idle thoughts.
As he descended the stairs, he called out, "Ego, any news from last night?"
"Nothing of note within the Mansion, Sir," Ego replied. "However, there were sounds of zombies in the nearby Mansions. Likely former residents who turned after being trapped inside."
"Understood. I'll handle them later," Zack replied, then added, "Any major events outside?"
"Last night at 11:24 p.m., a nuclear explosion occurred in Nevada State, likely triggered by remnants of the military. Additionally, unusual zombies surfaced in India, and a local survivor base was destroyed."
"Skip those reports," Zack interrupted. "Anything relevant nearby?"
"An organization is gathering survivors near the capital, likely aiming to establish a large base with military personnel. Also, reports of a mutated zombie type, the 'Night Stalker,' suggest they're pack creatures with intelligence, swift movements, and climbing abilities. Fires have broken out across the country due to unmanned power plants, and we expect a full power and network outage in three days."
Zack's brow furrowed. Losing power and internet access would severely cripple his plans. Without power, the battery-operated Power armor he planned would be useless. And without the internet, Ego's capabilities would be heavily limited, no longer able to provide constant surveillance and updates.
"Ego, can you tap into a military satellite for intel?" Zack asked.
"Easily, Sir. Most satellites are now unmonitored." After a brief pause, Ego announced, "I've connected to the Liberty Star intelligence satellite from the Goverment. The live feed is clear."
Zack grinned as a real-time image appeared on his screen, showing the area with astounding clarity. "Good. This solves one issue, at least for now."