Chapter 28: Assessment
Monday morning, 8:00 AM — Training Ground.
Morning mist still lingered over the open field as sunlight pierced through, casting a faint golden sheen across the makeshift obstacles.
Barbed wire.
Two-meter walls.
Balance beams.
Shooting lanes.
All assessment equipment had already been prepared.
At the center of the field stood Wu Fan atop a temporary platform made of stacked wooden crates.
Today, he was dressed differently than usual—a black suit, white shirt, no tie. The formal attire gave him an unfamiliar, restrained presence.
A light wind lifted the hem of his coat, briefly revealing the Glock holstered at his waist.
Below him stood more than twenty participants preparing for the assessment, all wearing standardized gray training uniforms marked with the red Umbrella Corporation emblem.
Behind them stood a small group of family members and observers.
Wu Fan scanned the crowd.
"Everyone."
His voice was calm, not loud—but it carried clearly across the field.
The chatter gradually died down.
"This assessment is not about elimination," he said.
"It is to select capable individuals who can take on leadership roles and improve the overall security structure of the base."
He paused briefly, letting his gaze sweep across the crowd—nervous faces, excited ones, and those trying to appear composed.
"Those who perform well will receive higher points, better living conditions, and priority in task selection."
Another pause.
"But that does not mean those who perform poorly are without value. Everyone has a place here—logistics, maintenance, medical support, resource management. All of it matters."
He then turned slightly toward the viewing area.
"Your families will be protected. As long as you contribute to this community, we will not abandon you."
A few scattered applause broke out.
"Alright," Wu Fan said, stepping down from the platform. "Let's begin."
Viewing Area
Paul sat in a wheelchair, watching the participants warm up. His expression was complicated.
"Don't think too much," Karina said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You can try next time after you recover."
"I know," Paul replied with a sigh. "It just feels like we missed an opportunity."
"There will be more," Karina said with a faint smile. "Didn't you hear the boss? As the group grows, there will be more leadership positions."
Paul nodded slowly. "You're right."
Nearby, Lori adjusted Rick's collar, standing on her toes to straighten his uniform.
"Be careful," she said softly. "Don't get injured."
Rick smiled and held her hand. "Relax. I'm good at this."
Lori smiled back, then turned to Sean.
"You too. You two grew up together—look out for each other."
Sean glanced at Rick and smirked faintly. "Don't worry. If it comes down to just him and me… I won't hold back."
Rick laughed. "Same here."
Their eyes met briefly—something sharp and competitive flickered between them.
Lori didn't notice. She simply smiled.
"That's good."
Across the field, Amy stood beside Andrea.
"You sure you're okay?" Amy asked quietly.
Andrea rolled her eyes. "What kind of question is that?"
"I'm just worried. You've only trained for two weeks…"
"And?" Andrea cut her off, tightening her wrist strap. "Two weeks is enough. Stop jinxing me."
She pulled her hand away. "Go sit over there and wait for my result."
Amy sighed and stepped back.
Nearby, Morgan shook his head with a smile. "I'm too old for this."
Jim chuckled. "Same here. I'd rather fix engines than break bones."
T-boy sighed nearby. "You're all lucky… I barely know how to hold a gun."
A few quiet laughs followed.
At the edge of the field, Merle was warming up alone.
He rolled his shoulders, muscles tightening under his skin. Years of fighting had carved a hardened physique—strong, brutal, efficient.
He spat on the ground and smirked.
"This'll be easy."
Kyle stepped forward and raised his whistle.
"On your marks!"
The participants lined up.
"Ready—"
Beep!
3km Weighted Run
They surged forward.
Rick immediately took the lead—steady, controlled, professional.
Sean followed closely behind.
Merle chased aggressively but could not close the gap.
Andrea maintained fifth place, steady and consistent.
Wu Fan observed from the side.
As expected.
Rick first. Sean second. Merle third.
No surprises.
Obstacle Course
Rick cleared the wall in one fluid motion.
Sean followed half a beat behind.
Merle nearly slipped but managed to recover.
Barbed wire crawl. Balance beam. Sprint transitions.
The movements were instinctive for trained officers.
Shooting Test
Stationary targets.
Rick: 9/10
Sean: 9/10
Merle: 7/10
His accuracy was decent—but lacked consistency.
Moving targets widened the gap further.
Close Combat
T-boy lasted three seconds against Rick.
Marcus lasted three seconds against Sean.
Merle defeated Dylan quickly, though he added an unnecessary stomp afterward.
Kyle blew his whistle sharply.
Merle stepped back reluctantly.
Final Match: Rick vs Sean
They stood facing each other.
A decade of familiarity. A decade of rivalry.
"No holding back," Rick said.
Sean smirked. "Obviously."
They moved simultaneously.
Punch. Block. Counter. Step. Dodge.
Fast. Precise. Familiar.
After two minutes, Rick pinned Sean to the ground, stopping his fist inches from his face.
"Give up?"
Sean exhaled heavily, then smiled.
"I give up."
Rick helped him up.
They clasped shoulders and laughed.
"Good fight."
"Same to you."
Results
Kyle stepped forward.
"First place: Rick Grimes!"
"Second place: Shane Walsh!"
"They will serve as squad leader and deputy squad leader!"
Cheers erupted.
Lori hugged Rick tightly.
Carl clung to his leg, smiling brightly.
Sean stood nearby, calm—but his gaze drifted toward Merle.
There was quiet confidence in his eyes.
Merle noticed.
And froze.
For the first time, no one came to him.
Not even Amy.
He clenched his fists.
Then turned and walked away without a word.
Quarantine Dormitory
He sat alone on the edge of the bed.
Staring at the wall.
Sean's eyes replayed in his mind.
That expression—
Who do you think you are?
A fist slammed into the mattress.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?" Merle snapped.
"Amy."
He opened the door.
Amy stood there in a business suit, expression professional.
"The boss wants to see you."
Merle frowned.
"…Now?"
Amy didn't answer.
After a pause, he grabbed his jacket.
"Lead the way."
The door closed behind him.
And he followed her into the unknown.