Chapter 69 – Armed Train
Hive Entrance
The platform lights blazed brightly, casting long shadows across the ground.
The steel rails reflected a cold metallic sheen beneath the illumination, stretching deep into the endless darkness of the tunnel.
An armored train sat silently beside the platform.
Its silver-gray body bore the red-and-white Umbrella Corporation emblem on the front.
The windows were made of thick bulletproof glass, tinted faintly blue beneath the lights.
A row of heavy hooks lined the sides of the carriage, though their purpose wasn't immediately clear.
Mounted atop the train was a remote-controlled machine gun turret, its barrel aimed directly into the tunnel like a silent sentinel.
Rick stood on the platform staring at the train before glancing toward Lori beside him.
She gripped Carl's small hand so tightly her knuckles had turned pale.
Carl didn't fully understand what was happening, but sensing his mother's tension, he remained unusually quiet.
"Lori…"
Rick's voice was low.
"Are you sure you want to bring Carl?"
Without looking at him, Lori kept her eyes fixed on the train.
"I'm not leaving him behind."
Rick opened his mouth as if to argue, but the words never came.
Instead, he glanced toward Wu Fan.
Wu Fan stood farther down the platform speaking quietly with Amy. As though sensing Rick's gaze, he turned around.
Rick walked over slowly, his steps heavy.
"Boss…"
He cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Lori wants to bring Carl with us."
Wu Fan looked at him silently.
Rick hurried to explain.
"I know conditions are better here at the CDC. There are schools, teachers, and people to watch over him. But Lori can't leave Carl behind… and honestly, neither can I."
His voice trailed off.
"Then bring him."
Wu Fan's tone was calm, as though discussing what to eat for lunch.
Rick blinked briefly before nodding.
"Thank you, Boss."
Wu Fan met his eyes evenly.
"You're going there to manage the prison. Not for a vacation."
His voice remained steady.
"You'll have everything you need. But the rules will still apply."
Rick nodded immediately.
"I understand."
Wu Fan said nothing more and turned away.
If Lori caused the same problems she had in the original timeline, he wouldn't hesitate to cut off supplies and let them return to surviving with cold weapons alone.
Rick watched Wu Fan's retreating figure, a strange feeling rising in his chest.
This man never wasted words.
Yet every sentence he spoke carried the feeling that everything had already been calculated and arranged perfectly.
Lori walked over with Carl.
"Did he agree?" she asked softly.
Rick nodded.
Lori finally let out a quiet breath of relief, though her hand still clung tightly to Carl's.
At the far end of the platform, Carol crouched in front of Sophia.
The little girl's eyes were red, though she stubbornly held back her tears.
"Mom has to go work for a while," Carol said softly.
"You have to listen to Sister Amy, eat properly, sleep properly, and go to school, okay?"
Sophia nodded silently, lips pressed tightly together.
"If you miss me, ask Amy to call me. I'll come back to see you whenever I can."
"Mom…"
Sophia's voice trembled slightly.
"When are you coming back?"
Carol paused for a moment before forcing a smile.
She pulled Sophia into a tight embrace.
"Soon," she whispered.
Sophia buried her face against her shoulder.
"Then you have to come back soon."
Carol didn't answer.
She only hugged her daughter tighter.
After a long moment, she finally stood and gently placed Sophia's hand into Amy's.
"Thank you for helping take care of her."
Amy shook her head.
"It's no trouble at all. Go without worrying."
Carol gave Sophia one final look before turning toward the train.
She walked quickly.
Without looking back.
Sophia stood frozen in place, watching her mother disappear through the train door before finally breaking into tears.
Amy crouched down and lifted her into her arms.
"Come on," she said gently. "I'll show you your new room."
Glenn stood by the train entrance watching the people moving across the platform, unable to hide his excitement.
He was going to the prison.
Not temporarily.
Long-term.
The prison was close to Hershel's farm. He had checked the map himself.
That alone was enough reason for him to volunteer.
He took a deep breath before stepping into the carriage.
T-Dog was already seated inside, backpack resting on his knees while he checked through his supplies.
"Glenn, how many packs of cigarettes did you bring?"
"None. I don't smoke."
T-Dog shook his head dramatically and continued counting his own stash.
Glenn leaned back into his seat and closed his eyes.
The train vibrated slightly as the electrical systems activated.
The lights overhead glowed bright and steady.
Cool air drifted from the ventilation system carrying the faint scent of disinfectant.
Wu Fan stood at the edge of the platform watching the final passengers board.
Rick.
Lori.
Carl.
Glenn.
T-Dog.
And the ten former National Guard soldiers assigned to the prison.
When Carl stepped aboard, Wu Fan noticed the boy pause briefly and glance back across the platform as though searching for something.
Then Lori gently pulled him into the carriage.
The train doors sealed shut.
With a muffled hiss, the airtight rubber seals compressed tightly against the frame.
The train shuddered softly.
The lights flickered once before stabilizing.
A faint electrical hum rose from the tracks as the wheels slowly began to move.
Steady.
Smooth.
People on the platform instinctively stepped back.
The armored train slowly departed the station, its headlights piercing into the endless darkness ahead, swallowing the tunnel inch by inch.
The sound of steel wheels rolling across the rails echoed through the underground passage, gradually fading farther and farther away.
Even after the train disappeared into the darkness, the platform remained quiet for a long time.
Eventually, people began dispersing.
Footsteps echoed faintly across the empty station.
Wu Fan stood silently beside the tracks.
Far down the tunnel, a tiny red light still lingered—the train's taillight.
Smaller.
Smaller.
Until it finally vanished.
"Boss?"
Amy's voice sounded from behind him.
Wu Fan turned around.
"Let's head back to the office."
Third-Floor Office
Wu Fan had barely sat down when someone knocked on the door.
Wells stepped inside wearing a flight jacket, exhaustion visible across his face from returning from an extended training flight.
"Boss, we ran low on fuel during yesterday's training run. We had to land overnight at Falbrook Airport before refueling and flying back."
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"I wanted to return last night, but visibility was terrible after dark…"
Without functioning satellites, GPS navigation had become unreliable.
"It's fine."
Wu Fan gestured toward the chair.
"Sit down. I have something for you."
Wells immediately sat upright.
"It's time to test your training results."
Wu Fan pulled out a map of Atlanta and spread it across the desk.
"You'll begin daily helicopter bombing runs around the Atlanta perimeter. First, soften the outer zones. After that, I'll arrange teams to lure walker hordes into designated kill areas. Your squad will handle the bombardment."
Wells' eyes lit up instantly.
"What ammunition are we using?"
"Machine guns. Rockets. Whatever works."
Wu Fan tapped several marked locations on the map.
"But avoid using missiles unless absolutely necessary. Those are expensive."
He circled several heavily infected zones.
"The walker concentration is highest in these areas. We'll start from the outer edge and slowly push inward."
Wells immediately stood at attention.
"Understood. I'll start planning the flight routes tonight."
He turned to leave, but Wu Fan stopped him.
"Wait. One more thing."
Wu Fan picked up the phone and dialed an internal line.
"Send Jackie to my office."
A few minutes later, Jackie stormed through the door looking ready to punch someone.
Her helmet was tucked beneath one arm while several rolled blueprints were clenched beneath the other.
Her naturally dark skin now looked even darker beneath the heavy circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept in days.
Recently, she had been handling nearly every major construction project herself—walls, housing, sewage systems, drainage, storage facilities.
Everything required her approval.
"Boss, you can't work me to death just because I'm Black."
She slammed the blueprints onto the desk.
"I've already got six more projects lined up."
"That's exactly why I'm getting you help."
Wu Fan pointed to a location marked across the highway.
"Design a military helicopter airfield here."
Jackie froze.
She looked at the map.
Then at Wu Fan.
Then at Wells.
Wells immediately turned his head and pretended to admire the view outside the window.
"You'll be allowed to recruit assistants," Wu Fan continued calmly. "Choose whoever you want. I'll approve them."
Jackie stared silently at the marked location for several long seconds before finally sighing deeply.
"Fine."
She rolled the blueprints back up and tucked them under her arm.
"I'm already used to being overworked anyway."
She walked toward the door before pausing.
"Anything else?"
"That's all."
Jackie shot Wells a sharp glare while passing him.
Wells pretended not to notice.
Once the office door closed, Wu Fan leaned back in his chair and lit another cigarette.