Chapter 71: The Tunnel

The group now had five functional turbines in total. Ben carried two of the turbines with his broad shoulders. Jasmine, Saya, and Saeko each carried one. Rei kept her M4W at the ready, eyes scanning their surroundings for any sign of danger.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the bus depot, Yuriko and Lois had just lowered a sleek, muscular pink bike from the back of Humvee. The vehicle's glossy paint gleamed under the dim light. 

Yuriko ran her hand along the bike's frame, admiring its design. "It's a nice color," she remarked.

Lois chuckled softly. "It's perfect for James," she replied. They both giggled.

"How are you holding up?" Lois asked. 

Yuriko smiled. "It is tough but I need to stay strong for my daughter, for myself," Yuriko replied. 

"I did have a husband who I left. He was constantly drunk and abusive. He made me feel small and weak," Lois said. "Your husband seems like a good man," Lois added.

"He was," Yuriko said.

"He said to keep happy, think about it," Lois said. 

Yuriko's immediate thought went to Saya and then James. 

Their attention shifted as they noticed James and the others approaching, with what looked like oversized mechanical fans.

James waved as he drew nearer. "Hey, you two! Looks like the bike's ready to roll," he called.

Yuriko straightened, a smile touching her lips. "Yes, and it looks like quite the ride," she responded, nodding towards the pink bike. "We thought it might be your style," she added. 

James chuckled, "Pink, huh? Well, I've always wanted to make a statement," he quipped, setting his turbine down gently.

The group gathered around the Humvee. Shizuka came to the rear of the vehicle. She also saw the large fans. "It does get a bit hot here, so good thing you brought a fan," Shizuka said. 

"It is a Turbine and it generates electricity, like a portable generator however so we may need something else to keep you cool," James replied. 

"We are going to need this to help us leave this place," James said. 

"The table would require some sort of power so this will power it up," Saya said. 

"Yes but there is a bit more," James added. At that moment they heard a beep. "Next station: decrepit bus stop filled with undead," a voice was heard. 

"What was that?" Rei asked. 

"Show yourself," Saeko added.

"It's the automated bus driver called Ted," James replied.

"Automated bus driver?" Saya inquired.

James nodded, a small smile on his face. "Yes, it's a robot that drives the bus along a pre-set route," he replied. 

Shizuka's eyes widened with excitement. "I want to see it!" she exclaimed, almost bouncing on her heels.

"It does sound interesting. I've never seen a robotic driver before," Jasmine, added. She wondered what it looked like. 

The bus door suddenly closed with a hiss, and the vehicle began to pull away, its engine humming to life.

"No! I missed my chance!" Shizuka wailed, watching the bus disappear.

"It's okay, Shizuka," Saya reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "It follows a set route, so we'll have another chance to see it later," she added.

Shizuka's face lit up with a hopeful smile. "Really? I can't wait!" she said, hopping up and down in excitement.

James chuckled at their exchange. "Alright, let's focus on loading the turbines first," he said.

Together, they lifted the Turbines and loaded them into the back of the Humvee, securing them tightly with straps to prevent them from shifting during their journey.

As they finished, Jasmine wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. "With these turbines, we're one step closer to getting out of here," she said, her voice filled with determination.

"Let's not waste any more time. We need to move before more zombies show up," Saeko warned.

"It has been a bit quiet," Rei added. 

He then turned to Rei, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Rei, how about a ride on the back of the bike?" he asked. 

"Yes!" Rei responded eagerly, her eyes sparkling. The other girls, including Yuriko, exchanged glances of mild disappointment but quickly smiled when James added, "Don't worry, we can rotate. Everyone will get a turn."

Their faces brightened at his words, the promise of a shared experience lifting their spirits.

James then turned to Shizuka. "Shizuka, follow me in the Humvee. We'll be following the bus through the fog. There will be a tunnel and might need to stop there for a bit," James ordered.

Nodding, Shizuka headed towards the driver's seat of the Humvee, while the rest of the girls climbed in. 

James and Rei wore their helmets, readying themselves for the ride. Rei settled onto the back of the bike, wrapping her arms around James's waist. She leaned in close, a soft smile on her lips. "I like this," she whispered.

James could feel her large breasts against his back. So do I," he replied softly.

He started the bike, the powerful machine roaring to life beneath them. With a smooth motion, he shifted into gear and accelerated into the fog, 

James's eyes narrowed as he approached a tangled mess of wrecked cars. The vehicles lay in chaotic heaps, some piled atop one another, others smashed into the crumbling remnants of roadside barriers. Shattered glass was everywhere, while doors hung open at odd angles. 

James weaved the bike around the wreckage. He maneuvered avoiding sharp edges of crumpled metal and debris that littered the road. Behind him, Shizuka mirrored his movements in the Humvee, her hands steady on the wheel as she guided the heavy vehicle through the narrow gaps between the smashed cars.

They approached the tunnel. James saw the cars were abandoned haphazardly, some still with their doors ajar as if their occupants had fled in haste. The tunnel walls bore scorch marks and graffiti. James carefully threaded his way around the debris. Broken headlights and shattered windshields littered the ground.

As he reached the midpoint, he paused, looking back to ensure the Humvee was still close behind. "Is something here?" Rei asked. 

"Yes," James replied. He put the stand on the bike. Rei got off the bike and looked around. She saw no zombies. James walked up to the emergency exit of the tunnel. He saw there was a long piece of wood on the floor. He smiled. "The board," he remarked. He picked it up. 

James then saw the M16 was on the ground. The M16 had a black, matte finish and a distinctive 20-inch barrel. There was an adjustable stock to the rear. He smiled and picked it up. Next to it was a large jet engine. He smiled. "That is one part," James said as he was about to pick the jet engine part, the door swung open. 

"Fascists must die," a voice was heard.