Episode 14: U.S.O.J.M.C.O No.10

The U.S.O.J.M.C.O, that is the name of this place, the last room in this Bunker, is the Communication and Observation center itself, the room were divided into 2-part, one part is where the Bunker generator was placed. And the other, were the communication and observation Center itself, just an entire room filled with monitors and computers, this place can be operated independently. It even has its own designated military grade satellite and radio system, from the thick introduction book inside the center, it stated that each Bunker have the same functions, and should any of it were down, any bunker can take the place as the main connections for communications and observation or even a command center for the government.

This bunker is essential for continuous communication for the United States of Jourica, with bunker like this one, even in an end of the world scenario did happen, the nation can still maintain a communication and ultimately the chain of command. But that is what they hoping for, initially, no one would ever think that the disaster strikes hard and fast, decimating everything almost instantly. And also no one can ever figure out that the people that they assigned to manage this bunker would, offed themselves. If I were to guess, those soldiers probably don't know why they were here, and only able to see the world end from a monitor, their family and friend died, and soon supplies ran out, hence the self-terminate. Surprisingly, not a single person left any sort of diary, so I cannot confirm why all of them do what they did. Maybe they keep their diary in a digital form, who knows, I just put that all at the back of my head and focus what I got going before me.

"...There is no fuel tank or anything…. this power generator…it runs on what? nuclear fusion battery?".

Right now, I am wrecking my brain to figure out how to turn on this power generator, inside the power supply room. There is only a single generator, it wasn't that big, it only occupies just about 1/3 of the room. So, I know in an instant that this power generator is just beyond me, I can see the power button to turn it on, and that was it. The problem was there is no fuel tank at all, instead in the middle, on top of the generator there's a power cell that I can pull out, and I did pull it out and put it in again, nothing happens.

"[…Try do a deep analysis on it, Sir…]". (Alfred)

"...Deep Analysis…oh…it is a nuclear fusion cell…".

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 Name: Nuclear Fusion Core

State: Depleted

Description: Advanced power cell, capable of powering any structure small or massive for a long period of time efficiently. (Radiation=0%, Energy depleted)

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"[It's a pity that it is already depleted and we do not have the knowledge on how to charge it….it is certainly a marvel invention…]". (Alfred)

"<Clang! >…I guess so…back in my world. This sort of stuff only appeared in Sci-fi movies or some nuclear Fallout kinda game…. anyway…we need to power this bunker if we want to use everything in it…".

I put the fusion cell back in its slot, and walked to the back of the generator, hoping that somehow, I can just hijack the power system somehow, reconnecting the current wiring system to a new power source.

"I saw a military automaton inside the center…. you said that you can hack it right? Ugh…why is there so many wires back here…".

"[Yes, I can, Sir….in fact…maybe I can use that Automaton. To even better served you and madam…. that would enable me to take a step closer to become a true Butler….]". (Alfred)

When I saw the Automaton, well preserved in a pristine condition within its docking station. My first thought is that, it looked cute, with an egg-shaped body, short and bulky limb, it even got a hand that should enable it to hold anything firmly. Doing housework is surely doable with that Automaton.

".…Hmm…I think…this is it…I can just connect this wire to a power plug…and then connect it to a generator. I guess that should do the trick…right, Alfred?".

"[I believed so, Sir…I've scanned them, and I believed that it is the correct cable…the cable in your hand is the one that are responsible to connect and distributes the power in the entire bunker, Sir…]". (Alfred)

"...Well, that's solves it…. all I need now…is a Generator…. there's the ventilation…".

Carefully looking up at the ceiling of the room, I saw a ceiling vent in the middle of the room, on the ceiling right beside the down light, this means that this room had a good ventilation, should I put a fuel generator here, I don't have to worry about the entire bunker got filled with smokes. Then again, I need to check if it still works, I saw the massive roof vent on top of the gas station roof, it should connect to that.

"Nat!!…can you help me for a sec?".

"What is it honey?". (Natasha)

"I need help checking something…. wait. Why are you holding a bowl full of water?".

Natasha comes running to me as I called her, but I am stunned to see that she comes to me, with a wooden bowl filled with water. Turns out, she is trying to collect all the clean water from all the water faucets in the bathroom. Believing that such opportunity would never come again, she decided to just take everything before it runs out. Wasteland mentality, so I don't have a heart to dispute her or said anything at all, so I just leave it there. I told her to go on the roof and shouted into the vent and then just pour a little bit of sand into the vent just to check if the vent is clear and safe to use, a rather simple test. But both tests got a positive result, so it is confirmed that I can safely put a generator in this room.

With that test concluded, I decided that the Bunker and the entire gas station is now safe to be our new base. It is now, 5 in the afternoon, the sun already started to come down on the horizon, after burying the 3 skeletons behind the gas station, both me and Natasha are covering the store window and door with wooden planks, the planks come from the many wooden boxes that I took in the basement, after dismantling them, the planks can be use again.

"...This hammer, felt nice honey….it felt…new…". (Natasha)

"Well…in a way. It is…From now on….be ready, Nat…all the thing that we will own…will be new...and it would and may, be sent here…inside this store…so…don't be surprised by it…okay?".

I told Natasha a lot of things about me and my newfound talent, that I conveniently contributed to my family special inheritance. Even the knowledge about this bunker were attributed to that 'inheritance' of mine. For Natasha, she didn't really question it, she accepts everything I said as a fact, but doesn't mean that she is an idiot, she is a wise person and a wise wife, she knows that no matter what, what I do is good for both of us and that was enough for her.

"Since you told me about it, I will try not to be surprised by it…. You know what Honey?". (Natasha)

"What?".

"This is the first time that we talked to each other's peacefully….and it was even the first time that we worked together like this…". (Natasha)

"I see….".

"And I liked it…for once…we truly like a normal loving married couple…". (Natasha)

"Well…we try and do it more of this stuff then…".

"...Honey…I love the new you…more than ever.". (Natasha)

That gentle warm smile, just stab me in my heart. She doesn't ask for much, but for the old me, even stuff like this were so hard to give to her. Both of us knew, that me right now, are not the same as the husband that she lived with and know before. And we both accepted this fact in silence, why, it is because both of us really need each other's, and both of us are welcoming this new relationship, a fresh new start for both of our lives.

"...I love you too, Nat…".

Never knew that I can said this word to a woman that I just met, but on the inside, I knew that no matter what happened, I should never let this woman go, I guess, in a way, I now a married person. With our little honest confession comes to an end, the night time has come, luckily, we were able to finished fortified the front side of the gas station, and also installed some primitive sound alarm as well. With an ease of mind, both of us head down to our bunker.