The Walking Dead: A New Beginning From the End of the World

In no time, the blood test was completed. Given the urgency of the situation, the refugees were not placed in isolation due to time constraints and the many tasks that needed to be done.

For that reason, those who were able returned to the garage and began moving supplies.

All the survivors who had arrived in recent days had successfully integrated into the order within the CDC. Now, everyone who had been concerned about the safety of the place felt reassured.

Since the U.S. government cut off television signals and civilian networks, the radio had become the only source through which all survivors in the country could obtain information about the outside world.

The broadcasts only mentioned safe havens, but everyone feared that these places were not what they seemed. There had been no sightings of military forces or anyone attempting to contain the disaster, indicating that everything was lost.

[Priority Transmission – Military Forces]

"To all active military units in the vicinity:

"A secure refuge has been established at this location. Your immediate presence is requested to reinforce security and maintain order.

"Facility secured and operational.

"Research is ongoing for the development of a cure.

"Access protocol and coordination in progress.

"Priority: High – Immediate response required.

"This message is retransmitted at scheduled intervals. Please respond if you receive this transmission."

After discussing a few more things, Tyler, who was overseeing the operations, handed additional manuscripts to the person in charge of transmitting messages. His expression became somewhat unnatural.

"[Anyone who is lost, hungry, or in need of help can come to our facility, where we continue to fight to develop a cure for this virus.]"

After the voice stopped, the recording played again and would continue to do so from that moment on.

Whether survivors who could hear the radio or military personnel with nowhere to go, they could come to the CDC seeking refuge. Jason knew this could go wrong, but at least for now, he was willing to take that risk.

Everyone knew how terrible it was to survive out there. They all understood the importance of a safe haven and also that achieving it required a great deal of work.

"This could really backfire on us. We must stay alert and watch out for enemy attacks," Sam, sitting nearby, couldn't help but voice his thoughts.

"You're right. We can't avoid taking this risk because we're running out of time. We need to start expanding our territory and securing a stable food source."

Jason sat down and silently watched the security cameras. Starting tomorrow, all new refugees would be assigned a job. The nearest buildings needed to be cleared, and the controlled area had to be expanded to recover military resources left in the streets.

Finally, those closest to him understood why it was important to keep growing. Now, survivors were adapting to this new world, and once they fully adjusted, they would start causing chaos without considering the weaker ones.

The various people at the CDC were now much calmer than when they first arrived, and communication among them had also improved.

After organizing the supplies, Jason ensured that the newcomers familiarized themselves with the structure of the center and learned which areas were off-limits.

Originally, one floor had been designed to accommodate a large number of researchers, but now those vacant spaces were completely filled, housing the new arrivals.

Later, Jason called together those responsible for supervising the various tasks, listening to the registry list of the newcomers and their skills.

Among Guillermo's group of survivors, many had medical expertise, while others had mechanical knowledge. Some knew how to handle weapons, while others specialized in cooking.

Jason took the list of those designated as escorts and assigned them to the guard unit. He knew it was time to stop referring to them as soldiers, so he announced that the community plan needed to be implemented.

Once everything was settled, many went to rest while Jason and another group handled security outside the CDC. As the leader of this group struggling to survive, he had to ensure that everything ran smoothly.

…

The Next Morning – CDC First-Floor Lobby

Everyone, including the researchers—except for the guards stationed outside—gathered in the hallway, while Jason and the section leaders stood on the stairs.

"Everyone is here except for the elders, boss," Tommy said with a calm expression.

Jason nodded, and seeing that everyone had arrived, he clapped his hands and spoke loudly so all could hear: "Alright, I ask for silence."

The room quickly fell quiet, and Jason continued: "I've gathered you all here to inform you about some changes and new rules. I believe everyone slept well last night, didn't they?"

"It was great!"

"I could shower and eat enough!"

"I'm happy this place is safe!"

Hearing everyone's responses one after another, Jason's tone grew serious: "It seems you all had a good time. Do you think you can continue living this way in the future?"

After a brief pause, Jason saw that everyone had fallen silent and asked, "How long do you think this way of life will last? A year, six months, or just a few months? I can tell you all right now that the fuel keeping this facility running won't last more than three months."

At those words, everyone's faces darkened. That short amount of time hit them like a hammer to the chest. They had just rekindled their hope for survival, but Jason's words shattered their illusions.

Jason remained calm, seeing that his words had ignited a survival instinct within everyone. He nodded and stated, "That is, of course, if no one else comes and tries to take what we have.

"We are now a community that will fight to survive in the coming days. Therefore, I now announce that our community will be called S.C.T.!"

"We are the Survey Corps Troops! We must protect each other like family! We will watch each other's backs like brothers! At some point, everyone here will have to wield a weapon and kill our enemies!"

Hearing Jason's words from an outsider's perspective, it was clear what he meant—this was all about surviving in a new world and adapting to the changes. Everyone understood that walkers would not be their only enemies trying to kill them.

Some people were frightened by these possibilities, others refused to accept them as reality, and many remained silent, showing no emotion.

But Jason knew very well that, whether in the past or the future, trusting people outside their comfort zone would be a grave mistake—and soon, everyone would realize what humans were capable of.

"But you don't have to be afraid. As long as we work together and train, we will become so strong that no one will be able to disturb our peace. No one will even think of harming us. I need you all. I need you to master the skills to protect yourselves and this place."

"I don't care if you're children, women, or elderly men—the world has changed. It no longer matters who you were in the past. Your top priority now is to protect your family and loved ones. From now on, groups will be formed with experienced men to begin expanding our territory and bringing resources to the refuge."

Upon hearing that even women and children needed training, Lori couldn't help but look at her husband. Rick felt Lori's gaze and turned his head to meet his wife's slightly dissatisfied expression. Although he understood Lori's concern, deep down, he still agreed with Jason's proposal, which ensured peace for everyone.

After a brief silence, Jason looked at everyone and announced, "I'd like to give you a piece of advice—don't expect the world to go back to how it was before or even to become better."

Jason looked at Edwin Janner and his wife. They nodded, and he continued, "There will no longer be a society if a cure is not found, and that's because everyone present, including myself, is infected with the virus!"

This statement caused murmurs to explode among the crowd. Suddenly, there was a lot of discussion, and even two women collapsed to the ground, fainting.

Several people standing next to Jason also looked at him in shock.

"Jason, is what you said true? Then why haven't we turned into those infected?" Dale couldn't help but be the first to ask.

Everyone fell silent, looking at Jason, expecting answers about what he had just said.

Jason had anticipated this reaction from the people. He hadn't planned to reveal this secret, but he finally did after hearing Edwin's words. After all, there was no benefit in hiding this information.

"I believe those answers will be provided by the lead researcher of this center, Candace Janner."

After Jason pointed to Candace, she nodded and stepped forward. "Indeed, it wasn't important to mention this before because there weren't many people in this place. But now, everyone needs to be aware of the truth."

"The answer is yes… we all carry the virus in our bodies! The reason we don't immediately turn into infected subjects is that our immune system manages to contain it to some extent. But once the body stops functioning, whether or not you were bitten… as long as the brain remains intact, we all eventually turn into the infected known as walkers!"

Candace paused and continued, "Because of this, until we find a cure, it doesn't matter who you are with—if someone dies of natural causes, remember to be compassionate and damage the brain as needed to prevent those around us from turning into walkers."

After she said that, the crowd erupted in shouts one after another, and it was difficult for people to accept it. Although reality was cruel, Jason also believed that telling the truth was better—over time, people would get used to it.

With this in mind, it was best for everyone to be aware that people who die of natural causes can also turn into walkers. For the elderly who are bedridden, certain precautions must be taken, and for safety reasons, protocols must be in place.

At first, Jason didn't agree with Rick's decision. He had kept such important news to himself and insisted on waiting for casualties before revealing this information.

But Jason couldn't take those risks. He needed to ensure that this shelter was sustainable and that the CDC would be the main base for his S.C.T. community and the foundation of a new world.

Looking at the people discussing in front of him, Jason had no intention of stopping, so he pointed out, "You should all understand why I am sharing such important information with you. But for those who still don't understand, there are two key reasons."

"The first is that you must all be aware that even if we eliminate all the walkers in the world, even if many of us die to achieve that, there will still be walkers everywhere!"

"And that is why we must keep the CDC safe. I am pleased to inform you that the scientific research project led by Mrs. Janner is about to make significant progress, though nothing is certain yet."

After saying this, Jason paused and added, "But things aren't all bad. Recent research has solved the initial problems of the undead virus, and soon, we may assume that even smaller issues can be addressed."

Jason turned his head to look at Candace beside him. The two exchanged places, and Candace's slightly haggard face showed some excitement.

"Hello, everyone. As Jason just mentioned, our team has been conducting experiments day and night in the laboratory long before the virus was officially announced. Thanks to the continuous efforts of many members of my team, we have recently discovered a small substance that can eliminate certain amounts of the virus."

"We are also improving the component as quickly as possible, and I believe that in a short time, we may be able to develop a vaccine that will prevent death from a walker bite if it is administered immediately after infection."

Immediately, the crowd began asking questions: "What do you mean by 'immunity within possibilities'?"

Edwin explained, "Literally, it means that we cannot be completely immune to infection from scratches and bites from the infected. However, there is a possibility that with a vaccine, we can prevent people from turning into walkers."

"In other words, if someone is bitten, there is a chance they might not die from the virus infection."

Candace nodded and continued, "That's right. This reagent is still in the experimental stage, but we will take advantage of this time to refine it and produce a finished product as soon as possible!"

"Incredible!"

"Great job! Ha ha ha!"

Jason raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet and took this opportunity to interrupt and explain everything clearly.

"Let's stop here regarding the vaccine. The two doctors need to return to the lab to continue their work."

"Next, I will mention two more things. The first is that I will conduct research in the areas surrounding Atlanta during everyone's training period. I will try to find a new location that will allow us to have a second shelter and the possibility of moving if this place becomes unsustainable."

"I will try to locate our next refuge. The second point is that next week, Sam, Shane, and Rick will be in charge of training in shooting and combat skills, and then we will begin exploring and gathering resources."

"Merle and his younger brother, Daryl, will always be providing survival training. Is there anything you want to add?"

Merle's rough voice sounded, "No, no problem!"

Daryl didn't speak; he just nodded at Jason.

"Alright, I've finished discussing today's matters. Everyone, listen to the arrangements—Rick, Shane, and Sam will begin today's training plan immediately!"

"Alright, the meeting is over!"