18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 444

The bus route 2688 rolled past Platform C, its bright red banner announcing: "Welcome Home, Compatriots!" A sign pointed right, indicating a 5-kilometer journey to Platform A for check-in.

Platform A featured a deep-sea dock connected to the main structure by a long, covered bridge. When bus 2688 stopped at berth number 79, the group disembarked and were greeted by the sight of several submarines identical to their own.

In the aftermath of the disaster, supplies were scarce, and most survivors were malnourished, their bodies as thin as reeds. Stella, Jasper, Rosie, and their dog, Cooper, wanted to blend in without drawing attention. Stella rummaged through some old clothes and applied makeup to give off a look of hardship and decay.

Cooper, still new to Hope Point, was safely tucked into a backpack Jasper carried. Worried he might show signs of distress, Stella coaxed him with a little white lie, "There are bad guys outside who want to make dog stew."

"Dog stew?" Cooper was instantly enraged, ready to charge out.

"No, no," Stella quickly reassured him, "They've never seen a dog. What if they get scared seeing someone as majestic and powerful as you? They might demand compensation from me! And if that happens, I'd have to pay them with the steaks you love, and you'd be left with nothing but porridge."

For the sake of his beloved steaks, Cooper begrudgingly squeezed into the backpack.

The metal bridge stretched for three kilometers, and it was a shaky walk that took nearly an hour to reach Platform A. Platform A was vast, home to administrative and functional departments, its offices made from specially adapted shipping containers. To reduce wind and wave resistance, the containers stood no taller than three meters, resembling typical commercial buildings. The thick steel underfoot provided a reassuring solidity; if one ignored the surrounding ocean, it almost felt like solid land.

perilous search for Hope Point through treacherous seas. A decade of

were making their way over. A few days ago, a transport ship from an official base in the province of Ru had arrived, bringing

these claims; it was the entire crew. The matter was serious enough to bring in military doctors for evaluation. The verdict was grim: more than half showed signs of mental distress. While a few were beyond help, the rest could be managed with proper care. But such tales... well, the staff could only listen and

the staff greeted them

a smile to Rosie's

so on. These questions posed no challenge for Stella and her companions; after all, the submarine from the South Base was hard to miss. The staff were astonished, "You're not

scavenging for rare metals and managed to find just what the military factory needed in a pinch,

about their survival at sea-what they ate, what they drank; the inquiries were as persistent as a neighborhood committee member. Once their

exam?" Stella was

guiding them to the adjacent room where men and women were separated. The military doctors conducted thorough examinations, asking

confused, "Why do we need

"It's a routine check."

keep their undergarments on. Stella complied with the examination, despite feeling uncomfortable. The doctor scrutinized her briefly before nodding, "You're good to go." Stella considered the implications, "You thought I

unconventional things to stay alive. It's easy for the

Stella her signed examination result, he added, "Just take this back to