Salvage Station 23

Chapter 2, Part 8

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The remnants of breakfast had been cleared away, and the dining area of Salvage Station 23 had transformed into an impromptu war room. A worn map was spread across the table, held down by various scavenged items serving as paperweights. Olivia stood at the head of the table, her eyes scanning the faces of those gathered around.

As the planning session was about to begin, Mia hesitantly approached the group, Liam limping slightly beside her.

"Mind if we join?" Mia asked, her eyes meeting her father's.

David looked to Olivia, who nodded. "Of course," she said. "You both should hear this too."

Aiden's posture stiffened slightly at the sight of his injured brother, but he gave Liam a reassuring nod as the younger boy took a seat next to Mia.

"Alright," she began, her voice cutting through the murmur of conversation. "Rosie, tell us more about this hospital."

Rosie stepped forward, her cyan eyes focused on the map. She pointed to a location about 20 miles east of their current position. "It's here. St. Mercy Hospital. It was a major medical center before... everything. When I passed by it a few months ago, it looked largely intact."

"Why didn't you go in?" Aiden asked, his tone less confrontational than before, but still wary.

Rosie met his gaze steadily. "Too big to tackle alone. Multiple floors, lots of blind corners. And in a place like that... who knows how many Jacks might be lurking."

David nodded grimly. "Hospitals were hit hard in the early days. Could be a goldmine of supplies, but also a death trap."

"Exactly," Rosie agreed. "But with a team, we might have a chance."

Olivia studied the map intently. "What kind of supplies are we looking at?"

Zoe piped up, excitement clear in her voice. "If we're lucky, we could find everything from basic first aid to advanced medical equipment. Maybe even some of the tools I need for Rosie's immunity tests."

"Not to mention painkillers, antibiotics..." Eli added, ticking off items on his fingers.

"Alright," Olivia said, cutting through the growing chatter. "It sounds promising, but also incredibly risky. We need a solid plan."

Max grinned, twirling his spear. "I vote we go in guns blazing. Or, well, spears blazing, in my case."

Aiden rolled his eyes. "And that's why you don't make the plans, Max."

"Actually," Rosie interjected, "I have an idea. When I was scouting the hospital, I noticed something. There's a helicopter pad on the roof."

David's eyes lit up with understanding. "An entry point. Less likely to be overrun."

Rosie nodded. "Exactly. If we can find a way up there, we might be able to work our way down, securing each floor as we go."

"Wait," Max interjected, his eyes lighting up. "What about the cafeteria? Hospitals always have massive cafeterias, right? That could be a goldmine for food supplies."

Rosie's expression darkened. "The cafeteria... that's a tricky one. It's usually on the ground floor or basement level. High risk, but potentially high reward."

"What kind of risk are we talking about?" Aiden asked, his voice tense.

Rosie took a deep breath. "When I scouted the area, I noticed something... concerning. There was a lot of Jack activity around what I assume was the cafeteria entrance. Including..." She hesitated.