Age of zombies

[64] First month of work (part 3)

Ethan stood back, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. His fingers were stained with grease and oil, and the smell of burnt metal hung in the air. Before him stood the machine gun turret he'd been working on for weeks—a fully automated, remote-controlled beast of a weapon. It was sleek, deadly, and, for the first time since he'd started building it, Ethan wasn't afraid of what it represented.

He was proud.

The turret stood tall, its sensors gleaming in the dim light of the workshop. It was mounted on a swivel base, able to turn in a full circle, tracking any threat that came within its range. Ethan had worked out every kink, every glitch, and now the damn thing was ready to defend Banff against whatever was stupid enough to come at them.

Dorrik, the blacksmith who'd helped him along the way, gave a low whistle as he walked up, his arms crossed over his broad chest. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."

Ethan grinned, a sense of satisfaction swelling in his chest. "Thanks. It took some time, but I think we've got it right."

Dorrik nodded, stepping closer to inspect the turret. "You've come a long way from that nervous wreck who didn't want to build 'killing machines.'"

Ethan chuckled, remembering the hesitation he'd felt when he first started. The guilt. The doubt. But now? That was all behind him. "Yeah, well, things change. People change."

Dorrik gave him a knowing look, his gruff voice taking on a lighter tone. "Ain't that the truth? So, you proud of it?"

Ethan nodded, running a hand along the sleek metal of the turret. "Hell yeah, I am. Look at this thing. It's a goddamn masterpiece."

Dorrik smirked, clearly impressed by Ethan's newfound confidence. "That's more like it. You finally get it. This isn't just about building weapons—it's about building defenses. Keeping people safe."

"Exactly," Ethan said, standing a little taller. "This thing is going to stop raiders, zombies, whatever the fuck comes our way. And it's gonna do it without anyone having to lift a finger. I built something that's going to protect people. And that's something I can be proud of."

Dorrik clapped him on the shoulder, his massive hand almost knocking Ethan off balance. "Damn right. You should be proud. Not everyone's got the brains to pull something like this off."

Ethan grinned, looking up at the turret with a sense of accomplishment. "You know, when I started, I didn't think I could do it. I kept thinking about what it would mean—building something that could kill. But now... now I realize it's not about that. It's about making sure the people I care about are safe."

Dorrik nodded, his usual gruff demeanor softening just a bit. "That's the spirit. You build what needs to be built, and you don't look back. You're doing your part."

Ethan glanced at the control panel, feeling a surge of pride as he imagined the turret in action. "This thing's going to save lives. That's all that matters."

Dorrik let out a deep chuckle. "You're damn right it will. And when those raiders or zombies try to fuck with us, they're gonna get a nice little surprise."

Ethan laughed, the tension he'd once felt now replaced with a sense of confidence. "Yeah. I'd love to see the look on their faces when this thing starts firing."

Dorrik raised an eyebrow. "You sure you don't want to be the one pulling the trigger?"

"Nah," Ethan said, shaking his head. "I've done my part. Now it's time to let the turret do its job."

Dorrik nodded approvingly. "Smart move. This thing's going to make a hell of a difference. Banff's lucky to have you."

Ethan felt a surge of pride at the compliment. "Thanks, Dorrik. Couldn't have done it without your help."