Chapter 103: The Electrical Expedition [2]

“Stay back and let me work,” I said, moving toward the advancing infected. “And whatever you do, don’t touch anything electrical.”

The sparks behind the metal grill cast dancing shadows across the loading dock, turning the confrontation into something out of a nightmare. But I’d fought in worse conditions, and these infected were no different from the hundreds I’d put down over the past weeks.

I clenched the steel spike firmly in my right hand and drew the hand axe with my left. I walked toward the infected with measured steps, calculating distances and angles of attack, when I noticed Elena moving up beside me with her crowbar ready.

“Elena…” I started, concern creeping into my voice.

“Don’t underestimate me,” she said firmly, her voice carrying a confidence I hadn’t heard from her before. “I can fight as well as anyone here.”

Looking at her determined expression, the set of her jaw and the way she gripped that crowbar like she’d been born to wield it, I realized that regardless of what I might say, she was going to fight alongside me whether I approved or not. Elena had always been practical to a fault, and she clearly saw this as a practical necessity.

“Alright,” I said, nodding my acceptance, “but just stay near me. Keep close and watch my back.”

Of course, Elena didn’t really risk much from the infected anymore—none of the women I cured did, thanks to the immunity the Dullahan virus provided. But I didn’t want her to get injured through carelessness. A bite or scratch in the wrong place could still cause serious harm even if it wouldn’t turn her, and in a location like this, surrounded by hostile infected with limited escape routes, any injury could quickly become dangerous or even fatal.

“You worry too much, Ryan,” Elena said with a smile that seemed almost eager, hefting her crowbar and taking a step toward the approaching infected. “I can handle myself.”

Before I could respond or establish any kind of coordinated attack plan, Elena rushed ahead toward the first of the infected shambling through the doorway.

“Wait, Elena!” I shouted, alarmed by her sudden aggressive advance.

But Elena was already committed to her attack. She reached the first infected—a woman in a stained lab coat who had probably been a researcher or technician when this facility was operational. Elena drew back her crowbar and swung it with impressive force and precision.

What happened next left me absolutely stunned.

Blue electrical crackles began dancing around Elena’s crowbar the moment before impact, like miniature lightning bolts wrapping around the metal shaft. The weapon struck the infected woman’s skull with devastating effect, and the electrical discharge seemed to amplify the blow’s power exponentially. The infected dropped instantly, her body convulsing briefly as residual electricity coursed through her nervous system before she went completely still.

What the hell was that?

Had Elena awakened some kind of supernatural ability like Rachel and Sydney? I thought she hadn’t been affected by the virus in that way. All our previous observations and tests had suggested that while she was immune to infection, she hadn’t developed any of the enhanced capabilities that some of the others had manifested. At least until now…

It must be recent then…

Cindy and Liu Mei were absolutely speechless, staring at Elena with expressions of complete amazement mixed with disbelief. Cindy was somewhat aware of my supernatural abilities through our conversations, but she’d never witnessed anything quite like this electrical display. Liu Mei, meanwhile, had never seen anything overtly supernatural at all. While she’d theorized that the people around me had been infected by the Dullahan virus and that this granted them abnormal strength and speed, this electrical manifestation was something entirely beyond her understanding of what the virus could do.

Elena herself seemed momentarily surprised by what had happened, looking down at her crowbar with an expression that mixed wonder and uncertainty. But there wasn’t time for detailed analysis or explanation, because more infected were pushing through the doorway, drawn by the sounds of combat and the scent of living humans.

Elena hefted her electrically-charged crowbar and moved toward the next threat—a large man in work clothes whose infected state had done nothing to diminish his physical bulk. This time she seemed more prepared for the electrical discharge, swinging the weapon with greater confidence and control.

Again, blue crackles danced around the crowbar’s metal surface, and again the impact was devastatingly effective. The infected man’s skull caved in under the enhanced blow, and his body jerked violently as electricity coursed through him before he collapsed motionless to the concrete floor.

“Elena, that’s incredible!” Cindy breathed, still staring in amazement.

But I could see that using this new ability was taking its toll on Elena. Her breathing was becoming labored, and there was a slight tremor in her hands that hadn’t been there moments before. The Dullahan virus enhancements always came with a cost—enhanced abilities required enhanced energy expenditure, and Elena was clearly feeling the drain of channeling electrical power through her weapon.

It must her first time, she was actually using that in a real fight on top of that.

A third infected—an elderly man who had probably been a security guard based on his uniform—shambled toward us. Elena raised her crowbar again, but I could see her movements were becoming less precise, her coordination suffering from the fatigue of using her newfound abilities.

The electrical crackles around her crowbar seemed weaker this time, less controlled, and when she swung at the infected guard, her footing wasn’t as sure as it had been during her previous attacks. The blow connected and the infected dropped, but Elena’s momentum carried her forward and she began to slip on the smooth concrete floor made treacherous by the accumulating blood and fluid from our fallen opponents.

I moved instantly, my enhanced reflexes allowing me to catch Elena around the waist before she could fall. With my free hand, I drove the steel spike through the eye socket of another infected that had been approaching from her blind side, the point penetrating deep enough to scramble the brain tissue that controlled its basic functions.

“I’ve got you,” I said, steadying Elena as she regained her balance.

She looked up at me with a tired but genuinely happy smile, her eyes bright despite the obvious fatigue. “How did I do?” She asked, breathing heavily but clearly pleased with her performance.

I couldn’t help but sigh, though my expression softened into a smile of genuine admiration and pride. “You were amazing. Absolutely amazing. But maybe next time warn me before you decide to manifest electrical superpowers in the middle of a fight.”

Liu Mei stepped forward next; her mind clearly working overtime to process what she’d just witnessed. “I need an explanation,” she said, perplexed. “That electrical discharge—how is that possible? What exactly is happening here?”

Elena glanced at me briefly, then looked back at Liu Mei with a carefully neutral expression. “I developed a supernatural ability, just like Ryan and some of the others,” she said simply, without elaborating on the specific circumstances that had led to her enhancement. She certainly wasn’t about to explain that such abilities only manifested after intimate physical contact with me—that particular detail was far too personal and complex to share in our current situation.

I immediately recognized the need to redirect everyone’s attention away from questions that could become uncomfortable or revealing. “We need to focus on the immediate situation,” I said, scanning the loading dock area and listening to the sounds of more infected approaching from deeper in the warehouse. “We’ve dealt with the infected that were immediately threatening us, but I can hear more coming. We need to move quickly if we want to complete Mark’s equipment list and get out of here safely.”

The crackling electrical panel behind its protective grill continued to throw off intermittent sparks, and I could see that the situation was becoming increasingly unstable. Whatever electrical supply this building had been connected to was clearly still partially active, but months of abandonment and lack of maintenance had turned the control systems into a potential hazard.

I reached into my backpack and pulled out a pair of heavy-duty insulated gloves that Mark had specifically given me for situations involving electrical hazards. The thick rubber construction and reinforced palm areas were designed to protect against electrical shock while still allowing enough dexterity to manipulate tools and equipment.

“Mark insisted I bring these,” I said, pulling on the anti-electricity gloves and checking that they were properly seated. “He suspected we might encounter active electrical systems in a facility like this.”

I was also wearing the special boots that Mark had provided—heavy work boots with thick rubber soles and additional electrical insulation built into the construction. They weren’t the most comfortable footwear for extended walking, but in a situation like this, the protection they offered was invaluable.

Elena, Cindy, and Liu Mei watched as I approached the sparking electrical panel, staying well back from the metal grill that protected the control switches and circuit breakers. The panel was clearly a main distribution point for the building’s electrical systems, with heavy cables entering from multiple directions and a complex array of switches, breakers, and monitoring equipment visible through the protective barrier.

“What exactly are you planning to do?” Liu Mei asked, her voice carrying a note of concern as she watched me study the electrical hazard.

“Mark’s equipment list includes components that are probably stored in the secured storage area beyond this loading dock,” I explained, pointing to a heavy metal door marked with warning signs about authorized personnel only. “But that door is electronically locked, and the locking mechanism is powered by the same electrical system that’s currently malfunctioning behind this grill.”

I examined the metal grill more closely, noting the heavy-duty construction and the substantial locking mechanism that secured it. The protection had clearly been designed to prevent unauthorized access to critical electrical controls, but two months of electrical surges and unstable power had weakened the metal and damaged some of the mounting hardware.

“The main disconnect switch is behind this grill,” I continued, tracing the path of the main electrical feeds with my eyes. “If I can shut down power to this section of the building, it will kill the electronic lock on the storage room door, but it will also stop the electrical surges that are making this area dangerous.”

Cindy moved closer, careful to stay clear of any potentially electrified surfaces. “Is that safe? What if shutting down the power causes some kind of electrical feedback or explosion?”

“Mark briefed me on the likely scenarios,” I said, though I had to admit there was always an element of risk when dealing with damaged electrical systems. “The biggest danger is from the current instability. Shutting down the power should actually make everything safer, not more dangerous.”

Elena hefted her crowbar, the metal still occasionally sparking with residual electrical energy. “Can I help with anything? This electrical charge might be useful for breaking through metal barriers.”

I shook my head, pointing to the warning labels and electrical hazard signs that covered the grill and surrounding area. “Your electrical discharge might interact unpredictably with the damaged systems here. It’s better if I handle this part alone, at least until we know more about how your new abilities work.”

The sounds of infected from deeper in the warehouse were getting closer, and I could see shapes moving in the shadows between the storage shelves. We had maybe five minutes before we’d be dealing with another wave of attacks, and that wasn’t much time to solve our electrical problem and access Mark’s required components.

I gripped the metal grill with my insulated gloves, testing the strength of the mounting points and looking for weaknesses in the construction. The weeks of electrical surges had caused some corrosion and weakening of the metal, and I thought I could see spots where the bolts securing the grill had been loosened by repeated thermal expansion and contraction.

“Stand back,” I warned the others, positioning myself to get maximum leverage on the grill’s frame.

The first attempt to force the grill open didn’t succeed, but I could feel the mounting hardware shifting and straining under the pressure. Sparks continued to arc across the control panel behind the barrier, occasionally illuminating the complex array of switches and breakers that controlled the building’s electrical distribution.

On my second attempt, I heard a distinct crack as one of the mounting bolts gave way under the stress. Encouraged by this progress, I adjusted my grip and applied force in a slightly different direction, trying to take advantage of the weakness I’d created.

Liu Mei had moved to the loading dock entrance, keeping watch for approaching infected while Elena and Cindy stayed close enough to assist but far enough away to avoid any electrical hazards. The division of labor felt natural and efficient, each of us contributing our particular skills to the group’s survival.

“You should hurry up, Abraham Lincoln, there are movements in the warehouse,” Liu Mei reported quietly. “At least six infected, maybe more. They’re converging on this location but moving slowly.”

“Almost got it,” I said through gritted teeth, applying steady pressure to the weakened grill. Another mounting bolt gave way with a sharp ping of breaking metal, and suddenly the entire protective barrier shifted dramatically.

With one final concentrated effort, I managed to wrench the grill away from the electrical panel, the remaining mounting hardware failing under the accumulated stress. The metal barrier fell to the concrete floor with a crash that echoed through the loading dock, and suddenly I had direct access to the building’s main electrical controls.

The control panel was more complex than I’d expected, with dozens of switches, breakers, and indicator lights arranged in a configuration that would have made sense to a qualified electrician but looked like bewildering complexity to me. Fortunately, Mark had given me specific instructions about what to look for in situations like this.

“Main disconnect should be the largest switch at the top of the panel,” I muttered, scanning the array of controls and trying to match what I was seeing with Mark’s descriptions.

There—a large knife switch with heavy electrical connections that was clearly designed to handle substantial current loads. The switch was currently in the closed position, allowing electricity to flow through the building’s distribution system. Red warning lights on the panel indicated multiple system faults and overload conditions, confirming that the electrical infrastructure was in serious trouble.

I grasped the handle of the main disconnect switch, took a deep breath, and threw it to the open position.

The effect was quick. The irregular sparking and crackling that had been coming from the damaged equipment suddenly stopped, replaced by an almost deafening silence. The red warning lights on the control panel went dark, and the subtle hum of electrical equipment that had been providing background noise throughout our exploration of the building ceased entirely.

“Power’s off,” I announced, pulling off the insulated gloves and flexing my fingers to restore circulation.

Elena tested her crowbar, swinging it experimentally through the air. The electrical crackles that had been dancing around the metal were gone, confirming that her abilities were either tied to the ambient electrical fields in the area or required some other trigger that was no longer present.

“Interesting,” she observed. “The electrical enhancement seems to be environmentally dependent.”

I thought more like her ability was so dangerous and strong that she managed to get a easier grasp on it being inside such a place but with training, she might not be needing that support anymore.

Liu Mei abandoned her watch position and approached the now-safe control panel, her analytical mind clearly fascinated by the complexity of the electrical systems. “This is significantly more sophisticated than I would have expected for a simple supply warehouse,” she said, studying the array of switches and monitoring equipment.

“Commercial electrical supply companies often have their own high-capacity electrical systems,” I explained, remembering some of Mark’s briefings on industrial electrical infrastructure. “They need to be able to test and demonstrate the equipment they’re selling, which means they need access to the same kind of power that their customers will be using.”

Cindy pointed to the heavy metal door that led to the secured storage area. “The electronic lock should be disabled now, right?”

I nodded, though I realized we’d need to verify that the power shutdown had actually affected the locking mechanism. Electronic locks could have battery backup systems or other features that might keep them functional even during power outages.

But first, we needed to deal with the approaching infected. Liu Mei’s earlier report about movement in the warehouse had been accurate—I could now hear multiple sets of shuffling feet and the characteristic moans that indicated a significant group of infected were closing in on our position.

“Defensive positions,” I said, drawing my weapons again. “We hold this area until I can get that storage door open and access Mark’s equipment.”

Elena hefted her crowbar, though without the electrical enhancement it was now just a particularly effective piece of metal. “How many are we talking about?”

“At least six, probably more,” Liu Mei reported, resuming her position as our lookout. “They’re moving in a coordinated group, which suggests they’ve been nesting together for some time…it is a bit strange I think.”

The situation was becoming more complex by the minute, but we were committed now. Mark’s equipment was somewhere behind that locked door, and the electrical infrastructure promised by Mark depended on us successfully retrieving the components he needed. Whatever it took, we were going to complete this mission and get everyone home safely.

The loading dock had become our place, with the disabled electrical panel at our backs and the secured storage area to our right. The approaching infected would have to come at us through the main warehouse entrance, which would limit their ability to surround us but also meant we’d be facing a concentrated assault.

I checked my weapons one more time, making sure the steel spike was properly balanced and the hand axe was secure in my grip. Behind me, Elena, Cindy, and Liu Mei prepared for what was likely to be a tough fight of.

The first of the infected appeared in the doorway, and I could see that Liu Mei’s count had been conservative. At least a dozen infected were shambling toward us.

Alright, let’s do it.

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