LOSS System: Last Store Standing

After eating some potatoes and drinking the chilled, lightly salted water, the refugees finally recovered a little. Their exhaustion hadn’t disappeared, but at least they no longer looked as though simply remaining on their feet took everything they had.

They rested on the pallet platforms for a while before picking up their tools again. Several more raised platforms were completed, and boards began going up between the wooden supports. They left most sides open for ventilation, adding extra cover only on the side facing the rising sun.

There were enough boards, but no one had the strength left to make the shelters look neat. As long as the joints held and the structures weren’t likely to collapse, they moved on to the next one.

By the time the darkness began to fade, several low shelters stood beyond the fence. Their roofs were uneven, and some of the boards leaned noticeably to one side, but they could at least block part of the sunlight.

After working for most of the night, the refugees were utterly exhausted. Several of the weaker ones lay down first, using clothes and empty sacks as bedding on the pallet platforms. They soon closed their eyes, while the others continued moving boards in hopes of finishing a few more shaded spaces before sunrise.

Jack didn’t remain there the entire time. He asked the guards to keep an eye on the temporary camp, then returned to the convenience store with Megan to rest.

As the sky brightened, the last group of refugees finally stopped working. Unused boards and tools were gathered in one place, the cooking pots were washed and left upside down beside the stoves, and the remaining potatoes were collected and stored together.

The first rays of sunlight crossed the wasteland and fell across the crude roofs.

The refugees hadn’t been sleeping well to begin with. As daylight strengthened, the temperature inside the shelters began to climb, and the people lying on the pallet platforms gradually woke. The wind blowing through the open sides offered no relief. It felt more like air spilling out of a furnace, pouring continuously into the shelters.

The heat kept building. Some people tossed and turned for a while before giving up and sitting upright, sweat covering their faces. Soon, almost everyone was awake.

No one touched the unfinished construction. Several refugees carried water containers beside the shelters so the others could take turns washing their faces and wiping their arms and necks. Some soaked their clothes before putting them back on, while others covered their heads with wet cloths in hopes of easing the heat.

But the water evaporated too quickly. Freshly soaked clothes began drying within minutes, while water poured beside the platforms vanished almost immediately, leaving only darker patches in the sand.

The refugees repeatedly returned to the water line to soak their clothes and cloths again. Those in worse condition were moved closer to the water, while everyone else crowded into whatever shade the roofs provided.

As the sun climbed higher, the temporary camp fell quiet. Aside from running water and the occasional sound of labored breathing, almost nothing could be heard.

One refugee had barely risen to his feet when his body lurched violently. He grabbed a nearby wooden support, but before he could steady himself, he collapsed back onto the platform.

The people nearby rushed over. They helped him lie down and wiped his exposed skin with wet cloths, but even after resting, his breathing remained rapid. When someone spoke to him, his responses came slowly.

One of the guards soon noticed the commotion beyond the fence. Realizing that something was wrong, he went to find Henry and told him what had happened.

Roy happened to be nearby, so Henry had him drive them to the temporary camp.

By then, the refugee had been moved deeper into one of the shelters, with several people gathered around him. Wet cloths covered his forehead and neck, but the surrounding heat quickly stripped away what little coolness they provided. His breathing remained rapid, and the others had to call him several times before he managed to open his eyes.

Henry took one look at him and immediately sent Roy to notify Jack.

Jack and Megan hadn’t been asleep for long when hurried knocking from downstairs woke them. They rushed down and found Roy standing outside with a grave expression.

“What happened?” Jack asked, still somewhat dazed.

Roy quickly explained the situation. Megan immediately gathered her medical supplies, while Jack’s remaining sleepiness vanished. The two climbed into a CUEV and hurried toward the entrance.

By the time they arrived, the refugee’s condition had worsened. He was still conscious, but his reactions were noticeably slower. Even when a cup was brought to his lips, he managed only two small sips.

Megan crouched beside him and checked his temperature and breathing before having the others remove his excess clothing. She thoroughly soaked several cloths and placed them against the sides of his neck and beneath his arms, while the others continued wiping water over his arms and chest.

“Don’t let him drink too fast.”

After some time, his breathing gradually became less frantic, and his responses began to improve.

Jack stood nearby and looked around at the makeshift shelters. None of the other refugees were in such serious condition yet, but they weren’t doing much better.

Once Megan was satisfied that the refugee had stabilized for the moment, she stood.

“The others can’t stay out here either. In another few hours, he won’t be the only one collapsing.”

Jack didn’t argue. He looked across the temporary camp sweltering beneath the heat, then turned toward the trading post.

“Send them back to the agricultural supply center.”

After a brief pause, he added, “We’ll drive them back before the worst of today’s heat sets in.”

Everyone stared at him.

Henry frowned.

“Why send them back? How is that any different from sending them there to die?”

The refugees immediately began pleading with Jack. He got them to quiet down before giving a bitter smile.

“I underestimated this heat wave, and I overestimated what I could do. At least you have a warehouse over there. What do you have here?”

He paused.

“I’m not throwing you out. But if you stay here like this, I’m afraid...”

“The warehouse isn’t much better,” Megan said. “It could be even worse.”

Jack considered that for a moment.

“Then we’ll send the remaining PCCUs and energy-storage units with them. There are more than ten left. It may not solve everything, but it should help them survive the next few days.”

Henry nodded.

“That could work. It might not lower the temperature by much, but it’ll still be better than this.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

Jack turned back to Henry.

“Have Dale and the others get ready.”

Henry nodded and returned to the shelter with Roy to notify Dale and everyone else who could drive a CUEV.

Before long, Dale arrived at the entrance with the other drivers.

More than ten PCCUs had already been loaded into the cargo beds. Henry sent several refugees who were still in relatively good condition with the first convoy. He instructed them to move the PCCUs into the warehouse as soon as they arrived, connect them to the energy-storage units, and switch them on. The CUEVs would return immediately after dropping them off to collect the next group.

Soon, every CUEV was racing toward the agricultural supply center.

Jack watched the vehicles recede into the distance before turning to Henry.

“Send the people in worse condition with the next group. Megan and I will go ahead and get things ready.”

After giving the instructions, Jack and Megan returned to the convenience store and began gathering what they would need.

Jack found several folding beds and filled all the empty water bottles they had saved. Since the refugees would have to remain at the agricultural supply center for the time being, he added a large box of potatoes. Megan prepared medical supplies and clean towels.

They loaded everything into the Tesla. The folding beds occupied most of the available space, while the bottled water and potatoes were squeezed into what remained.

Once they were certain they hadn’t forgotten anything, Megan took the driver’s seat and headed toward the agricultural supply center.

The Tesla quickly caught up with the CUEVs ahead before overtaking them.

For a while, neither of them spoke.

Jack stared through the window.

“Megan, I’m tired.”

She glanced at him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Too much has happened since I came here.” Jack managed a weak smile. “All I wanted was to make my own life a little more comfortable. But now... well, you’ve seen what it’s become.”

Megan didn’t answer immediately. After a moment, she said, “Some things are beyond our control.”

“But why me?”

Megan thought for a moment.

“You know what Spider-Man says.”

Jack looked at her in surprise.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” Megan said. “Maybe that’s the price of having the system.”

Jack stared at her for a moment.

“You’re really quoting Spider-Man at me right now?”

“It fits.”

Jack shook his head helplessly, but the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

The Tesla soon arrived at the agricultural supply center.

They parked near the warehouse entrance and began moving everything inside.

The warehouse remained stiflingly hot. After only a few trips between the Tesla and the interior, sweat had soaked through much of Jack’s clothes.

Megan found a relatively flat area deeper inside the warehouse. Together, they cleared away the surrounding clutter and set up the folding beds. One was reserved for the refugee suffering from heat illness, while the others would go to those in worse condition. The bottled water and medical supplies were placed beside the beds, and the box of potatoes was moved off to one side.

They had barely finished when the first CUEVs began arriving.

Several refugees quickly unloaded the PCCUs and energy-storage units. The vehicles then turned around and headed back to the entrance for the next group.

Once connected to the energy-storage units, the PCCUs came online one after another. Their low hum soon filled the warehouse, but the space was simply too large. Cool air poured from the vents only to disperse almost immediately.

Jack walked around for a while but felt little difference.

“This place is too big,” he said. “What if we make the area everyone stays in smaller? It should be easier to lower the temperature that way.”

Several refugees quickly understood what he meant. Using empty shelves, panels, and large storage boxes, they enclosed a section deep inside the warehouse that was large enough to hold everyone.

The folding beds, bottled water, potatoes, and medical supplies were moved inside. The PCCUs were repositioned around the enclosure, with every vent facing inward.

The makeshift partition still had plenty of gaps, but as the units continued running, the suffocating heat inside finally began to ease.

The second group of refugees arrived just as the enclosure was finished.

The refugee who had shown signs of heat illness was helped out first. Megan immediately checked him before working with the others to move him onto one of the folding beds. Several refugees in poorer condition were settled nearby and given water.

The remaining refugees began helping as soon as they entered the warehouse. They carried supplies, adjusted the makeshift barriers, and repositioned the PCCUs to keep as much cool air as possible concentrated around the resting area.

After completing the second trip, the CUEVs turned back toward the entrance to collect everyone who remained.

Jack stopped Dale before he left.

“On your way back, bring Lydia, Grace, and Helen too. Megan could use the help.”

Dale nodded, climbed into the CUEV, and drove away.

Megan remained beside the refugee suffering from heat illness, periodically checking his temperature, breathing, and responses.

With nothing useful he could do there, Jack wandered into the other parts of the building to see whether anything else might be worth salvaging.

Not far from the warehouse, he spotted several coils of hose scattered across the floor.

He walked over, loosened the strap around one coil, and pulled out a length of flattened hose.

“Isn’t this the same kind of hose Henry found before?”

Then Jack stopped.

A bold idea gradually took shape in his mind.