SrCuervo
patreon
185
🕑 Added 2025-06-25 00:53:45 +0000 UTCA New Beginning From the End of the World
Chapter 185 – The Distress Signal
All life is valuable—that’s what Morgan had believed ever since he was saved by Jason’s group. He knew he would be eternally grateful for the safe haven they created in this apocalyptic world, and for sharing it with his family.
It had been nearly a month since Jason had left the prison with a group in search of answers. As one of those responsible for keeping things running in the prison, Morgan made sure everything was on the right track. But then, one report after another started coming in, each one bearing less-than-good news—and now he understood that the world had truly come to an end.
The virus that struck the world ended up consuming every part of the country, and many now did whatever it took to survive. He had seen it in the eyes of many of those transferred to the central base.
Ever since he started helping Jason, he had felt guilty for not being able to offer more. He wanted to show just how grateful he was and support Jason in any way he could—to prove that the world needed him, no matter what he had to do to keep it safe.
Rick, for his part, had changed a lot. Since becoming a leader, he had killed many more people than he could have saved on his own. He knew—that’s what it takes to survive...
And he had done it too, which is why he wanted to go elsewhere, to try to expand his mind and regain his internal balance while also helping Jason with the new bases they had discovered out there.
...
Inside a helicopter, Morgan looked at all the people wearing full combat uniforms that made them seem like robots. None of them had taken off their helmets, remaining completely anonymous.
“I hope this is a quick trip...” Morgan muttered before falling silent again. This was their first time traveling such a long distance to an unknown place, so everyone remained focused.
“I saw you back at the prison. What are you doing on a helicopter headed for Virginia?” asked a modestly calm girl sitting not far from Morgan.
Morgan was slightly surprised that anyone would speak in the silent helicopter cabin, so he turned his head and saw a girl he remembered clearly. “You're Tara. What are you doing here?”
Tara raised her hands and replied, “They needed someone who could use a bow. Carol wanted to come, but she has her daughter, so I came instead.”
“That’s understandable. I remember when Rick brought you to the central base. Are you sure you can handle this?” Morgan looked at Tara, waiting for her answer.
“Yes. I learned a lot surviving with my group—I can do it...” Tara nodded before looking away from Morgan.
Morgan, watching her for a few seconds, simply said, “I’m going to support a friend. I’m sure he needs my help.”
...
A few minutes before arriving at the Alexandria community, Raúl Méndez—one of the soldiers Jason had saved in Atlanta before returning to the prison—was leading the operation.
Inside the cockpit of a helicopter, a radio transmission came through on a channel that shouldn’t have been active, prompting the pilot to tap his headset.
“Sir, we’re picking up a transmission on the channel the military usually uses!”
Seeing the pilot’s confused expression, Raúl put on the headphones. Although it could be anything, he needed to pay attention to such anomalies.
“Can you isolate it?”
“I’m trying, sir.” At Raúl’s request, the pilot began pressing buttons, trying to locate the source of the transmission.
“To anyone who can hear this transmission!…”
Raúl Méndez slowly turned a dial and murmured, “We’re entering transmission range. It sounds like a distress call.”
The words were muffled at first, but as the helicopter drew closer, the voice grew clearer.
“Zz... This is Colonel Ben Miller! To any nearby military base that can hear our transmission—we need your help!”
“Zz... We suffered an internal infection—the base was overrun by walkers and we couldn’t contain the outbreak! Right now, my attempts to reach out to any of the bases that contacted me recently might be in vain—but I beg for your help!”
“Zz... We are around five hundred fifty civilians, half of them soldiers, and we’ve run out of ammunition. We’re barricaded inside a warehouse. The base is infested with walkers, and it’s impossible for us to do anything, even if we wanted to.”
“Zz...”
“What do we do, sir?”
“I need to think…” Raúl Méndez picked up the radio and thought silently for a few seconds. He remembered being in a similar situation once—and Jason had heard his call.
At the very least, he needed to confirm these people weren’t alone. The important thing now was reaching Alexandria; once there, he’d inform Jason, and they would make a decision then.
“Zz... This is Corporal Raúl Méndez. Repeat your situation.”
Raúl had made up his mind: whatever happened, he wouldn’t head to that place until completing the mission. If there was a base with survivors and soldiers there, it would be good to find pilots—since they were in short supply.
“Zz... Corporal Méndez, this is Ben Miller. I’m currently trapped at a military base just outside Port Royal, Virginia, 22535. Are you contacting us by air or ground?” Colonel Ben Miller’s voice sounded tense—preferably, he hoped they were in the air.
When no answer came, Ben Miller repeated, “Zz... We have pilots. There are helicopters and planes available for transport. We just need help getting out and being rescued from this place.”
Raúl Méndez considered silently, then said, “Zz... I’m currently on a mission. I’ll inform my commander, and we’ll come rescue you. Don’t worry—we won’t take more than 48 hours.”
“Zz... We’re grateful, Corporal. We’ll be forever thankful.”
Raúl Méndez pulled out a special radio, sighed, and then reported, “Commander Jason, this is the leader of squad AA overseeing the operation. We’re approaching your location.”
The helicopters spotted the flare signals and headed toward the site. The containers beneath the helicopters were slowly lowered into Alexandria.
“They’re here…”
