18 Floors Above the Apocalypse



At Union Base, resources were as rare as hen's teeth, and food was even harder to come by. The Russians, tough as nails and battle-hardened, were still human at the end of the day. No one really wants a one-way ticket to the afterlife if they can help it, especially with their ammo all but gone. The only reason Union Base didn't go all out on a massacre was because the Russians had bluffed about having handheld nukes.

"Come if you dare, but if we go down, we're taking you with us!"

Before everything went to hell, Russia had always played hardball, and the coalition forces could never be sure if they really had nukes tucked away. You'd think they wouldn't have the guts to use them, but then again, they just might surprise you and actually do it.

The occasional skirmish was one thing, but pushing Russia to the brink wasn't in Union Base's plans. They knew better than to wipe everyone out. Jiang and Hu's crew, though small in number, were well-armed, knew their way around medical supplies, and had a decent stockpile of meds. The real clincher was that before the disaster, their countries had been on pretty good terms, both at the leadership level and among the common folk. The spark of the Australian Red Movement had been kindled and passed on from their shores. Back then, the two countries were as close as could be.

So, both sentimentally and practically, teaming up with Jiang and Hu made perfect sense.

Ivans extended an olive branch, "Those brutes are savages-torturing prisoners and worse. They're heavily armed, and if they wipe us out, you'll be next. We need to band together."

Stella, ever the ice queen, turned him down, "Thanks for the offer, but we like our freedom and aren't looking to join any alliances."

Outside her trusted circle, Stella wasn't one to easily trust anyone. Teaming up with the Russians meant making an enemy of Union Base.

Whether it was because of thousands of years of culture or the wisdom of the golden mean, Stella wouldn't ally with outsiders. And if you want to talk history, Russia's hands were far from clean.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

They only turned to the East after being spurned by the West-it wasn't out of genuine affection. When push came to shove, Stella would only trust those closest to her.

She made it clear they could maintain friendly relations, but alliances were off the table. That went for Union Base too.

Having spent years in Australia, Ivans was well-versed in the local culture. His rush to come over wasn't just about getting medicine or making alliances; he knew Union Base might beat him to the punch.

Knowing full well what Union Base was like, Ivans figured it was only a matter of time before they turned their attention to Jiang and Hu. You can't force an alliance, he thought. When things get tough, they'll come to us.

After setting up a trade for the next day, Ivans took his leave.

Stella went back inside, prepping the meds Ivans had requested. The remedies were basic-anti-inflammatories, fever reducers, blood clotting agents the usual post-apocalyptic kit.

With China in the mix, Union Base's firepower was nothing to sneeze at. Stella mulled it over and decided to fortify their defenses by pouring more water on the icehouse to thicken the walls.

If Union Base ever came knocking, they'd need to be as strong as Fort Knox.

Jasper wasn't slacking either, digging out snow trenches about 50 yards out. With gaps in the snow, Stella poured water over it. The water seeped into the cracks and quickly froze, making the trench even tougher.

After finishing the 50-yard stretch, they started on a 100-yard one. The trio worked like Trojans, breaking a sweat even in the Arctic freeze. They'd head back indoors promptly, taking hot showers in Arcadia, careful not to linger outside lest the sweat freeze to ice and make them sick.

The next day, Ivans arrived with his mates for the trade. Half a sack of herbs in exchange for 200 pounds of supplies. To show his goodwill and sincerity, Ivans also gifted them a salami-a big, juicy one. "Jiang, Hu, try some of our homeland's delicacies," he said.

The thing was frozen solid, like a rock. You could take someone out with it if you swung it hard enough.

In these times of scarcity, even the rich were crying poor. Stella, far from refusing, gleefully accepted the gift.

Returning the favor, she taught Ivans a few acupressure points. "This helps with keeping warm. Practice when you can,” she advised.

The trade went down smoothly in the open, and they parted ways, heading home.

Approaching their shelter, Jasper stopped and stared into the distance, lost in thought.

"What's up?" Stella inquired.

“Feels like we're being watched."

Stella grabbed her binoculars for a quick scan, but nothing caught her eye.

Still, she didn't rule out the possibility of someone out there; in a sea of white, if they were camouflaged with the snow, it'd be hard to spot them.

This served as a reminder for Stella.

Back at the house, she brought out the rabbit pelts they had stored. She found some instructions and had Rosie start tanning the hides.

They had plenty of live ones too, and Stella picked out the white rabbits for Jasper to butcher.

Snowflake, the dog, was drooling at the scent of blood.

Stella knew it had just been fed but gave it a rabbit anyway. True to form, Snowflake dragged it outside to bury.

Rosie, with no tanning experience, was cautious not to ruin the pelts, reading and rereading the instructions before starting.

First, she

soaked the hides in water

to soften them, then scraped off the

flesh and dirt with a knife. Next, she Water

washed them in warm, soapy

to get rid of grease and grime.

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She prepared a tanning solution with alum, salt, and water, soaking the pelts until they were ready to be stretched and dried. Then she worked the hides with her hands unti they were soft and used a tool to smooth the fur side.

It took a few days, but the hides were finally soft, smooth, and odor-free.

"Rosie, you're amazing," Stella praised, making plans to celebrate with a special meal that night.

Rosie, thrilled with her new skills, was easy to please. "Anything's fine," she said, not one to fuss over food.

Stella got out the sewing machine, making coats and scarves for them and the dog.

Decked out in white hats and coats, they could easily blend into the snowy landscape.

Cooper, wearing rabbit fur, looked like he was sporting an invisibility cloak.

Stella couldn't help but think of Smoky and Snowy, the two rabbits that had run off with their brood. She wondered if they had survived the calamity...

The land had sunk; the chances were slim... Best not to dwell on it.

Inside, busy with her thoughts, Stella was jolted by a whistle from outside.

Rosie was signaling-two short, one long. Someone was approaching!

Stella and Jasper quickly made their way outside, where three figures emerged in the distance.

They were unarmed and walked with an air of confidence. Clearly, they weren't the burly types you'd find in Russian ranks.

At 200 meters, the trio showed no signs of stopping, and Jasper made a decisive move, firing his gun.

The bullet whizzed through a cap, sending one of them stumbling and crashing to the ground.

"Darn it!"

The man, red-faced and furious, sprang to his feet, cursing loudly.

His companion, quick on the uptake, grabbed him then turned to Stella and Jasper, offering a bow and a cheeky greeting, "Howdy-do?"

Stella nearly choked. These guys had the tenacity of a cockroach.

Seeing their greeting ignored, another one tried, "Hello there."

Still no response, so the one who'd been floored gave it a go, "Good day to y'all."

Well, that settled it. Representatives from Vietnam, Belarus, and Dillyn were all here. They were definitely Union Base's envoys.