Chapter 43
Self-Destruct Program
Jenner pointed to the countdown timer hanging on the wall and looked at the group.
"Do you know what this is?"
Before anyone could answer, Jenner explained, "When this countdown reaches zero, the entire CDC will initiate its self-destruct program and detonate the entire CDC."
"What?"
Everyone gasped in surprise and looked down at the ground, their expressions filled with astonishment.
Lori, in particular, clung to Carl, looking pleadingly at Jenner, "Isn't there any way to stop the CDC from self-destructing?"
Jenner shook his head: "The CDC is going to destroy itself."
"The CDC stores some of the most dangerous viruses in the world, and if they were to leak out, they would be no better than the zombie virus."
"Oh my god!"
Lori's legs went weak, and she looked at the bewildered Karl. She didn't know what to do. Why was it that wherever she went, the place would be destroyed?
Rick glared angrily at Jenner. "So, you were planning to take us all to hell with you from the start?"
Seeing Jenner nod, Rick could hardly believe that Jenner could be so selfish, arbitrarily deciding the life or death of others.
"At the time, I thought that living in the apocalypse was far worse than dying," Jenner explained calmly, facing the accusations in the eyes of the others with composure. He dared to do it, so he wasn't afraid of being criticized.
"Then why did you suddenly become kind and let us go?"
Rick steadied himself and realized something was amiss, so he asked.
"Because I don't want to die."
Jenner spread his hands. "Caesar has recruited me to help him research a vaccine. It will ensure that I have enough to eat and drink. Even if I can't live like before the apocalypse, I will definitely have the most basic living security."
"What?" Rick opened his mouth, he really didn't expect that Caesar's men hadn't even come, how could they have recruited Jenner from so far away.
Moreover, Caesar actually kept his word; while in the quarry, Caesar said he would research vaccines.
Thinking about this, Rick understood why Caesar had brought Pattiti over; it was completely different from his own idea.
Caesar wanted researchers to save the world from the apocalypse, but she actually thought of Caesar as a plunderer who took advantage of others' misfortunes and plundered their resources.
Rick listened to Jenner's explanation while blaming himself.
"Tite, well, he was very friendly and let me talk to Caesar." Jenner's expression was indescribable, but the others, whose feelings were even more complicated, didn't pay attention to Jenner's expression.
"Then, I agreed to join Caesar's team. They'll be arriving at the CDC today."
"Perhaps, after we finish moving the experimental equipment and so on, the CDC will be completely deserted."
Jenner looked around the central command room, as if the days with her colleagues were still vivid in her mind, but unfortunately they... she didn't know if they were alive or dead.
A hint of sadness flashed in Jenner's eyes, then he seemed to suddenly remember something and said to the others.
"Oh right, I forgot to tell you."
Rick and the others looked up at Jenner.
"You have all been infected with the zombie virus."
Jenner's words struck them like a bolt from the blue, leaving them frozen in place.
Rick was the first to react. He jumped to his feet, walked over to Jenner, and asked, "Are you serious?"
Jenner looked into Rick's eyes, and his serious expression told Rick that he wasn't joking.
"I have collected blood samples from you, and your blood contains the zombie virus. You could say that everyone in the world is infected with the zombie virus."
"Once you die, whether bitten to death by a zombie or from disease, you will become a zombie."
"From now on, humanity will have to fight against the zombie virus for a long time."
Rick looked at his hands. Did this mean he wouldn't find peace even after death?
He turned to look at Lori, who was holding Carl and crying her heart out. She couldn't believe that her child had also been infected with the zombie virus.
This thing is like a bomb lurking in the human body; it won't suddenly explode, but it always instills fear in people.
Especially when this happens to one's own child.
Lori is a woman with a very strong maternal instinct. Her maternal instinct is so strong that she is willing to give up the lives of others, including herself, for her children.
Jenner looked at the gloomy group of people and walked out of the central command room. He couldn't help but think of when Caesar arrived at the CDC.
Rick told him that everyone was infected with the zombie virus, and Caesar's expression must have been one of shock.
Jenner thought to himself, "Thank goodness I didn't tell Caesar beforehand."
Deliberately concealing it for a period of time won't bring any real benefit, but Jenner would feel that he's at least gotten back at Caesar.
Moreover, this news could also temporarily tell Caesar that he did indeed have some research capabilities.
Afterwards, the remaining members of Rick's group were devastated, hiding in their rooms to process the news they had just received.
Even lunch was left unprepared and uneaten.
It felt like going back to those days when Jenner was the only one holding on alone.
Jenner was in a good mood. He made himself a nice lunch and went back to his room for a good nap.
Inside the CDC, it was eerily quiet, except for the two people arguing incessantly in Rick's room.
Carl had already been sent to Jacqueline by Lori, while Lori and Rick were constantly arguing.
"Why don't you want to go to Caesar's ranch?"
Rick couldn't understand Lori's thought process at all. The only way she could survive was to go to Caesar's ranch.
"Why do we have to go to Caesar's ranch?" Lori's attitude was firm: "We can form our own faction, and we also have Jacques and the others."
"Jacqueline?" Rick chuckled, marveling at Lori's naiveté. "Jacqueline and the others followed us to the CDC."
"It was all for the so-called vaccine. Now they know there is no vaccine, no illusory hope. Only Caesar's ranch can keep them alive."
"They won't leave the CDC with us; they'll go with Caesar and his team."
Rick knew exactly what Jacques and the others were thinking. They had just been clinging to a sliver of hope for a peaceful era, thinking that if there were a vaccine, they could live a peaceful life.
The bubble of fantasy has burst; it's time to return to reality, and Caesar is their best option.
Lori paused for a moment, then looked up again. "Then we can stay at the CDC. After they all leave the CDC, we can rely on the CDC to gather manpower."
Just as Rick was about to retort, Lori explained herself, "I know the CDC needs energy, we can go find diesel."
"Atlanta is so big, I don't believe there isn't enough diesel."
After a long pause, Lori finally quieted down, and Rick continued.
"Lori, calm down."
"There won't be enough diesel fuel to keep the CDC afloat."
"We need to be more realistic."