Chapter 28
Welcome to the Plant
Allie
The group was first led to a large concrete building right inside the main gates where they could shower and put on fresh clothing.
The man in charge, a stocky, square-jawed Black man with long dreads, went through the introductions.
“Hi, I’m James.” He raised a basic ID badge with his name, which hung by a lanyard around his neck, so they could all see it.
“I’m one of the directors here. This place was first the Cornelius Agricultural Center and then became the Hazel-Cornelius Ag and Bioscience Innovation Plant, but since that’s a mouthful and a half, it’s been known as ‘the Plant’ since before the world ended.
The compound has been expanded to many, many acres that are fenced or barricaded, including farmland and animal enclosures, and we have enough buildings here that you’ll need a map to help get around for at least your first few weeks.
And yes, we have maps and signage posted all around the compound.
” He paused. “I know some of you have been here before, but some are new, so you’re going to have to go through the whole intro.
” At Gray’s good-natured groan, James flashed him a smile. “I’ll make it quick, Gray.”
He turned to the rest of the group. “You’ll be meeting some other folks while we get you going on this particular protocol, but it’s all for safety’s sake.
” He sobered. “I know y’all have been on the road and you’re probably wary of all this, and I get that.
Been there. So I’m going to walk you through the process so you know what you’re getting into. ”
He pointed behind him. “This building is divided into two parts—the showers and the bite-check stalls. That’s for a good reason. If we get a Bitten, we can contain it in seconds and the rest of the settlement doesn’t die. Make sense?”
He paused, taking a second to look at each one of them.
“I apologize for my bluntness, but this right here is the only truly dangerous place on the whole campus, and new people coming into the settlement are the most potentially dangerous people here. Everyone who lives and works here gets checked regularly at stations around campus. We’re all pretty comfortable with each other by now.
Don’t get Frankie started on distinctive parts of people’s anatomy. ”
Some chuckles arose at that.
James’s smile turned more serious. “I know you know what I mean when I say we’re in a war against the undead, and humans have to work together as allies. We want you to be our allies, for sure, but if you’re Bitten, you’re already working for the enemy. Make sense?”
Murmurs and nods.
“This building is easy to close off, and that’s why we have armed guards.
Say hey to Jace and Helen here behind me”—James motioned to the figures in riot gear a few feet behind him, both of whom lifted their visors and smiled—“’cause they’ll be with you throughout.
I know they look a little scary, but you’ll notice no guns.
That kind of noise near the entrances is no good, plus there’s more margin for error with firearms, so they’re armed with knives and batons.
No other weapons allowed in the bathhouse, which is why we’ll ask you to leave yours out here.
After you pass inspection, you’ll get them back.
” He seemed to gauge their reactions to this.
Then he continued, “Here is where I can tell you with some certainty that the Plant is safe. If you haven’t been bitten by a Z, you’re safe here as well.
You saw the barriers and razor wire, and there’s a trench all around the inside.
We have teams of pikers—pretty much every able body who can lift a pike ends up on that rotation if they decide to stay—who are called out during Z attacks to kill those who get caught in the barriers and trenches.
Then the clean-up rotation is called out. ”
Wow. Allie cast a wide-eyed glance over at the Soto-Millers, noting their impressed looks. If the Plant really did run everything like this, no wonder they were checking everyone from head to toe before they were allowed in.
James was still talking. “...we can’t guarantee absolute safety at all times, because life here at the Plant involves the same kinds of everyday risks you would be familiar with from Before the apocalypse.
But we can tell you that we’ve done everything in our power to make the Plant a safe place to live and work. Y’all with me on that?”
Several nods, plus a muffled whoop from the taller guard. “Thank you, Helen,” James said, chuckling.
She lifted her visor and grinned. “Just letting you know I’m with you, J.”
“And I always appreciate your enthusiasm.” James rolled his eyes theatrically, which garnered more laughter from the group.
“Anyway. We’ve established communications and trade and supply runs for the other survivors in the region, and we’re always expanding that.
Bike couriers run through here on a weekly basis if you need to send messages to another settlement in our region—we’ve got maps you can check out inside.
If you’ve got other survivors you want to contact, we’ll do our best to help you get in touch, even find them. ”
Allie thought of Brandon. Patrice. She wondered if the Plant had a list of people or groups to avoid.
“You’ll be assigned an orientation mentor who will talk to you and answer your newbie questions, and they’ll also want to know what skills you have to offer the community and what your interests are when it comes to staying here—work you’re interested in doing and so on.
It’s not an interview, just info gathering on both ends.
But they’ll find you in a day or so—we have a couple hundred folks running around this place, but anyone who’s been here a while knows where to find the new folks. ”
Allie looked at Cam, who gave her a reassuring smile.
“And just a heads-up, we do have cats and dogs inside the compound and inside some of the buildings, so if you’re allergic, let someone know.
But first and foremost, of course, we’ll feed you here shortly once you pass the checks.
If I may be frank, I’m sure y’all stink.
” James chuckled. “And I’m sure you’d all appreciate a shower and some clean clothes—we’ll also wash your clothes, too, if you want to keep ’em. ”
James explained how to work the showers, where to find the soap and shampoo dispensers along the walls, and where the towels were kept.
He also explained the table on the other end that held piles of clothes and the shelves of shoes on the wall.
“Choose what you like best from what we have. We try to keep plenty on hand, but we do run out of certain sizes sooner than others before we can do another Walmart or Target run. Best bet is to go a size up for now. We don’t get much call for anything over 3XL these days, sadly, but if you need them, let us know.
There are also clothes in the main buildings. ”
He clapped his hands. “Okay! I’ve talked long enough. Go ahead and shower. Respect others’ privacy—I promise you, the guards will too. Right, Jace? Right, Helen?”
Both gave everyone a big thumbs-up.
“That being said,” he continued, “if you see something, say something. Early alerts are the best way to prevent a rampage from a Bitten. Hopefully, we won’t have to deal with that today.
Okay—children and women first, and that means biological or otherwise.
If you’re nonbinary or gender-fluid, join whichever group you’re most comfortable with. ”
Allie smiled at Ginger, who looked gratified. “Thank you,” they called from the back of the group.
James grinned again. “All part of the spiel, but you’re very welcome!” He clapped his hands. “Okay. Dudes and dudes-adjacent, wait your turn. The rest, come on through.”
Allie removed her clothes and threw them into the basket marked New Arrivals—To Wash.
She walked past the trash can marked To Burn.
Then she went to one of the stalls and turned on the water, which she was relieved to find at least lukewarm.
Hurriedly, she shampooed her hair and washed her body, trying not to think too much about the guards walking around.
Hoping there wouldn’t be a horrible discovery among their group.
Not again.
Please, Morrigan, don’t let us have missed something. If someone here is Bitten, let us find them and put them down quickly. The goddess didn’t answer, but Allie felt better for having sent the prayer Her way.
Once she was done, she toweled herself off as quickly as possible then wrapped the towel around herself and headed to the clothing table, where a damp-haired Rachel was already critically eyeing the T-shirts and sweatpants before her eyes lit up.
“Oh! Hello Kitty!” She snagged one from the L section.
Allie couldn’t help but smile.
Rachel noticed. She shrugged and muttered, “I always liked Hello Kitty.”
“Hey, no judgment. I’m a Kuromi girl myself.”
Rachel’s shy grin warmed Allie, then the guard showed Rachel through a door into the next room, where Allie assumed the checks were being administered. She took a deep breath. It’ll be all right.
Allie herself picked a Nirvana shirt and was holding her underwear and sweatpants—bras would apparently have to be gotten elsewhere—when Odette walked over.
“Doing okay, Allie?” she asked. “This is all pretty standard. Key and Manny went through it before they were allowed to see Malcolm.”
“I’m kind of relieved by it, actually, even though I’m nervous. Which is probably weird.” She paused. “It’s good to know that they take safety so seriously. And that they have a system in place.”