While Zorai was busy re-building the base and getting it back on track, Charles has been busily exploring the city searching for more samples to bring back to the lab and drawing any large gatherings of zombies towards the base to be processed by a few builders and fed to the fungus.

When he first learnt of how rapidly the fungus had been evolving, Charles was forced to sit down with Zorai and have the discussion every parent dreads having with their children.

"Having to explain the responsibility of owning a pet is not easy. You gotta keep them properly fed. Train them to shit only in certain places. Then there are vaccinations, walking them so they don't get fat. Sighhh."

Charles complained to himself as he climbed over another pile of rubble, narrowly avoiding a shifting section that collapsed in as he passed.

"At least his pet basically breathes highly combustible gasses so if we ever need to put it down I could probably just flick a match into the top of the Fungus pit." Charles mumbled as he trudged up the stairs of a relatively intact high rise building.

Once reaching a nice height, he took out his high-tech binoculars and scoured the area. Finally, he spotted a sizable horde gathering and moving towards his area and grinned.

After some more rubble gymnastics and properly planning out a route back towards the base, he grabbed a bit of metal sheeting and a bar and raced off towards the horde.

The moment he rounded the corner and was in sight the horde lurched in his direction. With some banging and yelling, he managed to get most of them moving in his direction. Then began the slow march back to base.

It was just before nightfall when he arrived with the horde in tow, only to witness a 40m cube generator system being lowered down into the fungus pit where it was summarily swallowed by the black shadows of the fungus mouth.

Shrugging at the unexplained actions of his son, Charles finished luring the zombies into the huge area cleared out around the tunnel and let the builders go to town on them.

"Charles, I'm picking up a fair amount of radio chatter in the surroundings of the base."

One of the builders told him as its robot duplicates minced the zombies entering the clearing.

"Give me some waypoints, and I'll go check it out. How's the transmission net going?" Charles replied while discarding his metal bar and sheet into the fungus tunnel.

"I currently have enough transmitters set up for a radius of about 6km of the tunnel. We can start setting up surveillance within that area. Triangulation of radio chatter is being sent to your 'ThingyWatchit'."

Despite the lack of emotion in the voice, the slight fluctuation when he said the name of Charles self-invented ' does every damn thing' wristwatch betrayed his distaste for Charles' naming sense.

"Heh. Righto, I'll go check it out tonight. Keep in touch kiddo."

Just as Charles turned to leave and waved to the robot, the robot deposited 3 stuffed looking duffle bags on the ground that were hidden in its coat of 'hair'.

"Set up some surveillance while you're out. Also, I've sent the radio frequencies being used to your… watch, so you can make contact. From what I've gathered, it appears to be survivors taking advantage of you clearing hordes from the area and setting up camps nearby."

Charles made a grunt of affirmation and retrieved the bags, checking the contents and then walked off while waving over his shoulder to the robot inhabited by Zorai's focus.

As he wandered into the afternoon dusk, Charles flipped up his wristwatch and a holographic map of the area he'd explored so far came into view. This little device may not be HPE upgraded yet, but Charles was quite happy with its performance so far considering it's entirely run with conventional LPE physics.

The map on his wrist reacted to his retina and enlarged or focused on an area depending on twitches of the eye. For normal people, this may have been an annoyingly difficult method to learn to use, but for Charles, it happened almost overnight thanks to his Passive.

As the map zoomed out it showed a blue area that circled around the base for about 6 km. in that area were about 16 red flashing dots, haphazardly littered through the area. The map extended to explored areas beyond that, but Charles had mostly been tied up setting up transmitters and killing zombies for a few days and hadn't had the chance to explore more than a couple extra kilometres out from the blue area.

Along with the red dots were hundreds of little blue dots, indicating where Zorai thought the best place to set up monitoring stations in the area would be. This would allow them to suck up data from the blue area as the zombie outbreak continued.

While walking around in circles and sticking little palm-sized spheres into corners or on streetlights, Charles approached one of the blinking red dots closest to the base on the west side. He took out an earpiece from his backpack and as he approached the dot on the map, it tuned into the radio frequency transmitting from the area.

A deep sonorous voice that sounded like the guy who does movie commercials echoed in his ear as he busied himself setting up a few more Science Spheres in the area.

"Ladies and gentlemen, if you're just tuning in then welcome to Rat Shack's Wasteland survival radio. As a fellow survivor and radio dabbler, I've noticed quite a bit of radio traffic picking up in the area lately and welcome our fellow survivors into the safety radius of Zorai's Lair.

Now I know you all are no doubt wondering what the wrap is in this unfamiliar neck of the woods, so let me play it all out nice and clear for you. If you're within about 4 miles of the tunnel surrounded by a cleared patch of land and with giant hair creatures roaming about, then congratulations!

This area here is what I like to call, The Green Zone! I won't say how I know what I know, but let me spell it out for you all before you get any funny ideas. Zorai and his buddies are all badass hyper-teched out zombie ass-kicking monster tamers, and you'll do best by yourself if you not go wandering anywhere past the boundary of his cleared out area.

Now I'm sure some of you won't listen to the advice of ol' Rat Shack, so you go ahead and help yourselves to your deaths.

For all those smart survivors just trying to get by, know that this here Green Zone is pretty much the safest place for as far as the eye can see from up on the old tower on Cheryl Street. Tallest building in the zone for any touristy type or anyone looking to set up a nice lookout. Do be careful up about there though, Zorai's number one man Charles likes to go zombie spotting every now and then and he is one crazy ass son'ofa'bitch.

Once watched that guy run into a horde of thousands of rabids and came out the other side with nary a scratch.

My next advice is the most important. No matter what, don't be getting in that man's way when he's luring a big ol' horde of zombies into Zorai's lair. That right there is why this place is the green zone and last thing we want is some wannebe do gooder stirring up his hordes and making them spread out. Ol' Charles knows his shit so it's best you just leave that can o' worms there alone.

When he's gatherin' a horde it's best to just lay low and quiet for a while till they pass on by. Or better yet, you new survivors movin' into the area should be fortifyin' up in one o' those still standing skyscrapers. We got about 7 in the green zone and more than enough room for everyone.

Now for our regular listeners, Ol' Lucas down at the church on 7th Av is setting up a scavenger party to head out to the east side. Heard Charles the main man, took in some scruffy rejects from the ol' Caltarni Shoppin' mall and left all kinds of whatnots there. So anyone lookin' to help out Lucas and score a few premium goodies needs to meet him down there tomorrow.

Now, I know some of you ruffian types are gonna be lookin' to do some banditry, but I suggest you consider other options or work yourself up a good game plan because ol' Lucas has got himself one of them there ballistic powers.

Man can point at something and then BOOM! Like a walkin' talkin' grenade launcher.

OK, last advert before I play you some music. Gunny, the ex-captain of a military outfit that's set up in a little bunker on the north side of the zone is encouraging the leaders of the prominent survivor groups to gather up on the edge of Zorai's cleared zone on the morrow night. Hopin’ to discuss getting back some law and order in this here little slice of paradise.

I for one am dubious how that's gonna go, ‘specially with all these powered running ‘round the place, but I still want to encourage everyone to go ahead and turn up. Little bit of order in the place would do us some good and make it easier on you knew folk movin' into the area.

Alrighty now, that’s it for the…"

Charles had finally found the little bunker hidden away in the garage of a dilapidated hotel and barged in just as Rat Shack was finishing up his radio chat.

Charles walked in as if completely at home in the shaggy man's radio studio and sat down at a mic while placing headphones on and gesturing for Rat Shack to keep going.

"Ho-Holy damn! Well, ladies and gentlemen, it looks like you might be waitin' on that music for a little while longer because we have here as a guest on the show, the hero and champion of the Green Zone, Charles the Main Man."

"Thank you Rat Shack. I'm happy to be here. I'll admit, it's been a while since I last had to do radio broadcasting. Ahem! Ok, so I'll let you fire off a few questions, maybe say a few words and then be on my way."

Rat Shack, a barely 20's young man with shaggy hair and long, wretched beard smiled with a set of pearly white teeth and wheeled his chair over to a nearby wall covered in all sorts of radio electronics. He then started flicking buttons while talking.

"There you have it, folks, Charles here is open to some questions but being just a run of the mill radio show host I be comin' up blank! So what I'm gonna do is set up the ol' ham radio here and we'll field some questions comin' from any of you folks out there that can reach me on…"

Charles focused on his wristwatch for a moment and then grinned at the flustered Rat Shack.

"No need for that Rat Shack. Zorai's patching in the mobile networks and city power grid now. If anyone out there has a phone and a charger handy we can take calls right here at the station just by you dialling 001."

Almost immediately a phone ringing sound was heard on the radio, completely befuddling Rat Shack who couldn't figure out how Zorai was doing what he was doing. He tentatively pushed a flashing button on his control panel, and the voice of a gruff older sounding gentleman came through.

"This is Captain Sam McCullum, retired. What is the purpose of luring the zombies closer into the centre of the safe zone. I won't presume to have any hand into the safety that you yourself have created here for us, even if that was not your actual intention. I just want to be sure that a massive horde of zombies isn't going to come spewing out of your hole in the ground."

"Hahaha. Well, that's a good question Captain. Oh, hold on just a moment. I'll let Zorai field this one." Charles' grin was absolutely savage as Zorai started completely taking control of all the old systems within his transmission range.

"Greetings plebeian human meat sacks. I am Zorai, the higher energy being residing within the abyss of the facility built under the tunnel you all have heard of or seen. The zombies are being processed into basic fuel elements to run the conventional generators I have just connected to the cities power network. I will warn you, the city network is currently drawing significant amounts of energy and is spotty at best beyond a radius of 7 km from the tunnel."

Rat Shack took that to be the end of that question and quickly switched to the next caller to keep things rolling. Already he had dozens of phone calls pouring in and in a waiting queue.

"OK, thank you Captain, our next caller is Father Lucas from the church on 7th Av."

"Rat Shack, good to be hearing from you again. G'day to Charles our resident hero and Zorai our new energy being overlord. I'd like to ask if your planning to help out the survivors in the area with supplies or equipment in the near future. We have quite a few sick people and food is becoming difficult to scavenge without leaving the Green Zone."

Charles decided to field this one, knowing Zorai's answer would have been a flat no. The only reason he connected everyone within his network was for the novelty of being on the radio.

"While we can help out with some stuff I can guarantee you it won't be for free. In a week or two we'll probably have a trading outpost set up on the surface trading any goods you have for research data or interesting news. Mutated zombie sightings, blood samples from powered individuals, almost anything you have that we don't know."

Picking up what Charles was trying to accomplish Zorai continued on.

"We will also take any sufficient quantities of metals, copper, brass, gold, silver. These along with research data and biomatter we can convert to fuel will be traded for Z-credits. Anything in the trading house can be bought with these from generators, fuels, weapons and even information regarding powers. I'm also looking for anyone in the midst of mutating powers but is showing signs of unstable behaviour. With their help, we may also eventually be selling a 100% success rate power mutation."

Rat Shack flicked another switch while commenting.

"Hoho! Well there you have it, folks. Zorai our friendly neighbourhood energy being is working on powers for all you survivors out there what ain't been bit yet. Moving onto our next caller, Lesly."

A firm feminine voice sounded out on the radio.

"I'm Lesly from the south end survivor enclave. We witnessed you taking in survivors from the east side shopping centre. What's the chances that you will be taking in other survivors?"

Before Charles could allow his useless human male hormones to make him start flirting with the woman, Zorai answered immediately.

"1%. I say 1, because technically anything could happen. But provided there is no extenuating circumstance such as me going completely mad, I will not be taking in anyone without some level of understanding in science. This is a science facility, not a fallout shelter. Even those layabouts we have here now will be screened for science potential and summarily kicked out if lacking.

That said, I understand your limited organic minds cannot fathom the depths and mysteries of Science without time to study. As such, potential applicants may invest in textbooks at the trading post."

Quite a few more questions came, and after a matter of hours most people were settling in to sleep. As Charles stood up Rat Shack held out his hand to shake before he left.

"I want to thank you for what you been doing out there. I know you're just doing it to feed your big old laboratory, but it's created a safe place for us squishy mortal like fellows nonetheless."

Charles shook the man's hand and then made to leave but suddenly stopped.

"Are you sure Zorai?"

"Yes. Though it may be a mistake to pollute my data bands with research into social sciences, I am confident it will help. I've discovered that all data, no matter how useless seeming, helps grow my core matrix and speeds up my growth rate. Even something worthless such as human social science will help me evolve faster."

Charles then turned and looked at the bewildered looking man while scratching his chin. Eventually, he just shrugged.

"So, Zorai is offering to bring your radio station into the future. He is already setting up a little area for you in sector 7 of the lab. You will be given lead on social engineering projects specifically to do with communication. Basically, he wants to help run your radio station so that he can observe human social mediums for research data."

Rat Shack's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"You mean I get an actual radio show with all the bells and whistles just like today. Callers, guest speakers, a music library bigger than my laptop?"

"Sure. You can pretty much ask for anything, and Zorai will probably get it for you. He seems pretty into it." Charles said while shrugging.

"If you want the deal, I suggest you pack some memorabilia and head over to the tunnel. One of the builder robots will show you the way in. I still have some work to do out here."

Charles then waved over his shoulder, climbed up the ladder to the underground garage and strolled off with his duffle bags slung over his back.

He then moved on to continue placing Science Sphere’s everywhere. Occasionally he'd investigate a survivor group or follow signs of something other than a shambling zombie causing ruckus.

Finally after having followed dead leads for the last few days, he came across sure signs of a mutate zombie while investigating one of the survivor camps. What he found on the 21st floor of a highrise building were the remains of a survivor group that got absolutely shredded to pieces.

After following the trail of body parts and blood he came across a room with a single mutated creature sleeping within. Based on the fact that dead and rotting flesh was sloughing off its body in a goopy mess, Charles decided that this must have been a zombie that finally mutated.

It had no skin and just fresh bloody musculature that looked healthy and new. Its body was covered in long bony growths creating spiked horns of bone on its head, elbows, forearms, knees and shins.

The creature looked kind of like a demon and was built for manslaughter. Every muscle fibre was thick, bulging and streamlined. Without giving it a chance to wake up and recognise him, Charles retreated to start gathering supplies from the area.

Just as he finished making some makeshift cable to tie it up with, he heard a low growling noise from behind him. His aura glowed into being with a dull light, and he leapt forwards, barely avoiding a swipe of the creatures gnarled razor sharp claws.

Not giving it a chance to react, he spun around and whipped out the cable. The force of the cable cut a long slash across the creatures face, and then Charles had rushed into fist range. Trying not to completely destroy this amazing research specimen he aimed for its limbs with his strikes.

Which left him completely shocked when his HPE powered punches seemed to just ripple through its limbs barely splitting some muscles and giving off a few cracks from the bones.

Enraged, the creature's eyes glowed red, and it started slashing at Charles in complete madness.

"Holy shit! Is this thing getting faster?"

Dodging slash after slash, Charles ducked a wide swipe and weaved in close making straight jabs into its stomach. That seemed to slow it down a bit, and Charles slid back as the demon tried to knee him with its long bony spiked knee.

Kicking out with a low kick while grabbing the creatures knee horn, Charles connected with its supporting leg and nearly burst out laughing when it completely flipped the creature onto its head, dazing it.

Not losing the chance he started wrapping it with the cable then punched it in the head until it seemed to pass out. Though Charles wasn't sure if he hadn't just minced whatever it had that passed for brain matter.

He managed to finish trussing it up just in time for Zorai to show up with a few builders and collect the sample for transport.

Charles could barely contain his excitement after the brief fight with the creature. If things like that were going to start popping up, it would kick his passive into overdrive and probably help him unlock more secrets of utilising HPE as a human.

He stood at the shattered window of the high rise in his hero pose and laughed raucously into the rising sun, just imagining fighting a small army of those things.

After calming down a bit, he decided to finish planting the Sphere’s before heading back to rest at base by starting some interesting projects he'd had on his mind.

When he finished up he started walking back to base at about midday when he noticed a building he often passed by was missing pieces. While not unusual for a building to be falling apart and lose some pieces now and then, this building was not one of them, having been mostly intact after the bombings.

Curious, Charles meandered in to investigate. He nearly left after investigating for an hour, thinking he'd wasted his time, when he heard the scratching of little clawed feet in the ceiling overhead.

Climbing up into the ceiling he almost had his face bitten off by a grey possum covered in shiny metallic fur. With a grunt he fell out of the roof onto his back and quickly started throwing punches into the roof, blowing it apart in a shower of debris and flying possums.

Most interesting was that the possums didn't seem to take any damage at all. He then watched, fascinated, as they started eating the cement pillars and iron rebar in the structure of the building.

Seeing the furry little bastards about to collapse the entire building on his head he decided to retreat.

"Fuckin' metal possums. They were bad enough before, like the racoons of Australia. Now they're going to be an absolute menace."

He made a note on his watch for Zorai to send out some builders and try and secure a few as he made his way to base.

When he arrived he could see that the cleared area had expanded a few hundred metres and a huge building had been erected next to the tunnel entrance. Groups of people that he'd rescued from the mall were either operating the shop or preparing to set out on some job or another.

"Zorai, what's going on?" Charles asked while watching a builder load half a dozen metal cones, about 3 metres high and a base 3 metres across, into the back of a pickup truck, as a group of the humans settled in getting ready to drive off while reviewing a map being projected by a little cube.

"I am expanding on my idea of researching into social engineering. These boxes are something along the lines of… territory markers. I have made nearly one hundred of them to be spread out along the border at a 10km radius of the base. These will create a HPE energy and communications network between each other. For now it is basically just infrastructure until the human researchers decided to invent some operable devices for the humans to use.

I have also set up a job board. While I can probably just do this all myself with builders, I am busy with a great many projects, numbering in the hundreds at the moment. This way, I can have the human minions do tasks for me that I do not have the time to bother with or can't afford to waste resources like the builders on. Your possum catching job and the task of placing my Spheres are an example I have already added to the board."

Charles was impressed that his antisocial son had already thought this out so much. He was essentially preparing the area he claimed for a human population to inhabit and setting up a rudimentary bounty board system. Charles then suddenly came to a realisation.

"HAHAHA! Holy shit! Zorai, you're setting up an adventurers guild, aren't you?! If you're that keen on it, maybe we should build an artificial dungeon for them to go and explore as well."

"No. Well… maybe. To just run one would be a huge waste of resources for me. It would require more resources than the data would be worth. Unless… if it could be self-sustainable and generate a valuable resource it could be useful. For now, I will have to place that on the backburner though. I am in the middle of my first practical application of Golem research and need at least 100 of my 150 focus in order to complete it."

Charles checked out the store for a bit while Zorai was chatting in his earpiece and then started heading down to the facility.

"Focus?" He couldn't help but ask.

"It is how I refer to the number of menial tasks my mind can separate and focus on at once without approaching the point that I begin to lose creativity and imagination. I was stuck in that state on and off for some time in the two years before the outbreak. It wasn't until after I was forced to ply my creative thinking directly that I realised how important it is for Science. The few times I used it before that was only when I was honed in on an important research task like the virus or the time you tried to make Buffy invisible.

Speaking of which, I have your dog. I would be careful though, she is still… adapting."

Zorai then abruptly cut off the connection and returned to his Golem experiments.