Setbacks For Seoul
While things at the southern half of Korea were warming up and becoming more complete, the northern half remained cold and desolate.
Hope seeming so very faint and distant. Yet, it was also shining the brightest. For Yeosang still drew breath. And he still had the cure. As the eldest alpha, he was guiding his omega and Mingi along on their journey to Incheon. Yeosang's main hope for a medical and research facility in Incheon, was to produce a few more cure serums. He wanted to cure himself and his mate, and packmate. If he could save them, he'd feel better. He knew Wooyoung would ensure he got the cure first. He was essential to the cure remaining intact, and being easily recreated. After that, Yeosang would make for Seoul. Collecting new zombie samples as they went. Waiting and watching for the virus mutation. And the evolution of the zombies into their next variant.
And then, to work on a second cure serum. Anything to combat the second stage of the virus. And maybe, try to determine its origins. And perhaps in the same vein, they could finally find another packmate. It would be nice. Eventually, they would have to get to a safe zone. And then, Yeosang would be both doctor and researcher. It was his hope, really. He wondered what their future would be like. Having the cure, and it being a well guarded secret. He also wondered how the rest of the world was faring. Their shattered governments, and military. Would they ever get in contact globally again?
Maybe after they had reestablished communications for possible trades worldwide, would that happen. But, would they take the bite? How much risk would be involved? And, how many cures were liable to be created in the process? He wished he knew, "You can stop thinking so loud, alpha. You'll have frown wrinkles before you hit forty."
Yeosang frowned, looking at Wooyoung who was smirking in amusement. Mingi was grinning as well, but wisely said nothing. Yeosang sighed, "I can't help it, Woo."
Wooyoung hummed, even as he leaned in and sweetly kissed his jawline, "Still. Calm your mind now and again. You think too far ahead or too abroad, you'll wind up in trouble. Forget the rest of the fucking world, Yeosang. They face the same issues as us, fine. But they're not your concern. Your concern, is Korea. And really, only those you know you can trust and care about. Me, your pack, and any other. And what's the point of thinking so far ahead? While a good thing in retrospect, think of how long that is. And then recall the world we live in. Anything can happen between this very moment, and we get to that military base up ahead."
He gestured, pointing with his gun at the large structure they were making for.
Yeosang sighed, but nodded as he gently pulled Wooyoung closer, "I know. My mind races with possibilities and scenarios. We get to the military base, we get Mingi a uniform. He looks like he could use a refresher." He turned and smirked at the taller alpha. He shrugged, clearly not denying his claim, "Then maybe if they have good enough equipment, I'll make a second cure serum. Then, you guys can stick me. After I get over my fever, we head the rest of the way for Incheon. Make another few cure serums, and even prepare for the second variants. Then, we head to Seoul. Meet pack along the way, if we're fortunate."
Mingi spoke, "I think that is fine. While we wait for your fever to break, I can try and find some way to make radios. This way if we have to go separate ways, we can keep in contact. And know whether or not we have to send a rescue team out to get your corpse, and bury it."
Yeosang smirked, "At least you get it. If you can, that would be great. Though I assure you, it's you and Wooyoung going on the supply runs. I stay behind and research. But I warn you now, anything happens to my omega-." He turned, glaring at Mingi, "Packmate or not, I'm making you my experiment next."
Mingi smirked, winking, "You got it."
Wooyoung huffed, "Yeosangie~. Be nice. You know we're both going to be okay. Have faith in us. While it will slowly get more dangerous, we have some things on our side. You and the cure, for one. And Mingi and I have one another's backs. We're pack. A big reason to fight like hellwolves."
Yeosang sighed, but nodded in agreement, "Still."
Wooyoung shrugged again, even as he leaned into Yeosang to comfort his alpha, "Besides. If you think I'll go down before we find our missing mate, then you don't know me. I want both my alphas, thank you. Bet he's as handsome as you. But unlike you in a more princely handsome, he's more sharp handsome."
Yeosang smirked, "Keep holding on to that, Woo."
Wooyoung smiled, as they pressed closer to the military base.
//
As anticipated, the fallen military base was crawling with zombies.
But with great ease, all three took them out without many issues cropping up. Yeosang took the opportunity to collect as many samples of the zombie virus from the corpses, as he could. While it was a mere pitstop, he would take advantage of what the military base had to offer. He had a list of things he wanted to accomplish while at the base, before heading to Incheon. And he was set on seeing them through. The first, was to create a second cure serum. As that was cooking, he'd investigate the new samples he had. He wasn't sure when Mingi would start his work on trying to make radios they could keep in contact with one another. But he wished the other alpha luck. And to keep nearby. They were still pack. And Yeosang would absolutely hate to lose him.
After that, he was pricked with the cure. While he was undergoing his fever cure process, he was trusting them to keep him safe. And, to do what they could to prepare for the journey the rest of the way to Incheon. After he was up and about, they would leave for said city and its famous airport. And there, he would cook up another cure serum. And test more new samples. He wanted to know how the virus mutated, when it mutated. He wanted to stay on top of the variants for cure variants. Then, he was curing Wooyoung. He was saving the omega he loved, no matter what. And he certainly would be just as fierce to save his alpha packmate. Then after that, he would head for Seoul. And go as deep into cure serum cooking and virus variant research, as he could.
After that?
He really didn't know. He did hope they found more packmates along their way.
After getting into the research and hospital section of the military base, Mingi spoke softly, "We'll hold up in this section of the base. But, we'll have to stay on alert Woo."
Wooyoung nodded, "Sounds like a solid plan."
Yeosang nodded, even as he approached the table to start making a second cure serum, "Good. Take turns. Don't burn yourselves out. When I have a second cure serum made, you'll have to stick me with the first. After that, you two will be on your own."
Mingi held up a piece of machinery he already had out of his backpack, "Don't worry. We'll watch you. And I can start making my radios."
Yeosang nodded, even as Wooyoung scurried about to ensure they had a way to barricade the doors. Just in the off chance. They'd left the doors to the base wide open. Who knew when more would stumble in. Sniff their way to them. And try for them. Yeosang was quick to get to work. Opening up his briefcase, and starting the process of creating a second vial of cure serum. Leaving the original in its special housing case. He would only take it out and replace it with the new serum, once the second was done. He had a system in mind. And he'd stick to it.
It took longer than Yeosang had hoped, for a second serum to be made thoroughly. But once it was, he finally opened up the special casing with the first. He carefully switched them, and sealed the special case up quickly. He then turned to the other two. Wooyoung was relaxed on a medical bed. Legs swinging, just enjoying some down time. Mingi was on the floor. Despite a raised eyebrow at his position, Yeosang did not comment. Nor suggest Mingi could sit on a chair or medical bed. Likely, the level flooring of the floor helped him with what he was doing. And despite it all looking a bit off, he could see the makings of a radio actually forming. And considering how often Mingi was testing things, he was making decent progress. While ensuring it all worked as it should.
He held the vial up, and inquired, "Who wants to cure me?" Both looked to him. He could see hesitation in their eyes. Neither one ready to accidentally lose him. Wooyoung, because they were mates. Mingi, because he was the first one outside Wooyoung to actually care about him. And be nice to him. Yeosang spoke, "If you do as I instruct, you'll be fine."
After sharing a glance, Wooyoung sighed as he got to his feet, "I will. You die on me, I'm going to hunt your wolf spirit down and drag you back. So I can kill you myself, with my bare hands for leaving me behind."
Yeosang smirked, "That's my spirited omega." He turned and picked up the syringe. Setting the vial in, and making sure the air bubble was out. He then came to sit on the bed Wooyoung had, and gently handed him the syringe. He rolled his sleeve up, and pointed, "Now, poke me here." He gently guided Wooyoung's hand a little, "Angle it a little. Otherwise, you could go past the vein and into the muscles. And that could be problematic." He smiled softly, hands then covering his. He could see them shaking. He spoke softly, "I know you can do it, Woo. I believe in you." He gently pulled him down, and offered him a soft and sweet kiss, "I love you, no matter what. If I don't make it, take my research with you both. Head straight for Seoul. Find our pack if you can, and try and get the cure replicated again."
He nodded to the briefcase he'd been hauling about. Wooyoung bit his bottom lip. Worried about losing one of the alphas he loved so much. He nodded, and tried to calm down. After some extra guidance, he injected Yeosang with the cure. With a final kiss from his alpha, Yeosang gestured Wooyoung break the vial and syringe. Make it so no one else could get it upon discovery. He then lay back, and let it do its work.
As Yeosang endured his fever, the other two remain silent and vigilant. Wooyoung made sure Yeosang's research and formula were locked in his briefcase, and guarded. And he did what he could, to help Yeosang through his fever. Mingi sat where he always was, fiddling with his radios. Though at times, he relieved Wooyoung. Taking over nursing duty. And even watchdog duty.
It was an intense few days.
Once Yeosang recovered, they seemed to relax. And in that time, Mingi made successful working radios for the three of them. After ensuring they worked, Yeosang did a quick research on the zombie samples. Seeing nothing new, he decided it was time for Incheon.
And there, he'd cure Wooyoung and Mingi.
Or, that was what he originally planned.
//
Yeosang didn't really feel any different, but he knew he was cured of the virus.
But now, he was very much pressed to cure his pack. He wasn't losing Wooyoung. He would be devastated if he lost his omega. As for Mingi? He'd just found their packmate, he wasn't losing him either. Not if he could help it. So, he knew it was time to cure them both. His plan was fairly simple. After reaching a research facility in Incheon, he would start making yet another cure serum. As the third serum cooked and Yeosang researched any and all zombie samples he collected once they got there, he would cure Wooyoung.
After Wooyoung was recovered and the third serum was ready, he would make a fourth. That would be the one he carried around until Seoul. And then, he would cure Mingi. And as Mingi recovered from his cure fever, he and Wooyoung would stay guard. Maybe even make a plan for their journey to Seoul. And hope to meet another of their packmates.
This was all a plan Yeosang had concocted, since before reaching the military base just before they would reach Incheon. Unfortunately, he would have to change his plans. To his absolute bitter anger. He wanted them cured as soon as possible. He didn't want to lose them! Getting into Incheon wasn't exactly easy. It had more wolves. Many of whom may have come in from other flights. Flights now long dead and grounded. The airport having provided fresh meat for the zombies. Needing to plan things smartly, they chose to make a route straight to the research facility. The sooner they could get there with as few zombies in their way as possible, the sooner he could cure them. And then, they could regather themselves.
And make the final push to Seoul.
But as they made their way through the city towards the research facility that had once been there, Yeosang felt some of his hopes becoming dashed. The place looked more than ransacked. Like things had been set on fire, and ultimately destroyed. Being so close to a military base, it was likely their military had done all they could to eliminate the zombies as best they could. Meaning to make the buildings nothing more, than empty shells. What hopes of resources they could find, dwindled with each building they peered briefly into. The interior looking burned. Hardly much could be seen.
This hadn't been what Yeosang was hoping for. His heart began to sink. No. Please, no. Let the research facility still be in tact. If it wasn't, he wasn't sure what he would do. He needed that facility to be in okay condition. He wanted to cure his pack, damn it! He was too worried about losing them between here and Seoul. He held Wooyoung's hand. Gripping it tighter. Softly, Wooyoung whispered, "We'll be okay, Yeosang. If we have to head straight for Seoul, so be it. We got a chance now."
Yeosang sighed, even as Mingi spoke in his low baritone, "You had hope in creating a cure, Yeosang. And you made one, it works. You fucking made us get you a zombie to bite you, to make sure it worked. It does. You're doing fine. Healing and fine. You're cured. So keep hold of that hope for your pack. We will be okay. We got radios, guns, ammunition, blunt weapons, and we're a pack. We'll be fine."
Yeosang sighed, "I-I know. I just-." He sighed, frustrated, "I just want you both cured, damn it."
Mingi brought his hand to his shoulder, and spoke softly, "And you will. We believe in you. So believe in yourself."
Yeosang nodded, uncertain. But unwilling to argue, either. They eventually came to the facility. And even as he held his breath, he could feel his hopes become dashed. His pack would have to hold his hope for him, it seemed. Upon opening the doors, they were met with a burned up interior. Yeosang wanted to grieve the loss of this facility. He'd been so close. After checking the entire place out, it was determined nothing was salvageable in the location. After consoling Yeosang a second time, they hurried to find supplies around the region. And then, they made to head for Seoul. Promising Yeosang, they would make it.
So, they headed for Seoul. Picking up a dying soul on their way, as they did.
One, that would captain them the rest of their lives.