As James and the German Shepherd continued down the deserted street, James kept a keen eye out for any signs of life or shelter. The once familiar surroundings were now unrecognizable, with abandoned cars and debris littering the streets. The only sounds were the distant moans of the undead and the soft padding of the dog's paws.

"So, P.R.O.T.E.C.T., any suggestions on where we should look for a safe place to spend the night?" James asked, hoping to get some insight from the AI in his head.

"Based on the map data I have, there is a residential area a few blocks down the road. We could try searching there for a suitable location," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. suggested.

"Sounds good to me," James replied, feeling a glimmer of hope.

As they made their way towards the residential area, James remained alert, constantly scanning his surroundings for any signs of danger. The dog, sensing James' unease, stayed close by his side, its tail wagging in assurance.

As they turned the corner onto a quieter street, James spotted a two-story house with boarded-up windows and a sturdy-looking door. It seemed like a promising place to spend the night.

"Hey, P.R.O.T.E.C.T., what do you think of that house over there?" James asked, pointing towards the building.

"Analyzing...Yes, that could be a viable option for shelter. The windows and door seem secure enough to keep out any unwanted guests," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. replied.

James cautiously approached the house, making sure to check for any signs of life inside or outside. Seeing no movement or sound, he motioned for the dog to stay put and proceeded to check the door. It was indeed sturdy and showed no signs of being tampered with.

Feeling hopeful, James pulled out his Gerber Strong Arm and carefully pried off the wooden planks from the window. Once he made enough space, he peered inside and saw that the room was empty. He motioned for the dog to follow him and climbed through the window, making sure to secure it behind him.

As they made themselves comfortable in the seemingly safe house, James felt a sense of relief wash over him. "Thanks for the help, P.R.O.T.E.C.T.," he said, patting the German Shepherd's head. "We made it through another day."

"Indeed we did, James. And for that, I award you 10XP for successfully finding a safe place to sleep," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. replied, a sense of pride in its voice. "Now let's get some rest. Who knows what tomorrow may bring."

James slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the bright sunlight shining through the window. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat up, stretching his arms and yawning. As he got up, the German Shepard, who was sleeping next to him, stood up and wagged its tail excitedly.

"Good morning, James," P.R.O.T.E.C.T.'s voice echoed in James' mind. "It's time to start your day. We need to find some supplies and resources."

James nodded and rubbed the dog's head, "Alright, let's do this. But first, I need some coffee."

He made his way to the kitchen, carefully checking the rooms for any signs of danger before entering. The kitchen was surprisingly well-stocked, with cabinets and drawers filled with canned food, bottled water, and other supplies. James smiled to himself, feeling fortunate to have stumbled upon such a great find.

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"Nice, this is a jackpot," James said to the dog as he rummaged through the cabinets.

"Indeed, you have quite the Scavenger's Instinct," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. commented.

James chuckled, "Thanks to you."

After finding some coffee and a pot to brew it in, James started a fire in the fireplace to boil the water. As he waited for the coffee to brew, he explored the rest of the house, checking every room for any valuable items. He found some spare clothing, a first aid kit, and a few tools that he added to his backpack.

"Looks like we hit the jackpot again," James said, beaming with excitement.

"Well done, James. Your Scavenger's Instinct has paid off once again," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. praised.

James nodded in agreement, "Yeah, but we still need to keep moving. We can't stay in one place for too long."

As they packed up their supplies and prepared to leave, James noticed the German Shepard licking its paw.

"What's wrong, buddy?" James asked, noticing a slight limp in the dog's step.

"It's probably from the wound on its leg," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. suggested. "We should clean and re-bandage it before we leave."

James nodded and gathered the supplies from the first aid kit. He carefully cleaned the wound and re-bandaged it using all the supplies in the first aid kit, making sure to keep it clean and dry.

"Okay, we're all set," James said, patting the dog on the head.

"James, it's important that we locate other survivors," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. urges. "We can't survive on our own forever. Plus ill award you 20XP to turn on the substation down the street, the added bonus of XP is always nice."

James nods, understanding the importance of finding other humans in this desolate world. As they approach the substation, P.R.O.T.E.C.T. quickly scans the area and finds the switch.

"Alright James, you know what to do," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. says. "Just flip the switch and we'll be one step closer to finding others like us."

As James reaches for the switch, a sudden rustling in the bushes catches his attention. Suddenly, a zombie unlike any he has encountered before bursts out, charging towards him with incredible speed. This is a special infected, a zombie with heightened cognitive abilities and agility.

James quickly draws his Glock 19, but the zombie is too quick for him to get a clear shot. The German Shepherd barks furiously, trying to distract the zombie and give James an opening.

"P.R.O.T.E.C.T., what do I do?" James yells in panic.

"Calm down, James. Remember your training," P.R.O.T.E.C.T. advises. "Use your agility to dodge its attacks and then strike when you see an opening. Your Toughness perk will help you withstand its attacks."

James takes a deep breath and focuses, relying on his training and instincts to survive. He dodges the zombie's attacks with quick movements, waiting for the right moment to strike.

As the zombie lunges forward, James sidesteps and lands a powerful blow with his Gerber Strong Arm. The zombie staggers back, giving James a chance to shoot it in the head with his Glock.

The zombie falls to the ground, motionless. James lets out a sigh of relief, grateful for the guidance of P.R.O.T.E.C.T. and the bravery of his trusty companion.

As James catches his breath, he hears P.R.O.T.E.C.T. in his head, "Well done, James! You have defeated the special infected and earned yourself the Small Arms skill. This will allow you to handle small arms more efficiently in the future."

James nods and takes a deep breath, still feeling the adrenaline pumping through his veins. "Thanks, P.R.O.T.E.C.T.," he replies. "I couldn't have done it without your guidance and help."

The German Shepherd barks happily, wagging its tail as James pats its head. "Good job, boy. You were a great help too."

P.R.O.T.E.C.T. chimes in again, "Now that the infected has been taken care of, let's get back to our mission. We need to turn on that substation and find other survivors."

James nods in agreement and starts walking towards the substation, with the German Shepherd following close behind. P.R.O.T.E.C.T. directs him towards the entrance and advises him on how to turn on the power.

After a few moments of fiddling with switches and buttons, the power comes back on, and P.R.O.T.E.C.T. starts scanning the area for signs of unregulated electricity.

Suddenly, P.R.O.T.E.C.T. beeps urgently, "James, I have detected some high levels of unregulated electricity coming from a nearby building. There might be humans there. We should check it out."

James nods, "Alright, let's go."