Francis didn't say anything at first. I could tell she was immediately sorry for laughing. But I wasn't angry. I didn't want her to feel bad, so I continued to explain: "When it became clear that the coma patients weren't waking up and there was no improvement, I did everything I could to find every article, every study, every piece of information I could. Of course, the Internet no longer existed, but luckily the base, which had apparently previously been in collaboration with a medical facility, had access to external servers that worked offline. Of course, they weren't specialized in coma patients, but in communicable diseases, which was of course more important. But I still found some information and I researched them, examined them all, even carried out some tests myself." When I saw her look, I quickly added: "Harmless tests." I tapped around blindly on the tablet, without entering anything or seeing what I was actually doing. "Well, in any case, there was a point where it probably became too much. To be fair, I have to say that I understand it now too. When the first patients woke up, I had great hope that they could help us find out how they had woken up and I had set my mind on finding a solution to wake up the others. But that quickly proved to be hopeless, as most of the patients had large memory gaps and not a single one could say how they had woken up. It had probably just happened and that was the end of it for the others. But I had pressed the patients too hard in questioning, they were not strong or rested enough and I kept asking questions. So in the end it was best that I was transferred here. I was angry at first, but I would have done the same thing." I shrugged my shoulders as if that was the end of it. "And she hasn't woken up yet?" Francis asked cautiously. I just shook my head slightly. "I guess I can only wait until it happens to her too. If that happens." Francis reached out and placed his hand lightly on my arm. "It will, don't worry. So many have already made it and the others will do the same." I nodded and was grateful for the small but kind gesture. We continued working in silence. At some point she said: "I'm sorry I laughed. I really thought you were just a normal couple." I just shook my head. "Don't worry. You didn't know."

My watch beeped just as Francis and I took the tablet and measuring devices back to the main hall. A message popped up saying that Caleb was expecting me in the training hall in an hour.

I had already suspected that Caleb was behind today's changed schedule. He certainly initiated the change and I was then allowed to be surprised. I said goodbye to Francis and then went back to my room. Most of the others had already finished breakfast and were working in their own divisions. So the corridors were empty and I didn't meet many. Since I still had some time, I strolled and let my thoughts wander. I actually wanted to stop by the hospital hall again, but I could do that later. She probably wouldn't run away, I thought slightly sarcastically. Down in the courtyard, inside the large atrium, I saw several people trimming the trees. Two stood below and caught the branches. When you saw the people, the halls, the daily routines, you had to admit that the entire system, which included people and the rank and file, was a masterpiece of planning. Of course, a lot of things were born out of necessity, but it was still impressive that such an institution could be created and maintained in a crisis like that then and still today. Today the sun shone an autumnal gold and I saw how it was reflected on the window panes of the higher floors up to the ceiling, bathing everything in a bright light. If you put aside everything that had led you to this living situation, this was a really beautiful place. I sighed and then went to my room. Henry was already gone; he was probably also busy with his work in the engineering division.

I showered, put on clean clothes, and then packed my bag. I realized that I didn't know what I needed, because I had no idea what Caleb was waiting for me with. And then I also realized that I still hadn't made a decision. What should I tell him? I grabbed my hand pad, my jacket, and then headed back toward the halls. The living space and the work halls were separated from each other for logistical reasons. So I inevitably always passed one of the main halls. I looked into the dining hall, where only a few people were sitting and eating. The workers in the food division were almost always divided into shifts in the hall, except at night. Because of the different time schedules, there were always people who needed food at different times.

I felt a little reminded of the days when I was still a student walking around campus and watching others still have lectures or classes, or when I was roaming around the city with friends while others still had to work . So now I also felt like I had chosen something special because everyone else was busy and I had free time. But I didn't yet know what Caleb actually wanted from me.

When I arrived at the training hall, Caleb was already waiting in one of the back corners. He also didn't have any training clothes on. “There aren’t that many people here right now, so we decided we would like to have the meeting here.” I looked at him questioningly. “Meeting?” He looked at me meaningfully. "Have you thought about the question I asked you yesterday?" I sighed and looked him straight in the eyes. “Do you think I would be a good choice for this position?” Don't you think there are others who have more experience and would be better suited?" He shook his head and then gestured to a table set up at the back of the hall. He sat down and I sat diagonally from him. Then I put my handpad in front of me and looked at it. The screen was dark. “I would love to do it. But there are things that need me here." As if Caleb had expected this objection, he quickly replied: "We have already found a possible replacement for Hollow, should you decide to do so. Your brother already knows, your other courses would also be informed, and you won't be able to do much in the hospital anyway." I looked at him and he raised his hands apologetically. “I'm sorry, but it's also true. Besides, there are people assigned there to monitor everything 24 hours a day.” I nodded slowly. He was right, there weren't really any good arguments for me to want to stay here. “My brother,” I murmured slowly. My brother, he was a thing for himself. I thought for a moment and then began to nod slowly. Caleb looked at me expectantly. “Okay,” I then said. A small word, four letters, and with it so much responsibility and expectation. “Great!” he clapped his hands enthusiastically and smiled broadly. He would later tell me that he hadn't expected me to say no and had therefore taken the precaution of informing me about the courses I was taking outside of work.

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We waited another half hour and talked about this and that, then one of the CEOs came in, then the division manager for field operations, and finally the head trainer of the recruits. I had seen them all before, but I didn't really know any of them. They were talking to each other in a small circle a little way away from the table. After them, six other young people arrived, four of whom I knew by sight. I had apparently already forgotten the others, as they didn't say anything to me. As the three men who had just been talking confidentially sat down, one last person came over. I turned around and recognized him. "Caspar?" I asked in surprise and he gave me a quick grin as he sat down on the last free seat at the table and then looked around expectantly.

“Thank you all for coming,” the division leader opened the group and looked at us one by one with a professional expression. “You're probably wondering what exactly you're doing here.” The others didn't answer, but just looked at him eagerly and listened to his words.

"Well," she stood up and then laid a plan in front of us. It showed a territory that was recognizable by brown and green colors and circular lines. "This is where our base is." We all leaned forward curiously. None of us had really seen the area before, except for what we could see through the windows, which really wasn't much. She pointed to a circle in the middle of the plan. "This is where the base is," she ran his finger over the plan and drew an area. "As you probably know, the job of the external division is to plan and carry out operations or so-called missions that serve a certain purpose. Some of them are used to obtain resources that are needed on the base. Others are used to explore the outside world. They provide us with information about what it looks like out there, how the animals and plants in our area are doing, what else is out there and so on. With each mission, the radius we investigate is increased. In the past, it has already provided us with valuable information that has enabled us to expand and improve the base. Well, we cannot simply stop these tasks and must continue to carry them out. Therefore, the old groups will continue to exist with their social tasks. But now things have changed.” She paused meaningfully.

“As you all probably noticed in the big meeting yesterday, there were people sightings. Other people from a different base, as could be determined. Since, as already mentioned, we cannot simply withdraw our own workers and emergency services and deploy them to this new task, we have decided to form a new team." She looked around as if she were confirming the new team present here. Something we already knew from the moment we entered the room and sat down at this table. “We are of course aware that this will result in the loss of workers elsewhere. But these can be replaced more easily. We now had to set our priorities on this. Therefore, you will all fulfill an important role in this new team. You were all chosen, some through your Dante in the system and others through the suggestion of other people," she said, looking at me, "because you bring something to the team that can and will be put to good use. Now we will first introduce you. One by one you will say your name and your current division and then we will introduce you to your role in the team. There will also be overlaps, but it is important to establish clear responsibilities.” With these words, she placed several pictures printed on paper on the table. It was unusual that people were still working with paper when everyone now had a handpad and most of it was done digitally. The sheets had different symbols with different colors on them. “These logos will be assigned to you accordingly. You will always carry them on you in the future so that others can identify you more easily." While we were still looking at the symbols curiously, she nodded to the main trainer, who stood up and nodded to all of us. “I’m Derrick. I will be your trainer in the coming weeks, teaching you the basics of combat, surviving the outside world, and helping others. Since this is your new division, you will invest all your time in it. Due to the increased energy expenditure during training, you will be given larger portions of food.” This news was met with enthusiastic murmurs. “So much for me first. Now to you, Markus,” he looked at the chairman of the board, who now stood up while Derrick sat down again. Although most of the members of the board were older, this one was young and did not have the typical arrogant look that was common among many who worked in higher positions. “I am Tom Cullens and I will be your liaison to the decision makers among us. If your group needs something, wants to discuss something or share something, or needs permissions and dry things like that, then I'm the right person for you." He nodded formally and then sat down again. Now everyone's attention turned back to the division leader, who introduced herself as Ivana, realizing that she had forgotten to give her name. Then she looked at the first person sitting in the group of members. It was a girl, one of the three people I didn't know yet. She introduced herself as Maya and immediately blushed. “I work in the botany division. "That's because I was studying ecology with a focus on botany before the outbreak." She looked at Ivana, unsure if she should add anything else. Ivana nodded briefly and then said: “Thank you, Maya. You will join the group as a specialist in plant and tree identification. Your tasks will include, among other things, determining which plants can be useful and which can be harmful to you when you will be in the outside world for several days or even weeks.” A general gasp of shock filled the group. Apparently I wasn't the only one who assumed that it would always be a maximum of two or three days. The fact that some missions could apparently last weeks was clearly shocking to some. Ivana didn't show anything. She pushed one of the leaves, the one with a green symbol that depicted a tree stretching its branches along the circular border. It was dark green and had the word “Botany” written on it. She took it shyly and then looked at it in silence. Maya was a quieter person, so I remembered her.