Cherreads

Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: Police Station

When forced to cross a wide street during their rooftop journey, the Cube calculated routes while scanning the surroundings. Its optical sensors suddenly locked onto a police substation.

"Firearms..." The Cube's processors lit up. Weapons could empower the timid Zhang Xiaowen with basic self-defense capabilities. For humans, guns carried instinctive psychological deterrence - a primal fear ingrained through generations.

"Stay here. I'll clear the area." Without waiting for confirmation, the Cube tossed down a black cable and slid down six stories. Landing on a car roof, its arms transformed into weapons.

Gunfire erupted. Thirty-two zombies collapsed under precise headshots. When ammunition ran low, the Cube switched tactics - its blade-arm slashing through rotten legs before delivering finishing strikes to prone skulls. Black ichor coated its chassis as it muttered: "Disgusting organic decay. My warship-form could sanitize this plague in minutes..." After securing a blood-slicked path, the Cube scanned the reinforced police shutters. Red laser beams identified the control panel. Squeezing through barred windows, it dispatched four officer-zombies with spinning blade strikes, ending with an unnecessary but satisfying combat pose.

On the rooftop, Zhang Xiaowen peered down at the carnage. The Cube's voice crackled through her visor: "Now! Run!"

Gripping the cable, Zhang slid down frantically. Glass shattered as she crash-landed on a car roof. Alarms wailed. The substation shutter lifted halfway just as zombies closed in - Zhang dove through the gap like a baseball runner sliding home.

Behind secured shutters, the substation's dark corridors unfolded through her visor's night vision. Crimson markers highlighted 9mm shell casings. A pop-up display analyzed ballistics: *Type 92 pistol - 5.8mm armor-piercing rounds. Optimized for hydrostatic shock through tumbling trajectory.*

Following the Cube's 3D schematics highlighting an armory vault, they passed a bloodstained service pistol - its empty magazine and gnawed former owner testifying to the station's final moments.

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