With a series of mechanical clicks, the Cube retracted its solar panels and stood up, turning its sensors toward the highway leading back to the city.
"Four vehicles approaching. Impressive driving skills to escape that hellhole in low-clearance sedans," it muttered. Transforming into its race car form, it idled near the bulldozer, listening to the growling engines grow louder.
The convoy of cars soon roared past the factory, passengers screaming at the sight of zombies clustered behind the fence. "Why are there so many here?!" a woman shrieked.
"Relax! They're trapped inside!" the driver barked, flooring the accelerator. Exhaust fumes billowed over the Cube as the cars sped by.
"Ugh, these emissions are disgusting. No wonder PM2.5 levels are apocalyptic. Blaming farmers for air pollution? Pathetic excuses from so-called 'experts'..." The Cube revved its tiny engine and gave chase, using the convoy's wake to avoid debris.
In the trailing Volvo, a woman in her thirties glanced back. "Something's following us—it's reflecting light!"
"Just broken glass," the driver dismissed. But as they rounded a bend, the mystery object vanished.
——
The convoy stopped near a cluster of farmhouses where two drunk youths snoozed on a wall—one with his pants unzipped. Villagers offered fresh melons and corn to the exhausted survivors.
The Cube zoomed past, drawing stares. "A remote-control car? Who's playing games now?" someone muttered.
The thirty-year-old woman frowned. "That's what I saw earlier! How's it following us?!"
"Probably some techie survivor," the driver shrugged. "Not worth our fuel to investigate."
The villagers welcomed the newcomers. "Stay as long as needed. Plenty of food, and the creek's clean." Grateful survivors unloaded supplies, eyeing the drunken duo warily.
——
The Cube sped onward, tires screeching through the abandoned town. At the resort, students reinforced the perimeter fence under Teacher He's supervision—tripling the support poles and weaving barbed wire through the lattice.
Zhang Xiaowen stood atop a maintenance vehicle, overseeing the work. Dahei barked a warning as the Cube's toy form skidded into view.
"Where've you been?" Zhang demanded.
"Acquired heavy machinery. Also, humans are still idiots." The Cube projected a map onto her visor. "Convoy of 14 incoming. They'll reach us by dusk."
Zhang groaned. "More mouths to feed. You'd better find a tractor next."
"Already on it." The Cube's optics gleamed. "But first—let's see if these newcomers can handle a real crisis."
As the sun dipped behind Long Mountain, the resort's lights flickered to life—powered by the Cube's jury-rigged solar array. Somewhere in the dark, enhanced shadows stirred, drawn by the glow of civilization's last stand.