Chapter 19: How Did You Get Access?
The sky had already darkened.
The corridors of the CDC were deserted, the dim lighting casting eerie shadows along the walls.
Li Changsheng and his group moved cautiously through the lobby, their eyes alert to every corner.
Slowly, they approached the entrance to a large hall, its reinforced glass doors tightly shut.
Through the glass, they could see that the hall was empty, the silence oppressive and unnerving.
“Wei, open the main doors,” Li Changsheng ordered.
He had already hacked into the CDC’s system via computer; all surveillance and sensors could relay information to the AI known as “Wei.”
But only Li Changsheng held the authority to command Wei—anyone else required his authorization.
With a click, the electronic lock on the main door released.
Li Changsheng pushed the door open and strode in, the others quickly following.
He gestured for everyone to spread out and remain vigilant.
Though the original story mentioned only one living person in the CDC, this world might now be a fusion of several films.
He couldn’t guarantee that nothing had changed within the CDC.
Caution, after all, was the better part of survival—in a place full of unknown weaponry, he had no intention of falling prey to carelessness.
Suddenly, a man in a white lab coat blocked their path—it was Dr. Jenner, a CDC researcher.
“Stop! You can’t just barge in here!” Dr. Jenner warned anxiously, confusion flickering in his eyes.
How could these people possibly have control access? He simply couldn’t fathom it.
“We’re here to find the source of the virus. You know as well as I do—we must do something to stop this disaster,” Li Changsheng replied calmly.
He didn’t reveal his true purpose, wary that Jenner might act rashly and open fire.
“You still can’t trespass like this! This is a highly classified area!” Dr. Jenner insisted, raising his gun as if that might halt their advance.
Staring down the barrel, Li Changsheng’s expression turned cold. “This isn’t the way to treat guests, Doctor. I understand your concerns, but we have no time to waste. The virus has already wrought too much destruction—we must find a solution.”
As he spoke, he discreetly signaled with his left hand.
Daryl caught the cue and, while Jenner was distracted, slipped a handgun from his pack and tossed it across the room.
A sharp bang resounded.
All eyes shifted toward the sound—except Li Changsheng.
Seizing the moment as Jenner’s attention wavered, Li Changsheng darted forward, swiftly disarming him and snatching the submachine gun from his grasp.
Jenner realized what had happened and lunged to reclaim his weapon, but Li Changsheng sidestepped, gripping Jenner by the collar with one hand.
Jenner struggled, desperate to break free, but as a mere researcher with no fighting prowess, he was no match for Li Changsheng’s strength.
With a cold snort, Li Changsheng hurled him unceremoniously across the hall.
“Sorry, Doctor, but I can’t let you get in our way. Moore, tie him up and keep a close eye on him,” Li Changsheng commanded, expressionless.
Moore, already harboring a grudge against Jenner, kicked him hard. “You bastard! Standing by and letting people die!”
He produced a rope and bound Jenner’s hands behind his back.
Tara and Columbus, recognizing this all-too-familiar scene, exchanged awkward smiles.
With Jenner subdued, the group swept the hall; finding no further threats, they finally relaxed.
Daryl wanted to explore further, but Li Changsheng stopped him.
He recalled a conference room here, a place to communicate with the AI “Wei.”
There was no telling how many rooms the CDC contained—searching each one would take an eternity.
Right now, the priority was to locate Wei and gather intel about the CDC.
Behind the hall, a staircase descended. Li Changsheng led the group down and instructed Wei to open an electronic door.
A spacious room revealed itself.
On the front wall, a screen flickered with blue light—the digital image of the AI, Wei, appeared.
Li Changsheng spoke, “Wei, greet everyone.”
“Welcome to the CDC. I am the facility’s artificial intelligence—you may call me ‘Wei,’” the AI replied in a clear, mechanical tone.
The others were astonished by Wei’s presence. It was obvious now—this Wei controlled the CDC.
But how did the Boss have access to Wei’s controls?
After all, strategic outposts like this rarely involved Chinese personnel.
In their eyes, Li Changsheng seemed more enigmatic than ever.
Their curiosity remained unspoken; in the apocalypse, survival under a capable leader mattered more than answers.
Having a mysterious captain was, in fact, a blessing.
Just then, Moore escorted Jenner into the room.
Suddenly, Jenner sprang to his feet and shouted, “Wei, seal all access points! No one is allowed to open them!”
A deranged laugh escaped him. “You’re celebrating too soon! I alone hold the authority here. We’ll all die together, here and now!”
Years spent underground had clearly frayed his nerves.
Everyone was startled, but seeing Li Changsheng’s calm demeanor, they relaxed, glancing at Jenner with disdain.
A mere clown—did he not realize who he was up against?
This was the Boss—the mysterious Chinese man.
“I’m sorry, you do not have authorization,” Wei’s voice rang out, cold and precise.
Jenner recoiled in shock. His bound hands trembled violently. “Wei? Wei! How is this possible? I’m the director here—Wei!”
Li Changsheng frowned, recalling how, in the original story, Jenner had revealed nothing, luring Rick’s group inside only to entrap them as the facility was about to explode. Had it not been for a last-minute change of heart—and a conveniently placed grenade—they’d all have perished with him.
With that in mind, Li Changsheng shot Jenner a cold glare. “You’re just an ordinary employee. You belong to this place, but this place does not belong to you.”
With nothing more to say, he turned his attention to Wei’s screen. “Wei, are there any other survivors in the CDC?”
“Besides Dr. Jenner, there is no one else, sir.”
“Are there any walkers?”
“No, sir. But there are walker specimens in the laboratory on sublevel three.”
“Good. Display surveillance feeds for all sectors.”
“Yes, sir. Displaying all non-sealed areas now.”
Li Changsheng reviewed the footage and nodded. It seemed the situation matched the original—researchers had either fled or died; only Jenner remained.
Jenner, meanwhile, stared in disbelief. “Wei, what is this? How does this Asian man have CDC control clearance?!”
Wei asked Li Changsheng, “Sir, should I answer Dr. Jenner’s question?”
“No need. If he can’t figure it out, let him ponder it himself. I’m not his father—I don’t have time to explain everything.”
Jenner gritted his teeth. “Even with your clearance, we’ll still die together!”