All eyes were on Jenner. The CDC was their former sanctuary, and if it was still there... "The good news is, the zone decontamination procedure is complete."
Dr. Jenner took a deep breath and said slowly, "Before the energy ran out, I successfully destroyed all high-risk virus samples."
"This also led the main control system to determine that the biohazard had been cleared, thus canceling the self-destruct program originally targeting the entire building."
"So, the building is saved?" Glenn asked excitedly.
"Yes, the building is still there." Jenner nodded, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "Not only that, because it didn't self-destruct, the underground facilities are perfectly preserved."
He looked at Rick and specifically added, "It's not just a shelter. Underground, there are state-of-the-art hydroponic laboratories and soilless cultivation centers, originally designed to research growing medicinal plants in extreme environments."
"If we can get in, theoretically, we can farm underground and achieve self-sufficiency, without worrying about the weather or Walkers."
"Hydroponic labs?" Rick's eyes lit up. "You mean, we can grow food underground?"
"Exactly." Jenner affirmed. "There's an independent ecological circulation system there. Once it's running, it's even safer and more efficient than on the surface."
Hearing this, everyone's eyes showed a look of longing. In the apocalypse, an absolutely safe underground fortress where one could farm was practically paradise!
"That's the successful part." He changed the subject, his expression dimming. "But next... is the failed part."
"Failed?" Shane pressed. "Didn't the building survive?"
"It survived, but we can't get in." Dr. Jenner sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration.
"The situation was too urgent then, and all I could think about was how to stop the building from exploding."
The doctor smiled bitterly at everyone. "I overlooked, or rather, I had to gamble on another possibility at the time."
"I had hoped that my authority could convince the system to leave us an escape route after the danger was cleared... Apparently, I overestimated myself."
He looked at everyone and explained, "When the main and backup power sources are completely depleted, to prevent any possible external intrusion or internal leakage, the building's doors automatically enter a 'locked down' state."
"The inner doors are completely locked."
"Not just the inner doors, but the outer rolling gates, all isolation doors, elevator shafts, and even the riot grilles in the ventilation ducts, all dropped and locked the instant the power went out."
He recalled the scene from two days ago, a hint of lingering fear flashing in his eyes:
"After completing the zone decontamination protocol, I had less than five minutes to evacuate."
"I ran out desperately, only managing to grab a bag of emergency food and a few weapons from the security room, rolling out in the last second before the main gate completely dropped."
"If I had been a few seconds later, you probably wouldn't have seen me."
Everyone felt a chill after hearing this. The spark of hope that had just ignited was instantly extinguished.
"Then... can we still go back?" T-Dog asked unwillingly. "I mean, can that door be opened from the outside? Or can we pry it open?"
"Don't even think about it." Dr. Jenner shook his head. "The inner doors are designed for nuclear blast and biochemical leakage protection. Without electrical power, it would be difficult to blow them open even with a rocket launcher."
"Moreover, even if you could violently break open the main door, there's no point inside. Without power, the air circulation system stops, and it becomes a giant sealed can."
"No water, no light, all electronic locks are unusable, we can't even get into the restrooms."
"What about the periphery?" Morales asked persistently. "That lobby? Or upstairs? Isn't the glass there bulletproof? Can it be used as a stronghold?"
"The periphery?" Dr. Jenner spread his hands helplessly. "Let's not even talk about how you'd get past the bulletproof glass and rolling gates."
"Even if you did get in, without electronic surveillance and defensive facilities, the accessible peripheral rooms probably wouldn't be much more convenient than a regular office building."
"If we don't solve the power and door problems, the CDC is now an impregnable empty tomb."
These words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing everyone's hope of returning to a "civilized world."
"So, the key is still power." Rick grasped the main point.
"Exactly." Dr. Jenner nodded. "To reactivate it, we at least need to find a way to restore power and activate the system, even if it's just at a minimum level."
"But there's not enough diesel." Shane frowned. "Where are we going to find so much fuel to keep such a large building running?"
"It doesn't need to be fully operational," Dr. Jenner said. "Actually, there's a solar panel array on the roof. Although many were damaged in previous conflicts, the main structure is still there."
"If they can be repaired, solar power alone would be enough to maintain basic electricity for the security system and living areas."
"But this requires professional expertise." He looked at everyone, helpless. "I don't understand circuit repair, especially such a complex industrial-grade solar matrix."
"We need a true expert, or to find enough diesel to forcibly start the generator first."
"Expert..."
Everyone fell silent. In this apocalypse, where so few people were left alive, finding an expert who could repair solar panels was even harder than finding medicine.
Seeing their disappointed expressions, Louis, though also feeling some regret, was not entirely without hope.
In fact, a subtle glint flashed in his eyes.
For Rick and the others, repairing that massive solar matrix would require professional engineers, precise blueprints, and tons of replacement parts, an almost impossible task.
But for him... as long as he could learn the Reparo Charm, it would just be a wave of his wand.
Even if the electronic lock on the main door couldn't be opened by physical means, couldn't magic do it?
Alohomora might not work on such high-tech locks, but he could try Transfiguration to soften the wall, or use a Shrinking Charm to remove the door.
Once his magic reached the next level, this impregnable CDC would sooner or later become their perfect logistics base!
"It's just that..."
Louis thought of his Transfiguration, which still required half a day of practice with a matchstick, and his repair spell, which had shown no reaction so far, and silently sighed.
It was a long and arduous journey.
He would plan for the long term!
Anyway, with Hershel's farm as a temporary foothold and the prison as a backup in the future, the survival environment was already much better than in the original story, so there was no need to rush.
Compared to the distant CDC, Louis's thoughts were more focused on the heavy briefcase in his backpack at this moment.
He had to figure out the trigger mechanism of this thing.
Louis recalled the words displayed on the box—[To the Lost Bloodline].
"Bloodline..."
This word made him think of his nominal parents in the HP world.