Thirty minutes later, Rick led a tired but unharmed group of humans into the still-under-construction operation center. Gwen, Floyd, Martha, Aaron, Mickey, Ben, and Allan looked dirty and exhausted, but otherwise fine.
"Erik!" Ben's face lit up. "You won't believe how strong things are here! I can't wait to fight them!"
Floyd dropped his pack with a groan. "First, please tell me you have food and somewhere to sleep. The forest trek was brutal, and I don't have the energy to deal with Ben's battle nonsense."
"We do," Erik said. He gave a look at June, and he brought something to eat. The group ate in silence. They were too hungry to even speak, and it was understandable.
Floyd and Ben ate like starving animals, while Martha and Gwen were more composed. Aaron, Mickey, and Allan wolfed down their portions without pause, but not without manners like Floyd and Ben.
"June, show them to the quarters we prepared."
