077 Carl's Choice

When Karl learned of Robert and Tarek’s plan, he put forward his own request.
“I agree to this experiment, but I hope that the first person to be injected with this serum will be me.”
“No.” Robert was the first to object.
“Why not? Don’t you trust your own research?” Karl retorted. In his opinion, as a soldier, letting civilians—those he was supposed to protect—be the test subjects was a deeply irresponsible act. As the highest-ranking military officer in the survivor’s base, essentially its leader, he was even less willing to let his own soldiers, who had followed him through life and death, be the guinea pigs.
“It’s not that I don’t trust my research, but no one can guarantee the outcome of this experiment,” Robert replied firmly, rejecting Karl’s proposal. “This base needs you to lead it right now. You absolutely cannot afford any accidents.”
To Robert, Karl was the most important person in the base.
First, the strongest force in the base so far was under Karl’s command. Although those who had turned from Night Demons into humans had superior physical abilities compared to his soldiers, the advanced weaponry was only in the hands of Karl’s troops. No matter how strong the new humans were, they could not ignore bullets and rocket launchers.
Second, although Robert had successfully developed the vaccine, he and his team were the last to join the base. Karl, being an old friend of Robert’s, could perfectly unite the newcomers with the veteran survivors.
Lastly, Robert did not want his friend to be the subject of the experiment. He was confident in his research, but when it came to human trials, no one could guarantee the results. At the beginning, despite successfully developing the vaccine, the first human trials had unexpected setbacks. If not for Tarek’s timely advice, Robert had no idea when he would have solved the issue.
“If you won’t let me be injected with this serum, I guarantee your serum will never be tested on humans,” Karl declared resolutely. Seeing Robert’s expression, he added, “And that includes you—don’t even think about injecting yourself. From now on, I can deprive you of your freedom.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Robert was enraged by Karl’s words. “Don’t forget—I used to be your commanding officer!”
“You’re right, you used to be my commanding officer.” Karl pointed proudly at the insignia on his uniform. “Now, we’re the same rank. Moreover, according to wartime special regulations, when there’s no other American military force in the whole of Vermont, I have the right to automatically rise one rank. So, right now, I outrank you.”
“Do you want me to issue orders to you, Colonel Robert?”
Seeing Robert about to lunge at Karl, Tarek hurried to hold him back.
“Tarek, are you siding with Karl?” Robert grew even angrier when he saw that Tarek not only didn’t help discipline Karl but held him back instead.

“Calm down, Robert.” Tarek pushed Robert onto a nearby stool. Though he was closer to Robert, what Karl was doing was not an act of oppression, but an attempt to sacrifice himself to help Robert. Tarek was deeply satisfied by Karl’s readiness to face problems personally. Soldiers are not politicians; they shouldn’t demand others sacrifice before themselves under the guise of some lofty rhetoric.
“Karl makes a lot of sense. You have to trust yourself.”
“How the hell am I supposed to trust myself? This isn’t some flu vaccine!” Robert struggled in the chair, shouting, “It’s all your fault—if you hadn’t said to consult Karl, I would’ve just injected myself and been done with it!”
“Robert, get a grip, will you?” Tarek shouted back. “Have you forgotten why you’ve held on this long? How many survivors are out there waiting for your vaccine? Could you stop making such irresponsible remarks?”
“Responsibility?” Robert sneered. “Does Karl not have any responsibility? Or do you think, compared to all humanity, Karl’s life is worthless and should be sacrificed?”
“Have you turned rabid? Biting whoever you catch? You’re all important, I’m not, I’ll do it!” Tarek realized that he was truly beginning to integrate into this world, actually losing his composure over these characters from a film. With his usual fear of death, he shouldn’t have uttered such righteous words.
“You’re overthinking it. My serum is currently only effective for those who’ve never been infected. Don’t forget, you were infected, and it was the vaccine that saved you,” Robert continued to strike Tarek with a cold smile. With Karl and Tarek both opposing him, he regretted ever telling them of his success.
“Damn it!” Tarek hadn’t expected this. His hard-won spirit of sacrifice, or rather his guinea pig mentality, was crushed mercilessly by Robert. Worse yet, it dashed his hopes of using the serum to enhance himself.
“Stop arguing. Is this the serum?” Karl, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke.
Robert turned around, and when he saw what Karl was holding, he immediately wanted to rush over, shouting, “No!”
Only then did Tarek notice that, at some point, Karl had loaded the vial Robert had shown him earlier into a syringe gun and was aiming it at his own arm.
Karl smiled, and before Robert could stand up fully from the stool, he began the injection.
“Robert, you still haven’t learned to lie to me. If it wasn’t the serum, why did you rush over so fast?”
“You bastard.” Robert reached Karl’s side as the serum was nearly injected, but it was already too late. In fact, the moment even a little serum entered the body, its effects would begin. If the injection didn’t reach the intended dosage, it could even cause side effects if the serum was effective.
Tarek, standing by, also fell into self-reproach. When he saw Karl aiming the syringe gun at his arm, he had the chance to stop him. But he hesitated—unsure whether to reveal his extraordinary abilities in front of Robert and Karl. That hesitation allowed Karl to start the injection.

“Tarek, why are you just standing there? Help me get him onto the bed!” Robert tried to lift Karl but couldn’t, so he turned and shouted at Tarek.
“Huh? Right!” Tarek snapped out of it.
Karl pushed Robert away, looking energetic. “I feel like your serum isn’t doing anything. I feel perfectly normal.”
“It’ll take effect soon. I need to monitor your vitals,” Robert said urgently, because Karl might very well be his last surviving friend in this world.
“I can walk over myself.” Karl didn’t let Robert and Tarek help. He climbed onto the hospital bed, watching as Robert roughly opened his shirt and placed several patches on him.
“Robert, try not to drool over my naked body, alright? If you’ve changed your orientation these past years, you can go find Tarek. Personally, I think Anna’s quite nice.”
“Shut up—Anna’s mine.” Despite his worries for Karl, Robert refused to lose verbally.
“What can I do?” Tarek felt like an extra, standing by awkwardly.
“Tarek, help me bring Lewis over. I have some things to arrange.” Karl looked up and asked, “Robert, how long before I lose consciousness?”
“If all goes well, you won’t pass out. The serum will improve your constitution over three months,” Robert explained, though he could do nothing but watch Karl’s vitals on the monitor.
“Don’t let down my trust, then.”
Tarek glanced at the two men, whose eyes nearly sparked fire, shook his head, and left the medical room to fetch Karl’s trusted subordinate, Lewis. He hoped Karl wouldn’t lose consciousness, but preparations still had to be made.