The morning sun filtered through the windows of the Grimes household as Marcus sat at the table, nibbling on toast. Jeffrey, Rick, and Carl were all present, discussing plans for the day. It was a rare moment when the family could sit together, and Marcus saw an opportunity to plant the seeds of survival skills without tipping them off about the looming danger.
Starting with Carl
After breakfast, Marcus followed Carl outside, where the boy was attempting to balance on a log in the yard.
"Hey, Carl," Marcus called, grabbing a stick and twirling it. "Wanna learn something cool?"
Carl's eyes lit up. "Like what?"
Marcus demonstrated basic stances and swings, turning the stick into a mock weapon. He kept it playful, framing the lesson as a game.
"This is how you protect yourself from bad guys," Marcus explained, guiding Carl through the motions.
Carl mimicked him, his small frame brimming with enthusiasm.
Skill Progression: Survival Training (Others)
New Skill Unlocked: Teaching (Novice)
Marcus smiled, watching Carl's determination. "You're a natural."
Subtle Tactics with Rick and Jeffrey
Later that day, Marcus found Rick and Jeffrey working in the garage. Rick was handing Jeffrey tools while his father worked on repairing a lawnmower.
"Mind if I help?" Marcus asked, stepping in.
Jeffrey waved him over. "Sure. Grab that wrench."
As they worked, Marcus casually brought up the idea of basic mechanical skills. "Uncle Rick, what would you do if the car broke down, and you couldn't call for help?"
Rick chuckled. "Guess I'd have to walk."
"Or," Marcus suggested, "you could learn how to fix it. Like this lawnmower."
Jeffrey laughed. "You trying to turn us into handymen, kid?"
Marcus shrugged. "It's just useful to know. What if something big happened, and we had to be self-reliant?"
Rick nodded thoughtfully, watching as Marcus expertly tightened a bolt.
Skill Progression: Persuasion (Novice)
A Library Trip for Everyone
To strengthen his plan, Marcus proposed a family outing to the local library.
"Why the library?" Lori asked, skeptical.
"For Carl," Marcus said. "We can get him some adventure books. And Dad, you've been talking about wanting to learn more about gardening, right?"
Jeffrey raised an eyebrow but agreed. Rick and Lori followed suit, Carl tagging along excitedly.
At the library, Marcus discreetly guided everyone toward books that would be useful in the apocalypse. For Carl, he chose simple survival guides disguised as adventure stories. For Jeffrey, a book on home repair and gardening. For Rick, a tactical guide on decision-making in emergencies.
Meanwhile, Marcus added to his collection:
Advanced First Aid
Basic Blacksmithing
Sustainable Living and Farming
System Update: Knowledge Accumulated
New Skills Unlocked:
First Aid (Intermediate)
Basic Blacksmithing (Novice)
Urban Gardening (Novice)**
As they checked out their books, Marcus felt a sense of satisfaction. His subtle efforts were paying off.
A Practical Lesson in the Yard
That evening, Marcus gathered the family in the yard under the pretense of teaching Carl how to build a birdhouse.
"This is fun," Carl said, hammering nails into a small wooden board.
"It's also useful," Marcus said, guiding his hand. "You never know when you'll need to build something."
Rick watched from the sidelines, arms crossed. "You're good with kids, Marcus."
Marcus smiled. "It's all about patience. You should try it, Uncle Rick. It's good practice for solving problems."
Rick reluctantly joined in, helping Carl sand the wood. Jeffrey soon followed, offering tips on stability and structure.
Skill Progression: Teaching (Others) +15%
Family Bond Strengthened
Signs of the Times
As night fell, Marcus noticed subtle changes in the neighborhood. A few houses down, the lights had been off for days, and the cars were untouched. A neighbor mentioned strange noises coming from another house but dismissed it as wildlife.
The signs were becoming clearer. The walkers were closer than anyone realized.
System Check-In
Before bed, Marcus summoned his system:
Name: Marcus Grimes
Strength: 4
Agility/Dexterity: 4
Endurance: 3
Intelligence: 6 (+1 from reading)
Wisdom: 5 (+1 from teaching)
Luck: 10 (Locked)
Skills:
Advanced First Aid (Intermediate)
Basic Mechanics (Intermediate)
Close-Combat: Walker Neutralization (Intermediate)
Survivalist Knowledge (Novice)
Teaching (Novice)Foraging (Novice)
Animal First Aid (Novice)
Urban Gardening (Novice)
Basic Blacksmithing (Novice)**
Marcus closed the interface with a sense of purpose. His family was learning, even if they didn't realize it. He only hoped it would be enough.
"Soon, I'll have to tell them the truth. But not yet."