The acid rain had stopped, but the black slime on the ground hadn't dried yet. It was still emitting steam and thick fog, and would sometimes spontaneously combust. No one dared to go downstairs. People stepped out of their homes and looked at the smoke-shrouded base and the dark, hazy sky. Some cried, while others, having survived the ordeal, laughed in relief.
A day later, people tentatively started going downstairs. Although the black slime made their shoes sticky, it was now possible to walk. Everyone poured out of the apartment buildings, rushing toward the base's shopping mall, the Undercity, and the administration building.
Officer Graham and his group were going to the base's shopping mall to see if there was any food, so Evelyn Ford and Ronan Kendrick went with them.
