Luck kept his mouth shut for a few seconds, figuring out the easiest way to sell them a lie.
"Most did. Our unit was black-bagged. We only got sent in after the cities fell. Not much left to save." Luck shrugged, like he was describing weather.
"So, you were hiding?" Her eyes narrowed.
"You know how politics works. Some generals want to bomb, some want to negotiate, some want to eat their own hands. Nobody listens to the guys with the actual bullets."
He let it hang for dramatic effect, then spat over the concrete. "So yeah. We cleared out a few places. Lost most of my team in a laboratory east from here. After that we just headed west and built this."
The bearded man exhaled, a low whistle. "You fought zombies in a laboratory?"
"Yeah, but that's a story for another time. And don't even think about stepping into the motel without my say-so. We've got sensitive stuff in there—mess with the wrong thing, and you'll end up turning into zombies yourselves."
