NOVEL NEXT Chapter 8: Graphene Battery
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the third-floor windows, nudging Zack from his deep sleep. He sat up, stretched, and got dressed, casting a brief glance back with a small shake of his head. There was too much to do today; he couldn't afford to waste time on idle thoughts.
As he descended the stairs, he called out, "Ego, any news from last night?"
"Nothing of note within the Mansion, Sir," Ego replied. "However, there were sounds of zombies in the nearby Mansions. Likely former residents who turned after being trapped inside."
"Understood. I'll handle them later," Zack replied, then added, "Any major events outside?"
"Last night at 11:24 p.m., a nuclear explosion occurred in Nevada State, likely triggered by remnants of the military. Additionally, unusual zombies surfaced in India, and a local survivor base was destroyed."
"Skip those reports," Zack interrupted. "Anything relevant nearby?"
"An organization is gathering survivors near the capital, likely aiming to establish a large base with military personnel. Also, reports of a mutated zombie type, the 'Night Stalker,' suggest they're pack creatures with intelligence, swift movements, and climbing abilities. Fires have broken out across the country due to unmanned power plants, and we expect a full power and network outage in three days."
Zack's brow furrowed. Losing power and internet access would severely cripple his plans. Without power, the battery-operated Power armor he planned would be useless. And without the internet, Ego's capabilities would be heavily limited, no longer able to provide constant surveillance and updates.
"Ego, can you tap into a military satellite for intel?" Zack asked.
"Easily, Sir. Most satellites are now unmonitored." After a brief pause, Ego announced, "I've connected to the Liberty Star intelligence satellite from the Goverment. The live feed is clear."
Zack grinned as a real-time image appeared on his screen, showing the area with astounding clarity. "Good. This solves one issue, at least for now."
"Regarding power," Ego continued, "I can reroute electricity from surrounding power plants, ensuring local power for the next fifteen days by cutting off supply to other regions."
"Perfect. Do it." Fifteen days wasn't a long time, but it bought him enough to proceed with his plans.
After washing up, Zack grabbed a canned meal and headed back to the basement. The previous evening, he'd gathered the necessary materials for building the graphene batteries, arranging them on a makeshift workbench—a repurposed pool table with the sides removed.
"Let's get started, Ego," Zack muttered, and Ego displayed a step-by-step holographic guide on graphene battery production.
The process wasn't overly complex, but it required meticulous precision. During extraction, Zack noted the honeycomb-like structure forming on the graphite, understanding now why this method was called the "honeycomb extraction."
First, Zack placed the graphite in a liquid solution that helps break down its layers, allowing him to separate the graphite into thin sheets. Then, he applied a small amount of electric current through the solution, which caused the graphite to loosen and split into finer, thin pieces.
As the current continued to flow, Zack carefully monitored the solution to ensure the pieces didn't clump or dissolve too much. Slowly, the layers started peeling off in a delicate honeycomb structure, and, over time, the graphite sheets broke down into even smaller particles.
After several hours, the powder finally dried. Zack now had over ten grams of fine, black graphene powder resting in his hand. This smooth, lightweight powder was the final product, and its unique honeycomb structure gave it a lot of potential uses, especially in electronics and energy storage.
"Finally done," he sighed, wiping sweat from his forehead and carefully sealing the powder away. Glancing at the time, he realized it was already noon.
"Guess it's lunch time," he murmured, heading back upstairs.
On the first floor, Sophia was already seated at the dining table, her eyes skimming over a poetry book as she waited. "Finished?" she asked, setting her book down. "The food's a bit cold—I can heat it in the microwave."
"No need," Zack waved her off, taking a seat. "I'll be back downstairs after eating anyway."
"Alright." Sophia nodded, not prying further. She knew better than to ask what Zack was doing. They ate in quiet comfort, Sophia clearing the table and washing up afterward as Zack returned to the basement.
It didn't take him long to gather the remaining materials, and he soon began assembling the battery. Following Ego's holographic steps, he donned a pair of homemade magnifying glasses and focused intently on the work. The production process demanded extreme precision; one shaky move and the battery would be rendered useless—or worse, unsafe.
Zack took a deep breath, steadying his hands, and got to work.
Meanwhile, an off-road vehicle with a battered front grille rumbled down the road toward Tribeca. Inside were three brothers, each bearing a rough resemblance to the others.
"Check it out, Tony," Marco, sitting in the passenger seat, pointed eagerly. "This area's gotta have fewer zombie roaming around. Rich folks live in those mansions, and they're usually spread out. Plus, this neighborhood's practically new!"
"Yeah, fewer people means fewer zombies," he continued, excitement rising. "And we've got a gun. We just need to clear out a few of them, and we'll have a whole Mansion to ourselves!"
In the back, the youngest brother, Joey, chimed in with a mischievous grin. "Hey, Tony, I heard some of these rich families had some fine company. Maybe I'll find a lady to keep me busy."
Their oldest brother, Tony Russo, laughed. "Well, if you do, make sure she gives us seven or eight kids. Gotta keep the Russo family line going!" Their laughter filled the car as they sped toward Tribeca, unaware what is waiting for them.
After more than an hour of intense concentration, Zack finally held a high-energy-storage graphene battery, roughly the size of a brick, in his hands. It was entirely black with four metal contacts on each end, and significantly heavier than a lithium battery of the same size. He hefted it, feeling the solid weight.
"Ego, are you sure one of these is enough?"
"The capacity of this graphene battery is over 2,000 times that of a lithium battery, with a charging efficiency 3,500 times higher," Ego replied smoothly. "It will power the armor for at least three hours."
"Good enough," Zack nodded, though he knew he only had materials for a single battery. He placed it carefully back on the workbench when Ego's alert came through.
"Sir, a vehicle is approaching the estate."
The satellite feed from LSI (Liberty Star intelligence) appeared in front of him, zooming in on an off-road vehicle with a damaged front grille. Inside, three men sat, and one of them clutched a shotgun.
"Zoom in," Zack ordered, studying the figures. Ego identified them.
"Tony, Marco, and Joey. The brothers served time for poaching, and the eldest, Tony, is a fugitive for murder."
Zack's eyes narrowed. These were not harmless survivors but a criminals. He had plans to turn this place into a fortress, a sanctuary in this post-apocalyptic world. Letting men like these as a neghbour wasn't an option.
Only one battery had been completed, and the armor was still in its early stages. Zack considered his options. "Ego, is there enough material here to make the pump-action nail gun you suggested?"
After leaving his apartment, Zack had taken an interest in silent, deadly weapons, especially air guns. Ego had mentioned an improved nail gun, one powered by an air pump with both automatic and manual pressurization. It was lethal but quiet—ideal for this situation.
"There is enough material available," Ego confirmed, displaying the parts needed and their locations.
"Perfect." Zack immediately set to work on assembling the nail gun.