"Open 24 Hours" is the seventh mission of The Home Front.
Out of the frying pan, into the fire, when you try to break into a shopping centre. Luckily those exercises you've been practicing might come in handy!
Exercises[]
Cast[]
Scenes[]
Alarm Bells!
The horde has eased a little bit, and Sam is delighted to be your radio operator again. You break into a shopping centre that had been sealed up for renovations just before the start of the apocalypse. The Spectrum Shopping Centre is huge and you'll be moving around a lot, so you should warm up first with some stretches. Try star jumps or jogging in place. Tinned food is the first thing on your list, but before you can get going, an alarm goes off. Sam disables it quickly, but the sound has attracted some zombies! Climb the spiral escalator up to the first floor while Sam gets the shutters down!
Fancy Footwork
You reach the first floor. Take some time to catch your breath but keep moving so you don't cool down too much. Sam has dropped the shutters, but a lot of zombies managed to get in before that. You make it into the Staff Only section of the shopping centre, but you'll need to break down a door. It looks pretty rotten. Use the Air Punches you practised the other day. Protect your face with one arm while you punch with the other, making sure not to lock your elbow. You break through that door, and the second door, and reach the boiler room. Use your fancy footwork to avoid the rotten planks!
Get Moving!
You head downstairs, but there are zombies in the stairwell, and zombies behind you. You're surrounded! Quick, climb up those shelves out of reach. The zombies start to shake the shelves, so you'll need to wedge yourself between the shelf and the ceiling. Get into your Plank position with your weight on your forearms and toes, and brace your back against the ceiling. Engage your core muscles and hold that for as long as you can. While you do that, Sam sets off a smoke alarm and that lures the zombies away. Hold the plank for as long as you can in case there are stragglers, then get moving down the corridor.
Holing Up
You head onto the outdoor fire escape and see a huge horde of zombies. You'll need to head up the stairs again. You reach the top, and head back inside. Sam tells you to head up the last stairs to reach the top floor of the shopping centre, while he checks out which shop would be best for you to hole up in for a while.
Safe at Last
You reach the top floor and it looks like the Outdoor shop will be the best place to hole up for a while since they'll have camping equipment. You try to close the shutters on the store, but something shorts out, and the escalator has turned on! You'll need to bring the shutter down manually with the hand crank. It's like doing bicep curls! Get going before the zombies reach you! You manage to get the shutter down and it should keep the zombies at bay. Why don't you cool down now that you're safe?
Running Again
Sam has got access to the shopping centre's cameras. The zombies aren't trying to get to you anymore, they're just milling around. When this is over, you should go camping for real around the back of Janine's farmhouse. But for now you should eat something nice and rest up. You'll be running for Abel again before you know it!
Transcript[]
[rotten wood cracks]
SAM YAO: All right, Five, just a few more goes at those rotten boards with your crowbar and you’ll be inside. Nicely done. Now turn your head cam so I can get a better look. Uh, yeah. Yeah, there’s the door handle. Just give it a twist and… yeah. Sorry, Five. I know you know how to open a door. I’m just kind of excited, that’s all. [door creaks open] It’s so good getting to be your radio operator again. Feels like it’s been ages! And here you are at the Spectrum Shopping Centre.
This place is huge! So you’re going to be moving around a fair bit. Uh, so why don’t you warm up a bit while I check the notes Janine left me? It’s been a while since you’ve been out on a mission and I don’t want you to strain anything. Hey! Hey, you could do some warm-ups from those exercise routines the runners have been broadcasting while we’ve all been hiding from the giant horde. You could do star jumps or jogging on the spot or getting your funky dance moves on.
Man, do you remember this place? Spectrum was really famous in its day, the biggest shopping centre in the UK. Had its own cinema, its own climbing wall, an indoor ski slope. It was supposed to be this mall of the future, sustainably powered by solar panels on the roof. Just before Z-Day, the whole place was shut for refurbishment, boarded up really securely. That’s why Janine was so keen to send you inside for supplies when we got any kind of break in the horde.
Okay, let me get this list. Uh, she says your priority one acquisition is tinned food. Now that’ll be the mega market on the first floor. [alarm blares] Oh, you’ve set off an alarm. Uh, the solar panels must still be sending power to the security systems. Um, okay, not to worry. I expect I can find a way to access it and shut it down. Oh. Yeah, that’s not good. The noise has attracted some stragglers from the big zombie horde, the ones that are more rotted than normal. They don’t move as quickly. I can see them on cams trying to get through the boarded-up windows. Okay, okay, I think I can see how to shut off the alarm. [alarm stops] Ah, yes! What a relief.
[glass shatters, zombies growl] Crap, the zoms are in! Five, you’ve got to be quick. Head up that massive spiral escalator to the food court on the first floor. Wow, that’s a lot of stairs. I hope you’ve been doing your stair stepping while you’ve been stuck inside, because you’re absolutely gonna need it. I’ll try and get the storm shutters down to stop more zoms coming in, and you get climbing, Five, as far and as fast as you can. Go!
SAM YAO: Okay, Five, that’s really good. You’re on the first floor now. You’ve got a good head start. Take time to catch your breath, but keep your body moving at a gentle pace if you can. I don’t want you to cool down too much. Uh, you could use the time to pick up any supplies you see lying around. Wow, there’s a donut place, and two ice cream parlors, and a noodle bar! This place must have been amazing! Amazing before zombies moved in, that is.
So the good news is the storm shutters I dropped will stop any more zoms getting in. The bad news is that a frankly quite alarming number have already made it inside and they’ve definitely picked up your scent. You need to find the door marked Staff Only. It should be between two shops. Um, yeah, Glazed and Confused and Tales from the Scoop. [laughs] Brilliant. Go through there. [door opens and shuts, zombie sounds fade] Right, I’m gonna guide you back through the storerooms to another staircase down.
See the door on your right? Yeah, I know, it’s locked, but there’s a lot of water damage and the wood looks pretty rotten. All right, Five, I’m gonna need you to break through the door. If you prop up that long sofa cushion against the door, it’ll protect your hands. That’s it. And remember those air punches we were practicing? Use the same movement, one hand protecting your face, the other jabbing out at eye height, and make sure not to lock the elbow of your punching arm, okay? When you’re ready, go for it, Five. [rotten wood creaks] Yes! That’s great, Five, keep throwing those punches. Go on, Five! You’re doing really well, Five. Keep going. Five, Five! You gotta - you gotta float like a letterbox and sting like a doorknob. Fantastic! A few more punches and that door’s history.
[door collapses] That’s it, Five. Right, go through the doorway. Head for the door marked Boiler Room. Yeah, the wood looks pretty rotten here, as well. Okay, same again, Five. Time for more air punches. Yeah, well, I suppose technically they’re door punches now, aren’t they? Ready, steady, go. [rotten wood creaks] Yes, nice one. Yes. Take that, door! You’re looking great, Five. I wish I could play you the Rocky theme music right now. Oh, you’re so close, just a few more seconds. [door collapses] You’re done, Five.
Oh wow, the boiler room’s huge! Well, I suppose a shopping centre this massive needs a lot of hot water. Now you can go forward. [wood cracks] Careful, that floor looks like it’s half rotten. [audio distorts and fades] Ah, no, the signal’s not good, Five. I think the walls must be thicker here than outside. Make your way across the boiler room floor. You’re gonna need all your fancy dancing footwork to stay clear of those rotten floorboards. And I’ll reestablish contact with you on the other side. Keep moving, Five. I’ll speak to you soon, okay?
SAM YAO: Five? Five, can you hear me? Ah, that’s great. The signal’s better here. Okay, you’re not far away from the maintenance stairway at the back of the building. The zoms aren’t far behind, but if you open the door in front of you and head straight down the stairs, you should have a clear exit. [door opens, zombies growl] Ah! Zoms in the stairwell! Shut the door, Five! See if you can jam it shut with that mop. You’re gonna have to head back the way you came. No, no, there are zoms that way, too. Five, you’re surrounded!
Right. Sam, think. Okay! Five, I’ve got a plan! Climb up the shelves next to you. Brilliant. [door bursts open, zombies growl] Okay, don’t look down. The zombies are all around you. They won’t be able to reach you if you’re on the very top of the shelves. They’re a bit wobbly, but they should hold you. Oh no, the zoms are trying to shake you down off your shelf, like you’re an apple in a tree and they’re… they’re zombies that really want a crunchy apple right now.
You need to wedge yourself tightly between the top shelf and the ceiling. Get into your plank position with your weight on your forearms and toes. Brace your back straight against the ceiling. Engage your core muscles and hold yourself like that for as long as you can, okay? Yes, yes, that’s great. Just hold that pose and I’ll think of something. Oh, there’s got to be something. Oh no… Oh, oh, you can throw books at their head! No. Um, maybe if you could… Oh! Oh, no, keep yourself braced, Five. I’m gonna set off a smoke alarm. [alarm blares] Yes! Yes, it worked! No crunchy apple for you, zoms!
[clears throat] Right, it’s safe to relax for a moment, I think. I’ve got to be honest, Five, I can’t see the zoms as well as you can. Just hold that position again until you’re sure they’re gone, okay? Then when you’re ready, get moving down the corridor and I’ll find you a safe route out.
SAM YAO: Five, there should be a door in front of you marked Fire Escape. Go through it onto the outdoor landing. [door opens] Oh wow, that’s a lot of zoms and that’s a long way down. Uh, I don’t think they’ve noticed you, Five. You’re a long way above them and the wind should stop them from picking up your scent, but there’s no way you’re going down into that lot. You need to head up the fire escape. Yeah, more stairs. I know, I know. All that stair stepping finally paying off. Four flights up. Okay? Right, go for it.
Okay. Keep going, Five. Steady pace. They’re just sort of shambling around down there. Keep it up. Okay, one flight done, Five. Keep going. The mob outside haven’t noticed you, but I think some of the ones inside are getting closer. They’re definitely getting closer, I can hear them. Okay. Halfway, Five. When this is done, you’ve earned yourself a proper rest. Okay, Five, keep it up. Keep it up. Just one more flight to go, Five. I know your legs are burning, but they’re right behind you!
Oh, they’re getting closer now. I can see their faces. Oh, one of them, their eyeball’s just hanging out on their cheek. It’s horrible. That’s it, almost there. You made it! Now get through the door and shut it behind you. [door creaks shut] Oh, that was a close one. Head down the corridor into the main shopping area. There should be another couple of flights of stairs ahead of you. Take them in your own time up to the top floor. I’m gonna go through the list of shops up there and try and work out which one will be best for you to hole up in for a while. Keep moving for now, Five. You’re nearly there.
SAM YAO: Okay Five, you’ve made it to the top floor. Now we need to pick out the best place for you to make your home for a while. Oh, there’s a games and comics shop over there. Maybe you could pop in and see if they’ve got any Demons and Darkness supplements. I’ve been looking for Xandrin’s Miscellany for ages. It’s got tons of good spells in it, and… Yeah, okay. Maybe that can wait. Uh, it looks like your best bet is an outdoor shop. Look for one with a sign saying Climbs of Passion. They really liked their puns here, didn’t they? They’ll have tinned food, gas canisters, sleeping bags, everything you need to keep you comfy. Oh yeah, there it is. That’s great, Five. Head inside and press the button to roll down the shutters.
[button zaps] That was not meant to happen. Something must have shorted out in the wires. Oh crap, the escalators have started working again and there are zombies on them. That’s not good. Five. You’re gonna need to bring that shutter down manually. Uh, yeah, there should be a crank handle to the right of the door. Get a good grip on it. You’re gonna have to move it up and down, like those bicep curls you were doing, remember? The ones that used tins as weights?
Those zombies are getting closer. There’s no time to waste. Get that handle moving now. [shutters rattle and creak] Yeah, that’s it, Five. Keep it up. Nice, smooth movements. The door’s about a quarter of the way down, keep going. If the zombies get to you before the door’s down, there’s nowhere to run. Keep it up, Five. The door’s halfway down. You’re doing great, Five! I’m so proud of you. That’s it, Five, keep it going. A nice steady pace. You’re almost there. Just a bit more to go! You’re so close. Get that lever up and down a few more times and you’ll be safe! They’re getting closer, Five, keep it up! So close! Yes, you’ve done it!
The shutter’s in place and it looks like a good, strong, heavy-duty one. Why don’t you take a few minutes to cool down? Just move gently around the shop, tidy the place up a bit, and see what you can find there. I reckon you’ve earned yourself a nice warm sleeping bag and a pair of thermal socks, at least.
SAM YAO: Okay, Five, you’re safe now. It’s time to relax. I’ve managed to get access to the shopping center’s cams and the zoms have stopped trying to get you. They’re just sort of milling around a bit, waiting. Which is good, right? I mean, obviously you’re stuck in the shop, but at least you’re safe.
Hey, when this is over, we should use some of that camping gear and go for a proper campout behind the farmhouse. I mean, Janine will come up with all these reasons why it’s terrible idea, but we can talk her around, can’t we, me and you? We can pitch a little tent, get our sleeping bags out under the stars, light a campfire, toast a few marshmallows. We can even get Runner Eighteen to bring out her guitar. We can tell each other scary stories, like that time you got stranded in a zombie-infested shopping centre.
You’ve done brilliantly today, Five. You’ve definitely earned a packet of self-heating curry and a sponge pudding. Then you should try and get some rest. Once you’ve recovered, tune your radio back in and keep going with those Ministry exercise broadcasts like everyone else, and I’ll figure out how to get you out of there, soon.
Codex[]
Letter[]
Hey Five,
Fantastic work side-stepping all those zoms today! Those reflexes of yours are pretty bloody impressive - I would've been a goner if our positions had been reversed! I hope the camping shop isn't too cramped, and that you've been able to find one of those really lux, cozy sleeping bags to hunker down in. I wouldn't be surprised if they were more comfortable than the bunks back at Abel, to be honest!
I'm keeping an eye on the shopping centre security cams, but I'm not sure exactly how long these zoms are going to hang around for, unfortunately. Fingers crossed they'll clear off soon, but in the mean time, I hope you're staying safe and are able to take it a little easier while we wait them out. I know a camping store probably isn't the most exciting place to be cooped up in, so I'll see if I can ask Phil or some of the other Runners if they wouldn't mind lending me some of their music to play for you on our frequency. I can't promise anything, but if you have any song requests, let me know and I'll do my best to find them!
Try to take the rest of the day to recover, if you can. I'll touch base with you soon, but if you need me, you know where to find me! (In the comms shack. It's always the comms shack.)
Love,
Sam
Supplies[]
The following supplies can be found in this mission.
(List may be incomplete.)
Anti-depressants
Baseball Bat
Board game
Cricket bat
First Aid Kit
Flashlight
Football
Laptop
Shirt
Shorts
Sports Bra
Trainers
| Missions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Previous: Phil Cheeseman Edition | Next: Peter's Fitness Montage | ||