"The workers survived before coming here," I reminded Xu Zhenlan and Zhou Chenghai. If they wanted to speak softly and be reasonable, then I could match them tone for tone. Only I carried a big stick behind my back at the same time. "They can continue doing whatever they were doing before."
"They were prisoners," Xu Zhenlan replied, his eyes turning fierce. "The compound controlled their food, shelter, and movement. They survived because someone else supplied what they needed. We took them from that stability and brought them out into the world. Now we need to step in and make good on our promises."
"I'm sorry," I replied with a confused look on my face. "Were we not just watching the same possessed TV? If you hadn't taken them from the base they would be dead right now. If anything, they should be thanking us and offering to go out and get us supplies."
"You need to be more reasonable," hissed Xu Zhenlan. "This is our compound, we need to prepare it like it is."
