Nova was shocked out of his stunned silence and glanced back at Ip to say, "You don't have to come in, but I don't think they're gonna harm us." He looked back at the men. "Something tells me they're on our side." He paused to let the elderly man validate that point.
The man smiled slightly and nodded. "I suppose you can say that... When we saw your little convoy coming from a distance we weren't sure what to make of it. We thought surely you'd attract their attention and when we heard you coming up the stairs, we didn't know if you were one of them, or some other hostile being. I'm sorry, but you can't be too careful."
Nova blinked. "'Them?'" he asked, confused. "Who are you talking about?"
The old man took a breath and suddenly became much more sullen. "...You're not from around the rural areas are you? No... that's how you have such a large group. Where DO you come from?"
"We came from New York City. I'm the leader of the fur resistance that until yesterday resided there."
The man looked down at the floor. "Ah... I see." He turned away and walked a few paces before turning to face Nova again. "I suppose I should tell you, then, as much as it saddens me, that you have doomed us all by your arrival. Whatever you came here seeking, you shall not find it." Nova was about to open his mouth to protest but the man held up a hand and silenced him. "You see, you're not the first to come seeking this base as refuge. I, and my two sons here, were part of a very large human group that settled here shortly after the Consumption had run its course. We thought it would be defensible and sustainable. We were dead wrong. The harsh mountainous backcountry, it breeds a different type of Consumer. They have developed pigments in their flesh that change to their environment and blend them in, and they are far stronger and smarter than your average Consumer. They conducted nighttime assaults on this base, surrounding us and taking us out little by little. We would kill them off and they would retreat, but they would always be back, and unlike them we could not replenish our lost members. The scariest part is that they would steal our basic communication technologies, like radios, something I've never seen regular Consumers do, and apparently use them against us. It was like they could listen in and understand our communications- whenever we broadcast anything over electronic mediums, they would be prepared to assault us when we executed our plan. They always seemed to be watching... they were drawn to, not repelled by, our activity outside. Our people were always ambushed if they left the base for any reason. We found it was best to hole up inside and do nothing, make as little noise as possible, and hope they would leave us alone. Eventually the others got tired of waiting, and they made the decision to take all they could carry and try to make an escape back to more urban land. My sons and I were the only ones who stayed behind... and watched... as they were overrun less than 30 seconds from leaving the garage. They were swarmed like nothing I've ever seen... they never had a chance. And then... the Consumers came to the compound, thinking we were all gone I suppose, and ransacked it for all it was worth. They carried off all manner of mechanical equipment and tools I would never think they'd have a use for... but they took it all into the woods and disappeared. Like I said, they're intelligent. That's why the base is so empty. We rode out the attack by hiding up here, and have been surviving inside on the leftover rations ever since. Now, I'm afraid that your arrival will attract them out of the woods again. I assure you, they know damn well you're here, and no matter how well armed you are, you are no match for them." He finished speaking and sat down against a filing cabinet, not looking at Nova, not saying any more.
Nova felt as if he may have preferred getting shot after all to hearing what he just heard. The concept that whatever alien life created the Consumers had developed significant intelligence was terrifying. He couldn't imagine what they would be doing with machinery, but the empty base spoke for itself. His mind swam with possibilities. He put a hand to his head and slumped against the nearest wall, partially wanting to scream, partially wanting to cry, partially wanting to just run and get the hell away from the place. "Ip..." he said painfully, "Please, go tell the others what you just heard and bring them inside. I need a minute... Go!" He shot a look up at Ip that he knew was angrier than Ip deserved, but Nova was barely keeping himself together.