Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Seeing their pained reaction from seeing Amy in this state—as she was trying to give us a huge hug after waddling over—made me think that they must've seen someone like Amy in their time in the "business" but I doubt they were actually involved in this horrible way people—no, monsters try to make money.

In any case, they also couldn't believe how Amy could still be this little ray of sunshine and she didn't even mind complete strangers seeing her in her unusual state, as she kept the bright smile before looking up at me once I returned her warm hug:

"D-Did you all just a-arrive? H-How was your trip? Was it okay? D-Did you guys eat well? How about sleep—"

I almost ruffled her hair as I cut her off with a smile, "We— We had a blast!"

"That's great!"

"How about you, Amy? Anything happen while we're away—"

"Huuuh?! You can't notice any~thing~?" Amy said as she took a few steps back and pointed at her new legs.

I then had a small realization, "Oh! You've gotten taller! Congrats!"

"Yeah! I grew an inch! Heh. I-I can't run with them yet but I could walk just fine, right?!"

"Of course! That's why I didn't notice you had an upgrade because you were already used to them!"

"Aww~ Gee, thanks! W-Who are t-they anyway?"

"Let me introduce you…"

As I mentioned earlier, the type of prosthesis Amy was wearing could be adjusted the more she got used to it and I didn't even notice it at the moment because I was more preoccupied by how everyone else would react to seeing her like this. However, it was almost as I thought because no one could fucking believe that a person that had been through what Amy had been through could bounce back— heck, even talk like she was talking right now from just a few months we've rescued her.

Because essentially, she did most of the work since she was the one who saved herself.

Anyone could be given the best counselor, technology, support system, or even top-of-the-line medication but if the person that was taking them didn't want to get out of it themselves, all of those things would be akin to taking medical advice from a stranger and using sour candy as a cure-all.

In any case, after I introduced her to everyone else, she gave them a small nod and the same bright smile before Mimi realized that this group here needed to talk about something serious. So, with the help of Nancy who was more than willing to help, they brought out Amy to "practice" walking around—with an emergency wheelchair, of course, the moment she got tired—so we could compare stories and get this mess that Quinn started sorted out.

"Alright… I didn't think that this would be the first thing we'd do— I-In the morning right as we woke up but it started when we drove to this area for a material run…"

It was then that I retold the story of what happened from our side, discovering this unfinished construction project of sorts, encountering a few zeds, meeting "Pops", seeing "Pops" get killed with an arrow through his neck, and meeting with the perpetrators where one of them was the mother of the ones like Amy while one of them was the son of the officer who got killed from investigating this case.

After that, I gave them a brief rundown about the people I mutilated from Iskoh's territory in Manila before Marisha continued the story about her and a group of people who took care of Amy's needs and made her into this bundle of hope and joy they didn't even think was possible.

It was obvious that some of the group got emotional and angry at the same time they heard Amy's full story but it was now time for Quinn, Cynthia, and the twins to tell their side of the story to remove further doubt and suspicion on their part.

Quinn started:

"Haa… Again, I'm sorry for what happened earlier but I didn't think those fucks would still continue that fucking business—"

Megan cut in, "BUSINESS?! IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK—"

"Listen, ALRIGHT?! THAT'S WHAT THEY FUCKING CALLED IT, NOT ME! I CAN'T EVEN THINK OF THE RIGHT WORD TO USE SO I USED WHAT THEY WERE CALLED BEFORE! I'M SORRY, AGAIN, ALRIGHT?!"

Kaley interjected, "Guys, I think we should let Quinn finish her story first before adding in or— you know… Please continue, Quinn…"

Quinn made sure that Megan calmed down before she continued, "Haa… As I was saying, this 'doll' business before threw me in for a— I can't even begin to describe what I felt at that time when I discovered their existence but let me just say that when more people were made aware of them—and of course, angered by such a way to treat people—the… the uh… the organization decided to cut off ties with that group, among others, but it seemed they still continued their operations because it's that just lucrative… More so when there are fewer places to get them… I couldn't care less if grown adults decide to pursue sex work and do drugs just to live by but you shouldn't do it to people against their will—young or old—period… Fuck! It's still making me so fucking mad I—"

I cut in, "Which group was it? Is it connected to the cartel or the triads—"

"I hate to say this but it's more of a straight-up of who could provide them type of situation that caters to anything and everyone that seeks it and would protect them as well. You saw what would happen when they get discovered, you even did some of the punishment as well... You'll know more if you get to talk to Mason—"

"Mason— The Garcia Family?!"

Then Quinn's face darkened as she nodded, "Yeah. Jordan(#5) and Lucy(#6) were the ones to handle the transport of the 'goods' at that time years ago because they gave a large commission and whatnot, that's why I discovered it in the first place—because they opened the package even though they shouldn't—but who wouldn't open it if it starts moving and screaming for dear life?"

"W-Where are they exactly again?"

"Which one?"

"The Garcia Family's HQ and the two people below you— Jordan and Lucy, were they?"

"It's a drive to the West from the Rivas Family which is a 5-star Hotel, Resort, and Casino. Around five-to-six hours from the last time I remembered but Jordan and Lucy's outpost is much closer but not by much. Mary and John's people have been trying to get them to move inside but those two wouldn't budge after discovering the other shit they've been doing besides the doll business…"