Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

I should've just de-escalated the situation—like Brandon was doing—to save some time and mental exhaustion by talking to this type of person, but it really has been a while since I've seen one, and her shady way of doing things just to get in some favors not only with Jessica but also with me by forcing in help when they weren't needed was just something I wouldn't let go.

Different people had different ways to climb the ladder even before the world ended but this was just nuts.

First, I met with Eric and Jane who were supposed to be leading their group but were boning each other instead without the means of contacting them—and I let that pass because someone else took the reins—but this pair was way worse even before the bitch revealed her true self.

This whole situation with them was just too weird and shady from the get-go but clearing up our own mess before they took over was the right move. They came in with the guise of meaning well but it was later revealed that it was just for meeting their quota and the spoils we would be leaving behind.

Their tactics could've worked on any other group but me being a loot goblin/hoarder prevented them from succeeding on their sorry attempt to reap all the rewards with the littlest amount of work.

'It was like the Quiet Quitters but a level above…'

But yeah, they could've come with the full intention of just helping us and didn't even realize what we were doing but a mistake was still a mistake, and getting pissed off about it by me telling it to their faces was another. Sure, I could've been nicer by I'm not a fucking preschool teacher.

It's just that our little encounter didn't end there because as we made our way to Jessica's camp after cleaning up, the same group had already made their way back—probably because of Lizzy—no, it was definitely because of her—and it seemed like she was dragging our name to the mud, the moment they got back, and was screaming off Jessica's ear when she filed several complaints.

I could only imagine what Jessica was going through right now because I was told by one of their attendants that she had just arrived from another overnight run and was just about to sleep when Lizzy came back to call for the manager.

But yeah, I already brought my presents and several receipts to metaphorically slap that bitch's face when I was finally told she could receive us in her office, which was the ATC(Air Traffic Controller) Area overlooking everything.

To my delight, they were using it like our radio station back home, where a few people were receiving and sending messages to their troops in and out of their territory, but I was led in this little nook in the corner where a room with the blinds down was present, which was Jessica's office and probably her bedroom at the current moment.

"Sorry for the intrusion~"

And as soon as I came in, I saw the tired look on Jessica's face and Lizzy's smug smile while sitting like a dumb bitch on one of the sofas.

Jessica forced out a smile while trying hard to keep awake, "It's been a while…"

"That it is— Sorry, Mikhail's not here—"

"Oh—"

"He got shot—"

"WHAT?!"

Lizzy had to but in at the worst possible time, "Excuse me?! We have something to talk about, right—"

Jessica instantly shut her down, "SHUT UP!" then she downed the last bit of coffee in her mug before she turned to me, "He shot show— How?!"

"You should be sleeping—"

"Yeah! I should!" she exclaimed as she glared at Lizzy who was now confused and angry by getting ignored by the two of us.

Then I put my presents and my laptop on her desk before I reassured her, "It's a long story but he's good and will be able to visit really soon but besides the laptop, all this here's for you—don't worry, I already gave your assistant their share."

"W-What's this?" Jessica confusedly looked at her gift basket while slightly relieved from hearing that Mikhail was doing okay.

"Gifts?"

"I-I know that they're gifts but— What's with the laptop?"

"The full context. I heard this bitch has been saying nasty shit since she got back—without completing their quota too—and this is footage from my and Artem's point of view. It's raw footage so you could see it wasn't tampered with in any way—"

Lizzy cut in, "I-I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!"

I rolled my eyes, "You don't believe in proof? Huh. You thought it was just gonna be your word against mine, huh?"

"I'm so uncomfortable with this! Getting filmed without my consent?! I'M LEAVING—"

I then released copious amounts of killing intent as I shouted at the top of my lungs:

"SIT THE FUCK DOWN, BITCH! WE'RE SEEING THIS ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND IF I DON'T RECEIVE AN APOLOGY AND YOU GET DEMOTED TO NOTHING, I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD— CONSENT?! REALLY?! WHO CONSENTED YOU TO FUCKING OFFER UNSOLICITED HELP?! WHO CONSENTED YOU TO BE A FUCKING SHADY-ASS BITCH?! WHO BROKE WHAT LAWS YOU'RE THROWING AT ME FIRST?! WHO?! HUH?! ALL YOU DO IS BE A FUCKING PARASITIC LEECH AND THE MOMENT YOU'RE GETTING CALLED OUT FOR IT YOU FUCKING BOUNCE?! UNCOMFORTABLE MY ASS! YOU FUCKING REVOLT ME AND I'M PUTTING UP WITH IT JUST TO PUT YOU IN YOUR FUCKING PLACE! AGAIN, SIT THE FUCK DOWN BEFORE I LOP YOUR HEAD OFF!"

After that outburst, the room had never been so quiet but it didn't take long before we heard a sigh from Jessica as she opened her mouth:

"Lizzy… You do know that I've been aware of what you're doing and I've warned you multiple times not to do that because I've already received multiple complaints from the other groups… The ones who started with you had already moved up by putting their head down and doing the work but you're still stuck doing the same thing over and over… What do you have to say to that?"