Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

We swept the whole office for any other things that we might find useful. Even a loose pack of batteries and cigarettes found their way into our bags. We went outside and found that the Komatsu was already loaded onto the truck and now they're currently loading two Bobcat Skid-Steer Loaders not for taking on People's Park but for use at home.

"Boss can that thing even outrun those things we would be facing?" Mark approached me.

"Hmm? What? No, it would be a miracle for that to happen. I doubt it could even run faster than 8 MPH." I replied.

"Wait, I thought that thing was unstoppable?" he asked.

"Yeah, I didn't say it would be fast now, wouldn't it? There's other vehicles for that. We're just gonna rely on the modifications that would be done on it." I replied.

"Oh, I see. How long did the Maya-hee guy take to do it?" he asked.

"It's Heemeyer, don't fuck up his name dude. On the time it took him… If I remember correctly… about a year and a half." I replied.

They all suddenly looked at me like I said something stupid.

"What? We have more people. I'd help with building it as well. It's gonna take us a while but we would definitely be faster than the man himself. Oh! Take those things as well." I said as I pointed to the crates that contained different attachments for the Bobcat for different jobs. There's a few more crates among them which are aftermarket parts that could replace the existing parts of our vehicles in case they malfunction and it needs replacement.

"These two could get to places where our other construction vehicles can't due to their size." I thought to myself.

The guys were still fastening the vehicles, crates, and the rest of the supplies we took so I went outside to attract a few that are roaming around.

My purpose now is for clearing them to thin their numbers albeit small. It goes much easier than expected since the special ones rarely appear at all. The moment one sprinter appears, it would get immediately gunned down since you'd quickly notice it approaching.

I'm making quick work of each and looking at their bloody figures each time I cut one down, it confirmed another assumption.

"Since they die if their brain gets destroyed or even nicked in some way, they never eat them. A few movies back then even a game with plants had their zombies eat brains too. In our case here, they don't since that is their lifeline. Even the ones from the Public Market leaves it, they only gorged on everything else besides that. In Tim's case, he ate his mom's brain because I think that it's because of something wrong with him mentally and not the virus itself. Not entirely sure since I don't have definite proof. I'll just take what I know now as a guideline and not a definite rule to follow in how they operate. Things always change and it's the only thing that never changes." I had a deep thought.

My head is thinking of different things but my hands are still mechanically cutting them down. I was holding my katana with both hands and I'm making pieces of scalp and bone remove themselves from where they are attached to. Sometimes, I would cut them just enough to remove a small piece of their heads where a little piece of brain matter is attached to end their life.

Kaley is still much used to using her gun instead of the wakizashi. She uses it in times there is a single one in front of her but most of her attacks with it are thrusts and less on cuts. She's having slight trouble on edge alignment but nothing that experience, training, and time wouldn't solve. She would also try to practice using her non-dominant hand in a few cases. She's making quick progress as always but learning new things always takes time even if she absorbs things more quickly than others.

Tatiana on the other hand is still the best person above everyone else when comparing combat power. The Cold Steel hand and a half sword she's using cuts to the bodies of the dead as if it's an Albion sword like the Principe. I noticed that she has sharpened it and that's not the only reason she could cut them down like butter but also the technique she's using. It's nothing flashy or showy like you'd see in plays and it gets the job done much quicker. There's no extra brandishing or flourishing of the sword she's using since each attack goes straight for the kill.

*PSSHEW*

*PSSHEW*

*PSSHEW*

Three bodies heading our way quickly got sniped from where our truck is located.

Jared is having a lot of fun with his AR-10 since he could shoot faster now and he's getting more familiar with it by the day. His proficiency in guns is undeniable but he could honestly need more work on other things. Mark, Dong, and my uncle Zardon are so-so but they're a great help and they follow orders to the dot. There's a few notable ones back home and I'm grateful that they're on my compound.

We've gathered the bodies in a corner after I checked anything that might be on their person that I could use. I'd occasionally find wallets, rings, bracelets, earrings, watches, phones, and much more if they're carrying a bag or a purse. It would be pure luck to find guns or any other weapon on their person since we'd usually get those from fallen soldiers. Luck is not on our side this time since I only found a couple of rings, seven wallets, and three mobile phones.

Despite that, I'm more pleased to get their wallets when I kill one. Not only could I lessen their numbers to reduce the threat that they bring to us and other people, I could also update a few things in my head. If they have some sort of identification on them, I could sift them through the list of people that we have that came from Ana and the files we already have on hand. I know that I wouldn't be able to keep a record of everyone but in the case that I came across someone looking for them, I could at least provide closure.

"You're really checking each person's belongings when you kill them. Are you looking for someone perhaps?" Kaley asked me.

"Not really. It's soul crushing to know that some people might be looking for someone as long as it takes, giving it their all and risking their lives not knowing that they've already died. I could at least tell them what I know." I replied then she gave me a solemn expression.

"But what if the hope of finding the person they're looking for is the only thing keeping them alive? Wouldn't that be a bad case then?" she asked.

"So, you'd rather not tell them?" I replied.

"Well… if I would be in their shoes… I'd like to know though..." she hesitated to answer.

"I think I'd like to know as well." Tatiana chimed.

"Then where did your question earlier come from?" I looked at Kaley, confused.

"I don't know, I just had that thought. I guess some people are not the same as us and might think differently or react differently if they're in that situation. Some might do things to themselves that are irreversible. I know not telling them is just prolonging the inevitable and it might even cause friction if they knew we withheld the information but..." she trailed.

"You just don't want to be the one to cause their suffering, correct?" Tatiana asked.

"What? N-no… I'd still do it but I'd figure out a way to lay it softly..." Kaley replied but I noticed a faint smile forming on Tatiana's lips.

"Just tell that person what needed to be said. If he accepts it and moves on, then it's all good. If not and he does something to himself… for example, suicide, you might think you caused it but in the grand scheme of things, you did him a favor." I replied.

"It's not that easy though. Causing the death of someone that's simply been looking for someone he cherishes. I'd feel bad after I did that." she said solemnly.

"Well, you got me worried for a sec but you're on the right track." I replied as she grew curious at my reply.

"Hmm? What did I say?" she was surprised.

"You said that 'I'd feel bad after I did that' not 'I'd feel bad so I won't do it.'. Like you said, it's prolonging the inevitable. I mostly operate here *taps temple* and less here *taps chest* so most of what I do seems cold. You on the other hand, mostly seems balanced but you're more on this side a few times *fist on her chest* than I could remember. Not all our decisions that we make would make us feel good even if it's the right thing. Besides we'll be there if that person tries anything. Most of it would happen on the spur of the moment and I could easily disable them if that happens." I replied.

"..." she was silent.

"I agree, that's correct..." Tatiana chimed but I didn't know that she trailed.

"See? She agrees with me too." I smiled.

"...her chest seems balanced but it is bigger by a bit on the other side." Tatiana said with a straight face.

"..." Kaley and I.

"She's right though and it's barely noticeable." I thought to myself.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" Tatiana was confused.

"That's what you got from that?! I thought you were listening seriously!" Kaley exclaimed while crossing her arms against her chest.

"I am. I'm just making joke." Tatiana's accent suddenly pops out.

I facepalmed and tried to hold my laughter as best I could while Kaley stomped her feet as she made her way back to the truck. Jared was too far to hear our conversation since we're on a street corner a few feet away.

"My joke is bad, correct?" Tatiana looked at me.

"N-no, it's great. It was just really unexpected coming from you. Good job. Why did you think it was bad? Did you think it was bad or you just based it off her reaction?" I asked while chuckling.

"Well no, I think I'm hilarious." she seriously said then I started to lose it.

"Hah! Now that is funny." I replied but she grew even confused. I tried to explain to her what I found funny but it didn't work.

"Comedy is hard." she concluded.

"Of course it is. C'mon let's go back." I said as we followed Kaley. Everything is now loaded and we started to drive home.

"A few more things and we'll be set. Soon." I thought to myself.