Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

When I heard him say the word 'bet', my eyes immediately lit up. A devilish smile is slowly forming on my face as I could see Kaley slowly shaking her head in amusement. I know that everyone that knows me is already saying, 'Uh-oh.' in their heads.

"You sure, Rod? That attack helicopter is something else. I'm happy taking the civilian one as part of the original deal, but if you insist, I'll take that instead." excitement is on my face.

"Hah! That's the fucking spirit! What would you add in extra then if I win? Hmm? You're speaking as if you've won already you son of a bitch!" He has the same facial expression as me.

"Well I doubt that I'd lose but that's fair, I guess. We haven't used something in our run yesterday. Well, it was there but it wasn't needed. See that SUV over there? That's a fucking armored beast that has an XM556 attached to it. It's the only one in the world and that's not all I'm betting. I'll give you and your soldiers an upgrade with your guns. I can see that all of you are still using the factory ones. There's nothing wrong with that but a few add-ons here and there for everyone wouldn't be bad, right? I'll even throw in the protective gear we're currently using if you'd leave us with more fuel for that attack helicopter." I was still smiling then his soldiers subconsciously looked at their weapons.

"WOAH! WOAH! WOAH! THAT FUCKING SUV IS MINE! WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU BETTING THAT KID?! AT LEAST BET YOUR HAYABUSA!" Oscar suddenly spit out everything in his mouth.

"Have I ever lost a bet old man?" I smiled cheekily.

"Ohoh~ You're a confident son of a bitch eh? HAHAHAHA!!! I really fucking like you kid. Hmm, those guns of yours would make anyone covet it however… nevermind. You're giving me too much though, the only thing in the attack chopper have extra is the guns and the launcher on it, just give me new guns with the upgrades and it's settled, deal?" he started to laugh heartily and we shook hands.

"Umm..." Kaley interjected.

"This is your wife, right kid? Like you said when we're walking earlier?" Rod looked at me.

"Yep." I immediately replied then she also immediately kicked me.

"Stop you two! You kept on talking about your wagers but you still haven't decided on what you two are betting on!" Kaley snapped.

"Oh, right." I replied.

"Son of a bitch, you're right." Rod also said.

Kaley was shaking her head in disbelief.

"Sir, I got something to say." another soldier chimed.

"Guttierez? What do you have in mind?" Rod looked at him.

"No disrespect but it isn't about the gun, it's the soldier." he said while looking at me directly.

"Well said. It just makes things easier but in the end, it's in the one who uses it." I replied but he wouldn't stop looking at me.

I scanned around his getup and the thing I noticed immediately is that he is carrying a stock L96 and a stock Glock 17. Rod and the rest of his soldiers are using M16s though a few, Rod included, have an M203 Grenade Launcher attached underneath. There's a difference in handguns but he's sticking out like a sore thumb. He looked much younger than the rest of them too, probably a little bit older than Tatiana. He has a sharp look in his eyes and he seems annoyed the longer he looks at me.

"Their marksman? I think I know where this is going." I thought to myself.

"This is Lawrence Guttierez, one of our best shooters. I think you know where this is going eh?" Rod introduced him.

"Yeah, this is Kaley Payan, one of my best shooters. She'll take Lawrence on. I have a range at the back, let's go?" I said then Lawrence got ticked off.

"You're not even doing it yourself?! And her? Pssh!" he exclaimed.

Kaley silently looked at him not saying anything.

"Well, if that's the way we go, Rod should be the one competing, right? How about we bet your gun too? Hmm? And an apology." I retorted.

The atmosphere suddenly got tense.

No more words were exchanged and we made our way towards the range we made. Several more targets are present and it is now more than double the amount compared to the guy where you could hear brass casings when you walk inside it. We have an audience and Kaley is silently psyching herself up.

"He just dug his grave, Kaley is mad." I thought to myself.

"Here's what we'll do, since it's your first time here, you make the routine first and here's a box of ammo to practice with. There will be three rounds where the first routine is made by you, the second by Kaley, and the last by me." I explained.

"No long-range targets?" he asked.

"It would be too easy if it's not moving. Or is that the only thing you could shoot?" Kaley snapped.

"Oh shit." thought to myself.

"You're gonna die. HAHAHAHA!!!" Rod said to Lawrence.

"I just… Well let me shoot a few first." he replied.

He got busy and Kaley was just crossing her arms. I glanced around and Tatiana was happily chatting with her team. We haven't introduced ourselves with each other yet but I'll let them have their own moment of catching up first.

"Okay, I'm ready." Lawrence looked at me.

The plates were reset and I held the timer ready.

*BEEP*

His reaction time is exceptional and he quickly shot down the row of plates while leaving weaving left and right. After that, he went to the dueling poles and he shot each one twice before he switched magazines.

He then went for the chicken, the duck, the duck, the duck, and lastly the cow.

He hit them all squarely and he moved next to the Texas Star target. He timed it perfectly on each swing and he has never missed a target.

All of these targets were still quite near and he's slowly going for the farther ones. Each shot he made would be quickly followed by the sound of ringing metal and the people watching him were astonished. He ended with aiming for the gong at the farthest end but it took him a bit of time acquiring the target.

*BA*TING**

Nevertheless, he hit it with one shot and he holstered his gun. He looked back at us and he's smirking.

"Nice job. A minute and forty seconds." I said.

"He's fast and accurate. I could go faster than him though." I thought to myself.

Then it was Kaley's turn. She didn't say a word and she just walked up to the table. She's now in position and all eyes are on her.

*BEEP*

She drew her Maxim and she did work. However, my internal clock is saying that Lawrence is still faster. Rod, Lawrence, and the rest of the soldiers were surprised that she could shoot that fast and they thought the two were at the same speed.

"She needs to go faster to beat him." I thought to myself.

But she couldn't.

However, when she went for the Texas Star, she did something different.

Instead of waiting for the star to swing and slow for a bit before shooting it, she acquired the target while still in transit.

*BA*TING**

*BA*TING**

*BA*TING**

*BA*TING**

*BA*TING**

The five targets at the end of the stars fell down one after the other after just one swing. She never waited for them to slow down when it reached it's maximum swinging capacity before shooting again.

"Well that's one way to do it. Heh. Why didn't I think of that? I'd try that later." I was laughing internally.

"Damn." Rod muttered.

Kaley breezed through the targets but in the last one, the gong, she took a bit more time in acquiring the target.

*BA*TING**

She holstered her gun and she looked at me, same as everyone.

"Close. A minute and forty-seven seconds." I replied.

"If I didn't aim that long on that gong... nevermind." she trailed.

People were astonished to hear the time but I think I'm the only one who noticed the hidden smirk on her face.

"Did she just? No, she's up to something. She always aim that same time on that gong even now." I thought to myself.

Lawrence is now wearing a solemn expression.

"I don't know what he's thinking but he better know that it's on now." I thought to myself.

"Interesting." I heard one of the people Tatiana is with muttered.

"Well, wait for Sky in Round 3, it was surprising to see him not showing off." Tatiana chuckled.

"Hey, I heard you." I chimed.

"Am I wrong?" she replied.

"Nevermind..." I replied.

"Hah! I was reserved in my comments at first but your wife is something else I tell you. She's trained before?" Rod looked at me.

"Her dad, Matthew, has been teaching her to shoot guns since she was young. She's a real quick study and has talent. It would be best not to underestimate her." I replied.

"Fuck." Lawrence said from the side while Rod started to laugh.

"Regret betting your gun now, eh? Time for Round 2, Kaley?" I said.

"Hey! He's gonna copy me, right?" Kaley asked for confirmation and I nodded.

"This is what we're doing..." she trailed and she placed her pistol on the table.

Lawrence was confused but I started to smile brightly when I figured out what she's about to do.

"Hmm? What is she doing?" Rod asked.

"Just watch. Heh." I replied and I raised the timer.

"Shooter ready?"

She nodded.

"Standby."

*BEEP*

Several gunshots rang out and everyone not paying much attention were confused.

"Isn't it the same targets?"

"Kaley should've done something different."

"Yeah, something she's used to doing would be a better choice."

"Hah! Look closely you idiots."

"What?"

"What are you talking about."

"Wait..."

"Holy fucking shit."

"Son of a bitch!"

"What is happening?!"

"You still can't see it?! Hahahahahaha!!!"

Kaley finally holstered her gun and she's the one giving a smirk.

"Time?" she asked, grinning.

"Show off. Two minutes and seven seconds." I replied, smiling.

"HAHAHAHAH!!! I like you two sons of bitches~!" Rod was dying laughing.

"...!" Lawrence was flabbergasted.

"Hey~! Someone tell me what happened!"

"HAHAHA~! You really didn't notice?!"

"I didn't as well..."

"Isn't it longer? That's bad, right?!"

"HAHAHAHAH!!! YOU IDIOTS~!!!"

"What?! Fucking tell me then!"

"Her hands! Can't you remember the position her hands are in?! Seriously?!"

"Her… hands?"

I decided to tell everyone what Kaley did.

"If you didn't see it clearly, on Round 2, she used her left hand for pulling the trigger, not her right. Her right hand was the one supporting this time. Basically she switched grips." I said loud enough for everyone to hear.