Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Everyone present choked and the president and I started on laughing maniacally.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA~!!! LOOK AT YOUR FACES! HAHAHAHA~!!!" the president is wheezing.

"Seriously though, you're willing to part with another one of your soldiers? A decent shooter to boot? I'm not saying that I won't accept him, it's just that you're giving away valuable soldiers easily." I tried to confirm.

"Hmm. Soldiers are something I have a lot of. I just want something from you that wouldn't be as much trouble. My city is holding up great but we could never be too sure eh?" he replied.

"So that's why." I thought to myself.

"You want this place to be your backup plan. Two of your pilots here would also ensure that in case of something goes wrong at your place, you could be easily picked up. That's the reason why you easily gave me those two helicopters, right? I know we'll be exchanging a few more but I thought it has gone too smoothly." I said and he had a faint smile.

"Heh, something like that. I really like the way you think, kid. We somehow think the same thing." he replied.

"Yeah, good choice picking the word 'somewhat' though. I have more backup plans and going to another place to seek refuge is the least of my priorities. Don't get me wrong, I'd still fly those aircrafts to your city with my people as a last measure too if all else fails. It's easy to escape from trouble, I just want to have a place of my own." I said.

"Why? I think you'll be a fine addition to my team." he commented.

"Yeah, I'm the best of course but I have problems working under people. I want things a certain way and if it isn't, I'll go to someplace else or I'll make it so that I would be the one in charge." I replied then the atmosphere tensed. His soldiers looked at me if I was joking but I have a serious expression with a faint smile. The small chatters around us also stopped and they felt the cold wind blowing.

"Hmm. So you mean to say that in any case this place goes down, you'd fly to my place and take control of it? Is that what you meant? Can you hear yourself?" he asked.

"Yeah, that's the point." I quickly replied while looking him in the eye.

"Kid. Stop talking. Now." Oscar said from my side.

"You just threatened the president. You think that's funny?" Rod was still staring at me.

"Yeah, that's the point." I quickly replied while still looking him in the eye.

"..." Rod.

"..." I.

*CHUCKLE*

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA~!!!" We both started laughing and crying.

"HA~! DID YOU GET A LOOK AT YOUR PEOPLE'S FACES?!" Rod exclaimed.

"YOURS TOO! HAHAHAHAHA~! I CAN'T BELIEVE WE PULLED A SECOND ONE UN-" then Kaley attacked me.

"CAN'T YOU TWO JUST HAVE A NORMAL CONVERSATION?! YOU TWO ARE SCARING PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT!!!" Kaley bellowed.

The tense atmosphere that came earlier quickly dissipated just like that and we're all walking back towards the compound after a few rounds of reprimanding. Lawrence started to hand me his gun but I waved him off. I told him to keep since that would be the gun he would be using since he is now part of my group along with Honassan and Avalos. Honassan was still in disbelief though he can't wait to tell Avalos to see his reaction.

"Rod, so what are you thinking about your upgrades? Do you want to use the same thing and just have attachments placed on it or do you want to have a new gun?" I asked.

"Hmm. What do you suggest?" he asked.

"A shotgun." Oscar immediately interjected.

"Hah! A rifle is the way to go. Well, up to you." I said, laughing.

While he was thinking of what to do, I also asked the rest of his soldiers about things that they wanted done on their guns. However, all of their answers made my lips twitch a bit. The way they're looking at my guns earlier made me initially think that they would tell me to bling-out their guns. Doing that would turn their guns into a mall ninja gun that would be too unwieldy if several dozen attachments are placed. Instead, they just requested for a suppressor, a foregrip, and a laser sight which I have several of. However, I switched the slings for their rifles and the holster for their pistols since what they have is a little outdated and worn out. It's a small upgrade but it did the job as intended.

"Less is more as always." I thought to myself.

I then turned back to Rod still thinking of what to do.

"I want the same thing as them but I want a new gun. I want something with a bit of oomph! You guys have something like that?" he asked.

"Of course. I have just the idea, prepare your shoulders though." I replied.

I let Oscar take care of Rod's M16 while I went back to my room to get a Henry .45-70. It's a lever-action rifle that could hold 4 .45-70 Government rounds that hits really hard. I also added several rounds of ammo for him to use since I rarely use this gun and I hate shooting it the same with the 500 Magnum. Aside from the regular ammo that it uses that already hits hard and could leave a bruise on your shoulder, I added a few Extreme Penetrator Rounds that looks like a philip head screw just to make him regret his decision. I went down with the Henry and a small ammo can filled to the brim. I surmise he doesn't have these rounds available to him or has few of these so I gave him a lot.

"Something tells me that I'm gonna love this and hate it at the same time." he said as he picked it up.

"Well you said something with an 'oomph' so that's something that gives it. Heh. You'd know the recoil is strong since the end of the buttstock there is rubber. I'd shot it a few times but I'm sticking to my 5.56 and 9mm." I said.

"Heh, even the bullet is this big. Fucking son of a bitch gun. Tell me how to use this thing." he said.

I taught him how to operate it and he listened closely. It's fairly easy to use and he learned it eventually.

"Thanks for this. What are your plans for today? I'm planning to stop by the DDR Camp next to you in the Meycauayan Hospital, is that right? I wanna scare some rookies and tell them you and your group are now affiliated with me. I'm gonna try to contact a few camps so I could follow my part of the deal." he said.

"Sure." I replied.

One of the things I needed to have for real is something I requested from him.

Authority.

I faked that I was belonging to a special unit before and now it just becomes reality. Authority is something intangible but definitely could help me a lot especially in this situation. I always made the effort to prove myself by showing off or giving deals where I'm on the losing side just to get them to follow my orders but that would change now. Like the time when I convinced everyone to help me with the run to People's Park. I mostly did the work but the resources were still split equally among everyone.

The thing is, I don't know how long it could take me just by the president's work alone but I would definitely make full use of it to where it can be used. Not just having the power or right to give orders to his soldiers is what I would be receiving from that, I could also filter the camps who would disobey an order from me so I'll know for sure which camps are the ones that have gone AWOL for sure.

Some of them as he told me were violently hostile where some of them are still going on a ruse that they're still a functioning camp. He just can't announce which is which to avoid further confusion and paranoia between people still thinking of going to the camps. Not only that, they're not sure if the camps he would be announcing are still safe would still be safe the moment people seek that place.

"I thought you were going to Mayor Iskoh's DDR camp?" I asked.

"Maybe tomorrow or this afternoon. I have to settle down a bit since I hate flying long distances like this." he replied.

"Just be on the lookout for the cult members. We warned them before and they caught a few at that camp but we never know if there would still be remnants." I said.

"I also need to find a way to place one of our relays installed in their vehicle without them noticing. I'm still not sure of letting anyone know of her yet. Well, I could always tell them that it's for a radio or something but he has people who know their stuff at his place." I thought to myself.

"Heh. Let them come and they'll get something. Oh yeah, since you would be trying to set a connection with Iskoh, why don't you come with me when we leave so you could meet the guy? We'd bring the chopper and you could bring yours. I'd feel more secure if you'd bring a few of your people too since I would be leaving M and Roque here when I go there. I just can't leave them without the soldiers I know personally." he said.

"Personally? You mean? That group, right?" I asked.

"Yeah, fuck it. No use hiding them from the public anymore. Well, most people already know about them. Issues just popped up when I became president." he replied.

"Hmm? What are you two talking about?" Oscar asked.

"Oh, you didn't know about my Davao Death Squad? The 'DDS' that those fucking reporters kept pestering me about? Heh, this kid will fill you in on that." he started to chuckle.

The president and his team started to get up and leave and the moment they left the gate, my radio buzzed and I heard Tatiana's voice.

*bzzt*

"Hey, we're in the gym with my team. Come on up."

*bzzt*