Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Nikolas and the rest of his team looked at me with surprise when I told them that I would be taking their whole team.

"What? You think I'm not serious about doing it? Hah! If it wasn't obvious already I'm severely lacking people which are more combat oriented than most folks. I've been training some of them with Tatiana and a few other people but it would always take some time. I could give a few orders to the soldiers at the DDR Camp next to us but they would follow the president's orders over me. Well, I'm working on that too but it's best to always have a backup plan." I said as they gave pensive expressions.

"Artem is a different case though." Nikolas chimed and the others seemed to share the same opinion.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I looked at him.

"Uhh, how should I put this he's a bit… eccentric?" Mikhail answered.

"I'm the definition of eccentric, isn't the short time you've been with me proof enough? Next?" I replied.

I was staring at them blankly and realization dawned on them. I don't know what they're thinking inside their heads but I could bet everything I have and guess that they're saying 'of course!' inside.

Tatiana chuckled and said, "Not exactly like you but he is really differently different from you. I don't know how to put the right words."

"Is that so? Well, we'll see when they get here. Let's finish this street up so we could go home. Kaley, let's do that thing again." I said as I started to wipe my katana and my knife with a spare cloth.

"Sure." she replied.

I asked Mark to place the body inside a makeshift body bag made of tarp so we could transport easily later. Since I still have my uncle's shield, Mikhail borrowed it and it could barely cover half his body. He's not only tall but he's also bulging with muscles. Kaley is now by my side and she drew her wakizashi. Tatiana is now taking the lead with the rest while I'm throwing the zombies into Kaley's direction.

She could easily handle one or two with just her wakizashi but she would always use her gun when it gets too much for her. She's getting proficient on using her pistol with her left hand and what she did earlier in the range is proof.

However, this time, her right hand is gripping the blade and her left hand is gripping the scabbard. She's making careful movements before she goes for the kill. Even if I highly doubt that there would be a time that Kaley would be just equipped with her wakizashi, it's best to prepare for it just in case it happens.

"There might also be a time that I wouldn't be there to protect her so she needs to be able to protect herself. Well, I highly doubt it would happen so… let's just always be prepared just in case." I thought to myself.

"Focus now. Always remember your training. Position yourself in the most advantageous position. Always move your feet. See the whole thing. Don't forget to breathe. Be prepared for surprises. IT'S JOHN CENA~!!! Good. You're prepared for that. Ow! Don't hit your instructor!" I started to rub my shin.

"SHUT UP~!!! You're doing more harm than good!" she exclaimed as she continued on piling bodies.

"You can't always afford a perfect situation! It wouldn't always be safe like this! You need to be able to filter out and process everything amidst the chaos to control it!" I kept on speaking to annoy her.

I was a few steps behind her and I would maintain that distance even when she moves backward or would lunge in a certain direction. She's more comfortable with blocking with the scabbard first before she goes in for the kill but she would occasionally wait for them to attack first before dodging and aiming at their head. She's still having difficulty beheading them or removing a part of their head in one full stroke so she'd mostly go for thrusts. She could sink the blade in several inches but it would sometimes get stuck in the middle so she would pull it out in annoyance. She'd succeed a few times but she still have lots more to work on.

I didn't help her in the least though I'm ready just in case anything bad was about to happen. I'm making it harder for her to kill them from my yapping and the way I'm directing them towards her but it's all for the sake of making her stronger.

There's a couple left on our side of the street so she moved forward to attract them but she stepped diagonally to make them bump into each other. The bloody figures lunged at her at the same time but now they're recovering from the small impact.

She quickly took care of them but I attempted something. My back was on the trucks and Tatiana and the rest have their backs against us.

"Kaley." I said then I took action.

My scabbard was in my hip but I made a downward slash while holding my katana with both hands and stepping with my right foot. She was startled for a brief second but she immediately jumped back the correct distance. However, it was not a simple downward slash.

Her eyes showed fear when it stopped just a few centimeters away from her. It was later replaced by confusion after a short moment.

"Weird, huh?" I said as I gave her a smirk and I sheathed my katana.

"W-what did you do?" she looks curious.

"That's the next assignment. You'll figure it out if you observed my movements carefully. C'mon they're done over there. Let's clear up." I replied.

She got annoyed but I shrugged my shoulders and thought to myself, "I just let go with my left hand and extended my shoulder at the last minute. Well, it was quick when it came at her. Not anyone could easily notice my hand if a blade is coming for your head."

Some of them started to drag the bodies to the side but Tatiana tried to look for those with abnormalities on their body composition though she found none. We made the decision to burn the bodies when we leave to not have smoke giving away our location. We started on opening an outdoor adventuring shop first while the rest stood guard.

There's several hiking, camping, and climbing equipment and a few notable ones among them we took first. What we found are several solar panels that could be installed into any surface and it could be bent several degrees. It also includes the controller, inverter, and the battery with the instructions on how to operate and install it. There's also small gas stoves, survival books, solar lamps, water filter bottles, multi tools, pocket chainsaws, triple hammocks, and a few pieces of B. Grylls Ultimate Survival Kits. There's a few more items with cool gimmicks and some that could be used as weapons but we took the things we needed most, especially the solar panels.

"Ooh~ They have flares too~ Why didn't we do this in that city?! We're always just staying guard at that place." Vera said.

"Really? We've already explored several places here. It's fun when we find a gun. That's a gun technically but wait till you see their reactions, especially Sky's" Kaley chimed.

"Hah! Well don't forget to grab those energy bars by the counter." I added.

"Having more of them could lessen the use of fuel that powers up the generators in Woodlands and the DDR Camp. Well, they don't get everything for free and it's nice to have a spare. Too much comfort might make a few of them complacent. That's another problem that I wouldn't want to start." I thought to myself.

I was about to head out to the store where I saw a power hammer being sold before but I noticed Mark opening a store that sells fabric. There's also more sewing stuff being sold like sewing machines, needles, threads, and different kits. My heart bleeds a little since it was decided against my will to bring bolt cutters. They're now easily destroying the padlocks and I have fewer chances to use my lockpicking skill.

"Oh, right." I thought to myself.

"Why is Mark opening that store with Dong?" Kaley asked.

"It's a request from some of the older ladies back home. Clothes could get damaged and we need a few of those things back home. They could also make their own clothes if the ones we found are not enough." I replied.

"I thought you already have one hidden in your room? I remember seeing one when we cleaned one time." Kaley said.

"Well, it would be better if we have more. I also use that for making costumes. Forgot I go to conventions?" I replied, chuckling.

"Oh~ I remember wearing one. You made that?" she asked, smiling.

"Yes, though I bought a few. Also, no offense, I think I'm better at makeup than you and have better makeup. I could make anyone look like one of those bloody things with prosthetics too. It takes time though." I replied much to her disbelief.

"What?! Are you saying what I did when we went dancing was terrible?" she's raising her eyebrow and crossing her arms.

"Heh, I did say 'I think' I am. Wanna put it to the test?" I'm smirking.

"Deal. We'd do that when we get home. This time you'd lose I'm telling you. Tatiana! You'll be my guinea pig!" she seemed really confident.

"Why me?!" Tatiana shouted.