Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Tristan and Tyler gave Kaley and me another handshake before I drove our vehicle back to the gate. We were early for a few minutes but the cargo trucks that we brought were already parked over there. Unc Zardon, Jomarro, and the rest of his workers were present and they were also waiting for Mauricio and the rest of my people to arrive.

I briefly talked with Christopher about the handloads I've discovered and he told me that he would take care of it.

However, when Mauricio arrived, he had another person unfamiliar to me tied up and gagged on the back of his Land Rover. My people that knew of it were wearing varying expressions but they were uneasy. I even discovered that Cathy was on the SUV Jessica was driving with a few of her people. I was about to ask him who she was but he saw my expression and guessed what I was thinking.

"I found myself the bitch's accomplice. I hope- no, I'm sure you know where I'm going with this." Mauricio said with the same cold eyes as before.

"Are you sure that she's an accomplice? I've already killed people but I need a proper reason for it." I replied with a solemn expression.

"Yes, I'm the same as well. For starters, I didn't need to get more information. When I showed up at her place, fear was plastered on her face and she immediately begged for forgiveness as she confessed everything that she did with that bitch. Long story short, I only have one thing in mind she could do so I could forgive her. I just tied her up because I've already decided on it beforehand." Mauricio explained but when he said that he'd forgive her, I'm not an expert but he definitely lied.

It was a shitty feeling seeing someone beg for their life but it was funny if the one begging for it was acting like they did nothing in the first place. People would have done a trial or something from the past, relying on the Justice System, but it was different now.

I was sure of what he would do after getting what he wanted for Cathy but I didn't stop him.

"I would've done the same." I thought to myself.

"Alright, let's go. We'll drive between the jeeps but we'll keep a certain distance away from the cargo trucks. Drive close to me and radio in if you notice anything abnormal, that goes for the rest of us, okay?" I said to Mauricio and everyone.

We made one last inspection of our vehicles before we drove outside. We were driving a little bit faster because it would be sundown if we drove the same way we usually did. We wouldn't stop for anything and we would drive through anything even if it was a horde.

It was only a few minutes of driving before we heard gunshots coming from the front. It didn't last for long and the only thing we did was change lanes and discover a few dozen bodies that tried to come out of a street corner. They were all piled up one after the other and the group up front did a great job of not letting the small cluster occupy all four lanes. The same thing was happening from the rear but it wasn't as frequent as the one from the front.

Everyone was tense and the only thing we could hear was the sound of the engine and occasional burst of gunfire. No one was allowed to turn their music on because it was something that could distract us, especially from a run as important as this.

-

*bzzt*

"Unc, ease a bit. It must've rained on this area recently."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Yeah, was just about to. Don't worry, I got more experience than you driving trucks for a living, heh."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"We got a situation."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Hmm? Russel? What is it?"

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Umm, I need to pee. Like, really~ fucking bad."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Then pee. You don't need to broadcast it to everyone."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"C-Can we at least stop for a few? I bet a few of us were also about to?"

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Nah, we're good."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Same here."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Here too."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Just fucking hold it!"

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Fuck you guys!"

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Can't you just unzip and let it all out?"

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Jared will shoot me because I'm at the jeep in front. If a drop landed, I'm a dead man."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Don't you have a water bottle?"

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"I do but everyone's fucking staring at me! I- I- I can't when- you know how I am!"

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Who told you to sit at the front then?! We can't stop now, it's getting dark too."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"I might spill it everywhere!"

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Have them hold "it" for you then."

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"AHHHHHHHHHHH FUCK ALL OF YOU!!! I'M GONNA DO IT!!! I'LL REMEMBER THIS!!!"

*bzzt*

-

A series of laughter occurred and the tense atmosphere lightened for a bit. We were driving for a while and so far, there had been nothing to worry about aside from the spillage that happened at the front jeep. The only time we had to make a complete stop was when we encountered a horde en masse, heading in the same direction we were.

They were hogging all of the lanes and we had no choice but to put them down.

The first one that noticed our presence was disemboweled and missing its jaw when it turned around and it was followed by someone missing both of its arms. Lois sent a bullet through their skulls before several mangled bodies turned around and started heading for us.

Their steps were sluggish and slow but they were leaving a bloody trail on the ground as they walked because it seemed they had just eaten and the ones that they ate joined them. It must've been a few hours before the last time they fed on someone because there were fresh and crimson spots on their clothes, hands, and mouth.

We have already witnessed them eating their own or themselves for an unknown reason but the colors we were seeing from them were different. It was usually dark and viscous but this time, it was crimson and slightly thick but a little watery.

I thought a couple of them were conjoined but as it turns out, its arm was just buried in its back and trapped inside the ribcage of the ones it was next to. Nasty entrails just gushed out after I nicked the skin of its stomach. Because its belly was so full due to the amount it has eaten, it ruptured when a small opening was created. Let's just say that this one didn't chew as much because I could still recognize some of the parts that spilled out.

We piled them in a corner and burned them afterward and we didn't check their bodies because of the time. It was almost sunset and as much as possible, I didn't want my group traveling in the dark.

Time continued to pass and our 8-wheeler broke off from the intersection that would lead to our other outpost. I decided to leave it there for now and let them drive it back tomorrow. I still have a lot to do once we arrive so we decided to speed up once more. The area around our base was almost a ghost town due to the clearing group taking care of each one of them but this time, it seemed that they also cleared a swarm that came from the other side of the highway.

A fire was burning in one spot as people were hauling bodies one after the other. It was already sundown so the smoke from the fire wouldn't be as much trouble.

A few of them saw us approaching and the gates were slowly opened as we were let in. However, as a general rule placed on everybody, it was a routine check for any bites or anything that might compromise our base. It only took a few minutes to check everybody but Mauricio and Jessica couldn't hide their surprise when they saw what we accomplished.

They were staring at me for a few moments after they got their breathing in check.

"Hey, you guys go on ahead to the compound and have the others help with hauling some of them to our storage areas. I'll accompany Mauricio and Cathy to the hospital with Jessica and her group." I said to Kaley and the rest because they look tired.

"O-Okay, see you in a few." Kaley replied.

"Us too? Can I ask why?" Jessica asked.

"Routine check for new people. If you still have your IDs with you it would be faster but don't worry, it's just a simple check-up for everything. After everything is done, you guys could explore around with me while I will leave Mauricio and Cathy to our ophthalmologists." I replied.

"Wait, plural?" Mauricio added.

"Oh, they're husband and wife. Before you ask, yeah, we have more than one of each. Well, they're learning other trades too but they're genuine doctors that could help you. They know their shit better than me because they actually studied for it." I replied, faintly smiling.

They were in deep thought but I guided them inside. They couldn't stop but look around at everything we pass by and they were surprised by the number of armed individuals that were present.

"They're all soldiers?" Jessica asked.

"Mostly civilians but yeah, they could be soldiers too in a sense. They're all trained and you know that quote?" I looked back at her.