Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

The dull thuds from the inside weren't following a specific pattern but just from the sounds produced, I could more or less tell which of them were full, half-full, or empty. The sounds started to get more frequent and louder but curiosity got the best of me as I climbed one and opened the lid.

I almost barfed the second time just because of opening another lid.

I didn't need to shine my flashlight inside because even if I did, I was sure that the color of the water wouldn't be as different. The smell was so fucking horrible it even reached Kaley and the rest below. However, it didn't take long before echoing snarls followed the dull thuds which confirmed a few things that got this whole place overrun.

'Who did it though?' I thought to myself.

I began to shine my flashlight inside and aside from the water being murky and dark, several bloated deadheads were inside, having a fucked up water therapy. I couldn't even identify whether they were civilians or soldiers because they have overgrown their clothes and even if they were wearing dog tags, it would've either snapped off or sunk inside their bloated necks.

"Fucking shit, there's fucking bodies in there, right?! Fucking hell!" Matthew cursed.

Kaley was covering her nose but she climbed up to see what I was seeing while Ibarra went for the other tanks and knocked on them a few times. He continued to repeat the same process on the following tanks while Matthew started to fasten his mask even tighter then he started throwing the bodies down.

"How about the ones here?" Kaley asked after taking a short peek inside the water tanks.

"Yeah, we'd better tell the others first." I replied as I contacted the others through my earpiece.

-

*bzzt*

"Hey, if you're gonna drink some water, use our canisters. If it gets empty, take the time to head up or make sure the one you're drinking came from a sealed bottle. Don't drink from the faucets or we'll leave you here."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Huh? What happened bro? Is it the tanks I saw you guys are on?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Yeah, a few are inside them."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Wha- how the fuck did they- what?!]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Just be really fucking careful. Don't even bank on the ones that are clear to be clean. It must be why this place got overrun. It could be one of many fucking reasons but I think we got a winner."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Gotcha Boss.]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Mikhail? Where are you guys now?"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Ah- we're still by the cafeteria. We had to double-tap the ones Boss Kaley shot down last time.]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"I see, just one more thing."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Hmm?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Don't start calling Kaley with 'Boss' in front. She just got goosebumps and you're in a whole lot of trouble later, heh."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Ah- I apologize, I apologize.]

*bzzt*

-

After that short talk, Tatiana radioed in and told me that they were about halfway in clearing the first floor.

-

*bzzt*

[There's a lot on the first floor but we've been noticing a pattern in some of the rooms...]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"What do you mean? Find something peculiar."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Yeah, I think the doctors here are trying to learn more about them… in a more aggressive way.]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Huh?"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[I found a list of the sick and the elderly. It seems that they're being used to learn more about this thing. The thing is, I think it's not voluntary… for the people in the list as much as I could tell.]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"..."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[You still there?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Yeah… I think I already know what comes next."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Do you?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"You already mentioned that it's not voluntary. Who volunteered them then? Their relatives, friends, or other companions? I bet the ones that came sick or just too old to give supplies were the ones missing some sort of consent form, right?"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Correct, you sometimes scare me when you're like that but you're completely correct.]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Yeah, just see you guys in a bit."

*bzzt*

-

Ibarra and Matthew finished clearing the roof and the only ones left were the ones inside the water tanks. Ibarra's spear came into play once more and its reach helped us to clear them safely. However, we made sure that we wouldn't be surprised by the tongue-tacles that may or may not be inside one of them.

There was also the issue of bullets ricocheting so we had to be extra careful.

What we did to have a clear shot when Ibarra's spear couldn't reach them was that I called below to turn all of the faucets they could see. Doing that could remove most of the murky water and reveal anything that sunk to the bottom-most part. However, the smell still couldn't be removed by doing that and all we could do was endure it. It was like being resuscitated by a lifeguard that never brushed their teeth ever since they were born.

"Are we almost done?" Matthew tapped me.

"Almost, the 'water' here is something we would call water if you think about it." I replied.

"Cheh, it's just one disgusting thing after the other. It would be fucking difficult to turn this place into an outpost because the water system is fucked." Matthew continued, shaking his head.

"That's true. We have to replace everything because I wouldn't trust that a deep clean would be enough. Well, it would be difficult at first but I don't have my eyes on this place just yet." I replied I looked below.

Marvin's group was methodically clearing the ones approaching them and he was the one right in front. Ashley was supporting him from the side and they would retreat once they overextended. They were careful with their movements and I never heard a gun being fired from their side.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" Kaley chimed in.

"Well, the president and Iskoh's group are clearing another outpost for us right at this moment. I doubt they'll leave a lot of people to guard that place for us so we might send a lot of people there like what we did with Lawrence and about half of Marvin's original group. Well, it's not like they're gonna clear the whole city for us so it would be another massive task to be tackled." I explained.

We were talking casually when Ibarra approached us.

"Sir, it's all done but as you see, we couldn't get them out because they're too… big. We could get them out by dismembering their limbs but the problem is their torsos. Should we join the ones below or should we continue from this roof then meet at the 2nd or 3rd floor?" Ibarra reported, wiping the tip of his spear.

"Hmm… Yeah, let's do that. It would be easier to maneuver with less people." I replied.

"Alright, Kaley, stay at the back while I handle the front." Matthew turned to Kaley, giving a few more precautions.

"Ah- Matthew, I think you should be the one guarding the rear…" I trailed, scratching my head.

"Wha- Why me?! I'm always at the back!" Matthew's face turned sour.

"I want Kaley to be right next to me but I want a precision shooter like her guarding us from the back. Ibarra could be right next to her but his spear is best for being right behind me. I-" I wanted to pile more reasons but Kaley cut me off.

"I'm gonna say it. Dad, in all honesty… you're old." Kaley said flatly much to Matthew's shock.

"Wha- I'm fucking old but I could still move like- I won't fucking budge unless you could do a fucking backflip with your gear on!" Matthew furiously turned to me.

I just shook my head then I used the ledge of the roof to give me a little boost. The equipment I was carrying was a tad heavy but good thing I didn't have my backpack with me. I easily performed a backflip that made Matthew shut up for the moment.

"Do you want one more? How about a frontflip? Two backflips in succession? Hmm?" I immediately taunted Matthew after lifting his jaw that dropped.

"BAH! YOU KIDS ARE FUCKING WASTING TIME! LET'S GET TO IT!!!" Matthew tried to act like nothing happened but he was huffing while waiting for Ibarra and me to enter the door first.

"Heh, let me call Tatiana first." I replied then I relayed to Tatiana the change of plans.

As soon as we entered the door, we stopped joking around. Ibarra and I were in front while Matthew and Kaley were in the back. We made sure the door to the roof was still accessible because that door was our only escape route if things went sour.

We just carefully descended the stairs and we saw one deadhead scooping the brains of its fallen brethren and feeding itself even though its stomach was ruptured and leaking.