Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

"Nah, my team and Artem's team will be the ones cutting straight at this path. Going down this road is like half the way needed to get to the other side of the City of Navotas. We could expect some company but I wanted to see the situation around these parts myself." I replied, after thinking for a moment.

"Aren't ya just gonna swoop in that place and take all the glory for yourself then?" Oscar chuckled, half-joking.

"Hmm, if you could keep them in that place, a couple of long-shooters and I could make a nest in different places and start picking them off one by one. It could take a few days if they're smarter than we thought but it's doable. We just need to clear the areas I pointed at the map first so we'd be safer." I replied with a straight face.

"You're serious you could do that, kid?" Rod asked, peeking through the window.

"My only problem with that is we would be trying to get information out of corpses and what they left behind. We don't have an exact count on their numbers and it would be difficult to- Well, let's think about that later, he's here." I stopped myself because I saw Lawrence all geared-up, walking towards us.

"Hmm, I'll think on it kid. We'll see after this and what Morales comes up with. I think they started scouting around their area after we left. I just don't know how far and how long, we'll see." Rod nodded a few times before we started hitting the road once more.

After a short while, we reached the place, driving a few kilometers south, where a group of people was still in the process of dismantling the second set of barricades they've put in the bridge that would connect us to the City of Navotas.

The first set of barricades were already on the side, allowing my team and Artem's team to drive forward while the president and his convoy only stayed for a few minutes. Mark's group followed right behind them while Jay's group stayed with us as I got out of my Raptor and approached the people working on the barricades.

"Need some help? John, right?" I asked.

"Umm, yes. I do need help, a little bit. After pulling this jeepney and the rest on top of it, the dead behind it would start to come one after the other. Aside from that, the jeepney is starting to shake as more comes. As you can see, we actually waited for you guys before we start doing this. It's not like removing all of this would be quiet, right?" John replied.

The dead were right behind the last piece of the barricade but it wasn't as congested as the ones from Monumento. However, as more and more continue to push against the jeepney, it would only take a short while before they pour in.

"Okay, let us clear a path first." I said as I turned to my team.

We climbed up the jeepney before we started shooting the ones in the immediate vicinity. However, we only aimed at the ones a couple of bodies away from the ones directly against the jeepney and the ones by the concrete railings.

Doing that would make the ones behind the deadheads we shot stumble and pile on top of each other, lessening the number of zekes pushing against the jeepney. Aside from that, the ones we shot by the concrete railing wouldn't be able to grab us or tug against our clothes once we started walking on top of it.

"It's clear! Move!" I shouted.

Kaley and Jared were still standing atop the jeepney, shooting the ones further in when we started running on the concrete railings on the right side. The deadheads in the center were trying to reach us but we made sure to pile them in a way that their arms couldn't reach us and we had plenty of practice in Monumento.

Artem and the rest ran on the other side, jumping down almost at the same time as us after traversing a few feet. Right at this moment, the ones in the center started turning the other side, aiming for us instead while the ones still coming to the bridge saw us as their new target.

"Pick a side, cut down everything that moves!" I shouted once more.

I was side by side with Tatiana, Mikhail, and Ibarra but Katya decided to join us to even the numbers. Artem and the rest behind us started cutting them down so we also picked a zone and gave each other space to brandish our weapons and move around.

The one right in front of me was swerving to the left, leaking out blood and pus from its mouth while its arms were crooked, raised against me. I held my blade and swung wide right into its mouth, slicing through its cheeks and cutting half its face off. It fell to its knees before it plopped straight down, staining the pavement with its liquids.

The one that followed right behind it was wearing a stained tank top and its shoulder was housing flies and little worms. I thrust my blade right into its eye socket before kicking it down, aiming for another one to my right, missing a jaw. The former's body falling down almost made the one I was facing trip but it managed to get a proper foothold.

It wobbled past me but I swiped my blade right on the back of its head before it rolled over. I kept advancing forward to give more space to myself and to take in the status of the surroundings. However, the noise our guns were making was attracting every deadhead in the immediate vicinity so I had to call off Kaley and Jared from shooting nonstop.

-

*bzzt*

"Stop shooting for a while! It looks like no one has been clearing this area, let's approach more quietly."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[O-Okay!]

*bzzt*

-

We were advancing to the residential area and it didn't take long before Artem and the rest joined us. However, as soon as we reached the fork in the road, a small herd was only a couple of houses away. They staggered as they walk but as the wind blew towards us, the smell was so fucking horrible I almost retched.

Their bodies were decaying for quite a while and the foul smell of the dirty river right under the bridge had nothing against it.

I instantly reached for my rifle as I started shooting. The rest did the same thing and we unloaded on those fuckers.

I immediately flicked the safety off as I aimed down the sights and tucked my rifle tight before my shoulder. I shot the deadhead stepping on its bowels before I aimed at the one right next to it missing half of its face. Its head just blew back before falling down and I continue to shoot down the ones straddling towards us.

-

*bzzt*

[I thought we need to stop shooting bro?!]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Shit happens! Jump down and join us!"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Coming!]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Leave some for me, bro!]

*bzzt*

-

We gauged our distance from the herd as we bored holes through their heads. We either advanced or retreated depending on the circumstances and their numbers soon continued to dwindle down. There was a threat of sprinters coming from a distance but they were shot down, like they had a bounty on their heads, even before they managed to pick up speed.

Everyone knew of their threat up close, so everyone immediately reacted and neutralized the threat once it appeared.

When their numbers were manageable, we put our rifles down and we once again drew our blades. We were careful about stepping onto the bodies that fell down as we continued to advance forward. Each swing wasn't wasted because it was sure to kill one as it left its target. Heads rolled and rotting bodies plopped down as we make quick work of the ones that were left.

After a while, I called John to start pulling the jeepney off so Jay and his team could start taking care of the bodies by the bridge. We didn't throw them over the river because doing that would cause more problems and more work to be done in fixing it. We would always burn them to cinders after checking the items on their person for loot and identification. We didn't have the time to do it a few times but it was the suggested go-to for all situations.

"Are we gonna check the houses?" Jared asked.

"They seem looted though." Ibarra replied.

"Hmm, true."

"We'll never know unless we check them. There could be always something to find in a corner hidden somewhere." I commented.

Looking at some of the houses, most of them were already broken into and even their gates were wide open. However, a few of them looked to be nailed shut instead of just being barricaded.

'Hmm...'