Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Rows and rows of houses with similar features, almost the size of Woodlands, used to be on the other side of the river. It was built for the homeless and people that used to live in the squatter areas for another chance at life. Aside from that, they were given jobs either from a company that was closeby or directly from the government. It was a nice project of the government and it actually lowered the crime rate of this city when it was implemented years back.

It could've been a great place to establish a DDR Camp or another outpost because not only it had uniform houses, the land it was built on could be cultivated, and the walls surrounding it was high. However, looking at it now, it looked like war just walked past it and left its credit card.

The place was in ruins and it was full of the dead either roaming around or falling to the river between us. It was because the huge gate protecting them was mangled into pieces and the high walls I spoke of earlier was already torn apart. I could spot ripples forming just above the surface of the water due to the bodies that have already fallen over. However, a few were still getting washed away due to the soft current.

"What happened to that place?" Jared commented.

"That place got bombarded for sure. A lot of fucking mortars to be precise." Bogdan commented.

"How can you be so sure?" I inquired but I already shared the same sentiment.

"I'm all too familiar with that kind of damage. I always handle that stuff back home."

"You're the 'demolition man', eh? That sounds cool."

"Not since we flew here, no. The only thing that could explode that I handled since coming here is a fucking 'nade. That's child's play compared to what I used to play with!!"

"Heh, I'll hook you up with something then."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'll let you have a talk with Oscar. He has a few plans in his mind he wants to have another opinion on."

My team was steadily advancing forward with our vehicles though a few were walking a few feet forward. Having everyone at the front would make each person's space to maneuver around limited so a few were a few feet behind, inside our vehicles, on the truck bed, or bringing the rear in case a few stragglers pop up.

I was on the truck bed of the Raptor this time because I was controlling the drones, acting as another set of eyes while Artem was leading the front with Katya, Mikhail, and Tatiana. I kept on calling out places with threats hidden from their field of view to hasten the clearing process and to avoid stupid deaths due to lack of information.

-

*bzzt*

"House numbered 334 and 335. The ones with the embroidered gates."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Da, got it.]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Black SUV numbered RTG 887 and the jeepney with a portrait of Nicholas Cage."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Understood.]

*bzzt*

-

At the same time, Kaley and Jared would just fire a shot when they locked into a target with their sights. A casing or two would just drop on the truck bed and another casing would follow if they missed and quickly adjusted. The two weren't having a competition like the times when Lois was present so I was thankful that I had fewer things to keep in check.

I continued to look through the feeds and I couldn't help having a funny thought that I was controlling each of them like we were in a game.

'There are no redos in this 'game' though… One scratch, bite, or a stupid decision then that's fucking it.' I thought to myself, faintly smiling.

After a couple of hours of doing the same process with each structure and deadhead we encountered, we stopped by a looted convenience store right next to a small chapel. It was to take a short break to allow us to have a quick bite and to check on our equipment. We parked our vehicles in a way that the driver's seat would be facing our direction or the inside, and the vehicles would be blocking the road completely.

"Wipe down and check our ammo and fuel. After that, have a bite and take a short rest. We'd be passing a densely populated area after this and we should be well-rested before we try and tackle that place to get to the other side." I said to my group as they simultaneously took a seat.

"Want me to check that place in advance bro? There's still the other drone not used?" Jared asked, stretching his legs.

"Yeah, go ahead. It's a few blocks after the hardware store and-"

"I know bro, I know, heh. It's the school we talked about earlier right next to the public market and the fire station, right?"

"Yeah, don't forget the big chapel right behind it and the bridge that could lead us to that bombed project earlier."

"Okay, I'll fill my mags first though."

"I did ask you guys to rest, want me to tell you it's an order?"

Jay and his team were still with us though they weren't involved in much of the action. They were still tasked with moving and burning the dead or maintaining the perimeter when we were doing something important. However, none of them were objecting to the task I gave them because they were relatively safe with the current arrangement.

As we were resting, Bogdan was trying to lift the weapon custom-made for Mikhail.

"Shit! This is too heavy!" Bogdan exclaimed.

"Heh, then that means you're not worthy! HAHAHAHAHA!!!" Mikhail roared as he started to laugh.

"Fuck off! They really made this, eh?"

"Yeah. You could ask for one if you like. They'd be excited if it's something abnormal or cool-"

"Let me have a try!" Kristoff pushed Bogdan off.

"Fuck off, you're not even as strong as me Mr. Smiley!" Bogdan pushed back.

"The fuck did you say? You're more fat than muscle!"

"Wanna have a go? Last I heard, I wasn't the one that got knocked out! Wanna see how you ate my fist the second time?"

"Here we go~" Natasha and Katya were already shaking their heads in annoyance.

I was about to intervene and stop the fight before it even started but it seemed like I wouldn't need to. Ibarra and Jared were ready to step between them as well but we all heard Artem's voice. It was just loud enough for everybody to hear and it had a commanding tone, unlike the way he was speaking to me earlier.

"You guys could lift it as easy by using two hands but it would be hard to use it in a real fight. Stop fooling around and eat, end of discussion." Artem immediately stopped the two.

'I guess that works.' I thought to myself.

"They're always like that, don't worry. That means they're just getting comfortable around you guys." Tatiana sat down, handing us our food that was prepared beforehand by Aunt Sharon.

"I see, that's good. I took longer to get comfortable with people, where's Kaley?"

"She started with reloading her mags first. Well, she's nibbling on a protein bar while she's doing it so..."

"Oh, I'll leave you for a bit."

"Sure..."

"Just kidding, let's eat on the Raptor."

"Wha- O-Okay then."

I covered the container of our food first and then I brought them with us as we joined Kaley on the Raptor. She was still in the process of reloading the magazines we used as the ammo cans for 5.56s, 9mms, and .22 LRs were open. However, I saw a few AK mags that Tatiana was using that would be soon replenished by Kaley as well.

"Want some help?" I asked.

"Hmm? No, it's okay... I just wanted to get this done first. Well, I started earlier than you, see?" Kaley replied, waving around the protein bar with her mouth.

"Can I eat? I'm hungry." Tatiana chimed in.

"You always are! Go ahead, don't worry about me!"

I started to help Kaley despite her insistence but Kaley suddenly started eating once I picked up a mag. I was staring at her in silence while a smirk was plastered on her face but I just resigned to my fate to finish what she started. After a short while, I joined them but a commotion came from the other side of the convenience store.

"Fucking shit this IS heavy! I could barely lift it with one arm! Fuck!" Artem exclaimed.

"I thought he- Nevermind, heh." I shook my head in amusement.

"I think they're really back to normal..." Tatiana commented, faintly smiling.

"I was scared of them at first… I felt heavy when I first met them." Kaley added.

"War changes people but good company does too, I guess. You guys done?" I said as I stood up and made my fingers and neck crack.