Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Kaley's job was to shoot an inch or two of flesh off from the shoulder of the young slurper hanging by a meat hook. Doing that successfully would make it free fall on the freezer right below it, securing a live special for our group in the process. It was easy enough to tear through the rotting flesh and bones of a younger body but it took a few shots to get it right.

As soon as it fell right in the freezer below it, its tongue wriggled violently, trying to get itself out of its predicament. However, what it didn't realize when we were pushing the freezers under it was that we poured a strong but cheap adhesive, which could take some time drying completely, in the freezer about a quarter of the way.

All its wriggling did nothing but slowly secure it in place, even causing the lid of the freezer to slam down on it as it continued to thrash violently. Well, we had to act fast as we sprinted and secured the freezer with its outer lock and an additional rope because it still had the strength to push it open.

The only thing that we could hear from the freezer it was in was dull thuds coming from the inside and nothing more.

'Finally got one… well, a fraction of it… with the most important parts...' I thought to myself.

"What are we gonna do with it now?" Mikhail asked.

"Let's just place it right outside because I'll call for reinforcements. However, someone should keep an eye on it because we're still not 100% sure that its tongue doesn't have corrosive properties. We only acted based on the information we have at hand but as soon as it burns through that freezer, you're allowed to kill it." I replied, looking around the public market.

The public market from the inside was in a worse state compared to the one in my place but there was no presence of the fat fucks getting fattened even more by the deadheads bringing them food. That was already a plus but most of the stores inside were looted. I was sure we could find something of use in their storage areas of a few places unopened yet so I decided to give Dong a call.

-

*bzzt*

"Dong, could you come here and bring Unc Zardon? Make him use the 8-wheeler and one of you drive another truck to get here. Do you know the public market in this area? Jay's also around in the neighborhood with a lot of supplies waiting to be sent back, we'll start looting the area so you guys could just haul everything when you get here."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Boss? Okay, we'll get him and be there in probably 20 minutes? No, just make it 30 to be sure. Want me to bring more soldiers?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"I'm literally the army alone. Multiply it by a dozen and you got something even better. Just get here with your usual team. Just drive around the two schools and you'll be golden."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Heh, understood Boss. I thought you guys were supposed to just clear a path?]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Long story, no subtitles. I also have a 'special' package to be kept an eye on. We'll load it on the truck and bring it to the DDR Camp. Ferdinand will know what to do but make him keep an eye on it."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Uhh, just tell it to me again once we get there. I might botch it just hearing through the radio.]

*bzzt*

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*bzzt*

"Hah, just get here fast so I could better explain it."

*bzzt*

-

Oscar, Matthew, and the president still hadn't arrived in this part of the city so we made the best use of our time. My group started to sift through all of the stores in the public market to scrounge what was left of it. At the same time, Jared, Mikhail, Kristoff, and Ibarra stood guard outside while watching the freezer and the vehicles.

It was easy enough to get inside the stores and look for items and the only thing we needed to watch out for the food items we were taking were punctures, contamination, dents, expiration dates, and etc.

The ones that were punctured and contaminated with foreign substances will be left behind while the latter two will have some things done to them because the dented cans could be just recanned immediately and the expired ones, depending on the date of expiry could still be opened and eaten. However, it should be done sooner because the longer we wait, the sooner would the textures deteriorate and the actual edibility would plummet.

Aside from food items, cleaning products were also present and it was more abundant compared to the former. Rubbing alcohol, soap, detergent, ammonia, acids, bleach, shampoo, disinfectants, and etc. were still available for the taking and we took everything that we could. Being clean and disinfected, not just with our body but with our own place was extremely important because of obvious reasons and we shouldn't skimp on that.

After a while, Unc Zardon and Dong's group arrived with Jay's group and one of the trucks was already filled partially.

"You guys are a bit early, haul everything here. Take this freezer first and don't fucking try to open it or it'll literally kill you. Before you ask, we caught a slurper and it's inside." I tapped the several boxes behind me and the freezer secured with more layers of duct tape in the lid and the other edges.

"Y-Yes, Boss..."

They were adamant about taking the freezer at first but I assured them that we already secured it so, they eventually started hauling everything on the trucks they brought.

After a while, the president's convoy arrived with several soldiers in tow and Mark's group right beside them. Morales was also present in his own jeep and he just exchanged a simple greeting with my group before instantly expanding on the perimeter my group already made.

"Jesus fucking christ, you guys went crazy, eh?" Rod chuckled as he spotted the several piles of the dead still being burnt into a crisp. Aside from that, the blood trails, debris, isolated body parts, and etc. in the immediate vicinity just told them a general idea of what went through here.

"We're not done, there's still the inside of those schools to take care of. We still haven't cleared everything and that's the reason we took so long and why he decided to have a carwash. Oh, we caught a little present too. Remember that thing we discovered last time? It's in the..." I replied, relaying everything that happened for a time.

"Hmm, I'll have my soldiers clear it for you then." Rod replied, greatly impressed.

The president then called Morales over and told him to send troops to clear out the schools right behind the public market. He easily formed a few dozen men but he stayed behind, asking several questions to my team still hauling the cargo. I could hear him talking over them but I didn't like the way he was almost interrogating them about doing something routine.

"Why are you bringing that body to your place then? The supplies too, you're taking it from my city." Morales interjected with a straight face but with a different tone.

Matthew, Oscar, and the rest of my group didn't like what Morales said as but the president was just watching what I would do next.

'Your city? That's cute.'

"You can have it if you want but we have more bodies there secured in a shipping container. Besides that, a few of your helicopters are parked in my place. We could just easily hook it up and ready it for transport. I could give you the keys to my truck if you want? I just want something equal in return." I replied, staring back at him.

"Kid, the guy just asked you a simple question. Don't sweat it, he's had a long night." Oscar interjected, signaling me to calm down but he was frowning at Morales' actions.

"He did, I just simply answered too. Well, last time I checked, no one owns anything now and it's finders keepers. If you want something from that truck that we painstakingly procured, you'd have to do something for me or you'd have to trade something of equal value." I replied, shrugging my shoulders.

"Hmm, what do you want for everything in the truck then? Scratch the 'special' you caught, I just want more supplies for my team." Morales took a step closer, almost getting into my face.

"Fish, a truckload." I replied immediately.

"Fish?" Morales almost staggered.

"..." everyone else was dead fucking silent.

"Yeah, some Ahi would be nice… my uncle likes it. Oh, I get to pick what I bring home and I want a docking space for two of my boats in your place. Also, I'd be placing a relay at one of your antennas so we could communicate better. Don't worry, I'd also be sending you the proper radio equipment and a few electronic devices so that will be the payment for that. If you want any other stuff from my place, you could lend me your soldiers for a time or you could bring me the casings you've used and any other precious metals you have like lead, copper, or brass. And lastly, just to clear the air with Artem and you, I have an idea."

Morales seemed to have been overwhelmed by my requests but he still replied after glancing at Artem behind me, "What?"

"One on one, my place."

"You want us to fight?" Morales said, staring at Artem.

"Hmm? You two? Sure, I guess… how'd you able to do that after I lay your ass out? I'm talking about you and me."