Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Our group invoked the buddy system and we started going into each stall that caught our eye. The essential items were already taken into account so we went ahead and looked for items we would want instead of items we would readily need. I let Kaley drag me into a few stalls where she could acquire items to make her more beautiful but I already got my eye into an electronics shop.

Kaley pulled me into another stall and showed me a set of boxes with the same model, "I'm thinking of changing my hair color… What do you think? This one or~ this one?"

"Hmm~ I dunno… anything would suit you."

"Oh really~ Hmph! What if I go blonde? Or red? Oh! Purple looks nice..."

"Kaley..."

"What? Josh does a good job, right?"

"I know but-"

"It's my hair, right?"

I assumed a pose and said, "But you're mine, right?"

One of Kaley's eyebrows raised as she placed her hand on her hips, "Hmph! You think you're so smooth, aren't ya? You're mine too if you think about it..."

I chuckled, "What I'm trying to say is that tactically speaking, it would be better if we blend in. You'd be a prime target if you have distinct hair color. Besides, I like your natural look so… you could just use a wig at home or those wax or powdered stuff to make it look different temporarily..."

Kaley pouted as she returned the box, "Sure… you're right..."

I nudged her with my elbow as I picked up a few boxes a few items lower than the hair dyes, "However… we have some use with these kinds..."

"Hmm? That?"

"Yep. You'll see when we get home."

"Huh?"

"You'd have to be naked though..."

"Huh?! I-I m-mean..."

"Then it's a date!"

"B-But..."

"Let's grab all of these bottles too..."

"S-Shampoo?! What are we-"

"I hate coconut, go back to green apple or cool menthol! What's next? A Haka or a Fire Dance? A Hula?"

"Wha?! Excuse me~ I happen to like cocon-"

"Hah? I'll spoon you longer, deal?"

"Hngh~ Deal… That's a promise!"

"Deal!"

"Deal!"

"However..."

"What is it now?!"

"What if I get hard..."

"THEN PUT SOME SPIT ON IT AND DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO!!!"

"Okay, if you insist… I'm just saying-"

Kaley's face was flushed red, "HNGH~ YOU!!!"

Then Tatiana immediately entered with a devilish smile while Marina was getting dragged along, "Spit? What?"

Kaley started to shrink more and more, "NOOOOO~!!!"

I started to lose it while Kaley was crouched down and covering her ears. At the same time, Tatiana kept on wearing her devilish smile while Marina was left confused as fuck. It took a few moments before things started to calm down but Tatiana asked about the blackening shampoo on my hands.

"Are you gonna use that on me?"

"Ah… Kaley's still undecided if she'll get a tattoo or not, right? Using this thing could work and it would last a few days instead of forever… This way, we could try a few things until she wanted something permanent."

"Hmm, that sounds cool. I'm still thinking of a few smaller ones to compliment the big one that I just had."

Kaley finally calmed down, "The one Cynthia had? The small one?"

"Hmm, something a little smaller than that I suppose. But, if it looks great, then there's no problem even if my whole back is covered."

Marina added, "The girl named Daisy did all that, right? Can you introduce me? I think I want a few touch-ups with my own."

"Tatiana will take you… absolutely… I wish I could easily decide what to get..." Kaley trailed.

Marina replied, "Well, your skin is a little too perfect. You need to have something really good on it or something you really like because it would be such a waste. Oh, just my two cents though... It's still your decision on whether to get one or not."

"Hngh~ That didn't help me one bit… Oh! What do you want to get touched up? Can I see?"

As the three started to talk like moms that miraculously bumped into each other in a supermarket, I slowly slipped away so I could head back to the electronics shop Kaley and I passed by earlier. I turned my flashlight on and I immediately went for the cabinet where a few NVMe SSDs, processors, memories, and high-value graphics cards were on display.

Aside from those, I pulled out several pre-built laptops in the back of this store and noted a few more extra components I would be taking back. Everything the shop had in storage was in the manifest I picked up and it included more PC parts, cameras, drones, tablets radios, phones, and etc.

The place I found wasn't the only store that sold electronic devices so I found more shops after Kaley broke off from Tatiana and Marina. She started berating me as to why I suddenly disappeared but I just smiled and handed her a box. Kaley still had a laptop that she barely used but I think she could learn a few more things.

"From now on, you'll be using that when we're traveling or at home. Well, we'll swap out a few things but you'll have to do that yourself after showing it to you once. That will be a start but I'd appreciate it if you could build a PC of your own in the future."

"Ah, I'm not really..."

"You could clean your AR blindfolded… it's the same concept… just place it where it fits and you're on business."

Kaley scratched her head, "Isn't there more to that? Where are we going?"

"I have a few more things I wanted to get my hands on so we better do it while we're waiting for the clearing team."

"What if they don't arrive now?"

"Hmm, that could happen… We just need a huge crate to put everything else in while keeping the weight up to what our helicopter could carry. If it's too much, we'll just leave the ones we don't need as much for the next trip or day."

Kaley nodded as she followed me but it didn't take long before the others brought more items than we could carry. Tatiana brought a fuck ton of snacks while the rest brought items for leisure. They had a high trade value at any place and if they wanted something they like, they could have an easier time acquiring it.

However, even if our group hauled everything else available, a percentage of it would still be shared with everyone back home. They also completed their assigned jobs to the dot so it was only natural to give them something. Despite that, bonuses here and there wouldn't hurt to keep each side happy, even if it favored the ones that risked their lives more.

'As long as it's fair...'

When the clearing group arrived, they weren't able to reach the mall we cleared unless they risk driving home at sunset. Even when they resorted to just burn the bodies a few dozen at a time, they would at most reach a fifth of the way. Not to mention the ongoing threat of the ones coming from behind them, making the clearing process take longer.

That was when I decided to have everything we prepared to be readied at the roof. At the same time, I left a portion of my group to watch over the ones clearing the area.

"I thought we'd be taking several trips?" Lois asked.

"Yeah, I just had a better idea."

"Huh?"

"Let's just use a bigger helicopter. Stay here, we'll be back soon."

"Ah… that easy, huh?"

"Yep."

It took a while before I came back with our cargo helicopter and we successfully hauled everything we wanted and needed with a little bit of space left. That prompted my group to run back and bring back a ton more items I didn't see when I flew back, but lo and behold, Kaley had the most items in total.

I shook my head looking at Kaley who couldn't look at me in the eye, "Really..."

"Don't 'Really' me, you're the greediest one out of everyone!" Kaley immediately defended herself.

"Ah… you're right..."

"Hmph! 'Really' my ass… doofus..."

"..."

My group started laughing and we flew back with new items in tow. We sent a few crates over at Woodlands, the DDR Camp, our two outposts, and even Morales' bases. Everyone appreciated the gesture but they all puked blood the moment I handed them a fake receipt. In the end, Morales and our outpost in Meycauayan promised to send back a few items they've collected as well as a sign of goodwill.

-

*bzzt*

"Another ship will do!"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Fuck off! I'm not letting go of another ship!]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Cheh, so stingy. It's just a ship!"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[JUST A SHIP?! WHERE IN THE FUCKING WORLD WILL YOU SEE A FUCKER TRADE A SHIP FOR SEVERAL NIGHTGOWNS AND HIGH HEELS?! ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Ah… wrong crate… can you send it back? I'll pay for the ship-ping fee… HAHAHA!!! Get it?! Ship-ping? Hello? Morales? YOO-HOO~ Ah…"

*bzzt*

-

"The motherfucker hang up on me..."