Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

A drop of a pin could be heard right before Matthew started the match but the sudden uproar once Artem and Oscar's arms clenched was fucking deafening. None of them was actually giving an inch and it definitely had been a while since the old man sported his guns. However, he seemed stronger than ever because of how his muscles were still toned and I started wondering when he got the time to lift some weights.

I took a closer look not just at Oscar but also with Matthew and Johnny to check if there was any other thing that was different. It wasn't directly apparent but the way their clothes wrapped around their bodies and how their posture and gait had changed threw me in a loop. I was sure that they would just have a drink and share some stories at night but it seemed I was wrong in assuming that.

'Wait… no way...'

After a few seconds, the crowd went wild as Oscar got the upper hand. He was bearing down on Artem as he winced but he was inching closer and closer for the win. However, Artem changed his position as he kept his shoulder tight and the grip on the wooden peg much more solid. It was then that Oscar's advance stopped and Artem managed to gain a few angles back.

When Oscar seemed to have relaxed for a brief second, Artem took the initiative to attack and turn the tables completely. Their arms were now angled in the opposite direction and Oscar was doing his best to keep the back of his hand from touching the table. It was another battle of attrition but he was on the losing side. However, the old man just took in a lot of air as his face turned red and he suddenly slammed Artem's hand on the table.

"WHAT?!"

"DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?!"

"DOES THAT MEAN OSCAR COULD BEAT MORALES?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!"

"FUCK YOU TOO!!!"

The sound of Artem's hand resounding all over made everyone lose their minds as they roared. Even Bing jumped for joy the moment the old man won but what he did next surprised everyone.

Oscar just took another shot with Artem before handing him the whole barrel.

Artem and everyone looked confused as fuck but I just wore a solemn expression when Oscar laughed it off and said that he felt sorry for him and just let him win by default. Even if the old man was still as strong as an ox, he still had his limits because of his age and he was the one that knows them the most. It was hidden by the alcohol and his cackling laughter but I'm fucking sure that he was pissed at himself.

Nevertheless, he still won a round against one of our strongest fighters, and his strength couldn't be measured by just one arm-wrestling match. He'd be good for years to come as long as he doesn't overdo it like he did today.

Oscar immediately approached me, "THE FUCK ARE YA LOOKING SO GLUM FOR?! I'M THE ONE WHO SHOULD BE SAD! I LOST A BARREL! It's partly drained but- THAT'S STILL A FUCKING BARREL, KID!"

I chuckled as I shook my head, "I'm just sad you didn't bet it all away… a waste of space in the basement..."

"WHAT THE FUCK?! I WORKED HARD ON THAT! WANNA HAVE A GO, YOU LITTLE SHIT?!"

"Heh, one win is one gun. Are you scared or what?"

"W-W-WAIT A S- FUCK IT! I'LL DRAIN YOUR FUCKING ARMORY!!! HEY! MOVE OUTTA THERE AND GIVE US SOME SPACE!"

The crowd was just recovering from their match as they dispersed but they started rushing around us the moment they heard we would be fighting. However, I made sure to not drink a sip from his brew, even if Artem spared a few shots, and I made sure to not give any fucking mercy. It was one thing to rile him up but it was worse to give him pity. He fucking hated it the first time I did that and I made sure to treat him like my equal.

Johnny was now the one who officiated for us, "READY? GO!"

"FUCK! AGAIN!"

"That's one."

"FUCKING SHIT! AGAIN!"

"That's two."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! AGAIN!"

"Three."

"AGAIN! YOU LITTLE SHIT!"

"Four."

"OW! WON'T YOU TAKE PITY IN AN OLD-"

"Five."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"Six."

"FUCK YOU, YOU LITTLE SHIT! LET GO OF ME!"

"Seven. Who's draining who?"

"HAH! YOU THINK I'LL CRY FROM SEVEN GUNS?! THINK AGAI-"

"Eight. How about eight?"

"YOU'RE GETTING TIRED, I'M SURE OF-"

"Nine. What did you say?"

"YOU'RE CHEATING! YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CHEATING!"

"Ten. Heh, nice talk from someone hiding a gym in his house."

"W-WHAT?! HOW DID YOU KNOW?!"

"Secret. Also Eleven."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! FUCKING LET GO!!!"

"Nope. Also Twelve."

Everyone around us started losing it the moment I kept slamming Oscar's hand on the table without mercy. It was actually worse than watching Allan and Russel fight but the old man's commentary made it fucking better. I actually stopped applying force the moment I won ten times but he continued to pull my hand and let me win over and over. He only stopped when I reached my 24th streak and when someone almost caught him from selling out.

'His grip is still strong though...'

After a while, the main competition finally started. However, there was a slight problem because more than half of the contestants got a few swigs from Oscar's barrel of moonshine when Artem and Mikhail got pressured into sharing them. Almost everyone was wobbling as they made their way to the tables and one unlucky motherfucker tripped and chucked his head straight on the table's edge, knocking him out.

Despite the delays and the interruptions, the final round was between Jose and Stefan because our rivals, Artem and Morales, opted out with me, and Mikhail was the unlucky motherfucker. He should've won everything on the stage but he also got pressured from chugging half of the barrel before starting. In the end, Jose won the whole thing and they finally had their revenge.

I actually had a lot more events planned but I thought everyone already had their fill for a night of enjoyment. Besides that, only a few guys had broken bones due to overdoing it and fooling around in the free tables. It was also nearing midnight so finishing them all wouldn't be possible. We just needed to plan them better and have the people that would be participating sign in advance for the next time.

'Maybe have the fights once a month...'

The whole group was slightly segregated when we began but now it seemed like everyone was slowly gelling together. However, the groups got segregated once more when we started cleaning up because some idiot bet that the losers should be the ones cleaning up the event area. With that said, all bets are sacred and should be followed to the dot. I started clearing our own spot but the rest of them helped to make everything go faster.

Some of them approached me and thanked me for doing a small event like this though a few that were still surprised we were doing such a thing was Harold and his team. They joined a few matches here and there but Ilana was still kept in the distance where he could see her. He was doing the same thing the moment they arrived and I still couldn't figure out the reason why.

'The only chance I got is with Kaley and Marisha since they've been spending time with her and Mylene's not stopping them...'

After a time, the night protocol was placed and we just walked home with a few people. The ones that got a little too drunk were just either locked up in the DDR Camp's rooms or driven home but they were too hammered to even notice. Kaley and I were walking together and Zeus taking point. It got a little too chaotic when we passed by where Jomarro was staying because Zeus' little brother and sisters started barking at us, begging to be picked up.

I had to drag Kaley with me, "Keep walking~ Keep walking~ You can do that tomorrow… Keep walking~"

"Hngh~ Can't you see how cute they are?!"

"Yeah~ Yeah~ They're really cute~ Olivia has one too, right? Why don't you just go over to your mom's place sometime?"

"Fine..."

"Kaley! Alright, you made me do this..."

"Wha- What are you- Everyone's watching! Stop~"

I had to pick Kaley up like a sack of potatoes and I carried her all the way back to our place. She kept on hammering at my back the whole time but every time she did, I would spank her ass even if a few people were still present. It made her stop squirming as I lugged her around with an embarrassed face but she definitely got her revenge when we slept for the night. I got excited when it was only the two of us in our room but when I made my move, she threw sorta my words back at me.

"Keep sleeping~ Keep sleeping~ We can do it tomorrow… Keep sleeping~"

I knew that Kaley was just teasing me and I wouldn't sleep a wink until I get my 25th straight win. Much to her surprise, I just started 'poking' her without actually using my hands. We were still laying on the bed as she turned around but once she saw what was 'poking' her, she just turned around once again though she was now a little bit closer. I could see from my side that her ear was slowly getting redder and redder but our radios buzzed and we heard a familiar voice.

-

*bzzt*

[Hey~ We're close! You guys still awake?]

*bzzt*

-

Kaley and I just looked at each other for a brief second then we put on some clothes before running outside. With that said, Tatiana, Rin, and Cynthia were still up and they followed after us when we saw a couple of helicopters approaching from the distance. One of our helicopters was still on my roof so I picked up my radio and contacted them.

-

*bzzt*

"Hover over the open court, we'll be there!"

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Okay~ We'll see you shortly!]

*bzzt*

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