Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

The big guy Mikhail just clocked was still trying to get up when two more guys: one tall-skinny and one with a muscular build tried to team up against him. I was just about to step in before Artem stopped me. He just blocked me with his arm before looking at me and scratching the side of his cheek.

"Just watch, Nyebo… He'll handle it, I think..."

"Oh?"

The guys that came for Mikhail were also wearing cuffs and even if they had the numbers advantage, they couldn't perform as freely as Mikhail could.

He easily shook off the two before sending another overhead punch to the big guy that just got up, breaking his nose and making him topple over. Blood instantly poured out from the big guy's nostrils but as soon as he found his footing, he charged straight for Mikhail and tried to tackle him to the ground.

The distance between them shortened in an instant but Mikhail grabbed the big guy's head, clutching a clump of hair, before making him kiss the ground.

Mikhail never looked so satisfied but the tall-skinny dude tried to do the same thing the big guy did. However, an open palm met with his frail chest and it left a red fucking imprint. Everyone close cringed when we heard the violent sound of Mikhail slapping the fuck out of that tall-skinny dude and to add to it, Mikhail's hands were freaking huge.

The muscular guy was just about to follow his friends but he stopped mid-way and looked around before raising his arms, telling us that he gave up.

'I guess someone could think straight...'

It's just that Mikhail was unwilling.

He just stepped on the big guy's head before looking straight at the muscular guy, "I told you three I'm gonna fuck you up when we see each other again. Are you--"

"Fuck off! We're cuffed to shit and you're gonna start with a sucker punch?!"

"That's just payback from last time. Plus a little bit from my brother--"

"Nikolas? Hah! Is he fucking dead now? I don't see him--"

"He's on a run. I bet he'll laugh his ass off when he fucking sees you."

"Cheh. Get these off us and we'll find--"

All of a sudden, Katya just came out of nowhere and she leaped from the air, sinking her combat boots to the muscular guy's abdomen. After that, another kick was sent to his family jewels that made every guy cringe and subconsciously tuck it. However, Katya was bent on ending the guy's legacy so Artem and I finally decided to intervene.

Artem carried Katya to the side while I threw ice packs at the three victims.

I turned to Mikhail, "Okay, what happened here?"

Mikhail replied, "They're soldiers… mostly. Well, they're the guys who deliver our meals and went on a power trip."

"But they're wearing cuffs, no? A few others do so as well but why are they cuffed if they're soldiers?"

Avalos approached us and answered, "They're deserters. They tried to join the NPA in the jungle and they tried to bring a lot of guns and other supplies with them. They got caught by their commanding officer and they were sent here."

Katya muttered, "Figures that they got caught with stealing shit. They took a lot from us too."

My eyebrow rose, "Really? And why are they still alive? Did the president ran out of bullets by chance?"

Honassan who just arrived suddenly said, "Sir Morales is coming, they're about to--"

"What? Morales?" Artem and I said at the same time.

The big guy suddenly snickered, "I'm family, you dumb mother--"

I was just about to lay his ass out but Artem kicked him in his mouth, causing some of his teeth to fall off. His nose and his mouth were now bleeding profusely and he threw us a hateful glare, hiding a smirk between his lips.

"You're gonna get fucked if you kill me. If--"

I crouched down as I looked at him straight in the eye, "Okay. Then we're fine as long as you're not dead, right? How about these two? Are they family as well? Wait-- names first. You go first, big guy."

After a short introduction, I discovered that the big guy was named Jhun, the tall-skinny guy was named Charles, and the muscle dude was named Shawn.

Jhun was Morales' cousin, Charles was a brother of one of his officers, and Shawn was Jose's brother-in-law. The other prisoners were somewhat related to Morales' soldiers but none of us knew why they were sent here. The president had a strict policy against deserters and anyone who went against him, and one would question why they were left alive be it family or not.

'Hmm… maybe… we'll see once they arrive...'

As we waited for Morales to arrive, the people who weren't cuffed were taken into another room to be processed and vetted, ultimately deciding their fates. They were an assortment of people and no one seemed to stand out. However, we'll know more soon enough once my people managed to uncover their identities.

Marisha went to work and Matthew was obviously accompanying her.

'Ilana could do some digging too...'

Surprisingly enough, some of them managed to bring some sort of identification but we'd need to cross-check it with the documents we had on hand. Even if there's less than 1% chance someone was trying to impersonate someone, it's better safe than sorry.

It didn't take long before Morales and his convoy arrived but their expressions were entirely different from the people we were waiting on.

It seemed that Avalos and Honassan had an idea of what was about to happen next since they just took a step back, asking us to do the same.

Jhun's eyes lit up, "Hey! Over here! They just--"

Morales shut it down, "Shut the fuck up."

I actually thought some sort of touchy or tear-jerking reunion would happen between relatives but what happened next was just a one-sided beatdown.

Morales was the first one to raise his fist, beating his cousin senselessly. He looked so furious with each punch and kick and all Jhun could do was cry out and actually turn to us to ask for help. However, everyone else not involved kept silent though a few onlookers were just shocked the same way as us.

Even Jose who was more aloof than Morales did the same thing to his brother-in-law, raining punches mercilessly until their faces were barely recognizable.

Morales roared in anger, "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT YOU JUST DID?! HUH?! YOU DUMB MOTHERFUCKER! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA?! I LEFT FOR ALL OF YOU AND YOU FUCKING DO THIS?! DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU?! HUH?! DO YOU KNOW?! FUCKING ANSWER ME!!!"

Jhun was just shaking from fear and he was just sprawled on the floor, groaning in pain while raising one of his hands, begging for Morales to stop. A single tear streaked on Morales' face but he kept on kicking Jhun while he was down, ignoring everything his cousin was trying to tell him.

A huge vein was bulging in his forehead and his lips were bleeding from roughly gritting his teeth. I've never seen Morales so angry before and I wouldn't even get surprised if he beat Jhun to death right now.

"I TOLD YOU SO MANY FUCKING TIMES! I TOLD YOU! CAN'T YOUR FUCKING BRAIN UNDERSTAND SHIT?! YOU SHOULD'VE KILLED YOURSELF, YOU DUMB MOTHERFUCKER! NOW, I HAVE TO! I HAVE TO!!! ARE YOU FUCKING HEARING ME?! IT'S ALREADY BAD YOU TRIED TO CHANGE TEAMS, YOU GOTTA FUCKING INVOLVE ME TOO?! MY FAMILY?! OUR FAMILY?!"

'Wait, what?'

I wanted to ask questions but Avalos walked behind me. He was wearing a solemn expression but he explained everything in a hushed tone.

'So, that's how it is...'

To explain what's happening right now, Jhun and the rest were sent here by the president to get taken care of by the ones close to them.

Since the president had more people than my people and Iskoh combined, the resources to go around in their place had some sort of system as to whose hands it would land in. Families of the high-ranking officers would obviously get better treatment and priority but if a fuck-up such as this occurred, the repercussions would be damning.

With that said, an agreement was made between them that if such a thing occurred, to continue the privileges the officer's family would receive, they needed to take care of their own family's mess.

I found it unfair to be completely honest but the president ruled with an iron fist. Their situation was completely different from ours and it could change at any time even if they weren't involved.

It was fun to be on his good side but it would be hell if we get on his bad side.

Morales turned to Avalos, "How much time? He told you, right?"

Avalos nodded before answering, "One week and he needs confirmation from Sir Ishiyama."

"What? Me?"

Avalos nodded bitterly, "Yes, sir. He said it needs to come from you... you need to see it. That's the deal."

Everyone else present turned to me and a few officers that didn't do much to their relatives looked at me with a different expression. Even the prisoners had a look of begging but like Morales did, I started shaking my head with a difficult expression once Avalos told me that piece of news. It was one thing to send me people I wasn't even told of beforehand but involving me was way worse.