Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

The whole situation instantly calmed down when Kaley and Marisha took the stage, and I was just at a loss for words like Matthew.

I couldn't even look at Kaley in the eye for long as I was embarrassed for the things I just did, and all I could do at the moment was to look down on the ground once more.

The place was just in complete and utter silence at this point but Kaley's voice passed through my ears before Marisha followed.

"Let him go, please…"

"I promise they wouldn't do anything… If they did, feel free to throw them off this harbor."

"Dear–"

"Don't 'Dear' me, I'm sorry but we got to delay this trip for a couple of hours. I won't let this go until this thing between you two is resolved. The four of us are having a talk and no one is to disturb us. Follow me."

"..."

"Mom–"

"No talking right now. Follow me."

"But their faces need to–"

"No. We'll do that there. Time is of the essence… I didn't think we'd do this early…"

"This early?"

"I already said too much. Please, get up and follow me."

"Where are we going, dear?"

"Just anywhere we could talk privately. I guess their ship is one place. You have rooms, right?"

"Yes, we do…"

I wasn't speaking the whole time Marisha anchored the conversation, but I still trailed behind them after signaling Oscar and Johnny to take over for a short while. I dunno what this 'talk' would be about but I wouldn't budge an inch if this was gonna be a forced reconciliation.

After a short bit, the four of us were in the room that was supposed to be for me and Kaley, but as awkward as it would sound, we had a few bags too many. Aside from the 'package' Oscar asked me to deliver, Tatiana and Cynthia's bags were also in our quarters.

However, that wasn't the issue right now but I'd be relieved if Matthew didn't notice it. I'm 100% sure that Marisha already knew but I'd rather have this conversation some other time.

With that said, we didn't get into the main topic the moment we sat down because Kaley took care of the cut on my cheek while Marisha tried her best to do the same thing to her husband.

Kaley only needed to stop the bleeding and dress the wound on my cheek, and the other side of my face just needed some ice. It didn't take long before I had an ice pack against my face and Kaley helped her mom help her dad.

Once they're done, the deafening silence once again filled the room, and Matthew and I were just staring each other down.

Marisha broke the silence, "So, are you two gonna tell me how did that start? Hmm?"

I rolled my eyes, "Self-defense."

Matthew instantly snapped, "You think this is a joke to you?! Huh?! I–"

"Dad, stop!"

"You're taking his side again?!"

"This is not about taking sides! This is about you two being stubborn and stupid!"

I shook my head, "I know I could be stubborn but I'm sure as hell not stupid. Your dad… probab–"

"Sky! You stop too!"

"..."

Marisha shook her head, "Okay, here's what we gonna do… We're gonna take turns holding this pillow and if the pillow is on your hands, you're the only one allowed to talk. And the ones not holding the pillow will be polite and respectful to the one holding the pillow, and they will listen until the one holding the pillow is done. Got it? Who wants to start?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"And no one wants to talk when given the opportunity? Crazy how our minds work, right? Fine, I'll start. I don't want to see the two of you like this. Not only me– Kaley also don't want to see you like this. Sure, you two haven't been spending that much time with each other since you have different circles of friends but when you two actually are together and goofing around, it warms my heart. And seeing you two at each other's throats? It just hurts. That's why we need to try and remedy this. And that's why I'm asking, what happened?"

"..."

"..."

"..."

The room became quiet again but Marisha turned to me and handed me the pillow, "Why don't you tell me what happened from your perspective?"

I deeply sighed before I opened my mouth, "I was told I'm gonna have a talk to bury a fucking hatchet but all it was, was a fucking repeat of the most hypocritical and the stupidest conversation I ever had in my entire life! See, Oscar told me that I might be too upset when we had that conversation but even if he didn't say it outright, I know what he fucking meant. Fucking shit… I already fucking gave you my word that if I ever tried to hurt Kaley, one way or the other, just fucking put a bullet in my head and be fucking done with it!"

"AND THAT'S THE FUCKING PROBLEM I'VE BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS, YOU DUMB FUCK!"

"Dear–"

I cut Marisha off as I snapped back at Matthew, "DO YOU EVEN FUCKING LISTEN?! I GOT THE FUCKING PILLOW, DON'T I?! JESUS FUCKING CHRIST, SHE JUST TOLD US THE FUCKING RULES FUCKING TWO MINUTES AGO AND–"

"FUCK THE PILLOW! YOU HEARD THE WORDS LOUD AND CLEAR BUT CAN YOU EVEN HEAR YOURSELF?!"

"DAD, STOP–"

"NO! LET ME FUCKING FINISH! I PULLED YOU ASIDE SO WE COULD FUCKING TALK NOT ONLY BECAUSE I'M AFRAID YOU'D– I'M AFRAID YOU'D HURT– OR EVEN–"

"AFRAID I'D WHAT?! HUH?! WHY DON'T YOU FUCKING SAY IT?! WHY DON'T YOU FUCKING SAY IT. HUH?! WHAT?! YOU THINK I'D KILL HER?! YOU THINK I'D FUCKING KILL HER?! HUH?! IS THAT IT?!"

"YES! THAT'S RIGHT! D'YOU EVEN THINK FOR ONE SECOND I WOULDN'T THINK OF THAT?! FUCK ME, HAVE YOU SEEN YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR?! HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT YOU'VE DONE WHEN YOU FUCKING 'BLACKOUT' OR WHATEVER THE FUCK YOU CALL IT?! YOU THINK THAT'S COOL?! HUH?! YOU THINK?! YOU THINK YOU HAVE SOME SUPERPOWER OR SOMETHING?!"

"DEAR–"

"LET ME TALK!"

"DAD!"

"LET ME TALK! LET ME FUCKING TALK! TELL ME! YOU THINK YOU'RE SOME HERO NOW, HUH?!"

"I'M NOT–"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LET ME TALK! SHIT! YOU THINK YOU'RE SO GREAT YOU COULD DO THAT, HUH?! OKAY, OKAY~ How about we do this: promise me right now that you 100% guarantee that you won't touch a hair of–"

"I ALREADY DID! MULTIPLE TIMES! I TOLD YOU–"

"AND I SAY THAT'S BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT, I TELL YA! HOW CAN YOU FUCKING GUARANTEE SOMETHING YOU COULDN'T EVEN CONTROL?! I DOUBT YOU EVEN KNOW HOT IT WORKS! SURE, YOU DO THAT OTHER THING WHERE YOU RELEASE PRESSURE AND WHATNOT, BUT WHAT I SAW YOU DO IN THAT ROOM FULL OF DEAD PEOPLE WAS FUCKING NIGHT AND DAY!"

"I'VE BEEN WORK–"

"THERE WE GO! YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON IT?! HUH?! WHY?! IS THERE A REASON FOR WORKING ON SOMETHING YOU 'CAN' 100% CONTROL?! IS THAT HOW THAT WORKS?! TO ME, IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE YOU CAUGHT YOURSELF IN A FUCKING LIE! YOU TELL ME THAT IF THIS EVER HAPPENS I COULD DO THAT AND THAT TO YOU WITH CONFIDENCE BUT IT'S ALL JUST A FUCKING BLUFF! LET ME TELL YOU THIS: YOU DON'T BLUFF WITH MY DAUGHTER'S LIFE!!! IT'S EITHER YOU CAN CONTROL IT OR YOU DON'T! YOU'RE JUST A TIMEBOMB WAITING TO EXPLODE AT ANY MINUTE AND MY DAUGHTER IS RIGHT FUCKING NEXT TO YOU!!!"

Matthew was almost out of breath after that uproar and I was just trembling in silence because he was fucking right. I didn't even notice the tears flowing down my cheeks and Matthew only stopped because he saw me in this state.

I took pride in being able to do something only a few people could, but in reality, it was just something I could barely comprehend yet I was acting as if I had full control of it. I wouldn't know what I'd do if someday, I just wake up from a blackout and see my blade running through Kaley's body– or anyone else that I cherish and love.

That would be something I would never forgive myself for doing and I wouldn't think twice of ending it right then and there.

I always had something witty or stupid to come back from an argument, but this time, it would just be distasteful and moronic.

I was just about to concede defeat and even propose to make Kaley stay at home where she'll be away from me, but I just saw Kaley and Marisha's faces.

I thought they'd be in the same state as me or in agreement with Matthew's words but I couldn't be more wrong. They were looking at Matthew with awful derision and the reason Matthew stopped wasn't because of me but because of his daughter and his wife.

"Dad, I love you but you couldn't be more wrong."

"Kaley, this is not the time to–"

"Dear, listen to me. I love you but he's right, you're fucking stupid. He's definitely the stubborn one but you're definitely the stupid one…"

Matthew was now at a loss for words the same as me.

"B-B-B-B-But…"

Kaley shook her head, "You've seen him in that state only once but I've seen him in it more times than everybody in this room. He'll agree with you because he had no fucking idea about what's happening as it's happening but let me tell you: he's in control. He might not be awake or conscious at the time but his body is moving as he wishes. He would've killed me long ago if he's not."

"That doesn't make any sense…"

Marisha nodded. "Calling that state 'Blackout' is the worst we could've done because even if it looks like it: it's more profound than that. Dear, you've seen 'the' footage, from beginning to end. Replay that in your head and tell me if he's a walking timebomb. From what I've seen, he only killed those who deserved it and he took down a horde coming our way. He might've scared off the ones he came into contact with but they're still alive and well…"

Hearing those words, Matthew just looked down and got deep with his thoughts but Marisha turned to me with a solemn expression.

"We're not done yet."

"Hmm?"

"Just a sec. Dear, Kaley, can you please leave the room? This is important, trust me."

Marisha was holding my hand as she sent them away with their eyes but next thing I know was that Marisha was looking at me with a caring expression.

"What are you–"

"We need to find out the truth…"

"The truth?"

"Yes, the truth… Sky, in the next five seconds you're gonna feel your eyes getting heavy and you're gonna close your eyes and lie down... After that, you're gonna relax and you're gonna remember everything from 'that' day…"