Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Once again, I would've loved to stay in this place for at least a day or even half to have some fun but we've done a lot of that the past few days—and even though there was still actual work in the mix, my presence was required back home and like the General, I should spend some time at my own place once in a while.

I then made my way to my group but it seemed like the world was trying to delay my return for as much as they could.

Because I thought it was only the girls—the little immature ones—in my inner circle were having an internal power struggle with the bullshit pecking order, the cadets and the trainees seemed to be having one as well— no, just Brian and JP.

'Why can't I catch a fucking break?!'

I was in Mr. Cuervo's mansion for more than two hours and when I came back, the two fucking dumbasses were not only covered in sweat and dirt but also full of scratches, cuts, and bruises. They seemed to be "resting" right now for some reason—probably on round 50 or something—while everyone else was actually having a good time with a plate of barbecue and a glass of a refreshing non-alcoholic drink from whichever faction they belonged in.

I know for a fact that Brian's a fucking meathead—that would very much fit into the De Leon Family just from that—but I didn't think that JP would encourage the dumbass and also get hurt in the process.

It's just that no one seemed to care—or not anymore—as to why these two were fighting in a corner in the first place, so I clapped loud enough to get everyone's attention:

"What. in. the. actual. Fuck?!"

My clap attracted enough attention but they were like two ethereal beings that couldn't be seen by the naked eye no matter how many times I was trying to bring the attention over to them.

"Guys? Anyone?!"

Then I heard a familiar voice:

"We tried, bro~ We tried~ There seems to be some history going on between the two so we just let them deal with it on their own."

I turned to where the voice came from and I saw my beloved shin-kicking, long-shooting cousin named Jared, who was sitting on the roof of our family house with Isaac, #1, #2, Seb, and Ruben.

And Isaac followed, "Yeah, bro~ They've been at it since you left and they'll just go at it again even if we break them up!"

'These two are buddy-buddy at least…'

I chuckled as I turned back to Jared, "You good sitting your ass here for a couple of weeks? Didn't get bored or anything?"

He scoffed and chuckled, "Eh. So-so if you're in a committed relationship but I didn't think you'd bring my underclassmen over here. We've been catching up since you arrived and it's TOTALLY different compared to when I've left it. Just a side note: I would've done that shit too from the first day it happens!"

Seb muttered, "The General— JP's dad would've put your head in a pike—"

"So?" then he pointed at me, "He'll do something very sly to get away with it but he'll do it too! I think that's where you're missing the point, pal. I'm not a white knight per se but it doesn't matter who was it being done on, I'd snipe that motherfucker's temple even if I had to endure laying down on my own piss waiting for three days just to get the fucking shot!"

Then all of the cadets on the roof, except for Seb who was now in deep thought, sneakily pointed at Chloe before copying me, "Right. That's his daughter tho…"

Jared tilted his head sideways, "Who?"

"Lopez—"

"HAHAHAHA! YOU THINK I'D CARE?! SHE PROBABLY DOESN'T TOO! HEY, CHLOE!"

Chloe took a second to locate where the voice was coming from, "Hmm?"

"REAL TALK, WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IT TOO?! YOU KNOW, MERK'ING YOUR DAD IF—"

Chloe glanced at me for a moment before nodding and shouting at the top of her lungs, "YEAH! AND HE'S NOT MY DAD!"

"WUT?! HE'S NOT YOUR—"

"WELL— He is, technically, but— DADS DON'T DO THAT SHIT!"

Then Jared went for it as he pointed at me, "SO HE'S YOUR DADDY NOW, HUH?!" 

"WHAAAAAT?! THAT'S—" Chloe didn't know how to react as she buried her face in Kaley's body.

Then Kaley glared at Jared and the cadets, "You fucks went too far! I'll deal with you all later! GOT IT?!"

"Y-YES, MA'AM!/ W-WHAT DID I DO?!"

"YOU DIDN'T STOP THEM! DEAL WITH IT!"

"FUCK!"

"BRO! I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU, ACTUALLY! CAN WE CATCH UP—"

"I'd love to catch up with you too but tell everyone to pack up, again. We'll be leaving shortly but I need to break these two up before they do serious damage to themselves—"

"I told you, bro. We've tried—"

"Well, I haven't yet."

"Ah, they're fucked. Like fucked."

But yeah, it's as Jared said because it seemed like the two didn't even notice me coming. After all, after their break was over, they just slammed their tired bodies together before this awful mud-fight continued. And luckily for them, they'll have a nice refreshing drink to go along with their scratch and bruises.

It was then that I picked up the pitcher of ice-cold lemonade and splashed it on the two who were dead set on beating each other.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"IT STINGS! IT'S COLD AND IT STINGS! WHO— AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

"Have some more—"

"STOP! STOP! I— AHHHH!!!"

"MY EYES! MY EYES— OW! EVERYTHING FUCKING HURTS, SIR!"

"IT'S INTENDED TO HURT! FUCKING DUMBASSES!"

Well, it didn't end there when I slapped each of their faces with a huge~ flame-grilled rib-eye, which Mark, oh so cautiously prepared before threatening to add more seasoning by means of a canister of pepper spray:

"Look. I would've loved to get into this drama of you two but we gotta fucking go. Like right now. BUT! You two ain't leaving that fucking spot and getting a rinse unless you finish that fucking rib-eye. Understand?!"

"Y-Yes, sir!" JP quickly responded as he chomped down on the steak.

Though Brian had other thoughts, "Dude, why the fuck would you— AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! WHAT THE FUUUUUCK?!"

As soon as I heard his bitch-ass complaining, my can of pepper spray was already locked and loaded but I didn't unload everything in his eyes. After all this time, the motherfucker was still a motherfucker through and through but he was being true to himself so maybe there was some merit in that?

But yeah, I didn't think their slugfest would last this long—making me a little curious because a normal only lasts a few moves—but I put the thought in the back of my mind because with the body cams I made them wear, I could simply check the footage later.

Then Major Perez came up from behind me:

"You fucks are leaving already? How about me?! You'd leave me here alone—"

Then Belle, one of the 'entertainers' who joined my house cut in, "Ooh~ I didn't see this cutie here! You're so buff even with your age— not that it matters… I pretty much prefer older… and more experienced men compared to those boys… oh god… Mmh… Would you like me to fix you a drink—"

I interjected, "Sorry, Belle—"

Then Major Perez also interrupted me, "Yeah. Sorry, Belle… *casually grabs a boob* I'mma need you to stay there for a bit before we get to the fun part," and he turned back to me, "As I was saying, can I expect to meet you here again before I get recalled? I may need to tell you something, personally."

"Everyone's trying to tell me shit when I'm about to head out! You can't tell me now? Or by radio?"

He just rolled his eyes, "Nah. It's personal. Once you get back— but it's not as important so don't be in a rush to get to me."

I thanked the gods for that as I let out a sigh of relief, "That's up to the General but my group will be making trips around here like once or twice a month to keep a trade spot moving on. But yeah, I'll just drop by from time to time in the Academy. I'll leave the jeep too so you'd have a ride back home just in case."

He nodded, "I heard about the base in Subic, what's that about?"

"I'm still finding out about it, actually. But if the General doesn't call you in a couple of days or so, would you mind one of my— your guys from my place picking you up? I'll actually be in the area a little bit later, hopefully, but I wouldn't be stopping in these parts unless it's absolutely necessary."

'Have to pick up Edith and Nancy too… Just do everything in one go before getting my deserved rest… Though I have to ring them a little bit later so they could be ready to go once I arrive…'

He chuckled as he turned to Belle, "After I have my fun, of course."

"Hah… Of course, no worries about that. Mr. Cuervo will talk to you later and get you situated but Belle over there could probably give you a gist of this place—"

"Heh, I was actually just messing with you but your cousin over there gave me a brief. I actually know that fucker. Wonder why he disappeared on me suddenly— I actually thought he went AWOL though that's much better than being dead. Could've given me a call at least…"

"Jared's one of your students?"

"Don't get me started, he's supposed to be one of the promising ones but keeps doing his own thing because of this phantom teacher… Know where I'm getting at? So fucking weird how pieces fall together."

"That's a lot of words to just say it's a 'coincidence', no?"

"I call that fate, kid. Even if I don't believe in that stuff. So, is this it?"

I chuckled as I offered a handshake, "I'm sorry that we're in a rush but we've barely even started."

"Hmph," he chuckled as he returned it with a firm grip, "See you soon, kid."

"Yeah, I should really have you meet with the old man… The vibes are just—"

Then Jared approached from behind, "Bro, everyone's about ready now, and the group that will stay here already knows the drill. Shall we?"

Major Perez answered instead, "Get going now, I ain't gonna hold ya for longer."

"See ya, Major! Here's some viagra I won from betting against other people—"

Major Perez's eyes had never been so fucking wide, "YOU MOTHERFUCKER—"

I doubled down as I offered a bottle of painkiller ointment, Cialis, knee sleeves, and a dick pump, "Don't take much at once or it's bad for your heart—"

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!! YOU MOTHERFUCKING SHITS!!!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"