Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

In any case, after that short interaction with Royo, I still declined his offer to have access to all of his guns but he did increase my credit limit to Building 34 and handed over his FN SCAR with a 20-inch barrel and a non-reciprocating charging handle. It was both a sign of respect and trust to both parties, but acquiring one of their drones was found to be a little more difficult.

"I-It's yours, right?"

"Technically, yes, but—"

"So, what's the problem?"

"Gonna have to ask the Major for permission first. We don't have a lot of these though they don't get used much compared to before, honestly speaking…"

"Because the people you spy from are already dead, no?"

"That's… sure."

"Heh. I'll trade them with the F-18 he promised me—"

"WHAT?! HE PROMISED YOU AN F-18?! HOW?!"

"Hmm~ You'll know once he makes the official announcement…"

"Jesus, who are you really?"

"I'm me. Can I look at some of the other stuff?"

"Sure! Anything!"

After some time, Royo eventually went back to working on his projects after he took care of a few more of our purchases from his armory like different kinds of explosives—which Bogdan was on cloud nine for— and assorted ammo for our guns.

Everyone else didn't actually need new firearms—even Jared who just wanted an upgrade but it was all good—but it's just fun to look at stuff hidden behind a gate with a passcode or something similar.

But yeah, we eventually said our goodbyes to the people in Building 34 but we had just discovered that not everyone else was sleeping in the Marine Base, technically.

It should've been obvious and pretty much logical because a good number of the civilians—and a small portion of the Marines—were still sleeping in their ships or in their smaller boats. Not only did it provide this natural rocking of water to lull them to sleep, but it was actually much safer because there wasn't any report of deadheads that could swim on water.

Anchoring somewhere just bumps up their safety without the use of firearms, sturdy walls, guards, etc.

In any case, we were eventually told that our lodgings were already prepared for us—so we moved our vehicles over there—and it was at the same hangar given to Oscar and the people he brought with him last time. It was just this big open area with "cubicles" made with cloth separating each one, but we were given soft mattresses, pillows, and blankets.

It did have the essential amenities but think of it as a painting that just had the outlines drawn.

'To be fair, two weeks is not a lot of time…'

Then Jared nudged me while still hugging his new FN SCAR like an idiot:

"Bro, bro, you brought your tools, right?! Right?!"

I rolled my eyes, "Can't you wait till tomorrow?! You're worse than Isaac!"

Then he pointed at Isaac at one corner swinging his new tachi like an idiot, "It's not fair, bro! He can just use it as is and I have to wait a few goddamn hours just to set it up! I'm just gonna transfer over everything I have on this SCAR to that SCAR! It wouldn't even take an hour!"

"You and your SCAR addiction… I understand the charging handle not reciprocating but is it really worth the three extra inches?"

Jared rolled his eyes, "What if it's you? Kaley and I pretty much have the same job but I'm in charge of the big and special-er ones, right? Unless you're using your BCM, Kaley's in charge of thinning the horde which is equally important for everyone's safety."

"Special-er?"

"You know what I meant!"

I chuckled, "Sure, sure… But yeah, wait a few more hours. It just saves you the frustration later."

"Haa… Fine… I'm gonna try and catch some sleep though… Are we still supposed to do some watch duty?"

JP interjected from the side, "Kuzma and Ruben already volunteered. They're doing the rounds with a few people from this side."

I nodded, "Thanks. Have you seen the old man though?"

"The colonel? I believe he went back to where Miss Jenna was for updates on the carrier."

"Alright, so take of your clothes—"

"W-WHAT?!" JP had never been so fucking red while the women in my circle had never misunderstood my intentions this fucking much.

"Ah— I mean, take those off and wear something comfortable. We're going one-on-one."

"T-THAT STILL DOESN'T HELP! W-WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING?!"

"Umm… Sparring? We just drove most of the time, I still have a lot left in my tank. Besides, if you want to have your title back, you gotta come out on top."

"JUST SAY IT FROM THE GET–GO, ASSHOLE!"

I facepalmed as I finally had the realization, "Dude. With all due respect and all, I don't swing for the other team… Heh. But yeah, you'll be a fucking bottom while we're going at it though—"

"YOUR WORDS— Haaa… I'mma hit that fucking face of yours so much, we'll see who bottoms!"

"Hah! We'll see, we'll see~"

With that said, while waiting for JP to get changed I jogged a few laps inside the hangar because it was pretty cold outside before I stretched right as he got to warming up as well.

Funnily enough, Kaley and the others were thinking of something else entirely while the two of us were talking but I couldn't believe how they looked a certain way once JP and I were face to face and about to start fighting.

JP commented, "Concrete floor."

"Vale tudo but I'll avoid throws if you want. I'm more of a striker though."

"Time limit?"

"Until one falls down."

"Fine—"

And without even touching our open-finger gloves, JP just turned his game face on before opening up with a crisp jab and following with a quick one-two, a step-in upper, and two left-right compact hooks. To his annoyance, I dodged everything within a hair's breadth but he got even more pissed when I stepped on his right leg right when he was just about to throw a high kick.

I looked at him with a sinister smile, "Grit your fucking teeth."