Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

In essence, the barricades weren't trapped in any way and the other suite really was just a stockroom full of food. Any other psycho would've wanted to spring a trap at the last minute but it seemed like the notion of giving respect to get it rang true at this moment. But yeah, when this group met with George's group whom we saved first, it wasn't as pleasant compared to how I interacted with them.

It seemed like the girl who OD'd that Quinn hurriedly got brought up was a younger sister to one of the people in George's group among others.

Even Diesel who was actually named "Daniel" was cousins with the girl I punched, "Morgan", and they used to be acquainted with one of George's daughters, Allie, by going to the same school.

George's group had all this pent-up rage and aggression to let out but as they looked at Dax and Sheepy's constitution compared to theirs, they didn't look that different. However, the moment they saw the amount of food they stocked up and the little bit of "entertainment" they had, it was back to the way it was as they were at complete odds with each other.

"YOU'VE BEEN STOCKING UP ON ALL OF THAT FOOD AND YOU NEVER BOTHERED TO SHARE WITH US?!"

"WE DIDN'T STOCK IT OURSELVES! AGNES AND ROBERT DID!"

"BUT YOU GOT TO USE IT!"

"ARE YOU SEEING THINGS? DO WE LOOK LIKE WE LIVED A LAVISH LIFE!"

"DON'T GIVE ME THAT! IT'S WITH THE HELP OF WHATEVER THE FUCK YOU'VE BEEN INJECTING IN YOUR ARMS!"

"WELL HOW CAN WE SEND FOOD OVER TO YOU FUCKS, HUH?! YOU'RE TRAPPED IN THAT FUCKING STOREROOM ALL PARANOID AND WE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW YOU FUCKS ARE STILL ALIVE!"

"IF YOU LOOKED A BIT MORE, YOU COULD'VE FOUND US! WE HEARD YOU USING THOSE SOLDIERS' GUNS!"

"YOU HAVE FUCKING GEAR TOO! AND LOOK AT YOUR NUMBERS! YOU COULD'VE MADE MORE DAMAGE IF YOU CAME OUT AT THE SAME TIME AS US!"

"HAVE YOU SEEN THE DEAD OUTSIDE! WE'D BE SWARMED THE MOMENT WE STEP FOOT FROM A SINGLE NOISE!"

"BUT THAT'S HOW IT IS! YOU GOTTA GAMBLE!"

"LIKE YOU FUCKING KIDS DID!"

"WE DID YOU ADULT FUCKS! WE LOST MORE PEOPLE THAN YOU THINK! WE THOUGHT WE WERE ALL ALONE!"

"..."

"..."

As the sudden silence hushed them all over, I took it upon myself to step forward because it was the job assigned to me. Some soldiers were just looking at the drama unfold while taking a short break from their duties, but I still had a bit more knots to untangle before everything was over.

"Look, this is how it's gonna go. Your groups could fight all you want but can we say that this debacle with the airport is all over?"

Dax turned to me with a glare, "What happens now? Diesel said you have something for us?"

Jason, a man in his late 30s from George's group cut in, "For you?! How about us!?"

I waved them all off, "Stop. Trust me, we've all done our fair share of dark shit as the end of the world was happening but we aren't even asking you to work at the same place. One of you could continue living in this airport—but with better living conditions and security, of course—while the other could either be in the Marine Base or the Freeport Zone."

Sheepy stepped forward, "You're the asshole who choked me out, right?"

"Well, I choked out and knocked out most of you, why do you ask?"

He let out a grin, "Hah! I like you, same as Dies' and Tes' mentioned. But yeah, we're staying here with all our belongings and you could find those fucks other places to live because we own this shit."

I chuckled, "Not so fast."

"Ya got something to say?"

"You got ownership a little muddled there."

"And why's that?"

"Your group only owned those two suites—I'll even give you the whole floor—while George and his group own the storeroom—"

"HAH! Are you saying you own everything else besides that?! ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS?! WE'VE BEEN HERE ALL THIS TIME!"

"Again, not so fast. The dead owned everything else besides those places you've been living in. And we took it from them, end of story. The reason we're having this talk is because we're decent human beings and we're giving you the choice to stay with us and work starting tomorrow or you go your merry ways."

"YOU—"

Dax cut Sheepy off, "How would that work?"

"Everything from your pad belongs to you and since you're giving us a bit of space to complete the whole thing, we'd send you off with working vehicles and a few items to survive the road. It'd work for a couple of weeks or so but the current meta is to find a group to live with. It's been a year plus change and probably 60-80% of the known stores are cleared out.

You could probably find a few stuff lying around but I recommend the former choice."

Dax pointed at George and his group, "And what did they decide on?"

"They'll stay."

He shook his head, "I don't get it. There's no chance in hell you fucks managed to get into this place, the Marine Base, and Freeport Zone this fast."

"We just did. What are you talking about—"

"Nah, I'm talking about that there's no shot these three places are the only ones that are available. I understand you could clear a large area with this much firepower but you gotta have other places we could live."

I nodded approvingly, "We do, actually—"

"Then—"

"It's not on the table at the moment."

"And why is that?"

"Because it's not."

"Just tell me. Is it because we junkies are too good for you?"

"Trust me, I have worse people living in my place but I already know them. I barely know you fucks yet so what we're doing is a trial run. We'd see if that option is viable in the future but I do insist you stay here and be part of the workforce. So, what's it gonna be?"