Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

I can't believe how much I wanted to go there but knowing them, they'd probably beat me to death by leaving all my responsibilities here just to see them. In addition, even if the world got fast-forwarded a few more years where the world wasn't like it is today, they'd probably stick to their roots and carry on—albeit slightly adapting—so let's just say they have their own world to worry about.

'It's not like they need me but it's not like I'm not worrying about them… It's been a year plus change… Haa—'

But yeah, while I was in mid-sigh while I was in mid-thought, Jennifer definitely noticed my reaction earlier and she brought it up by nudging me:

"What's with that Japanese Air Base?"

"Which one?"

"The one you reacted to— In Okinawa, was it? Kadena or something?"

"Ah… I have family kind of near there."

"Oh… Then…"

"We haven't had any contact since it started but I'm pretty sure they're still alive."

"Yeah, but I just know. One of the few things I have blind faith in—"

"Don't they have radios you left them or—"

"I did leave them the premium pack of sorts… But let's just say the mountain's a little special…"

"Special? Mountain? What do you mean?"

"It… It just is… I don't even understand it completely…"

"Then what do you understand about it? Can you tell me at least that?"

"Hmm… Sure. But not here."

"Why?"

"It's rude to the Admiral—"

"Pfft, nice save. But will you really?"

"Really what?"

"What are we even talking about? I'm asking if you'll tell me!"

"Shh… Quiet down, they've glanced at us thrice already—"

"Ah— I don't even think we're needed here."

"Why? Because your babysitting ass didn't get promoted?"

"You—"

"And I got all sorts of shit?"

"You're making it less and less likely for me to fuck you, you know that?"

"I can transfer all those rights and authority over to you, if you want?"

"Fuck that, I'd love a promotion but I hate doing more work than intended. I've just had enough of it."

"A little rebel, huh? Don't let the old man hear though—"

"Why'd he care?"

"He just does. He talks about you a lot, you know?"

"Really?"

"No—"

"Then— A-Asshole!"

"He talks about a lot of things but he gets really vulnerable when you're the topic so he doesn't do it much. Despite that, I could see that he really cares about you and he's really sorry—especially selling the house." ŗΑNɵ𐌱ĚS

"It's not about that house—But yeah, it kinda is because it holds a lot of memories… But it's not just the house I'm mad about… It's a few more things that are more important… The house is just… y-you know… It's where I grew up in and everything… He owns it and all and I would've like a heads-up so I could've bought it from him instead.

It just pissed me off coming 'home' with a different family living in it…"

"I understand that, I do… I'm still holding onto the house my parents worked so hard for… I'm not living in it currently but some of my treasured items from them are still there."

"You lucky fuck."

"Eh. I would've preferred if they were still alive…"

"Now, that's not fair. You don't just spring that up on me. I know the Colonel's still alive and all but those are two different things, alright?"

"I'm sorry—"

"No. Don't. But I'm sorry too…"

"..."

"..."

"We good?"

"Yeah, lil bro."

"Pfft… Alright, aneki…"

"Don't go using informal speech on me, you fuck, I know some Japanese because of Rachel."

"Now you're just turning me on—"

"Shh… Not here… Pfft…"

"And using my words against me? Heh…"

"Idiot…"

At one point, our pleasant conversation abruptly stopped when we saw Oscar giving us a double thumbs-up from across the room, so we went back to listening in to a much more important conversation.

To be honest, it was more like a review of what we had already discussed about—in regards to our plans here in Subic Bay—and anything besides that considering this country was left to me and First— I mean, Captain Davis.

But yeah, we ended the meeting after three or so hours, but as everyone else was leaving the room, the Admiral specifically asked me, Bartow, and Jennifer to stay behind.

At the same time, a pair of middle-aged doctors came in rolling what seemed to be this fancy freezer of sorts, and it seemed like this night was far from over. To my surprise, it seemed like Bartow already knew what the fuck was going on but looking at Jennifer, it seemed like she knew what was up as well.

I was the only one who doesn't know what the fuck was going on but before I could even ask a question, the Admiral beat me to it:

"Mr. Ishiyama, I believe you still remember my wife?"

I paused for a moment before I answered, "I do, why?"

"Let me start by saying that I may not have lied to you but I didn't tell you the whole truth…"

I shook my head as I sighed deeply, "You're owing me more and more punches to the face, you know that—"

Bartow cut me off, "Watch how you talk to the Admiral—"

Admiral Burke cut him off, "It's fine, I expected as much."

I nodded, "What's with the fancy-ass freezer? You don't have the psyche of a terrorist/lead singer in a rock band there, do you?"

"What?"

"Not important— What's with the freezer? This is not your pitch for an MLM, right—"

"Stop," Jennifer said as she nudged me.

"It's how I cope, you seem to forgot talking a few minutes earlier too."

"..."

Bartow huffed, "Can you take it seriously? We're about to show you government secrets—"

"Nice of you to point that out, Sherlock! Seemed apparent earlier too but I didn't say anything about it—"

ADM Burke cut us off, "Alright, enough! All that build-up for nothing— Anyway! Do you know how peptides work?"

My eyebrows rose from the common term, "I do, yes— Well, some of them… Be it for building muscle, fat loss, recovery, or anti-aging— Heck, even Insulin is one… The first one, I might add."

He nodded, "That's great… These aren't technically peptides but one of the things we have here is something that kind of replicates how my wife's skeletal system works. Though still very, VERY experimental—"

I cut him off, "No. Hard pass."

ADM Burke was taken aback, "You didn't even let me finish—"

"I don't need you to. Give that shit to someone else."

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