Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

As soon as I popped Marvin that question, he just looked at me with a complex expression—and I was a little glad because he was actually thinking about what to answer.

If I asked this to any other person, they'd just brush it off or answer jokingly, but with the few percentage of people that'd actually answer, I'd like to hear from someone who really values the friendships and relationships he formed with people.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"I… If it was just a limb each I— that would've been the obvious answer but— Hmm… I— Asking me that now, I… I probably had two limbs chopped off but I don't actually know when it comes to that. I'm… If it really comes down to it I… Shit… My answer could change depending on the circumstances but I-I have to know more, sir."

"Like what, exactly?"

"I thought it was a deserted island—"

"I guess we thought wrong. Not deserted after all."

"Huh. Also, could I pick which limb to chop off?"

"You mean… Whether it's left or right or an arm or a leg?"

"What'd you choose, sir… If ever?"

"I wanna copy a certain dude but I'd lose my left arm and right leg."

"R-Really? You'd take the harder route?"

"If I have to— Hey! I'm asking the questions here!"

"B-But you answered, sir—"

"Because I wanted to! I'll answer everything I asked you after you're done! So go! Think about it long and—"

"Not to copy you or anything sir, but I'll probably do the same thing… Based on our information now. It'd be hard to lose both hands or both legs but with each one missing, I'll learn to walk with a peg leg and still have room for grabbing things and shit. And if anything, my friends would be more than happy to assist me until I get used to it."

"My thoughts exactly— now let's make it harder. What if they needed two extra limbs instead of one?"

"Fuck. I mean— I'd hate to go this route but Seb and I should probably take it since we're the two guys."

"Nice. But what if the village requires you to put in the work on top of finding your own food?"

"I thought they welcomed us?"

"Let's just say they lied. It's to hook you in."

"I mean… The answer's pretty obvious at this point but if I had the chance to scout the village first and see how they do things and decide from there, I might be able to make a more informed decision as to why they'd need sacrifices…"

"I like that answer, actually."

"R-Really, sir?"

"Yeah, because think about it… It might be their way to have outsiders have their fighting force cut to a fraction and they could be cannibals for fuck's sake. In addition, is it really worth it? I know that living is living but is it really? It's a tribe you know fuck all about and you're gonna cut up your bodies to survive? Is that really the best decision?"

"..."

"Well, your friends might disagree with you so isn't it better to just sacrifice yourself?"

"That's…"

"A lot to think about, I know. You see, I'm a proponent of living to see another day but there are limits to it, no? Learning to survive with an arm and a leg is technically possible but that has its own limits in an island such as that. Bleeding out is a possibility too. But yeah, it's not like I'm telling you to give up."

"Then what should I think about?"

"That's an answer you need to decide for yourself. Weigh in all your experience, your knowledge, everything, and decide for yourself and your group as to what you'd do in the situation.

You are the face of the Black Sheeps so the responsibility might fall on you one day—and it helps to discuss something like this with them too—but at the end of the day, it should be important for you to know that you have a ton of options in your hands but which one to pick among them should be crucial and you have to get it right."

"I dunno about that, sir…"

"Hmm?"

"You see… It's not like we're all in the same group nowadays or in the same clique… I don't even know if I hold the leadership position among our group or want to continue being the one in charge."

"Ah. Like you're the one pointed out by the whole class because no one else is there?"

"Something like that but even though I think I could still reprise the role, I'm more comfortable to see JP or even Tennyson—or Lee, to take charge of the whole group. I'm more like Seb, we could probably do the job but there are people who are much better. But yeah, we can step in if the need arises but then again… you know…"

"Pfft— Hah! AHAHAHAHA!"

"S-Sir?"

"I'm sorry, you are—and Seb, are really a lot like me. If I'm gonna be transparent with you, I'd prefer not to lead this whole thing—thank the fucking gods I could delegate work—but yeah, I still needed to step up because I needed to. If I don't, some schmuck will and I really just wanna do things my way if the world had already come to this."

"Ah— I-I see… If you put it that way, sir, I completely agree."

"B minus."

"Huh?"

"Don't tell anyone about this convo and don't mind the score I gave ya."

"Then why bother—"

"Eh. Just do what I told you. Or don't. I'll remember it anyway."

"O-Okay, sir…"

On that note, it was safe to say that I had different interactions with everyone else that came up in my gym be it a straight-up brawl, a heart-to-heart, a deep platonic conversation, or even a mix in between, or all over. However, the last person I called over before lunch was Alexa and she looked nervous as fuck when she came over.

"'Sup?"