Chapter 249: 249
Everyone’s staring at us in disbelief from the things that we’re saying. It’s crazy talk honestly but it feels weird that the president in front of me is someone that almost thinks like me. We’re kinda similar in a way yet we’re still different.
The soldiers have finally finished their meals and my aunt gave them a bag of food for Avalos and the other soldiers that stayed in the DDR Camp. She included an extra portion for the president in case he wants to eat again. They thanked her profusely and my aunt seemed to be doing fine despite what happened earlier.
“Well anyway, thanks for the food.” the president said.
“No problem, you said you’d pay for it, so, order as much as you can eat. How long would you guys stay here though?” I asked.
“Hah! You’d actually charge me, I’ll pay though, no worries. Not long, maybe a day or two just to finish some stuff. I thought you have a few things to show me?” he replied.
“Well let’s get down to business, shall we?” I smirked.
I called a few of my people over and I showed him everything that we have uncovered. Before I pressed the play button, he also called all of his soldiers to watch what I’m about to show him. I showed him everything that I showed my group first on the first meeting. It was the earliest video that I could find where the last of it shows a lab where a few scientists are experimenting on the bloody figures and humans. After that, I showed him the rest of it which includes from where we first discovered the sprinters, sentries, up until we saw the zombie kid which has started to talk. Everyone in his group is wearing solemn and shocked expressions.
“F.u.c.k.i.n.g shit.”
“WOAH!”
“I’ve never seen them that many!”
“You think we have those back home?”
“Shit.”
“This isn’t a movie, right?”
“Hah! F.u.c.k.i.n.g idiot! Didn’t you see the vehicles we saw when we went in? They’re just parked outside.”
“I’m f.u.c.k.i.n.g excited to exterminate that many using that.”
“I’d rather try the bike thing.”
“What could we even use at home?”
“We got engineers there too, no worries.”
A few of them started to chatter.
“Hmm. So this f.u.c.k.i.n.g son of a bitch was here a few years already? F.u.c.k.i.n.g shit.” he scratches his beard.
“Well, a form of it. We could study them all we want but we need to exterminate each one of them as fast as possible. We never know what they would turn out to be in a few years. The world is scrambling to work on a vaccine or a cure but it seems that too much has been going on.” I replied.
“The ones working on it should do it faster because the only thing working right now are weapons of war.” Oscar said.
“Wait a minute, is it possible that the reason for why there is less presence of the sprinters at my island group is that they’re gathering somewhere?” He looked serious.
“Could be, yeah. What do you think, kid?” Oscar replied.
“That’s the most probable reason or there is just an abundance of them here. How about the other kinds that we have here? Do you have those there too?” I said.
“Those fat f.u.c.ks I saw earlier I believe we haven’t encountered them yet. The talking one too is a surprise, too bad it’s already dead. The scientists back home would have studied it. Honassan, that’s the case, right?” he asked one of his soldiers.
“Yes sir, but we have a lot of those ‘irregulars’ that they speak of. Most of them are moving like they’re possessed or something. The ‘sprinters’ you call here, we call them ‘runners’ back home. We’d occasionally see them run on all fours though like the ones inside that stadium earlier. We never saw them act like that, attacking with their hands for example, but if the same is about to happen back home, we need to take care of it as soon as possible. Do you want me to make some calls back home sir?” he asked.
“Yeah. This is gonna be a problem if they grew in numbers. We are still trying to build the wall around our city so we’d have a solid fortress. We’re done with the fencing all we need to do is make it at least a meter thick with metal and concrete. We’d send a few scouts to the other cities but they have never gone too far. Lucky for you guys that you’ve seen it as early as that. Who knows what’s in store for my group when we go back. Can you give me a copy of this?” he said.
“There could still be more of them gathering in other places though. You made a copy of the files, kid?” Oscar said.
“I already did, here. I know you’re still playing the survival videos on loop but I included several books and manuals there just to make sure. I know you have capable people back at your place but it wouldn’t hurt to have more information. What I’ve copied there could make everyone start from scratch and rebuild anew. Please don’t lose that. Have the contents printed and not just be stored in that drive only.” I replied as I handed him a drive.
“So, what’s the damage?” he asked.
“I gave you all the info I could. I want you to tell me what you know too. We’ll talk about the items we’ll be exchanging later but I want information more than anything.” I replied as I glanced at Kaley and Marisha at the table as well.
“Sounds fair. What do you people want to know?” he asked.
“Well, what I’d like to know is how many DDR Camps here are still contacting you and running? How much longer could you send supplies to the DDR Camps here in this island group?” Oscar asked.
“Are you sure? It could be different the time we leave or as of right now after I tell you.” he replied.
“Well, you have a point there. It’s just to have a baseline though. It’s on the same state as the info on the zombies I gave you. It could be different the moment you get home, it’s all a matter of time.” I replied.
“Hmmm. I’ve been sending more supplies to Visayas, the other island group apart from this place since they’re much closer. There’s a few more DDR Camps and groups in this island group that are active and still keeping contact with me besides you. Most of them are near or in the provinces where there is less population obviously.” he said.
“Okay, but how much longer could you send supplies to the camps?” Oscar asked again.
The president gave a deep sigh first and said, “This is the last time I could send supplies here. I’ve sent most of it in the City of Manila where Mayor Iskoh is. He’s doing a great job and his territory is much larger than yours and he’s in the center of a densely populated city. One of the last things I’ll do before I get back to Davao City is fly to that place and discuss a few things too. If I have the time, I’ll fly here but all I could say is that things are still an uphill battle despite everyone’s efforts.”
The place is silent but everyone already understands the situation.
“Shit, Iskoh is still alive eh? It’s past Caloocan City and Quezon City, right kid?” Oscar was shaking his head in amus.e.m.e.nt.
“Yeah, it would be the best if we could establish a connection with him. He will definitely be a good ally. The only problem is that he’s two cities far from us and we still have a lot of problems here. Rod, can you give me his Sat Phone number?” I asked.
“You’re not worried about supplies eh? Hah! That’s good. I’m sorry it’s all I could give away. We have lots of people back home too, we all need to make do with what we have. His number is…” he gave me Iskoh’s number.
“How’s he holding up there?” Oscar asked.
“It’s okay for the most part. His problems aside from the dead are the gangs that are scattered about causing havoc. I’m not sure which is worse, the cult you have here or the ones that he has but all of them are sources of headaches. He wanted to give some of them a chance since some are still young kids but one of the reasons I’m going there is to give him a piece of my mind. Some people are just not worth saving. He keeps on saying that life is more important than stolen goods so he uses non-lethal force but a few of his people are showing dissatisfaction since those people still come back despite that.” he replied.
“Have a soft spot for kids eh? That’ll be trouble if he continues to think that way. He’s lucky he’s not dead yet.” Oscar said.
“He’s not wrong in saying that life is important but what he should do is see it in both ways. Back when this shit didn’t happen yet, the moment you stole something or broke into someone’s house, you just decided that the items you stole are more important than your life. Even if the person stealing is doing that to survive, well shit, everyone does now don’t we? Especially this time.” I chimed.
I then gave time for the rest to ask their own questions as well but I went for one I’m kinda excited about.
“Rod, which helicopter would you give me?” I asked nonchalantly.
“Hah! I forgot about that. Want to bet if you could get the attack chopper? Hmm?” he started.
“Sir?! Are you serious?!” Honassan choked.