Chapter 255: 255
The moment Nikolas’ words came out of his mouth, everyone grew silent. The silence is deafening and I’m looking at him, trying to analyze if he’s telling the truth or not. Kaley was looking at him the same way and Rin was shocked beyond measure. Tatiana is carrying a solemn expression when I looked at her and I decided to know more details.
“And why is that? I believe I’m gonna need more details before one of my own is taken from me.” I said.
“It’s about the other three on this island group. We’ve lost contact with them for a couple weeks already. They’re part of our team and going to this island group is an opportunity to find out what happened to them or perhaps extract them wherever they are stuck in.” he explained.
“The president is only gonna be here in this island group for a few days. I doubt you could sweep this whole island group in that time frame. Or… you four have other plans in mind?” I asked.
“We’ve already been given permission to stay at this island group so we could search for clues or anything from our team members. As you can see, we four are still short-handed and we need all the help we need. I bet you’d do the same for everyone else here, right?” he asked.
Kaley has her brows furrowed and Rin is giving a difficult expression.
“I would, definitely. I leave no one behind. That’s the rule here. However, I need to know what’s your plan to go about searching for them?” I replied back.
“We’d start from where the last place they were known to be. We’d start to-” then I cut him off.
“Yeah, that’s the logical approach but that would take a long time, a long~ f.u.c.k.i.n.g time. How about vehicles? Food? Shelter? Guns? Ammo? Besides that, where were the last places where they were?” I asked.
“We believe all three are in Region IV-A from our last contact with them.” he replied.
“Calabarzon. It’s going South after you’ve left the region we’re in.” I thought to myself.
“That region is South of NCR, which is where we are. That’s a larger area compared to where we are but if they would be near or in the DDR Camps over there, it would be easier since there are less cities there but more land to travel to. One of the things you’d have a problem with is how to get from here to there.” I started.
“But why would that be?” he asked.
“This region of Luzon is the smallest but everyone else from all of the regions flock to this place for jobs. Both regions have almost the same number of people but like I said, they’re bigger than us. The population density of this region compared to any other is staggering. We’re lucky that we’re in the border of the other region but to make it to the other side, you’d have to face far larger numbers of the dead.” I answered.
“It seems to me that you’re trying to make us not continue with our mission to retrieve them, is that right?” he asked.
“You could go if you want, I’m just laying out the facts for you. Also, you still haven’t told me your situation on supplies. Judging from what I’ve seen you bring with you, I bet you’re thinking of getting them from me, right?” I said.
“Well, if you would be so kind, we’d accept what you could give. If there’s none, we’ll make do. We could use Tatiana’s HUMVEE for starters and the others we could procure ourselves.” he replied.
“That’s a f.u.c.k.i.n.g stupid plan.” I said.
“Then it’s all good, no hard feelings. We’d go our separate ways with Tatiana after the president leaves.” he replied.
“Tatiana is not going with you.” I added.
“What?!” he exclaimed.
“You’ve only got permission to retrieve your people from that region, not bring Tatiana along with your stupid plan. If she’s included, the president should’ve already told me earlier, stop lying to me. She has been given orders to stay with me until this is all over. She’s already in my group and I don’t send people to their deaths due to a stupid plan.” I said.
“I’m telling the truth!” he shouted.
“Not right now, you’re not. You’re mixing your lies with truth, and truth with lies. Don’t even try, I’m psychic.” I said calmly.
“Wait, you are?” Mikhail interjected.
“No, I’m lying.” I quickly replied.
“…” everyone else.
“However, I’d know when someone is and you’ve definitely lied a few times.” I said.
“But I’m telling the truth when I say that we’re short-handed! I’d need her to be with us so our chances-” I cut him off.
“Now you’re telling the truth. She could multiply your chances by a whole lot but your chances of even getting out of this region is 0% That is based solely on the fact of how you’re approaching it. Unless you tell me more of how you’d attempt to get there, I won’t even part with a day’s worth of supplies and a vehicle moreso, Tatiana.” I stated firmly.
It’s a good thing that everyone has already finished eating when we started to talk because I can already sense that no one would have the appetite to eat here just from the atmosphere. The three also beside him are giving difficult expressions and they seem to be at a loss the same with my group present.
“I thought you leave no one behind? I know they’re not part of your team but they’re part of mine, Tatiana too. We’ve been through a whole lot of life and death battles and we can’t just leave them there to die. I think you’re just underestimating us too much just because you beat us once.” he replied.
“You’re right. I never do. I’m not underestimating your capabilities, I think you’re overestimating your chances.” I said.
“Then you’re a hypocrite. You keep saying things of leaving no one behind and ye-” I interrupted him.
“Sometimes I am one but all I said was that your plan was f.u.c.k.i.n.g stupid. You’d be in luck if you could still call for help the moment you entered the cities where it is densely populated. You’re not the only one who wants to go to the other places to save your people. I still have a few relatives that I need to get to as well since they didn’t believe me the first time. If you wanted to do this properly, it would take some time. If you rush in like that, not only that you wouldn’t be able to get to them, you’d also risk the people you came with. We need to make a perfe-” I said then he got mad.
*SLAM*
He suddenly slammed his fist on the table and he shouted, “THIS IS THE HAND THAT WE’RE DEALT WITH! WE HAVE NO CHOICE! WHATEVER SMALL CHANCE WE HAVE, WE HAVE TO TAKE! THEY ARE OUR COMRADES FOR F.U.C.KS SAKE! I CAN’T WAIT FOR MORE TIME SINCE WE’RE ALREADY LATE BY A WHOLE LOT! WE DON’T KNOW WHAT MIGHT’VE HAPPENED ALREADY SO WE NEED TO HURRY! WHAT USE IS A PERFECT PLAN IF YOU WOULD BE TOO LATE TO EXECUTE IT?!”
“Easy there, bro. We’re at the guy’s house.” Mikhail chimed.
“To be completely honest with you man, I think there’s a really small chance that they’re still alive. This thing we’re facing is not like the other times when we could come in and save the day.” Alexei added.
“…” Vera was silent.
“F.u.c.k me. If you three don’t even want to go then I should’ve brought the others who wanted to. Us four with Tatiana would’ve done something about their situation. This trip is a complete waste of time.” he sighed heavily.
“Hold on now. Can’t you just wait for a perfect plan to be formed first? They’re soldiers like you, they’re not babies. If they’re dead, they’re dead. If they’re not, in this span of time, they are probably stuck somewhere where they can’t contact you because if it was me, I’d already have found a way. That just means that the chances that they’re dead are higher. They know what they’re in for the moment they enlisted in the army. I don’t get why you’re being too emotional. If you want higher chances of saving them, form a plan, not bring more people willy nilly.” I said.
“I already told you. I can’t wait that long.” he replied.
“Really? Not even three days?” I asked.
“What? I-” he was shocked.
“Well, a week tops but you have to compromise since we can’t save everyone. I have people I want to go too but I can’t. Resources are limited and I could only do so much.” I said.
“You have a way? Why three days?” he asked.
“First things first, I have to establish a connection with the Mayor of the City of Manila. I think three days is enough time for that. I’d be gone with a few people and I need soldiers to stay here. We still have a threat looming over us here and I can’t leave this place without making sure that this place is well defended.” I answered.
“That’s the compromise?” he asked.
“That sounds easy.” Mikhail added.
“No. Far from it.” I replied.
“Then what is it?” he asked.
“I could get you to the places where there’s a high chance of them being there but after that, whether we find them or not, you would all be my soldiers.” I said.