Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

I'm a weird dude, I know, and I've said many times before that I was a jack of most trades since I am a master of a few things. I would almost always find myself in the middle of things and if I ever made a flag, it'd be mostly neutral gray with a few bits of what I actually stand for.

So yeah, my advice to everyone would sound boring but it was completely genuine and what I do myself to improve my strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between.

Still, I'm afraid Ruben didn't have or to be more specific, hadn't brought out the darkness in him yet—edgelord talk, I know—but that was just the way it was though he still took my advice to heart.

"Umm… Just keep working on it?"

"Sounds simple, I know, but that's just how it goes. You work on everything—not just your weakness—and that also means things you know jack shit about. Learning new things once in a while wouldn't hurt."

"I-I see… but can I ask something?"

"Yeah, shoot."

"It's about the umm… about the 'thing' you do… when you get all serial killer-y?"

"Oh. This—"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"AGH— T-That, that… Thanks for turning it off…"

"Heh. Anytime, but yeah, what about it?"

"I mean— you're trying to teach us that, right?"

"Yeah. Trying. It's pretty hard for me to do that because I'm just making you all have an experience of what I went through. Not that I was buried alive or anything, hahaha…"

"Or get chased around with a knife-wielding maniac, right?"

"..."

"R-Right?"

"Umm…"

"Uh-oh…"

"Heh… That was a dark time for me but somehow, in some fucked up way, I have something to call upon or something that takes over depending on the circumstances. I have way~ better control of it now, since you all could see me turn it on and off at times just for funsies but let's just say I was making light of a very, very dark situation."

"Oh… I— I hate to ask this but is that… n-normal people could do?"

"Pfft— What do you mean by that?"

"I mean— I'm a pretty normal guy… I don't get mad a lot though I do get fired up but I tend to let things go. Is there a problem with that or will I be able to do what you can if I'm like this?"

"Want the honest truth?"

"Yes, sir. Please."

"This thing… It stems from negative emotions and it does… does things to me and lets me do some things a tad above what normal people could do but it drains me a lot. It's totally different from being on autopilot or being in the zone as most athletes experience so let's just say that it's more of a double-edged sword or a last resort of some kind.

It's just that as I said earlier, I had more control of it pretty recently so I had the option to play around with it. Maybe, just maybe, it might not need as much negative emotions though it was strictly required the first time I came upon it."

"I see, sir. I see… but… s-shouldn't this be not discussed with people like me?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"I-Isn't this like some special secret or something you'd only share with Isaac when he reaches a certain level?"

"Hah! I mean— you have a point there but I trust all of you. And it's not like you can read the manual—that's actually non-existent—and do what I could do in the blink of an eye. I'm not even sure if this thing could be learned traditionally. It's not like you'd let me murder your parents in front of you so you'd have the chance to learn what I did, right?"

"WHA— SIR! Y-You're parents— T-That's what happened to them?!"

"Ah— Right. I haven't told you all, huh?"

"A-Are you okay, sir?!"

"So-so. How about you?"

"Hmm?"

"Your family."

"Ah… I've tried checking in, sir. It's either they found a cave to hole in or you know… We have contact with all the Camps available and they do have records for each resident so chances are… I mean— There's also a good chance that they've come back as heads and I didn't even notice…"

"How does that make you feel though?"

"Sad?"

"You're not sure?"

"Umm… I just wanted to think that they're still out there even though the chances are pretty close to none. I mean— as long as I don't see their bodies, I think I could still fool myself into thinking that they're still alive."

"Huh."

"Sir?"

"I actually thought you're pretty dumb but you're pretty articulate and wise."

"U-Umm… thank you?"

"Ah— Sorry, dude. It's just… there's a certain spectrum against people who exhibits superhuman strength, right?"

"That's a way to soften the blow, sir… Ahaha… I mean— We never actually talked like this before, so you never know. I never talked to anyone like this too, it's almost always mucking around with the boys and awkward silence with the girls."

"I see that."

"Now we're talking and all and I would hate to pass the chance… H-How do I talk to them?"

"Talk to who?"

"Girls in particular?"

"Like this?"

"Huh?"

"You talk to them like you talk to me. They're humans too, don't be afraid to speak your mind. If you don't vibe that's just the way it is but if you click, try to remember the topics you talked about and go from there. If you don't understand anything, ask genuinely and don't fake it. Lying might work if you just wanna hook-up and it usually does but depends on who you're going for, you know?"

"C-Can you say it one more time so I could w-write it down or record it?"

"HAH! That's one way to go too. I know you mean well but being funny is a good thing. Some chicks might like the nonchalant ones or the Sasuke-types but you're not like that, right? Just be you. If they don't like you, it is what it is, find someone who does.

Don't force yourself into other people just to fit in."

"A-Again, sir— I missed that other part. Can you start from the top?"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"

"S-STOP LAUGHING, SIR! I'M SERIOUS!"

"Alright, alright… I'm sorry— But tell me: who is it?"

"A-Anyone that likes me, really…"

"Hmm."

"Is there a problem with that, sir?"

"Not really but tell me more, do you have anyone in your group you fancy?"

"N-Not in my group per se…"

"Ohhh~ From Marvin's group or Tennyson's?!"

In any case, Ruben and I spent a good 30 minutes just talking about each other and even though he might have a lower chance of unlocking or even finding his dark passenger, it might be just the best thing for him.

Some people carry more burdens than others while some carry none at all.

In the same sense, some people might be able to carry more weight on their backs while some would straight-up collapse with the slightest bump in the road. Then again, it'd just be a long rabbit hole if we speak in metaphors but yeah, it's just fun to talk about it sometimes.