NOVPUBWhile Jake was taking a shower, Alex sat across from Sherry in silence. The girl was still processing what she had learned — her father, whom she had believed dead for many years, had turned out to be alive. Alive — and now dead again, this time by the hand of the man sitting across from her.
Sherry had loved her parents. But accepting the truth that William Birkin had conducted horrific experiments on children, and in some ways had helped push the world toward collapse — that was hard. How do you come to terms with the fact that someone you loved had become part of a tragedy that claimed billions of lives?
At that moment, Alcina stepped out of the kitchen and crossed the living room. Seeing the silent scene, she slowed her pace. Alex met her gaze with a look full of reproach — he knew she was also involved in all this, even if indirectly. Alcina said nothing and, ignoring his stare, carried the tray upstairs.
Alex sighed as he watched her go. Deep down, he understood — there was no one left to blame. Even if he had gently led the conversation to the truth about Birkin, Sherry would have still felt betrayed.
Finally, Jake emerged from the shower, now in clean clothes with no trace of sweat or grime.
"Why the long faces?" he asked, throwing himself onto the couch.
"What do you think?" Sherry snapped, lifting her gaze.
"Oh, come on. Your dad's dead. Again. He wouldn't have survived anyway," Jake shrugged nonchalantly. "Like Alex said — if he didn't finish him off, the ones he experimented on would have."
Alex shot a quick glance at Sherry and saw how her face tensed, her eyes filled with rage. He knew Jake was about to get what he deserved. Jake had accepted Wesker's death without much emotion — he hadn't exactly liked the man — but that attitude wouldn't work with everyone.
"Alright, enough sob stories," Alex said, changing the subject. "Let's talk about your mission. Sherry, your handler — that's Derek C. Simmons, right?"
"Yeah, you're right. He's the one who assigned me to escort Jake to headquarters," she nodded, sensing Alex knew something.
"And why the sudden interest?" Jake asked, puzzled.
"Just a hunch," Alex replied calmly. "But I've got a feeling Simmons is playing for the other side. Can't prove it, but his face… it just screams 'snake.'"
"You're not wrong," Jake smirked. "His face looks exactly like this one client who tried to screw me over."
"But what makes you think that?" Sherry frowned. "Simmons is one of the most influential people in the D.S.O. He's the one who gave me the mission to get Jake there."
Alex looked at her with an empty expression that clearly said: Are you serious?
Sherry felt that look. It was as if he were accusing her of being naive. Her cheeks turned red — from embarrassment, irritation, or… something else.
Even Jake shook his head. He knew Sherry well enough by now to realize she didn't usually suspect her allies. But in today's world, anyone could stab you in the back.
"Sherry, darling," Alex began with a mocking tone, "how did you even get into the D.S.O.? Didn't this world's history teach you anything? Or did you skip all your lessons?"
"What does history have to do with it? How does that prove Simmons could be a traitor?" she snapped, blushing even more — now also because of the way Alex had called her.
"It's very simple," Yuriko interjected as she stepped into the house. "People with power are rarely satisfied with how much they have. It's never enough. Men like Simmons always want more control, more influence. Just like kings in the old days — conquering land after land so they could rule over everything they possibly could."
Alex smiled when he noticed Yuriko, who had apparently been eavesdropping on their conversation. The girl caught his gaze, winked, and walked over. Leaning in, she gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Jake let out a low whistle when he saw this and, trying not to draw attention, gave Alex a thumbs-up.
At that moment, Sherry looked at Yuriko — and immediately picked up on the subtext behind her words and actions. Yuriko sat on the armrest of the chair next to Alex and gave the newcomers a once-over. Rumors were already spreading around the settlement: Alex had dragged in a new mutant and brought two people with him. Yuriko had been with Brunhilde at the time of their arrival, and Brunhilde had shared everything she learned about Jake and Sherry — after all, she had read their personal histories directly from Alex's mind.
Like the other girls, Yuriko felt a faint twinge of envy toward that unique spiritual bond Brunhilde had with Alex. Her abilities allowed her to instantly understand who he had met, what he was planning, and what he felt in the moment of encounter.
"Yuriko's right, Sherry," Alex said, taking Yuriko's hand. "Simmons had massive ambitions. But you need to understand that things have gotten a lot more serious. The undead aren't just mutating — they're starting to think. They've developed a hive mind. The world has changed more than it seems."
"Then maybe you'd like to share this useful information, since you seem to know so much?" Jake said with a smirk, folding his arms and crossing one leg over the other.
"No problem. I've been collecting data since the first day of the zombie apocalypse and carefully watching the undead's behavior. In fact, all of this information is available to any resident of the settlement," Alex replied with a faint smile.
He began explaining. Jake and Sherry listened intently, trying not to miss a single detail. Alex explained how it all started. At first, there were normal zombies, but over time they mutated. Each new mutation became more horrific, and the undead grew stronger and more organized. Initially, they were controlled by the so-called "Evil Corporation" through its technology, but eventually even it began to lose control.
The reason was the emergence of the Marker cult — an organization that worshipped the mysterious Black Marker. Jake and Sherry exchanged confused looks, and Alex clarified: the Black Marker was an alien artifact that had fallen from the sky long ago and left a mark on human history. It drove people insane, turning them into necromorphs — a new kind of undead capable of thinking and acting with terrifying coordination. Those with strong enough minds became fanatics and started building Red Markers — replicas of the original. These artifacts spread across the globe, and under their influence, the necromorphs formed a shared collective consciousness.
Alex continued, touching on another type of undead — demonic creatures. He briefly explained where they came from and what their goals were. In conclusion, Alex revealed that humanity was now merely the third party in the conflict. A full-scale war for territory had erupted between the demons and necromorphs.
While Alex was talking, the girls began returning home for lunch. Seeing that he was busy with the newcomers, they each came up, kissed him, and headed toward the dining area. Jake and Sherry were so absorbed in the story that they barely noticed what was happening around them. And as absurd as everything sounded, the facts Alex presented — satellite images, camera footage, documents — left no room for doubt.
It was the truth.
When Alex finished, Sherry and Jake leaned back in silence, stunned. They needed time to process all the information they had just received. Alex left them alone with their thoughts and headed to the dining hall.
Sitting at the table, he smiled and started chatting with the girls, asking what they had been up to.
"When are we going on a raid already?" Rebecca groaned, resting her head on the table. "I'm sick of sitting in one place. I need to blow something up… or at least shoot a couple of zombies. It's boring here!"
"Agreed," Saeko nodded. "Building the settlement is important, but this long break is wearing me out."
"I wouldn't mind stretching a bit either," added Renka. "Training alone is getting dull."
"After lunch, we'll head to the nearest city," said Alex, glancing at the girls. "We'll scout the area, and it'll be a good warm-up. Besides, we need to start moving toward Anchorage anyway."
"Finally! I get to blow someone up!" Rebecca exclaimed, beaming with joy.
Alex simply shook his head at her enthusiasm, though he understood the others felt the same. Everyone was tired of the routine and had built up irritation over the past week in the settlement. He helped Namiyo and Kiriko clear the table and gave the girls some time to rest after the heavy meal. Everyone knew it was better to relax a bit and let the food settle. Some poured tea, others coffee, and the conversation shifted into a calmer tone.
Alex picked Anya up and carried her into the living room. Settling into an armchair, he sat his daughter on his lap and gently began to squish her chubby cheeks.
"Didn't expect to see you surrounded by so many girls. You really are something," Jake remarked with a smirk.
"My daddy's awesome and handsome!" Anya said seriously, crossing her arms. "You're just jealous."
Jake choked on his own spit, staring at Anya in disbelief. Sherry couldn't hold back her laughter and burst out laughing at the girl's words. Alex just chuckled and stroked his daughter's head. Anya beamed with pride — clearly pleased with her remark. Alex struggled to keep a straight face.
"So, what are your plans now that you've learned the truth about the world?" he asked, continuing to gently stroke Anya's hair. "Sherry, are you still planning to return to HQ?"
"Yes," Sherry nodded. "I have to complete my mission. Even if Director Simmons is involved in all this… I need to find out the truth."
"Well, that won't be as easy as you think," Alex frowned, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
"What do you mean 'not easy'?" Jake leaned back on the couch, folding his arms.
"It's pretty obvious. Right now, the two of you will have a hard time getting to the U.S., let alone reaching the D.S.O. headquarters. You'd have to cross all of Alaska, then Canada — and then you'll be in the States. That's if you're lucky. The U.S. is a total hellhole right now — and I'm putting it mildly. If you weren't paying attention earlier, let me remind you: there's an ongoing war between two types of undead over territorial control. Surviving that slaughter is next to impossible."
"And what do you suggest? Are you saying we should stay here?" Sherry narrowed her eyes.
"Not exactly. We're heading toward the U.S. ourselves — just with different objectives. You see, in Anchorage, Price from Task Force 141 has an old friend — a commander of the local military base. There should be a plane there capable of flying us into the States without all the extra trouble. So our paths align — the only difference is our goals."
After finishing, Alex called over GIR, MIMI, Stitch, and Wolf. He gave a brief order — gather everyone in the building for a briefing in twenty minutes. GIR, MIMI, and Stitch saluted and, hopping onto Wolf, sped off to carry out the command.
Sherry and Jake stared after them in shock.
"Who were those…?" Sherry breathed, finally coming to her senses.
"My assistants," Alex replied calmly and headed toward the storage room. Holding Anya in his arms, he opened a cabinet and pulled out the necessary gear for Jake and Sherry, along with a couple of energy shields. He packed everything into a bag and brought it to the living room, placing it on the table.
"Here. Take it. Time to get ready."
"Get ready for what?.. Whoa..." Jake peeked into the bag and gave a low whistle. "You didn't say you had toys like this."
"I built these toys myself," Alex smirked. "And now, you're getting ready — for work. You thought food, showers, and fresh clothes came for free? Everyone contributes here. So move it — we've got a scouting mission to nearby cities this afternoon."
Sherry and Jake understood that they'd have to earn the help they received. And to be fair, they didn't really mind — the conditions in the settlement were more than comfortable.
The girls, having finished lunch, headed upstairs to get their gear. Alex, still carrying Anya, went up as well. He suited up in his usual loadout: two pistols — one black, one white — the "Blue Rose" revolver, and the Muramasa katana.
Meanwhile, GIR, MIMI, Stitch, and Wolf returned after carrying out their orders. The trio went to their stations to grab their weapons and prepare for the upcoming mission.
After getting changed, Alex came back downstairs with the girls, where Jake and Sherry were already fully geared and ready to go. He handed Anya over to the ever-reliable Brunhilde, who stayed behind to keep an eye on the house and maintain order.
Accompanying Alex on the mission were: Chun-Li, Cammy, Valmet, Chiquita, Saeko, Beatrix, Rei, Rebecca, Rory, Rika, Revy, Miu, Renka, Zero Two, and Lucy. The rest of the girls chose to stay behind at the settlement — just in case anything unexpected happened.
Alex motioned for Jake and Sherry to follow him toward the briefing room.
Upon reaching the building where pre-departure meetings were usually held, Alex noticed that everyone was already gathered. He couldn't help but note how deeply the members of Cosa Nostra had embraced the faith of the Imperium — their armor was now adorned with the insignias of the Black Templar order. Nodding to those present, he approached the table and activated a holographic map to mark the priority zones.
"Judging by your faces, I can see many of you are eager to get back out into the field — and I completely understand. Now I can officially say this: our organization, Zombieland, is moving into Phase Two. As you already know, the corporation Live is the force behind all this hell on Earth. Their main headquarters is located in Raccoon City. As long as it exists, this nightmare won't end. But that's a mission for later. Right now, our goal is to reach Anchorage. That's where an old friend of Price commands the local military base," Alex said, glancing around at everyone.
"Of course I'm itching to move… I'm already going soft here," R muttered with a smirk.
"So now we're looking for allies to plan an invasion of Evil Corp's HQ?" Hayato clarified, glancing at Alex.
"Exactly. But first — the safety of our settlement. Over the next few days, we'll be scouting these cities," Alex said, pointing at the map. "If you find nests — you know what to do. We're splitting up: two teams per city. The resource requirements are already uploaded to your HUDs, so no confusion there. If you encounter survivors — follow standard procedure. Hostiles — eliminate. Civilians — escort them back here. Shared comms channel. Report anything suspicious immediately. If the situation gets out of hand — retreat. If you can't retreat — call for backup and hold out until it arrives."
"And how do you plan to split us into groups? Or is there still room in yours, handsome?" Juri asked with a teasing grin, casting a playful look at Alex.
"Whatever works best for you, Juri. The main thing is that each city gets two teams," he replied with a smile.
"Perfect. I'm with you," Juri said, nodding with her arms crossed.
Alex shrugged and began assigning the teams. Lechma and Price's teams were headed to one city, Itami and Kota to a second, Melnik and Boris to a third. The dojo Ma group and Mr. Chang's team were going to a fourth. The rest of the participants also formed squads — there were enough cities in the area that needed clearing. But the main priority wasn't supplies — it was the destruction of demon nests.
Once the briefing was over, the large group moved toward the parked vehicles. Everyone double-checked their gear before departure. Juri, as promised, joined Alex's team, which also included Jake and Sherry — still unfamiliar with anyone but Alex himself.
Alex watched as the convoy began to leave the settlement, waving after them. His girls were already seated inside the Humvees, waiting for the go-ahead. The only ones outside were Alex, Saeko, and Beatrix, who were doing some light stretches.
"You two planning to run as well?" he asked, looking at them.
"Why not? Makes it more fun," Beatrix answered with a bright smile.
"I think so too. It'll be interesting to test myself — to see if I can run all the way to the city," Saeko added, giving Alex a seductive smile.
Alex smirked. The girls' eagerness quickly caught on with the others. Chun-Li, Cammy, Miu, and Renka climbed out of the Humvee and lined up beside them, getting ready for the run. The rest preferred to travel in comfort.
"Alex, we're heading out. Catch up if you can!" Chiquita shouted with a grin as she started the engine.
"We're moving too. Try to keep up," Valmet added, driving past.
Alex waved to the girls leaving in the two Humvees, then turned to those who had chosen to run to the city. The girls only smirked in return, taking their stances and preparing for the start. All of them had already mastered breathing techniques, which significantly boosted their physical capabilities. Alex was confident — they would have no trouble reaching the city.
Entering a state of total concentration, the girls exhaled simultaneously, releasing a cloud of steam as if unleashing the power stored within. A mist began to form around Saeko — the effect of her Mist Breathing technique. Even her father, Michikatsu, was impressed by how quickly she had mastered not just one, but several styles. Beatrix ignited with a soft flame — the result of her Flame Breathing. The rest used the standard technique that enhanced muscle strength and endurance. Alex watched their preparation with approval.
"All right, ready? Then let's begin. Thunder Breathing: God Speed," he said, and his body crackled with lightning arcs.
Like a bolt of lightning, Alex shot forward, leaving behind a trail of electricity. The girls, unwilling to be left behind, followed right after. Saeko glided forward like she had become one with the mist — her movements fluid and ghostlike. Beatrix ran with a wide grin, flames trailing behind her and her cheerful laughter echoing. The others also surged ahead, leaving deep imprints in the earth from their powerful strides.
GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, realizing they had been left behind, started smacking Wolf's back, urging him to catch up. The mask on Wolf's face locked into place, his claws dug into the ground, and with a roar, he launched forward. In seconds, he had caught up with the sprinting girls.
Meanwhile, the Humvees carrying the other girls had already driven quite a distance. Rebecca lounged lazily in the front seat, occasionally checking the rearview mirror, waiting for the inevitable chase. Jake and Sherry still didn't fully understand what was happening.
"Are they even going to catch up to us?" Sherry asked doubtfully, glancing at Rebecca.
"You'll see soon enough," Rebecca replied with a sly smile.
"Hate to break it to you, but we're going almost 80 kilometers an hour. That's not easy to match," Jake commented, giving Rebecca a skeptical look.
"They're catching up already," Valmet said calmly as she drove.
Sherry and Jake exchanged confused glances… just as Alex zoomed past them, trailing a streak of electricity. Behind him came Saeko, barely visible in a veil of mist. Then came Beatrix, laughing as her body blazed like a dancer in flames. A few seconds later, the rest of the girls rushed by, their speed no less impressive. GIR, MIMI, and Stitch passed next, riding on Wolf's back and loudly urging the robo-wolf onward.
"Is it… always like this with you guys?" Jake asked, pointing ahead to where Alex and the girls had disappeared.
"Something like that. Most of our group are well-trained fighters. Everyone finds their own way to have fun," Valmet replied nonchalantly.
Alex reached the outskirts of the city and stopped to wait for the others. Saeko was the second to arrive, slowing down gracefully and offering him a warm smile. Beatrix didn't bother braking—she crashed into Alex at full speed, laughing joyfully, and clung to him like a koala. Alex chuckled and wrapped an arm around her.
Soon, the others began to catch up. Miu and Renka were especially competitive, each trying to arrive first. As soon as they reached the destination, both collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily.
"Whew… I'm beat. Sure, we got here fast, but that was a bit much," Cammy muttered, sitting down right on the ground.
"Hmph! I was still faster than you, Miu," Renka panted, wiping her forehead.
"No way. I was first, and you know it," Miu replied, squinting at her.
"Girls, don't argue. You arrived at the same time," Chun-Li said calmly, smiling at both of them.
Miu and Renka gave Chun-Li a blank stare full of stubbornness and the desire to argue, but she only answered with a predatory grin. Her eyes clearly said — they were welcome to try and challenge her, if they weren't afraid of getting their asses kicked.
Alex stood a little apart, smoking silently as he stared at the silhouette of the city, barely visible through the haze. He didn't have high hopes — he doubted there'd be anything valuable here. Maybe just hordes of the undead, which they hadn't run into for a while. A memory surfaced: Rebecca Chambers had asked him to collect a few demon samples for her experiments. She just hadn't specified — dead or alive.
The roar of engines drew the group's attention. Alex and the girls simultaneously turned their heads toward the sound. Two Humvees pulled up to the side of the road. The engines cut off, and Chiquita and Valmet stepped out, followed by the rest.
"So, did your all-seeing eye spot anything interesting?" Rika asked with a smirk, slinging her rifle over her shoulder.
"Very funny. Just your typical zombie-apocalypse-era town. Nothing special," Alex replied with a lazy glance.
"You could've just said yes or no without making it complicated," Revy grumbled and lightly kicked his leg.
"All right, ladies, don't waste time." Valmet clapped her hands to get their attention. "We scout until sundown. Then we head back. So move it."
Alex and the girls nodded in agreement. Splitting into three groups, they headed off in different directions. Jake and Sherry joined the group of girls. GIR, MIMI, Stitch, and Wolf followed along — in the role of manual labor. Alex turned into a narrow alleyway, but when he heard footsteps behind him, he glanced back.
Juri was walking behind him, a crooked smirk on her face, hands behind her back, her gait light and teasing.
"You coming with me?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"Bingo. Everyone ditched you, big boy, and I've got a big heart—figured I'd keep you company. Aren't you happy?" she cooed, stepping in close until their noses were almost touching.
Alex met her mismatched eyes — one green, one pink. Juri didn't look away; her smile only grew wider, full of playful audacity.
"Thrilled. Now let's go already. I'm starting to feel like you're about to jump me," he said with a strained smile.
"Jump you?" Juri echoed, climbing onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. "Afraid I'll eat you up? Don't worry, unless you're into that. Or… maybe you want it to happen right now? So impatient…"
Alex winced. No matter how long he'd known her, he could never get used to her aggressive flirting. His face instinctively stretched into a long-suffering grimace, black irritation lines appearing across his features. Seeing them, Juri burst out laughing. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝖚𝖇.𝔠𝔬𝖒
Choosing to ignore her provocations, Alex kept walking, doing his best to tune out the way Juri kept rubbing against him and breathing into his ear. Inner peace wasn't easy, but he tried to maintain it.
To get a better view of the surroundings, Alex suddenly kicked off the wall and, with a powerful leap, landed on the roof of the nearest building. Without thinking, he grabbed Juri's butt to keep her from falling. She let out a surprised squeak.
"You're so rough. If you wanted a feel, you could've just asked. I wouldn't have minded," she purred into his ear, pressing tightly against his back. "But no, you act like some shy little boy. Wanted a squeeze but were too embarrassed to say so. Well? Did you like it? Soft? Firm?"
"Very soft. And firm," Alex replied with a stone-cold expression, staring into the distance.
Juri rested her cheek against his shoulder and grinned smugly, making no move to climb down.
She only smirked wider, watching as Alex casually admitted to grabbing her ass without flinching. He walked over to the edge of the roof and began scanning the area. In the distance, a building caught his eye — surprisingly intact. Deciding to start there, Alex reached down and secured Juri's legs.
"Hang on," he said briefly before launching into a series of roof-to-roof jumps toward the target.
As he moved, he occasionally glanced down. The streets below crawled with typical undead and mutants. Strangely, the sight stirred a wave of nostalgia in him. After all the bizarre and grotesque zombie variants they'd encountered, seeing the familiar, slow-moving, groaning corpses was almost… comforting.
Stopping atop a convenience store roof, Alex looked around, then stepped toward the edge.
"Are you seriously planning to stay on my back the whole time?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder.
Their faces ended up so close that their lips nearly touched. With a playful smile, Juri bumped her nose against his.
"Yup. Since you're so strong and durable, why should I bother walking? Just making the most of the situation."
Alex let out a heavy sigh and said nothing. Drawing a white pistol from his holster, he pushed the door open and stepped inside the convenience store. As expected, the building was nearly empty. The longer the apocalypse dragged on, the fewer resources remained—no surprise there.
They were mostly interested in basic supplies: batteries, food, tools. Behind the first shelf, two zombies were staggering around. Catching the scent of the living, they groaned and started shuffling toward them. The first one got too close—Alex effortlessly grabbed it by the collar and tossed it back outside. He threw the rest out the same way.
"Why didn't you just kill them?" Juri asked, resting her chin on his shoulder.
"What for? They're just regular zombies. Let them wander and moan all they want. Kinda feel bad for them—so familiar," Alex said with a smirk.
His words made Juri laugh loudly. She kept laughing while Alex searched the shelves for anything useful. He didn't even hope for her help—he knew perfectly well that the only thing she was interested in was him.
Suddenly, Juri tapped his shoulder and pointed upward. Alex nodded and headed for the stairs. The second floor looked residential—probably the shop owner had lived right above his store.
Opening the first door, they found a zombie hanging by a rope. It swayed meaninglessly back and forth, helplessly flailing its arms. Seemed like the guy had hanged himself while still alive… and still turned.
"Looks like he's been hanging out here a while," Juri chuckled.
"Judging by his face, he's enjoying it. Let's not bother him—might be shy hanging out in front of others," Alex replied in the same tone.
They both chuckled. Closing the door, Alex continued searching. Luckily, looters hadn't gotten here yet, and he managed to find a backpack filled with useful items. Everything that might come in handy—medkits, tools, wires—he carefully packed inside. He didn't even bother with weapons or ammo; the settlement had more than enough, and if needed, he could always conjure more with magic.
Once he finished searching, Alex realized there was nothing more for him here. Time to move on.
To be continued…
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