Alex sat by the window, leisurely smoking while the ferry's control room buzzed with activity. The girls were busy cleaning, turning the space into a place for sleep and relaxation. He wisely chose not to interfere—whenever he tried to help, he was inevitably met with an irritated, "You don't even know where things are supposed to go!" So this time, he made the smart choice and let them handle it however they saw fit.
The only one lacking enthusiasm was Koko—she lazily pretended to help but was actually just slowing down the process. Meanwhile, MIMI and Stitch were checking the equipment, figuring out how much fuel they had and whether the ferry could reach Okinawa without any issues.
After sitting idly for a while, Alex started getting bored. He needed to come up with something fast. A plan was forming in his mind… and the clearer it became, the wider his grin spread. The girls noticed and exchanged glances, but before they could ask, Alex stood up and, whistling, left the control room.
Strolling across the deck, he casually checked on the others, asked random questions, but all the while, he was looking for something specific. And after a few minutes, he found it. With a satisfied smirk, Alex returned to the control room, holding a large piece of black fabric in his hands.
"Why do you need that rag?" Rebecca asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hehehe… That's a secret," Alex chuckled mischievously.
The girls narrowed their eyes, not quite sure what he was up to—but suspicions were already forming. Meanwhile, Alex stepped aside and gestured for GIR, MIMI, and Stitch to come over. Once his trio of troublemakers had gathered around, he began whispering his plan to them.
The more they listened, the more eagerly they nodded in agreement. Alex even briefly considered making them matching outfits. From the outside, it looked like a band of conspirators plotting something wildly mischievous.
"What do you think he's up to?" Rika whispered to the others.
"No need to guess," Rebecca drawled, lounging comfortably on a mattress. "He got bored, so now he's come up with another dumb idea."
"Aren't you even curious what exactly he's planning?" Saya asked, sitting down next to her.
"We'll find out soon enough. Might as well relax while we can," Rebecca replied lazily, making no move to get up.
The other girls watched Alex with interest but didn't dare get up and eavesdrop. Koko even clicked her tongue in irritation when she realized Alex had noticed her and kept her from getting closer. Soon enough, they all decided to follow Rebecca's example and just wait for the reveal.
Satisfied that no one was interfering, Alex continued discussing his idea with the trio. After a short meeting, they reached a final decision, and GIR and MIMI got to work—starting to paint on the black fabric. Within minutes, a design began to take shape.
Alex and Stitch watched the process with interest until the final result was revealed before them—a skull in a partially destroyed Ultramarine helmet, two chainswords crossed behind it, and the Imperium's eagle in the background.
"Well, now we have a pirate flag," Alex said with a satisfied grin, crossing his arms over his chest.
GIR, MIMI, and Stitch nodded proudly, clearly pleased with their work.
"You guys done yet?" Rebecca's voice called out as she turned onto her side to glance at them.
"Hell yeah! Check this out!" Alex said, expertly grabbing the flag and holding it up for display.
GIR helped Alex unfurl the pirate flag so the girls could admire it in all its glory. First, they glanced at the flag, then at Alex and his trio of troublemakers. Now it was clear what he had in mind. Shaking their heads, they simply sighed, deciding not to interfere since it seemed to bring him joy.
"So, are we pirates now?" Shizuka asked with a sweet smile.
"Yes! Now we'll conquer all the seas and oceans!" Alex declared proudly, giving a thumbs-up.
"First, we were apocalypse survivors, now we're pirates. What's next? Monster hunters? Or maybe even space pirates?" Saya smirked, trying to hold back her laughter.
"That's all for the future," Alex waved dismissively as he walked past her, ruffling her hair slightly. "For now, we need to raise the flag!"
The girls watched as he strode out of the control room, laughing, the pirate flag draped over his shoulder like a cape. His trio of troublemakers and Alice immediately ran after him, eager to see what he had planned. Sharing a glance, the girls decided to follow—curiosity had won them over.
Alex's sudden appearance quickly drew the attention of the other passengers resting on the ferry. He walked confidently, then effortlessly leaped onto the railing before hopping onto the roof, heading toward the flagpole. People began whispering among themselves, wondering what their strange yet charismatic leader was up to this time.
Reaching the flagpole, Alex removed the old flag and began securing the new one. A few moments later, the black cloth—adorned with a skull in a partially shattered Ultramarine helmet, crossed chainswords behind it, and the Imperium's eagle in the background—proudly billowed in the wind. Alex grinned in satisfaction, jumped down, and landed right on the railing.
"Now we have our own flag!" he announced triumphantly. "Our goal—find the One Piece! I will become the Pirate King, and we will conquer all the seas! We have gathered here to find our All Blue!"
"Hate to break it to you, but we're in a slightly different genre," Itami's voice called up from below.
Alex froze for a second, momentarily choking on air, then turned his gaze toward Itami. The girls burst into laughter at his flustered expression.
"And what genre are we in? Did I miss something?" he raised a brow.
"Well… a zombie apocalypse, in case you haven't noticed," Lehm replied lazily, blowing out a puff of smoke.
"But that doesn't stop us from finding our All Blue!" Alex declared confidently, raising his finger again.
The guys just shook their heads with amused grins, realizing there was no convincing him otherwise. Seeing that there were no more questions, Alex jumped down from the railing and, still smiling, made his way back to the control room.
Once he returned to the captain's seat, he immediately turned to GIR.
"Calculate the route."
Without a word, GIR began analyzing the available data. The girls followed him inside and were surprised to see that all of Alex's laziness had vanished—he was now completely focused on work.
A minute later, GIR finished his calculations.
"At our current speed, we'll reach Okinawa in approximately two weeks."
Alex nodded and immediately issued new orders.
"MIMI, Stitch, check the engine status."
"Got it!" they answered in unison before disappearing through the door.
Turning to the girls, Alex took a chair and placed his phone in front of him, activating the hologram with the map of their route. The girls moved closer and sat in a semicircle to get a better view.
"Alright, we have a two-week journey ahead," he began, pointing to the starting point and the destination. "This means we'll inevitably need to make stops. The engine's condition is still unclear, so we'll set that aside for now. The most important thing right now is supplies. We need to know exactly what we're missing."
"First, essentials: toilet paper, drinking water, soap, shampoos," Saya listed, adjusting her glasses. "We don't know how good the water filtration system is on this ferry, so it's better to be safe than sorry."
"We'll also need medication," Shizuka added. "Two weeks is a long time; someone might get sick. We should take medicine for possible illnesses."
"Regarding the water," Alex said thoughtfully, "there's enough technical water: for washing dishes, cooking, even bathing. But drinking it—that's a different story. So, yeah, first and foremost, we need drinking water and medication."
He looked pensively at the map, mentally calculating the nearest possible stops, and began to devise a plan of action.
Alex nodded, agreeing with Saya and Shizuka, understanding that they were right. He waited for the opinions of the other girls—he didn't want to shoulder all the responsibility again.
"We need to get back to training. Even though we're safe now, that's no reason to slack off," Saeko spoke up.
"I agree. But people need rest. We've come a long way, and many still need to adjust to life on the ship. Let them rest today, and start training again tomorrow," Brunhilda added.
Alex nodded, accepting her point of view. He already had training plans in mind for those who would want to join, but he pushed those thoughts aside for now and focused on the route laid out by GIR. There were several coastal cities along their way where they could restock, but the situation there remained unknown. Without electricity, hacking into the city cameras was impossible, and satellite images only provided a general idea.
Marking a few cities on the map, Alex explained the plan:
"In these cities, we'll resupply and look for whatever we need."
The girls nodded in agreement.
"Yuriko, help Kyoko check the provisions and make a list."
"Rika, Rebecca, Kiriko—weaponry and ammunition are on you. We need to know how many rounds we have."
"Shizuka, take care of the medications. You can bring MIMI with you."
"Koko, contact your brother and find out the situation in China."
"Valmet, take a couple of people from your group and keep an eye on the shore."
"No problem, handsome," Rika smirked, pulling Rebecca along, who clearly didn't want to get up.
Saya and Namiye asked to be trained on how to operate the ship, and Alex didn't refuse—they couldn't rely on GIR to stay at the helm forever. Rei and Saeko also wanted to join the future training sessions. Alex nodded, promising to come up with something.
Yuriko left with Rika, Rebecca, and Kiriko. Shizuka didn't waste any time either and hurried to make the list, trying to show that she was responsible.
"Valmet, if you want, you can borrow my 'binoculars'," Alex suggested, making a binocular shape with his hands.
"Idiot," she replied, slapping him on the head before leaving.
Alex laughed as she walked away. After scanning the cockpit, he thought to himself: there was enough space here to set up a desk. He waved Ray, Saeko, and Saya to follow him, and they went in search of suitable furniture. When they returned, Alex noticed that GIR was teaching Alice how to operate the ferry, while Namiyo sat next to her, listening attentively.
While the girls rested, Alex focused on setting up his workspace. Soon, the girls returned with the supply lists. He carefully reviewed them, marking the priority items, before setting the papers aside.
Koko approached him:
"Give me the phone, I want to contact my brother."
Alex frowned, then slapped his forehead.
"Sorry, it completely slipped my mind... You can't reach him now without special procedures."
Koko smirked.
"I forgot too. Here I am, standing like an idiot, dialing the number on the satellite phone and waiting for the call to go through."
Alex smirked back, shrugging. There was much to discuss today, but at least they had a clear plan.
He handed the phone to Koko, who dialed Kasper's number, her older brother. Koko took the call and patiently waited for him to pick up. The girls fell silent, not wanting to disturb the conversation.
"Who is this?!" came Kasper's angry voice. "If you're that bastard who didn't get it the first time, let me repeat myself: since this old bastard kissed your asses, I'm not doing it! Let that decrepit idiot go to hell! Just because my father became your lapdog doesn't mean I'll follow in his footsteps!"
Koko frowned sharply, catching the meaning of his words. She hadn't expected their father to switch sides to the one who caused the apocalypse, but she regained her composure and bitterly smiled. Deep down, she knew that's what their father had always been—someone whose only god was profit.
Everyone in the cockpit could hear Kasper's furious rant, as though he were ready to rip the person on the other side to pieces.
"Why the hell are you silent, bastard?! You think you can do something to me while you're hiding your ass in a safe place?!" he continued.
"Kasper, you idiot!" Koko yelled, losing her temper. "Can you shut up already?! The whole ship can hear your tantrum! You wanna die sooner than planned?!"
Everyone stared in shock at the enraged Koko. No one expected her to curse so fiercely, let alone threaten her own brother. Alex raised an eyebrow, surprised by her fiery temper. Even Rika, who was used to Koko's personality, looked at her with a hint of surprise.
Alex glanced at Valmet, but she simply sighed wearily and quietly explained:
"It's nothing unusual. They always talk like this. Usually, when Kasper starts arguing, Koko ends up beating him."
Alex smirked, recalling similar scenes from anime, and even felt a bit sorry for Kasper. But only a little. It didn't take a genius to understand that, in most cases, it was Kasper who pushed Koko to the brink of fury.
Rebecca, watching the scene unfold, snickered and gave a thumbs-up. Her eyes reflected understanding — after all, she communicated with her own brother in exactly the same way, despite loving him.
Koko's hair seemed to rise slightly in the air, as if it were obeying her anger. She was worried about her brother, but the first thing she heard from him was a torrent of curses. And the news that their father had switched sides to the enemy only added fuel to the fire.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the line, Kasper was in the Chinese Prime Minister's residence with his men. They were surrounded, and no one knew how much longer they could hold out before the hordes of the dead broke through the barricades.
Upon hearing the loud scream of a very familiar voice, Kasper pulled the phone away from his ear and stared at the display, as if he couldn't believe his ears.
"Something wrong?" asked one of his men, noticing the change in their leader's behavior.
Just a minute ago, Kasper had been swearing furiously, and now he was simply staring at the phone. His men had already gotten used to him cursing non-stop for the last few days, especially after the call from his father. When Floyd Heckmatyar called his son and explained the situation, Kasper had been so enraged that he cursed at him for hours on end. Then came the calls with "attractive offers" to switch sides to the enemy.
"Koko? Is that you?!" Kasper finally managed to squeeze out, trying to regain his composure. "Don't tell me you're with those bastards now!"
"Have you lost your mind, slug?!" Koko snarled, like a tigress. "Why the hell should I work for those scumbags?! The fact that that old bastard switched sides has nothing to do with me! I almost died from the cargo I was supposed to deliver! That bastard and his buddies can go to hell!"
With each word, Koko's voice grew louder, and her fury became more intense. Over the past few days, she had accumulated too many emotions, and now they were spilling over.
Kasper exhaled in relief, realizing that Koko was still herself even in moments like this. He missed her foul temper and was certain that his sister would never side with those who had almost killed her. However, he was curious about the cargo she had been transporting for their father's friend and why she had found herself in such deadly danger.
Taking a deep breath, Koko tried to calm down and began explaining what had happened at the airport. She admitted that she hadn't seen the contents of the cargo herself but knew that strange soldiers had taken it, unleashed a horde of zombies on them, and then managed to blow up her plane.
Kasper listened carefully, picking out the important details from her words. He realized that these bastards somehow had control over zombies, although he hadn't encountered this himself yet. However, he trusted his sister—Koko wouldn't lie in a situation like this.
"How did you manage to get out of the airport?" he asked with clear interest.
Kasper's bodyguards, sensing the start of an intriguing story, moved closer, eager to hear the details.
"What's there to tell?" Koko replied carelessly. "Some guy showed up with two robo-dogs, he wanted to save Rika Minami, and he ended up rescuing us too. Killed zombies, blew up the airport—end of story."
"Koko, are you out of your mind? Do you even realize what you just said? That sounds like complete nonsense," Kasper looked at the phone as if hoping he had misheard.
"What's so strange about that? You're acting like it's impossible. I'm looking right at these robo-dogs," Koko stated without a hint of doubt.
Kasper heard again about these mysterious "robo-dogs" and wondered if his sister had perhaps gone crazy. However, he decided not to dwell on that and instead focused on clarifying where she was now.
"Alright, let's forget about these dogs for now. Where are you now? You're clearly not in Tokyo anymore."
"That's right. Me and my people joined a group of survivors. We're heading to Okinawa now. Alex wants to borrow a military ship to get to Alaska."
"Wait a second. Who's this Alex? And what do you mean by 'borrow' a military ship? Do you even realize that the military base in Okinawa is probably not going to be empty at a time like this? What the hell is going on with you guys?!" Kasper bombarded his sister with questions, not letting her finish.
"Can you shut up?" Koko snapped. "I'm not finished! Alex is the leader of our group. And the Okinawa base is actually empty, which is why we're heading there. Is there a problem with that?"
"Hold on, Koko..." Kasper's voice turned serious. "Let's sort this out. Tell me everything in detail—starting with this Alex and ending with the military base."
Koko sighed and glanced at Alex, as if asking for permission to talk about him. He simply nodded, indicating that he didn't mind. With his confirmation, Koko began explaining everything she knew about him and what he had been doing since the start of the zombie apocalypse.
Kasper switched to speakerphone so his bodyguards could hear as well. The longer he listened, the more it felt like he was caught in some absurd movie. Everything he heard sounded so ridiculous that even his men exchanged confused glances. Kasper himself sat there with a stunned expression, unable to fully process what he had just heard.
After hearing Koko's story, Kasper sighed deeply and rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to process the information. He was relieved that his sister was alive and had managed to find a group of survivors, but what amazed him was something else—this guy named Alex had somehow not only survived but had managed to gather an enormous amount of information, despite the chaos in the world.
One of Kasper's bodyguards, Chiquita, was also intrigued. She had worked for Koko before, so she could immediately tell when Koko spoke with respect about someone. Apparently, Alex had managed to impress not only Koko but even Kasper himself.
"Alright, I got it. In any case, that's good news. The most important thing is that you're safe, and your Alex has a plan," Kasper finally said, coming to terms with what he'd heard.
"Something like that. But what's going on with you? You're still in China, right? I can only imagine how bad things are there with that kind of population," Koko asked, eager to find out what situation her brother was in.
"You're right, it's really bad. My guys and I barricaded ourselves in the Prime Minister's residence. I don't know how much longer we can hold out, but sooner or later, the barricades won't last. Most of the government is either dead or has switched sides. They even turned the president into one of those things. And trust me, I don't even want to think about what he became," Kasper replied, shuddering at the unpleasant memories.
Koko frowned. If her brother was really trapped in such a place, his chances of survival were rapidly diminishing. Alex, however, grew even more interested when he heard about the president of China.
"What do you mean? Do you have any photos or videos? Or at least some data?" he asked immediately, joining the conversation.
"You must be Alex... No, I don't have anything like that," Kasper responded, realizing he was now speaking to the leader of his sister's group.
"Damn, that's frustrating. Can you at least describe what happened to him?" Alex pressed.
"It's hard to explain... When it happened, we were already on the run. They shoved some thing into him, and then black worms started crawling out of his body... What happened next, none of my men saw," Kasper explained, understanding that Alex was clearly trying to gather information.
"I see. Alright, how bad is it for you guys? Maybe we can help?" Alex asked, already starting to think about a possible rescue plan.
"Couldn't be worse. We're surrounded, and escaping is nearly impossible. Unless you've got a helicopter or could bomb a few blocks to clear a path for us," Kasper replied with a strained smile, trying not to lose his optimism.
"Give me a minute. Just don't die, and please, don't turn into a zombie," Alex joked, setting the phone on the table.
"Haha, I'll try," Kasper chuckled.
Alex's joke lightened the mood a bit. After all the horrors they had endured over the last few days, Kasper allowed himself a smile for the first time. But Alex wasn't in the mood for laughter—he was already putting a plan into motion.
Approaching his makeshift desk, Alex pulled out his laptop and motioned for G.I.R. The robo-dog immediately ran over, and Alex connected him to the computer with a cable. The girls watched curiously to see what he was about to do.
Once connected to the satellite, Alex began tracking Kasper's location. A few minutes later, the screen displayed an image: the residence of the Prime Minister of China was surrounded by a dense horde of zombies, literally clinging to the barricades.
Continuing to monitor the situation, Alex searched for possible escape routes. After a little searching, he discovered an abandoned CIA safehouse in the docks. According to the data, there were enough supplies to withstand a siege for several months.
"And how are you planning to get them out of there? I've never seen so many zombies in one place," Rey asked, resting her chest on his head.
"I think..." Alex replied, his gaze focused on the screen.
"What if our little guy causes another 'accident' like last time?" Rebecca suggested, climbing onto his lap.
Alex thoughtfully nodded, turning his gaze to G.I.R. Rebecca's idea seemed like the most reasonable option in the current situation. After all, Kasper himself had said that they wouldn't be able to get out without destroying a few blocks.
The girls exchanged confused glances, trying to figure out what Rebecca meant by "accident." She explained that during their time as mercenaries, Alex had received too many contracts, and to save time, G.I.R. started causing "accidents" to eliminate criminals and other scoundrels.
The girls nodded in shock, realizing that this was indeed a way to make money. G.I.R. proudly raised a metal finger, showing his confidence in his work.
"Alright, G.I.R., first check if there are any people there. If it's just the dead, you know what to do. But only on my signal," Alex commanded, staring intently at the dog.
Meanwhile, Kasper sat watching the phone on the desk. Hopes for rescue were slim. He didn't believe anyone could pull them out from here, being thousands of kilometers away. Even his men didn't have high hopes.
"Do you think, Kasper, that this Alex can really help us?" Chiquita asked, leaning back in her chair.
"According to Koko, he's pretty capable. But, to be honest, I doubt he can get us out of here while he's in Japan and we're stuck in China. He's strong, but the distance is just too great. I also don't think he has the connections to get a helicopter. Although, if he does manage to..." Kasper paused for a moment, then smirked. "You know, I wouldn't even mind if Koko married him. Only a blind man wouldn't notice how much she's clearly attached to him over the last few days."
"Wow! Kasper Hekmatyar himself approves of his sister's marriage? That's something new! Wasn't it you who gathered all those bodyguards for her?" Chiquita smirked, watching him. "And don't try to deny it. Without your help, Koko probably wouldn't have been able to gather such a great team of fighters. Even my ex-husband wanted to follow her."
"We'll see about that," Kasper muttered. "First, I want to see this guy for myself... if, of course, we make it out."
"According to Koko, he beat a giant zombie that threw an armored tank. Are you sure he won't just beat you up? Or do you hope Koko will step in when they start beating you?" Chiquita asked with a grin.
Kasper tactfully stayed silent. He knew his sister better than anyone. Alex wouldn't even need to do anything—Koko would attack him herself if she deemed it necessary. Realizing this, he only sighed heavily. All his efforts to protect his sister had been for nothing.
"Hey, Kasper, are you still alive? If you've turned into a zombie, just growl," Alex's cheerful voice came through the phone.
Kasper's face twitched. Now he was certain: Alex and Koko hadn't just found common ground by chance. Even their speaking styles were similar!
Chiquita and the other bodyguards, seeing the expression on his face, couldn't hold back their laughter.
"No, I'm not a zombie yet," Kasper answered, keeping his tone restrained. "Have you figured something out?"
"Sort of," Alex chuckled. "You said yourself that you won't get out unless a few blocks get bombed. So… I've got a solution."
"Wait..." Chiquita narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "You're not planning an airstrike, are you?"
"Hey, who are you? And where's Kasper gone? Get him back here, and I promise I won't get mad about you beating him up. Though…" Alex paused. "On second thought, feel free to keep beating him. Koko said it's fine."
"My name's Chiquita, I'm Kasper's bodyguard," she laughed. "And you know what? I'll think about your offer."
Kasper's face grew even darker as Chiquita and Alex continued to laugh at him without hiding it.
"You two, enough already," Kasper snapped, glancing at them from under his brow. "Now explain what you're planning."
"Sorry, but at least now you're not looking so sour," Alex smirked. "Alright, listen closely. There won't be an airstrike, but my assistant will cause… let's say, a little 'accident.' You don't need to worry about that—just grab the people and head for the transport. You'll know when it's time to leave. Get to the port—there's an abandoned CIA warehouse with enough supplies for everyone. Wait there until we get to you."
Kasper listened carefully, then tiredly rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Alright, got it. I won't even ask how you know about the abandoned CIA warehouse that can't be found through normal means. How do we signal that we're ready?"
"I'm tracking your position via satellite and monitoring the situation around you. When you're ready, launch a flare over the transport. Once I see it, my assistant will take care of the rest. After that, head straight for the port," Alex replied.
"Got it, man. Hope your plan works. If I survive..." Kasper smirked. "Anyway, I don't mind if you marry my sister."
Before he could finish the sentence, angry shouts from Koko were heard, and Kasper quickly ended the call, anticipating the storm.
Alex quietly chuckled, putting down the phone. He didn't even have to guess that Koko was probably furious right now, and the laughter of the girls was only fueling her rage. She had already promised herself that as soon as she saw Kasper, she would beat him up for a long time.
A few minutes later, a flare lit up the sky.
"GIR, start," Alex commanded.
The girls moved closer to see how exactly GIR was going to cause the "accident." And as if on cue, explosions began to erupt one after another throughout the district, lighting up the night sky with fiery flashes like a festive fireworks display.
Alex continued to monitor the events through the satellite for a few more minutes, until he was sure that Kasper and his team had managed to escape. His job was done.
Closing the laptop, he leaned back in his chair and smiled contentedly.
To be continued...
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