:::On Hold::: The Affinity Between Our Stars

Chapter 1: "Damit Fred!"

Why do we seek the truth? Is it because, we as humans are naturally curious? Is it because we can't stand not to satisfy the hunger that drives us to know, for better or for worse?

For the sole reason we can't stand the thought of living in a world whose foundation is based on fallacies?

Or is it because we want this world's next generation, to lead better, happier lives? Because we want freedom, free from the chains holding us down that are simply known as lies?

Because I refused to be chained.

I am Levin Cross.

And this is my story.

***

*Boom*

It's head exploded in a cacophony of bone and brain matter painting a macabre mural on the brick wall behind it. In a practiced ease, I pull back the bolt to load the barrel with more shells. Three more go out in a similar manner before I'm forced to look back at the trainee.

"And that's how you wreck face." I turn to the girls' amazed expression.

"How the hell did you learn to do that!" The girl exclaimed.

"Well it's not that hard, just gets better with experience." I state grimly.

"Somehow I doubt that." She chuckles dryly.

I wait for her to set her rifle up and I take the chance to actually look her over. According to her dossier, she flew through the ranks, earning the title 'Flash' from some pre-apoc show or comic, she radiated an air of confidence and determination, so much so that I expected her family had some importance in the coalition. Her lean frame, coupled with her sharp blue eyes and confident smirk said she was a hyped up girl ready to kill a few zeds and save some people.
She was pretty, I'll give her that and she seemed like a good person. I looked at her nameplate: Melanie, somehow the name fit her.

I gave her a month.

Her standard military-short black hair faced me as I started the exercise. "Alright, I'm gonna start with the basics. You currently have a beginner's bolt-action rifle and it looks like you already know how to set up." I lean over her shoulder to grab a hold on the bolt action. "Pull the bolt back after every shot to dispense the spent cartridge and when aiming down the s-"

"Just teach me how to quickscope, scrub." She said in a snarky tone.

I grimaced. Scratch that, she'd barely survive a week. She couldn't treat everyone like her plaything and that aristocracy vibe she was giving off just wouldn't work, especially out in the field. I decided to teach her a lesson. I took her clip and emptied everything except for a bullet.

"What the hell did you do that for!?"

"First, I don't know what position of the coalition your family is in, and frankly I don't care, so lose the attitude. Second, you will address all of your superiors with their proper position until they or I say otherwise. And third, out in the field everyone is your equal.
Do I make myself clear?" I finished quietly.

"Yes." She said. Then grudgingly added. "Sir."

"One more thing. You will get a collateral with that one bullet you have. Shouldn't be that hard considering that a good chunk of those zeds are in the alleyway." I paused to at the disbelieving look she threw me. "If you don't succeed, I will shadow your every independent operation until you prove to me you can take care of yourself."
Sure, what I was doing was a little unorthodox, but hey its the apocalypse. No sense in not having a little fun.

Melanie started to protest but abruptly stopped when she realized there was no use. She aimed her rifle in the direction of the alley and looked down the scope. I could tell it wasn't her first time using a Winchester but I was a bit surprised to see her going through the motions so fluidly. Usually cadets like her couldn't tell the difference between whether a stick was up their ass or down their throat. She took a deep breath then pulled the trigger as it was out halfway. The bullet flew through the intervening space with a whiz before hitting a zed in a business suit through the eye whilst killing the one that looked like a mime, behind it. It lived up to it's namesake by staying silent rather than growling like his counterparts, to the very end. Props to you mate.

"Is that good enough for you, sir?" She asked with a hint of pride.

To be honest I didn't really expect her to even kill one, let alone kill two with one bullet. Not to mention there wasn't any lesson taught, at least on her end. But of course. I still had to be an asswipe.

"It's good enough I guess."

" 'I guess' " She questions with an incredulous tone.

"It's just that most cadets can literally get collaterals back to back. They also use their environments to their advantage and know when to be patient."
I look around. "See that jerry can? They'd probably shoot it once the zedheads made one of their rotations, killing all of them in one fell swoop."

"Com'on, Its not like you did that."

"Actually, that's exactly what I did." I said while leaning on my rifle, probably looking like a smug bastard in the processes.

Thoroughly deflated, she shoots a look at my sleek looking rifle.
"What is that." She asks genuinely curious.

"Oh this thing." I pat it affectionately. "The PT2 is just an experimental weapon the coalition scrounged up from before the outbreak. Using super magnets to propel large shots of contained plasma. This thing mowers through zombies like there's no tomorrow. Sadly, tech hasn't been able to completely reverse engineer it." I say, not sad at all that I'm one of the only people who got to commission one.

"Sir, what's that static coming over the radio."

"Huh?" I say, breaking away from my momentary stupor. I walk over to the radio to find a signal tuned to the general ZS frequency.
As I adjust the settings to unscramble, a familiar voice starts to form over waves of gunshots. "Is...there...Hello! Finally! Got it clear. This is Fred and if anyone can hear this I need immediate assistance in the Valaha parking complex! Im getting overrun! Please hurry, come ASAP!"

"Damit Fred!" I get ready to head out.

"I'm coming with you." She moves to follow.

"No, you'd only get in the way. Just stay here and wait until you receive your package.

I swear that idiot better not be dead by the time I got there.