Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

While there were some people like me who could probably eat 4000 calories if I so wanted, there were also people like Jude who could barely do 1500. And also, some of them could be genetic but before we chalk it all up to our life's draw, we should at least dig a little deeper and see what else we could do to better ourselves.

And again, I was a proponent for being natural but Jude's case might be on the opposite end of the spectrum where it would actually be advisable for him to take a very, very~ small dose of Testosterone compared to the other end of the spectrum who were destroying themselves just for a bit more muscle.

Though Jude still had other plans:

"Nah, I'm good, bro. But thanks for worrying, I mean it."

Quinn and I almost said at the same time, "For real?/ You sure?"

He nodded a few times, "If I get even a pound of muscle, I might lose my only running joke or special ability, no? And I don't even play basketball, heh."

I chuckled, "I guess— but at least increase your protein intake bit by bit."

"With cup noodles? How?"

Quinn cut in, "Add a few fucking eggs in it or slap on some pork chop. If that's too fatty have a side of chicken tenders or just straight-up steak chunks if you have 'em. What you're having, my dude, is just straight-up garbage, no offense. Have some real ramen—" then she suddenly turned to me, "You're part Japanese, right?"

"Can't you just make him a batch or two he could reheat then and again?"

"I could—"

Jude waved us off, "Please, no. I could barely figure out how to work the electric stove— thank the divines for microwaves, so yeah, I'mma stick to—"

Quinn suddenly picked him up with one hand before gently laid him down, "Nuh-uh. I'm strong as fuck but you're severely underweight. How much do you weigh— Wait, don't tell me… 39 kilos?"

Jude was still confused by getting lifted up with one hand, "I don't even know— The fuck, you could throw me across the street like it's nothing!"

Quinn rolled her eyes, "With your weight? That's barely an achievement. But yeah, if you're that bad at making food— no, working the stove. Learn to fucking meal prep. That shouldn't be an excuse for your garbage diet. I know my words are harsh but you really should listen to us."

Jude had never been so much of a hypocrite, "Meal prep? Cooking meals in advance? Isn't it better to have freshly made food?"

Quinn and I rolled our eyes at the same time as I said, "The only thing you prep beforehand is hot water and maybe even some boiled eggs. And if you want to move from a.22 LR to a 5.56, a little bit of muscle on your body will allow you to do just that. You know it pays to not be a lazy fuck once in a while, no?"

"Hey! I'm not lazy! I-I just have selective needs!"

"Uh-huh~ Still, all those time you spent sneaking around everyone's bases, you should put some of that to improving yourself. Cardio's good and all—the best, even since it's one of the sacred rules but you gotta have more options with you, alright? Again, don't worry… we'll start with something small like adding chicken balls to your ramen—"

"CHICKEN BALLS?! THE FUCK?!"

I facepalmed, "I meant not actual chicken balls— You know, ground up chicken turned to balls! It'd be cooked beforehand so while they're frozen or dried, you just have to drop them in the soup while you're making your cup noodles! Better yet, learn to fucking make your own broth as well!"

"Sure… H-How do I start? I might ask Jade for help though—"

"I don't mind! Make it a family activity!"

Easily enough, I gave Jude and Jade a very quick and easy recipe for actual ramen that'd be much, much better than the cup noodles he'd always have every single fucking day.

It would always start with the broth made from chicken bones he'd set aside from making the chicken balls—and it was as easy as putting them in a pot of boiling water, adding soy sauce as the base with different kinds of seasoning.

And as he was an expert on boiling water, it wouldn't take much work but the waiting time for the broth to cook would definitely be longer than three minutes.

However, Jude actually looked intrigued about the amount of shit he could change up to modify the broth to his tastes because the motherfucker was actually mixing and matching the flavor packets.

"How long does it need to boil exactly?"

"Depends? It's usually a few hours but that's something you'd have to sacrifice to have something much, much better. How are you on making your own noodles?"

Jude looked at me like I was an idiot, "Want me to just dunk my head in this pot and end it all?"

Jade stifled a laugh, "You're just making the best version of your favorite food! And he's helping you—"

"I thought we'd start small?! How can making chicken balls turn to making my own broth and noodles?!"

"You just have to go all-in in some of these things, alright?! If you're making it in batches, you can always do it twice a month and go from there! It wouldn't hurt you to spend a few hours of your life doing this!"

"But that's the beauty of cup noodles, three minutes and you're done! I just add whatever the hell I want to it and go from there!"

"We'll see…"

"We'll see what?!"

"We'll see."

Funnily enough, even if Kaley wanted me to "tuck her in" for the night, I spend maybe four hours with Jude—though Jade had to sleep for her kid's well-being—and let's just say I easily converted, mostly, a cup noodle enjoyer to a real authentic ramen connoisseur.

It was because once I gave Jude a very simple bowl I made with very simple ingredients, all it took was one sip of the broth and one mouthful of noodles for this disappearing motherfucker to cry tears of joy and bow down to me, and proclaim his love for real noodles.

But yeah, we still had to compromise because he was still a flight risk and he'd have to still eat garbage from time to time.

However, with easily made chicken balls available to him, he'd at least have a higher protein intake compared to just straight-up carbs and random-ass seasonings.

"What if I don't have a food processor though?"

"You grab a cleaver and get some exercise."

"Can't I just use the chicken as is?"

"If you can mold it into a ball, sure."

"Then why make it a ball in the first place?"

"Cause you don't eat fucking chicken in the first place too!"

"Ah— My bad… Right, right… Turning them into balls like these just makes it easier for consumption and traveling, huh?"

"That's the point."

"Hmm… and I just have to either fry them or— wait, they're already cooked, right? So I just dump them in while reheating the soup?"

"Yeah. But you can still fry them if you want them a little crispy. Just put them in a small plate for later so they don't get soggy."

"Right, right… Thanks, dude. You know, for finding the time to teach me this stuff…"

I cringed a little, "C-Can… Can we not do that shit?"

Jude nodded a ton of time, "Yep— M-My sister just made me do that… Eugh— Never again."

So yeah, after we parted ways, I made my way to where my group was and they were all in the roof with a few lamps lighting the surroundings. While it'd be more comfortable for each of us to sleep in a soft bed, everyone just unanimously decided to set up our tents in a circle and just have comforters inside.

With the cold breeze blowing from time to time, they greatly appreciated the bone broth—or should I say the ramen broth I brought up with me and it was gone in less than 60 seconds.

However, it was maybe 20— no, around the 30-minute mark when we noticed a fire going off from a distance and it was at the location of this tall condominium way, way~ further out. It seemed to be a gas leak of some sort—but it could be anything, really—but the first thing I did was contact Iskoh and see if they had setup an outpost in that area and if they needed reinforcements.

Though I was met with a few assurances:

-

*bzzt*

[No, it's okay. It's too dangerous to send people over there now but we laid several traps in that unit since it's infested with the undead.]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Uh-huh. I'll have something check it out still."

*bzzt*

-

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!