Chapter Thirty-Eight - Alliance Between Two Communities

Captain Nova brought Michael around their base and introduced him to anyone they encountered on the way. This made everyone they encountered along the way curious about this newcomer.

"He's kinda cute, isn't he?"

A group of five girls around early to mid-twenties were gathered together around a garden they were looking after and started gossiping about the man Captain Nova was showing around.

"Hmmm, I wonder if he's seeing someone. I'd love to see what's underneath those clothes." One of the girls couldn't help but almost drool when she was reminded of Michael's robust physique that couldn't be hidden even under his long coat.

"Che, it's already the apocalypse, but you still wouldn't change huh. You still want to get laid with every man you laid your eyes on. Did you not hear the news about that man?" One of them, a girl wearing glasses, rolled her eyes and rebuked her.

The girl who was called a bitch just snorted in annoyance, "Hmmph, what does a virgin like you know? If you had tasted the pleasure of having sex, then you wouldn't be saying those words to me!"

"I don't want to argue with you. Just don't get your hopes up on that man, he might or might not want to sleep with you, but he'll never bring you with him. I heard he's a nomadic survivor, and someone like you will never be able to survive that kind of life." The glasses wearing girl that has a voluptuous figure let out a disdainful snort.

"Shut up, you farm girl."

"You shut up; you whose forehead is wide enough for a plane to land."

The other three were just watching them throw verbal insults against each other, but the comment from the glasses girl made all of them snort in laughter as they tried to stop it from leaking out.

"Why you!"

"Let go, you bitch!"

Forehead girl became embarrassed and charged at the glasses girl in anger! She grabbed her hair and the two started tussling around.

The other two girls tried to stop them while the remaining girl with chestnut hair and a cowboy hat continued to gaze towards where Captain Nova and Michael had disappeared to with a thoughtful expression.

'I wonder who he is that the captain had to personally show him around? Maybe an old friend or someone from the army? But he would have introduced him through those..hmmm..' She was curious and like the forehead girl, she's also somewhat interested in Michael.

While those girls are having thoughts of their own, Michael is currently meeting someone that he had deemed slightly important for their future development.

"This is Manur, he's a war veteran from the Afghan War and a skilled pilot. He's currently our main mechanic while also a capable engineer. He's also the brains behind the wall construction."

The two arrived at an office building that was turned into a mechanic workshop and witnessed the people inside busy as bees as they were in the process of modifying a trailer truck.

'A war veteran, a mechanic and even an engineer? As expected from an Indian. Why didn't I meet someone like him?'

"Nice to meet you, I'm Michael."

"Likewise."

Both men exchanged greetings before Michael immediately brought up what the people here were doing. "That's a trailer truck, right?"

"Indeed, it is." Manur responded while throwing Captain Nova a quick glance, who gave him a nod of approval.

"We're currently modifying this one for certain emergencies. An emergency where we had to flee this place. It can also be used as a plower to clear biter infested roads. Of course, right now, this truck is only meant for escaping and hopefully, it won't see the day it was meant for."

Manur brought the men closer to the truck while explaining things to Michael. Who only listened but was immersed in watching the guys place a menace looking cowcatcher at the front of the truck. He also noticed that the cargo trailer at the side was fitted with a couple of windows similar to a bus, albeit only half the size.

"So, you've already had some contingency plans in case this place falls huh?" Michael turned to Captain Nova and was amazed. He had actually forgotten to plan something like this for Rick and the others, or more precisely, he had actually never thought about making an escape plan for them.

"Of course, the future ahead of us still looks bleak. We don't even know if those biters would someday suddenly turn even more terrifying than they are now, more terrifying than a human threat." Captain Nova placed his hands on his hips while gazing at the trailer truck.

"We'll deal with it if that day really comes." Michael slightly shrugged his shoulders as he knew the possibility of that ever happening is extremely low.

While walking around, Michael suddenly spotted something next to the trailer cargo, "Wait..is that..a duck boat?"

Manur nodded. "Yeah, we use it to cross any bodies of water if the roads are blocked."

"I know how it's used, but where did you get it?" Michael truly feels delighted that he had stumbled upon these groups of survivors since he had been learning a lot from them. Things he had never once thought of.

"We got it from a tour company. You can try looking at those tour companies or waterparks around your area. For me, these duck boats are the best vehicles a base can have right now since they can traverse both land and water." Manur responded while giving him a short piece of advice.

'It's also the best escape vehicle during a supply run inside the cities.' Michael added in his mind.

Michael turned around to look at Captain Nova. "Hey Captain, would it be okay to employ Mr. Manur here in the future?"

Captain Nova looked at him for a moment, then moved his eyes to Manur who seemed okay with his proposition. "Sure, why not. As long as you can give us something in exchange for his skills."

"Great! I'll make sure to drop by here when the time comes that I'd ever need your help." Delighted, Michael turned to Manur and repeatedly tapped his shoulder, extremely satisfied.

Manur responded with the same enthusiasm. "I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, I'd still be alive then."

Michael just smiled, though a little annoyed by his words.

'Why is this guy raising death flags? Goodness, I really hope this base is still standing when I come back here the second time.'

"Come, let's move on from here."

After sending some instructions to one of the police officers, Captain Nova returned to Michael's side, oblivious to what happened in his short absence.

"Manur, gather everyone here to the plaza. I have something very important to announce"

"Okay."

Captain Nova and Michael then left the workshop and led him to the middle of a field that had a few trees around, it looked like a public square of some sort. Michael came to that conclusion since the place also had a few portable bleachers lying around, with numerous people already gathered there.

"Good afternoon, Captain!"

"I wonder why we're gathered here today. Could something important have happened?"

"It might be related to that new guy."

"What guy?"

"That..it's that guy walking beside Captain Nova."

While a few people greeted Captain Nova along the way, Michael also managed to pick up some gossip along the way which mostly revolved around him.

Michael didn't follow him onto the small podium and instead stood beside a couple of soldiers he had made acquainted with during his short stay here.

He casually chatted with them about some random topics while waiting for the remaining people to arrive and during that time, people were throwing him curious glances, coupled with a few bold women who came with obvious intentions from how they were acting and talking with him.

"Good day everyone! I hope everyone is doing well. I have gathered every single one of you today to let you know something significant has taken place today!" Captain Nova took to the stage and addressed everyone and watched them whisper to each other.

"I am pleased to announce that our community Greenville has taken another step forward for our future! As you might have already known, we have a very important guest today!" Captain Nova looked towards Michael and smiled at him, who responded to him with a nod.

"I, your community leader and Michael, one of the leaders of Hope 101 had taken it upon ourselves and created..." Captain Nova paused and took out a rolled document from a scroll tube while Michael joined him on the stage, before he continued. "This..The Declaration of the Unified Coalitions!"

"Through this document, Greenville and Hope 101 have entered a close partnership where both communities will be there for each other, in both woes and happiness!"

Listening to his words, the people below had mixed reactions. Most were happy to hear that there are also other survivor communities out there while some had doubtful looks on their faces.

"Does Hope 101 truly exist and where is located, Captain?" One of those doubters couldn't help but raise his hand and throw them a question. This action from his elicited silence among the crowd as they also became curious.

Captain Nova didn't say anything and instead turned to look at Michael, who gave him a nod before taking center stage.

"Hello residents of Greenville. Most of you here probably know, but for those who don't. I am Michael, one of the leaders of Hope 101. Our community is located all the way from Atlanta, Georgia. Yes, I traveled all the way from there to here, all by myself. Such a long journey goes to show how capable I am as a survivor. While I can't promise anything solid right now since we have only just begun. I am here to tell you that Hope 101 will provide you with any help we can within our capabilities, and I hope the same goes for your community. To be honest, our community is not as big as your community, but we also have capable leaders and people running the place." Michael addressed the crowd, though his eyes never once left the man who raised the question from earlier.

While the man in question felt so intimidated by those eyes that he quickly looked away and never dared to look back. He didn't understand why, but he felt like he was being looked at by a beast looking at its prey.

"But..why are you all the way here to Mississippi, sir?"

"I'm actually just passing by since I still need to resume looking for a very important friend and at the same time, the possibility of other survivor communities and it paid off today. There was also another survivor base I stumbled upon before yours, but they fell prey to bandits. If I hadn't stepped in to help back then, then they might have all perished by now. This is a good reminder to us all that just because we already have walls out there to protect us, that does not mean that the danger around us has already disappeared. We must always stay vigilant."

After that, the question kept on coming and Michael had to keep answering them since everyone is curious about them, but mostly about him.