At Least I'll Get a Little Training In
His heavily booted steps were fierce, and determined.
Sure in their course. He was aware that his goal wasn't a necessarily safe goal. Nor ideal. But for him, it was his only chance to get in some basic training. On the fly, too. He had asked what few survivors he'd come across, where the nearest miliary outpost was located. After receiving his answer, he'd made to head for it. He'd get some military training in. It would serve him well in the coming years. That was really all he wanted. He knew the outpost wouldn't last. It would either move on, or become overrun with fresh zombies. All it took was one bitten victim, and it was game over. So, he merely wanted to get what training he could get in, before shit hit the inevitable fan.
Again.
And hey, he'd get a weapon out of the deal. Better than just his fists and kicks. As much as he loved his boxing and kickboxing abilities, he knew they weren't the best options for weapons. And while he knew guns were the worst potential weapons in a zombie apocalypse. It never hurt to learn how to use one. He may end up enjoying it. And besides, the butt end would make for a nice club weapon. And who knows, maybe he'd learn how to make bullets from scrap. May actually be a useful skill. And he could have his gun for good. He just needed to keep it cleaned so it didn't jam.
But his only issue from there, was the noise it made.
It would surely draw more zombies directly to him. He'd have to use it wisely and sparingly. As he made his way to the outpost, he had to wonder what his sister would do or say about his decision. Gods, he missed her so much already. He's not yet run across her zombified corpse. And for that, he was grateful. He wasn't sure he could see his dead sister's face on those things. He wasn't sure he'd have what it took to take her out. The strength to pull the trigger, or swing whatever blunt weapon he had to bash her brains in. Even if it would release her trapped soul and put her to her final rest.
And maybe he secretly hoped deep in his heart, she was still alive somewhere. Safe, and making it on her own. She may have been a beta-alpha, but she was a tough female. Smart, and sassy. She wouldn't take much laying down. Even in an upside down world like theirs was now. And maybe, they'd find one another again. He had to cling to that hope. It was the only thing that could keep him going. That, and finding a potential mate. If he was that lucky.
And yes, he knew having hope in the world they now lived in was a bit foolish. But without any type of hope whatsoever, then why would they bother trying to fight off the zombies? Why not just let them come for them all? Accept their grizzly and gruesome fates? Simple, they had hope. Often a thin and easily frayed hope. Hope that sometimes didn't see some through. But they had hope regardless. So why shouldn't he have any hope of seeing his sister again? Alive and well. Surviving. Even living?
His gaze narrowed dangerously, sharp as it took in the outpost not much further ahead.
Now he had to figure out how to convince them to train him a little. That he could contribute as an alpha protector. He had what it took. They may take him out of desperation. After all, the government was by now in complete shambles. A ghost of itself. And with no superiors to tell them yes or no, it ultimately fell to the highest ranking soldier there. And they needed the numbers. The help. And he was willing to help. Until the outpost fell.
Then he'd be on the wind again.
//
"You got a name, son?"
He frowned a little. By his perspective, they were not too far apart in age. While yes, he'd never reached the age of mandatory military service yet when the zombies came, he was close to it. And this soldier didn't look too much older than he was. Still, he gave a quiet sigh. Knowing it was in his best interest to cooperate. Especially if they were really considering taking him on, on such extremely short notice. He'd argued his case with the first soldier he came across. He'd been swiftly taken to this soldier here. He forgot his rank. Didn't care. It also wouldn't matter in the end.
At least there was a chance he'd get some military training in, before shit happened again.
He answered as honestly and politely as he could, "Choi San, sir."
His arms behind his back. Shoulders squared, staring straight ahead. He'd always practiced his military training with his father. His father would often chuckled warmly, and encourage him in his dreams and goals. Stating he'd make a fine alpha fighter for Korea. And a very good and caring mate for his future partner or partners. Noting he would truly be able to defend, protect, and provide well for his own family unit. So San was already well versed in how to stand at attention.
The soldier hummed, nodding. He was silently impressed with San's physical prowess. He could see his bulging muscles. Mostly his arms, on proud display. He was certainly an alpha. He had deep black hair. With a tinge of blue in it, it seemed. His wolf was clearly strong. It would survive this apocalypse. He had to. He had been stunned when this kid was brought to him. Wanting do some quick military training. To help. He had seen no reason to beat about the bush. As he stood here taking San in, he was already agreeing to take him on. For however long this shitty hole of an outpost was to last.
He knew it would go down in time.
The soldier spoke, "I'm sure you know what I know. So I'm going to make this easy for the both of us. If I agree to take you on as a soldier now, you best make a fucking oath to me you'll make it to the end of this hell we're living in. Be it to a cure, or coexistence. Cities built with heavy thick walls to prevent them from breaching ever again."
San blinked, but dared not show his surprise. Yes, he knew there was a high chance he'd get it. They needed the muscle. But he had also expected them to say he was wasting his time and energy. His breath with his request. As he took a moment to register his words, he quickly asked himself what his sister would say or do. Would she be proud of him? Encourage him to do this? Gods above, he wished she was there with him. He'd do anything to have her with him, and to protect her.
As his fingers brushed over the pocket her picture was housed in, he nodded, "Yes, sir. I swear on the gods and the blood of alphas."
The soldier smirked, "Good." He turned, "Follow me. Quick training on gun handling. Practice it every day. Even after this stupid outpost falls, and you are left to the fates." San nodded, following after without complaint. Quick to fall into step behind the superior officer, "I have to wonder though, think you have what it takes to take a life?"
San replied in as serious a tone as he could. And he was very serious about this, "Yes. If they have been bitten, I do not see it as taking their life. More like preserving their wolf. Letting them die as they want. Not as a husk of themselves. Trapped until released through acts of defense. To end their suffering before it gets too much worse. If they are wolves that are enjoying the lawlessness of the land, then they may as well deserve it. Laws may be gone now. But having any type of morality to dictate what is right and wrong, is what will ensure wolves can live through this apocalypse."
The soldier smirked once more, even as he took up a gun to give to him, "You're a smart wolf. But there's a difference between thinking you can handle it, and actually pulling the trigger."
San spoke softly for the first time since their meeting, "I fear the only thing that could truly do me in, is if I saw my sister as one of those things. She was my rock. My cheerleader. We had a close bond. Even if she wasn't too big a fan of my boxing sport. But she supported me well."
The soldier nodded, "Then I hope she is at peace, wherever she is. It is good you know what your breaking point is. I only pray the gods you have a pack that can be your strength should you ever face a challenge such as that. It's never easy to see your loved ones as a face amongst the herds."
At least this soldier got it.
He was given a quick run down on gun anatomy. How to properly clean it, dismantle it, put it back together. Shoot, and even how to reload. Basic gun safety. He was then bunked with all the other soldiers, and put into rotation. He seriously did not mind in the least. He was quickly put on duty as well.
He was here now, for however long the outpost was to stand.
//
He appeared as a natural, holding his large gun the way the other soldiers did.
He had very quickly proven he was what it took to be a soldier. All his early training by his father paying off well. And he still maintained his kickboxing and boxing skills when he had the free time. He did not want to lose any of the skills he'd built up. He was a fucking alpha. He had to be fighting fit and strong. He supposed it really was his biggest let down of this stupid zombie thing. He never got to actually serve. Not in the way he had wanted. But he was taking what he could get.
As any new survivors came, he would often check to see if any were his sister. Or his parents. He did miss them, honest. But he had a closer bond to his sister. When none would be her, he tried not to appear disappointed. One day, he'd have to let this hope of his go. To accept her fate as no longer being with him in any fashion. But for now, he would cling to his hope.
He was also quick to form something of a friendship with the other soldiers. He was going to hate it when they died because of the zombies overrunning the place. But it was nice. It would be nice while it lasted. He held his breath every day. Wondering if this was the day, the outpost fell. It was still the early days of the apocalypse. And the collapse of society at large. Both in Korea, and the world. So he could be apprehensive all he wanted on the state of the outpost's survival.
In the future, the military would be a thing of the past. All that would remain, would be survivors from the military. Like himself. He would do his best to survive the fall of the outpost. It was the least he could do. He was free to stay in his boxing attire. No sense getting him a uniform. But they somehow managed to get him some dog tags. And his dangled openly from his neck. It did attract a few wandering eyes of some of the survivors at the outpost. Soft blushes on cheeks, shy giggling. There was hardly any denial San was a bit of a looker for an alpha.
Rolling big muscles, a sharp jawline. Sharp narrowed eyes, and a handsome veneer. And while many alphas before the fall were also deemed attractive, the potentials for alpha mates had dwindled a little with the outbreak. So most were taking what chance they could to enjoy a nice view. Wholly unaware he was slighted for two unique wolves. But they would not meet for a while yet in the future. And when he did have his downtime and not on outlook duty, they did flirt with him. He was polite about it. Giving in a little, and flirting back. Offering a wink, causing them to turn extra shy and giggle as they hurried away. Redder than a Korean chili pepper.
It was cute.
And it was a nice change of pace from the zombies they had to keep an eye out for. But San still maintained some sternness. Waiting with baited breath for the outpost's inevitable fall. He took each day as it came. But he was often hyper aware of his surroundings. All it took was one dying of natural causes. All it took was a bitten victim to finally turn. All it took was the noise level of the outpost to be significant enough, to draw a large enough herd of those things to them. And overrun them with ease. He was maybe slightly nervous. Even alphas could feel a twinge of fear.
In those moments, San would take his sister's picture from his pocket. It helped settle and calm him. He had to make it out alive. For her. For her memory. To make her as proud of him as he could. Seriously, his sister was his only driving force at this time. He wasn't sure when he'd finally let his sister go in all but memory, and turn his attention to being the best he could for someone else. A pack, maybe. Or even a mate. Maybe when he got those.
Each day was a new test for San on his patience.