“Co in.”
Michael followed behind Captain Nova and the sight that greeted him was just…a simple office.
It was neither extravagant nor simple.
“I think you’re doing a great job running this place.” From the things he had observed so far, Michael couldn’t help but give the man credit for his excellent governance.
“No, it’s everyone's hard work that’s running this place. I don’t really have a lot of things to manage here except managing supply runs, the supplies, security and dealing with major decisions.” Captain Nova shook his head and didn’t want to take all the credit.
Michael watched the man’s expression and thought, ‘Is he truly being humble or is he just saying those words for to hear?’
Michael had a poker face but Captain Nova seed like he knew what he was thinking and let out a chuckle, “You’re probably thinking that I’m just saying those words for you to hear, but I’m not. I always give credit where it's due, that’s why this place is still standing despite many dangers it has faced.”
Listening to him, Michael was suddenly reminded by his words earlier on the road. “Right, about that. You said you’ve never had any good impressions of other survivors as of late. What happened?”
Captain Nova released a sigh. “Ahh, that. I was really hoping that you’d never bring it up. Well, let’s just say that there was a certain group of people who wanted to overthrow us and we got rid of them.”
“Ohh, the recent group I’ve t before you also had the sa problem.” Michael was suddenly reminded of the people of Terminus.
“Did they survive?”
“Yeah,a few of them, but they had to eventually join us since they thought they wouldn’t be able to survive with their small number.”
“Damn, so they got the shorter end of the stick huh.” Captain Nova remarked with a slightly dark expression when he had visualized what would have happened to his people if they did not manage to get rid of those guys.
“Yeah, but they at least learned a valuable lesson through that experience.” Michael smiled.
“The Law of the Jungle.” both n said simultaneously.
Michael and Captain Nova looked at each other for a mont, before the two burst into laughter.
“Indeed, the world has gone to shit and we’re now once again back to square one.” Captain Nova remarked while wiping a tear at the corner of his eye.
“Anyway, what are your plans after this friend?” Initially, Captain Nova had hopes of recruiting Michael to join their base, but it was dashed away after learning the man’s identity.
Finally getting down to the main subject, the easygoing expression on Michael’s face imdiately disappeared and was replaced by a stern look.
“Actually, aside from going to Houston, I also have another objective in mind. Would you like to hear it?” Michael slightly smiled as he took a comfortable position on the sofa.
Captain Nova also smiled and gestured with his hand. “Fire away, friend.”
Michael slowly placed his foot down and slightly leaned towards him with his forearm resting on his thigh and his fingers intertwined together. “A coalition.”
“A coalition?”
“Yeah, like an alliance between survivor communities where we trade, exchange information and help each other in tis of need.”
Captain Nova nodded his head as he also realized the benefits behind it. “It’s like City States huh, but the mini version. It’s a good idea, but we’re currently separated by a state. I don’t think it’s going to benefit both places because of the distance in between. It makes no difference even if we agree to it or not.”
“You’re right.” Michael also had to agree as he also knew that when he brought it up. “But it’s not a bad idea to have another path for survival just in case any of our communities get compromised.”
Captain Nova didn’t imdiately respond to his words. He slowly leaned back on his chair and he started contemplating.
“Hmm..your words make sense. We don’t know what will happen in the future. So leaving a way out, a new hope for our people just in case shit hits the fan increases our chance of survival.”
After a mont of silence, Captain Nova eventually had to agree as he also realized that there’s only benefits to achieve, and they wouldn’t really lose anything if he agreed to establish a coalition with Michael’s community.
“So how should we do this?”
Suddenly, Michael was stumped with those words as he suddenly rembered that he had completely forgotten to create a procedure with this so-called Coalition in case a survivor community agrees with his idea.
It took a while, but eventually, Michael and Captain Nova had to brainstorm together and ca up with the idea to copy how the Declaration of Independence was made and created their own simple version of it called..
The Declaration of Unified Communities.
It was a simple copy that only contained what was discussed earlier like how communities would prioritize trade between each other, sharing information alongside a defense pact, and below those stipulations were Michael’s and Captain Nova’s signature including the na of the communities they represent and its location. Further below their nas were blank spaces for mbers who will join the Union in the future.
“Now it even evolved into a Union.” Michael remarked and felt a little excited. He also realized that today’s event would probably go down in history if this thing becos big.
‘History huh, not a bad way to leave a legacy.’
“That does not sound so bad. Co, why don’t we commorate today’s event with a photo.” Captain Nova smiled widely as he took out a polaroid cara and opened the door to his office and called for soone to take a photo of them.
“3,2,1..”
Snap!
Captain Nova and Michael wore earnest expressions on their faces and together, they held the handwritten docunt of the Declaration of the Unified Communities that was on a piece of bond..paper.
Snap!
The corporal took one more photo before handing all of them to Captain Nova.
“Today marks the first step of humankind conquering this undead apocalypse.” Captain Nova suddenly felt a little emotional looking at the photo he had with Michael holding on that piece of bond paper.
“And this piece of bond paper will go down in history with us!” Michael laughed as he didn’t expect his idea that he just thought in impulse would spiral into sothing this big.
‘I wonder what Andrea and others would think when they hear about this when I return?’ Visualizing their shocked expressions, Michael let out a chuckle.
“If you don’t mind, I'll be taking this original with since I’ll be the one travelling outside.” Michael told him while taking the docunt into his hand.
Captain Nova did not see the problem with it and imdiately agreed. “Of course, but let take a photo of it first.”
Snap!
Looking at the photo in his hand, he smiled before placing it down on his desk before he went behind it and started looking for sothing.
Michael just curiously watched until he saw him taking out a scroll tube behind a stack of unknown docunts.
“Here, you can store the docunt here for safekeeping. Don’t lose it, alright?” Captain Nova handed the scroll tube to Michael, who imdiately rolled the bond paper and stored it inside the bond paper.
“So what’s next after this?” Captain Nova asked while watching Michael store the docunt.
Michael smiled and placed the scroll tube inside his backpack before taking out a couple of small boxes of dicines and vitamins from it.
“Here, it’s to commorate today’s events.”
“This..you didn’t have to do this.” Captain Nova’s words and his following actions certainly weren’t in line together as he took those boxes of dicine from Michael without an ounce of hesitation.
Michael just chuckled at his actions as he didn’t really mind his shalessness.
“Since you’ve given us sothing this valuable, then I should also give you sothing in return. Wait here.” Captain Nova had Michael wait in the office and departed to get sothing.
Michael patiently waited for him as he took a seat. There were a lot of things in the office, but he didn’t have the habit of snooping around especially towards people he had made friendly ties with, though this does not apply if the occasion calls for it.
It didn’t take long for Captain Nova to co back and this ti he was carrying sothing that quickly caught Michael’s eyes.
“I wasn’t sure what to give in return, but I rembered how much you seem to treasure your mace that you even threatened one of my n when he took it from you earlier today. So, I thought about this mini sledgehamr and thought you might appreciate this kind of weapon.” Captain Nova was a little embarrassed since he didn't really know what to give Michael when he left the office. Firearms were out of the question, and Michael certainly wasn’t lacking any food if he had made this far.
“This..I was actually thinking about getting an extra weapon since firearms aren’t really for long term use. But a sledgehamr huh.” Michael took the sledgehamr from him and started swinging it wildly while imagining walkers swarming him all over.
The corner of his mouth couldn’t help but twitch when Captain Nova witnessed how Michael had easily handled the sledgehamr like it was only the weight of a paper.
‘No wonder he can survive this far out. This man is no ordinary person.’
“Quite good. It’s a good weapon to have when you’re surrounded with walkers all around you.” Michael was satisfied with the new addition to his arsenal and even thought it was a pity that he hadn’t thought of getting a sledgehamr before this.
Captain Nova smiled. “It’s good that you like it. Co, let us go and introduce you to the people here before announcing today’s event to them.”
Michael smiled and gave him a nod before following him out of his office.
*****
Now, the story is truly moving forward to a different path, and with new friends and possibly new enemies.
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