A/N: Sorry for the long wait between chapters, but this one took a while to get just right. Enjoy
Dawn of a New DEAD
Sometime later, Private First Class Savalas re-entered the barracks from the office he occupied. He gently shook awake one of the SDF men and asked his assistance in waking the civilians.
Presently, all were awake and assembled at the end of the hall nearest the bookshelves. Asuka once again volunteered to help with translation.
"I have wonderful news," Savalas began.
A hopeful murmur went up among the crowd. Alex and Misa exchanged glances.
"Initial reports are that the nuclear weapon did minimal damage and fallout will be limited. The EMP knocked out most of the Kanto plain, but services can be restored given time."
"What does this mean for us in here?" Asuka translated.
"First and foremost," Savalas said, "is that we are no longer confined to this bunker. The commanding officer sounded the all clear about an hour ago and you are free to leave."
An orderly clean-up of the bunker began as the floors were swept, beds made and the bookshelves squared away. Alex asked Savalas if the camp library would be made available to the civilians. Savalas could see no reason why not and Alex left satisfied with that. Presently, everyone gathered what they came in with and stood ready to leave.
Once the clean-up was finished, Shinohara and Aikawa assisted Savalas in helping the civilians out of the bomb shelter.
Squinting into the daylight, the group was asked to line up in two neat rows while vital information was collected. Glancing around, Alex, Misa and Asuka noticed that the base was a veritable hive of activity. Soldiers walked, marched and ran to and fro; vehicles of all sorts went here and there; even the flight line was alive with activity. The women watched as a convoy of armored vehicles, led by an M3 Bradley equipped with a dozer blade, left the compound past the gate they came in the night before. Alex puzzled over the blade until she felt a soft poke in the ribs. Misa returned her attention to the soldier addressing the group.
At that moment, two other bunkers disgorged a similar collection of civilians. Misa then pointed out a large, olive green tent city she swore was not there last night.
"Do you suppose we are staying there from now on?" she asked Alex and Asuka. Neither had an answer.
Once information was gathered, three deuce-and-a-half trucks rolled up, dropped their back gates and the civilians were helped up. Shinohara, Aikawa and Savalas helped the poor pregnant woman and her neighbor's son into the cab next to the driver. Everyone else took their collected belongings and loaded into the back.
The trucks made their way toward a low line of buildings that Alex guessed was the administration block. In deference to her advanced pregnancy, the wife was allowed to rest in the cab while everyone else piled out of the trucks. Within minutes of their arrival, two soldiers exited the main building and stood before the crowd. The one, much older than the other, his thinning hair graying at the temples, turned to the younger and spoke out of hearing range of the collected civilians.
"My name is Lieutenant Colonel John Franco, 1st Cavalry, US Army," the older man turned and introduced himself, the man beside him translating nearly as well as Asuka. "As the highest ranking officer remaining on base, I am now in overall command."
Silent faces stared back at him. Undeterred, Franco continued.
"Please allow me to apologize for last night's fiasco and officially welcome you to US Army post Camp Zama."
He smiled and bowed to the crowd. The crowd returned the gesture respectfully.
"I am going to beg your patience for a short time longer before I have my man here show you to your temporary new homes."
Another murmur. What did he mean temporary new homes?
"Shortly, you will all be taken to the infirmary where our base doctors will look you over, check you out and give any medical assistance you may require." Franco made that last statement with a nod to the pregnant woman.
"Once that is done," Franco continued, "You will be escorted to the officers residences and assigned quarters."
"Let's try and get one for the three of us, at least," Asuka whispered to the two girls. "Then we aren't separated."
Franco was handed the paperwork collected at the bunker turn-out. He excused himself for a few moments to flip through the stack. He cocked an eyebrow as he paused on one sheet and read over the info more carefully.
"Alexis Yukari Schweiger," he said calmly and clearly. "Would you please step forward."
"In trouble already?" Misa playfully ribbed Alex. "What did you do this time?"
Alex stuck her tongue out. She collected her thoughts and presented herself to Franco. She tilted her head slightly forward to look the man in the eye.
"Welcome," he said in conversational English. "Your father wouldn't happen to be Major James Alexander Schweiger, would he?"
"Yes," Alex replied slowly. The pain of her loss welling deep within.
"He served in Afghanistan, correct?" Franco continued. "First Infantry Division?"
"Yeah, that's right, The Big Red One. What about it?"
"Stop by my office after you get settled in. We have something to talk about. I knew your father in Afghanistan.
Alex's eyes went wide.
"Are you serious?" she asked, her voice raised to where everyone could hear.
Franco smiled.
"Yes, but that can wait," he said kindly. "Right now, I want you and everyone else to go with my captain here, get checked out and settled in. I will send a jeep around later this afternoon and we can have lunch."
Alex could barely sit still, let alone answer any questions. The doctor had to repeatedly regain Alex's attention just to conduct the cursory interview. He finally gave up and recommended Alex return later that evening once she had calmed down.
Franco's executive officer had a much easier time in dealing with Asuka and Misa. He agreed to let the three women quarter together, but had to draw the line with Shinohara and Aikawa. As active members of the host nation's military and junior enlisted on top of that, it would be against protocol to quarter them in US Army officers housing.
Shinohara took Asuka aside and explained that he and Aikawa were still on active duty and needed to report to whoever was left in the SDF command structure that day, lest they wind up in trouble. Shinohara and Aikawa broke with protocol and hugged the women in a most un-soldier-like display of affection.
Shinohara produced his prayer beads and gave them to Asuka.
"May the Heavens smile upon you and protect you always."
The two men finally took their leave of the women, and reunited with Senior Sergeant Aono. They rejoined their column and went outside the wire.
Sergeant Shaun Phillips stopped by later that day. He had donned his dessert DPM uniform, the tactical flash on his sleeves and the "rainbow" on his shoulders marked him as a member of The Queen's Royal Engineers. His chevrons proudly displayed on his chest mounted rank slide.
"I stopped by to pay my respects and to inform everyone that I have been been temporarily re-assigned to the US Third Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa," he announced. "I am to assist in fortifications and building projects in anticipation of the influx of refugees sure to flow within the next few days."
His parting was far more tearful as Asuka kissed him on the cheek and Misa sobbed silently to one side. Alex could not bring herself to even crack a joke and only said goodbye with a hug.
Sgt Phillips then pulled Asuka aside and leaned in close, either in a kiss or private conversation. Misa winked at Alex who responded with a smile.
Left alone for the first time, the women acquainted themselves with their new lodgings. Misa took Alex down the hall to the bedrooms and bath. Asuka explored the front room and kitchen.
"Ah, bugger!" Asuka called out. Alex and Misa hustled back down the short hallway to find Asuka staring at a calendar affixed to the wall by the refrigerator.
"What's wrong?" Misa asked, a note of concern in her voice.
Asuka pointed to a date.
"Today is my 26th birthday," Asuka pouted. "I'm officially a Christmas Cake."
Alex and Misa shared a meaningful glance.
"I can safely pronounce that the old rules are no longer in effect," Misa declared confidently. Alex agreed wholeheartedly.
Asuka continued to pout while Alex and Misa embraced her in a group hug.
"I only hope he doesn't mind."
Misa and Alex shared a knowing wink and a nod between themselves.
"I don't think Sgt Phillips will," Misa responded.
As promised, the jeep sent by Franco arrived outside the door. A nice young man, Staff Sergeant Alphonse Esposito, announced he was to drive Alex to Franco's office. The two spent the trip yukking it up once Alex found out he came from the Southern California as well.
"Inglewood, born and bred," Esposito stated proudly. "Yno, I wouldn't give Zulu Charlie two chances in Hell against my homies back home."
"Zulu Charlie?"
"Yep," Esposito confirmed. "NATO alphabet, Zulu for Z and Charlie for C…shorthand for zombie civilians
"Oh?" Alex asked. "We're now using the Z word?"
"You know it, home girl," Esposito replied. "No point in pussyin' around, right? We gotta face up to reality, yno what I'm sayin'?"
Alex smiled. Finally, someone who understood what was going on out there and was not afraid to speak it aloud.
Alex found herself in a small, but nicely appointed office. The sign on the door showed evidence of having been replaced very recently, but Alex chose not to care. The man on the other side of the desk knew her father and he held the promise of some closure.
With barely restrained excitement, Alex closed the door and sat in the proffered chair.
"Your father," Franco began, "saved my life."
A/N: Once again, I want to thank jm1681 and Draco38 for all their help with this chapter, and also a shout out to Dante-SonofSparda-EX21 for the use of "Zulu Charlie". Brilliant, mate.
I should have one or two more chapters to wrap things up.
BTW, the Christmas Cake trope is a euphemism for a single woman in Japan considered past her desirability, usually around 25 years old. Google is your best friend.