Chapter 63: The Nuke

At that moment, Shizuka began to jump up and down, her excitement radiating from her in waves. Her movements sent her ample breasts bouncing energetically, drawing everyone's attention. "I remembered! I finally remembered!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up with a beaming smile.

Jasmine tilted her head in curiosity. "Remembered what?" she asked.

Rei, who left James`s arms, glanced over with a raised eyebrow. "What did you forget?" she inquired, feeling the gentle warmth of James's arm around her.

James chuckled softly. "Your friend's number?" he guessed.

Shizuka's eyes widened with innocent surprise as she looked at James. "Yes, my best friend's number! How did you know?" she asked. 

James shrugged, a smile tugging at his lips. "Just a lucky guess," he replied.

"Is this the friend who we stayed at, with all the guns?" Jasmine asked. 

"And the humvee?" Rei asked.

Shizuka nodded enthusiastically, her excitement bubbling over. "Yes, it is! She had a whole collection of firearms. I can't believe I forgot her number!," she said, clapping her hands together in delight.

"She is part of the SAT, the Special Assault Team," Shizuka said. She added, "She is definitely alive." 

Yuriko and Souichiro exchanged a knowing glance as they observed Shizuka's sudden excitement and the subtle tension around Saya. They could sense there was more beneath the surface, especially regarding the peculiar gun Rei had been carrying. He looked at the camouflage of the weapon. It definitely was not something you can find here. 

Shizuka broke the silence with a bright exclamation. "Give me your phone," she said eagerly, turning to James with wide eyes. "She'll be so glad to hear from me!" she added.

James raised his hands slightly, shaking his head with a faint smile. "I don't have a phone," he admitted.

Saya stepped forward. "Take mine," she offered, holding out her phone to Shizuka.

Taking the phone, Shizuka began to dial, her face lighting up with a childlike enthusiasm. She muttered softly to herself, "Here's 1, here's 2, here's 3..." as she carefully pressed each number.

James watched her with a warm smile, finding her innocent excitement endearing. Lois couldn't help but chuckle at the sight. "Do you need any help with that?" she asked, her tone teasing but kind.

Shizuka looked up, her eyes sparkling with determination. "No, I can do this," she insisted, her fingers continuing to work diligently on the keypad.

The phone began to ring. Everyone watched Shizuka eagerly. Finally, there was a click on the other end.

"Hello, Rika!" Shizuka exclaimed, her voice bubbling with excitement.

On the other side of the line, Rika Minami gazed out of an airport terminal window, watching the planes at their gates. She had tanned skin, vibrant purple hair tied back, and a commanding presence in her black combat suit covered in a bulletproof vest. Her white choker and shooting glasses gave her a fierce, professional look. She had sturdy black boots.

"Shizuka," Rika replied, her voice steady but tinged with relief.

"You're alive!" Shizuka almost squealed, her joy evident. "How are you holding up?" she asked.

Rika sighed, her eyes narrowing slightly as she shifted her weight. "It's been tough, but let's catch up on that later. Where are you?" she asked. "Were you at your apartment?" she further questioned. 

"No, it wasn't safe there," Shizuka said. "We had to leave, and… we borrowed your guns and other gear," she added sheepishly.

Rika's laughter on the other end was a mix of amusement and understanding. "That's fine, Shizuka. Use whatever you need to stay safe," she replied. 

Shizuka's eyes sparkled with a playful light as she glanced over at James, sticking her tongue out teasingly. "I've also met someone special here, but he's being mean to me," she said, her tone mock-pouting.

"Someone special?" Rika's voice carried a note of curiosity and a hint of teasing. "Should I pay him a visit and set him straight if he's giving you trouble?" she teased. 

James thought he was being used as a scapegoat. 

Shizuka giggled, feeling the warmth of Rika's protective spirit even through the phone. "Oh, you'd love to meet him. But seriously, where are you now?" Rika asked. 

Before Shizuka could answer, the phone suddenly crackled, and a thin plume of smoke began to rise from it. Shizuka's eyes widened in surprise and concern as the connection was abruptly severed. "Rika? Rika, are you there?" she called out, shaking the phone slightly, but it was no use, the phone was dead.

Rika from her side, looked at the bright light in the sky. Her eyes widened. 

The sky was lit up by a sudden and blinding flash of light. The intensity of the light forced them to shield their eyes, and an uneasy silence fell over them.

Jasmine's brow furrowed as she looked at the light. She turned to James, as she asked, "What is that?"

Shizuka`s eyes were wide, and her usual carefree demeanor was replaced by a look of genuine concern. "It's so bright," she said, her voice almost a whisper.

Saya's face paled as she whispered, "It can't be..." She glanced at James who looked at the light. 

James nodded slowly. "It's a nuke," he said.

Rei's face turned a shade paler as she absorbed James' words. "A nuke?" she repeated.

Saya took a deep breath and elaborated, "More precisely, it's an HANE – High Altitude Nuclear Explosion. It's similar to an EMP. It doesn't cause the usual nuclear fallout, but it can still cripple a city by knocking out its electronics and power grid."

Lois nodded, "A weapon that destroys electronics and knocks out power." She looked around at lights and Saya`s phone in Shizuka`s hand, knowing they might be useless now.

Jasmine's unease deepened. "That sounds incredibly dangerous," she commented. James put a hand on her shoulder and smiled. 

Shizuka looked on the verge of tears. "I can't call my friend now." She clutched Saya's phone, which had suddenly become a useless piece of metal and plastic in her hands. James walked over and hugged Shizuka.

"Don't worry, we will get to her later. She is a strong woman," James said. Shizuka nodded and hugged James back. James felt her large breast on his chest. 

Saya looked at James being James. She looked at Rei. "Does your red dot sight still work?" she asked.

Rei quickly raised her rifle and aimed it at a nearby wall. She squinted through the sight and saw the familiar red dot. "Yes, it's still working," she confirmed.

James glanced down at the Ultimatrix on his wrist, its familiar green glow was there. "The guns we have are different. Most other electronics are probably fried." His voice was calm.

"So what is the plan now?" Lois asked. 

"Do you think the Humvee is okay?" Rei asked.

"Classic cars should be fine or ones with very little electronics," Saya asked.

"You can go and check it," Souichiro said. "Saya you have kept a level-head through this," he added. 

"Papa," Saya said. 

At that moment, a gunshot echoed through the air, followed by shouts of panic. A lone zombie had ambushed a man near the front gate. The man managed to fire his gun, hitting the zombie, but the shot wasn't fatal. In a desperate struggle, the zombie lunged at the man, knocking him to the ground. With a gruesome snarl, the zombie sank its teeth into the man's arm. 

Shizuka looked in horror. "Close the gates," Souichiro ordered. 

As the men were about to close the gates a horde of zombies rushed through into the compound. "They are already in," Jasmine said. 

"Saya, I can see you have your gun ready," Yuriko said, looking at the strange pistol. 

Saya took the Ray Gun out. Yuriko ripped the helm of her dress. She took her pistol out of her chest. James looked at her stunning beauty. Saya tried to cover James` view with her hand. 

At that moment, a black smoke cloud appeared in front of the zombies. A loud growl could be heard.