Andrew was pissed he considered himself to be many things smart was not one of them he would never say he was generally intelligent but he liked optimizing looking for little improvements was rewarding to him this was exemplified in his character Axe. If Andrew was being honest Axe wasn't a great character it didn't do the most damage or heal the most, he didn't tank or buff much of anything he was a bland character but it had gotten Andrew pretty far through the game not because it excelled at anyone thing nor was it good at everything it just did enough.
This was very much an Andrew like thing to do he would get an idea then spend days trying to optimize it to do what he wanted it to mainy time jace would poke fun at him for spend so much of his time trying to minmax an nonoptimal character idea.
Yes Andrew didn't consider himself a smart person but he also wasn't dumb he could read between the lines. The problem was Emily they had known eachother for about a year and became fast friends so why hadn't they ever met each other at school? Their school was large but not that large, and Emily had told him that she, Don, and Jace had gone to hang out mainy time but that wasn't what upset him in fact the idea that his friends went to hang out without him meant little to him although it seems be the exact opposite for Emily what hurt Andrew was the fact that they lied a lie by omission certainly but still a lie.
'Respect that was the one thing He had ever wanted from the people around him. He didn't think it was much to ask for just a little respect to treat him like an equal and not like a child or some lesser thing. It was something that he believed everybody desired at some level, but that wasn't way he was mad being lied to by his friends only upset him being unrepentantly hunted through a fucking alien forest for ten fucking hours only made him tired.
But this, this took the cake the fucking shit cake with shit icing of fuckin bird shit a fuking guano pie sure it made some sence to send a small party back to the clearing to check it out but not really the had just finally meet up and the first thing they do is send half of the group off to meet up with the group in the clearing while the went and looked for a new place to set up shop. except it didn't he didn't even know Ashly if that was even her name and last time they meet up it wasn't a fucking good time. So while the whole group is just going to split the fuck up just because the spawns suddenly stopped doesn't mean it's a good idea to split the fuck up Fuck i just repeated myself.'
But even that was forgivable it's not like he went back alone having half of the force meant that if the group in the clearing was under attack then in the off chance that he and his new group died then at least some of them would live and they were also taking that risk which is bullshit this whole day has been bullshit but even that wasn't going to push him over the edge what put him over the fucking edge was the fact that the whole time he was off trying to not get killed the fucks that were in the clearing were parting away all our FUCKING SUPPLIES!!!
"So let's see if I got the jist of this a few hours after we left Ashly's group came up and took all our stuff." Andrew said calmly it was strange almost like something broke one minute he wanted to tear the world a part and now he was calm calmer than he had ever been it was like some kind of weird clarity washed over him and he was quickly thinking through the whole situation.
"Yeah sorry Andrew but they kinda outnumber us they said Ashley wanted to gather all the supplies together and we weren't really in any position to say no" a boy Andrews age said while looking around awkwardly Andrew couldn't blame him it only made sense they only left 200 of the 500 their little group had and Ashley's group still had 500. Andrew coming didn't really change the number in their advantage either as now they had 350.
"So after they took our stuff they talked for a few hours and then started this party? Am I getting this right" Andrew continued his questioning as he looked at the far off mass of people that seemed to be celebrating.
"Yeah that's what happened we overheard some of what they were talking about it seemed to be like they were holding some kind of election after it was done they started to party." the guy said as they both observed the celebration it was pretty weak all things considered but they did manage to get some kind of music out looked like their group lucked out on the tech and the chips. As Andrew looked around the clearing he saw what was left of their original supplies the piles of duct tape discarded what was literally the only symbol of human ingenuity they had tossed to the side in favor of doritos and Beyoncé.
Turning to the boy next to him Andrew smiled and said "Ok here's what we're going to do" He may be feeling calmer and more at peace than he had ever felt in his life but he was still pissed as all hell.
"Are you sure about this it seems wrong" the boy and the other three hundred and fifty other members in Andrews group nodded at his words Andrew just looked at them and sighed "Yes I'm sure just do your part ok keep your composure and we'll get through this."
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Andrew and his group marched toward the party the sound of music that represented a life they weren't going to be able to go back to rang hollow and empty in his ears as he walked up to were the other group was they stilled and became silent as his group came up.
Behind Andrew lined up in five man rows were four columns the first column that Andrew lead was a ten row column the fifty people that Andrew picked to lead the others as some kind of guard behind them were the last three columns each twenty deep marching together with the coordination of a marching band and while not perfect far from perfect it's intimidation was obvious each member wore a hoodie that covered their faces and had spears with black tips. The nervous whispers as the closed on the other group was obvious and only increased as two of the columns brook off to the left and right of the center column and moved to the flanks of the group.
"Hello there nice party you're having it's a shame you didn't invite us" Andrew said jovially with a small wave he had to hid a gulp as almost five hundred scared and confused eyes stared at him.
"What the hell is this!" Ashly yelled out as she stormed to the front her jock squad coming up behind her Andrew knew they had names but he had completely forgotten them.
"Oh good you made it that makes this much easier I'd like to know what your doing thats all, what is all of this?" Andrew said good naturedly
"We're celebrating our election" Ashly started to say before Andrew interrupted her
"OH a celebration is it wow and an election cool I wonder why we weren't invited to an election seems like a pretty important thing to not be invited to."
"Don't blame me for you not being here it's not my fault that you wanted to run off and play ranger while we did important things." Ashly spoke up glaring at Andrew
"Important things like wasting our food and supplies!" Andrew almost shouted as he glared back
"Ok what the hell do you want do you think this is some kind of game!" Ashly was getting visibly upset by Andrew.
"No I don't think this is a game at all I know it's not more than you do that's for sure, all I want is for you to bow down and recognize me as your ruler." Andrew's voice was cold as he spoke his demands.
"What? uh... you can't be serious you think you can just waltz in here and bully us into making you some kind of king are you crazy." Ashly laughed at the ludicrousness of the situation. Andrew just scowled at her and whistled at the sharp ring the members behind him almost simultaneously shifted their spear points down and toward the other party. The sudden silence that filled the air was almost painful as Andrew simply replied.
"This is no joke, BOW."
Ashly glared at him and was about to speak out before she was interrupted by a young man coming out of the group he was tall with an athletic build Andrew guessed he was part of the jock squad but other than that he was pretty unremarkable brown hair cut close brown eyes with a thick brow and long nose he actually looked a little like Don but had a much fair complexion. As the broad shouldered man walked up he spoke out.
"Alright everybody I think this is enough we all are on edge but there's no need for this we can talk it out just fine let's put away the sticks and speak like civilized..." the strangers speech was cut off as Andrew thrust his spear through his throat. A shrill shriek came from the party as crimson flew from the man neck he collapsed choking on his own blood.
"JOSH!!!" A voice yelled as the boy Andrew remembered a was named John rushed at him "YOU FUCKING BASTARD I'LL KILL YOU!!!" He roared as he tackled Andrew and the two fell over then there was a scream as they rolled apart a dagger was stuck in John's belly as he rolled on the ground screaming in agony. Seemingly unfazed Andrew stood and once again pointed his spear at Ashly who had gone deathly pale.
"Kneel" Andrew Demanded in his mind a brief 'before Zod' flashed by but he quickly pushed it away now wasn't the time for jokes. The other party knelt it was slow but they did it pale of face they made many jerking glances at the two dieing members of their party they seemed torn between helping their friends and saving their lives once they had all knelt Andrew addressed them.
"You will receive me as your leader until further notice you will call me Caesar If you understand say yes Caesar."
Andrew heard his last command echoed out from the crowed after hearing it he nodded to the two next to him. "Heal them" and pointed at the two withering forms as the two went to them with medicine water they cured what should have been mortal injuries as the two boys recovered from their wounds Andrew spoke.
"Bind them the rest of you stay down i'm going to be talking and I want your full attention do you understand" Andrew shouted the last part as the dumbfounded people kneeling before him stared slack jawed at what the had just seen.
"UNDERSTAND!" Andrew yelled out with was followed by a chorus of "YES CAESAR"
"Good, now for you all to know at this moment we face an enemy the likes of with we have never seen or kind of have seen but wouldn't believe. Never mind i'm already going into a tangent I want you to know that we are in danger here this isn't home this isn't a nice place In all likelihood we aren't going to survive unless we all band together and work towards a single goal we will perish as you are all well aware I've taken on the mantle of leader that means I have the final say in all of our decisions we do things the way I want to do them DO YOU UNDERSTAND" Andrew passed in his speech for a confirmation "Yes Caesar"
"Good, now I know this will be hard for some to accept and i'm willing to let you leave hear alone with your life but before you consider that option know that you will die probably by the enemy or also probably from dehydration and starvation. Those of you who think that i'm just making up an imaginary enemy like some dystopian or like in lord of the flies I know some of you read it, I'd like to show that my word can be trusted." Andrew continued as he lifted up a net that had a faint light in it as he hefted it up and threw it a single bird appeared out of it squawking and shrieking. The sudden appearance of the nearly 7ft. bird silenced the group as Andrew continued "We don't have a name for them yet but there are thousands of them in the forest, they move in packs and are very territorial think of them as this world's wolves. Now I don't expect you to like me In fact i'm guessing that a lot of you hate me right now and that's fine with me I'm your leader not your friend and I'll do all that's in my power to make sure we survive and ill be doing it even if I have to drag you through the mud to do it UNDERSTAND" Andrew shouted as he addressed not only the ones he made knell but also the small group that was his makeshift army and all together he received a much more resounding response.
""YES CAESAR!!""