Doomsday Revenge: Payback Time (Josie) novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

The rest of the guys just stared at him, stunned.

Before, we were military. You followed my lead because you had to,” Zane went on. “But now? We’re nothing. You’re free agents. You can do whatever you want.”

“I know most of you want to head home and find your families, Go. You’re dismissed.”

“I don’t have much to give you as a parting gift, but I’ll say this: stay alive out there.” Total silence fell over the group.

It was clear they were still processing the fact that their world had just been flipped upside down.

Hudson Knox, the aquatic ability user, was the first to snap out of it. “Cap, I’m going wherever you’re going,” he said firmly. “I grew up an orphan. My gramps was the only one I had, and he passed last year. I’ve got nothing left to go back to. I’ve been following you

years–it’s the only way I know how to live. If you’re not kicking me out, I’m staying.”

That broke the spell. The others finally started to react.

Someone spoke up, nodding in agreement. “Look, every road out of Fort City is a total dead end. It’s not just us–everyone is cut off. No service, no signal, nothing. Panicking won’t change that. I’m sticking with the Captain for now. Once the roads open up, then I’ll head home.”

“Same here!” another chimed in.

But not everyone was staying. One man looked restless, his eyes darting toward the perimeter. “If that’s the deal, Captain, then I’m out. I need to try and find a way back. My family is out there.”

Zane nodded. “Fair enough. Just give me two days. I’ll find a way to get my stash out and we’ll split it all up. Consider it a parting gift for everything we’ve been through together.”

The rest of the group stayed silent.

Zane turned and walked away, his back straight but his footsteps heavy.

“Is the Captain going to be okay?” someone asked, their voice low with worry. “He built the Blue Owl Squad from the ground up. Seeing it just… dissolve like this? That’s gotta hit hard.”

“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Hudson said, his voice practical. “I know the books better than anyone–keeping a unit like ours running is insanely expensive. Without HQ’s support and supplies, we’re dead in the water. Once the ammo runs dry, what are we supposed to do?”

Hudson looked at his hands, then at the others. “Those of us with abilities can keep training, keep pushing our limits. But the guys without powers…” He trailed off. “They’d be forced into close–quarters meat grinders, fighting with nothing but their bare hands and sheer luck.”

“I’m not saying there’s no honor in that,” Hudson added. “But at that point, ‘Special Ops‘ becomes a joke. It wouldn’t be a mission anymore. It’d just be a suicide mission.”

“Cap knew this day was coming. That’s why he had Josie stash our weapons and ammo.”

“That

way, those of you who haven’t awakened any powers won’t run out of bullets and get “But you’ve seen it for yourselves. You know how fast these things are evolving.”

backed into a corner.”

“The world ended less than a month ago, and we’re already seeing Tier–1 Undead everywhere.” “What happens in a year? Five years?”

“We have to change our mindset and get stronger–fast. Otherwise, when we run into an Alpha, we’re just gonna be

easy pickings

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