“Hale? What the hell are you talking about?” Jasper looks at him in confusion.

“Oh, so the plan is simple you see-“ Hale is quickly cut off.

“No, not that. I mean how did you know Smith was wounded?” Jasper clarifies. Both myself and Jackson realize and reiterate the same question.

“I. Didn’t? I just came up with a plan to get y’all outa here, it just so happens that it should work either way. Why? How fucked is smith?” Hale’s gaze meets all of us. Before I could answer him my radio shot on. “Saber One six this is Saber One Three alpha, It’s Hesky, how copy? Over.” I quickly reached for my radio, motioning to Jackson to listen to Hale. I hit the button on my radio as I say “Hesky, I read you. What the hell happened? Over.” I saw as I walk across the room. Every step echoes in the room as I wait for a response.

“Lieutenant, I have good news and bad news.” Hesky says. “Well, what is it?” I question as radio etiquette goes out the window. “So, good news, we found civilians! Apparently there were like twenty or so hiding in the police station! Along with several officers who were protecting them. Bad news is, ah, Sergeant Carmine is out of commission. There is no way he is fit to lead, But besides that we have no actual wounded. I just want to know what you want us to do exactly?” He asks. I stop and think for a moment. I look back at the guys, now all talking and deliberating. “Be advised, I want you to transport those civilians to the church, you will probably get there before us, clear it out and set up security and do not let a damn thing inside it until we get there. Hesky, you’re in charge of one three until we link back up. Understood?” I say in a commanding tone.

“Solid copy lieutenant! This is one three, we are on the move. Out.” He responds in a now invigorated tone. I take a deep breath and begin to head back towards the guys. As I look at them I remember all throughout Iran, Jackson, Patterson, Jasper, Stobblitz later Carmine, Feathers, Hale, Doc and myself. I can still hear all of us outside the barracks trying to figure out what to do with Ackerson and Trenton “accidentally” crashing two humvees during their “Combat jousting” incident. I chuckle to myself as I shake my head.

“What’re you laughing at Lt?” Doc says as he finishes putting Morris in a body bag. The rest of the guys all look at me with a smirk on my face. The grim expressions on all of them are a stark contrast to my own. “Oh, Just seeing everyone huddled up together reminded me of a good memory. Sorry. Anyways, what’s your plan Hale?” I ask, shaking my head back to reality.

“Alright, so-“ he makes a Gutteral noise and rushes to the window. As he puts both hands on the windowsill I can hear the sound of shattered glass crush under his gloves. He vomits out the window several times. Doc and Jasper rush over to him as Feathers just stands there, stoic as usual. While all this happens, Jackson hits my shoulder. “Whose calling at this hour?” He asks. “Carmine’s squad. Apparently Carmine’s fucked up so Hesky is taking charge.”

Jackson, a smirk appearing, “Good, Hesky was always my first choice for that squad anyways. Any info on what they took contact with?”

“Yeah, well kinda, They found a bunch of civies and cops still alive. I suppose that’s what they saw in the police station.”

“Alright, sweet, what’s the plan for them?” Jackson asks.

“I figure the church is the best area for us to have extraction. Warchief, or whoever that was on the radio, said there is a large courtyard with a large wall surrounding it. Seems like a good place to set up shop. We should be able to get a chinook in there and pull everyone, plus civilians out.”

“If it isn’t leveled, and if it doesn’t bring the entire city down on top of us. One chinook won’t be enough to pull us all out, they will need two at least.”

“I-I know, we don’t have any other option though. Hell, we aren’t even still trying to get to the lab anymore. What the hell was the name again“ I reach into my pocket and pull out the security card. I read out loud “Vascorp Pharma-“ I stop, suddenly realizing what Mr. Roberts said before. “Julia just started at Vascorp.” The realization hit me so hard. “Oh my God.” I say in utter shock.

“What?” Jackson begins to freak out.

“Julia- she’s in the city, I know she is. She had just started working at this fucking building we are supposed to head towards.” I tighten my grip on the card. My mind begins to race on the possibility of her still being alive.

“Jason, I know you, I know what you’re thinking in that dumbass brain of yours. We need to get out of this city.”

“What if she’s alive?” I say frantically

“What if she isn’t? Alright you know what, fine, let’s say we go. We ignore orders, which will make us awol, then we have smith who's down for the count, a civilian, and Hale over there puking his guts out! What are we gonna do, pull all these people with us on some shitty crusade to find a woman who literally dropped you and sat on the dick of some rich nigga as soon as you were supposedly dead?”

I shake my head, Jackson’s words cut deep. He is right and I know it. “You’re right.” I say. “Course I’m right, look if this was some Russian invasion or crazy shit like red dawn. I’d be more than willing. But this is some supernatural, zombie apocalypse shit. We need to get our guys out of here so the Air Force can glass this shit from low orbit.” He puts his hand on my plate carrier. “Lieutenant, I’m your boy, I will follow you to hell and back. But its not like it’s just you and me, Everyone else is counting on us. Now please, let’s get our head in the game and prepare for this shit. Hale actually has an okayish plan.”. We both turn to look at Hale.

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Hale, now slowly turning around, stares at us. His skin is pale white. Doc helps him to his feet. In a soft tone he speaks “A-anyways. The idea I had was that there is a gas station down the road about three blocks the opposite direction of the church. You see, at gas stations, there is a huge fuel reserve. And it’s usually pressurized. So- *gag* So, if we can manage to get some of our explosives out there, we should, theoretically, be able to create a massive gas bomb! It’s not “San Francisco” size of an explosion. But it would be enough to pull anything within a three mile radius towards it just by the blast shockwave. It should cause most of the BZs to scatter and head towards it. But to maximize the blasts potential. I thought we could hook up a radio to a car battery or some shit and get a ton of those fuckers together. And Boom! We take out a ton of the bastards and give us a clearing in order to break out and move towards the church.” He says as he attempts to hold himself together.

Everyone else seems to like the plan, but I stop for a moment. “Hale, the size of that explosion would be immense! That would take out at least a block of buildings, not even considering we don’t know if these damn things will take the bait. There are explosions throughout the city because of bombings! What’s the difference between the air force causing hellfire to rain down and your little IED makers wet dream?”

“You see lieutenant, I thought about that. And while Feathers and I were scouting, I was testing these things' capabilities. It seemed like any sound would make them immediately investigate. I also noticed something. The runner ones, you know the “Bravo” variants, they’re a bit smarter than the alphas. But that isn’t an issue. Either way they’ll come. I guarantee I can get one of those car alarms to go off, and that should easily bring them in.” Hale says with a smirk.

“Wait.” Jasper speaks up. “What about Smith? I already told you he can’t walk. Do you expect us to move a stretcher a mile and a half to get to the church? These fucking things will tear us apart if we move that slowly.” Jasper says in a concerned tone.

“If he can’t walk, he is a liability.” Feathers speaks up. I turn to Feathers in shock.

“No! We are not leaving him.” Jasper says through his grinding teeth.

“I don’t see how we can get out of here with him. He is literally dead weight.” Hale says. My stomach churned at Hale saying this. “How could even think of that option.” I think to myself.

“Hale!” Jackson shouts.

“What? You think I wanna leave him? If there was any other way, in any other situation, it would be different, but this.” Hale kicks his head back and points to the broken window. “You tell me how we are supposed to move him through that.” Hale says in a desperate tone.

“Are you all out of your minds!” Doc, furious with the other NCOs. “Lieutenant, listen to me, all of the men we’ve lost, Ackerson, Morris, Kelly, Miller, Patterson, Vasquez, and everyone else weren’t your fault. They were casualties of war, but this. If you even remotely consider this an option, his death would undeniably be on your hands. Do not leave him. Gomez and I can carry the stretcher. We can move fast enough. It’ll be fine.” Doc pleads.

I take a second, attempting to clear my head. “I’m not leaving anyone. If we move together, keep our sectors covered and conserve ammo-“ I stop. “Maybe we could- no.” I exhale. “I don’t see any real plan. The entire division decided vehicles were “too suspicious” bullshit. Look, secure around us. I’m going to get a view from the roof, maybe we missed something. I wanna view this myself.” I say as I turn towards the window Hale and Feathers entered from.

“We already checked around lieutenant, there’s nothing, just like we told you.” Hale said in a condescending tone.

“With all due respect Hale, I’d like to see for myself.” I brush him off.

“I’ll come with you.” Jackson said.

“No, stay here, check on everyone downstairs and keep them together. Jasper, please check on Corbin. Doc, make sure Gomez is all good. I’ll be down in a bit.” I take a deep breath as I begin to walk towards the window. Suddenly I stop, “how did you guys get in here?“ I ask feathers and Hale. “Fire escape.” Feathers replies. “Alright, you guys are folding back into us until we have a solid plan.”. I order.

Everyone leaves the room as I stop to look at my watch. The red numbers blare a bright “10:30pm”. I cover up my watch and begin towards the window again. *clink* *slide* *bang* I startle myself by kicking something across the floor. I walk over and find Ackerson’s pistol. I bring it close to find “9x19mm” covered in blood. I wipe away the blood and stare at it for a moment. “Damnit Ackerson. Always leaving your shit everywhere.” I say as I choke up. A single tear forms in my eye. I take a deep breath as I put away his pistol. I finally make my way to the window and look out. Low and behold a fire escape. I step onto it carefully, my boots making distinguishable clanks onto the metal. The cold autumn air on my skin feels almost refreshing. I turn to find a stairwell towards the roof. I begin walking up the stairs, the sounds of hisses and groans from the BZ’s that now flood the streets the only sound. Suddenly realizing my surroundings, “The bombing stopped.” I said as I find myself on the final level before the roof. I reach the roof to find an intimidating sight. The entire city was pitch black. Except for a single skyscraper, it stood as a major beacon in the city. A massive neon sign is the only thing illuminating across the dead city. “Vascorp”.

“Shit.” I say under my breath. “What the hell am I supposed to do now?” I lower my head in disappointment. “I can’t just leave you there. Julia, I refuse to leave you. Once my guys are safe, I’m coming to get you out. I promise.” I stand there attempting to navigate thoughts and plans as suddenly I hear something.

“Lieutenant?” An unfamiliar voice calls out.

I sigh in anger as I turn. “Didn’t I specifically say to-“ I stop as my stomach twists. My eyes split open to the size of battleships. I fall to the ground in complete shock. I am frozen with fear. It was Kelly, a bullet still lodged in his throat, blood covering his OCPs. A young woman stood behind him holding a little girl. Both with bullets through them.

“Really messing up tonight, Huh? Vasquez, Ackerson, Miller, Morris. And Patterson. Man, I really liked Patterson too. He was always so nice to me. You come home to hell, now here you are, constantly getting my friends killed. Wasn’t it enough that you killed me? You do know that right? It’s all your fault.” He says while pacing back and forth. The two behind him are just staring at me.

Fear has complete hold on me. In a desperate attempt to stop it I close my eyes. Praying they’d be gone. I open my eyes-

“YOU CANNOT ESCAPE WHAT YOU’VE DONE!” Kelly was directly in front of me. His eyes are fully black. His face was that of a BZ as his voice became contorted. I raise my hands in fear and scream. “I’m sorry!”. I blink again. They are gone. Suddenly I look over to find the young girl on the fire escape, staring at me in confusion.