The Boys: I'm the Origin of Compound V

Chapter 28: Assembling Allies

The team sat in a circle in the dimly lit safehouse, the tension between them palpable. Adam leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his gaze sweeping over the faces of his companions. Each of them carried the weight of the battles they'd fought, the losses they'd endured.

"We can't do this alone," Adam said, breaking the silence. "If we're going to stop Vought, we need more than just the five of us."

Butcher snorted, leaning back in his chair. "And where exactly do you plan to find recruits? It's not like there's a bloody Craigslist for supe-killers."

Adam ignored the sarcasm. "There are people out there who hate Vought as much as we do. People who've been hurt by them. We just need to find them."

Frenchie nodded thoughtfully. "He's not wrong. There are whispers—small groups fighting back in their own ways. Perhaps we can unite them."

"That's a lot of 'perhaps,'" Butcher muttered.

"We don't have a choice," Hughie interjected. "If what Adam found on that drive is real, Vought's planning something bigger than we've ever seen. We can't stop it on our own."

Butcher sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But don't expect me to play nice with a bunch of amateurs."

Adam smirked faintly. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The team's first stop was a rundown bar on the outskirts of the city. The air inside was thick with smoke, the scent of cheap whiskey mingling with the faint stench of despair.

"Who are we meeting again?" Hughie asked as they entered.

"Her name's Kira," Adam replied, scanning the room. "She used to work for Vought. Now, she runs an underground network for people trying to escape their grip."

"And you trust her?" Butcher asked skeptically.

"Enough," Adam said.

They found Kira in a back booth, a glass of amber liquid in her hand and a cigarette dangling from her lips. She was in her early thirties, with sharp eyes and an air of no-nonsense pragmatism.

"Adam," she said as they approached, her tone cool but not unfriendly. "Didn't think I'd see you again."

"Didn't think I'd need to come back," Adam replied, sliding into the booth across from her.

Kira's gaze flicked to the others. "You've got quite the entourage. What do you want?"

"We need your help," Adam said simply. "Vought's building something big. We're trying to stop it, but we can't do it alone."

Kira exhaled a stream of smoke, her expression unreadable. "You're asking me to risk everything I've built. Why should I?"

"Because if we don't stop them, there won't be anything left to save," Adam said, his voice steady.

For a moment, Kira said nothing, her eyes searching his. Then she nodded slowly. "Alright. I'll help. But if you screw this up, don't expect a second chance."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Adam said, his lips curving into a faint smile.

With Kira's help, the team began reaching out to others—small resistance groups, disillusioned former Vought employees, and even a few low-level supes who had turned against their creators.

Each meeting was fraught with tension, every potential ally a gamble. Some were eager to join the fight, while others were wary, their trust eroded by years of betrayal and fear.

One by one, the pieces began to fall into place.

There was Marcus, a former Vought scientist who had fled after refusing to participate in unethical experiments. His knowledge of their inner workings was invaluable.

Then there was Rhea, a young supe with the ability to manipulate sound waves. She had escaped one of Vought's training facilities and carried a deep-seated hatred for her former captors.

And finally, there was an unlikely ally: a journalist named Sam who had spent years trying to expose Vought's corruption. His network of contacts provided a critical edge.

The once-quiet safehouse became a hub of activity as their ranks grew. Maps and blueprints covered the walls, and the air buzzed with whispered strategies and hastily made plans.

But with growth came challenges. Disagreements flared, trust was tested, and the sheer complexity of coordinating such a diverse group threatened to unravel their efforts.

Adam found himself at the center of it all, balancing Butcher's aggressive tactics with the cautious optimism of their new allies.

"Leadership suits you," Frenchie said one evening, watching as Adam defused yet another argument.

Adam chuckled dryly. "Feels more like babysitting."

"Perhaps," Frenchie said with a grin. "But you're good at it."

As the days turned into weeks, the team began to coalesce into something more than a ragtag group of rebels. They became a united front, each member driven by the shared goal of bringing Vought to its knees.

For Adam, it was more than he had ever dared to hope for.

But deep down, he knew the hardest battles were still ahead. And the cost of their fight was a price not all of them might be willing—or able—to pay.

The war against Vought was entering its final, most dangerous phase. And there was no turning back.