Tucker is standing, with his back turned, in front of six recruits. 

"No, no, no." Tucker waves his hand. "It's not Chris. My first name is Lavernius." He turns around.

"Yeah, that's better." A female recruit says.

"It is. It's regal, and it's a family name, so show some respect. I'm your instructor today, and I know things, things you could all learn. So learn them."

"Well said." The female recruit says sarcastically. 

"Okay, you know what soldier, have you ever saved the universe?" Tucker asks and everyone's quiet. "Show of hands, who here has saved the universe?" He raises his hand. 

The female recruit raises her hand. "I donate to environmental causes."

"Time or money?"

"Time."

Tucker waves his hand. "Get out of here. You don't have what it takes. I saved the universe once and it wasn't easy." He stretches then turns around. "Not like one of those times where it sort of just saves itself and you get all the credit, like Indiana Jones. He didn't save the world, he was just there. They would have opened up the arc and died either way." A muffled explosion goes off in the background. "I legitimately saved the world, on my own I might add, no one helped me do it."

Ash lands on the ground next to Tucker. Then Carolina, Axel, One, Raymond, East and C4 all run up to him. Smoke raises up from Ash's armor as he groans, then lets out a couple chuckles.

"Tucker, Viper is coming." Carolina says. "They want your sword. It's the final piece they need to unlock the ultimate weapon."

C4 looks around with a weird DMR in her hands. C4's new armor is slicker and the white on her armor is brighter. 

Ash groans as he stands up. Beta appears on his shoulder. "I warned you."

"Who's Viper?" Tucker asks, then an explosion goes off in the background.

"That's Viper." Raymond says.

Tucker raises his hand, then points it at the explosion. "But like, who are they?"

Zero along with a bunch of weird aliens walk into the compound.

A bunch of soldiers back up. Zero motions his head towards them. "Go."

The aliens move forward and begin to attack the base as Zero uses his sword to slice at stuff.

"That's him, that's Zero." One says.

Carolina motions to the three younger Agents. "You four, get Tucker out of here now, all other objectives are secondary."

"But-" C4 starts.

"C4 listen.' Ash says as he cracks his back.

"Yes, sir."

"Carolina, Axel, and I will take care of Zero." Ash says as he reloads his standard DMR.

The four start to run back with Tucker behind them.

"Hey, go get 'em Shatter Squad." Carolina yells.

"On it." Shatter Squad calls out.

"That was weird." One mutters.

"Good luck dad!" C4 yells out.

"Dad?" Tucker asks in a scared tone.

"Good luck, C4!" Ash yells.

Shatter Squad runs through the base and East grunts as her power messed with her armor a little and she falls to a knee.

Everyone stops and looks to East. Raymond goes over to her and holds his hand out. "Hey." East grabs his hand and helps her up. "We can do this."

One goes over and puts a hand on East's shoulder. "We've got your back."

"Yeah, come on East!" C4 yells. "Let's kick some ass!"

Then Tucker puts a hand on East's shoulder. "Hey." he says in a flirty tone and East just elbows him in the gut.

Tucker falls to the ground clutching his stomach, then he gets back up as East walks away from him. "Alright, let's go." She says.

"Worth it." Tucker says. "Bow chicka bow wow."

Over with the others.

Ash, Carolina and Axel come around a corner and see fire everywhere and a bunch of weird aliens. Then a group of the jump of the roof and surround the three.

Ash laughs as he charges his group and open fires.

Shatter Squad and Tucker stop along a wall as a group of aliens run by. 

"There's got to be another way." One says.

"Let me take a look." Raymond holds up his right wrist and a hologram comes up.

"I can fight, let's push through." Tucker claims.

C4 looks back to where her father is.

"No, it's too risky. Here. There are combat vehicles on the north side. We'll take those."

Shatter Squad runs off.

Back with the other three.

Ash kicks an Alien to the ground, then fires a couple rounds into it's head, then is disappears as it dies.

"What did you do to piss this guy off so much?" Carolina asks.

Ash ducks under a sword and he brings back his robo leg and kicks a hole through the Alien's chest

"I tried to kill him." Axel states.

Ash throws a grenade at an Alien and it blows up. "That does tend to piss people off." Ash laughs then he looks off to where C4 went. 

Beta appears on his shoulder. "I've detected an enemy signature with Shatter Squad. It's one of Viper."

"Shit." Ash mutters. "Carolina, Shatter's in trouble, I'm gonna help them."

"Fine, but hurry back!" Carolina yells.

With Shatter Squad.

Raymond gets into a warthog, but One pulls him out. "Ray get back!"

Diesel slams into the top of the warthog and crushes it. Diesel's armor glows and One fires onto him, but it does nothing.

"I don't have any more fruit basket gift cards." Raymond says and C4 runs over and helps him up and the three fire onto Diesel. "How do you feel about poetry? Like really long, flowery stuff. None of it rhymes."

Diesel jumps at the three and they run away.

East begins to engage phase and Shatter Squad manages to get Diesel and Phase together and a couple soldiers with rocket launches fire onto the two Viper squad members.  

"Get in a warthog!" Raymond yells.

Tucker, East and Raymond get in a warthog as One gets in a mongoose. One notices C4 standing a ways from the group.

"C4 let's go!" One yells.

C4 reloads her DMR. "Someone's gotta keep one of them at least busy."

"But-!"

"Go!" C4 turns to One. "I'll catch up!"

One just nods to C4 and she nods back.

Shatter Squad drives off and Phase chases after them.

Diesel looks at C4. "You think you can take me on shot stack."

C4 rolls her shoulders and cracks her neck. "Hit me tough guy, then we'll see."

Diesel laughs as he runs towards C4 and she just chuckles to herself and runs toward Diesel. 

C4 aims her DMR up and fires as she runs. Diesel's armor glows as the bullets just ricochet off his armor. C4 hums and she puts her gun on her back. Diesel nears C4 and he pulls his arm back.

The white of C4's armor glows as she pulls her fists back. The two throw punches at each other and their fists connect, causing a large explosion gooes off.

Diesel laughs as he takes a few steps back, but stops as the smoke clears and he notices that C4 is fine. Her arm is shaking though. "Nice hit, but it'll take a little more than that big guy."

Diesel grunts and he charges over to C4 and swings his fist. C4 leans back and ducks under it, then she spins to the side as she avoids a stomp from Diesel. 

C4 pulls out a knife and tries to stab Diesel in the leg, but he grabs her arm and flips her up. Then he kicks her in the gut and she goes flying through the air and roughly lands on the ground. 

C4 grunts and coughs a couple times as she gets up. She then rolls to the side as a fist slams down where she was laying. C4's armor glows and she kicks Diesel and a small explosion goes off as her feet connect with him.

Diesel grunts as he slides back and his armor glows. Diesel charges towards C4 an she brings her first up, but Diesel gets knocked to the side as a metal fist hits him in the face. 

"Dad?!" C4 shouts in shock.

Ash turns towards his daughter. "Why aren't you with your squad?!"

"I-I had to keep him back!"

"You were given a direct order and you violated it!"

"I did what was best for my team! I kept back a threat that could have impeded Tucker's survival!"

Ash just grunts and he turns towards Diesel, who's getting back up. "Stay back." Ash cracks his knuckles. 

"But-" C4 steps forward.

Ash holds his hand back to her. "Let me show you how a real soldier fights, so stay out of this!" He walks towards Diesel.

Diesel chuckles as he walks towards Ash. "You sure your hip can handle this old man?"

Ash stops as stares at Diesel. "I'm gonna enjoy ripping you apart. You ready Beta." 

Said A.I. appears on Ash's shoulder and gives a mock salute. "Ready boss."

"Good." Beta disappears as Ash runs towards Diesel

Ash pulls back his right first and throws a punch. Diesel back steps the attack and tries to kick Ash, but he pushes away his foot. Ash then ducks under another punch and he elbows Diesel in the gut.

Diesel grunts and takes a step back. "You still hit pretty hard for your age."

Ash doesn't say anything as he lunges towards Diesel and lifts up his right robo leg and releases a kick towards Diesel. Diesel grabs his leg and grunts from the force of the kick.Ash then spins and uses his other leg to kick Diesel in the head.

Diesel grunts in anger and his armor glows and he tries to punch Ash repeatedly. Ash back steps and pushes the punches to the side. Then he pulls back his own fist and upper cuts Diesel.

C4 watches on in awe. "Is this what he was like before I was born?"

Ash grabs Diesel's fist and pulls him forward and kicks him in the stomach. Diesel's armor glows as he stumbles back. Diesel then charges forward and throws a punch towards Ash.

Ash ducks under the fist, only to be met with Diesel's foot to the face. Ash gets hit into the air and he goes flying back. 

"Dad!" C4 shouts out in worry.

Ash lands on his feet and a blue glow from his helmet goes away. Ash then charges forward and head kicks Diesel in the head, then in the stomach. Said big man tanks the hits and tries to grab Ash.

Ash turns to the side as Diesel's fist flies past him. Ash elbows Diesel in the face and the kicks him in the side.

Diesel stumbles back.

"Ash."Carolina's voice comes over his radio.

Ash puts a hand up to his helmet as he ducks under a fist. "Yes, Carolina? I'm a little busy."

Ash spins to the side as he avoids another fist.

"It's Tucker, he's dead."

Ash freezes. "Huh?"

Suddenly Diesel grabs Ash's left robotic arm. "Don't get distracted old man." Diesel's armor glows and he punches Ash's in the chest, releases an explosion. 

The sound of metal and wires snapping is heard. Ash flies back and slams into the side of a building.

"DAD!" C4 screams.

Diesel laughs as he holds up his hand. In his hand is Ash's entire robotic left arm. He throws it to the side and it lands on the ground with a thud.

Ash groans in pain as he looks to his left shoulder. His entire arm is missing and wires spark from the socket as blood pours from it. 

"Oh, god! Oh, god!" Beta says in worry. "This is really bad! I don't think I can't fix this! Oh, GOD!" The A.I. panics.

Ash just grunts as he brings his other hand over his the wound and puts pressure on it.

"Was that it?!" Diesel yells. "I expected more from a seasoned soldier! Don't tell me you've gotten soft after you had a kid." He walks towards Ash, but three explosive knifes land on the ground in front of him and they explodes, causing a smoke screen.

Diesel grunts as he waves away the smoke and he looks to where Ash is, but the Spartan's gone.

Diesel looks around and he doesn't spot Ash or C4 anywhere. "Damn, it was just getting good."

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03-09-2023

2047 words