(I genuinely don't like writing RVB Zero, that's why these chapters are so far apart.)

Tucker gasps as he shoots up from laying down on a medical bed.

"Tucker?" Wash calls out, as he sits on the bed next to Tucker.

"Huh?" Tucker looks over to him.

Asher, still missing his left arm, stands next to Carolina. C4 stands next to her father.

"Is that you, Wash?" Tucker asks.

"Thank god." Wash says. "You're okay Tucker. You had us really worried."

"Yes!" Ash shouts in joy. "No more friends dying! I... I've had enough of those."

"David, you should lie down." Carolina suggests. "You still need rest."

"I'm fine. I'm fine. These people have some amazing medical tech. If they hadn't gotten you here in time, Tucker, I think you would have died."

"Hey, chalk that up to one death." Ash starts. "One more and he'll have the same as me."

Tucker looks down, then notices his sword missing. "What? Ah crap! Those bastards! They took my sword! They took my sword!"

"Did he even hear what I said?" Wash asks.

"You're alive." Carolina says to Tucker. "That's what counts."

"You don't get it, cause you never had one." Tucker states. "I'm half a man now."

"I... I'm starting to get what you say about him." C4 says to her father.

"Wow. I have missed you." Wash says.

"What? It's not a joke dude. That sword is the most important thing." Tucker continues ranting.

"I mean, it did save our lives, multiple times." Ash points out.

Carolina makes her way out of the room. "Well, at least one of us is in a good mood."

Tucker grunts at the end of his rant and looks at Ash. "Woah, dude! What happened to your arm?!" 

"Ehhh, got it torn off." Ash shrugs it off. "I mean, I've had worse, but it really did hurt." The he laughs. "The next time I see that darn blue man, I'll rip the skull out of his head and beat him with it!"

"That's not physically possible." C4 states.

"And that's what he'll say!"

"Man, you had that arm forever." Tucker states.

"Yeah, well, I have a new one built and ready to go soon." Ash states.

Tucker then looks at C4. "Why hello-"

"Tucker, that's my daughter." Ash interrupts.

"What? You had a daughter with that crazy chick, Dr. Grey?"

Ash stares at Tucker. "...That crazy chick is my wife."

Tucker nervously laughs while C4 sighs and facepalms. Tucker then turns back to C4 and goes to speak.

"Tucker, you flirt with her, and I will make sure you die." Ash states and Tucker gulps.

"DAD!" C4 yells. "I'm not a child."

"Technically you are." 

"God, your insufferable!" C4 yells and stomps towards the door.

"Hey, that's not how you talk to your commander!" Ash yells.

C4 stops at the door and turns back towards Ash. "Respectfully sir, go fuck yourself." She flips him the bird as she leaves.

"Hey!" Ash yells in anger.

Tucker and Wash glance at each other.

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C4 enters her room and punches the wall, leaving a dent. She then walks over to her weapons bench.

"GOD DAMN IT!" C4 grabs a weapon and throws it, breaking it apart. "Why is he so damn.... UGH!"

Beta flashes onto her desk. "Strict with you? So mean?"

"Beta, go away." C4 warns as she sits on her bed.

"He has a right too."

"Beta...."

"Hey, hear me out." Beta puts his hands out. "You're dad hasn't had it easy his entire life."

"What do you mean? He's had nothing but great battles won with ease and a quiet life."

"That's what you've heard." Beta sits down on the bench. "You haven't heard the small stuff, the things between all that. I don't think he's ever told you, but he built a bomb inside a robot, where he and everyone thought it sent them into the future."

C4 chuckles. "That sounds stupid."

"It is! All the times your father's been blown up or shot, I know it. I'm literally a copy of him! Do you know that he wasn't a very well liked Spartan in training. People saw him as weak and small. Being the youngest and shortest in training, everyone looked down on him. He's known nothing, but the military life."

Beta stands up and flashes over to C4's nightstand. "That's why he's hard on you, he doesn't know love. The only person that showed him love, not Dr. Grey kinda love, was his sister. Cal."

"He never talks about her."

"Cal was Ash's world to him. She was his super hero, a knight in shining armor. He wanted to be like her, he saw her as someone unkillable, immortal. But, when you find out that someone you saw as immortal, dies. You... You die on the inside."

C4 just looks down.

Beta continues. "Your father has lost a lot of people he's cared about. He doesn't want to lose you too. He thinks that if he pushes you away, you might quit the military and just have a normal job. He thinks you'll end up just like him, a old man that's nothing more than a weapon."

"I... I just want to be with him." C4 states. "He was never around when I was a kid and mom, she's always busy with work. But the stories she tells of him, he sounds so cool. I just thought... Maybe if I can be cool and strong like him, he'll love me."

"He does love you. He just... can't show it very well, especially with how messed up his head is. Oof, you don't want to see what it's like in there."

"But I'm not gonna quit the military."

Beta groans. "Ohh, come on! I already have to deal with your father, I don't need to deal with you!"

C4 stands up and holds a fist up, in determination. "I'm gonna become stronger, so dad doesn't need to worry about me!"

Beta puts a hand on his head. "These two Ash's are gonna be the death of me."

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Axel, One, Raymond, Carolina and Ash stand outside Wast's room.

"He's locked himself in there?" Carolina asks as she turns to Axel.

"Since we got back." Axel states.

Carolina turns back to the door. "West, can you open the door?"

West is heard yelling and a few crashes are heard.

"Oh, so this is what handling it well looks like?" Raymond asks.

Ash laughs. "I say we use the seven megaton bomb I have and blow the door open! HAHAHAH!"

"Ash, no." Carolina turns to Ash.

"Awww." Ash becomes depressed.

Carolina turns to the door. "We need to figure this out. Viper could be-"

"You won't lay a hand on her." West shouts through the door. "I promised her, I promised her mother. I promised she'd be safe."

"West, please." Axel calls out and several more crashes are heard.

"That's it!" Ash yells. "I'm getting my mallet!" He starts to walk off, only for Carolina to grab him.

"Ash, no." Carolina grumbles.

"Damn..."

"West we're hurting, but we know you're hurting the most." One says. "We don't want to fight East. We want to help her."

The door opens and West stands in the door way, his room a mess. "How?" He asks.

"You tell us." Raymond says.

"What?"

"We need to know what happened. I know it might not cast you in the best light or whatever, but we just want to fix this. No one cares if you're a crappy dad, like Ash."

"Hey!" Ash yells.

"Raymond!" Axel reprimands

"No Axe. Major." West says. "He's right. I failed her. It all started with Glass, a special ops trying to win the war through espionage and science." West turns to Ash and Carolina. "I believe you two were part of a similar group.

Ash and Carolina look away as West continues. "That's where we started the first Shatter Squad, and we wanted to set up another. So we recruited the top cadet to train for leadership. His rank was also his codename, One."

"He said I was like him." One states. 

"But we were never able to secure a second team. Next we knew the war ended, and ops like ours were being shut down left and right. He felt betrayed. We didn't think he was strong enough. We were wrong. He was stronger than any of us.  I think this is his way of proving that. He took my little girl."

"Are you going to tell us what happened to East or not?" Raymond rudely asks.

"Raymond!" Axel shouts.

"We deserve to know."

"Yeah!" Ash yells. "I like this story!"

"She almost died." West growls.

"Wait, died?" Raymond asks. "What are you talking about?"

"She was born with a severe disease that got worse and worse. But our Starlight initiative had achieved some advances in alien medication."

"You experimented on her."Carolina speaks up.

"It was the only way."

"...I would do it too." Ash states.

"Major?" Axel turns to him.

"You don't understand the joy you get when you have a kid, and the heartbreaking sorrow you could get if you loose them."

"Wait, is that where her zip zap powers come from?" Raymond asks West. West just nods.

"It was hard for her." Axel says. "So she left, ran away a few years back. With that super speed there was no way for us to keep up. I guess we know where she went now.

"Zero!" West growls.

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Shatter Squad, including Carolina and Ash, are in the War room. Ash now has a new robo arm.

Suddenly Tiny's voice is heard over the radio. "Ugh, Captain, Sergeant compass man, whatever rank you are. There's a message coming in for you."

"From who?" One asks.

"It says it's from, uh, One. Did you butt dial?"

"Transfer the call to the war room."

"Roger dodger peach cobbler."

"What?" C4 questions.

Suddenly a Snake symbol appears on the holoscreen in front of them and Zero is heard. "Good afternoon Shatter Squad. Recovering nicely from our latest day out I presume."

"What do you want?" One asks.

"I thought I made that clear. I want everything. But I'm a fair man, so I'd like you to know I've just opened the final temple. The ultimate weapon is within my reach. Now is your last chance. One last ride for old time's sake."

"I'm gonna kick your ass!" Ash yells.

"If you don't hurt your hip, old man."

"I'm not that old!" Ash yells in anger as the snake symbol disappears. 

"Tiny, did you trace the call?" One asks.

"Um, probably." Tiny responds. "Can I borrow a pen? Oh also, he sent an email with his current location."

"An email?" Raymond asks.

"Darn, I can hardly work the message app on my phone and now he wants me to check my emails!" Ash yells.

"From [email protected]." Tiny informs. "How retro."

"What is he? 12?" C4 asks.

"Yes!" One shouts. "We've got him! Let's go team!" She runs out of the room." But she notices no one followed her and she peaks back in. "Uh, team?"

"It's over One." Raymond states. "Why else would he call us like that?"

"But-"

"He's beaten us every time! Every time! He just wants to show us up again. Won't give it to him."

"He's right." Axel says. "We've already lost too much. We're not going to lose you too."

"Yeah, I'm kinda getting tired of getting my ass handed to me." C4 states.

Ash suddenly starts to walk towards One.

"Sir?" Axel calls out.

Ash stops next to one and turns around. "I'll tell you guys one thing. I've died a couple times. Once back when I was Minnesota, and once after saving the UNSC from getting destroyed on Earth. I died fighting for what I thought was right. So if I have to die, fighting this man, Zero, I'll do it. He tried to kill my friend. He tried to kill you all. And his biggest mistake was touching my daughter.

So I ask you all, why are you here? You could have been off in some other place, having a nice life. But no, you're here, fighting for what you believe in. So I'm gonna ask you, why are you here? 'Cause I know why, you're here to stop Zero, he's just one man. Threatening everything we hold dear. So, I'm gonna stop Zero and save your friend East with One.We never leave a friend behind or let the enemy win."

Ash throws his left arm forward and it changes into a triple barreled mini-gun.

 "So tell me, are you going to fight and save the day with me?" Ash asks.

C4 throws her arms up. "Hell yeah!"

"Damn if that wasn't one hell of a speech." West says.

"And he usually hates rousing speeches." Axel states.

"Man, Sarge would be proud of me." Ash mutters.

"Let's do this." Carolina says.

"Raymond, you finished with those new upgrades?" One asks.

"Ready when you are boss." Raymond informs.

"Let's go get him Shatter Squad."

Everyone gears up, Ash's mini-gun barrels spin around and C4 spins several explosive knives around.

Everyone then heads out.

"Time for this old man to kick some youngin ass!" Ash shouts with a laugh. 

Beta flashes onto Ash's shoulder. "Damn, you are old."

"Hey!"

C4 laughs and a few seconds later Ash laughs too.

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06-18-2023

2161 words