the engines of the strike units flared as the 501st took off to fight the neuroi once again as John just sat on the side lines and watched as they went to fight the good fight. after they left John walked back into the hanger to look over the notes of the reactor not getting any progress from the other day when he talked to Shirley about it.
"i guess i'm not smart enough to fix this one" John said to himself as he threw all the papers off of the table."why won't it work!" John shouted throwing his fathers gun across the room. "I need help dad!" John just fell to his knees and looked at what he had done."looks like i'm going to have to face facts. i was not men't to stay in this world." John stood up and walked across the room to grab the gun off of the ground."but i won't let what i built put me out. i will not let a mistake kill me" John slowly talked to himself as he opened the cylinder and pulled the other five bullets out and left one in it."i can't even keep myself alive. all the people i used to know i will have to kill. how can i say i am in this war to save people if i'm killing everyone i called friend." John put the gun to his head. "but do i really wan't to kill myself over this. i can fix this i just need something i never ask for. i need help." John just looked over the gun and wondered why it was given to him. who sent it. John started to look it over as he noticed the screws on the handle had the paint scratched off. someone had opened it up and john never noticed it.
John removed the wooden handle from the gun to see that their was a piece of paper onside of the gun. 'dad you crazy fool. you could never just say things. it always had to be some sort of misters.' john thought as he opened the paper to see it was the plans of his portable reactor.'this is what those men were looking for. he died to protect this and now this is what will keep me alive. thanks dad." john said as he stood up and grabbed the plans of the floor and put them on the table."time to get to work"
...
the girls returned from their fight and started to put their equipment away as Sanya and Shirley went to go see what John was doing on the other end of the hanger.
"I did it. It works" John told them as they were confused as to what he was talking about.
"What are you talking about John" Sanya asked him as he picked up a engine that would go inside of a strike unit and put it on the table.
"Watch this it will blow you away" John pulled out a metal short Cylinder that would go inside of his chest and put it into a makeshift wiring core that hoked up to the engine. The engine started to to sputter and power up as it roared with a huge amount of power goes into the engine. it starts to flair with. John handed a device with speedometer like dials on it to Shirley.
"this is crazy the engine is topping out on power but the battery is still at full power" Shirley says with amazement shouting over the loud engine.
"that's because the battery is able to create its own magic energy." John shouts "its an unstoppable dynamo"
the engine started to sputter and shoot flames out from its pistons as the engine started to rip itself apart from all the power it was taking in.
"look out" John Shouts as they dive away as the engine puffs out black smoke and breaks apart throwing gears and bolts everywhere. "well that's all i needed to see." John says standing up and walking over to the core and taking his shirt off.
"are you really going to put that thing inside of you." Sanya says with worry in her voice "it will tear you apparent like the engine"
"its fine Sanya. the engine was just a test to see how much power it can put into one object. i have already upgraded my core to stop taking energy when it becomes dangerous. i won't overpower myself it will level out."
"that's crazy John." Shirley says
"sometimes you have to try some crazy things in life." John said putting in the core as it lights up with a blue glow. Johns cuts on his arm that he had gotten the other day had receded and healed. the battery was working better than he expected."lets do some tests" John said as he jumped into a strike unit and drove it out of the hanger.
...
John and the others walked out of the hanger and into the hall as they walked towards the kitchen to get some dinner.
"John i wouldn't go to crazy with this. the core may work but we don't know if the magic will stay." Shirley says walking with the others
"that's the thing Shirley the core works and that's all i'm worried about." if it stops working i have the old one on stand by. now i don't have to change them or worry about random breakdowns."
the three walked into the kitchen when Commander Minna stopped them and pulled John away.
"what the hell do you think your doing John." Minna asked as he followed her to her office. "again i find you using the equipment without permission while you are still injured"
"that's one thing i needed to talk to you about Minna" John replied as he took a seat in the room "im no longer injured see." he said showing her the new core"
"are you sure that thing will keep you alive"
"yeah i feel better then ever and ready to rock. lets find out who is sending these people after me."
"what do you mean John their is no way the military can set aside time to find your enemies." Minna said as she opened the file on her desk. "before i let you go though i wan't to know who that girl was yesterday."
"that girl" John said as he pulled the picture out of his pocket of the six of them " was Mirage. she was our recon girl in the hound unit. she was good at getting in and out of places. she was quiet around me when i got their but she started to open up after a while. she was a nice girl. i don't know what made her change into a killer. i didn't want to fight her but i had to do it to keep the team safe from her powers."
"she had a core too" Minna asked
"yeah. whoever is sending these people were the same people that killed my father. they must have stolen his research to build it."
"we may need to find these people after all instead of letting them come to us. i give you permission to leave the base tonight to look around the town. whoever it is they must be close to attack without being seen."
"thank you commander."
...
that night john walked into a bar that looked a like a good place to start looking for someone who knew something about the attacks.
"what will it be" asked the man behind the counter as John took a seat.
"i guess i'll have a cola." John said as he started to scan the bar looking for people of interest.
"here you go" the man handed him the bottle "aren't you a bit young to be here"
"im looking for someone" John replied taking a sip of cola.
"someone specific" the man asked as he cleaned a glass.
"anyone here work for the underground. i think they would know what im asking for"
"if your looking for a bad person" he said looking both ways and leaning in "Tony over there is who you should talk to" he said pointing over to a man at a table with other men in dark suits. they all looked like gangsters from the mafia. John was almost frightened to go over but he knew that they would connect him to his man."also you may wan't to watch out. some girl followed you in here. shes not a regular you may want to watch out." said the bar tender as john turned around.
"you have got to be kidding me." John said as he saw that Barkhorn had tagged along with him. "Barkhorn what are you doing here"
"i told you John" she said taking a seat next to him. "i got your back. you can't do this alone"
john smiled finishing his drink"thanks Barkhorn lets do this"
"good luck kid. these guys aren't nice" said the bar tender as the two got up and made their way to the table.
"you Tony" John said pulling up a chair and sitting down as the men all stared at him.
"that's me" said the man with black short hair and clean shaved mustache. "what the fuck do you want."
"i have a feeling you can tell me where to find a man. a man who used to operate in the military but now needs to used mobsters like you to do his dirty work. i'm looking for a man who calls himself the General."
hearing this Tony griped the gun at his side and pulled it out pointing it at Johns head. "you fucking idiot your messing with the wrong guy."
Quickly John moved to the side and ducked for cover before everything went to shit and Barkhorn Joined him. the men at the table all stood up and started to empty their guns into the counter where John and Barkhorn were hiding behind. the alcohol bottles started to explode and fall to the floor and the bar started to be torn apart and wood flew everywhere.
"did you bring a gun John" Barkhorn asked pulling one from her holster.
"yeah" John said pulling out the revolver. "i never leave home without it."
the men were out of ammo as they just looked at the counter waiting for something to happen. suddenly John and Barkhorn jumped up and used the counter to level their aim and as a barrier between them and the mobsters. they opened fire as John shot Tony in the leg and arm first to keep him alive and then they both started to blow away the others.
"shoot at me you will you" Barkhorn yelled as she fired her Walther PPK into two mens chest splattering blood across the floor. as they fell to the ground along with the others. John and Barkhorn shot down all the mobsters as they lay on the ground in pain a few of them had died from their injuries. as their blood started to turn to puddles on the ground as Barkhorn looked around to make sure their weren't any other mobsters still around as John hoped the bar and walked over to Tony who was sprawling in pain on the ground.
"so Tony. you ready to talk." John said bending over to look down at him
"Suck my dick you mother fucker i won't tell you anything" He shouted holding his wounds.
"Barkhorn your clip still full." John asked as she threw him the gun.
"its still got two bullets in it." She replied
"that will be enough. so are you going to talk." he said as he forced the barrel of the gun into Tonys mouth. as Tony began to panic he started to mumble words through the gun. John pulls the gun out of his mouth to hear what he is trying to say. "what was that"
"hes down town at a bar that the mob owns on the other side of town. hes on Davidson street." He told him as John searched Tonys coat and pulled out his car keys.
"thanks for playing ball Tony. im gonna need to borrow your car if you don't mind. lets go Barkhorn."
as john left the bar he put a dollar on the bar. "i hope this will cover the soda" he said as he left
the two ran into the parking lot as John found the car that the keys belonged to. John dropped to his knees as he saw the great machine that he saw in front of him. the mobsters drove a Duesenberg Model SJ.
"this is the most amazing car i have ever seen. a 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ. only 36 were ever made and they have one." the sleek white car had allot of class and speed. it had the average speed of 135 mph. it can go from zero to sixty in eight seconds. it was fast and beautiful.
"you are a very strange person john" Barkhorn said as she got inside the car."do you even know how to drive a car." she asked as John started the car and the engine roared as he revved it.
"i did some offensive driving back in the hound unit." as he adjusted the mirrors and got ready to go.
Barkhorn thought for a second "your supposed to drive defensively though."
John just put the peddle to the metal as he rocketed out onto the street and down into the night.
"so what are you going to do when we get there" Barkhorn asked as she held herself into the chair as they soared down the road.
"im going to walk up to the general and put a bullet in his head." John replied as he turned abruptly down the street as Barkhorn struggled to stay in her chair.
"your a maniac." barkhorn shouted at him
"i thought you said you had my back"
"not when your trying to break the sound barrier in a stolen car."
suddenly the car screeched to a stop as John opened the door and Barkhorn tumbles out of the car."were here" he said walking towards the door and knocking as a man opens a slip to look out.
"whats the password" The pair of eyes.
"oh i don't know the password" John replied as the opening closed.
"how do we get in now John" Barkhorn asked propping herself up on the car trying to work off the dizziness.
"thats a mob car. check the trunk."
Barkhorn opened the trunk of the car to find it was filled with weaponry. Barkhorn pulled out a shotgun and started to load it while John grabbed the Thompson Machine gun.
"now this is what im talking about" John said as he cocked the gun and walked with Barkhorn to the door. John knocked on the door and the eyes came back.
"password" the man repeated
"i think i got it now" John said putting the revolver to the hole and shooting the man in the head.
"was that really necessary" Barkhorn asked
"he would have killed us if we walked in there. these people wont give it a second thought they've done it before. care to open the door"
Barkhorn walked up to the door as her body began to glow with magic and she kicked the door in. inside the bar the mobsters had gotten behind cover as one went to check who had shot the guard when the door flew in and threw him across the room.
Barkhorn and John walked through the doorway and began to open fire on the mobsters. Barkhorn fired the shotgun splattering one man across the room with a gush of red blood across the floor. ejecting the shell she turned to another man and fired again sending him flying backwards. John started opened fire on the other men as the Thompson quickly tore them apart. they just stood in the doorway and continued to fire until their wasn't anyone left.
"i think i'm going to be sick" Barkhorn said as thy walked in.
"thats all of them."john said as he walked towards the back and a man ran towards him with a knife and was abruptly thrown back by a shotgun blast from behind John sending the man flying across the room.
"now that's all of them" Barkhorn remarked as she loaded a new shell.
John kicked down the door to the back room.
"that was faster then i expected did you finish your fathers work John." asked the man smoking a cigar with his feet up on the desk.
"it didn't take much to find you" John replied pointing the Thompson at him.
"who is this man John" Barkhorn asked
"allow me to introduce myself young lady. i am the General. one of Johns six demons that has returned to kill him."
