AN: FINALLY THE NASTY ONE HAS COME BACK TO FANFICTION! Hey there everyone, sorry for the wait for this chapter but I had some personal stuff come up in my life that prevented me from writing another chapter for this or my other stories. But, I'm back now and on my birthday no less so let's get this story rolling again!
Chapter 11: What's on the Market?
== Three Days Later ==
The Avenger had been parked in a remote area of New Mexico as they were patiently awaiting the credits and supplies that the resistance had so graciously left them in the middle of nowhere to ensure that ADVENT would be unable to find it. They had literally arrived to see that there was a disorganized pile of stuff just carelessly left for them that would take several days to reorganize and load into the Avenger. Now after those three days, the ship would finally be ready to move now that the last crate was in its proper place.
"Now that this clusterfuck has been dealt with, set a course for resistance HQ near Guadalajara. We're going shopping." ordered the Commander as he headed back to his office to get an idea of what he would be looking for when he got there.
"You heard the man let's go wheels up!" said Bradford as the pilots complied with the order as they began the short two hour flight to the HQ.
== Guerilla Tactics School ==
Clay Levandowski was currently in the process of the most intense workout he'd ever taken a part in, meditation. That's right the big scary teenager was currently sitting peacefully in the lotus position in the middle of the gym portion of the Guerilla Tactics School unmoving as he became one with the world around him. Clay had been in the School for the past three days since he'd joined XCOM as it was a five day process for him to become a full-fledged Squaddie. Everyday there was a routine of theory in the morning, followed by physical workouts, and then his own personal time for meditation with him having the evenings off to do what he wanted. Clay in his free time was mainly hanging out in his room in the living quarters just writing new songs for him to perform later on.
He'd made a few friends namely with James, Kyle, Gabriella and Isabella but had kept his distance from the others until they'd earned his trust. With his meditation time now over he started packing up his things but was interrupted by the door opening as someone else entered the room.
"I was wondering when you'd decide to show up." said Clay with a smirk as he took in the sight of Isabella standing before him.
"Well I wanted to give you a few days to adjust to the ship before approaching you." replied Isabella as she blushed at his muscles that were on display since his vest and shirt were still off.
'Damn I'm awesome!' thought Clay as his smirk grew wider when he noticed her blush.
'Wow I had no idea that a teenager could be so muscular.' thought Isabella as she pushed back her more inappropriate thoughts about the person in front of her.
"So what's on your mind Isabella?"
"Well I was wondering if you could help me get past my grief over my past. I know that it's starting to get the better of me, and I want to stop it now before I get someone or myself killed."
"Straight to the point, my kind of person." complimented Clay as he put his shirt back on to keep her from getting too distracted from what they were trying to accomplish.
"Thanks. How's the best way to get this done as quickly as possible?" she replied as Clay chuckled at her naive nature.
"It's not that simple Isabella. It took me years to get over the deaths of my family."
"What happened to them? If you don't mind me asking that is."
"It's alright." said Clay as he pulled out a picture of his family before the accident and showing it to her. In the picture it showed an older male and female hugging their three kids one older boy in the middle, and two younger twins (one boy and one girl) with one on either side of the older boy.
"You were the oldest of three kids?"
"Yeah I was three years older than both my siblings. I was the one they looked up to and asked advice of. This is actually the last picture we took together before the accident that happened a week later. We were driving along before ADVENT attacked my town because we'd been able to hold them off for a few months. When they attacked, they launched artillery that struck the car in front of us and launched shrapnel into my car." Here Clay paused for a few moments as he started tearing up.
"The initial explosion shockwave killed both my parents, but the shrapnel decapitated both of my siblings while I was "lucky"." he emphasized that word with air quotes, before lifting his shirt up to show a long thin scar running parallel across his chest but stopping just before his heart.
"Being older and taller the shrapnel only hit me in the chest and a doctor was able to save me. But for a short time after that I believed that I should've died with them until my aunt came and got me. She took me away and helped me get over my grief and I owe her a lot for keeping me from going down a dark and lonely road."
"Wow that's one incredible story Clay, I can't imagine what that might've been like for you to go through." she said as she gave him a hug to help him calm down as he was still crying.
"Thanks." he replied as he wiped his eyes clear of tears before focusing on her again.
"Now the first step in helping you get over your loss is talking about what happened. My belief is that if you can talk about it then you can move past it once others know about it and how it affected you."
"Okay well I guess it all started right at the beginning of the invasion. My team worked Black Ops for the U.S. and was comprised of four veterans of the war against the Ravagers. It was myself as squad leader, Dickey, his girlfriend Shipman, and my fiancé Marcel. The four of us were going into a middle eastern village to wipe out a suspected terrorist cell that we'd been tracking for months. Thinking that it was just a bunch of regular fighters we hit them with conventional weapons, but when we kicked down that door we were surprised to find out that they were actually aliens. Before we could react, one of the aliens a Berserker ripped Shipman's head off and Dickey just froze up thankfully I pulled him away at the last second and he only lost his eye."
"That explains the eye patch and nickname. Remind me to give him props for the ink by the way." said Clay interrupting her for a moment as she was a little annoyed at that fact.
"Sure thing, anyway... Marcel tried holding them back for us while I called in air support and evacuation. We'd made it back to our exfiltration point, but one of the Thin Men was a sniper and...sh-sh-shot Marcel in the back before he could reach us...and then the air support hit the area and...and...and well he wasn't there anymore." she finished as she began openly crying as Clay just held her close to him and let her cry away all the years of pent up sadness and heartache.
It lasted a good half an hour, before the crying subsided as she looked up at him and saw him looking at her in concern.
"You feel a little better now?"
"A whole lot better actually. Looks like you were right, talking about it does help. What's next?"
"Well now it's all about finding a support network and have them help you get over your loss. Then the final step is moving on but never forgetting that they existed and they're now in a better place watching over us."
"You're a lot wiser than you let on Clay. Why not share it with the others?"
"I only show that to people I truly trust because I know that they have my back. Once the others show me that commitment, then I'll reveal my more vulnerable and nicer side."
"Makes sense, so what's on the agenda for the rest of the day?"
"Well James and I are setting up a jam session for you guys in the mess hall. You're more than welcome to come and watch us perform."
"I'd love to Clay."
"Well then shall we?" he said as he offered her his arm to walk in.
"My such a gentleman, but yes let's go." she said as she accepted his arm and the two headed towards the Mess Hall.
== In the Mess Hall ==
James already had all of the equipment set up as he was busy tuning his guitar while talking with Kyle and Gabriella. Others that were present were the rest of the soldiers and the Eds as they were all invited to come and watch the short show that they'd put together for them.
"So what are you going to play for us today James?" asked Gabriella who really enjoyed hearing him play knowing that he had a great voice.
"Some newer songs that I've been writing, and Clay's even going to share some of his songs he's been working on after training, plus we've got a special surprise for the end of the show." said James mysteriously as he was oblivious to Gabriella's blushing towards him.
"Sounds like it's going to be a fun time buddy. I can't wait to see Clay perform I hear he's got a unique taste in music." said Kyle as he was laughing on the inside seeing his two friends actions towards one another.
'These two still haven't hooked up yet. O the fun I'm going to have teasing both of them when it does happen.' thought Kyle as he smiled while readjusting his snapback to keep his air contained.
"Speaking of Clay there he is with Isabella." said James as he noticed how close the two were now.
'Guess she finally talked to him about her past. I wonder how long it'll be before they get together?'
"Well she seems happier." commented the country boy.
"It's nice to see her opening back up a little bit. Guess they had similar pasts or something." said Gabriella as she watched the two separate before Clay came up to them.
"Hey guys. Everything good to go James?"
"Yep just waiting on you and your instruments Levy."
"Cool let's get this show started then." replied the outlaw looking teenager as he pulled out his guitar and got it tuned as the others quieted down wondering which one of them would perform first. That was shortly settled as James stepped up first as Clay stood behind him ready to play his guitar.
"Thank you all for coming to this little get together that Clay and I decided to put together for you all. I'll get this show started with a new song that I just wrote a few days ago regarding my past growing up. I was always ridiculed for being smart and left out of a lot of activities because of it, but I know that being smart wasn't a detriment and others like me could bring some good to this world. So I wrote this as a song those that are looked down upon and made outcasts could rally behind because they do matter and they do have their own voice that needs to be heard. It's called "We Got the Noise"!" He said as he and Clay began playing the first chords of the song. (Song is "We Got the Noise" by The Donots, check it out if you're interested. All rights to the song go to them. Clay is playing lead guitar and doing backing vocals, while James is doing lead vocals and rhythm guitar. Bold text is both of them singing, while Italicized text is Clay only, and regular text is James only.)
You ready? One two three four!
The kids, the sound, the passion
We got our hopes, we have our say
No rules, no fakes, no fashion anyway
The friends, the fun, the meaning
We're gonna have it our own way, oh-oh
The sweat, the blood, the feeling
We came here to play
Cause we got the noise
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
We got the noise so here we go
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
This is our voice, this is our show
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
All you boys, all you girls, put it on, turn it up
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
We got the noise and we don't stop
The bored, the scarred, the broken
Together we will take a stand
The life, the choice, the moment's in our hand
The time (the time!), the place (the place!)
The message that we try to send, oh-oh
Create (create!), take action, make your demands
Make your demands now
Cause we got the noise
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
We got the noise so here we go
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
This is our voice, this is our show
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
All you boys, all you girls, put it on, turn it up
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
We got the noise, c'mon let's go
We got the noise (whooooaaaaaaaa)
We got the noise (we got it, we got it)
We got the noise (whooooaaaaaaaa)
We got the noise and we don't
Let our friends down
Rest in silence
We amplify and get around
Cause we got the noise
*Insert Guitar Solo from Clay*
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
We got the noise so here we go
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
This is our voice, this is our show
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
All you boys, all you girls, we just want you to know
Whoooooaaaaa whooooaaaaaaaa
We got the noise, c'mon let's go
We got the noise (we got it, we got it) (x4)
We got the noise (whooooaaaaaaaa) (x3)
We got the noise (we got it (x7))
After the music faded, the gathered group got up and cheered as the song really brought them to life. Both of them bowed to the cheers as James got their attention once again for the next song.
"Glad you guys got so into that one. Now I wrote this next one about people that I hated growing up, which is aimed mainly towards those who get everything handed to them but they still complain about life and how it sucks. Screw those people, because they don't know how the real world works! This song is called "Give Up the Grudge"!" (Song belongs to Gob, all credit goes to them for writing and recording it. Same rules apply to the previous song regarding the text types and instruments the two are playing.)
Don't make me listen to the stupid broken record again
The needle's skipping and repeating never reaching the end
You know you're bitching and complaining like you've got it so tough
We're sick of all your crying will you ever shut up?
So keep bleeding your fake blood
'Til no even sees it
If that's the best you can make up
At least act like you mean it
Give up the grudge
Shut your fucking mouth
Why you gotta judge everybody but yourself
Take a look around you
There ain't nobody home
I may be a loser but at least I'm not alone
Your Mercedes won't start
Yeah that's a crying shame
I guess 90K a year buys nothing but complaint
The people in the neighborhood think that I'm a threat
While their boss gets richer
They get deeper in debt
So keep bleeding your fake blood
'Til no even sees it
If that's the best you can make out
At least act like you mean it
Give up the grudge
Shut your fucking mouth
Why you gotta judge everybody but yourself
Take a look around you
There ain't nobody home
I may be a loser but at least I'm not alone
*Insert Guitar Solo from Clay*
Give up the grudge
Shut your fucking mouth
Why you gotta judge everybody but yourself
Take a look around you
There ain't nobody home
I may be a loser but at least I'm not alone
Give up the grudge
Shut your fucking mouth
Why you gotta judge everybody but yourself
Take a look around you
There ain't nobody home
I may be a loser but at least I'm not alone
Give up the grudge
Shut your fucking mouth
Why you gotta judge everybody but yourself
Take a look around you
There ain't nobody home
I may be a loser but at least I'm not alone
Give up the grudge
Shut your fucking mouth
Why you gotta judge everybody but yourself
Take a look around you
There ain't nobody home
I may be a loser but at least I'm not alone
Give up the grudge
Shut your fucking mouth
Why you gotta judge everybody but yourself
Take a look around you
There ain't nobody home
I may be a loser but at least I'm not alone
Once again the crowd went insane, as they continued on this momentum with James playing some of the songs he had played earlier. (Check the last couple of chapters.)
"Alright guys now it's time for me to turn it over to the big guy here as he takes over for me. Levy if you would please."
"Alright guys I know some of you don't know me that well, so I hope that this performance acts as a stepping stone to fix that and that we can watch each other's backs out there in the field. This first song I wrote just this morning about some people I knew in the past that weren't as they seemed to be. It's called "Beast and the Harlot"." (All credit goes to Avenged Sevenfold for writing this masterpiece, check them out if you have the time. Clay is now on lead vocals, while James is now on lead guitar. The roles basically have just switched from the first two songs.)
*Song opens with a guitar bridge from both, and Clay begins with his screaming voice before singing.*
This shining city built of gold, a far cry from innocence
There's more than meets the eye round here look to the waters of the deep
A city of evil
There sat a seven-headed beast, ten horns raised from his head
Symbolic woman sits on his throne, but hatred strips her and leaves her naked
The Beast and the Harlot
She's a dwelling place for demons, she's a cage for every unclean spirit every filthy bird
And makes us drink the poisoned wine to fornicate with our kings
Fallen now is Babylon the Great
*Insert first guitar solo from James*
The city dressed in jewels and gold, fine linen, Myrrh and pearls
Her plagues will come all at once as her mourners watch her burn
Destroyed in an hour
Merchants and captains of the world, sailors navigators too
Will weep and mourn this loss with her sins piled to the sky
The Beast and the Harlot
She's a dwelling place for demons, she's a cage for every unclean spirit every filthy bird
And makes us drink the poisoned wine to fornicate with our kings
Fallen now is Babylon the Great
*Insert Clay's guitar bridge before James rejoins on the next Verse*
The day has come for all us sinners
If your not a servant you'll be struck to the ground.
Flee the burning, greedy city looking back on her to see there's nothin' around.
I don't believe in fairy tales
And no one wants to go to Hell
But you made the wrong decision
And it's easy to see.
Now if you want to serve above or be a king below with us
You're welcome to the city where your future is set forever
She's a dwelling place for demons, she's a cage for every unclean spirit every filthy bird
And makes us drink the poisoned wine to fornicate with our kings
Fallen now is Babylon the Great
Just like with James' songs the crowd came to their feet in support of the loner and his metal/rock music as he was initially surprised at the praise, but bowed and accepted them a few moments later. James gave him a thumbs up as he moved on to the next song.
"Alright since you loved that one so much, let's go for something with a little more personal feeling to me. This one is about the abandonment and loneliness I had to deal with after my family was killed as I initially blamed myself for their deaths. This song is called "From Heads Unworthy"!" (All credit goes to Rise Against for this song. Same rules and roles apply from the previous song.)
We are the children you reject and disregard
These aching cries come from the bottom of our hearts
You can't disown us now, we are your own flesh and blood
And we don't disappear just because your eyes are shut, now tell me
Love, loss
Like a bullet's path
Tear through
The cavity of my chest
Lights out
Because the fuse has blown
As their castles crumble slowly
We watch them fall
Their crown slips from heads unworthy
As we gain control
This is the family that we crossed or never had
This is a war that was lost the day it began
'Cause it's the race we run, but it keeps us at the start
And it's the song I sung from the bottom of my heart, that's how we
Read you
Like a polygraph
Not one
Single bone in your back
Own up
To how you let us down
As their castles crumble slowly
We watch them fall
Their crown slips from heads unworthy
As we gain control
Except for you and me, love
Everyone's the same, we know, we know, we know, we know
But if to live, we have to be numb
I'd rather know the pain, I'd rather know, I'd rather know
This happens almost never
But it happened once to me
And this will never be the same
The ends we seam together
I'm not after fame and fortune
I'm after you
When I've served my time I swear I
Will come back for you
(Watch them fall)
As their castles crumble slowly
We watch them fall
Their crown slips from heads unworthy
And right onto us
But, I'm after you
I'm after you
I'm after you
Yeah, I'm after you
With the song now over, the crowd once again exploded into applause and cheers as Clay was ready for the admiration this time and reveled in it before performing the song he had performed when XCOM first picked him up. (Check last chapter for it.) Now with that song over, he looked over to James who nodded before they both took off their guitars and grabbed microphones and made their way back to the front of their makeshift stage.
"Remember that little surprise that James was talking about earlier? Well here it is, we have a song the both of us wrote about rising up above the perceptions everyone else had of us when we were younger. So I think it's time we take it away, hit it James!" said Clay as James hit the button to start the music track they had recorded yesterday in preparation for this performance. (Song is "Lift Me Up" by Five Finger Death Punch ft. Rob Halford of Judas Priest, Clay's vocals are regular text, James' are Italicized, and Bolded text is both of them singing together. All credit goes to 5FDP and Mr. Halford for writing and performing the song.)
It ain't no mystery
I'm all I have left
I'm pushing back running you over
I've been thrown down,
Run around
Beaten 'til I hit the ground
I'm telling you right now that it's over
There's no room for mistakes
All the parts are in place
Say what you will but say it to my face
Better back the fuck up
Better shut the fuck up
I'll do what I want
And I'll never give up
I won't be broken
I won't be tortured
I won't be beaten down
I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around
Lift me up above this
The flames and the ashes
Lift me up and help me to fly away
Lift me up above this
The broken, the empty
Lift me up and help me to fly away
I'm gonna change history
Enlighten the world
Teach 'em how to see through my eyes
I'm gonna lash back check that fate as a heart attack
Stomp out all the ugliest lies
You can't convince me to change
We ain't on the same page
I've had my fill
There's nothing but rage
Best get out of my way 'cause there's nothing to say
Is that all you got because I ain't got all day
I won't be broken
I won't be tortured
I won't be beaten down
I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around
Lift me up above this
The flames and the ashes
Lift me up and help me to fly away
Lift me up above this
The broken, the empty
Lift me up and help me to fly away
*Insert Guitar Solo, during which both are head banging*
I won't be broken
I won't be tortured
I won't be beaten down
I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around
Lift me up above this
The flames and the ashes
Lift me up and help me to fly away
Lift me up above this
The broken, the empty
Lift me up and help me to fly away
Lift me up to fly away
Lift me up to fly away
Lift me up
With the final note fading away and the entire crowd applauding them and cheering them on, the two engaged in a friendly handshake that ended in a chest bump. (Think of Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop's handshake but with a chest bump added to it.) The Commander chose this time to enter the room as he too had seen the majority of the performances and was impressed to say the least.
"Ah it's nice to see the next generation so invested into music. Excellent performance you two, I was thoroughly entertained."
"Thank you sir." said James as Clay just nodded along with him.
"You're welcome. I just wanted to inform you all that we'll be arriving at HQ in about ten minutes so if you want to get off and walk around or join me on my trip to acquire more resources and manpower then you're more than welcome to join me." he offered as he looked around to see several of the people considering the offers.
"Anyway, if you are planning to leave the ship let the duty officer know and I'll see you on the ramp in ten minutes. Good day." he said as he saluted everyone, as they all promptly returned it. He then promptly made his exit as he let the others congregate and discuss the options amongst themselves.
== Ten Minutes Later ==
The Commander was walking off the ramp as he was joined by Smokey, Ghost, Ice, Dozer, and the Eds. The others had all disembarked to walk around and explore the entire site as they'd never been here before. The group of eight walked off towards what appeared to be the main headquarters building that was originally the town's mayor's house as they entered the small semi-dilapidated structure. They all gathered in front of the secretary as she pressed a buzzer letting the person in charge know that the Commander and his entourage had finally arrived.
"Hello Commander. Long time no see." said a bald-headed man that had appeared from the room behind the secretary's desk as they all looked at him in shock.
"Mr. Speaker I never thought we'd get to meet and so soon especially!" said the Commander who was utterly flabbergasted but shook the offered hand nonetheless.
"Surprised? I knew you'd get a kick out of seeing me in person for once instead of on that screen all the time. Anyway what brings you by?"
"Well we finally acquired all the supplies and credits you left behind at the drop site so we stopped by to try and pick up some more folks to help with the fight."
"I should've guessed as much. Don't worry I have just the people you're looking for. Come on out ladies!" he said to the office he just exited from and they saw three women exit from there. The first was the tallest of the three as she had red curly hair that hung over her eyes preventing them from seeing her eyes. She was wearing a white shirt with orange polka dots, and blue jeans. The second was the shortest of the three as she possessed blue hair that had one bang stylized to cover her right eye as she was wearing a black t-shirt that showed off her midriff region, and green combat pants. The final female had long blonde hair that reached midway down her back and she was wearing a gray t-shirt with red shorts. The most prominent features that stuck out to them were her freckled face and her four prominent front teeth that stuck out further than her others.
The three stared at the group for a moment, before noticing the Eds and well all hell broke loose.
"IT'S OUR BOYFRIENDS!" they shouted as the Eds began to panic.
"KANKERS!" shouted Edd and Ed.
"RUN BOYS EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF!" shouted Eddy as the three took off with the women in hot pursuit. The three tried hiding with the help of the other personnel, but they were all laughing to hard at the scene in front of them to do much as they were swiftly caught and had their faces covered in lipstick kisses in under ten minutes.
"Now that that's over, can you three please introduce yourselves to us so we can head back to the ship and prepare for takeoff?" asked the Commander as the three got serious and introduced themselves.
"I'm Lee Kanker. I'm the oldest of us three and I specialize in fixing things so I'd be perfect as an Engineer." said the redhead.
"I'm Marie Kanker, and I'm actually more geared to theoretical work involving medicine and science. I've always been smart, but I wanted to uphold my reputation as a tough girl so I hid it from others. I'd be perfect as a Scientist." said the bluenette.
"And I'm May Kanker. I'm the youngest sister and I specialize in robotics so I'd be best as an Engineer as well." said the blonde as the XCOM personnel greeted them each individually.
"You have yourself a deal Mr. Speaker." said the Commander as he shook the man's hand one last time.
"A pleasure doing business with you Commander." replied the Speaker as he returned the handshake.
"Alright everybody let's move out, we've got a planet to save after all." ordered the Commander as he led the trek back to the Avenger.
AN: And cut! That's a wrap on this chapter. I hope everybody enjoyed it and once again I'm dreadfully sorry for not updating this story sooner. Leave a favorite, follow, and review if you feel like it and let me know what you think. Anyway with nothing else to say, this is "The Nasty One" signing off!
-PRAK #TheNastyOne