Hey Guys and Girls
Second Half of the Final Showdown.
Standard Disclaimer: Not mine, Never will be. Belongs to the fantastic AM and the guys and girls at ABC Studios.
Second Disclaimer: Some details contained in this half of the showdown contain real units of the United States Military, I in no way own these respective names or equipment used. I have the up most respect for men serving their country as my Grandfather fought for our freedom in World War Two. Just borrowing them for the purposes of this story.
Chapter 25
The Pentagon, Headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. An immense concrete structure located in Arlington County, Virginia. Made of five distinct and decreasing pentagon shaped rings with over six million square feet of floor space, A workplace of thousands of federal employee's.
The click of heels could be heard over the hustle and bustle of the corridors, Janet O'Neill a middle aged woman with short blond hair and a smart black suit, A woman of considerable strength being a former United States Marine and the first female Secretary of Defense in the positions history.
She was speaking hurriedly into her phone having just arrived by chopper after being airlifted from the Capital ."Yes Mr President I understand, I'm entered the NMCC now" She said entering The National Military Command Centre the principal command and control centre of the Department of Defense. Filled with large screens, computers and dozens of military personnel.
"Madam Secretary, We are pleased to see you are safe" One of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said as the remainder of his colleagues were sat around a large table.
"Thank you General, Now will someone please tell me what the hell is going on out their" O'Neill ordered taking a seat at the head of the table
A Naval Admiral stood up and pointed to one of the screens "We have a live Predator feed over the DC Metro area at this time, it shows numerous enemies engaged analysis shows they are combat robots ACX-1 titan's designed by Renadyne Industries, Further analysis shows the whole area has gone dark due to a deliberate EMP strike"
O'Neill's eyes widened "A Nuke?"
"No Ma'am, No detonation was recorded, But we need eyes on the ground to further assess the situation" Added the Admiral
O'Neill reached into her pocket and pulled out a scarp of paper, Something the President had relayed to her over the phone on her flight to Arlington. She handed the piece of paper to a Technician with the order to the patch them through on this radio channel.
The area in front of the Capital building was littered with bullet casings, machine parts and blood. The responders had finally arrived Metro PD SWAT teams along with dozens of uniformed officers as they fired on the attacking bots. In the centre of the melee four augments destroying bot after bot, Castle with the flick of his left wrist wrenched his Katana blade from the body of an ACX-1, Half turned his body and fired a .45 round exploded from his custom M1911 blasting a hole through the head of another bot.
"Mr Castle, I'm receiving a priority call from the Pentagon it appears your request went through, Would you like to patch them to your comms" Explained Aria
"Patch me through Aria" Grunted Castle cleaving another bot in half "Madam Secretary, I'm pleased to know your OK"
"May i ask who this is" Came the reply
"My name is Richard Castle Ma'am, I don't have a lot of time so i will get to the point as I'm sure you can see the Capital is under attack and we could really use some back up"
"Mr Castle, The President has explained everything to me, But we need more information what is the current situation" Asked O'Neill over the comm link
Castle turned firing another shot into the head of bot thinking it could sneak up on him, "Madam Secretary, The Capital is fully engaged fighting is going over across the area, Myself and my partners and doing as much as we can but we need help soon"
"Alright Mr Castle, Keep me informed this channel will remain open"
"Of course Madam Secretary"
Not far from Castle's location, Kate ducked under the bulky punch from one of the bots before throwing her own in return. Her augmented strength pushing her fist through the chest of the bot she wrenched her hand out as the metal creation dropped the ground. Avoiding another strike she jumped back as another combat bot raised it's arm mounted chain gun in her direction, Clawing her fingers as small particles of light gathered between her hands. She then thrust her hands forward as large concentrated beam of light energy cut a swathe through the advancing enemy ranks.
Breathing hard from exertion she didn't notice a bot sneak up from behind, Only for it to be cleaved in half as the parts separated revealing the image of Castle his sword drawn in an arc.
"Kate are you OK?" He asked
Taking a large gulp of air "Castle, We can't hold out much longer"
"We have to Kate, The Military are on there way"
"But Castle...They seem to just multiply we put down ten and twenty more appear"
Castle didn't know how to respond, She was right their seemed to be a never ending supply of these robots. Something had to be causing the rapid increase of enemies currently attacking, But before he voice his theory a beep in his ear alerted him to another message.
"Go ahead Aria"
"Mr Castle, I have been informed that your party guests have arrived" Explained the AI
Castle smiled as she looked around, Figures started to appear on every rooftop surrounding the area. They were augments all experiments of Renadyne all looking for a measure of revenge against their former masters.
A lone figure stopped forward his face obscured by a hood he simply raised a closed fist into the air, As the other augments follow suit before letting loose a war cry as they all jumped down from the roofs and began attacking the combat bots. Across the district Augments off all shapes, sizes and powers started to destroy the titan robots.
Tide turned.
"How's that for back-up" said Castle
Kate smiled as she reached behind her pulling her Katana blade from her back, "I think that will do"
The pair then jumped into the attack themselves.
A bot raised it's arm mounted chain gun and fired into the distance, the vibrations of the exploding rounds could be felt across the area the machine then turned sweeping it's weapons continuing to fire. Suddenly it raised his single red eye to the sky only catching a glimpse of a silver blade before it cleaved it's body in two, Dragging a cut directly down the middle as it separated and fell to the ground.
Castle landed on the ground witnessing the two halves of the robot he had just cut fall to the ground, Before he turned his blade swiftly dispatching another bot with a cut across the middle. He ducked under a punch that had been thrown as he moved his blade through the bots leg severing it, another cut to the chest sparks flying before spinning his blade removing the head as the machine dropped to the ground.
Using his keen vision he saw another bot charging to towards him, He jumped into the air back flipping avoiding another charging bot coming from behind. Touching back down his feet skidding in the dirt clenching his fist as lightning energy gathering around his palm, Before he thrust his fist into the ground. Lightning energy exploded out in all directions, the ground cracking and bowing with the force as large bolts of lightning blasted holes in numerous bots as up to thirty dropped to the ground.
Breathing hard the energy that blast took playing havoc with his body, He reached down to his right leg and unholstered his custom M1911 he turned and a .45 round blasted a hole in the head of another bot.
"Mr Castle, I'm detecting numerous radar contacts in the air over the city" Announced Aria through his earpiece.
"Friendly" replied Castle firing another round into the head a bot destroying it.
Before Aria could reply the sound of a jet engine caught his attention, His keen vision catching site of two white triangular shapes with diamond shaped air intake on the underside rails contained missiles and gun pods.
Unmanned Combat Ariel Vehicles
He dived to the ground as towers of dirt kicked into the air as the UCAV's zoomed overhead having completed their strafing run.
"Nope, Definitely not friendly" He murmured as he activated his com line "Esposito what's your location?"
"Red Building, Black windows Top floor I've got you covered Bro" Replied Esposito looking down the scope of a customised CheyTac Intervention sniper rifle his absolute vision easily tracking one of the UCAV as it banked around for another strafing run.
He fired
The .408 round rocketed from the barrel of the rifle at over 3.500 feet per second quickly covering the distance, The round struck the white unmanned drone blasting a seven inch hole in it's wing. The damage done inside caused the drone to roll over and smash into it's wing-mate both drones careened towards the ground before bursting into a large fireball
Castle smiled but the high pitched scream of more jet engines caused his head to snap skywards, eyes widened as he caught site of more drones over the city.
This was bad, Now they had air support.
The Pentagon as a buzz of activity, As the Secretary O'Neill sat observing the battle from the NMCC via live drone feeds, The Joint Chiefs were all speaking into phones trying to ascertain the situation.
"Madam Secretary, We have confirmation the enemy now has air support over the city, More Titan bots have been seen advancing from all directions" Informed a Marine General "We need to do something or we may loose the Capital Ma'am"
O'Neill nodded "What kind of assets do we have"
An Army General then stood from his seat "Ma'am we can have the 101st Airborne mobilised and on site in two hours, We currently have 1st Battalion 75th Rangers training in upstate New York. They can be re-tasked and on station again inside two hours"
O'Neill nodded before turned to the other side of the table as both an Air Force General and a Navel Admiral stood "F-22's from Andrews Air Force Base can scramble and be one site in 15 minutes ma'am" Said the Air Force General
"Ma'am currently have the USS Gerald R. Ford and her battle group in the Atlantic, We have have her air wing over the city inside one hour, Further the USS America has a full compliment of Marines the air-wing can then them on station in the same time frame" The Admiral informed
O'Neill sat digesting the information, This was the best they could do and it would have to be enough.
"Alright, Gentlemen make the calls I will not let Washington DC fall into the hands these damm robots"
The noise level increased as everyone set to work
Back in the District a group of Augments were running down a ruined suburban street close the capital building, Cars crushed, damaged or on fire strewn across the road as debris was littered everywhere. Suddenly an assembled group of titan bots opened fire. The group of Augments dived for cover, The firing stopped as the area was bathed in an intense light almost blinding to the naked eyes.
The light died away to be replaced with silence.
A young female augment stuck her head over the top of an upturned car, She caught sight of a woman her long brunette hair moving the the wind at her side a silver Katana sword. The woman raised his hand as more bots came charging through the smoke light energy gathered in her outstretched palm as another beam of light energy blasted a hole in the advancing group of bots.
Kate looked over the shoulder, "All of you get out of here, Get back to the Capital building" she shouted
The Augments soon took off running back to the capital leaving Kate alone on the destroyed street she looked around, The heat from the many fires dried her skin which was covered blood, sweat and dirt breathing hard her eyes scanning the area. Then out of nowhere a small Kunai dagger came flying towards her, Shifting her weight to the side moving her body out of the way as the sharp blade buried itself into door of an burning car.
She caught sight of a young woman stepped out of the smoke with a long brown leather jacket that moved in the wind, He brown hair tied in a neat bun she was laughing while picking her fingernails with the tip of another Kunai dagger. It was the woman from Paris Elena Markov
"Ah Kate Beckett, If my eyes don't deceive me" giggled Elena
"Didn't you mother teach you not play with knives" Kate shouted back
"Yeah she did, But only after I plunged my blade into her heart and watched the life leave her eyes" A maniacal look appeared in Elena's eyes "Senator Bracken has tasked me with ending your life"
Kate sheathed her blade and took a combat stance "Just try it" she said a deadly look in her eyes as Elena jumped towards her.
Back in New York City Aria was working her magic, With access to the military infrastructure she began uploaded targeting information for the ACX-1 Titan bots and Typhoon UCAVS.
"Targeting information uploaded"
Meanwhile high in the sky above the battle zone that Washington DC had become a United States Air Force E3 Sentry AWACS plane had just arrived on station, Having just received the uploaded targeting information and operational authority of the battle space.
"Darkstar, Attention all aircraft this is a danger close fire mission, Targeting information has been uploaded proceed to Killbox One-Alpha once on station"
"Halo flight of four F/A-22 Raptors, Acknowledged and engaging"
"Eagle Flight of six F/A-18 Super Hornets, Acknowledged and engaging"
Overhead the high pitched scream of Jet engines blasted through the air, As fighters of the United States Navy and Air force opened fire with strafing runs and missile strikes against advancing bots and began to engage the UCAV's buzzing around in the sky
Next to roll in were AH-64 Apache Longbow attack helicopters joined by there naval counterparts the AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopter engaging in close fire support, 30mm chain gun rounds shredding the advancing enemies as air to ground hellfire missiles and unguided rockets sent them up flames.
Overhead a group of C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft appeared the rear jump doors open as the members of the 101st Airborne descended to the ground, One touching down they immediately engaged the enemy. As more paratroopers descended to the ground a group of LCAC's or Landing Craft Air Cushion transports of the US Navy raced up the Patomic River easily climbing the banks near the engagement site before offloading M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks.
Now that the Military had arrived the Augments cheered as they witnessed the bots getting pushed back, Castle smiled as he sheathed his blade and walked towards the capital building and climbed into the drivers seat of the Expedition and started the engine.
Amazingly the car had been untouched from the battle he raised a hand to his ear and spoke "Esposito, Ryan keep watch i need to find Kate" he said
Up on the red building rooftop, Esposito kept and eye down the scope of his rifle as Ryan joined him "Understood Castle, Go and find our little sister"
Castle smiled before setting off navigating through the ruined streets of Washington DC
Kate grunted as she was thrown into the side a car her back hitting the metal surface as she ducked under a swinging right hook, Blocking with her own right arm and punching with her left sending the knife welding assassin reeling. Grabbing the lapels of the woman leather jacket gave her a vicious headbutt causing a long trail of blood running down her face, Kate then lashed out with a heavy spin kick sending the assassin down the ground and sliding across its dirt covered surface.
Elena spat blood onto the floor as she pushed herself up to a standing base, Breathing hard her entire body ached the power the strikes she had received like nothing she had ever felt before.
"Is that the best you can do?" She goaded
Kate narrowed her eyes and wiped the line of blood running from the left side of her mouth and another line from her under her left eye "If you want some more you know where to find it" Sniped Kate
Elena screamed and ran towards Kate quickly drawing a Kunai and swing the blade in a vicious arc, Kate ducked under the blade strike as she blocked the attacking arm before she twisted it locking the joint then turning the woman's wrist causing the blade the fall from her grasp. Kate then sent Elena rocketing backwards with a heavy spin kick to the chest, The metal of car she had impacted buckling under the weight.
It was as if time slowed as Kate looked down the Kunai had yet to drop the floor, Catching the blade on the end of her foot she raised her head looking directly into the eyes of the dazed assassin.
"I'll tell Bracken you said Hi when i see him" she spat
Lifting her foot sending the dagger tumbling into the air one again, Before spinning and extending her leg as her toe caught the blade as it came back down sending it hurtling towards Elena who only caught a glimpse of the blade before it speared her in the throat with such force it pinned her head to the car behind her.
Elena Markov was dead.
Kate placed her hands on her knee taking big gulps of air, forcing much needed oxygen back into the lungs. Her entire body ached her energy levels were low and her eyes were starting to lose focus, she started to fall to the ground until she felt an arm come around her chest holding her up.
"Castle..." She whispered seeing the person that had caught her.
Castle smiled softly "I've got you Kate...I've got you" he said gently righting her but still keeping a firm grip on her tired body.
"Is it over?" Asked Kate in a low tired voice
Castle shook his head "No Kate, We haven't found Bracken he must of escaped"
Suddenly a beep in his ear piece alerted him "Go ahead!"
"Mr Castle this is Captain Gates. Bracken is escaping the city via car, Traffic camera picked him up about a mile from your location"
"Roger that, Moving now" Castle replied "Come one Kate lets finish this"
Climbing into the Expedition as Castle gunned the engine tyres screeching at the action, From the passenger seat Kate booted up the GPS system and thanks to information from Aria an intercept course was plotted.
It didn't take long as the silver SUV drifted around a corner as a black BMW 7 series raced by, Castle gunned the engine once more taking off in hot pursuit.
From the rear passenger window a gunmen leaned out bullet spraying out of FN P90 in his head, The armour Esposito had fitted easily absorbing the small calibre rounds. Kate now slightly more awake placed her hands on the fire control system as the protective casing popped away, exposing the heavy duty weapons fitted it only took a short burst from the M134 miniguns for both rear tyre to be blown out. The BMW careened out of control as it struck a destroyed car in the road, Flipping through the air and landing down hard before bursting into flames creating a large explosion.
Castle hit the brakes as they both opened the doors and slowly advanced towards the burning wreck, Weapons at the ready they could feel the heat against their skin.
Castle stood tall lowering his weapon "He's done, no body could of survived that"
Kate nodded before their both turned around walking back the expedition, They stopped when a voice boomed over the roaring flames.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN KILL ME THAT EASILY"
The two augments turned as saw the burned and charred body of Senator William Bracken walking towards them, His skin was quickly healing as his cloths fell away in the flames soon the healing was complete his skin slightly black and evil smirk on his face.
"Mr Castle, Ms Beckett how nice of you to join this party" sneered Bracken as the astonished looks on the partners faces could be photographed and framed for posterity.
"Your an Augment" Asked Kate eyes blinking rapidly
Bracken smirked "That's right, You two been thorn in my side for long enough and now it's time i show just how much that pisses me off"
Bracken then moved at an almost inhuman speed before connecting a solid punch to Castle jaw knocking him to the ground, Following with a vicious kick to the ribs lifted the male augment off the ground and into the air. Castle responded with a straight leg kick to the jaw in mid-air Bracken didn't move as she gave an almighty push sending Castle skidding across the dirt covering ground.
Bracken then focused his attention to Kate again moving at an almost inhuman speed before delivering a palm strike to the female augments chest, Kate was sent flying through the air crashing through the windscreen of a nearby car.
Bracken lowered his arms to his side "Humph I expected more from you two, Especially you Ms Beckett didn't you want me dead in revenge for your mother" he taunted
Beckett screamed as she jumped from the car and sailed through the air firing a rapid series of light energy bolts, The augmented Senator avoiding each deadly projectile and caught Kate in mid air before slamming her into the ground. The concrete cracking under the impact as the air was forced from her lungs, Bracken clamped a hand around her throat robbing her of yet more oxygen.
Beckett clawed at the vice like grip around her throat as her vision started to grey at the edges but the pressure around her throat just increased, Her eyes wide staring into the darkness of the Senators own.
Castle having shook off the effects of Bracken's attack completed a kip up to a vertical base and advanced towards man currently strangling Kate, With a vicious spin kick to the side of the head it sent the man rocketing towards a damaged car the sheer force sending his body through the door itself.
"Speak about her mother again and it will be last thing you ever do" Snarled Castle
Bracken pulled his half naked body out of the car door blood running down his face from numerous cuts marring his skin, He simply wiped the blood away flicking red droplets to the ground. Raising both arms palms facing outwards hands glowing an intense red as two large steams of flame exploded outwards, Castle raised his own palm as the forces of Fire and Lightning met head on. The two elemental forces collided gathering in a ball as a mighty explosion rocked the area blowing out window after window as the three combatants were thrown in different directions.
Castle slid to a stop propped up against a bright red fire hydrant, As the smoke cleared Bracken stood to his full height his entire body enveloped in flames almost as if he was wearing armour.
Bracken observed the two augments had not moved from their grounded pistons, Clearing both reaching there limits.
"All i wanted was a better world filled with perfection can't you understand that Mr Castle, I created you, i made you the man you are today"
"I'm the man i am today thanks to me, You made my life hell you sick twisted fuck" Castle snarled back his entire body aching.
"I'm sorry you feel that way" Said Bracken as a large ball of flames gathering in his palm "But this ends now, Goodbye Mr Castle"
Castle closed his eyes, accepting his fate 'I'm Sorry Kate' He thought his death imminent at Bracken's hand
His ball of flame drawing closer to ending Castle life he failed to notice Kate standing off to the side, Thrusting her clawed hands forward as a large beam of light energy crashed into this body. Sending him rocketing down the street at tremendous speed Kate let loose a battle cry pouring more energy into the attack, Bracken impacted a building the sheer force and energy attack causing the brick built three storey house to crash down on top of him.
Kate ran over the fallen form of Castle "Castle come on! Get up!" She said trying to haul his muscular bulk to his feet which he struggled to the complete.
Suddenly a large tower of flame streaked into the sky, Bracken burst out of the destroyed building a jet of flame at his feet propelling himself towards the pair at a rapid pace.
"Kate, be ready when i give the signal"
The brunette looked confused "What do plan to do Castle"
"You will know when it happens" Castle pushed Kate back as Bracken drew ever closer 'I need to pick the right moment, Or we are both gonna die' He thought his counted the seconds until Bracken was just feet away, Before he kicked the top off the fire hydrant a large stream of water rising into the air. Planting a foot against the stream causing a high pressure stream of water to catch Bracken, Immediately putting out his flame as he stumbled backwards against the onslaught.
Castle then removed his foot "KATE NOW!" he screamed
Braken struggled to clear his vision of the water attack he had just been subjected too, He failed to notice Kate standing in front of him. His eyes opened to late as he caught a glimpse of the silver blade of her katana cut him across the throat he dropped to his knee's choking on his own blood building up in his mouth.
Kate glared at the man responsible for all the pain she had suffered over many years "For my mother" She whispered before thrusting the blade through the Senators forehead with a single swift motion seconds later wrenching the blade free from the now dead William H. Bracken as he body dropped to the ground.
It was over, It was all finally over.
Kate tossed her Katana away and fell to her knees as fat tears streamed from her hazel eyes choking back huge sobs head head buried into her knees, Purging all of the emotions that had built up over the years.
Castle took a breath before taking a knee at Kate's side rubbing circles into her back, Kate lifted her head and crashing into the solid wall of Castle chest. Wrapping his muscular arms around her slim frame the partners took a moment to savour, They had won the dragon had been slain.
After several moment Castle broke then silence that had descended between them "You OK Kate?" he asked
Kate looked up into his ocean blue eyes "I've never felt better Castle, I've never felt better" she said
Smiling he pulled them up standing still connected in a hug, "I say we head back, Check that Esposito and Ryan haven't got into too much trouble"
Kate smiled lacing her fingers with his as they walked back towards the expedition and driving back towards the Capital Building.
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon signalling the arrival of dawns morning light bathing the area in a light yellow glow, On the front steps of the half destroyed Capital building. Sat four augments looking out into the distance as the military continued to mop-up the battle now over, The titans either destroyed or shut down thanks to the efforts of Ryan and Esposito having located the Control nodes that had been activated across the city.
Ranger Teams had raiding the Renadyne operations centre in the apartment building, arrested all occupants inside and shut down the systems running, Air Force Jets zoomed overhead as Army Tanks rolled through the area continuing the mop-up operation.
"I gotta say Bro, When you say battle you weren't kidding" Quipped Esposito rolling his shoulder on his lap his CheyTac sniper rifle his new second best friend.
"Well I've always been told i don't to things by halves" replied Castle
Kate smiled sandwiching her hand with his resting her head against his shoulder, Who knew that a chance meeting in dingy warehouse could lead to all of this. The culmination of their efforts bringing down a criminal corporation and saving a nation.
"Hell of a day huh" murmured Castle
"Hmmm, Hell of a day"
The drone a truck broke the reverie as the Big Rig arrived, Lanie jumped out of the cab soon joined by Worth as they rushed towards the four hugs exchanged and handshakes given.
"So girl does this mean you two are going steady" Lanie asked noticing the hand holding between the partners.
Kate smiled before looking into Castle blue eyes as she pulled his head into the soul scorching kiss, Wolf whistles and cat-calls courtesy of Esposito and Ryan just made the kiss last longer. Finally breaking for some much needed oxygen.
"I think it means we are just getting started" Said Kate her eyes never leaving Castle's
Lanie just pouted "A simple yes would of sufficed, But i guess this means i get all the juicy details" quipped the sassy Doctor.
The group laughed happy to all be together once again. Today they had joined the annuals of US history, A day immortalised where normal citizens and extraordinary heroes emerged to end the rule of a tyrant.
A new dawn indeed
Hi everyone
Showdown done, Bracken's dead Hooray!
I hope you all liked this, A short epilogue to follow.
A sequel will follow too, I've really enjoyed writing this story and I'm glad you have all enjoyed too it means so much to me, Also massive thank you to all that have followed me on this journey.
Until next time
Knight Rider Alpha