Chapter 23

Axel and Blaze wait silently behind the large cabinet as the lab lights in the room start to flicker on once more. They hear the sound of jet packs and air violently brushing past them from side to side. It is impossible to tell how many fighters have entered or whatever this is- is it human or is it machine? Amongst this chaos they hear the echo from Mr X's haunting laughter. The pair stay put in the meantime as they assess the situation whilst planning their next move.

Blaze glances down at her own shoulder which is now stained with blood. She then remembers Axel being shot in the shoulder back at Mr X's office just minutes earlier. His face has reddened with a break of sweat beaming from his forehead as Axel expresses discomfort from the bullet. She shakes her head at him as a signal for him to stay where he is as the bleeding is getting worse.

"Search every corner in here!" Mr X orders as the pair of fighters roll out from hiding on each side of the cabinet. They gaze up in astonishment as they look at a robot double their size with at six jet packs to keep it elevated no lower than 5 feet of the ground. It's colour is a dark green camouflage designed for outdoor combat. The robot's face is dark and sombre as his body twists and turns with ease through the air.

"The purpose of Robot Y was to annihilate eight hundred of your soldiers who came to our land three months ago. Looks like my hard work won't go to waste after all." Mr X comments.

Axel smirks before he jumps up with a vertical kick that crashes into the robot's back as it flies past.

Mr X shakes his head in amusement "you'll have to try harder than that!"

Suddenly Robot Y reaches forward to grab Axel around his waist. It violently electrocutes him before throwing him three metres through the air until he crashes into another cabinet. The robot's focus then turns to Blaze as she readies a large blue ball of energy in her hand. She stands and waits for it to charge forward. When it does, she runs and executes a powerful strike with her energy into the chest of the robot before rolling out of the way. This causes one of his jet packs to smoke with fire, giving Axel the chance to kick up off the ground and ready his fighting stance.

Focussed and determined more than ever, Blaze charges forward again towards the robot. "Kikosho!" she shouts as she summersaults through the air and catches another jet pack. This weakens Robot Y a little further by slowing down his flight but he is far from finished. He violently spins through the air then charges once again even faster this time towards Axel who has no choice but to dive out of the way. He then comes to his feet and faces the Robot, glaring at it's red eyes whilst the Robot targets where it will strike Axel next.

This gives Blaze enough time to take advantage of the distraction. She runs and jumps over several wheeling lab tables before leaping off the last one and onto the Robots back. She clings on, punching and using her energy to weaken more of the jet packs whilst Axel uses his upper cut to attack the front of the Robot. They work well as a team but Robot Y keeps one more trick up it's sleeve. It violently starts to spin around out of control, even faster this time.

It extends an arm and punches Axel forward through his stomach whilst Blaze struggles to hold on. She manages to climb higher up until her hands grab it around its neck whilst her feet rest between the jet packs.

"Let go!" Axel shouts from the ground as the Robot starts to fire electric current from its head and neck whilst spinning even faster with Blaze holding on. Her body illuminates into an electrical display as she is viciously shocked for at least five seconds whilst spinning through the air. She can't hold on any longer and is eventually tossed away to crash on the floor.

Mr X victoriously laughs as the two fighters lay wounded on the ground. Neither of them have the strength to stand up. It now looks as if they're lives are about to come to an end. Axel heavily breathes whilst clutching in pain onto his stomach where he was attacked. He glances over to the other side of the room where Blaze is lying on her front with her eyes closed. She is either unconscious or dead.

"Make sure they're dead!" Mr X orders. Robot Y's mechanical arm extends further as a weapon whilst sparking more electricity. It would be so easy right now to lay there and give up – worst case scenario a quick death by electrocution. Just as Axel succumbs to his last breath, he looks up at the light and sees his parents.

He hears his mother's voice pleading "die and the world dies with you. Your work here is not done!"

In the space of a moment he takes a deep breath then stands up before Robot Y charges forward again in his direction. Axel's whole body suddenly turns to fire which impulses out of him like an inferno. It causes the Robot to tumble and rotate out of control through the air in a display of smoke. Eventually it crashes into a wall as all but one remaining jet pack breaks.

"NO!" Mr X shouts in anger. Axel continues with his assault as he upper cuts the robot against the wall over and over again with flames coming from his fists. All the robot can do now is float in the air on its remaining jet pack and the only defence it has is the odd electrical spark from its body as Axel delivers more punishing hits. These have little effect on Axel who is focused on killing it.

Mr X watches with panic as his prized robot suddenly starts to spin around in the air whilst mini explosions erupt from its body. Axel jumps out of the way and takes cover as the Robot self-destructs. He immediately runs over towards Blaze who is barely breathing on the ground. "Come on, stay with me" he says to her.

Mr X takes advantage of his distraction and limps towards the now open exit to escape. He is then caught in the back by a fire ball that Axel projects towards which causes him to fall to the ground. "You're not getting out of here alive" Axel says as he drags the weakened Mr X by his feet towards the centre of the room. With the strength he has left Axel stands Mr X up and ties his hands to a gas pipe situated just above them. He stands there weakened, tied up and helpless. His once smart shirt and suit now ripped and bloodstained. Mr X's face is almost unrecognisable after Axel breaks it again and again each time his famous laugh heckles after being hit.

"The syndicate is yours my boy- it was always yours for the taking."

#PUNCH#

Axel delivers another blow this time busting Mr X's lip. In one last plea, he extends an olive branch. "My scientists…. they can help you" Mr X comments with breathlessness.

Axel responds curiously "what do you mean?"

Mr X struggles again to get his words out. "I've witnessed the amazing work they've done in bringing my loved ones back to life. They can now do the same for you, we can bring your parents back".

Axel: "What like they brought back General Petrov? So you can control their mind to obey your orders? Don't waste your breath".

Mr X: "I know you're thinking about my offer. Kill me and you will never know".

Axel ignores him and walks away as he diverts his attention when he hears Blaze moving. He is surprised at how quickly she stands to her feet.

"You ok?" he asks concerned but she ignores him and charges forward with hate and determination in her eyes. It appears that the electric shock has charged her chi back up. She walks with her fists closed which spark electric current.

Blaze: "Don't listen to anything he says Axel". He puts his hand in front of her to stop her attack as she stares at him annoyed.

Blaze: "What are you doing?! We can't keep him alive! He needs to die, remember everything this man has done!" Any thoughts of doubt immediately disappear from Axel's mind as he nods at Blaze in agreement.

Mr X smirks when she turns and projects her chi towards his chest. Axel is next to project another fire ball which hits him as he shouts in agony. One by one, the two of them take turns projecting their energy and punishing their enemy who is dying slowly and painfully. His body ignites each time with a mixture of fire and electric as Mr X is punished with revenge. Every burst of energy is even more agonising than the previous one, ripping into his flesh right through to his bones and organs. He finally takes one last painful breath as Axel delivers the last hit of fire that ends his life.

With all the hatred in her body, Blaze continues projecting her chi over and over again, oblivious to the fact that Mr X is already dead.

"He's dead, it's over!" Axel shouts out as she continues to fire. It takes Blaze a couple of moments to snap out of her rage and process what he's saying before she halts. She catches her breath then immediately bursts into tears, covering her face in disbelief that this day has finally arrived.

"It's over now. It's ok, he's dead" he reassures as he puts his arms around her. They hold each other for a minute, battered and in pain in front of a defeated Mr X.

It is surreal to think about vengeance and justice most of your life for it to finally arrive one day in the space of a minute. Is this moment real? Or was this all just another nightmare? They think to themselves.

The sound of a helicopter suddenly pulls Axel away from his thoughts. "Come on, we gotta get out of here". He takes her hand and quickly leads Blaze out towards the broken doorway then through a narrow corridor leading to an exit. He kicks open the exit as they feel the fresh air and wind against their faces. The air has never felt the same. The sky is beautiful right now- a rich mixture of yellow, red and purple as the dawn to a new day appears.

They gaze upwards at the helicopter with Adam flying and Max throwing down a roped ladder. "Axel! Blaze! Climb up now, we need to leave before this whole place blows!"