"So, the smashers are gone?" Sharon asked with disbelief, standing with Captain America, Battlestar, general Ross and the recently rescued A.I.M. Scientist Monica.

"Apparently," Ross sighed. "Vaughn said the Flag Smashers and A.I.M. had a falling out over this map, the Smashers bailed, but not before stringing Monica up and taking the supplies and loot." Ross sighed. "And now Monica will be send to the raft for now.

"So, we go and we take the map back," John spoke up. "Where is it?"

"I-It's supposed to be out at Ascension's Bluff," Monica stammered. "That's where they have a broadcasting center…where they air some of their shows."

"Shows?" Sharon raised a brow. "What shows?"

"Th-They're all over the ECHOnet. Pretty…pretty fucked up shows, really. Let's put it this way, they could put a snuff film to shame." Sharon visibly winced at that, as did Lemar. Truthfully, John wanted to wince too, but he saw worse in his travels…but still, that shite sounded bad. Real bad.

"It sounds like these Smashers are utter deviants but know their audience well." John commented. "Regardless, assaulting the broadcasting station shouldn't be too troubling. Not for us."

"Glad you're raring to go. I'll give you some prep time, then you need to head out and get that map back before the Smashers manage to decipher it." John, Lemar and Sharon headed out of the briefing room to get their needed equipment, Monica was lead away to a waiting jet by some guards, Ross sighed and slumped in his chair " They're going to need some help" he sighed.

John walked back up to the bases overlook and was met by the sight of Lemar preparing for the job in his own way, loading his guns and such. But Sharon?

Sharon was glaring at him disapprovingly.

"What? Is this 'bout?"

"What do you think?"

"I can't help you have a bomb in the back of your neck."

"You're a sordid cunt."

"I've been called worse." John moved to inspect his SMG and shield, humming a shanty to himself. Honestly, Sharon out of their little motely crew, she was the most serious; she treated it like she was a damn soldier in the fray, like she didn't even know what fun was! So, he had to show her, one way or another, what it was.

"The second we're done, I'm shooting him in the fucking face…" Sharon grumbled in her seat as Lemar drove the Outrunner towards Ascension's Bluff, the Agent so…frustrated she didn't even feel like blowing up any smashers en route.

…okay, that was a lie, but she didn't smile as she did it.

"You know he's playing with you, right?" She heard Lemar say, looking over to see Sharon looking at him, "Messing with you and teasing you; it's a way to break the ice in some places. Shitty places, but y'know."

"Yeah well it's just making the ice harder. He's pissing me off and I wanna break his fucking face."

"That unfortunately means it's working. Besides, have you tried slinging insults back?" Sharon furrowed her brow and sighed.

"I can't."

"Why? You can't think of anything that'll catch him off guard?" Sharon frowned.

"…can I tell you something?".

"Of course."

"The whole insults thing…well, plain and simple, it reminds me of him. Back when I worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. They used to do the same thing to one another; throw insults and quips back at one another while we did jobs and handled missions. Then Hydra happened."

"Well that sucks."

"…you could say that."

"…I'm sorry to hear that, Sharon."

"It's alright. Just, that's mainly the reason I get so pissed off; because it reminds me of Rogers" Lemar was silent as the ride continued.

"I'll speak to John, then. See if I can get him to tone down his…well…Captain America thing."

"You sure?"

"It's what friends are for. We are friends, right?" Sharon grinned.

"Of course." She could see the large, metal gates to the broadcasting station ahead, and of course it shared the same decrepit look as the rest of the things the Smashers had. Sharon loaded her guns as Lemar stopped the Outrunner, the Agent climbing down from the car and pulling her assault rifle from her back, pulling back the hammer.

"Alright, let's get this over with. You ready, shortstuff?" Sharon was about to say something to John.

"Oi, Cap, let's give the insults a break. Least 'til we finish this mission." John looked back at Lemar with a bemused look but shrugged and walked ahead.

"Suit yourself. I'll save the one-liners for the cultists, then. Who knows? They might actually appreciate it more." Lemar flashed Sharon a thumbs-up as he walked as well, cocking his shotgun and taking a pot-shot at a fighterd who was too far out of cover.

"Alright, so, how we doin' this? Cause these shites look like they'll be trouble, and I know there's gonna me more behind that gate."

"I will run reconnaissance. You all stay here and wait." Sharon said. John and Lemar watcher her disappear completely.

"And Sharon's gonna be okay?" Lemar asked

"I have scouted the location." John flinched when Sharon spoke up on his right. "The main path itself is fortified, but not greatly. I counted about twenty-eight fighters. So, I recommend a methodic approach."

"And that is—"

BAM!

Lemar winced when Sharon turned and fired. Moments later, a fanatic cried out in agony. "The fun way."

…maybe the infamous Agent 13 was about as weird as the rest of them, if that were even possible.

"Shit! Everyone, get behind cover!" John called as he ducked behind his shield, feeling machine gun fire pepper it. He checked to see his team mates take cover behind a metal barricade nearby, leaving a patch of dirt between them that was being peppered by machine gun fire and rocket barrages from a few turrets the tinks left outside the broadcast center directly to ensure no one got inside.

Sharon was pissed, yeah, but she also had to credit them for their thinking.

"Alright, anyone got a bright idea?" She heard John shout amid the gunfire. "Cause there's some fuckers behind us" He punctuated this by turning to open fire at a rushing Flag Smasher, blowing his head off.

"I do, but I'll need you all to hang back." Lemar said, he grabbed his grenade belt, pulling the pin from one and throwing the belt over, blowing the turrets to bits in a glorious, explosive fashion.

" Move!" John was already mantling over cover and taking position on the other side of the barricade to take shots at the remaining Flag Smashers.

Sharon ducked behind one of the columns when the shooting began again, a smasher managed to get a shot in on her.

She poked her head out of cover to blow away a fanatic with her shotgun, watching him explode into flames as she blew another away. It didn't take long to wipe out the rest of the attackers, leaving their entry into the broadcast center clear as John was the first inside along with Lemar, Sharon already hearing gunfire as, no doubt, the Flag Smashers inside didn't appreciate their insertion.

"Sharon, you good?" The Agent was ascending the steps and reloading her gun, giving a quick nod to the Lemar.

"Yeah, I am. Thanks for the save, by the way "

The hunt was going exceptionally well. Captain America stood over the dying body of the one called Mouthpiece, the curator and organizer for the twisted "livestreams" the Flag Smashers held. With the man dead, it'd hurt their foes' moral and perhaps cripple them for a moment to grant a reprise.

The group's attention was drawn by the hologram appearing in the room. And, for some reason, Captain A,erica felt annoyance well up at the sight of the figure.

"Huh, did you actually kill Mouthpiece? That's the third Mouthpiece dead this week alone! Guess we're gonna have to reopen auditions again?" Her voice irritated them. So much.

"I suppose you're the one called Karli." John spoke.

"Thaaaaaat's right! Karli, comin' at ya live!" The way she said that told John it was very rehearsed. "And, lemme guess, you're the fucking Thunderbolts runnin' around and killing our followers. Not really sure why; we can easily recruit triple the number of guys you kill." John narrowed his eyes. He knew the Flag Smashers could be cold blooded, but this was new.

"And we're also guessing you're here for that map, correct? Don't get why; it's not working." And that was a concern.

"You fucks broke it?" Sharon grunted, to which the hologram broke into laughter.

"Oh…ha…ha no, just hasn't worked for us! And if it's not gonna cooperate for me, then I doubt it's gonna work for you. But, hey, if and when you figure it out, we'll be in touch, and we'll just kill the four of you and take it back. Kay?"

"And what makes you think you'll be able to?" Lemar crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. This, eerily, made the one called Karli smile.

"We're on a whole other level, and when we want someone dead, our followers deliver that in seven different flavors. So, be real. You won't survive, superfans. A.I.M. Clearly didn't." Her voice dipped venomously.

"And, lemme guess," John holstered his handgun. "You made 'em join your family?"

"Ha! As if! Check this out," The hologram snapped her fingers. A screen was displayed in front of the group that showed, eerily, the one called Karli grabbing a bandit by the neck and quite literally draining the life from him, evident by A.I.M. Soldier lifeless husk turning into a gray statue with purple shards erupted from it…the same sort of statues Lemar saw around the area as they fought their way in.

Meaning, Karli had been busy. Quite busy.

"So, Go ahead and fix that map for us, and we'll stop by to take it. Later." The hologram blinked away, and John was both concerned yet excited. He couldn't wait mount her head on his wall back home.

Speaking of heads, Mouthpiece still lived.

As the others talked about what they witnessed and thought, John approached the still breathing Mouthpiece, kneeling and drawing his shield, bringing it down into the fighters neck and, gristly, began to cut and tear.

"Ewwwww! John, what the hell are you—" Sharon didn't even get to finish; they had already finished their task. Captain America rose, holding the bandit's severed head, admiring the trophy before lowering it and looking to the others.

"I was claiming a trophy, and it seems two big ones are just ahead. Let's retrieve the map and head back to Ross. Perhaps he can make sense of what they said about the map and it not working."

"Alright but…try not to cut any more heads off…least not around me. It's gross."

"…" John just stared. "You blew a man's head off at point blank, yet this grosses you out?" She pouted.

"I-It's complicated, alright? I don't like a head staring at me." John just shook his head at the hypocrisy. It was amusing, at least. Captain America looked over to see Lemar pluck the map from where Mouthpiece dropped it, already setting off as the group began to leave the now desolate broadcast center.

Something about Karli bothered John. Namely, the way she fed on others. John knew the super soldier serum could give people other powers then Cap's, but if life force absorbing was Karli's, then John had to wonder if it was purely to sustain her, or to instead empower her.

And if it was the latter, then every moment they waited was another moment she had to grow stronger. Hopefully, she could still be hunted by that point, but John was almost curious to see what she'd become.

Then it'd be a hunt for the ages: apex predator versus apex predator, with the better hunter prevailing. John was going to ensure it was them.