"Tucker!"

The joyful shouts erupted the moment the somewhat wrecked-looking armored vehicles came to abrupt stops.

After the initial delight wore off and all information was shared, the only thing left was to stop those weirdos. Tucker settled into the truck as they sped back from where he came from.

"At the top there should be a vault room. We'll probably find the Ultimate Power there," explained Raymond over the radio.

"We have any intel on what that is? Or hell, even what it looks like?," questioned Axel.

"Who cares? If they think they can manipulate and scare us they got another thing coming!." exclaimed One, enthusiastically leaning out the window to get a closer look. As soon as they pulled up to the entrance, One practically leaped out much to Axel's mild scolding.

Tucker was more than ready to payback these assholes for the past few hours, and the nice arsenal of guns and grenades Shatter Squad prepared this time would do plenty. Shame no one brought a sniper rifle though.

"So you nerds gonna fight back this time?," he half-jokingly asked Raymond and West. Ray took a deep breath before giving a thumbs up. West grunted.

With all seven thoroughly geared up, they entered the temple. Bullet casings layed on the ground a short ways in and sparks flared occasionally from damaged tech. Alien carcasses made Tucker glad Junior wasn't here.

It didn't take long to find one of the perpetrators of this violence. Diesel stood over a mangled body, having gleefully chopped it up before they arrived. He laughed like seeing Shatter Squad here was the greatest joke all week. Tucker unveiled his sword while Wash and Carolina flanked him.

"You guys go. We go this," commanded Carolina. The others attempted to disagree but Carolina immediately shushed them, "There's no time. Cut off Zero and subdue Phase". With another second or two to make sure, Shatter Squad ran ahead, leaving Blue Team alone.

"After I squash you like a bug, I'm going to rip your friends apart with my bare hands."

"Big talk for someone I already stabbed once."

Carolina and Wash shot a few bullets towards the approaching Diesel, but the Blues were forced to scatter as Diesel leaped and swung down with his sword-axe where they were. Tucker clinked his sword against it defensively as Diesel attempted a backswing. Carolina attempted to zap Diesel in the midsection with her stun device, but he kicked her away with a chuckle.

He teleported a short distance away from Wash and Tucker's retaliation before switching gear to a rocket launcher, "Maggots!". The Blues ducked and flipped over the rockets, letting the weaponry crash into the surrounding walls, sending debris everywhere. Wash chucked a grenade through the smoke, catching Diesel off guard, as it exploded at his feet.

While Diesel staggered from the blow, the Blues regained close quarters. Tucker attempted to stab any vulnerable spots, but Diesel was quick to keep his blade protecting him. Carolina repeatedly zapped him, hoping to not kill if she didn't have to. They were better than Temple or any of those other fools caught in revenge after all. Wash got shots in from behind when he could, careful not to hit his teammates.

With little progress accomplished like this, Wash finally quit shooting from afar and leaped on top of him, wrapping his arms around his neck. Diesel squirmed under the added weight before finally throwing him off. Carolina hesitated a second before seeing an opportunity and managing to steal the now loosely held rocket launcher from him. Diesel growled.

"Not so funny anymore?"

Diesel gave a wide swing of his sword in response, "Die". Tucker dodged and moved further back to where Wash had recovered as Carolina shot at Diesel with his own weapon.

Although Diesel still had his key and a standard issue gun, it was clear the rockets were where he based most of his power beyond brute strength. Now he was on the defensive, teleporting more and attempting occasional pot shots and strikes.

Eventually, Blue Team's number advantage and years more experience overwhelmed Diesel. He collapsed from exhaustion, and Tucker gave him a complimentary kick as payback. Carolina shook her head before wrapping him up in her grappling hook and keeping his key far from where he could cut through.

Afterwards, Wash radioed in, "Come in Command, this is Agents Washington and Carolina. We have an arrest for Viper member, uh, Diesel. Sending coordinates now."


"Go! That's an order."

With the rest of his team reluctantly rushing to stop Zero, it was just West and his daughter now. Her teleportation ambush was bad enough, he wasn't having her hurt his squad. But he wouldn't hurt her either.

"Danyell."

"Don't! Never say that name again."

"This is all my fault. I'm sorry."

"Sorry? You're sorry, huh?". Danyell split into two, each side sounding venomous as they finished, "You're damn well gonna be."

West braced himself, hoping his shield and armor were enough to…well, he hoped to survive this encounter anyway, but knew he had no right to. He still remembers the first time the doctors strapped her down to operate, her screaming in terror not to let them. But he had to, even if she would never forgive him. At least she's still breathing.

Both girls lunged at the same time. Between East's speed and Phase's teleport, it was hard to properly block many hits. If he couldn't talk Danyell down, he'd try to outlast her. There was no way she got full charge in the short time it's been, and she would have been fighting the temple guardians this entire time prior.

"Come on, old man. Is this all you got? Where's that dad strength? Or maybe you don't have it. Cause you never were one."

Any pleadings fell on the same deaf ears as always. Danyell tore his shield to bits, and he made a mental note to order Ray to make a higher-quality and less clunky one next time. Assuming there was a next time.

"Is that it, Pops?"

"I won't fight you."

"Tortured all those years. They shocked. They injected. They dissected us like we were nothing. Where were you? Huh? Playing hero with Axel and the others? If it wasn't for Zero we'd still be there! Just a lab rat to them! Tell me why today shouldn't be the day you take your last breath."

The knife jabbed under his neck. He had nothing to say, even as she screamed, "Answer me!"

Phase didn't stab him, but the two beat him around a bit more. While he lay on his back coughing, he still didn't have a proper reason for her not to finish the job. But he said anyway, "Your mother made me swear to protect you. No matter what. You were sick. I did whatever it took to save you."

She whacked him further. "You're right, I failed. I failed your mother, but most importantly, I failed you. I just stood there and let horrible things happen. I am sorry, Dan-no. Phase and East. But no matter what, I'll always love you."

They weren't replying, but the hits kept coming. His vision swam and at this point adrenaline was screaming to do something. He had hoped if she was going to kill him it'd be a quick stabbing or a toss into the lava below, but of course they'd drag it out like he did to them. But it was too much, he had to…

When Phase tossed her knife to land at a closer angle, he blocked it with one of the remnants of his shield and threw it away. As she teleported to save it from falling, it was just East on him. During one of her Burst Steps he caught her and wrapped her in a hug. She squirmed uncomfortably.

"Let me go!"

"I am sorry."

He attached the sticky grenade to her armor. It blew them both up, and he could hear the screams amidst the ringing. When the smoke cleared there was only a sparking quivering Phase. He should have let her beat him to death after all. He was a horrible person.

"You die today, old man."

He nodded agreeably. She sounded broken and beyond exhausted. He hoped he hadn't ruined anything else in her.

"We hate you! Do you understand that?"

He did.

"You have no right to be leading a squad! Zero's a dick and he's still twice the person you are. Hell if they didn't call those Freelancers to babysit you'd probably find a way to ruin One and Raymond too."

He'd like to think Axel would also keep them safe, but otherwise she was right. He was trash. So why were they sitting here? Everything badly hurt, but he didn't feel like he was dying yet.

"Are you seriously just going to stay there? You think we won't go through with it? Why, because East is part of Shatter Squad? Because we share DNA? I've already killed plenty of people associated with the AOD. Do you think someone is coming to save you?"

"I don't want anyone to save me. I'm all yours."

Danyell shook her head like it didn't make sense, then let out a frustrated scream. She punched the ground nearby a few times, and then paced restlessly for a minute before coming to a decision.

"I hate you. But Diesel shooting you wasn't what I wanted. And this isn't working. It's not helping. I don't feel better."

"Then how can I-"

"No. Enough. Wait here for rescue or throw yourself into the lava. I don't care anymore. I'm making sure Zero destroys every worker at that laboratory with the Ultimate Power and then East and I are leaving. Burn in hell."

And with that she staggered off into the distance as West was left feeling he lost their battle after all.