Seeing the Sun

New(er) Chapter

A/N: Sorry I don't update a lot, but I still update. Er... I try to. I'm really losing inspiration, but I will finish the stories I've started, like this one and Shinde. I can't really write these too well anymore. I get ideas, yeah, and then I get more ideas, and then more ideas for my original stories, and then a SHIT TON of ideas for my original stories. And then I can't plan them out and I'm sorry for ranting. :( And I honestly forget how many chapters I have.

Before she started the fight, Jo stopped for a little to think.

Not the kind of thinking where you let your thoughts wander aimlessly, no. She was seriously thinking.

After this, her purpose for the past years would be over, one way or the other. She would either succeed and destroy the lab, or fail and die. Either way, it would be the end of something, and maybe even the beginning of another. But she refuses to fail. Even if she's on death's doorstep, she will kill those sorry sons of bitches at NTNW.

But to what end? To make sure no one suffered from their torture again? Or solely for revenge? Was she that kind of person? In all honesty, she probably was. She was leaving Meg and her new family behind. But this should have come before all of that. She should have buried her past, put out the flame of revenge before it burned down anyone who got close to her. But she hadn't.

Sometimes she wondered if she herself was retarded or just plain insane.

Considering what she's doing right now, she might just be a masochist.

That's honestly what she's thinking as she stares at the sunset. It's not the light that bothers her, really. It's the damn sun's beauty. How fucking positive it looks. But mostly, it's nostalgia. Reminding her of things she's lost, things she can't have anymore. No, she won't have any more moments with Maria, watching the sunset like she used to.

That's right. She used to love the sun. Her and Maria would sit on the porch of their house, watching the sunset while Jo healed from the fight of the day. It was like a ritual, like how she and Amy went out in the rain. Now, she can renew the tradition with Meg. But even that's gone now, if she messes up. Maybe even if she succeeds.

She shakes her head, standing up and walking over to her bike. She doesn't have time to think about this. Deal with the past.

Then the future.

Every hit is a kill, every strike is crippling, and every glance is unforgiving. She's not holding back. Not at all. This bike is outstanding. The damn gunsmith did her job well, for all her half-dead ass was worth. She's getting closer to the headquarters fast, though she'll probably have to ditch her bike on the way.

She drives towards one of the poles upholding the structure for something they're constructing, driving around it in a tight circle and ripping it from the ground. She twirls it around, swinging it to the side and smashing through one of the guard's heads. She smirks as the others scramble around and slips on her mask. The old one. Nice, pure black.

A faceless enemy is scarier.

(Actually, most would disagree, since her smile during fights could make them shit their pants).

Jo feels something unlock within her. True rage fills her, the fire coming automatically, though still with the usual pain. Still, it's a new feeling. Like... she's never been quite this...

Pissed the fuck off.

A maniacal, angry laugh escapes her as she stares up at the communication tower. Her bike starts falling apart under her under the heat of the flames she's generating, so she's got to act fast. Fire won't get it down fast enough, but her bike will.

Leo's gonna lose his shit when he hears about this.

"Sorry D'jango," she murmurs, picking up the smoldering bike. "But it's gotta be done."

She hurls D'jango up at the tower with her freakish strength and a jet of flame. It demolishes the base, sending the rest of the tower down right towards her. She holds up a still-flaming arm, never having felt more powerful, and unleashes a blast that incinerates the falling structure above her. The rest of it falls in front and behind her, crushing parts of the lab and some people as well.

She hears the screams of burning people, and hears the order to stop attacking from two different places. The first from the soldiers that are still alive, and the second- a more familiar voice- from above.

"Jo, stop!" yells Sei. She's trying to use her usual cold, authoritative voice, but er mask is slipping quickly. Amy has her arm locked in a deathgrip, and Meg looks like she's ready to jump out of the plane. "You can't win! There's too many of them!" She's sounding more panicked now, not wanting Jo to die. Not now.

Jo rips off her mask, the flames circling around her. She meets her older sister's dark eyes with her own blood red ones, and Sei recognizes the look in her eyes. Jo mouths the words that somehow, inexplicably, calm Sei and Amy down instantly as Meg stares at them in disbelief.

"Trust me."

Amy lets go of Sei, giving Jo a thumbs up before scampering to a computer. Sei rushes to pilot the jet, given a new purpose. Meg runs over to Sei, since Amy is in her computer world, and starts asking questions.

"Sei, what are you doing? Why aren't we stopping her?' she screams. "She's going to die!"

Sei remains calm, sighing as Meg starts to go into hysterics. Without looking, she slaps Meg in the face. "Didn't Jo ever tell you that her death was inevitable, Meg?"

Meg puts a hand to her cheek, right over the red mark where Sei hit her, and gives the older woman a confused expression. "Well, yes, but that doesn't mean she has to..."

"Die now?" finishes Sei. "Look at it this way, Meg. She's dying on her own terms. Not those of someone else. And for some reason, I'm letting myself hope that she's not going to die."

"Why?"

"Because she said the words," explains Sei. "To trust her. She's always said when she faces an impossible situation, and she always wins. Always." Sei looks down, hiding her worry. "Always."

Meg sits down, watching the screen that shows Jo. The harbinger of death. The angel from hell. Quite possibly the best fighter anyone has ever known, trained since childhood to kill.

Her time with Jo was the most eventful time of her life, and also the best. She doesn't want it to end.

She doesn't want her dream to turn into a...

Nightmare.

That's what it is down here. Soldiers everywhere she goes, the screams of test subjects she can't save. She kills every last staff member, helps anyone else she can, but many can't be saved and frankly she doesn't have the time. She has to find a way to detonate this entire place. She's destroying all she can as she goes with the explosive mini-gun she was given, but it would be a hell of a lot easier if this place had a self destruct button.

"Jo," one of the cameras that she hasn't destroyed yet is talking. Amy's voice. "This whole place is a giant machine. If you can destroy the core of it, it won't work anymore."

"Sounds like my best shot," mumbles the silver-haired gunslinger. "Where is it?" she calls.

"Down".

"Alright then." Jo brings up one of her feet, fire igniting on it as she drives her foot into the ground. It makes a dent, but it won't get there too fast. She looks around wildly before spotting a mildly damaged mech. A wild grin makes it's way onto her face.

"Perfect."

A/N: The story is coming to a close around chapter 30. :P