What's up guys? Steam here with another exciting chapter to peacekeepers for you to enjoy. When we last left the team, they had managed to track down and discover the identity of the Mysterious Sniper, as it was a former member of the peacekeepers… Frontline. After a few short rounds he managed to pin Bad Hacker to the ground with a barrel pointed at his head. Will Frontline do the cockroach type in? Will Sai and Maquette be able to intervene in time? The only way to find out would be to read on…

Credit to Natsume for Medabots.

I would also like to thank my new Beta Reader for this fic, Alumina, for helping me with the chapter. I greatly look forward to working with you in the production of future chapters.

Data Log 7- A War Hero

*click… click…*

Frontline was ready to finish the job and put Bad Hacker out of his existence. The soldier type knew where to aim too, as the gun barrel was pointed exactly where the cockroach type's regeneration circuit was located in his head. If that went out, Bad Hacker would be unable to gradually make repairs to his body when in battle. Granted, a shot from point-blank would be pretty much unfixable in battle anyway, but regardless of that fact he knew that if something wasn't done his days of being a Peacekeeper would be over.

"Goodbye, roach." Frontline said, "You'll be meeting Sherwood soon, tell 'em I said hi."

A meda-bullet suddenly whistled through the air and impacted Frontline's left elbow, pushing his arm to the side as a bullet grazed Bad Hacker's shoulder at the last possible second. Surprised he wasn't already shot, Bad Hacker quickly used Frontline's moment of weakness to kick him backward and then escape.

"Who shot me?" The soldier type growled as he tested his elbow, which still worked.

"The greatest shooting type medabot this side of the planet." A voice called, "And I think your time's up Frontline!"

Frontline suddenly leaped backward as two missiles exploded into the ground where he once stood and covered the area in a cloud of smoke. When the haze cleared, Sai stood in battle stance, the insides of both his horns smoking and telling the soldier type that it was him who fired. Behind him stood Maquette and Magentacat, and thankful that his friends came in time, Bad Hacker soon joined them.

"End of the line, Frontline!" Sai challenged, "Any last words before we all pummel you into the ground?"

Frontline only watched for a moment before breaking into a laugh.

"You honestly think I'd be intimidated by a lucky shot and a bunch of talk?" He bellowed, "I've seen more intimidating things in my functional lifetime than you ever would!"

"Then you haven't met us yet! So before we get to business, let's do a headcount here. We have a bug type over here that's really good with tech and strategy, an experimental bot who's got a massive power output, a flirty cat type-"

"Hey!" Magentacat squealed, "I'm not flirty!"

"And then there's me!" Sai continued, ignoring the cat type, "A beetle type that's gonna put the POW in KA-POW!"

"You all really are idiots aren't you?" Frontline called back, not even fazed by the talk, "It's no wonder the Peacekeepers are dying, because it's full of pathetic imbiciles that have no idea what even goes on in front of their faces!"

"Peacekeepers… dying?" Sai thought to himself, "What does he mean?"

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" The cockroach type roared, infuriated by the soldier type's trash talk of the place he calls home, "You were once a Peacekeeper too Frontline, how DARE you speak about your former home in such a way!"

"Former home? No, you've got it all wrong roach. That place was never my home, not even from the start!"

"You remember who took you in when your medafighter went overseas? You remember who it was that offered you a place of refuge when you had NOTHING?! And yet here you are, slapping those very bots in the face! That's gratitude for you!"

Bad Hacker's fists clenched tightly and begun to shake. Sai looked over at Magentacat as she watched the scene unfold in agony.

"Go find Cyandog and Yellow-Turtle." He told her, "Something tells me he sniped them too and need their medals put back in their bodies."

Magentacat offered no words as she nodded and ran off to look for her teammates. The beetle type then looked over at Maquette, who seemed like he was ready to utterly scrap Frontline for slandering the place he calls home.

"How dare you…" The cockroach type said, his fists still shaking, "How dare you! I will make you pay dearly for speaking of the Peacekeepers in such a manner Frontline! I will make you pay!"

He then turned to face Sai and Maquette.

"I have to beat him you guys…" Bad hacker told them, "I have to show him the power of the Peacekeepers!"

"Then count us in too pal." Sai returned, offering a nod.

"We are… partners…" Maquette added, "We fight together… Not apart."

Bad Hacker was touched by their willingness to openly charge with him into a personal battle and gave both of them a nod before facing Frontline once more. In the skies overhead, booms of thunder could be heard as it began to pour down rain.

"Frontline," Bad Hacker shouted, "You are hereby under arrest on the account of treason to the Peacekeepers! And with your affiliation so clearly severed, we will not hesitate you use force to bring you in!"

Frontline cracked his neck and broke into battle stance, "It's about time; I was almost able to fall asleep from you taking too long to fight me. Now if you're so keen on bringing me in, then do your worst roach! I'm not afraid of you, or your idiotic teammates!"

Bad Hacker medachanged and took to the skies as Maquette charged forward to face his opponent in battle; with Sai covering him with a barrage of meda-bullets to box Frontline in. The soldier type only shook his head as he evaded a left hook and roundhouse kick from the experimental type, not even bothering with the beetle type's attack. Frontline then attacked with a quick swing from his right arm knife to make a slice along Maquette's left shoulder. Not even fazed, and fueled by his determination to help Bad Hacker get his vengeance, he continued his close-range assault and forced the soldier type to the wall.

"You are… traitor!" Maquette growled as he kept up his attack, "You don't deserve… mercy!"

"I never asked for it freak," Frontline returned as he ducked under a left jab, "So if you don't mind, give me a little space!"

Frontline forced his left shoulder into Maquette's torso and forced him backward and then began his assault of gunfire upon his opponent. Maquette shakily, but quickly, regained his footing and leaped to the right to evade the incoming attack and back away from the battle. Sai took his turn as he unleashed another barrage of bullets at the soldier type.

"Changing it up eh?" Sai challenged, "Then in that case I'LL be your next opponent."

"Will you just shut up already?" Frontline returned as he broke into a run and fired back at the beetle type, "Your cockiness is giving me a headache!"

"Then let me spell it out for you then, cuz I don't feel like repeating myself! I'm the greatest shooting medabot this side of the planet, and if you have that title then I'm taking it!"

Sai cartwheeled to the left and unleashed a pair of homing missiles as they screamed through the air and for their target. Frontline leaped out of the way once more as they created another crater in the open road and fired once more at the now vulnerable beetle type. Unable to react in time, Sai took the shots full force as they punched holes in his shoulders and arm canisters like they were made of paper.

"Dang, this guy's not foolin' around with his shooting…" Sai thought as he dove for cover behind a parked car, "I need to bring on my A-game and not get so careless. We gotta beat this guy, for Bad Hacker, and we're not walkin' home without him in chains!"

Seeing his ally under fire, Bad Hacker zoomed in from the skies to attack Frontline. He missed a punch by a very narrow margin as the soldier type ceased fire and hit the ground at the last second. Not wanting to get countered so easily, the cockroach type took to the skies once more and circled back around.

"Darn it…" He mused quietly, "If I can get just one Flux Punch on him, then we can turn the tables in our favor! I need to distract him somehow… Hopefuly Sai and Maquette will catch on and help me out. I have to beat Frontline… I NEED to beat him… I don't care about the stupid mission anymore, I'm fighting for the sacred name of the Peacekeepers he so nonchalantly slandered! I can't forgive that… I won't forgive that! I will make you pay Frontline, just you wait and see what we Peacekeepers can do!"

Maquette charged back in and swung at the soldier type, using his right arm like a club. Doing so however only for a second threw off the experimental type's center of mass as his arm sailed over Frontline's head. Frontline used this moment to his advantage and swept Maquette's foot out from under him and tripped him. Maquette's back hit the asphalt with a metallic thud as Frontline's right arm knife was seen coming down like a guillotine. Sai fired a third round of missiles at Frontline, only this time nailing one in his backside as the projectile exploded and sent him flying into the brick wall with a crash. Maquette hopped to his feet and then dashed in to slam his left arm fist into the soldier type's head. The impact half-buried him in the wall as Frontline fell backward and hit the ground with a thud. The experimental type backed up as Sai met him.

"Sorry about hitting so close to ya Maquette." Sai told him with a shrug, "I had a shot and I had to take it."

"No… Don't be sorry." Maquette responded, "I am fine… Little damage taken."

"Be careful you guys." Bad Hacker called to them, "I've seen Frontline in action before, and it's gonna take more than that to bring him down."

Frontline grunted and chuckled from where he lay, "Not bad roach, you're right for once."

The soldier type sprung to his feet and fired a spray of meda-bullets to give himself more room and force his opponent's backwards.

"Alright, I've had enough of this gun-tag." Sai fumed, "This ends now!"

The beetle type fired a single shot at Frontline's elbow once more and struck true as the soldier type's left arm suddenly stopped shooting. Confused only for a moment, he realized he lost his mode of keeping his distance with that lucky shot.

"Fight ends… now!" Maquette shouted as he dove in to strike Frontline.

The soldier type quickly ducked under the incoming fist and dove to the side. Seeing no feasible way to continue fighting one-on-three, Frontline took the opportunity to retreat and fled unto an alley.

"Oh no you don't Frontline!" Bad Hacker called, "You're not going anywhere that easily!"

"Try me roach," He called back as he hopped over a trashcan, "I've seen a lotta action and have a hundred different ways to disappear from battle. Watch me use one of them!"

"Sai! Maquette! Try to head 'em off on the other side, this alley only goes one way."

"That's what you think roach!"

As the cockroach type flew overhead in pursuit, Frontline dove for a manhole in the alley and disappeared into the darkness of the sewers as Sai and Maquette charged into the alley.

"Where'd he go?" Sai asked as he looked around, "He was just here."

"He took off into the sewer," Bad Hacker answered, "Maquette, can you track him?"

"I can try…" The experimental type returned, his antennae beginning to twitch and twist in various directions with a slightly erratic pace.

A visual interface of everything in the area then flooded Maquette's vision as he looked around and scanned the numbers flashing in his view. His vision changed to x-ray and heat signature as he looked to the ground. All he could see was various shades of blue, as the sewers gave off almost no heat for him to track. From the leftmost corner of his field of vision, the experimental type noticed a red energy signature running down the underground corridor and instantly knew it was their culprit. Maquette spun on his heels and charged back into the street, another boom of thunder being heard overhead and a crack of lightning sailing through the air.

"This way!" He called, "Frontline… escaping!"

Sai changed into vehicle mode and sped off after him, Bad Hacker following close behind from the skies and watching the ground for where he may pop up.

-000-

The rain stopped for the time being, but the clouds overhead were still dark and dreary, as if they were ready for another downpour at any given moment. Magentacat looked all over town for her missing teammates, and so far had found nothing of them. She knew that Sai and the others were facing Frontline, but out of uneasiness she still occasionally looked around and over her shoulder to make sure she wasn't being followed. She had no idea when Frontline had sniped her earlier in the day, so she felt she couldn't be too careful. A blow that low below the belt had never been done to her before, and in that moment she felt weak… defenseless… stupid. She was normally so observant when her head was in a mission, how could she get so careless? A million thoughts raced through her processors as she looked around in the square, and then headed to the park. That's where she last saw them walk towards… right? And the park was normally their favorite place to hang out when not on duty, maybe they decided to look there. The cat type's intuition was spot on as she noticed a pair of lifeless bodies lying on the ground; Cyandog and Yellow-Turtle. Not wasting any time, she quickly popped open the hatches on their backs and reinserted their medals; which lay next to their respective bodies.

"NOOOOO DON'T SHOOT MEEEEEEEE!" Cyandog shrieked as she shot up in a sitting position.

"Cyandog, calm down!" Magentacat returned, "No one's gonna shoot you. It's ok."

"It's…. It's…. It can't be him…. No no no no no it can't be…. He was the last bot I'd suspect…."

Yellow-Turtle came around and shakily arose to sit on his base, rubbing the back of his head where he was sniped.

"He's still in shock," Yellow-Turtle said as he looked over at the panic-stricken dog type, whom was hugging his knees and shuddering violently, "It came as a surprise to both of us Magenta-sama…"

"I know…" Magentacat sighed, "Frontline betrayed us… I didn't expect it either…"

"But why? What'd we do to make him angry?"

"He says that Sherwood was to blame, saying that he shot Frontline purposely when he only did it by accident."

"S…Sherwood? You mean…"

"Yeah… The one that's been missing for a long time now…"

"And Frontline…"

The cat type nodded solemnly.

"N…No… Not Sherwood…"

Cyandog was too entangled in his own little world of panic to pay attention as he whimpered constantly like a lost and hurt puppy dog. That's what he felt like… puny… weak… vulnerable… And he really had no plan to move anytime soon. Magentacat and Yellow-Turtle looked to the ground in sadness at realizing what happened to the missing bot named Sherwood.

"Come on you guys," The cat type said at last, "Sai and the others are fighting him right now and we gotta help them!"

"I dunno how well we'd fair Magenta-sama…" The tortoise type sighed, "But if Magenta-sama's willing to help then so am I. Cyandog you in?"

No answer came from the dog type as he still hugged his knees and rocked back and forth, still whimpering.

"Cyandog?"

"…."

"Cyandog!"

"….."

"SNAP OUT OF IT YOU STUPID DOG!" The cat type shouted as she slapped Cyandog upside the head.

The impact was enough to knock him backward onto the ground with a thud. After shakily rising to a sitting position and rubbing the side of his head where he was struck, he looked over at Magentacat and Yellow-Turtle.

"Oh, hey guys." He greeted casually, "What's goin' on?"

"Oh for the love of-… You missed everything we said?!" The tortoise type snapped, "Where was your head?"

"I dunno."

"What do you mean you don't know?!"

"If I said I don't know then I don't know so gimme a break Yellow-Turtle.

"There really is no brain in that head of yours, I was wondering why you seemed lighter than other Cyandog models!"

"Shut up Yellow-Turtle! Is it just me or do your wheels look fatter?"

"WHAT'RE YOU SAYING ABOUT MY WHEELS?!"

"YOU HEARD ME!"

"IDIOT!"

"NUMBSKULL!"

"IMBICILE!"

"DUMB-HEAD!"

"STUPID DOG!"

"THICK-HEADED TURTLE!"

"BAD SHOT!"

"SNAIL-SPEED!"

Magentacat had enough of their bickering and clobbered them both with a whack to their heads, "SHUT UP! BOTH OF YOU!"

Both moaned and muttered, "Yes Magenta-sama…"

"Now listen, we gotta help Sai and the others fight Frontline. He's been on the loose for too long and we gotta bring him in! Now I'm going to help, so who's with me?"

Yellow-Turtle raised an arm, "I am!"

Cyandog followed, "Me too!"

"CMYK Gang," The cat type shouted, "Let's go kick some bot!"

All three bots charged towards the street, with Magentacat leading them back to where she last saw Sai and the others. When she arrived a few minutes later, she noticed a few new blasts in the ground where apparent explosions took place, a few stray bullet holes lined various walls and coverings, and chunks of concrete and broken brick lay strewn here and there. There was indeed a battle here, but no combatants in sight.

"Um, Magenta-sama?" Cyandog began, "Are you sure they're here? Cuz I don't see anyone around."

"They must've moved the battle to somewhere else." The cat type answered, "I'll message Bad Hacker and see where they're going. Maybe we can meet up with them."

She then pulled up the cockroach type's server address and sent a message his way, "Found Cyandog and Yellow-Turtle, where are you?"

A response came a moment later, though a little delayed, "Frontline's on the move. Took off running after Sai took out his gun. We're trying to chase him down, but he's using the sewer channels to escape."

"Where's he going?"

"Not sure. Maquette's using his Scouting ability to track him and we're pursuing aboveground. We're coming up on Parkview and Industry. Meet us there if you can, if not then head back to Headquarters and let the Guild-Masters know what's going on."

"Will do, we'll see you in a bit!"

"So?" Yellow-Turtle began, "Where are they?"

"They're heading to Parkview Street and Industry," She answered, "Come on and we can meet 'em there to help fight!"

Before they broke into a full run, they were stopped when a person called, "Excuse me!" to them. Skidding to a halt, they looked back to find a man dressed in baggy blotched clothing and a pack on his back; his other arm in a sling like he somehow injured it. He quickly limped their way, seeming to have an injured leg as well.

"Can we help you sir?" Magentacat asked.

"But can it be quick?" Cyandog added, "We're kinda in the middle of a mission right n-"

"Shhhhhh Shut up Cyandog!" Yellow-Turtle hissed as he quickly covered the dog type's mouth, "Sorry about that sir, he's kinda the absent-minded one of the group."

"Hey!"

"Oh, it's alright." The man chuckled, offering a nod, "I won't take too much of your time if you could help point me in the right direction."

"Oh?" The cat type inquired, "How can we help?"

"I'm looking for an old friend of mine…"

-000-

The search for Frontline was still hot as he used the sewers to try and escape. He had done it before, numerous times, when someone seemed to have been on his scent and close to catching him; so he knew the tunnels well. Overhead, he had a vague sense of being followed, though didn't know that it was Maquette who was tracking him down with his heightened senses. Close behind Maquette was Sai, as the beetle type was still in vehicle mode to keep up with the experimental type's higher base running speed. In the skies above them, Bad Hacker kept a watch for anywhere Frontline may pop up and keep on his escape. They had him on the ropes, he thought, but he still wanted to beat the soldier type… he HAD to beat him… to protect the place the cockroach type called home… The place that Frontline had so clearly severed his ties to. Bad Hacker could not let that slide, and he was determined more than ever to stop him. On the ground, Maquette took a sharp left and stopped cold. Sai and Bad Hacker met him on the ground as both changed back into robot mode.

"What's up Maquette?" Sai asked.

"Thinking…" He answered him, "Frontline stopped moving… perhaps planning to emerge…"

The experimental type continued to stare in the spot where Frontline's heat signature lingered underground. The soldier type looked around the corridor, and then up at the manhole above his head to the aboveground, considering whether a good time to come back up was. He continued to think about it as he tried fiddling with his left arm and get it working again, and after a moment he finally decided to come back up as he climbed the ladder.

"He is emerging!" Maquette warned, "Hide… quickly!"

All three ran around to hide behind nearby objects and prepare for a possible assault. Bad Hacker on the other hand ran towards the manhole and started setting mines. He wanted to catch the soldier type by surprise, and if they could, even for a moment, they had the chance of turning the tables on him. After setting one last mine, Bad Hacker medachanged to took to the skies to fly up to the roof of a building to wait. Sai had dove behind a parked car and readied to strike, and Maquette ran around to the hidden side of a concrete wall across the street and readying a shot on his microwave cannon. The manhole gently slid open as a green head peered around to look for any signs of an ambush. Seeing none, Frontline climbed out and looked around.

"You won't escape…" Maquette mused quietly, "You will fall…"

Frontline only had a moment to breathe before he heard a soft humming grow higher and higher in pitch. As the soldier type looked his way, Maquette fired a charged shot at three-quarters power, releasing a powerful blast of energy at Frontline. The soldier type quickly hit the floor as the beam screamed over his head, scorching his backside from the heat the attack gave off as it flew overhead. Seeing the attack missed, Sai took the chance and opened fire with a barrage of meda-bullets. Frontline rolled to the side and then dove behind a dumpster he would use for cover. Cocking his left arm for return round of gunfire, he pointed his arm at Sai, who he saw by his horn sticking out form his hiding place, and fiercely returned fire. The beetle type ducked down as the return assault sailed over his head, and then momentarily popped back up to continue shooting at the soldier type.

"We got 'em on the ropes!" Sai shouted, "This guy's a goner!"

"Again with the cockiness," Frontline retorted sharply, "Will you just shut up and give it a rest already?"

Still out of sight and apparently in the soldier type's blind spot, Bad Hacker flew around the building and broke into a dive bomb from the backside. Seeing the cockroach type last minute, Sai ceased fire and ducted under his cover as Frontline slightly stepped out to inspect what happened. At that moment, it was too late to move as he heard a flutter and mechanical wings from behind. As Frontline turned around, Bad Hacker nailed him with a Flux Punch; sending the soldier type into the street and in the open. Frontline's back hit the asphalt with a thud before he struggled to stand back up; but he noticed something wrong. His motor functions began to spasm and not respond. It was the Flux Punch he took from Bad Hacker, it scrambled some of his programming and rendered him an easier target to take out. Frontline was in trouble if he stayed in one spot, but would he be able to get himself moving before the enemy struck back? The soldier type was determined to take that gamble as he struggled to stand and then break into a run. He managed to keep a shaky pace as his opponents followed close behind, but he knew he wouldn't be able to keep the chase on much longer if he didn't reset his system and clean it out. He struggled to run, and his vision randomly blurred or blacked out as a result of the Flux Punch.

"There's nowhere to run Frontline!" Bad Hacker called as he changed into robot mode and continued the chase.

"No, he's finished!" Sai shouted as he stopped running and firmly planted his feet in the ground, "MISSILE LAUNCH!"

The beetle type fired a pair of homing missiles into the skies, and then buried themselves in the ground in front of the soldier type, the explosion throwing him backward and onto his back. Maquette slammed his fist into Frontline and sent him careening into the wall with a crash. Frontline then fell out of the indention in the wall and hit the ground with a thud. He looked to be finished as the trio slowly approached his battered body. He was clearly in a critical state, there was no way he would be able to fight back now.

"Looks like we won." Sai shrugged, "It's about time."

"Yes… The fighting… is over." Maquette agreed.

In a flash however as they neared him, Frontline mustered all the strength he had to sweep Bad Hacker off his feet and cartwheel over the beetle and experimental types. He then fired two shots into both of Sai's shoulders and kicked him to the floor, followed by a forceful kick to Maquette's head; sending him to the floor with a heavy thud. Sighing heavily, and his functions still scrambled from the Flux, Frontline then forced his foot into the cockroach type's gut to hold him down.

"End of the line, roach…" He told him, struggling to keep himself standing, "This all ends here!"

He raised his right arm knife to impale Bad Hacker with one swift motion. Nothing was going to stop him this time. Sai and Maquette were swiftly taken out and rendered unfit to fight back, and Bad Hacker himself was pinned to the ground by the soldier type's foot. This was the end, nothing was going to stop it. Frontline's arm then began its swift downward slice to finish the cockroach type.

"FRONTLINE! DISENGAGE!" A voice called from down the street.

Frontline instantly froze and stopped his knife short of about a quarter inch from Bad Hacker's head.

"Impossible…" He stuttered, still frozen in place, "That… voice… It can't be… It just can't be!"

The soldier type suddenly spun around and looked in the direction of the voice that called him. It was the man that the CMYK Gang had run into before, and he was trailed by them as they stood by him. Frontline was in utter shock. He knew this man… he knew him well… It was his medafighter.

"M…Mark…"

"Long time no see Frontline. Sorry to keep you waiting." He returned, a light smile on his face.

Frontline slowly walked towards Mark, his legs randomly trying to trip him; as he was still inflicted with the Flux.

"They… They told me… You went M.I.A…. How are you here?"

"My squadron was compromised and got the retreat order too late. Our transportation was destroyed and most of the units were captured; I was overlooked since I played dead when I climbed out of the wreckage of my craft. They weren't sure if I made it back, since I managed to rescue my captured squad mates, so I simply decided to go home and retire."

The soldier type's legs finally stopped working as he dropped to his knees and fell forward. Mark quickly knelt down and caught him. He then looked over all the dents and fractures in his partner's body, all from the fight he intervened in. His whole backside was singed a darker color than it was before… his left arm all shot up and leaking lube from a couple holes… his right arm all dented up from being bashed around, also leaking lube… and his helmet having more dents than his arm, but still protecting the vulnerable tinpet skull underneath.

"I thought….. I thought you were dead…."

"Well, I thought I was too for a while."

"You're… an idiot…"

"Frontline…"

"You're an idiot! You should've… messaged me…. I thought you were dead….."

"I couldn't Frontline, I lost my watch on the field in the crash."

"…."

Mark used his good arm to pull Frontline a little closer as the soldier type started to shake. Magentacat, Cyandog, and Yellow-Turtle rushed over to help Sai and the others to their feet and support them.

"Mark…. I'm a disgrace….."

"Frontline. Don't be so hard on yourse-"

"No! I went rogue… trashed bots… hurt innocent people… killed my only friend…"

Frontline began to shudder a little harder.

"I've…. I've…. I've dishonored you… I don't deserve to be called your medabot…"

"Listen to me Frontline," Mark told him, "You need to stop beating yourself up. You got upset because you thought I was gone, and I'm sorry for not trying to contact you."

"Mark… I-I'm sorry… I'm so….. so…. Sorry…."

"It's not me you need to apologize to. These fine bots here explained the whole thing to me."

"Then you know what'll happen to me… as a punishment for my crimes…"

Mark patted Frontline on the shoulder, "Hey Frontline, you remember all the talks you and I had about second chances?"

"Y-yeah… But I don't deserve one… I'm beyond redemption…"

"Oh I wouldn't count yourself out just yet…"

Frontline looked up at his medafighter, "What do you mean?"

Mark motioned for the bots standing in a group and watching them. The soldier type knew what he had to do, but he felt he wasn't worthy of doing it as he looked back down. Frontline, in his mind, now saw himself as a war criminal… a rebel… a terrorist… one who had no chance at redemption…

"Go on Soldier," Mark coaxed as he let him go, "About face and forward march."

Frontline hesitantly stood up, the Flux now worked out of his body and gone, and faced them.

"I… I have a confession to make…" Frontline began, "How I killed Sherwood… It was a rumor that started when I left…"

"What do you mean?" Bad Hacker asked, "What happened?"

"It was after the last mission we had together. I saw Sherwood as the only bot in the Peacekeepers I could trust, and confide in when I needed someone there. I told him about the report when I first heard that Mark went missing… and as my friend he was there for me. Days pass… I grieved in silence… and only he knew it. Weeks pass, and Sherwood began trying to help me embrace the possibility of Mark being gone and move on. I refused, and we argued over it… And at its peak I shot Sherwood through the medal by mistake at point-blank. I panicked in the moment… I just had killed my only friend… And then fled in fear…"

The bots cringed at the story. For too long they wondered what happened to Sherwood, and now they knew the whole story.

"I never looked back… feeling they would forsake me for what I did… And I went rogue…"

"Frontline…"

"I know I don't deserve it… and I know you'll still hate me for what I said about the Peacekeepers… But… I'm sorry… I'm so… so… sorry…"

Frontline dropped to his knees, using his arms to support him. Everyone was in too much of a shock to speak, let alone move.

"This guy was just hurting…" Sai mused to himself, "That's why he did what he did…"

Bad Hacker slowly stepped forward and stood in front of the soldier type. Frontline looked up at the cockroach type and then hung his head low.

"Go on…" The soldier type said, "Strike me… I can tell you want to, and I deserve it…"

The cockroach type silently raised a fist to strike the soldier type.

"You're right…" Bad Hacker agreed, "I really do wanna strike you for what you said about the Peacekeepers…"

Frontline prepared for the impact as he tensed up slightly to brace himself. He waited for the blow. A moment passed… and then another… nothing… Frontline looked up to see an open hand extended to him.

"But you know what?" The cockroach type continued, "…I forgive you."

Frontline was in shock, "Y…You… what?"

"I said, I forgive you Frontline. I may have been really angry at you for what you called the Peacekeepers, especially with yourself formerly being one… But… After hearing the story… I can't stay mad… Not after hearing what you've been through."

Silence ensued between them before Frontline spoke up again.

"… I still have it…"

"Have what?"

The soldier type reached into a seam in his armor and pulled out a pale violet bandana, stained black in a few places from lube.

"The only place that took me in when I had nothing…" Frontline said, "I knew from the bottom of my medal I couldn't give that up… And all this time… I've kept my bandana… to remind me of that…"

Bad Hacker knelt down and rested a hand on his shoulder, "Once a Peacekeeper… always a Peacekeeper…"

"From now… until… the end… of… time…"

Frontline fell forward as his head hit the ground with a thud, his medal ejecting from the hatch in his back and rolling around until falling onto its face; the etching of a chameleon facing upwards on the medal. Mark watched the scene as Bad Hacker picked up Frontline's medal and silently walked over to hand it to him.

"He really missed you…" The cockroach type said, "I'm glad you're back… for his sake…"

"You and me both…" Mark returned as he took his partner's medal, "My only regret is not being able to contact him and tell him I was alright. I feel awful for what he did, all of it being because he thought I was gone…"

The skies overhead still remained dark and grey, but the fighting was over. The mysterious sniper, now revealed to be an emotionally hurt Frontline, was subdued. But now brought about a question of morals. After all that had taken place… and all that had been learned… does Frontline deserve to be arrested? For his crimes, of course. He had been marked as a high-rank offender for a good deal of time now. But… on the other side of the coin, he was only lashing out in grief from thinking his medafighter was dead and would never return. In regards to duty, the right thing to do would be to bring him in and try him for his crimes. But what Bad Hacker felt was the RIGHT thing to do was to let Frontline go free. But what would the Guild-Masters think about that? Would they approve? Would they condemn? Bad Hacker honestly did not know; as he had never been in a position to choose between one Right bound by duty, and another Right bound by emotion.

Frontline's been defeated, but not in the typical way. He really was just hurting from thinking he lost his Medafighter, and that's why he lashed out and went rogue. But the question still remains… Should Frontline still be tried and punished for his crimes… or should he be given a chance at redemption?

Rate and Review, it motivates me to write more chapters which gets them published quicker for you to read.

MORE MEDABOTS! MORE POWER!