HAPPY 4TH OF JULY, EVERYBODY! The day where we celebrate the indepence of my top favorite and home country, the United States of Americas. For my fellow authors and readers out there who live in America and are enjoying this time of year, I hope you'll like it as we remember its foundation and its commemoration for the people who sacrificed so much to make us live in this country today.

INDEPENDENCE DAY, and I think this chapter might be appropriate for this occasion.

SCENE VII - ONE LAST CHANCE

"Why are you even telling us all of this?"

"Excuse me?" Talon asked, after hearing Garrett's mumbling words.

"I said: why are you even telling hs all this? We and the rest of our friends were the ones who wouldn't get off your back for days."

"Yes. That's true. And I did hate your team for it, but after seeing what you could do, Garrett…actually what both of you can do, I've decided to let us come to a comprise. If you two join me, we can have the total advantage. You and I can finish developing the weapon, Al can control with it with his incredible fighting abilities, and you can even upgrade it with the technology you have. Your nanobots work faster and seem to have more style to it. Look, all I'm asking for is new allies that are willing to help me bring peace to this world forever, and least of all we can do it under my leadership. What do you say? Partners?"

Talon reached his wing out, expecting Al and Garrett to shake it. But they took a quick second to think.

Garrett thought that all sounded crazy, for he knew that it seemed too impossible. But Al thought differently.

For so long he wanted to fulfill his purpose in finally destroying Aku and what Talon had in mind sounded like something that could work and free Al of the nightmare he felt in his heart. Though…the way Talon was doing it didn't seem right and Al wanted to explain why.

"No."

"What? Excuse me, Al, but aren't you-?"

"Yes. I am the one who has been wandering the world for a long time trying to save every living soul from Aku's fist. But what you are proposing…it isn't right."

"And how do you of all people figure that?"

"You say you want to destroy Aku and restore the world's peace but by fearing everyone? By transporting them offworld against their will? And expecting them to choose you as their leader once this is all over? Nothing of this plan makes you sound anybody better than Aku. Let alone your employer." He gave him the world famous scowl with those words and Garrett was impressed with that since it was also what he was thinking. "Besides…only one has the power to destroy Aku, and I doubt yours would be close to enough."

"Really?" After the others escaped earlier, Talon did look into it and discover so much info about who Al was and what were the adventures he experienced. And hearing him like that, despite how tempting the offer was, intrigued Talon's interest of his power even more. Especially when he began to notice his sword on the ground. "What about you, Garrett?"

"Hmm. Sorry. It's a quite appealing offer but I only concur with my friends, not with my self-righteous enemies."

"In that case…" He made an evil grin and pushed his trigger, hoping to paralyze Al. He flinched but nothing happened, Talon didn't notice since he reached for the katana. Garrett quickly got down and stopped him. "Grr!" Garrett bit his wing next. "OW! Get off of me!"

"AL! GET YOUR SWORD!"

Al took that order clearly and reached out before the surrounding soldiers did. Once he got it, he fought back.

"NO! Soldiers, get that katana from him!" Talon ordered and tried fighting off Garrett.

Al used his usual skills of martial art and there were too much for the soldiers. He either karate chopped or sword sliced their lasers, and kicked their stomachs hard. Fighting through and through still. So was Garrett, who didn't get affected by any of Talon's strike. Punching him felt like a hitting a brick wall to Talon's wings and his actual metal talons didn't make a single pierce. Garrett was like a human safe, able to hold Talon down hard despite his struggling effort.

"Grr! Why are you doing this, you scum?!"

"Because Talon, in the past, I use to be a lot like you. Now, I don't look the other way!"

"Maybe! But in my life I've learned that if you don't look the other way…" he had a spare gun ready to pull out. "It'll only get you killed." Then he shot it. A large burst out but instead of the bullet putting a hole in Garrett's chest, it just bounced to the walls of the room. "What the?!"

"Didn't see that coming, did ya?" Garrett said and gave Talon a good punch. It knocked him out. "Boo-yah." Then he helped Al fought off the other soldiers hard until everyone either got KO'd or surrendered.

"You alright, my friend?"

"Yeah Al, I'm good. What about you?"

"Fine now. But I do not understand how that trigger of his didn't work."

"Oh right." Garrett revealed the MCs forming as claws on his wings. "I can also make these things camouflage or shrink even further. While Talon was talking to us I was able to use them to dismantle his trigger and get the nanobots out of you without anybody noticing."

"Amazing."

"Yep. By the way." He walked to Talon and woke him up with a good shake. "Hey. Hey, hey, Sleeping Grouchy, wake up."

"What? The heck? What'd you-?"

"Uh-ah. Now it's our turn to talk." He held him by the collar before activating his comm set. "Sebastian? Leo? Can anybody hear me?" It took a second before they heard something.

"Yeah, I copy."

"Sebastian, thank goodness. Are you okay? W-Where are you now?"

"Me, the team, and every refugee. We're all at the other side of the city. Pretty much close to the Quarantine HQ right about now."

"Good to know. Heck, see if you take that advantage by starting 'the launch'." Hearing that made Talon look stunned.

"The launch? Oh!" Sebastian got it. "Alright, I'll tell the others and try it out. You and Al just take care of that chicken, Talon, okay?"

"You got it."

They shut off their comms and each went about the plan.

Garrett tossed Talon away with a single push. He landed on two of his goons. "Oommph! Ow."

"Hurts, doesn't it?"

"Do you have to ask? You two are seriously getting in my way!" He wanted to strike at them again but Al brought out his sword and Garrett did the same with his MCs to look like claws. Talon was definitely out matched, so he raised his wings up, implying that he was surrendering.

"Smart choice, pal."

Then when they thought it was close to over, a beeping went off.

"What is that?" Al asked.

Talon looked down toward the side of his belt and smiled seeing the small device on him that was making the sound. "A sign that shows it's ready."

"What?"

And at an instant, BANG! A giant metallic fist punched through the ceiling with a loud surprise, and then it snatched Talon away from the two before being brought back up. "What was that?" "Al, I think that was the weapon he mentioned. We need to go, now!" They ran out from the hideout, leaving every guard on the floor, and when they came outside, they were in for a surprise.

"Yep…that's it. We're gonna be in for a long day, Al."

The whole thing was like an Iron Giant, but as big as the bottom half of the Empire State Building and chrome and shiny like a real star with diamond eyes.

"We need to get ready to fight this."

"Agreed. I've fought giant robots what about you?"

"Al, you could write a thousand books about the things that I've fought. So yeah, you ready?"

"Oh yes."

"As of right now, we only get one shot at this."

The two ran up to the robot, which appeared to have Talon inside of its chest center, where the manual control room was.

Talon saw the two charging toward him and yelled out, "HAHAHA! How do you guys like this? A steel and diamond alloyed robot, designed to withstand anything in its path. All built by me and my men below the HQ's back garage. Now I know Aku is considered powerful and unkillable, but after you two are brought down and I extract all your weapons from you, Aku will be nothing more than an ant compared to this. That's why I am testing it all on you!" That bird sounded really coocoo, which proved that the two were right about him. He wanted to kill them and create a dictatorship.

The robot was slow but big, for it was bringing down its giant fist on them, but they scattered and dodged it before racing up to its arm.

"ONE LAST CHANCE!" Garrett whispered when he got his MCs to zip himself up to the bot's shoulder, then got them to form up a large fist to punch a hole into it. Al tried getting into the arm with his sword. Despite how hard they hit, it was ineffective. But still kept trying. Avoiding Talon's hit and striking back at him.

Then another call came in. "Hey Garrett!"

"Leo? Hey guys, what's up?"

"Nothing much. Just wanted to let you wanted that the refugees are still safe and Sebastian filled us in on the plan. We're inside the HQ again right and are about to commend the plan now."

"Well what are you waiting for then? Go."

"Oh you got it."

The comms stopped again. Leo, Mikka, and the other two were the same lab from before, and they got onto the computer after dealing with more soldiers.

"You think we can still pull this off, buddy?" Lyra asked.

"Well we've come too far to give up now, so I yes. In fact…"

They were still hacking into the computer, and were very close before…BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Alarms went off and the room was turning red.

"Uh, what is that?"

"I think we did it. Guys, run!"

The four quickly got out of the room and went down the stairs before they ducked into a safe room. The alarm was so loud that it made the three birds outside stop fighting and listen.

"What? NO!" Talon yelled because he knew what it was. He didn't do anything but stare at it next before suddenly, four huge missiles launched from out of the building and into sky before exploding into one huge purple fog that descended down. "NO! My work. This is all your fault." He wanted to squish Al and Garrett but couldn't see them anywhere until he heard banging going on from the back. "YOU!" They were literally on his robot's back and tried attacked again but couldn't reach them. They continued trying to get into him but no attack would work until the purple fog was getting further back, and once it touched the robot, it started to burn it like acid. "Huh? What's happening?!" The whole started falling apart before it quickly fell on its knees and became destroyed. Talon was down and the two heroes were safe.

"Whoa. Leo, what happened?" Garrett asked through comm.

"We launched the missiles like you asked. Only we saw what you dealing with and Sebastian had the liberty of quickly adding a few things to the cure. Not only will it help everybody from this sickness but it'll burn off everything made up of diamond material."

"Sweet."

That was a brilliant plan, not too mention quick thinking. So with the robot melting off, Al was finally able to use his sword to perfect pierce a hole into the control room. Where they spotted Talon stuck in his seat. "Whoa! Uh, hey fellas. I can see that you got me, so how about we-?" Before he finished, Garrett grabbed him and threw him to the floor of the street. "Ow! Will you stop that!"

"Sure." Garrett said as he and Samurai Al jumped off to him. "Right before we take you to jail."

Al pointed his sword at Talon to make sure he wouldn't try anything. "I think there is an old saying that helps brings this up for humor, what is it? It's time to clean up your act." He was right, and the two laughed while Talon just stayed on the ground pouting, clearly not having anything new on his sleeves for his grand and newly failed plan.

The heroes have won.

Have a good day of INDEPENDENCE!