Sorry for the wait on this next chapter, I was having a serious writer's block when it came to this. But here you go.
Chapter 6: Contract
It had been almost a month since Deathstroke entered the playing field and killed Zer0. Maya sat at Moxxi's bar with a beer in her hand and a frown on her face. She knew that the beer wasn't going to help her, but she didn't care. She blamed herself for Zer0's death, since she made herself an easy target and bait for Zer0. Her head dropped and hit the bar when she thought about that.
Maya had to admit to herself that she loved Zer0, but now he was gone. "I'm a wreck." She groaned. "Just a freaking wreck." She heard Deadpool proclaim "Drowning our sorrow in booze still?" She looked up to see him sit next to her. "Yep." She responded as she raised the bottle to her face.
Deadpool took the bottle from her and set it on the bar. "I know you haven't been taking Zer0's death as well as the rest of us." He pointed. "No shit." Maya groaned.
"I think that it's time for you to move on."
She shot him a death look and he got the message. "Just… think about it, and quit drinking. We go after Dr. Samuels tomorrow. You need to be at the top of your game." Deadpool advised. He walked out, leaving Maya to the bar and its usual inhabitants. Moxxi walked up to her and asked "Still upset about Zer0." Maya nodded and felt tears in her eyes.
She got up and went to her place. She slammed the door shut and started crying. Every time she thought about moving on, she thought about how happy she was with him. She was truly happy with him and she knew he was happy too. "Zer0." She cried. "My poor broken Zer0."
She thought about the brief time they spent as a couple, how she broke his heart, then the monster Deathstroke. Then when Deadpool told them Zer0 met Deathstroke before.
A month ago…
"What do you mean he always finishes a contract?" Lilith questioned as she tried to comfort Maya. "Looks like you blew that secret." Sane pointed out. "Now you've got to explain yourself." Crazy added. "Deathstroke tried to kill Zer0 a while back, before he was even an assassin." Deadpool explained. "He was a rising star back on Tactron in the field of business. He was even about to be married. A beautiful girl, but then he came home one day and found her tied to a chair. When he tried to help her, Deathstroke took a knife and stabbed Zer0 in the shoulder. Deathstroke beat the living hell out of Zer0, nearly killed him right there."
Deadpool stopped because he hated this story. "Finish." Maya pleaded. "Please."
"Then he took the knife and pinned him to a wall. Deathstroke took a bomb and strapped it to Zer0's fiancé. He turned the timer on and left. The bomb went off, killing his fiancé but threw him from the building. Zer0 was a different man after that. Just started killing, Boss Lady found him and turned him into an assassin."
He looked to Maya and Lilith, whose faces were ghost white. "Like I said," He repeated "he always finishes a contract."
Present time…
Deadpool walked from the bar back to the HQ. He went upstairs and met with Lilith, who had their plans spread all over the table. "Still drinking?" Lilith questioned. "Still drinking." Deadpool confirmed.
"She needs help."
"She needs Zer0 back."
"Well he isn't coming back… he's dead."
Deadpool was a little hurt at her tone and she could tell. "I'm sorry." She apologized. He walked over to her and wrapped her in a hug. "It's okay." He assured. Lilith let him go and went back to the plan. "I think we can pull this off." She assured.
"We're going through with it."
"This plan is going to bomb." Sane criticized. "You don't know that." Deadpool argued.
"You are terrible at stealth and this is what the plan is calling for."
"We have to at least try."
He looked to Lilith, who had a concerned look on her face. He smiled to assure her everything was fine. She smiled and sighed "Here goes nothing."
o00000O00000o
Deadpool moved silently with Mordecai and Maya behind him in the Hyperion Wildlife Preservation Sanctuary. They read Dr. Samuels movements and traced her here. Axton was next to the power supply waiting on Deadpool's cue. They moved to the back doors and posted by it. He nodded at the two and they nodded back.
He pressed the button on his belt to signal Axton. As soon as they heard the explosion Deadpool pried the door open and they slid in. The team moved through the corridors as they were bathed in the red emergency power lights. Two soldiers rounded the corner and Deadpool shot them with his silenced pistols. They continued to move through the hallways until they reached the security office.
Mordecai watched the door while Maya went to work on the computer. "Where is she?" Deadpool questioned. "Heading for the landing pad." Maya answered as she pulled up the feeds. A Hyperion Helicopter landed on the pad and four soldiers jumped out. Another screen showed Dr. Samuels being escorted by two more soldiers.
"How long do we have?" Deadpool questioned. "Maybe ten before she makes it." Maya estimated. "Five at the least."
"Let's get moving."
They went out the door and ran through the hallways. A few engineers got in their way, but they were quick work. They ran out the last door and found themselves on the helipad. There, they saw Dr. Samuels getting ready to climb into chopper with the six soldiers standing in a firing squad style. "You were so close!" Samuels announced. "But not close enough."
"What makes you think we can't kill you now?" Mordecai asked. Deadpool watched as Deathstroke emerged from the chopper. "Hello there Deadpool." He greeted. "Mother fucker." Maya growled. He could practically feel the rage coming from Maya.
"Looks like I'm getting a triple kill bounty." Deathstroke proclaimed. "Take them ou!" Before Deathstroke could speak, one of the soldiers head exploded. Deadpool looked at Mordecai whose sniper rifle was pointed at the ground. "Where did that come from?" Mordecai asked. Another soldier's head exploded, and then a third.
The other three raised their weapons but were immediately cut down by gunfire above them. A woman jumped down in front of them. She was Maya's height and wore a black skin tight suit. She holstered the pistols and turned towards them. Her hair was a deep blue and her face was painted white with a black dot covering her left eye.
"Do I always have to save your ass Deadpool?" She mocked. "Hello again Domino." He greeted. "I don't care how many assassins you have!" Deathstroke bellowed. "I'm still going to kill you!" He drew his sword and charged the group. Deadpool watched as Deathstroke was lifted up and thrown at the helicopter.
Deathstroke got up and stepped into the helicopter with Dr. Samuels as it started to fly off. "You aren't getting away that easy!" Maya bellowed as she pulled out a rocket launcher. "I thought we agreed this was a spec ops mission?" Deadpool proclaimed.
"I figured the plan was going to fail and we would have to fight our way in."
"Nice to see you have faith in my stealh."
"You don't have stealth." Domino pointed out. "I don't need your comments." Deadpool barked. He watched Maya take aim and fire at the helicopter. It exploded in a fire explosion, hopefully killing Samuels and Deathstroke. "You think he's dead?" Mordecai questioned.
"Not by a long shot." Deadpool commented. "Speaking of long shot," Domino exclaimed. She pulled out her phone and put it on speaker. "Nice shooting there." She complimented. A familiar voice proclaimed "Thank you Domino. I thought it was pretty good."
"You're the best."
Deadpool took a step closer and gasped "Zer0?" He responded "Hey man! Good hear from you. How have you been?"
"Pretty good. Where have you been?"
"Healing up. We can talk back at Sanctuary."
"Sure thing."
Domino hung up and put her phone back. "Let's get to Sanctuary." She proclaimed. Deadpool nodded and led the group back to Sanctuary.
o00000O00000o
Maya couldn't believe what she just heard. Zer0, and he was alive! They travelled to Sanctuary and she ran out to see Zer0 standing by the bench. "Zer0!" She cried as she ran over to him and hugged him. "I can't believe you're alive!" She basically had her head buried in his chest and cried tears of joy.
"Can you please stop using my boyfriend as a tissue?" Domino barked. Maya let him and turned towards Domino while mouthing the word "boyfriend". "Boyfriend?" Maya repeated out lout. Domino nodded as she walked over to Zer0 and kissed him. "Holy shit." Deadpool commented.
He stopped and did a little victory dance singing "I got to swear! I got to swear!" Domino laughed "You were right. Still a nut." Maya was in shock at what she heard. Deadpool stopped his little dance and returned to what he was saying "Anyway, you and Domino? Nice." Zer0 put his arm around her and exclaimed "Yep."
"How did you survive?" Mordecai questioned. "I thought Deathstroke stabbed you and tossed you off a cliff?" Zer0 exclaimed "I will tell you all my story, but first I need to change my bandages. I think I busted my wound open with the sniper recoil." Domino groaned "Again? It isn't going to heal if you keep breaking it open."
"I might stop breaking it open if you stop having me snipe."
She smirked and punched his arms. All of them went to the HQ and gathered around the table. Zer0 removed his shirt to reveal his entire upper chest wrapped in bandages, with the center slowly turning a darker red. Domino started taking his bandages off while he explained what happened to him.
I bet NO ONE saw any of that coming. I'm just full of surprises. Let me know what you think!
