SAO: Avenger

by JCK824TO

It's been two months since SAO was cleared. But the 300 players remain comatose, including Asuna Yuuki. But when he learns about the arranged marriage & the possibility of Asuna in ALfheim Online, Kazuto, & his friends, dive into ALO in search of her. However, they're not the only ones. Steve Rogers, Thomas Anderson, & the Howler Platoon dives in to investigate.

18. Chapter 18

January 23rd, 2025

Washington D.C.:

President Wilson entered the Oval Office and sat down. It was late morning, and already the day was looking to be another long one in a row as he and his military leadership were already being heavily scrutinized by Congress and government watchdogs. Even his own supporters had taken a critical stance in demanding answers on Operation Finalizer, the Hydra threat, America's involvement in the ALO Incident, and the recent row over Captain Burke's arrest and courtmartial. It was four days into the second term of Wilson's administration of the new America, and it was already under seige by his own allies.

"The Avengers never had this issue before the Accords..." Wilson muttered.

He then had to catch himself... of course they did, and now he was in a similar hot seat.

Bruce Wilson then got back to the stack of documents, from briefings, to a few bills, and even proposed executive orders he needed to approve or veto.

"I hope that military aide gets back soon from the Pentagon..."

Since yesterday, the video tread continues to grow and more people begin to support Captain Burke. And now a group of ranking senators led by his uncle Daniel Burke were launching their own inquiries into the military's actions. It was the Sokovia Accords all over again. Only this time, they're no opposition against the SAO survivors... For the moment, at least.

---

At the Pentagon:

Sharon Carter made her way to the Pentagon's main entrance. She swiped her card through the secure gates and quickly passed. A couple of guards greeted Sharon as she passed through.

"Thank you gentlemen," Sharon quickly greeted as she passed them. She had little time to chat as she was on a mission. She continued down the corridor, she headed towards one of the elevators. As the elevator doors opened up, she quickly stepped in and pressed the button to the lower levels.

"Alright... let's see what is it they have on Chris Burke..."

She reached the lower level in a short amount of time before stepping out of the elevator and continuing down the corridor. Passing military aides and soldiers. Needed to access personnel files and files on Operation Finalizer, which were likely kept under heavy guard. But with her clearance, she'll have no problem.

The former agent found the Personnel Management Office and flashed her badge. "Office of the President."

The guard looked at the badge and nodded. "You're clear..."

"Thank you..." Sharon enters through the door.

Sharon accessed one of the computer terminals. She typed in her ID number and password.

"I need to get to Chris' files, especially Fury's report..." She scrolled through various military files before reaching one reading 'Operation: Finalizer'.

"There you are..." She had received some correspondence from Fury, as they both worked for Wilson as his intelligence advisors, but Sharon wanted to be sure that the performance reports actually did justice for the new Captain America's heroism. As she clicks onto the folder and begins reading the report.

"So far, everything seems how it was..." She said to herself. Fury seemed to speak highly of Chris, from his ability to keep composed as company commander to his attempts to shield his men and civilians from harm.

She continued scrolling through the report. She did her best to remember what Fury told her about Chris to see if there were any discrepancies in the account. So far, nothing seemed out of the ordinary...

She finished reading the reports on Chris Burke. "Nothing incriminates him here..." Still, there's a possibility that someone could try to tamper with the report. She decided to do a hard copy print of the Operation Finalizer report on Captain Burke. She clicked on the printer icon and the window opened up.

As she stood up... She felt something cold and hard pressed against her back.

"Stand right where you are..." A voice was heard. Sharon quickly realized what was going on.

"May I ask what are you doing in the Personnel Management Office?" The voice demanded. To sound as if he's a high official...

"I'm here on behalf of the President and Colonel Steve Rogers," Sharon defended, "and you?"

"You referring to a renegade captain who's gotten innocent people hurt while acting unauthorized in a sovereign nation?" The voice interjected.

"A true American hero who Steve Rogers trusts and Nick Fury vouches for," Sharon retorted as she tried to glance behind her.

"That's exactly what they want you to think... But we know the truth..." Sharon just got enough of a glance in her side vision of the threat behind her.

"Why are you here? Really?" Sharon asked again as the printer started to print out the report.

"Ensuring that those who disrupt the new order get what they deserve."

'Hydra...' Sharon thought.

"So Coriolanus sent you," she said.

"That is correct..." He replied before demanding. "Now... Kindly step away from the computer..."

Sharon complied, but spied a pen nearby. A plan quickly formulated in her mind.

"Let's go."

"Yes... lets!" Sharon elbowed the man and reached for the pen.

"Why you!" The man aimed his M17 pistol, but Sharon jabbed the pen into his wrist. The sudden sharp pain in his wrist forced him to drop his pistol. He yelled to his partner, "finish it and get out!"

Sharon darted her eyes to where the intruder was shouting and spotted another one at one of the computers a couple of rows away.

However, the first assailant grabbed her. She quickly kicked him in the shin very hard. She then pulled the pen out of his wrist and stabbed him through his uniform into his chest.

"Aahh!" He let's go and stumbled back.

"Help, security!" Sharon yelled out for good measure.

Within seconds, the security guards burst through the doors.

Sharon Carter pointed at the traitorous officer and his associate on the computer.

"FREEZE!" The guard shouted.

"Step away from the computer!" Another ordered.

The other officer who looked younger than his accomplice raised his hands and stood up. One of the guards speaks into the radio.

"I've got a break-in inside the Personnel Management Office and attempted kidnapping of Sharon Carter..."

The other guard held his pistol on the two traitors while yet another helped Sharon up. After a minute passed, more guards came into the room and slapped cuffs on the two traitors.

"Okay," Sharon then began to interrogate the two, "what were you two doing, and where is Wilson's aide?"

"We gave him the day off..." One of them sneered.

Sharon gestured for a guard's gun, then held it up to that same traitor's chin. "Not funny."

"I'll ask again... What were you two doing here and where is Wilson's aide?" She demanded.

"Let's just say he decided to take a dip in the river..." He sneered again.

Sharon frowned... another one lost.

"Notify the President about this..." Sharon ordered.

"You're too late to do anything, Miss," the older traitor said, "by then, Burke will either be rotting in prison and your President discredited... or he will have been eliminated along with Rogers and Anderson. You lose."

"We'll see about that..." Sharon retorted. "Take him and his associate away for interrogation..."

As the two officers were led away, Sharon went over to the terminal that was used by them. "Now let's see what they tried to do..." She sees the report to Operation: Finalizer on the monitor. She frowned at the differences she found... especially one that implied Chris as being a leaker to Hydra.

"They tried to tamper with the report..." Sharon deduced. It was then the printer beeped. Signaling it was finished printing the report. She went over to the printer and checked its contents.

"At least these are left intact..." Sharon breathed in relief. "But still... if this tampered report was presented to the JAGs in Japan and was about to be given to Wilson... They'd be able to discredit both Captain Burke and Wilson in one strike..."

She pocketed the flash drive that was left behind. "I got to get back to Pennsylvania Avenue prompto." She took the printed report and left the Personnel Management Office.

---

White House, Oval Office:

Sharon was let in immediately.

"Mr. President!"

"What is it, Carter?" Wilson asked.

"First off, I found what happened to the first guy you sent to gather files from the Pentagon..."

"What happened to him?"

"Coriolanus... two of his men had him killed. They drowned him in the Potomac River..."

Wilson seemed both sad, and infuriated. "And the second?" He managed to ask.

"Burke's prosecution... it's a trap."

Now Wilson was troubled from this revelation.

"Coriolanus fed the judge advocates a jaundiced account of Burke's actions, and likely did the same to you as well." Sharon threw the packet of Fury's actual report onto the Resolute Desk. She also took the flash drive from her pocket and tossed it onto the Resolute Desk with the report. "They tried to tamper with the actual report. Changing it to where Burke appears to be the leaker for Hydra..." She added darkly. "And blaming him for all the suffering and casualties in Japan."

"As well as trying to get the general public to turn against you..." She also added.

"Darn that Coriolanus," Wilson realized he and Burke had been had. "We need to warn Colonel Rogers and Captain Anderson..

---

January 24th

Kirigaya Home, Tokyo, Japan:

Kazuto stirred in his warm bed, made even warmer by his lovely Asuna laying next to him. His eyes slowly opened to see his beloved wife curled up against him. Kazuto smiled before planting a smooch on her lovely lips.

"Mmmmmmm..." Asuna hummed with delight, stirring in her sleep. Asuna opened her eyes.

"Good morning again my Lightning Flash," Kazuto greeted.

"Mmmmm... Good morning again my Dual Wielder..." Asuna cooed. "How did you sleep, Kazuto?"

Kazuto then took on a curious expression. "You know, this time, I myself had a dream..."

"Do tell me..." Asuna sat up.

Kazuto sat up as well. "We were with the others in a field from SAO..."

"Were we relaxing in the grass?" Asuna giggles. Still remember how she found him resting in the grassy fields.

"That's right," Kazuto said, "and everyone else was there too." He hugs her and nuzzles her nose. "And you were curled up against me like you were this morning..."

Asuna hummed in happiness.

Kazuto then seemed a bit more serious. "But then a man in combat uniform and rifle approached us, saying that we needed to come back with him."

"Was it Captain Burke?" She asked. Noticing the change in Kazuto's tone.

Kazuto nodded. "He said that we needed to come back with him to reality, because everyone else in the real world needed us back."

"So, we all stood up and walked through the portal that just appeared out of thin air..." He continued.

"And that was it?" Asuna asked.

"Actually," Kazuto smiled sheepishly, "Chris stood in front of several other figures before us and said... 'Welcome to the Avengers'."

Asuna raised her eyebrows in surprise. "We become the new Avengers?" She asked.

"Could be a bit of wishful thinking on my part," Kazuto shrugged. "But who knows... It could happen..."

Asuna leaned into him. "We've only met Chris Burke a few days, and he's become such a presence in our lives and many others." She continues. "And with the discovery of our superpowers... There's a possibility that we may become the new Avengers..."

"Who knew?" Kazuto chuckled, "we get trapped in a death game, come back to face Hydra in another game and in real life, and now this."

"So much has happened in a short amount of time..." Asuna agreed.

"Well, let's see what else life holds in store for us" Kazuto said.

Asuna nodded. "Yes... but first," she held up a strand of her unbound hair, "would you do the honors again?"

Kazuto smiles. "Sure thing, my love..." Kazuto did Asuna's braiding. The Yuuki girl hums with delight as she feels Kazuto's fingers work on her hair. It only took two minutes as Asuna's hair was its signature style again. She looked in the mirror after finishing.

"Now you look like your old self..." Kazuto smiled. He then walked up to her and nuzzles the back of her neck.

Asuna was dressed in white with a red skirt and long white leggings. She giggles when she felt her husband's nose against her neck. "Kazuto-kun..."

"Kazuto-nesan, Asuna-seesan," Suguha called up from downstairs, "are you two awake?"

Kazuto hears this and pulls away from Asuna. He opens the door and calls downstairs. "Yes. We're awake..."

"Get ready! Dad is about to take us out to breakfast at one of your friend's. Agil I think his name was?"

"Yes! He's Andrew Miles. We'll be down shortly."

"He even says that the others will be attending for breakfast as well!"

"Alright then!" He turns to Asuna. "Hope you're ready..."

"I would love that!" Asuna beamed.

"Great..." Kazuto smiled. He gently takes her hand and, together, leave the bedroom and head on downstairs.

Suguha and Alex were together and getting their coats on with Midori helping them. Minetaka was already in his uniform jacket.

"Good morning you two," Minetaka greeted.

"Morning, Dad," Kazuto greeted.

"Good morning, Minetaka-san..." Asuna greeted as well.

"One your friends... a Mr. Mills sent me an invitation for breakfast last night," Minetaka revealed. "And he sent me the address to the Dicey Café`." He added.

Minetaka shook his head. "Honestly I am not too hot about us going out like this with this Hydra situation being so fresh... but I suppose we cannot keep hiding under a rock."

"We just need to show our friends and everyone that we're not gonna be intimated by Hydra's sudden appearance..." Alex explained.

"And we have you, Dad," Suguha smiled up to him.

"Don't forget most of us have superpowers..." Alex added. To show what he meant, he lit his hand. A small flame flickered around his hand like a torch. Everone watched in amazement.

Minetaka regarded Alex with cautious optimism. The Mitchell boy douses his powers and the flame disappeared.

"That may be so, but just go showing off your powers," Minetaka warned, "not everyone will regard your gifts so kindly."

"We'll keep it under wraps..." Alex reassured. "Not like we'll be performing for everyone. Right?"

"Still," Minetaka added, "there is still that old Japanese xenophobia. It would be wise to use discretion."

"Okay then..." Alex nodded.

"The public is on edge about Hydra, and we don't need people panicking about superhumans," Minetaka shook his head, "that's how people are."

"Aren't the Inhumans been known before?" Kazuto asked. "I'd recall seeing an article about that, and the reason why the UN tried to control them with the Sokovia Accords..."

"That doesn't mean that they are still widely accepted, and not to mention other groups and governments who would exploit them, son," Minetaka advised.

Kazuto wanted to continue, but decided against it. "You're probably right... We should be careful..."

"I don't want you three to be ostracised or persecuted for these things, wonderful as they are," Minetaka sighed.

"Unless Anderson steps in and put a stop to it..." Alex said with a shrug. "I mean, he did defend Inhumans back in the States and urged anyone, whenever they opposed the Accords or not, to welcome them with open arms..."

"It's never usually that simple unless enough people want it badly enough," Midori chimed in, "but we should get going."

"Indeed, we should..." Asuna agreed. "Our friends are waiting for us..."

"Suguha, you and Alex are riding in the family car with your mother," Minetaka pointed out, "I'm taking Kazuto and Asuna with me."

"Okay, daddy..." Suguha hugged Alex.

"We have another car available?" Kazuto wondered.

"My issued wheels," Minetaka answered, "come with the job and privilege of being SIT."

"Ahh..." Kazuto realized. As the family stepped out, Kazuto and Asuna were treated to the sight of a black Mazda SUV with police lights on top. The windows were even darkened.

"Wow..." Asuna breathed.

"Allow me..." Kazuto offered as he opened the door to the back-seat. Asuna entered, and saw that behind the windows, the car was indeed a full-blown police SUV, with steel cage bars on the passenger windows and between the driver and passenger compartments with an anti-access plexiglass window, and handcuffs and legcuffs in the backseats.

Asuna scoots in to allow Kazuto to climb in.

Kazuto chuckled a bit nervously at the cage surrounding the passenger cabin. "Who would have thought we'd be in a real police car?"

"Same here, Kazuto..." Asuna replied. "At least we've got protection..."

Kazuto then got to see the front seats, and was wowed by the equipment in front. Asuna peaked over her husband's shoulder to see the front seats and dashboard. There was an advanced laptop with all sorts of real-time information streaming across, and the dash was tricked up with police radar, radio and even spare handheld gear including handcuffs, a baton, a spare semiautomatic Beretta pistol in a secure retention holster, and magazines for the gun.

"Wow... his police car has everything..." Asuna said in awe.

Minetaka then got into the driver's seat. Kazuto and Asuna buckled up their seat belts. Minetaka then turned the ignition and got on the radio. "This is Charlie Ten Romeo, good morning, Dispatch."

"Charlie Ten Romeo, this is Dispatch. Good morning to you too..." Dispatch replied.

"Be advised that I will be escorting our HVI out for a morning meal, how is the neighborhood?"

"So far, the neighborhood's all peaceful. No activity to address our concern."

"10-4, Dispatch." Minetaka acknowledged.

"Charlie Ten Romeo, be advised that the Chief want you to be ready on call in the event that they need additional security for the Yuuki estate. Mr. Yuuki has been designated as an HVI of interest in the ongoing ALO case."

"10-4, Dispatch. Charlie Ten Romeo out."

"Wow..." Kazuto was impressed.

"Indeed..." Asuna agreed. She then leaned against the cage. "Minetaka-san, I overheard her talking about my home and father."

"That's correct..." Minetaka replied looking through the rear-view mirror. He then put the car into drive. "You should also know that your brother is back from America and is over at RECT."

"He is?" Asuna was surprised.

"Indeed," Minetaka said, "he's running the family business as your parents recover at home until the trial against Sugou Nobuyuki."

"How soon will the trial be?" Asuna asked.

"Scheduled for the end of the month," Minetaka said as he pulled out. He then radioed a police buddy escort, "Charlie Two Romeo, this is Charlie Ten Romeo, I'm on the go."

"Copy that, Charlie Ten Romeo." A black and white standard patrol car moved in front of Minetaka's SUV. "You're clear to go, over."

"10-4." Minetaka radioed as he drove. Kazuto and Asuna turned around and saw Midori following at a distance in the family car.

"Will there be another patrol car behind mom?" Kazuto asked.

"Take a look," Minetaka simply said.

Both he and Asuna looked further back. They see another patrol car pull up from behind the family car.

"You know a lot of cops, don't you?" Kazuto gasped.

"Hehe," Minetaka smiled, "I practically trained a third of the current force before I separated."

"Amazing..." Asuna was astonished.

"And I won't even mention the weapons training I gave to the SIT ranking officers," Minetaka laughed.

"Hehe..." Kazuto chuckled. He gently held Asuna's hand. The SUV then came to a halt as they reached a set of traffic lights that were red.

"This is something, right Asuna?" Kazuto asked.

"Not everyday I get to meet my father-in-law who's the former top cop of Tokyo," Asuna smiled.

"Watch it now Miss, because I'm back and meaner than ever," Minetaka jested.

"No need to worry about that, Minetaka-san." Asuna reassured the male Kirigaya adult.

"We know it well and hard, Dad," Kazuto affirmed.

"And that's Inspector Kirigaya, Citizen Kirigaya," the older man continued to joke. Asuna giggled. Then the traffic light turned green and the SUV began to move again.

Suddenly, a black car raced across the intersection, narrowly hitting some other cars and pedestrians.

"Hold it," Minetaka suddenly turned business-like as he gunned the throttle and turned on his siren, the other police car in front doing the same.

"Dispatch, Charlie Ten Romeo," Minetaka radioed, "we have a 10-80 in progress. Suspect vehicle ran red lights, narrowly hit bystanders. I am 10-43 with Charlie Two Romeo."

"Copy that, Charlie Ten Romeo. Keep us posted. Over."

"Hang on kids, you're getting a treat this morning," Minetaka said as he and his partner car accelerated after the offender. Kazuto and Asuna held on as they witness the police chase begin.

"Is this really happening, Kirito-kun?" Asuna asked as she defaulted to her husband's gamer-tag.

"It seems so, Asuna." Kazuto held onto his beloved as they felt the SUV jolt on sharp turns.

"Charlie Two Romeo, get in front of him," Minetaka coordinated, "we'll box him in and pull him over."

"Roger, Charlie Ten Romeo." Charlie Two Romeo replied. The second patrol car sped up in front of the speeder. Minetaka maneuvered aggressively behind the speeding Ferrari sportscar, nearly bumper to bumper with him. The speeding Ferrari tried to outmaneuver Minetaka. But the old policeman was clearly more experienced as he anticipated the Ferrari's moves. Minetaka advised his partner car, "wait until I tell you to brake."

"Copy that."

Minetaka suddenly did something that no one expected. He maneuvered sideways and it seemed that he was about to ram the Ferrari. The Ferrari tried to evade...

"Two, brake, brake!" Minetaka prompted as his partner swerved back in front of the offender and braked hard. The Ferrari spun hard until it came to a dead stop.

Kazuto and Asuna watched in shock as the black Ferrari came to a stop. The driver climbed out of the driver side and tried to make a run for it. Minetaka suddenly jumped out of his seat and sprinted hard. With a mighty leap, he tackled the smaller young man hard to the ground. His partner in the second patrol car jumped out to assist Minetaka while the other stayed in the car to report the speeder's capture.

As Minetaka slapped the cuffs onto the driver, the passenger side door suddenly opened as another younger man tried to slip off. The old officer in a heartbeat was onto him, wrestling his arms and slamming him against the side of the Ferrari. Kazuto and Asuna were both startled and amazed by Minetaka's sudden speed.

They then saw the suspects, and were surprised to see two Caucasian teenage boys.

"Americans?" Asuna asked. "Don't look like someone we know..."

Minetaka suddenly called over, "Kazuto, bring some handcuffs!"

Kazuto snapped himself out of his thoughts, reached towards the backseat and brought out a pair of handcuffs. He heads outside and hands them to his adoptive father. He accepted them and slapped them onto the passenger. The boy yelped out in Russian as Minetaka tightened the cuffs.

'Russian?' Kazuto wondered.

The Russian suddenly yelled in Japanese at Minetaka, "you're hurting me!"

"Oh shut it!" Minetaka shot back. He dropped the boy on the ground. His partner slaps the cuffs on the driver. The officer then rifled through the pockets. Minetaka rifled through the passenger, but found no wallet. He examined the boy. "A minor huh?"

"Kazuto, watch him, foot on the cuffs." Minetaka went off to search the car while Kazuto obeyed and put his foot on the boy's back. The passenger cursed out in Russian.

Minetaka got the vehicle registration out of the car. He then yelled out to the officer in the car, "take the passenger in!"

Minetaka's partner nodded before lifting the passenger off the ground. Kazuto stepped away for the officer to grab him and tossed him in the backseat of the patrol car.

"Sir," the other officer with the licenses came up to him, "I got two sets of licenses here."

"I'll run them both," Minetaka accepted the documents. He takes Kazuto back to the SUV. As he begins running the documents through the computer. Kazuto climbs back inside and snaps his seatbelt back on.

"Russians," Kazuto told Asuna.

"Russians?" Asuna was puzzled. "What are they doing out here in Japan?"

"Just some expats," Minetaka simply said as he ran the licenses and car registration.

He seemed to stare at the computer for a bit, humming and nodding in interest. "I'll be darned..."

"What is it?" Asuna asked.

"Wait here," Minetaka said as he walked over to the other patrol car. He talked with the officers in the other car for a bit.

"I wonder what dad's found..." Kazuto said to Asuna.

Minetaka came back over rather quickly, but as he got into the driver's seat, he chuckled a bit. "That dumb autrodier practically drove himself right into our hands."

Kazuto and Asuna were confused.

"Autrodier?" Kazuto asked.

"A real Russian brat," Minetaka told Kazuto as he watched two more patrol cars secure the scene with a tow truck coming in, "those two are part of a Russian auto-theft gang stealing high value cars for the Far East Mafia. The driver we just busted is wanted for no less than one-hundred and fifty auto theft incidents."

"Man..." Kazuto groaned. The two truck lifted the Ferrari with it's crane and secured its rear wheels before hauling it away.

"Even brought his little brother in for this. The kid will probably get a night or two in jail as a minor, but that punk is going away for a long while," Minetaka shook his head with a smirk, "here we all were thinking that he was some tough and buff Russian gangster, but he's just another man-child in over his head."

"I'm sorry, but who is that really?" Asuna wondered.

"You ever heard of the Tokyo Speed Bandit?" Minetaka asked.

When Asuna shook her head. Minetaka starts to explain. "That's the pseudonym for that Russian brat we just caught. MO is normally to follow his target into a pub or coffee bar, frisk the victim's keys unawares, and race off with the car to sell on the black market. Initially we thought he was an actual mafia member, but turns out he's just another rich man's son with too much time on his hands."

"Interesting..." Asuna observed.

"Heh... only sixteen hours being a cop again, and I've helped arrest one of Tokyo's biggest car thieves in recent history," Minetaka laughed, "and I wasn't even trying to bust anyone this morning."

"It just came right out of the blue..." Kazuto chuckled. Asuna smiled for both her husband and father-in-law... a very remarkable family indeed.

After a few minutes, the SUV begins to move again. "Can't keep your friends waiting..." Minetaka chuckled.

"Well, now we have another story to share over breakfast," Kazuto agreed.

"I bet Alex and Suguha-neechan are surprise to see us take off after the guy..." Asuna giggled.

"Well now Sugu has something to tell her friends about her old man," Minetaka remarked before picking up the radio.

"Dispatch, Charlie Ten Romeo," Minetaka called it in as he drove, "10-80 resolved, two suspects in custody. Charlie Two Romeo is enroute back to the station, and I am resuming my escort."

"Copy that, Charlie Ten Romeo. Maintain your route. Dispatch out."

"Well, that was fun," Kazuto whispered to Asuna.

"Yeah... It was..." Asuna whispered back. "Hair-raising... But fun..."

"But hey... we've seen even crazier stuff," Kazuto assured, "this was a cake walk."

"I agree, let's hope the rest of the trip is a cake walk then," Asuna replied.

---

The Kirigaya family car:

"What just happened back there?" Alex asked.

Both he and Suguha were stunned at seeing Minetaka's police SUV suddenly rush off with its lights flashing.

Midori on the other hand just seemed to cruise along towards the address of Dicey Café` casually, humming as she went.

"Can't wait to hear what they'd experienced..." Suguha chimed.

"Likely someone getting busted by your father," Midori said with a hint of pride.

"And Kazuto and Asuna got to see it up close..." Alex added. "We'll meet up with them later once we get to the Café`."

"But still, my dad in a police chase?" Sugu was excited, "never thought in a million years!"

"Not to mention on the first day back on the force too.." Alex smiled.

Several minutes have passed as Midori drives through the streets of Tokyo. Afterwards, she finds the parking spot a couple of blocks away from the Café`. The escort patrol car parked on a curb some distance away, while Minetaka's SUV came rolling in.

"Looks like they're already here..." Alex observed. Minetaka helped Kazuto and Asuna out of his patrol car. Midori, Alex, and Suguha walked up to greet them.

"Dad!" Suguha waved.

"Kazuto! Asuna!" Alex called out.

"Suguha-nechan! Alex-kun!" Kazuto waved back.

"What happened back there?" Sugu asked as they approached each other.

"Your father arrested someone," Asuna told Suguha.

"Some kid running for a Russian auto-theft gang..." Kazuto turned to his father. "What were they called again?"

"The Tokyo Speed Bandit..." Minetaka answered. "And they go around snatching up cars and selling them to black markets..."

"Wait," Suguha was in shock, "you caught that guy?"

"Caught him and his little brother..." Minetaka explained.

"We saw Dad take him down himself," Kazuto affirmed.

"Wow..." Suguha gasped.

"Safe to say," Minetaka said, "once we run enough evidence through, he will be charged, and a whole lot of victims can start testifying and suing the pants off of him for their precious cars stolen."

"Wait until the others hear this." Alex said. "I bet they'll be as shocked as we were..."

---

Dicey Café:

"I wonder what's taking Kazuto and Asuna so long..." Rika wondered. "They should have been here five minutes ago."

"Maybe they're caught in traffic?" Scott asked.

"I did give the address," Andrew Mills said as he was about to raise his phone. When everyone hears a knock on the front door.

"Come in, please!" Andrew urged.

The door swung open hard. "Police! Hands in the air!" A dark uniformed officer barked as he strode in.

"We didn't do anything..." Klein was shaking in his seat.

Everyone else in the place was dead silent, before the officer broke out in laughter. It was then that Alex and Suguha came in laughing. "Awesome, Daddy!"

"Wait... What's going on?" Randy was confused. "Alex?"

"Wait a minute," Tim realized, "that's Kazuto's dad!"

"That's right, Sleek..." Kazuto chuckled. And then... Asuna walked in behind Kazuto with Midori.

"Hi everyone..." Asuna giggled.

"Hope my husband didn't scare you too much..." Midori added, giggling with Asuna.

"Asuna!" Rika cried out in excitement.

"Hey, Rika..." Asuna cheered.

Keiko teared up and ran up to Asuna. Nearly glomping her in a hug. "Welcome back!"

"It's good to be back home, Keiko..." Asuna sighed as she hugs her friend. Rika went up and hugged her BFF. Other girls piled on as their boyfriends cheered.

"It's great to see you, Asuna!" Rika squealed.

"We missed you so much!" Kotone screamed in joy.

"We were worried sick for you!" Momiji exclaimed.

"We saw the news of the hospital being shot up even," Nijika cried.

"And we were afraid something happened to you," Rika nearly cried herself.

"But man," Scott threw his hands up, "then comes Captain America and Iron Man!"

"Don't forget Colonel America!" Randy pointed out.

"Incredible night, wasn't it Kazuto?" Nathan asked.

"It sure was, Nathan..." Kazuto answered.

"Incredible for you guys," Suguha huffed, "not for the sister who saw her brother get shot!"

"Or for his best friend..." Alex added.

The boys and some of the girls fell silent. "Wait," Haruto was in disbelief, "you got shot, Kazuto?"

"Yeah... I did..." Kazuto admitted.

Randy observed the Kirigaya boy. "How come you're not in a sling?"

"Or in the hospital for that matter?" Tim asked.

"Well..." Kazuto began. "I somehow was able to heal faster... And that allowed me to actually fight back against Nobuyuki when he tried to kill me."

"It's hard to believe that creep is still alive..." Rika shivered.

"Yeah," Scott held Rika, "I was sure the Rangers would find him as a corpse."

"You know, now that I think of it," Andrew looked at Asuna, "you're very healthy for someone who just came out of Full Dive after two years."

"Oh... Well..." Asuna was sheepish. "It turns out I was able to heal faster as well... And I was able to shield myself and Kazuto here just like in ALO."

Rika did a double-take. "So, you're powers in ALO are real?"

Asuna held up a hand. White energy emits from her fingertips. Everyone was stunned. Then her hands emits a white energy dome.

"That is so rad," Klein whistled.

"You continue to impress us, Asuna..." Andrew smirked.

"So pretty," Nijika gushed.

"Totally cool," Rika smirked.

"It's amazing..." Keiko gasped.

"Hey, what did I tell you two?" Minetaka asked.

"Sorry dad..." Kazuto said.

"We got carried away," Asuna blushed with a meep.

It was then Haruto noticed Minetaka's uniform. "Aren't you retired?" He asked.

"He was... Until recently, he just joined back on the force..." Asuna answered as she ceases the energy from her hands.

"Inspector Minetaka Kirigaya, Metro Police."

"Inspector?" Kotone asked.

"My rank," Minetaka clarified, "just below police captain."

"Interesting... Kazuto's talked so much about his family... But never thought you were part of the Metro Police..." She explained.

"I was surprised myself..." Kazuto chuckled.

"As I was too..." Suguha added.

"And he just busted someone in traffic this morning," Kazuto added with a grin.

"He did?" Scott asked in surprise. "Is that the reason you're late?"

"Yes," Minetaka nodded, "my first arrest in over sixteen years, son."

"I bet it was a thrill!" Klein said with excitement.

"It was..." Kazuto replied.

Then as if on coincidental cue, the morning news went to traffic. "This just in..."

"Agil. Turn up the TV so we can hear..." Randy said.

"On it..." Andrew picked up the remote and turned up the volume.

"Police have arrested a notorious Russian car thief wanted in connection for over one hundred and fifty auto-thefts." The image cuts to a couple of mugshots of the two teen boys. The names are also seen in the text... Imran and Georgi Koskov.

"One hundred and fifty..." Randy shook his head. "My father was very aware of the car-thefts in the past..."

"Imran Koskov, age 19," the news anchor read off, "now believed to be the notorious Tokyo Speed Bandit, was taken into custody with his 16 year old brother, Georgi." City cam footage of the chase was even presented on the screen. The SUV and the other patrol car was seen giving chase to the speeding ferrari. Eventually boxing the ferrari in and bringing it to a stop.

Some gasped as they saw Minetaka leap out of the SUV and tackle the driver with such force. And when the passenger tried to run, he tackled him to the ground with such speed.

"That's your dad?" Nathan asked Kazuto.

"Yep..." Kazuto beamed.

"Hey, now I remember that guy," Klein was suddenly angry, "that's the Russian dude who swiped my new car three years ago!"

"Come to think of it, I recall you mentioned that while we were in SAO..." Scott recalled.

Klein put his face into his hands. "And it was an early birthday present for me, too..." He groaned.

Minetaka then looked to Klein. "Rest assure you, he and his brother will face justice for the thefts..." He reassured him.

"And if you have any receipts that can be used as evidence, you may get some compensation for that crime."

Klein moves his hands away from his face. "I think I do..." He said.

Minetaka then smiled. "And by all means, sue the stuffing out of Ivan as you want."

"Will do, sir..." Klein said, he's no longer angry. "Thanks for catching that guy." He beamed.

"Kazuto, your dad is cool," Tim complimented.

"Thanks, Tim." Kazuto rubbed his nape sheepishly.

"Well," Midori clapped her hands, "now that bit of excitement is over... How about we get breakfast started..."

"And again," Rika looked to Asuna, "for the second time and in person..."

Asuna hugged her BFF. "Same for you too..."

"Welcome home, Asuna." Rika cooed.

"It's good to be back..." Asuna replied softly.

Everyone else gave Asuna happy "Welcome Home" greetings. Kazuto, Suguha, Alex, and the Kirigaya adults watched on in amusement of the attention Asuna's receiving.

"Thank you everyone," Asuna gushed.

Rika then turned to Kazuto. "Same goes for you too, Kirito..."

"Thanks Rika," Kazuto rubbed his head.

"And three cheers for Mr. And Mrs. Kirigaya!" Scott whooped.

"Don't forget Lexar!" Randy added.

Everyone clapped and hollered as Kazuto, Asuna, Alex, and Suguha blushed. The Kirigaya adults smiled on for their children, Alex, and their daughter-in-law.

The Café continued to be filled with cheers and claps. After a minute passed, the cheers died down and everyone got settled in.

"Breakfast should be serving up soon..." Andrew said.

"Good, because we're starving..." Kotone joked.

"Then starve no more!" A new female voice said as she emerged from the kitchen, "because I'm ready to whip up a storm!"

"Hey, Trish..." Kazuto greeted her. Trish Mills, wife of Andrew Gilbert Miles.

"Well, hi again Kazuto boy," Trish beamed. She then saw Asuna.

"Hey Asuna girl.." Trish greeted the Yuuki girl. "Nice to meet you..."

"Everyone, meet my lovely wife, Trish Miller," Andrew introduced with pride.

"Hi, everyone!" Trish beamed. "So many of you this morning!" She gushed.

"Wouldn't miss this breakfast party..." Scott chimed.

"Hi, Mrs. Miller," Tim waved.

"Nice to meet you," Keiko chimed.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Miller," Randy greeted.

"Mrs. Miller, Inspector Kirigaya," Minetaka greeted.

"And I'm Midori Kirigaya..." Midori greeted with a smile.

"Kazuto's parents? Welcome!" Trish beamed.

"Don't forget Kazuto's sister." Suguha chimed.

"Oh, aren't you so adorable," Andrew's wife gushed. She then looked to Alex. "Congrats on finding such an adorable little girl!"

"Thanks. Suguha's adorable, as well as the best Sylph warrior I've met..." Alex beamed with pride. Causing Suguha to giggle and blush from his comment.

"Alex-kun..." Sugu giggled.

"Now," Trish clapped her hands, "Dicey Café is now open for morning business. Hope you all are hungry!"

"You bet we are!" Rika chirped.

"Breakfast for my family is on me," Minetaka produced his wallet and some yen.

"Thank you, Inspector..." Trish nodded as she takes the yen and hands it to Andrew.

"Thank you, sir," Andrew said.

"And I'll be in the kitchen when you all need me!" Trish said as she circled back around the counter. She gave Andrew a peck before disappearing into the back. The Kirigayas, Asuna, and Alex sat at one of the big tables.

Scott and Rika came over. "Mind if we join you all?" Scott grinned.

"We don't mind at all..." Kazuto smiled as he scoots over for Scott and Rika. The two power players sat down.

"Still can't believe that you managed to find a girlfriend, Alex..." Rika smirked.

"Well it's quite a story," Alex rubbed his neck.

"He and Kazuto saved me and Recon from the Salamander players a few days ago..." Suguha answered.

"And Leafa... Suguha here offered to guide us when we were in the Sylph capital," Alex added. "She also showed us a few moves..."

"I'd showed him and his friends how to use the flight controls..." Suguha giggled. "It was hilarious when they tried it out."

"And believe me, they were tumbling across the ground and crashing into trees..." Kirito chuckled. "I managed without effort..."

"Oh?" Suguha raised an eyebrow, "that is not what I recall."

"Well... At least I didn't land on the ground face first..." Kazuto gestured towards his friend.

"What about that tower though?" Alex teased. "I recall seeing you crashing into one of the city spires..."

"Oh... That..." Kazuto realized what he meant.

Asuna looked at Kazuto in disbelief. "You hit a spire!?"

"I did..." He nodded.

Asuna blanked out, before bursting out in laughter with Rika.

"Very unlikely of you to crash like that!" Rika laughed.

Kazuto blushed. "Come on, it was a good flight... up until the end," Kazuto tried to defend.

"Yeah... You smacked right into the spire..." Alex laughed.

"You are a klutz," Asuna giggled before pecking Kazuto on the cheek, "but you are my klutz."

Kazuto sighs happily. "Asuna..." He returns the peck on her cheek.

"Ugh, you guys are at it again. Mushy as always," Rika rolled her eyes.

"True..." Scott agreed before smirking. "But that doesn't mean we can't compete..." He pecks Rika's cheek.

"Scotty!" Rika blushed.

"Looks like a Salamander cat got the Leprechaun blacksmith's tongue..." Scott chuckled.

Kazuto and Asuna snickered at Rika turning pink.

"Never thought of seeing Rika being tongue-tied by a boy..." Asuna giggled.

"She's changed a lot," Kazuto concurred.

"And for the best too..." Asuna observed. "And let's hope for better things yet to come."

"They have for our friends..." Kazuto turned his attention towards Tim and Keiko.

Asuna looked around to her female friends, and indeed saw that many who were once stricken by Kirito moved on and have their own boyfriends. Then she spotted Momiji and Kenji.

"And those two are really inseparable..."

"He even risked his life searching for her in SAO..." Kazuto pointed out.

"Yeah... just like you came back for me," Asuna cooed.

"I sure did..." Kazuto smiled.

"First ones in the house for Kazuto and his bride!" Trish came out with a tray.

"And don't forget the rest of the family," Andrew laughed as he came with his own tray. Kazuto and Asuna blushed and laughed as the tray of scrambled eggs, sausage links, bacon strips, pancakes in syrup, and biscuits with gravy was presented before them.

"Thank you, Trish," Kazuto expressed, "you're too kind."

"No problem, Kazuto..." Trish beamed.

"And Asuna, please do enjoy."

Asuna gazes upon the breakfast plate displayed before her. She takes the fork next to her and dipped it in one of the scrambled eggs. She took a bite. To her surprise, it's delicious. It was her first American breakfast, and a hearty one at that.

"It's delicious..." Asuna cooed.

Suguha tried some bacon on her dish.

"Mmmmm... The bacon's delicious..." Suguha hummed. She gave a cute moan as she savored some syrup and pancakes.

"The pancakes are something..." Alex chuckled at his girlfriend's cuteness.

"And vanilla milk," Sugu gave a coo as she drank some. Before trying the scrambled eggs covered in shredded cheese.

"Cheesy!" Sugu cheered.

"We should make this sometimes..." Asuna suggested. "Right, Kazuto?"

"With a hint of spice," Kazuto grinned as he bit down on his sausage.

"Mmmmm... You'd love that..." Asuna giggled.

"Kazuto-niisan loves anything spicy," Suguha remarked, "I bet if you gave him a ghost pepper, he'd just wolf it down."

Asuna giggles. "He'd tried spicy foods before... Even Yui tried it too..."

"That sounds like Kirito... but little Yui too?" Rika asked.

"That's correct..." Kazuto nodded. "Yui wanted to try it..."

"And Kirito here wanted a spice competition, and I was like 'I'm not going to do anything nuclear'," Asuna recalled.

"Just like Kirito," Scott laughed as he chewed some eggs, "to the ninth degree with this stuff. Better make sure that little girl knows better."

"I'm sure she does..." Alex chuckled as he chewed on some of the sausage links.

"Hey, I gotta pass something down to her," Kazuto grinned.

"I'd like to see that someday..." Suguha beamed.

"Oh no, Suguha-nechan, don't you go stoking his ego into Yui," Asuna playfully waved a finger, "one crazy Kirito is good enough for me."

Alex chuckled. "Isn't that our jobs as uncles and aunts?" He said with a playful smirk.

"Yeah, I'm the crazy aunt here," Suguha pouted playfully, "and there's always Strea."

Then Kazuto pondered. "I wonder if Strea likes spicy foods?" He wondered.

"She would have to be crazy enough," Asuna joked.

"Speaking of which..." Asuna looked over to the table where Nathan's sitting with Randy Mitchell and Shigeru Hirose. The three seemed to be animated talking about last night, and Nathan's adventures with Strea. She wondered if they'll be able to log onto the VR setting in the future.

She then turned her attention to Kotone. Who's also chatting with Tim, Keiko, Haruto, and Nijika. Kotone was talking about Damion again... Asuna wondered about this Damion.

"Damion, wasn't he that soldier we met at the hospital, Kazuto?"

"I think so..." Kazuto pondered. "I also met him in ALO, where he met Kotone."

"For a soldier, he looked very young..." He added. "I don't think he's any older than a college student."

"It's like he just joined up after graduating from high school..." Alex said.

"And Philia likes him," Asuna added.

"We all saw how she's taking a liking to him..." Kazuto smirked. "And the same goes for Damion..."

"Though it's hard to say whether they will meet again," Alex reminded, "he is a Ranger, and he is not exactly permanently stationed in Japan, let alone the Tokyo area."

"Yeah..." Kazuto sighed sadly... "Unless she got his contact info, I don't see how she can find him online or anywhere outside of a military base."

"I do hope that Damion finds a way to be stationed in Japan..." Alex lamented. "They just go so great together..."

"But that would mean leaving the Rangers and Howler Platoon, won't it?" Suguha asked.

"Yeah, and I doubt a private like that Damion dude would be given any choices in assignments at his level," Scott added his two cents, "if Captain America is ordered back to the United States or elsewhere, Damion will have to go with the rest of the unit."

They became silent. Unsure how it would affect Kotone.

"Hey speaking of the Captain," Rika said. She pointed towards the TV screen. To which everyone turned their attention to.

Star Spangled News Network had returned and were talking about Captain Burke. "Good evening, America. We return to the top news story of the past two days as Captain Chris Burke's court-martial enters its second day in Japan."

The image of Captain Burke is displayed on the upper-right corner of the screen.

"Security has been ramped up around Yokota after an assassination attempt on Burke through polonium poisoning failed. As such, the court-martial is to be moved to a different building on the base, and all non-essential personnel are strictly prohibited."

Footage shows Captain Burke being escorted by the MP police. With Colonel Steve Rogers and Captain Thomas Anderson ahead. Many were struck by how steel-faced and yet dignified Burke was as he strode in his uniform through the icy January air, not even wearing a jacket, similar to Rogers thanks to his super soldier physiology.

"Still can't believe that someone tried to poison Captain Burke..." Alex shook his head. "I mean... he's done nothing to deserve any of this!"

Suguha hugged Alex to calm him down.

"This is an outrage," Scott growled.

"Tell me about it.." Rika groaned.

Kazuto and Asuna watched as Chris was led into the building under heavy guard. Then the footage zooms out and focuses on the news anchorman.

"In related news, Washington and world capitals continue to reel from the revelations of Hydra's resurrection. Japanese leaders in Tokyo continue to face pressure from both American and Russian diplomatic and military leaders to disclose intelligence on Hydra activities in the country as RECT offices and business partners continue to be raided and quarantined by both major powers across the Pacific."

The anchorman continued. "Back in the US, support for the 'Captain Burke is my Captain America' hashtag started by Asuna Yuuki continues to gain ground, as his home state of Texas and its congressional delegation rally to the call, demanding accountability from Washington's military brass on how his court-martial is being managed."

"At least Asuna's video tread is taking the internet by storm." Suguha smiled.

"And Texas takes the lead again as usual," Alex added.

"Hopefully, they put a end to the court-martial and Captain Burke walks away a free man..." Kazuto reassured everyone.

"Trust me," Ryoutarou said, "I'll be a mighty disappointed man if they send him to jail."

"We'll all be disappointed, Klein..." Randy pointed out. "And the president would face backlash from the public."

"I'm sure that things will work out in the end..." Asuna reassured everyone. "And I thank everyone here for making clear that we do not want Chris to be dealt this injustice."

"Don't forget us, mom..." A voice chirped from Nathan's phone. Nathan did a double take. He saw the lovely purple hair, red eyes, and smile of Strea.

"Hey Strea..." Nathan cooed.

"Wait," Randy asked, "how did you?"

"When Dad hooked up his NerveGear helmet to the wi-fi... Yui and I were free to roam around." Strea explained. "And no need to worry, Dad. We've been keeping out of trouble..." She chirped.

"No hacking American military networks?" Kazuto raised an eyebrow.

"Nope... Yui's been keeping an eye on me..." She chimed. "Right, Yui?"

Yui chimed in as she popped up on Asuna's phone. "That's right! Someone had to keep you under control, Strea," she chimed.

"Yui-chan," Asuna beamed.

"Hi, Mommy..." Yui chirped.

"Mom, Dad, Nathan," Strea greeted. "How's everyone doing?"

"Everyone from our survivor group is here, Strea," Nathan assured.

"And we're having breakfast at the Dicey Café." Momiji called out.

Midori looked at Asuna's phone. "Hi, Yui-chan!"

"Hi Grandma! Grandpa!' Yui chirped.

"Yui, Strea," Minetaka greeted after swallowing some biscuit and gravy. "How are you two balls of energy this morning?"

"We're doing fine, Grandpa." Strea chimed. "Been browsing the net and observing the video trend we've help create.."

"It's been gaining popularity!" Yui cheered.

"And thanks to you two for spreading the word," Keiko called out.

"You're welcome, Auntie Silica!" Strea beamed.

Strea then seemed to look at Nathan earnestly with a concerned expression. "Nathan, we did find out something that may be of concern."

It was then that Yui gave her parents a concerned look. "Daddy, Mommy, you two might want to know this. Strea and I did intercept some government and military transmissions from the American capital city."

"Military transmissions?" Nathan asked.

"Wait, Yui, Strea?" Asuna gave them both a stern look.

"I thought we told you not to hack into military networks.." Kazuto added sternly. "If they trace it to you, there will be severe consequences."

"Actually... We just stumbled across them randomly..." Strea explained. "They were encrypted, but they seem to have something to do with Chris Burke."

"What about Captain Burke?" Asuna then asked.

"We couldn't do a full scan because of the firewalls," Strea said...

It was then Yui added. "But they seemed very important... It was addressed from... what is the White House?"

"That's correct, Yui..." Strea nodded.

"That's the office of the President, Yui," Alex explained. "Perhaps he's realized what has happened and ordering the 'cease and desist' order on the trial.." He deduced.

"I hope so," Suguha expressed.

"If we're lucky..." Alex added. "The JAGs will be removed from position and discharged if they tried to resist..."

"There is more though..." Yui then revealed, "and I think it's a Hydra transmission."

"Did you try to scan it, Yui?" Asuna asked. This time with concern.

Yui closed her eyes to focus. Strea also closed her eyes to help her sister. Everyone waited for the results.

Strea's eyes suddenly snapped open. "Yui, don't download it!"

Yui nearly shouted as she snapped her eyes open.

"Yui?!" Asuna gasped.

Yui's eyes turned red as she spasmed.

"Yui!" Strea exclaimed as she catches her big little sister.

"T-target..." Yui's voice seemed to glitch.

"Hold on!" Strea closed her eyes tightly and held Yui close. For a moment, Strea started to spasm. But she regained her composer.

"Yui!?" Kazuto watched as Yui continued to garble out something about targets and Chris Burke as she spasmed before settling down. The red in her eyes vanished.

Strea opened her eyes again and cupped Yui's cheek. "Yui?"

"Yui-chan!?" Asuna was worried.

"M-Mommy..." Yui groaned.

"It's okay, Yui-nesan..." Strea was nearly in tears.

"What the heck was that!?" Alex was freaked out.

"I-It had a c-countermeasure..." Yui groaned.

"It's okay, Yui... I managed to prevent the countermeasure from a-attacking your codes..." Strea started to cry at this point.

"What was that?" Suguha asked worriedly.

"That was really freaky," Scott groaned.

"You had us worried, Yui," Rika sighed.

Kazuto held Asuna as they looked at Strea and Yui. "What was that Strea?"

"That was a Hydra attack program," Strea indicated, "and I'm afraid that it's seeking out the nearest attack system to destroy its intended targets..."

"Was Captain Burke one of the targets?" Kazuto asked.

Strea nodded. "And more..."

"Who else?"

"Colonel Steve Rogers and Captain Thomas Anderson."

Yui added with dread. "That was a drone attack program."

Asuna gasped. "We need to warn them..."

"True, but I doubt they'll simply listen to us," Rika grimaced.

"We have to a least try..." Kazuto replied before he turned to Minetaka. "Is there any way you can reach them?"

"I could, but I would have to go through Kikuoka-san before he can get through to Yokota," Minetaka shook his head.

"Please do, dad..." Kazuto pleaded. "If what Yui said is true, then Captain Burke, Captain Anderson, and Colonel Rogers are in grave danger."

---

Yokota Air Base:

"Shall we continue?" The Judge asked.

"Your honor," Chris saluted in greeting with the others. Colonel Rogers and Captain Anderson sat down as the trial continues.

"Defense and prosecution may present their final evidence and argument for this case, after which, Captain Burke may testify."

"Thank you, your honor..." Anderson answered.

"I understand, your honor," Chris acknowledged.

"Now... Continue where you'd left off..." The judge said.

Anderson began. "As you're aware that the VR avatar made for Captain Burke was used from his late-twin brother, Taylor... And we purposefully used this data because we believed this would increase Burke's combat abilities in VR and ensure his success."

"Anything else do you wanna add?" The judge asked.

"Yes," Anderson spoke up.

"Please elaborate..."

"While the technicians may have reported glitches and concerns of their effect on the Captain's behavior... I've programmed the scans to locate and correct the faults of the glitches." Anderson then gave Chris another look. "I admit that the Captain and I are not exactly... bar buddies... But, we've managed to get the mission done. Despite the setbacks..."

"And I certainly would not believe the accusations that Captain Chris Burke would do anything to endanger innocent lives or America's security after being entrusted with her national mantle."

The judge wrote down more notes. "Thank you, Captain Anderson."

Anderson sat back down. He gave Chris another look as he does so.

"Very well," the judge said as he looked towards Chris, "the defendant shall now be allotted his time to respond to the evidence and charges laid before him."

"Thank you, your honor..." Burke replied.

"Captain Chris Burke," the prosecutor began... "You've kept the truth of your behavior from your superior officers... Am I wrong?"

"I honestly did not see why a few flashbacks could be such a big deal," Chris answered bluntly.

"True... But it did caused you to become reckless with the mission..." The prosecutor replied.

"I object to that," Chris cut him off.

"Do tell us, Captain..."

"First off... charges on endangering my unit and civilians..." Chris looked the prosecutor in the eye, "when I encountered the group of SAO survivors, I gave them many warnings and cues about the nature of the threat we faced."

"But they've chose to face the very threat alongside with us despite the warnings..." He continued. "And at the risk of insulting our military intelligence, none of us knew that we would be up against a full Hydra division. Let alone, many players that were tricked into attacking us in the first place..."

"My unit and I were faced with an untenable situation, and I'm not about to have myself or my men take the blame for circumstances beyond our control." Chris was firm in his denial. "And if you think that I've endangered my men and the civvie players, you can think again... If anyone is the guilty party, it is Hydra who put those players in our way to begin with."

The entire courtroom was silent after Chris finished.

"I-I see..." The prosecutor stammered for a moment. However another prosecutor suddenly threw it out. "And what of the charges that you endangered national security by not only leaking operational details, but also other sensitive information from the Pentagon in Washington?"

Chris did a double take. "What are you talking about? I did not access any of the central Pentagon systems," Chris told him.

Anderson leans towards Rogers. "Something's way off here.." He whispered.

"I know..." Rogers said, "I know Chris too well."

"Wait," Rogers spoke up, "what is this about Captain Burke leaking information from the Pentagon?"

The prosecutor turned to Rogers. "How else would the enemy know about the Howler's presence in ALO?" He shot back with a question. "All of which nearly jeopardized the entire mission..."

"And in regards to the reported leaks from headquarters, reports submitted by one of the White House intelligence directors puts Captain Burke as the prime suspect."

"Do you have any evidence of such leaks?" Rogers questioned the prosecutor.

The second prosecutor looked to the judge. "May I use the projector?"

Rogers and Anderson turned their attention towards the judge.

"You may use the projector..." The judge answered. The prosecutor connected his PC to the projector. He begins showing images on the projector.

"This is the original report that was submitted to our office by Director Fury," the prosecutor said. He types in on the laptop.

Both Rogers and Anderson scrutinized the report as it showed. It reads how Captain Chris Burke was leaking information to Hydra. The report was overall highly critical of Burke, implying his capability in endangering the people around him, poor operational judgement, and him being named a suspect in the White House mole investigation.

It was Rogers who spoke up. "Your honor, this is absurd. There's no way that Captain Burke's the mole... I reviewed the report myself with Fury and Anderson, and there is no way Chris Burke is a Hydra mole!"

"Then the mole had allies from within..." The prosecutor said coldly.

"But that still does not definitively exonerate the Captain of these charges," another prosecutor said.

It was then Anderson stood up. "I had to agree with Colonel Rogers... There's no way Captain Burke's the mole for Hydra... I would be hard-pressed to believe a hero soldier that the Colonel personally vetted could be his worst enemy undercover after all we've been through."

The judge and court looked at Captain Anderson, then at the prosecutors.

It was then the laptop clings, signaling new email. One of the prosecutors took a look on his laptop. The email was addressed from President Wilson. It also read 'urgent' in red capitalized letters. So, he clicked it open.

The team read it for a bit. Suddenly, the chief prosecutor stood up. "Your honor, may I have three minutes on the phone outside? Priority confirmation with POTUS."

"You may..." The judge waved him away with his hand. Chris watched as the chief left the room with his phone to his ear. He then began to observe other people in the room. They whispered to each other about what they've heard. The prosecutors seemed confused. They turned their attention to the projector screen to see the email that is displayed. As they read it, it was then they saw that President Wilson sent the actual report of Operation Finalizer.

Both Anderson and Rogers read it as well. Chris now knew something was definitely awry. As everyone in the room focused on the report, Chris discreetly glanced at some of the armed guards with their M8A1s in the room. Some of who seemed to tighten their grips on their weapons. Then there was one who seemed to be awfully familiar...

---

Dicey Café:

Everyone was quiet now. While some finished breakfast, others were too concern about Yui and Strea.

"Kikuoka-san is trying to call the Americans, but he can't get through," Minetaka cursed.

Kazuto held Asuna. They've kept their eyes on Yui's status after the counter-measure attacked Yui.

"Yui-chan, are you?" Asuna was still reeling.

Yui opened her eyes. "I'm fine, mommy... Strea's been taking care of me..."

"What the heck was that thing anyways!? What about Captain Burke being a target?" Momiji wondered.

It was Strea, who spoke up. "From what Yui-san said. Hydra plans to attack Captain Chris Burke at his trial."

"How is that possible?" Momiji was in disbelief.

"Yeah," Kenji spoke up, "that guy's got to be surrounded by... however many soldiers and his super soldier superior, the previous Captain America no less!"

Yui groaned, but managed to explain, "I got details of this attack program before it could fully infect me... there is at least one assassin disguised as a soldier carrying a transmitter device. If he fails to kill the Captain, the program is coded to hijack an American attack drone... and it has coordinates for a missile airstrike onto Captain Burke's current position."

Suguha turned to Minetaka. "Still nothing from Kikuoka-san, dad?"

"I'm afraid so..." Minetaka shook his head.

"But honey," Midori protested, "there's got to be someone at Yokota that Kikuoka-san can talk to!"

"I can't believe this is happening..." Keiko shivered.

"If Kikuoka-san does not get through, they'll have already killed the Captain," Kotone was also distressed.

Klein ran a hand through his head, his morning drink forgotten. "Look, Kirigaya-san, they may not know how dire things will get until after those animals kill him. You gotta do something!"

"Perhaps I could help..." Strea suggested. Still stroking Yui's hair.

"How so, Strea?" Kazuto asked.

"Just about anything could be helpful right now," Minetaka added.

"I could tap into the Yokota Air Base server and contact them..." She said. "I know you told me not to hack into military network. But this is an emergency..."

"Girl," Scott warned, "this isn't your standard VRMMO security. If you're not careful, the Department of Defense's military attack barriers will fry your codes."

"Strea," Nathan protested, "those networks have next-generation anti-hacker attack bots that are designed to track down and destroy the software and hardware of any intruders they detect. If you do this..."

"I've managed to observe their military networks while we began mom's video tread.." Strea reassured. "I'll find my way around them..."

"Strea," Nathan held his phone tight. "I don't want to lose you again..."

Strea suddenly gave a silly grin. "Don't worry, Nathan-kun... I'll be careful... Besides... SAO couldn't delete me!" Strea sang. "And neither did ALO..."

Nathan muttered as he smiled, reassured. "Just... Please be careful, Strea..."

"Yeah," Shigeru added, "don't you leave this sorry bum here without his cute girl."

"I'll be back, guys." Strea gave her salute.

"Be careful, Strea-san," Keiko said, "those Americans are on alert."

It was then a new voice appeared on their phones. "No need to worry, Keiko Ayano... Strea will be in good hands..."

"Who's that?" Keiko asked in alarm.

It was then everyone see the source of the voice who appeared before Yui and Strea.

"Who are you?" Randy asked upon seeing her.

"The name's Trinity, Randal Mitchell..." Trinity replied. "And I'm here to help all of you..."

"Where did you come from?" Minetaka was wary of trusting a stranger AI.

"I was created by Thomas Jefferson Anderson. Head CEO of Anderson Tech Industries.." Trinity answered. "And now serving in the United States Air Force. I have orders to foil the assassination of Chris Burke."

It was then, Scott spoke up. "Wait a minute... How are you gonna help Strea break into the Yokota Air Base servers? All of which have..."

Trinity cuts him off. "Next generation anti-hacker attack bots programs. I'd know, Anderson helped rebuild the military cyberspace..."

"He'd placed backdoors in all the military software for Anderson Tech-created AIs like myself to pass through for maintenance or emergencies..." She continued, "... I assume that this is an emergency..."

"How are you gonna help Strea?" Nathan asked. "Not doubting you or anything..."

"I'll show you..." Trinity then approached Strea and gently placed her hands on her forehead. Strea's eyes glowed.

After several seconds passed, Trinity takes her hand away. "Now you have clearance with Anderson Tech Industries. As well as protective firewalls.." She then turned to Yui. "I've detected several corruptions within your codes, Yui... I'll help you out..."

Yui nodded meekly. Asuna put her hands together in anticipation. Trinity placed her hand on Yui's forehead. The little AI's eyes glowed. Unlike with Strea, this took a little longer.

"Yui-chan?" Asuna asked.

"Yui-chan..." Suguha said out of concern.

After a minute passed, Trinity removed her hand from Yui's forehead. "She's clean and has Anderson Tech clearance..." She then said.

"Yui-chan?" Kazuto asked.

"I'm fine now, daddy..." The little AI smiled. She then turned to Trinity and bowed in gratitude. "Thank you so much, Trinity-chan..."

"You're welcome, Yui..." Trinity patted her head. She turned back to Strea. "Now... Let's head to Yokota Air Base..."

The three AIs departed.

"Hey, check out the demonstrations on TV," Momiji pointed at the screen. Everyone turned their attention towards the TV as the demonstrations are being held outside the Yokota Air Base's entrance.

"That is a huge crowd," Suguha gasped as she saw Captain American rallying cries on the placards.

"There's not been a demonstration this big since the Accords..." Alex commented.

Asuna however, seemed to be a bit worried. "Those people are close to the base... if Hydra-"

It was then, the TV screen displayed glitching static.

"What's going on?" Rika called out. "The TV's signal went out."

Kazuto had a deep gut feeling that something was wrong. It was then that the screen returned... However, it didn't show the Captain America demonstrations anymore. Instead, it was replaced by a silhouette figure of an individual. The face remained hidden in the shadows.

"Hello people..." The silhouette figure spoke. "Now that I have everyone's attention... You are about to see what happens to a wannabe American hero who does not know how to mind his own business... Hydra's plans for a new world order may have been halted. But we will rise again. Starting with the death of the new Captain America and his superior, Colonel America... Cut off one head, two more shall take its place..."

"Hail Hydra!" With that, the shadow figure was replaced with a live camera feed. Asuna and Kazuto saw that it was security camera footage... and in the middle was Captain Burke on trial.

"that's inside the base..." Alex gasped.

"Don't tell me..." Scott realized with dread.

Kazuto knew what he was about to say. "They're not only going to assassinate Burke, but they'll let the world watch them do it."

---

Yokota Air Base:

Chris could feel a rising tension in the room. The newfound evidence that showed the actual report from President Bruce Wilson regarding Operation Finalizer.

But now it was not the confused prosecutors that Chris was growing wary of... He kept his eye on the armed guards who appeared to be nervous. One seemed familiar... but two of them caught his attention with their steely-eyed glances towards him. Their thumbs seemed to almost twitch towards the safeties on the 6.8mm battle rifles.

It was then one of the base guards approached the judge and whispered in his ear.

Chris knew something was awry... his fourth sense of danger from years of war had told him so... but he still scanned the room to see who if any of them were the real threats. He then spotted several of the onlookers appearing nervous, but slowly made their way through the crowd seemly undetected.

It was then that the chief prosecutor came back. He sat down in the seat and closed his laptop.

"Your honor... I request that you allow us to withdraw our case and charges against Captain Burke."

"Very well then..." The judge replied. "As humiliating as it is to admit... we now have reason to believe that we have been fed false intel by an agent who illicitly altered the previous mission reports we were given," the chief said to the astonishment of his team, "as such, we no longer have any basis or jurisdiction over Captain Burke's court-martial."

"I hereby the charges dropped and Captain Christopher Samuel Burke acquitted..."

But as the judge said this... one of the guards behind the prosecutors raised his rifle and shot one of the staffers. Rogers and Anderson ducked as the chaos erupts the courtroom. One of the guards across seemed shocked but before he could react, the second guard Chris suspected turned around and shot him as well.

Chris ducked down as the second guard took aim at him and fired. The 6.8mm bullets sent splinters of the podium showing above his head.

"We need to stop them!" Anderson shouted over the gunshots.

Steve Rogers grabbed a glass cup. As he does this, Anderson then taps his watch and suddenly, a fluid-like metal begins to materialize around him. A color scheme of red, white, and blue are shown as the liquid metal encased around his limbs and torso. Finally, Anderson's head was covered in the classic Iron Man feature. Iron Patriot has sprung in action.

The false guards see Anderson and fired at him. The bullets bounced harmlessly off his armor. Steve Rogers threw one of the glass cups at the second guard pinning Chris down.

Anderson shoots a repulsor palm blast towards the second guard, knocking him down.

Chris quickly took the initiative of lifting the podium and throwing it at the first assailant. It was then more guards burst into the courtroom.

"Freeze, Captain America!"

Anderson sees this and aims at the guards. Chris leapt towards the assassin he hit with the podium and relieved him of his M8A1. Anderson took down two guards as Colonel Rogers picks up the table and throws it at the guards. Some were struck by the table, but the rest dodged and shot at Anderson and Rogers.

"Hey!" Chris yelled as he shot one of them through the eyes. It was then a few more showed up from behind the guards. However, one of them suddenly attacked the other guards.

Chris dove for cover and reloaded.

"We need backup, now!" One of the false guards shouted into the radio earpiece.

"Sorry," one of the apparent guards shot by Hydra suddenly got back up and hit the Hydra faker with his rifle, "not happening!"

One of the Hydra soldiers opened up on the guard, only for him to be cut down. Chris shot the faker dead.

The apparent guard's rifle clicked empty and discards it before whipping out a Desert Eagle pistol.

"No one's taking down my charge!" He fires off a round, hitting one of the false guard square in the chest.

"Colonel!" Chris kicked one of the downed guards' M17 over to his leader. Rogers sees it and picks it up. He didn't have his shield with him, so it'll have to do. He fired several shots, forcing some of the Hydra assassins to duck.

The guard then pulled out another Desert Eagle pistol and fired at another Hydra assassin. Causing him to duck as well.

It was then that Chris got a good look at his would-be bodyguard. "Wade!?"

"In the flesh!" Deadpool laughed. He was not in his usual outfit, appearing as a regular uniformed soldier with his grinning face exposed. His face, however, appeared as if he was ran through a furnace.

"Normally, I wear my mask..." Deadpool explained. "But, I figured that since I'm gonna sneak into an air base. I'll make it an exception..."

The other helper who entered the room was likewise in uniform, but Rogers recognized her red hair as she slapped and kicked the assailants' weapons away.

"Romanoff..." Rogers greeted her.

"Colonel Rogers... Captain Anderson..." Black Widow smirked.

"I guess that's all of them..." Anderson concluded.

"Hold on..." Deadpool said as he reached one of the assailant and quickly grabbed one of the top teeth, pulling the tooth out with one quick motion.

"Cyanide... Disguised as a tooth..." Deadpool deduced.

"The same one that Thorin Oakenshield used after Steve Rogers back in 1942..."

"It's very impressive..."

"Colonel, Doc," Burke stepped over dead bodies and shell casings towards them.

"We've stopped Hydra's assassination attempt..." Anderson observed. "And they're not after Colonel Rogers..."

"Then who? You Doc?" Chris asked.

"I'm pretty sure who they're after..." Anderson replied.

"Not that it'll matter for you three!" The surviving Hydra spat as he suddenly slapped a palm against his chest. He suddenly began gurgling and seizing up.

"No!" Chris saw what happened and tried to slap him back to consciousness. The Hydra infiltrator's eyes rolled back as he fell limp.

"I thought I'd grabbed the cyanide from his teeth..." Deadpool said.

"You did," the uniformed Black Widow said, "but I think Hydra developed a new suicide poison for self-induced heart attacks."

Chris and Rogers then heard a faint beeping sound, from the man's chest. "What is that?" Rogers was confused. It then droned into a constant tune.

"Heartbeat monitor?" Chris wondered.

---

Air Traffic Control Tower:

"Drone control reports that they've lost connection to two of our unmanned F-16s currently airborne."

"Where were they last reported at?"

The ATC looked to his radar. "I've lost radar contact as well. Their last sighting was 127 miles to the east over Tokyo Bay with a full load of eight Hellfire missiles each."

"You're telling me that we've just lost two unmanned F-16 jets armed with fully loaded eight Hellfire missiles?" The ATC chief questioned. He was started to sweat nervously.

"Yes sir," another said, "I'm contacting other military planes to see if we can spot them."

"We're gonna have to shoot them down..." The Chief ordered. "The last thing we need is for our drone planes to fire upon innocent civilians..."

---

Dicey Café:

The newscaster offscreen seemed to be confused and disturbed at what the hijacked cameras showed. Yui and Strea had just left with Trinity to warn the superior of the Yokota Air Base.

"Dude, did that really just happen!?" Klein was in total disbelief.

"I-It appears so.." Randy replied. Stunned from what the news channel is now showing.

"Did Hydra want us to see Chris Burke getting killed like that!?" Nijika cried out.

Haruto held Nijika to comfort her. He was at a loss of words.

"I think I lost my appetite for lunch..." Tim groaned.

"Same here..." Keiko added. She turned away from the screen and buried her face into Tim's shoulder.

"It's alright, at least Burke is safe..."

"Good thing Anderson had his Iron Patriot suit with him..." Kenji commented.

"I can't believe they just tried to kill that boy on live TV!" Trish threw up her hands, "have they no decency on TV!"

"I don't think they'd air that on TV..." Alex observed.

"Would be just like Hydra to hijack and air this..." Scott growled.

"True... But once again, they've failed..." Rika agreed.

"Serves them right!"

It was then they see one of the guards take something out of the Hydra assassin's mouth. It appeared to be the tooth.

"Wait, why is that guard doing that?" Rika stuck her tongue out, "that's gross!"

"Not as much as the guard's face..." Scott pointed out.

"That might be cyanide," Minetaka pointed out, "they want the traitor alive."

"Cyanide disguised as a tooth?" Rika asked. She was confused.

"Yes... used by assassins who have things to hide or suicidal crime bosses." Minetaka clearly had experience with this stuff...

"I see..." Rika pondered.

"Look!" Suguha screamed when the Hydra assassin hit himself in the chest and started to convulse violently. Suguha and Alex watched in horror as Chris tried to stop him, but the man was already dead. It was then Chris, Rogers, Anderson, and two other guards looked at something on the assassin's chest.

Yet there seemed to be nothing.

"W-what just happened?" Midori asked her husband.

"I don't know..." Minetaka replied. "But I'm getting a bad feeling something else's gonna happen..."

There was then a loud roaring sound from overhead outside.

"Are those... jet engines!?" Alex exclaimed.

Everyone looked at each other, then back at the TV screen. But Kazuto and Asuna instead ran outside. They looked up towards the sky and see two fighter jets fly over them. The fighters seemed to disregard the havoc they created on the streets below as they blew past the buildings.

"What's with those two pilots?!" Kazuto shouted over the noise.

Asuna got onto her phone. "Yui-chan! Strea-chan!?"

There was no response. Kazuto also got onto his phone. "Yui! Strea! We have planes clipping the roofs!"

It was then, they hear a response from Yui. "Daddy, Hydra is taking over the American drones above Tokyo!"

"We're trying to break their control and retake the systems controlling the drones..." It was Strea's voice. "... but this attack program has very aggressive countermeasures!"

"Trinity's helping us to fight against their countermeasures!"

Asuna grimaced, but then grew angry. "Kirito-kun," she said reflexively, "I want to go to the base!"

Kazuto turned to Asuna. "Are you sure? They're not gonna l-"

"We have to!" Asuna cut him off. "They need our help! And now's the time to fight back against Hydra again!" Asuna peeked back in through the door. "How far is the Yokota base?" She then asked.

"Asuna, are you crazy!?" Rika asked, "going to a base that is about to be attacked!?"

"They need our help, Rika." Asuna replied. "We can't just sit here until Hydra wipes out American military bases from the country. We need to act now."

"Girl, you're brave but crazy," Trish was shocked, "against F-16s!"

"We got to a least try by Yui, Strea, and Trinity enough time to retake the drones." Asuna held out a glowing hand. "Maybe I can try and shield some people..."

It was then Kazuto spoke up. "Then I'm coming with you, Asuna..."

"Not so fast young lady..." Minetaka stood up. Suguha and Alex expected the strict detective father to stop, only to hold out his keys. "Not without your escort."

"Daddy!?" Suguha asked, "you're taking them there!?"

"It's my job, Suguha..." Minetaka replied. "Plus, we'll get there faster through traffic." He then looked to Alex. "You, watch Sugu and her mother for me."

"Will do, Minetaka-san..." Alex nodded.

"Daddy, Kazuto, Asuna!" Suguha protested as the three ran out.

"It's alright, Suguha..." Alex hugged her.

"It's only been two days," she cried, "I'm going crazy from Hydra trying to kill us!"

"Which is why they're gonna put a stop to it once an for all..." He cooed while stroking her hair. "Once they're gone, we'll return to a normal life together..."

"You know, Alex..." Scott remarked, "I have a feeling that we are changing as fast as our world is..."

"It's been doing that since New York City, on May 4th, 2012..." Randy added.

---

Yokota Air Base:

"What's that?" Anderson pressed his finger against the earpiece. "Are you sure?" He asked again.

"Yes sir, we lost connection with two armed drones out on a live-fire exercise, and ATC says they're not showing on radar," Drone control reported.

"Alright then, we'll have to evacuate the base..." Anderson replied.

It was then that the air raid siren sounded. Chris clutched his acquired rifle tightly. "Too late, Doc!"

"Anderson! Engage the hijacked drones! I'll escort Captain Burke out of the base!" Rogers ordered.

"Same here," Wade said, "can't let our intrepid Captain go back to Fury damaged goods!"

Captain Burke shot Wade a look. "Hey, I'm not chopped liver, buddy."

"You're the next Captain America.." Wade replied. "So, you need to live up to that title... Plus, there's no telling how many Hydra soldiers are in here..."

"About a dozen or so... At least in this room..."

"Wait, you hear that?" Natasha suddenly mentioned. Chris and Rogers then heard a faint, but threatening hissing sound. The new younger Captain America recognized it to his horror.

"TAKE COVER!" Chris threw himself over the female spy as there was a fiery boom that collapsed the room around him.

---

Dicey Café:

The live feed camera switched to outside the Yokota base. The crowd of demonstrators for Captain America screamed and yelled as a building on the base exploded. Everyone in the Café watched in horror as the chaos unfolds on TV.

"Oh my gosh..." Tim gasped.

"Isn't... isn't that where Captain Burke was!?" Keiko cried, wishing she had her cat for comfort.

"I-I hope they got out..." Tim held Keiko. His arms was shaking.

Kotone could not bear it as she let Momiji and Nijika hold her. "But Nobuyuki is in jail! It's over! Why are people still dying!?"

"I don't know, Kotone.." Momiji said. "I really don't know..."

---

Camp Zama:

"Captain!" Preston yelled in shock as he watched the building Chris was in blown up. Both Ramirez and Damion watched in horror.

"We need to do something!" Damion exclaimed.

"If we had Stingers yeah," one of Damion's peers groaned, but we're infantry, not anti-air."

"Maybe not..." Preston said. "But I am..." He rushed out of the room towards his unit's armory. He reached the armory and stopped in front of the giant tube-like structure. He types in the passcode and it opened up. Revealing the Iron Man armor.

The armorer came over and stopped him. "Lieutenant, we have no mobilization orders!"

"Hydra's attacking Yokota Air Base!" Preston shot back. "That's an 'Act of War' and they have to be stopped!" He steps into the Iron Man suit as it closes around him. "Now out of my way. That's an order!" He runs out of the armor and into the open, ignoring the armorer's shouts of protests. He then activates the suit's pulse thrusters and takes off into the sky, towards Yokota Air Base.

"I'm coming, Captain..."

---

Las Vegas, Nevada:

It had been another busy day for Hailey Felix. And it was now the end of her tour in the jewel city of Nevada. Hailey climbed on-board the tour bus. She's scheduled to leave very soon.

It was then that her friend Kaylee called her over frantically. "Hailey girl! It's your boyfriend again!"

"What's is it this time?" Hailey asked while rushing over. Kaylee handed the country singer her touchpad. The screen shows the news station showing a live footage of the Yokota Air Base begin attacked.

Jerri Reinecker was live...

"As you can see the carnage behind me, we've received word that the Yokota Air Base was attacked by fighter jets. The status of Captain Burke, Captain Anderson, and Colonel Rogers is unknown..."

The camera then zooms in on the main building of the base. "It's hard to zoom in from here... but you can see that wing was struck by an air-to-ground missile from a US F-16. We can't tell if it was an accident."

It was then Reinecker suddenly looked upwards as he hears jet engines soaring through the skies above. Someone shouted something in Japanese. The camera then turned towards the sky to catch a glimpse of a F-16 jet. A shrill 'bbbrrrrttt' sound was heard from the aircraft's autocannon, causing people to cover their ears. The crowd then screamed as the bullets struck all around them and against the air base.

Another F-16 went for a line of transport aircraft and fired a salvo, punching holes through the fuselages.

"Jerri, let's get out of here!"

Reinecker ran with the camera crew.

"Those crazy pilots are bombing the heck out of the place!" Kaylee exclaimed, "they say that they bombed the place where Chris was!"

Hailey didn't respond. She felt her heart stop beating as she witnessed the base being destroyed. It felt like a distant part of her past was being shattered in front of her...

She felt herself faint from the emotional overload she's experiencing. Hailey felt herself hit the floor.

"Hailey!" Kaylee called out.

Others in the bus crowded around her, but all she could think about was that she really lost Chris. She felt herself being lifted onto her feet and escorted to the couch. She heard voices asking her questions. But to her, they sounded distant.

---

With Kazuto and Asuna;

Minetaka rushes through the streets of Tokyo with sirens blaring.

"Dispatch, Charlie Ten Romeo, I'm enroute to Yokota. Please advise me on the situation concerning the civilians."

"Copy that, Charlie Ten Romeo. The civilians are being evacuated from the Yokota area." Dispatch replied. "Be advised, the area's being bombarded by fighter jets.. Expect some injuries and medevac. And keep your charge clear of the area."

"Ten-Four, Dispatch, Charlie Ten Romeo out."

"Um, Dad?" Kazuto asked, "you know Asuna won't just sit back."

"I know..." Minetaka replied. "But they don't know I've got you two in here with me..."

"I was in the thick against Hydra," Asuna huffed, "and I am not about to let them kill someone who did the most to help Kazuto and Alex-kun in ALO."

"As well as helped us push through in ALO..." Kazuto added.

"I'm of the same sentiment, son," Minetaka concurred, "and I'm certainly disappointed with America not protecting Chris as well as he's protected his country."

"After what has happened in both ALO and now, they'll have to take the threat of Hydra's resurrection very seriously in the future..." Kazuto replied.

"They'd better, or they'll hear from me and the other survivors," Asuna told Kazuto.

"They will, Asuna..." Kazuto reassured, "they will..."

"Alright, looks like we're getting close..." Minetaka had to slow his SUV down as he was driving into the scene of confusion and people running away.

"Once we get near the base, we'll hop out and assist the military personnel there..." Kazuto said.

"Easier said than done, son," Minetaka grunted as his movement was impeded, "our cops have their hands full trying to help the confused and injured as is!"

"We could leg it from here..." Asuna suggested. "It's not too far..."

She tried the door on her side, but it did not open, and there was no lock for her to pull since Minetaka's police SUV was designed to make it impossible for prisoners to escape.

"I gotta let you out first..." Minetaka pointed out.

"Would you, Dad?" Kazuto asked, "Asuna and I can take care of ourselves, we promise."

"Please, Minetaka-san," Asuna pleaded.

Minetaka sighed. "Okay... Let me find a spot to park first... just don't get hurt or get us in trouble."

"We won't, we promise..." Asuna smiled with reassurance.

Minetaka parked on a clear curb, and then unlocked the passenger doors. "Go!"

Kazuto and Asuna jumped out of the passenger doors and are on the sidewalk.

"Let's go, Asuna!" Kazuto called as they both headed towards the Yokota Air Base.

The two ran at an astounding speed, feeling like they were in SAO again with the rush. Kazuto held Asuna by the hand. The young woman felt a slight blush from her husband's warm touch. They passed crowds of people. It wasn't easy as they're heading towards the attack while everyone's running to get away.

However one policeman tried to stop them. "You two, get away from the area!"

"We can't get caught, Kirito," Asuna said.

"Right..." Kazuto agreed. They ducked behind the crowd. The policeman tried to follow, but ended up being reoccupied with ushering the rest of the crowd out.

"Let's avoid the police from here on." Asuna suggested.

"Right, then it's getting past the guards," Kazuto added as the two weaved through the crowds.

---

With Chris:

Chris coughed hard as he heaved hard against the pieces of walls and ceiling that had collapsed on top of him. Thanks to his super soldier body, he not only survived, but was pushing back against the material. He then searched for Colonel Rogers. He saw one of the wall and ceiling pieces move and pushed away.

"Captain, you alive?"

"I'm over here, sir," Chris called out. He then looked down at Natasha. Who was shielded by Chris when the whole building fell on them.

Chris helped her up. Natasha coughed a bit. "Funny," she remarked, "Wade and I were supposed to be your bodyguards..."

"Just reflex, ma'am," Chris simply answered.

"Speaking of... Where is he?"

As if on cue, Wade pushed a part of a wall off himself, coughing out some plaster. Chris went over to him and pulled him on his feet. "Come about, soldier, we aren't done yet."

"Relax... I'm not out of the action..." Wade coughed.

"Of course you aren't," Chris replied. He fished an undamaged rifle out of the rubble. "Now put your mouth where the money is."

"Right... But first... Need to change into my outfit..." Wade said.

"No time," Chris reminded him, "cover me!" He then began to dig through the rest of the rubble. Colonel Rogers does the same.

"Captain, you're still a target," Natasha reminded.

"I'm not leaving survivors to die in this mess!" Chris retorted, "no one gets left behind!" After he says this, he finds one of the survivors. It was the chief prosecutor of all people. Chris saw him unconscious, and put a palm to his forehead.

"Looks like when he wakes up, he'll realize he's made a mistake..." Wade commented. Who was already in his red/black combat outfit and mask.

"I'm more concerned about getting as many out of this alive," Chris hoisted him over his shoulder.

"Here... Take this..." Deadpool hands him a gold/silver S&W Model 629 revolver with a large barrel and foregrip. "Be careful with that. It's got a secondary feature... It's equipped with high-explosive tips. Just shoot it at anything, push the button on the side and boom!"

"Just like the HE .44 Magnum from the Resistance games."

Deadpool handed the ammunition pouch. Chris inspected the speedloaders organized inside: the HE rounds, standard FMJ, and tracers. With a quickhand, Chris swiped the FMJ slugs into the cylinder.

"I cover you with this.." Deadpool sports a Barrett M107 high-caliber sniper rifle with a large, computerized scope on top. Chris just nodded and took the prosecutor to the side. Holstering his new gun, he continued to dig through the rubble.

"Captain-" Natasha tried to dissuade.

"Either leave, cover, or help me, Romanoff," Chris retorted.

Natasha paused for a moment, before she shook her head. "Okay then..." She started removing the rubble from the other part of the building.

"Doc! I know you're alive, so get off your metal duff and help!"

It was then a large wall slab started to move before a red/white/blue armor appeared pushing the slab out of the way.

"Thought so," Chris remarked without looking as he dug up another guy... with no pulse.

"My sensors have detected a few life signs underneath the rubble..." Iron Patriot stated.

"Then let's clear this sector," Colonel Rogers ordered.

There were engine thruster sounds overhead as the unmanned F-16s circled around.

"And fast," Natasha added.

Iron Patriot's forearms morphed into excavator-like shovels and cleared away the rubble.

---

Meanwhile:

"That was the first wave," Jack Rollins told his Hydra Stormtroopers as he donned his own armored mask. "Go."

His front vanguards slammed the container doors. A couple of Army cargo handlers unfortunate to be in front were instantly gunned down.

"Targets down." One called out.

"Enemy intruders!" One of the other handlers yelled. Before he was gunned down by Rollins. A nearby sentry took cover and fired his pistol.

"Backup! I need backup here!" He yelled in the radio. His partner backed him up with his rifle. But the two were quickly shot down.

"Too easy..." One Hydra Stormtrooper commented.

"One objective..." Rollins ordered, "kill Burke... and let the whole world see Captain America die." He and the eleven Stormtroopers activated their helmet cameras. "HQ, go live."

"You're live and on camera. Make sure they're smiling..." The voice cackled.

"Hail Hydra." Rollins and his men moved in, Pulsar-equipped M4v7s primed. They pushed through as more army guards showed up and begin engaging Rollins and his men.

---

With Kazuto and Asuna:

"We're almost there!" Kazuto called out. They rounded the corner and the sight of the ruined air base came into view. The couple were temporarily stunned by the destruction the F-16s were doing to the parked jets and facilities. The few functioning AA-guns and several riflemen were shooting tracers up into the air, unable to hit the hijacked drones.

'I sure hope Captain Burke and the others have survived.' Asuna thought as they continued running.

"Any ideas on how we get in, Kirito!?"

"I don't know," Kazuto replied, "you!?"

"They're not gonna let us through the front gate!" She pointed out. "There must be another way in!"

However, they soon encountered a duo of armed American sentries in their MRAP. The soldiers stopped and stepped out. "Hey you two! This is a restricted area under attack!"

"We know! We're here to help out!" Kazuto explained.

"You two need to leave!" The sentry gestured with his rifle.

However they were interrupted by a fuel tank explosion destroying a line of C-17s, sending debris flying, one of which was an engine that was hurdling towards the two teens and the soldiers.

Asuna quickly raised her hands up and a white energy dome appeared before them. Shielding them from the burning engine. The engine landed in front of them and exploded. The guards yelled as the flames blinded them.

Asuna strained as the explosion was more force than she counted on.

Kazuto squinted as the flames subsided. "Asuna, the fence!"

Asuna turned her attention to the fence. The explosion had blown the razor wire fence open. Kazuto suddenly grabbed her wrist and the two raced through.

"Stop!" The two soldiers behind them gave chase. But they saw the F-16s making another run.

The two hit the deck as one of them fired its Vulcan, chewing up the ground in front of them. Kazuto and Asuna were racing across the runway well ahead of them.

"Base, this is Sentry Five, we've got two intruders, two Japanese teens! They're running across runway one-three towards the base!"

---

With Chris:

"Okay, that's the last of the survivors..." He said. There were only fifteen others including the chief prosecutor. Chris counted at least forty-five to fifty who were dead... shot, crushed, or burnt.

"Okay, now let's get out of here!" Rogers ordered. They begin escorting the injured away from the ruins. Now free from carrying the chief prosecutor by those healthy enough to run, Chris could now scan his surroundings with his new custom 629. He then saw a speck in the air. His eyesight allowed him to perceive it as a Reaper drone. It had its camera turret... pointed at him.

"TAKE COVER!" He shouted. Everyone ducked while Chris ran out. As he guessed, the unmanned F-16s maneuvered aggressively towards him.

'I really am the target...' As he realized this, the F-16s opened up with its Vulcan cannons. He leap rolled high out of the way of the shrapnel. Landing on the ground, he shot his six rounds up at the drones as they passed. He quickly ejected the spent cases and loaded the HE rounds. He ran again and slid under one of the parked transport planes to get his bearings.

However, he noted that the rounds didn't explode when he fired the 629.

'Right... I had the FMJ loaded.' He double-checked his cylinder... the new rounds were marked HE. "Still gonna be hard to get a bead on those planes!"

---

Dicey Café:

"This is insane!" Kenji called out.

"Hydra isn't playing around," Nijika watched the destruction unfold.

Haruto shook his head in disbelief.

"Wait," Momiji said, "the TV screen's glitching again!"

"And now what do they want us to see!?" Haruto rubbed his hair in his hands. The image of what appears to be in a view from a body-camera.

"What is this? Body cam?" Klein was confused.

It was then everyone heard a phrase from the surrounding armed soldiers. "Hail Hydra!"

There was an invisible chill that befell everyone watching it. Then they witnessed the carnage unfold before them as Hydra soldiers took on US army guards with pulsar-equipped weapons.

"Great!" Kotone threw up her hands, "it's not enough for them to massacre an entire base with drones, they want us to see their goon squad do it!"

'Let's hope Kazuto and Asuna get there in time...' Alex thought as he held Suguha.

---

With Colonel Rogers:

Rogers, Anderson, Natasha, and Wade managed to evacuate the survivors.

"Now we need to find Captain Burke," Natasha reminded.

"I can fly up and deal with the unmanned F-16s." Anderson suggested. Still sporting his Iron Patriot suit.

"Those aircraft are loaded for bear," Natasha warned, "be careful of their Sidewinders."

"Don't worry. The armor and circuits of this suit's made of Vibranium.." Anderson reminded her with a smirk. "But, I'll be careful..."

It was then that Natasha and Deadpool's wrist communicators beeped. "Black Widow, Deadpool do you copy," it was Trinity, "another drone squadron from an aircraft carrier two hundred miles from the shore just deserted their formations against commands from their master fighters."

"Looks like we got a fight on our hands." Anderson stated as he took off into the sky.

"And be advised... Hydra just hijacked the news media again, and they have stormtroopers on the base looking for Burke."

"Then we've gotta protect him." Deadpool stated. "Fortunately,, I'm packed. If you need anything. Let me know.." He proves this by brandishing an modified Colt M4 assault rifle in silver designs. Beta-C drum magazines and a M203 grenade launcher.

Rogers checked his pistol and holstered it. "Then let's find him... Trinity, you keep trying to shut down the drones from attacking the base."

"Will do, Colonel. We'll shut them down as soon as possible.." The transmission ended.

---

Back with Chris:

"I've got to get to an AA gun for find a SAM," Chris muttered as he rolled from cover to cover. He knew they were little protection against 20mm shells and Hellfires, but whatever he could do to conceal himself from the air bought some time. "What a way to start my day a free man again..."

He then spotted two people running across the runway. As he focused his attention, he sees that they're two teenagers.

"Kazuto? Asuna?" He muttered. "What are they doing here!?" Chris put two fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly. The young couple turned their attention towards the sound, spotted him, and start running towards him.

"Captain America!" Kazuto yelled.

"What are you two doing here?!" Chris demanded. "This is a war zone!" He then pushed them against the C-130 they were under. "And you two are trespassing onto a military base!"

"We've decided to come by and help you fight Hydra..." Asuna said. "We couldn't just stand by and allow them to kill you..."

"And you're the next Avenger the world needs," Kazuto added with a determined stare. "You've gave all to help stop Hydra's plans with ALO. And we're returning a favor..."

"I was doing my duty," Chris answered. He gave Asuna a hard look. "And you have yours to testify to the world about what Nobuyuki and Hydra did, what happened to that?"

"Hydra's not gonna stop until they defeat all of us and conquer the world..." Asuna replied. "And now, it's up to us to end that. We're not leaving anyone left to die on our watch..."

"That's not-" Chris was interrupted by the sound of a missile flying in. "MOVE!" He shoved the two lovebirds away the plane. The two survivors and super soldier hit the deck just barely before the C-130 was blown up.

Chris quickly raised his revolver and fired some exploding rounds up at the F-16s.

"We'll protect you!" Asuna shouted as she raised her hands up in the air. A large white dome of energy materialized in the air. Shielding Captain Burke, her beloved, and herself from the oncoming Vulcan fire. Chris quickly reloaded as one of the drones closed in. As it passed over at low speed... He fires the 629 at its under-belly. As it soared over, the new Captain pressed on the detonator. The round exploded underneath the jet, damaging the under-belly. As he fired all six rounds from before, all of the rounds exploded. It then crashed into the grass, igniting into a fireball.

"Talk about overkill..." Kazuto commented as he and Asuna witnessed the unmanned F-16 crashed and burned.

"Not my weapon..." Chris remarked.

"Ak!" He felt something hot graze his shoulder. His sense of danger kicked in as he grabbed both Kazuto and Asuna, blue pulsar bullets whizzing past. They ducked behind one of the C-130's wings.

"It's Hydra..." Asuna deduced. She glanced over the broken wing to see black and white armor clad troopers menacingly approach with glowing muzzles on their rifles. "And they're armed with pulsar weapons.."

Chris reloaded some FMJ and shot at the troopers, only for the armor to deflect the bullets. The Stormtroopers answered back with more automatic fire.

"Hope you got more of those explosive rounds." Kazuto groaned. As the three ducked from the gunfire penetrating the wing, Chris looked into his dwindling pouch of ammo.

It was then an explosion sent the Hydra Stormtroopers flying in all directions. Killed by the impact of the explosions.

Kazuto and Chris glanced over.

"Did you do that?" Kazuto asked.

"I didn't-"

"The calvary's arrived!" A familiar voice called out. Everyone glanced over to see a red/black clad individual sporting a large sniper rifle and a Colt M4 rifle with a grenade launcher underneath.

"Wade," Chris breathed, "should've guessed."

"We found out you're in trouble again and rescued you.." Deadpool laughed.

"I was handling things," Chris shot back, "and these two crazy kids are here with me."

Then he sees Colonel Rogers and Natasha Romanoff running towards them.

"The survivors have been evacuated..." Natasha reported.

Natasha then saw Kazuto and Asuna. "What are you two doing here?" She asked.

"Helping the next Avenger live through this," Asuna answered firmly.

Kazuto nodded in agreement.

"They're in over their heads," Chris retorted, "and what is this about me being the next Avenger?"

"I think they're saying that the world needs the Avengers after the original Avengers split up back in 2016..." Deadpool explained.

"I thought they'd get back together after the whole thing with Thanos and the Civil War..."

"Unfortunately... They didn't..."

"And of course, these two see Captain Burke as the new leader of the Avengers..." He continued.

Kazuto and Asuna looked confused with Deadpool talking to himself.

Chris glared at him. "Wade, you know you are confusing people with your fourth wall breaks."

"Anyway... We should focus on fighting Hydra..." Deadpool then said. "I did grab these off those bucket heads," Deadpool suddenly produced two M4v7s with their Pulsar Resonators, holo-sights, and grenade launchers. He dropped them with some loaded magazines.

"Thank you," Chris took one of the rifles and some ammo. Checking the gun and racking a round in, he said, "back in my element."

"Alight... Now let's get m-" Deadpool was cut off when a blue pulsar bullet grazed his left shoulder. "Yeow!"

"More Stormtroopers!" Steve yelled as he fired his M17 at the troopers behind cover. Deadpool did the same as he fired his Colt M4 rifle at the Stormtroopers.

Asuna put up a shield for herself and Kazuto as he picked up an M4v7. Somehow, he felt that he knew how to use it. Whether it was back from the hijacked ALO game or not, he did not know.

As the two rushed behind a concrete divider with Chris, the super soldier noticed Kazuto carrying the gun. "Kid, you're too young to be using real guns like that."

"True, but someone I knew how to use it." Kazuto explained while peaking over the concrete divider.

"And it's not the first time Kirito-kun and I brushed with life and death," Asuna raised her hands and focused her field energy. "We'll go through SAO and ALO all over again if we must.." She added.

"Fine..." Chris said, seeing that they just won't relent, "but you two are staying close and we are talking about this afterwards."

"Alright then..." Kazuto peaked over the divider again, switched the M4v7 in semi-auto mode, took aim, and fired.

---

Washington D.C. ~ The White House:

President Wilson waited for the results. It was then that Sharon came rushing in. "Mr. President, we have an emergency."

"What is it, Ms. Carter?" Wilson asked. "Is it Hydra?"

"Yes..." Sharon said, "and they just hijacked our drones to attack the USFJ headquarters." Wilson activated the holo-screen and tuned it to the Star Spangled News Network channel.

"United States Forces Japan on Honshu is in chaos as Yokota Air Base has come under fire. It started during the trial of Captain Christopher Burke and there were reports of shots being fired from inside."

"Japanese media was reportedly hacked in a simultaneous cyberattack, which also affected Yokota Air Base security." Then the footage cuts into the body-cam of soldiers firing at the US army guards. "The terrorist organization known as Hydra is claiming responsibility for the attack."

"Goodness gracious..." Wilson gasped.

"The Japanese Prime Minister has declared an aviation emergency over the city, and it is our understanding that Atsugi is recalling long range fighter patrols to assist Yokota."

Wilson and Sharon watched as Hydra soldiers cut down army guards while searching for Captain Burke. Wilson then made a call to the Cyber/Signals Intelligence Agency. He knew that Anderson Tech Industries signed on to help rebuild the military cyber network after the second civil war.

"Hello, this is President Wilson... I'm calling about the stability of our cyberspace security... Find how Hydra is hacking into the media outlets and shut their operation down."

"Will do, Mr. President... We're scanning the cyber securities in military installations in Japan..."

"Good. Because we don't want every single of our drones being hijacked and used by Hydra.." Wilson grimaced at the thought.

He then set the phone down and talked with Sharon. "How many drones are over Japanese airspace?"

Sharon looked at the report in her hands. "As of now, nearly twenty..."

"Whatever control we have over them, get them grounded ASAP," Wilson ordered.

"Yes sir, Mr. President..." Sharon nodded before she left the Oval Office. He then phoned his speechwriter...

---

With Rogers, Burke, Kazuto and Asuna:

"Moving!" Chris yelled as he rushed one of the Stormtroopers.

"Suppressing fire!" Deadpool yelled as he loosed his shots against two Stormtroopers. Kazuto and Asuna moved up. The latter's energy shields protected them from Hydra's pulsar fire.

Chris fired two shots at his armored opponent, who took hits to his chest, but only flinched with some burns to the armor before shooting again. Chris dove behind an overturned armored vehicle.

Deadpool reloads the M203 launcher and fires again. Smoke filled the area. With that Chris took advantage of the smoke burst and rushed the armored Stormtrooper's position. He fired repeatedly causing the Hydra attacker to fall before shooting him repeatedly through the armor, piercing it and killing him. Chris ejected the spent magazine and ripped one from the dead Stormtrooper.

The second Stormtrooper scanned his surroundings tensely through the smoke. Only to get hit by a FMJ round in the shoulder. Since it hit him in the unarmored joint, it drew blood. Chris noticed how the second Stormtrooper was hit.

Kazuto came through the smoke, firing his M4v7.

"Of course... aim for the joints!" Chris pointed out.

Kazuto took aim at the second Stormtrooper and fired at the unarmored joints such as shoulders and kneecaps.

A third one nearby sighted in on Kazuto's muzzle flash. "Little swine.."

Suddenly he found his M4v7 ripped out of his hands by a white forcefield.

"What the-" The third Stormtrooper was suddenly knocked down and slammed against one of the Humvees.

"You're not taking out my Kirito," Asuna glared as her hands glowed. She slammed a punch against the third Stormtrooper's armor. Fracturing it.

---

Dicey Café:

"Is that Asuna taking on Hydra?!" Rika called out while pointed at the TV screen.

Asuna gave a sideways kick to the trooper's helmet. The image shows the world spinning around until it tumbled onto the ground, landing on its side. Asuna ran back into the smoke with no hesitation.

"Go Asuna!" Keiko cheered.

"She really rocks with those powers!" Kotone was amazed.

"You said it, Kotone!" Nijika replied.

Trish looked to Andrew, " Andrew man, where did Kazuto find this girl!?"

Andrew turned to his wife and smirked. "From Sword Art Online... She was a sub-commander of the Knights of Blood guild..." He continued. "She was a top leader and fighter for the toughest clearing group in the game, and Kirito was her companion..."

"And they're both married, too..." He added.

"Aw... that's sweet," Trish cooed, "then they better not get hurt for each other!"

"Not to worry, Trish..." Andrew chuckled. "They can handle themselves... From what we can see here, they got strong allies..."

"They better not get hurt!" Rika called out.

"Don't worry, Rika.." Andrew called back. "With their newfound powers and abilities, all that should even the odds..."

"Hopefully..." Rika sank back into her chair. Scott held Rika in comfort.

"I just wish there's something we could do..." Rika sighed.

"I know what you mean, Rika..." Scott agreed. "But the only thing all of us can do is pray that they defeat Hydra..."

"And hope they find Captain America..." Rika added.

---

Yuuki Residence:

Kyouko sat in her office watching the news on TV. One minute, there was a trial. And the next, all heck broke loose.

"What the heck is going on over there?" Now she watched as helmet cam forcefully fed to the media showed Hydra Stormtroopers rampaging through the base. However, things took a turn when she spotted Kazuto, Asuna, and the others fighting off against the Hydra Stormtroopers.

She watched one get viciously gunned down by Captain Burke, and another one get kneecapped by Kazuto before succumbing to the pain and dropping his weapon.

Another Stormtrooper's camera showed him aiming at Kazuto. The weapon was suddenly yanked away by white energy. The camera then catches Asuna slamming her fists into the Stormtrooper.

"Asuna!?" Kyouko was shocked to see her at the base.

"You're not taking out my Kirito," Asuna glowered. She slammed her glowing fists against the Stormtrooper's armor. Followed by a sideways kick. Sending the helmet cam spinning onto the ground.

'Those are my powers,' Kyouko recognized as Asuna ran back into the smoke. 'She's inherited my powers...' She realized. Not only that, she was boldly displaying them in a real world gun battle.

Kyouko was speechless. It was then she decided to reach out to her husband. Wondering if Shouzou's watching the news as well.

'Shouzou?'

'I know, Kyouko... I was about to return home, but I know Asuna and her lover are with Captain Burke at the base. They're taking on Hydra without hint of fear...'

'B-but this is too public,' Kyouko protested, 'and she's putting herself at risk!'

'It appears that it was her decision...' Shouzou concluded. 'And besides... With the Inhumans becoming public since Tony Stark announce that he's Iron Man and after New York City...'

'But that would attract too much attention to our family,' Kyouko told him, 'especially... with our past.'

'I know, dear... I know...' Shouzou replied. 'But what can we do now?'

Shouzou then projected, 'I'm going to the base. I need to see that she will be alright.'

'Shouzou... Please be careful...' Kyouko replied.

'I have to at least support her after all this...' Shouzou told her.

'Shouzou...' She couldn't think of anything to project to her husband.

'I will bring Asuna home, I promise.'

Kyouko collapsed back into her chair as their conversation ended.

"Asuna..."

---

Over the skies of Tokyo:

Iron Man II soared through the skies above the city heading towards Yokota Air Base, or what's left of it. Also, he has to take out whatever unmanned fighter jets that come in direct path of the base.

"Captain Burke..."

He arrived at the air base. Half of it is in ruins.

"Captain!" Calling out was probably not the wisest thing, but Iron Man II was desperate.

It was then he hears his comms squawking. "Lieutenant Preston?"

"Captain Anderson?" Iron Man II asked. "Is Captain Burke..."

"Captain Burke's fine... And so is Colonel Rogers, Black Widow, and Wade Wilson!"

"Good. What's the plan, Captain?"

"We need to defend Yokota Base from the rest of the unmanned fighter jet attacks until Trinity retakes the drone systems and lock out Hydra's control."

"Alright, I'm encircling around the airspace..." Iron Man II

However, his radar warning systems went off as his HUD showed two new signatures locking onto him

"I got bogeys incoming!" Iron Man II shouted. He was forced away from the air base as missiles streamed towards him. He deploys flares from his suit. The side of his legs opened up in a cylinder and launched flares. The Sidewinders blew up, still releasing shrapnel that nicked the armor. The impact shook Iron Man II, but not a lot. He was grateful that the Iron Man armor had the vibranium upgrade.

However, he now knew that he was a target for a growing number of hijacked drones. Which is good as now the drones will focus on him instead of Captain Burke.

"Gotta keep them from the base. Keep them away from the base!" He detects more missiles heading towards him. He flies away from the base to lure them away.

---

On the ground:

"They gotta be reaching their breaking point!" Kazuto shouted as he reloads.

"Don't let your guard down kid," Chris reminded as he covered for Kazuto, "cornered animals are at their most dangerous!"

"He's right." Colonel Rogers agreed.

Asuna leapt back behind cover with Kazuto. She materialized an energy barrier to defend themselves with. There was still enemy fire coming from another side of the airbase. Some of the light vehicles had apparently been commandeered, because Asuna felt heavy machinegun fire straining her concentration.

"We need to take out those vehicles!" Rogers ordered.

Chris looked around. "Can we get some anti-tank weapons or grenades!?"

Then he called out. "Wade! Need anti-tank weapons!"

"Give me a minute!" Deadpool called out from behind cover.

Kazuto and Asuna gave Chris a questioning look. He just shrugged, "he's got his ways.

"Wade!" Chris shouted. He groaned before running towards where Deadpool's hiding. As he jumped behind cover. He saw that Deadpool's playing a game on his smart phone.

"Really?! Now's not the time to be on your phone, Wade!" Chris shouted.

"Yeah yeah, need to get up to level nine here!" Deadpool waved his hand. Chris swatted the phone away.

"Ow!"

"Military vehicles! Anti-tank weapons! Now!" Chris barked.

"Alright alright... Sheesh..." Deadpool pulled out a weapon that resembles a spear. He jumps out from behind cover and took aim. A bright blue pulsar-like beam shot out from the tip of the spear and destroyed the hijacked vehicle.

"Wakandan spear..." Chris recognized the weapon.

"Yep. All the way from the United Kingdom of Wakanda!" Deadpool chimed before he took aim and destroyed two more vehicles. Reducing them to balls of fire.

"I won't even ask..." Chris shook his head, thinking of what the Wakandan Special Forces would do if they found Deadpool with one. Kazuto and Asuna watched the power of the Wakandan Spear destroying the hijacked military vehicles.

"W-what was that?" Kazuto was confused.

"Whatever it is... It's very powerful..." Asuna answered. Impressed by the power of the Wakandan spear. But they'll ask about it later. As for now, they should focus on defeating the Hydra Stormtroopers.

"Come on, everyone! Let's push them back!" Deadpool shouted.

"Avengers! Assemble!"

"Not the Avengers... They broke up back in 2016. Remember?"

"Anyway! Push them back!" Deadpool fired the Wakandan spear.

---

Tokyo Air Space:

Iron Man II flies above the city skyscrapers to avoid the missiles, and to prevent them from hitting any structures and innocent bystanders. He deploys more flares to bring the missiles down as well as taking them down with repulsor ray blasts.

However, he spotted two more F-16 jets in pursuit and flies over the Tokyo Bay. He now had four hijacked American jets chasing him.

"I just need to get them over the bay, and I can splash them safely..." He said as the thrusters kicked in. But it would not be so easy... Iron Man II knew the flight pattern and decided to put it to the test.

"If I can hold out until reinforcements arrive..." Bullets zipped by him, snapping him out of his train of thought. He dips down towards the water. The F-16s followed in pursuit.

"But I will keep them away from the Captain!" He turned and fired his repulsor ray blasts at the unmanned jets.

---

Back on the Base:

"They're retreating!" Kazuto called out.

"Stay with me," Captain America warned, "they can still be regrouping."

"Then let's crush them before they can launch a counter-attack." Asuna suggested. It was then that Colonel Rogers came over. Captain Burke acknowledged with a quick salute.

"Heya there, Steve," Deadpool gave a thumbs up.

"Captain..." Colonel Rogers saluted back.

"Enemy fire has been silenced for the moment," Chris told his leader, "but we have no idea how many there still might be."

"We'll hold them off until reinforcements arrive..." Rogers replied.

Natasha also showed up alongside Rogers. "Not that easy, when Hydra sent out that attack program..."

"They cut off all forms of communication..." Chris finished.

Natasha nodded. "They must have taken control of reconnaissance drones with ECM capabilities."

"Then we must wait until Trinity breaks Hydra's control..." Rogers said.

"Hopefully... She's not too late..." Chris lamented.

It was then Asuna spoke up. "Yui and Strea are both with Trinity... That should triple their abilities to counter Hydra's attack bots."

"Before they left, Trinity upgraded them with protective firewalls. That way, they're protected from the attack bots from both the US military and Hydra." Kazuto added.

Captain Burke did a double-take. "Trinity gave them military access!?"

"Both Yui and Strea encountered an encrypted email regarding you, Anderson, and Rogers to have you assassinated." Asuna explained. "...But Hydra's counter-attack bot nearly got a hold of Yui. She managed to counter the bot's attack and Trinity came along and cleared the corruption."

Chris then looked to Natasha.

"With both extra AIs assisting Trinity, they should be able to break Hydra's control faster." She stated.

"And if Command traces that back to you and Fury... hope he has an alibi," Chris warned.

"After what the JAGs tried to do to you, I wouldn't worry to much about that..." Natasha replied. "We believed that Hydra tried to frame you as the leaker to Hydra..." She explained.

"So I gathered..." Chris said as he turned his attention back to the Japanese teens.

"They've joined with Trinity on their own accord..." Kazuto said.

"And now Colonel and I will have the job of keeping all of you out of trouble," Chris shook his head. He then took Kazuto by the arm. "We'd better get inside."

"Hopefully, the rest of the base is intact..." Kazuto stated. Asuna followed shortly.

"Hey Kazuto!" Deadpool called out while running towards them.

Chris kicked down one of the metal doors into a cafeteria and scanned with his rifle. "US Army friendlies coming in!"

He sees that the cafeteria's empty.

"Wait!" Deadpool caught up with them.

"What is it, Wade?" Chris asked in a annoyed tone.

"Kazuto might need these..." Deadpool then unsheathes two Katana swords and displays them. "Something tells me that there's a melee battle approaching..."

"Wait, how do you know that?" Kazuto asked.

"I'll explain it when all of this is over..." Deadpool replied.

Deadpool then threw a duffel bag towards Chris. "Director Fury thought you would need this too."

Chris knelt down and unzipped the bag. He saw that it was his Captain America gear, uniform, armor, gauntlets and rifle.

"And for you, Colonel..." Deadpool threw another duffel bag towards Rogers. "You wouldn't be without your shield..."

Rogers knelt down and unzipped the bag. He saw his Colonel America gear and uniform. Along with his vibranium shield. His new trusty 2011 gifted to him had also been delivered. All cleaned, polished, and ready for combat.

The Colonel looked to the Captain. "Gear up."

"Yes sir." The both of them went to get changed.

"We'll keep an eye out for any trouble..." Deadpool saluted with the desert eagle pistol in hand.

"And for the future melee fight..."

"I heard that," Chris called out as he entered a restroom with his superior. As this takes place, Deadpool sets up claymores, mines, and bear traps at the exposed entrances.

---

RECT Inc:

Kouichirou Yuuki sighed. He could not believe Asuna could be so brave and crazy. She, along with her husband, took on Hydra at the Yokota Air Base. The Asuna he was hearing so much about and seeing on TV was the same, yet different from the meek little sister he would spoil so much. It sounded all surreal to him.

Asuna was turning into a real-life action hero. And this Kazuto was also a surprise. He then got another phone call. He looked at the caller ID to see who's calling.

"Kikuoka-san..." He answers the call. "Hello?"

"Kouichirou-san..." Kikuoka spoke. "I'm pretty sure that you're hearing what has happened..."

"Yes, I do..." Kouichirou answered. "My little sister is at Yokota."

"Along with Kazuto, Colonel Rogers, and Captain Burke..." Kikuoka added. "And if you watched all that... your sister displays signs of being an... Inhuman."

"Inhuman?" Kouichirou did a double-take. "...As in Humans with superpowers?"

"Correct..." Kikuoka answered.

Kouichirou leaned back into his chair. 'That's... just like what happened to me in America,' he thought.

"But as you know that the Inhumans have been accepted into society in several countries before and after the second civil war..." Kikuoka continued.

"I know that... but you know what this means," Kouichirou added.

"I understand... But, we're doing what we can to calm the public. As everyone's in shock of Hydra's resurrection..." Kikuoka explained.

"And I have no illusions that both the Self Defense Forces and the American military won't take interest in this," Kouichirou said.

"Ever since how the Sokovia Accords had a negative impact on not just America, but the rest of the world..." Kikuoka pointed out.

"But even so..." Kouichirou said. He was not about to let his guard down, knowing the interest many militaries still had in the potential of Inhumans.

Kikuoka, figured out what the Yuuki heir is saying, replied. "I understand, Kouichirou-san..."

"I'm going down to the base immediately... and she'd better be alright," Kouichirou resolved.

"I'll provide you an escort..." Kikuoka replied. "It'll be there shortly..."

Kouchirou straightened up his suit and left the office, navigating around the crime scene tape and investigators... In a few minutes, he arrive at the company's main entrance and waited for Kikuoka's escort.

---

Camp Zama:

Damion Burton found himself in line and in full gear with Howler 7-1. The order had come straight down from the top that 1st Company had emergency mobilization orders to secure USFJ HQ.

Sergeant James Ramirez spoke up. "Lieutenant Preston has already gone ahead and has lured the unmanned drones over the Tokyo Bay. It's up to us to aid support for Captain Burke and Colonel Rogers."

"Are they still alive!?" One Ranger asked.

"From what intel has told us. They witness the two teens from the ALO game aiding them..." Ramirez answered. "So, chances are that they're still alive..."

"And we are under orders to detain the two teens upon securing the area," Castle added.

"Detain?" Damion asked. "Aren't they assisting both Burke and Rogers?"

"They are, but they are still trespassing onto military property. Command wants them detain until the situation is ascertained," Castle said.

"Castle's right, Private." Ramirez agreed.

"Now get your game face on, Private," Castle ended with a shoulder slap.

"Any other questions?" Ramirez asked.

"No sarge," Damion shook his head.

"Very good. Now, let's move out. We got a Captain to save." He ordered.

---

Yokota Air Base:

Captain America II and Colonel America emerged in full gear.

"Officers on deck!" Deadpool jokingly called. He made a sloppy salute as he stood in attention.

"I know you can do better than that," Chris gave a knowing remark to Deadpool.

"Welcome back, Captain," Black Widow simply greeted.

"Alright... Here's the game plan..." Colonel America began. "We're gonna hole up in the base. We'll cover the entrances that they're likely gonna try to approach..."

"And simply put, don't trust anyone at the moment," Captain added, "until we get a sitrep on this."

"And I'm sure that the Howlers are aware of what has happened and are on their way..." Deadpool said.

"Howler Platoon has been stood down, Wade," Captain America told him, "it all relates to what happened two nights ago and my arrest."

"I wouldn't be too sure of that, Cap..." Deadpool smirked under his mask. "And besides... This will be a chance to try out a few new weapons I've brought..." He then pulled out the slick-looking assault rifle. Upon inspecting it, they realized that it's the POF P418 assault rifle. It had the usual attachments, such as the Pulsar Resonators and holo-sights. However, it had two aspects that made it stand out. Underneath the handguard is a secondary barrel with the six-shot drum magazine attached to it. And the rifle's paint job scheme is in red and black with Deadpool's own symbol on both sides of the receiver.

"Wait... now where did you get that?" Captain scrutinized, "that's US military-issue only."

"I've made some deals with the weapons market place..." Deadpool replied.

"By that, we just walked in and took them..."

"But it was an emergency situation, and the weapon's capable of performing the job... Plus, we never have it in our arsenal..."

"You return that to the armory after this, or so help me," Captain warned, "Command will have your hide."

"Aww... That's no fun..." Deadpool groaned.

"It will be less fun if they send you to Leavenworth, Warrant Officer," Captain reminded.

"Come on, that place won't keep me in..." He laughed.

"Trust me on this, Wade," Captain shook his head. He then turned to Asuna, holding out an M4v7 now that he had his trusty M4v1 back.

"Since you've managed to keep us safe..." He spoke. " You'll act as defense. Try to bottleneck Hydra. So that we'll create a choke-point..."

Asuna was about to grab it when Captain drew it back briefly. "And one rule... don't point this at me or the Colonel."

"Don't worry, Captain... I've learned that in SAO..." Asuna nodded. "... Even though they're swords, but they're practically the same..."

"Then load up," Captain America offered the rifle again. Asuna took the rifle and held it properly. She showed off her new gun to Kazuto.

"It's a nice fit for you, honey..." Kazuto complimented.

"Thanks, Kazuto..." Asuna giggled. "... Although, I'm used to the Tavor bullpup..." She pulls the magazine out to check the ammunition.

Natasha hissed. "No time for love," she said looking out a window, "more company."

"Right..." Asuna places the magazine back into the rifle "Let's show Hydra what we're made of..."

Natasha looked over and saw at least ten new Stormtroopers using wingsuits to land, and four pods each containing a combat android impact and burst open.

"They got combat androids." Natasha groaned.

"Leave them to me, Black Widow..." Deadpool chimed. "Besides... I wanna give the new Frag-12 shells a try..." He points out the launcher underneath the rifle.

Deadpool then almost flippantly rolled some 40 mm shells Kazuto and Asuna's way. "And I've got you lovebirds some party favors. Make fireworks with them."

"We will..." Kazuto replied as he takes one of the 40 mm shells and loads it into the M203 launcher.

"Those shells have a proximity fuse," Captain advised, "but even so, make sure of your target and relative distance so you don't blow shrapnel into your own faces."

"We'll be careful..." Kazuto acknowledged.

"We've been playing soldier since November 6th, 2022, Captain," Asuna added with a wink.

It was then, they hear an explosion. They turned to see that one of the combat androids fell to the ground. Its leg was removed by a landmine placed earlier.

"I've installed the EMP scrambler on the landmines. That way, the androids can't detect them on approach..." Deadpool chimed.

"It was so obvious..."

The ten new Stormtroopers then became highly cautious and dove behind cover or concealment.

"Won't do them any good hiding..." Deadpool chuckled.

"Stay alert," Colonel Rogers warned, "we still have the first wave to contend with, and somehow... I feel like this is a distraction..."

---

With Jack Rollins:

"I need a status update, Team 3!" Jack tried to call, but there was no response. "Team 3, report!" Still no response.

"So they failed..." Rollins groaned. But he gears up. "It doesn't matter... They've gotten Captain America's attention..." He then radioed in. "HQ, it looks like our TV show star is quite the American action hero. Requesting a personal package to step it up."

"Copy that, Rollins. We're sending in the package now..."

One of the other Stormtroopers noticed that call. "Commander... you're using THAT?"

"Yes... I've been waiting to test it for a long time against Colonel America..." Rollins replied.

It was then that he got the call. "Package sent, Rollins. Enjoy."

"Oh, I will, HQ... I will..." Rollins grinned. He went outside the hangar to meet a medium quad drone with a man-sized package. Some of the Hydra Stormtroopers watched as Rollins approached the package. He punched a side panel.

The capsule opened up. It was an armored suit with a lightweight exoframe... with its most striking feature being a dark Crimson helmet with a skull-like visor. The armored suit opened up after it was deployed and Rollins stepped inside. Fitting his feet and hands into the sleeves, the suit closed up on him. The Stormtroopers saw their leader take on a striking visage of the fallen leader Baron Schmidt.

"Now... It's time that we pay both Steve Rogers and his successor a visit..." Rollins ordered, grinning behind the skull-like helmet.

---

Cafeteria - Yokota Air Base:

"It's too quiet," Colonel America said as he scanned the horizon with his binoculars. "Captain?"

Captain America was beside him, searching with his rifle. "I don't like this... where did they go?"

Kazuto and Asuna gripped their rifles as they felt the familiar feeling. The knew that Hydra's planning for a bigger strike.

"You feel it too, Kirito-kun?"

"I do, Asuna..."

Natasha brandished her twin P226s as she knelt next to Kazuto and Asuna.

"It's the calm before the storm..." She whispered to the teens.

Deadpool fingered his stolen P418. "And they're bringing in Rollins..." He added.

"Say what?" Captain asked.

"I peaked in the last segment and Rollins' joining in the fight..." Deadpool answered.

"You're kidding," Captain America groaned.

"Serious," Deadpool whispered back, "oh and one of the authors wanted you to know for the record that this P418 was specifically supplied by Delta for this job, so it's not stolen per se."

Captain America sighed, "makes sense. At least Leavenworth won't put up with you.

"Good... Glad we got that cleared..." Deadpool gave a 'thumbs up'.

"Your communication needs work," Captain America II said as he rescanned his horizons.

---

Dicey Café:

"I can't see anything else going on..." Rika said.

"It's kinda eerie," Trish commented.

"Everyone just disappeared..." Randy added.

"Maybe Hydra surrendered?" Scott joked, "saves us the trouble."

"I highly doubt that," Rika shook her head, "but I'm getting a bad feeling about this..."

Everyone watched as the shaken news anchors and crews tried to get their systems under control in the lull.

"The shooting appears to have stopped..." The news field reporter said. He was reporting from an apartment overlooking the airfield. The camera zooms in on the base, which half of it was destroyed. "But as you can see, the airbase and the aircraft outside the hangars have just been totaled. We're still counting how many military servicemen were killed ."

Haruto gave Nijika a weirded out look. "Yeah... asking someone to count when they are under attack is a pretty tall thing right now," Haruto told her.

"Tell me about it..." Nijika commented in agreement.

"I mean- aw, now what?" Haruto groaned when the TV started to glitch again.

"What's Hydra trying to do now?" Momiji asked.

When the TV stabilized, the whole café, which was filling up with other mesmerized bystanders, saw an aerial view of the base from a hijacked US surveillance drone. Smoke rose from the ruins of the base, small flashes could also be seen from the air before they ceased.

Scott and Rika felt the unease around the café. It was then something came into view of the drone's camera.

"There's someone else on the ground!" A woman pointed to the TV. As the camera zoomed in, it showed what appears to be an armored suit heading towards the base. It had a shocking red helmet or face that resembled a skull.

"That better not be what I think it is..." Scott said.

Alex's eyes widened in shock and horror.

"It... it can't be!"

"A-Alex?" Suguha was now worried.

"That man died back in World War 2!"

"It looked like an armored suit..." Rika pointed out.

"But it sure looks a lot like..." Alex remarked as the whole scene unfolded...

---

Yokota Air Base:

"Colonel, six o'clock front on the tarmac," Captain America II pointed. Colonel America and the others turned to see an armored figure running towards them.

Colonel America almost could not believe it... "Baron Schmidt!?"

This gets Asuna's attention and observes the Red Skull-like armored individual. He had an armored vest and arm and leg plates covering him, with the skull mask making a subdued crimson sheen. He was also carrying what looked like a heavy assault rifle that she recognized as a cross between a Russian AK and a German G3 rifle from pictures she had seen, and the gun had a noticeable Pulsar Resonator on its muzzle.

The new Hydra trooper came to a stomping halt. Everyone felt time had slowed down to a crawl upon the sight of this heavily armored trooper.

"Colonel... that's an armored suit," Captain realized, "that can't be the Red Skull."

"It shouldn't be..." Asuna added.

"Steve Grant Rogers! I know that you're in there with your successor!"

The voice was synthesized, but the two super soldiers could make out some of the voice through it with their hearing. Kazuto and Asuna watched on, observing this mysterious figure.

"Could it be really him?" Kazuto whispered to Asuna.

"I don't know, but something tells me that's someone else," Asuna confided. Her mind raced to figure out who's the mystery trooper. She knows it's neither Schmidt nor Nobuyuki...

"What if..." Her eyes widen. "It's Rollins!"

"Duh Duh Duh!" Deadpool exclaimed.

"Oh, how cliffhangers drive us crazy..."