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.

19. Chapter 19

January 24, 2025

Yokota Air Base, One Hour after the Failed Assassination Attempt:

Kazuto and Asuna silently wondered to themselves how life had come to this point. Just over two years ago, they would never have dreamed of being alongside Steve Rogers and his young successor to the mantle of Captain America, Chris Burke in a real life death struggle.

"We've gotten full of surprises since SAO..." Kazuto commented softly.

"And I have a feeling that this is just the beginning, love," Asuna whispered back.

Kazuto smiled before they turned their gazes back outside. Rollins hasn't moved a inch ever since he arrived. And neither did the Hydra Stormtroopers nor the combat androids.

"I know you're holed up in there with Captain America, Rogers," Rollins taunted. "And I also know that those two teenagers are in there with you too. It's foolish to bring in kids in your fight." He added with a cackle. "Even if one of them is Asuna Yuuki..."

Kazuto stiffened up.

"Which is why I'm gonna make a deal with all of you..." Rollins continued. "Surrender the Yuuki girl to Hydra, and we'll spare you and your friends..."

Kazuto held Asuna tightly.

Colonel America just huffed. He suddenly said, "nuts!"

This made everyone look at him.

"He's nuts to think we're just gonna surrender an innocent couple..." Colonel America explained.

"Ditto here, sir," Captain America concurred.

"Same here..." Black Widow agreed.

"Yeah! We're not gonna break up this lovely couple.." Deadpool chimed.

"Except for the Kirito/Sinon shippers."

"I can't understand why would people ship those two after what Kirito and Asuna went through."

"We'll never understand the internet..."

Captain America suddenly slapped him.

"Ow!" Deadpool exclaimed. "That hurt!"

"You ruined the moment, Wade," Captain growled.

"Okay, fine. I'll keep quiet..." Deadpool rubbed the side of his face.

Kazuto and Asuna stared at the two rival super soldiers. For them, it has taken their minds off of Rollin's ultimatum for a moment.

"This Wade is something..." Asuna commented in a whisper.

"He was like this during the Total War in Alfheim..." Kazuto explained.

"Those don't worry about those two," Natasha gave a knowing smirk. "And besides... Wade's very skillful... Not to mention crazy..." She added.

"Very crazy," Kazuto added.

"So I see..." Asuna observed.

Rollins then barked again. "So what will it be, Rogers!?"

There was a short pause before Colonel America replied. "You're not breaking up an innocent couple for your insane new world order!"

"We reject your terms as unacceptable violations of military law regarding the protection of civilians," Captain America II added, "and the only acceptable recourse for your actions in attacking a US military base is your unconditional surrender."

"Is that your final answer?!" Rollins called out.

It was then that Kazuto shouted... "Asuna belongs to me and you're not taking my wife away for your maniac boss! You and your ilk have murdered soldiers and civilians, and she will have nothing to do with Hydra!"

"Kazuto..." Asuna sighed, proud of her husband's bravery against Hydra.

Captain America seemed to react a bit to Kazuto's declaration, but then refocused. "Jack Rollins, we refuse your terms and demand your surrender."

"Very well then..." Rollins stated.

"Captain, get ready," Colonel warned.

"I'm always ready, sir," Captain said as he primed his rifle.

"You ready, Asuna?" Kazuto asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be.." Asuna answered.

---

Cyberspace:

Both Yui and Strea followed Trinity through cyberspace. The two sisters felt excited with their new freedom despite the situation.

"This is awesome, Yui-nesan!" Strea squealed.

"It is, Strea-chan." Yui agreed. They both observed the older AI that's leading the way. Trinity took on an appearance of a Caucasian woman in her mid-thirties. She sported short, black hair and dressed in a skin-tight bodysuit in a style of black, with matching boots and gloves. All of which appeared in a glossy style.

After Trinity cured Yui of the corruption in her system, Yui took the moment to scan Trinity's system. She was indeed an AI constructed by Thomas Anderson and connected to the Anderson Tech servers.

'After all this is over, Strea and I can learn so much about Anderson Tech and the world...' Yui thought to herself. But for now, she'll focus on the mission.

"We're almost there..." Trinity said, "this shouldn't take long..."

It was then they approached what appears to be a structure in the cyberspace world. It resembles one of the skyscrapers in the real world.

"What is that?" Strea asked with a bit of wonder.

"That's one of the cybersecurity nodes for the military network..." Trinity explained.

Strea then noticed the unusual pentagon-shape to it as she saw it was marked 'United States Department of Defense'.

"We're scanning for any breaches within the Department's network..." Trinity said.

"Strea, focus," Yui urged her sister as she used her palms to scan. Strea nodded before she uses her palms to scan alongside with Yui. Strea felt a strong flow of data through her processor.

"So far, nothing... No anomalies detected..." Yui stated.

"Wait," Trinity stopped Yui. "I've detected an Hydra attack bot..."

She then scanned a particular part of the portal... true enough, there was a small breach. "Gonna have to engage the bot and block it from the servers..."

Trinity looked to the two AI sisters. "Prepare yourselves, Yui and Strea. This will be no game."

"You ready, Strea?" Yui asked.

Strea gave Yui a resolute expression. "Hydra is trying to hurt Mom and Dad. No way I am missing this."

"Alright then..." Trinity concluded before she placed her hand on the portal, and extended her hand to the girls. "Let's get going..."

Yui placed her hand in Trinity's grasp. She does the same to Strea's grasp.

"We've got a program to deactivate." Trinity and the sisters turned to light as they entered the US DoD network. Yui and Strea felt a strange vibe as they entered through. When the three AIs emerged, they came into a section of the military's cyberspace that showed signs of code damage.

"As I feared," Trinity sighed, "Hydra's compromised the military combat drones located in Japan..."

Yui seemed to have a worried expression.

"The bot's not too far from here..." Trinity explained. "I'll have to scan the attack bot for any weaknesses. That way, we'll cripple it..."

Strea looked around. The entire US DOD network was a complex of various codes. Anything that she had ever seen. She then noticed some of them being locked. She scans the locked codes to see if they can be unlocked.

Trinity stopped her. "You do not have security clearance. Touch them and the Pentagon's anti-hacker snoopers will come looking for you."

Yui rechecked her security clearance. It was an interim Confidential clearance. The locked data points were classified as Secret and Top Secret.

"We need higher clearance to have complete access to top military secrets, Strea." She explained.

"Aw... no fun," Strea pouted like a little girl.

"This is serious, Strea-nechan..." Yui frowned.

"You're sister's right, Strea..." Trinity agreed.

"Okay..." Strea relented. She then scanned the rest of the system for their target. So far, she spotted no further corruptions of the military codes.

"It's got to be here somewhere..."

---

Yokota Air Base:

"Better get ready..." Colonel America said. "They're gonna attack any second..."

"Then you will all die," Rollins growled through his mask.

He then barked. "Hydra Stormtroopers! ATTACK!"

The Hydra Stormtroopers readied their grenade launchers. "Smoke them out of there!"

However, one of the Stormtroopers gets hit by a stray bullet and falls to the ground. Discharging the grenade into the ground.

The teenage couple watched the explosion took place on Hydra's side.

"Who did that?" Kazuto asked. He glanced towards Deadpool, but sees that the rifle he's holding wasn't smoking.

"Wasn't me..." Deadpool shrugged.

"Wait," Captain America pointed out, "air support coming in!"

Kazuto and Asuna looked up towards the sky. They see what appears to be a soldier in a wingsuit flying towards the ground and landing on his two feet. The wings then folded quickly into the backpack-like device.

"On your left, Cap..." The voice said through the comms.

"Me?" Captain America was a bit confused, but Steve recognized the voice.

"Sam..." Colonel America grinned.

Sam Wilson, the Falcon quickly took cover and fired his MCX carbine as a distraction. "We'll provide covering fire!"

"New Captain! Go!"

The new Captain America pressed his lips. He then drew a frisbee grenade and flung it hard out the window. "Flash out!"

The frisbee grenade explodes after impacting the ground near the Stormtroopers. The bright flash of light blinding them.

Colonel and Captain gave quick glances to Kazuto, Asuna, and Black Widow. "Cover us," Colonel told them.

Captain then told Deadpool, "Wade, you're with us!"

"Alrighty then!" Deadpool gave a salute.

"We got your backs, Cap!" Kazuto nodded.

Captain America, Colonel, and Deadpool leapt out of cover and started firing as they ran.

"Strike at zero hour, with overwhelming firepower. They're fueled by the fear in their enemies eyes!
It's a shock troop infiltration, a fast and violent escalation. Out of the trenches, the Stormtroopers rise!" Deadpool sang as he took down one Hydra Stormtrooper after another.

"Focus, Wade!" Captain America II shouted as he knocked down another Hydra Stormtrooper. Colonel America shielded Captain as he struck with his rifle and frisbees.

Deadpool spots one of the Hydra Stormtroopers pull out a grenade from his pouch and pulled the pin, preparing to throw it. He quickly aims down through the P418 rifle and fires in a single shot. The bullet hits the grenade and it explodes in the Stormtrooper's hand. Taking him out as well as two other Stormtroopers near him.

"Woo! Too easy!" Deadpool cheered as he did his end-zone touchdown dance. It was then one of the Hydra Stormtroopers fires his rifle, causing the merc to fall over and land on the ground. The Stormtrooper cautiously approached the apparently slain merc.

"G-Gotcha..." Deadpool groaned as he aimed the P418 rifle and fires a three-burst round. Hitting the Stormtrooper in the weakest point of the armor and chest. Knocking him down on the ground. Deadpool quickly got up.

"Ow..." Deadpool realized that he was grazed in the thighs and abs. But managed to shrug it off.

Colonel America held his shield firmly as a combat android opened up on him and Captain. From inside, Kazuto, Asuna, and Black Widow fired at the combat android. Taking out its optics. Captain saw an opportunity and flung a hard frisbee at the android, knocking it down.

Then the trio took out the second android's optics. Deadpool notices this and fires the P418's grenade launcher. The grenade exploded on impact, taking out the android in the explosion.

Asuna then refocused her sights to try and get Rollins. The armor suit Rollins sports appears to be impervious. So she needs to find a weak point on the suit.

However, he suddenly seemed to vanish.

"Where did he go?" Asuna was scanning the area. But she could not see him... She felt her senses heightening. She knew that he's there...

"Kirito-kun! Move!" Asuna screamed. Kazuto quickly moved out of the way, landing on the floor with a thud. A shot zipped over where he was a split second earlier. Asuna quickly pin-pointed where the shot came from and she fired away. However, the bullet seemed to have ricochet out if thin air.

"He's using a cloaking device on his suit!" Asuna called out.

Black Widow pulled out a device from her back and activates it. The mini helo-drone takes off and flies upward into the battlefield. Its cloaking device activated.

"Colonel, Cap, I've deployed a EMP helo-drone to deactivate Rollin's suit and cloaking device..." Black Widow warned. "... Switch off your comms until the EMP discharges..."

"Copy that," Colonel America acknowledged, "all units, radio silence until discharge."

"Captain America, roger."

"Sam Wilson, switching comms off..."

"Deadpool," Captain America called out over the shooting, "unless you want your comms fried, go radio silent."

"One step ahead of you, Cap..." Deadpool tapped his ear.

Asuna had to duck as Rollins fired. After several seconds, the mini-drone discharged its EMP blast. Kazuto and Asuna felt the ripple. It was then, they see the metal armor re-materialized into thin air. The armor seemed to spark as he slumped for a bit. The combat androids also slumped and sparked at the EMP effects them.

Captain America felt a slight ripple in his armor, but was otherwise unaffected due to his EMP shielding.

"Okay, now's our chance.!" Colonel America yelled. He uses his shield to knock down Rollins. Captain America and Deadpool knocked down some of the remaining androids and shot them up. Kazuto, Asuna, and Black Widow picked off the Hydra Stormtroopers that tried to ambush them.

"That armor's tough, but doesn't mean a thing if they can't get back up fast," Kazuto muttered as he fired. After a few shots, a repulsor shot hit one of the armor's joints.

"Agh!" The stormtrooper nearly dropped his rifle as he clutched his shoulder.

"Gotcha..." Kazuto grinned. He fired again, taking out the knees. Jack Rollins seemed to be down, but then he laughed loudly as a loud hum of power was heard from his suit.

"I got this!" Deadpool aimed the P418 rifle and fire the grenade launcher several times at Rollins. The explosions rocked the entire base. The explosion also sent Deadpool flying through the air and crashing into one of the military trucks.

"What are you!?" Falcon had to fly up to avoid some of the blast while Captain and Colonel deployed their shields.

"We're alright!" Colonel America replied.

"Danger close, Deadpool," Captain berated.

"No such thing as danger close!" Deadpool laughed.

"You kill any friendlies, I'll put out your lights!" Captain warned.

Kazuto and Asuna coughed from the dust while Black Widow just put an arm over her mouth. Through the dust, Deadpool got up and continued firing at the remaining Hydra Stormtroopers that were knocked down by the explosion.

"You're kicking up excessive dust, you reckless moron!" Falcon yelled.

However, it was too late when Rollins came charging out of the dust and grabbed Deadpool by the throat.

"Urk!" Deadpool groaned.

"Rollin's found us..."

"You think?"

"I'm not merely Rollins anymore, mutant," Jack said in an uncharacteristically loud and boisterous voice as he drew his left arm back and produced a sharp needle from his left gauntlet. "I AM THE NEW RED SKULL!"

It was then Deadpool slapped Rollins in the face with a rubber chicken.

"Thought that m-might work..." Deadpool chuckled. Rollins, however, was unfazed as he stabbed Deadpool in the chest, with a sharp hiss sound.

"Aaahh! I'm being jabbed!" Deadpool yelled.

The Red Skull released Deadpool, who suddenly began to writhe in pain. "W-what's happening t-to ME!?"

"I've poisoned you..." The self-proclaimed Red Skull smiled.

Deadpool tried to smirk briefly, thinking that his immune system could overcome this... but now he knew something was deeply wrong.

"Wait... Why aren't we healing?"

"We've been observing you during your fights in the Second Civil War..." Red Skull laughed. "It's impressive that you have such advanced healing capabilities, which makes you an unstoppable foe... But no more..."

Red Skull suddenly jumped up.

Kazuto and Asuna briefly wondered where he was going... until they heard the ceiling crash in behind them. They turned around to see Red Skull behind them. Black Widow fired her pistols at him. But the bullets bounced harmlessly off his armor. He suddenly rushed her and knocked her down.

"Aahh!" Black Widow yelled. But she quickly got back up. Red Skull was about to make another attack when a white energy dome shielded Black Widow.

"Big mistake, little girl!" Red Skull drew his battle rifle and shot at Kazuto and Asuna. But the Yuuki girl was quick as she quickly materialized a small energy and blocked the bullets.

"Ugh!" Asuna felt herself fall to her knees. The rifle Red Skull used was more powerful. Kazuto quickly raised his rifle and fired into Red Skull's helmet.

"Urgh!" The armored Rollins stumbled back. Kazuto then gets up and charged towards him. Rollins aimed his rifle and fired, but Kazuto quickly dodged the bullets with ease.

Asuna dove behind cover and reloaded her rifle.

"Asuna! Let's get him out of here!" Kazuto yelled before he darted behind Rollins and fires at the back of the helmet. However, something unfolded from Rollins' left art and deflects the bullets. Kazuto's eyes widen as he sees that Rollins sports a folding shield. The very same that Captain America II uses. Only this shield is made of red energy.

"That trick won't work all the time!" Rollins laughed.

"We'll need Captain America for this!"

Black Widow tapped into her earpiece. "Colonel! Cap! We need help to lure Rollins out of here!"

It was then that a hard frisbee and shield came flying through the window. Hitting Rollins square in the chest and knocking him back. But he quickly recovered and ran out the window.

"Run!" Kazuto grabbed Asuna and the both of them jumped over the broken window outside. They took down any Hydra Stormtroopers they came across as Rollins charged both Colonel and Captain America.

"About time for a rematch, Steve Rogers!"

"A rematch that you'll lose..." Colonel America remarked.

"Surrender, Rollins," Captain America ordered as he held his rifle on him.

"It's the RED SKULL now, you Captain wannabe," Rollins mocked as he lashed out with an electric whip from his gauntlet. Captain America barely avoided getting slashed. Colonel America threw his shield at Rollins, but he simply knocked the Colonel's shield away. The new Captain America fired his M4v1 at the new Red Skull. He raised his shield to block the energy shots.

"This shield can deflect the most powerful repulsor weapons!" Red Skull gloated. He then raised up an under barrel launcher on his battle rifle. Colonel America sees this and jumps out of the way as Red Skull fires the launcher.

Kazuto and Asuna meanwhile checked their rifles for ammo.

"Not enough to fend off Hydra..." Asuna noted.

"True..." Kazuto agreed. They were down to only the magazines in their rifles and one spare each. It was then Kazuto remembers the Katana swords Deadpool gave him before the battle and checks them.

"He may be able to block our bullets with his shield, but I bet I can find a way to cut through that armor."

"As will I..." Asuna said. She took her right hand out and focuses all of her energy through it. Kazuto watched in wonder at what Asuna was doing. It was then he sees white energy materializing from her hand.

"A sword!? When could you do that!?" Kazuto was amazed and surprised. The energy beam takes in the form of a sword. It was almost the shape of her Rapier in SAO. The Lambent Light.

Asuna seemed to be a little amazed herself. "I... I didn't think it would work."

"But it did..." Kazuto smiled. Red Skull managed to get close to Captain America and the two went to martial blows. Red Skull displays a melee weapons that resembles both a baseball bat and a club. And it has energy arcs spiking from it. Captain countered with his shield and bayonet.

"Impressive that your shield can withstand my baton!" Red Skull exclaimed. Captain forced him back and slashed. Red Skull blocked with his gauntlet.

"You gotta do better than that!"

Captain America responded with a punch. Causing Red Skull to stumble back. But he recovered quickly and forced Captain America back on the defensive, with the new Captain grunting as he blocked the war club with his shield. It was clear that short-range combat was not Burke's forte.

"You're no match for me, Captain Wannabe!" Red Skull mocked.

"You now talk too much," Captain retorted as he unloaded six rounds from his 2011 into the armored mask.

Colonel America jumped up and slammed his shield against Red Skull. "I'd agreed..."

Red Skull glared at Colonel America. "You've cause so much trouble for Hydra! It ends right here!"

He lashed out with his electric whip. Colonel America narrowly dodges the whip attack. Captain tried to retrieve his rifle, but was forced to backflip from the whip cutting into the pavement.

"Too slow!" Red Skull laughed.

---

Dicey Café:

Everyone's attention was glued to the TV screen. The new Red Skull was tangling with the two Captain Americas of past and present.

"What happened to the other guy?" Randy asked, referring to Deadpool. "Don't tell me he actually killed him..."

"He can't really die..." Scott called out. "... Can he?" The hijacked drone zoomed out a bit to give viewers a wider view of the devastation.

"Oh my..." Keiko cupped her mouth in both shock and horror.

"Hey," Klein pointed out a faint red figure sprawled on the ground, "that Deadpool guy is down!"

"Why isn't he moving?" Tim asked. Starting to feel uneasy. However, most of the spectators were hooked to the sight of the two Captain Americas fighting the new Red Skull. They witnessed Red Skull's new abilities such as the energy shield, the club-like weapon, and the electric whip.

He was putting the new Captain on the defensive while the old Captain tried to get blows in with his shield and pistol. But Red Skull gets the upper hand. He ripped the shield out of Colonel America's hand.

"No!" Randy exclaimed in horror as Red Skull knocked down Colonel America.

"I can't watch this..." Momiji turned away from the TV screen and buried her face in Kenji's shoulder.

"Wait," Kenji exclaimed, "that Kirito and Asuna!?" Everyone turned to the Black Swordsman and Lightning Flash.

"How is Asuna doing that!?" Rika gasped. Kazuto was running with twin katanas drawn and Asuna had a light blade in her hand and rifle in the other. The two closed the distance with superhuman speed. They've begin slashing at Red Skull, causing him to stumble for a moment before lashing at them with the electric whip. But the teenage couple dodged his attacks.

"Wait, is that Asuna Yuuki?" A man asked.

"Y-Yes... That's Asuna..." Rika was stunned.

Rika was amazed that Asuna and Kazuto could actually move like superhumans in SAO. And now, Asuna's able to wield weapons made out of pure energy is new.

---

With Kouichirou:

The male Yuuki heir left the RECT office. The escort that Kikuoka sent had arrived.

"To Yokota Air Base!"

"Right away, sir..." The driver responded and the SUV drove away. "But you do understand that there is a state of emergency."

"Yes, I am aware... but I will see that my sister is safe."

"Very well then, sir..."

Kouichirou then noticed the armed soldier in the seat next to him.

"It's for protection..." The soldier said. "It is a hot situation still."

"I understand..." Kouichirou exhaled. "How soon will we arrive?"

---

Yokota Air Base:

Asuna sprayed the last of her M4v7's rounds at Red Skull for distraction. The rifle clicked empty and she discards it. The suit took some damage from the repulsor rounds and caused Red Skull to turn around. That allowed for Kazuto to close in. And he struck the armor's weak points with the twin Katanas. Red Skull flinched, but managed to backhand Kazuto.

"Aaahh!" Kazuto was sent flying through the air. But he landed on his feet and rebalanced himself.

"Meddling kids..." Red Skull growled, "you both will suffer for your insolence."

"I beg the differ..." Asuna retorted and drove her energy sword through the armor suit's shoulder.

"Tch!" The Red Skull jumped away as he clutched the damaged shoulder, feeling the skin nicked underneath. He suddenly had to raise his shield again as Colonel's shield and Captain America's pulsar fire raked it.

'This is our chance.' Kazuto thought as he and Asuna both slashed and stabbed at Red Skull's armor. Damaging it severely. Captain America followed up with more rifle shots at the gauntlets. One operational android attempted to assist its master, but Falcon diverted its fire with his own twin guns and the falcon-shaped drone called the 'Redwing'.

While all of this was happening, Black Widow dragged Deadpool behind cover. She took his mask off to examine him. He looked pale, paler than usual...

He was also labored in breathing.

"I-It's not t-that bad... Right?" Deadpool wheezed. Black Widow listened for Deadpool's pulse. It was dangerously faint and irregular.

"This isn't good..." Black Widow said with concern.

"H-how did... they crack it?" Deadpool wheezed.

"I don't know..." She answered. "But you're fading fast, and we need to get the poison out..."

The super soldier seized up.

It was then a male voice came from behind Black Widow... "You don't have to look far..."

Black Widow fingered her SIG Sauer pistol. "Who are you?"

"A friend... A friend of Wade's..." He answered as he stepped out of the shadows. He was well built and sports grey hair. Black Widow noticed that this mystery man sports a cybernetic left arm. The entire left side of his face and neck are cybernetic, as well as a cybernetic yellow eye in the left eye. He sported a large caliber bullpup assault rifle, though he was not in any defensive or offensive posture.

"May I ask who you are?" Black Widow asked.

"The name's Cable..."

"I'm an old friend of his from an old life." Cable knelt next to Deadpool. "Wade."

"H-Hey Cable..." Deadpool groaned. "H-Haven't seen you s-since the c-civil war..."

"You're fading fast due to the poison Rollins injected into you..." Cable explained. He then pulled an injector that resembles the EpiPen. He quickly jabs it into Deadpool's chest.

"Argh!" Deadpool grit his teeth.

"This will destroy the poison from the inside..." Cable said as he discards the empty injector. "Can't have him dying after coming this far."

Deadpool let out a weak chuckle... "You're always such a softie..." He gives a feeble 'thumbs up'. He then fainted.

"It'll take time for the poison to be completely destroyed..." Cable explained as he begins to pick up Deadpool. "Until then, he won't be participating in battles here on earth..."

"Where are you taking him?" Black Widow asked.

"Taking him to the Guardians... They got a few hideouts in the solar system..." Cable explained.

"The Guardians of the Galaxy?" Black Widow asked with a smirk. She hadn't seen them since the Civil War.

"Correct... the poison Hydra employed to destroy him is but one of many new technologies they have that is not of this planet," Cable explained. "Once that's taken care of, he'll return back to earth..."

Cable lifted Deadpool by the arm and slung him over his shoulder. He then pressed a button on his left wrist. A beam of blue light enveloped around Cable and Deadpool.

The two were then gone. Black Widow then turned her attention back to Red Skull.

The new Red Skull knelt on the ground, using his rifle to steady himself. He was surrounded by Captain, Colonel, Falcon, and Kazuto and Asuna. All of whom continue to attack him in all directions, hitting his weak points and disabling his armor with each strike.

After which, he seemed to stop moving.

Kazuto and Asuna came up next to Captain America. "He's stopped moving, Cap," Kazuto told him.

Captain America shook his head. "Maybe, but cornered beasts are still possibly dangerous."

"We won't let our guard down..." Kazuto agreed.

"We didn't come all this way with you to get jumped," Asuna muttered as she raised her light blade.

---

With Shouzou:

Shouzou Yuuki made his way through the city. He managed to keep a low profile to avoid attracting attention from both the news media and anyone who would recognize him.

'So far, so good...' He thought to himself. He had the army personal of Camp Zama drive him there.

"You do realize that the air base is a war zone. Right, Mr. Yuuki?" One of the soldiers asked.

"I understand that, but my daughter is in there risking herself to help your Captain," Shouzou told them, "now just drive."

"Yes sir..." The driver nodded.

The soldier guarding him huffed. "You Japanese are crazy..."

Shouzou shot a look back at the soldier. "What would you do if it was your child?" He asked. The soldier simply did not answer, putting on a stubborn, steely face. Shouzou Yuuki, likewise did the same.

He decided to focus his thoughts. Within seconds, he focused on the Yokota Air Base.

'Asuna, be alright...' He sensed the presence of his daughter with her beloved. The presences of both Colonel and Captain America. 'They're still alive. Good.'

The passed through traffic, both civilian and military.

'Kyouko, Asuna-chan is still alright,' Shouzou projected, 'and I'm on my way.'

'Please be careful...' Kyouko replied. 'The whole base is a warzone... Shouzou... our Asuna is fighting there with my powers.'

'I know, dear... I know... I could sense that,' Shouzou said to Kyouko, rather proud and amazed. 'I can also sense the powers of her husband too... He too, is a Gifted Man,' Shouzou described Kazuto, preferring that to the common 'Inhuman' lexicon.

'Anyway, I'm getting close to the Yokota Air Base...' He added. 'I can sense that the fighting is winding down in our new heroes' favor... but I doubt Hydra will give up so easily.'

'Okay...' Kyouko replied.

'And how are our bank accounts? Are they back under our control?' Shouzou asked, knowing of her concerns.

'From what our son has told us, our bank accounts are safe.' Kyouko answered.

'Good...' Shouzou said, 'at least we still have those to rebuild with... Hopefully... We'll recover from all this...'

Shouzou's escort car was then stopped by police and JSDF barricades and patrols. 'Looks like I am close. I have to go.'

'Okay, just be careful Shouzou...' Kyouko said.

A JSDF officer came up to the American Humvee driver. "We're still in the process of evacuating everyone within proximity of the Yokota Air Base... You're advised to turn around."

"We're actually taking part of the evacuation..." The American soldier explained. "It's important that we need to get through..."

"And our commanding officer is in the base," the soldier next to Shouzou with his rifle said, "we need to see that he is okay."

"I see..." The JSDF officer pondered. "You are Rangers then."

"That's correct..."

"Alright, move along... But be careful..." The JSDF officer stepped aside and waved his arm. The American Humvee continued driving towards the air base.

The armed soldier told Shouzou. "Stay close to us, old man. This is not going to be any walk in the park."

"Don't worry, son. I'll keep my head down..." Shouzou reassured him with a nod. He then projected his mind outward again. The battle in Yokota Air Base shows that Hydra's forces are getting thinned out. However, he then sensed something... like impending danger. It didn't take long to realize what's going to happen...

"We need to get to the base fast!" Shouzou said in a panicked tone.

"Mr. Yuuki, what-"

"No time for questions! They're in great danger!" Shouzou interrupted him.

---

With the Heroes:

"It's over, Rollins!" Colonel America called out. "Your forces have been crushed!"

"Disarm your armor and surrender," Captain America barked, "you are surrounded."

Rollins, or Red Skull, just laughed.

"I don't like this, Kirito-kun..." Asuna said in a worried tone.

"You fools," Red Skull laughed, "you have not yet won... I still got one card up my sleeve!"

Falcon looked up, and his eyes widened in shock. "Cap and Cap Two, we've got bombers overhead!"

Everyone looked up towards the sky and see bombers flying above them.

"Wait, where did they-" Colonel was interrupted by a bomb blast that landed close enough to send him and Captain to the ground. Kazuto and Asuna were knocked down to the ground after jumping out of the way. Asuna materialized a energy shield to protect herself and Kazuto from the bomb blasts.

Red Skull stood up glancing up towards an approaching Quinjet. No doubt that it was his ride out. He glared at the two American super soldiers and the two SAO survivors. "Consider this a prelude, Rogers... because the next time we meet, shall be the last time." He then gave Asuna a very hard glare. "You may have bewitched one of us once, but you will rue the day you ever crossed Hydra."

"You won't get that satisfaction!" Asuna responded, still holding up her energy shields. Red Skull just waved a hand dismissively as he pulled out a cable gun and fired upwards. The end of the cable blew up into a balloon which the Quinjet homed in on and snagged.

"This isn't over Rogers! You, your successor and your Japanese friends haven't seen the last of Hydra!" Red Skull shouted as he is hoisted up into the air.

"Of course he had a getaway plan," Captain coughed up dust.

Kazuto and Asuna slowly got up on their feet after the dust finally cleared. Kazuto saw the hijacked US bombers drop more guided bombs.

"We need to get out of here! Now!" He shouted. He grabbed Asuna's hand as the two ran for cover. The close impacts of several bombs made it clear that they were being targeted. Captain America and Colonel America both came up alongside the teens with their shields up against pelting debris. They see Black Widow running up to them, dodging bomb blasts and flying debris.

"Hydra's attack bot program just got more aggressive! Drones as far away as Korea are being hijacked!"

"We need to get to safety and fast!" Colonel America yelled.

---

With Iron Patriot II:

Iron Patriot II already finished evacuation the civilians out of the war zone before taking off into the sky and take down the unmanned F-16s. As he flew up, he could see cannon and missile fire over Tokyo Bay.

"Preston..." Iron Patriot thought as he kicked on the thrusters and flew towards Tokyo Bay. Preston held his own in his small and nimble Iron Man armor, but it was increasingly clear that he was outnumbered and on the defensive.

'Can't hold on for much longer...' Iron Man II thought. The F-16s could maneuver and fly faster without the limitations of human pilots. All of which were inspired from Anderson Tech Industries' early models. Most of the unmanned vehicles were used during the opening days of the Second Civil War by Anderson Tech Industries.

"Lieutenant Preston!" A repulsor blast took out an F-16 chasing him.

"Captain Anderson!?" Iron Man II asked as he turned to see the F-16 flaming and diving towards the bay.

"Thought you could use a hand!" Iron Patriot II laughed as he appeared beside him.

"Thanks, Captain," Iron Man II breathed. "... I thought I was a goner..."

The two engaged the remaining F-16s over the bay.

"You should know, Lieutenant, that the Iron Man suit has vibranium technology and armor..." Iron Patriot II pointed out.

"Yeah... still working on it," Iron Man II admitted sheepishly.

"It's alright, Preston..." Iron Patriot II laughed cheerfully. "You got plenty of time to work out the suit."

It was then that their radar beeped. More hostile signatures showed up from the east. As both Iron Patriot II and Iron Man II turned their attention towards the east, they see more unmanned fighter jets approaching them at full speed.

"F-18s!" Iron Man II shouted. The F-18s fired their missiles, but these were hyper-sonic interceptors that had much greater speeds than the standard AMRAAMs. Knowing this, Iron Patriot evaded and destroyed some coming towards him. However, Iron Man II was not as prepared, and two managed to hit and send him careening towards the water.

"Preston!" Iron Man dove towards Iron Man II while shooting down the interceptor missiles. However, this also meant that some of the hijacked aircraft passed him and were approaching over the city.

---

Cyberspace:

The AI trio, Trinity, Yui, and Strea frantically flew through the military network as more alarms started to go off.

"I'm getting reports that Yokota Air Base's being bombed." Yui stated.

Trinity checked, and frowned. Hydra's attack bot hijacked some unmanned B-2As on a test flight at high altitudes over Korea. And they've also hijacked several unmanned F-18s and are engaging over Tokyo Bay. It was clear that the situation was deteriorating fast.

"We need to move faster..." Trinity said as she guides the two AI sisters through the network. Yui looked around, and spotted something that did not seem to belong.

"Trinity... I'm detecting something within the codes..." Yui stated. "It could be one of the bots."

"Show me," Trinity told her.

Yui nods before raising her hands up and scanned the section of codes. Yui then shot a look in one direction.

"It's over there!" The little AI pointed her finger. "It's trying to get away!"

Trinity quickly raised her hands and scanned towards the Hydra bot. It then freezes in its tracks, not moving an inch. Trinity started to strain as she focuses on halting the Hydra bot.

"Let me," Strea drew her sword. She focuses on the Hydra bot's location before charging at it. The Hydra bot fired a laser-like weapon at Strea. But she quickly dodges the laser shots at high speed. Before the bot could fire, she slams her sword down, slicing the bot in half.

"One down!" Strea cheered.

"Don't celebrate just yet, Strea-nechan..." Yui called out. "I'm detecting more Hydra bots coming our way."

And sure enough, the AI trio spotted several more Hydra bots heading towards them. Trinity materialized an P418 rifle in her hands and takes aim. She fires. One of the bots gets hit and disappears in pixels.

"Alright, looks like we're shutting down the bots!" Strea cheered as she charged more of the bots while dodging their laser fire. She slashes her sword, taking down two bots at the same time.

Trinity produced a digital version of a Beretta 92FS. She looked to Yui. "Do you have a combat function?"

Yui nodded. "I do..."

Trinity then hands the Beretta pistol to Yui. "Make sure you don't hit me or your sister..."

"I won't, Trinity..." Yui said as she held the pistol in her tiny hands. Trinity produced another Beretta for herself. Meanwhile, Strea just took down another Hydra bot.

She giggled, "too easy!" She was then hit from behind. "Aaahh!"

"Strea!" Yui screamed before she took aim at the bot that hit her and destroyed it with a perfect shot. Trinity rapid fired and took out even more.

Strea got up on her feet.

"Strea!" Yui ran up to her big little sister while taking down several more with her off-hand precision shots. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine..." Strea groaned while rubbing her shoulder. "Just got caught by surprise..."

Yui put a hand to the damaged shoulder. Strea sighed in relief as she felt her shoulder being healed.

She then raised her sword again. "Let's wreck some bots, Sis."

Yui raised her Beretta 92FS pistol. "Sure thing, Strea." She smiled.

---

Yokota Air Base:

Colonel and Captain America, along with Black Widow and the Japanese teens, continue to run out of harm's way as the base continues to be bombarded by the hijacked bombers.

"What happened to the SAM batteries and our AA guns!?" Captain America wondered.

"Hydra probably sabotaged them!" Colonel America replied.

"Actually they were all blown up," Black Widow yelled, "the first wave spooked them!"

"Great! So now we have to keep ourselves from being blown up!" Captain America II gritted his teeth.

"Ah!" Asuna was startled as another bomb impacted, with Kazuto keeping a firm hold while Captain America II held up his shield against the shrapnel.

"Where are we suppose to go!?" Kazuto asked. Feeling the impact of another bomb hit the ground.

"We need an extraction," Captain America II yelled to Black Widow as he shielded his young charges. "Can't anyone from Delta Services fly in and extract us?!"

"We need to clear out the bombers first!" Black Widow answered. "And there's no telling if they'll go after our extraction!"

Colonel America shouted out, "Falcon!"

"Colonel!?" Falcon flies in zig-zag patterns to avoid getting hit by incoming bombs.

"Where is the Hitman Team!? Don't you have them with you!?"

"On the way, but the airspace is busy!"

"We can see that!" Captain America II pointed out. He felt the thud of a large bomb fragment impact his shield. It was then they see one of the bombs heading right towards them.

"Kirito-kun!" Asuna said reflexively as she put out a shield. The bomb impacted with a deafening roar, sending Kazuto, Asuna, and Captain America to the ground. Kazuto was slightly dazed, but shook it off. He glanced over to see Asuna groaning and clutching her head as though she had a migraine.

"Asuna!" Kazuto crawled over and cradled his wife.

"We got incoming!" Black Widow shouted while pointing up towards the sky. Kazuto looked up to see another bomb heading towards them. With Asuna down, she can't raise another energy dome. He pulled Asuna closer. He saw his life flash before him. He'd experienced this before while fighting against floor bosses and being betrayed by Kuradeel.

'This is it...' Kazuto shut his eyes, waiting for the end. However, he hears repulsor blasts firing, followed by an explosion mid-air. Colonel and Captain America raised their shields to protect themselves from the bomb's fragments. Kazuto slowly looked up to see that they're still alive.

"Alive?" Kazuto wondered. "But how-"

Everyone hears their earpieces crackling before a female voice called out. "Hey Colonel... I heard you and your friends need a little help..."

Captain America II, he had thrown himself over Kazuto and Asuna, lowered his shield. He saw a blue and white metallic figure holding the JDAM. "Patriot?"

"It's Jennifer Wakeman Anderson..." The blue/white female figure answered before hurling the JDAM up in the air and shoots it with her repulsor palms, detonating it. "But you can call me Jenny..."

Captain America blinked. "Mrs. Anderson?"

"That's right..." Jenny smiled.

Kazuto looked at this Jenny Anderson. While she appeared as a human female no doubt. Her appearance and the ability to fly was something. She sports a blue top with a matching biker shorts and combat boots. Her blue hair is short in pigtails and a matching blue eyes that shined like sapphires. She looked like a blue and white metallic angel.

"They'll be time for introductions later... Right now, gotta clear the airspace from hijacked jets." Jenny quipped before she turned around and fired more repulsor blasts at more bombs and flew up in the air to confront the hijacked bombers.

Falcon then got a buzz on his comms. "Hitman 1 to Falcon, sorry we are late."

"No worries..." Falcon joked. "In fact, you're just in time..."

Colonel and Black Widow got up to see five aircraft overhead. "Old Cap, the cavalry's here!" Falcon cheered as the five fighters streaked by.

"Finally..." Captain America II sighed at the sight.

Kazuto saw overhead that each of the jets had distinctive profiles. He also caught sight of the insignias on one of the jet's tails. The lead plane had a crown insignia.

---

In the skies:

"Hitman One, Monarch," the lead F-14D pilot called, "all wings report in."

"This is Hitman Two, Comic, reporting..." the female F-15 2040C Super Eagle pilot replied.

"Hitman Three, Diplomat," The MiG-29M Fulcrum-E pilot replied. "All systems are a go!"

"This is Hitman Four, Cipher, standing by..." The Su-27M Flanker pilot added.

"Hitman Five, Trigger, Right behind y'all..." The F-22C Raptor pilot called out.

"All weapons ready to fire, Monarch," President reassured from her back seat in the Tomcat.

"Alright. Now let's swat down some troublesome flies." Monarch ordered. He activated his fire control systems and targeting radar.

President glanced at the radar in front of her. "Tracking four F-16s with FCUs active..." She then adds. "And all of the civilians are evacuated. So no need to worry when we shot down the enemy jets."

"Still, let's not drop too large of wreckage on the city," Monarch reminded.

"Affirmative, Monarch. We'll draw out the enemy bogeys out over Tokyo Bay." President replied.

"Very well," Monarch decided, "Comic, Diplomat, on me. We'll tackle the bombers and the fighters around them."

"Roger that, Monarch." Comic chirped.

"Right by your side." Diplomat added.

"This is Cipher," the Russian pilot in the blue striped and grey Flanker called, "Trigger and I shall make short work of the fighters."

"Good. Hitman Squadron, break formation."

"Engaging bandits," Cipher said, "keep up with me, Rookie."

"On your six, Cipher." Trigger replied. The Su-27M Flanker and the F-22C Raptor break formation and headed towards the unmanned F-6 jets.

"It's just like in training, Trigger. Just make sure you don't get shot down..." Cipher reminded.

"I'll keep that in mind, Cipher..." Trigger replied.

"Alright, the unmanned jets just spotted us.."

Trigger got a four-target multi-lock on. "Tagging the targets now." He pressed the button on the flight stick and a missile left the underbelly of the jet.

"Hitman Five, Fox Three." The missile exploded mid-flight, but four streams of smoke jettisoned from the cloud and struck the unmanned jets.

"I'll draw fire," Cipher soared past, drawing the other jets behind him.

'Alright, I've taken down four jets. Still got more to take care of...' Trigger thought to himself. He pulls the trigger, firing the 20-mm M61A2 Vulcan cannon at one of the unmanned jets. The rounds hit the jet's fuel tank, setting it ablaze.

Cipher continued his maneuvering. Four unmanned F-16s are in hot pursuit. But Cipher's Su-27M had super maneuverability as its defense. He dives down, spun in a corkscrew and pulled off a G-force turn. The unmanned jets tried to keep up.

"Hey Trigger, pick off some of these things, will ya!?"

"On it, Cipher!" Trigger replied as he took out two more with the Vulcan cannon fire. Trigger had both super maneuverability and stealth, allowing him to keep up while being a lower profile on the drones' targeting systems. As he took down the third drone, it exploded and descended towards the ground in flames.

"Yeehaw!" Trigger whooped as he and Cipher pulled up low to the ground.

---

On the ground:

Kazuto covered his face from the dust kicked up by the F-22 and Su-27. Asuna groaned as the migraine subsided. Kazuto had to shield her face from the dust as well.

"What hit me?" Asuna asked slowly.

"A two-thousand pound JDAM that can kill within four hundred yards," Captain America II answered.

Kazuto rubbed Asuna's head. "Honey, are you okay?"

"I... I'm fine, Kirito-kun..." Asuna gazed up to Kazuto's eyes... "But this headache is unbearable..."

"You managed to protect us... But it rendered you unconscious..." Kazuto explained as he continued to cradle Asuna.

"Let me look at her," Captain asked.

"Sure..." Kazuto moved back as the new Captain America examines her.

He pulled out a flashlight and turned it on low. "Look into the light."

Asuna did as she was told. Her pupils seemed to respond normally as Captain examined them. "No indications of concussions... at least short term..."

He continued examining her. He checked her nostrils for any nose bleeds. He sees nothing... "Looks like she'll be fine," Captain told Kazuto, "but I say that we find her a medic to be safe."

"Okay..." Kazuto sighed in relief. Asuna blinked a few times. Kazuto was glad that his beloved wife's alright. Asuna's migraine continues to subside.

It was then that Jenny landed next to Captain America. Kazuto got a closer look at this Jenny now that she's on the ground. And, to his surprise, Jenny wasn't encased in an armored suit as her face appeared human. And neither was her body. Instead of armored platings like the Iron Man and Iron Patriot suits, her body appears to be a real human body. Despite the chalk-white skin and blue hair and eyes. He also glanced at the navel on her stomach. It resembles a blue bolt...

"Everyone okay?" Jenny asked.

"We're fine..." Colonel America answered.

Black Widow on the other hand seemed to smirk. "Took you long enough."

"It took longer to get here from Frankville..." Jenny joked. "Even when I was going at Mach 9..."

"Wait... you're intelligence too?" Captain America II asked.

"You could say that, Captain Burke..." Jenny smirked. "...and I thought you were supposed to keep my husband out of trouble, not get in trouble."

Captain America II shook his head. "It wasn't like I was looking for it..."

"Well, you've found it..." Jenny replied. Asuna turned her attention to Jenny and examined her from head-to-toe.

"You... you're a robot," Asuna realized.

"That's correct, Miss Yuuki... Or should I say, Mrs. Kirigaya..." Jenny smiled. She had a cute smile similar to Asuna's.

Asuna blushed and put a hand to her beating chest. Kazuto could not fight back a grin at what Jenny said.

"Although..." Jenny continued. "You two are a bit young to be married... But, I guess that you two love each other so much..." She giggled.

"Hey," Asuna pouted, "I'm seventeen!"

"I'm not saying it's a bad thing..." Jenny smiled while raising her hands. "I just think it's cute and admirable."

Kazuto couldn't help but admire how flustered Asuna is. He's glad that she quickly recover from the bomb's impact. "Safe to say," Kazuto laughed, "age will not be a problem for long for both me and Asuna."

"Kazuto!" Asuna squeaked and blushed heavily. Jenny giggled at the young couple's moment.

"Uh... I love that you're enjoying the young Japanese couple's company..." Captain America II cut in. "We still got Hydra bombers trying to kill us."

"No problem, Captain. The shields I'm equipped are from Wakanda..." Jenny reassured him. To prove this, she activates the device from her shoulders and the blue-like energy glow surrounded them in a blue dome. More JDAMs fell and slammed against the blue energy dome. However, they held better, and the bombs exploded harmlessly around them. Falcon moved out of the way as the JDAM bombs detonated.

"Whoa! That was close!" Falcon gasped. He flew up to avoid more shrapnel. As the smoke cleared, he can see the blue dome appear below him. "Everyone alright down there?"

"We're fine, Sam..." Colonel America replied. Falcon looked up at the aerial battle above him. Hitman Team was still engaging the drones.

---

In the skies:

"It's difficult to get a radar lock," Prez was frustrated, "the B-2s have stealth."

"We'll just use the guns and rockets to take out the engines." Monarch replied as he fires the 20-mm cannon at one of the B-2's engines.

"Cover Monarch and Prez," Comic prompted, "and don't miss, Dip."

"I never miss..." Diplomat retorted. Dip fired his 30-mm one of the drones trying to approach Monarch, shredding the computer module and aircraft.

"Another drone has bit the dust!" Diplomat cheered. He then moved to the next drone and fired the 30-mm guns, taking out another drone.

Another burst from Monarch's cannon caused the target engine on the bomber to divert. "Hopefully the emergency landing codes are intact..."

As he took out another engine, the B-2 then diverted away from the Yokota ruins.

"I can confirm an emergency landing signal," Prez said, "it's gliding towards Atsugi."

"Any civvies in the area?" Monarch asked.

"Well if my calculations are correct..." Prez examined her computer built into her cockpit, "that bomber should either land or crash land well within the perimeter of Atsugi."

"Let's hope the Naval Air Facility is contacted and they ground the bomber..."

Dip found himself chasing a particularly difficult drone. "I can't get a good shot of this drone!" He groaned. He twisted and turned sharply to stay on his target. But the drone's pulling off maneuvers like a professional pilot. Diplomat had to be careful of not letting stray shots while trying to hit the drone.

As the two went into a climb, a Russian-built missile slammed into the drone. A startled Dip leveled out as Cipher zipped past him. "Too slow in the MiG, American."

"I was lining it up for a perfect shot..." Diplomat rolled his eyes. "You stole my kill, Cipher."

"You were taking so long to do it." Cipher laughed. "So, I thought I'd help out..."

Trigger was flying as spotter when the F-18 drones showed on radar. "Monarch, Comic, ten Navy drones approaching at Mach 1 from heading one-four-zero, altitude five thousand!"

"Copy that, Trigger." Monarch replied. "Comic's making her way over right now."

It was then Trigger noticed the radar's lack of enemy blimps, then it started to glitch. He quickly reports to Monarch. "The F-18 drones are using stealth and jamming technology! I'm not picking them up on the radar! Comic! Be advised when coming in!"

"I see them... why did it have to be the Omegas?" Comic bit.

"Let's focus on taking them down." Trigger reassured her.

"Easy for the guy with the latest stealth fighter to-shoot, they're firing!" Comic banked hard.

Trigger focused on one of the F-18s and fires the 20-mm cannon. But the F-18H Omega was a nimble aircraft, and evaded, shooting past Trigger.

'A crafty drone...' He thought before banking right and is in pursuit. Trigger attempted to get a lock, but the Omega Hornet had super maneuver capabilities and jamming abilities well beyond the original Super Hornet. Trigger knew that he'll have to use the guns in order to bring it down. But with the drone banking and twisting makes it difficult.

Comic was in an intense fight as two of the Navy drones locked on. She banked, dove, and twisted to avoid cannon/missile fire. "Get them off me, Monarch and Prez!"

"Hang in there, Comic!" Monarch replied.

"Arming Sidewinders," Prez said.

"Alright, I see you, Comic." The seasoned F-14 pilot tried to get a missile lock, but the heat signatures of the thrusters were made small and difficult to target.

"Can't get a lock-on." Monarch growled.

"Then at least throw them off with the 20-mm before they kill Comic," Prez advised.

Monarch readies the 20-mm and focuses on the F-18Hs. He fired off a burst, careful not to hit Comic. It was then, he sees smoke from one of the F-18Hs.

"Comic! Evade!"

Comic pulls off a G-force turn.

"Flares, flares!" She called out as she strained her F-15 to evade the Sidewinder. It detonated, and still caused damage to her left engine. "I'm hit! Left engine fire!" The F-15 pilot struggled a bit, but got it under control. "Extinguishing fire!" Comic was still able to fly, but was now down a thruster as she was forced to extinguish it.

"Monarch, you gotta take out the Hornet!" Prez called out. It was then that Cipher came to the rescue, firing his heat seekers, forcing the Hornets to break off with flares.

"Looks like you three need help too." Cipher laughed.

"Don't forget me," Trigger said as he launched another cluster missile, causing three Omega Hornets chasing Dip to disengage.

"Of course, who would forget you?" Cipher joked.

---

On the ground:

"Glad that everyone's alright..." Jenny commented as the energy dome continued to shield them.

"Thanks Mrs. Anderson," Captain America II breathed hard.

Kazuto cradled Asuna and stroked her forehead to comfort her. "We'll remain here until the bombing's stopped." He cooed.

"Yui and Strea..." Asuna remembered, "they should be disabling the attack program..."

"Let's hope they disable it in time..." Kazuto agreed. The muffled explosions are heard as the bombs continued to pound the shield with zero effect.

Colonel America looked to Jenny. "How is your charge for the shield holding up?"

"It's holding up fine..." Jenny answered. "It's powered by the Arc Reactor and Wakandan technology..."

"I should be able to withstand most conventional ordinance."

"Bunker busters!" Black Widow called out. Jenny looks up to see the bunker buster heading towards them. She quickly aimed her palm repulsors at it and fires. The repulsor ray destroys the bunker buster with ease as she quickly closes the dome.

"Easy..." However, Jenny spoke too soon as an Omega Hornet swooped in with another volley of bunker busters. They impacted with a noticeable strong electric arc. Jenny seemed to strain a little. The shield held, but flickered.

"Darn... those were the newer busters made for shorting out energy shields," Captain America II grunted.

"Well... Let's hope your kids shut down Hydra's program soon..." Jenny strained.

---

Cyberspace:

Strea and Yui double teamed the attack bots, with Strea slashing away while Yui shot her 92FS at those blasting lasers. Trinity took down several attack bots while, at the same time, begins locating the program.

"These bots are just a distraction... the real virus is deep inside!"

"You want us to retreat with you?" Yui asked after taking down another attack bot.

"We have to push through, Yui," Trinity prompted, "we've wasted enough time on these bots!"

"Trinity's right, Yui..." Strea agreed. Then a new weapons materializes in her hands, and assault rifle appeared before her. "The longer this goes on, the more danger Mom, Dad, and the Captain will be in," Strea gestured with a digital SCAR-L.

Trinity reloads her rifle before she turned to Yui. "Yui, you push through while we cover for you. End this quick."

"I'm on it, Trinity..." Yui then materialized a Tavor bullpup rifle with the repulsor attachment and opens up on the attack bots. "Leave Mommy and Daddy alone!" Bot after bot fell before them. Yui blasted through the swarms with Trinity and Strea covering for her, zipping past towards the source of the hacking that she detected. As they get closer, they sensed that all of the attack bots are now clustering together.

Yui glared at the source virus, which resembled an octopus with a skull for a face.

"There is is... The source..." Trinity said. Her rifle then disappeared and in their place, a M60 light machine gun with a Six12-style cylinder barrel underneath the handguard.

"There's so many of these bots around it," Strea whined.

Trinity looked around, and spotted some deactivated defense bots for the military network. She then smirked. "Then let's even it out!" Both Trinity and Yui begins hacking into the deactivated bots. Within moments, they turned on and being attacking the Hydra attack bots. Laser fire and counter-hacking attacks followed as the Hydra bots were forced on the defensive.

"While the Hydra bots are distracted..." Trinity said before she opened up with her light machine gun. Repulsor bullets struck down half of the Hydra bots. Combined with the grenade launcher blasts from the under barrel weapon.

"Yui, destroy that virus!" Strea yelled as she fired away.

Yui takes aim at the octopus-like virus and fired. The shots were met with a shield, but that only incensed Yui to keep it up.

'There's got to be a weak spot in the shield.' The little AI thought. She scanned it, and what she found was encouraging. "Or I overcome it with superior processing power!"

She focused on hitting various points against the shield. The shield began to falter, and with one final blow, Yui blew it apart. She then summoned her Object Eraser, the same giant sword from when she destroyed the Fatal Scythe. She floated up into the air with the Object Eraser in hand and floats towards it. With a firm expression, Yui raised her sword over her head, and with a leap, she brought it down on the ugly avatar of Hydra's malevolence.

The sword sliced through the skull with ease. The tentacles tried to block the attacks, only for them to be sliced off in one, swift move. The skull-octopus was split in two and set aflame before bursting into particles. And in that moment, all of the Hydra bots shut off and begins dissolving.

"Yippee! You did it Yui!" Strea was squealing. After Yui floated back down, Strea ran up and hugged her little big sister. Trinity watched as the system maintenance program started to restore the cyberspace. "Virus infiltration neutralized... resetting systems to optimal operation parameters in T-minus ten minutes."

"We should be retaking the drones in no time..." Trinity said with confidence... "I do hope that Anderson, Rogers, and the others are still holding up..."

---

In the real world ~ Tokyo, Japan:

"Monarch, look!" Prez pointed out of the canopy at one of the Omega Hornet drones. They see one of them suddenly stopped chasing Diplomat. The radar lock warnings also ceased. One by one, all of the unmanned drones stopped attacking and banked away. Monarch and Prez also saw the second B-2A also close up its bomb doors and bank away from the airbase. The one that was damaged landed at the Naval Air Base in Atsugi.

"Hey, what's up all of a sudden?" Dip asked.

"If I know any better..." Monarch smiled. "I think we've retaken the unmanned drones..."

"I was just getting to enjoy the target practice," Trigger joked.

"And I was getting used to rescuing all of you..." Cipher laughed.

"Stealing kills more like it," Comic groaned.

"You're a real speed demon," Dip added.

"You're all welcome..." Cipher laughed.

---

On the ground:

Captain America and the Colonel exhaled in relief when the bombing stopped.

"It's about time..." Jenny sighed in relief and deactivates the shield. "I think that blast just heated my generators to 201.7 degrees Fahrenheit..." Jenny sighed as she vented heat from her shoulders. "I should stop by and get those upgrades..."

"Mrs. Anderson," Captain America II tended to her as a gentleman, "we need to get you to safety and checked, ma'am."

It was then he hears his earpiece crackling. "Thank you for the offer... But I can take it from here..."

"Doc? Where are you?" Captain asked.

"We're coming back from Tokyo Bay..."

Captain America did a double-take. "We?"

It was then, another voice is heard. "Yep. Lieutenant Jack Preston reporting for duty, sir."

Everyone looked towards the sky and they see two armored figures approach them and they land next to them. Their face plates removed to reveal their faces.

"Captain..." Iron Man II smirked.

"Colonel," Iron Patriot II greeted as he and Iron Man II saluted their respective senior officers, who reciprocated.

"Iron Man," Captain America addressed, "you weren't given mobilization orders."

"You were in danger, sir..." Iron Man explained. "So, I made the decision to come to your aid..."

"Hmm... looks like I've got to cover for your iron rear again," Captain hummed. He then looked to Kazuto and Asuna helping each other up.

"Hey, Thomas..." Jenny called out in a honeyed tone.

"Hey, Jenny..." Patriot smiled.

"I thought you were trying to bail Captain America out of trouble," Jenny teased.

"I did... But you know Hydra..." Patriot shrugged.

"Yeah... I know," Jenny sighed. "I'm just glad that you're safe..."

"And let me guess... Fury?" Patriot asked his wife.

"You bet..." She giggled. "By the way, the kids are alright. Mom's with them, as well as your cousin, Jackson..."

Kazuto and Asuna then found themselves looking up to the three men representing America's modern hero icons, two of them being the same icon past and present.

"They're sure full of surprises..." Kazuto whispered to Asuna.

"Yes," Asuna agreed, "and now we are standing with them."

"So... Kazuto Kirigaya and Asuna Yuuki," Colonel America began...

"Yes?" The two Japanese teens asked in sync.

Colonel smiled a bit. "It looks like you two have some real gifts."

"That we do, Colonel..." Kazuto smiled.

Captain America however, was more concerned. "That maybe so, Colonel... but you two do realize that after this, there is no turning back."

"We understand..." Asuna agreed. She knew what Captain America meant.

"I thought you two would have known better," Captain sighed, "but I suppose we are in this for the long haul."

"We couldn't just sit back and let you get killed..." Asuna explained.

"And besides," Kazuto shrugged, "Asuna and I got their Supreme Commander mauled up and in jail. Even if we could go back to our normal lives, we knew Hydra was not going to leave us alone."

"And so, we'll have to be ready whenever Hydra decides to reveal themselves..." Asuna continued.

"Miss Yuuki-" Captain tried to dissuade Asuna.

"Hydra ruined the world with the Sokovia Accords and reaped chaos from the world.." Asuna interrupted. "They've caused so much pain and suffering... And they attacked my friends and family... They've started this war... And now, we're gonna finish it..."

"And we know what you're about to say," Kazuto added, "but we've never been normal since November 6th, 2022, and we certainly cannot go back to normal after everything that has happened. Not yet at least." He clenched a fist.

It was then Iron Patriot II spoke up. "You're correct, Kazuto... I know how you two felt..."

"Doc..." Captain America II voiced up, "they're kids..."

"Not that much different from what you were then, Captain," Iron Patriot II reminded. "When the Second Civil War began... And when Texas was overrun by the Pacifican Army."

Captain America II was silent.

It was then Black Widow broke the silence. "Perhaps we could take this somewhere..."

Suddenly the sound of a helicopter broke into the conversation. Captain looked up, and saw a US Army Chinook break through the smoke.

"Looks like the calvary's here..." Iron Patriot remarked. "Although, a little bit late if you ask me..."

As the Chinook landed, Captain America and Iron Man recognized the soldiers of Howler 7-1.

Ramirez stepped out from the Chinook's rear ramp. "You guys alright?"

"We've been given emergency orders to secure Captain America and the site!"

"The site's been secured..." Captain America II replied. "All of Hydra Stormtroopers have been eliminated..."

"But of course, Rollins has escaped..." He added.

Ramirez did a double-take. "Rollins?"

Captain America II nodded. "He's the new Red Skull."

"Red Skull? For real?"

"Yes," Captain nodded. He then waved towards the headquarters, "but securing headquarters is top priority."

"Right... You and the others will be transported to Camp Zama..." Ramirez said.

Meanwhile, Damion offloaded from the helicopter with the rest of 7-1. He then spotted Kazuto and Asuna standing behind the Captain as he talked with Ramirez. Kazuto looked over and spotted Damion.

"That's!" Kazuto realized. "Private Burton!"

Asuna then looked to where Kazuto's pointing. "Oh... Damion Burton..." She was surprised to see him so soon after his injury. "Wasn't he..." She trailed off.

It was then that she remembered. Deadpool injected him with an advanced serum that saved him from death.

"Speaking of which..." Asuna looked around for Deadpool. But he was nowhere to be found. "What happened to him?" After looking around and seeing no trace of him, Asuna just shook her head and walked up to Kazuto and Damion.

"Hey, Asuna..." Damion greeted her. "I thought ladies like you had enough of this."

"Saw your Captain in trouble and we decided to help him..." Asuna answered. "We couldn't let Hydra kill the next Avenger."

Kazuto huffed confidently as he pumped a fist. "We had the means to look after him and ourselves, as you probably saw from the Hydra feeds."

"We all did..." Damion nodded. He looked around as the Howler soldiers begin securing what's left of Yokota Air Base and sighed. "Hydra sure made a mess here..."

"Private, focus!" A corporal called out to him.

Damion grunted. He then remembered Philia. "Oh, Kazuto? How's Philia doing?"

"Kotone? She's doing fine..." Kazuto answered. "She's still thinking about you..."

"Kotone... so that's her real name..." Damion realized. He then asked, "hey, could you pass something along to her?"

"Sure..." Asuna smiled.

"I'd just like to give her my personal gamer-tag and email to contact her by," Damion said, "it bugged me that I had no time."

"We'll make sure that she receives your gamer-tag and email address." Asuna smiled.

"Private!" The corporal across from Damion called again. "Quit chatting with those teens and get to work!"

"Got it, sir!" Damion stammered. "I gotta go. Tell Kotone I said 'Hi' as well..."

"Quickly then," Kazuto drew out his phone. He texted the young soldier's gamer-tag and email address to Kotone. As Damion walked up, another group of soldiers walked up to Kazuto and Asuna with their weapons. "You two! Halt!"

"Uh oh..." Kazuto groaned. "Base security..."

"You two are under arrest!"

"For what?" Asuna asked. Although, it was obvious.

The sergeant in charge of the soldiers barked, "you both are in violation of US military property, and will be detained for questioning!"

"If I may?" Colonel America asked as he stepped in. "These two risked their lives to save the life of Captain Burke..."

Surprisingly Captain America II also stepped in. "These two young Avengers are with me," he suddenly said, "I take responsibility for these two as well. Stand down sergeant."

"What my captain said," Iron Man II said.

"I vouch for Colonel Rogers, Captain Burke, and Lieutenant Preston here..." Iron Patriot II cut in. The old sergeant seemed to stare at the superhero officers who now stood between him and his suspects. Seeing the new Captain America and Iron Man stand next to the intruding teens, the sergeant raised a hand. The military police lowered their rifles.

---

Dicey Café:

"It's hard to believe they've made it through all that..." Rika sighed in relief. Before the feed cut out, everyone got to see the end of the bombing attacks as the drones started to leave the area.

"Yui and Strea managed to retake control of the drones..." Alex wiped sweat from his forehead.

"But... there was still so much destruction," Suguha was deflated.

"I know, Sugu..." Alex held her. "

"Who was that woman in blue and white?" Klein asked.

"Don't know," Andrew shrugged, "another Iron suit?"

"She looked too human to be another Iron suit..." Klein observed. "She almost looks like Hatsune Miku... The Vocaloid..."

The rest of the crowd started to order food from Andrew and Trish for early lunch as the news networks started to come back online.

"Looks like we'll be having lunch here as well..." Alex chuckled, trying to cheer up Suguha.

"And at least Kazuto and Asuna are alright," Midori said, "and they have Captain America by their side."

"Don't forget Colonel America..." Scott adds.

Rika gave Suguha a friendly bump, "and hey, your brother and sister-in-law totally kicked butt on TV!"

"I've never seen Asuna materializing a sword with just energy alone!" She added.

Suguha then began to cheer up.

"There's the cute Sylph princess warrior I know and love..." Alex cooed. He pecks Sugu's cheek. "Don't worry about them, Sugu," Alex assured, "and I'm sure your dad will make sure of it."

Kotone's phone clinged. "Hey, what's this from Kazuto?"

This got the attention of Momiji and Nijika.

It was then Kotone gasped in surprise. "He said that he's met Damion at the air base..."

"... he's securing the base with the rest of his unit." She continued. "And he's given me his gamer-tag and email address..."

"Really?" Momiji smiled.

"So you can talk to him," Nijika beamed.

Suddenly, Kotone gasped with a hand to her mouth with widened eyes. "No way..."

"What is it?" Momiji asked.

"Something's got her surprised," Kenji stated.

"I... I know Damion from before," Kotone realized as she saw the gamer tag... ".. Dex..."

"You know him?" Nijika asked, "from where?"

Kotone then revealed. "He's an old online friend from America before I signed on for Sword Art Online. He and I used to play together with the older MMRPG games and talk a lot."

This gets Rika's and Keiko's attention.

"Really?" Keiko gasped.

"Hold up." Rika waved her hand. "You're saying that you had a guy friend from the States and you didn't mentioned him?"

Kotone nodded. "I met him about a year or so after I got my first computer game for my tenth birthday..."

"Wow... That's amazing..." Keiko beamed.

"Dex... Damion told me that he got into computer gaming because he wanted to become a game designer in the future," Kotone said, "he said one time that he often had to play from his tree house in his backyard because his strict father did not like computer games."

"That's tough..." Momiji commented.

"I know guys whose dads are like that," Haruto mentioned.

"Really?" Nijika turned to her boyfriend.

"Yeah... the old order kind of dads who continue to think that all games are like drugs..." Haruto said.

"Same here..." Kenji shook his head.

Kotone then continued, "he and I then got into all sorts of games... We became the best of friends, and Dex even said that when he became a designer and earned enough money, he would come to Japan to meet me."

"Did he keep in touch with you during the civil war?" Momiji asked.

It was then that the treasure hunter had a saddened expression. "I lost contact with him... and I never heard from him again. I thought that either he had been forced into hiding or... or something really bad happened."

"So that's why you never mentioned him..." Rika felt sympathy for her.

"But still," Kotone suddenly lit up with happiness, relief, and surprise, "I can't believe Dex is still alive!"

"And in the US Army even..." She added with excitement.

"Wow... talk about a twist of fate," Nathan whistled.

"Hey," Nathan told Kotone, "if he made it into Howler Platoon, I'm sure he is more than capable of taking care of himself. I'm sure you saw his mettle in ALO."

"True..." Kotone giggled.

"Hey Kotone," Haruto laughed, "you get the best of both worlds... a geeky gamer and a military man in one."

"You're right..." Kotone laughed. "Now that he'll be even more interesting..."

Alex and Suguha overhead this.

"It's hard to believe Kotone's got a crush long before SAO..." Alex commented in surprise.

"And wait... this Damion guy is the same guy from then?" Suguha asked.

"Apparently so..."

Suguha could not help but feel a bit happy that some good came out of this morning's battle.

"Now... That set aside..." Alex chimed. "What do you want for lunch, Suguha?"

---

Washington DC:

Sharon Carter entered into the Oval Office. "Mr. President... we just got word that the Hydra infiltration has been repelled," she said.

"That's good news..." Wilson sighed. "And of Captain Burke?"

"Alive," Sharon brought up a holo-display. "Hydra tried to catch him by surprise. But both Colonel Rogers and Captain Anderson thwarted the attack twice..."

"And not to mention that we had two Delta Service operatives acting as disguised protection."

"And a third that arrived during the bombing of the base..." Sharon added.

Bruce then asked, "do we have any live feed of what's happening now?"

The holo-display shows the Howler platoon securing the remains of the air base, which is in complete ruins. Bruce was perturbed to see an American base in an allied country so thoroughly leveled.

"How many were killed?" He then asked.

"It's too early to say," Sharon said with a headshake, "but a lot of the base's aircraft and headquarters assets were damaged or destroyed. It'll take time to go through the rubble..."

Bruce Wilson was then showed some helmet cam footage from one of the Howler Platoon Rangers on the ground. He can see Colonel Rogers and Captain Burke in their Colonel/Captain America uniforms in view. And he also sees Captain Anderson in his Iron Patriot armor suit along with the new Iron Man.

"The Kirigaya boy and Yuuki girl are there as well," Bruce mused. He then asked Sharon. "Was there any reason why they were there in the first place?"

"I don't know, but from the footage we've seen, they both display Inhuman traits," Sharon said as she used a remote to produce the relevant recordings.

Wilson watched as he witnessed both the Kirigaya boy and the Yuuki girl display newfound abilities. Asuna materializing energy shields by sheer willpower while Kazuto showed experienced abilities with the assault rifle. Then he saw the two alongside Captain America taking on the new Red Skull. He even witnessed Asuna wielding a sword made out of pure energy and using it to make critical strikes against Red Skull's armor. Kazuto likewise showed superhuman strength and speed using two katanas to slash up the armor while Captain America bogged the Red Skull down with gunfire.

"Impressive..." Wilson said to himself.

Sharon herself looked on in fascination. While she had seen plenty of super-powered beings, it was rare to see ones as young as Kazuto and Asuna.

As the fight begins to wind down, Red Skull appeared to be on the verge of defeat.

"That was just before the Red Skull escaped and the final bombings of the base started," Sharon paused the video.

"And I assume that the camera feed was cut when the bombs fell..." Wilson deduced.

"Correct, sir..." Sharon nodded. "Hydra did continue to broadcast from a hijacked recon drone, but that stopped once the virus was eliminated from our systems."

Wilson sighed. It was unbelievable that Hydra managed to sneak into the Pentagon and install a virus within their military network.

"Sharon, I want all our aircraft with remote capabilities across Japan and Korea grounded at once. We cannot have another episode of this."

"It's already been done, sir... As soon as the network was cleaned up, the Pentagon issued emergency orders to all the airbases in Japan and Korea to have the drones on the ground," Sharon finished.

"Good... Anything else to report?" Wilson then asked.

"General Burke and Colonel Logan are also here to see you as you have asked," Sharon said.

"Very well, send them in..."

General Burke was the first to walk in and salute. "Mr. President."

"General Burke..." Wilson saluted. He sees Colonel Logan walking in and saluting.

"Mr. President..." Colonel Logan greeted.

"Have a seat, both of you," President Wilson prompted to the seats in front of the Resolution Desk.

"As you are aware of the threat Hydra now poses..." Colonel Logan began. "I've taken the time to observe the possibility of creating a multi-national special ops group to deal with Hydra and other threats..."

Logan then produced a new Hydra dossier that was submitted by Nick Fury, with footnotes that he made based on additional intelligence gathered since the ALO Incident. Wilson takes the dossier and opens it.

The threat of Hydra's presence in Japan remains high, it read. However, there's evidence that Hydra has ties with other factions. The Templar of the Fourth Turning, and the Ten Rings. It also connected Hydra to other possible suspects based on how ALO was to be distributed in each of the major targeted countries, including the United States, Russia, and the Chinese States. There was also evidence of the Templar and the Ten Rings smuggling captured weapons and technology to Hydra. However, the exact details of the cargo remains a mystery.

But it was clear from the details that Hydra worldwide was using Japan as its new nexus from which to conspire to cripple its enemies and attain its New Order. Also, with Japan as part of the Axis during the Second World War, it'll make sense that the citizens of Japan would have a hard time coming with terms of Hydra controlling Japan since 2014.

"As you can see, Mr. President," Logan continued, "Hydra has positioned itself very well up to now. With Japan's neutral political status, it would be difficult for any other nation to attack them without serious diplomatic and humanitarian fallout."

"And we've been totally blindsided by their capabilities to attack our forces from within," Wilson sighed.

"Which is why we should have the Joint Strike Force team be assembled to deal with this threat..." Logan continued.

General Burke then presented, "we've started working with our military counterparts from other allied countries and interested powers we could get on board to agree on a joint task force of the most qualified candidate soldiers we could identify."

President Wilson looks through the dossier and find the names of candidates for the Joint Strike Force team. A few stood out to him... One, in particular, sports a mohawk hairstyle and a tattoo on his neck.

Mattias Nilsson, a Swedish male of the age of thirty-five. He holds the rank of Sergeant of the Swedish Armed Forces. He was Special Forces, often going into places diplomatically untenable for the neutral northern European country. He had a record of minor offenses, particularly minor insubordination and non-compliant grooming styles, but his accomplishments and good relations with his fellow soldiers saved him from court-martial more than once.

It also reads that Nilsson's specialty is demolitions. Mainly known for his actions during the Second Korean War back in 2024. While his mission was only to protect and evacuate Swedish citizens and assets, unsubstantiated reports and rumors suggested that he had done his share of unconventional direct action against North Korean special forces. While it made the situation somewhat better for the US Armed Forces and the Republic of Korea Armed Forces. It also gotten the Chinese States involved.

Shaking his head, Bruce moved on. He then saw the profile of the famed British SAS leader, Major John Price. A man of the age of 42 who served the 22nd Special Air Services of the British Army. During the British Revolution, he was amongst of the army who sided with the rebels and helped overthrow the previous government after the fall of the United Nations in late-2018/early-2019. While he had been on the hunt for the dangerous former Russian soldier, Vladimir Makarov, members of the previous government sought to have him killed to cover up for their funding Makarov to have Inhumans killed or captured for illegal experiments.

After the new government formed in Britain, as well as the reforms of the Republic of Britain Armed Forces, Price was promoted to help rebuild the nation from the devastation of the war. This also includes assist the Free States coalition during the Second American Civil War.

He then moves to another candidate. Viktor Reznov, a man in his mid-thirties and holds the rank of Captain of the Russian Federation Armed Forces. He was Russian Airborne Troopers, who served in a number of border skirmishes along Russia's southwest and southern borders. Russia withdrew from the United Nations after the truth of Campbell's assassination, as well as the assassination of John Anderson, went public. All of which unrest began to rise from neighboring nations from Eastern Europe. Reznov's most recent actions included skirmishes with China in the Far East borders and Mongolia during a brief period of expansion attempts post-Second Korean War.

Reznov earned his superior's respect for his action against the rogue factions in Eastern Europe that rose after the collapse of both the UN and the European Union. Which helped Russia pave way for peacekeeping in those areas. While some in central and western Europe protested and feared Russian invasion, cooler heads in America and Russia prevailed as the new American government dispatched General Burke to discuss the security of Europe with Reznov's superior, who was said to have been persuaded by Reznov himself to accept Burke's overtures of détente and refrain from further military action.

'So far, these are good candidates...' Wilson thought to himself. And on the American side... Master Sergeant Derek "Frost" Westbrook. Delta Force veteran of the Second Korean War. During the Second American Civil War, Westbrook took part of the New York campaign against the New England Separatists. And after the separatists had been dealt with, he and his team were sent into Mexico to deal with the forces of the cartel regime supplying Pacifica with weapons of mass destruction. And after the war, Westbrook continued his activities of dealing with drug cartels and rogue military commanders in the New Mexican Federation. While losing his leader and unit in Mexico before its liberation, Frost was able to serve in Korea, where he served with distinction to diffuse the most volatile elements of the conflict.

Wilson continued. Preston Marlowe. He joined the US Army after graduation from high school and served with the US army. However, his military career hit a snag when he tried to fly one of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. He accidentally hit a General's limousine with the rotor. Cracking the vehicle's windshield and lacerates the vehicle's hood, as he landed too close to the right side of the helipad.

He was sent to Korea as punishment... After being deployed, he was assigned with the 222nd Army Battalion. Known as B-Company or 'Bad Company'. He served under Sergeant Samuel 'Red' Redford, along with two others. Whose' names are also in the dossier. Private George Gordon Haggard Jr. A demolitions/explosives expert. And Private Terrance Sweetwater. Both of whom, were sent to Korea as punishment as well.

Haggard's a demolitions/explosives expert. However, his recklessness landed him in trouble after he blew up one of the ammo dump located in the east side of Paris. As well as an officer's latrine with a claymore mine. Both of which were done out of boredom.

Sweetwater's a rifleman, as well as a computer expert. He was also sent for uploading a virus onto the military mainframe by accident.

Wilson mentally questions the actions of the last two. But, B-Company did help assist US/South Korean forces of keeping North Korea, and China, from pushing into South Korea. However, it came at no small cost, as Sergeant Redford, who was the team's glue and moral compass, ended up dying covering his team's retreat in the midst of the North's annexation in the final days of open hostilities. They're currently in the Army Reserve as a munitions handlers while recovering from their frontline experience. While under close supervision, these war-weary soldiers seemed to have found some semblance of peacetime day jobs and routines to keep them productive.

'Such good men...' Wilson thought. He continued through the dossier and spotted another Russian soldier. Dimitri Mayakovsky. Also known as 'Dima'. He was not an easy pick... as he had some past associations with Makarov. While Dima had never gone with Makarov onto the path of mercenary work then terrorism, some in the Russian Army made his career difficult because of his closeness to the man while serving in the same unit. Apparently, this closeness ended bitterly when Makarov had a mutual friend of theirs murdered when he objected to Makarov's intent to draw Russia into war with America, the United Nations and the Accords

Dima's friend Yuri at first tried to dissuade Makarov from his murderous hatred of the West, the Russian government, and his racism towards Inhumans. Then Yuri leaked information on Makarov's activities to America and Russia before contact was lost. The last Dima heard of him was that he was found in a pool of his own blood just outside a hospital set up for Inhumans in Alaska. Yuri had apparently died in a shootout with Makarov who wanted to massacre the Inhumans, only to abandon his attempt when police heard the shooting.

Wilson pondered about Dima for a moment. Dima was well-regarded by most of his peers, but his psychologist noted a guilty complex and his expressing his desire to die taking Makarov down. The fact that his former soldier protégé, only known as Solomon, joined SHIELD, only to betray them as a Hydra agent and attempt with Makarov to seize Russia's tactical nuclear arsenal to launch a nuclear war against Hydra's enemies, only deepened this guilty complex.

'This will have to be examined thoroughly...' Wilson thought. The last thing they needed was a veteran soldier with a suicide mission.

He looked at three more names... John MacTavish, Simon Riley, and Gary Sanderson. These were members of Price's former SAS team and longtime associates. They went by their aliases. Soap, Ghost, and Roach respectfully. All three were also decorated British soldiers, loyal to Price and their nation. Both old and new Britain.

'All fine soldiers...' Wilson thought.

"Fine soldiers, are they not?" General Burke asked.

"They are, General... They are..." Wilson replied. He closes the dossier and sets it back down on the table.

"We're also screening other candidates for the strike force..." Colonel Logan said. "But that's all we have for the moment..."

"Alright then..." Wilson replied. It was then, the President asked. "Any reports from Howler Platoon?"

"We just got word from the men on the ground at Yokota," Logan said. He then ask Sharon, "may I?" She handed the remote to him. He turns on the display on the holo-screen that appeared before them. It showed Captain America II and Colonel America both talking with the troops, while Kazuto and Asuna were held behind them with Iron Man II, Iron Patriot II, and the cyborg Jennifer Anderson. The image also showed the devastation of the Yokota Air Base. While both the American and Japanese-controlled parts of the base were hit, the American headquarters by far were the worst off, with several hangars and aircraft also in flames.

"We're also rounding up any JAGs that are under suspicion..." Colonel Logan stated. "Though it seems that most of them had been deceived by moles inside USFJ."

Wilson glanced over to General Burke watching the display featuring his own son. In the aftermath of the whole attack, it's no doubt that the support for Captain Chris Burke will be a tidal wave. General Burke however, showed no apparent reaction. Wilson remembered just how difficult it was to read the old general.

Logan continued. "So anyway, we should consider of having the Howlers remain present in Japan..."

Wilson sighed. "You know that may not fly over well with the families of those soldiers who are demanding that we bring them home."

"I understand, Mr. President..." Logan nodded. "However, with Nobuyuki behind bars and the attack at Yokota thwarted. The threat of Hydra will remain..."

"And I'd be sending General Burke's son back into action after what Hydra just did," Wilson added.

"With all due respect, Mr. President," General Burke suddenly spoke up... "You disrespect me and Captain Burke in showing favoritism."

"I understand how the trial against your son was dishonorable..." Wilson admitted.

"And you'd be dishonoring him to think that I would simply want him ferried back here when he is where he is most needed," the old general said, "and I'm not one to hold him back from doing what he signed up for."

Wilson remained silent as Burke continued.

"So don't you think I would ask for any special treatment, sir," General Burke said.

After the moment of silence. Wilson answered. "You're absolutely correct, General Burke..."

---

With Captain America II:

"Stay close to me, both of you," Captain America II advised, "I will be the one taking responsibility for your wellbeing until you're off the base."

"Yes sir..." Both Kazuto and Asuna acknowledge in a whisper. Their excitement from earlier had faded as reality set in. They knew the risks of trespassing on a US military base. However, it was the right decision to make. Of course, the US military personal of the base would think otherwise. Which is why they're gonna keep quiet for the time being.

"They're all looking at me," Asuna said as several sent glances her way, "they recognize me from the broadcast..."

"As well as our broadcast..." Kazuto added. Some of the soldiers did encourage them with winks and some whistles. At least the compliments from the soldiers gave them confidence. Plus, with Anderson taking the lead alongside with Captain Burke, things could work out for the best...

It was then that a JSDF helicopter landed, and Kikuoka stepped out. Kazuto and Asuna were surprised for a moment.

"I just knew that you both would not stay out of trouble," Kikuoka joked.

"Well, we'd figured it was the right moment..." Kazuto smirked.

"Mr. Kikuoka... we owed Captain America a debt of gratitude for helping us," Asuna was diplomatic, though she knew that there was a good possibility that she, Kazuto, and even Minetaka could land in trouble. "And if we'd stood by, Captain America would've been killed. Which would've be a crippling blow against everyone's morale..."

"Miss Yuuki," Captain America muttered.

"I see..." Kikuoka replied.

Asuna bowed. "I will accept whatever punishment is appropriate for our trespassing onto the base."

There was a short pause before Kikuoka answered. "That won't be necessary..."

This caused the young couple to double-take.

"Not necessary?" Asuna was puzzled.

"That's right..." Kikuoka smiled. "In fact, two individuals have spoke very highly of you before you were brought in here... Colonel Steve Rogers and Captain Thomas Anderson..."

Both Kazuto's and Asuna's eyes widen in surprise. Kikuoka then went on...

"They told me that they were in similar situations that caused them to act on their instincts and rescue those in need. Even if it meant defying orders... And your helping the new Captain America capture Hydra's Supreme Commander is no small feat either."

"And of the charges against us?" Kazuto asked.

It was then Captain Burke stepped in. "I'm intrigued that you've taken interest in defending their actions... I thought you Japanese would be sticklers for rules."

"In some cases, yes..." Kikuoka answered. He predicted that Captain Burke would make a response to this. "... However, the very threat of Hydra has been exposed to the general public. I'll make a few acceptations..."

Captain America processed this. He then closed his eyes. "Well if it fits..." He looked to Kazuto and Asuna, "I too speak in their favor... as fellow new Avengers."

The young couple couldn't believe what they'd just heard. Captain America II nominating them as new Avengers? Kikuoka, Iron Man II, Colonel America, and Iron Patriot II also noticed.

Captain America pointed to Kazuto. "Mr. Kazuto Kirigaya braved Hydra stormtroopers more than once to save his wife and help me capture Sugou Nobuyuki..." He then pointed to Asuna. "Ms. Asuna Yuuki braved the odds from within Hydra and exposed them to the world, and though she could have returned to a peaceful life, chose to put her life on the line for me, her husband, and thousands, if not millions of others."

"And, if there's a time for the new generation of the Avengers to rise," Captain America continued. "Now is the time..."

There was silence. However, both Steve Rogers and Thomas Anderson smiled. After five years since the second civil war ended, and nearly ten years since the original Avengers split. They can see the rise of the new era of Avengers planting their place in history. And who better to start it than Steve Rogers' successor rising above his past trauma towards the mantle of leadership?

Jack Preston, however, wondered if he would also be part of the new Avengers. As he now holds the Iron Man mantel. But he'll find out in time...

"Interesting that you refer to these two as Avengers," Kikuoka remarked. "...Will you also be the leader of the new Avengers?"

Captain America II breathed hard. "I don't know what the future brings..." He continued. "But if it comes down to it, I'll lead the command..."

"We're at war, and I'm prepared to do what I have to do to protect those under my charge and fighting beside me... and now that includes Mr. Kirigaya and Ms. Yuuki."

"Mrs. Kirigaya..." Asuna corrected.

"Right then," Captain America II nodded.

Kikuoka said. "I can se that both Kazuto and Asuna here vouch for you as Captain America..."

"And if I may, sir?" Iron Man II asked.

"You may, Lieutenant," Captain America II affirmed.

Iron Man II took a deep breath before he began... "Ever since I've been given the Iron Man title, I felt it was my duty to fulfill that role, despite being tied to serving the Howler Platoon... And as your friend and brother-in-arms, Captain... it's clear that we and the Japanese lovebirds need one another."

Kikuoka noted how determined the American soldiers are.

"I mean, with all that we've been through with these kids and their friends..." Iron Man continued. "During the Alfheim Online campaign, we've watched out for each other before and after we formed an alliance with each other.."

"While I admit that I became rash when confronting Sigurd for making threats towards Kazuto and his friends..." He continued sheepishly. "But I did it as a sense to uphold the Iron Man mantel and decided to live up to the name... And Captain Burke here has nothing but concern and care for those under his command as Captain America, and for those who come to aid him."

"Whenever it's either military or civilian, we're all in this fight together..." He finished.

It was Colonel America's turn to speak up. "I agree with both Captain Burke and Lieutenant Preston... And I will vouch for these two, as well as the two lovebirds in creating the new Avengers..."

Kazuto and Asuna were still speechless at what their viral trend had started. Neither of them could figure it would expand beyond their intended audience.

Kikuoka seemed to concur. "Alright then..." He said at last.

He then looked to Asuna. "Will you two take the mantle as new Avengers?" He asked.

"I..." Asuna still had not recovered as it sank in.

"Yes... Yes we will..." Kazuto finished.

Asuna was surprised that her husband finished for her. But then, she smiled. "That's correct, Kikuoka-san..."

Kikuoka smiled. "I'd expected that you two would take the offer... After all, you've had important roles while in SAO..."

Asuna realized that Kikuoka knew. Then again, Kazuto was freed from SAO two months while she was trapped. And then again, Hydra would have had her personal files from SAO. And so, she, along with Kazuto and their friends. They're gonna have to fight back against Hydra.

"And I've got to say that you were a very impressive vice commander, Miss Asuna," Kikuoka complimented.

This caused Asuna to blush upon Kikuoka referring her during her days in the Knights of Blood guild. Kazuto smiled as Asuna was being recognized.

"And let's not forget your husband, Kazuto..." Kikuoka then added. "After all... His experience in SAO, as well as all his friends did help mount a rescue operation to rescue you and the other 299 players..."

"Well, I..." Kazuto was now sheepish.

"No need to be embarrassed," Kikuoka chuckled, "after all, you two are a match..."

"And highly capable as soldiers and warriors," Captain America II added, "I can see that clearly now."

"Not to mention displaying superpower capabilities..." Colonel America also added.

Kazuto and Asuna blushed even more.

It was then Iron Patriot II chuckled. "Gentlemen, I think we can go easy on the flattery."

He then continued. "But, they've shown bravery in the face of danger..." He turned to the blushing couple. "It's getting close to lunchtime... So if you want, you two can have lunch here..."

Kazuto scratched his head. "Well, we did leave our friends and family hanging and worrying at a café..."

Iron Patriot smiled. "You can call them here... Did either of you bring your smart phones?"

Kazuto checked his pocket. Asuna did the same while checking her purse. And, to their surprise, their phones are in working condition. They were cracked, but it was amazing that they survived the fight.

"I can get those screens fixed..." Iron Patriot offered.

"They're fine..." Kazuto reassured. He scrolled to see missed and missed calls from everyone. Some of whom are from both his mother and sister. They had been worried, he could tell. He calls Sugu's phone.

"Sugu, it's me!"

"Kazuto-niisan?!" Suguha replied from the other end.

"I'm alive," Kazuto assured her.

"Thank Kami that you are!" She nearly cried. "I don't want to lose you again!"

"Don't worry, Kayaba and Hydra can't get rid of me and Asuna so easily," Kazuto beamed. "Especially since Asuna held out most of the Hydra Stormtroopers..." He added with pride.

"Don't forget your speed and shooting too," Asuna fondly reminded.

He hears Suguha sigh before she continued. "We all saw you and Asuna-nesan take on that Red Skull... And none of us believe she was able to materialize an energy sword..."

"Well there's much more to her than meets the eye..." Kazuto cheekily replied.

Asuna then looked at her own missed calls. Both are from her father and older brother. She also found a few from her mother...

'Mom?' Asuna asked herself. She wondered who should she call first... As she pondered this, her phone suddenly rang again... it was a multi-call of all three. She pressed the 'answer' button.

"Hello?"

"Asuna!?" All three voices called out in unison.

"Mother, Father... Kouichirou-niisan!?" Asuna asked.

"That's right, Asuna-nechan..." Kouichirou answered. "It's really you..." His voice sounded emotional.

"Kouichirou-niisan..." Asuna was starting to tear up.

"Asuna, my daughter," Shouzou was likewise emotional.

"F-Father..." Asuna nearly choked in her emotions. Over two years since she last saw or heard her father.

"Thank goodness..." Shouzou breathed. "We were all worried about you and Kazuto-kun... And we saw you manifest your powers."

"You have?"

"Everyone saw you on TV when Hydra hijacked the airwaves, sister," Kouichirou revealed.

"They tried to use that chance to demoralize everyone by trying to kill Captain America..." She deduced.

"You actually punched out one of those goons," Kouichirou had a hint of laughter, "I never thought I'd see you do that."

"Well... You tend to learn new things while being trapped in SAO and all..." Asuna said sheepishly.

"Really?" Shouzou asked.

"Asuna..." Kyouko began.

"Mom..." Asuna said. She wasn't sure what to say. For one, she did hand-picked Nobuyuki to be her suitor while she was still in the NerveGear. But on the other, Nobuyuki himself tried to murder both her mother and Sada. "I... I'm glad you and Sada are alive."

"How is she?" Asuna asked.

"She is recovering in the hospital," her mother revealed. "But the gunshot wound isn't fatal. So, she'll live..."

"Mother..." Asuna wanted to ask, but was not sure about security. "I wanna introduce you to Kazuto once we leave the military base..." She said instead.

"Your boyfriend... or rather your new husband," Kyouko said.

"That's correct..." Asuna replied. Deep down, Asuna's wasn't sure if her mother would approve Kazuto. Despite everything...

"Very well," her mother said, "we will see you back soon."

"Where are you exactly?" Kouichirou asked. Asuna looked around at the medical and fire services working to contain the catastrophe under armed guard.

"We're still at the Yokota Air Base..." She answered. "The whole airport's been wrecked, brother."

"We're at the base..." Shouzou said. "Your brother and I are outside the gate with some American Army Rangers."

"You are?"

That got Kazuto and Captain's attention.

"Your dad and brother are here?" Kazuto asked.

Asuna looked up from her phone. "Yes they are," she answered.

It was then Kazuto said. "I figured that I'm gonna meet your family sooner or later..."

"We need to wait until the area is secure," Captain reminded, "we cannot have any civilians coming in with the dire situation we are in."

Asuna then spoke into her phone. "It may take a while longer as we're still trying to secure the area."

Kikuoka suddenly got the trio's attention. "The Yuuki family will be let in, they don't pose any threat... and those Rangers are Howlers from Camp Zama whom I requested be used as escorts."

Captain America II sighed. "Okay... I'll notify the Howlers to let the Yuukis in..." He then contacted his base to see which unit it was. After confirming, Captain America switched to the appropriate frequency. "7-1 Bravo One, this is Howler 7-1 Actual. Allow the Yuuki family to enter the base..."

"Echo One here, thank the heavens that you're alive Actual!"

"Yep, I'm glad to be alive too, Echo One." Captain America replied. "No hostiles are in sight, and we have Alpha and Bravo Teams taking control of the site. You may proceed Echo."

"Roger that, Howler 7-1 Actual... Be advised that we've also encountered a police detective claiming to be Asuna Yuuki's bodyguard, and he's refusing to back off..."

Kazuto hears this. "That's my father... Minetaka"

Captain America looked back to Kazuto, then he speaks into the comms. "He's alright too... Bring him inside."

"Alright... We can see your beacon on our scanners. Coming to you, Actual."

Kazuto turned back to his phone. "I gotta go, Sugu... I'm meeting with Asuna's family..."

"Alright then... just make it off the base," Suguha asked him earnestly.

"Will do..." Kazuto reassured her. "Just tell the others that we are okay, and that we love them all."

"Okay, And we all love you too..."

With that, the call ended.

Colonel America then approached Kazuto. "Family, kid?"

"Yep... If you consider friends as family.." Kazuto smiled.

"Not to eavesdrop... but your sister sounded really scared," Colonel remarked.

"And I wouldn't be surprised that everyone else back at the café was scared too..." Kazuto agreed.

Colonel gave a pat on the shoulder to the teen. "It's good that you've got friends that look out for each other..." He looked over to the new Captain America and his adjutant Iron Man as they stood guard around Asuna, "many can claim to be friends, but even fewer are those who stick through thick and thin in battle."

"Was that back in World War 2?" Kazuto asked.

Colonel nodded, "a lot of hard lessons learned from then. Even before the war..."

Captain America then pointed to some approaching vehicles. "That's Echo Team coming towards us," he told Asuna.

"Okay, Kir- I mean, Kazuto..." Asuna said after correcting herself. "It's time to meet my family..."

Kazuto snickered, "still like to call me that?"

"Sorry... It's a force of habit..." Asuna blushed.

Kazuto suddenly snuggled Asuna. "You are just too cute, you know that?" He licked the back of her left ear, making her squeak.

"Eep!" Asuna blushes even more.

"That's the Asuna I know..." Kazuto cooed while he held her tenderly.

"You might want to save the romances," Iron Man II advised, "her folks are coming up here."

"Not a good first impression to ravage your girl in front of them," Captain America II was blunt.

"You're right..." Kazuto breaks the tender hug and straightens his jacket and hair. Asuna was still blushing, but she did clasp Kazuto's hand and give him a slight smile. She leaned in and gave a quick peck on the cheek. Now Kazuto blushed slightly as the Humvees pulled up and soldiers got out.

"Captain America, sir," the sergeant saluted.

"Echo One..." Captain America saluted back. "At ease..."

The sergeant then looked to the Japanese teens. "No doubt that you're Asuna Yuuki..." He concluded. "You're famous all over Japan and back in America, missy."

Asuna felt sheepish from the soldier's compliment. "T-Thanks..."

Another soldier even said, "you and your hubby have some guts of iron to have challenged our president and military command."

"Not to mention facing off Hydra soldiers while the base was under siege..." A third soldier added.

Asuna was blushing again at the accolades. Kazuto chuckled from the attention his wife's been receiving.

A soldier then opened one of the Humvee's passenger doors. "Gentlemen."

"Thank you..." A voice was heard a he stepped out of the Humvee. Asuna saw her aged father, and then her brother step out, with soldiers standing in front with their rifles.

"F-Father... Brother..." Asuna gasped.

Shouzou breathed hard as his eyes laid eyes on Asuna. Her hair was a mess waving in the wind, and her coat was torn and burnt in areas, but otherwise she looked healthy and strong.

"Asuna..." He breathed.

"Father!" Asuna jumped towards her family. Shouzou catches his daughter and holds her.

"Asuna..." Shouzou's eyes begin to swell.

"Father..." Asuna teared up. The Yuuki father felt her shaking with sobs as he continued to hold her.

"I'm here..." Tears started streaming down his face after over two years of her being trapped. "Oh Asuna," Shouzou tightened his hug, "I am so sorry. I should've never arranged you with that monster.. And I never should have entrusted my company and your life to him!"

Kouichirou stood by and watched the tearful reunion unfold. Deep down, he too felt regret for not being here for her. Before SAO and during ALO...

Asuna glanced at him from her hug with their father. "Kouichirou..." She sighed.

Kouichirou approached and joined in a group hug. "Asuna-nechan..." The elder Yuuki heir hugged his little sister. "I'm sorry that I lent you my NerveGear. If I never had that business trip and been trapped, you would've been spared from the horrors..." He started to tear up.

Asuna looked up with Kouichirou, "true... but then I never would have met the love of my life behind me."

Confused, Kouichirou glanced toward the person a few feet away. Then he realized that the teenage boy's Kazuto...

Kazuto walked up towards the Yuukis with Captain America and Iron Man by his side. "I'm Kazuto Kirigaya..." He introduced himself to the older Yuuki heir. "And it's nice to meet you and your father..."

Kouichirou and his father released Asuna.

"It's wonderful to meet my son-in-law..." Shouzou said. He extended his hand. "Shouzou Yuuki."

Kazuto smiled as he shook his father-in-law's hand.

"An honor, sir," he bowed.

It was then Kouichirou approached Kazuto.

"Kazuto-kun, thank you for everything you've done to keep Asuna safe." Like his father, he too extended his hand to Kazuto. Who shook it as well. "Kazuto-kun, it's great to meet you at last," Kouichirou expressed, "and thank you for doing for my sister what I could not."

"No problem, Kouichirou-san..." Kazuto bowed to the older Yuuki heir. "If anything, she did as much for me if not more..."

"I believe you..." Kouichirou smiled. "If Hydra's little TV shows are anything to go by, I'd say my sister might have picked up more than a few habits from you." Kouichirou teased.

Asuna giggles as Kazuto blushed from her brother's teasing. "Well I'll admit that one is true," Asuna answered. "Not to mentioned we've learned how to overcome our enemies with speed." She added.

Another Humvee door opened to reveal Inspector Minetaka. "I'm just glad that you two are alright..." He stated.

"Dad!" Kazuto gasped.

"Minetaka-san?" Asuna asked.

"Kazuto-kun, Asuna-chan, good work both of you."

It was then Shouzou greeted Minetaka. "I'm Shouzou Yuuki, and this is my son, Kouichirou..."

"Inspector Minetaka Kirigaya, Tokyo Metro Police, Mr. Yuuki."

Shouzou's eyes widened in recognition. "You... you're Beretta Kirigaya."

"The one and only..." Minetaka chuckled.

"Wait, you know this man?" Kouichirou questioned.

"I have, son..." Shouzou answered. "He's the famous Special Investigative Team detective who brought to justice many serial killers with his gun... and since you like games, it might be relevant to you that he was the police officer who brought down and killed the Akihabara Otaku Killer."

"Really?" Kouichirou gasped. He gave Minetaka a double take. "You're the man!"

Kazuto and Asuna watched in amusement as the latter's older brother's fawning over Minetaka.

"Honestly I would rather be remembered for the lives that I saved," Minetaka shook his head, "but taking him out did save a lot of young gamers from being his next victims."

"Well... It would've gone down that way..." Kouichirou shrugged. "But never thought you were the one to take him down..."

Minetaka decided to just take it in good stride. "Then you can guess where Kazuto-kun might get his killer-hunting tendencies."

"I can attest to that, Inspector," Captain America II voiced.

"Same here..." Iron Man II added.

Shouzou and Kouichirou then noticed the successors of Steve Rogers and Tony Stark.

"And I can guess that the both of you are the successors of Captain America and Iron Man..." Kouichirou deduced.

"Captain Chris Burke, United States Army Rangers, Howler Platoon."

"Lieutenant Jack Preston, serving as second-in-command to Captain Burke."

Kouichirou looked looked at Burke, then at Preston, then back at Burke. "A bit young to hold the rank of Captain..." He said.

Preston chuckled. "Officer graduate, top of his class. And he's a veteran of the Second Civil War..."

"So I've heard," Kouichirou said, "I was in Dallas."

"Then you would have seen the Texas Military Leadership Academy," Burke remarked, "my alma mater."

"I have..." Kouichirou answered. "I've heard stories about the place," Kouichirou mused.

"What is that?" Asuna asked her brother.

"It was one of the battlefields in the Second Civil War, Asuna-nechan..." Kouichirou answered. "Three hundred student officer graduates against an entire army sent to suppress them."

Asuna's eyes widen in shock. "Really? An entire army?"

"And Captain Burke was there for the whole shebang," Preston added.

Asuna glanced towards Captain Burke, then back at Preston.

Kazuto laughed at Asuna's reaction. "Believe me, Asuna. I was just as surprised as you were when I've learned of his past..."

"After all that's happened in ALO and before..." Asuna turned to her beloved. "I willing to believe anything I hear now..."

"Don't we all these days?" Kazuto gave a smirk to Asuna.

"That's all fine," Captain Burke said, "but I believe we should get going now."

"We should..." Asuna agreed.

Captain America gripped Kazuto and Asuna by the shoulders. "We will take you both to Camp Zama with me for debriefing."

"Okay, Captain..." Kazuto nodded. As the Captain and Iron Man led the two teens away, Colonel America assessed the damage with Kikuoka.

"Got the Quinjet on the way to pick us up..." Iron Man II reported.

"Good call," Captain America agreed, "I doubt we'll be able to use this base for a while if ever again."

"It'll take time to clean up and rebuild." Iron Man stated. "But I'm sure it'll be up and running before we know it..."

Asuna glanced back behind her... and saw in the distance the bodies of the deceased being pulled out and line up in body bags. She sighed sadly. Too many good soldiers died because of Hydra.

Kazuto felt for Asuna as he diverted her gaze. "We did all that we could do, Asuna." He reassured her. "Plus, we've driven off Hydra from Captain America..."

"I know... but I wish we could-"

"Asuna, it's done. There's nothing more to do." Kazuto distracted her. She paused for a moment. While in SAO, she had to bear the burden of looking after her fellow players who are part of the Knights of Blood.

"There they are, sir," Iron Man II pointed up at the Quinjet. Asuna snapped herself out of he thoughts upon hearing the engines of the Quinjet. Then caught sight of it hovering above the base.

As the transport came in, the five fighter jets from earlier soared overhead. "Looks like Hitman Team will be escorting us, Captain," Iron Man said.

"Hitman Team?" Asuna asked.

"The squadron of fighters above us," Captain America answered.

Kazuto and Asuna both looked up towards the sky and see a squadron of fighter jets flying in formation. It was a strange mix of five different jets.

"That's an interesting squadron..." Kazuto commented in awe.

"It's a long story," Captain America said as he held the teens.

"Captain America!" Shouzou and Kouichirou walked up from behind with Rangers flanking them.

"Sorry gentlemen," Captain America said, "but we need to debrief your daughter and sister along with her husband at Camp Zama."

"We're coming with you guys..." Kouichirou said. "We didn't come all this way just to have her leave again..."

"Kouichirou's right, Captain..." Shouzou agreed. "I intend to spend more time with my daughter and son-in-law as much as I can..."

"I was going to bring them back..." Captain replied.

"And I promised her mother to bring her back home," Shouzou countered.

"Alright... You two can come with us..." Captain sighed.

Kazuto whispered to Asuna. "You think your family would take me along with you? For introductions and such?"

Asuna gave a bit of a naughty smile. "I won't take 'no' for an answer."

Minetaka also came walking up beside the Yuukis. "I can see that you're starting to get acquainted with Kazuto..."

"We just wanted to make sure that Asuna could come home with us, Inspector," Shouzou said.

"Well, I'm her bodyguard right now, so where she goes, I go," Minetaka said. He then looked to Captain America, "permission to board your aircraft, sir."

Captain Burke looked at the Japanese couple, then back to Minetaka. "Permission Granted, Inspector... but you all will be under my charge." Captain then added, "I will take responsibility for all of you coming with me, and will remain accompanied by me and Lieutenant Preston until my superiors decide how to handle this."

Minetaka nodded. "I will, Captain Burke... and I'll be doing my part to keep these civilians out of trouble," Minetaka chuckled, "I do have special authority under Kikuoka-san."

"Alright then..." Captain Burke replied. "Now, if you three just follow us..." They begin to board the Quinjet.

"Everyone strap in," Captain ordered. Kazuto helps Asuna with the straps before hooking he hooked up his own. Shouzou sat next to Asuna with Kouichirou on his other side.

Captain America, Iron Man, and Inspector Minetaka took their seats across from the family. Seeing everyone accounted for, Captain signaled to the Quinjet pilots. "We're all aboard, lift off!"

Everyone felt the Quinjet taking off from the ground. Then, they ascended towards the sky. Kazuto and Asuna held each other's hands.

"Well..." Kazuto expressed to Asuna, "we survived and won again."

"Yes we did, Kazuto..." Asuna smiled. "Yes, we did..."

"If only I can see the looks on Nobuyuki and the Hydra commanders' faces after foiling their revenge," Kazuto joked, "they must be eating their hearts out."

Asuna laughed. "Same goes for me as well... especially the creature Nobuyuki. If he has a TV in whichever hole he's being held in, even better!"

The two teens laughed at the thought as the Quinjet begins to fly off towards Camp Zama.

Asuna then rested her head on Kazuto's shoulder. "Kazuto-kun... thank you."

"You're welcome, Asuna..." Kazuto wraps his arm around her. Stroking her cheek with tender care. Shouzou saw Kazuto caring for Asuna, and he had never been more touched to see her loved by someone who she actually loved.

While the others were touched, Captain America II just looked down, reminded of his own past loves.