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Chapter 30: One's Resolve

(Resistance's Temporary Base, a few days later)

Over Watch stood before Connell and a few of the others, including Fatale, Convict, Lona, Absolute Zero, B-Hulk, and Richard.

"There is to be a shipment of prisoners to a maximum security prison. Protestors of the public acts of the registration, harassment and brutality from the police and S.H.I.E.L.D. Their route has already been secured, not citizens will be along the way."

"What is their route?"

Over Watch touched something on her tablet and a holographic map appeared, nearly covering the entire floor. A red line appeared.

"The convoy will be heading this way."

Absolute Zero rubbed his chin.

"They'll have armored guards. For a maximum security prison, they won't have just any goons in that detail."

Over Watch nodded at this and pressed another button, showing images of nearly a dozen men. Connell narrowed his eyes on one of them.

He pointed his finger at the man.

"Something feels different about this man."

"You're right."

Over Watch pressed a few more buttons and the images disappeared and in its place was a full holographic image of the man. He's a clean shaven man with short hair, with a large frown on his face. His large, muscular build gave him an imposing figure.

"Code name: Cassius."

'Cassius?'

The spirit of Spartacus stirred.

Connell turned to Over Watch.

"One of the men who betrayed Julius Caesar."

Some raised an eyebrow at this while Over Watch nodded.

"Is he their leader?"

Over Watch shook her head to Absolute Zero.

"No, but he's been named for his 'noble' betrayal like the famous general's."

"Betrayal?"

Convict walked out from the corner she was leaning against. Over Watch sighed.

"He's a mutant, with enhanced strength and slight resilience. It says he's armed like the other men, but he's reported not to have used a gun in a while. He prefers to use his powers."

Convict's eyes widened and her mouth curled into a frown, fists clenching. Connell saw this out of the corner of his eye.

B-Hulk frowned, crossing his arms.

"What kind of man betrays his own people?"

"The kind who thinks they're and I quote: 'dangerous and unnatural'."

Convict began to tear up, nostrils flaring.

Connell turned back to Over Watch.

"We rescue the prisoners…and we take this guy down, set an example."

"You need to be careful, there's a few here with the strength to match and exceed him. But if he gets you, you might not be strong enough to beat him."

Connell was quiet for a moment, arms crossed.

"You're right, maybe I couldn't beat him."

'Strength alone does not decide a battle.'

Mushashi's spirit rose.

'You are strong, but your will is what determines the outcome.'

'And you're not alone.'

Mari's spirit rose.

'Thank you, senseis.'

Connell looked to the others.

"But strength alone doesn't decide a battle. Our will does."

Fatale grinned, nodding.

Convict nodded at this.

"We do not underestimate our opponents, we face them as we must."

Connell turned to Lona and Richard.

"You two need to stay here, lead them while we're gone."

Richard's eyes widened a little.

"We can help."

"Don't think we're sitting out on the action."

"You're not. You will provide strategic commands to our friends to help the prisoners on their escape routes."

Richard nodded at this.

Absolute Zero crossed his arms.

"There's something we haven't considered."

The others turned to him.

"It could be a trap…we go in and get ambushed…or these prisoners are actually spies ready to be used to find out about our operation."

Connell nodded at this.

"Could be. But that's why we do things a little differently."

Some of them cocked their heads at this, while Mari and Mushashi smiled.

(New York City, an hour later)

A large truck with a car in front and behind it drove along an abandoned street.

Men and women sat in the large truck, in chains, gags, blindfolds, and some kind of collar on each of them. A man in S.W.A.T. like gear sat at the back, gun in hand.

Both cars were filled with these same men. Cassius sat in one of them, head down.

"No sign of trouble."

One of the men smirked.

"Maybe we'll be back in time for dinner after all."

They continued to drive for several more minutes, driving around a corner only to see a dark figure standing in the middle of the road.

The vehicles stopped.

The men loaded their guns, grinning.

"It's him. Well, I guess maybe this will be good after all."

The men chuckled.

Cassius lifted his head up, eyes narrowed.

They all exited their vehicles, except for the one with the prisoners, guns trained on the figure. The head of their group laughed.

"Well, well, it seems your little crusade is over with. I don't know what you are, but you picked the wrong convoy to fuck with."

There was only silence from the vigilante.

"I must admit, you put on quite a show with you attacking the rally and freeing those prisoners. Made some in S.H.I.E.L.D. and the government pissed off and afraid, but mostly pissed off. And sadly, I know some…not many, but some see what you're doing as right…but you're breaking the law and fighting against the dominant powers…powers who control the social and economic strings. But if you're not convinced by that, we have someone here who'll convince you of your insanity."

Cassius stepped up, nearly a head taller than the other men. The frown on his face was opposite to the smiles on the other men.

"It doesn't matter if you're mutant, inhuman, or whatever…we're a cancer on society…doesn't matter if you think we have a purpose or not…we threaten human lives, good human lives. I'm a mutant and I see that…my species is a threat…some considered themselves superior to humans…but when the Registration Act went into effect, they were proved wrong. I joined up the act when I got older…I had to help the government curb the disease of other supposed 'peoples' that were a threat."

The men nodded at this, patting Cassius on the back.

"And if you're somehow human, you've betrayed your own race for those who seek more than what they deserve. And if you don't think they're bad, there are others out there that even other mutants and the like have said are bad. You're lifting those monsters up by saying what S.H.I.E.L.D. is doing. You threaten to destroy this country and the real people in it."

The figure remained silent.

Some of the men looked at one another with raised eyebrows, some rubbing the backs of their necks.

"Well! Say something!"

The figure raised their head, those ghastly green eyes glaring at the men. Some of the men's eyes widened a little at this, training their weapons on them.

Cassius glared back, but the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

"Surrender…you have multiple guns trained on you, you can't win this."

The figure spoke, multiple voices all at once.

"Release the prisoners, and no harm will befall you."

Some of the men's eyes opened wide. Cassius grunted as a vein bulged on his head. He turned to the head man and nodded at him.

"Light him up!"

The men's fingers started to pull on the triggers, but suddenly all the gun barrels were completely frozen. They all cried out, eyes wide.

From either side of the street, several figures leapt out.

Cassius watched as the figure raced forward and he charged.

He threw a haymaker, but the vigilante ducked under the attack. Connell then sidestepped a jab. He raised his hands, widening his legs apart.

Cassius frowned and rushed forward, striking out with another haymaker. Connell sidestepped the attack, but Cassius turned quickly and threw a swift uppercut with his opposite hand. But the vigilante leapt back then lunged forward, throwing out a swift kick. Cassius grabbed his foot and threw him back.

Connell flew back, but twirled in the air. He landed on both feet and one hand.

Cassius frowned.

"Freak."

Then he charged forward.

Absolute Zero kicked out, his frozen foot hammering into one man's chest and sending him flying back into the front car. Then he grabbed another man's wrist as he jabbed with his right hand then moved his back towards him and struck the attacking man's hand with his left elbow.

"I've heard of you. You're that freak who's been going after our low level gigs. Should've known you'd meet up with more of your kind."

Absolute Zero turned, eyes narrowed. One of the men held a large curved knife in one hand.

"You're not one of his."

"Whose?"

Absolute Zero shook his head, grumbling.

He raced forward, striking out with a vicious haymaker.

B-Hulk lifted up a man with each hand and threw them into the rear car. He stood as a few of the other men slashed out with their own knives, only for them to break against his skin. Wide eyed, they quickly went for their sidearms.

But he quickly backhanded them, sending them to the ground.

"Stay down."

The growling warning caused the men to shake, but stand up. They quickly went for their sidearms again. B-Hulk sighed and flew forward.

Fatale chuckled as she dodged the strikes of one of the men. He grunted as he threw several swift jabs and haymakers, but the woman sidestepped or casually dodged each strike.

The man grumbled, pulling out his knife. He went for a quick stab, but Fatale moved to the side and grabbed the man's wrist. She then quickly pulled him forward, the knife going through one of the car tires. He grunted as he tried to pull the blade out, but it was jammed tight.

Fatale yawned.

"And here I thought you might be a challenge."

The man glowered at her and charged at her, forgetting the knife. Fatale grabbed him by his neck and slammed him against the same car door, breaking the glass and denting the door.

Blood coated the man's arms, glass cutting them. Fatale grinned.

Convict growled as she slammed one of the men against the truck a few times, lifting him by his waist with both hands.

"YOU BASTARDS!"

She growled as she clotheslined another of the men at his waist. His screams nearly covered the sound of the breaking of bones.

The young woman leapt forward, jabbing another man and sending him skidding across the ground. But then she was dogpiled by a few more men as they punched and kicked her while she was on the ground.

Connell dodged another punch from Cassius, the mutant grunting as he pulled his hand from the wooden chair he snapped in half. The vigilante ducked under a swift kick from Cassius, but the mutant then struck out with another kick. His foot grazed Connell's side, but sent him skidding back. He charged forward, throwing out several jabs and haymakers. The vigilante brought up his arms, blocking each strike. But the mutant's blows pushed Connell back.

He took a strike to his face from the vigilante and lifted him by his throat with one hand before slamming him onto the ground. Then he kicked Connell a couple of times and he felt something break.

Convict had thrown off the men dogpiling her and held one of them by the throat. She turned, seeing Fatale looking in Connell's direction, eyes a little wide. She saw the vigilante on the ground.

She readied to throw the man at Cassius, but watched as Connell stood up. The vigilante didn't grunt as he raised his hands. Cassius's eyes widened a little at this. But he raised his hands as well and shot a jab. But the vigilante caught him by the wrist and struck out with his free hand, hitting Cassius in the throat.

The mutant quickly raised one hand to his throat. He coughed as glared at the vigilante. He leapt forward, pushing aside the punch from the vigilante and slamming his fist into his lower torso. This crack was more audible than the other.

Connell's allies turned their heads at this. Convict's eyes widened, gasping for breath. Cassius held Connell in the air with one hand and glowered at the vigilantes.

"You freaks are a stain on this country and humanity. You'll all suffer for what you've done and what you are. Starting with this one."

He turned towards Connell only to find a flat hand striking out at him. Cassius groaned, releasing Connell. He raised a hand to his small black eye. He fumed, breathing heavy.

Connell pushed himself back up, arms up. He struck out with one hand, hitting Cassius on the shoulder then quickly struck out with his other hand hitting the same place. The vigilante pushed aside a jab from Cassius and skid back from the kick the mutant sent at him.

Connell inhaled as he stood, hands raised.

"Oh enough of this."

Cassis grumbled as he pulled out his sidearms, aiming it at the vigilante.

"No!"

Cassius turned, seeing the form of one of the armed men flying at him. Both were knocked to the ground. He stood up, seeing the young girl standing before him. He looked around, all his allies were unconscious and the other vigilantes gathered around their leader.

"You filthy fucking traitor! How could you betray your own people?!"

Cassius stood, frowning.

"We're nothing but monsters."

Convict screamed as she raced forward. Cassius grumbled as he charged, he swung a haymaker. Convict grabbed the hit and growled as she retaliated with a jab. The attack sent Cassius skidding back on the ground. He grunted as he stood up, a hand over the spot where he'd been hit.

"I guess it'd take a freak to hurt another freak. Mutant? Is that why you're so angry?"

Cassius smirked.

"One day people woke up and realized you were a monster? Your family kick you out? Or were they freaks too?"

Convict roared as she charged, eyes wide.

Cassius threw out a punch as she got within striking distance.

But Convict slammed one fist against his arm. An audible crack rang out and Cassius groaned, gritting his teeth. Convict pushed aside his other hand and grabbed him around his neck with one hand and pummeled him with her free hand. Punch after punch she threw at him.

She then pulled her hand back, looking at his broken and bloodied face.

"You're a disgrace."

Convict then dropped him on the ground. Cassius groaned as he curled on the ground, spitting out blood and teeth.

Convict turned, seeing Connell standing. She opened her mouth to speak, but was quiet when Connell bowed to her. A smile slowly spread across her face as she nodded to him.

They moved to the back of the truck, B-Hulk pulling off the doors. The armed man aimed his gun, but Absolute Zero blasted an ice shard that froze the barrel then through another, encasing the man up to his neck in ice.

"Fr-"

Convict growled as she quickly climbed in and knocked him out.

She and Absolute Zero quickly took off their blindfolds and restraints. Convict smiled at them.

"Everything's going to be ok."

The prisoners' eyes were wide, but they hugged her and the others.

Convict smiled.

"Come on, let's get you somewhere safe."

(Resistance's Temporary Headquarters, an hour later)

The initiates hugged and shook hands with the former prisoners.

Connell stood against the railings, smiling.

Convict approached him.

"H-How are you still standing? You were barely conscious when we got back"

"Fatale gave me something when we got back. I don't know what it was, but it healed me."

Convict slowly nodded at this.

"Are you ok? You took a helluva beating."

"Worth it for this."

Both watched as the prisoners displayed their powers to the crowd. Convict smiled.

"T-Thanks…for doing what you did…but you should've let one of us handle that traitor."

"You did and you did well."

"But you could've been killed."

"Aye, I could have."

Convict slowly smiled, nodding.

"They're free because of you."

"Because of us."

Convict chuckled, nodding.

Connell nodded.

"I know what he said triggered you…not just because of his internalized bigotry…but something specific he said."

Convict's eyes widened a little.

"That's-"

"It's ok…you joined for a reason…not just to fight against the fascists and bigots…but something personal…and whenever you feel the time is right to say what…we'll be here."

Convict nodded, slowly.

"Thank you."

Connell bowed slightly.

Convict walked off.

Connell looked over at the crowd.

Mari and Mushashi's spirits stirred.

'You have done well.'

The samurai bowed his head.

'There is more work to be done, but take comfort in the work you did today.'

The shinobi bowed her head.

'Thank you, senseis.'

To be continued…

(Hope you all enjoyed it.)