RECT Basement:
An ominous beeping sounded. The Mitchells and Shouzou knew that Hydra has planted C4 explosives with them right before the shooting started.
"They're not kidding around..." David realized.
"We're not gonna get out of here alive.." Jon surmises in a dark tone.
Shouzou knew that Jon was right... but with his powers... He focused his mind. The voices in his head grew stronger. He can sense that they're a battle going on in the RECT HQ. He tried to find who was friend and foe.
It was then he picked something up. He senses someone running down the hallway of the RECT building. However, it wasn't a foe.
'Help!' He focused his telepathic voice. The figure stopped for a moment and looked around. As if the person's looking for the source of the voice.
'We're in here! In the basement! There are bombs in here!' Shouzou warned.
Then he hears the female voice talking through the comm earpiece about the hostages and bombs in the basement. It was no doubt that the figure in the hallway is an ally.
"Help is on the way," Shouzou told the Mitchells.
"How can you be sure?" David asked.
"Trust me," Shouzou told him, "she can hear me."
A few moments later, the Hydra soldiers outside are heard shouting. Followed by gunshots.
"That the Army?" Jonathan wondered. Then they hear something striking the Hydra soldiers. They're not gunshots as they're too quiet. The fighting outside went on for another minute before going silent. Then, footsteps are heard approaching the door. The knob twisted and swung open to reveal a female figure in a black/dark purple outfit with a mask over her face.
Shouzou and the Mitchells see that she's armed with an modern version of a compound bow with target sights on it. Behind her back is a advanced quiver holding her arrows.
"W-Who are you?" David asked.
"The name's Hawkeye.." The female figure replied. "And you're friend here told me where you're located at."
"You said that you're Hawkeye?" Jon asked.
"Hawkeye II to be correct." Hawkeye smiled. "But there's no time for formalities. Gotta disarm the C4s before Nobuyuki decide to send the authorization code and blow this place to Hades."
She quickly went to work on one of the detonators.
"This shouldn't be a challenge." She muttered to herself as she pulled out a device. It resembles the bomb defusing kit used by bomb squads. However, this device was different. It seemed to be a miniature robotic hamster.
"Okay Darwin. Do your stuff." Hawkeye II said as the robotic hamster starts scanning the C4 charges.
"That's new," Jonathan said.
"It's one of the new bomb defusing robots we've made." Hawkeye II explained. She then went over to Jonathan and checked his handcuffs. As she picks the handcuffs, the hamster robot, Darwin, snips the red wire from one of the C4 charges, disabling it before moving onto another C4 charge.
"Will we be alright?" Shouzou asked.
Hawkeye II removes the cuffs off of Shouzou. "All of you will be fine. We're pushing back Hydra in RECT. Good thing they're those who don't share Hydra's vision." She works on David's cuffs. Darwin so far disarmed three bombs.
"Once we capture Nobuyuki, he'll answer for his crimes in both what he did in America during the second civil war and in ALO."
"I wanna strangle that monster for what he did to Alex." Jon growled.
"Let's focus on surviving this first," Hawkeye II said as she finished with David, "you can move and fight?"
"We can still fight.." David said. She then starts working on Jon's cuffs.
Jon's cuffs then came off. The young Mitchell soldier rubs his wrists before heading towards one of the dead guards and picks up a Tavor bullpup rifle.
"Come on," David helped Shouzou up.
The RECT founder slowly got up, but then remembered his wife. "Kyouko... Is she alright!?"
"Your wife, Kyouko, was kidnapped shortly after you were. Along with Sada." Hawkeye II replied.
The Yuuki patriarch's face went white.
"But don't worry.." She reassured him. "We've located them and we're rescuing them as we speak.."
Shouzou closed his eyes. He let his mind expand.
Tokyo Harbor:
Kyouko Yuuki and Sada had been held in one of the warehouses located at the Tokyo Harbor. Kyouko was largely unharmed, but Sada... She was roughed up when she tried to struggle from her chair.
"Shut it lady!" A Hydra guard smacked her, "we don't need you trying to run again!"
"Please! I won't try to run anymore!" Sada cried.
Kyouko was not tied down, but was held at gunpoint by two others as she tried to protest. Neither of them are unaware of what was going on outside of the harbor. There wasn't a television set in the warehouse with them. As far as Kyouko's concerned, they're completely in the dark.
"Stop hurting her!"
"Silence! Or else you'll be getting yours!" One Hydra soldier shouted.
Kyouko was very angry... However, she was fearful for her life, Sada's life. And the thought of Asuna siding with Hydra.. Something deep in her was threatening to break.
It was then a sound of container barrels clattering outside.
"What is that?" The Hydra tormenter asked.
"I'll check it out." The Hydra guard called as he headed towards the door. He readies his rifle before slowly opening the door and stepping outside. Meanwhile, Kyouko felt her own deep secret re-emerging with her cracking composure.
"You see anything?" The Hydra tormentor asked into the comm earpiece.
"No... but-" The guard was cut of before he could finish his sentence.
"Say again?"
There was no response. Kyouko felt a sparkle in her fingers.
"You two check out what's going on outside." The Hydra tormenter ordered. He pulled a gun on Kyouko. "I'll watch this one."
The two guards went outside. The tormentor gave Kyouko an evil smirk. "I gotta admit. It's impressive that you gave your daughter away to our leader." He said. "A very wise move indeed... Then again, not so wise..."
"But don't worry... Your daughter's in good hands now..." He laughed.
Kyouko felt regret of hand-picking Nobuyuki to be a suitor for Asuna. If she had known that he was a leader of the resurrected Hydra, let alone Asuna joining him willingly, this wouldn't happened.
"And you will be privileged to witness her ascension to rule the world by his side."
"Sir! H-He's gone!" One of the guards interrupted.
"What? How is he gone?"
"We found his weapon on the ground. But he's nowhere in sight." There was a short pause. "It appears that he's been dragged o- Wait... I found him! He's d-"
His sentence was cut by a sound of a flying blade hitting him. Popping sounds from outside are heard for a few seconds before they ceased. Followed by gurgling sounds and thuds against the ground.
"Everyone get ready!" He ordered. "It appears that we have an unwanted guest!"
All of the Hydra guards readied their weapons and trained them at the door. The only entrance into the warehouse.
However, the sounds of broken glass are head above.
"Someone's here!" The guard shouted before firing upward towards the ceiling. Others aimed upward to see the section of one of the windows are broken.
"I don't see the intruder!"
"Find him!" The torturer barked. Then, the warehouse door exploded inward. Everyone ducked as debris flew in all directions.
"OPEN FIRE!" He yelled. Everyone loosed their shots towards the ruins of the door entrance. It was then Kyouko noticed a shadow figure jumping down from above and started taking down the Hydra soldiers.
He had shurikens. Five guards went down after the shurikens made their marks. He quickly sliced his way though the crowd armed with a Katana. Kyouko watched as the Hydra soldiers sprayed bullets at him. But the ninja was moving in speed so fast that it seemed inhuman.
Suddenly, the tormentor shoved his gun in her face. "Move!" He ordered.
"Where are you taking me?" Kyouko glared.
"None of your concern! Just do as you're told!"
"Mrs. Yuuki, no!" Sada sobbed.
"You stay where you're at too!" He turned to Sada.
Sada would not be able to move anyways, given the cuffs and torture she suffered.
"Now, keep moving!"
"Don't take her please!" Sada begged as she squirmed against her chair.
Suddenly, a loud crack sounded, and Sada fell back in the chair with blood spurting from her shoulder.
"SADA!" Kyouko screamed. Seeing the tormentor shoot Sada, the dam finally burst for Kyouko. She suddenly wrestling the gun away from him. He smacked her back into a wall.
"Aah!" Kyouko yelled as she felt herself slamming into the hard, metal wall.
"Screw this!" The Hydra tormentor aimed his gun at Kyouko's head. As his finger was about the squeeze the trigger. He felt a sudden, sharp pain piercing through his body.
Kyouko's eyes were flashing... as she had casted an energy spike from her hand.
"Wha...? But how?" The tormentor was stunned. With a sudden burst of strength, Kyouko unleashed a blast that sent the man hurling through the window and falling to the warehouse floor with a sickening splat. The tormentor was dead.
"Sada!" Kyouko sees the ninja with Sada after he dealt with the Hydra guards.
"No!" Kyouko ran over towards the both of them.
"Hold on, Kyouko." The ninja spoke. "Sada's needs medical attention, and I have what she needs." He pulls out a syringe-like item and jabs it into Sada's arm.
Sada yelped in pain.
"It's alright, Miss Akiyo." The mystery ninja reassured her. "The bullet will be out in no time.."
He reached into the wound. Several seconds went by and he had to steady Sada. Then he pulls his hand away. On the tip of his two fingers are the fragments of the bullet. Not held, just stuck on his fingers. He moved his hand away and the bullet fragments dropped onto the ground.
"She'll be alright," The ninja declared as he applied a gauze to the bullet wound.
"W-Who are you?" Kyouko asked.
"You can call me Ronin.. I am here to rescue you both."
"T-Thanks, Ronin.." Kyouko bowed. Ronin helped Sada up to her feet.
"Let's get you both out of here now-" Ronin was interrupted by a sudden rapid beeping. His eyes widened as he suddenly remembered.
"Oh-"
BOOM!
The Void:
"NO!" Asuna screamed as the screen showing her mother and Sada with their ninja rescuer went black, with a side screen showing the explosion of the warehouse.
"Looks like your mother and Sada won't be joining with us for the rest of their lives!" Nobuyuki laughed. Kirito stood with his wife in horror.
"But fear not. I still honor my word to her. To bring back Asuna safely.." He added. "At least I'm not without a heart."
"After I deal with all of you that is.." He sneered.
Tokyo Harbor:
The explosion ripped the roofs and walls of the warehouse to flying debris. Fire erupted through the windows and the remains of the shredded rooftops before collapsing inward. The walls caved in seconds later. Dust and smoke filled the area around the ruins of the warehouse.
As the smoke and dust begin to clear. Both Ronin and Sada looked around to see a white energy dome surrounding them. They looked at Kyouko... She had her hands stretched outward and the source of the white energy dome eloped around them.
"Lady Yuuki!" Sada cried in relief and surprise, "your powers!"
"I..." Kyouko stammered. Realizing that she'd shielded everyone from the explosion.
"I don't know how you managed to do that." Ronin stated. "But glad that you saved us from the C4 explosions."
"I- It's kinda a long story.." Kyouko admitted.
"You can tell it once the Quinjet picks us up." Ronin reassures her.
"My husband," Kyouko remembered, "what about my husband!?"
"He's been rescued along with the two Navy officers." Ronin answered. "And hopefully, managed to disarm the C4 as well.."
RECT basement:
"And that's the last of them.." Hawkeye II announced as Darwin snips the wire of the last C4 charge. Jonathan and David were helping themselves with captured weapons while Shouzou rubbed his fists.
"Alright. Black Widow's disabling the signal jammer." Hawkeye II explained. "Everyone in the world will know the truth about ALO and Nobuyuki's experiments."
Shouzou looked up at the screen. He could see Kirito and Asuna staring down Sugou.
Then Asuna screamed in horror at one of the screens shown in-game. Sugou was laughing evilly as a warehouse was blown to pieces.
"Kyouko..." Shouzou realized.
The Void:
Captain America II and the others saw the whole explosion in horror and anger at Sugou's apparent murder of hostages.
"They're no prisoners in Hydra's world. Only order!" He proclaimed. Suddenly, Captain and Colonel's comms beeped.
"Colonel, Captain, this is Trinity." The AI said. "I've broken into the Cardinal System in the RECT mainframe. But it'll take some time. The game's launch has been halted too. So, we won't need to worry about the game launched internationally. This also includes the truth about ALO being revealed to the public."
"And Nobuyuki?" Captain asked in a low growl.
"I'm working on his account right now." Trinity answered. "But he's got firewalls set up. So it may take some time until I can break through."
Lexar and Leafa watched as the warehouse was engulfed in flames and collapsed. It was then Lexar looked closer at the smoldering wreckage.
"I see something in the ruins." Lexar pointed. However, he did not have a chance to elaborate as Asuna screamed out bloody murder as she rushed Sugou.
"Asuna!" Leafa yelled as the Lightning Flash went all out. However, Nobuyuki blocked nearly all of her sword strikes. And whenever he was hit, his healing abilities helped him recover.
"Why the sudden change of mind, Asuna?" Nobuyuki taunted. "After all, she did set all of this up for me and you!" He jumps out of the way. "I figured that you would like to see her gone!"
"I'll destroy you!" Asuna's hazel eyes burned, "I'LL MAKE YOU PAY!"
Nobuyuki just sighed. "Such as shame for you to have such a sudden change... But it won't matter anyway.." He sneered. "Once I'm finished, you won't be feeling pity for her anymore!" He blocked Asuna's attacks before countering it with a quick slash.
Kirito quickly rushed in with attacks of his own. "YOU MURDERER!"
Captain America II himself was also incensed. "Take him down!"
Everyone drew their weapons out and fired away at Nobuyuki and the Guardians.
"I've had it with that creep and Hydra!" Charlie screamed as she stabbed a Guardian in the eyes.
Both Mace and Lisbeth emptied their shotguns at the Guardians. But they keep respawning.
"These guys just won't let up!" Mace shouted as he chambers another shell after reloading.
"Let's just get through them!" Lisbeth screamed as she blasted another point-blank. As the others fought to try and get past the Guardians, Kirito and Asuna were letting loose on Sugou. Who continued to laugh and mock them.
"It's very sad that you've come this far. Only to lose it all at the end." He laughed. "You two might as well just give up and accept it!"
"And besides... It's only a matter of time before you two tire out, while I can re-energize myself at will!"
"We will not give up!" Kirito shot back. "We will defeat you and Hydra!"
Asuna was most ferocious, as she simply answered with frenzied slashes and stabs at the one man she hated more than anything in the world.
Meanwhile, Lexar and Leafa took down wave after wave of Guardians. Leafa was particularly incensed as she screamed over the slashing and shooting. She had witnessed a murder on live feed. Lexar shot, slashed, and punched every single Guardian he spotted. First, Nobuyuki held his friend's wife in ALO. Then, he molested both Asuna and Leafa. And now, he's murdered hostages.
And for all he knew, he could just pull the trigger on both his brother and dad. He kept pushing through every Guardian. Ducking and dodging their attacks whenever he could. His hands were aflame as he set many of the white beasts on fire. As well as jumping out of the way whenever he sensed their movements.
Colonel was back-to-back with Eugene as they barreled their way through the horde.
"How many Guardians does Nobuyuki have?!" Eugene yelled as he reloads. But he was knocked down by a Guardian. Colonel America knocked the Guardian back with his shield and helped Eugene onto his feet.
"Ugh," Eugene winced... it was then the realized that he had been cut by the Guardian in his arm. He can't use the assault rifle in his condition. He slung his rifle and switched back to his sword. He didn't want to admit it... but he and the others were starting to wear down from the intense fighting.
Even Agil, Klein, Rios and Salem are beginning to lose steam.
"Back demon, back!" Klein bit as he blasted repeatedly with his SC-2010, trying to shield some of his wounded Fuurinkazan.
"Gotta push them back, Elliot!" Rios shouted as he reloads.
"What do you think we've been doing!?" Salem shouted back. He tossed a grenade at the group of Guardians and exploded. Taking some of the Guardians. He then felt a sharp pain in his side.
"Aaahhhh..." He dropped onto the ground. Rios helped him up while he drew out the MP5K SMG and loosed his shots at the Guardians.
Nobuyuki, becomes weary of the battle and decides to play his next move.
"This fight is enjoyable... But I'm becoming bored!" He said before he jumped back and crowned his head. "System Command! Increase power to the gravity spell!"
The whole room seemed to shake and blur, but as soon as it started, it suddenly stopped. Then, everyone felt the great weight pushing them down on their knees.
"Tch!" Captain America II struggled as he tried to hold himself up.
Colonel America found himself pushing into the ground. He struggled to hold himself up. While the two super soldiers seemed able to fight it, all the other players and Rangers were pinned. Even AIs Unity, Yui, and Strea were not immune.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Yui cried out.
"Yui! Strea!" Kirito and Asuna tried to move. But found themselves pinned to the floor again.
"There..." Sugou laughed as he walked towards Kirito and Asuna again. "What are you going to do now?"
Colonel America and Captain America II tried to fight their way to Nobuyuki.
'If I can line up a shot...' Captain thought as he drew his pistol, trying to aim it. However, Nobuyuki was already next to Kirito and Asuna. Colonel America blocked the Guardian's spear as it pushes on him.
"C-Colonel..." Captain America turned his pistol to try and shoot the Guardian. However, it was knocked out of his hand and he was forced onto the floor. The Guardian went for a downward stab, but Cap managed to force his shield up to block.
"Come on..." While straining against the Guardian, he was trying to reach for his pistol again.
Asuna laid next to her husband...
"K-Kirito..." Asuna groaned. The black swordsman strained to answer... But Sugou stepped on Kirito's back with his foot, pinning him down. Asuna looked up at the man with deep hatred and rage in her eyes.
"Very sad... All this for nothing.." Nobuyuki mocked. He knelt down onto his knee, inching towards Asuna. "I will have my queen, one way or another."
Captain fought to try an obtain his pistol to shoot at Sugou's avatar. Suddenly, his comm beeped.
"Colonel, Captain."
"T-Trinity..."
"I've bypassed the firewalls and hacked into Nobuyuki's account. I've overridden his GM administration authority. He's locked out."
Asuna suddenly felt a lightness to her body.
"I've also set his pain absorber to zero." She added.
"My sweet minx of a queen," Nobuyuki reached his hand toward Asuna with a lecherous grin and stroked her cheek. He apparently did not notice Trinity's meddling, or Asuna reaching under her outfit as she was laying chest down.
"I was saving this for the real world..." Sugou chuckled with a wicked smile... "But, I figured I do it here in front of your so-called "husband"." He forced her onto her back, so that he's gazing down in her eyes and leans downward. Inching closer to her face.
"I'm afraid you forgot something..." Asuna retorted.
"And what's that?" Nobuyuki asked, laughing as he continues to inch closer. He forcefully cupped her chin in his hand.
"You never muck with the wife of a super beater..."
"Huh?" Nobuyuki was confused. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain... as Asuna stabbed him through the cheeks with a knife.
Kirigaya Household:
Minetaka and Midori watched at Asuna stabs Nobuyuki through the cheek with a knife.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Nobuyuki stumbled back away from Asuna while clutching the side of his face. As Nobuyuki fell over on his side, Asuna suddenly pinned him under her legs with a surprising amount of strength and raised the Hydra knife above her. With all the pent up grief, resentment, and anger of the past two months, Asuna yelled as she brought the knife down.
"Oh my!" Midori gasped with hands to her shocked face. Minetaka silently watched as Asuna brought the knife out and raised it in an icepick grip.
Nobuyuki screamed in agony as Asuna begins repeatly stabbing him in the chest and stomach.
"TWO MONTHS! TWO MONTHS I'VE BEEN IN THAT BIRD CAGE!" She screeched with each stab. "YOU TRIED TO WOO ME INTO THROWING MYSELF TO YOU! YOU MADE ME WEAR THAT DRESS! AND MADE ME ACT LIKE YOU DOLL AND INDIGNIFY MYSELF FOR YOU!"
The Void:
Captain reclaimed his pistol and blew the assailing Guardian's head off. To his surprise, it didn't respawn. He then quickly looked over to Captain and shot the other Guardian as well.
Unity also quickly recovered and lifted up her missile launchers. "Die already!"
The missiles struck the group of Guardians and disintegrated into pixels. Captain and Unity continued to fire at the remaining Guardians as everyone got up to see Asuna unleashed.
Kirito was speechless as he saw Asuna stab and brutalize Sugou's Oberon avatar.
"No! NO! PLEASE STOP!" Nobuyuki begged. But his words are ignored as the enraged Yuuki girl continued to stab him over and over.
"AH! UWAGH!" Nobuyuki screamed as he felt the full-on gutting that Asuna was delivering to him.
"That's brutal..." Charlie was shocked to see Asuna act out like that.
"A-Asuna?" Lisbeth stammered to see her best friend going all rage on the Hydra leader.
Silica and Sleek was speechless.
Lexar and Leafa, however, smirked to see Nobuyuki in pain. Deep down, he deserved it.
"Scary!" Klein shivered to see this side of Asuna.
"You said it.." Agil murmured. He knew that Asuna was tough. But to see her go off on Hydra was new.
"Oh man... Never seen anything like that before.." Salem whispered to Rios.
"Young lady!" Ramirez called out to her to no avail, "Miss Yuuki stop!"
Philia wasn't sure what to say or think. Neither did Rex and Kureha.
In the Sleeper Lab:
"Oh man... She's really raging out on him.." Iron Patriot II commented.
"Indeed, Captain.." Iron Man II agreed. A small smile cracked at the corner of his mouth.
"Ah! Stabby-stab-stab!" Argo winced at the graphic sight of Asuna ripping into the Hydra Supreme Commander on live feed before all of Japan.
"A-Asuna..." Mito gasped.
"YOU TOOK OVER RECT AND TURNED IT INTO A FREAKSHOW!" Asuna screamed as she went for a long stab to the chest. Nobuyuki screamed as he felt the knife plunged deep into his chest. He tried to crawl away. But he was pinned down.
"Oh my!" Yolko gasped. Caynz swore with a dropped jaw as he held Yolko.
"YOU EXPERIMENTED ON MY FRIENDS!"
Both Naomi and Kibaou were left speechless.
"TURNED ANOTHER FRIEND AGAINST HER FAMILY!"
Asuna's left fist glowed with energy as she socked Sugou in the jaw.
"KIDNAPPED MY FAMILY!"
Inside RECT:
"TORTURED AND MURDERED UNDER MY FATHER'S ROOF!"
Shouzou Yuuki, Hawkeye II, David and Jon Mitchell watched Asuna brutalizing Nobuyuki's avatar.
"Asuna!" Shouzou never thought his own gentle meek daughter was capable of such anger.
"He deserved it.." Jon said in a dark tone.
"SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ME AND KIRITO'S SISTER!"
Hawkeye II cupped her mouth in shock. She had seen war and what it did to people... And this was no different.
"TORTURED MY HUSBAND AND HIS BEST FRIEND!"
USS Wilson:
Nick Fury, Maria Hill, and Titania watch the whole scene on the bridge's giant monitor. The whole bridge of the Helicarrier could not believe that such a young woman could actually cut someone so brutally... even if the target was one of the most evil and sadistic men alive.
"PLANNING TO SEXUALLY ASSAULT ME AND SUGUHA IN THE REAL WORLD!"
Asuna plunged the knife just above the crotch. The high-pitch scream that followed the moment later came from Nobuyuki.
Nick Fury swore and winced. "Now that's painful..."
"Tell me about it, Fury." Agent Hill agreed. She too winced from the high-pitch scream of pain. Titania swore at Asuna's low blow.
The Void:
"M-Mommy?" Yui was terrified to see her mother in such rage. Strea held her sister as she felt pure rage from Asuna during the whole event.
"Mom!" Strea called out. She felt a strong wave of emotions from Asuna. Feelings of anger, hatred, and torment pouring out of her like a raging river.
"DECEIVED PLAYERS INTO FIGHTING AMERICAN SOLDIERS!"
Asuna suddenly grabbed the fake Excalibur laying nearby. She raised the Excalibur sword high in the air, preparing for a stab.
"AND YOU KILLED MY MOTHER AND SADA!"
Captain America II had just shot one of the remaining Guardians when Asuna plunged the sword straight through Oberon's torso. "Miss Yuuki!"
Castle watched on silently. It reminded him too much during his time as the Punisher back in the mid-2010s.
"Oh crud!" Mace exclaimed.
Codex was slack-jawed and almost frightened to see Asuna in such a grieved and bloodthirsty state.
Kirito looked up to his dangerously beautiful wife. He could clearly see the rage in her hazelnut eyes glaring down on the false king's broken and slashed body. Almost all his limbs and his torso was slashed to shreds. Tears streamed from Nobuyuki's eyes as the pain was too much for him to bear.
"W-wait, wait, wait!" Nobuyuki feebly raised his hands to Asuna, "w-what... what about... our ending?"
Asuna leaned down towards him, inches away from his face. "Here it comes..." She sneered before bringing the knife to his throat. She screamed as she slashed it deep.
"No- gurk!" Sugou choked as his avatar suffered critical damage.
"Stop!" Captain America tried to to rush over, but Asuna had already done the damage. With the Pain Absorber being non-existent, it was likely a crippling-to-fatal blow.
Kirito felt the gravity spell wearing off and he started to get up. Nobuyuki's avatar starts to disintegrate into pixels.
"A-Asuna just..." Kureha's words died as she looked on at the aftermath.
"...Killed him..." Rex finished as the now-lifeless avatar body disappears into pixels.
Asuna breathed heavily, rage still pumping through her veins. She stood up slowly and silently for a few seconds, facing away from everyone. However, it didn't take long for her to lower to the floor as sobs were heard from her. The knife made a loud clatter as she let it slip from her hand.
"A-Asuna?" Kirito asked. He knelt down and placed his hand on her shoulder. He placed his other hand on the side of her face, she looked up with tears streaming down from her eyes.
"Aaaaaaaaahhhhh..." Asuna suddenly buried her face into his shoulder as the whole stress of the ordeal fell on her shoulders.
"Sssshhhhhh... It's okay, Asuna..." Kirito said as he held his wife into his embrace. Asuna's body shook with her sobs while she clutched onto him tightly.
"Mommy!" Yui sprinted towards her with Strea following closely behind. Even the other Ranger sergeants and hardened ALO leaders seemed drained by the whole ordeal.
Both Yui and Strea hugged Asuna tightly. The other SAO girls who had their boyfriends held their hands or collapsed into them as Asuna did into Kirito. Even Leafa collapsed into Lexar's arms and held onto him.
Captain America II helped the Colonel up, and the two went over to the young family of four.
"It's alright mommy." Yui said soothly.. "Nobuyuki won't hurt you or all of us anymore.."
"And we're here," Kirito cooed.
"You've been through a lot in the past two months, mom.." Strea hugged Asuna.
Colonel kneeled next to the family, while Captain America II called. "Howler 7-2, status?"
"We've eliminated the guards and are now entering the estate." Logan reported. "Minimal resistance thus far. I've also dispatched a fireteam to gleam through the HVT's personal office. No sightings of the HVT."
"Captain, please be advised that the HVT may either be immobile or deceased," Captain America II advised, "expect a possible triage scenario."
"Roger that, we'll keep you posted."
In the meantime, Colonel tended to Kirito and Asuna. The latter continued to cry her eyes out and her face remained buried in Kirito's shoulder.
"I killed him..."
"I know, Asuna..." Kirito stroked her hair gently.
"I'm sorry you had to endure all that," Colonel America expressed.
"If only I knew what was happening before.." Kirito confessed to Asuna.. "I'd save you a lot sooner and you would've been spared from all this..."
Other SAO friends made their way over. Asuna hears footsteps heading their way but she was too afraid to look at her friends... Especially after brutalizing Nobuyuki's avatar.
"Rest assured though," Colonel continued to Kirito... "We've rescued everyone and stopped his plans for Hydra's new world order.. And whether Nobuyuki is dead or alive, those who aided and abetted him knowingly will face the consequences for crimes against Japan and the United States."
Those words reached Asuna's ears. But she still clinged onto Kirito. The SAO guild surrounded the young family. Lexar and Leafa are among them.
"Oh, Asuna," Lisbeth actually cried. The pink-haired girl knelt down and hugged her friend. Leafa started to cry as well. The Sylph girl quickly knelt down and hugged her sister-in-law.
"Lisbeth?" Asuna recognized her BFF.
"We're very sorry that you went through all that.." Lisbeth cried. Mace held Lisbeth by the shoulder as he struggled between sadness and anger.
"Asuna-chan," Silica was crying her heart out from the intensity of the fighting and emotional ordeal. She hugged Asuna around Strea. Sleek held Silica by the shoulder, his hand trembled with emotional stress.
Sergeant Ramirez and Castle came up next to Captain America II.
"So... Now what, Cap?" Castle asked in a hushed tone.
Captain America II was resolute, "we go and finish the job."
In the Sleeper Lab:
Naomi collapsed in a sobbing heap.
"A-Asuna!" Mito cried her heart out. After everything that her friend went through from SAO to being trapped in ALO. Witnessing her friend break down in tears was too much for her to bear witness.
"Let's go," Iron Man II simply martialed the other SAO survivors to the portal, some in silence, and others gasping and murmuring to themselves over what transpired.
"Agreed." Iron Patriot II said. "I've turned on the portal in this room. Y'all are getting out of here." The portal next to the GM console opens up.
"This way" Iron Man II gestured. Kibaou held his trembling sister. Yolko collapsed into Caynz's arms.
"It's alright now," Caynz comforted her. Argo watched the holoscreen as everyone from SAO gathered around and hugged Asuna.
"Come on," Iron Patriot urged her, "time to go."
"Right.." Argo followed with the others.
"Come on, let's get going." Iron Man II said to Mito.
Mito looked up at the famed persona in confusion.
"We can't wait around any longer." Iron Man II explained to her. Mito took another look at Asuna, before complying and walking in line. Everyone starts walking through the portal. Logging their statuses out of the GM servers.
Inside RECT:
"Howler 7-3, proceeding to target!" Captain Pierson reported as he and Howler 7-3 moved through the hallways. They checked around the corners for Hydra activity.
"Contact!" One soldier narrowly avoided gunfire from one room, and another tossed in a flashbang to blind those inside, before spraying them with automatic fire.
"Hit them back!" Pierson ordered. Howler 7-3 struck viciously at the defenders, killing many and forcing others to flee further in.
"We got them on the run!" One soldier shouted.
"They're trying to regroup." Captain Hernandez explained. "We gotta crush them fast!"
"Hernandez, I'll take 7-3 to secure the control room and servers!" Pierson indicated.
"Right, and we'll lock down the executive suites including Nobuyuki's office," Hernandez concurred.
"And be careful too. Cornered beasts are very dangerous." Pierson warned. Hernandez took 7-4 in another direction while Pierson's Rangers continued to fight their way down towards Gaming and Moderation.
As 7-4 entered the executive wing...
"Contact!" Hernandez fired as he moved to cover. Hydra had set up automated turrets which instantly opened on the nearest targets.
"We need to shut down those auto turrets!"
"Tossing a flare!" One soldier lights up a red flare and tossed it down the hallway. The auto turrets locked onto the flare and fired away.
"Get some!" Another Howler hauling an M60E6 opened up on the guns. The bullets hit the joints of the auto turret, damaging them. Other Howlers trained their carbines on the guns and shredded the sensors and hard drives. The auto turrets begin to show signs of damage as sparks flew out from the sides and weapons' rate of fire begin to decrease.
"Clear!" A Ranger called as the turrets fell silent.
"Move up! Move up!" Hernandez ordered. Howler 7-4 pushed through pass the destroyed turrets. As the troops fanned out, Hernandez took one other Ranger to check Nobuyuki's office. "Kick it in," Hernandez prompted.
The Ranger soldier kicked the door in, nearly sending it off its hinges. After a flashbang, Hernandez and the trooper barged in. Seeing that no enemies were present, Hernandez slung his carbine and went over to Nobuyuki's computer.
"Howler 7-4 Actual, proceeding with data extraction." He types in the keyboard and opens up the files. He hooks up the DSM to the computer and begins downloading the files. The DSM hummed as it decoded and downloaded, but a brief alarm sounded from the computer. Before Hernandez could react, a hidden charge inside the desktop triggered.
The executive suite erupted in a ball of fire. A squad of four furthest from the blast were knocked down. One of the young soldiers yelled, "Captain!"
In the security room:
A small tremor was felt.
"What was that?" One of the young security officers asked.
'It's one of Nobuyuki's traps..' Natasha realized. She had made her way back to try and help the Yuuki loyalists diffuse the automated security measures, but Sugou's inside knowledge of Operation Finalizer led to fears that there would be additional traps undetected.
"There's a fire in the executive suite!"
'I need to find the mole.' She thought. According to the Yuuki girl, and her loyalists. There's a mole that's giving information through RECT from someone in the White House. However, Nobuyuki had rigged the office... and many Rangers were now likely dead.
'There's gotta be someway to find out who leaked info to Nobuyuki..'
Nobuyuki Mansion:
An explosion startled Logan.
"We got explosions coming from Nobuyuki's office." One Ranger reported.
Logan radioed, "7-2 Bravo, report status!"
A voice came coughing over the net, "my sergeant's gone!"
"We set up a DSM to download the files from Nobuyuki's desktop computer. And then, the desk beeped and exploded!"
The sergeant next to Logan grit his teeth. "Son of a gun... hasn't he killed enough of us!?"
"I'm gonna drill a round into his skull!" A corporal raged.
"T-" The voice coughed. "There could be more charges set in this mansion.."
Logan grit his teeth. The enemy was prepared, and Howler 7-2 was incurring costly casualties.
"What should we do?"
"Ugh... Howler 7-1 Actual and Helios," he called, "be advised that Howler 7-2 is unable to secure the manor without unacceptable casualties."
"Copy that, Howler 7-2 Actual." Helios confirmed.
The Void:
"Copy that Howler 7-2 Actual," Captain America II sighed, "get your men to safety."
"Roger that Howler 7-1 Actual. We're pulling out of the manor. Howler 7-2 Actual out!" The comm line ended. Kirito and Asuna looked up to see Revere Two with an expression of silent frustration. Asuna finally calmed down with their friends, and their AI daughters embracing them.
"What's going on, Captain?" Lexar asked.
"Something that I might have to attend to personally," Captain II said simply.
"Probably be logging out soon. Now that the 299 players have escaped from ALO." He added.
"I-It's Nobuyuki's Mansion, isn't it?" Asuna suddenly asked.
Captain America II gave her a look. "How did you know?"
Asuna begins to stand up. Kirito and the others helped her up. "He knows who you are," Asuna revealed, "someone in your military leaked the details of your operation to him."
"While we don't exactly know who the mole was." She continued. "But according to Naomi, she said that the leak came from someone in the White House."
Colonel then quickly radioed Iron Patriot II. "Patriot... cut the livestream, now."
"I'm on it, Colonel." Iron Patriot replied. Several seconds have passed. "It's cut, sir."
"Wait, what?" Ramirez was shocked to hear that.
"Naomi?" Castle questioned.
"One of the few inside RECT who is not with Hydra," Asuna quickly explained, "someone from inside the White House leaked details of your coming to capture Sugou... and personal dossiers of your top officers, Chris Burke and Jack Preston."
This sudden revelation stunned the Colonel.
"Chris Burke?" Eugene blurted out.
"Wait..." Kirito put two and two together, "you're Chris Burke."
Lexar also seemed to recognize the name too. "The Captain Chris Burke!"
"One of the heroes from the civil war!?" Charlie gasped.
"That means... you're General Burke's son," Codex recognized the person and the distinguished family Chris belonged to.
"General Burke!?" Sakuya interjected. Captain America II frowned at the situation... what was supposed to have been an in-and-out job with Nobuyuki was rapidly turning into a foreign affairs quagmire.
Colonel America quickly raised his hands. "Everyone, quiet down please!' The Void fell silent again as Colonel America continued. "Our mission to rescue the hostages is complete..."
"Colonel America's right." Ramirez agreed. "Even though it went different, the mission was a success."
"But we are not out of the woods yet. All civilian volunteers must now evacuate Alfheim Online."
Colonel America gave a nod to Captain America II, who clicked on his log out button, and vanished.
Kirito turned to Asuna. "We did it, Asuna... It's probably nighttime already. When we log out, I'll come over to your hospital and meet you there."
Asuna smiled. "T-Thanks... And the first person I wanna see after I wake up is you..." She added. She shivered as she hugged Kirito tightly.
"I'll be there... I promise..." Kirito hugged her gently.
"Just... be careful, okay?" Asuna told him.
"I'll be careful..." Kirito reassured her.
Klein helped his Fuurinkazan pick up one another.
"Take care, you two." Issin groaned. He gave a victory sign to Kirito and Asuna as he passed with the help of Harry One and Dynamm. Lexar and Leafa approached Kirito and Asuna.
"Well..." Leafa said with a shy blush and hands together.
"We'll be seeing you in the real world." Lexar said with a smile. Asuna extended her arms to Leafa, who also hugged her back.
"I'm so happy for both you and and Lexar..." Asuna smiled. "And I can't wait to meet you in the real world.."
"And I'm happy for you and Kazuto-niisan," Leafa sobbed in weary relief and happiness.
"Same goes for me and Strea, Auntie Leafa.." Yui hugged both Asuna and Leafa.
"One big happy family," Strea sang softly.
"Indeed we are, Strea.." Codex sigh as he hugged Strea.
"MmmMmmm!" Strea hummed in happiness. She nuzzled in Codex's shoulder. It was quickly followed by her giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Kirito smirked. "You know, since she is Yui's little sister..."
"I know.." Codex replied. "But my feelings for Strea are real. And even if she both an AI and Yui's little sister, I still love her with all my heart.." He held Strea in a comfort and lovely hug.
"And you break her heart, you know who to fear," Kirito teased.
"Kirito-kun!" Asuna exclaimed, in a mix of amusement and dismay.
"No need to worry about that.." Codex chuckled as he kissed Strea on the cheek.
"So where are you going with Yui?" Codex asked.
"Yui and I are gonna store ourselves inside Dad's NerveGear helmet for a time being." Strea answer. "Until we can be able to restore the ALO servers in the future."
"If they are restored," Philia pointed out, "I have a feeling that the US military or our civil authorities are going to seize ALO as evidence."
"True... But I have a feeling that Anderson Tech could step in and buy the ALO servers.." Lexar surmised.
"Hate to burst your bubble," Sergeant Ramirez overheard and came over to Lexar... "But I highly doubt that Alfheim Online would gain popularity again after what just happened. And yes, I do think that Military Intelligence is gonna seize the code as evidence."
Kirito sighed sadly at the news. He turned to Leafa. "I know that Alfheim Online means so much for you.."
"It's okay, Kazuto..." Leafa answered. "Even though ALO was a second home to me, Hydra ruined it for everyone.." Leafa gazed at Asuna, "but now... I'm just happy that we are all alive."
"I'm glad all of us made it.." Lexar added.
One-by-one, everyone started logging out. Leaving Kirito, Asuna, Lexar, Leafa, Yui, Codex and Strea.
"We'll handle things from here." Ramirez reassured them, seeing that all of the civie players have logged out. He then received a beep from Captain America II.
"Sergeant Ramirez."
"What is it, Cap?"
"Return to base immediately and saddle up whatever of 7-1 is not in Medical. We have a situation in progress."
"How serious?"
"Serious enough for me to call you back. Ramirez, get to it."
"Affirmative Captain. Been there shortly. Ramirez out." Ramirez gave the kids a friendly wave. "Well, gotta go see my boss now. You kids run along now!"
"Okay..." Kirito and the small company smiled. Kirito turned to Yui. "Okay... You can log Asuna out.."
He gave Asuna a smile. "Time to go home." The two young, married coupled shared a sweet, tender kiss as Asuna's body glowed bright. Happy tears streamed down her face and over Kirito's fingers.
With a smile, Asuna's restored SAO avatar beamed triumphant as she logged out.
"We're logging out too..." Lexar stated. "See you in the real world." Both he and Leafa opened up their status window and clicked the 'log-out' button. Kirito and Lexar fist-bumped each other as the latter logs out.
"I don't know how long this will take..." Codex said to Strea. "But, if or when ALO goes back online, hopefully, I'll spend every single minute with you.."
Strea gave an encouraging smile. "We'll find a way... after all, I'm an AI." Strea then planted a kiss against Codex's lips. "I'll see you again, Codex.."
Strea took Yui's hand and gave wink and victory sign.
"See you, Daddy!" Yui waved.
"See you two soon, Yui.." Kirito waved as the two AIs disappeared in a bright flash of light. Codex followed suit after pressing the log-out button.
Now Kirito is the last to log out.
As he opens up the status window. He hears a voice calling his name.
"Kirito..." Both he and Ramirez spun towards the source of the voice. They see an man in his late-twenties wearing a white shirt with a neck tie. Worn along with a long, white lab coat on top.
"What the?" Ramirez was startled.
"Kayaba..." Kirito surmised. "What are you-"
"I want to congratulate you and everyone for defeating Nobuyuki." Kayaba spoke up. "He's been playing God long enough and making a mockery of my work.."
"Kayaba!?" Ramirez heard the notorious name. He then raised his SCAR 25. "Freeze!"
"Relax, Sergeant James Ramirez..." Kayaba said calmly. "I have no quarrel with anyone here.."
"Oh yeah? My captain would disagree," Ramirez pulled the trigger, but got a dry click instead. "What!? I can't be empty!" He checks the magazine and sees bullets inside. He slapped it back into his gun and tried to shoot Kayaba, but got another dry click.
Kayaba then turned back to Kirito as the Ranger struggled with getting his gun to work. "I've disabled his weapons. I wish to present you a gift. A reward for stopping Nobuyuki." Kayaba raised his hand. A small, golden light begins to form from the palm. It grew bigger by the second until it grew no further than the size of an egg.
"Behold... The World Seed.."
"The... World Seed?"
Ramirez then tried his radio, "Helios! This is Ramirez! I have eyes on Akihiko Kayaba!" However, Ramirez hears static on the radio.
"This is Ramirez to Helios! Akihiko Kayaba's located in the Void." Static continues to flood the earpiece.
"It's the key to a new world and new beginnings, Kirito," Kayaba said as he floated the World Seed from his hand. Kirito extend his hands out and the World Seed lands in the middle of his hands.
"What... am I supposed to do with this?" Kirito asked.
"Come on, work!" Ramirez tried to get his gun and radio to work.
"What you will plan with the World Seed is up to you... And to you alone.." Kayaba answered. "You can choose to delete it or turn it in to the authorities..."
"I..." Kirito gazed upon the World Seed, which is now resting in his hands. "I wanna think about it first..."
"Or if you still desire the world that you experienced and yearn for," Kayaba presented...
Kirito turned his attention towards Kayaba. The creator of the NerveGear was referring to both SAO and ALO. He knew that the former was a death game. But, he felt the desire to overcome all odds and saved everyone. And he did it again in ALO against a Hydra leader.
'Could this bring back Aincrad?' Kirito thought.
"Then use the Seed to bring about a new era of positive possibilities and unlock futures never before imagined."
Ramirez tried to rush Kayaba, but ranbup against an invisible wall. "Kirito!" He banged against the field. Kirito, however, couldn't hear Ramirez's shouts as the invisible wall muted them from the other side.
"Will I be able to save this?" Kirito asked. "I'm planning to m-"
"Yes... You can save it through the NerveGear helmet.." Kayaba answered. "And who knows... maybe you can use the Seed to bring a future far more enjoyable than the one Hydra wishes."
Kirito smiles before opening his status window and saves the item in his inventory.
"Then... I take my leave..." Kayaba said as he floated away, "until we meet again, Kazuto Kirigaya. Just stay alive like you did with Sword Art Online."
Suddenly the invisible barrier feel and Ramirez was allowed through. "Stop!" He raised his rifle, and this time fired off a few shots. But Kayaba remained unharmed as he faded away. Within moments, he was gone.
"Sergeant Ramirez, come in!" Captain America II radioed, "are you alright!?"
"Kayaba!" Ramirez responded. "I just saw Akihiko Kayaba!"
"Say again!?"
"Akihiko Kayaba was sighted, sir," Ramirez breathed heavily, "but I lost him!"
"Get everyone else evacuated from ALO and return to base immediately," Captain ordered, "we'll deal with Kayaba afterwards!"
"Acknowledged."
Kirito thought about what Kayaba said. He checked his inventory again to see the item labeled "World Seed" with the rest of his in-game items. He then moves to the options menu and pressed the 'log-out' button. He logs out of Alfheim Online.
Kirigaya Household:
Suguha opens her eyes and finds herself staring at the ceiling of her bedroom.
"Suguha!?"
She looked towards the source of the voice. It was her mother, Midori.
"M-Mom..." Suguha slowly got up and removed the AmuSphere headset. Setting it aside.
Midori glomped onto her. "Thank Kami you are alright!"
"Mom..." The memory of Nobuyuki violating her begins to return. She shook from the memory and held her mother tightly.
"Shhh... It's alright, Sugu.." Midori comforted her daughter. "I'm just glad that you, Kazuto, and Alex are safe..."
Alex and Kazuto also began to wake up. Minetaka was next to them to greet them. Alex suddenly clutched his right shoulder as he felt the sharp pain searing through his shoulder. He nearly forgot that he had not fully recovered.
"Alex?" Kazuto asked as he stirred awake. He just logged off a few minutes after Alex did.
"I-I... ugh..." Alex tried to sit up, but ended up keeling over towards the side.
Minetaka quickly caught the boy. Kazuto rushed and helped Alex sit upright on the bed.
"I think... I think my nerves are damaged..." Alex was pale. "The Pain Absorber... He set it to Level 4..."
It was then that Kazuto began to feel some of the leftover phantom pain as well. He winced slightly from the phantom chest wound and cuts... but it all strangely felt dull.
"I- Uggh.. I'm glad he didn't set it to zero..." Alex continued.
"There are many injuries around the city though," Minetaka said, "police scanners were filled with calls of medical emergencies and people being admitted to hospitals by the hundreds."
Alex rubs his shoulder, still feeling the lingering phantom pain.
"Suguha..."
Alex tried to get up. "I gotta check on Suguha.."
"Alex..." Suguha looked over her mother's shoulder. She hears grunts and groans coming from Kazuto's room. A minute went by and she sees Alex. He walked while clutching his shoulder. Kazuto and her dad were helping him keep his balance.
"Suguha..." Alex groaned.
Suguha's eyes welled up. "Alex!" She broke away from her mother's embrace and rushed to her beloved. She hugged him.
"Oof!" He groaned as she was squeezing his right shoulder when she hugged. But his concerns for Suguha made him ignore the pain.
"Alex!" Suguha sobbed in both pain and relief that their tormentors had been defeated.
"Suguha.." Alex hugs her as best as he could. The two settled in their embrace, while Kirito and parents were themselves tearing up. Tears welled up in Alex's eyes and he held her tighter.
Suguha looked up to Kazuto. "Don't keep her waiting."
Kazuto, realizing she meant Asuna, replied. "Right... I'm just glad that it's over.."
Midori seemed to agree, and nodded to her husband.
"Come... I'll drive," Minetaka urged his son.
"Thanks, dad." Kazuto followed him to the front door. As they leave, Alex and Suguha sat down on the bed. Still holding each other.
At RECT Progress:
The doors to the control room exploded inward. "Breaching!"
The Hydra officers drew out their weapons and aimed towards the smoldering ruins of the door.
"Defend this area at all costs!"
However, one of the RECT security officers suddenly pointed his gun at the Hydra next to him. "No, you drop the gun!"
"What!?" The Officer was stunned by the sudden turncoat. "Who side are you on!?"
Suddenly, other RECT employees began to draw guns on their colleagues.
"You heard him! Drop your weapons now!" Suddenly the Rangers of Howler Platoon came in, with the Hydra agents completely paralyzed and caught off-guard by their fellow RECT employees.
"Drop the guns!" One of the Rangers commanded.
"Drop them or you're all dead!" A younger Ranger called out with visible anger in his tone. There was a stand-off between the Howler Rangers, the Hydra Officers and the Turncoats.
Captain Pierson came in with his Mk.18. "Don't foolishly throw away your lives for a defeated cause," he advised those present in the room, "surrender or be gunned down here and now."
The Hydra officers surveyed their situation. Howler soldiers on one side and Turncoats on the other. And the Turncoats are armed with automatic rifles and shotguns.
"Better listen to the American..." one of the female Yuuki loyalists said, "it's over for Hydra."
"I say we just shoot them all, Captain," one of the Howlers next to Pierson suggested, "avenge 7-4's deaths..."
"Denied." Pierson replied. "We're not savages. We don't execute disarmed soldiers." He turned back to the Hydra officer. "This is your last chance. Surrender now!"
The Hydra officer growled in frustration. "Fine!" He lowered his weapon. All the surviving Hydra eventually followed, with the Yuuki loyalists also dropping their guns and raising their hands in surrender.
"Wise choice.." Pierson remarked. "Helios indicated that there was intel on possible Yuuki family loyalists..." he told his lieutenant, "round up the prisoners and isolate the loyalists from the enemy."
"On it, sir." The lieutenant replied. The Rangers begin rounding up and cuffing the disarmed Hydra officers. The Yuuki loyalists were separated from the prisoners of the Howlers.
"Wonder how we got this list..." Pierson muttered as his visor HUD showed the list in question.
Security room:
"US Army Rangers! Open up and come out with your hands up!"
The door slowly opens up. "Don't shoot!"
"Step out of the room slowly! And no funny business either!"
"We just took out most of the automated defenses Hydra had in this building!" Fuji pointed out.
"No funny business here," a female colleague added.
"Just get your butts out here!"
They security officers started stepping out of the security room. Their hands raised above their heads. George and his fellow loyalist colleagues were lined up along the wall. Their pockets rifled and their sidearms tossed aside.
"Easy, easy," Fuji protested, "we're with Asuna Yuuki!"
"We've managed to help disable some of the security measures in here!" Yuki added.
"Corporal," a sergeant ordered, "check the list from Helios."
However one of the younger soldiers eyed George. He spoke with a notable Texan accent, "say, haven't I seen you somewhere?"
"You may have.." George replied. The Californian seemed resigned.
"Wait a minute..." the soldier took a closer look at him, "you're an American."
"I am..." George said naturally.
Another soldier saw George and some of the other American colleagues with him. "He is... and I saw him before!"
The second Texan rushed over and dragged George out of line before slamming him in the head with his M4v1. "Remember San Antonio you traitor!?"
"I do..." George groaned. He didn't made any attempts to lie.
The first Texan's face grew red as he pointed his rifle at George's head. "I saw you too! My sister was in San Antonio when you bastards purged it!"
"Plug him, Sanchez!"
"No!" Yuki protested, fearing these soldiers threatening to kill a colleague in front of him. George, however, knew that this day would come sooner or later. And he'd pay for his crimes he committed in the past.
"Stop it!" The sergeant shoved the soldier's rifle away.
"But sir!" Sanchez countered. "This Hydra officer is a Pacifican war criminal!"
"We should just kill them," Sanchez's buddy suggested.
"If he's a war criminal. We take him back with us to face trial." The Sergeant pointed out.
"It's George Connelly." Sanchez said. "Lieutenant Connelly's unit poisoned San Antonio's food supply with supped-up fentanyl."
"Many people died because of him." Another soldier added. "If there are other Pacificans here, I say we just shoot them and we won't have to answer for it."
"No," the sergeant quickly shut it down. "We process them and then leave it to command to decide to bring charges. Sanchez, you're off prisoner detail."
"But sir.." Sanchez began to protest.
"You're off." The sergeant then re-iterated, "corporal, get them checked and let's go."
"Yes sir." The corporal lifted George off the floor and back in line with the others. George could not believe his luck.
The Sergeant radios Helios.
USS Wilson:
Meanwhile, Chris had already gotten out of his VR dive and was already rushing to get his gear on. Anderson and Preston, were already sporting their Iron Patriot and Iron Man suits respectfully.
"So what's the game plan, boss?" Iron Man II asked the Captain as he donned his real gear.
"Well," Captain America II said as he loaded his 2011 9mm pistol and M4v1 rifle, "you and I are to go to the Nobuyuki Mansion, disarm any remaining resistance, and confirm whether Nobuyuki is dead or alive."
"Should we also check the hospital the Yuuki girl's at?" Iron Patriot II question. "Even if Nobuyuki could be dead, there's a possibility that Hydra could wipe out any witnesses in ALO... Including her."
"I'm going to send Howler 7-1 to do that." Cap then told Patriot, "the Colonel wants you to go to RECT and lock down the electronics."
"Will do." He nodded. "We'll get going." Patriot left just before Captain America's com buzzed. It was Captain Walker.
"Howler 7-1 Actual, go ahead."
Two minutes earlier...
Nobuyuki Estate:
Howler 7-2 patrolled the courtyard of the Estate. Logan Walker watched as those not killed in the fighting or office explosion were placed close to the bushes to be tended to.
'So far, nothing out here..' He thought. However, he was uncomfortable with the peering eyes and flashlights from some of the neighbors... and it didn't help that the two Quinjets his company rode in were burning wrecks on the streets.
'Don't know how long are we gonna remain here. People are starting to investigate the noise we've made.'
Suddenly a series of squealing tires was heard. The garage doors to an underground garage suddenly opened, and ominous headlights grew brighter out of the garage. Three SUVs and a truck came barreling out, nearly running over the Rangers, some of whom tried to shoot them only for the bullets to ricochet off the sidings. Walker aimed at the tires and fired away. The bullets hit, but none of the tires burst as the vehicles escaped.
Walker radios Helios. "Howler 7-2 Actual to Helios!"
The Present...
USS Wilson:
"Vehicles leaving the target mansion?" Captain America asked the mission command.
"Affirmative, Cap." Walker replied. "Three SUVs and a truck just exited out of the estate's underground garage and took off. We tried to take out the tires and drivers. But they're bulletproof."
"That means... thank you, Helios. I'm moving out." With that Captain America II rushed to the hangar, not bothering with his backpack.
"Cap?" Iron Man II ran after him. He managed to grab the Cap's backpack before running after him. Captain America II made a stop in the Exo-Wing cradle.
"I'm sorry sir," one of the techies said, "but we only have one-"
"That's enough," Captain America II strapped the unit onto the back of his suit. "We're heading to the hospital, now." Captain America II immediately ran into the hangar and caught one of the aircraft elevators up to the flight deck. Iron Man II barely kept up with Chris' super soldier sprint.
"Cap! Your backpack!" He called out.
"Leave it!" Captain ordered, "I've got to get down there now!" He activated the Exo-Wing's neural link and spooled up the thrusters.
Iron Man II tossed the backpack to a nearby technician, who caught it. He activates her repulsor thrusters as he hovers above the deck floor.
The two blasted off the Helicarrier and raced downwards towards Tokyo.
"Helios!" Captain America ordered, "give me coordinates of Asuna Yuuki's location!"