Cody and Miyu sparred hand to hand. Miyu was panting a little bit. No one has ever outmatched her save for Fox and Krystal. Cody though was wearing her down. Despite his horrid condition from drug abuse, he kept pace with her. Miyu spoke.

"Cody I can tell you're holding back now quit doing it show me what you're made of."

Cody was nervous. "Miyu I really don't want to hurt you it's just sparring not an actual fight."

Miyu took the chance to sucker punch him busting Cody's lip.

Cody snapped he let out a dark deep roar that no one expected. He leaped at Miyu she tried to dodge but it was too late. He tackled her to the ground headbutting his forehead busting her nose. He then punched her in the throat several times. One hand still choked her. He shouted.

"YOU TOLD ME NOT TO HOLD BACK!"

His breathing was heavy he let go mortified Miyu got up gasping for breath. He helped her up profusely apologizing.

Miyu patted him on the back and started laughing once she caught her breath. "You did as you were told it's my fault didn't know what I was in for I should have listened."

Cody facepalmed. "Miyu, I didn't survive by going easy on the enemy. I survived by guarding those I love and annihilating anything or anyone that threatened them. Don't ever let my age fool you, I am still a Minuteman."

Miyu grabbed a wet rag wiping blood off Cody's forehead revealing the cross. "You're not kidding cub. Then again, the tattoos should have warned me, but I was too cocky, so I understand why you're a child soldier shit hit the fan the Minutemen were crumbling the Commonwealth was being overrun parents were killed their cubs escaped but how did you get the tats did anyone else in your unit get them?"

Cody answered, his voice filled with pain. "No just me. I got them not long after Zion fell. We found this settlement called University Point people there are sweet."

His voice then became cold and hateful. "Well, things were nice till the same bastard who killed my Daddy got there. Kellog went to the mayor demanding some sort of research about reactors. Two days later he attacked us accompanied by a large number of Synths. We hit them hard and with fury. We won but a lot of civilians lost their lives and the bastards killed four of my brothers and two of my sisters. Caught one of their little workers trying to get the data. Made him sing like a little bird. That's how I got all the information along with the Courser chip."

He took a deep breath, slowly calming down. "One reason I got the tattoos was mainly because Daddy had them in a way, I wanted to emanate him. He always seemed to know what to do he led us through battles famine sickness but with his leadership and God's love, we thrived despite it all. A third was quilt that I failed him because of me he is gone so every time I look in the mirror, I'm reminded of that, but it also is a reminder of who I fight for. Every life I take every drop of blood spilled is for the Commonwealth for my family and all of you your part of it. Right now, the Commonwealth needs me so please let me go back home."

Fox knelt to Cody's level. "On two conditions one if Liberator permits it two you no longer go alone you need someone with you at all times."

Cody nodded excitedly. "I know just the group."

Fox held his communicator as Liberator spoke. "Sure, I can find some errands for him plus there's always people in need of help. Also, tell him to fly his Warhawk here my Minutemen and Continentals already cleared out Boston Airport."

The Star Fox team made their way to the hangar. Cody was already polishing his Warhawk. Its shiny aluminum skin is now gleaming. The frail paint was gone from the constant flight training and what little was left Cody removed the only new paint added was the Minutemen emblem painted in white on both wings. The bare color of the aluminum was oddly pleasing for Fox, but he had an idea.

"Cody before you go, I know you already have the Minutemen markings but what about ours? You said we're part of your family so I was wondering, would you like to represent us? I know we can't reveal ourselves to the public but if you bear the Star Fox logo, they'll know we mean no harm."

Cody smiled. "You have my blessing Fox."

Slippy held up two spray cans, one red and one white.

Cody pondered for a second. "Red I think it'll compliment the white of the Minutemen emblem. Put it on the tail."

The Warhawk was loaded into a shuttle. Fox told Cody. "Don't lose yourself."

Before the shuttle took off Slippy handed him a large satchel. "It's full of hacking darts you can use them to get access to terminals turn hostile robots into allies even turn the enemy's turrets against them. Consider it a thank you for sticking up for me back on the Massachusetts."

The shuttle took off and descended through the atmosphere. At fifteen thousand feet it stopped and dumped the Warhawk with Cody in it. He used the altitude to glide he closed the landing gear and started the engine midair. The Warhawk flew over the ocean. Cody rolled back the canopy feeling the cool salty air.

Back in the Commonwealth, the Minutemen flag flew over Boston Airport. Autumn walked around making sure there were no ferals left, still, he had no clue why they were there. "General we've been here for an hour what are we waiting for? Our Vertibirds don't need runways."

Liberator just smirked as he smoked his cigar. "You'll see I don't want to spoil the surprise."

A minute later a distant droning noise was heard that quickly turned into a roar. The screaming rage of a V-12 Allision filled the sky. Cody got as close as he could to the tower slamming his engine on W.E.P. He laughed as he saw one of the tower's operators spill coffee. After another pass, he dropped the landing gear and lowered flaps with a squeal of the breaks and killing of the engine he landed. Cody smiled as he crawled out of the cockpit.

Liberator's smirk grew wider. "Colonel Autumn, I'd like you to meet Corporal Cody Mason first pilot of the Minutemen Air Corp and Last of the Youth Battalion."

Cody walked to them. He saluted. Autumn said. "At ease, so you're the little hellspawn your General has been so excited about."

Cody grinned and shook hands. "Glad to know someone's been bragging about me. Nice to meet you uh?"

Autumn smiled back. "Colonel Autumn. Well, I'll leave you to it. General told me to give you free reign."

Cody met back with MacCready. "There you are little boss almost thought you forgot about me ready to hit the road."

Cody nodded. "Yep, we're heading out also got a few others in mind to join us we're going to have some parties best part is it's all at the cost of the Raiders."

They maneuvered their way through the dangerous bloodied and broken paths of downtown Boston right to Goodneighbor. The Watchmen held the door open for Cody.

Hancock smiled. "Good to see you, little brother."

The two hugged. "What is it you need?"

Cody drank a shot of whiskey. "I'm forming a new squad. MacCready is good from afar, but I need someone good in close quarters."

Hancock finished his last puff of jet. "I'm game. Oh, and I know someone else we can bring aboard her name is Cait she lives in The Combat Zone."

They marched there Hancock killed two of the guarding Raiders with his sawed-off while Cody proceeded to butcher them with his bayonet. MacCready grimaced a bit. Cody just showed a pleased smile as blood dripped from the barrel and bayonet of his M16. They went inside. To the left of them were two tied-up Raiders the sign above them read "Rule Breakers."

Hancock kicked the doors in. The Raiders turned to them one shouted. "ITS CODY FIGHT FOR YOUR LIVES!"

The Raiders rallied but their panic caused many of their own to be caught in the crossfire. MacCready sent accurate fire their way aiming for the Raiders on the shacks and walkways higher up. Hancock and Cody went in guns blazing at close range. The last few Raiders tried to get away, but Cody hunted them down bayoneting them to death rather than waste ammo.

Tommy kept low to the ground. "You think they're done out there? We don't want any trouble not anymore at least."

Cait scolded him. "Oh just peak your head up, you damn coward."

Tommy replied. "To heck with that. I'm too pretty to go like this."

As Cody approached, he got up. "Is it over? It could have gone worse."

Cait smirked. "Heh I dunno. Seemed like quite the performance from where I was standin'."

Tommy answered. "Are you fucking high? Why am I asking of course you are."

The two kept fighting till Cody ended it shouting at the top of his lungs.

"BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP!"

He took a deep breath. "I've been looking for another fighter to join my squad I'll pay you in the spoils of war."

Tommy pondered. "Alright kid her contract is yours."

Cait was outraged. "How can you let this little wean lead me?"

Tommy crossed his arms. "Well, I need to clean this mess up and find a less blood-soaked clientele. So, if you stay only one you have to speak to is yours truly and that little wean is Cody Mason. If anyone can lead you to glory, it's going to be him."

Cait did not like the sound of that. "Point taken well lad lead the way."

Cody stopped her. "Hey Tommy before we go, I want those two rule breakers in the ring."

The fight was arranged. The two Raiders chose their weapons, one with a bat and the other with a machete.

Cody grinned, handing his M16 and M1911 to Hancock. "I'll only need my bayonet for this."

He flipped the bayonet in his hands. The two Raiders pounced but Cody swiftly dodged and weaved between them. He disemboweled one and slit the throat of the second. The last Raider croaked and groaned in agony. Annoyed, Cody jammed his bayonet into the Raider's skull ending his pain. Cody smiled admiring the fresh blood rolling from his bayonet onto his arm. "Oh, how I missed this. Let's hit the road I know some nearby gangs we can eliminate."

As they marched on the squad asked questions, Cait was the first. "So what have you been up to the past three years the Raiders ran the place?"

Cody answered. "Been trying not to lose the war. Only recently have we now been back on the offensive besides with the front freed up I came to get you out, didn't I?"

Hancock spoke up. "Cody I'm not a believer myself but doesn't the Bible teach against vengeance?"

Cody replied. "Yeah, I heard too many examples of people twisting their words claiming their God's words. I'm going to be blunt. I'm angry, tired bitter impatient I need results now. I'm here for payback to make the enemy bleed and scream for what they did. God's will and mine don't always align. I know it's sinful but at least I'm honest about how I feel and what I intend to do. Now let's get to work."

The nearby Raider gangs were slaughtered Cody continued to mutilate any who challenged him in melee. His squad almost regretted joining him that day, but he cared more about them than the killing. Even taking a knife stab to his left side for Cait when she lost her footing. When they weren't fighting, they bickered, of course, their interests did not always match but Cody held them together.

While Hancock stuck through out of loyalty the spoils of war kept Cait and MacCready onboard. They marched back to Goodneighbor to sell off their haul plan and recover. Cody walked into The Memory Den.

"Irma, is Dr Amari available?"

Irma looked down at the blood dripping onto his left boot. She almost fainted. "Cody go see her now she's in the basement why didn't you use a stimpack?"

Cody shrugged his shoulders. "I did turns out the knife he used was much deeper than I thought."

He walked down Amari shook her head. "Alright get on the table."

She grabbed her anesthetic and got to work. Cody woke up from the Surgery.

"How bad was it?"

Amari answered. "You almost got impaled in the liver instead the six-inch knife stabbed you at an angle getting caught in your ribs. Now please be more careful. I don't want to lose you."

Cody nodded. "Sorry, Amari just trying my best."

Amari scolded him. "If you are it's a very poor excuse for a best. Tell me you are doing your when you get off those chems."

He said nothing to Amari, got his gear, and went to check on an old friend. "Hey, Kent, been a while."

Kent lit up. "Good to see you Cody it's been boring. So, how's the war effort?"

Cody smirked twirling his bayonet between his fingers. "Going good got the Raider bastards on the backfoot, and we have got ourselves some fine spoils. However, I did get shanked with a six-inch kitchen knife and earned a scolding from Amari."

Kent understood. "Well, it's really hard out there you know if only the Silver Shroud was real then he could help you Minutemen out. The thing is I have a plan to bring him to life."

Cody raised an eyebrow curious. "Fire away Kent."

Kent told the plan and waited for Cody's response.

"Well, there are a few problems I couldn't be the Shroud, but I know someone who could."

Cody went into hiding and activated his communicator.

Back on Corneria at the Phoenix residence, Nathan relaxed into the recliner reading some pre-war comic books to Lilly. His communicator lit up. The two talked back and forth but both Nathan and Lilly noticed Cody looked worse than before. Nathan turned off his communicator and readied his gear.

Lilly grew worried. "Nathan, do you have to go?"

Nathan showed a pained smile. "I do Cody needs me back on the front but when I get back, I'll bring you plenty of souvenirs and war trophies."

He hugged the little kit. "I should be back in a few weeks. Keep an eye on Josh for me."

As he walked out, he bumped into Fara. "Where are you going?"

Nathan answered. "Back to the Commonwealth. Cody needs my help. I gained a lot of weight and muscle back its time to go home for a bit."

The shuttle landed near the old hangar. In the last two days, Cody and his squad continued to hit the Raiders whenever and wherever they could. Nathan made it to Goodneighbor and rested while the plan was refined by Kent and Cody."