Chronocide: Mission Wounded Pride

"holding up alright in there, feathers?"

"Ishmael," she greeted dryly. "What's the status in the command area?"

"things are juuuust peachy up here, kiddo." He said with a sharp laugh. "You were offline for a while there, but we saw the fireworks so I'm guessin' you're doing alright."

"Just peachy," she agreed thickly, her expression dark.

"I'm not gonna lie." He said with concern in his voice "We had a traitor in our midst up here. The redhead, ya know?"

He tutted his tongue. "Sabotaged the commlines."

"_excuse me_?"

"Simon Erikson" He said, "Shut down the communication lines and cut you off the grid for a good amount of time."

The sound of gunfire came from the background, but the sound of a security door slamming shut cut it off in the background.

"anyway. You don't have to worry too much about it now. I'll take care of it."

"What?" she hissed. "Ishmael I told him to shut down the comms due to Owl's intereference!"

"Hasn't been anything of the sort , little lady." The sound of a gun cocking came over the radio.

"Probably told you that while he was feeding your info directly to Iron's goons."

Hazel switched her comm channel abruptly. "Doctor Merriweather. Justine. Come in."

The line was answered straight away. There was a bit of interference, but the call went through.

"Heron. Thank Pax you're back in communication," the doctor answered.

"Give it to me straight, doc. What the hell's happening up there?"

"Nothing good I'm afraid. There's been a firefight. A traitor in our midst. One of the pilots is dead."

"Damn it." she hissed. "Any other casualties."

"Not yet, thankfully, though I did lose some blood."

"Sorry doc."

"I have more bad news."

"Naturally."

"After you went dark, Fox was investigating a potential mole up here. Ishmael decided to do us a favor and blow his own cover-- as I said, with a fire fight. Unfortunately for us, he also took Fox hostage."

"Hostage?!"

"That's right. He's locked himself behind a bulkhead and sealed the door."

Hazel leaned against the wall her shoulders sinking. "That is bad news."

The sound of a firearm's report echoed , muffled, through the comm call. It sounded like it came from behind a door.

She felt herself twitch at the noise. "Doc?!"

"Hell... that came from....."

Hazel heard a beep of another comm call trying to come through.

She quickly switched comm channels. "Come in," she snapped.

"Hazel. God damn am I glad to hear your voice." It was Simon, and he was panting sofly.

"I gotta tell you something...that....that wasn't  Commander Ismael Eidenbach."

"Simon.... thank god," Hazel breathed.

"yeah, looks like the Goddess of Peace or whatever was on my side, huh?" He laughed breathlessly. "Fuck. I...I killed a guy, Heron."

"He deserved it," Heron said with equal parts reassurance and anger. "So who was he? Do you know? Obviously one of Iron's...."

"Tin Cuckoo " Simon said breathlessly. "god I feel sick."

He sucked in a sharp breath "Smells like blood in here. I..." he stammered "I did some research and found their name in an old file, right? It talked about how there was another agent in the Alloy Unit... Tin Cuckoo. A specialist in ...infiltration, disguised as other people."

"Cuckoo... of course," she growled. "Hold on, Fox, I'll tell Justine you're okay and they'll come get you out of there."

"Yeah, that...that sounds great. I can get the door unlocked now. Bastard thought he could push me around."

He laughed. It was a little strained and perhaps touching on manic. "But he didn't know I took three years of ladies self defense classes! HAH!"

"Yeah. He didn't know what hit him. One sec, bro," she breathed.

She switched comm channels.

"Justine--Fox is okay. The mole's been nullified. Can you help him get out of there?"

"I'll make certain its done, Heron."

"Thanks, doc."

She flipped back to Simon.

"Okay. Merriweather says they'll get you out."

"Cool. I unlocked the door with my foot."

She heard him thump to the ground. "On top of that, I have confirmation that yeah. Owl's been tapping into our systems...because everytime we tried to scramble them or lock them down, Cuckoo would give him the keys to get right back in."

"Of course he was," she sighed. "Can you get him out now?"

"Yeah, but...I think we should concentrate on stopping him permanently next. He's..." Simon sighed "real good. it's hard keeping up, probably even without Cuckoo helping him cheat."

"Alright. Lets get him out then," she said. "I know he's here somewhere. Just have to find him."

"I've got a plan for that, Heron. But it's gonna involve letting him into the system somewhat."

The door hissed open, and he sighed with relief. "hey guys, it's all good."

Heron took the moment to fill Starling in on what had been haoppening.

Starling winced. "...I always forget Cuckoo is part of the unit. They're always out on assignment, or in place as someone else..."

"Yeah that tracks," she sighed. "Iron had this whole thing well planned out."

"yeah." Starling sighed. "Iron's not stupid...there's a reason she ran the worlds deadliest special forces outfit for years.."

"Yeah," she nodded. "So, with Cuckoo gone, we're gonna have to root out Owl before we do anything else."

"That makes sense to me. The trouble is tracking him. He could be anywhere...and he'll probably be scrambling the security feeds too."

"yeah... which means we won't be able to get anything done at that security station til we take him out."

"Exactly' She nodded "so we have to find a way to track and kill him..."

"Lemme see what Fox has to say about it," she nodded.

"your buddy's got a plan, huh? Go for it!"

She tapped her comm. "You there, Fox?"

"here I am Hazel!"

"Alright. So how are we going to find Owl?"

"i'm going to let him into the system." Red Fox said slowly. "And as he tries to track you, I'm going to use his signal to get a kind of hot/cold read on where he might be."

"Alright," she said cautiously. "What do I need to do?"

"i'm going to have you move through the labs... I'll tell you if you're hot or cold....and we'll start ruling out areas based on the information I get. Sound good?"

"Alright, sounds good."

Red Fox sighed. "Alright, i'll open up the channel and let him creep his way in."

"Silence on the plan from here on out. save for our hot and cold codewords..."

"Alright. What code words?"

Simon paused "Check and Mate? I don't know... I've never done this before."

"I have an idea," she murmered.

"an idea?" Fox asked

"Lets use earth terms. Celebrities. Characters from popular fiction. Whatever. If you say something from earth, I'll know I'm getting warmer, and if you just make up nonesense its cold. But Owl won't be able to tell the difference."

"that sounds great." Simon chirped "you're pretty clever, Heron!"

"I have an idea or two every now and again," she said slyly. "Alright, lets do this, Fox."

Fox laughed. "more than you'd think, agent."

He cleared his throat. "alright. We're golden, girls."

"Bea Arthur," she confirmed with a smirk. She motioned for Starling, and started moving down the hall.

Starling started to creep down the hall with her, pulling out the tranq pistol. "we'll probably have to deal with a few patrols as we go. but..."

She sighed "we'll probably be able to lose them in The Maze."

"The maze, huh?"

"That's what we call the main network of labs. It's...ah, ill laid out. So we call it the Maze."

"Ah. Gotcha. Something tells me we'll find our target somewhere in there."

"If I was gonna hide while I hacked the planet, yeah." Ana said "i'd hide in there for sure."

Hazel nodded. "Lets keep moving. Stay on alert."

Ana hurried along,  jogging along the hallway with her pistol in hand. "Once Owl's out of the way...Iron's gonna be easy to spot in the security room...and we can work on cornering her."

"we'll cross that bridge when we come to it," she nodded, jogging along as well.

"Exactly." Ana agreed, as she turned, and started down a set of stairs at the end of the hall.

Hazel headed down the stairs as well, waiting patiently and staying alert. It would be a game of cat and mouse.

The two agents descended and found themselves in a long hall with a good many branches ahead. Labs lined either side, at different intervals depending on the size and shape of the lab within.

With all the branching paths and intersections...no wonder it was called The Maze.

With the site of her gun, Hazel looked down each of them. "It really is a maze," she murmured. She picked one at random-- the leftmost hall to begin with.

Ana followed her as they made their way past a set of labs labeled 'chemistry labs A, B, C , and D'

Her pistol was leveled in front of her as she stepped carefully.

No sooner did they start before the lights shut off all around them.

Hazel cursed. "Of course." She reached for her flashlight.

Around them the old PA system crackled to life. A voice echoed from each speaker down the hall and through the maze.

"I'm not much on biology. Can a Heron see in the dark?"

"Now's a good time to mention." Ana said softly. "That I really don't like Sterling Owl."

"You know, I can see why," she murmured, getting out her light "On the snowdrift mission we had night vision goggles. But this one wasn't supposed to need them."

"He's probably got some guards in here with night vision goggles." Ana mused. "we'll have to try and blind them when they show up. Maybe with our flashlights."

"Assuming we see them coming," she growled.

"I think we'll know." Ana laughed weakly "once they start opening fire."

"That'll be a definite heads up," she smirked. "Lets watch out for it." She flicked her flashlight on, and kept it moving as she walked.

Ana aimed into one of the labs, peeking inside.

"Scooby Don't." Simon said "I miss that show."

"Mmm... I can understand why," she murmured.  She waved Ana to try a different lab.

Ana ducked inside another...and when she saw the slight blinking of a red light in the corner of the room, immediately darted out and pressed to the wall as an automated turret machine gun opened fire.

"I thought they took all those out." She bemoaned

"Hawk Buzzlin was such a good actor." Simon said with a quiver to his voice.

"Guess not." Hazel said dryly. She waited until the gun was done firing and darted past the lab with Ana, down a branching hallway.

Ana whined, their flashlight's casting long splashes of light down the corridors as they jogged down the hall. "He's playing with us."

"Of course he is," Hazel sighed. "But we'll beat him at his own game."

Ana aimed down the hall, and didn't see any shadows moving in the dark.

"Brad pitt, too. " Simon said.

Hazel's grim smile grew slightly. "Very handsome," she agreed, motioning Ana to follow her down the hall carefully.

The speakers crackled. "Two rats running a maze in the dark. Not good odds."

Ana followed her, grimacing as she called out. "Yeah well. better than being a fucking roach huddled in a corner, you big dork!"

"Now now. The thing about cockroaches is that they'll outlive all the rest." The static crackled.

"Whatever, you Hackerdome wannabe." She muttered.

SHe glanced down one of the other forks, as she shone her light ...and it glinted off three green circles hovering in the air.

Night vision goggles....

A barrage of fire tore through the air as she dodged behind the wall "Fuck!"

Hazel pressed herself into a doorway. "Well, now's our opportunity."

Ana nodded. "on your lead, boss."

Hazel nodded, and waited. She put the palm of her hand over her light, closed her eyes to the count of five.

Then she ducked out into the corridor and started firing.

Ana jumped out, and pulled her submachine gun into position. She opened fire with her. They saw one of the hovering lights go down with a very human scream under the hail of fire, with two others trying to dodge to the side.

One aimed for Ana, firing upon her with a shout .

Hazel grabbed Ana with one arm, pulling her out of the way as she brought her gun up and shot at the other lights.

Ana was winged in the shoulder, hissing, but managed to fire a return volley with Hazel as she stumbled against her.

The second lights went down....and the third went booking down a side hall

"Damn." Ana hissed. "but hey.." She nodded towards the hall. "We got ourselves some night vision goggles."

Hazel nodded. "That should help out."

Ana hurried forward, glancing down the hall with a frown. "The other guy got a way though."

She bent down and grabbed the goggles from the corpse's face, tossing them, Hazel's way.

"Not for long," Hazel said. She wiped a spot of blood off the goggles,, and strapped them on.

Ana grabbed the other pair, and slipped them onto her head with a nod as she blinked and adjusted to the green-tinted light. "alright."

hazel readjusted to the familiar change in tone to her vision. "You see okay, Starling?"

Ana nodded after a moment "Yeah. My vision's adjusted."

She grabbed the machine gun off the ground, and turned it over in her hands. "this is better than my dinky little gun, that's for sure."

"Perfect," Hazel nodded. "How's the clip look? you have enough ammo?"

"It's near full."

She fished around the corpse "with some spare clips. Should keep me for a little longer."

"Great. Then lets keep moving."

Ana snapped the empty casing out of the clip, and grinned ."Lead the way, boss."

Heron nodded, and started down the corridor the way that the escaping soldier had gone.

"uh...Spiderman." Simon chirped.

Hazel felt a thin smile on her face beneath the goggles. "Stay alert," she told Ana as they moved. She checked down a lab doorway.

There was a low grinding as all the machines turned on at once. They started whirring and buzzing and making such a racket that it echoed down the halls.

"He's calling for backup. or trying to direct his men towards us.."

"Great. An alarm made of fax machines," she drawled. "Come on." she stepped into the lab room.

Ana dodged inside, and gripped her machine gun with a nod. "Ambush?" she whispered

Hazel nodded. "Lets find some cover."

Ana looked around the room. "There's a couple of desks...and some tube thing..."

"Down behind the desks," she said, kneeling. She checked how many exits the room had.

Ana nodded, kneeling behind the desk and aiming at the front door.

Aside from the front, there was one to the left.

"I'll cover the other door," she murmured quietly, aiming at it.

Ana nodded, and aimed down the sight with a steadying breath.

"I'm not scared. Owl's going to regret messing with us."

"Briefly," Heron agreed.

Ana nodded slowly.

Outside, they heard voices. "Clear! Clear!"

Hazel waited, tense and ready, her finger on the trigger.

The door flung open.....

And all of a sudden all the lights in the area flashed back on.

Ana screamed in surprise, and moved to block the orbits of the night vision goggles "DAMN IT!"

Hazel winced but didn't let it throw her, shutting her eyes for the moment as she blasted way with her gun where she'd been aiming the moment before.

SHe heard her bullets ping...off the wall.

Machine gun fire came from the front doorway, and peppered Ana as she fumbled blindly for her weapon. She was flung back and onto the ground with a shriek of pain.

Hazel cursed and swung around pulling her nightvision goggles off as fast as she could and aiming at the door Ana had taken and firing, uncertain if she'd be fast enough.

The bullets tore through one of the gunmen....flinging him back and into the wall in a hail of blood and bullets.

The other one was stunned as Ana began to reverse through time in a personalized bubble, the bullets retreating from her body.

He'd be easy to pick off.

Hazel took aim at the stunned gunman, and pulled the trigger several times.

She dropped him to the ground, just as Ana fell from her time bubble and into the fallen bullets around her with a hiss of pain. "GODDESS. I hate Owl."

Hazel stood and reached down to help her up, offering her hand. "Yeah."

Ana grabbed her hand. "Sorry I let you down boss...didn't expect the lights." She stood slowly and shouted at the ceiling.

"GET BENT you tool!"

The lights flickered on and off for a moment. Morse code.

"Y-O-U-F-I-R-S-T," hazel spelled out, her jaw set.

"I hate him so much." Ana hissed. "Never have I ever hated a man more than I do right now. It's almost enough to drive me exclusively to girls."

"Hey don't let an asshole ruin your good time," Hazel encouraged. "Come on I think we're getting close."

"I'll try not to." She murmured. "I'm gonna stick to scientists, at least."

 She pushed the goggles up on her head, and grabbed a few more clips of ammo before she slunk out into the hall. "Which way boss?"

Hazel shrugged and picked at random, taking the left path. "Lets try this way."

Simon piped in. "Bing Bannana!"

She shook her head and turned, motioning for Ana to follow her down the right path instead.

Ana wheeled around with her, and gripped her gun tightly.

"Sam Raimi should make another movie" Simon said

Hazel smirked. "You always were a suck for him." she kept alert, aiming her gun carefully and looking around as they moved.

They had moved into a location labeled....."explosives."

"Careful here," she murmured to Ana.

Ana nodded. "He might try detonating something in here to take us out."

"Exactly." She moved as quickly as she dared.

Ana followed her, looking from side to side. "You know." She said after a moment.

"It's been a while since he's taunted us."

"I noticed and I don't like it."

"I think he's planning something." She hissed under her breath. "Or he's scared."

"Lets assume the first one and hope for the second," she murmured, swinging her gun around looking for another branch to try.

There was one up ahead. It wasn't far. One path left, the other right.

Unfortunately, the sound of ticking had started filtering through the air.

"...they weren't making time bombs here, i don't think.." Ana mused.

The speakers crackled to life in the hall and echoed around them. "Tick tock, Heron. Can you hear that? That's the sound of your time running out."

Heron grimaced.  She gestured to the right path and hurried down it.

"You know who this guy reminds me of? Hans Gruber. And i don't like it." Simon piped in.

Behind them, there was a bang....and the hallway they'd just left began filling with an acrid smoke.

"Come on," she urged to Ana, moving even faster down the path they'd chosen. "Take deep breaths in case you have to hold it."

Ana hurried along, taking a deep breath of fresh air, just as another explosion erupted behind them and more of the smoke filled the corridor.

Ana's steps quickened, and she hurried along after her. "ugh..."

Hazel looked for any more doors or branching paths as they moved, hurrying so that the smoke didn't catch up with them.

"I'm never letting them send me on another mission without a damned gas mask."

"Yeah. You know what... "Ana muttered , before sucking in another sharp breath.

"I think it should be part of the standard kit from now on."

"I'll send our complaint up the chain," she said dryly.

Ana bobbed her head. "Yeah. Appreciat---" Another explosion went off beside them , filling the room with smoke and throwing Anna sharply against Hazel with a hiss of pain.

Hazel caught her as they were both thrown to the side. "Shit."

Ana tried sucking in a sharp breath, but it drove her to coughing as the air quality took a rapid dip.

Heron pulled her down to the floor. "Keep low," she hissed. "Shallow breaths."

Ana ducked low with her, changing her breathing to short, soft shallow breaths. "I hate him."

"Oh yeah. Me too."

She started to crawl forward, quick, but not enough to make her out of breath.

Ana crawled with her, as more localized explosions sounded around the explosives wing. "How many of these things does she have?" she hissed, before taking another short breath.

"At least one more than we hope," she said as they crawled.

She heard a scuffling to the left as they approached another intersection.

"On alert," she hissed quietly. SHe held her gun as they moved over the floor-- was the smoke clearing yet? She peered toward the left.

It was dissipating...slowly.

But she saw a small group of gasmasked soldiers easing their way into the heavy fog of chemical smoke.

"Starling," she hissed, gesturing toward them. Hopefully they had the element of surprise. She aimed as they approached.

Ana grabbed a hand grenade from her belt, and threw it at the man, ducking to the ground again "Surprise you rat bastards."

Hazel opened fire on them as the grenade hit the ground.

Between the spray of bullets, and the explosion...

The group of men were wiped out in mere moments.

"Lets see if we can salvage those masks."

Ana nodded, "you got it"

She coughed a few more times. "bleh. I hope this ain't poisoned. I don't wanna feel what unasphixiation feels like."

"That would... sure be something," Hazel agreed. She got the mask off one of the bodies and checked it for integrity, coughing a bit herself.

Ana grabbed one of the other masks, before tossing it to the side, and rummaging for another.

The one Hazel held managed to be missed by most of the shrapnel. It was intact.

Hazel strapped it on, after giving the inside a wipe.

Ana gasped happilly, and cleaned off one of the nicer masks before slipping it on. "Perfect" She said in a muffled voice.

"Good. Now we're kitted up." Hazel stood up and stretched. "You doing okay?"

"Short of breath. "Ana admitted. "And i feel like I've been hit by a brick, but other than that? top of the world."

"Sometimes that's the best you can ask for."

"Especially in a deadly maze run by a nerd with too much time on his hands."

"Yeah," she nodded. "Alright, ready to press on?"

"Ready when you are, boss."

She nodded, and slapped a fresh clip into her gun. "Lets go."

Ana glanced down the hall. "Which way?"

"Without Simon Pegg, I'm _left_ wondering about the future of the comedy movie scene"

Came Simon

Hazel waved her to the left. "Truly a question for our time."

Ana ran to the left. "HEY" She called "any other words of wisdom for us, Owl? Or are you shaking in your roost?"

"You'll be the ones shaking after you see my next surprise. Why don't you just give up and go home?_" the speakers snapped.

"Beetlejuice!" Simon squeaked, as Ana peeked in a lab marked 'rocket thrusters'

"Joke's on you, bucko, I've been stationed here since day one!"

Hazel grinned grimly and peeked in with her, aiming the sight of her gun around.

Inside was a massive rocket thrustersuspended from the ceiling, with the thruster's jets pointed down into a deep pit that descended into the basement, to funnel the flames.

 

"I remember this lab." Ana mused "I notice they don't have the shielding up around the thruster though. that's not safe."

"It sure fucking isn't," she murmured. "Hmm... Stay back, Starling."

She paced toward the rocket thruster-- would someone be able to hide in there?

Someone would, if they were especially stupid.

_Well, I'm either going to find my target or I'm going to find out if it hurts to be incinerated by rocket thrusters._

She slowly and quietly approached the thruster, her finger on her trigger.

"Beetlejuice." Simon said again, very quietly.

Ana aimed her machine gun. "hey boss?"

"Yeah, Starling?"

"careful. If that safety shielding starts going up, you're gonna be stuck in a tube with a lot of fire."

"Trust me, I'm very aware of that." She paced under the thruster and aimed up suddenly.

Inside the rocket thruster, wedged high up near the igniter and gas nozzle....

Was a Sterling Owl hiding from the light of day.

He was staring intently at a at a small computer readout and hadn't seemed to notice that she was there at all.

"Beetlejuice." Hazel said with a smirk.

"Wha--?" Sterling Owl looked over with wide eyes for just a moment, his intense gaze pulled away from the screen.

Hazel pulled the trigger, and that was that.

Ana watched him drop to the bottom of the rocket's well with a whistle. "Well. That's that."

She tapped out a cigarette from her pack before pushing her mask up. "Press F to pay respects." she said, as she flicked the lighter and lit it up.

Hazel came out from under the engine and nodded.

"F," she agreed dryly. "I'm sure he was terribly wronged. But I can't deal with that right now."

She paused. "Also he was kind of an asshole."

"A huge asshole. Being forced to fight even if you were a civilian sucks, sure, but it doesn't mean you get to be a massive cackling tool about it."

"Supervillain origin stories," she said shaking her head. "Alright, now lets get to that station so we can track down Iron."

"...man." Ana said softly "....thinking about it...that...he was the last member of the Alloy Unit save for Iron."

Ana's somber frown returned as she took a puff of her cigarette. ".....they're all gone."

"Got any more of those cigarettes?" Hazel asked.

Ana offered her a pack. "All my heroes." She murmured. "the people I wanted to serve with...the people I _almost_ served with...gone."

Hazel took one, and lit it. "I was supposed to train them, you know," she said distantly. "With Viper."

Ana glanced at her with a nervous smile. "...yeah? You were?"

"yeah," she nodded. "That was the plan. We were gearing up for it when I got yanked back here to the modern day."

She took a long drag of the cigarette and blew it out with a slow breath as it calmed her nerves slightly.

"...I bet if you were there....they would have turned out better..."

"Maybe," Hazel said shaking her head. "I'd like to think so at least."

"I can't imagine they wouldn't have, boss.." Ana pat her shoulder. "....you're a good person and a good soldier."

"Well, if I was in charge of a unit people wouldn't be getting left by themselves behind enemy lines anyway," she sighed. "So that's something I guess."

"...yeah." Ana bit her lip. "Sometimes...the high command is really bad at....treating us soldiers like people."

"Maybe its been too long since they've been in the field," she sighed.

"well I'm gonna give them a piece of my mind." Ana said darkly

"You'll want to make sure you keep it professional, Starling. But yeah. Me too."

"I'll be as professional as can be while giving them the business." She snorted.

"...we'll talk about that later," she said dryly. "For now, we'd better get back to the mission."

This was not the time to have an argument with Ana about how that was a bad idea. Esspecially when she wanted to do the same thing.

Ana snubbed out her cigarette and sighed. "It's just Iron now, right?"

"Just Iron," she nodded. "And she won't be a walk in the park, I'm sure."

"I imagine she's going to make it difficult for us..." Ana opened the door.

Hazel followed her, weapon at the ready. "I imagine so."

Simon piped in. "Our airwaves are clear, Heron!"

"That's a big relief, Fox," Hazel said.

"Your next objective should be the surveillance center...there you'll be able to get a bead on Iron."

Meanwhile, Ana hit her radio. "holding up okay, Kovalenko?"

"A little jumpy," he admitted. "I'm doing alright I think. How are you two?"

"Here's hoping, Fox," Hazel murmered.

Simon laughed softly "you can do this Heron. I believe in you. Fox out."

"We took out a pesky owl, I think I've gotten blacklung from his little pranks, and My ears are ringing from the Hallway of Merry Explosions, but we're doin' alright."

"You took out Sterling Owl, huh? Can't say I'm sorry about that. For a guy I thought I'd have something in common with he could be well... he wasn't very nice."

"Yeah, he always struck me as kind of a tool." Ana sighed ."And lo and behold, he wasn't very fun to hang around with. Not like you, Doc."

"I'll definitely take the compliment, even if its just for the sake of comparison."

"I'd rather hear you talk about anime than Owl hoot another bad one liner at me any day." SHe snickered

"That's because you have taste," he said. "Sorry you had to sit through his comedy hour."

"it's alright. He got one hell of a punchline in the end."

Calvin laughed nervously. "I bet... so... you're up against Iron next?"

"Sounds like it. We're gonna try to hunt her down. Because the only ones left are her and Panther and I ain't sure what side that old bastard's on."

"I couldn't begin to guess," Calvin said. "But watch out for Iron. She's ruthless. And now she'll be desperate. I truely believe there's nothing she wouldn't do to achieve her goal."

"trust me, Doc. I know." Ana sighed softly. "....she must really think that guy's still alive...and really thing that doing this is enough to impress him. Hurt's a hell of a drug."

"Yeah... uh, speaking of that," Calvin said quietly, and a little cagily. "How does Heron-- Steel Heron--- seem to be holding up?"

Ana glanced sidelong at Heron, before she answered. "Okay. Focused on the mission." She murmured. "but things seem to have been getting to her since the labs... She said she and Viper had some ...close connection...back in the day, so all these reminders are weighing her down , I think. Plus, I think she saw something pretty bad in the labs..."

"Yeah...the records don't say it outright but it seems like the two of them had some kind of relationship uh... of a romantic nature," he murmered.

Ana flushed, and cleared her throat as she walked. "Yeah I was starting to piece that one together myself, Doc..."

"Yeah..." Calvin said quietly. "Ana...."

Ana pressed her finger to her ear. "Yeah doc?"

"Steel Heron has an amazing record. She's a hero. But... so was everyone in the Alloy Unit. If... if Iron manages to convince Steel Heron that Viper is alive...."

Ana tensed somewhat, chewing her lip as she pulled her guard uniform's mask up to hide her expression.

"You think she might switch sides, Doc? Even if she loved Viper... I can't see Heron choosing to kill that many people just for the chance.... just for Iron's crazy dream."

"That's good to hear," he replied earnestly. "You've certainly had longer to get to know her than I have...."

"I've been fighting alongside her for a good chunk of this mission...heard what she had to say, too."

Ana weaved her way through The Maze, trying to work their way to the surveillance room.

"Heron's a hero, sure, but she's also a dedicated soldier.... she wants to protect people, and she believes in Soteria more than I'd imagine someone who's been through what she's been through would."

"Love...Love seems like a hell of a thing, doc. It's got a power to it. Especially love born in the battlefield. Maybe she and Viper loved eachother like that....but I know in my heart Heron would find another way to show him. One that didn't involve becoming a monster like Iron."

"I'm sure you're right," Calvin said quietly. "I can only hope if I was in love with someone, I'd be that strong."

"You and me both, Doc." Ana said with a soft laugh.

"I should let you get back to the mission."

"alright, Cal." She chuckled "been nice chatting with you. Check in soon, alright?"

"Definitely. Good luck, Ana."

"Thanks Doc." WIth that...she clicked the connection off and sighed. "alright, boss....we're almost there."

"Good. The Doctor holding up okay?"

"He's nervous, but doing alright." Ana said. "scared of what Iron's up to."

"Understandable." She nodded. "Hopefully we'll be able to ease that fear and get him home soon."

"yeah." Ana nodded.

"hey ,boss...."

She cocked her head. "yeah, Starling?"

She took a deep breath. "....do you think Iron's right about Viper being alive?"

Hazel's jaw tightened. "I think its irrelevant."

"not to Iron." She said slowly. "She's peppered this whole place with reminders of Viper's Nest...the mercenary company that operated out of Kemet a while back....and where they theoretically killed him. She's declared her intent to do this for him..."

"In a way , it's like his ghost is looming over this whole operation, whether he'd support it or not."

"You're not wrong," Hazel admitted, a little bit of hollowness in her voice.

"and it's clear it's hanging over you too." Ana said, setting her jaw under her mask. "I'm not trying to pry, Boss. but I can tell...I've only known you a day, but i'm keener than I look...I...i'm a lot keener than I look."

"I think you look plenty keen, Starling," she said with a sigh.

"Thanks Heron." Ana laughed softly. "You're too kind."

She glanced at her. "But to say it's irrelevant is...patently untrue."

"Its irrelevant to the mission."

"I really don't think it is." Ana said sternly, her hand tight around the grip of her machine gun.

"Heron. Iron's doing this for him. You really think this is gonna end without her bringing it up? And..."

She hesitated slightly "You're clearly...effected by it."

"I shouldn't be," she murmered. "I need to put it out of my mind."

"You're only human." Ana said "...Heron. What...what are you going to do if he turns out to be alive."

"....." she stayed quiet for a moment. "I don't know. They say he's a terrorist now."

"yeah." Ana nodded. "The history books all say he's a traitor."

"If its true then, I don't know him any more."

Ana sighed "true. But we've....also seen the state censor information in the past..."

"We have," she admitted.

Ana bit her lip "... you two were pretty close, yeah? It's gotta be hard.."

"We were," she agreed. "As close as you could get considering how little time we really knew each other."

Ana nodded with her. "bonds made in battle are difficult to break." She murmured softly. "but anyone you became close to...i can't imagine they'd be the type to approve of nuking civilians."

"No," she breathed. "I can't imagine that either. "

"But Iron seems to think so, in her madness."

"Iron's angry. And as far as I know Iron only knows the story that the files tell."

"maybe." Ana said softly. "I'm just ...concerned. I know Iron. It's...likely she'll try to talk  you around to her side.  I don't think you'll do it, but i'm worried it'll be upsetting."

"Yeah, it probably will," she agreed. "But not any more upsetting than a fight to the death with my genetic sister. Probably."

Ana hefted her gun. "I can get in the killing blow if you want."

"Thats... very thoughtful of you."

"...." Ana smiled nervously "...i can't imagine having to kill someone who looked like me. So ...so I thought i'd offer."

"I appreciate it," she said. "But I don't think I'll have a problem pulling the trigger."

"Alright, Boss."

Ana sighed. "Sorry. I'm prying too much into things that aren't my business."

"No," hazel said shaking her head. "Ordinarily I wouldn't mind talking about it. Much. I'm just... trying to keep my head in the game."

"probably for the best." Ana mused. "You'll have some time..." She gestured ahead, as the hallways became less convoluted and interconnected. "When we search the security cam footage."

She nodded. "When we get out of here, you and I can have a long talk okay? I'll need somebody to talk to."

"you'll always have me, Boss." Ana said. "Sisters in battle stick together."

"Yeah we do," she nodded. She bit her lip. "Just.... if I happen to disappear, assume I got yanked somewhere in time, okay?"

"that sounds like it'd suck, so I'm gonna hope that you...ya know." Ana smiled tiredly "don't do that."

"Yeah. Me too."

Ana peeked around a turn in the hall, and nodded "We're clear. Third door down."

Hazel nodded, gun at the ready. "Lets go." she said, moving down the hall.

"I'm not surprised it's been getting quieter." Ana said as she jogged. "...so many of my comrades are dead by now..."

"And no reinforcements...it's likely most everyone has been pulled back to guard Iron and her Wolf."

"Yeah. We'll have a hell of a greeting party waiting for us Im sure."

"unfortunately. "Ana kicked open the door to the surveillance room and heard a sharp scream.

she raised her rifle "Don't move!"

Hazel stepped in behind her and looked to see who was in the room.

Private Tanya had her hands up, dark circles under her eyes as she quivered next to an equally shocked looking guard.

"oh no......not _her_ again..."

Hazel sighed, and got out her tranq gun. "How do you keep turning up?"

"I w-woke up and I...Iron ordered me to watch the security cameras." She sniffed. "I vanted to rest!"

"Man, Tan, you're not looking so hot." Ana said

"I VILL NEVER BE ALRIGHT AGAIN!" Tanya whined

The guard cleared his throat. "Tan, come on, don't yell." he murmured. "you'll...have your narcolepsy problem again if you exert yourself."

Hazel looked from Hazel to the guards. "Narcolepsy? Great." She aimed at the one she hadn't shot before.

The guard winced. "....don't shoot?"

Ana pulled out her tranq gun and dropped him. "Sorry , Clyde."

Tanya winced. "Vhen I'm nervous I pass out." She muttered "Side effect from my time in Uldova."

"Sorry," Hazel apologized. She tranqed her.

Tanya squeaked, and hit the ground with a thud.

"Oof. Tan. Is that much tranquillizer good for you?"

"Probably not," Hazel sighed. "She should see a doctor."

"Well. If she survives, I guess I'll ask one of my pals in medicine to make sure she doens't uh, sleep the big sleep."

"Thanks," Hazel said, stepping over her. "I ran into her on the snowdrift mission if you believe it. Time flies like a banana."

"Like a bannana. "Ana mused. "yeah. I can believe it. Tan's kinda old. Nice lady, but she talked about Uldova like it was full of sneaking suit-clad boogeymen..."

She paused. "Which i guess were all you."

"I mean, it could also have been Viper. But yeah I think it was me."

"Congrats. You had the starring role in someone's PTSD." Ana laughed softly, and shook her head.

She walked to the consoles ahead of her, and looked over the many screen.s

Hazel made certain the door was shut behind them, and then looked at the monitors too.

There was a pretty huge spread of them...each showing a different area of the Lab.

Most of the labs were empty at the moment, but a glimpse at the Main Lab cams showed a number of surviving scientists hard at work....though without her brother, they won't get much done to get it operational.

While there were a good number of guards there....she could see some milling about in other halls, on patrol....

And some in the external cameras, moving towards the old lab.

"The number really has gone down," Hazel mused, her gaze flicking over each display.

"they don't have backup, and we've taken out a fair few." Ana said softly "...but where's Iron?"

"That's the question," she murmered.

Ana put her hand on the controls, and began cycling through cameras. ".....she's not in the main lab..."

"No..." she frowned. "Where would she go..."

"...."

Ana's eyes traced the soldiers outside in the snow. "boss. Let's check on Cal."

Hazel's frown grew. "Shit. I was worrying about that. Cal him."

Ana rung up call on the walkie talkie. "Cal you there?"

"I'm here," he said.

Hazel breathed a sigh. "What's your status?"

"You doing okay?" Ana asked with concern.

"I'm alright," he breathed quietly. "But ive been hearing people moving around here."

There was a sudden bang, and ana frantically brought up the cameras in the old lab just in time to see the warped door of the old time lab get blown off it's hinges by a packed explosive.

A group of soldiers swarmed in, and aimed their guns inside.

Right at Calvin.

And behind them all....

Iron Heron.

Hazel cursed, staring at the scene. "Damn it!"

"Cal! Cal are you alright?" Ana repeated into the radio...but she could hear the sound of Iron's footsteps as she walked into the room.

"Well, Doctor. You lead us on a merry chase...but it's about time you got back to work."

"I-iron," he trembled. "Why don't you just... forget this whole thing."

"Why would I do that now?" She snarled "After all we've lost. My team is gone. My friends killed by _dogs of Soteria_ . I have less to lose than I've ever had."

"And you still think you can win?"

Hazel tried to think of how fast they could get to the lab.

Iron laughed. "....I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. Boys...grab him. He's got a Wolf to finish."

They were ...not _close_

But they could probably get there in 15 minutes.

Well... it was probably the best opion now to head to where they'd be taking Calvin.

"We need to move," Hazel said. "we'll intercept them if we can."

Ana bit her lip "oh geeze. Hang in there Calvin..."

She nodded to Hazel, and gestured "come on. we'll cut them off at the pass if we can."

Hazel nodded. "Lets go." She moved for the door.

Ana followed her with a hiss of breath. "How close do you think the wolf is to completion? I...I wish I could ask Cal, because I've got some concerns."

"You know I'm gonna draw on past experience and cynism here. I'm gonna say its complete enough to shoot missles at me."

Ana winced. "that's what I was gonna say, yeah."

She ran out into the hall with her machine gun in hand. "This whole thing fucking sucks."

"Yeah," she nodded. "It sure fucking does."

She jogged hurriedly down the hall with her.

As they ran, they  heard a commotion just around the bend.

"Get back to the lab, already! I don't give a shit if you heard a commotion. Iron has her orders...everyone's to get to the lab for the activation of the wolf!"

"You were right," Hazel rasped, raising her gun.

Ana nodded, and gripped her gun tightly. "Going in guns blazing?" She whispered.

She shook her head and slowed to a stop, pressing to the wall. "Wait."

Ana pressed to the wall beside her and hefted her gun to her chest.

Hazel waited, and listened for a moment.

"that thing's ready?"

"mostly" the other soldier answered. "though it's not going to make any trips cross country."

"Guess we don't need it to go for a stroll to nuke the capital..."

Hazel's mouth flatted and she raised her gun again. She motioned for Ana to get ready.

Ana tensed beside her.

"we're running out of time, that's for sure. Those infiltrators....they took out the whole alloy unit.."

Hazel moved fast around the corner, and let a barrage of gunfire loose on them.

The leader was caught off guard....

But the other commando loosed a grenade right at Hazel, before ducking into the room nearby.

Hazel grimaced and ducked as fast as she could back behind the corner.

The grenade exploded, and they caught a bit of shrapnel from it, but the wall shielded most of the blast.

"Gah!" Ana hissed, and jumped out "shit, he's hiding!"

"Yeah," Heron hissed. "We've better flush him out."

Ana pressed against the side of the door, and nodded. "on your mark."

Haze got ready, waited.... and dashed out, ready to fire.

Ana aimed her rifle into the door as she kicked it open, and opened fire inside.

A few shots of return fire slammed into the wall past her, before cutting out abruptly.

Heron cautiously checked the room with the sight of her gun.

She saw one guard full of holes , half toppled over a bannister into a robotic's testing area.

"Clear," she nodded. "Lets keep going."

Ana nodded, and hurried down the hall. "So looks like our worst fears are realized, boss."

"Its starting to become a pattern."

"We should kinda just assume the worst."

As they ran, they entered more familiar territory... Hazel started to see labs she'd fought and dodged through....including the one with the armed robotic walker.

_That thing...._ Hazel considered.

"Starling... is that walking thing any good?"

"...the walker? Yeah it's functional enough. Provides a bit of decent cover when you have the bulletproof shield up too. Even has a gun. THere were a few kinks keeping it from mass production, but it's not bad."

"Think it'd help against the wolf?"

"I Mean. if nothing else, it's got that high powered rifle on it."

She smirked "it can't HURT."

"Lets grab it," she nodded.

Ana nodded, and gestured. "i'll cover the door, you grab the walker."

Hazel nodded, darting into the room toward the walker.

Inside the room, aside from the remaining evidence of her previous exploits...was the walker....

It was still now, as she'd stopped the test, but it looked operational.

It was a powerful looking device, a small walking talk..like a mini , two legged version of the wolves, with a high powered rifle on one side.

Hazel quickly looked it over for how to operate it. if it was too complicated it wouldn;t be worth it.

It looked like you'd sit in the seat, and slip your arms into a set of control points.

From there it looked pretty simple to operate. A joystick for movement, with the other hand controlling the weapons.

"Simple enough" she murmered, sitting down and starting it up.

The machine hummed to life, it's interface lighting up under her.

It whirred, before standing up on it's two, bulky legs.

Stealthy it wasn't. But the time for stealth had passed. Hazel drove it back out of the room.

It rumbled and stomped it's way out of the lab, startling Ana as it lurched out the bay doors. "holy fuck."

"Lets make an entrence, Starling."

Starling grinned widely , and hefted her rifle "guns blazing, boss?"

"Guns blazing," she nodded.

Ana grinned and hurried out into the hallway. "that thing's the lest subtle beast i've ever seen." She admitted

"Yeah I think we're done with subtle for this mission."

"yeah. We've got an apocalypse to stop and a scientist to save." She tapped her earpiece. "think your buddy can get eyes into the security system? Maybe if you have a scientist on staff? I dunno.."

"Lets find out," she nodded. "Hey Fox...." she opened up her comm.

"Yes, Heron?" Fox piped up.

Ana hurried along ahead, aiming her rifle down a hallway and waving 'clear' to Heron.

"We're on our way to Iron. Any chance you or somebody up there can get into the security system?"

"oh geeze, I mean. I've got a little bit of hacking experience." he mused. "Or Dr. Merryweather can help.."

"Great," she nodded.   "Starling did you have something specific in mind?"

"I'd like to get a bead on Iron...make sure we're staying ahead of her."

"There's a visual security feed. Can you get in there and give us her position so we know if we're ahead of her?"

"we'll work on it, Heron. but be careful. They probably know you're incoming...the people in the main lab are gonna be prepared for you."

"I'm sure," she agreed. "we;'ve got a little greeting of our own for them."

"wouldn't happen to be that lumbering machine you're trotting around in, would it?" he chuckled

"It sure would."

"Good luck, you're gonna need it"

Ana slipped into a wide hallway, one that was leading towards the darkened hall they'd met Wendigo in...only to freeze and hold up her hand.

Heron stopped abruptly, her fingers tense on the weapon controls.

Ana leaned over to whisper "they've set up a security station, boss. Right outside the hall. They've got an mounted turret."

"Of course," Hazel murmured. What kind of weapons did this thing have?

There was the high powered rifle on the side, and what looked like a smaller, anti personnel pistol on the other.

The rifle might be able to take out the turret. "Stay behind me," she whispered. "I'll try to take it out."

Ana grimaced "you sure you don't need my help? I can offer suppressing fire.."

Hazel considered. "Alright. But be careful."

Ana nodded "I know. I promise. I've got your back."

Hazel nodded, and started the machine up again. She'd start firing as soon as she moved into the hall.

Ana inched to the edge of the corner, and aimed her machine gun around it. She opened fire, distracting the machine gunner and guards while Hazel moved into position.

Hazel opened fire, targetting the turret specifically.

The rifle recoiled back on a spring, and struck the turret with a loud bang, and a small and localized explosion.

It was enough to shatter the stand and send the turret clattering to the ground as the man behind it went down for the count.

Hazel switched to the antipersonal pistol to take out any gaurds that were left.

One of them had already begun opening fire on her, the bullet slamming against the machine and ricochetting off into the wall.

But the pistol blew through his chest armor and dropped him, as Ana leapt out and took out the other guard. "...that's likely just the first checkpoint."

"Yep. It'll probably ramp up from here," she agreed. "Get ready for it."

Ana nodded "i've got a full clip." She said as she reloaded.

"....I'm ready to end this."

"Then lets end it." She stomped the little machine forward.

Together, they slipped into the now illuminated hallway of death.

The bodies had been piled in the corner by now, not yet disposed of as they eased their way through.

**Crackle** went the intercom.

"Well, Well, Well Sister." Cooed Iron. "undoubtedly you're on your way to the main lab by this point. Looking to stop me from activating Pax's glorious little war machine..."

Hazel rolled her eyes. "Undoubtedly," she muttered, unceasing in her advance.

"I'd advise you give up and turn yourself over to my guards next chance you get." She continued. "it's a waste of your bloody time. I've got the doctor. i've got my machine...and I'll get my revenge."

"...she wouldn't gloat unless she had something up her sleeve" Ana murmured

"I'm sure," Hazel agreed. "Something crazy probbaly."

As they got halfway down the hall...the door at the other end opened with a low grind...and out stepped Panther.

"something crazy, ain't too far off, darlin'."

"god. Damn. It." Ana hissed. "i can see why the guy annoys you now, boss."

"......................................"

Hazel sighed. "Hello, Panther."

"Howdy." He gave her a lazy salute. "hope you don't mind, but I've gotta stall you for a few moments of your time."

"Seriously, Panther? Right now?" she demanded flatly.

"you know how it is, Heron." He spun a knife in his fingers. "Life doesn't go out of it's way to be convenient."

Ana just raised her gun, and opened fire on him.  In a flash, he moved. After deflecting two bullets, he dodged to the side, and pointed the knife at her.

"now, missy. I went out of my way to save your life and this is how ya repay me?"

Hazel leapt out of the miniature tank unit, drawing her own knife. "Panther."

"we can do this one of two ways...chit chat for a bit...or have us a rematch."

Hazel sighed. "Starling, at ease."

Ana lowered her rifle, frowning slightly.

"But we have to get to the main lab, boss!"

"Got yourself a follower, eh?" Panther chuckled. "You got a good boss there, Anastasia. Don't take it for granted."

"We're not going to get there any faster by trying to kick panther's ass," Heron sighed. She looked at Panther. "I wouldn't call her a follower. But Starling's been a big help."

Ana nodded, "we're battle sisters." She said slowly.

Panther leaned on the doorframe with a lazy smile. "Battle sisters. Ain't that sweet."

He looked them both over. "You two are mighty keen on getting into the lab, aren't you?"

"We're hoping to prevent a city getting nuked. I'm hoping you're on the same team on that front at least."

Panther shrugged his shoulders. "wouldn't be the best outcome, no."

"Good," Hazel said. "You know I have a lot of questions for you, but I doubt you'll answer any of them."

"you know me real well, Heron." He smirked 'you sure you ain't from the future?'

"Some of us don't need to be from the future to notice obvious things."

"true, true." he said "i'm a  man who likes his mystique."

"And his boots."

"What can I say? ever since I came to Pax, I got a real keen eye for fashion."

Ana grit her teeth "boss, this is a waste of time"

"I gather that's the intention," Hazel sighed.

"Listen to your boss, kiddo." He said, flipping his knife in his hand. "we're just wastin' a little time."

"time between now and the end of the world!" Ana said sharply "this isn't a game!"

"I know its hard to have patience right now, Starling. But time is on our side. Isn't that right, Chronia?"

"Time Is indeed on our time [Subject: Hazel]. All is progressing according to the optimal path laid out by I, the Goddess of Time."

Ana pressed her hand to her face. "...I...I suppose..."

"Starling, eh? Gave her a name, Heron?"

"She's earned it on this mission," Heron nodded.

"Congratulations, Starling" he saluted her. "you're on your way. You're a real spy now."

"thanks..." Ana said softly "...I'd almost prefer the knife fight."

"Lets save our energy for the big fight."

"mmm hmm." he closed his eyes. "You know... Heron. You ever think about time?'

"Just, the flow of it.Ebbs and ripples and whatnot."

"Occasionally...."

"would you sacrifice a perfect future for a simpler present? Or an easier victory?"

"of course  not," she said. "The future is worth fighting for."

"That it is." He said , tossing his knife. "though it ain't easy knowing what path leads where."

"It never is," Hazel agreed. "We just have to do our best."

"Yer doin' fine so far." he said, glancing at them, as Ana shifted nervously from foot to foot.

"Though you'll wanna keep a good handle on your excitable lil' protege."

Heron snorted gently. "She'll get the hang of it. Not everyone can be as zen as I am," she said her voice dripping with self-effacing irony.

"Nah, not everyone. You and I are a special sort." He said, glancing up at the security cameras around them. "Anyway, it's probably about time you both got going."

Ana snorted "....did you waste enough of our time, old man?"

Heron nodded. "Alright. See you around, Panther."

Panther saluted her, and walked down the hall with a whistled tune

"...." Ana frowned , and shook her head. "...whatever."

Hazel gestured for Ana. "Come on, Starling."

Ana nodded, and pushed forward through the door. "Time is on our side, huh?"

She sighed "i swear I can hear a timer ticking down every second.."

"Sorry about that, Starling," she said, piloting the tiny tank again. "Im not a big fan of it myself either but..."

"But you think it's got something to do with keeping some 'good' timeline on track?"

"Or correcting a bad one, yeah," she nodded. "Think about it. Last time he wanted to slow us down-- where would we have been if we weren't held up?"

"...right in the middle of the Wendigo's path of destruction.."

"exactly," she nodded. "and you in your uniform."

"I'd have been chopped to pieces before she even thought to ask a question." Ana said with muted horror

"Yeah," Heron nodded. "So... im inclined to give Panther this one."

"...I suppose a few minutes aren't the end of the world..." She hissed between her teeth "though I'd bet it was just enough time for Iron to get into position with her canine companion."

"Probably," Hazel agreed. "lets check in with Fox and Justine."

"You got it boss. I'll be in a holding pattern while you do."

She tapped her comm. "Fox, you there?"

"I am, Heron, but.."

He sighed  softly "you're not gonna like it."

"Give it to me straight."

"Iron's back at the wolf, and barking orders around. I think she's about to activate it. She's got your bro by her side, forcing him to work on the thing like, while it's running."

"Like literally on top of it?"

"Yep." Simon sighed. At gunpoint too. He doesn't look happy. Or safe."

"Wonderful," she sighed. "Any advice?"

"sneak." Simon said. running headlong into there as the thing starts up is just gonna get you killed. Find a way to flank it and maybe damage some of it's exterior systems...cripple it so you can get in close."

"Guess this bonsai tank is out then," she said. "Alright. Good thought."

"Not completely." Simon mused. "No...actually."

He snapped his fingers , and it sounded through the com. "No, that might just work. It's got bulletproof shielding, right?"

"Yeah... why?"

"How'd you like to run interference...while your friend sneaks around  and works to line up a good shot to disable the thing?"

"Yeah... I think I like that idea," she said. "you think it's got a better shot than us both sneaking?"

"Yeah. Iron's ready for you guys...but if you draw her ire...then she won't think to watch out for anyone else."

"Good point. Alright Fox. I think its time to do this."

"Good luck, Heron. Just...be safe."

"Thanks Fox. See you when its over."

"See you on the other side, Heron."

The line went died, and Ana glanced at Hazel. "what's the plan, boss?'

"If you're up for it we're taking a double approach."

Ana grinned "I think i can handle double teaming the Metal Wolf, Boss." She winked "WHatcha need from me?"

"Fox suggested you sneak around and find a good line of sight to disable the wolf. While I run in and distract everyone."

"you got it." She nodded slowly. "you got that sniper rifle still?'

"Sure do," she nodded, taking it off her back. "You used one before?"

"I've had training in all kinds of weapons, ma'am." Ana smirked 'wouldn't call myself an expert, but.."

"Good," Hazel said with a smile handing it to her. "I'm counting on you."

Ana took the rifle, and slung it on her back. "I've got your back Boss. I won't let you down."

Hazel gave her a salute. "I believe in you, Starling."

Ana saluted her back, and smiled "i'll slip in the vents. you keep the wolf distracted."

"You got it. You'll definitely hear a commotion when things get started.'

"Yeah." She smirked "i'd bet. Light them up, boss."

With that, she leapt up and grabbed a hallway vent, pulling the grate away and slipping inside.

Hazel took a moment to steady her breathing, and once more put her hands on the tank's controls. It was time. She started down the hall.

Ahead of her stood the doorway into the command room...and beyond that....the main lab.

The tank clanked and whirred as it picked up it's pace, carrying her ever closer to her final confrontation.

Everything was riding on this. Her brother's life. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Heron couldn't allow herself to hesitate and break focus. No matter who she was fighting. No matter who they thought they were fighting for. There would be time to grieve later, when the job was done.

The doors hissed open, giving her the view of the control room beyond.

The windows were still open, showing her the lab.... a lab now devoid of scientists, with some of the guards who remained alive standing vigil beside a massive, building sized monster.

A wolf of steel and gears, it's back carrying two live ICBM missles, as it's AI-pod controlled head thrashed and tossed around...it's deadly tail raised up and aiming it's minigun around the small area in strangely animal way for something that was...at the end of the day...a  machine.

and on it's back, in the control area, behind a bit of shielding....

Iron, with a pistol to Dr. Kovalenko's head and a megaphone in her free hand.

Hazel stomped through the doors. "Time's up, Iron."

Iron's attention snapped her way, and the look of fury that crossed her face mingled with a growing smirk of amusement.

"you come all this way to face me sister, and you show up in _that_ toy?" she yelled into the megaphone.

"Steel Heron, you _are_ a delight. but that'll only get you so far. Besides...."

She stomped her foot, and the wolf reared up into it's hand legs with a strange, mechanical roar, before landing with a heavy crash of discarded equipment and breaking floor tiles.

The entire lab rumbled under it's clawed feet "Mine's bigger, sister."

Beside her, Calvin struggled to maintain balance, his glasses askew on his face.

Hazel armed her guns. "Doesn't matter the size as long as you can do the job, Iron."

"I think you'll find me more than capable of finishing what's been started." Iron stepped forward, pushing the doctor aside, and placing one foot on the console before her. "this machine is going to burn the Pax Republic to cinders. And over it's charred, broken body, I'll raise a new ...better flag. "

She smiled , spreading her hands widely "A heaven for those soldiers Pax has cast aside. A place where we no longer need to fear the cruel calculations of faceless men hiding behind a pathetic, weakened State!"

The guards around the wolf began to clap.

"A new Viper's Nest!"

Hazel watched impassively as Calvin tried to sneak his way awkwardly off the machine while everyone was worked up.

"I don't know what the Viper you met wanted, Iron," she said sharply. "but a 'viper's nest' built on ashes and rubble and trechery is the last thing the man I knew would have. If you want to burn Pax to the ground, you'll have to go through me."

Iron's smile grew sharp. "As if you know anything....as if you _knew_ anything."

The wolf roared behind her, pawing at the ground. Bladed feet cut furrows into the steel below as she laughed.

"you showed up  for a few mere MONTHS back in the distant past! You know NOTHING of Pax's true face. Of the evil it's done. of the lives it's ruined."

She snarled "I trained with Viper. They raised me to be an inferior version of _you_ and....and they _forced_ me to betray him! I know how much he's suffered for _MY ACTIONS_"

She thumped her fist hard against her chest. "I carry those wounds every damned day, sister! Every morning I wake up knowing the things they _made me do_ and the lives lost because of GREED and AVARICE"

She spun, and grabbed Calvin by the collar with one hand. Hefting him up, she glowered into his eyes. "and you, Doctor. Remind me too much of the woman who ruined my genes."

Calvin's eyes widened as he was hefted off his feet, glasses slipping down again. He sputtered as she threatened him/

Hazel fired off a warning round close to Iron's side. "Put him down."