A/N: Credits go to FanaticalPhoenix. Also, I don't own anything.

Key:

Letter: Emphasis

Enjoy!

1 day later, March 17, 2014, Abandoned Warehouse, Wellston

Third Person POV:

In a dark room of an abandoned warehouse was where some EMBER agents met up to discuss their next plan of attacks.

EMBER Agent #1: Okay, so we have taken out some of these buffoons of vigilantes in this sector. (points to a business part of Wellston) But there are more of them in this sector. (points to a urban part of Wellston) If we take down some of these so called "vigilantes" in that sector, we should be good.

??? (Solomon): Or will you?

Solomon then approaches the EMBER agents.

EMBER Agents: S-sir!

Solomon: At ease.

Solomon then goes sits down with the EMBER agents in some chairs.

Solomon: So? How are the plans coming up so far? Did you take out the "vigilantes" in some of the sectors you mentioned?

EMBER Agent #1: Yes sir.

Solomon: Keep doing that. We have the drugs for you, and we will continue our plan to destroy the dogs in this country.

EMBER Agent #2: As a guise of a CIA Agent?

Solomon: Yes.

EMBER Agent #1 (sighs): Yes sir. We will continue to do what we do best, while you control the situation in Tehran.

Solomon: Yes. And together (he leans closer to the agent and closes his hand into a fist) we will crush those pesky Marines.

The EMBER agent silently nods and grins.

Wellston High School

Back at the High School, Keene and Vaughun were giving John a stern talk while Blackburn was there to support him.

John: ....

Vaughun: John. When you began attending Wellston, you were given certain privileges due to your rank. The last few weeks...you've sent multiple students...and I let you off. But brutalizing the other Royals is where I draw the line. Any more of that nonsense and there will be consequences. Do you understand?

John and Blackburn then glanced at each other.

Blackburn: But you forget yourself. He was attacked by others before his powers were revealed. Also, brutalizing? Both him and me have seen worst.

Vaughun: Like what?

Blackburn (glaring): Getting tortured by the PLR.

At this point Vaughun was silent.

Blackburn (sighs): 48 hours ago, we were deployed to Iraqi Kurdistan in an emergency call from 1st Recon Battalion Command to deal with PLR insurgents crossing the border from Iran into Iraq. All the insurgents we encountered were trained Iranian insurgents from frickin' Al Bashir himself. Not to mention the fact that we both were almost buried alive in an earthquake, and - if anything didn't get worse, a coup in Tehran, sponsored by your friendly neighborhood PLR. You know what that means?

John: Al Bashir and his PLR have control of all of the Iranian military and resources.

Blackburn: Exactly.

John: And the only reason I would put up a fight with the Royals is to defend myself. All of this, is just a bigger objective to stop the PLR before they try to launch a global jihad on all of us. Starting from Iran, to here at home....in the United States.

The room became silent again.

John: If we don't stop whatever they're planning...millions will die.

Vaughun was about to speak, but stopped midway for a bit.

Vaughun: As much as I want to say the both are right, remember John, this is your final warning.

Keene: .....

Vaughun: You are both dismissed, Gunnery Sergeant Doe and Staff Sergeant Blackburn.

Both John and Blackburn saluted Vaughun and walked out. It was then Keene got talking.

Keene: I understand you want to give every student a chance to think for themselves. But John's behavior is increasingly concerning. Remember, he's a late bloomer. He doesn't see things the way we do. And not to mention that being a Marine being in constant combat and being in the intelligence community will strengthen his view of trying to fight for something that may be hopeless from the start.

Vaughun then looks down and thinks for a moment.

Vaughun: Yes. And this is precisely why...this school needs someone like him.

Keene: .....But how do you plan on handling the aftermath of the incident? Rumors spread like wildfire. Once news gets out that Wellston's hierarchy is in disorder, we'll have a lot of trouble on your hands! The authorities are already watching us closely. This'll give them another reason to suspect us.

Vaughun: Then let them come. I'm sure the authorities wouldn't want to mess with the prodigy...of the United States Marine Corps.

A few minutes later

John and Blackburn were standing outside of the school, with John trying to call Sera, but Sera doesn't respond.

John: Huh? She wouldn't respond.

Blackburn: I dunno Lead. Maybe you should try to visit her.

John: Right. That may the best right now. After...

Blackburn then puts a hand on John's shoulder.

Blackburn: I know. Montes would've have done the same to try to get you out of this situation.

Wellston Girls Dormitories

John and Blackburn approach Sera's and Elaine's dorm room and John knocks. Elaine opens the door afterwards.

Elaine: Wha- !! John?! What are you doing here?! (looks at Blackburn) And who are you?

Blackburn: Just a friend of his.

John: Where's Sera?

Elaine: Wait, sh-she doesn't want to see anyone right now-!

John: Just move.

John then proceeds to go to Sera's room while Elaine and Blackburn were left standing.

Blackburn (thinking): As if things didn't get any worse....

John then reaches Sera's room, finding Sera laying in bed.

John: Hey Sera. I came to check up on you. I didn't see you in school today...and you didn't answer any of my calls. Is everything okay?

Sera: I just have a lot on my mind.

John: Oh, well I'm here if you want to talk about it!

Sera: No.

John: How about we go grab a drink then? Maybe getting up and moving around will help. We could go for a run...or I could teach more ways to defend yourself!

Sera: Just stop. I just want time to myself right now.

John: A-are you sure?

Sera: John. Please leave.

John: A-alright then. Let me know when you feel better!

John then left Sera's room and closed the door, with a sad look on his face.

Elaine: ...

Blackburn: Are you-

John then sat down.

Blackburn: Oh no.

John then begin his quiet rant.

John: Two long years. Two long years has this war been raging on. Ever since the PLR was formed in the slums of Tehran, they've been terrorizing the whole world. From Paris, to Moscow, to Beijing, to Tokyo, to even our own DC.

Elaine was left in awe.

Elaine: So-

Blackburn: Let him finish. He's been through enough.

John: A one and a half year ago, a squad, codenamed Star, led by me, was sent in to investigate a possible PLR chemical attack...in the middle of Kabul. Back then, I was a naive Corporal, leading a squad for the first time. When we went in, we expected to take all the insurgents by surprise and defuse the chemical weapons. Oh god was I wrong. When we went in, we faced little resistance, but then, PLR reinforcements came in from the north of the city. The Afghan police were powerless to stop them, and the whole battle...became a massacre. Out of the 20 Marines sent into Kabul to investigate the chemical attack, only one returned.

Elaine: Who is it?

John: -Me. I would later be given the nickname of the "Second Lone Survivor". I was then promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and all of my men were given posthumous awards and promotions. But that didn't feel like something I would like to get promoted with, and to be honest, I would have to denied the promotion...but... (starts to tear up) am I a monster because of saving myself instead of my men, even if it was impossible to? I may never know.

John then pulls out a picture of his old Star Squad.

John: Is there anything to this life? What good am I of a leader of Misfit 1-3, when I couldn't even save my former squad? Should I...even exist?

John then starts to tear up even more and then slamming his fists onto the floor, before kneeling down, remembering the memories of his past, with his hands shaking as well.

John: Kabul...Star....PLR....Chaffin....Swordbreaker....Tehran....cuộc đội đến đâu chả biết (Life goes where you don't know)....

John continues to sob at the memories while Blackburn then kneels down to his level to comfort him, with Elaine watching over them.

John: Black?

Blackburn: Yeah?

John: Am I a monster...for not saving Chaffin from that sniper...48 hours ago?

Blackburn sighs.

Blackburn: How many times do I have to tell you? THIS. IS. NONE. OF. YOUR. FAULT!

John then continues to sob, but slowly collects himself.

Blackburn: It was the .50 Cal. He may have been hit hard, but Chaffin is a tough son of a b*tch, so he should be still be alive by now.

John: But st-

Blackburn: But still what? YOU'RE THE ONE WHO'S BEEN SACRIFICING YOURSELF AND YOUR TIME AND WELLBEINGING INTO TAKING DOWN THOSE PLR TERRORIST F*CKSH*TS! DON'T BLAME YOURSELF FOR SOMETHING THAT IS OUT OF YOUR F*CKIN' CONTROL!

After Blackburn yelled at John, Elaine was shocked.

Elaine: Wh-what just happened?

Blackburn then glared at her, with a even more deadlier one than Sera.

Blackburn: You all made him like this. You should all know better.

Elaine: I-I-I'm sorry John...

Elaine: I-I'll go check on Sera.

Elaine left John and Blackburn in the outer room while she gone in to Sera's room and closed the door. Sera was on her bed before she thought of John, clenched her fists and slammed in on her knees, before she picked up her pillow and slammed it on the floor.

Elaine: Sera! Take it easy!

Sera then looked back at Elaine.

Sera: Take it easy? Elaine look at me.

Elaine continued to look at her.

Sera: I'm pathetic! I have no ability...no influence...what good am I? All I do is sit around all day and soak in stupid lies to make myself to feel better about myself! I'm sick of feeling useless.

Elaine: ..........I'm sorry....

Sera then looked up to the ceiling of the dorm.

Sera: You know...I really looked up to him. After I became powerless...I did everything I could be like him. He made it look easy, so I thought that if I simply followed his example...then I wouldn't need to worry about anything either. But everything was a lie. Of course it was easy for him...because he was powerful all along! That's why he's so confident. It's why he never bat an eye picked on him. The truth was obvious.

A/N: Was it though?

Blackburn: It's never that simple. The truth is always complicated.

Sera: Yet I still was brought into this nonsense. And spent all this time living in delusion. I'm so stupid.

Elaine: Seraphina! Please don't blame yourself for this! I could've told you at any time, but...

Sera: What kept you?

Elaine: John...

Sera: What did he do?

Elaine: He...is having a mental breakdown right now.

Sera: Where?

Elaine: Outside in the living room.

Sera and Elaine then went outside to see Blackburn and John while listening in their conservation.

Blackburn: -And that's how I lived. After being tortured by those terrorist dumbf*cks.

John then laid down his head.

John: I-I-I can't take it anymore.

Blackburn: Why?

John: Black. I LOST MY OLD SQUAD TO THOSE DUMBF*CKS! I COULDN'T EVEN SAVE THEM FROM CERTAIN DEATH! NOT TO MENTION CHAFFIN! I AM A BAD PERSON, LET ALONE, A BAD LEADER!

Blackburn: LEAD, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?! THIS WAS NOT YOUR FAULT. IT WAS THE COMMAND'S FAULT! IF THEY HAD KNOWN THAT SENDING IN 20 MARINES INTO THE MIDDLE OF KABUL WAS A GOOD IDEA, THEN I'M IN AWE! YOU DID WHAT YOU CAN TO COMMAND THEM!

Silence filled the room again.

John: Black.

Black: Hm?

John: Once this is all over...I'm resigning...

Black: Bu-

John: No buts. I deserve to live in a life filled with pain. You on the other hand is someone who can take the mantle of watching this town. You are older than me by years. I'm still the naive person I was since...boot camp.

John continued to look on the floor.

John: In all seriousness...after what happened...I'm not sure if I can ever get back to my old self again..

Elaine was still in shock.

Sera: John.

John then looked up.

Sera: Why did you lie to us?

John: About what?

Sera: Being Joker.

John: The only reason I did that.....was to protect you.

Sera: But why would you brutalize-

Blackburn: Just stop.

Sera then looked at Blackburn.

Sera: Who are you to talk to-

Sera: Wait a second, that's the strange man from 2 days ago talking to John.

John: He's one of my friends.

Sera then continued to wonder.

Sera: What's going on then?

Blackburn and John then sighed.

John: Too much for me to handle.

Sera then glared at John.

Sera: Too much for what?

Blackburn then glared back at her.

Blackburn: Like he said. Too much for him to handle.

Sera: What do you actually mean?!

Blackburn: Leave it at that!

Sera was then taken aback by Blackburn's outburst.

Blackburn: WE WERE ALMOST BURIED ALIVE IN AN EARTHQUAKE 48 HOURS AGO! WHILE YOU'RE ALL PINNING THE BLAME ON HIM, HE FOUGHT WITH EVERY OUNCE OF HIS OWN BLOOD, TO FIGHT FOR ALL OF YOU, JUST FOR HIM TO COME BACK AND HAVE PEOPLE TALKING BEHIND HIS BACK!

It was at this point that Sera and Elaine knew...they f*cked up.

Blackburn: You will all know the truth later. For now, leave it as is. I'm sick and tired of people like all of you who assume the truth is simple. When in reality...heh..it isn't.

It was then John got a call from Cole through his radio.

Cole: Black, Lead, this is Misfit Actual. It looks like there's been another superhero incident just about 10 minutes away from your school.

John then picked up the radio.

John: Roger that Misfit Actual. Me and Black will be Oscar Mike in 5 mikes.

John and Blackburn looked at each other and silently nodded while Blackburn then glared back at Sera and Elaine.

Blackburn: I think we're done here. (helps John up) C'mon Lead, let's go. We've got something to investigate.

John (sighing): Well...Black...we're on the move again. Gear up once we reach my dorm.

Blackburn and John then waved at Sera and Elaine before closing the door and then rushed to John's dorm to get ready their gear for the mission ahead.

50 minutes later, an alleyway, Wellston

John and Blackburn then arrived at the scene, fully kitted, seeing police and some authorities investigate a dead superhero.

Police Officer #1: Man, when will these viligantes stop trying to go kill themselves for a fruitless effort.

Authority #1: I don't know man. (sighs) Looks like it's the second time this week that another one died.

John then approached the authority.

John: Excuse me, but we are from the Marine Corps Military Police. We would like to investigate the dead superhero over there.

Authority #1: And what's your unit?

John: 1st Recon Battalion. We just got out of Iraqi Kurdistan investigating a possible PLR attack.

The authority then sighed.

Authority #1: Fine. You can take a look. Just don't take too long will you?

John: We won't thanks. (he then chuckled) Come on Black, let's go.

Blackburn and John then approached the dead superhero and put on their investigative gear, such as gloves and got out their tools. After some while, they were then clueless about how the superhero died.

John: If it was an ability, then scratch marks would've have been present. But..there is none.

Blackburn: And a whole lot of blood.

John and Blackburn then thought for a while.

John: I think the guy didn't die from an ability by EMBER...but by a bullet.

John then activated his second ability (A/N: This will be updated in the bio), Ballistics. Sure enough, he found a bullet in the body.

John: Well...I can confirm that this person died from a bullet.

Blackburn: But what round is it?

John: Checking.

John then continued using his ability to see what type is was.

John: A 7.62x39mm Soviet M43 round.

Blackburn: An AK?

John: From my ability, I say that it's a Chinese Type 56.

Blackburn: So he did die from a AK variant. Wait, but EMBER doesn't use AKs? Wait a second!

John: The PLR is at our doorstep.....

A/N: HAHAHAHA! I'm evil am I? A cliffhanger! Sorry for the delay, as I was traveling and had a writer's block for about 4 days now. Anyways, I hoped that you enjoyed this chapter! Remember to review and vote!

Have a nice day!