𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 || 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘺

THE STREETS OF PARIS WERE BOTH CALM AND UNRELENTING. The concurrent aspects of the city made it rather aggravating for Jaxon to traverse through. Remembering the location given by one of the messengers of Quantum. A ticket to the city and a gun in case anything were to happen.

But the city was nice. From the spectacles of the scenery and views. It all spoke of a perfect vacation that he would have to take with Natasha. Although, he wasn't sure if he was going to be allowed to even consider vacations at this point in time with what had happened in the past few weeks.

People around the world were processing and mourning the loss of August and the civilians caught in the blast. Paris was still recovering from the fear that clung to the streets he and the two other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents had caused with the Russians. Everything about the present wasn't looking pretty or going in Jaxon's favour.

Approaching the front of the École Militaire Jaxon could instantly make out the detail surrounding the perimeter. Guards were posted at specific points near the building and around the statue that sat out front. All protecting one woman who Jaxon wasn't sure was here to kill him or berate him for his massive fuck up.

Catherine hadn't made contact since August went up in flames. Hurley hadn't either, which only made Jaxon anxious as to what they were planning - If they were planning anything at all. So, he was taking the precautions to make sure that if anything broke out of uncontrol, he had a backup plan set.

His steps towards the woman were heard, Catherine turning around with a deadpan demeanour on her face. Her eyes inspected Jaxon and were able to see that the past few days hadn't been pretty for him either. His beard was scraggly, hair unkempt and tucked under a beanie, he looked like shit. Because he was dealing with his own guilt and wishing he could go back and just kill Annette. It would've saved far more lives than anything else.

"You chose a life over millions," Catherine started. "Risking an entire city for one person. Are you giving me a reason not to trust you, Jaxon Carter?"

Jaxon inhaled deeply, pursing his lips. "I made a bad judgement call, ma'am," he stated. "Won't happen again."

"You better fucking hope not!" She spat, stepping towards the man and lowering her tone. "I have Fury on my ass because you killed two of his agents. Not only that but the Council is looking for someone to blame and currently, we're their main targets."

A twitch of his upper lip appeared as he glanced to the side and sighed softly. "Permission to speak freely, ma'am?" The woman waved her hand mockingly as he looked back at her. "I don't give a shit about the politics you are dealing with. I did something that I thought was right. I made the risky call to keep the girl alive and I killed those agents because they were ready to kill me and Annette."

The woman was nothing less than appalled by his words. Letting out a humourless laugh as she shook her head. "Who do you think makes you untouchable, Jax?" She tapped her chest. "I do. I keep you out of the limelight and I keep you working. So, those politics is what's keeping you alive."

"Because that's your job, ma'am."

"Who do you think you are? You are nothing less than a Gray Man." Catherine spat. "I make you that way. I make you a ghost. You may be my hired gun, but that doesn't mean I have to give a shit about you and what happens to you when you're out here. I do have to pay attention to your decision making and currently, after August, you are the dumbest piece of shit I know."

She stepped closer, invading Jaxon's space where he felt his emotions slowly begin to rise, along with his powers. "Now, we wouldn't be having this conversation if you had done your job."

"If my job is to kill innocents, then maybe you should hire someone new," he replied.

"Your job is to kill people who need to be killed, Jax. As much as I hate to say it, you are the best I am going to get," she confessed. "So get your shit together before I start looking for your replacement."

And with that, the woman was walking away with her detail-breaking cover and created a defensive perimeter around the woman. Jaxon watched as she was escorted into a black sedan and drove away. Orange whisps surrounding his clenched hands with his eyes turning a vivid shade of orange.

But he inhaled deeply and exhaled and his anger slowly seeped away. Looked up at the top of the École Militaire and saw Natasha with her sniper rifle. Pressing his finger to his ear, he said, "I hope she follows through on that replacement."

JAXON WASN'T SURE WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO NOW. It's not like he would give up escaping just yet, but Ryan seemed to have a fix on his location every step of the way. Throughout all of New York, he was just by that freeway coincidentally? Jaxon didn't buy it. Either he had someone else under his control or he was just quick to respond to anything going on in New York. Because if could, then that meant he was always going to be one step ahead. Which was something Jaxon wasn't exactly in the greatest mood to deal with. Or even in the state prepared for that.

But maybe, Catherine or Pierce had the answers to his questions. And maybe after he was finished getting what he needed, then he could kill them. End this once and for all.

Holding that thought off, the vehicle suddenly came to a screeching halt. Jaxon lifted his head as the sound of gunfire filled the air. The two guards sitting opposite of him lifted their heads and readied their weapons. "Command, we've been - Command?"

Static filled the air as Jaxon decided to act. Kicking one of the guards in the face, knocking him out. Just the other was going to act, the back of the van swung open and the man was shot in the head. Blood splattered across the interior as Jaxon turned his gaze to find Harry standing with a rifle in hand.

"Every time I find you, you're always in trouble." Harry climbed up, grabbing the keys for Jaxon's cuffs from one of the bodies and uncuffed the assassin.

"Well, it's not something I plan," Jaxon chuckled. "Where are Natasha and Steve?"

"I got someone else getting them to safety. But right now, you need to not ask questions and just do as I say, alright?"

Nodding, Jaxon grabbed his weapons from one of the guards and his balaclava before hopping out. They were in an alley and the transport truck that had been guarding him and the van was shot up. The driver's body was on the ground where the door had been painted with bullets. But Jaxon ignored that and followed Harry to a vehicle. They got inside and Harry didn't waste a second; foot pressing down on the gas and pulling out of the alley.

There was a brief pause in silence before Jaxon pressed his knife to the man's side. Harry didn't flinch, keeping his eyes on the road. "How did you know where I was?"

"A convoy moving through New York isn't exactly hard to find-"

"Ryan found me," Jaxon interrupted sharply. "He's known where I would be every single step. So, enough with the bullshit, Harry."

The man inhaled deeply, feeling the tip of the knife dig deeper into his side. Threateningly breaking the first layer of skin. Harry didn't expect the young man to relent as he was clearly going through hell with Ryan, Quantum, and HYRDA gunning for him. His speculation and anxiety were understandable.

"Fury isn't dead," Harry confessed. "And if Natasha has told you anything, then you know he isn't one to leave any possibilities out of question. Which is why I put this on you-" Pulling the tiniest chip from the boy's hair, he showed it. "-as it was what Fury wanted to keep some sort of eye on you, Natasha, and Steve."

Jaxon stared at him for a few moments, his busted top lip twitching slightly before he pulled his knife away. Sliding it back into his sheath and adjusting in his seat. "Some meds are in the glove box. You're going to need them."

SOON, THEY ARRIVED AT A DECOMMISSIONED DAM. Branches and trees covered the surrounding area with the structure having vines slowly overtaking it. There was no sign of life outside, but as they went inside, the lights were still on. Cracks from the ceiling allowed droplets of water to drip down, creating puddles Jaxon walked through.

Coming to the end of a long corridor, Jaxon spotted the team with a doctor and Director Fury. The first to spot his and Harry's arrival was Fury, who sighed. "Good for the two of you to join us, finally."

Natasha, who had the doctor applying pressure to the wound in her shoulder, smiled at Jaxon. He gave one back in response as he approached. "Yeah, well, rook here had a knife in my side right after I saved him," Harry replied. "So, I am sorry Director if I wasn't as fast as you would've liked."

Jaxon, stood at attention, saluting Fury. "Fury, sir. I've heard many great things about you from Natasha, sir."

"At ease. Sergent. No need to show subordination when you worked under my ex-wife, who I think you want dead as much as I do," Fury said. "Am I correct to suggest that?"

Jaxon nodded, jaw clenched. "As far as I am concerned, she knows about what happened to me and more on Ryan Hunt. I fully intend on getting what I need before killing her."

"Good." Fury slowly rose from the hospital bed and to his feet. "That means we're on the same page. Whoever Natasha bats for is someone I can trust."

Walking past the assassin, Fury sighed. "When Quantum shot your plane down, I thought you were dead," he stated. "But you Carter's have a knack for pulling off the impossible. Such as saving the Pakistan President from Quantum to only have that blow up in your face."

Jaxon's brows furrowed together. From as far as he knew, no one had known the reasoning behind how he got to New York or even who else was on that helicopter. Hell, he hadn't even known he had saved anyone. Including Natasha, who looked more pissed off than surprised. "You said you didn't know who was on the helicopter."

"That was because I needed your head in the game," Fury replied before looking back at Jaxon.

"Who else was on the helicopter? Was it just me and the President?"

Fury sat down at the end of the table. "The President's daughter," he answered. "Catherine was blackmailing them and you had hoped to stop it. I guess you can see where that led to."

That's what he was doing? Jaxon believed he had been still on the run from Catherine. He wasn't even sure what his goal was in the grand scheme of things. But the idea that he was going after Quantum directly made him believe that in some way, he was doing the same as Ryan. Hunting down Catherine and Hurley to put an end to all the torment and pain they'd caused him and Ryan - likely many more. It was all still foggy and hurt for him to even think about.

They all gathered around a table with Jaxon taking the liberty to take the medical kit from the doctor and sit beside Natasha, patching her up the best he could. Something she showed her gratitude for by placing her hand on his knee, eyes carefully scanning his features. Cut and bruised, which was merely the tip of the iceberg for what could be found underneath the armour.

"You should get patched up." Her voice caused him to look up from the kit. Her worried eyes transfixed on him, unwavering to the fact that she believed she shouldn't be his main focus.

But Jaxon smiled softly. "Worrying about me isn't going to get you far, Nat," he told her. "You come first before me. That's how it's always going to be."

Natasha pursed her lips, watching him slowly take out a thread and a needle. Not stopping herself when she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. Jaxon didn't waver, merely smiling at her and winking.

"This man declined the Nobel Peace Prize," Fury said aloud, staring at a photo of a young Alexander Pierce. "He said peace wasn't an achievement, it was a responsibility."

Dropping the photo, Fury leaned forward and looked at the group. "See, it's stuff like this that gives me trust issues."

"We have to stop the launch," Natasha spoke up, hand gripping tighter around Jaxon's knee as he continued to thread the needle through her skin.

"I don't think the Council or my ex-wife are accepting my calls anymore." Pulling open a small briefcase, three large chips could be seen. All identical to one another.

Sam was the first one to question it. "What's that?"

"Once the Helicarriers reach 3,000 feet, they'll triangulate with Insight satellites, becoming fully weaponized," Agent Hill announced, showing her laptop that gave a brief visual description.

"We need to breach those carriers and replace their targeting blades with our own," Fury added.

"One or two won't cut it," Hill said. "We need to link all three carriers for this to work, because even if one of those ships remains operational a whole lotta people are gonna die."

"You didn't think of a self-destruct sequence to be good, sir?" Jaxon asked, eyes flickering to the Director.

"At the time, I didn't think we needed it," he replied. "We have to assume everyone aboard those carriers is HYDRA. We have to get past them, insert these server blades. And maybe, just maybe we can salvage what's left-"

Before he could finish, Steve finally spoke up. "We aren't salvaging anything," he exclaimed. "We aren't just taking down the carriers, Nick. We're taking down, S.H.I.E.L.D."

"S.H.I.E.L.D. had nothing to do with this."

"You gave me this mission. This is how it ends," Steve stood his ground. "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s been compromised. You said so yourself. HYDRA grew right under your nose and nobody noticed."

"Why do you think we're meeting in this cave?" Fury questioned. "I noticed."

"How many paid the price before you did?"

That was enough to silence Fury as he glanced at Hill before looking back at the Captain. "Look, I didn't know about Barnes."

"Even if you had, would you have told me?" Steve asked. "Or would you have compartmentalized that, too? S.H.I.E.L.D., HYDRA, Quantum, it all goes."

"He's right." Maria Hill agreed, earning a surprised look from Fury that looked to Natasha and Jaxon, who shared the same deadpan.

Then he looked at Sam, who shrugged dismissively. "Don't look at me. I just do what he does, just slower."

Fury looked defeated at that point, leaning back in his chair and sighing. "It looks like you're giving the orders now, Captain."

Applying the bandage around Natasha's wound, Jaxon looked at Hill. "Maria, can you brief me on the layout of the carriers?" The woman nodded, motioning him to follow as they approached a bulletin board filled with pictures and sticky notes of the past few days. S.H.I.E.L.D. officials, possible unravelled personnel, all the possibilities of enemies and allies.

Standing by Hill, she typed up blueprints of the Insight Carriers. Giving him a full look at what he's going to be dealing with. "There are around 4 levels, not including the hangar. Working personnel could be in the 40s and doubled that with guards."

Sniffling, Jaxon nodded. "At the Triskelion, are there jets, helicopters?" When she nodded, he continued. "Ok, then, I'm going to steal one of those and go to one of those Helicarriers by myself-"

Before he could continue, the woman frowned. "Wait. By yourself? Listen, I've read your file, alright? I know what you're capable of, but you need backup."

"Don't worry," he sighed. "I've got that covered."

Natasha, overhearing the conversation, quickly stood to her feet as the group dispersed to get ready. She was quick to come to Jaxon's side as he glanced up at the blueprint, writing down everything he would need to know and likely bring with him.

"You can't be seriously planning on going alone, right?" She asked.

Jaxon continued to write. "I do and that is final. This suit is going to help me get through most of the guards undetected and replaced the blade."

"And what if you can't?" Natasha asked. "Jaxon, there are multiple levels of security scans you need to get through to get to the targeting blade. This isn't just a hop and a skip."

"I'll improvise, Nat. I know this is going to be a sprint and I plan on winning," he countered.

Natasha pursed her lips, bracing her hands against the edge of the table. "Jax, will you look at me?" He didn't respond, still continuing to write. "Jax, will you fucking look at me?" She asked again, sharper this time.

It had been enough to grab his attention, placing the pen down and giving her his undivided attention. "I know you are angry - pissed off and wanting answers - I do too. They took you from me and I want them to pay for doing what they did to you," she confessed. "But this doesn't mean you have to do this on your own. So, tell me you'll bring Harry with you on this."

It was a far he was fighting, really. A war with himself for what he wanted over what he believed was right. Because, he wanted to do this by the book, do it for his country and the entire world. But he also wanted his revenge. If it brought him a step closer to the truth, he wanted it. That's what he knew and what he wanted, but was it the right thing for him to do?

There was still a lot for Jaxon was trying to organize in his head. Right or wrong. Good and bad. But what he knew was perfect was his mission and what he hoped to achieve with that mission. If he got to Catherine, that meant he got the answers he needed. There wasn't a single person in this world that could stop him from fulfilling that mission.

Pursing his lips, looked down at the woman with a hard look. "I go alone, Natasha," he told her. "I'm not letting them get away with this anymore."

"ATTENTION ALL S.H.I.E.L.D. AGENTS, THIS IS STEVE ROGERS." Steve's voice echoed throughout the Triskelion and the surrounding perimeter of the building. "You've heard a lot about me over the last few days. Some of you were even ordered to hunt me down. But I think it's time you know the truth."

Jaxon moved towards one of the Quinjets, seeing two guards quickly loading weapons and equipment inside. With his cloaking, he was quick to dispense them with his knife, pulling their bodies inside.

"S.H.I.E.L.D. is not what we thought it was. It's been taken over by HYDRA. Alexander Pierce is their leader," Steve announced. "The S.T.R.I.K.E. and Insight crew are HYDRA as well. I don't know how many more, but I know they're in the building. They could be standing right next to you."

Smashing open one of the boxes, Jaxon was greeted by the sight of grenades and explosives. "They almost have what they want. Absolute control," Steve stated. "They shot Nick Fury. And it won't end there. If you launch those helicarriers today, HYDRA will be able to kill anyone that stands in their way. Unless we stop them."

"I know I am asking a lot. The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay," Steve said. "And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not."

The silence that followed was deafening to Jaxon who slowly began to line the walls of the Quinjet with explosives. But the silence was overtaken by the sound of a safety being turned off. "Facing HYDRA head-on, huh?" Jaxon lifted his gaze, finding Ryan with his rifle in hand. Levelled and ready to fire at Jaxon if he so felt like it. "Must I say, you have quite a pair on you, little brother."

Slowly, Jaxon raised his hands and uncloaked. Carefully pulling his balaclava off and revealing his dishevelled features to his original - practically his blood brother. It was a weird position he found himself in. If it is under different circumstances, things might be going very differently. But, Jaxon was desperate and needed to get to what he wanted. And if he had brought Natasha with him, he wasn't sure what she might've done with Ryan.

"We both want the same thing, Hunt. We want Catherine, Hurley, and all the motherfuckers that hurt us," Jaxon explained. "So, I need you to hear me. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Help me deal with HYDRA and then kill those two bastards."

"What makes you think I need you?" Ryan questioned, stepping closer. "I could kill you here and still be able to get to them."

Jaxon's lips faintly flickered into a smile. "That's what I am counting on, big brother."

Ryan stood there for a moment, lips rubbing together as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. But the moment they both heard the hangar doors open beneath the river, they both forgot about one another for a moment. Both watched as the doors slowly opened and soon had the Insight Carriers lifting into the air.

"They're initiating launch." Maria Hill announced over the coms with the team.

Looking back at his original, Jaxon said, "This our one shot, Hunt," he said, gaining the man's attention. "Help me with this and I'll give you the fight you want."

Once again, he thought for a moment before lowering his rifle and slinging it around his back. "You know how to fly?" Jaxon shook his head and Ryan moved to the cockpit and got into the pilot seat. "Okay, so what's the plan, huh? We get onto one of them and just storm it?"

Jaxon moved to the co-pilot seat and sat down. "We're gonna land this bird onto the landing strip of one of the carriers. From there, we're going to blow this and make our way inside. We'll split up with you going to the bridge of the carrier where I'm sure Hurley and Catherine will be," Jax explained. "I'll get down to the control bay and insert one of the targeting blades and make sure the carrier is secure."

The Quinjet slowly rose from the ground and soon flew up in pursuit to catch the nearest helicarrier. "How do we even know those two on board?"

"Catherine has been close to Pierce for a long time now," Jaxon replied. "When I came back, they had Quantum soldiers and HYDRA hunting me. They've been working closely and for this big of an achievement for both organizations will mean they both want to be there. I'm sure you know all about how Catherine likes her big spectacles."

Ryan laughed, glancing at his clone. "You got that right, little brother."

They flew up and finally got above the helicarrier. Noticing the guns on the ship to begin to swing around and start targeting them. Ryan, thinking as fast as he could, quickly pushed the throttle down and angled them along the landing strip.

"Grab onto something, this is going to hurt." His announcement couldn't have been farther from the truth as when they made an impact, Jaxon's body hit the console. Sending a sharp pain up his chest from his prior fight with Ryan not too long ago.

The Quinjet skitted across the runway for a few hundred feet before finally stopping. Sparks flew from the console and components above as the two of them grunted. Ryan unbuckled his seatbelt and moved to Jaxon's side, grabbing the man by the straps of his suit and tapping his face with his hand. "You broken?"

"I'm good." Jax's reassurance made Ryan move towards the loading dock and pull his rifle from his back. Beginning to lay down covering fire for Jaxon, who rose to his feet and grabbed a pistol from one of the boxes that had tipped over.

Once they were clear, Jaxon grabbed one of the pins from the explosives and pulled it. "Let's move!" The two of them quickly ran across the landing strip. Any gunfire coming their way was blocked out by Jaxon using a force field from his powers to protect them.

And after five seconds, the Quinjet exploded. Causing a chain reaction to occur with the nearby jets that exploded. Which took out a good majority of the troops left on the landing strip. Jaxon looked to Ryan, who met his gaze with a grin. "Good thinking. Let's get to work." He patted Jaxon on the back before moving to the door leading into the carrier.

Moving down one of the halls, there were around 5 guards appeared. All opened fire on them, but just like before, Jaxon created a shield. Using his other hand, a tendril shot from his hand and grabbed a hold of one of the guards, pulling him towards them. Ryan grabbed the man by the face once in reach and slammed his head against the ground. The audible crack of skull breaking filled the air of casing hitting the ground.

Quickly, they were able to clear the hall that was now a bloody mess that the two walked through with ease. It was weird, honestly. Jaxon worked with Ryan the way he was. Taking out guards together so easily. Clearing level by level without breaking so much as a sweat. If Jaxon was being honest, he wondered what it would be like if they did fight together. What wouldn't they be able to achieve if they fought side by side forever?

"Ghost, update?" Hill's voice filled the coms as Jaxon watched Ryan stab a guard in the throat before dragging the knife across the man's throat with ease.

"I've breached the helicarrier. Making my way to the control room currently," he announced.

"How are you already inside?" Sam asked loudly, as Jaxon chuckled.

"I'd gotten some help from a friend." Ryan glanced over as Jaxon jogged in his direction, patting his shoulder. "C'mon."

They continued throughout the maze of halls, dealing with whatever came in their way. Until they finally came to a stairwell. Jaxon pulled out the small piece of paper, the notes he had taken and opened them. Glancing up from the paper and sighing. "Alright, this is where we split up," he said. "Up these stairs will lead to the bridge where Hurley and Catherine will likely be. I need to head down and replace the targeting blade and make sure this carrier doesn't connect to the satellites."

But before he could go down, Ryan grabbed his arm. Sending a smile, Ryan nodded. "Good luck."

Jaxon smiled as well. "Happy hunting."

Splitting off, Jaxon made his way down to the control room. Clearing guards as he went and kept in contact with the rest of the team the best he could. And eventually, he finally got to the lowest level. Grabbing one of the key cards he'd taken from the guards and unlocking the door.

There was a single catwalk that led to the blades with a dome below that showed the water a couple of thousand feet from where he stood. Walking across, he pressed his finger to his earpiece. "Cap, how are we looking at Alpha?"

"Alpha locked," Steve announced.

"Sam?" Jax inquired.

"Got a Quinjet on my tail currently," Sam replied. "Jaxon, grab something in there because I got a friend heading your way."

Jaxon frowned, jogging past the blades and around the railing to see Sam flying towards him with said Quinjet on his tail. Before meeting the glass, Sam deactivated his wings and dove down with the missiles still tracking him hitting the glass. The catwalk shook and trembled as Jaxon laughed. "You are a crazy sonofabitch, you know that?"

Walking back to the blades, Jaxon pulled out the one from Fury and switched them out. He used his tendrils to crush the other before turning around. "Bravo, lock-"

A gunshot rang out and Jaxon yelled out as he dropped to a knee. "Jaxon, repeat. Is Bravo locked?" Hill questioned.

"It's like I am speaking to my own reflection."

Jaxon ignored Hill's words and lifted his head, finding Ryan approaching him with his rifle raised. "Well, your mirror has made slightly different choices to whatever your goal is." Jaxon inhaled sharply, standing to his feet and limping slightly.

"No," Ryan said. "We just developed different ways of thinking to achieve the same goal, little brother. But I'll tell you Hurley's dead. Catherine on the other hand got away," Ryan told him. "I hope you didn't think this companionship was going to be forever."

"Ryan, don't do this," Jaxon pleaded. "Today is not the day to allow your revenge to blind you, man. There are millions of lives at risk."

"Do you think I give a shit, Jax? Really?" Ryan questioned. "Because while you were running after a ghost of yourself, do you know what I learned and prepared for? I know your entire being, your fighting, your weaknesses. Everything is stored up here-" Ryan tapped his finger against his left temple. A grin formed on his lips. "All of it led to this moment where I get to kill you and end this cycle."

"So, that's it, huh?" Jaxon asked. "Kill all of the clones until they're all dead? The creators? Catherine and the scientist? They're responsible!"

"All of them are!" Ryan pressed his finger on the trigger. "Including you, little brother."

As he pulled the trigger, Jaxon tossed his knife and teleported to it in time to evade the bullet. Rolling across the ground and tackling Ryan over the railing where they tumbled until hitting the glass.

The air was knocked from Jason's lungs as he gasped. Rolling onto his back with a pant. A groan fell from Jaxon's lips as he held his hand against his leg, feeling the splotch of blood seep into his pants. That wasn't even adding to the white-hot pain that slithered around his chest, likely a broken rib from the fall. At this point, he wasn't sure if he was ever going to get a chance to rest.

Slowly rising to his knees, Jaxon was tackled to the ground by Ryan. Yells came from both of them as they wrestled to gain dominance over the other. Soon Ryan wrapped his arms around Jaxon's throat in a rear naked choke.

With his foot, Jaxon managed to kick up his knife and teleport to it. Grasping the knife in his hand and stabs Ryan in the side before backing up, stumbling slightly. "Jaxon, I need to know if you are out of Bravo. Respond!"

"Is Charlie locked?" Jaxon panted, pulling his balaclava off and tossing it to the side. Glancing down at his leg which had blood dripping onto the glass.

"Yes, but-"

"Do as Cap says." Jaxon inhaled deeply, watching Ryan slowly begin to rise.

There was a brief break in silence before the canons from all three carriers began to fire upon one another. The shake of blasts caused Jaxon to stumble as explosions occurred above him.

"Do you realize what people like us are made to do?" Ryan yelled, resting on his knees with his hand pressed against his side. Doing his best to hold in the blood that seeped through the cracks of his fingers. "They took my DNA and made copies - clones of me - of us! We were always meant to serve and be trained to kill because in the end, when we die, there was another one of us ready to be put in our spot."

He leaned forward, grasping the gun that felt cool against the warmth of his hand as the wind howled from the pieces of glass shattered. Opening up the wind to scream around them. "Don't you want to make them pay? Make them feel the pain that they caused you by giving you these powers?"

For a while, Jaxon has hated his powers. Even with the brief fragments of memories, he could feel the hatred towards them. But it had been Natasha that helped him. Maybe she hadn't meant to, but her knowledge of his powers and her being unbothered by them did help. She had been helping him every single step of the way to find out who he was. But maybe he hadn't needed that.

He was a fresh slate. This new life of his, per se. If he wanted to go start up a greenhouse in Australia, he could do it. Live a life that didn't consist of fighting and war. He could be him.

"Not if it means killing the ones that are innocent," Jaxon replied, groaning as stumbled back. A good proportion of his face with cuts from his eyebrow down to his neck. Blood slipped past his right nostril as he tilted his head back, opening up his lungs to take in a better breath.

"The clones, the ones who haven't been made into weapons, we can change them." He inhaled sharply as he swallowed the lump in his throat. Looking back down at Ryan, who now stood to his feet. "We can all change."

Ryan let out a thunderous laugh, stumbling forward as he held his side. "Do you hear yourself?" He asked. "We can't change, man! None of us!" Sniffling, Ryan smirked. "Did you ever ask yourself how the Santorini job went bad?"

Jaxon's eyebrows furrowed, lips parting to speak, but was cut off by Natasha. "We fought on a train. You nearly had me. Then, someone shot you," Ryan briefly explained, eyes squinting. "Did you ever ask who it may have been?"

Natasha. Natasha. Natasha.

Was all that Jaxon could hear from Ryan's thoughts. Making the man's head begin to pound as he groaned. "And did she ever tell you that we were friends once?"

That made Jaxon's jaw clench as he sprinted at the man. Tackling him to the ground and using his powers to pin Ryan to the ground. Beginning to ruthlessly punch Ryan and soon sees blood appear on the man's face. Each punch began to weigh a thousand pounds as his arms grew tired.

She would've told him. She wouldn't have kept this a secret from him. She knew his name. She had been there in Santorini and knew who Jaxon was hunting. If she saw him, did she really choose Ryan over him? Who was telling the truth and who is the one lying? He couldn't find the answer as his arms grew heavier and heavier with each punch.

And soon he stopped, standing to his feet, panting with his chest screaming in agony. Backing up, Jaxon turned and saw one of the carriers begin to fall with Bravo beginning to follow. He approached the large hole from one of the blasts.

Pressing his finger to his ear, he panted. "Guys, I'm going to be on the Northside of the bay," he announced. "I repeat. Northside of the bay. I'm going to need a pickup-"

Gunshots filled the air and Jaxon's body tensed up. Stumbling forward slightly as his legs wobbled to keep him upright A cold chill ran down his spine with a harsh metallic taste sticking to the inside of his throat as he coughed up blood. Looking over his shoulder to see Ryan using his rifle as a crutch. Face bloodied and bruised. But Jaxon's vision slowly and carefully went dark as his body fell forward. Going into a freefall towards the bay.