Thunderstrike: mission FIFTEEN: Codename Seven

[Ryuranger]

----Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: Part one

Omega Sector: Covert U.S. anti-terrorist unit

Sergeant Nick Sisco sat at the head of the briefing room table as his subordinates gathered around. The command bunker was lined with steel gray plating and a solid black ‘u’ shaped table sat in the center of the room. The walls projected holographic screens of various mapped locations around the globe.

A bearded man in a U.S. military uniform leaned forward while looking down at a data pad he held in his right hand. “Omega Force will be up and running in two weeks. As of now we have four converts, one augmentation suit, and two meta-enhancements.”

A military scientist at the end of the table shook his head. “I’m not too thrilled about these converts. They’re former terrorists for gods sake.”

“They’ll get the job done,” Sisco said in a firm voice. “Don’t worry about it.”

“What about ISIS?” the scientist asked. “Aren’t you worried they’ll catch on to our plans.”

Sisco smiled with pride. “I’m afraid you over estimate their intelligence capabilities. Their funding is currently only supporting one operative. His name is Seven.”

***

Weapon Omega: Research and Development

The seemingly small U.S. research base was hidden deep in the snowy Alaskan mountains.

Seven zoomed in on the fort with his binoculars as he crouched on a snow-covered cliff several miles away from the headquarters. He was dressed in a black insulated body suit covered with snow and rock climbing equipment.

The Vyram agent known as Jade, Seven’s former partner and lover, lied next to him as she leaned forward on her hands. She was wearing a solid black leather body suit and her silver hair hung loosely at her sides.

“Interesting…” Seven said quietly.

Jade smiled. “Did you think I would mislead you?”

“You’re not exactly the poster child for honesty,” Seven said as he lowered his binoculars and looked to Jade. “Now why did you show me this place?”

“You’re about to find out,” Jade said as she craned her neck back to look behind her.

Seven heard shuffling noises coming from behind him as he snapped to his feet and drew his two handguns. Before he could open fire, he noticed several soldiers drop into position on cliffs above him while aiming their rifles downward at his head.

Another group of armed officers scurried up the cliff and took aim at Jade and Seven.

“Drop your weapons and get on the ground!” the leader shouted as he chambered his weapon.

Seven saw that he had little choice and tossed his handguns down. “I thought these kinds of set ups beneath you,” he said to Jade.

A guard stepped up behind Seven and smashed the end of his rifle against the agent’s neck. Seven collapsed to the ground as another guard grabbed Jade by the wrists and bound her in cuffs.

“You misunderstand,” she said calmly to Seven. “This is our best way in.”

“Quiet!” a guard shouted as he stood in front of Jade and slammed his rifle across her face. She fell to the ground next to Seven.

***

Seven and Jade were left in a small circular cell made of steal blocks. The door and any ventilation system blended seamlessly with the rest of the walls.

Seven ran his fingers across the walls to see if he could find anything they could use to their advantage, while Jade stood with a smug grin across her face.

“Just like old times,” she said as she walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist.

Seven grabbed Jade’s wrists and removed her arms from his person. “You’ve gone even crazier than I thought.”

“Oh please,” Jade said as she shook her head with amusement. “We’ve both escaped from far worse situations.”

Seven continued to examine the wall. “Even so…those soldiers could have easily opened fire on us as opposed to capturing us.”

Jade shook her head. “They’re under orders to bring any suspicious persons in for interrogation. I knew exactly what I was doing. We’re in far deeper than we could have moved through conventional means.”

Seven sighed and shook his head as he continued to run his hands across the wall. “You think with all those modifications they gave you, they could have at least given you an extra brain cell or two.”

Jade leaned next to Seven with her back against the wall as she looked into his eyes. He kept his focus on the wall as a look of disappointment spread across her face. “What happened to your sense of adventure, lover? Back in the day you would have laughed at a situation like this.”

“Things change,” Seven said.

***

Six years ago: Hong Kong, China.

The business district was abuzz with activity as the city lights illuminated the night sky. A lone law enforcement officer walked across the street among pedestrians as he twirled his baton.

He was walking towards a tall corporation buildings when one of the upper windows shattered and a body crashed through. People below screamed as they ran from falling glass and the body arced towards the middle of the street before crashing through the windshield of a car.

The officer looked up to see another man jump through the broken window and wrap a leather strap around a string of lanterns connected to the next building. The man used the strap to slide across the string, knocking down every lantern along the way. A trio of men in dark suits stood near the broken window and fired at the man with handguns, but their shots missed.

The man released his hold on the strap and flipped forward while breaking through a window and crashing into the other building. A rolled across the floor of a dimly-lit carpeted room and rose to his knees while pulling out two handguns from behind his back.

Seven aimed forward with his two weapons, but the only person standing in the lobby-type area was a young woman with long dark hair and brown eyes. Her slim figure was covered in a black jumpsuit similar to his. She carried two handguns with small blades attached to the bottom of the barrels. Several bodies lied on the floor around her. She looked to Seven and smiled.

“You missed the party,” she said as she kicked over one of the bodies with her boot.

Seven flashed Jade a lopsided grin as he rose to his feet. “I ran into a little company of my own.”

Jade smiled at her partner as she reloaded her weapons. “They’re taking the box to the roof.”

“Let’s get going,” Seven said as he playful bowed and extended his hand down towards the hall. “After you.”

Jade ran down the hallway towards the stairwell as Seven followed. The box they were after contained an ancient Egyptian artifact known as the Eye of Anubis. The Eye was being sought after by a Chinese criminal group called the White Fang. ISIS feared the Eye could be used to unlock an ancient weapon of incredible power.

Jade kicked down the door to the stairwell and dashed in while aiming her weapons upward and firing. Her shots blasted through several White Fang members who were scurrying up the stairwell.

Seven bolted up the stairs as Jade followed while snapping off several more rounds.

Seven smiled as he craned his head back to face her. “Anyone ever mention you enjoy this too much?”

Jade shrugged while firing another round. “Once or twice.”

After running up several flights, the two agents broke onto the roof of the skyscraper. A sleek black helicopter was slowly hovering off a launch pad in front of them as two armed White Fang members leaned out the side of the craft with automated assault rifles. They fired rapid shots of bullets, and the two agents jumped to opposite sides while aiming their weapons forward and firing.

Seven and Jade’s shots tore through the gunmen, but the helicopter had gained enough time to inch farther away from the roof.

“Boost,” Seven said as he held down his hands.

Jade sprinted towards him and jumped onto his palms as he pushed off and she sprung forward. She gained enough height to grab onto the bottom rungs of the copter. The craft moved away from the side of the building and over as another gunman aimed down at her.

Jade slapped a tracer onto the copter before releasing her grip and plummeting down through the air in a freefall.

Seven pulled a grappling hook that was tied to his belt with a long cord and hooked it securely to the ground of the building.

“I hate it when she does that,” he said with a smile of pride as he sprinted towards the end of the skyscraper’s roof and dove down towards Jade.

Seven shot through the air like a bullet as Jade continued her plummet, keeping her body facing flat downward so wind resistance would slightly decrease her speed. Seven kept his body stiff as he continued his dive and the cord neared its end.

He grabbed onto Jade’s arm just in time as the cord tightened and they swung towards the side of the skyscraper. They crashed through an open window and crashed on top of an office desk before falling to the floor and rolling across the carpet.

Jade lied on top of Seven as she smiled down at him. “No broken bones this time, lover. We’re getting better.”

Seven smiled back at her. “I suppose that’s one way to look at it.”

---to be continued in part two. this thread. watch for it...

[Imperialwar]

w00t!

[D-Ranger]

An excellently choreographed and well thought out start. ^_^

[Qi]

Well done.

[Ryuranger]

-----Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: part two

The present: Weapon Omega HQ, Alaska

A flash of light blinded Seven and Jade momentarily as the doors to the cell opened and a group of six guards poured in while strapping restraining devices to their wrists and binding their arms behind their backs..

“Move,” one of the guards said as they shoved the two prisoners forward and outside the cell.

They were led down a narrow hallway lined with steel panels and a metal grated floor. A guard walked on either side of Jade as well as on either side of Seven. An officer stood in front of them taking the point as another held up the rear. Seven and Jade’s sight returned as Jade looked to Seven and smiled.

“Just like old times?” she from behind Seven said as she raised an eyebrow.

Seven nodded in understanding as Jade quickly used her enhanced strength to snap the cuffs free while knifehand striking the guards besides her in their throats, crushing their windpipes as she twisted the guard to her right’s body around and grabbed his assault rifle while aiming backwards and blasting through the rear guard.

Meanwhile, Seven leapt towards the side of the wall and pushed off while snapping a reverse hook kick across a guard’s face, and landing while manuvering his cuffed hands in front of his body. Seven landed in a crouched position and swept the legs out from underneath the soldier. He grabbed the soldier’s weapon and fired at the forward guard.

Jade walked over to Seven and snapped his bindings loose. “And here I’d thought you’d gotten rusty.”

“Wouldn’t be the first time you were wrong,” Seven said as they sprinted down the hallway.

***

Not too far away from Seven and Jade’s former cell, a pair of heavily armed officers stood in front a thick steel door with their weapons held at the ready. Alarm klaxons were blaring throughout the compound and the two soldiers had their eyes fixed on the long corridor ahead of them, ready for any sight of trouble.

They barely had time to react when the door at the opposite side of the hall sprung open. The guards opened fire, but Seven and Jade were staying low while firing their own weapons and tearing through the officers.

Jade and Seven ran to the large metal door as Seven ripped open the control panel and began to manipulate the wiring.

“What exactly is behind this door again?” Seven asked.

“You’ll find out in a second. Something interesting,” Jade said with a grin.

“Here I was worried you were going to be vague,” Seven said as he touched two exposed wires together, causing a spark as the door slid open.

Seven and Jade entered a white room lined with glass cubicles baring various bio hazard signs. Each cubicle contained different technological devices hard at work.

“This is the place,” Jade said as she led Seven between the glass walls towards the rear of the room.

At the back of a room was a chamber that extended wall to wall behind several protective layers of glass. Within the chamber were several rows of cyndrical tanks that contained unconscious bodies with various tubes and wires weaving in and out of their bodies.

“Meta-human enhancement projects,” Jade said. “Super soldiers. The Vyram and ISIS will both be targets. Their methods of augmentation are rather…crude.”

Seven nodded as he looked over each tube. “How did you find out about this?”

Jade smiled with pride. “It’s a long story, but it started with a few Vyram warriors being kidnapped in Japan. Some of Mikoto’s finest. They’re being controlled by U.S. authorities now via some rather intricate pieces of technology implanted in their skulls.”

The front doors to the area opened and dozens of armed guards poured in. Seven and Jade leapt towards opposite sides of the room while firing several high-speed rounds with their weapons. Their blasts shattered through glass as they ripped through the guards.

The soldiers returned fire, missing their mark as their bullets ricocheted off the bullet-proof glass protecting the meta chamber.

Seven and Jade stayed low as the gunfire continued in their direction.

“I don’t suppose there’s another way out of here,” Seven said.

Jade smiled. “Just out the way we came in.”

“Great,” Seven said as he sprang up from the ground and opened fire on the soldiers.

---to be continued in part three. this thread. watch for it...

[Qi]

Nice update, Ryu. Interesting way the the US is enhancing their troops. Nice to see the US has covertly engaged in Eugenics despite all the objections to Stem Cell Research.

The "control" chips remind me of other plot devices employed in various past series to gain control over enemy troops.

Keep up the good work.

Qi

[HavokRanger]

Very nice, as always

[Ryuranger]

Thanks for the feedback. The next part will be up by late tonight.

Qi- Thanks. The Omega Sector operates above presidential levels. They're outside the system. Ethics don't concern them. As for the chips, there's more to them than it seems.

Havok- Good to hear from you again. I'm glad you liked it.

Those who emailed- No, I didn't forget about Jason or Max or the actual Rangers. They're coming into this story later, but the actual Dark Hero arc will pick up again next mission.

[Ryuranger]

---Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: Part three

Six years ago: Hong Kong, China.

Seven and Jade tore through the streets of Hong Kong on their motorcycles while proceeding to their pick up point where an aircraft would be waiting. Once airborne, they could follow the Eye’s captors and retrieve the artifact.

They weaved in and out of traffic, recklessly flirting with danger. Throughout their entire careers had been accused of lack-of-subtlety.

Seven and Jade had started on two walks of life almost as similar as they were different. Seven started as military man, serving under the special forces of a marine division in the Middle East. Jade began her career as an agent in the FBI.

While still relatively fresh in their fields, the two were recruited to join a covert U.S. anti-terrorism unit that operated outside the system. Based in a small field house in Virginia, The Unit was bound by no rules or regulations, so the two young officers found the offer enticing.

Seven and Jade first met at the unit. They trained together. Competed with one another. An attraction grew between them rather quickly. Their superiors recognized that, although the two were reckless, they worked well together. As a result, Seven and Jade were often paired together for assignments.

Their success was followed by a rather mysterious man who ran a company in Japan known as INET. He called for an audience with Seven and Jade, and the two met him at his headquarters in Tokyo.

He identified himself as Ikkari, head of a U.N. organization known as ISIS, and offered Seven and Jade a life even more shrouded in secrecy, intrigue, and danger than The Unit. ISIS was formed to combat a terrorist cult group, as well as prevent artifacts or weapons of near super-natural power from surfacing and falling into evil hands.

The two officers accepted, and all remnants of their former lives were stripped away and their deaths faked.

Seven and Jade continued down the dark streets of Hong Kong.

***

The present: Weapon Omega HQ, Alaska

Guards continued to pile through the entryway as Seven and Jade shot them down one by one.

Seven adjusted his aim and fired several rounds as the light fixture above the entry. He started circling his weapon, aiming for every source of light in the room as Jade did the same.

Darkness eventually enveloped the room as one of the guards shouted. “Someone turn on the emergency lights!”

The soldiers fired in the general direction Seven and Jade were last sighted, but there efforts were for nothing.

Jade, using her enhanced vision courtesy of the Vyram, leapt u from behind a crate and started firing at the soldiers, mowing them down with her weapon as she flying sidekicked a guard in the chest, crushing his rib.

Four guards spotted her movement through the darkness and opened fire, but Jade grabbed another soldier by the neck and pulled him in front of her body to use him as a shield.

Seven moved forward with more stealth. He grabbed a soldier from behind and slit that guard’s neck with a broken piece of glass while using his rifle arm to open fire on a quintet of soldiers.

Jade leapt towards one of the last guards and landed on his shoulders, using her feet to snap the man’s neck before flipping towards the last guard and slamming a side kick against his face, crushing his skull.

Jade opened the entry way, letting pale light bleed into the room as she smiled at Seven. “Ladies first,” she said as she stepped into the hallway.

Seven simply shook his head as he followed.

---to be continued in part four. this thread. watch for it...

[Qi]

Very nice. Looking forward to more information on Seven and Jade's past.

[Imperialwar]

You rock Ryu!:D

[Ryuranger]

Thanks for the feedback. Thought I'd throw up a short update before bed. It should let you see where I'll be taking this mission.
-------------------------------------------

---Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: Part four

Miles away from the compound and hidden within a small cave was Seven’s small transport vehicle. A hovercraft of sorts recently cooked up in Dr. Hayes shop. Seven was activating a small transmitter on the side of the vehicle as Jade looked over the craft with admiration.

“Nice car,” she said with a smile.

“I thought your Vyram overlords frowned on technology,” Seven said as he continued to work on the transmitter.

“Oh, they do,” Jade said. “It’s quite amusing actually, and quite contradictory since most of their fronts are high rise offices of wire, concrete, glass, and steel.”

Seven pulled a small data disk from the back of his slacks that he inserted into a data port on the vehicle.

“Impressive,” Jade said with a smile. “Glad to see you haven’t lost your touch. When did you manage to burn that CD from their systems.”

“Not long before we turned out the lights,” Seven said as he continued to work on the data port.

A small digital image appeared on the transmission screen of an ISIS tech.

“Dump this to Hunter’s computer,” he said.

“Roger,” the tech said. “Prepare to receive new orders.”

The contents of the disk were encrypted and transmitted to Eagle Six while the base relayed Seven’s new orders simultaneously. Seven read over the orders and then deleted them.

“When will you get your ISIS friends to move against this place?” Jade asked.

“One thing at a time,” Seven said as he deactivated the transmitter. “There’s something I have to take care of first.”

Jade arced an eyebrow and looked at Seven with curiosity. “This wouldn’t have anything to do with Eagle Six’s lost sheep, would it?”

“What do you know?” Seven asked.

Jade smiled. “Just that you better find Jason before he finds you.”

***

Seven’s transport blasted through the skies on autopilot under stealth mode while he reviewed information collected for his mission. His mission was to find Max.

Max was apparently framed for murder and kidnapping on his campus, and it seemed to be the dirty work of the Vyram. Several known active threats matched the attack pattern that killed the ESU student. The Vyram known as Havoc was one of them, and he definitely had motive.

Max was attracted to the girl who was kidnapped, Crystal, according to police interviews with his friends. Havoc was probably holding her as a hostage and threatening her death if Max tried to contact Eagle Six.

Seven increased the throttle and set course for New York.

--to be continued in part five. this thread. watch for it...

[Qi]

Nice update as always

[Ryuranger]

---Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: Part five

Six years ago, Tokyo

Jade and Seven tracked the helicopter to a warehouse district in eastern Tokyo. They blended in with the shadows as they walked through the dark alleyways and corners.

They approached an old warn-down warehouse and drew their handguns as they looked inside.

A group of White Fang members set a briefcase down on a wooden table in front of them. Seven and Jade assumed the briefcase held the Eye. On the other side of the table was a group of Japanese men in black suits.

Jade and Seven had spoken briefly with their contacts in Japan while en route to Tokyo, and the sources believed White Fang was selling the Eye to members of the Talsheed, a terrorist organization with cells in Europe and Eastern Asia.

The lead White Fang opened the brief case and the golden light of the Eye started to glow with an energy all its own.

“Magnificent,” the lead Japanese man said as he looked to one of his associates and nodded. That man laid another briefcase on the table and opened it. The briefcase contained vials of a green tinted liquid.

The lead member of White Fang lifted up a single vial and inspected it. “You are sure there is no antidote?”

“None,” the lead member of Talsheed said.

The lead White Fang closed the briefcase and handed it to one of his aides. The briefcase containing the Eye was closed as well, and that was when Seven and Jade chose to strike.

They crashed through the door and opened fire immediately while side-running towards opposite sides of the warehouse. The terrorists returned fire as the two agents ducked for cover behind separate stacks of crates.

The rear entrance to the warehouse suddenly blew open, sending a small shock wave that slammed the terrorists and agents to their feet.

Seven looked up to see a tall man with long dark hair dressed in a black trench coat walk through the opening.

“Hand over the eye,” the man said in a deep booming voice that echoed throughout the warehouse.

The members of White Fang and Talsheed rose to their feet and opened fire on the man. He simply extended his hand and the bullets bounced off of an invisible force field of some kind.

The man dashed forward at blinding speeds and began pounding through the terrorists with a flurry of kicks and punches, breaking their bones, snapping limbs, and crushing chests.

He slammed his fist into the last terrorist’s throat, rushing his windpipe as he slumped over to the ground and spat up blood. The stranger kicked the dying terrorist aside and walked over to the briefcase holding the Eye.

When the dark man bent over to pick up the briefcase, Seven and Jade sprang into action. They leapt out from behind the crates and jumped forward while firing their weapons in midair.

Their bullets tore through the man, but they only seemed to cause him minimum damage as he remained on his feet and was forced a few steps back.

Jade and Seven rolled forward across the ground and sprang up to their feet as they fired off several more rounds. The stranger extended his fist and an invisible blast slammed into Seven’s chest, knocking the wind from him as he was thrown backwards and sent crashing through a pile of crates.

Jade tossed her firearms aside and ran towards the stranger. “Looks like I’ll have to get my hands dirty…”

Jade dashed forward with a jump kick aimed for the stranger’s head, but he grabbed her leg and pulled, swinging her off her feet before bashing her back against the ground.

Seven struggled to rise back to his feet as he saw the stranger pull Jade closer to him while in a choke hold and punch her in the stomach. The agent aimed his weapons and fired, but the stranger extended his hand and launched another invisible blast that sent Seven crashing against the wall of the warehouse.

Jade smiled at the stranger, still in the chokehold, as she licked the blood from her lips. The stranger angled his head in curiosity. “And what, pray tell, are you smiling about?”

“If I’m on my way to Hell,” she said as she pulled a small detonator from her back. “I’m taking you with me.”

“NO!” Seven screamed as he sprang back to his feet, but he was too late.

Jade triggered the detonation device and a massive explosion tore through the center of the warehouse. The massive shock wave sent Seven crashing through a warehouse window and skidding towards the ground.

His ears ringing, ribs cracked, and body bruised, Seven craned up his head as he lied on the ground watched the warehouse go up in flames.

***

Eagle Six, Chicago

Seven lied back in the medical bed as a young nurse tended to his wounds. “You’re lucky to be alive.”

Seven nodded as he stared ahead blankly. Luck wasn’t exactly the word he would use. Jade was gone. In a matter of a few minutes, she was taken from him.

Hunter had informed Seven that the vials of virus were recovered, protected from the blast by the heavily protected briefcase. The Eye was no where to be found.

He assumed that once recovered, he would be sent down to locate the Eye. Sent out alone.

He closed his eyes and sighed. “It’s not a game anymore,” he said quietly. “Jade…”

---to be continued in part six. this thread. watch for it...

[Qi]

Sweet.

[Ryuranger]

--Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: Part six

The present, New York City

A police officer stood in the dark back alleys alone as he lit a cigarette and waited. His name was Detective Carson, and he was the best detective on the force.

“You ever going to learn you can’t hide from me? Carson asked as he exhaled.

A man stepped out from the shadows. It was Seven. “Hello Jack.”

Carson smiled. “You haven’t aged a day.”

“Clean living,” Seven said.

“So long as it’s not genetic modification,” Carson said. “Which I’m assuming is what brings you here.”

Seven nodded. “Somewhat. What do you know about the ESU student being accused of kidnapping the girl?”

“I’m assuming you’re looking for the info we left off the papers,” Carson said.

Seven nodded.

“We don’t have much to go on,” Carson said. “I know it was one of those freaks you chase after, but since I’m one of the few people outside your organization that know they exist…the boy’s become something of a scapegoat.”

“Will you be able to clear him if we turn him in?” Seven asked.

Carson nodded. “Depends on if we get the girl back, and how good of a cover story your people can cook up.”

“Any leads at all?” Seven asked.

“One,” Carson said. “Nothing turned up from it…someone reported seeing a kid in bad shape that matched Max’s description. He was gone by the time we got there.”

“Where?” Seven asked.

“Soho area,” Carson said. “It’s not much…but may be a start.”

Seven nodded. “Thanks, Jack.”

***

Seven tracked down the alley Max was spotted in and scanned the area with a small device he attached around his hand. The sensor was on the palm, and an imaging crystal on the back of his hand displayed a holographic read out screen only visible when he looked straight at it.

The scanner confirmed traces of blood belonged to Max through DNA analysis.

Seven looked across the street to a small dining establishment and decided to go in and ask some questions.

***

Sisco paced back and forth within his office, his hands folded behind his back as the middle-aged officer seated behind his desk waited for the Sergeant to speak. The officer was Matthew Strong, head of the Weapon Omega project in Alaska.

“Let me get this straight,” Sisco said as he continued to pace. “Your people took them prisoner, held them in isolation, allowed them to escape, but only after they raided our computer systems and caused a shoot out that damaged most of the main lab…and during all of this…your surveillance didn’t take a single damn snap shot of them?”

“They were rather elusive,” Strong explained defensively. “Besides, they were genetically enhanced for God’s sake.”

“I don’t want excuses,” Sisco said. “This is an embarrassment, and I want it resolved.”

“Sir,” Strong said. “They escaped before interrogation. We don’t know…”

“Use MIME,” Sisco said.

Strong was taken aback by the suggestion. “MIME isn’t near being ready.”

“She’s about to be,” Sisco said.

“Sir,” Strong said. “MIME is one of them. An enemy. A damn powerful Vyram. If we revive her without making sure the drugs have her sufficiently incapacitated…”

“No excuses,” Sisco said as he sat back down behind his desk. “Results.”

***

New York City

Seven learned from the manager of the diner that the young man matching Max’s description was carried off shortly after the police were contacted. This left Seven in a tight spot.

He stood in an alley, leaning against a wall as he accessed his wireless data pad. He interfaced with cell phone satellites and telephone company data bases and searched for key words from around the time Max was found to the present.

The search results were ludicrously large, but Seven managed to narrow the list to a manageable number of possible targets.

***

Max slowly awoke to the feeling of a cold compress being applied to his head. He stirred and tried to rise, but a hand gently pressed against his chest to keep him down. A voice said something to him, but he couldn’t hear over the ringing in his ear. He couldn’t see the speaker through the dots of light clouding his vision.

He felt the hand tighten around his chest as the pain in his lungs and heart intensified beyond tolerance levels. He may have screamed, he’d never be certain.

Just as suddenly as the pain intensified, it started to slowly dissolve. His senses started to return to him as he saw the face of the blonde hair and blue eyes young woman looking down at him. She appeared around his age.

“You almost dies,” she said softly. “I’ve slowed down whatever it was, but it’s still in your system…”

Max tried to ask her how such a thing was possible, but she shook her head. “Don’t say anything. You need rest. Your body is tired.”

“H-how,” he asked weakly in a horse voice.

“Rest,” she said softly.

--to be continued in part seven. this thread. watch for it...

[Imperialwar]

Will Omega Sector ever battle it out with the Thunderstrike team?

[Qi]

Originally posted by Imperialwar
Will Omega Sector ever battle it out with the Thunderstrike team?

I think so... It will be interesting to see if Jason shows up and see if he sides with his former team.

[Imperialwar]

How will Omega Sector fight against gaint sized Vyram?

[Ryuranger]

Thanks for the feedback. Omega Sector's special ops unit will see some action next mission where the Dark Hero arc will pick up again. In the meantime, enjoy the continuation of Codename Seven.
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--Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: Part seven

Seven walked down the seventh floor hall in a worn down apartment building in the city. He wondered how many laws were broken on a daily basis within the building as he slowly walked to apartment number 333.

It was his third stop during his search for Max, using data collected from the phone companies and satellites. He slowly reached up and knocked. He heard ruffling noises come from inside the room before footsteps approached the other side of the door.

“FBI, mam,” he said, knowing full well the room’s occupant was looking at him through the eye hole.

A blonde-haired blue-eyed young woman opened the door as Seven flashed her his fake FBI credentials. “Agent West. Sorry to intrude…I’m looking for someone and you may be able to help me.”

She shook her head, but Seven could see in her eyes she was lying. “I’ve seen no one.”

He flashed her a friendly smile. “Surely you’ve seen someone throughout your day.”

“Who is it your looking for?” she asked, keeping her hold on the door.

“A friend of mine. His name is Max,” Seven said. “He was injured, and I have eye witnesses saying you brought him back here. He’s sick…dying…we need to get him to a proper health facility. He has very little time before it’s too late.”

Seven heard a violent coughing come from inside, and he recognized it immediately. He pushed the door open and barged into the room. “Excuse me, miss…”

Seven turned in to a small living room where he saw Max sitting up on a couch and rubbing his temples. It looked as if he had just woken up.

“Seven?” Max asked as he rubbed his eyes. “What the hell is…” he shook his head to clear his fatigue.

“You know him?” the woman asked as she entered the apartment.

“Come on,” Seven said as he started to scoop Max up from the couch.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Max said defensively as he scooted back. “I can walk you know.”

Seven wrinkled his brow and was about to inquire about his seemingly improved physical condition, but apparently max had questions of his own.

Max looked to the girl. “How did you do it?”

She smiled. “It’s something I’ve been able to do since I was child and fixed the wings of a broken bird. I can’t explain it…”

Seven arced his eyebrow at Max. “How do you feel?”

Max nodded. “Fine…it was Havoc. He has Crystal…I think he…”

Max rolled his hands up into fists as he shook his head. “I think he’s already killed her…”

Before Seven could ask any more questions, the windows of the apartment shattered and dozens of Akahaji leapt inside. The shamed creations launched forward as the blonde woman screamed and froze with fear.

Seven pulled both his side arms and fired a volley of rapid shots that ripped through the lead creatures. He moved in front of the woman to keep her clear as he continued to fire.

Max rose to his feet and readied his brace. “Thunder power, strike!”

He activated his armor and downloaded his blaster as he opened fire. “Get her out of here!”

Seven nodded. “Don’t be too long…we need to get you back to base…”

Seven grabbed the girl by the arm and ran towards the door of the apartment as he aimed his gun behind him and fired at the Akahaji, making sure to keep them off his tail.

The Akahaji closed in at alarming speed, making Max’s blaster less effective. He tossed the weapon aside and downloaded his longknives. “I’m getting sick of you slime-balls…”

He dashed forward, swinging his blades in an ‘x’ pattern and hacking through three shamed soldiers in the process.

Still not fully recovered from his ordeal, Max couldn’t respond to his visor’s warnings fast enough, and an Akahaji slammed into his back, tackling him forward and crashing him through the window.

Max and the creature plummeted seven stories before crashing through the front windshield of a car in motion. The car swerved out of control and a pile up ensued.

Max slowly climbed up from the resulting crash as dozens of Akahaji landed on the streets below. More cars served to avoid the creatures, crashing into telephone polls and nearly running over frantic pedestrians.

Another figure dropped from the skies that Max recognized immediately. It was Havoc.

“My, my,” Havoc said with amusement as he readied his black staff. “I was so surprised to hear you survived. You were practically rotting when I saw you in that alley.”

Max stood in a fighting stance. “I swear to God, Havoc…Crystal better still be alive…”

Havoc shrugged and smiled wickedly. “Whoops…”

Max tightened his grip on his two longknives as he charged forward. “Wrong answer!”

“Oh, this should be fun,” Havoc said as he leapt towards the ranger while spinning his staff.

Back inside the apartment building, Seven ran through the hallway while dragging along the woman and aiming his sidearm backward, shooting at the Akahaji that had followed him.

“What are those things?!” the woman screamed.

“Not your friends,” Seven said as he fired off several more rounds.

***

South America, Four Years ago

Seven dashed through the rainforest while using his knife to cut through the denser cluster of foliage, not letting anything slow him down.

He was pursuing a group South American criminals who had stumbled upon an artifact that brought back a ghost from his past: The Eye.

Seven burst through the brush onto a gaming trail, quickly realizing he had fallen into a trap. A hailstorm of gunfire shot in his direction as he ducked and rolled while unstrapping a small grenade and tossing it blindly. The explosion kicked up enough dust for him to leap into the trees for cover.

---to be continued in part eight. this thread. watch for it...

[Ryuranger]

--Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: Part eight

As soon as Seven took cover, he heard another explosion tear across the gaming trail, followed quickly by more gun shots.

Seven readied his two automatic pistols as he sprang up from the bushes and aimed down the trail to see nothing but clouds of smoke and fire raging out of control.

What the hell happened? He thought to himself.

From the smoke walked a slender woman who’s chest was covered in tight black leather that matched her leather slacks. Her stomach, as well as arms, was exposed. She had long hair that was streaked with blonde and brown. Her eyes were bright silver.

Despite a few exotic differences, even recognized Jade immediately as his jaw dropped in shock.

“How…how is this possible?” Seven asked as he lowered his weapons. “I thought you were…”

A lopsided grin spread across her face. “It’s good to see you again too, lover.”

“Jade, what the hell is going on?” Seven asked, his voice thick with frustration.

“The explosion,” she explained, “the brute with the mind stronger than a hand grenade…he put a shield around us to protect himself from the explosion. He took me to his superiors. Apparently I made quite the first impression.”

“What did they do to you, Jade?” Seven asked. “You’d never be foolish enough to buy into their insane ideals.”

Jade smiled with amusement. “Are you listening to yourself? Really, since when do you talk like that?

“Of course I don’t believe any of their bull,” she said. “But this…”

She extended her arms and looked herself over. “I’m a weapon. The best agent, serving an organization that will eventually bring most countries across the globe to its knees. This is more exciting than ISIS ever was. This is what we always dreamed.”

Seven raised his weapons and aimed towards Jade’s head.

***

The present, New York City

Max leapt forward and swung both his longknives towards Havoc’s head. The Vyram held his staff up horizontally to block the blow, then twisted and spun to his right before slamming the end of his staff across Max’s helmet.

Max spun with the blow and swung his blades horizontally towards Havoc’s midsection, but the Vyram held his staff vertically as Max’s blades slammed against the weapon.

Havoc smiled wickedly. “It will always amaze me how you’ve survived this long, little unicorn.”

“It amazes me how you don’t choke on your own filth,” Max said as he dropped his blades, downloaded his blaster, and fired several rounds against Havoc’s chest at point-blank range.

Havoc screamed, more out of annoyance than pain, as he was forced further back with each blast. Max dashed forward while Havoc was stunned from the blast and armed his fist blades.

Before Max could strike, Havoc flipped backwards while extending his feet and kicking the ranger upside the head. Max fell to the ground, slamming his back against concrete as Havoc leapt forward and landed on top of the ranger while slamming his knee against Max’s chest.

Havoc grinned with blood-thirsty hunger as he ran his hand across Max’s helmet. “Things didn’t go exactly as planned, but I can’t say I’m too disappointed.”

***

Seven made it to the roof of the apartment building as his craft hovered on auto pilot and landed in front of him and the girl.

“You’re coming too,” Seven said.

She twisted free from his grasp. “No…I…”

The young woman was cut off by the hissing noises of a dozen Akahaji. Seven aimed his two blasters at the creatures and opened fire. “Get in!”

The girl reluctantly climbed into the hover vehicle.

Seven continued firing, but the shamed soldiers were advancing faster than he cut shoot them down. He hopped into the cockpit of his vehicle and closed the hatch as the soldiers leapt on top of the craft and tried to claw through the hull.

Seven pushed the throttle forward as the Akahaji clung onto the vehicle. He clipped the edge of the roof with the bow of the craft due to the extra weight, causing debris to fall to the ground below.

The Akahaji continued to claw at the ship, making it difficult for Seven to maneuver. He over compensated a starboard turn, and the ship scrapped against the wall of the building.

Seven regained control and initiated a full throttle burst. The craft shot ahead for a second before Seven activated the full reverse and the ship came to a halt, sending the Akahaji flying off the hull.

Seven readjusted his course and headed back to Eagle Six.

***

Havoc increased the pressure of his knee against Max’s chest as he readied his staff and started to move it towards the ranger’s throat.

“It’s time for our little game to end..” Havoc said.

A blade boomerang suddenly whizzed through the air and struck Havoc in the chest, knocking him off of Max.

Max rolled away from the Vyram and rose to his knees as he looked back to see his four teammates running towards him.

Havoc rose to his feet and glared at the newly arrived rangers as he twirled his staff into a fighting position. “This is a private party. You weren’t invited.”

“That’s why we’re pissed,” Vince said as he downloaded his blaster and fired.

--to be continued in part nine. this thread. watch for it...

[Ryuranger]

--Thunderstrike: Mission Fifteen: Part nine

South America, Four Years ago

Seven kept his aim on Jade, but she simply stood in a relaxed posture and laughed. “Oh come on, Seven. This is ridiculous…have you gone soft?”

“On the contrary,” Seven said. “I’ve grown up quite a bit. Now hand over the Eye.”

Jade shook her head. “Still haven’t caught on, have you? These riff raff never had the Eye. I fed you false intelligence to arrange this little meeting of ours.”

“Why?”

“There’s so much more going on than you and I ever dreamed of,” Jade said. “ Come with me, and you can be a part of it all. No one will be able to touch us. Everyone will fear us.”

Seven shook his head. “No deal.”

“Oh, come now,” Jade said. “You honestly expect me to believe you don’t find the offer at all enticing?”

“A few years ago I would have,” Seven said. “But the day I lost you…everything changed.”

A sly grin spread across her face. “But you didn’t lose me.”

Seven clenched his jaw. “Yes I did…”

He fired two round that pierced through Jade. She fell to the ground as Seven lowered his weapons. He turned his back towards Jade’s fallen form and started to walk away.

Seven stopped in his tracks when he heard Jade’s laughter from behind him. He turned to see Jade rise back to her feet, her wounds healed.

“Have it your way,” Jade said as she wiped the blood from her uniform. “I suppose this will make my job all the more interesting…we’ll meet again, lover.”

Jade tossed a small tube-shaped object towards Seven that exploded in midair, sending a small shockwave crashing against Seven and sending him flying backwards slamming against a tree trunk.

Seven fell to the ground. And when he looked up, Jade was gone.

***

The present, New York City

Tyler helped Max from the ground as Matt, Yuuri, and Vince charged forward towards Havoc.

“Hit him hard and fast,” Yuuri said as she downloaded her daggers.

Havoc extended his hand as a massive field of black lightning dance across his skin. “Perhaps another day…”

He hurled the blast forward and it slammed against the rangers’ armor, causing them to fall to their knees.

The lightning faded, and the rangers looked up to see Havoc gone.

***

Eagle Six, Chicago

Max sat at the briefing room table along with his teammates and Hunter. Hayes had given Max a thorough examination and found that the strange woman had bought Max an extra two weeks on top of the month.

Hayes was currently looking over the young woman that had saved Max’s life, despite his protests of her being treated like some sort of lab animal. Hayes had assured her that the woman, Aurora, had agreed to the tests.

The topic in the briefing room had moved on to Max’s disturbing confrontation with Shadow Blade.

“I knew it,” Yuuri said quietly as she lowered her head.

“Wait, wait,” Tyler said. “Who’s this Jason guy?”

“Used to have your job,” Vince said.

“Man,” Tyler said as he shook his head with frustration. “No wonder everyone’s been looking at me all weird.”

“That’s a different story,” Vince said sarcastically.

Max continued with his report before Vince’s spat with Tyler got under way. “He was so…different. Could they have him under some kind of mind control?”

“It’s a possibility,” Hunter said. “We’ll have to analyze your armor’s recording data before we can draw any conclusions.”

Max nodded.

“In the meantime,” Hunter continued. “You all should rest up. Things are going to start getting real busy around here.

***

Seven stood on the rooftop of Inatech, the front company that rested on top of Eagle Six. He looked out upon the city skyline in front of him, reflecting on the past.

“You’re out there somewhere, Jade…” he said quietly with mixed feelings rushing through his head.

The watch he wore on his left wrist beeped, signaling him to deploy for his next mission.

MISION COMPLETE

--Thunderstrike will continue in Mission Sixteen...Dark Hero: Confrontation.

[Qi]

Nice conclusion.

[D-Ranger]

Indeed. Action-adventure at it's finest. ^_^

Although I still wonder about poor Crystal....