The war was now at a close. All except for a few super soldiers survived. Most soldiers, officers, and other officials who should uphold the law have also left the country. There was an influx of aircraft in the air as regular civilians and military infantry had left. There was no longer a possibility of eliminating the S-Class criminals with the current state of the nation's security.
Not only did the military know this, but even the bitter John Walker. Although he had treated his severe wounds with medical care and bandages, he was still injured. He was occupied in a hospital-like bedroom, being cared for by medical professionals and officers inside an infirmary.
"Ugh...when am I going to leave this god-forsaken country?" John asked.
"We'll escort you out as soon as all your injuries are patched up enough." An officer responded.
"NO! I WANT TO GO NOW!" John yelled, surprising the doctors. Like a child throwing a tantrum, he began shaking on the hospital bed. "YOU THINK I WANT TO STAY IN THIS SHITHOLE ANY LONGER!?"
"Sir, calm down. We understand--"
"Shut your damn mouth!" John exclaimed, refusing to let the officer speak.
While he reamed at his men, a multitude of black armored vehicles approached in a straight line to the infirmary. Immediately parking, numerous soldiers disembarked the vehicles, except for the lead vehicle and gathered around the infirmary entrance, attracting John's officers' attention.
The soldiers wore the standard green army combat uniform and green beret hats. Their right sleeves were decorated with a single mini flag of the United Kingdom.
"What's going on out there?" An officer asked from the inside.
After the soldiers gathered the sides of the infirmary doors, an individual disembarked the vehicle in front of the rest. He was a relatively tall man, wearing seemingly a tactical vest over a standard black suit. He entered the infirmary with his soldiers, surprising John, the officers, and the doctors.
"Greetings, everyone." The man in black courteously said. He was a relatively good build, looking to be in his late thirties, possibly scraping forty. Enhancing the looks of his oval facial structure, were his short black hair and bushy beard, which complemented his blue eyes.
"Huh...who are you?" John asked.
"I am Barry Alexander, Chief of Defense of the United Kingdom." He responded as he took out a device that projected a holographic screen showing his identity, surprising everyone in the room.
"The chief of defense!?" John exclaimed. "Why would someone as important as you come here!?"
"Well, the situation of your country is big news, so I wanted to see for myself," Admiral Barry said. "To think that the great US has fallen so low."
"...Tch!"
"Oh, I didn't mean to mock you. I genuinely wanted to help you. You were the man I was looking for." Barry continued. "You who created the modified humans, the super soldiers. It would be a waste to let your knowledge die. Besides, the S-Class criminals you failed to eliminate would pose an immense threat to the world...especially Jack."
"...Fine, I'll accept it," John said. "Carry me over to England, and I'll help you--"
"I think you got things wrong," Barry interjected. "It's your knowledge that's useful...not you."
"Huh!? How will you make your super soldiers, then?"
"Now that the country is like this, it isn't difficult to get that info."
Tsk...then why did this bastard come here!? John thought.
"But...I'll be willing to take you with me if you have anything else of value." Said Barry.
"W-What?"
"So, do you?"
Damn it! Do I have to tell this thief about 'that'!? But I'd rather not stay here...shit...
"There's something...called Project Zero," John suddenly said.
"Project Zero? Tell me more." Barry said with an expression indicating that John had piqued his interest.
"It...has never been done before, but if it would succeed, calling it a superhuman or super soldier would be a gross understatement." John continued. "In theory, the individual's body on a cellular level would be modified to such an extent..that they would be virtually unstoppable."
"Hmm! Now that sounds really interesting!" Barry said as he rubbed his chin. "Why hasn't it been done before?"
"...Because the chances of success are extremely low, and failure causes the individual's death," John stated. "So we didn't get any funding for that research aspect."
"...I see," Barry said. "Well, to protect everyone from these criminals, we'd have to take risks now. We'll need nothing short of a miracle to neutralize the threats. So I'll gladly take you back."
"...Thank you," John muttered.
"I wonder who we should use for that experiment, though," Barry asked.
"I...will do it," Rebecca said as she suddenly appeared at the doorstep. With her were the remaining death-bringers, with Claw carrying the sleeping Cryostasis on his back.
Barry's soldiers suddenly turned to them with their firearms ready but didn't fire after quickly assessing that they were allies.
"Huh? Super soldiers?" Barry asked. "Oh, my. You guys look so battered...it must have been rough fighting those bastards."
"Rebecca? What are you doing here?" John asked as he began sweating. Like a film, the memories of Rebecca finding out about his past with Nathan's parents flooded his mind, making him nervous.
"...Good, you're really alive," Rebecca said. "You can't die yet. Not until you redeem yourself..."
"What did you just say...?"
Bloody hell, it seems as though there's tension between these two. Barry thought.
"Excuse me, Rebecca was it? Did you say you wanted to participate in the experiment?" Barry asked.
"Yes, I do."
"Don't be foolish. There's an extremely low chance of surviving Project Zero!" Barry said. "You already have power, so let some random person take that damn risk instead!"
What a horrible thing to say... Barry thought again.
"I have power...but I don't have close to enough." Rebecca replied. "Our goal as super soldiers is to eliminate the blessed criminals. It doesn't matter what...that is our goal. So, it doesn't matter if I have a very high chance of dying...if there's a chance to eliminate them...I will take it!"
Besides...there's no point in worrying about death...when there's no longer anything to live for...
The death-bringers simply listened to her declaration without trying to argue.
"...I like your attitude," Barry said with a smile. "I hope...you do not die from it."
"Sigh, whatever. Just hurry up and get me out of here." John said. Suddenly, Barry shifted his now cold gaze to John.
"You know, it would be a waste for you to live an easy life while your soldiers have lost and risking their own."
"Huh?"
"Which is why I think you should get back on the battlefield as well."
"What!? I'm fifty-five! There's no way these old bones can do that!" John exclaimed.
"Haha...not without modifications, that is," John responded with a big smile, going from cheek to cheek.
Immediately, John broke out into sweat after realizing his implication.
"N-No..."
"Don't worry. I'm sure your old bones can survive the modification if you have enough willpower, right?" John said.
A look of pure terror and despair filled John's face as he knew he could no longer argue. Like putty, in the hands of Admiral Barry.
M...My hard work...the thing I worked towards for my entire life...will be taken away by this man...and now I'm going to experience that torture...to become my creation...a super soldier. John internally pondered. T...This is all because of Nathan...just like his family...he caused my lifelong work to come crashing down!
"Anyways, we'll take all of you back," Barry said as he turned around and returned outside. "We have to begin preparing for our counter-attack...right after finding the location of the criminals."
Originally...I just wanted to kill you, Nathan...after seeing you suffer a bit. But...that's not enough! John continued his internal monologue. I will kill you still...but after making you suffer in the worst possible way!!!