Note: I apologize for taking far too long to finish this story off. Between finishing off college, working, and finding a job, I haven't had a lot of time. So without further ado, here is the last chapter of this series. ENJOY!

The Enemy Within: Chapter 7

By Lisa Leonard

The sun slowly rose over the horizon to begin a new day. Several restless MASK agents were stationed in a remote part of Salzburg, Austria awaiting their last minute reinforcement, before the final battle. The lives of their beloved leader and his children rested heavily on today's outcome. At the moment VENOM had the advantage, but nothing was going to stop MASK from trying to defeat them. With their air reinforcement arriving, all would be even in an all out battle over the air and terrain. Julio Lopez doctor and driver of Firefly was their only chance to level the playing field.

Alex walked out of Rhino's computer room and towards Julio who just pulled up in Firefly, "Good for you to come lad! We're gonna need you to help us pull this off."

Julio understood the seriousness of the situation and did his best to return the greeting, "Just wish you would of call me in sooner."

Hondo responded, "Regulations don't permit us from summing all our agents in one spot. In order words, we need back-up agents to fill in our shoes if we bite the dust."

"Oh that sound so reassuring," Brad crossed his arms, "already jinxing us."

"Anyways," Julio continued on, "During the flight over, I've been thinking about the worst case scenario, so I brought as much medical equipment as I could.

"Hopefully no one will be needing it," Alex remarked as a silent prayer. "It's not just the fact that Matt or the kids might need medical attention, without Thunderhawk were short on the air offensive. The plan is to stage a distraction, while Hondo and Buddy enter the castle grounds to perform an rescue operation."

Julio nodded with understanding, "You got it, when do we strike?"

"Soon...very soon," Alex remarked.

"Mayhem!" Floyd Malloy hollered as he ran up to his boss who stood outside his quarters, "Your right about MASK. They're already in town and even manage to set up shop."

"Damn, sooner then I expected."

"The funny thing is their waiting, for what were not sure, we could take this opportunity to..."

"NO!" Mayhem barked, "That would be foolish and leave the caste defenseless. We'll let them make the first move. If the fools wait too long, it will be too late." Before Floyd could take off, he grab him by the shirt, "Where is Lester?"

"I don't know, but I'll ummm get right on that sir," Floyd lied through his teeth, especially since he wasn't interested in being pulled into the Lester/Rax situation.

Roxanne and Scott peaked their heads around the corner, after overhearing the conversation. "You hear that Roxy?" Scott asked.

"Yeah, I'm not deaf finally something's looking up, but what are they waiting for?"

"Can't say. I didn't bring T-bob with me now did I? Don't worry they must have a good reason." The two teens pulled back as Mayhem stormed down the hallway.

Sly Rax knocked on Roxanne's door and entered carrying a tray, with an assortment of breakfast items along with a freshly cut rose from the castle gardens, "Eh time to get up sleeping beauty, brought you some..." he dropped the tray on the ground when he noticed Lester tied to the four posts of the bed. Lester's face was all red with anger as he continued to muffle screams through the gag. He could barely do anything but wiggle his body and shake his head. Naturally Rax's instincts told him to grab a camera, you'll never get a chance like this again, but there was too much at stake in this mission to be fooling around, "You stupid idiot! Where is she?!" He pulled the gag out of Lester's mouth barely giving the guy a chance to catch his breath, after all his failed attempts to scream.

"Undo me!"

"Answer the Question!"

"She said something about going to Mayhem's quarters." Rax didn't second- guess Lester's information and raced out of the room.

Lester felt hopeless after he was left alone again. It was bad enough Sly Rax was the one who found him, but last the thing he needed was to be a sideshow for everyone to gawk at, "SOMEBODY UNTIE ME!"

Rax ran down the corridors of the castle, until he was stopped by Mayhem. "I thought I told you several hours ago to find Lester for me. Is that too much to ask for?"

"Uh yeah he's currently tied up in Roxanne's quarters," he manage to muffle out as he continued down the corridor.

Mayhem watch him run off in the opposite direction confused, "What the hell is that suppose to mean?"

Roxanne and Scott stepped into Duke's chambers, which currently reside as Mayhem's quarters. There were two mask on the back table Viper and Medusa. She slowly walked over and picked up Medusa as if it were a prized possession, "It's been awhile, hasn't it?"

Scott stood by the door keeping watch. It didn't take long to noticed Rax running straight down the hall in their direction, "Umm we have company."

Roxanne glanced around for a hiding spot, as she set her mask back down, "Under the bed." The two teenagers squeezed under the king sized bed. Even though it was a formidable hiding place, the floor was covered in dust and garbage thrown away by disrespectful tourist.

"When's the last time somebody cleaned under here?" Scott remarked feeling disgust.

"Probably the last millennium or so," Roxanne replied as she covered her nose and mouth attempting not to sneeze.

Sly Rax burst in half expecting to find Roxanne, but to his surprise the room look undisturbed.

All Lester could do was smile slyly as Miles Mayhem entered the room, "I sort of gotten myself in a bit of a..."

Mayhem slapped his nephew in the head, before he could even attempt to come up with an excuse. "When are you going to start thinking with your head and not your pants?" His temper flared the more he glanced at this disgrace to his gene pool, "I should leave you like that for letting a dangerous hostage get away."

"Dangerous come on, how much damage could that little girl cause?"

"I don't know Lester, but I sure the hell know she'll do a lot more then you already do around here." Mayhem then pulled out his knife.

"Uncle what are you doing?" Lester's eyes widen in terror as he noticed the blade.

Mayhem cut the bonds on both Lester's hands, "The kid knows too much. She messed up my operations once, I ain't gonna let her do it again."

Lester rubbed his wrist and started to undo his feet, "She's heading for you office to reclaim her mask."

"Really," Mayhem remarked amused by her tactics, "she's heading straight for the heart of the viper's nest, not very bright."

"Exactly!"

"Lester as for as I'm concern you have no worthy opinion. Get cleaned up and ready to escort Trakker once his ride arrives."

"She's not here," Sly Rax replied disappointed, as Miles Mayhem took one step into his quarters. "Lester's info might not be as credible as we think. She could have been playing mind games with him."

Mayhem paced around the room, "Still in her mind that mask is the only thing that's going to get her out of this place. I want this room locked and guards posted at the door. They're not to leave under ANY condition. I want this ENTIRE CASTLE SEARCH! I want her FOUND! NOW!" His voice boomed so loudly that it felt like the ground trembled beneath Roxanne and Scott.

A few minutes later the two men left the room locking the door behind them.

"Oh just peachy were stuck in here," Roxanne whispered to him.

Scott sneezed lightly and grabbed a crumpled up castle map, "This is a castle right? So there has to be secret passages."

"I don't know how far wishful thinking is going to get us?" she remarked with sarcasm.

Scott glanced at the map, "Let's see says the duke's chambers has a false panel behind the portrait on the far wall, should take us to his mistress quarters in the left wing."

"Well I guess luck on our side, let's get out of here." Roxanne remarked as pulled herself out from under the bed and grabbed her mask Medusa.

Meanwhile Scott ran his hand along the painting and pushed it just enough to move the panel aside. The two teenagers then hurried down the secret passageway hoping there destination would be unoccupied. Before reaching the exit, Scott and Roxanne's heart both sank as a sound of a loud helicopter could be heard in the distance.

"They're early." Scott remarked disappointed.

"Yeah... We're just gonna have to hurry up and try to save dad before it's too late."

The sound of a helicopter approaching woke Matt Trakker from another dreadful nightmare. Once on that helicopter, there would be no turning back. He would never see his kids again, never enjoy the company among his close friends and colleagues, and soon be living out the last days of his life. He felt half bless to have seen Roxanne and Scott's face one last time, but also feared the two of them were still in danger, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Lester headed down the dungeon stairs rattling handcuffs in his hands. "You hear that, don't you? That's your ticket out of this joint. Can't promise the hospitality will be any better, but I do know you won't be checking in very long." He remarked adding some snorting laugher in between words.

Matt remained quiet, it wasn't even worth his time to argue with a man with very little intelligence.

"I can't wait to see the look on those brats faces, when they realized their daddy gone for good," Lester continued to ramble on as he paced in front of Matt's cell awaiting word to escort the prisoner.

"Does that mean my kids are coming with me?" Matt asked curiously yearning to know their whereabouts.

"Naaa that boy is running around free, with that tramp of a daughter of yours. Got the whole castle in a ruckus looking for them." Lester covered his mouth realizing he should have kept that information to himself. "What I mean is they're running for their lives and at this moment we're hunt them down. No that's not it."

Lester scratched his head and continued to come up with different answers to break Matt's sprit, but it was too late. Matt smiled with the realization that both his children were in hiding. He just hoped they would remain there until MASK arrived.

"This isn't good," Hondo remarked increasing the view on his binoculars.

"What is it?" Gloria asked

"A helicopter just landed on the top floor of the castle. Something is up."

"What do you think it means?" Dusty ask curiously.

"I think it mean either there dropping something off or picking someone up." Buddy remarked placing Penetrator over his head.

"That mean means we can no longer wait. It is absolutely crucial that we act now," Alex interjected.

"Mayhem MASK is finally making their move, what do you want us to do?" Floyd Malloy asked.

"Send everybody out. Me, Nash, and Lester will handle Trakker's departure."

"What about Roxanne?" Sly Rax added, "I though you said you wanted her ass on that helicopter before it takes off."

"We don't have time to play hide'n go seek. We'll look for her later. Now get out there and keep MASK busy."

The castle gates opened long enough for Manta, Vampire, Stinger, Jackhammer, and Piranha to take their positions on the battlefield. They were soon met by determine MASK agents in Firefly, Condor, Rhino, Volcano, Shark, Gator, and Firecracker.

"Hey they got 7 to 5 odds, that isn't right!" Cliff Dagger protested.

"I can't believe you can count," Vanessa remarked unimpressed.

"I don't know what the big deal is?" Bruno replied pumped up for battle, "We're always out numbered, it's as if those wusses only feel superior in huge groups. They always crumble when there numbers diminish."

"Think of how they'll crumble once their leader is gone," Floyd remarked with laughter.

"Ehhh can we quit talking what ifs. Let's just stall these bastards, this is the LAST time they make laughing stocks of US!" Rax reminded with such powerful words of hatred.

"Alright team," Alex remarked over the radio, "Our objective is to stall VENOM's forces, while Firecracker phases through the gates to attempt a rescue operation. We're counting on you Hondo and Buddy to bring our man and those kids out alive."

"Don't have to worry about a thing," Hondo replied, "Cause we're not leaving without them."

Buddy hooks up Penetrator to Firecracker's controls and Hondo's mask, "Everything is set and ready for phasing, go ahead and start the diversion."

"Yeeeehawwww," Dusty shouted putting his foot on the gas, "Let's rid ourselves of those varmints."

"I couldn't of put it any better then that," Julio remarked as he converted his dune buggy to a rocket glider and took to the air. Condor followed shortly after by converting to helicopter mode.

"Looks like we have two flies to swat," Vanessa remarked as she took Manta to flight.

"Goodie...I always enjoy the in-flight movies," Floyd joked as he converted Vampire from a touring motorcycle to a turbo jet plane.

"Remember the green bike is MINE!" Vanessa reminded

"Yeah...yeah...yeah...you don't need to give me that PMS of your," Floyd hammered back.

"Hey Julio do me a favor," Brad remarked noticing their adversaries.

"Name it, Turner."

"You can have Vanessa, cause I'm in no mood to deal with her crap today."

Julio laughed over the line, "What she bruised your ego last couple battles?"

"Don't remind me." Brad smirked over the line.

"Alright I got just the thing to tick her off." As Manta headed towards its conquest Condor, Firefly's rockets fired shooting the vehicle straight towards Manta. "Streamer On!" A huge glob of sticky glue erupted from his mask and landed on Manta's right propulsion turbine.

"AHHHH!" Vanessa screamed as her vehicle was spinning out of control in midair.

"I'll get him Vanessa," Floyd remarked locking boomerang blaster on firefly.

"Don't you DARE! When I get this crap off my turbine, I'm gonna kill him!" Vanessa scream.

"Then it's ok to go after the green one, I take it," Floyd asked slightly fearing an early death after battle.

"You'll be tangoing with me Birdman," Brad remarked as he fired his lasers to gain his attention."

On the ground, the battle was starting to heat up. Gloria used her racecar driving skills to maneuver her way thru the front line fire. Shark drove over 180 MPH towards the enemy, before Gloria slammed on the breaks sending the car to a spinning halt, with it's front end facing MASK.

"What the hell is this idiot doing? She take driving lessons from Roxy?" Cliff Dagger remarked as he sped up Jackhammer to chase after her. As Shark drove towards its comrades it dropped several spikes along the ground.

"WAIT DAGGER DON'T!" Sly Rax shouted over the line, but it was too late. All four of Jackhammer's tires were blown.

Dagger hit his steering wheel upset, "THAT BITCH TRICKED ME!"

"No use crying over spilled milk, boys," Gloria remarked laughing at Cliff Dagger's predicament.

"HA those little toys ain't gonna stop me!" Bruno Shepard shouted as he converted his GTO sports car into an armored tank. The vulnerable wheels were now tank tracks and crushed the spikes as they rolled over them. Stinger fired its sniper scope cannons and retractable wheel guns in every direction that Rhino, Gator, Shark, and Volcano went.

Despite Jackhammers inability to move, Dagger still operated the 360-degree swiveling cannon on the 4X4's pop-up rear turret. His firing range was limited, but whoever managed to enter his radius of doom through the land or air was going to get an unexpected surprise.

Piranha easily made it's way though the spikes following behind Stinger's tracks. It then started firing its frontal machine guns directly at Gator, as if revenge was a motive.

Dusty laugh as he avoided the firepower with several sharp turns in Gator, "Well I don't think Rax is too happy about me putting him on ice." Gator led Piranha along the forest area, before changing to an offensive. The cannon on the jeep's roll bar changed directions to face towards the back of the vehicle.

Sly Rax blink nervously as he saw the cannon change 180-degrees that now resulted in him looking straight down a cannon.

"Don't feel so confidant now do you? It's not nice to chase people and shoot unless you want it done in return," Dusty lectured as he fired the cannon directly at Piranha.

Rax manage to dodge the energy ball, but his celebration was cut short once he realized he turned into a thick un-maneuverable forest. The bike was going too fast, and he was unable to slam on the breaks; therefore, Rax bailed out of Piranha and let the bike crash into a tree. Sly Rax cursed and shouted as he saw the bike blow up before his eyes, "Damn another bike bites the dust."

Dusty laughed especially when he noticed the smoke erupting from the woods, "Well I guess the snake decided to slither back where it came from and good riddance."

"How do you propose we get rid of our lone gunman Dagger?" Jacques remarked having failed several attempts to move past stinger and blast Jackhammer out of the picture. Both Stinger and Jackhammer had tough thick armor making them difficult to wipe out in one blast.

"If Dagger doesn't want to move," Bruce indicated, "Then we'll give him something to make him move. You and Gloria continue to distract Stinger with firepower. I know it's not doing much, but anything to keep him busy. Once Dagger's out of the way we'll take care of Stinger giving Firecracker the chance to go thru the gate."

While Shark and Volcano did circles around Stinger, Alex prepared the multi- warhead missile launcher. "If this doesn't get the lad to move, I don't think anything else will." A missile was launched directly at Jackhammers dormant location.

Cliff Dagger's one eye traced the missile as it ejected from Rhino's top. "I wonder who's gonna get hit with that?" He continued to stare at it, until it finally dawned on him, "Wait I'm the only one. SHIT!" Dagger jumped out of Jackhammer's top just as the missile hit the rear turret. Cliff Dagger was thrown several feet in the air from the massive explosion, but he shook the effects off quick as he desperately tried to seek shelter. Afterwards, there was very little left of Jackhammer after the impact, except a burning car frame.

"DAGGER YOU OK!" Bruno asked slightly concerned for his friend, but what he didn't know was Rhino sped up heading straight towards him.

Rhino's front pushed out to change to a power ram and slammed directly into the side of Stinger. The tank skidded across the ground by the powerful force, yet in return Rhino received several bullet holes from Stinger's wheel guns straight to its engine. The massive truck's engine was on fire, but managed to produce enough force to move Stinger out of the way. "ALRIGHT Firecracker it's your cue!" Alex radioed.

An orange pickup truck emerged from behind the battlefield lines and headed straight towards the castle gate. "PENETRATOR ON!" Buddy shouted. The entire truck and its two passengers vibrated enough for them to pass thru the solid wall of the gatehouse. The moment the vehicle became solid again, several contra world solider on the inside of the estate began firing nonstop at the intruders

"Looks like the welcoming committee," Hondo remarked.

"Then let's give them a proper welcome," Buddy added as he activated the ejectable boomerang tire with spring-loaded blades. A tire on the back of the tuck suddenly flew through the air along the wall. Many soldiers ducked or discard their weapons, as they avoid the oncoming tire. Meanwhile, Buddy and Hondo used the opportunity to enter the castle and make their way towards the top floor.

"What the hell took you so long?!" Mayhem shouted as Lester emerged from the castle onto the helicopter platform.

"He was limping all the way up," Lester explained as he forcefully pulled Matt out into the open.

Matt Trakker's eyes squinted as he got his first dose of sunlight in days. He was unable to shield his eyes, since both his hands were cuffed behind his back. Even though Lester constantly pushed him forward, it was difficult to walk on his bad leg. Then again the slower he moved the more time he could give his team.

"You're trying my patience Trakker."

"What's the rush Miles? Afraid your plans may be foiled," Matt remarked staring his adversary in the eyes.

"The battle is not over yet. Put him on the damn thing...carry him if you have too. I want it off the ground NOW!"

"Yes Mayhem sir," Nash responded.

"I'll be following in Switchblade, so don't stop for anything," Mayhem reminded.

Nash and Lester both grabbed Matt by the arms and dragged him towards the helicopter. As soon as the three entered, the helicopter started to lift off the ground.

Miles Mayhem laughed as he headed over to Switchblade, "It's all over now, all your dreams have been crushed Trakker."

Matt's eyes drifted out the window as he could see his agents fighting their fiercest on the battlefield. He didn't want to give up hope or say goodbye, but he closed his eyes silently wishing everyone well and hoped they could move on without him. Suddenly, the helicopter started shaking violently as it hovered a few feet off the ground. The pilot started screaming as his controls went haywire and started to spark. Matt's eyes flew open alert as the helicopter fell straight back down on the landing pad. The pilot and its passengers all jumped out fearing a possible explosion, without even realizing what had hit them. Matt felt Lester's strong hand yanked him out of the passenger seat and straight into the landing pad.

Mayhem turned his head once he heard the collision, "What in the blue blazes!" The helicopter stopped moving and was engulfed in a surge of electrical energy.

Matt looked around expecting to see one of his agents, but instead saw his daughter Roxanne aiming Medusa directly at the helicopter.

"YOU LITTLE BITCH! YOU DID IT AGAIN! GET HER! Mayhem shouted.

"What I though you'd be impress with my sneak attack," Roxanne remarked in a smart-aleck tone.

Mayhem temper flared under his mask Viper, "I'll kill you, if it's the last thing I do. VIPER FIRE!"

A glob of acid erupted from Viper and aimed directly at Roxanne's location. She flipped backwards nearly missing the substance. But her fancy gymnastics soon became her downfall, once Lester shouted, "MUDSLINGER ON!" As her feet contacted with the ground a patch of mud appeared, causing her to lose her balance. Roxanne fell hard on her back and laid there stun.

Lester laughed and snorted at her predicament, "Back in your favorite position I see." He walked over to her and put his foot on her stomach, to stop her from getting up, "What ya gonna do now little girl? Scream? Daddy's not gonna help ya this time around."

Her eyes drifted over to her father who was held back by a few soliders. It was hard to breath with the added weight on her chest, yet she manage to spit out, "Medusa on!"

Instead of a surge of energy erupting from the mask, she heard Mayhem, Lester, and Nash laughing with amusement.

"Did I forget to mention, your mask been program to recognized VENOM agents?" Nash remarked with a nerdy giggle.

"You really think I'd let a powerful weapon fall into your hands without a few precautions?" Mayhem twitched his mustache.

Roxanne didn't know how to respond, in fact she felt foolish for even attempting the stunt.

"We'll take them both hostage to ensure we get out of this mess." Mayhem suggested.

"Yeah," Lester started laughing again, "While we await hostage negotiations me and Roxy can get over our little differences elsewhere."

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Matt shouted abruptly as he attempted to lash out at Lester, but he was violently held back.

"What's wrong Roxanne?" Lester noted as she squirmed uncomfortably on the ground, "Your not afraid are you? I though you weren't afraid of anything."

"GET OFF MY SISTER!" Scott screamed as he came bursting through the castle door and charged straight into Lester knocking him off her. He felt an uncontrollable rage surge through him and was unable to sit still any longer.

"Where did he come from?" Mayhem asked confused.

"YOU AGAIN!" Lester shouted, as him and Scott rolled all over the ground. Scott pounded repeatedly into Lester, causing him to scream bloody murder, "SOMEBODY GET HIM OFF ME, OWOW."

Roxanne got off the ground and started charging towards the men who detained her father. "POWERHOUSE ON!" Nash shouted as he grabbed her in a powerful strong grip.

She felt like her whole body was being crush, "That's pathetic you have to use that on me."

"Better safe then sorry," Nash reminded.

"Lester quick fooling around and grab the kid." Mayhem ordered.

"I CAN'T! GET HIM OFF ME!" Lester screamed again trying to protect himself.

"Trakker tell him to back down or your daughter gonna be crush to death."

"Scott," Matt spoke up, "That's enough."

Scott reluctantly stopped only at his father's request, but that didn't stop Lester from getting the last punch into his gut. Scott shriveled up on the ground feeling the effects of that final blow, but didn't show any signs of pain.

"Now that this ridiculous family quarrel is over with, we can get the heck out of here."

"I think not! BLASTER FIRE!" Hondo shouted as he entered the platform. A laser beam erupted from his mask and hit Nash in the arm."

"AHHH!" Nash screamed as the beamed burned his arm and released Roxanne from his grip.

Buddy appeared behind Matt from out of nowhere. The diversion that Scott created allowed him to use used Penetrator to sneak around the platform and emerge through the helicopter. Buddy cut Matt's hand cuffs with a set of metal cutter pliers and placed a gun securely into his hands.

The two soldiers next to Matt were stun by Buddy's sudden appearance. Matt and Buddy tackled the two soldiers, then held their guns directly on Lester and Nash. While Hondo had blaster aimed on Mayhem.

"I think you should call this off Mayhem, you've lost this round." Matt turned to his adversary smiling that this rescue party finally showed up.

"You haven't won yet, MANTA...VAMPIRE attack!" Yet both vehicles were out of range and unable to respond. Mayhem balled his fist and shook with anger. "Very well Trakker you leave me no choice. LESTER!"

Before anybody knew what was going on, Lester pulled out a smoke grenade from his jacket. A thick smoke covered the area allowing enough time for Nash, Lester, and Mayhem to fly away on Switchblade.

"Dang, how do you like that? The old smoke and run routine right under our noses," Hondo remarked disappointed as the smoked cleared up.

"There will be another time and place to settle this," Matt reminded as he watched Switchblade retreat.

Scott ran over to Matt hugging him, "DAD!"

"You ok?" Matt embraced his son smiling.

"Yeah! I think what I gave Lester hurt a lot more though. Did you see me dad! I really gave it to him. I found Buddy and Hondo wandering around clueless. They let me help out! They said it was the perfect opportunity to express my anger, so I tackle the bastard for a distraction."

Matt smiled and ruffled Scott's hair, "I'm proud of you and mad, but mostly proud."

"I couldn't of done any of this without Roxy. She thought up almost everything. We were one heck of a team together."

Matt's eyes drifted in the same direction of his two agents on Roxanne. It was apparent they were both ready to apprehend her.

"Matt she..."Hondo started to break the awkwardness, but Matt put his hand up.

"I know everything I need to know."

She stood at the edge of the platform looking down at the castle grounds. In her mind the only way her life was going is down. It seemed so simple to end all the pain. After all everybody would be better off without her.

"Roxanne look at me please," Matt asked as he slowly limped towards her.

"I can't...I don't even deserve your forgiveness, not after all that." She managed to whimper out.

"That's not for you to decided, and that's not how I feel."

Roxanne pulled Medusa off her head and threw as far as she could away from her, "I wish I never had this stupid thing!" Her face was completely flush, and no matter hard she tried not to she couldn't stop crying. "I...I...killed mom, and now it's the same thing over again with me trying to kill you."

"That's not the same Roxanne."

"WHAT DO YOU KNOW?! YOU WEREN'T EVEN THERE!" She calms down a bit and takes several deep breaths before speaking again, "I was so mad at her. All the other kids had a dad, that's all I ever wanted too. Whenever I brought the subject up she'd yell at me to get over it, so I'd cry for hours upon hours. She'd spank me, send me to my room, anything, but I wouldn't stop. So she just ignored me. Then one day that man showed up at our doorsteps. I thought daddy finally came home. I was overjoyed; we can finally be a real family. Then there was fighting and stuff being thrown all over the place. He chased her upstairs..." She closed her eyes, "I could hear her screaming 'help me', he was hurting her I could hear it all. Yet I smiled and thought that mommy's getting what she deserves. See how it feels to cry for hours. To be hit. Doesn't feel so good does it mommy?" She opened her eyes again and continued sobbing, "It wasn't until he was gone, and she just laid there motionless, that I realize I killed her. I was so blinded by anger that I didn't care what happen to her."

Matt clamped her shoulder with his hands and looked directly into her eyes, "Your not a killer. Sly Rax knew you had a bad temper and use that to get between us."

"But..."

"What happened was an accident. I know you didn't mean for this to happen. In fact, I know for a fact you didn't because you came all this way. Your brother believed the same thing else he wouldn't of stood by you." He ran a hand over her face wiping away a few staggering tears, "Your mother doesn't blame you either. You were just a child back then. It's normal for children to be mad at their parents. You know what I think...you were mad that night...but also scared. You didn't know what was happening or what to do." Matt wrapped his arms around her as she started to tremble, "You didn't kill her Roxanne, you felt guilty because you didn't do anything."

Roxanne squeezed her arms around him crying nonstop, "I'm sorry...dad I'm really sorry."

"Uh.... ease up on the grip hon." Matt replied feeling enormous amount of pressure on his wounds. She stopped smothering him and rests her head upon his chest. "The moral of the story is you didn't want to sit back and do nothing. Last time you lost somebody dear to your heart, and you weren't ready for that to happen again."

His words soothed her of the weight that had rested on her conscious for years. Even though the tear still fell down her cheek, she was calmer and more relax, "I love you dad. I don't ever want to lose you. You mean so much to me."

Matt smiled and kissed her head, "I love you too Roxanne, and I promise nothing will separate us again."

"Roxanne Trakker your under arrest!" Dusty Hayes spoke up.

"Dusty you really shouldn't of done that," Gloria protested his rude intrusion.

"What are you talking about? Isn't she the sole reason to why we got dragged out here in the first place? She nearly killed Matt and aided a bunch of terrorist! You all know that! She doesn't deserve pity for what she did, in fact you people even understand how serious of a crime she committed."

"Dusty maybe you should chill out a bit," Buddy suggested as he put a hand on his friend shoulder.

"Chill out!? You try chilling out when your friend nearly plunges to his death right in front of your eyes. What hurts even more is that his own flesh and blood caused it!"

"He has a point dad," Roxanne admitted in a quite voice, "I mess up...I should pay for this...all of it. I made you give up all your secrets."

Everybody looked at Matt funny as he started to laugh, "Don't assume anything. Yes Mayhem asked me for information, but I've been prepared for this situation. He's not going to be too happy when he finds out the names I've given are allies; in fact, in another 24 hours due time his entire system is going to be wiped out by a computer virus. So the jokes on him."

"That is kind of funny," Roxanne remarked with a small smile.

"Can we get back to the issue here!" Dusty continued hollering in an outrage. "Am I the ONLY one here who thinks this girl should be punished? You can't seriously think you can hide this from the PNA."

"Why not?" Matt looked Dusty in the eye.

"Cause...awww shit Matt...I don't want anything to do with that. That's like harboring a criminal."

"Maybe it is...but she's my daughter. I made a promise to stick with her, and I don't intend to break it. So if anybody else objects to ignoring this, please do speak up."

"Matt if this is what you truly want," Alex steps in to speak for the group, "We'll uphold your wishes."

"It is," Matt smiled and nodded to his friends, "Dusty?"

Dusty looked to all his friends then back to Matt, "I'm turning a blind's eye this time, but I catch her doing this stuff again. You ain't gonna silence me."

"Alright are we done with the drama?" Julio jumped in heading over to Matt.

"Doc you came all this way to patch me up?" Matt remarked with light humor.

"You really expect one of them to do it?" Julio joked as he put Matt's arm around his shoulder. "Scott, Roxanne.... both of you are coming as well."

"Aww come on Julio," Scott protested, "I feel fine. I want to help MASK round up some bad guys."

"Your scrapes and bruises say otherwise." Julio reminded as he started leading Matt down to ground level.

"You know there is a patient back in Rhino who'd like to see you again, Scott," Bruce reminded.

"T-bob! He's ok!"

"Still functioning barley, but I'm sure when your finish with him. He'll be good as new." With Bruce's good news, Scott practically ran out of the castle to be reunited with his friend.

"Don't worry Matt we'll clean up here," Alex reassured him.

"I've no doubt about that," Matt remarked with a half smirk.

"Um Gloria," Roxanne stop in front of her before heading after her father, "I'm sorry about taking Shark like that."

"It's alright. I understand and everything turned out ok." She gave Roxanne a friendly hug, "But let's just keep certain details to ourselves, if you know what I mean."

Roxanne winked, "Your secret is safe with me."

Matt turned around and looked back at Roxanne, "Are you coming?"

"Yeah dad," She quickly rushed to his side, and he put his other arm around her shoulder.

Roxanne smiled feeling as though everything in her life was perfect. It was almost as if nothing had happened these last few days. Now she realized how much she needed her father, and how much he needed her. Although she still clings to her past, she knows she's not alone anymore.

The End.

If you want more and haven't read the sequel already, I suggest you start reading Warfields by me and Darcy.