Entry into the earth's atmosophere was no cakewalk... yeah he'd done it several times in the simulators at S' place but reality beat it 1000%. In the end, the entire team landed on earth and worked w/ each other to camoflague their gundams..

Sage was already done with his and was waiting for the next order with the same cold look in he eyes.

"Geez, he's such a robot.." Axel thought, but he did remember from his file that he was trained to be the way he was.

"Aiight.. folks.. glad we all made it down in one piece. Like I mentioned before, I want the team to sit tight while Sage and I go get decent transportation and supplies. More than likely some backwoods folks may have spotted a few flaming orbs falling from the sky. Just tell them that they were UFO's and they'll go running to state police, who'll laugh at them."

He nodded to Sage as he started to head west out of the woods, but then turned around and said, "Oh yeah, Dark Zolio.. you're in charge for right now. We'll be back in an hour or two."

He continued walking, Sage beside him. After a silent walk, they finally reached the highway. It was empty as Axel had predicted.. People don't usually travel these roads unless they were going to and fro to work. They walked south along the highway to the middle of a bridge where finally a Dodge Viper approached their position.

Axel picked up a small stone and flung it at the car as it passed them. A definite sounded as the rock bounced off the windshield of the car putting a small crack at the top passenger side. The car screeched to a halt and the driver came up.

"What the fuck man.. what's your problem?" the good sized driver yelled as he walked back to where Axel was standing.

Axel waited until the driver had halved the distance between him and the car before pulling out his Desert Eagle and putting a bullet through the man's left knee.

"C'mon." Axel said to Sage as he sprinted toward the Viper. Ax hopped into the drivers seat and unlocked the passenger side of the car. Once Sage had settled in Axel put the car in gear and drove toward a small town.

As they drove Axel decided to at least attempt starting a conversation.

"Uh.. I know you didn't want to be put as the assassin but one of the new recruits that we got does nothing but computer and intelligence so i'm giving him that spot and putting you as back up assassin. That cool?"

No reply

"Look, man, I understand that you're just takin orders cuz i'm the leader and all that bullshit, but i'm always open for comments, suggestions and whatever..."

Axel looked out the car window.. "here we are"

He pulled the car into the gunshop parking lot.

"God," Axel thought, "I haven't seen this guy in ages"

"Aiight, you stay out here..... I'm going in take care of some old business. Once you hear a gunshot you can make your way in." he shut the car door and walked into the shop.

A husky man stood behind one of the counters shining up a shotgun. "Hey, welcome to Pete's Guns and supplies, may I help............ TJ (((stands for Thompson Jr... for those who don't know, "Axel" didn't have a first name until right before being sent into training))), what are you doing here?" His face went white, more from shock than from excitement.

"Heh.. just visiting an old friend, how you been?" Ax said nonchantly.

Pete's face relaxed and regained his color. "Been doin' fine, business keeps it's pace up during all seasons."

"And the OTHER business?" Axel asked w/ a sly grin.

"Heh, that's going good too.. just got a shipment in yesterday.. enough firepower to start a war." They both laughed.

"Say," Ax said, "I'm running low of ammo for that desert eagle you gave me. You think you could spare me a box?"

"Yeah, sure.. cuz you're a friend and haven't seen ya in quite some time." Pete went to the backdoor as Axel hopped over the counter in the rear of the building was a small trapdoor in the floor. Pete used the combination to open it and they both climbed down into the basement.

Racks of guns lined each wall, everything from automatics to rocket launchers to sniper rifles each w/ accessories and ammo. "Heh.. the team would have a field day if they saw all this." Ax thought. Pete walked to a small trunk and grabbed a box of .45 caliber ammo for Ax. "Here ya go bud. That's 120 rounds right there."

Axel smiled. "Thanks bro" He turned to leave but as he did he noticed Pete reaching for the gun belt behind him. Ax quickly drew his gun and slung it back at Pete where they both stared into each other's muzzles.

"You haven't lost your touch, TJ."

"Neither have you, Pete."

"Duel? Like when we were kids playing at the orphanage?"

"Guess that's how it has to go."

-----------------------------------------------------
TIME OUT!!!!
===========================

I'f you've ever seen "The Replacement Killers" you would know what's going to happen. If not, I'll explain. Both participants unload their clip and rushes to be the first one to reload. Loser well.... dies.

===========================
TIME IN!!!
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Pete winked, "To 3?"

"Go for it.."

Pete smiled, "Aiight........... 3!!!!" He immediatly released his clip.

Axel kept the gun aimed and pressed it to Pete's head. He smiled. "Cheater..... that means I get a free hit.. and no hitbacks." He pulled the trigger.

Ax climbed out from the basement figuring Sage didn't hear the gunshot from underground. But as he reached the top handle, Sage burst into the back office door.

"All clear," Axel said, "C'mon down." He dropped back to the floor. When Sage finally made it down Ax said, "Sage, meet Pete... my best friend from the orphanage when I grew up. Bastard set me up and got me jail time 5 years ago.... guess he figured I'd forgotten. Anyhow.." He walked to the back of the basement and pushed away at some fake tiles revealing a cheap safe.. "Pete could never remember more than one password at a time IF that many. Yo, Sage, toss me Pete's wallet real fast. Sage did so and Ax opened it up finding a few bills, credit cards, and a piece of paper w/ 4 numbers on it. Axel smiled as he inputted the numbers into the safe which opened immediatly giving them access to Pete's life savings, like he was going to need it anytime soon.

"We got cash, now to rent a U-haul truck or something."

Ax and Sage left the building and got back in the car driving further down the street to the nearest U-Haul station. They rented the largest truck available and went back to the shop. They even rented some lights so that the group didn't have to sit in the darkness all the way to DC. After doing so, they went back to the shop and grabbed everything thing they possibly could, before they left, Ax set the place on fire to remove any evidence.

"Well, we got transportation, and supplies... and we have plenty of time on the clock... let's get back to the group."

Sage nodded. And they took the truck to the rendevous point where the rest of the group were waiting.

Axel showed the group the stash they had just acquired, and then announced:

"Okay people, I know we had a long trip gettin here to earth and we're way, WAY ahead of schedule. How does everyone feel about taking an 24 hour break at the beach?"

After loading the team up, they left Chesapeake and headed East into Virginia Beach where they passed TPO Axel's house.

(Axel: see me waving?? Sage: *shoots the waving pedestrian* Axel: ACK!! )

They entered a hotel parking lot and Axel dropped them off.

"Aiight, guys and uh.. gals, you're free to do whatever. Just make sure you report to the 17th Street Dairy Queen at this time tomorrow. Oh yeah," he gave each team member a huge wad of cash. "don't spend it all in one place."

He waited until the team went their separate ways and then headed up the boardwalk to the nearest shop to buy some swimming gear.