Encino – Warehouse
The air was thick with tension as Mike and The Shadow circled each other, their bodies battered and bruised. Blood trickled from Mike's lip, his breath ragged, but he was far from finished. The Shadow, too, was showing signs of wear, though his expression remained eerily calm, as if he was merely toying with Mike.
"You always were the weaker one, Mike," The Shadow taunted, wiping a streak of blood from his cheek. "You think you've changed, but you're still that same scared boy running from his past."
Mike's jaw clenched. "I'm not running anymore. I'm confronting it."
The Shadow laughed, a low, menacing sound. "Confronting it? You can't defeat me. You never could."
With lightning speed, The Shadow lunged again, his fists a blur. Mike barely managed to block the initial strikes, his body groaning under the pressure, but he was getting angrier. This was no longer just about survival. It was about reclaiming his soul, his humanity.
Mike twisted his body, landing a solid punch to The Shadow's ribs. The man staggered but quickly regained his composure, his eyes narrowing.
"You think this is just about fists?" The Shadow's voice was low, filled with venom. "This is about control. The control Kessler has over you, over everyone you care about. You're just another puppet in her game."
Mike felt his stomach twist. Was it true? Had Kessler manipulated him all along, even during his service, or had he truly lost control?
"No," Mike growled, shaking his head as he took a step back. "I'm not one of her pawns. I'm done being anyone's puppet."
Mike's hands balled into fists again, his resolve hardening. He wasn't going to let the ghosts of his past—The Shadow, Kessler—control him any longer. It was time to put an end to it all.
---
Germany – FANG V2 Compound
Dr. Kessler stood in her control room, eyes fixed on the monitors that showed the live feed from the warehouse. The fight between Mike and The Shadow was unfolding just as she had predicted—raw, intense, brutal. But something about the way Mike was fighting caught her attention. There was more than just instinct guiding him. There was purpose.
Kessler narrowed her eyes, her fingers tapping against the console. Something had shifted in him, she realized. Mike had never been a mere tool in her hands. He was a force of nature. One she couldn't control. Not anymore.
Her eyes flickered to a secondary screen. The countdown had begun—the final phase of the operation. Unit 17 was en route. The Shadow would fall soon, but Mike Harris was a different threat. She needed to neutralize him—permanently.
"Prepare Unit 17 for immediate deployment," she ordered, her voice cold and calculated. "We'll finish this once and for all."
---
Encino – Warehouse
Mike wiped the blood from his face, his vision blurred but his mind sharp. The fight had taken its toll, but he could see through the pain. The Shadow was losing his edge. His movements were becoming predictable. Mike was starting to understand how the man fought. He had learned it once, years ago in the field. And now he was unlearning it, piece by piece.
"You're not the monster you think you are," Mike spat, his voice firm. "You're just a broken man trying to justify what Kessler turned you into."
The Shadow's face twisted in fury. "I am the monster. I am everything you fear. And I will be the one to finish you."
But as The Shadow lunged for him again, Mike dodged, rolling to the side. He was quicker now—more fluid in his movements, more controlled. When The Shadow turned to face him, Mike struck first, landing a punch that knocked The Shadow off balance.
This time, Mike didn't hesitate. He followed up with a knee to The Shadow's chest, sending him crashing to the floor. The warehouse floor cracked under the force of the blow, but The Shadow wasn't done yet. He reached for a nearby pipe, swinging it at Mike with a snarl.
Mike ducked, dodging the pipe, and countered with a sharp elbow to The Shadow's throat. The man gasped, his grip loosening on the weapon.
Mike stood above him, panting. "You were never the monster, I was." His voice was steady, his eyes filled with resolve.
With one final, decisive move, Mike struck—landing a punch directly to The Shadow's temple. The man crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
For a moment, Mike stood over him, breathing heavily, letting the silence settle in. He had done it. He had taken down his greatest fear. And for the first time in years, he felt a small weight lift from his chest.
But his moment of relief was short-lived.
From the shadows, a familiar voice rang out. "You're not done yet, Mike."
Mike spun around, his body still aching, but his focus locked in. It was Unit 17—Dr. Kessler's final weapon, the one she had sent to finish him off.
---
Germany – FANG V2 Compound
Dr. Kessler watched the feed, her lips curling into a smile. The fight had played out just as she had planned—The Shadow was nothing more than a stepping stone in her grand design. Now, with Unit 17 activated, Mike Harris would finally be erased.
The screen flickered, and Kessler's eyes narrowed as she watched Unit 17's figure emerge from the darkness of the warehouse. The mission had always been simple: eliminate Mike and anyone who stood in her way.
But there was something in the air now. Something had changed.
---
Encino – Warehouse
Mike's body was screaming for rest, but there was no time to stop. Unit 17 stepped into the dim light, his body moving with predatory grace. His eyes were cold, calculating.
"You know the drill, Mike," Unit 17 said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You fight, and you die. It's simple."
Mike's fists tightened, but he wasn't afraid. This fight would be different. He was different. He had nothing to lose.
"Then let's finish this," Mike said, his voice low and steady.
Johnny and Tory stood at the ready, prepared to jump in if needed, but Mike held up his hand. This was his fight. And this time, there would be no running.
Unit 17's lips twitched into a semblance of a smile. "Very well. But you won't survive."
The two men collided in an explosion of speed and force, their fists and feet becoming a blur as they exchanged brutal blows. Mike fought with every ounce of strength, not just for himself, but for everyone he had ever cared about. This was the final battle. And he wasn't going to lose.
---
The battle is now between Mike and the unstoppable Unit 17. Can Mike overcome Kessler's ultimate weapon and bring an end to this nightmare, or will he finally meet his end at the hands of the one force that might be too much to handle? The war for survival and redemption is far from over.