The Action Man Series

X’s Dream

Authors Note: This chapter is rated PG-13

Chapter 10

Alex fired four shots, then ducked and rolled to his right. A quick glance told him that his shots were accurate. The people on the boat were in chaos. People were screaming, guns were firing, and bazookas were firing. Complete and utter chaos.

Grinder spotted a guy on a deck across the boat with a bazooka aimed at a helicopter. "No!" Grinder raised the automatic in his hand to fire…he fired as he raised it…the bazooka fired…the man fell dead…the missile charged toward its target with amazing speed.

The helicopter banked right and flew up. The missile grazed the side of the ‘copter, scratching off some paint. Grinder sighed a sigh of relief and the helicopter continued firing at some of the people on the deck. Grinder fired again and rolled left.

Alex took aim, fired, took aim, fired, took aim, fired, took aim—, "AAAHHH!" The pain hit his left shoulder, near his heart. He fell back and another bullet did hit a little below and a little to the left of his left shoulder…punching through his heart.

Alex stumbled, as if drunk. The pain was overwhelming. He cried out Fidgets’ name but there was no answer…then we’ll meet soon…

And Alex Man fell to the ground on his stomach, dead. A small puddle of blood growing around his body.

"NO!"

Grinder shot one more bullet in defense and rushed to Alex’s side. Grinder rolled Alex over, even though he knew he could do nothing. Tears were pouring out. "I’ll take care of Fidg," Grinder whispered, then was consumed. Consumed by rage.

His best friend. His girl, Fidg. Ricky, probably dead. Team Xtreme was gone. And all that was left was he. Grinder raised his two automatics and started firing.

Everything moved in a blur. So fast yet so distant. Grinder leaped to the right as a whole clip of shot bullets whizzed by where he just was. Grinder saw his target and fired at him in mid-air. Perfect; right through the heart.

Grinder hit the ground and rolled. As he did, he jumped to his feet and fired at another man that was on a deck above Grinder. Grinder saw a sniper hiding in the crow’s nest, shooting at a helicopter. DIE! Grinder took aim and fired. The sniper yelled in pain and rolled over, accidentally falling out of the crow’s nest and onto the deck.

Grinder moved on, shooting two more men that were firing at a helicopter. Grinder looked up as he ran, seeing four INTERCEPT helicopters buzzing around, dodging missiles, bullets, and debris.

Grinder decided it was time to crash this party before someone else did. Grinder dropped his guns to the ground and ran to the side of the boat. He jumped into the cold freezing water, its coldness only a pain far, far away.

Grinder saw the little red numbers farther down the boat. He swam over to them, studying the bomb and how he set it up. Grinder casually raised a hand, debating which wire to pull; blue, green, red, or yellow. Damn, why can’t I remember???

Grinder then shrugged his shoulders. Does it really matter? I’m gonna die anyway, why not now? Grinder reached up and thought, in the movies, it’s always blue or red that stop the bomb. Let’s try yellow. Grinder reached up and ripped the yellow wire out.

-

Diana jerked the helicopter back as another bazooka flew their way. It missed by little. "Take out that missile man. Location four-one-one-o!" A ‘yes ma’am’ replied from the back of the helicopter. She banked right and she heard gunfire from behind her. She saw the target fall out of the corner of her eye.

She then saw someone outside the boat…someone tampering with something. Is that…it is! She piloted the helicopter down and she pushed a rope ladder out of the door next to her. Grinder looked up at her with distaste…until he realized it was Diana.

Oh no.

Diana frowned. Why isn’t he grabbing onto the ladder? He’s just sitting there!!!

Diana switched on the out-mike and spoke into it, her amplified voice getting everyone’s attention. "Grinder, get in…NOW!" Grinder reluctantly swam toward the ladder, grabbed on, and Diana pulled away.

Then she spoke into the out-mike. "This is INTERCEPT. You are all under arrest for transportation of illegal substances, attempted murder, and a few of you underage drinking. Now STOP firing and surrender." Someone shouted ‘never’ and was shot half-a-second later.

The men realized INTERCEPT was serious and slowly, everyone dropped their guns. A helicopter landed on a deck and men armed with M-16’s and CAR-15’s got out and started checking the crew and handcuffing them.

After a few minutes, Diana’s helicopter landed where a crate had been (but was blown up) and hopped out. Grinder hadn’t said a thing since he had climbed up to the cockpit. "You okay Grinder?"

A few seconds later, "They’re all dead."

Diana realized what that meant…, "Even…Ricky?"

Grinders’ nod was in the shadows, but she saw it. She gasped and stepped back, overcome with shock and dismay. She shook her head in strong denial. Can’t be…but Grinder doesn’t lie.

Diana turned and ran.

-

When the gunfire had ceased for more than a minute, Ricky felt sudden warmth go through him. He just knew that she was okay. He didn’t know for sure, but he just knew. Slowly, internally bleeding to death, he had had time to think about his mistakes and problems and accomplishments. He knew he was a failure, but at least he was able to do the right thing in the end. At least he turned in those people on the boat…

Ricky’s vision, which had begun to blur about ten minutes ago, was now pitch black and he knew that his time was coming. In a few seconds……

Taking his last ounce of strength, Ricky mumbled, "Sorry Team Extreme…sorry Diana…"

And Ricky felt his heart stop pulsing and he felt sleep come…

-

Diana had gotten herself under control again and was handcuffing a buff, bad-smelling man. He was flirting with her but she ignored him. Then he went too far. He reached around and grabbed her bosom and squeezed. In an instant, a hand grabbed her gun out of her holster and fired a bullet through the mans’ head. Blood splattered the wall behind him.

She got to her feet and kicked his dead body. "Nothing but trash…"

She turned and got back into her helicopter. She heard soft crying from behind her, Grinder’s crying. She went back there and thought about Ricky…and cried with Grinder.

-

Grinder paced nervously up and down the hallway. Today was the day that they were doing it. Today, Grinder might have Team Extreme back.

Diana was watching him pace back and forth and tripped him as he passed her again. Over the time, they had developed a friendship, a kind of replacement for Diana’s Ricky and Grinder’s Fidget.

He fell to the floor, almost shouting for help.

Diana smiled and said, "You’re a clumsy man."

"And you’re tweaked," Grinder said playfully as he got back to his feet. He sat down beside her on the bench and asked, "Do you think it’ll work?"

Diana nodded. "It worked with Brandon a month ago. Why not here?"

"Well some of the intruments might’ve been broken and they’re still using them. Maybe—," Grinder started but Diana rolled her eyes and shook her head. He’s cute, she thought…but where’s Ricky?

After the rest of INTERCEPT’s forces arrived at the incident up in the Greenland area, a whole lab was found below the ground, about twenty stories below. The Council had very efficiently built their hideout. Inside the lab was every invention of Dr. X, the real one that had staged the Council, Alex Man, and many other clever situations around the world.

Many of the tools and inventions were taken to INTERCEPT’s H.Q., so they could be studied and maybe even patented since most of Dr. X’s inventions were basically rough drafts.

And now, a cloning lab that belonged to INTERCEPT in London had announced that they would try to fix Team Extreme’s disabilities, using Dr. X’s implants and other various…upgrades.

Since Alex was dead, Ricky was dead, and Fidget had a broken neck…there wasn’t any other plan so Grinder said, "why not? As long as the freak show X isn’t doing the job, it’s fine by me."

And today, INTERCEPT was trying to fix Fidg, Alex, and Ricky.

A white-coat coming out of the main operating room interrupted grinder’s thoughts. Grinder jumped to his feet and immediately asked, "Are they okay?"

The doctor held up his hands and said, "Let me explain. Alex’s heart is in serious condition but he is back alive…unfortunately, this operation will not work on pretty much anyone else in the world because Alex worked so hard in the Master Vision games that his heart is probably the strongest in the world. Therefore, this operation will probably be the only time it is successful."

"But he is alive," Grinder asked.

The doctor nodded. "He can start working out again in one month. But make sure he takes it easy because X’s implants won’t hold very well to sudden stress."

Grinder nodded and was about to ask about Fidg when Diana quietly asked, "Ricky?"

"Crippled for life, I’m afraid. But he is alive. He should be ready to get into a wheelchair in a week."

Diana breathed a sigh of relief.

Grinder then asked what had given him so much stress. "And how is Fidget?"

The doctor hesitated. "Well…for her, her neck was very sensitive to whatever we did with it so…we had to insert a trilibug."

"A TRILIBUG??? WHAT THE FU—," Diana stopped Grinder from saying the rest.

The doctor continued. "The trilibug is a lot smaller than most, and will only appear as an extra vertebrae on the back of her neck. She can not, mind you, jerk her head in any sudden motion. Other than that, she’s fine and should be back on her feet in a few days."

"You may see them when the rest of the doctors come out." And with that, the white-coated doctor walked down the hallway, moving onto other patients.

Grinder sat down and smiled. Fidget is okay…doctors started walking out of the operating rooms. When the last one was gone, Grinder and Diana raced into the rooms to see their beloved friends.

Diana and Ricky embraced, even though Ricky was stuck on his back in a bed. Grinder ran over to Fidget’s bedside and she looked at him with her sparkling, beautiful eyes and whispered, "Thanks Grinder…"

Grinder blinked. "For what?"

"For saving me and Alex."

It hit him like a bullet. He had completely forgotten about Alex and Fidget. Grinder felt tears coming as he stumbled a ‘your welcome’ and left. He wouldn’t see the other two. No way in hell would he see Alex. At least not tonight.

Alex got up off his bed, rubbing the area over his heart. It hurt badly but he ignored it and limped over to Fidget’s side. "Hey Fidg," he whispered. She opened her eyes and immediately kissed him. Alex gladly accepted and they kept on for a while. When Alex finally pulled away he said, "I guess we’re going to be okay?"

Fidget nodded calmly. "I think so," she whispered. Then, "I think that Grinder is…feeling bad. Would you talk to him?"

Alex nodded. It didn’t sound like Fidget at all; but then again, she was weak from all the operation. He was too, but he now had a bad heart, not a bad neck.

Alex left the operating room and looked down the hallway. Grinder was sitting on a bench, his head in his hands. Alex limped over to him and sat next to him…, "I’m sorry Grinder," he whispered.

For a long time, Grinder didn’t answer. Then he said, "It’s okay mate. I’ll get over it, I hope."

Alex blinked. That was…good. Alex thought Grinder would yell at him and try to kill him but…

"You two liked each other from the beginning. I knew, I just didn’t accept it. So let’s just make the best out of our lives, okay?"

"Okay," Alex replied with a small smile.

"At least it won’t be polluted with that freak show X anymore."

Alex spun around and immediately said, "Never say that again. Dr. X was a good guy." Grinder raised one eyebrow and thought Alex’s operation must’ve hurt his head. But Grinder let Alex continue.

"Dr. X just wanted to make us humans stronger, better, with a will to survive more than just our daily lives. He just couldn’t see less-violent solutions. He was a good guy. And now, with other people’s viewpoints and other people’s minds, Dr. X’s dream will live on. But with a different start."

Alex paused and then continued. "Dr. X, the real one, was a good guy. And we, me and Fidget and Ricky, have started the next generation of medical science. Dr. X’s dream will go on, but without 99% of the people on Earth dying. Now, only he died, but his dream didn’t."

Grinder realized he was staring guiltily down at the floor. Alex was right. It was thanks to Dr. X that he and millions of other people would be able to live a little longer.

Dr. X’s implants and trilibugs were patented and created a medical revolution. In five years, the average life span of a human went from 65 to 110. To think that people were living almost fifty years longer thanks to Dr. X.

Alex-Alex Man, the Action Man, continued to do Master Vision games after his heart was ready. At the age fifty-two, he retired, due to a broken arm. He and Fidget (and their four children) moved to an area near Seattle and lived out their lives.

Fidget-Fidget married Alex one year after her neck was fixed and had four children in the next ten years. Her video documentary of Alex’s entire career was released (it was over 200 hours long) and sold over 100,000,000 copies around the world (this stat taken after she retired).

Grinder-Grinder got married to a British technician a few years later, divorced another year later, and then fell in love with a girl from Moscow. After they married, Grinder decided that Big Air would be his home for the rest of his life. His wife and him had two children on the Big Air after Alex and Fidget retired.

Ricky-Ricky had a heart attack when he was forty years old, killing him in his sleep. It was highly surprising but Team Xtreme realized that it could’ve happened to anybody and created a video of various sponsors in honor of Ricky.

Diana-Diana married Ricky a month after he was able to get into the wheelchair and quit working for INTERCEPT a month later. She became a Team Xtreme security person, protecting Team Xtreme and all of its possessions. When Ricky died, she went back to INTERCEPT and was killed during her first mission back. Some say that she couldn’t kill herself so she had someone do it for her.

Vinnie-Fidget replaced the dead lizard a few weeks after her neck was fixed. Vinnie was with Fidget till the end.

Brandon-Somehow, Brandon’s body was never recovered from the wreckage of the Council’s hideout. Some say that he and Nick Masters, whose body wasn’t found, either, escaped and were creating a nuclear neo-human plan. Neither were ever seen again.