Why Would We Use Blades When We Have Guns? (Stryker)

ULTRA HQ

Diana's case from day 1 was finally submitted to the upper ranks.

Now, since her status in the organization had been a bit muddled since her resume was that of a runaway, a high school drop out with medals in combat sports, she was sent to boot camp with the other young grunts. A bespectacled young Indian man in HR dug deeper into Diana's case and found her handiwork as a mercenary and contract killer since running away, updating her profile for the company as having been involved in combat with metahumans. Not to mention an impressive body count in the hundreds, including but not limited to: Mafiosi, RussianMafya, Italian Mafia, Yakuza, The Irish Mobs, the IRA, South American cartels, Pirates, Poachers, Gangsters, Modern Nazis, Undead Nazis, assassins, ninjas, ninja assassins, rapists, child killers, corrupt cops, satanics, alien cultists, and so on... all with just her sword.

The man who had lost an arm two days ago and only now just recovered from the shock was Master Sergeant Grover "Bull" Johnson, a former marine veteran of the Gulf Wars and fought ISIS up until he was recruited into Ultra. A high-browed giant of a man, his combed hair graying, standing 6'10" and weighing a hefty 300 pound of muscle and mean Texan attitude, he had whipped Ultra's rank and file recruits into a professional force in no time. He also demonstrated a bit of a backward mentality, being described as a homophobe, a chauvanist and sexist. Regardless, he dressed professionally and got the job done, expecting and getting alot out of his troops.

No surprise then when, on the surveillance video, he was met with a 16 year old, 100 pound female drop out from a third world country, acting without a care in the world, did he start ranting and screaming at her, and berating her for being a drop out and probably an illegal immigrant. When he saw her sword and Diana mentioned her kendo, he simply laughed,and challenged Diana to use her sword on him while he brought out a combat knife. He even mentioned something about Diana using her sword to make him a sandwich... at which point the arm he used to point at Diana had fallen to the ground, and he bled profusely. The cameras could not follow Diana drawing her weapon; it was in her sheathe one frame and in hand the next. Diana and Sarge had to be pulled apart, as the sergeant was going to avenge himself and Diana was going to grant him an honorable death for trying.

Now, He was seated at Echelon's desk, waiting for this 'hearing'. The door opened behind him and it took all the big man's willpower not to chew out Diana. This time Diana had cleaned herself up for this meeting, and wore her white gi and black Hakama, her usually disheveled hair tied into a knot.

"Oh, Sergeant. How's the arm?" Diana asked rather cruelly, seeing the sergeant's one empty sleeve. She took a seat on the sofa. Dressed well she may be, Diana was still fairly laid back.

"I don't have to listen to you. You come from a country that's full of cheap skanks. $20 bucks and I can knock up a girl your age." He said, being equally bigoted to the girl who made him lose an arm.

Diana scoffed, but silently she agreed it was partially true. "uh-huh."

Angrily, Sarge turned to Diana, his tone caustic and full of bile. "You're done, you know. They're gonna wash you out so fast your pants'll be wet when you get off the plane when ya get back to that monkey country of yours."

Being a leader comes with responsibilities, ones that stretch beyond knowing how to lead, but ones that come with knowing how to deal with your subordinates. Charles, a leader with a mission needs to ensure that issues like the one currently arising is solved and properly handled. Charles had entered the room of his office and gazed at the two as he proceeded to sit down in his seat.

Looking over the file and statements from both sides, Charles, commonly known as Echelon stayed quiet for a little while as he read the file. He gazed over each word in every aspect and understood what each part is trying to get across. Both respective parties seemed to be in the wrong in different aspects, but, a decision is to be made of course. Echelon looked up at the two and gazed at the two, analyzing each. His super brain raced with each thought and quickly came to different conclusions and ideas. Ultimately coming up with simple responses.

He sighed and looked at Diana, "You, I understand you're some kind of special mercenary that one of my chief executives brought in due to them seeing potential, as do I after watching previous training room camera recordings, however, actions such as this is not tolerable. I understand the comments he's made, but you aren't free in this either. For you, the consequence is simple, you are to take several sessions on how to properly behave in the workplace, as well as temporary placement in a different department for the rest of the week effective after this meeting, specifically, you'll be serving under Stryker, a scientist and tactician we have here temporarily."

Echelon then turns his head to the male and looks down at the file and back at him, "You've been here quite a bit longer compared to Ms. Mendoza, there's no reason for you to behave and say such unpleasant comments towards her like you have been, before I entered this room I was in your head telepathically and I could hear and understand your thoughts, and based on that, I'm letting you go, but only after you're given a basic mechanical prosthetic."

Echelon then stood up and said, "That is all.", with that he left the room and quickly left to tend to other matters that attracted his immediate attention.


The science team was exhausted, each member that worked and studied under Miles had been completely worn out after numerous attempts on creating a new element. The element has not yet been disclosed to the public, but it's only been said that it is mean't for a greater purpose, a purpose that not even clearance B personnel even know about. Currently, Stryker had been excused from his work on the science 'project' he's been stirring up lately.

So with that, he left the lab and went ahead to move down the hall until he was contacted by Eche telepathically to head to his office and to pick up a girl named Diana, and she's to serve as his assistant for the week as consequence for something.. Anyways, he made a quick detour and cut the next corner heading for the office, he was currently dressed in simple jogging pants and a white t-shirt. His metal arm was shining as usual and always made him stand out no matter what.

On the way he remembered that Eche mentioned a soldier of some sort needed a new prosthetic or something, so on the way he grabbed a scientist on break in the hall and had him tag a long saying, "Need you for a few moments.", and with that, they headed into the office and Stryker explained the arm situation to the scientist he brought, Dr. Kleinn, he was tasked to give the man a new arm by the end of the day and send him on his way.

However, Stryker's job was different.. Stryker entered the modern office and stopped at the door saying, "Diana... I'm Miles, I'm here to serve as your new boss for the week, don't worry though, I wont have you working very much.", with that he stood waiting by the door, leaning on the wall watching the man with the missing arm walk out the door with Dr. Kleinn as Stryker stood and waited for Diana.

"WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY? YOU'RE NOT GONNA BOOT THIS MANIAC-" Red in the face and angry at the decision, Sarge suddenly stood up and started ranting, but he minded his temper midway. He paused, taking a few breathes. "I mean... Yes sir."

Sarge looked at Diana and decided his still abundant vitriol was better redirected at her and her nation of origin. "You're damn lucky, you little skank. Just for this I'm going to your stinkin' country and have me a party with some under aged tramps who's parents'll be happy to take my money to pop em open! Bet if your daddy would do the same if he didn't have money-"

Sarge shut up when Diana's thumb went to her sword, pulling it out of the sheathe a moment. From the sound alone, he tensed and jumped back, knowing how quick that blade went. It was a really disgusting thing for Diana to hear this beast of a man talking about... doing things... to underage girls. But talking about her father was a whole new line for the Sarge to cross.

"Bitch. I'm gonna beat you senseless one of these days!" He said, seeing that nothing was cut off yet. It seemed like Sarge Johnson was not a man who let anything go until he had the final say.

"Sergeant! This way please, we are going to fit you with a prosthetic." Stryker and his assistant finally came around, and the old veteran said no more.


Diana groaned as well when Stryker spoke to her. Science? Did they not read her resume? Regardless she got up and offered Echelon a courteous bow, seeing that her conduct seemed to improve in her old competition uniform. Diana might've been a bit abrasive, but she wasn't about to dishonor her dead coach by acting like a total fool in the Gi.

She followed behind Stryker to presumably his lab, or wherever he wanted to go.

"I don't know what I can offer the science department. I'm a high school drop out, remember?" Diana said rather self-consciously. Now that she thought about it, it was a bit of a shame she never finished because of the run away thing, that she was effectively just muscle.. "I suppose if you need something dissected... " she joked rather sarcastically.

Huh. Sparring? Again? "Looks like uh... hmm... I'm turning into everyone's sparring partner." She remarked to no one in particular. She loses the gi and hakama, having worn freer kickboxing attire underneath- the white sports tank top and the black kickboxer shorts. Diana as always unconsciously looked at her own scars in the mirror- something she did often but not aware of.

Diana seated on the bench, letting her ever-present sword lean on the wall to sit it out. She took a minute to wrap her hands with 120 inches cloth wrap. "So even the scientists here kick butt? Or are you a special case?" She asked, working relatively quickly and wrapping her other hand.

As she spoke, she was sizing up Stryker. Height, possible weight with the arm, his reach. He was clearly over six feet and probably weighed close to 200 pounds.   Caucasian men had the better upper body strength and reach. Diana would have to compensate accordingly, especially the robot arm- she wouldn't be able to disable it. She stood up and took her place on the mat. Lots of open flat space, no environmental advantages- This'd be pure skill.

Diana returned Stryker's bow and decided to go ahead and kick off the Kumite, or spar. She assumed a karate fighting stance as opposed to boxing, seeing Stryker knew a Japanese stance as well.

She advanced rapidly, feinting a front leg body kick towards his cyber arm side catch him off guard but followed up immediately, gaining altitude for a spinning heel kick delivered to his fleshy side. A bit flashy but with Diana's skill it was still functional- quick and strong, striking with a ferocious snapping hook that went for his head.