At the Prime Kronos Facility, Shawn enters Ryder's office.
Shawn: Ryder.
Ryder: Ah, my boy. My man of the hour. You did it....let me just say that I missed you over the past three months...though we'd lost a good soldier like you....loyal....trustworthy....with respect...
Shawn: Sir....
Ryder: And now that you have completed our objective of apprehending Kyle, we have completed our goal...this company owes you a debt, son and now, it's time to show the world our power.
Shawn: Ryder! Sir....my brother was in that city.....my little brother...the people that Kyle were with...the two girls and their brother....two other men....there were men and women that had families...children...
Ryder: Men and women that killed thousands of my men who had children....Sacrifices have to be made, son...
Shawn: I need to speak to Kyle.
Ryder approaches Shawn.
Ryder: I'm sorry, son...but I have to make an escort with you....after all, the man did kill your father...you're not getting soft on him, are you, son? or for the rest of those wasteland trash, who are nothing but murders, thieves and rapist in disguise?
Shawn: N-no.....No, sir...but what about Catherine, sir? What about her?
Ryder: Well, she killed one of our own saving Kyle.....she has to be punished too....don't worry...I promise you...they will have the best of care...and I promise you we won't kill them.
In a cell, Kyle, beaten and bruised, is electrocuted awake as he screams in pain.
Kyle: Shit!
Kyle looks around to notice that he is in restraints, before noticing Catherine across from him in restraints as well. Barnes appears in the room and sits in front of Kyle.
Barnes: Wakey wakey.....eggs and bakey....Comfy?
Kyle: Fuck you.
Barnes laughs.
Barnes: Same cocky little shit....like I said; Barnes stands up.
Barnes: You're one of us and that's not going to change.
Ryder and Shawn, dressed in his Zeus Corps armor, walks in. Kyle turns to Shawn.
Kyle: So this is who you were all along? Should've seen it....I should've let Nathan kill you....but I was so goddamned stupid to think....that you could be more of a man than me and your brother thought you were....he may be dead right now, but you don't care...so tell me; how long were you waiting in the shadows to pull the trigger? I guess all our time in the orphanage doesn't matter now, huh?!
Ryder turns to Shawn.
Ryder: Ignore him.
Ryder steps in front of Kyle.
Ryder: Look at you, Kyle.....
Ryder laughs.
Ryder: Almost three years since I've seen you and you haven't stopped getting tall...but I must say; I'm disappointed in you, Kyle....you ran with the sheep...when you should've stuck with the wolves...you see; the wolves will always win.....I'm sorry; I forget you're my guest. You need anything? A drink?
Kyle: Why? You know I don't drink.....much.
Ryder: Ah...yeah...you don't drink....you're a pure soul as you always said...because you let church and silly little Christian songs toil with your mind....same ol Kyle Desipich...good soldier, but could never always follow orders.
Kyle: "Orders"? It didn't take me long to realize what I was doing until I was with those folks you call "wasteland trash". You were having me murder innocent civilians.....gave us wrong intel....I wasn't take a life that had done nothing wrong!
Ryder: You know; I remember the first day I met you....I came over to your orphanage and you were about six at the time...so thrilled to meet me...and when you were seventeen, you and Shawn wanted to be a part of my army....I recruited you young....I raised you to be a soldier....
Kyle: I remember those days....days when you were someone to admire and look up to....before you turned into tyrant...
Ryder: Well, you ran, son....you just kept running and running and running for three months until we finally caught you....and in the process, you just kept getting people you cared about killed...
Kyle spits in Ryder's face. Ryder scoffs, then wipes spit from his face.
Ryder: You still got one hell of a fire....even though it should've died out...
Ryder slaps Kyle, before grabbing his face.
Ryder: Listen, son....I did what I did to protect what is left of what your father contributed too...
Kyle: My father had nothing to do with what you did! You could've contained the infection in those cities, but you used the God's Hammer to destroy the cities and kill thousands of people...Nuclear weapons...whatever you could get your hands on!
Ryder: I did....because this world needs order...and without order, there can be no true peace...this isn't a world of heroes, Kyle...
Ryder releases Kyle's face.
Ryder: and you're not a hero...
Kyle: You're right...I'm not a hero....but I'm the type to try and give people hope....not take it away....which is what Kronos has done over the past twenty one years....
Ryder: We did what had to be done....
Kyle: Like killing your employees who rebelled?
Ryder: Good men die so others can live.
Kyle: Funny how you always watch others die instead of putting your own fucking life on the line.
Ryder: I'll do whatever it takes and kill whoever to put this nation back in order. The world can go back to how it was.
Kyle: You don't care about this nation. You just cared about your own ass. Why? What do you have planned now? Kill everyone who doesn't bow to your feet?
Ryder: You've grown up in this world. You and I know how it is...
Kyle: Just so you know; whatever you're planning will fail.....your utopia eventually will crumble.
Ryder: Why? Because the great Kyle Desipich is going to stop me?
Kyle gives an angry look, before Ryder turns to Shawn.
Ryder: Barnes....your sidearm.
Shawn gives a puzzled look, before Barnes pulls out his sidearm and gives it to Ryder, before aiming it at Kyle.
Ryder: You are always willing to die for your people....but the thing is, Kyle...no matter how hard you try...people always end up getting hurt.
Ryder then shoots Catherine in the abdomen.
Kyle: No!
Shawn gives a shocked look.
Shawn: Ryder....
Ryder: I'm sorry...was that supposed to shock you? You're still just a sad little boy...your father...was one of our brilliant scientists...it's a shame you didn't become the great man he was...
Kyle: You know nothing about my father or me...
Ryder sighs.
Ryder: Burton....your knife, son. Please.
Seemingly reluctant and hesitant, Shawn pulls out his blade, before handing it to Ryder, who then approaches Kyle.
Ryder: You. You are the Prodigal son of a brilliant scientific man. Just so you know......I saved you..... you were like a son to me too.....I took you in....I believed in you...I loved you....and you...you took my heart and crushed it....I gave you a chance to be something....but you chose to run with sheep...and like I said; the wolves...
Ryder then stabs Kyle in the lower abdomen, shocking Shawn. Kyle groans.
Ryder: always wins...
Ryder digs the blade deeper into Kyle's abdomen, causing him to scream painfully. Both Kyle and Catherine are now bleeding out as Ryder throws the bloodied knife onto the ground, before Kyle, weakened, kneels.
Ryder: Payback's a bitch, ain't it?
Ryder lowers himself to Kyles' level.
Ryder: Shame....don't you get it, Kyle? you're just like me....
Kyle: (weakly) I am nothing like you....
Ryder: We'll see....
Ryder prepares to walk out, before Shawn talks to him.
Shawn: You said that you wouldn't hurt them...
Ryder: I said wouldn't kill them....their wounds will....
Kyle: What do you expect, Shawn?
Kyle grunts.
Kyle: He makes promises and breaks them.....why are still with him after what happened to your father?
Shawn: What?
Kyle: What happened to your Dad..... What he did!
Shawn: What the hell are you talking about?
Ryder and Barnes give a look.
Kyle laughs, then turns to Ryder.
Kyle: You never told him, did you? You're lying to him, aren't you? You made up some bullshit lie?
Kyle turns to Shawn.
Kyle: That's why you were sent to kill me, isn't it?
Kyle turns to Ryder.
Kyle: You said I killed Burton, didn't you? Why don't you tell him now, Ryder?
Barnes: Shut up.
Shawn: Tell me what? What's he talking about?
Kyle: Tell him the truth about his father!
Barnes: I said shut the fuck up!
Kyle: Why don't you tell him the truth, you fucking coward?!
Barnes presses a button, electrocuting Kyle.
Shawn: Barnes! Stop! Shawn turns to Ryder.
Shawn: Ryder, what the hell is he talking about?
Catherine: Shawn.....Kyle didn't kill your father....Ryder ordered Rick Barnes to execute him.
Shawn: What?
Kyle: It's true...I was there....
Shawn turns to Ryder.
Shawn: Is that true?
Ryder: Of course not, son...they're fucking with your mind...pay no attention to him, my boy...and don't forget, you're a wolf....not a sheep...
Ryder and Barnes step out as Shawn walks up to Kyle.
Shawn: How do I know you're not lying?
Kyle: If it's one thing I'm sorta bad at is lying.....he killed your father, Shawn...
Shawn: bullshit...he wouldn't do that!
Kyle: ask your brother...ask Sarah...ask Nathan...they were all there!
Shawn: That's bullshit! That's fucking bullshit!
Shawn grabs Kyle by the throat.
Shawn: Shut up! You're lying! You're lying!
Kyle: Shawn, I swear on my life, I saw that psychopath gun down your father.
Catherine: Shawn....in my office, in my drawer, there's a hard drive with your name on it...there's a message for you...upload the drive into my computer and open the file...."to my son"....if you won't believe us, maybe you'll believe family.
Shawn gives a look, before talking to Kyle and releasing him.
Shawn: If you're wrong about Ryder, I'll come back and I'll kill you myself.
Shawn enters Catherine's office and walks to the computer, before searching the office. Shawn searches the drawers and at first, finds nothing until he finally sees the hard drive as it drops out of Catherine's picture of her brother, Tyler. Shawn uploads the hard drive into Catherine's computer, before he clicks onto the video file "to my son". Shawn opens the file as a recording of Burton pops out, before Shawn clicks the play button.
Burton: My name is General William Burton...this is going to be my last video log....I'm not sure how long I can hold.....How long I can hide....but I can't hide....not anymore....sooner or later....I'll have to face consequences for everything that I've done....that I've contributed too.....They say that....that karma always comes back and stabs you in the back....maybe they're right...if I can something right, I'll say this....I've been captured....and Jason Ryder, the administrator of Kronos, has ordered my execution...
Shawn, shocked at learning the truth behind his fathers' death, nods his head and is in tears.
Burton: I don't know when, but this is what I deserve for my contribution towards the end of the world.....
In the main Tower, Ryder and Barnes are seen looking over a giant weapon created by the Zeus Corps Technicians. Ryder laughs.
Ryder: It's perfect.
Burton: If I am to do one thing, is to make things right...with my children....I've already lost brother...my wife...and my youngest is out there...and to my oldest boy....to you, Shawn....if you're still alive....if you're still out there...I am so sorry....
In the cell, Kyle and Catherine continue to bleed out.
Burton: I'm sorry for being your general...instead of being your father....I'm sorry that I wasn't there when your mother died...I'm sorry making you feel like work is more important than you....As a father, I won't see you again....you and James....live....you two are the best things...that have ever happened to me...and I couldn't be any proud to have greater men as my sons...Shawn, you take care of your brother....you promise me that...
Shawn, ashamed and learning the truth, falls into tears.
Burton: I love you both....
The recording shuts off as Shawn slams his fist into the desk, feeling angered and betrayed.
Shawn: Ryder, you son of a bitch...Kyle...Oh, god...what have I done?
Shawn steps out of Catherine's office as Ryder is seen walking.
Ryder: Shawn...
Shawn: Sir...
Ryder: You okay?
Shawn: Yeah...yeah...
Ryder: Look...don't worry about what Desipich said...he's trying to fuck with your head...
Shawn: I know...sir...you wouldn't lie to me, would you?
Ryder: Of course not....you're like a son to me too....except better...you and Kyle came here when you were teenagers...but you're stronger than Kyle...mentally...he's let these wasteland people get the better of him...
Shawn: How well did you know my dad?
A moment.
Ryder: He was a good friend....I'll have you know....you've been promoted...to General...yep, ceremony's tomorrow after our demonstration of our new weapon...we're going to test her out tomorrow...thanks to you...Kronos will have a future...
Shawn: But, sir...thing is....even though we were like sons to you...Kyle never met his dad...but I had mine...and you were his friend...
Ryder: I am his friend...and I envy his strongest son....Get some rest...you've got a big day tomorrow.
Shawn nods, before Ryder walks off with Shawn giving an angry look towards Ryder.