Disclaimer: We do not own Red vs. Blue or any of its branch producers. All of Red vs. Blue Content is property of Rooster Teeth.

THE SEARCH FOR ZETA: PROLOGUE

Sanctum Excavation Site

Pilus Expanse

UNSC

Madrigal

Chi Exos System

0330

The facility was the ruins of an ancient civilization several thousand years ago. Idaho couldn't recall the name of the race. Then again, he never liked their technology. The UNSC had uncovered it recently over the past decade. The structure seemed to be built all along the side of this thought to be natural hole in the ground. He and California were here for one reason only: To get the AI Zeta.

The AI Zeta was the AI fragment given to Idaho when he was still in the secret government project codenamed: Project Freelancer. Due to some fault he couldn't remember, all the AIs were recalled. The lucky ones were able to run away before they were due for removal, though Agent Idaho was not one of them. One week after they removed Zeta, Idaho was able to go AWOL during a reconnaissance mission. He had spent three long, bloody years looking for Zeta. But after the first year, he had forgotten his original goal. Instead, targeting Recovery agents and stealing their tech, mainly comm, to aid with his obsession to copy both the video and audio recordings, stored in a data chip in the back of the helmet of Recovery agents and dead Freelancers alike. He would the copy them onto a similar data chip and keeping it for further use. Idaho felt it was a way of being able to tell the truth about what they did. Then two weeks ago, Idaho encountered Agent California.

The story about California was not one Idaho remembered very well. The only thing about him was California was one of the three original five freelancers that actually survived the initial training. Then he was supposed to be executed. Official records say he was, but no one really knows for sure.

California came to Idaho and told him he knew where the AI Zeta was, but he required Idaho's help to be able to recover it. At first Idaho was reluctant to follow, but eventually trusted California enough to follow him, for now.

"Are you absolutely sure he's here?" asked Idaho, his Strider-class helmet making his facial expressions unreadable. California didn't dignify the question with a response. Instead he just walked towards the building which would lead to the elevation system that would take them to the facility. After a few steps, Idaho finally followed expecting a response, but always remaining four paces behind California, looking up into the dark sky as he walked.

The planet Madrigal had a special magnetic field that made it so that four times every year, they would be visible and would display a spectacular light show, shining in different colours every few minutes. Unfortunately, today was not one of those days. But even so, with special equipment, someone could still see a faint green light in the sky. Lucky for Idaho, his suit was equipped with just the device.

The most of the facility was still undiscovered. For some undetailed reason, the UNSC had abandoned the expedition to completely explore it, and the undiscovered areas were heavily locked down. The Director of Project Freelancer had made a deal with the UNSC so that he could use the facility as a storage facility, so long as he didn't attempt to unlock further rooms, which was one of California's reasons why the Zeta fragment could be here.

California unlocked the door and entered, followed by Idaho. He went to hail the elevator, but found that the controls were under a lock.

"Ultor. See if you can work around this." California said. "Of course." replied a small orange figure that had appeared on California's left shoulder, and disappeared into the control panel.

Ultor was California's AI. California claims that when he went AWOL, the insurrectionist forces allowed him to join them and gave him Ultor. He never mentioned what happened after that. Ultor is a Forerunner AI as California claims. He also claims that he is not only the last of the Forerunner AI's, but he is also the most powerful.

After about seven seconds Ultor returned to California's shoulder. "Done." Ultor said as the door to the elevator opened.

California proceeded inside the lift followed by Idaho. Then Idaho pressed the touch screen to take them to the facility and the doors slid shut. After about twenty seconds, Idaho took the Carbine from off his shoulder and examined it, checking whether the ammunition in the rifle was full. Neither of them said anything as the doors slid open.

Idaho exited the elevator first, his Carbine at the ready position with the safety still on. He scanned the area to make sure it was clear. The hallway was very wide with a very high ceiling with what looked like catwalks. His radar did not read any motion. He lowered his gun and gave the signal that it was clear. But California didn't wait for him and was already at a console where he plugged the data chip Ultor was stored in.

"Where is it?" California said in his baritone voice.

The avatar of Ultor appeared as what looked like a Roman Legionnaire, except g he was glowing orange. "Sub section 3. Room 15. Cargo crate Z-78." Ultor replied.

California unplugged Ultor and placed him back into his Recon-class helmet. This time, California led the way. After going through a series of empty hallways and going down another elevator like platform, California finally stopped at a door.

"What's the hold-up California?" asked Idaho.

"This door is triple locked." California said without turning his head "Well. It shouldn't be a problem for Ultor right?" Idaho queried. "It's not that." California said turning his head a little this time. "Get ready." Idaho nodded and grabbed his Carbine, as California grabbed one of his tomahawks. The door slid open.

This time, California entered first. He looked in both directions before making his first step into the room. The room was very similar to the first one, with the exception of the hallway splitting in two directions. When he was sure it was clear, he lowered his weapon and Idaho stepped forward.

"Which way?" Idaho asked with his Carbine pointed downwards.

California pointed to the right hallway. "That way. Room 15." Idaho walked very fast down the hall with California close behind him. He went to the door marked with the number '15' and pressed the button for the door to open. The door quickly slid upwards and Idaho entered.

The room was filled with crates filled with things which Idaho couldn't possibly guess. Ammunition, armour, maybe even medical supplies. But Idaho was not interested in any of them. "Which one has the capsule?" Idaho asked. "It's marked with the Freelancer symbol and is shaped like a beard box." Ultor said.

Idaho looked around and eventually found the box. Wiping some dust of it, he could see the triangle like shape logo with the strange symbols on them. He turned the lid off and it easily came off. He set it down on another box as he took out the containment capsule which housed the Zeta AI, Idaho's long lost friend would now be reunited with him once more.

"Now," Idaho said as he took out his Carbine with one hand and aimed it at California. "About this whole 'partnership'. For one, I know you're just doing this so you can get your hands on Zeta." He continued as he attached the containment device to his back. "And for another, I work alone." exclaimed Idaho. "Then why have Zeta?" Ultor asked taunting him. "Don't try to play with my words! Zeta and I are leaving, and there is nothing you can do to stop us!" Idaho shot back, holding his rifle with both his hands now.

"You're right agent Idaho. But the security system can." Ultor said.

"What are you talking about?" said Idaho as he started moving closer to the door, indicating for California to move in the opposite direction.

"Ever wonder why exploration of this facility was cancelled? When I was in the console, I awoke certain, well, factors." Ultor said cool as ever. As Idaho pressed the button to open the door and started walking out, he soon came face to face with a floating object.

It hummed in a very low pitch and had a single blue eye. It started bathing Idaho in a blue light. Most likely scanning him. Two seconds after the floating object had stopped shining the blue light on Idaho, its one blue eye turned red and it made a very low sound.

Idaho quickly guessed it was angry and pulled his magnum and fired three shots from below. It fizzed with energy and parts of it fell apart as Idaho fired each shot into it. Idaho noticed that the ceiling was flooded with the same floating prisms and each turned to look towards him and their single blue eye also turned red. One of them fired a beam of energy at him but Idaho instinctively dodged.

Idaho quickly activated his Tactical Perception armour ability and planned out his next move in his head. Idaho's tactical perception showed him very useful tips during combat, though the add-on to the armour was soon discontinued because only a person with very fast reflexes as well as knowledge of a lot of mathematics and physics could understand the information given.

It marked out the fastest route to the nearest cover, showing him how long it would probably take. As soon as he started running, he held his carbine up and started shooting at his floating attackers, at the same time dodging fire that they shot at him. He found that it only took two to four shots before he brought down one. At least the ones with no shields.

As he hid behind his cover, he reloaded his half empty rifle and plotted out his next move to the door. There were only two other walls of cover he could hide behind so he had to move quickly. Idaho quickly decided that he had to take a few more out before he could continue, his heart racing from the sudden need to act much quicker to survive. He thought this day would go out so much easier. But then again, he was an ex-freelancer. Anything could happen to him.

He quickly stood up from his crouched position and destroyed three more not before he heard the humming that they made before they fired their laser beams. But as he turned around, he saw that the robot targeting him had been smashed and had a tomahawk in what Idaho presumed was its brain. He looked up and saw it was California. California acknowledged Idaho with a nod and pulled his tomahawk out of its head. California was then forced to crouch again to dodge the laser beams.

California just activated a big shield made of energy that resembled a riot shield. The shield glowed orange as it protected California from the blasts.

"What are these things Ultor?" Idaho asked while reloading. "They are Sentinels. They were built by the Forerunners, the same beings that created me. There are many types of them. These ones are designed to defend installations and facilities from intruders. They are all designed for the purpose of maintaining facilities and installations." Ultor explained for Idaho as California shot down a few with his battle rifle. "Good to know. What say we work together until we're out of this mess?" Idaho asked. "That is a very intelligent conclusion, Agent Idaho." Ultor replied sarcastically.

Idaho, ignoring Ultor, told California his plan. California, after a second to think about it, agreed. California provided cover fire for Idaho as he made his way to the exit, but one of the Sentinels escaped California's shots, but fortunately was taken out by a well-timed tomahawk throw into the sentinels "eye". The Sentinels seemed intent on stopping Idaho from leaving. Most likely they were trying to stop him from making away with the Zeta AI. 'No. Not today' Idaho thought grimly to himself as he ran.

Suddenly, a Sentinel was able to fire a blast that knock the capsule off of him and onto his back, sending Idaho sliding into the wall. The blast stung Idaho like a hot piece of metal against bare skin. Fortunately for Idaho, the suit of armour he wore protected him from most of the blast. The capsule slid along the floor, out the entrance, and at California's feet. Idaho suddenly whirled around remembering about California's short range teleportation ability. He also realised that from the beginning, California had thought it out. He had planned this. Or maybe he didn't. Maybe Ultor had. From travelling for a week with him, he had learned that Ultor actually did most of the thinking for him, made the strategic plans, sometimes even talking for him.

"No. Don't do this California!" Idaho shouted as he rolled behind cover as he was nearly hit by another blast. California picked up the capsule and turned on his shields to protect him as he moved towards the door control panel, ripping apart any Sentinel that stood in his way or stabbing it with a forerunner device that, when activated, formed into an orange coloured spear comprised mostly of something Ultor called 'hard light' (excluding the parts of the actual device which projected the hard light) that disintegrated anything it touched.

"Vos qui estis morituri te salutant nos" said California as he saluted and pressed the button to close the door. "I will find you California. I will find you!" Idaho shouted as the door closed, firing at the Sentinels as he did.

Idaho, suddenly lit with a new determination reloaded his rifle and got ready to finish the rest of the Sentinels, knowing that even if he did, it was only the start.

Written By: Sze Khun Lim and Liam John Stuckless (Edited by Liam John Stuckless)

Creation Team: Liam John Stuckless, Sze Khun Lim, Mason Jaffrey and Tanner Prunty