Alrighty... so, I have writer's block on pretty much all my other stories, but I wanted to write something... I'm going to take a shot with this, but it may mostly be gibberish. May have to read The Tragedy Called Agent Tennessee in order to better understand some things.
Agent Virginia didn't get along with many of the other Freelancers. She had experienced enough deaths close to her and had forced herself to shut others out. Agent Tennessee is one of a similar personality. Although younger, the small girl had accompanied Virginia on an unsuccessful, and lethal mission... why am I talking in the third person?
Hello, my name is Karen Meniscus, or as some like to call me; Agent Virginia... well, former Agent. I am twenty-five years old; virgin... Yes, I got teased. When I was seven, I had injured and blinded my right eye. Once I grew up, everyone in my family brought me down, saying things like, "you could never be a decent soldier." or, "Why even try?" I didn't give up, and look where I made it to. I had been dubbed Agent Virginia and was sent to the Mother of Invention. Granted, they didn't know I had a blind eye. I just covered it up with an eyepatch and said that I had lazy eye and that it would be fine eventually. I was twenty one then.
I was the newest of the old, but not the youngest of the new. There was also another agent by the name of Tennessee. She was always in a training room or somewhere. Her voice made her sound like a teenager, which just makes me wonder if she hit puberty early. She was only about eleven and a half. I only know this because of the few times I'd catch her running up and down the halls at the same time. Two thirty in the morning, she made her way to the locker rooms, then two forty-five became a jog in the opposite direction; the training room. There was a time when I took a moment to watch the child. I almost felt sorry for her.
"Are you here to check up on my little girl?" A man in white armor, with a scar across his eye and a cigarette in his mouth, had snuck up behind me.
"Ah uh..." I flinched, "I-I didn't know that she's here because of her father, mister..." My words trailed off.
"It's Alaska." He extended his hand towards me, "And there are no need for formalities, I'm sure I'm just around your age."
"..." I glanced at the child, who had still been training her ass off, then returned my gaze to the man, "That means you would've been about ten years of age when she was born..." I slowly backed away, realizing that he's probably older than he thinks I am.
"I would've been..." He pondered on the thought for a moment, "fourteen. That's saying I was her biological father, though... and I don't think I have biological children... or ever will." He started to laugh.
"So, she's adopted?"
"Yeah. Word of advise, don't take Agent Vermont's words literally. He'll screw you over." He looked through the glass window, watching the child carefully as she started to give of frustrated actions, "She's still fighting Zeta, huh?" He sighed.
"Pardon me," I interrupted his train of thought, "but who's Zeta."
"The last AI fragment of the Alpha AI." He turned his head to face me, "I'm sure you've heard of it."
"Um... Yeah. Wasn't it the AI that the original Freelancers drove insane before that project was defeated by two other Freelancers and Sim Soldiers?"
"Exactly." He turned once again to face the window.
"So, if that's the case, what part of the Alpha is Zeta?"
"Pardon?"
"Like how Sigma was creativity and Theta was trust. What's Zeta?"
"..." He continued to stare at the window, but seemed as if he were collectively thinking about what to say next, "When Zeta was 'born,' he actually somehow acquired three traits from the Alpha. His hope, depression, and innocence."
"And, why was he given to Agent Tennessee?" I continued to pry further.
"The Counselor, who took charge of Project Freelancer after the Director, thought that having someone to talk to her would eventually bridge the gap she's created between her and the rest of humanity."
"And why does she create this gap?"
"I will not discuss personal matters." He turned to face me and laughed a little, "I'll never hear the end of it if I talk about her personal life."
"My apologies." I took a step back.
"I don't blame you for being curious." He stifled another chuckle.
"..." I looked out the window myself, watching her knock down some test dummies, "Does she at least get along with you?"
"More or less." He let out a sigh, "There's still a gap between the two of us, but it's a smaller one." He smiled, "I think it's because I don't treat her like a kid. I know exactly how she wishes to be respected, and I believe she appreciates it."
"How can a child not want to be treated like one?" I scoffed.
"She's more than a child. She's gone through hardships. She's strong like a rock, but fragile like a flower... no normal child could live to her standards of do or die."
It's been roughly two years since I have joined Project Freelancer. Agent Tennessee was stabbed in the left side of her stomach on her first real mission. I knew a child like that couldn't survive something so dangerous. I visited her in the medical bay one morning. I don't know her all the well, but something compelled me.
"Hello, Agent Virginia." A black and white figure appeared as I sat next to the child, "How may I assist?"
"Instruction: Identify yourself." I responded, practically monotonically.
"Executing. I am Intelligence Program; Zeta, as created for the special operative program; Freelancer." The wisp-like character said in an echoey voice, "I was assigned to Agent Tennessee. My assignee has recently been injured in combat."
"I can tell." I looked down at the small girl, letting a scoff pass my lips, "Looks like she became injured because she was too selfish to understand your benefits."
"On the contrary," It had opposed my remark, "She became injured, besides the fact that she had used me."
"So, you actually got the chance to shine, eh Zeta?"
"Affirmative." He walked over to the girl, as if he were her guardian angel, "I believe she has seen that she can put trust in people," he behaved as if he were... well, human, "but it may take her a while to cope with the post-tramatic stress. She may not end up talking to anyone for a while."
"You act as if her death would burden you."
He float in mid air for just a moment, "Her death would have burdened me..." He can't actually care for this girl, right? After all the hell she put him through? "I understand she tried to shut me out, but I can empathize with her reasoning." His voice started to choke up. He couldn't be exhibiting the meta phase of Artificial Intelligence, can he? He is but a mere fragment.
"Are you saying you like being bullied around?" I responded with a sarcastic tone of voice.
"Not exactly." He sighed, "I believe I am able to save her... and her me."
... shortly after she had regained consciousness, she had been put in therapy. The poor girl had almost been killed by her own biological mother. I couldn't imagine having to suffer through what she did. The woman she had spent more than half her life waiting for had crossed paths with her in an unfortunate reality.
About a month later, we got a new agent. Minnesota... another child. He was merely a little older than Tennessee. Alaska had introduced them to each other, and that was the first time since the incident that I have heard her talk and have seen her smile... heck, that was the first time I had seen her smile since arriving to the Mother of Invention. Minnesota and Tennessee seemed to go together like pent butter and jelly. There was absolutely no way to tear the two apart... for once, both Tennessee and Zeta were happy.
Probably two or so months after Minnesota's arrival, the three of us were assigned to a mission with how ever many other agents. It was a recovery mission. Why they didn't have the Recovery Team go for this, it still fazes me.
"Jessica?" The airy voice of Zeta spoke up from next to me as the girl squirmed around in the seat of the pelican.
"Zeta," she spoke up in a slightly whiny, but authorative tone, "I've asked you before to call me by my assigned name; Agent Tennessee." There was silence among the two for a good five minutes before Zeta broke the silence.
"Agent Tennessee?... That sounds too formal." He looked up towards the ceiling, as if in deep thought.
"Well, call me Tenn like Minnesota does."
"How about Agent Speed Buggy!" He cheered. Speed Buggy? What is he, a child?
"... Speed Buggy?" Now she turned her head to the ceiling. I guess they're more alike than I thought, "I don't know about how I feel about that."
"Please!" He held his hands together in a pleading motion, "We can even put it on your dog tags! Standard procedure says that you get those after the third successful mission!"
"..." She looked down at her right hand, which was held fairly close to her chest, "Why Speed Buggy?"
"It suits your personality. Need for speed and perfection." I guess he has a point.
"Yes, but WHY Speed Buggy?" She repeated her question.
"Trust me, it suits you." I spoke up, laughing a bit.
"Eaves dropper." She said blankly, turning her head the opposite direction of me.
"It's not eaves dropping if you're sitting right next to me. I just happened to over hear it." I pouted underneath my helmet.
"She has a point, Tenn." Minnesota pitched in.
"Shut the fuck up, Kaito." She turned her head to face forward and allowed it to dip down ever so slightly... Does she like him? She is fourteen years old now, since last week. It wouldn't surprise me if them chemicals were kicking in.
"No need to be rude." He now turned away.
"Aw." I muttered under my breath.
"What the hell do you want." She faced me now.
"You like him, don't you?" I whispered loud enough for her to hear.
"Ah!" She jumped just a bit. Did I catch her off guard?, "N-n-no!"
"So that's how it is?" I hunched forward just a little, "Don't worry, that estrogen will kick in even further into your life. Next thing you know, you'll be crying while watching Lilo and Stitch." I smiled a bit.
"Crying at what now?" Does she not know about that movie? I'll get her to watch that soon enough.
"I'll bring it to movie night on Saturday. I'm sure there are other women who'd want to watch it." I leaned back as the Pelican landed and we were sent out on our mission.
"The mission failed?" I whimpered, listening to the voices around me as my eyes refused to open.
"Yeah Virginia." The voice sounded like... Arizona? Or was it New Mexico.
"The doctor said that you suffered from a major head wound." I guess they're both there.
"How major?" I sat up, still staring at blackness.
"Umm... well," That's definitely Arizona. The cautious man never likes breaking bad news.
"W-well, he said it was enough to knock out your vision in your left eye." New Mexico, on the other hand, loves to break bad news.
"O-on the plus side, you have your right!"
"You have got to be fucking kidding me." I went to press my fingers against the bridge of my nose, but realized I still had my helmet on. I'm in the medical bay, right? If so, how come my helmet was placed on my head, and fixed in that matter.
"Yup!" New Mexico's voice remained cheery, "Have fun being half blind." Heh. I guess I've never told these dopes about my story.
"You shouldn't have to worry that much." Arizona's voice continues to be calm, "Agent York made it by pretty far with only his left eye."
"You realize he died because he was shot twice on the left side, right bro?"
"You're not making this any easier... What would Cuz say if she were here?"
"W.V. would probably pummel me and force me to eat dirt like she did back in elementary."
"Actually, I wouldn't doubt that." A laugh escaped his lips.
... I killed a colleague of mine today. We had been dispatched on a mission. We spread out into units of two. It was me and Vermont, Alaska and West Virginia, Tennessee and Minnesota, and lastly Arizona and New Mexico. It was an assassin mission to attempt to rid the galaxy of the insurrectionists. I hear the noise of heavy footsteps, and I ended up shooting poor Vermont in the chest. The mission was a success, but I lost a friend along the way.
Later that week, I've been summoned by the counselor. Heh... he wants to demote me. He feels like Freelancer is safer with me assigned to the Sim Soldiers. I didn't think it was possible to be demoted that far when you've worked so hard to simply join the project, but I somehow managed. I guess I've become that kind of impossible girl.
"Wait a minute, Virginia!" It was either Arizona or New Mexico, again... He sounded as if he were running after me as I was about to board my ship.
"Yeah?" I turned my head to face where the footsteps stopped.
"I just wanted to be the last one to see you on your way out." He was panting... definitely Arizona.
"Why would you even care?" I scoffed, "I'm a danger to any missions I'm placed on."
"Blind is hardly a danger." He laughed, still trying to catch his breath, "A hazard, perhaps."
"How did you-"
"Do you SERIOUSLY think that I'd know you for so long and not catch that?" I felt my helmet unlatch from under my chin, "You really have no faith in me."
"W-what are you trying to do?" I stuttered.
"Seizing the moment." He laughed, taking my helmet of from over my head. I felt his thumb make circles around my cheek as the rest of his fingers moved through my hair, "I'm actually going to miss this beautiful face."
"What the hell are you doing?" I huffed, "What's with this sudden change of attitude?"
"I'm probably not going to see you again." His voice started to get quieter, "It's funny, though. I am usually able to think more rationally in a bind, but everything about me ignored my own brain." He pressed his forehead against mine, "I'm sorry for bothering you. I just-"
"If you say goodbye, I'll kill you." I laughed, actually enjoying the moment. For the first time in forever time had slowed down, but the feeling hadn't lasted for I was called onto the ship and brought off the Mother of Invention.