This starts with the match between Tex and Wyoming, York, and Maine when York was injured. Will branch off and become noncanon plot-wise in the next chapter. Just laying down the ground work. Pretty much covers the first 56mins of s9. Written in 3rd person. Since there is limited information about the Freelancers and MOI much is how I imagine it. I've only watched the series so some may know more than me. Please bear with me if it's wrong from what RT presented. I do not own any of the characters or anything else owned by RT or Microsoft or any others.

North stood with his twin sister, Wash, and Carolina on the observation deck to watch a new recruit take on York, Wyoming, and Maine. To say the newcomer was impressive would be an understatement. North watched as she repeatedly whooped York, Wyoming, and Maine's asses in pugil sticks, hand to hand combat, and lockdown paint. It wasn't even a competition. Somehow, she was able to defend herself against three highly trained operatives.

Wash was right, North mused, this is no ordinary trainee. She was an agent-one that seemed to be better than York, Wyoming, and Maine combined.

Currently Agent Texas was winning another round of paralyzing paint. North couldn't help but chuckle as Texas shot York repeatedly in the crotch.

"That's gonna hurt." The blond commented to the others, who were also taking pleasure in their friend's pain.

Wash spoke up in reply, "I do not want to go against her. Ever." he said definitively.

North nodded his agreement and returned his attention to the battle below where the next round was about to start. FILSS finished the count down and the group above jerked at the sounds of live ammo being discharged.

"Are they using live rounds on the training floor?" Wash asked in a surprised, somewhat out-raged tone.

What in the hell, North mused. He stepped closer to the viewing window to get a better look at the situation below. The barriers were being blown to bits by the rounds; clearly they were not meant to be hit with real bullets. This wasn't right, this was dangerous-deadly even.

He watched alongside the others as Texas managed to avoid the bullets and effectively lock down both Maine and Wyoming's suits. A mixture of worry and awe settled in his gut. He was relieved to see that York had stuck with the lock down paint. Cheating and attempting to seriously injure a teammate was not part of York's personality, though it was obviously a component of Wyoming's and Maine's. He breathed a sigh of relief once it seemed to be over. Wyoming was covered in the paint and stuck between parts of a broken barricade. Maine was also covered in lockdown paint after unsuccessfully attacking Texas. Finally, able to breathe again, he relaxed and took a step back.

"That was a new one." North mumbled, watching as York tried to get up, dazed from the hit he took.

As North was turning his head to talk to Wash, a slight movement caught his eye.

"York!" North cried as he watched Maine toss a grenade at Texas. She easily side-stepped it but didn't realize York was still disoriented behind her. He watched, unable to do anything while his best friend was about to be blown up by his own teammate.

He was frozen in fear as he watched Texas shoot York's suit with the paint multiple times, moments before the grenade detonated. Immediately North and the others ran toward the training room. He couldn't stop thinking of his friend, injured a level below.

Once they had made it to the training room, North ran over to his friend, his heart beating dangerously fast and a sick feeling in his stomach. Before he could do or say anything, the med team arrived. He stepped back from York's immobile body to give them space. Wash and South moved to stand next to him, both watching the medical personnel work on York. A snarky comment from his sister halted the endless, anxious thoughts rolling through his mind.

He couldn't help roll his eyes at his sister's words: "Can't believe she did that to him. Shot him and sacrificed him."

Before North could refute the statement, Wash spoke up. "Lock down hardens the armor. She probably saved his life."

North agreed, impressed by Agent Texas's ability to think of that in the heat of the moment. It was a life or death situation and her split-second decision had probably saved one of his best friends.

"Quick thinking." was all he said though, as the Director appeared before them. North joined the others and scrambled to attention as their leader began an angry rant. He found himself surprised by the Director's words. There would be no punishment for Maine or Wyoming who had violated protocol and injured their teammate. Maybe CT was right, maybe the Director really had given Maine and Wyoming the live rounds.

Wash seemed to be the only other one taken aback by the Director's tirade.

North sighed angrily as the Director dismissed them and watched the med team carry York off to the infirmary.