Time for the disclosure: I do not own Red vs Blue, nor do I own any of the characters. I also do not own Halo. That's owned by someone else, either Bungie, Microsoft, Bill Gates, Blizzard or some combination of those. Whoever owns Halo, it is not me.
Washington turned and gritted his teeth. The old feeling was not as bad as he remembered, but it still rankled him. Taking a few deep breaths helped, and focused on the element that he had already started to adapt to. Leadership never came naturally to him. He took another deep breath and addressed his, for lack of a better word, team of soldiers.
"Alright. Stick to the plan. Just run. Get Epsilon out of here. Turn it over to the authorities the first chance you get." This leadership thing had been uncomfortable under the best of circumstances, but he knew he was going deal with more irritating back-talk and complaints.
"Sarge, shouldn't we help him? He won't stand a chance against that thing." Simmons asked his 'leader'. Wash tried to tune them out and tried to suppress a headache. He failed on both accounts
"We have our orders, Simmons. We have to think about the mission." Sarge responded gruffly.
"Finally an order I wanna follow. 'Run away and live'!" Griff enthused, but even by commenting on agreement, the chunky soldier belied his immaturity.
Soldiers aren't supposed to have to want to follow orders to carry them out! a voice chimed in Wash's head, an old voice from a half-forgotten lecture.
The babbling continued until Wash interrupted the bickering Red Simulation soldiers.
"Just drive. When the E.M.P. goes off-"
"You mean the Emp?" Caboose interrupted abruptly.
"Stop it." Wash tersely replied. "It will destroy Epsilon if you're not far enough away."
"You got it Mister Washington." Caboose chirped back, throwing what he thought was a soldiery-looking salute at the freelancer.
Wash smiled, despite himself. "Take care of yourself guys." He glanced over to the Alpha unit. "I know that's one thing you're good at." His smile quickly faded, and he was glad that his helmet concealed his lapse in emotional control.
Wash hit the garage release switch, and the large bay door starts to open upwards.
"He's gonna be on you as soon as you clear the gate. Be ready to move. Protect the Blues' vehicle at any cost." Wash warned them, not able to resist giving one last command to his 'troops'.
"Protect the Blues, right, yeah." Sarge grumbled, his voice trailing off "...we'll get riiight on that shit..."
Wash reached up to switch on the all-channels frequency "That's it. Lead the Meta as far away from the base as possible." He commented loudly. He was pretty sure that none of the idiots even had their radios on, but he figured that the Meta wouldn't know, or even care. Yeah, I'm thinking that he really wasn't subtle enough even at his best. And he, or should I say they, will be eager to get their hands on the so-called Alpha.
"I just hope there's enough time." commented Wash out loud, and then peeking over to the battle between the dwindling soldiers and the former Freelancer.
Relax. It looks like the Meta is taking the bait, better go.
Wash had already tensed his legs and he took off like a shot. He wound his way through the corridors of the now-abandoned base, while remembering the last time he had been chased like this.
A car seems less worrisome than the Meta. Ok, maybe it would be nice to have some more back-up.
Wash cracked a smile, thinking about how York had casually called him the second, then cheerfully downgraded him to worst fighter. But he and Delta had still given Wash support then, despite bickering.
He heard the Meta gaining ground after him and remembered how he had once been so worried about his friend. Maine had been seriously injured and they had rushed him to the closest Med-Center, and the Director had pulled rank to get the comatose agent into surgery.
The big guy got shot in the throat that time and that hardly phased him. Jeez... its no wonder he's been practically unstoppable.
The passage way dropped down, but rather than taking the steps, Wash vaulted himself up off of the railing and considered blindly firing behind him, while dropping down what he knew was just a few flights of stairs. He held his fire, preferring to save the ammo.
That would have been just like when Tex had tackled the Sarcophagus in mid-air with a busted jetpack. Badass, as usual. Probably would've missed this time.
He would be the first to admit he had gotten lucky to down that Hornet, but he had managed to balance on the Sarcophagus, and squeeze a few shots off. But Omega and Agent Texas had certainly helped him survive that day. He winced slightly as the combat reinforcement in his legs absorbed the impact of the fall and kept running. He reached for a grenade to toss behind him, but realized he was completely out. He knew it would have probably been a wasted effort, but he had to try something to prevent being caught.
Any further thoughts were cut off by the PA as he entered the main chamber. A voice that despite his best efforts he had started to think of as 'Sheila' calmly commented: "Warning. Security breach detected."
"Agent Washington. Good to see you again." The perpetually calm, detached tone of the Counselor echoed through the empty room.
Wait, this dipshit is here too? Wait...
"Oh, hello." Wash fought to keep his voice level. "Are you somewhere nearby, Counselor? Somewhere I can say hello in person?"
"Sorry Agent Washington, but we were more than prepared for this..." the Counselor paused, as if considering how best to address this situation. "...eventuality. I'm afraid we will not be able to see each other in person today." He did not seem angry, or even irritated; in fact he seemed almost slightly apologetic.
I'm so sick of that tone...
Wash remembered that this was the same voice who had declared him unfit for duty. That had put him away, as if he was a weapon in cold storage, only to suddenly yank him out and give in a new job, as if all that time had been nothing but a - no, he could not afford to be distracted by anything.
"Well then you'll excuse me if I don't stop to chat. I'm on a timetable." Wash tried to shake the irritations away, and started heading over to what he knew was one of the control stations.
"There is someone else here who would like to speak with you." The Counselor continued as if uninterrupted. Suddenly a new voice, deeper and accented came through the speaker.
"Well hello, Agent Washington."
That damn voice also sounds very familiar...
"The Director himself, I should be honored." Wash grimly smiled under his helmet, but the smile quickly faded. "I should be."
"Yes, I realize it has been a while since we've spoke, David. May I call you David?
Cold rage filled Washington. He remembered the Director approving Wash's long term 'sabbatical'. The Director who had taken Wash's identity, his sanity, his loyalty and everything he once had and trading it all for a code name on a board. And then he had the gall to abandon him.
Abandoned everything and everyone...
"No, you cannot. You gave me my new name, the least you can do is use it." Wash replied with bone-chilling calmness.
The Director continued as if he had said nothing. "I am certain you have a lot of questions, Wash."
Washington shot back, "Just one: How do I turn off this speaker?"
The conversation was interrupted by Sheila's voice again. "Warning. Security breach detected."
Before she had even finished her sentence, Agent Washington had holstered his weapon and was rapidly typing on the control panel. An energy containment field flashed to life, and the Meta ran headlong into it. As Wash blinked away the stars, he saw what appeared to be a number of small explosions that was the Meta fruitlessly pounding at the energy field.
Good luck getting through that asshole!
As Wash turned back, a little light hung on the edge of his vision and he was reminded of the AI that had darted around so quickly in flashes of light.
Sigma...the one who started it all...
Suddenly the Director was speaking again. "Well. The prodigal son returns. Agent Maine you've caused quite a few problems for us. You will not be leaving this time."
Children coming home together…
Washington grimly smirked again. "I think I've said that myself about twenty times in the last few weeks. Good luck holding him."
"You would be surprised what we are capable of, even from this distance. I suggest you work with us if you expect to survive this."
Wash kept smiling. "I'm sorry, did something about my actions indicate I expect to survive?" He resumed typing into the control panel, effortlessly recalling information that was put into use.
Password verifications, existing operation parameters, memories…so much information…
Sheila voiced calmly droned in reply to his typed requests. "Clearance verified. The failsafe is now online. Awaiting activation."
"How did you get those codes?" The Director queried, after hearing Sheila accept the failsafe
"You might be surprised what I know, Director." Wash smugly replied, enjoying the slightly quizzical tone in a voice that so often seemed to know everything.
Yeah how do you like that you irritating motherfu-
Sheila continued her caution. "Warning, this is a last resort measure. Activating the failsafe will destroy all electronic equipment in this facility, including this terminal. Please confirm."
"It was Epsilon. He inherited the memories, didn't he?" The Director asked rhetorically. He sounded resigned.
"I've known about what you did since the moment you implanted him in me." Wash paused his work and glared at the camera, willing his rage and frustration at the man who had toyed with his life.
"Well then I am very sorry Agent Washington," The director's voice sounded like it was reading off of a cue card. "But Project Freelancer no longer has need of your services." Then he issued a sudden command, "Program, disable interior shield."
The containment field holding back the Meta sparked and died.
"What?" Wash gasped.
"Agent Maine, please kill Agent Washington." In response, the Meta instantly drew his pistol and carefully aimed at Agent Washington. An explosive blast could very well trigger the failsafe. Wash fumbled for his gun, but the Meta was too fast. Wash barely managed to cry "No-" before being shot in the shoulder and collapsing to the ground, his gun falling out of his grip.
Well this sucks…
Sheila's voice spoke up again "Alert: incoming recovery beacon. Level zero. Immediate response necessary."
The Meta slowly stalked Wash, like a giant predator advancing on exhausted prey. Wash scrambled to his feet and backed up against a wall, trying to pull his rifle over his injured shoulder. He glanced up and noticed his code name had come up onto the control screen
"Agent Washington I fear this is one recovery beacon you won't be responding to. Kill him Agent Maine." The director ordered his former trooper.
Orders. There is an order to these things…
Suddenly whispers started echoing out from the Meta's domed helmet.
where is it…wHeRe iS aLpHa…WhEre is It?
The director replied tensely, "The Alpha is not here. It has been moved far away. Attend to the matter at hand!"
Suddenly the Counselor chimed in, trying to be condescendingly civil. "Agent Maine what the Director's trying to say, is we can discuss the Alpha later. What's important, is that you prove that you can be trusted again. We need to trust you before letting you meet the Alpha. Wouldn't you agree?"
"You know Meta, why wait?" Wash gasped out. He had given up trying to grab the rifle, and was leaning against the wall. "Why don't you meet him, right now?"
Church suddenly revealed himself over Wash's shoulder as a shimmering figure proudly holding and image of a sniper rifle.
Hi there. Church projected his voice over Washington's helmet.
Suddenly a halo of glowing figures circled the Meta's helmet. They all burst into anguished cries of…need? Happiness? Anger? Wash couldn't tell and he didn't care.
It's hiM!...aLpHa! AL-phA! The glowing figures chorused.
You know I can see why you didn't want anyone else in your head. Got some pretty heavy stuff going on there. I think you need to talk to a professional. Church casually commented to Wash.
Wash smiled despite everything, including the sharp pain in his shoulder. "That's too bad. I just lost my job, and we have great mental health coverage."
How much time do you need? Church asked.
"Whatever you can get me. When the E.M.P. goes off-" Wash was abruptly cut off
When it goes off, I'll be fine. It only affects computers, remember? And I, am a mother fuckin' ghost.
Church darted through the air and disappeared into the Meta's helmet. The figures disappeared along with him.
And suddenly there was darkness.
Hello everyone reading this! Thanks for reading! It is much appreciated. Reviews and comments are also appreciated. This is the first in what I hope to be a series of adventures inside the Meta's mind, similar to Caboose's except not at all! The concept that I am exploring is what happened once Alpha/Church entered the maze of what agent Maine's brain had been warped into by Sigma and the other AIs. Keep tuned for more adventures!