2. Time For Action
By Rurple101


Chapter Two


Richard 'Dick' Simmons was just attaching his standard maroon helmet when he saw it. His eyes widened for a split second as he mouth popped open in shock. The ship then hovered glumly before dropping rather quickly from the huge height and almost crash landed right in front of the stream in front of Red base. The noise seemed to have awoken Grif, Halle, Lopez and Donut as well.

They all (except Donut) knew that it was too early in the morning. (They didn't even know what time/day it was as the sun never set around here. Ok, one hour of darkness if they were lucky.)

Simmons quickly dropped his helmet clumsily on his head and ran towards his superior officer's room. Grif and Donut were standing warily outside it.

Simmons started to yell through the door "SA-" but Grif lurched forward and clamped his mouth shut with his hands. "Don't!"

"Why?" Simmons asked, pushing away Grif's hands. Grif rolled his eyes and then started speaking as if to a two year old. "BECAUSE, when you disrupt Sarge this early, then you will find that Sarge will load a round into your face."

"How would you know?"

Grif gave him a look and then pulled back his long blonde hair, so you could see right behind his ear. "He caught me once when Donut needed the toilet, Donut made ME ask Sarge."

Donut shuffled guilty next to him. "I'll go in."

"Donut are you insane?" Grif and Simmons both asked him, snapping their heads towards them.

Donut rolled his eyes and before they could pull him back, he'd gone in and the door had shut behind him. Before he did so, he caught Simmons's glance and he could have sworn he saw the pink armoured private go pink himself.

The duo tensed as they leaned closer to the door.

"What are you two up to?"

They both jumped and turned round to see Halle without her helmet on, and hands on her hips. She looked…cross?

"D-d-donut just went into S-s-sarge's room and we w-were waiting to see if he'd d-d-died yet!" Grif said, in a stuttering rush.

She rose one perfect eyebrow "Sweetie, have you slept enough?"

"No! That bloody ship woke us up!"

"Well I'm going to investigate. You go back to bed and me and Simmons will go."

Simmons looked at her. "We will?"

"You're up and dressed. Why else would you be up this early?" Halle asked, winding her long ponytail round into a tight bun at the crown of her head.

Simmons nodded; glad his helmet was on. He slotted it properly into place and went back to his room to grab his battle-rifle.

Grif watched Simmons walk back to his room warily. "Why do I think that something big is coming? And that it's got something to do with him?"

Halle rolled her eyes. "You're going crazy, baby."

Grif smirked, then leaned down and kissed Halle sweetly on the lips. "You're correct as always babe."

He then lovingly slotted her helmet on for her, slightly sad to see away her beautiful face.

Simmons came back out of his room and was shutting the door just as Halle came round the corner. They both nodded and then strode out of the base cautiously and headed round towards the beach area. They were surprised to see Lopez already out.

"Lopez? Why are you out here?" Simmons asked, lowering his weapon.

Lopez grumbled 'speak my language and then you can get an answer dick-head!'

"Lopez! Apologize now!" Halle spat strictly. "Just because Sarge fitted you with a unit which nobody here apart from maybe me can understand, doesn't entitle you to insult them! You should be grateful that Simmons is here as he warned Sarge about it being damaged!"

Lopez sighed and replied in a sarcastic but genuine clear almost understanding apology. It seemed that Halle was the only person Lopez respected around here…mainly because she could understand him.

Simmons nodded awkwardly and mumbled a "Thanks" under his breath. Lopez then turned to Halle.

'The ship crash on top of that new jeep I was telling you about. You can tell I'm not happy about that'.

Halle replied soothingly, this time in Spanish. 'Don't worry; I'll help you best I can. If needed, we can ask Aunt Tex to help. Did you see if anybody came out already?'

Lopez shook his head. "No."

"Thanks Lopez, come on Simmons." Halle said and then advanced slowly towards the ship's back door. It was a relatively small cargo ship, the usual ship they got for rations. But normally, they landed properly and didn't come un-announced.

"Right, we both know how to open it so I guess we'd-" Halle started saying, before the door's hatches came loose and the doors slowly lowered.

"-I guess we can just erm…" Halle finished lamely. Simmons shook his head.

The doors clanged to the bottom and the sound of the ramp was heard.

"Maybe it's just another shipping that came un-" Simmons started to say before he spotted something that wasn't boxes on board. "- there's a person there! In armour!"

Halle loaded her weapon quickly and raised it, so it was level with her eyes. "Let's move."

Simmons followed her as they moved closer and closer to the hatch. When they were three feet away, Simmons coughed and murmured a greeting.

Silence….except the sound of boots moving across the steel floor.

They exchanged a glance before looking back to see a figure clad in a grey freelancer armour with a peach coloured secondary colours. They had a trim on the arms and written on the side was the words 'Ag:V26'.

The figure looked very cautious and stepped awkwardly off the ship and hesitated. They had no handheld weapon, only a magnum attached to the calf.

"Who are you?" Halle called, not lowering her weapon. The figure advanced and twiddled with her fingers, which made the profile look worried.

"I'm. I'm…the…the-n-new p-private here." The person said, and they could tell at once that they were using a voice masker.

"Why are you here?" barked Halle. "I'm, the newest recruit here, this is Red base. Are you the newest Blue?"

"I'm- a-a a-agent" came the stuttering reply. They were twisting their hands together faster now.

"But that means you're here for the Blues!" Halle hissed, "We have enough people here!"

"Blue team are low on recruits, unless you'd rather s-shoot at me from other there-" The figure motioned towards the other side of the canyon. "-T-then t-th-that's n-no-not really f-f-following or-orders f-f-from c-command!"

Halle huffed and lowered the gun. "Remove you helmet."

"No, why should I?"

"To prove you're innocent."

"I'm a freakin freelancer, you idiot!" This time there was no hesitancy as their anger took over. The once writhing hands were now balled into fists.

"Remove it. NOW."

"No!"

"Remove it NOW rookie! Do what I say now! How did you get into the Freelancer program if you don't follow orders?"

Simmons winched, Halle obviously thought freelancers were below her station.

"A FREELANCER IS CHOSEN FOR THE ARMY AND SPECIAL FORCES YOU STUPID WOMAN! I DIDN'T GET INTO THE ARMY FOR GOOD LOOKS! YOU SOUND LIKE THE PERSON WHO'S BEAUTIFUL IN EVERY LITTLE CHARMING WAY AND I'M NOT INSULTING YOU FOR THAT! WHAT I'M PISSED AT YOU FOR DOING IS BOSSING ME AROUND! I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT YOUR SAREGENT IS RED! WHAT ARE YOU? FREAKIN LAVENDER! SO SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"

Silence.

Simmons looked from his teammate to the new recruit. He coughed awkwardly and threw his weapon to the floor, as to not look threatening.

He walked forward, raising his left hand. "I'm Private Dick Simmons. Nice to meet you."

The recruit sighed sadly and seemed to slump as she took his hand and shook it dejectedly. That's why his plan failed. He grabbed her wrist and went to wrestle the helmet off but she'd obviously locked it on with a passcode. Only the brand new equipment could do that.

But the freelancer was good with moves. She punched her arm free and kicked him right over her shoulder and then dived sideways to avoid Halle's attacking form. She ducked under Halle as she raised her gun to aim at the newest arrival.

"Halle, don't!" cried Simmons. "She's right; Tex is a freelancer for crying out loud! Don't you remember?"

Halle froze, her eyes widened in recognition and her gun dropped to the ground.

The freelancer had obviously overcome her nerves as she strolled causally towards Halle, flexing her fists.

"You are an idiot, why don't you understand what terms mean, before you try to attack me. I'm not an old freelancer like good old Allison is, but I'm the next generation as it were. I need to speak with your sergeant at once." She commanded.

This time Halle didn't argue. She grabbed her gun and stomped inside the base, slamming the door behind her.

Simmons turned back to the freelancer to see her holding her hand out. He now felt slightly guilty for tricking her.

"Private Dick Simmons, good to meet you, I'm Agent V26, Head of Simulation Troopers and Negotiations. I'm mainly an office worker, rather than the field-work but I'm well trained in either slot."

"Can I ask your real name?" Simmons asked hopefully.

"I met you less than ten minutes ago and already you've assisted your teammate to try and reveal identity on me and possibly use me as a hostage. For a person so high at my station, I'd rather keep that under wraps until its time." She said simply.

"By the way, I'm err sorry about…" he started.

Rolling her eyes, she walked away from him and into the base.