Liberation In Death
Viewer Discretion is Advised. This work of fiction depicts Violence, Strong Language, and Adult Themes. You have been warned.
Chapter 1: A Life For A Life
Fresh wet crunches could be heard as heavy metal boots connect with snow. The combination of the ice color and white making Lydia blend perfectly with it. She had trudged on the hillside and kept walking. Eventually the hills had turned into snow-capped mountains but she still walked on. It almost seems as if she is escaping.
Indeed she is escaping. As more thoughts enter her mind, she begins to pick up her pace, from a slow walk, to a steady trot. She then breaks out in a full out run, her augementations allowing her to carry on running for quite some time. Finally starting to feel her lungs burn, Lydia slows her pace to a complete stop.
But doing so, allowed for the voice to return.
"Lydia..."
"Lydia..."
"Don't go Lydia..."
"I love you..."
"Do you think we'll make it out of here?"
"Why can't you understand that?!"
"You really think you're going to build me a house on New Harmony?"
"Where does he get off calling a demolitions op a Priority One-"
"Make it stop! Make the voices stop! I can't take it anymore!" Lydia yells, tears in her eyes.
She falls to her knees, ripping off her helmet in the process. She holds her head and rocks back and forth as the same phrase repeats in her head, clear as day.
"Where does he get off calling a demolitions op a Priority One-"
The tears flow freely now. She has been trying for so long to suppress these voices and these memories. She has been trying to maintain this mental illness since her time in Reach. But, the more she fights it, the more prominent it becomes. She feels the familiar twinge as she's wracked with another memory.
She's here again. In this place. Back on Reach. She sees all of Noble team gathered together. Or, what's left of Noble team anyway. She sees Jun monitoring the city for movement, Emile sharpening his knife, Carter chatting with Jun , and Kat working on getting COMMS established.
This nightmare starts all over again with Kat commenting about a radiation flare. The glass shatters everywhere and all of Noble, Lydia included, duck for cover. Lydia is slow to get up but faster than Kat as she runs to check on her. They both head for the closest elevator and take it down.
"First glassing? Me too. Don't worry, I'm on it."
Lydia stays silent as she waits for the elevator doors to open. She silently listens as Kat points out a fallout bunker not far from their position. She's just as surprised as Jun to hear that they're being re-deployed to Sword Base for a demoltions op. The doors open and Kat takes off first and Lydia is close on her heels.
Lydia gains a sense of uneasiness as they near the rest of Noble. Time starts to slow to a crawl.
"Where does he get off calling a demolitions op a Priority One-"
Time stops as Lydia watches the needle go straight through the back of Kat's head. She sees the spatters of blood hit the floor and watches in horror as her body starts to fall. All she can do is react and she grabs Kat's body. They both stop and Lydia looks up to find the culprit. She looks at Kat again and grimaces behind her visor. She pulls out Kat's pistol and begins firing at the Elite Field Marshal. But it's no use as the Covenant Phantom flies out of range.
She solemnly carries Kat's body to the closing doors. Once they are sealed shut, she pulls off her helmet, gazes at Kat one more time before crying out in anguish.
Lydia could hardly see with how many tears she's shedding. It had been five years since that happened but it is still a fresh wound in Lydia's mind. Shortly after Kat's death, Lydia began to have flashbacks. These flashbacks felt so real to her, almost as if she was there living through them again.
When Reach fell, she was sent to the Cairo for medical examination. She was diagnosed there with PTSD. A more chronic form of it as well. Her PTSD is so strong that sometimes she will act out parts of the memories, most of them violent, and most of them winding up with two or three people in the Medical Bay.
Her eyesight finally clears and she picks herself up from the snow. Even with her armor on she could feel the cold beginning to settle in. She has to move and quickly to find shelter for the night. After all, what kind of Spartan would she be if her legacy was that she froze to death. Swallowing what bit of pride she has left, Lydia heads down the mountain once more to find a shallow alcove to duck into for the evening,
"Status report." A silver and cobalt armored female barks out.
"Carolina...presumably KIA. We all saw what Maine did. As for Tex, she's nowhere to be seen." A steel and yellow colored male responds.
"Thanks Wash. Is anyone hurt?" she asks.
"No Cali. Nothing but a few cuts and bruises. Everybody else is fine. What about you? Are you hurt?" Wash asks.
California gazes at Wash for a brief moment. He can't see the expression that lays hidden behind her visor but he gets the point from her body language.
"Right. Sorry I even asked."
"Don't sweat it Wash." Cali responds light-heartedly, trying to ease the tension.
California moves away from the small group to a duo of men. One wearing glasses and wore his facial hair in the fashion of a goatee. The other, clean shaven. He looks to be middle aged and has the presence of a leader. The other man appeared to be his advisor.
"Status report Agent California." the man states with a heavy southern drawl.
"Three agents are MIA, one is believed to be KIA, Sir." she responds formally.
"I see. Does anyone require medical attention, Agent California?" he asks.
"No Director. Just minor cuts and bruises. Other than that, everyone seems fine. A bit shaken up from the crash, but otherwise all in one piece." she replies.
"I see. I understand you said we have three Agents missing, am I correct?"
"Yes, Sir." she says calmly.
"Who are we missing Agent California? I need their names." he states calmly.
"Agent Carolina, Agent Texas, and Agent Pennsylvania, Sir." she lists.
The Director pauses in thought. His brow furrows as he recalls the names of the missing Agents. He frowns as he processes the information. His two best Agents, and his best recon Agent were missing or KIA. He is displeased with this and his expression turns to that of anger.
"Agent California."
"Yes, Sir?" she asks.
"Gather everyone here. It's time we intiate Protocol Two-Two-Four-Three." he states sternly.
"Sir? Are you sure you want Recovery to come into effect now? With all do respect, Sir, I think we should hold out until first light tomorrow. If we don't set up camp now-"
"Enough, Agent California! I gave you a direct order. Do you dare disobey me now?" he interjects angrily.
Surprised and a little shocked California says,
"No, Sir."
"Good. Then don't disappoint me. Gather everyone here. We are initiating Protocol Two-Two-Four-Three. Is that understood?" he states coldly.
"Yes, Sir." she replies evenly.
"Good. Dismissed, for now Agent California."
California turns on her heel and heads to the group gathered around. She gazes at the other Freelancers, she can see the confusion on their faces as to why anyone would want to do that to the Project. Project Freelancer is good for all intents and purposes. Whoever the Insurrection is, they clearly think the Project is a threat.
"Alright listen up guys. I know that we don't have a leader of our team right now but the Director wants us all to gather by him. I think he has a plan." California says to the group.
They all nod in agreement and follow Agent California back to the Director. They all filled in a line just as they had during the Project. California files in last, making sure that all that were counted for before were still here now.
The Director clears his throat first, gaining the attention of all of the Freelancers. He then adjust his glasses, and takes a more relaxed pose. His gaze wanders over the remaining Freelancers and he can't help but sigh.
"We are down several Freelancers. This attack has made us fewer in number. But, we will overcome. That is why I have taken it upon myself to initiate Protocol Two-Two-Four-Three." he states.
"Protocol Two-Two-Four-Three? Sir, does that mean-"
"Yes, Agent Washington. It means the Recovery teams are effective immediately. You already know your respective teams. I want you to regroup with your teams. The Counselor will give you a list of high value targets for Recovery. Find them, bring their armor and any other Freelancer property back here. For those that have abandoned us, take back their AI fragments. It's time I decomission every last one of them." the Director replies.
"With all do respect Sir, does that include our AI's?" a darker purle and forest green armored male asks.
"Yes, Agent North Dakota. But don't you worry, you may keep your AI throughout the Recovery process. Once Recovery is over, you will be asked to turn over your AI." he replies.
"Understood, Sir." he replies calmly.
California knew better though. She knew how close North was to Theta. The childlike nature of Theta left North as a sort of father figure to the AI. They got along well and California had no doubt in her mind that he wouldn't part with Theta.
"You seem...troubled, California." a male voice chimes in her head.
She remains silent until the Director gives a wave of dismissal.
"I'm fine, Omicron." she replies curtly to the AI.
"Even you aren't cross with me. You are concerned about Agent Pennsylvania's whereabouts?" he replies.
"Have you been reading my thoughts again?" she says.
"No but since Pennsylvania's disappearance you're stress levels have greatly increased. What's on your mind?" he states.
"Don't you think it's odd that she disappeared just before the project? Or that she was hanging around CT a lot before she died?" California confesses.
"Hmm...Now that you mention it, it is rather odd. But back then, we had no idea that Connecticut was aiding the enemy. But, I see your concern. You think she might have aided them don't you?" he suggests.
"... It's hard to say. I don't want to accuse her but that's the only reason I can think of her disappearing. And the fact that she hasn't sent a distress beacon just proves she has no intention of coming back." she says, her anger starting to rise.
"Easy, California. Don't go pointing fingers yet. Find the facts first. IF and I can't stress this enough, IF she has indeed helped CT, don't go for your usual shoot first and ask questions later. Instead, bring her to the Director. Let him decide how it should be handled." he replies calmly.
"Ugh... Fine. You win this time Omicron." she replies.
"I always do. Rationality before irrationality." he chimes triumphantly.
California grunts to herself before taking off with Wash and Maine for their first mission as Recovery One.
Author's Note|| Sup guys? Been awhile hasn't it? Well here it is, the first chapter. I'm trying to go more in depth so you'll have to be patient. The chapters will come out when they come out. Take a chill pill lol. Anywho, here's what you can expect in this fic without me going into too much detail: Dipictions of lesbian couples (obviously), your two favorite people from the last fic finally getting a steamy scene, a nice drunken night at a certain club, aaaaannnnnnddd a lot more. So keep reading there's more to come!