"F.I.L.S.S. has multiple versions, and the only one of use is at HQ."

Cortana fumed. "Is there one in this canyon?"

"Beats me; it wouldn't be much use anyway…"

Chief sighed. "Let's head back to base, then. We'll think of something."

"We always do, don't we?" Cortana agreed, heading that way.

As the duo walked on, Tex stalled to think. Something is definitely up. I just need to find out what it is… She followed Cortana and Chief back to the Reds' base.

/-/

"Bullshit," Simmons said. "Pound-for-pound, she's definitely stronger."

"Have you seen the guy?!" Grif shouted. "He'd whip her ass any day of the week!"

As soon as Cortana entered, she was immediately sucked into the all-consuming vortex of Grif and Simmons's argument. "Halsey," Simmons greeted hastily.

"Can you help us settle a bet?"

"Uh…" she answered cautiously. "I guess it would depend on the bet..?"

"Who would win," Simmons pitched, "between Tex and the Chief?"

"…A fight..?"

The duo nodded.

"…Texas and Chief?"

More nodding.

"Hm… Well, I've yet to see Texas in actual combat, but I've known Chief since he was little."

"He used to be little?" Grif said incredulously.

"I suppose the only way to find out would be to, well… find out." She caught herself. "Um, small scale, of course! Private Simmons, does this base have anywhere to train in hand-to-hand combat?"

Simmons thought for a moment. "Well, we don't have anything fancy, but we could probably use the garage."

A loud thud could be heard from the other room, followed by two painful screams.

/-/

"Hey! Easy!"

"Uncle!"

Cortana, Grif, and Simmons entered to see Chief pinning Church and Tucker to the wall. He had them both pinned to the wall with their arms behind their backs. "What's going on in here?!" Cortana asked.

"I caught these two tampering with my helmet," Chief answered. "They left me no other options."

"The rest of us," Church strained, "had a very clear understanding in this canyon!"

"What's this understanding?"

"A couple years ago," Tucker explained, "we had a little bit of a 'tech issue'. Tex's AI, O'Malley, went haywire and started attacking people. He sent himself through the radio and possessed them, turning them into major dicks."

"He kind of stopped after hopping into our medic," Church continued. "Now he just switches between being Doc and Professor Pissed. After the incident, Sarge and I agreed on one thing: no crazy, jumpy AI allowed in the canyon."

"That doesn't explain why he's got you both against the wall," Grif said.

"Sierra got out."

Cortana felt a bead of sweat form on her temple. "What do you mean she 'got out'?"

"I mean that she wanted to see if she could do the same thing. So, she had me turn on Chief's radio and she hopped into the closest receiver she could find."

"And where was that?" Chief growled.

Church's helmet buzzed as his head twitched. "Hi-i, Dad," said a soft, tiny voice.

"…Sierra?"

/-/

"So let me get this straight," Cortana said impatiently. "You told Sierra about an AI fragment that was able to jump from person to person; you let her talk you into turning on the radio; and to top it all, she's now housed in your helmet."

Church nodded.

"Did you expect her to not try and jump? Did it not occur to you that she's a child?"

"'Child' is a bit of a broad term for AI, isn't it?" Church said innocently. "Don't they break after, like, seven years or so?"

"Don't change the subject, Private," Chief said.

"Right," Church answered, "sorry. So, how do we get her out?"

"I imagine the same way she got in," Tex suggested. "Worth a shot, isn't it?"

Cortana frowned, thinking. "I don't see many other options…"

"But if she doesn't want to leave the Private's helmet?" Chief inquired.

"Hm… Chief, do you still have Sierra's data card in your helmet?"

"Always. Why?"

"Hang on to it, just in case. We may need it if all else fails."

/-/

Note: I'm sorry this was later than usual. There was a slight problem getting it onto the site. But, what matters is that it's here now, and I call that a win. Thank you all for being so patient.