AN: This will be the last chapter of the sarcophagus mission arc. Third person.

Many Years Ago…

Chapter Five: Going Spiral

As Maine and California intercepted the program official, York and Carolina talked about many things about this mission, more specifically, a certain female freelancer named…

"Agent Texas? Come on Carolina, she's just doing her job to…"

"No York! She put all of our freelancers in the field at unnecessary risk, including my brother, when she called in the Mac Round."

"Okay, that might have been a little bit over the top, but still we freelancers have to do what we can to get the job done."

"Listen to me York. Doing what we can and doing things we don't have to do are two different things. On the rooftop, when the insurrection troopers surrounded us, a squadron of Missile-Pod class Pelicans would have been enough to scare them off."

"The Mac Round helped speed things along. Besides we were pressed for time weren't we?"

"Quite the opposite. The Mac Round prevented Team B from being able to get to their objective in the first place. We should be lucky that Cal was able to get his team out alive."

"She was sent with us because she was one of the best fighters in the program."

"….."

"I did say, 'One of the best' didn't I? I mean you're still the…"

"I don't care about the leader-boards."

"What, are you serious?"

"York, while I can agree that she's a great fighter, she doesn't work well with others, much like South. And look at how well that turned out."

"Yeah, I can get your point an…look can we talk about this later? I think Maine and Cal are coming back."

"Good."

As the two freelancers drove from the underground, Maine and Cal met them on their Mongoose, with a certain bloodied briefcase.

"Nice work you two."

"Thanks."

"Yep, subtle as always. The response is probably on the way."

"No doubt they'll consist of Hornets and Jet-packed troops. Carolina, I can provide cov…"

"No Cal."

"Carolina, please. I just want to be able to hel…"

"Everyone else is going to be fine brother. I need you to find a far away landing pad or large empty space on the highway for us to be able to call for evac."

"Yes ma'am."

"And in case we do end up loosing the package, don't let anything, or anyone, get in your way of retrieving it."

"You got it…good luck sis."

"You too bro."

As Agent California left to clear the way, the three remaining freelancers checked to make sure their own package was secure.

As the freelancers prepared to move out, they noticed a squad of insurrectionists, surprisingly consisting only of jet-packed troopers. And even more surprising, only three. Something else must have been holding them back. Nevertheless…

"Let's get the hell out of here."

"Hold on!"

York drove the Warthog down the highway, swiftly passing by several random cars. Two Insurrection Hornets were in pursuit.

"Comin' through! Excuse me! Look out!"

"Here they come!"

The Hornets closed in on Team A. Three Insurrection soldiers (a muscular sleeveless soldier, a sniper soldier, and a female soldier) with Jetpacks hopped off their Hornets and flanked the Warthog.

"Behind us!"

As Team A battled two of the Insurrection soldiers, the Sniper Soldier sped ahead and took aim on a truck in front of Team A. The other two Insurrectionists continued to fire.

"Maine! Protect the briefcase!"

Maine noticed a sniper laser pointing at Carolina's spine and looked behind him. The sniper fired a shot at Carolina, but Maine intercepted the shot, causing it to hit his chest and render him unconscious.

"Maine? Sniper!"

A sniper bullet whizzed past Carolina's head, impacting into the turret. Meanwhile, Tex rode on her motorbike being pursued by some Insurrectionists in Warthogs. Tex narrowly avoided the chaingun rounds and swerved around. She grabbed her Rocket Launcher and shot the Warthog. She spotted the Hornets chasing Team A.

"Gotcha!"

She jumped off a ramp, fired her rocket at the Hornet and threw the rocket launcher away. She then brought out her SMG, and fired at some Insurrectionists on Mongooses.

Back to Team A, they still fled from the Insurrectionists. Carolina ducked down…

"Punch it!"

"It's punched!"

The female Insurrectionist landed in front of the Warthog and had a brief battle with Carolina. Maine stirred, but the female Insurrectionist planted her foot on Maine's back, knocking him out again. She stole the briefcase off Maine's back but Carolina managed to retrieve it back. As the briefcase flew in the air Carolina struggled to get a grip of it; eventually she managed to this.

"Got it."

The sleeveless Insurrectionist kicked Carolina down to the front bumper of the Warthog and retrieved the briefcase. Carolina attempted to climb back on the Warthog, while the sleeveless Insurrectionist prepared to execute a still-unconscious Maine.

"Hold on!"

York swerved the Warthog to the left, flinging Carolina & the sleeveless Insurrectionist off it, rousing Maine in the process.

They landed on a nearby truck platform with oil drums, with Carolina grabbing the briefcase in the process. The female Insurrectionist began to fire at Carolina, forcing her to take cover. At the same time, the sleeveless Insurrectionist tossed an oil drum at Team A's Warthog, knocking off its turret.

"Would you quit throwin' shit!? On your left! On your left!"

The sniper soldier fired at York and Maine from a neighboring truck. York rammed the Warthog into the truck, knocking the sniper off. The sniper used his jetpack to gain back his balance and accelerated towards the Warthog, until Maine punched him in the face, knocking him down to the road. York and Maine sped up next to the oil truck.

"Watch it! Watch it!"

Maine jumped out of the Warthog and onto the oil truck platform, in order to assist Carolina. Maine battled the female soldier, but was kicked back with Carolina. As Carolina and Maine were back to back, the two switched opponents (Carolina fighting the female soldier & Maine fighting the sleeveless soldier) with Maine then in possession of the briefcase.

"On the right!"

York tossed the Brute Shot to Carolina. Carolina matrix-jumped in the air, dodging incoming bullets. She stabbed the female soldier with the Brute shot.

"Come on!"

The female Insurrectionist tossed her pistol to her sleeveless companion, who caught it. The sleeveless soldier battled with Maine, even managing to shoot Maine's throat. He then threw Maine to the floor and shot his throat repeatedly.

"NOOO!"

Carolina quickly tackled the soldier and nearly stabbed him with the Brute Shot. The sleeveless Insurrectionist kicked Carolina off and the two battled. As Carolina began to overcome the two soldiers, Maine loaded his Brute Shot, with blood pouring down his throat. He aimed at the two Insurrectionists, but the female Insurrectionist fired at Maine, causing his aim to go awry. Maine fired at the truck's rear, causing it to swerve. The truck hit a car and the four soldiers flew through the air, the female Insurrectionist flying off the highway. Carolina reached for the briefcase, still on Maine's back, but failed to reach it. She landed in the Warthog. Maine, however, bounced off the road twice and was hit by a speeding truck and was completely knocked off the road. The sleeveless Insurrectionist retrieved the briefcase and flew up to his Hornet. Tex appeared on her motorbike & fired at the Hornet. The Hornet entered a tunnel and damaged the tunnel door controls. Tex followed in pursuit.

"Don't let her grab it first!"

"Who cares who gets it first?"

"I do!"

The doors slowly began to close.

"Bail out!"

"Bailing!"

York hopped out of the Warthog and rolled down the road. Carolina rode on the Warthog and was catapulted into the tunnel before the doors closed, wheels of the Warthog flying every which way. She activated her speed unit enhancement and zoomed off.

"Cal, forget the evac! I want you to follow up on Texas until you see a hornet holding a white briefcase. Then shoot the damned thing down get that package before SHE does!"

"Tex eh?...Already on it!"

As Carolina caught up too the freelancers, Agent California met up with Texas to 'aide her.' But Texas, knowing what she's capable of, decided that she should do this alone.

"Fall back Agent California. I've got this!"

"I've got the firepower to take that hornet down! Maybe you should let ME take care of it."

"If you were capable of getting the case, don't you think you would have done it already!?"

This angered Agent California greatly until he was filled with road rage. He fired all of his remaining rocket launcher ammunition blindly at the hornet. The rockets crashed into a billboard, knocking it over, causing the highway to partially be destroyed, but also making a ledge close enough to intercept the hornet.

"Just provide cover fire California. I got this!"

"Why don't you fall back and let us handle this!"

Carolina caught up to the two freelancers, and then all three of them raced to the hornet in order to obtain the briefcase.

Tex accelerated and then the Hornet began to ascend. Tex leapt off her motorbike and launched it from the makeshift ledge towards the Hornet, managing to take it out. The sleeveless Insurrectionist used his jetpack to escape. He gained his balance and flew off with the briefcase.

"Woah!"

Tex landed on the road and Carolina sprinted past her. She leapt off the ledge and used her grappling hook to keep up with the sleeveless soldier. She landed on a building and quickly jumped off of it. She landed on another building and sprinted toward the soldier. She tackled the Insurrectionist in midair and the two landed on the road. She punched the soldier and the two began to tumble all around the street, with Carolina sliding on the road. The soldier hit a truck and the briefcase detached from his back. Carolina saw a car coming and curled up to slide underneath it. Part of her armor scraped against the underside of the car, and she was sent flying through the air and her back hit a wall on the street. As Carolina stood her helmet detached. She saw the briefcase across from her, where Tex picked it up.

"Command, the package is secure. Headin' home."

"Excellent work Agent Texas."

"Thank you, sir."

At this point, California caught up to the too ladies, having been forced to take a longer way around with his mongoose. But it was too late for him. As he realized this, he called for evac at their coordinates, and commanded the other freelancers to meet them there.

"Hey Cal?"

"…I'd rather not speak to you right now, Tex. I'd like to attend to my sister."

"Well, I just wanted to say that er…you're not half bad at this."

"Gee, I feel flattered."

"Look, from what I've heard, you're pretty good at this kind of stuff. But next time when I say I got this, I DO have things under control. I don't need help completing an objective."

"But is it so difficult to be able to work with others?"

"Sometimes, teammates can just hold you back."

"Such a…distaste for teamwork is not, under most circumstances, rewarded in the freelancer program."

"Perhaps, but I can tell you, there was a reason why I was sent alone."

"Of course. Agent Texas."

"Now why don't we just move on kid, and get ourselves out of here."

"Agreed."

"And tell your sister that I told her better luck next time."

"I will."

As the two agents ended their less-than-pleasant conversation, two pelicans arrived at the scene to pick up the eight freelancers. Agents North, C.T., and Wyoming arrived right at the moment when the Pelicans showed up. And took the first one back to command to get Wyoming treated quickly. Agent York also went with them to provide good company for the wounded.

And Agent Maine arrived not a minute later, and began to collect his as the second Pelican showed up. He, along with Carolina, California, and Texas, hopped aboard the second Pelican.

The mission was a success. But much of the city was damaged in the process, and a fellow freelancer was wounded. The delay in time would also have consequences upon California's record, and reputation.

The four in the second Pelican just sat there quietly, all of them think thoughts different from each other. While Maine tended to his wounded throat, Carolina was filled with concealed contempt for Texas, for her taking away her chance. Texas was rather indifferent to everyone.

California too also disliked Texas, but was not hateful of her (unlike Carolina) but rather wary. As California thought of her, another thought came to his mind. "A shadow of the past…" How odd it was that of all the thoughts he could have, that one in particular stood out to him.

With this in mind…he began plotting.

AN: Hi guys, I good news and bad news. The good news will be that now you guys have at least a relatively good idea on his view of Texas. The bad news is that the chapters will basically just be of the aftermath, and some basic interaction aboard the "Mother of Invention." Nonetheless I thank those that have bothered to read in the first place.

And one more thing. REVIEWS, REVIEWS, REVIEWS. Seriously, I only have one, and I don't think it's enough to truly suggest any good ideas. Please tell me if you think there's anything wrong with the story, let me know.