Again, sorry for late update time. Once a month ain't bad though, right? The next three chapters (guesstimate, mind you) will be a turning point in the story, so stay tuned!

…...

Wash rubbed his head, his blurred vision clearing enough for him to see Sarge's outstretched hand. Taking it, Wash glanced at the tired group of rejects before him (though Wash was still debating if "rejects" was too generous a word).

"So... how'd it go?"

An awkward silence ensued. Tucker was the first to speak.

"We're all alive, if that's what you're asking." Wash noticed the the teal soldier cringe slightly as he spoke.

"You're shot." Wash stated, as if the reality that these bozos, who always seemed to luck their way out of any situation, could wind up getting hurt.

Tucker looked down as if just noticing it himself. "Yeah, must've happened when I lunged at em'."

"You fought them?" Today was just full of surprises.

"I killed them!" Tucker puffed his chest out proudly, showing off his machismo, before cringing again. "Bitch!" he groaned, falling to the ground.

Doc hurried to the swordsman's side, and looked at Wash. Wash nodded. "You take care of him, the rest of you..." Sensing the fatigue coming from both teams, Wash decided to be sympathetic. Just this one time. "...sit tight. I'm gonna go scout out the perimeter." Turning to leave he looked back one last time, just to make sure that no one had blown something up in the last two seconds (which, unfortunately, was a possibility).

Both Red and Blue teams slumped to the ground, exasperated. Sarge, however, managed to get one last word in edgewise. "Did you see that? I kicked freelancer ass! And no one says a thing! What's a matter, can't you people even appreciate a good ass-kickin' anymore?

…...

Washington knew this was a gamble. But nowadays, everything was. Taking a deep breath, he spoke. "You can come out now." It was cliche, but with freelancers, you could never be too careful.

After several seconds passed, Wash began to suspect he was wrong, and that he was just yelling at no one but himself. But then he heard the bushes rustle. In one swift move he pulled out his battle rifle, prepared to face down whoever was there.

Wash was, frankly, unsurprised to see the freelancer before him.

"You were never very good at stealth, Carolina. That was Tex's department."

"Don't go there Wash, you'll regret." This was not the Carolina he had know, Washington could tell already. Despite retaining her light green armor, she was much angrier, and probably more unstable. Having two AIs will do that, he mentally noted.

…...

"You ready Wash?" Carolina smiled widely at him.

Wash nervously fumbled his helmet in his hands. "...Not exactly thrilled..."

She nudged him with her elbow angrily. "What's there to not be thrilled about? We're about to become bonified super-soldiers!" Wash still looked unsure. He eyed the other freelancer applicants. One British soldier looked disinterestedly at the others, while two twins argued. Constantly. On the other side of the ship, a highly decorated soldier sat straight up with a staunch look on his face.

Yeah, Wash thought ironically, this is going to real fun.

…...

Which brings us to the present. He thought bitterly.

"I'm sure I would already be regretting it if you had any intention of hurting me. So talk."

"Don't presume to order me around Wash. I still haven't forgotten that you're the reason we were all put in prison." She accusingly pointed a finger at him.

"So why'd you get out?" Wash inquired, though he already knew the answer.

"To bring you in." She paused, the tension leaving her body. "I'm surprised you're so calm about this. You should see what they gave Okie. An entire fucking army, that's what! They want you dead Wash!"

"Then why haven't you killed me?" He demanded, perhaps a bit too roughly. People trying to kill him, that he was used to. But if you're going to kill someone, do it and don't fuck with their heads. It reminded him too much of the Director, the way he used to toy with them. Well, that and the fact it was goddamn confusing.

"Because there's more to it than simply killing you. Penn was up to something, and apparently these idiots you've slumming around with have vital... stuff. "
Flabbergasted, Wash struggled to find the right words. "... About what stuff?"

She sighed, shaking her head. "Some deep shit Wash." She began to recite the list of intel. "The black one is integral to human-Covenant relations, the idiot-"

"They're all idiots Carry." Tucker's black?

"The blue idiot then. He's got loads of AI secrets stashed in his head. The red idiot is considered a threat to the whole of mankind, the yellow idiot stole a speed unit from the storage facility, and the maroon idiot hacked into Freelancer HQ's system."

"So basically five eights of our team are fugitives." Fucking A. "Wait, that still doesn't explain why you haven't killed me!"
"Because Penn was up to something! Something big." Eyeing him closely, she sighed. "And you and these idiots are gonna help me find out what."

…...

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