Chapter 9: FUBAR Mission Aftermath

Mother of Invention

Infirmary

Intensive Care Recovery

Tex

It was several days after that cluster fuck of a mission and the morale of the team was at an all time low. The whole team had been hurt in some capacity, Alaska being the worst. Alaska had been shot twice with both bullets not making any exit wounds and both of them tearing her up from the inside. The one in her shoulder had nicked bone and had left fragments behind, while the one in her leg barely missed her femoral artery. But that wasn't the end of the bad news, as it turned out the bullet had nicked her armor and shaved off some of the metal. This in turn cause the tiny pieces of metal to nick her femoral artery when the team of medics came to get everyone to the infirmary.

Alaska had already lost so much blood that having her femoral artery nicked was putting her at a definite risk of dying from blood loss. That wasn't even the end of her injuries, she had been knocked unconscious from being launched from the Warthog and slamming her head into a tree giving her a cracked skull. The last thing that Alaska was injured with was a broken arm from the same fall, coincidentally on the same side as the bullet wound to the shoulder.

North was not much better with his list of injuries being a broken arm, a gunshot wound to the shoulder, cracked ribs, and plasma burns. It was lucky of him not to have gotten a concussion or fractured skull from his head hitting the ground. It only took him a couple days before he was out of the infirmary with a well on its way to healing arm. Agent Texas was one of the lightly injured on the mission only receiving minor wounds, a mild concussion and a broken arm. The broken arm was easily fixed because it was a prosthetic to begin with so that just needed to be sent to the shop to be fixed up. Then she was in and out of the infirmary the next day.

South and Carolina on the other hand only had a couple plasma burns and like Texas were practically in and out of the infirmary. However, the same could not be said for Alaska. she had been unconscious for a while now and it was driving the people closest to her mad with worry. Texas was one of the first to visit her and she was the one to tell Florida what had happened on that cluster fuck of a mission.

Florida was upset when he had heard of Alaska's admittance to the infirmary but that had quickly gone from being upset to being distraught. To Florida this was to soon his brother had just died not to long ago and he had essentially adopted Alaska into his family within the same week. Alaska was the sister he never had and was already a member of the family because of his little brother. So, to have the safety of his remaining family hanging by a thread he was understandably concerned about the chances of Alaska pulling through. Not that Tex would know that anyway.

It was hard keeping his emotions in check enough to not go straight to Carolina and give her a taste of her own medicine. Needless to say, that he just didn't move from his spot next to Alaska very much after she got out of surgery.

And Wash? The younger Freelancer was normally seen with Florida in the Infirmary with Alaska. Both Wash and Alaska had basically been thick as thieves since they met and seeing Wash like that was a sad sight to see.

Texas on the other hand went to go confront Carolina as soon as she was out of the infirmary and her arm had been repaired. She had a bone to pick with that arrogant bitch that thought she was better than everyone else because she held number one on the Board the longest. Not to mention the fact that she was a sore loser at losing her top spot to both her and her second placement to Alaska. Those were her own problems and ones that Texas was content to leave alone if not for the fact that she had brought that shitty attitude on a mission. One that had very nearly caused them one or even two team members. They were professional soldiers and should act like it out in the field, Alaska had been the bigger person and kept personal matters where they belonged. Off of the field.

In that regard the small amount of respect that Texas had for Carolina was gone. But the other reason she was going to give Carolina a wake-up call was the fact that she had it out for Alaska since her arrival. Texas had been content with letting Alaska deal with her own problems and she had been and dealing with them well. But Carolina wanted to break her and didn't give a flying shit about Alaska being injured. She was worried about North and South but her and Alaska. They were left on their own for the most part because North, the caring person that he is, made sure as much as he could that they were ok.

"Carolina! You. Me. Training room. Now." ordered Tex as she spotted Carolina hanging around York in the mess hall.

"What did you say to me?" growled the red head.

"You heard me you bitch."

Carolina growled and made her way to Texas sizing her up.

"You're not the boss of me."

"Are you saying that you don't want to take this chance I'm giving you?"

Carolina glared, "Fine."

She shoved her shoulder into Texas and left to make her way to the Training Room. York had been trying to defuse the situation to an expected degree of failing. As he was ignored by two of the most aggressive female Freelancers of the project. Texas was doing this mostly just for a chance to take Carolina down a peg but to also beat her down for the treatment of Alaska. Tex had no idea where this idea came from but she's been feeling maternal to the younger Freelancer. It was odd because she didn't even know the girl until they met for the first time when she arrived here.

The feeling wasn't there before either, it was a recent development. One that had been building for a while but Texas thinks it started when Alaska had been subconsciously thinking of her as a parental figure. That line of thought gave some new meaning because of Alaska calling her mom on the mission, the others might have thought that it was done sarcastically. But Texas thought otherwise and thought it had something to do with the young Agents past.

Both Carolina and Texas made it to the Training Room with York trailing behind them. There wasn't a scheduled training session today so chances are both Carolina and Texas will be getting in trouble for this. But the both of them don't care at the moment because the both of them are intent on beating the shit out of each other. Well, more so Tex handing Carolina's ass to her.

"F.I.L.L.S run training protocol. Carolina and I have some problems to work out."

"I am sorry Agent Texas but I cannot do that. The Director has canceled all training sessions for the time being. To do so would be a breach in protocol."

"Just run the program F.I.L.L.S. were going to do this with or without the training protocol, Command Override acknowledge last directive." Growled the Cyan colored Freelancer.

"Acknowledged. Running training protocol now, Agent York if you are not participating then please exit the arena." York looked uneasy for a little bit before giving a resigned sigh and headed up to the observation deck, "Agent Texas vs Agent Carolina round begins in 5…4…2…1."

As soon as F.I.L.L.S announced go the two grabbed their pugil sticks and charged towards each other in a flurry of movements. Both of them did not want to back down from this challenge. At first the both of them seemed to be evenly matched in block their opponents attacks before Tex found an opening and took it. She jabbed Carolina in the side and was able to get a combo off with her pugil sticks.

The resulting blows knocked Carolina down as F.I.L.L.S called the round over and started the next. As Carolina got up she tossed her pugil stick aside, Texas doing the same. Both of them square up and rush each other. Just like with the pugil sticks it was a flurry of blocks before the actual hits were able to make their marks. Carolina was the first to hit Texas this time but the black armored woman was not phased in the least by the red heads punches and kicks.

There fight didn't last long however because the next thing to happen was the Director barging in.

"What in the hell is going on?!"

Carolina and Texas do not stop and ignore the Director.

"Agents Carolina and Texas Ah order you to stop!"

That got their attention and obeyed the order, but they didn't look at him. They continued to stare at each other and you could just feel the tension between both of them. The tension was so thick that you could just cut it with a knife.

"Both of you look at me!"

Grudgingly both turned to the Director.

"Now Ah would like to know why mah orders of no further training sessions until further notice has been ignored."

"Carolina's stupid plan nearly got the team killed sir. Not to mention that in the field she didn't care for the lives of her men." Stated Texas.

"Be that as it may Agent Texas but reading the reports of the mission the mission had failed because of Agent Alaska's mistake. As for Agent Carolina not caring about her team, she was only putting the mission first. Now get out of the training room both of ya!"

Texas was seething with even more anger than what she had before. The Director was walking a fine line and so far, Texas wanted to put a bullet between his eyes. As they exited the training room York was waiting for them and left with Carolina. However, while Texas was boiling in rage the feeling of self-righteousness emanating from Carolina only add fuel to the fire. To Carolina, it felt like she finally beat Tex at something with the Director backing her decisions on the recent mission. She had felt bad about North getting injured, but Alaska? That bitch was the reason that she went down another space on the Board and she got what she deserved.

As Carolina walked away Tex threw a frustrated punch at the wall giving it a large dent in the process. Maybe she should visit Alaska to make sure she's ok. With the decision to go check on Alaska in mind she headed back to their shared room to pick something up. Some nights when Texas couldn't sleep she'd make sure that Alaska was sleeping alright. Alaska seemed to suffer from constant nightmares, some not being that bad. But others were downright bad to say the very least.

There were nights where Alaska would think that Tex was asleep already when she goes to bed, only Texas would lie awake until Alaska was already dreaming. She'd hear whimpers, and pieces of conversation, and sometimes screaming. Some would get so bad that Texas would either wake up from Alaska's screaming or Tex would wake Alaska to pull her from her nightmares.

On the rare occasion that it was not a nightmare but a dream she would hear one specific name. Mom. Those nights were the best because Alaska would actually smile in her sleep. She had even caught glimpses of the younger Freelancers personal effects sometimes, they were mostly the run of the mill things a soldier would have with them. Namely pictures. Even though most don't keep physical copies anymore you could still find soldiers with them. But the oddest thing, and the most zealously guarded, item that Alaska kept with her would be dragon plush.

Alaska slept with that thing every night and normally Texas would tease someone relentlessly for keeping something so childish on a military vessel. But, knowing the history of Project Chimera even she wouldn't be so cruel as to do that to someone who survived something like that. The way she looked at it and made sure no harm came to the stuffed dragon was all Tex needed to know that someone very close to Alaska had given that stuffed dragon to her.

After grabbing the plush toy and making sure that others did not see it as she made her way to the infirmary. When Tex entered the room, she saw that there was only one person keeping the injured Freelancer company. He looked up at the newcomer and acknowledged Texas' entrance.

"How is she?" asked Tex.

"Still the same. Docs say that she might slip into a coma at this rate." Replied Florida.

Tex got a good look at the mans face as she walked up to Alaska's bedside. His normally chipper face was sorrowful, his normally blue eyes sparkling with happiness were dull and void of any emotion. Florida looked like he hasn't slept in days, which considering when Alaska got out of surgery was a very real possibility.

Tex looked down for a second before bringing the dragon plush into view.

"I brought this for her. She sleeps with this every night and I figured that she would like it right now."

Florida looked at the plush then at Texas, he couldn't sense any malintent from the other Freelancer and took the plus and placed it with Alaska.

"has anyone else been by to check on her?" asked Texas.

"Yeah, Wash just left not to long ago and North came by to see if she had woken up yet but no one else."

"I got into a fight with Carolina."

At the mention of the other Freelancers name Florida stiffened and clenched his fists.

"Did you beat her black and blue?"

The iciness in Florida's voice just didn't belong. Sure, the man has had some ice in his voice for somethings but this was different. He wasn't playing, he wasn't trying to get you to let your guard down. This voice promised pain and a lot of it and very high probability of wanting to cause the death of the person it was intended for.

Texas scowled under her helmet and made her displeasure known to Florida.

"No, we were unfortunately interrupted by the Director."

"Tch."

Sensing that she should leave the man be she left the man alone in the infirmary. She needed some alone time herself right now as well.

Wash

Washington was worried for his friend, has been since she had come back from her mission. At first, he had been happy that they had come back but that was before the rush passed him to the hangar. He had followed them to the hangar because the only reason why medics would be running so fast was because there would be injured. What he saw made him freeze where he stood as the medics swarmed around the five returning Freelancers. The medics seemed to be more interested in one Agent in particular aside from North, but the others seemed to be fine.

It wasn't until there was a break in the flurry of movement from the medics that Wash was able to see who the medics were swarming around. From Wash's vantage point, which in all honesty was not all that great in this situation, was the glimpse of white armor. There was only one other Freelancer that Wash knew of that had white armor and it wasn't Wyoming. Wash's blood ran cold when he realized just who the medics were swarming around.

"Get out of the way! We got injured coming through!" shouted the medics as they shoved Wash out of the way to make sure the stretchers got through.

Wash didn't know what to do he was still stunned by the state of the returning team, only North and Alaska needed the stretchers. The others didn't look to bad compared to them, but the fact that all of them got hurt in some aspect was worrying Wash something fierce. Hell, even Tex looked to be injured and that woman as far as anyone remembers since she showed up has not gotten hurt once.

A shiver rolled down his spine as he thought of what this meant when Florida found out about this. He wouldn't be able to go after him because he wasn't a part of the mission, but Florida will probably come after him for answers. He pivoted and headed towards the infirmary to see how the injured were doing but mostly he just wanted to check on Alaska and North.

"How are they? Are they ok?" asked Wash as he came across one of the medics.

"I am not obligated to tell you anything Agent Washington, now please get out of my way and out of this infirmary. We don't need you people getting in our way of the injured treatment." The doctor said irritably and shoved Wash out and locked the infirmary.

"Wash!"

The sudden yell of his name made Washington jump in fright.

"Yes, Florida?" Wash said uneasily as he was met with the site of the blue armored Freelancer.

The smile on the older Freelancer's face made Wash start to tremble, the Big Brother Talk still fresh in his mind.

"I hope you know what happened, because all I have been picking up is gossip about how the mission must have been fucked. Given the state with which I hear the entire time was in from what I heard."

"I-I don't know!"

"I hope your not lying to me Washington."

"No! I'm not lying! I tried asking one of the doctors but he shoved me out telling me to get out!"

Florida looked him up and down and searched his face to see if he was lying. Granted Wash still had his helmet on but Florida was like a human lie detector so even if Wash was sure he could lie, he did not want to. Satisfied with Wash's response he left the younger Freelancer alone in the hall. Wash did not want to know where he was going and instead headed to his room, he needed to be alone right now.

Hours later both North and Alaska were out of surgery and in recovery. After hearing this Wash bolted from his room and ran to the infirmary to see Alaska. not long after North awoke and was greeted to South by his bedside to see how he was doing, Alaska on the other hand remained asleep. That was normal Wash figured, she would probably wake up soon and she will be ok. Florida had come in not long after Wash's arrival and also pulled up a chair next to Alaska.

Hours turned into a day and days turned into a week with no sign of Alaska waking up anytime soon. North had already been cleared for leaving the infirmary and spared a look at Alaska's still form. He put his hand on Wash's shoulder as a gesture of reassurance before leaving the infirmary with his Sister.

Washington did not acknowledge North as he left and instead focused entirely on Alaska. Honestly, North and Tex were the only two from that mission that Wash would even go near if he could avoid it. It was hard to do though, when you are a part of the same team as the other Leaderboarders and Carolina, obsessed as she was. Demanded her team train if they could, it had gotten to the point where the Director actually stepped in and postponed all training sessions to everyone's confusion and other relief.

Florida

"Florida mate, you know you can get some rest, right?" asked a voice behind the blue armored man sitting by Alaska's unconscious form.

Florida didn't say anything.

"Come on old chap, why don't you go get something to eat?" said the voice again as he tried to get the other man to move.

"I can't Reggie." Came Florida's raspy voice.

He had been sitting here next to Astrid since she was out of surgery with no intention of leaving her side. He had not moved much, only to do necessary things like eat and go to the bathroom. But even then, both were few and far in between as he didn't want to leave his little sisters side for fear of not being there for her if, when he had to remind himself it was when, she wakes up. With her still unconscious days after the incident and surgery, the medical staff was worried that she might slip into a coma at this point.

And that thought terrified Butch. Especially with the way the Director is, it was entirely possible that he would just pull the plug on her if that happened. And if that happens then Florida will lose it and not even Reggie will be able to pull him out of it. He has already lost so much and he will not let God take this from him as well.

"I know she's family to you Butch, but you need to take care of yourself as well." Said Reggie as he pulled up a chair next to Florida, "Besides, what will she say if you are not taking care of yourself?"

Florida didn't say anything right away but before he could say something the door to the recovery room opened. Both Florida and Reggie turned to see who had walked in, Florida had hoped that it wasn't Carolina. When Florida had heard about the teams return he had been excited about Alaska's return and was hoping to relax with both her and Reggie playing games for the rest of the evening. After her debriefing that is, can't go against protocol now can we. But that thought was thrown out the window as soon as he heard about the mission status and the status of the team coming back.

When Florida had seen the state that Alaska was in his heart nearly stopped and his blood ran cold. He had nearly gone after the Director in a fit of rage because he was pretty fucking sure that he was the reason that his little sister was barely alive. But he was able to hold himself back, with the help of Reggie, he didn't want the bastard to know that he didn't trust him nor the project anymore. Not yet at least.

"Is she awake yet?" came the timid voice of Wash as he made his way to Alaska's bedside.

"No, no Wash. She's not." Florida said in a somber voice.

Wash had sat almost as long as Florida at Alaska's bedside even refusing to eat or sleep a few times. However, in a few rare cases of Florida using his Big Brother Powers, as Carl liked to put it, on Wash to get him to take care of himself. It was strange to do that to someone who Butch didn't consider family.

"Oh. I-I just thought that, it's been almost two weeks. And the next big mission is soon, and I'm worried about her."

"I know Wash, I know. Me to."

They were quite for a little bit not wanting to say anything else before a noise snapped them out of their silence.

"Ugh, the fuck?"

"Laska!" yelled Florida as he stood up suddenly.

"Alaska! your ok!" yelled Wash as he hugged his injured friend.

"Ugh, Wash. Get off, your hurting me."

In an instant Wash was off of Alaska, "I'm so sorry!"

Alaska smiled softly, "S'okay Wash you didn't mean it." Turning to Florida, "Hey Big Bro, how are you?"

"Haha, you've been unconscious for almost two weeks and the first thing you ask me is how I've been?"

"Damn, has it really been that long?"

"Yeah, you had us all worried."

"Sorry. Really tired."

Florida smiled, "Get some rest Kitten, great to see you alright though."

"Kay."

Alaska closed her eyes again and went back to sleep. Florida breathed a sigh of relief that his sister was going to ok. The next thing that he did was get the medical staff. They were none to happy that they had not gotten them as soon as Alaska was conscious. But after their initial complaining they said that she would be able to leave as soon as her leg heals up. Although she would not be able to train or go into the field until her arm heals up. When the staff left, more than likely to inform the Director of the status on Alaska, Wash left with Reggie and Florida.

"Hey, Florida."

"Yes Wash?"

"What, what happened on that mission? I keep asking people and they won't answer me. South said she would rip my face off, North just didn't say anything, Tex was just silent. And Carolina? Well I didn't feel comfortable asking her."

Florida stopped in the middle of the hall.

"Yeah, I'll tell you Wash. Wyoming, Wash you can follow me to my Rec Room."

The normally chipper man was somber the past two weeks it was unsettling to say the least and downright creepy to the other Freelancers. It was like his life and passion had been put out and the only place you could find him was the infirmary, he was even more short tempered and vindictive as well while Alaska was in the infirmary. The times where he actually did leave the infirmary to get some food from the mess hall the chipper looks that he gave Carolina and the rest of that team, except Tex she had been just as worried about Alaska as Wash, were looks that promised pain.

They had made sure to stay out of his way, North however was able to avoid Florida's ire because when Butch finally found out what happened had been from North. That had given North points but what actually saved him was the fact that North had cared and protected Alaska on that mission as best he could.

The two other Freelancers followed Florida to his private space, which he would normally keep everyone but his most trusted friends away from. Florida though, knew that he could trust Wash even though he still had little to no doubts in the project even after their meeting with Alaska. But, Wash was a good boy he cares about Alaska more than they both acknowledge right now. But Florida can see the signs even now and he knows that Alaska has chosen the right one. Besides he knows he can trust Wyoming implicitly because he's the knock knock joke loving Freelancers boyfriend.

They were quite as they walked through the halls of the ship, the others off doing their own things and the security detail of the ship just patrolling the halls. They don't really need to do that but the Director has them doing so anyway. They never made it to Florida's Rec Room because F.I.L.L.S. came on over the intercom with a summons.

"Would Agents York, Carolina, Washington, Florida, Maine, Connecticut, Wyoming, and North Dakota please report to the Director immediately."

"Well, that can't be good." Stated Wash as the three of them changed directions and headed to the Director to see what he wanted.

Florida didn't say anything but narrowed his eyes he had a feeling as to what this would be about but he had thought it would be another week before this mission was supposed to be done. Oh well, nothing he could do about it right now anyway no matter how much he disliked that.

"Now that were all here, this mission is of the utmost importance." Said the director as he looked at the assembled Freelancers before him.

"Since the mission that we gathered this from did not keep within the guidelines of stealth they know were coming." Said Carolina as she brought up the map of the objective, "Our mission is to get the Sarcophagus and get out, fast."

"The Sarcophagus?" asked North.

"That's what were calling it. They know were coming and they are going to be transporting it, so we will need to get the codes from a high up official who will have it on him. So once the Sarcophagus is secure we will get the codes, everyone gets that?"

A plethora of "Yes sir." Sounded from the group except Florida and Texas who just stayed silent. Butch was contemplating trying whether he should create an accident for Carolina on this mission or not as he boarded the Pelican. Texas grabbed his shoulder, he looked at her as she shook her head.

"Don't do anything right now Florida, it would jeopardize the mission. Do something after this if you can." Said Tex over a private channel with him.

Butch could see what Texas was saying and he had to begrudgingly agree with her that it was best to wait. Without saying anything he boarded the Pelican and strapped himself in.


this chapter was mostly to take the focus off of Astrid for a bit to focus on the other characters a little more to flesh out their relationship with Astrid as well.

hope you guys enjoy this and please leave feedback if you can, i love to hear your guys' opinions!

also one more thing, i am not going to be writing ch 10 just yet. since i have a better grasp on who my characters are and what i am doing i am going to be going back to my earlier chapters, more than likely ch 1-4, and revamp them. you know, like, adding or subtracting things that are not necessary anymore or adding some minor things to make things flow better. you know that stuff.

oh! one more thing before you guys go, i also post this on Ao3 and you can find me there under BlueTeamChurch