Chapter nine :D I sincerely hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Chapter 9
"Beginning hand-to-hand combat. Today's match will be between Agent Colorado, and Agent Kansas."
There were no pillars raised from the floor, and no weapons table to pick and choose from. It was Kansas and myself, separated by only a few feet. Both of us slipped into our combat stances and began circling, sizing each other up as FILSS listed off rules and technicalities that I already knew by heart.
"The Director has requested that this training session be reduced to the best two rounds out of three for the sake of Agent Colorado having time to rest and prepare."
I raised an eyebrow in interest. The Director normally didn't shorten training sessions even if there was a mission coming up. He was either worried about the outcome, or genuinely wanted to give me time to get ready to hit the dirt. Regardless, Psi urged me not to think about the Director's motives, and instead focus on Kansas. Her Venator armor fluidly followed her movements, and the blood red color gave her an intimidating presence. Narrowing my eyes, I tried to think of my strategy. I hadn't seen any of her fights, so Psi had no recommendations for me regarding my tactics. As the sound of the starting bell rang, I decided that winging it was my best option.
Kansas was the first one to make a move, and she powered towards me like a racecar in a race. Her speed was surprising; I expected her to move at around Maine's speed. Whereas I could easily outmaneuver Maine with my speed alone, Kansas brought on the challenge of being able to (supposedly) hit harder than I could, and also had the ability to match my speed. As she rushed me, I slipped to the side and flashed out a quick fist that sent her sprawling to the floor. However she merely grunted in surprise and leapt back up, turning on me quickly with a clenched left fist. Leaping to the right to avoid her left hook, I instead was sent flying back as she brought her right fist up and slammed it across my helmet."
"Damn, she really DOES hit hard."
"So I saw. She relies on brute strength and speed, but I know you're more cunning. Time to come up with some fancy footwork, 'Rado."
Smirking, I leapt off of the ground and rushed for Kansas head on. To her credit, she held her stance as I came barreling towards her. I readied a fist as if I was going to throw a punch, but at the last second I dropped my attack and dropped to my knees. Thinking quickly, I dropped on my back and began spinning my legs. An exclamation of surprise told me I had hit my mark, and Kansas joined me on the ground. I could feel Psi urging me on to go for a pin, and I happily obliged. For the next two minutes, Kansas and I rolled around the ground, both of us trying to get an advantage over the other. However it was only when I landed a precise punch on her visor that Kansas was dazed enough for me to pin her.
"Round one, complete! Point goes to Agent Colorado!"
Grinning broadly, I removed myself from Kansas and stood up, offering her my hand. She accepted it, and as I pulled her up, she gave me a congratulatory pat on the shoulder.
The next round proved to be a repeat of the previous one. Kansas was good- hell, she was a great fighter- but once again Psi's advice proved to be my ticket to victory. Kansas took the loss good naturedly, promising a rematch when I got back from Seras Prime. We were only two days away now, and I could feel myself getting more and more anxious. Thankfully, my next stop for the day was a sniper lesson with North. This time, Wyoming had been well enough to join us, and he wasn't alone. Floating next to Wyoming's shoulder was a small blue person that vaguely reminded me of the Counselor. North and Wyoming had been chatting amiably in the target practice area, but turned at my entrance. North flashed me a smile, and I removed my helmet to return the favor. Turning to Wyoming, I chuckled slightly.
"Well, looks like you've joined the AI club, Wyoming. This is Gamma I assume?"
The British agent nodded.
"Right you are, my dear. Gamma is deceit. He'll be quite useful for dealing with the Insurrection."
I was extremely curious as to how Wyoming would improve with Gamma on his side now. Carolina had told me that York was due for implantation next, and I was curious whom York would get as a match. What had surprised me was how Carolina hadn't been put forward for an AI, though I hadn't talked to her since yesterday; for all I knew that could have changed. Shaking away the thoughts, I picked up one of the snipers and made my way to a lane. North and Wyoming followed. North began the lesson.
"Wyoming and I are going to teach you close combat fighting with the sniper today. It's a useful skill to have, particularly if you don't have the time to switch your weapons when an enemy is almost on top of you. The challenge of it is lining up a good shot without the help of the scope. You're essentially firing blind."
"Another challenge about it, 'Rado, is keeping calm while facing down your opponent. Fear or tension will almost certainly cost you your accuracy."
North nodded in agreement to Wyoming's addition.
"Just breath, 'Rado, and be confident that you WILL hit your target. Skill is only part of being able to fight in close quarters. The other part is confidence."
I nodded and watched as the target was brought closer. At the range they brought it in, a shotgun would be the most effective choice.
"Wouldn't it be more effective to just run up and shove the barrel in their chest?"
Wyoming chuckled in amusement, as if he was indulging a child.
"Do you want to eat a face full of shotgun pellets?"
I frowned and rolled my eyes.
"Of course not."
I felt North's reassuring hand on my shoulder.
"What Wyoming is trying to say is that rushing an opponent is never a good idea, particularly with a sniper rifle."
I gave him a dry smile, but I made my mild amusement clear.
"Really? You don't say?"
North sighed in exasperation. The lesson went by quicker than I thought it would, and surprisingly I hadn't done half bad. Granted, Wyoming and North were still far superior to my skills, but I was confident that I had a firm enough grasp to be able to protect myself. North and Wyoming accompanied me to the mess hall, and I broke off for the serving line. Between fighting Kansas and handling a rifle for nearly three hours, my stomach was ordering me to feed it. The mess hall's teriyaki chicken had been my favorite dish, and luckily it was being served today. After filling the rest of my tray up with an acceptable amount of other foods, I made my way over to the table. Carolina was discussing the AI implantation process with York. However I caught something interesting.
"…gave mine up to Maine. He needs to be able to communicate with us somehow, and an AI would be the best way. The Director agreed, so Maine will be after you for implantation, York."
Sitting down, I looked over curiously.
"What's going on?"
York looked over and flashed a welcoming smile, which I returned.
"Carolina is giving up her AI to Maine."
I looked up at her, surprised.
"Really? That's extremely generous of you, Carolina. I'm honestly surprised that the Director agreed so easily; our AIs are partnered to our specific personalities."
Psi was evidently surprised as well, and I could feel him running calculations about scenarios of non-matched AI and human pairings. Strangely enough, I noticed that he didn't share his findings with me once he had ceased his thinking. Dismissing his behavior as being a result of inconclusive results, I dug into my food. South was brooding yet again and seemed to be thinking about something. Wash and Kansas were laughing over something at the far end of the table. York and Carolina had moved on to dissecting my fight with Kansas, and North and Wyoming were discussing ways to conceal their locations while sniping. With all the routine conversation, I almost managed to forget about the mission. Maine walked in and took his place across the table from me. Looking at him, I could understand why Carolina was giving up her AI to him. I don't know how I would cope without the ability to communicate effectively. I murmured a greeting to the EVA helmeted Freelancer, and he nodded back.
As I munched on a few strawberries, I couldn't help but wonder how Texas would perform in the field. She was the new number one for a reason, right? I didn't have to like her, but I sure as hell needed to depend on her once we got planet side. I hadn't forgotten how she had beat down Wyoming, Maine, and York without issue, but training was different from actual Innies. For all I knew, she could freeze up in the field.
"'Rado? Hello? MoI to 'Rado, do you copy?"
Shaking out of my thoughts, I blinked to see York waving a hand in front of my face.
"Hm? What is it?"
Carolina looked distinctly unhappy as York smirked and said, "you have a visitor."
He pointed behind me, and I turned to see Agent Texas standing in the mess hall door. Sighing, I stood and cleared off my tray in the nearest trashcan.
"I'll see you guys later."
Carolina and York nodded, and North gave me what I thought was a reassuring smile. Walking over to where Texas was standing, I slipped my helmet on and leaned on my right leg.
"Can I help you, Texas?"
My voice was even, but anyone could tell that I didn't consider Texas a friend. I could imagine her raising an eyebrow, but she did nothing, contenting herself with motioning to me.
"Come on. We're visiting Oregon in interrogation, and we're going to make him tell us about the forces surrounding General Gray."
At this I felt my mood brighten. Now she was speaking my language. I smirked and jogged a bit to come up to her side.
"I don't think physical persuasion is going to work on Oregon. He knows that we need him too much."
She spared a glance at me, and said in a determined voice, "we're not going to use 'physical persuasion,' we're going to use his emotions against him."
It took me a couple of minutes to realize that Texas was leading me towards the bridge. My curiosity grew, until we stepped through the door and we found ourselves in the presence of the Director. His usual shadow, the Counselor, was off talking to one of the other crewmembers present. Without turning around, he acknowledged our presence.
"Agents Texas and Colorado, I do not need to tell you how important it is that we have information regarding General Gray's current forces." He turned around and strode towards us, a file in his hand. "Here is the information you requested, Texas. Do what you must to get Oregon to talk."
"Yes, Sir."
I saluted respectfully, surprise filling me, as Texas did not follow my lead. More surprising was how the Director didn't seem to care. My suspicions about Texas rose yet again, but I said nothing as I followed the black-armored Freelancer towards interrogation. The first door we went in was the observation room. The design hadn't changed much from previous centuries; the glass was one way and Oregon probably had no idea that I was watching him. He had long been stripped of his armor, and from the bruises I saw on him, and the black left eye he was sporting, I could only assume that South had been given the green light to beat the shit out of him. I would have felt bad for him had he not sold out North and the others. Without looking at Texas, I spoke in a cool tone.
"So what's in that file of yours, Texas?"
"Tex."
"Excuse me?"
"Call me Tex. Everyone else seems to, and it's getting pretty damn annoying to have you calling me Texas."
"Ok then, Tex, what's in the file?"
She tossed it onto the table, and I too that as my invitation to look at it, permission or not. Inside, Oregon's life story was spread out in front of. His military career, his mission briefs as a Freelancer, even his grades back in high school. Looking over the information, one could only wonder how Oregon could have joined the military. His real name was Christopher Gray, and he hadn't done any sports in high school. In fact, the only thing extracurricular he had done was the yearbook team. He went to college and got a Bachelor's in Computer Sciences, but instead joined up with the UNSC. As I looked over his file, I spotted something that nearly made me drop the folder in shock. There was a picture in the file of Oregon and his parents on his graduation day, and staring between the Oregon and his father, I couldn't believe how foolish I had been not to see the resemblance.
The man with a hand on Oregon's shoulder and smiling in a cunning way was no other than General Gray himself. The caption on the photo had his first name as Adam. I shook my head slowly and set the photo back in the folder before looking back at Tex, a humorless chuckle escaping me.
"I… am a fucking idiot. I should have seen the resemblance between them the second I got back to the ship. The same eyes, the same smirk… I'm a blind fool."
The taller Freelancer crossed her arms and shook her head.
"No way you could have known, Colorado. However we're going to use this family tie against him. Come on."
She swept out of the room and left me to grab the folder and follow behind her. By the time I entered the room, she had already taken a seat across from Oregon and was staring him down. From the wary way he was eyeing her, I couldn't imagine her being more intimidating. I smirked under my helmet and opened the folder to the picture of Oregon and his father before slamming it on the table in front of him.
"Cute family picture, Christopher. I didn't know you had such a troublesome pedigree. Did you plan on telling me before or after you handed me over to the General yet again? Was the only reason you did all this to make daddy proud?"
Oregon narrowed his eyes.
"Go to Hell, Serena, you don't know anything."
I slammed a fist onto the table and leaned towards him menacingly.
"Listen up, Asshole, and listen well. You sold out North and everyone to daddy dearest, you nearly got me killed, and then you actually TRIED to kill me yourself. My patience with your bullshit is at an end, and if you don't give us the information we want, Tex won't be able to stop me from ripping you to pieces."
His earlier bravado gone, Oregon flinched slightly, and I walked back towards the door. Tex waved me on, and I nodded, exiting the room in favor of watching the process through the observation window. Interrogation was not my strong suit. I preferred the more direct method of shooting first and asking questions later. Behind the glass, Oregon seemed to relax ever so slightly at my departure. Tex began the interrogation by asking about his home life, and about his early days in the UNSC. I narrowed my eyes. Oregon wasn't stupid enough to fall into Tex's prodding for information. She was probably trying to get a timeline going to determine when he had decided to aid his father in the Insurrection.
The information he spouted was next to useless for our cause. Eventually I began to get so fed up that I felt my fists opening and closing in frustration. As if sensing this, Tex got up from her seat and left the room. The door to the observation window opened, and in strode the ebony Freelancer.
"He's not cracking. Any ideas?"
I snorted in barely suppressed anger.
"Number One doesn't know what to do? Shocking."
"Cut the attitude, Colorado."
Ignoring her, I called out, "Psi?"
Ever prompt, Psi almost immediately appeared.
"How can I help you, 'Rado?"
I motioned to Oregon. "You've been hearing all of this just as I have. Did you notice any reactions at all that we could exploit?"
Psi crossed his arms, and though he had a helmet on, I could feel him contemplating everything he had heard and seen.
"He did not seem to react to any of Agent Texas' questions. The most reaction I saw was from you threatening him, 'Rado."
"Are you suggesting that I beat the shit out of him?"
"Essentially yes."
I smiled and cracked my knuckles. It was finally time to do things my way. I pointed at Tex's sidearm.
"Does that have live rounds?"
She pulled it off of her belt and handed it to me.
"Go find out."
I grabbed it and left. The door to the interrogation room was heavy and steel, but that didn't stop me from kicking it open with a loud crash. Oregon bolted upright, took one look at my sidearm, and immediately grew alarmed. Without hesitating, I took aim and fired. The resounding boom and subsequent screaming told me that yes; the gun did indeed have live rounds. Oregon was on the ground screaming over his now non-existent kneecap. I casually clicked the safety on and holstered the gun.
"Quit your bitching, Chris. You got shot in the knee: big whoop. Try getting shot in the gut and then start crying. We could demonstrate right now! If you DON'T want to experience what I did, then I recommend you tell me exactly where your father is, what troops he has around him, and why he wanted information on Project Freelancer."
Though he was obviously in extreme pain, he glared up at me with eyes filled with hatred.
"Fuck you, Colorado! AGH!"
His scream came as another bullet crashed through his other knee. I sighed dramatically.
"Tsk tsk, Chris. You're making me get blood all over the interrogation room. If you tell me what I want to know we might be able to fix your legs and get this room cleaned up; you will be staying in it for the duration of our journey after all. Tell you what, I'll let you think it over for a bit."
As if nothing was wrong, I walked quietly out of the room, making sure to shut and lock the protesting steel door behind me. Psi appeared by my shoulder, and I could feel his concern radiating from him.
"That was… rather brutal."
"He deserved nothing less, Psi. We need answers, and he clearly wasn't going to cooperate without an incentive."
"'Rado, maybe you should let Agent Texas continue the interrogation… I feel you are emotionally unfit to continue."
My moods were already strained, so I felt my temper decide to rear its ugly head.
"We need answers, Psi! I'll be damned if we go on this mission without them! With your support or not, I WILL break Christopher Gray."
Psi was silent for a moment, but before he could reply, Tex stormed out of the observation room.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?! We're supposed to rough him up; not kill him!"
I leaned against the doorframe nonchalantly.
"He's not dead. Just in a lot of pain."
"Well he's GOING to be dead if he doesn't get help! Damn it, Colorado. Go and get your temper under control before you talk to Chris again."
I stalked off without another word. What the hell did SHE know? It's not like HER methods were getting us any answers. Grumbling, I didn't even notice South until I ran into her.
"Watch where you're going!"
Looking up, I could see her fiery green eyes glaring at mine, and even the scar on her cheek seemed angrier than normal. Tossing her wordless look through my helmet, I walked past without a word. A hand landed heavily on my shoulder and spun me around, and I quickly realized that South wasn't going to take any of my shit.
"Don't think you can just walk away from ME, Colorado."
"I think I can, South."
I tried walking away again, but South's temper must have gotten the better of her, as I felt a fist slam into my back. The force sent me flying into a wall, and though my armor had protected me from the worst of it, I still felt a bit dazed. However almost immediately, I felt my anger get the better of me. Spinning around I grabbed South's arm as she went in for another punch, and tossed her down the hallway. Doors opened, and personnel came rushing out to see what the commotion was. Most of them, when they saw it was two Freelancers fighting it out, promptly got away from us as fast as they could. Those who stayed were Freelancers hoping for a good show. I saw Carolina looking on with a look that told me she knew this was coming. North was standing with Wash and Kansas, and his blue eyes were wide and horrified. Briefly I felt a stab of guilt, but that evaporated as South landed a punch that sent me slamming into the wall yet again. However, being the skilled fighter she was, she followed up my continuously slamming her fists into my head.
With each blow that rained down I felt myself slipping into unconscious, but Psi urged me forward with a kick that sent her skidding away from me. I peeled myself off the wall and immediately slumped forward slightly, my head swimming with dizziness. South seemed barely winded and charged at me again. I readied a fighting stance, but before she could reach me, another Freelancer came barreling out and kicked South away and down the hallway. Shock filled me as I realized that it was North who had interfered.
He looked at South regretfully, who had gotten up and was glowering at North incredulously, stalked towards him menacingly.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?! Why are you protecting HER?!
The regretful look on North's face didn't change.
"She was beat enough, South. You probably gave her a concussion, and from the way you were fighting, you were going to do more than just beat her down."
I ripped my helmet off, and North glanced over at me in concern as I walked over and stood facing his barely younger twin.
"If she wants to fight, North, I'm more than willing to oblige. After dealing with Oregon all day, I need something to punch."
North came me a hard look.
"Your head looks like it hurts like hell, and your lip is bleeding. I think you're done for today."
I scowled and looked away, feeling my mood plummet further. A small part of me realized that I was probably being a bitch, but I was too riled up to really care. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I sighed internally and walked towards my room. We had one day until we got to Seras Prime, and we had no information whatsoever, and the only guy who had the information was probably passed out in the med bay. As I entered the comfort of my room, I could feel Psi's sympathy pulsing through my head. I knew what he was reading in my thoughts. After General Gray was killed, what would I be fighting for? I still hated the Insurrection more than anything, but Blake had been dead for years, and I had more than repaid his death in blood. Aaron had been dead for a while too, and I had taken the lives of enough Innies on the day he died to make up for his death a hundred times over. My legacy at Freelancer was really all I had left, in addition to North.
"Agent Colorado?"
I sighed as FILSS' voice came over my room intercom.
"Yes?"
"Agent Texas has requested your presence in the medical bay. She says that she has the information you needed."
At this, my gaze hardened and I slammed my helmet back on my head.
"I'll be right there."
Guess what guys? Next chapter is mission time xD My apologies if this chapter is blah. This giant block decided to park itself in the way of my creativity.
