The next few weeks were hard for Tex to not get back on the training floor, unfortunately when she tried her stitches in her abdomen caused her to quickly stop. York, Carolina, Wash, and North all let her figure things out on her own cause arguing with Tex was a waste of breath, thankfully today was the day Tex was able to go back into action after she had her stitches removed. Earlier that day Carolina and Tex went and received their armor upgrades, Tex laid on one of the beds in the medical bay waiting for the nurse to finish taking out her stitches.
"Okay, all done." The nurse finally spoke with a smile on her face. "Get dressed and try to not get killed anymore."
"I'll try to never be back in here." Tex chuckled as she began getting dressed in her armor again.
"Alright. Have a good one Tex." With that the nurse left.
"Thanks you too." Tex wasn't sure how she liked the new armor, it was comfortable and gave the girls a lot more room to move around but it just wasn't her old armor.
She made her way back to the chow hall where everyone else was, she was glad to be back and was itching to do some Last Man Standing. The sight she seen when she walked into the chow hall was not what she was expecting, all the agents were crowded in a circle around someone. Everyone except Carolina, South and Wyoming, Tex got her food and sat at by what was left of her team.
"What the hell is going on?" Tex asked a little annoyed.
"New Agent." South said more annoyed than normal.
"I didn't hear about this!" Tex was now more annoyed that the Director didn't even bother to tell her about the new agent.
"No one did till she came strutting through the door and had everyone's attention." Carolina had a hiss in her voice, Tex looked and noticed that York was indeed over there along with Wash. This caused her blood to almost boil.
"Well. I guess I should go introduce myself." Tex stood and began heading over to all the commotion, Carolina and South were close on her heels cause they wanted to see this show. All the other low level soldiers ran once they noticed Tex was coming, they knew not to mess with her and she didn't have a pleased look on her face.
North was the first to notice that they approached, he quickly backed away from the others. South grinned at her brother, she didn't really care that North was interested because he needed a girl in his life. Tex grabbed Wash and York's shoulders and moved them out of the way so she could see the new girl, she caught both boys by surprise.
"Oh.. uh... hey Tex." Wash muttered as he was moved.
"Shut up. What's your name agent?" Tex stood try to show her authority. She looked the long haired blonde up and down.
"Agent California is my name sweet heart, don't wear it out." California smiled as she shifted her weight and adjusted her helmet on her hip, her southern accent covered her words.
"California, huh?" Tex looked at her in more detail. She had black armor with red accidents, she glanced over her shoulder at Carolina trying to get her input and received the smile she was looking for. "Drop by the training room in a few, let's see what your made of princess." Tex smiled then turned around and punched Wash in the shoulder as hard as she could and walked away, Carolina and South followed.
"What the hell has gotten her panties in a knot?" California spoke a little confused and pissed.
"You just got us all killed for your stupid stunt here Wash. I hope you're happy, Last Man Standing is going to suck." North shook his head before walking away.
"Damn... I sure didn't think this through." Wash rubbed his shoulder. His shoulder guard had a dent in it now from where Tex just punched him.
"Every time you open your mouth you make things worse." York to walked away.
They all met Tex on the observation deck, she looked less than pleased and the Director stood behind her in a observing manner. North, Wash, and York all stood knowing they were going to get their beatings today while California stood with her arms crossed.
"Agent California I didn't say you had to come here." The Director spoke up when he noticed the new Agent.
"I asked her to come, I'd like to see what she is made of since I didn't get the memo that we had a new recruit." Tex almost snapped out the words, California couldn't believe she would talk that way to the Director.
"Alright Agent Texas, you've made your point. You control today's training, tomorrow you all have a mission." The Director and Chairman both left after he finished speaking, California looked at the score board that was now visible. She seen that Agent Texas and Agent Carolina were on the top of it, now she knew where she stood and that she was probably in for a world of hurt since she insulted the top Freelancer.
"Okay newbie, this is how we handle newcomers. We are going to see how well you can handle battle. We will start with Hand to Hand combat then move on to 5 rounds of Lock Down Paint Simulation. You will be going against me, F.I.L.S.S. set up the floor for Hand to Hand combat please." Tex turned around and put her helmet on.
"Setting the floor for Hand to Hand combat. Round one will begin shortly." F.I.L.S.S. chirped.
California put her helmet on and followed Tex to the floor, Wash and York both looked at each as they walked over to the glass and were quickly joined by Carolina, North, Wyoming and South.
"Worried about the new girl?" South asked.
"No I'm worried we are going to get killed just by watching." Wash responded.
"Well you bloody idiot deserve your punishment after what ya put the lass through, you're gonna end up alone if ya keep it up." Wyoming spoke for once, and he stated the truth.
The match began, and they both seemed to be neck and neck for talent. Wash and York seemed to be the only ones impressed with the match.
"Just wait till Omega starts helping. Then shit will hit the fan and California will leave on a stretcher." Carolina spoke, she didn't like the new recruit, she liked her even less now that she is able to keep up with Tex without an AI.
"Worried about the new girl yet Wash?" South said as everyone could tell he took a fondness to the newbie.
"Can we just watch the match?" Wash avoided the question causing South to roll her eyes.
"Round One complete, point to Agent Texas. Resetting the floor for Lock Down Paint Simulation." F.I.L.S.S. said as the agents got ready for the next round. Honestly no one was shocked, although they did expect it to happen quicker than this. Carolina and North noticed that Omega had appeared on Tex's shoulder, now it was going to be a quick next few rounds.
As they predicted, the rounds went quickly. All except the last round, California was making a comeback that no one expected. Tex and California had shot paint at each other's feet locking them to the floor, they continued to shoot at each other locking each other's armor completely up which resulted in the match being called a tie. Everyone ran down to the floor along with a couple medical teams, most of the team ran to Tex to help remove the lock down paint from her armor. When Tex was able to look around she seen that Wash and Flowers were assisting California, this made her blood boil and tears slide down her cheeks. North and York helped Tex into the locker room, since her armor was still locked up, South had noticed Wash as well and went to confront the dumb freelancer.
"God damn that paint shit sucks." Tex complained as Carolina helped peel off her armor.
"Yes it does. You gonna be alright Tex?" York asked since Wash was MIA.
"Yeah I'll be alright, does she have a AI or something? That was horse shit. I've never had that much trouble before." Tex shook her head trying to figure out how she almost lost.
"I don't know, something isn't right about this new agent." Carolina stood with her hands on her hips. "And I'm going to find out what."
"Don't get yourself hurt. It's not worth it." Tex said, she got up and left as Wash came walking in. She wasn't about to be in the same room as him until she was back to full strength, the rest of her team followed leaving Wash alone in the locker room.
They all sat in the chow hall, North sat in Wash's normal seat but only upon Tex's request. Tex had to admit that she felt betrayed, she couldn't believe the way Wash was acting. The rest of the day Tex avoided Wash as much as she could, South and Carolina helped her our as much as they could. Tex retired to her room early not wanting to be confronted by anyone, at least that's what the plan was until she heard knocking at her door.
"Go away." Tex snapped, she figured it was Washington.
"Can we talk please?" Wash replied, she was right.
"About what?!" Tex snapped as she swung her door open, she stood in the door way so he couldn't come in.
"About today."
"I have nothing to talk to you about, obviously this meant nothing to you." She slammed the ring into his chest. "Apparently whenever someone better comes along its easy to give them the red carpet treatment, someone can finally kick my ass so therefore I'm not good enough anymore. Is that it?!" Tex couldn't hardly control the tears that started to well up in her eyes.
"Allison, that's not it at all."
"Don't you dare call me that anymore, you lost the privilege of calling me that when you went to her side after the match." Tex's body trembled in anger.
"I wanted to make her feel welcomed. You know how it feels to be the new agent." Wash tried to comfort her only to have his hand smacked away.
"No one gave me the red carpet treatment, only Flowers did and that was his job. Not yours, not North's, not even Carolina's. Look, I loved you damn it. Then you go and pull this? After everything we have gone through? Seriously? Get out of my sight, maybe we just need a break from each other."
"Tex, I do love you and I wouldn't have asked you to marry me if I thought any different." Wash couldn't believe how bad he had messed up.
"You better prove yourself tomorrow, or I will leave your ass behind on purpose." Tex slammed the door in his face, she knew that she wasn't going to be able to sleep.