Rated T for York's bad language
I nervously knock on the door Eta hovering in my consul a reassuring presence. "Geia?" It's York. He pulls the door further open and hugs me. I am shocked, I didn't think they would be this concerned about me. Also first time I've been hugged.
"Hi York."
"York who is it?"
"Geia." He calls. I hear feet pound on the ground and Carolina appears joining in the hug. Totally not expecting this. I was thinking more yelling and a few reprimands.
"You okay? Don't run off like that again." She says sternly and I can hear the old squad leader in her voice.
"I would suggest coming inside there is a lot to talk about." Delta called from the holodeck Eta and Iota at his side. York and Carolina glance at me quickly gauging my reaction to the AIs' appearances.
"I've known about them for a while."
—
Three weeks later
"I'm fine. Now go!" Geia was glaring at her two concerned housemates who stood one foot out the door.
"If you need-"
"Anything call Sarah. I know now go! I can take care of Allison just fine. You know I don't take charity so let me do my job." The three laughed at the old joke and the former freelancers left. "So Allison just me and you."
"And me of course!" Chirped Eta from her shoulder. That AI was far more bubbly and excited than I had expected.
There was not much to do. Allison was still an infant and soon was asleep., and thanks to both Frees being soldiers they were very neat. Eta and I ended up playing several games of chess and solving a complex equation. At about three the door opened and Carolina and York came back. "No problems?"
"None." Carolina walked over to Allison and smiling picked up her daughter.
"Thank you Geia I feel better having you watch her but if you ever want a break from either one of them tell us." I smile
"I will" I promise.
—
Six months later
Third POV
Carolina nursed Allison sitting in her favorite chair. Geia and York were out getting dinner. Eta and Iota stood on the holodeck. It was odd no longer having Eta and while she had come to like the AI she knew it had been hurting her. She felt so much better now. "Carolina?"
"Humm?" She asked growing more awake
"Sorry." Eta said shifting slightly. A human characteristic that the AI must have picked up from her or Geia.
"For what?"
"How we acted back in the project and when you had just come here." Iota joined in.
"It's been four years why are you apologizing? You both know I don't blame you for that. It was my pride that caused me to have both of you and my pride that let the situation get so bad. Besides I healed, I'm better now and I liked having you in my head for the last four years. You have helped me be a better person."
"Would you ever go back?" Eta asked ignoring Carolina's original question
"Back?"
"To the project, to the director." Iota clarified'
"The Director was doing horrible things to us. I can see now that he was working far outside the laws but I am a fighter and I miss the squad. But what's with the questions?"
"Geia she was thinking about her past." Eta said simply. Carolina nodded.
Dinner was as it was only to be interrupted by a knock at the door. This was not unusual as York had a reputation as lock smith and occasionally someone came needing to get into their house. York went to see who it was. "Don't wait for me." Geia immediately went back to her math problem but Carolina knew she would be listening to York's conversation. She could hear the low murmur of voices in the entry way and then the door closing and York reappeared. "Apparently the insurrections are sniffing around for a young girl and any ex-military."
"So what do we do?" Geia asked nervously.
"We stay quiet but start making preparations to run. They may be looking to see if any of the others from the original base survived and camped out." Carolina said already thinking of escape routes and other cities they could go to. The two nodded and Geia gave a weak smile. "At least I have a new project."
Four days later
York was working in the farthest field when he heard the all to familiar sound of a safety switching off. Delta immediately started shouting alarm and sending a signal to Carolina and Geia. "No sudden moves." Twenty-third century English, fuck. York decided to play the ignorant farmer.
"Deo placere non tam me"
"English!" That voice sounded familiar. York turned slowly keeping his head down so his hat hid his face and specifically his scar. He was looking as a mix of multi-colored boots. You got to be fucking kidding me! Here? Now?"
"I agree the chances of this encounter were as unlikely as Carolina forgetting Allison somewhere."
Not helpful Dee and your statistics are getting worse.
"I will try better in the future,"
"Do you know where the insurrectionist base is?" Another asked speaking slowly.
What do you think Dee?
"They are less likely to shoot you if they know who you are and we have been trying to figure out a way off the planet. Also Carolina is approaching quickly you may want to warn them about her. I suggest moving to a more secure space such as the house."
"Hello? Knock knock." The British accent was still as annoying as ever.
"Look there is no time. My partner is coming. Please don't shoot her. We will explain everything soon but this place is not secure, come with us." York turned looking as Carolina ran across the field her hair tied back by a bandana. They would just have to hope they wouldn't recognize them yet. That discussion was not something to have in the open. He and Carolina started walking around the outskirts of the field the freelancers hesitating.
"I don't trust them."
"Theta really wants to follow them." A growl of agreement came from the largest.
"Gamma as well." They heard the heavy thud as the armored soldiers followed. York focused on getting them to the back door without being seen and praying that Geia had picked up all signs of her and Allison's presence. They opened the door and the group filed in standing awkwardly in the living room.
"Okay start talking." One of the soldiers demanded towering over Carolina only a foot away from her.
"South, who died and made you boss? Back off." Carolina said looking up for the first time so they could see her full face.
"No fucking way." South said stepping back.
"Did you really have that little faith in us?" York asked taking off his hat. There was silence. It was a little strange seeing Wyoming, Maine, Wash, North, South, and CT in their living room
"You're alive!" Wash said in shock.
"Last we checked." Carolina sounded very amused.
"How?" That was CT.
"Armor saved us. After that we just set up base here."
"Why not come back?"
"Someone didn't wait for us. By the we woke up and got out of the ruble and to a working radio you were long gone. We tried." Carolina was getting tired of the Q and A. "So you going to tell us what you are doing here?"
"We are here to destroy the Insurrectionist base. Got any intel that would be useful?"
"We crawled out of a cave system. Seeing as they are literally building the place over the old one you should still be able to get in."
"You make it sound like you're not coming." Wash observed.
"Between the two of us we have two completely wrecked suits, three hand guns that have not been shot in four years, and three clips of ammo. So no we are not going into the base. We will however lead you there." Carolina explained.
"From there we run to the LZ and clear out." North finished
"Not quite." York said, "We have two housemates coming as well."
"What? No! We are not bring other people." South snapped.
"They are coming or we are staying right here. They won't slow us down. They will immediately head for the LZ while we go for the base." Carolina had her commander's voice and that closed negations.
"Umm…Boss? Who are they exactly?" Wash asked.
"Just a few people we have been looking out for. Now let's go it will take half an hour to get there running." Carolina opened a locked drawer revealing her and York's old sidearms still clean and ready for use.
"I thought they hadn't been fired in four years?" CT asked.
"They haven't but we kept them clean." York said checking his and putting it in his waistband before grabbing a pack by the door. At the Freelancers' curious looks he shrugged. "We knew about the Insurrections and we have been ready to run for weeks." He passed Carolina hers. "Come on." And the two lead the group out.
Geia POV
Once the Freelancers were gone I stepped out of the basement and put Allison in her crib before moving around the house quickly picking up anything that might suggest more than the average family. Once that was done I put Allison in my backpack which was adapted to carry a baby. I was standing looking around when Eta papered.
"Men are coming up the street. Insurrections."
"Then let's go." I carefully secured the pack and strolled to the backdoor slipping into the woods before the Insurrectionist surrounded the house. I started to run as smoothly and evenly as possible carful not to trip. Allison was quiet though she was not sleeping. I could feel her looking around with fascination. After maybe a mile I saw a rock outcropping which I climbed up looking around. A plume of smoke trailed out over the forest from the way we came. "Come on Geia we need to get to the LZ" Eta said. I nodded and turned away from the smoke.
Third POV
Carolina and York might not have been in combat for four years but they still knew how to lead a team. They slipped through the woods while the Freelancers crashed through. "Don't you understand the meaning of stealth?" Carolina hissed.
"You try moving though a forest in hundred pound armor." South retorted.
"We have now be quiet the base is through this cave system." The two leaders walked toward a small cave which looked like a dread end.
"uuh should something be here?" Carolina turned to the wall and stepped through a small gap that was only just wide enough for Maine. The Freelancers followed. Thankfully the space widened out to normal hight but they were glad for York and Carolina because they would have gotten lost immediately. They passed offshoots and paths before coming to a iron door that was obviously from the old base because it was rusted and ajar. York quickly inspected looking for any sensors but it quickly became clear why the door was not secured. There was still rubble in front of it concealing it from sight. "If you crawl under that beam you will be on the ground floor of the base." He said pointing at said beam. The Freelancers nodded and slipped under disappearing from sight. York and Carolina slipped back in the cave system just incase anyone got out.
Hi people,
So this is the next chapter and the freelancers have finally meet York and Carolina again. I doubt I will update for a while due to my schedule getting busy soon. But reviews do make my day and cause me to disregard my homework in favor of writing. Next chapter they will meet Geia and Allison. Thank You to all who reviewed and followed/favorited. I own nothing.
Olivecat
Also just had the worst time trying to spell my pen name a second ago