Thanks for letting me wander around for a week with half a sentence stuck to the title of the last chapter guys. Needless to say, it's gone now. If you haven't already, go check out Phase One: Genesis by TheFreelacncerCollaboration today! This week we're introducing eight new agents, one of them is mine, Agent Michigan.
One final thing, next week's chapter will be later than usual or on Tuesday. So, since you'll be nice and patient for me, I'll be giving you two chapters. That's right, two.
Screaming Inside
After lunch, Cali is slotted for running an obstacle course solo. She bounces lightly as FILSS counts down for her to start. A buzzer goes off and she pushes herself into a hard sprint. She slides under a fake tree propped up on two metal blocks. Then she vaults over a lower pole. She pulls her frame onto a pile of mats and gauges the distance to the oblong pillar before her. She takes a couple steps at a run and jumps over the gap. She lands in a crouch and twists left to grab the netting hanging down next to her and –
A loud buzz interrupts her run. Cali stands and casts about angrily to see who stopped her. She catches herself just before yelling when Carolina shoulders through the doorway just ahead of Texas.
"Cali, out," the blue-green Freelancer orders curtly.
Stifling a sigh, Cali hops down from the pillar. She passes the women and leaves the training room. York nearly walks into her in the doorway.
"Sorry Cali," he apologizes over his shoulder.
She rolls her eyes. She should have known he would be chasing Carolina. "Watch it, Cowboy," she calls back.
Tau is curious, a feeling Cali shares, about the outcome of the match. He particularly wants to see how Carolina will cope with two AI. Cali climbs the stairs leading to the observation deck. Maine, North, Wash, Wyoming and South all stand in a line, watching though the window. Cali joins them and peers down as well.
Tex and Carolina stand behind weapons racks, picking through an assortment of training-adjusted weapons. York hovers near Carolina's shoulder, appearing to be giving her a pep talk. On the other side, Texas shakes her head at Omega.
The gold agent leans against Wash. "What are they doing?"
He wraps an arm around her shoulder and holds her close. "When she woke up, Carolina just demanded a match with Tex."
"Agent York, please clear the floor," FILSS asks of the tan Freelancer.
York yells something over at the wall but does not move.
"Agent York, clear the floor, please," the dumb AI repeats on the testy side.
York responds in kind.
"Clear the floor or enter the match, York. Your choice." Now the AI is definitely angry.
The infiltration specialist says something to Carolina, which she answers with a glare. He retreats quickly. Tex and Carolina step back from their tables as FILSS retracts them.
Cali gasps in surprise as one yellow and one teal AI materialize next to Carolina's head. The AI are identical save for their colour. They exchange a glance before merging and fading away.
Cali does not miss the tightening of Wash's arm around her at the sight.
"They're giving me the next one tomorrow," he says.
She glances up at him in shock. "No way."
"Anyone wanna bet on of them gets killed?" North queries dryly.
"Are you kidding? I'm hoping one of us doesn't get killed just by watching," replies Wash.
The door opens to admit York. He takes South's place at the corner as she stalks out.
"Round One begins in three… two… one… Begin," counts FILSS. "Good luck ladies!"
Below, the two female Freelancers charge at one another. The speakers crackle to life, relaying twin battle cries to the deck from the arena-like room.
When Cali looks back on this moment, she decides this is when everything goes to hell.
The door opens again and the Director marches in, spitting with fury. "What the hell is going on here?" he demands icily.
The Freelancers whip around. Cali notices Sigma keeps watching Carolina and Tex below.
The Director struts up to the window, about to give them all a very thorough reaming out. "No matches have been authorized for – " he breaks off with a double take at the training room floor. In a fraction of a second, he pales. Every drop of anger is replaced by fear. "No! Allison," he cries.
A lightning bolt of pain explodes behind Cali's eyes. Her vision goes black. A wave of anguish rises inside of her. She falls to her knees and screams in white hot agony. A flash of a beautiful woman makes Cali flinch. She is blonde and blue-eyed. The strange woman laughs. She smoothes her standard Marine uniform.
Allison, Tau repeats. His voice is tight with misery.
She tries to shut out the vision. Not real. Not her memory.
The sight fades. Cali is on her side, helmet resting against her chest. She can't remember having taken it off. She stands unsteadily, helped by Wash. All around them are howling Freelancers. Far to the right, York is half collapsed onto the wall, face covered by his palms. Curled up at Cali's feet is Wyoming. He has thrown his helmet aside and rocks gently from side to side, whimpering softly. On Wash's left, North kneels with his gloved hands pressed to the sides of his head. Next to him is Maine. The huge Freelancer blocks out the room and hisses pathetically. In the training room Tex slows to a stop, passing Carolina.
Cali's heart clenches at the sight of Carolina.
The team leader is on her knees, trying to tear off her helmet. Eta and Iota mimic her. All three are screaming out in pain. "Make them stop! Stop the voices! Somebody please make the voices stop!" pleads Carolina.
York shakes his head hard and stands upright. His fingers are still quivering. North use the window ledge to get up carefully. Wyoming uncurls and gets to his feet. Maine removes his hands from his visor. The others are recovering.
Carolina rips off her helmet at last and tosses it away. Tex offers her hand to the stricken woman, only for it to be slapped aside. Despite everyone else's recovery, Carolina is no better.
The Counselor's cool voice breaks the tense atmosphere. "Director, we should sedate Carolina immediately. There is no telling how much damage two AI could – "
"No," the Director interrupts icily. "She made her decision. Let her be."
"Come on, somebody help her," begs York.
The Director ignores him. The only sound in the area is Carolina continuing to cry.
Tex looks up at the observation deck and spreads her arms. "What the fuck is going on? Someone get down here!"
The Director turns to the door. "You are all dismissed," he says curtly before sweeping out of the room.
York is the only one not to file out after the Director and Counselor. Cali rests an hand on his shoulder in comfort before following Wash. Cali takes the silver and yellow Freelancer's hand and holds it tightly. Tau still feels very disturbed. The physical contact helps to ease their mind.
"Are you going to be okay?" Wash asks in concern.
Cali shudders at the memory. "We'll be all right."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Cali stops walking. She takes a deep breath before offering up her explanation. It is stumbling and halting but eventually she lets the whole story out of her mind.
"Holy shit," breathes Wash after she is finished. He pulls her in for a hug.
"We should go check on Carolina," Cali says when they step back.
XOX
Carolina is in an induced coma. The medics decided it would be safer for her to sort out her mind alone with her AI.
Wash and Cali are told to stay outside. They meet North and watch the comatose Freelancer's chest rise and fall, lifting and lowering her armour. York sits at her side with Carolina's hand in his. He brushes a few stray hairs from her forehead tenderly.
"What have they said?" Cali asks the purple and green Lancer.
He sighs. "They think as soon as she wakes up they will have to remove one, maybe both. It depends on how well she deals with it." He speaks through a clenched jaw.
"Anything on future implantation?"
"They're going ahead," says North grimly. He watches her. "Can you believe it?"
"Even after this?" Wash waves incredulously at Carolina. "How can they possibly go on and keep implanting?"
Cali bites back the words she is about to spit out. It's only a setback.
They don't care.
What makes her think these throughts? Is it cynicism? Or is it because she knows what Connie told her? Instead, she asks, "You're still getting an AI?"
"Yeah, Epsilon. Tomorrow," replies Wash. He tries hard, but Cali can still pick out worry in his tone.
"Nothing bad will happen to you," she says quietly. "Nothing like this will ever happen again."
Wash smiles at her. He kisses her on the cheek. "I know. I just – it just scared me. Seeing everyone so shaken up, I mean."
"You'll be fine," says Cali confidently.