Chapter 10: Out of Body

FREELANCER TRAINING FACILITY

MANY YEARS AGO

Dear Director,

The loss of military equipment is a severe infraction. I should not need to remind you that all UNSC property, especially our more experimental technologies, must be kept out of the hands of our enemies at all costs. In these trying times, vigilance is paramount.

XXX

It was nearing midnight on board the Mother of Invention and all was quiet in the ship's passages. But in the training facility, Carolina was prepping herself for some late-night training, still angry about the last mission. Everything has just gone hopelessly wrong for her ever since Texas had joined the project, but this last mission had taken the biscuit – in fact, it had taken a whole tray of biscuits and some cakes with a steaming pot of tea on the side.

The Director had commended the team for decimating the Insurrectionist numbers, but he also told them off for letting the leader get away with C.T.'s armor. But worst of all, Texas let Carolina take the blame for it, claiming that she had gotten in her way. Carolina tried to argue, but the Director harshly reminded her that she was only second on the leader board and that she shouldn't backtalk the top agent lest she was sent further down the board. In the end, Carolina was forced to accept the consequences, but she never forgot the smug look on Texas's face.

Now she stepped into the middle of the arena, and watched as FILSS summoned two rows of floating green targets around her. At the word, Carolina started punching and kicking the targets, turning them red with each successful hit.

In the observation deck, Rhode sat and observed the battle, sipping from a mug of coffee. Unlike Carolina, he wasn't dressed in his armor, but instead he wore an green T-shirt and a pair of blue pants. With a yawn, he watched as Carolina ordered the floor to reset.

"Still training at this hour?" a voice called out.

Rhode turned round to see Tenn stepping into the deck, wearing a black T-shirt and black pants, "Yeah, she's been like this ever since we got back from the last mission."

"You gotta be kidding me," Tenn muttered, shaking his head, "She's always been like this?"

"Well, yeah. I mean, she never did know what to stop. But now, it's like she doesn't know how to stop, always training. I guess the leader board beckons."

Tenn nodded as he glanced at the leader board then turned back to Rhode, "You know you don't have to watch over her."

"I know, but that's not stopping me from worrying."

"I guess that's understandable."

Rhode just sipped from his mug in thought, "So what are you doing awake?"

"Can't sleep," Tenn sighed, "I haven't been sleeping a whole lot lately. Not since... Well, Zona and Penny."

"Yeah... Hard to get over half of our team dying."

Tenn grimaced, "Yeah. I still find it odd that they never moved from their spot. Or at least warned that the building was going down.

"Tell me about it," Rhode murmured, "Sometimes I think there's stuff they keep away from everyone... And I mean, everyone."

"Quiet down," Tenn said jokingly, "They might hear you."

"Yeah," Rhode joined in, "They might crush me under a building."

The two Freelancers gave out a laugh at this then they heard FILSS announcing the results, "Round complete. A 6.3% increase in efficiency that round, Agent-"

"Run it again, FILSS," Carolina interrupted.

"Resetting training room floor for next round..." The targets turned back to green and Carolina resumed her training.

Rhode watched her for a while then turned to Tenn, switching topics, "These AI... Do you ever wonder why we didn't receive one?"

"Sometimes," Tenn shrugged, "But personally, I don't feel like I should get one. I saw North walking around earlier. He said that Theta got scared at night, so he took a walk to calm down Theta. I'd rather get some sleep."

"I wonder if they're all like this, the AIs," Rhode wondered. "You know, jittery, nervous, no not nervous..."

"Anxious?"

"Yeah, anxious," Rhode agreed, "York told me Delta always thinks that something bad is about to happen. I don't get it. What do they have to worry about?"

"Hey, maybe they know something we don't."

"Maybe," Rhode mused, watching Carolina's training some more.

Behind him, Tenn gave a loud yawn and scratched his hair, "I think I'm gonna go to bed now. Thanks for the talk, Rhode. I needed it."

"Yeah," Rhode nodded, "'Good night, Tenn."

"Don't stay up too late," Tenn advised as he left the deck, "You need your rest."

In the arena, Carolina finished off the other targets.

"Round complete," FILSS announced.

"Run it again," Carolina ordered.

"That last round showed a 3.6% increase-"

"Just run it again!"

"Resetting training room floor..."

The targets went green once more and Carolina went on the attack, taking them out in just under twenty seconds, but still she kept on going, quietly reminding herself to do better than Texas. She would show that black-armored woman. One day, she would take her on and prove to her who was the best Freelancer...

Up in the deck, Rhode lifted his mug and saw that it was empty.

As he got up to retire for the night, he turned and watched as Carolina ordered FILSS to run the test again, "I think we could all use some rest..."

Just when he was about to head down the hallway to his room, he stopped. He turned to look at the hallway that lead down to the training room and thought about it.

'Maybe I can stay up just a bit longer,' he thought.

And he headed in direction of the training room.

XXX

Carolina never stopped. But before she could even interrupt FILSS for the umpteenth time, she herself was interrupted.

"Trouble sleeping?" Rhode asked.

"What are you doing here?" Carolina questioned, taking off her helmet, "Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"I could ask you the same. In fact, I just did."

"You should get some sleep."

"So should you, but that's not stopping you."

Carolina's frown deepened, "So... Why are you up?"

"Couldn't sleep," Rhode lied, "How about a little spar?"

"Are you sure? You don't even have armor on."

"Believe me, I'll be fine. But one more thing though..."

Rhode walked up to her, "Are you sure you don't want to sleep?"

"I'll be fine," Carolina said.

"No I don't think you will," Rhode insisted, "Why are you doing this?"

Carolina glared, "I think you know why."

"Carolina, I know that you got put in second place, but that's no reason to kill yourself by training too hard."

"I have to! I have to beat Texas!"

"Okay," Rhode then stepped forward and pushed her, "What would you do if she walked in right now and challenged you?"

Carolina stared at him shock, then anger, "I would fight her!"

She pushed him and he only stumbled back a bit. All the proof he needed. He pushed her again.

"Then what?"

She weakly shoved him again, "I'd beat her!"

"You can't even beat me!"

He gave her one last push and she landed on the ground. She sat up and looked up at him in shock and realization. He had a point. If she kept this up, she'll be in no condition to do anything.

He offered her a hand, "Please... Get some rest."

Carolina stared at him. Why was her face feeling so warm? She took his hand and he helped her up.

"Don't be like that..." She muttered.

"Like what?" Rhode asked.

"Being so nice to me..." Carolina mumbled, looking down, "I don't deserve it..."

She felt tears coming to her eyes, but tried to force them back. She couldn't be seen like this, especially in front of Rhode. But she let a few loose when Rhode hugged her.

"It's okay," he reassured, "Just remember: Two is just a stupid number. Even so, you're still number one to me."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" She asked.

He separated and smiled, "Because I care about you Carolina. Now go get some sleep."

As he walked away, Carolina suddenly knew that her face was as red as her hair. What... What did that last bit mean?

XXX

As she walked out and back to her room, she began to think about what Rhode had said. Then her eyes widened in realization. She fell back on her bed.

'I hate my stupid heart for making me feel things...' She thought.

XXX

Now ain't that something. Till next time guys!