Chapter 12: Involved
My eyes shot open as the sound of gunfire emanated from the top of the base.
Fuck.
I groaned as I realized what this meant, She was here. I debated just staying in my bunk room until she left for Red Base but I figured I would eventually have to meet her anyway so I might as well do it sooner than later. I got up from my bunk and made my way outside and onto the ramp leading to the base's roof. As I slowly and apprehensively walked up the ramp I made a mental note to not say or do anything that could potentially piss her off. When I reached the top I saw her using Caboose as target practice and talking to Tucker, just like it had happened in the show.
"That's basically it, sir. They have five guys over there and a big jeep," Tucker said as Tex continued firing at the wall around Caboose.
"And your flag," Tex spoke through her voice modifier as she reloaded her pistol, never once turning to face Tucker.
"Yeah, that too," Tucker responded.
Tex lobbed a grenade off the top of the wall, it exploded in mid-air, just inches away from the back of the wall, Caboose whimpered. I briefly considered stopping her, but my fear of getting decked in the face and/or balls outweighed my worry of Caboose.
"Uh, hey, Tex? I don't know what it's been like at your other bases, but we try not to use other soldiers as target practice here," Tucker said as casually as he could.
"I'm scared," Caboose's voice wavered meekly.
Tex turned away from Caboose to ready her weapons and as she did she spotted me standing at the top of the ramp.
I saw Tex's body visibly stiffen as she saw me, I prayed she didn't think I was an enemy.
"Who's this?" she asked as she silently placed her finger on the trigger of her pistol.
"Who him? He's the other rookie we got," Tucker said.
"Yeah, uh, sorry we didn't get the chance to meet earlier, I'm kinda still shaking off an injury," I explained nervously.
Don't kill me don't kill me don't kill me don't kill me don't kill me don't kill me don't kill me.
She eyed me for a second before her body seemed to relax a little, "Hmph, right," she said coolly as she went back to preparing her weapons.
I mentally sighed.
"So, you've got the Special Forces black armor, I see. Were you in the Special Forces at some point?" Tucker asked in an attempt to make casual conversation.
Tex took the assault rifle off her back and reloaded it, completely ignoring Tucker's question.
"Yeah, I used to have black armor too. It was black because I got this stuff all over it from the-" Tucker continued before Tex started down the canyon, leaping off the top of the base.
"Oh, okay, you gotta go? I'll see you later," Tucker said, visibly calming down after she left.
Caboose walked up to Tucker, "I don't think he likes you," he whispered.
Tucker sighed, "Thanks," he murmured sarcastically.
"If it makes you feel any better I don't think he likes me much either," I said.
The three of us made our way to the edge of the base that Tex had jumped off of, we watched as she made her way towards Red Base.
"Hey! Where are you going?!" Tucker yelled after her.
Tex stopped running and turned to face Tucker, "Red Base. Kill everybody. Get the flag back," she replied coldly before resuming her way towards Red Base.
"Oh... okay! We'll just stay here and guard the trans.. porter..." Caboose yelled back sheepishly.
We stood in silence for a few seconds before I spoke up, "So um, I assume he's the Freelancer you called?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
"Yes! He is very scary," Caboose answered.
"Hey dude? Do me a favor, remind me to never call one of them ever again," Tucker asked me, "Fucking rude asshole..." he mumbled.
I chuckled, "I'll be sure to do that; uh, anyway, what did Church say after I left?" I asked.
Tucker shrugged, "he told us some story about how Tex stole his girl and killed all of his team on Sidewhatever. He also warned us not to let Tex get involved," Tucker replied.
"So you let him get involved?" I asked confusedly.
"Hey, you want to tell him we called him in for nothing be my fucking guest, I'd rather keep my limbs attached to my body," Tucker said defensively.
"Good point," I conceded, "so what do we do now?" I asked.
"We watch the Reds get their asses kick by a badass Freelancer. Which reminds me, I can finally use the sniper rifle!" Tucker beamed, "where is it?" he asked as he looked around for it.
"Uh, Tucker?" I said as I gestured to Caboose, who was already looking towards Red Base with the sniper rifle.
"God dammit! Every time!" Tucker yelled in frustration.
/
Yates was a little on edge to say the least.
As she readied her weapons, she listened towards the top of the base.
"Hey, since I captured the flag, do you think they'll give me my own color armor now?" Donut asked.
"What do you mean 'captured'? You thought you were buying it at the store, you idiot," Simmons replied.
Good, they were still talking, that meant she wasn't here... yet.
She briefly considered canning this awful idea and just hiding in a closet or something until she left.
But this needed to be done.
Yates sighed and got back to work.
/
"What do you see Caboose?" I asked.
"The yellow one and the two red ones are talking but I can't see Tex. Wait! One of the red ones has something on his head, I think it is a spider," Caboose explained.
"A spider?" Tucker asked incredulously.
"Yes, a blue spider..." Caboose continued before an explosion was heard in the distance, "Oh wait, I don't think that was a spider."
"Son of a bitch!" we heard Grif and Simmons yell in unison.
"What about Tex? Do you see him?" Tucker asked.
"Yes! Wait... no! Kind of..." Caboose said.
"Where'd he go? Don't kill me, I'm too good looking to die!" Grif yelled.
"Man... he is really kicking their asses," Caboose said in amazement.
"How come I never get the fucking sniper rifle?" Tucker asked again in an annoyed tone.
I sighed, soon, Tucker, soon.
"I'm really glad Tex is on our team and not theirs," Caboose said as he lowered the sniper rifle.
"Sure makes things a lot easier on us," Tucker said.
"Yeah. I think switching Tex for Church was a good trade," Caboose said.
"Tell me about it," I mumbled.
"It definitely seems like your blowing up Church and Shepard is starting to work out for us," Tucker said.
"Speak for yourself! I think I might have shrapnel in my spine," I said as I rubbed my sore back.
Tucker rolled his eyes, "Whatever, did Tex get in the base?" Tucker asked Caboose.
Caboose raised the sniper rifle again, "Yeah," he responded.
"Blue team flag returned," a strange, deep voice said.
Tucker and I turned towards the source of the voice.
"What the? Who said that?" Tucker asked.
Church's ghost appeared and cleared his throat, "Sorry, that was me. I, uh, I guess I had something stuck in my throat. Your flag is back, by the way," Church pointed out.
"Hey, it's Church!" Caboose beamed as he turned around.
"Yeah, hey it's Church," I murmured apathetically.
"Yeah, it's me. Hey, Caboose," Church responded hesitantly.
"Hey, Church, what're you up to?" Caboose asked happily.
"Caboose," Church chuckled, "I'm not really here to make small-talk, okay? How'd you guys manage to get your flag back?" Church asked.
"Wh-What? Oh, th-that flag? We've always had that," Tucker stammered nervously.
"Tucker, who do you think you're trying to fool? Hey, wait a second... where's Tex?" Church asked with suspicion.
"I'm not really sure, he said he was gonna go to the store, something about uh, elbow grease," Tucker lied unconvincingly.
"Yeah, and uh... elbow grease and... wiper juice," I added.
"Oh great. This is so typical! What was the one thing I told you guys the last time I appeared?" Church asked.
"That Sidewinder is cold?" Caboose guessed.
Church grunted, "What was the other one thing I told you?" he hissed.
"Oh! That ghosts can't be blue!" I replied with a devious smile.
Church growled, "I said don't let Tex get involved, and what do you do?"
"We let him get involved," Tucker said.
"And not just a little involved. How involved?" Church asked with growing anger.
"Very, very involved," Caboose said ashamedly.
"Hey Church, here's another suggestion, next time you don't want someone to get involved, tell us before we've already called them," I teased.
"Up yours," Church responded bitterly, "Someone go see what's going on at Red Base," Church demanded.
"Um, I can-" Tucker started.
"I'll do it!" Caboose exclaimed, picking the sniper rifle back up.
Tucker sighed, "Nevermind," he fumed.
/
"Don't kill me, I'm too good looking to die!" Grif pleaded.
"Eek! I'm gonna faint!" Simmons yelled.
Yates stepped out from the hallway, pistol shaking in her hand, she knew Tex would be in the base any second now. She breathed deeply, doing her best to calm herself down.
You have a plan, albeit a very stupid plan that will most likely get you killed, but a plan nonetheless, you can do this.
She continued through the silent, empty halls of Red Base, never once losing the feeling that someone was watching her.
/
"Oh, yep, he's definitely captured... or dead... captured or dead. ...or captured and dead!" Caboose gasped.
"Or dead and captured," I said, playing along with Caboose.
"Oh, well that's just perfect!" Church yelled angrily.
"What!? What is your problem!? Why do you even care if he's captured? I thought you hated that guy anyway for stealing your girlfriend," Tucker pointed out.
"I never said I hated Tex. I just said that she was the reason why we never got married," Church said.
"She?" Caboose asked.
"Dun dun dunnnnn," I sang.
/
"Alright, drop it," a deep menacing voice demanded as Tex's firearm pressed against the back of Yates' helmet.
Yates took another breath.
"Okay okay, here. I'm putting my gun down, see?" Yates said as she slowly lowered her sidearm to the floor.
"Turn around," the voice commanded, Yates complied, the muzzle of Tex's gun was now inches away from her face.
"Any last words?" Tex asked.
Yates smirked, "Ya got me," she said before quickly side-rolling into the nearby kitchen.
Before Tex could even react a sudden explosion sent her flying back, her jet black-armored body making a loud clang, as she smashed into the metal wall behind her.
Yates slowly and cautiously came out from the kitchen, Tex lay on the floor, incapacitated. She stared at her body in disbelief, her plan had actually worked. Her stupid fucking plan actually worked. As she slowly made her way towards Tex her eyes glanced over the black mark on the floor that her grenade had made when she had discreetly dropped it along with her magnum. Thankfully, Tex hadn't seemed to notice, she had probably been too intent on putting a bullet in her skull. Still, someone would probably have to clean that soot up; Grif most likely.
She kneeled over the downed Freelancer and sighed, here goes nothing. She dug her hands under Tex's arms and legs and flipped her over with some difficulty. She searched the back of Tex's helmet and neck, nothing. She grunted in annoyance, where was it?
As she searched, Tex began to stir, "What are you doing?" she asked weakly before slipping back into unconsciousness.
"I'm saving you Tex," Yates replied as she hurriedly continued her search.
"I'm taking Omega out."
