Man, some of you have been waiting for this reunion for QUITE a bit of time, but most people honestly seemed really surprised to have York and Carolina find each other as quickly as they did! Never fear, though, my friends, things are rarely simple in this story. Save maybe a bit of this chapter. This chapter is the emotional relief chapter in a lot of ways.

Special thanks to secretlystephaniebrown, godoflaundrybaskets, meirelle, Yin, ephemeraltea, and Nivalisflake for the feedback on AO3 and on tumblr!

Recovery None
Recovery Zero IV: Old Friends

The shock on York's face was so genuine that Carolina could see it through helmet and armor. His body was rigid, hands still out in front of him even after the gun had slipped from his grasp.

She looked over him, assessing as best as she could. The wear and tear of a year without armor checks and proper maintenance had made themselves apparent - there was chipping to his paint and more than a few dents that had been haphazardly pushed back out.

But his stance was still sure footed, or at least as much as it could have been given the apparent shock to his system. And he didn't seem to be favoring any sides or lacking any arsenal.

Thief and lockpick all in one still, it seemed.

Finally, his arms dropped, his body straightening up - more open to attack, more trusting than Carolina dared to give him back - and he stepped forward, head tilted to the side.

"Carolina?" he asked, disbelief littering his voice.

"Yes, York," she responded, a little sardonically.

In a blink, Delta appeared over York's right shoulder, his green glow immediately drawing Carolina's eyes to him. She'd almost forgotten to account for the logical AI in the excitement of confronting York again.

"York, I have run a diagnostic scan and it appears to be Agent Carolina," the small AI alerted its partner before looking directly at Carolina, a strange energy coming from him. "However, those same logs also report Agent Carolina as dead in the Freelancer files. So I am uncertain of their reliability."

Delta's interjection was enough to straighten York's shoulders once more, and he looked at least somewhat more apprehensive toward Carolina as he did so, fists by his sides. He seemed almost torn.

So Carolina took the next step forward. York looked at her intensely.

"The records are right," she said. "I'm Carolina. I'm also dead according to Freelancer's records. But... we both know that couldn't be right. Don't we?"

He seemed almost unwilling to breathe before he shook his head.

"Alright, there's a lot not adding up here," he announced. "I'm just..."

Holding up a hand, Carolina stopped York in his tracks before reaching up to her helmet, clicking back the release catch, and pulling off, letting him see what was underneath, and letting herself see him with her own eyes.

Delta flickered over York's shoulder but disappeared again as the former Freelancer seemed to all but melt.

"Carolina," he whispered, almost reverently.

"So they call me," she replied just before finding herself locked in a crushing hug. She coughed slightly as she was pulled into York's chestplate, lightly punching his shoulder. "York!"

He barely even flinched, body shaking. "Oh my god!" he breathed out through the helmet speaker. "Carolina! I ... FUCK!"

For a moment she thought about how a quick hit could force herself loose, but she didn't. She waited a moment, ignoring the crushing weight as she rested her cheek against York's shoulder.

It went on for maybe a moment too long, but before Carolina could fully bring herself to break it, she felt the soft glow of the projected AI on York's other shoulder.

"I do believe there's a degree of discomfort being experienced by Agent Carolina here, York," Delta alerted him.

At first, York didn't seem ready to move, his helmet's chin pressing slightly into the crook of Carolina's neck as he held her. "Are you going to disappear if I let you go?" he asked in a low whisper.

"I don't think so," she returned.

He released her, stepping back just enough to keep his hands on her shoulders. York's head bobbed as he did a full inspection over her, then he released a low breath again. "You're... you're alive but... How? Where have you been? How did you find me?"

"All this time looking and you don't have some of those answered yet, York? I'm a little surprised," Carolina responded, head tilted back.

York's shoulders dropped slightly, confused. "What does that mean? How did you..."

Looking back over her shoulder, Carolina checked on the status of the Recovery Agents she had knocked out and then looked back to York. She threw her thumb back toward the hill she had come from.

"This isn't the safest place to have this talk," she explained. "I have a Mongoose waiting back there. Can you still drive yours?"

"Huh?" York asked, still slightly stunned.

Delta nodded. "We are operational, though perhaps not for too long of distances. We've exhausted several supplies and one of our tires is flattened."

"We don't have to drive for long," Carolina promised. "Then we can... catch up. Answer questions. You seem to have a few."

York tightened his stance some before scooping down to pick up his dropped weapon. "That's putting it lightly," he replied.

"Then let's get going," she said, heading toward her own vehicle and trying to ignore the mixture of excitement and concern she carried in her chest with York's eyes so obviously directed at her back.

He leaned forward, forearms bracing against the handlebars as he tried to rationalize through everything. His heart was still pounding but everything else was chilled to the bone. And without Carolina in his sights again he was beginning to feel anxious.

"I don't like when my information is contradictory, York," Delta sighed from his shoulder, that tinge of worry in their shared mind becoming more and more unavoidable.

"Well, that makes two of us, buddy," York replied.

Still, his heart picked up once more as Carolina appeared on her own mongoose, nodding over her shoulder to them before leading them out. Her helmet was back on, but York couldn't look away from how right every excruciating detail about her was.

York knew she was Carolina. Every fiber of his being knew that he'd finally come across a small victory.

And yet it was still so hard to believe.

Probably in thanks to Delta by his side, looking worriedly after Carolina even as York started up their vehicle and took off after her lead.

"I'm worried about our ability to make reasonable choices in these circumstances, York," Delta spoke up again. "I believe we are emotionally compromised."

"You're emotionally compromised? That's not like you," York responded, eyes set on Carolina.

"It was a royal we, York. I did not wish to come across as accusatory."

"Oh, so it's just me that is emotionally compromised. That sounds more accurate," York sighed. "I don't know what to tell you, Dee. It's... it's everything I wanted but... nothing that I expected." He paused. "Oh, actually. Nevermind. I do know what to tell you. I told you so."

"I had a feeling you would say that," Delta responded almost in a sigh.

"Yeah, that's because I was right," York rubbed in.

"Logic was on my side," Delta countered.

"Well, there's a reason humans aren't purely logical creatures," York joked.

"Noted with objection, York," the AI replied curtly.

As Delta often did when he felt less than confident about his stakes in an argument, he disappeared from York's shoulder, leaving the former Freelancer with some degree of silence as they carried forward.

York watched Carolina, kept his speed in check, and wondered how far out she was leading them.

There was a part of him that wanted to show off, to speed forward and pull alongside her. Carry conversation like old times - banter and flirt, send a few smarmy comments her way just to rile her up.

He craved it almost as much as he had craved her. There was a lighter burning a hole in one of his pockets but it was only the tip of the iceberg that would be unleashed.

All the questions. All the hurt.

It was enough to keep him backed off even without Delta's more leveled concerns constantly buzzing in his head.

He was trying to prioritize, to figure out what was the best option to ask and in what order, when finally they pulled to a stop. York pulled in a few feet from Carolina, watched as she jumped off her mongoose, begin pulling transmitters and wires from it, then how she pulled a radio-like device out from the back of her vehicle and began setting it up a few feet from a standard looking campsite.

"This should keep us under cover from satellite for a while, though I'll have to report in eventually so they don't start asking questions," she explained to him as she worked.

York pushed off from his gungoose and looked over her carefully. He wanted to blame Delta for the rise in suspicion but it wasn't completely accurate.

"Yeah?" he managed to utter, crossing his arms.

She stopped as she stuck the device in the ground, head tilting back enough to look over her shoulder before she began to stand up again, looking at York almost cautiously.

"I imagine you have questions about all of this," she said almost casually.

"More than a few," he agreed, walking toward her. He motioned over her, head shaking. "Carolina... you're alive! You... Tex said she saw Maine rip your AI from you... Removing implants alone would have killed someone. But then... they said you were thrown over the cliff and that was at least a hundred foot drop... But you... Delta and I checked records over. And over. And over-"

Delta projected, his head already tilted to the side. "And over again."

York kept his eyes locked on Carolina, sucking in a deep breath before he shook his head. "They said you were dead. And I didn't want to believe it. I didn't. But..."

"I appreciate you trusting me enough to know I wasn't, York," Carolina said genuinely. "I do. I know it must have been difficult-"

"It's more than that," York replied, still searching Carolina's face and getting nothing with that helmet. "How did you survive? How did this happen - who are you contacting to keep from asking questions?"

She tilted her head back, as if a bit taken aback by the abruptness. "Alright, you need answers. I appreciate that, York," she replied, crossing her arms. "To begin with... you're right. If the Meta-"

"You mean Maine," York fired back.

"No," Carolina replied almost somberly. "I don't." She sighed, shaking her head. "If the Meta had pulled out my implants, it would have killed me. And I don't doubt that it was what he was readying to do... but instead, Eta and Iota forcefully ejected from the neural interface," she explained, her eyes flickering back to York. "With their chips already dislodged, the Meta took them instead."

Delta emerged once more, almost seeming affronted. "That is against Artificial Intelligence protocol. The damage possibly sustained by forceful ejection to either the host or to the coding of the AI is too dangerous."

York felt his own stomach twist at the very idea. Regular removal of Delta was already an ordeal. To have it happen without warning, and without the tedious protocol Delta had them work through each time, was unimaginable.

"How are... Were you alright?" York pressed.

"No, York," Carolina replied shortly. "It wasn't alright. But... I worked through it." She looked off, taking a breath. "Eta and Iota's decision was... costly. And they were absorbed into the Meta. But it was a decision to save my life. And they even thought far enough ahead to put my remaining suit in armor lockdown. It saved me a second time... from the impact of the fall over the cliff when the Meta tossed me." She looked back to York. "Unfortunately, I was still in lockdown after impact, and with more than a few injuries even that measure couldn't have prevented. Which is the way I was found a few hours later by Project Freelancer."

Tightly screwing his eyes closed, York stepped back, took a heralding breath.

Hours.

It wasn't like South, with a split second decision made out of their own hands. It wasn't like Wash where re-entry would have been suicide.

She could have been found. She could have been saved.

In the time it took for him and North to reunite with Tex and hear her version of the events, Carolina was only just being found by the remnants of their program.

His heart clenched painfully at the very thought.

Delta appeared between the two of them, perplexed. "That would mean that the records left by Project Freelancer are falsified documents. That the information we have gathered over the past year all could be falsified," he pointed out.

"Well, would that be all that surprising?" she asked, crossing her arms. Her eyes turned toward York more directly. "After all, you seemed to have a better idea of what was going on with the program's deceit than I did."

"No," York sighed, nodding to Delta. "She's right, Dee. It's not incomprehensible to have had Freelancer lie about something. Right?"

"I suppose not," Delta responded almost sourly.

York looked almost apologetically to Carolina. "Don't mind him. He's more upset that his records are wrong."

"It is true. My apologies if my aggression toward the subject feels directed at you, Agent Carolina," Delta bowed slightly. "Though... this does beg the question of our current situation. And of your current set of circumstances. How have you escaped Project Freelancer at this point?"

"Well, the answer to that is the same as to how they've gotten away with fudging their records," Carolina announced. "I didn't escape. I'm working for them."

Delta flickered out before reappearing over York's shoulder. They looked to each other in silence before York returned his gaze to Carolina, frowning.

"Not going to lie, that raises more questions for us than it answers," he announced.

"I'm sure you're familiar with the Recovery Unit by this point?" Carolina asked.

"There's a bunch of soldiers involved in it, maybe a third of the number involved with these Sim Wars, but enough well trained to raise the stakes for anyone like us, yeah," York replied. "You could say we've had a share of run-ins."

"We're also aware of there being two Recovery Agents who seem to be very concentrated on specific tasks for the Unit," Delta continued. "They do not have public data profiled beyond names."

"Not to rile you up, Delta, but that information is also falsified," Carolina explained. "There aren't two. There's three." She looked to York. "I'm Recovery Zero. I'm an off the books agent for hunting the most dangerous threats to the program - that being, for now, the Meta."

York stared at her, a little aghast before putting a hand to his head. "Wait, you mean to tell me after all that - after all this - you are willingly working for them? To hunt Maine-"

"He isn't Maine anymore, York," Carolina responded. "And it's not like I've had a choice. You were right... Freelancer is going down. They've done things that they can't escape from. But I'm in too deep. I'm too involved. And for the program to get what it deserves... I'm going to end up going down with it. Unless I help stop it."

He stared at her intently. "And what would that entail? Taking them down from the inside? Using their program against them? How?"

"I've been looking to find the Director. He hasn't been seen or reported his location to my knowledge since the early days after the crash," Carolina explained. "And with the Meta getting stronger with every encounter, and the program getting more and more suspicious of everyone working under it, I'm running out of a window to be able to take care of him myself." She shook her head, as if disappointed in her own words. "That's why I've finally decided to come to you."

York looked at her, aghast. Delta disappeared, as if backing away from the situation entirely.

"Wait a damn minute," he aid lowly. "Are you telling me... that in all this time... you've known where I was?"

Carolina stared at him for a moment, her helmet tilting a bit just before she responded, "Yes. Not exact coordinates, of course, but your movements are recognizable to someone who knows-"

"And you never once decided before now that, just maybe, I deserved to know you were fucking alive?" York demanded, feeling his nostrils flare. "Carolina!"

"York, me approaching you would have brought the attention of the program to you," she explained. "Even me doing so now is possibly doing that. But at least after now the Meta's movements won't be following suit. They're far more concerned with him than they are you-"

"Timeout!" York yelled, crossing his arms together for effect. He glared at Carolina as she finally went silent. "What the fuck does the Meta have to do with my movements?"

She put her hands on her hips. "You don't know? I had hoped you were more aware than that-"

"Been aware of what?" he demanded. "Goddammit, Carolina!" Without thinking, he tore of his helmet storming closer to her, tossing the armor to the side. "Look me in the face as you say it - you didn't come up tot me before because why? Because it was making someone else easier to track? Is that what you're saying?"

There was a defiant turn of her head, she didn't make any motions to remove her helmet at first. Slowly, though, she reached up and did so, instead tucking her helmet beneath her arm as she looked up into York's face.

She looked scarred, tired, worn. But there was still so much fight in her eyes and, if possible, disappointment in him. That was enough to feel like a stab right at his heart.

"The Meta was trailing you for some time, York," she acknowledged. "But you lost his trail a few weeks ago."

York stared at her, searched for any remorse as he muttered, "I was live bait for you. Delta and I..."

"It isn't that simple," she said assuredly.

"Well, I'm waiting to hear how it wasn't," he responded darkly. "Carolina... do you have any idea how fucked up this is?"

"I never said it wasn't, York," she bit back.

"And your little Recovery friends and you just have a great time, yoking it up about stupid ol' York, inches away from getting his head taken off, huh?" he sneered.

"Don't be ridiculous," she growled. "I don't have any association with Wash or South. They don't even know there is another Recovery Agent-"

York froze, looking at her in astonishment. "Did... Carolina. Wash is one of the Recovery Agents?"

She blinked. "Yes."

Stepping back, York shook his head, then turned away. His head was pounding with the new information. He ran a hand roughly through his hair.

"Jesus Christ," he muttered, looking to Delta as the AI knowingly projected to his shoulder. "Dee, that was... that was just six months ago wasn't it?"

"Eight, York."

He turned on his heel looking at Carolina somewhat in horror. "North and I... we tried to get to Wash. We tried to bust him out - Dee found him on a prison transport list and we just... Right before the crash he was so out of it and I promised him I'd get him out... and then... it got so crazy! We didn't have a choice and..." York took a breath, thought about the haunted face he had seen, the non-reaction as he tried to get the other soldier's attention from behind a fence. "It was like... he had nothing, Carolina. He just stared at us. I don't even feel like he recognized us. And that was eight months ago? How the fuck is he on the field? How is he working for them-"

"Wash is responsible for recovering former Freelancer equipment and responding to distress signals," Carolina responded. "South is responsible for a lower tier of threats to the program than I am. Wash doesn't know about either of us. South doesn't know about me. It's a balance meant to make information traded between us and Command feel like the ultimate resource."

York looked at her flabbergasted. "Wash... doesn't know about you? He doesn't know you're alive? You've never talked to him? Checked on him?"

"I've been busy and he's been... he's fine," Carolina said firmly.

"Fine? Fine!?" York growled. He pointed at his head. "You said it yourself, two AI ejecting was not a good feeling, right? How the fuck do you think Wash feels? His AI committed suicide in his brain! It almost killed him!"

"It didn't commit suicide, not entirely," Carolina retorted. "And I'm not saying I agree with what Command did with Wash-"

"You're just willing to go along with it, right?" York snapped.

"That's not what I'm saying!" Carolina roared back.

"You agree with them enough to trust them and work inside of their fucked up network," York spat out.

"And you weren't just playing along while you and Tex plotted to sabotage the base?" she hissed. "I'm doing what I have to, York! I guess I learned how to betray someone's trust in me from watching you-"

"Betray trust?" York repeated, shaking his head. "You think that's what this is? That I wasn't doing what I thought was the right thing?"

"And doing it the Agent Texas Way was the only option, right?" Carolina snapped. "No other choice but to go behind my back and help out your good, old friend. Not like she's ever shot anyone in the back in the name of the program or got anyone blown up."

"What? You think I chose her?" York demanded. He scowled at Carolina. "You still don't know a thing about her, do you?"

Carolina narrowed her eyes. "And just what is there to know, York? What could possibly change my mind about her?"

"God, if only you knew," York muttered.

"Knew what, York!?"

York felt his teeth grit as he readied to unleash when, without warning, Delta projected between the two of them again.

"What I believe York meant, Agent Carolina, is that there are some aspects of Agent Texas' character which we have been exposed to as a sign of respect and trust ourselves," he explained evenly. "And it's something we believe would only carry that same meaning if she was given the opportunity to do the same for you."

Carolina's lip curled. "Oh, and I suppose Texas would just be willing to do that? Tell me one of her deep dark secrets that changes everything, then?"

Cooled down slightly, York relaxed his stance and managed a nod. "Actually... yeah. I think she would, Carolina."

Staring back at them, Carolina shook her head and then looked away. "Oh, I'm sure."

York glared at her, wondering what he had managed to do to get in this situation when Delta nodded to him.

"I believe the excitement and surprise of this encounter has worked on all of our reasoning skills," Delta chimed. "There is a lot of emotion to deal with and I know York could use some proper nourishment."

"Really?" York asked critically.

Carolina looked over to them, a small smirk working back across her lips. "You do look like crap," she said.

"That was said with a lot of heart," York replied sardonically.

"Perhaps it would be best if we dropped less pleasant conversation and returned to the facts," Delta proposed. "I know York is exceptionally pleased both at being reunited and at proving my countless calculations incorrect." He looked more directly to Carolina. "I hope seeing us again also causes some pleasant thoughts for you, Carolina."

"Yes," she said, almost faintly. "Yes... it does, Delta." Her eyes flickered up to York again before looking away. "I have plenty of supplies. If you want to pick what you want to eat, I'm going to report into Command for a short while. The last thing we need is for them to start getting... concerned about me."

"Yeah," York responded, taking a deep breath. "Yeah... good idea. I guess."

Carolina looked over him again before slowly turning and walking off, beginning to put on her helmet again as she did so.

York watched her carefully before kneeling down to grab his own helmet, looking it over. Delta appeared beside his hands.

"You're upset, York," Delta observed.

"Yeah, Dee," he said weakly. "I guess I am."

Carolina felt the air rush through her nose. Her heart was still pounding as she thought through the countless arguments she could have - should have made - back but instead settled on forcing her fist through the bark of a tree as she passed.

She was prepared for him to be upset, for him to not understand. But she couldn't have been prepared for him to still be taking Tex's side after it all. She had thought that him leaving Tex and North had been for a reason. That perhaps York was wise to the fact that he had made a mistake, that working from the outside of the program wasn't going to get him anywhere.

And if nothing else, she would have suspected that Delta could have seen that perspective. He was logic, after all.

But he seemed to be even less keen with her.

She let out a frustrated groan once she was far enough away and held her head. "Why, I just don't understand," she hissed to herself between clenched teeth.

"It's fine," she finally argued with herself, leaning her head back and looking toward the camp where York seemed to already be lighting the fire, perhaps getting himself food like Delta suggested. "Everything... Everything is fine. He's still here. And even if he's angry now... he's still more angry at Freelancer. Just like I am. He'll know working with me... it's the right thing to do. The only thing. He wants the Director just as badly as I do."

Scowling slightly, she turned away. "As badly as we all do."

Taking a deep breath, Carolina moved further away before she began to turn on her line to Command.

"Hello. Command? This is Recovery Zero. Do you copy?" she asked.

There was a static pause before, almost weakly, a voice returned. "Zero? Come in, Zero. This is Command. Can you hear me?"

"I can," Carolina responded suspiciously. "Command, is everything alright-"

"I didn't tell you the line is secure, Recovery Zero," Niner snapped, a little more like herself. It almost brought a smile to Carolina's face as she waited. "You're clear. Where have you been?"

"Hunting," Carolina responded readily, looking back toward the camp. "I've had to stick low on the radar. Your lead was good. I don't want to overplay my hand, though."

"You're sure?" Niner asked. "They seemed off pattern to me."

"They're exactly what I needed. Take the compliment," Carolina replied before crossing her arms. "What's wrong?"

"Wrong?"

"With you," Carolina reiterated. "You sound off... not yourself."

"This line isn't for personal problems, Recovery Zero," Niner croaked. "And you wouldn't be concerned with it to begin with. It doesn't concern your mission."

"Don't say that," Carolina responded almost bitterly. "Look... I... I agree. I'm rethinking some things. Perhaps I've not been dealing with all of this the way I should have from the beginning."

There was a hesitant pause.

"You mean... the other Recovery Agents."

"A lot of things," Carolina pressed sharply. "I'm thinking about a lot of things you've said, Command. Especially with how I'm going to tackle my target when it comes to that. I think a team is the way to go."

"You're joking? You're not. I... That's... I don't know what to say, Zero. That's... great. It's what I've needed to hear. I just... wow."

"Well, I only thought of it because of you," Carolina repeated. "Not that I'm doing anything too rash, of course."

"Right, no, of course not. Building a team will mean getting them to trust you again after all. And we both have to... well. I guess earning that trust is going to be the hard part."

Carolina watched as Delta projected from one spot to the other as he and York carried on by the fire, how York slumped into a seat by the fire and argued back, ran his hands through his hair, exaggeratedly waved his food around before turning from Delta and beginning to shovel food in, effectively ending whatever argument had been going on.

"Yeah. I guess it may be," Carolina agreed. "I'm going to retire activities for the night, Command. I'll report in tomorrow."

"Please do," Niner urged. "And I'll open the channel if I hear anything new. Over and out."

"Over and out," Carolina repeated.

Delta only went silent once York took off his helmet and actually forcefully shoved food in his own mouth. The buzzing and vibration of Delta's thoughts continued to press in the back of York's mind, but externally the AI remained silent, even though his projection remained sternly over York's shoulder, like he was always watching the former Freelancer.

The meal didn't last as long as York would have liked. His stomach didn't react kindly to it, but it was enough time and space to let York feel like he could breathe and think for himself.

Leaning forward onto his knees, York shook his head and looked tiredly to the AI.

"We were bait, Dee," he said, somewhat self-deprecatingly. "You know, I've questioned what she and I were a lot more than I'd like to say... but this label never quite came up in my mind before."

"It's an unusual circumstance, York. And not one that fully aligns with past experience with your and Agent Carolina's shared history," Delta agreed. "It is a low blow in that sense. But it should be noted that this manipulation of circumstances is no completely unexpected from her other shared history."

Narrowing his eyes slightly, York frowned at his friend. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I simply mean that it is not unlike circumstances used to her advantage within Freelancer. And that is a point that should be noted carefully before outright rejecting the current situation we are in," Delta continued.

York frowned. "It's not that simple. And I bet if I can get her to just talk to me about whatever this is, we'd see there's more to it than us being part of a trap for Maine."

Delta tilted his head. "Historically, just getting Agent Carolina to talk to you on these subjects has not been successful for us."

"What? The one time before the crash?" York snorted.

"There are several instances of improper communication between the both you even prior to the crash, York. That would be why you did not immediately seek counsel with Carolina in the days leading up to Agent Texas' plan for assault the way you did with Agent North and Theta."

"Just say what you mean, Delta," York demanded.

The AI hesitated before shaking its head. "Before, when we were with North and Theta, you asked me for my analysis on the situation with him and Agent South. I told you I did not trust Agent South, and on that basis did not agree with Agent North's plan of action." He met York's eyes at last. "If I were to analyze our situation with Agent Carolina, given the data we have attained, and given our heated discussions with her so far, I would speak similarly. I do not trust Agent Carolina. And I do not agree with any course of action that would require placing faith in her currently. The potential for risk is extremely high."

On reflex, York felt his fists tighten a bit in spite of himself. He dropped them and straightened up with a heavy breath. He shook his head, not able to look back at Delta quite yet.

"You're... being a little harsh there, Dee. Gotta say," he finally managed to get out.

"Forgive me, York," Delta recounted, "but my priorities are to ensuring our safety and survival. I cannot help but be skeptical any time information dangerously does not line up." The AI quieted as York looked back. "You are my foremost concern, York. Not Carolina."

"I appreciate that," York replied with a soft sigh. "But... for now, how about you try using that big brain of yours for thinking of a good way to help both of us out at the same time. I don't think it's impossible."

Delta hummed with thought. "Perhaps not," he agreed. "Even so, know that, fundamentally, I cannot compromise my priorities here. I will try to do as you say, but to some degree it does not make any logical sense."

"People are like that, Dee," York reasoned. "Sometimes you've just... gotta have faith."

"Processing," Delta replied. "Agent Carolina is approaching," he then announced before disappearing.

York leaned back, looking over his shoulder as Carolina carried herself forward, helmet on her hip.

"That a helmet or are you just happy to see me again?" he tried, feeling the corny line heavy on his mouth before he even got it out.

"Depends. Are you still pissed and irrational?" Carolina asked, coming to the other side of the fire.

"Hey, I'll accept pissed," York said before pointing to his shoulder, "but at least one of us here would be highly upset at the accusation of being irrational about anything. And, really, it might even be both of us." York settled his sight on Carolina, watched as she let her bangs sweep over her eyes. "I have a good argument for the fact that my being pissed was highly rational given the circumstances."

"There's no need to try and be cute about this, York," Carolina fired back, looking at him darkly.

"Not trying," he defended. "You wanted me to think you were dead for a year. Whatever we were to each other... that hurts. That's a little unfair, wouldn't you say?"

"I had my reasons."

"It sounds like you were using me in the field," York said pointing a finger at her carefully. "In your own words, actually." He leaned his head back again. "Am I wrong? Because... God. Please tell me if I'm wrong."

Carolina bit her thumb and exhaled sharply from her nose. When her eyes flickered up to York, she didn't have to say anything at all.

York stared at her for a moment then wiped his face harshly, looking off. "Jesus," he whispered under his breath.

"It wasn't you."

He looked at her warily. "Come again?"

"It wasn't..." she sighed. "I won't make excuses. Yes. When I realized that the Meta could be tracked more efficiently by also keeping tabs on your patterns, I did use it to my advantage. But you weren't... It wasn't a plan from the beginning. I have been... tracking the Meta thinking he was after someone else first."

"Oh, that's comforting-"

"That someone else happened to be the Director of Project Freelancer," Carolina explained. "I... I thought that the Meta and I were after the same thing at first."

York stared at her curiously. "Why would you ever think that?"

"Because I understand it... because..." Carolina closed her eyes and shook her head. "Because Sigma... was mine. And everything Sigma has ever said, every plan he has ever come up with before... it makes sense to me. I understand him. I understand what he wants. He just wants to be more than some... broken piece of the Director's."

There was a harsh, grinding flick of the leather of Carolina's glove as it slipped from between her teeth. York watched her carefully, ignoring the churning of Delta at the back of his head.

"But what about Maine?"

"Maine isn't a factor here, York."

"To hell he isn't!" York snapped. "That's not how AI work. Sharing a brain with an AI, it's... it's a partnership. It's an understanding. And you give as much as you take. You think Delta knew nearly as many pickup lines before he joined forces with yours truly?"

Delta flickered to York's shoulder and gave him a questioning stare. York nodded back, causing the AI to sigh and shake his head before reciting, "On a scale of one to ten you are a nine, and I am the one you need."

"Classic," York nodded.

Carolina scowled. "This isn't a stupid joke, York. And not all fragments are equal, you know that," she reminded him darkly. "By the time Delta was made, he was a weaker AI than the originals like Omega or Sigma. I'm sorry, Delta."

"I take no qualm with facts, Agent Carolina," he assured her back.

Her eyes met York's once more. "Delta, Theta... maybe even Gamma. They were unique. The right amount of strength to form a base personality, but not enough independence to wear down their hosts. Your relationships are communal. But the weaker AI - like Eta and Iota - they never fully formed independent of each other or from me. And the stronger AI? Sigma, Omega? They were too much. They were too aware. And that hostility built until they were able to do damage right back. Fuck if I know what Omega has done since, but I've seen the Meta. Sigma alone had worn Maine down until he wasn't thinking on his own anymore... With more fragments... Maine isn't there at all."

"Okay, fine," York replied, gripping tightly to his knees. "But if that's the case then what are you doing when you catch him?"

"Stop him... stop him from killing himself," Carolina replied, looking miserable with each word. "And stop him from killing everyone who stands in his way. The only reason he's gotten this far is because of me now. So I'll take care of it."

Delta and York looked curiously to each other then back to Carolina.

"Where do we come in?" York demanded.

"While I tie up loose ends, I want you and Delta to go after the Director," Carolina announced. "We still have unfinished business."

"Wait, you want us to split up?" York called out. "Carolina, we just found each other again! How am I supposed to believe you're not going to just run out of here and I won't see you for another year or two?"

He watched, somewhat off guard as Carolina got up from her spot and crossed over to him. York instinctively leaned back away from her but stopped as her hand caught his shoulder. Instead he blinked at her in puzzlement.

"Because I won't be tracking you or communicating with you first," she announced, her hands suddenly moving fast, breaking open his chest piece at the latch.

"What the-"

"You think me withholding from you was a sign of distrust, York, I can't disagree entirely," she explained as she pulled a few wires from the circuits. "I thought I was acting in everyone's best interest. But perhaps I was short sighted. I can't disagree. Though I would like to." She leaned in some before reaching back to her own armor's information dock.

York squinted at her. "What did you just do?"

"I took your Recovery Beacon offline," she explained. "They didn't tell us about them, but every Freelancer armor is fitted with a beacon that is activated when we are critically or mortally wounded. This allows the equipment to be recovered should the soldier fall. Priorities. The latent signal is a Level One for normal soldiers and personnel, but a Level Zero for those currently implanted with AI. And that latent signal is slightly traceable if someone in Recovery knows who they're looking for. It's how I found you."

"And you took it away?" York asked.

"Yes," she replied.

"But protocol states that an implanted AI would deactivate and erase itself to prevent capture from an enemy in such scenarios," Delta spoke up from York's shoulder.

"I guess they lied then, didn't they?" Carolina quipped. She pulled a thumb drive from her armor slot and reached it to York. "I am only traceable by one person right now, my frequency is only there for those who know to look for it. That's Command. And... now it's also you. You will always be able to find where I am and you will always be able to contact me as you see fit. Because I trust you, York. Because... I need someone else. I need you and I want to show you I'm trying."

He watched her, studied her, as he felt his heart clenching. There was so much joy and pain and distrust she had brought him in just a short amount of time.

But he supposed they never did things the easy way. It was just their style.

When she held out the drive, York closed his hands around her's and pulled himself up to her. Before Delta could list a dozen reasons why it was a poor idea, he locked lips with her, pulled her flush to his chest and grinned ear to ear as she pulled right back on him.

Carolina's hands knotted in his hair, York could almost pretend that the past year of hell was a distant thought.

All the while, he could feel the roll of Delta's eyes and the sigh of Oy vey in the back of his mind.