April 26th 2550 _ New Alexandria-Traxus Tower _ 1700 hours Reach Time
The Vaults large door unlocked itself. It slowly opened and in walked Texas, Maine, and Illinois into the large chamber to join the rest of the team. the first thing they noticed were the many weapons on the tables and in the hands of their teammates.
"What the f**k is this?" Texas remarked first at the sight of the large alien armory.
"Pretty sweet right. And to think just take all of these." Michigan said as the purple crystals shinked out of shell of the Needle Rifle. "I like this. I like it alot." He said about the weapon. Washington walked to his friend and took the weapon away from his friend before he could get anymore ideas. Michigan made a failed attempt to get his weapon back. Even giving a quiet whine.
Texas noticed almost immediately that the room was split into two. Washington, Carolina, and Emma on one side, and York on the other. York would occasionally give a glance towards them only to turn away again. He seemed upset. Almost mad. She decided it would be best to be on the side with the family and for good reason.
Carolina was searching through registries and manifests for clues on the Primary Objective while Washington was busy sorting and categorizing the armament. Emma found it boring and joined Michigan in just playing with the cool toys. She was working on something that required taking apart some weapons apart apparently. Like taking the cylinder from a Storm rifle, power cells from from a Plasma Launcher, Fuel Rods from a Fuel Rod Cannon and a roll of duct tape. That scared her a little so Texas joined Carolina, or at least pretended too.
"Hey. New best friend." Carolina shot back up straightening her back.
"Man you are not gonna let that go are you!" She could see the sly smile behind the black-helmeted VISR.
"Anyway, whats with, uh... grumpy bitch over their?"
She was referring to the upset York across the room. Carolina looked in the general direction before turning away in anger. That conversation back on board the Mother of Invention's Hanger coming back in mind. She clenched her fist in anger. "He thinks that Emma's lying." She huffed angrily but quietly. She didn't want Emma hearing this. "He thinks that we're meant to be together, as oppose to me and Washington. Emma's definite proof of that right? She looks like us."
Texas looked back at York, now seeing the anger behind the helmet. "Has he tried anything?"
"No. But he will. In the future. Emma told us he... he kidnaps her. When she was seven." Carolina rested over the ledge of the nearby counter by the terminal. "I can't even imagine wandering how we must've felt. Finding out that our baby girl was taken. And by our friend!"
Texas looked back at York with anger now. She was ready to slam him through the window and watch him plummet down those several dozen stories. "That mother f**ker." She said almost venomous.
"At least I know for sure that Wash was there with me. He's always been there."
Texas was now remembering that conversation she had with Washington. When they were watching Carolina dying in that hospital bed "So you love him then don't you?"
Carolina looked at Washington, as easy going as always, Emma at another table, young, pretty, an ideal soldier and her daughter, and then back at Washington. She smiled. "Maybe so. Just have to wait and see."
Carolina pushed herself off the the table and accidentally pressed a hidden button. The floor hissed and the center of the room opened. The floor began to rise and with it, was a large and strange looking crate. There were strange markings on the sides of the container and had a very erie glow to it. The Primary Objective.
"Welp..." Illinois stated. "Thats definitely scary."
Carolina went to her Tac-Pad on her wrist to confirm that the large container was in fact the Primary Objective. She sent out a message to the rest of the agents in the building that Step one was accomplished. Now was step two.
"So how are we gonna get this thing out of here." Washington asked out loud.
Maine growled his suggestion on how to get it out which of course only Washington could understand. "No I don't think that would work buddy."
Maine growled another suggestion but was cut off by Michigan. "The large bald guy in the corner makes no sense."
Michigan charged up the Bow Caster and fired it at the large glass window. The explosive projectile stuck to the glass and the agents took cover. The glass exploded and in the after math left a considerable large whole.
"Alright, is everyone good?" Carolina asked aloud.
All the agents sounded off that they were fine. Illinois had the honor of covering Emma from the blast to protect her just incase it was bigger and worse then suspected.
"You good?" He asked.
Emma was grateful that she had her helmet on but her parents could see that she was blushing a little. "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks. You didn't have to do that."
"Its okay. Just wanted to make sure you were okay."
Emma smiled behind her helmet. Illinois split off to help Maine and York with securing the Primary objective. "We're gonna need to something to get that huge ass thing to the roof" Texas said. "Any ideas?"
York took a step back for a moment to examine his options. He noticed the cables that were hanging a few feet away. "We could probably use that window washing platform. Just give me a minute and I can get that baby..."
The sound of the gears wiring blocked out York as the platform slowly lifted into place. "Got it." Emma said.
"of course you did." York said quietly to himself and proceeded to help the others load the Primary Objective on to the platform.
Emma walked over with the others to discuss the rest of the plan. They now had a way of getting the Objective to the roof, now they had to make sure it was secure. Carolina suggested Michigan go and secure the LZ. Emma volunteered to assist. She'd be happy to hang out with her old cool fun Sociopathic uncle Michigan.
"Would you mind if we brought Illinois along?"
"Illinois? Not at all go ahead." Washington said with a bit of a smirk on his face.
"Why Illinois though?" Aunty Texas asked. "Do you like him?" She teased.
"What! No!" Emma said now blushing with embarrassment. "Of course not. I don't like him, he's just a pretty cool guy."
"Aww, someone has a crush." Carolina said singy songy. Emma blushed harder.
"Thats so cute." Her dad added.
"You guys are so embarrassing." Emma said and made her way towards Michigan to debrief him.
Over on the other side of the vault Maine growled something about actually getting the platform to move. Washington of course was the only one who could translate. "Uh oh. We might have a problem."
The quick assessment was that the Primary Objective was to heavy for the platform to actually move without it potently snapping the cables and dropping the package to who knows where. Michigan added that their could be a possible decapitation from the wildly swinging cables which brought great relief to the rest of the team. The only way for it to move was to counter the weight of the package. And only one person was heavy enough to do so.
Maine growled in protest but had already the cable tied around his waist. No going back now. "Come Maine. This should work fine." Carolina said in an effort to convince him. It didn't work.
"I think I have an idea." Illinois said and took a step back away. "This is SPARTA Bitch!" He yelled and kicked Maine out of the Vault, 300 style.
"I don't get it." Emma said.
The counter weight worked but for only about half way. The platform shot straight up but only made it about half way up the destination until it got stuck again. They needed someone else..
"Well, sh*t. Whose going down there?" York was dumb enough to ask, but the other already had a pretty good idea on who. "What? Why are you looking at me?"
Before he knew it another cable was tied to his waist. He tried to protest but was interrupted by an angry Emma who had the honor of throwing him out. "This is for kidnapping me you son of a bitch!" She yelled and round house kicked him out of the building.
"I've never been more proud." Washington said. The proud father he was.
Just then the siren started blaring alerting everyone that was inside the building. To their position most likely. Emma checked the security feed outside the room on her Tac-Pad. "Uh, we've got baddies coming."
Emma said and was ready to grab the nearby Carbine on the table. "No." Carolina said. "We'll hold them off. You, Mitch and Illinois secure the roof. Now!"
Emma didn't bother arguing, as much as she wanted to stay and fight with her parents. She called down another Window washing platform and her and the others hopped on. She turned back at her parents before they ascended. Worry in her eyes.
"Its okay baby girl. We've got this covered." Texas reassured and loaded a Type-50 Concussion Rifle.
Emma nodded and ascended on the platform.
The platform finally reached the roof of the building. The package was already waiting, flipped on its side and waiting for extraction. Emma was hoping that the little fella inside wasn't too beat up. Those Huragoks are cute little guys.
Michigan walked around one of the transformers out of sight of the other two and called in FourSevenNiner to await for extraction. FourSevenNiner complied and was now on her way to recieve the package and pick up the agents . As soon as the rest of the teams made it to the roof they'd be ready to go home.
Emma turned around and walked close to the ledge, seeing the city from this hight. It was a beautiful sight. This would be the only time she'd see this city in all its glory, before it'd be glassed. The New Alexandria of her time was marvelous after its reforming but it was nothing compared to this. She just wished she could savor this moment with her parents, without the worry of a mission. Maybe aunty Texas and Socio-Uncle Michigan could be here. And J.D. too. She'd be speechless at this site, even though she doesn't talk period.
Being lost in her own mind she didn't realize that she was sitting down and that Illinois had joined her on the ledge with his helmet off. She took her helmet off too. "Some sight right. I can only imagine how it'd be in the future."
"It won't be like this thats for sure." She replied. Illinois chuckled at the remark. He was definitely cuter then any of the other guys back home in Blood Gulch. He turned to her and smiled and she smiled back.
Emma's helmet came to life with a transmission. She checked the feed on her Tac-Pad. It was her dad. They had taken care of the hostiles, shut off the alarms and were now on their way up to the roof. She shared the information with the rest of the team who were happy for the news. Emma went back to the looking at the city below with Illinois. They sat there talking a little about how they sometimes wish their lives were different, like how Illinois wished he knew his parents and that Emma wished she had a normal life as opposed to partially living in a military lifestyle since she was five. How different their lives would be.
"You ever sometimes wonder why we're here?" Illinois asked. Emma groaned from that question, being reminded of her uncles Simmons and Grif's discussion.
"Oh my God, don't even start with that." Illinois only snickered.
"You know, your one of the coolest girls I've ever met." He said.
"Like wise." Emma said back.
"You just called me a girl."
Emma snickered and apologized. "Sorry."
She put her hand down beside her. Illinois did the same and accidentally placed his hand on top of hers. He noticed too late of his incident, after Emma saw it. He was about to pull it away and apologized, but Emma smiled. He smiled back and they both turned away, now blushing from the situation.
Emma's acute sense of hearing could detect the sound of mechanisms turning as a lift was ascending. Most likely her parent and aunt on their way. 'Way to kill the moment mom and dad'. Emma thought.
"Come on. Lets go help Michigan and wait for the others." Emma said and stood up before Illinois could say anything. She didn't sound nervous or distress. Just a hint of annoyed but not with him. Illinois took comfort in that. He stood up and was ready to follow.
"That was cute. What you two did." Illinois almost cried in horror from Michigan almost appearing from nowhere. And behind him. He tried to speak but it only came out as stammered and garbled up gibberish.
"ha di, you uh, wha tha how, huh"
"Calm down will you. Your gonna have a stroke and fall off." Illinois calmed down, but was still in shock by Michigan's sudden appearance. "Look I get it. I know you like her and its cute. I won't say anything."
Illinois slowed his breathing and began to calm down.
"Just remember, don't get any ideas." Michigan tapped his machete on his arm. Illinois was well aware of what he's done with that. "Or we're gonna have another chat."
In silence they joined Emma as the elevator doors opened and the rest of the team stepped out. Emma welcomed them but they detected a hint of annoyance. "You guys have terrible timing, you know that." She said to them.
"What were you kids smooching or something?" Texas asked.
Emma blushed again and quickly put her helmet back on before the other could see. "You will never kiss a boy as long as we're around young lady."
Washington said following his daughter, walking to the prepared package. He kept on walking when she stopped dead in her tracks. What he said repeated in her mind over and over again. They weren't around anymore were they? She kind of wished he had said that when they were still around. A single tear fell down her eye.
"Hey Emma." Texas said softly as she came up to her from behind. She put her arm around her to comfort in case they really did hut her in some way. "You okay? We were just kidding you know. We didn't mean.."
"No, no its not you." Emma's voiced broke but she quickly composed herself. "I'm just, upset that its almost over. I've got what I need to get back home and then I'll be gone. I'll miss all this." She lied.
Texas smiled under her helmet and gave Emma a quick hug. "We're almost there kid, but there yet. Who knows maybe something will screw up and you'll have to stay longer until it gets sorted out."
"Yeah maybe."
They could see the Pelican approaching in from behind another building and it slowly landed on the roof. The Primary Objective was ready to load and soon they'd be heading home. Michigan had even wrapped a bow around it. Where he found it they had no idea. "Come on guys before New Years lets go!" The snarky pilot said.
Washington and Michigan were pushing the package into the hold of the ship. Thats when Emma heard something else. Jet turbines and the hum of elevators. She turned around and could see some Hornets circling the buildings around them, waiting to ambush them. Definitely not friendly "Guys." Emma called and everyones attention was on her. "I think we're in trouble."
The elevator doors opened and an army of soldiers stormed out and surrounded them. Hornets appeared from behind buildings and had their guns fixed on them. They'd be torn to pieces.
They were completely trapped. "Some how I blame Grif for this."