Church stood, so to speak, disbelieving that the being before him was Washington's old AI. Yet, each time he denied the reality laid out before him, Epsilon showed him another of the Alpha's supposed memories, like he was throwing the de facto leader of Blue army into one hellish nightmare after another. "Your ability to deny the truth for so long," Epsilon said, "leaves very little to be desired. How do you still not believe us?"

"Because I'm not the Alpha!" Church shouted through clenched teeth, or would if there were teeth to clench. "I'm Leonard Church!"

"So is the Alpha."

"I grew up in Austin, Texas!"

"So did the Director."

"I -"

"Listen. It's clear that nothing we've done has dissuaded you, and likely won't if we keep it up."

"Who is 'we'?!"

"So, what we're going to do next may be a little drastic. Fair warning: before I do anything, you're gonna have about four seconds to warn the Reds, Blues, Wash, Tex, and the green guy that you're about to violently kick and flail with no way to stop it. Then you're gonna lose control of your entire body while you… kick and flail with no way to stop it."

"What, wha -?"

/-/

Church sat up rail straight and looked around. "Church!" Caboose half-yelled, "You're awake!"

"Caboose! Everyone! Get ba -!" Church couldn't finish his statement as his body began to, well… kick and flail with no way to stop it. Meanwhile, in his head, Epsilon was basically attempting to meld into Church's subconscious.

Needless to say, it was an unpleasant experience. Imagine, if you will, the pain of giving birth, but the sensation of the result's life going in rather than pushing out, multiplied tenfold. This was essentially what Church was experiencing while his body writhed.

Simply put, it hurt like hell.

/-/

Within his own mind, Church was clutching the closest analogue to his head he could as Epsilon pushed to merge with him. While the fragment its/his/their way into his mind, it/he/they began to pick memories from it/him/themselves and attach them to memories Church held, drawing connections between the realities they both had experienced. It was, I reiterate, the worst pain either had ever endured, and it lasted upwards of a relative eternity before it ended.

Church now sat in his own subconscious as the walls all around began to dissipate. While he didn't honestly want to, he now fully understood what Epsilon had been attempting to tell him. Alpha's - his - memories began to rush back to him as he sifted through fantasy and reality, tossing most fabrications his mind had created and keeping the painful truth in their place. "You believe us now," spoke a different, familiar voice, "don't you?"

Church turned around, seeing now the green glow that was Delta, alongside vague, almost indiscernible silhouettes of Omega, Sigma, Theta, Gamma, and three others he didn't recognize. "Don't worry," Delta said. "I've taken the liberty of locking out Sigma and Omega; they won't bother you if you don't allow them. I've also allowed Gamma to work as Gary, who will prove more useful in the long run. Theta, Xi, Iota, and Eta remain idle because you haven't created sufficient memories of them, though we're certain you will in time. As for Epsilon, he cannot join us. Or, more accurately, he is all of us, as you are, Church."

"…So… I'm remembering all of you?" Church asked.

"Cor-rect," Gary answered, lighting up momentarily.

"In a sense," Delta continued. "Though, more precisely, we are you. We can discuss further everything you must have questions about later; for now, I believe you were on a mission."

"Oh fuck, that's right! How do I get out of here?"

/-/

Church flexed his fingers before soundlessly sitting up. "Ugh…" he groaned. "How long was I out?"

"Twelve minutes and thirteen seconds," Cortana stated. "Tex was gone before you came to the first time; that was about a minute and twenty seconds ago."

"Where is she?"

"Fuck if we know," Tucker answered. "Wherever she went, she took Theta with her."

"She's probably going after Carolina for a rematch," Wash observed.

"She won't win," Delta analyzed in Church's head. "Carolina was able to defeat her through superior equipment. . ."

As Delta explained Tex's plight, Church relayed it out loud, word-for-word. ". . . Even with Theta micromanaging her shields and power, she's - whoa, D', slow down; can't talk that fast."

"You have Delta?" Washington asked. "I thought Maine had him."

"I do too," Church replied, "kind of. It's a long story." He stood, looking at his hands and feet. "…You know what?" He dropped his body, deciding to travel as a ghost. Or, as he know had come to terms with, an AI. "I'm sick of lugging that thing around. I'm just gonna leave it here." He turned to face Wash. "You don't mind if I ride with you, right? Chief's occupied, the Reds are assholes, Tucker doesn't have enough room, and I'm sure as hell not going back into Caboose's head."

Wash paused but, seeing as everything Church had stated seemed to be true, he nodded, and allowed Church to huddle into his helmet. "And don't worry, Wash, I'm a new Epsilon; nothing's gonna happen to you while I'm here."

"That's reassuring," the ex-agent sighed sarcastically.

"Let's go get that sum'bitch!" Sarge declared, pumping his shotgun.

/-/

"…Phyllis, is that special order ready yet?"

"Asymmetric Recoilless Carbine model 962 is still under construction. Estimated time to completion is 22 minutes, 13 seconds."

"Notify me the minute we have a working prototype; I believe we have a few targets we may practice on."

"Yes, Director Church."

/-/

Note: Sorry this took so very long to make, and sorry it itself is not very long. I'll try to be more punctual in the future.