"Kid's asleep," York sighed walking into the room and sitting down. "Now what's going on?"
"Emma wants to take the Reds back to the others," North started.
"Carolina said we should keep Ally away from that fight," York replied.
"There's two ships," Emma sighed.
"Ok. They can fly themselves back."
Emma shook her head, "I should go with them."
"Why?" York asked holding up a hand to stop North from interrupting.
"Look," Emma huffed, "The Chairman knows who Ally is with. At least he thinks he does. If I'm seen closest to the team Carolina is with, then that draws his attention there instead of looking around for who actually has Ally. If he sees we split up, then he's going to assume the safer of the two has her and attack that way. If I can draw attention back to where there are more people, then you guys shouldn't have to worry about avoiding anyone."
York sat back and thought about what Emma was saying. North must not have liked the look on his face.
"It's stupid," he pointed out.
"No," York sighed, "It's actually not. She has a pretty good point."
"She's hurt."
"But not crippled," Emma rolled her eyes. "I can still take care of myself."
"It's dumb to split up. We should stick together."
"North," York chuckled, "Face it. Until we know what the Chairman is going to do, this actually sounds like a pretty damn good plan."
"Ally won't be happy," North pointed out.
"Apparently she's not the only one," York smirked. "And once we explain it to the kid, she'll be fine with it. She just wants everyone to not be killed."
"Which would be harder if we split up."
York looked at Emma, "Do you want to try and talk sense into him or should I?"
"I'll do it," Emma rolled her eyes. "Just go make sure the Reds are ready to leave once I'm done."
"On it," York chuckled getting up to leave the room.
Emma waited until the door shut before looking at North, "What's the problem? This is perfectly reasonable. I thought you were good when it came to reasonable."
"You'll be shorting us."
"You and York can handle Ally until the other site is cleared up," Emma rolled her eyes again. "This should work until the UNSC gets their hands on the Chairman and punishes him for what he's done. The information is out there now. All they need to do is read it and make him answer for it."
"And what if something happens to you while we're waiting?" North asked quietly not looking at her.
"So what. Ally's safe, that's all that matters."
"You're important to her."
Emma felt her gut clench, "Just her?" North clenched his jaw and refused to look up at her. Emma sighed before getting up to move in front of him. He gave her a confused look before she leaned down and pressed her lips to his forehead. "Ally's the important thing right now. I have to make sure she's safe. This is what's best. Maybe when this is all over…Ally has to be safe first."
Emma didn't wait for him to respond before leaving and heading towards the hangar. She grabbed her bags off the crate and walked them onto the ship, ignoring the Reds who were talking with York. She was about to walk back off to grab her armor when York stepped onto the ship.
"Everything ok?" he asked.
She turned away and wiped at the side of her nose, "Yea. Everything's great."
"Were you able to talk sense into him?"
"Do you see him out here arguing with me?"
"Hey, don't get all defensive with me," York smirked. "Just attempting my big brother duties here in making sure my sister is ok." She glanced at him. "Yea I know, it was weird for me to say too."
"You're such an ass," she muttered.
"Don't make me bear hug you."
"Stay away from me." York took a step towards her. Emma put up a hand to stop him, "I mean it, York." He gave her a wicked grin and took another step. "Don't-"
York jumped forward and wrapped his arms around her, taking care of her wounded shoulder. She growled at him.
"Is this what Carolina has to put up with?"
"Accept the hug," York chuckled. Emma rolled her eyes and let herself relax slightly. "And no. She gets it much worse."
"It's a wonder she hasn't killed you yet," Emma huffed.
"She's been close a couple times. We made a deal though."
"Oh yea?"
"Yea. If she's going to be stingy with PDA, then I get to do whatever the hell I feel like in private and she can't complain."
"I might have to have a talk with her," Emma chuckled. "You can let go."
"Depends. Do you feel better?"
"I feel like I'm going to punch you in the gut if you don't let go in the next two seconds," she replied.
"Oh fine," he dropped his arms. "So you're really leaving us?"
"Yes."
"Is he ok with this?" York asked giving her a serious look.
Emma dropped her eyes, "No, but what he wants doesn't matter. I need to know Ally is safe and that no one is coming after her. That's the only thing that's important right now."
York nodded, a thoughtful look on his face, "Ok. What about what you want?"
"I just told you. Ally safe."
"Ya know," York replied leaning back against the console, "Ally's got lots of people to watch out for her now. It's ok to take a step back and actually do something for yourself for once."
"If her life wasn't on the line, I would agree with you."
York nodded, "Alright. Just be safe out there."
"As safe as I can be," Emma gave him half a smile. "You just keep Ally safe."
"No worries there," York smirked. "Need help with anything before you go?"
"Just need to grab my armor," Emma replied going to step off the ship.
York walked into the common room a while later after Emma took off with the Reds. North was sitting in the same spot he had been in when York originally left the room. Without saying anything, he walked over to the cabinet where he knew North kept the liquor, pulled out two glasses and the open bottle and poured a drink for them both.
"I don't really need any," North sighed.
"Shut up, yes you do, just drink it," York said forcing it into his friend's hand. "They left by the way." North took a swig. "I know you know it was the best thing to do right now."
"Doesn't mean it feels right."
"What doesn't feel right about it?" York asked curiously.
North shrugged, "I don't know. Just something in my gut is saying it was a bad idea to let them go."
"You think we're going to get attacked?"
"I don't know."
"Then stop worrying. The girls will be fine and they will come back and all will be fantastic."
"I'm glad you're so optimistic."
"Apparently one of us has to be," York chuckled.
"Thanks for bringing the Reds back," Carolina sighed as Emma joined her outside the temple. They had stationed everyone around it, unsure what kind of attack they were going to expect.
"No problem. Figured you probably needed them and if we can blow the smoke in my father's face, then why not take advantage of it."
"True," Carolina chuckled.
"Though a certain someone wasn't happy I left," Emma added. Carolina turned to look at her. "Not Ally. She was asleep."
"North then."
"Yup," Emma sighed.
"And here I thought York was just busting on the two of you," Carolina nodded. "Guess he must've picked up on something I missed."
"There isn't much to pick up on."
"Apparently enough. You'd be good for him," Carolina added thoughtfully.
"Have you seen us? We fight constantly."
"I see you being stubborn most of the time. And it's healthy to argue. Otherwise you'd get bored."
"Dare I say you're starting to sound like my brother with the whole hooking me up with your friends?" Emma replied sounding grumpy. Carolina remained silent, just watched her. Emma huffed, "Not while there's a danger to Ally. I can't think about any of that."
"Let York and I worry about her."
"I will not. How do I know you fully have her best interest at heart? I've raised her for her entire life. You've only just recently re-entered it."
"Ok, ok," Carolina relented. "Once we figure this out and get it settled, promise you'll give it a shot?"
Emma rolled her eyes, "If it'll get you and York off my back."
"How'd Ally do in the field?"
"You knew?" Emma asked, surprised by the calm in Carolina's voice.
She shrugged, "I figured there'd be hardly any trouble that end. I'm actually more surprised we didn't see more on this end of things."
"Ally was fine. Stayed with York the whole time. There were two guards, but York and North both took them out."
"Wasn't scared?"
"Not that I could tell," Emma answered. "Course like I said, she was with York the entire time so you'd have to ask him. I know she got bored at one point." Carolina nodded. "Have you thought about what you're going to do once everything is done here?"
"To be honest, not really. I know York probably wants us to settle down somewhere, be a family. He wants a sibling for Ally," Carolina sighed.
"He would," Emma scoffed. "What about you?"
"What about me?"
"What do you want?"
"I accepted a long time ago that my life wasn't normal. Doesn't seem like it's gotten any better since. And like Ally stated, I went from having no family, to having a huge one. I don't want to give that up, but," Carolina sighed, "I don't know if I could give up what I'm doing either."
"Here's an idea," Emma said after a few moments of silence. "Why not start up Project Freelancer again?"
"What? You're kidding right?"
"Not really," Emma shrugged. "Start it over, but do it right. Don't do what your father did. Turn it into what he meant it to be. A specialized program. Name it something else if you wish, but why not take your knowledge and York's, and North, Wash and whoever hell else wants to share what they know and make it happen."
Carolina ran the thought around in her head. There had been a lot wrong with the Project and while her father had the right idea, his reasoning behind it was wrong. "Hey Church, you listening?"
"Yea, I'm here," he said appearing in front of them.
"What do you think?" Carolina asked. "Think we could do a better job?"
"Oh hell yea," Church answered. "I mean...if we do it, it's gonna need a serious re-vamp. Maybe get rid of a few key things that weren't exactly the best ideas at the time."
"Or instead of an experiment, how about an extension of skills for those who want them?"
"Could work," Carolina nodded. She looked at Emma, "It's definitely a thought. But first-"
"First we finish. We'll talk more when everyone is safe," Emma agreed.
"Alaska." Someone shook her shoulder. "Emma, get up."
"Hm?" She cracked an eye to see Wash standing over her in his armor. "What's up?"
"They're attacking. At least we think they are," Wash replied as she started to push herself up. "The lieutenants caught movement on the outer perimeter so we're putting everyone on full alert."
"Kay," Emma yawned. "I'll be right out. Where do you want me?"
"Wall with me, Smith and Bitters. I'll wait for you."
Emma nodded at him and started putting on her armor. Wash waited in the hall for her and they started heading towards their post. They appeared to reach the post before the lieutenants had gotten there. Wash scoped out the surrounding area and didn't appear to see anything.
A few more minutes went by and no sign of the lieutenants. Wash stepped aside to radio them to see what was taking so long when Emma caught movement in the trees. She tapped Wash and pointed.
"Nothing's coming up on the trackers though," Emma said after he stepped up next to her to see.
"Alright. Bitters and Smith will be here in a minute. We should go check it out."
"Shouldn't we raise alarm or something?"
"Not until we know what's out there. For all we know, it could just be an animal of some sort."
Emma nodded and followed him down off the wall, checking out the wooded area as they walked.
"Doesn't appear to be anything," Wash replied quietly.
"Probably an animal then," Emma agreed. "Should we head back?"
"Yea."
Emma turned to go back and walked a few paces until she heard something hitting the ground behind her. She turned, bringing her gun up and froze.
"Shoot and I slice his throat," the unmistakable black and orange mercenary in front of her warned. Wash was on the ground, the merc standing over him with the alien sword he had acquired activated and dangerously close to Wash's throat. Emma lowered her gun slightly. "There ya go sweetheart. Nice and friendly like."
"What do you want, Felix?" Wash growled from the ground.
"Just came for a friendly chat here with your friend. Now be quiet while the big kids talk," Felix replied. "I have a message from the big man for you."
"That's nice. Did he forget how to use his e-mail again?" Emma growled bringing her gun back up.
"Careful, careful," Felix chuckled. "How you act determines what happens to that brat you care so much about." Emma felt her body freeze. "Knew that would get your attention. See, while I'm here delivering, Locus is acquiring."
"Emma, don't listen to him! He's lyi-"
Felix kicked Wash in the side of the head, silencing him, "I said, let the big kids talk. Now, here's the deal. Offer yourself up without a fight and we'll all make sure the brat is safe and sound. Put up a fight and well…let's just hope you choose the first option."
Emma felt her whole body clench up, her brain felt like it was trying to turn sludge. She looked down at Wash who appeared to be unconscious before looking back up at Felix who was waiting for an answer. "Let him go and I'll come with."
"Honestly, you're both coming with regardless," Felix chuckled. "It's just a matter of how you come with that determines what my partner does with the brat. Personally, I hope for the peaceful route cuz I'd really like to get paid."