Fira crouched by Wash's side, trying to keep her tail from twitching in irritation. Ahead of them, Carolina waited as well. Fira got vague feelings of impatience from the other, and she found herself curling her lip. If she wanted to move quickly, she wouldn't have sent the wolf out to go check for traps. Fira was faster and quieter, but no. Of course she couldn't go.
*Easy,* Wash told her privately. *Timber's good, with professional training and way more experience than you. He knows what he's doing.*
*He's also old.* Fira replied snappishly.
Immediately, there was strong disapproval and even some anger from Wash, which caused Fira surprise. He wouldn't normally react like that. Wash didn't reply, knowing Fira would pick up on his emotions. His reaction was all it took for her anger to subside into acquiescence.
They were at one of the intelligence bases trying to gain access to the location of Epsilon. Well, by trying to gain access, they were breaking in and stealing the information. Probably the same thing.
Fira's ears fell when there was no amusement from Wash. Normally, he would have found that funny. Fira didn't understand human interaction as well as Noca had and it never ceased to amuse her partner. Until now, apparently.
Carefully, she began to shield her emotions from Wash, imagining the brick wall that she had struggled with so long ago. She felt Wash momentarily pressing against it, gently. He was curious and confused as to why it was up, but he left soon, leaving Fira to herself.
Finally, finally, Timber returned. *It's clear.*
Carolina immediately began to creep forward. *What took you so long?*
*There were two traps to disable. An alarm and a bomb.*
Fira felt impressed. She would have just reported back her findings. She didn't have a chance to disarm the two devices, and she had no idea how Timber had done it.
She took her spot behind Wash, covering their backs. Carolina hadn't wanted her there, but Wash pointed out that she would be better suited for listening for anyone behind them than he was. Carolina had relented.
In fact, it had taken quite a bit of effort for Wash to convince Carolina to let Fira come with them. She had refused the Reds and Blues, which Fira could understand. However, it took Timber's intervention for Carolina to let Fira join them. The wolf had pointed out that she was able to move just as quietly as him, if he needed help, as well as that she would be able to add quite a bit of muscle to their team, if not brains. Yes, he had actually said that.
Nevertheless, she was here, slinking along a bright metal corridor. The former agents' feet rang loudly in the quiet hallway, but there was no other sound. They had originally snuck in past six guards. Carolina had some experience sneaking around, apparently, because she was able to lead them through with no issue. Now, as they rounded another corner, Fira wondered where she had gotten such detailed intel.
Her ears flicked backwards at the sound of other boots clomping loudly on the ground. *Incoming.* She informed Wash, immediately beginning to look for a place to hide.
*We got guards.* Wash told the rest of the team. Carolina hissed and led them past one door and into the next, which turned out to be a closet for cleaning supplies. The scent of bleach would easily overpower their scent, although it still burned Fira's nose.
"Boomer said he heard feet." The voice flowed from nearby.
"There's no one here." A second voice replied tiredly.
*How many are there?* Carolina asked, looking to Timber.
The wolf sniffed the air, then put his grey nose to the ground. *Two guards, and a dog.*
*Bird too.* Fira corrected before she could stop herself. Instantly three pairs of eyes turned on her and she fought hard to keep from shrinking away from them.
*Well?* Carolina asked finally.
Timber's nostrils flared momentarily, then he nodded. *It's possible.*
Meanwhile, the guards had been debating on whether or not someone had been out there and it seemed the second one was winning. "Boomer's gettin' old." He argued. "He's probably hearin' things."
"He says he knows they were here. He can smell them." The first insisted.
"Then where are they?"
There was no reply and the second man snorted. "Come on, man. Grifball's on." A set of feet began walking away, and Fira was pretty sure there was a flutter of wings to go along with it. Second later, the second set followed, along with the rhythmic clicking of nails on the ground. Fira waited until she could no longer hear anything, then nodded to Wash, who opened the door and stepped out.
Timber took the lead again, and they got to the control room with no issues. Inside were three people, each working at a monitor. Carolina gestured to Wash, then the one that was on the left. She signaled Timber to take the closest one, then herself as the farthest woman. Fira was left out. Again. She reined in her emotions and watched as Carolina hit her target with one swift shot to the head. Before the woman grunted, Wash's bullet slammed into his own man, while Timber darted forward to take out the last one just as she was turning around. The wolf barreled into her stomach and the woman's head slammed on the dashboard. Timber placed his front paws on her right upper arm and used his mouth to break the bone, but it was unnecessary. The woman's head wound had her unconscious. Carolina moved over to one of the computers, Timber at her side. Fira remained by the door to keep watch as Wash went to stand next to Carolina, watching as Timber instructed Carolina on how to get through the security measures.
*We're in.* Carolina announced moments later. *Wash, hide the bodies.*
Wash nodded and grabbed one of the soldiers, pushing him under the counter and into a corner. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best they could manage and besides, they would be found anyways. Fira noted Wash's carefully quiet execution of the woman who was unconscious, taking her helmet off and snapping her neck.
"Intruder alert. Intruder alert in the west control room. Intruder alert." Loud, blaring alarms sounded piercingly as lights began flashing and Fira put her ears down in attempt to get rid of the painfully loud noise.
"Dammit! Wash, cover the door. I need more time." Carolina ordered as Wash was already moving towards Fira. He pressed the button on her armor that sent the protection shooting down her legs and over her face to protect her eyes and legs.
Wash's mind pressed gently against the wall she had put up and Fira lowered it. *It was too quiet anyway.* He joked privately to her.
Fira did her best to roll her eyes, but purred and pressed herself momentarily against him as pounding footsteps filled the hall.
*Wait until the soldier's get to us before engaging. Don't go out there.* Wash issued his final orders as four soldiers appeared in front of them. They opened fire, as did Wash. Fira waited, bouncing on her paws in anxiety. Wash's skills far surpassed those of their enemies and they were dead within seconds.
Over the gruesome bunker of their bodies leapt two large German Shepherds and two Rottweilers. Wash fired three shots, but the dogs moved in a random pattern and only two of his bullets hit, neither doing fatal damage. Behind them their handlers appeared, already firing.
Fira felt a mental nod from Wash and she bounded forward with a snarl, using her superior body size and armor to bowl over the leading German Shepherds. The slightly slower Rottweilers lunged at her, one high and one low, and she ducked under one of them, slamming into the other. Bullets whizzed past them as she reared up against one of the German Shepherds. The dogs' armor protected only their bodies, leaving their heads, tails, and legs vulnerable, unlike Fira's own armor, which only left her feet, tail, eyes, and mouth in the open. She struck low, latching onto a foreleg and biting down. Her powerful jaws snapped the bone and the dog's growl turned into yelps of pain. To her right, she heard one of the men cry out in time with the dog. She pulled hard and tossed the dog aside as the others landed on top of her.
Fira went to the ground, snarling loudly and thrashed, her claws reaching for their eyes even as they went for her neck. She felt a surge of triumph as they only hit the armor that protected her, realizing their mistake too late. Her claws slashed a dog's face as her back legs kicked frantically. That dog backed off and she surged to her feet with an effort of muscle, ignoring the other dogs. The other couldn't see and she landed on top of him, delivering a swift bite that crushed his skull. The dog crumpled as a man screamed in pain. A bullet whizzed from Wash's side and the man's cries stopped.
The remaining German Shepherd growled loudly and filled Fira's vision with his dripping jaws and flashing claws. She reared up, clawing back and snarling. Something bit down on her tail, crunched and she roared in pain, pulling away from the dog to whirl on the Rottweiler on her tail. Or rather, tried to. The dog's grip stayed and instead she pulled the dog and her injured tail, creating a fresh burst of pain that left her seeing stars. She struggled to pull away even as the German Shepherd grabbed one of her ears. Faintly, she felt Wash squeeze the trigger of his assault rifle twice and the pain on her tail eased as the dog slid to the ground.
Fira snarled and twisted her body, getting her claws up high enough to hold onto the last dog's head and she forced her claws into his skin. Neither let go until Fira finally yanked her head back, painfully freeing her ear. She felt the dog struggle to get away the second it happened, but she lunged forward, trusted her armor to protect her neck as she delivered one final bite to his head.
*Fira, get back here.* Wash ordered. *I've got you covered.*
Fira oriented herself and began backing up, watching the soldiers carefully. This was the only way she saw Wash's bullet kill another man. The only way she saw the dog she had counted out howl and leap to his feet, broken leg be damned. The only way she saw the dog streak towards Wash. She could feel his attention focused on the soldiers even as she whirled, knowing he wasn't aware of the oncoming threat. Her paws pounded until she leapt into the air. Her pained tail threw off her balance and instead of landing on top of the Shepherd, she knocked them both to the ground. Both scrambled to their feet and Fira leapt again, determined to make it as a bullet flew so close she felt it's wind brush her fur. The bullet embedded itself into the dog's head and the Shepherd slid to the floor as Fira came down on her, already dead.
She glanced back to see that Carolina had joined Wash. Another look at the soldiers let her watch more die and she moved cautiously back to the safety the two former Freelancers provided. Timber wasn't in sight.
*You good?* Wash asked as she crouched at his side.
*Yup.* She replied, watching the enemies warily. They just seemed to keep piling up.
Apparently Carolina was thinking the same thing. "Where the hell is Timber?!" She demanded. "Fira, prepare to close the doors."
Fira moved so she was in front of the door control and let them know she was ready.
Carolina pulled out two grenades and threw them in rapid succession. "Now!" She yelled and Fira slammed a paw down on the panel as Carolina and Wash leapt away, Wash a beat behind to make sure he came down over Fira.
The slow moving doors only got halfway shut before the heat and pieces of shrapnel entered the room. Fira was grateful for Wash covering her. His armor was stronger and it covered his entire body, unlike hers.
Wash pulled away not long after and climbed to his feet. Carolina was already up and reloading her weapon.
"You ready?" She asked Wash even as she opened the door again and began shooting.
Wash joined her. Despite not seeing each other for years, they still worked well together and Fira enjoyed watching them. She rarely saw two humans work in tandem this well.
She took her spot again at Wash's side and laid eyes on the dogs on the other side. Dogs, and a snake. They were staying back by their partners' side, apparently not entering the fight. That was okay, though. Fira wasn't sure how well she could fight now with an injured tail.
She only stood there for a moment before the dogs in front of them perked their ears and began looking around. She stiffened as well and listened, sniffing the air occasionally.
*What is it?* Wash grunted as a bullet flew past his head.
Fira didn't reply for a moment as she listened carefully. There was…music? It sounded familiar but she couldn- oh no.
*Polka music.* She told Wash flatly, looking towards the windows on the far side of the room.
She could feel Wash's amusement. *Go see where they are.*
Fira trotted towards the windows and put her paws on the dashboard to see. Not twenty yards away a Warthog was flying towards them, with three familiar figures in red armor, as well as a German Shepherd with its tongue hanging out happily, head sticking out the side of the vehicle.
Fira blinked as she realized they weren't slowing down. *Move!* She snarled and lunged towards Wash, knocking him to the side as Carolina rolled under a countertop. Fira was crouched over Wash as the Warthog crashed through the windows, glass and metal flying around the room. The Reds' obnoxious polka music filled the air but howling dogs broke through the sound. Fira pulled away from Wash and went to the door to see the soldiers recovering and the dogs beginning to situate themselves, baying loudly.
*Are you ready?* A voice asked from Fira's side, and she jumped.
Timber looked at her disapprovingly beneath his tan armor and she bowed her head.
*I asked a question.* There was no hostility in his tone, but Fira could feel his disappointment and annoyance.
*Yes, sir.* She replied, straightening up to see the dogs begin their charge.
At her side, Timber seemed to move up onto his toes. *You be the muscle. I'll do the fine work.*
Fira nodded, despite the odd word choice, and waited. Once the dogs were almost upon them, she felt Timber's tail hit her side. Fira surged forward with a roar, dipping her head and tossing one of the dogs in the air as she bowled into them, looking like a charging bull. She let herself bounce off the wall and spun as she did so, racing back towards the fight were Timber was engaged with the dogs. She crashed into two of them, forcing one away from Timber while she pinned the other against the wall.
They exchanged blows for a moment before Timber's voice broke through the fighting haze. *Keep them off me.* He delivered the order calmly, although there was underlying stress in his tone.
She pushed away from the dog and back towards Timber. Yet again, she forced two dogs away from him, watching him deliver a killing blow out of the corner of her eye. He turned on the dog that she had been fighting before and bit down on his foreleg, breaking the bone. Fira smacked another dog that was threatening to get to close to Timber.
*Fira!* Wash's voice broke through the battle rage this time. He had obviously been trying to get her attention for a while, and his call to her was so forceful that she stopped mid-charge and looked at him.
*On your seven!* Wash practically yelled at her right as a dog slammed into her from behind.
Fira stumbled forward, but recovered her balance. She ran down the hall, towards the enemy soldiers, for a moment as she regained her balance. She spun around as fast as her large, heavily-armored body could. The dog hit her on the side and her claws fell on top of him, creating sparks against his armor as he bit at her own protection. Fira twisted on her hind legs, angling herself to get an angle at his head. She bit down on his skull, finishing the dog's fight.
*What's up?* She asked Wash, going back near Timber and snarling at the other dogs. More and more were coming from the side of the soldiers, a steady stream of hostile targets.
*The Reds and Blues are evac-ing us. Pull back to the Warthogs.* Wash ordered.
Fira began to back up, moving in tandem with Timber. She and Timber were soon pressed against the side of their Warthog. The dogs had been too cautious to attack them and their armor protected them from the hail of bullets.
Wash, Carolina, and the sim troops were arguing. "But they know we're coming for the Director! Where else would we be going?" Carolina asked, frustrated.
"We blew out their communications. They can't radio anyone!" Tucker said, his voice laced with a smug pride.
"Whose idea was that?" Wash was surprised.
"It was mine." Caboose stated.
Wash looked at Tucker with surprise. The other shrugged. "For once, he's telling the truth."
"I also wiped their computers." Simmons added. "The animals took care of their vehicles."
Wash nodded his head approvingly. "All right. Let's get out of here. We are now racing them."
The soldiers got into the two Warthogs, and then the animals followed, with Timber and Fira getting in last.
They climbed into the cars, Fira squished even more than usual because of her armor. Wash threw the car into reverse and sped away, the Reds not far behind. They drove away from the base, the soldiers ducking down to take cover from the bullets, with Carolina sporadically firing backwards.
Despite the enemy's efforts, they were soon away from the danger and everyone relaxed a bit. Tucker, grumbling, began to pull Fira's armor off, complaining about how much room it took up, especially because she couldn't curl up in it. It took quite a few awkward maneuvers, and Fira snarled at Tucker a couple times, but they eventually got it. Wash passed back the healing unit and turned it on. It encompassed all of them, and Fira sighed in relief.
They drove for a while, for once quiet. Apparently Carolina wasn't in the mood to start planning or yelling. Fira had just curled on the bottom of the Warthog when she heard Timber shift abruptly. Fira perked her ears and tiredly climbed to her feet, placing her front paws on the back of the seats in front of her and looking at the wolf.
He was staring at the compartment in the front of the vehicle. His fur was up and he was probably communicating with Carolina.
Fira felt her own fur rise as the older predator tensed. Carolina reached forward and popped open the compartment.
A rattlesnake darted out, the same snake from before. Fira had forgotten about it during the fight.
Tucker let out a loud, "fuck!" as the serpent flung itself at Carolina, fangs ready. It hit her armor and fell onto her lap- right as Timber grabbed it in his mouth. He whipped his head back, then forward again, intent on throwing the snake in the way of their Warthog.
This snake had to be at least seven feet long and it wrapped its long body around Timber's neck even as it was being thrown out. Timber struggled to bite it, but he couldn't reach.
Carolina's hands reached for the snake, ready to try to rip it off of Timber. In response, the snake brought its head around, intent on biting Carolina's gloved hands, which would be vulnerable to the snake's fangs.
Timber had seen this and he lunged forward to get the snake out of Carolina's reach- and out of the car. The jump hadn't been good, and Timber hit the ground awkwardly, falling and rolling with the snake still wrapped around him.
Without thinking, Fira leapt onto Caboose's lap, then out of the car, racing towards Timber and the rattlesnake even as Wash began braking. She could hear him yelling at her, both verbally and through their connection, but she ignored him. As she reached Timber, she could see that the snake was biting one of his paws, even though Timber had a good grip on its neck. She realized belatedly that he too didn't have armor on.
Fira extended her claws and dug them into the snake, tilting her paws so the claws hooked on before ripping upwards. She could tell that the snake's scales had to have been reinforced somehow, because she struggled to do too much damage.
Apparently, the snake noticed, because it let go of Timber and turned on her. She sheathed her claws and jumped backwards, leaving the rattlesnake still around Timber's neck. The wolf was panting and watching her. Fira darted forward, using one paw to bat the snake's head aside. She let her powerful jaws close on the back of the snake's head as her paws held the serpent down.
The snake crunched, and a disgusting taste flooded her mouth. She spit it out quickly and turned to Timber. The wolf was beginning to use his paws to pull the body off and she helped him, letting her claws do the work that Timber couldn't reach.
There was a roar overhead and the dirt around them began to fly up in protest as bullets bounced off the earth. Fira flinched away, and then nudged Timber to his feet, watching him concernedly.
*Fira, you and Timber will have to run. We can't hold still while they're shooting at us; we'll be blown into the sky.* Two engines began again even as Wash's words registered in her head. She sent back an affirmative and set off with Timber at a slow, loping pace as he favored his bitten paw.
Wash wasn't driving full speed, and Fira could see Tucker and Caboose watching worriedly. Wash's own worry was pressing on her like a weight and she focused her attention on Timber, watching him struggle.
Timber stumbled and fell. Fira slammed herself to a halt, almost falling herself, and went back to the downed wolf. His breathing was faster and he was whining faintly. She could feel the pain pulsing off the normally emotionless seeming wolf.
A bullet cut close enough to graze Fira's shoulder and she nudged him again. *One more try, come on.* She encouraged. The wolf eyed her, then slowly got to his feet, his movements stiff and obviously painful.
*Good, now I need you to jump as high as you can.* She told him, working out a plan in her hear. She was big enough for this, right? Right. She had to be.
Timber stared at her, but didn't seem to have the energy to argue. He gathered himself, ignoring the bullets around them from a very inaccurate shooter, and jumped.
Fira darted beneath him, and became suddenly thankful for their lack of armor as Timber came down on top of her with a surprised grunt. She shifted so his legs hung down on either side of her and his head was hovering above her own. She was right- she was big enough for this.
Fira began an awkward jog as both tried to find the best way to do this strange endeavor. She forced herself to ignore the bullets, despite everything in her screaming to sprint away, and focused on keeping Timber with her.
Finally, Timber simply dug his claws into her side with a tired apology and she moved faster. His legs tightened around her, not unlike how it felt to have Wash on her back. Soon, she was running as fast as she could, and she began to swerve in her movements.
Now quite far ahead, she could hear Tucker yelling, "oh shit!" as she ran towards the warthogs. Slowly, they were catching up.
*Keep running straight.* Wash sent to her. She grunted an affirmative, knowing he would understand, and watched as their Warthog turned abruptly in a large circle so that she and Timber were ahead of the vehicle.
It came up on her left side and she saw a sea foam colored arm reach out and grab Timber by the back of his neck. As soon as the weight was off her, she let herself slow down until she was just behind the jeep-like vehicle.
Caboose was helping Carolina, apparently, and she waited until the wolf was situated before calling upon all her remaining energy and sprinting forward, pushing off her back legs in a powerful leap. A leap that was too short. Only her front made it into the jeep and she frantically pulled her back legs up, kicking the air to keep them from getting sucked under the wheels or dragging her down.
Caboose's strong hands grabbed her and pulled, lifting her the rest of the way into the Warthog as if she were a cub again. She thanked him tiredly and looked forward to where Timber was laying on the ground, not moving. Carolina was doing something to his paw.
"We still need to take care of that Pelican." She was saying as she worked.
"What are we going to do? I can't think of anything." Wash replied.
Tucker spoke up. "We have some sticky grenades."
"How are we going to get them up there?" Wash argued.
*I could do it.* Lovebird said.
"No." Carolina and Wash spoke together.
"It's too dangerous." Wash added.
Lovebird blinked at them and fluttered his wings. *I can.*
Fira interrupted Wash's next statement. *He can, Wash. I know it. He'll get it up there, attach it, and he's plenty fast enough to get down in time.*
Wash took his eyes off the ground in front of them to look at her. She nodded at him.
Wash sighed. "Get him a sticky grenade."
Carolina looked at Wash. "You're not serious."
"If Fira says he can do it, he can. She's been training them every day."
Tucker had already pulled out the explosive and he handed it to his bird. His hands were shaking, but Lovebird was steady as he accepted the device.
*Take Scales.* Fira instructed him. *He's the only one that can help you, and it can be good to have help.*
The two birds nodded and took flight before anymore arguments could arise.
Fira watched concernedly as the two birds flew up, the sticky grenade flashing in the sun. Finally, they split away, Scales going to the front to distract the pilot while Lovebird went to the bottom of the Pelican and attaching the grenade there. The gunner aimed the gun at the parrot and Fira began to breathe harder as the bird was forced to dodge the bullets. Finally, Scales dropped down, simply folding his wings as best as he could. Lovebird followed not long after, though the peregrine falcon was much faster. Instead of over taking the parrot, he hit the bird and forced him down faster as the Pelican exploded behind them.
Fira's eyes strained to find the small birds against the explosion, but she eventually picked them out as they flew towards the Warthogs. She sighed in relief when she saw that there flight looked pretty normal. They landed on their respective partner's laps and Lovebird adjusted his ruffled feathers. *Success, sir.* He said.
"Fuck yeah it was!" Tucker exclaimed proudly.
Fira lay down on the floor, letting her eyelids sink shut, exhausted. Tucker was practically emitting pride as he praised his bird. Caboose was stroking Scales, also pleased with his bird. Fira let their emotions lull her to sleep, letting someone else keep Wash company.
Wash sighed as he finally sat down on the ground next to his contently sleepy jaguar. They had driven well into the night, finally stopping when Carolina couldn't stand the sim troops complaints anymore. They still had left over meat, so Fira was allowed to rest, something she was obviously thankful for.
The first aid kit in the Warthog had anti-venom in it, and Wash was too pleased to question why. Timber was resting not too far away, next to the healing unit. The other soldiers were milling around, either arguing or just chatting. Probably arguing. Wash was content to let them do as they pleased. Tucker was still gloating with pride at how his bird had "saved all their asses." In his defense, the bird had. Carolina was a little ways off, apparently keeping watch. She had offered to take it first, wanting the sim soldiers to rest so they would stop complaining.
Fira rolled over onto her side, stretching out so her head bumped Wash's leg. He chuckled and placed a hand on her shoulder, stroking gently. Her purrs soon rumbled into existence, vibrating his leg.
*You know that was a stupid thing you did today.* Wash told her without anger.
*Mm, which one?* She asked, her eyes still shut.
Wash rolled his eyes at the feline, and patted her side. She seemed about to fall asleep when she suddenly sat up. Wash looked where she was looking and saw Timber on his feet. The injured wolf picked up the healing unit and carried it towards them. He set it down when they were well into the range of its effects, then lay back down. He closed his eyes again without, as far as Wash knew, saying a word.
Fira relaxed, even though Wash hadn't realized she had tensed, and lay back down. She seemed happy as she rested against Wash's leg. She soon joined the wolf in sleep, and Wash found himself laying back.
He always found it hard to stay awake when his partner was asleep. He knew that they both slept better when the other one was asleep, and decided that that was probably the best choice. She deserved it anyway.