Rho hovers near Epsilon, studying him, while Wash explains how I found him and what's happened since. I spend the time watching Carolina. I can't gather too much information without being able to see her face, but there's still a lot that can be learned from body language. Everything she does, from the way she stiffens in surprise when Wash tells her who Maine was to how her shoulders droop in sympathy and she glances my way when he speaks of recent events, tells me more about her.

"Everyone's still a little shaken after the last attack," Wash continues, eyes flicking to me. "You two probably didn't pick the best time to show up," he adds, looking back at Carolina.

"That's, ah, kind of why we came now, actually," Epsilon says, stepping away from Rho. The pink and blue AI quickly follows him.

Carolina catches my questioning look. "Epsilon and I heard someone was looking for us about a week ago," she explains. "We decided to investigate. When we found out who you were, and what the UNSC said you'd done, we decided to find you. I wanted to find out why you were looking for us, and we both wanted to turn you in."

"We found your last base," Epsilon says, appearing on Carolina's shoulder. Rho mirrors the pose on my own shoulder. "We weren't exactly sure what happened, but we knew there had been a battle. We thought it'd be best to track you down while you were hopefully still recovering."

"You wanted to catch us while we're weak," I say, nodding thoughtfully. "That sounds like a decent plan."

"Obviously that plan's changed, now," Wash says, glancing at Carolina uncertainly.

Carolina nods. "Of course it's changed," she agrees, addressing Wash. "If what you said is true, and they really are innocent, then we can't turn them in." She turns her attention to me. "I'm not sure what you expect me to do to help, though."

"Honestly," I say, looking up at her, "you're not the one we need." I look pointedly at the blue figure hovering next to her.

"Me?" Epsilon asks. "What do you need me for?"

"Leonard Church knew Dr. Han better than anyone else," I tell him. "They were childhood friends, they went to school together, and they often helped each other with their research. If anyone could guess where she's hiding, it'd have been him."

"And I have his memories," Epsilon finishes for me, an annoyed tone slipping into his voice. "You know, for once I'd like to have someone want my help for something other than that," he complains. "I mean, I'm a pretty capable guy. I can do a lot that isn't just remembering stuff. But no, it's always this 'memory is the key' bullshit, and stuff about how you need to know something the Director knew."

"I'm sure they'll need our help with other things along the way," Carolina says, and her tone suggests she's suppressing a laugh.

"Yeah, yeah," Epsilon huffs. "It just gets annoying."

"Do you think you can?" I ask. "Do you remember anything about her?"

Epsilon shrugs. "The name sounds familiar. I probably do know something. It's just… There are a lot of my memories that I haven't unlocked yet. It's not an exact science, and there's stuff in here I really don't want to go poking around with."

I nod understanding. I've read enough about how Alpha was broken to know there are things he doesn't want to remember. "Any information you can find would be helpful."

"I'll try," he eventually says. "But I can't guarantee I'll find anything useful."

I thank him. I know there's more we need to discuss, but I think it's best to wait until morning. Talks like this tend to go smoother when I haven't been shooting at the people I'm talking to within the last five minutes.

"Barracks are this way," Wash says, gesturing down the hall. "It's night here. Not sure what planet's time schedule you're on, but you should probably start adjusting as soon as possible."

Carolina starts to tell him that it's okay before Epsilon cuts her off.

"It's, like, two in the morning in her head right now," Epsilon says. "We could probably do with some sleep."

"I'll lead the way," Rho says enthusiastically. "I know which rooms are vacant, so I'll pick one out for you two."

Carolina follows her immediately, while Epsilon seems a bit more hesitant. "She's never met another AI before," I explain once she's far enough ahead to not hear. "I guess she's a little excited."

"I guess," Epsilon says, unconvinced, before catching up with Carolina.

Wash and I follow along behind the three, tuning out Rho's tour-guide style chattering about every room we pass.

"You're injured," Wash observes, eyes fixed on the back of Carolina's head.

I glance at the burn on my shoulder. The skin around it is slightly blackened, but it's not too deep. The plasma blast must have just skimmed me. Right now it only feels like a mild sting, but I know once the adrenaline wears off it will hurt more. "It's not too bad," I say after a moment.

"You should wake up Doc or Rhodi," Wash says, voice still painfully even.

I watch his face out of the corner of my eye. This isn't the Wash I've gotten to know over the past few weeks. This is Agent Washington, the soldier, gaze resolute and void of emotion. I want to think the change has something to do with the arrival of his old leader, but I know that's a lie. He's been distant like this since our talk in the training room. I hate it; seeing him like this and knowing it's my fault.

I hate it, but I know I can't say anything. Not now. I burned the bridge; I'll have to live with it. It's better like this, anyway.

"A wound like that shouldn't go unchecked," Wash continues, unaware of my inner musings.

"Alright," I agree, striving for the same coldly professional tone he has.

After a few more minutes Rho points Carolina toward an empty room. The armored woman thanks her before turning in, taking Epsilon with her. Rho bids Wash and I goodnight before her avatar disappears.

Wash turns down a hall to our left, muttering something about his room being that way. I catch myself staring at the back of his head, wishing he'd turn around. I know it's foolish. I've already made my decision. I have no right to hope for anything from him.

I just wish we could go back to the way things were before.

"Goodnight," I say just before he gets out of hearing, not raising my voice to follow him but not exactly whispering either. I see his head rise slightly, can't tell if he heard me. A moment later I hear him repeat the phrase quietly before disappearing into a room.


"So, they're just back?" Grif asks. He's sitting in the mess hall with the rest of red team and Tucker, watching from a few tables away as Church tries to convince Caboose to shut up. "They disappeared and left us on the planet where we crash landed, and now they're back?"

"Looks like it," Simmons says, carefully peeling an orange. At least, he thinks it's an orange. It's orange-ish, anyway.

Sarge harrumphs angrily. "What do we care if they're back or not? That freelancer's a blue at heart, and she's got a blue in her head. Neither of them can be trusted."

"Still holding on to that grudge, old man?" Simmons immediately stiffens at the sound of the woman's voice behind him.

Sarge twists around on the bench and glares at the mechanic. "It isn't a grudge," he insists gruffly. "Red and Blue is in our blood. It's how we think."

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure you're the only one who still cares about that," Tucker speaks up from further down the table.

Yttri rolls her eyes and turns her attention to Simmons. "I'm gonna go to the hangar and start studying that new ship," she says. "I want to figure out what it's capable of and see if it'd be possible to give it a slip-space engine. When you're done here you should join me."

"O-okay," Simmons says, nodding to accept the offer without turning around.

Yttri smiles, reaching out to place a hand on his arm for a second. "See you then," she says before leaving.

The table's silent for a moment until Tucker speaks up.

"Dude," he says. "You need help."

"What?" Simmons asks defensively.

"She was pretty much flirting with you and you didn't even turn around," Tucker reiterates.

"No she wasn't," Simmons denies.

"Even I could tell she likes you," Grif says, "and I wasn't even paying attention."

"She doesn't like me," Simmons insists, voice rising in pitch. "She just needs help working on the ship."

"I hate to say I agree with a blue and a Grif," Sarge says, "but that girl does seem to have an interest in you." Simmons tries to splutter out another excuse, but Sarge waves the words away. "Don't deny it. It's obvious. When I offered to work with her, she threatened me with a wrench. Clearly she's less interested in receiving help from a gifted mechanic than she is having what I assume she thinks is a pretty face around."

"You also suggested using diesel in the slip space engines," Simmons mutters.

"Of course I did!" Sarge exclaims. "Diesel would certainly be more powerful than whatever green peace fairy juice she's using now."

"It would also either break the engines, or make them explode, sir," Simmons tries to explain as respectfully as possible.

"That's obviously a problem with the engines themselves, not the fuel," Sarge says offhandedly. He doesn't notice Simmons glancing around frantically, then breathing a sigh of relief that Yttri isn't there. He's not sure what she would do if she heard Sarge insult the engines she built, but he's sure it wouldn't be pretty.

"But that's not the issue here," Sarge continues. "The issue is that you don't seem to be able to tell that little lady how you feel."

"We're fine," Simmons says. "I like working with her, and she trusts me to help. I don't want to mess that up."

"I agree with Simmons," Donut pipes up from his spot next to Tucker. "If you're both happy with the way things are, then why bother changing it? You should let it happen naturally."

"No," Tucker says instantly. "You're wrong. Letting things 'happen naturally' is how he gets stuck being just friends."

"What you need to do," Sarge says suddenly, "is find a way to impress her. Then you won't need to be nervous when you tell her how you feel. She'll already be hooked!"

"I don't think-" Simmons starts weakly.

"Now, the best way to impress a woman," Sarge continues with his unsolicited advice, "is show her how manly you are."

Simmons gives up trying to reason with Sarge and turns pleading eyes toward Grif and Tucker.

"It's not the worst plan," Tucker shrugs. "Not exactly my style, but I don't usually aim for long term relationships anyway."

Grif just hums apathetically around a mouthful of food.

"I still don't think Simmons needs to change anything," Donut says.

"Nobody cares, Donut," Tucker, Grif, and Sarge shoot him down together.

"Seeing as how there's no objections," Sarge says, loudly, to cover up Donut's continued argument. When Donut finally quiets down, Sarge continues. "The first step is to stop shaving immediately. Nothing shows manliness more than some wonderful facial hair."

"But I already don't shave," Simmons points out.

Sarge takes a moment to study the smooth, pale face of his subordinate. "Well," he grunts, at a loss for words. He recovers after a few moments. "The next step is to show her your superior strength."

"Sir," Simmons starts again. "I'm sure this is great advice for a normal situation, but I really don't think Yttri cares about that."

"Son," Sarge says, throwing an arm around Simmons' shoulder in a companionable way. "All women care about this. They want a man that they think can protect them, someone who makes them feel safe. It's a basic instinct!" He lets go of the younger man and points a finger at his chest. "You have to prove to her that you're that man."

Simmons nods numbly. Part of him still thinks this isn't the right way to impress Yttrium, but he figures it can't hurt. By this point, he's willing to try anything to get her attention. Maybe it'll at least boost his confidence enough to finally tell her how he feels. As Sarge continues his instructions, Simmons pays close attention and takes mental notes.


I feel like the last few paragraphs stink, but I couldn't figure out how to make them better. Or maybe I'm being overly critical again. Whatever.

Anyway, I hope you all like it. This is the first time I've written Carolina, so I hope her character is coming across alright. Let me know if you think I need to change anything with her.