"If you could have any armor ability, what would it be?" Omega questioned me as I marveled at my new set of armor.

"Um..." I pondered on the question for a moment, "I'd probably kill to have Wyoming's Temporal Distortion, but Active Camouflage is great when trying to be incognito. Oh! Speed Unit! E.M.P.? Holographic Projections!"

He laughed for a moment, "You seem too enthusiastic about this."

"Hey, we're finally out." I sighed as a smile crept across my face, "New armor. Food that isn't chopped liver, for once. Maybe new armor enhancements."

"Enhancements, plural?" He spoke with shock, "Don't get your hopes up."

"Fine. Enhancement: singular... for now."

"Maybe you should stick to Illusionary." He suggested as I turned to look at the small add-on mounted on the wall.

"Perhaps you're right." I muttered, "Stick to what we're used to, right?" I picked up the enhancement as I searched the armor for where it had to be plugged in, "Can we still get a healing unit... and maybe-"

"Healing and Illusionary. Nothing more."

"Fine." I pouted as I brought my foot up and pulled an illuminating cube out of my sock. I raised the right arm of my armor and took some of the plating off in order to create room for the wonderful molecular compressor. Once it was good to go, I replaced it's original plate.

"Walker." Wash walked into the room, "... Why are you not in armor, yet?" I was able to imagine a cold, menacing glare behind the tinted visor of his helmet.

"I'm still working on it." I gave a chilled stare back at him.

"Well, hurry up." He sighed, "Maine tends to get impatient."

"Yet you still work with Maine." I muttered as I began plugging in the enhancements, "I swear, my expectations are low."

"Whatever gets us out of prison." He let out a slow exhale, showing off the weariness in his voice.

"Well, then," I sighed, "I'll be out in minute."


"Tell me why we weren't granted permission with a vehicle." I whined.

"We were given permission to have a vehicle," Wash sighed, irritation apparent in his voice, "Maine already took it, though, and the Chairman doesn't trust that you won't end up driving, if we had another car."

"No need to be a prick." I pouted, looking over my shoulder in order to take in the desolate scenery, "And why did Maine have to take off ahead of us?"

"Because he got impatient." He sneered, "You ended up taking too long, for his taste."

"We're not going to be able to catch up." I extended my arm toward the horizon, "Not unless we skip out on food... and sleep."

"Which is what we're doing."

"But... I love food." I looked at him, forcing a teary-eyed expression before realizing that I had my helmet on.

"And what about sleep?"

"Meh." I shrugged, "I haven't really slept in a long time. I mean, it'd be nice, but I don't think I can."

"Then we won't waste that time. Where'd you say they were, again?"

"They're at the Valhalla outpost." I sighed, "About two hours by car, and possibly two days, maybe three, by foot... Including food, of course."

"We are not stopping for food." His voice was sharp, "These are the people that got us into prison, in the first place. We both had to endure six-"

"Seven."

"... Seven months of prison bars and chopped liver." He sighed, "I'm as exhausted as you are, but-"

"But taking revenge isn't the solution to your problems." I stepped in front of the man, giving him a stern look, "You and I both know those Sim-troopers aren't the reason we ended up behind bars."

"Easy for you to say." He laughed, pushing me out of the way, "You would've been stuck there, anyways."

"Listen," I sighed, knowing my attempts would end up being futile, "I admit, I did many things worth getting me into jail... some didn't even make the cut for my trail. I was just a stupid, selfish, little brat that thought I was near invincible. The only reason I rejoined the military was because I thought I could make my amends before I actually croak... for good. I changed my identity, made sure I didn't look the same, and toned down my personality."

"Where's this going?" He looked over his shoulder to face me.

"We got out of prison." I looked up at him with pleading eyes, "We don't have to follow orders anymore. It's possible to go into hiding."

"We are following orders," He snapped, "and if you go against them, I won't be afraid to put your head on a spit."

"... Yes, Sir." I spoke in a submissive voice. I'm sure the old Agent Washington has been gone for years, by now. There's no point in try to find him.


"Stop right there." Wash shouted to Maine as the two of us walked up to the giant of a man.

"Hey there, Maine." I spoke in a false, happy tone, only getting an animalistic growl as a response, "Good to see you too." I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Stand down." Wash said in a more authoritative tone, "I'll take it from here." Maine gave off a growl as he slashed his weapon around, "I said back off."

"Better do as he says." I mutter, confidence lost from my voice, "He'll end up willing to kill you if you defy him." Maine took a step back as Wash walked toward Simmons and Donut. I looked over at the man in white armor for a moment.

"Hey, Maine?" I spoke up, getting a growl in response, "Listen, man, I have no clue as to whether or not you're still in that head of yours... and I hoping this isn't for some sort of weird 'AI Stockholm syndrome...' and I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's great to have you back." I watched Wash for a moment, tears beginning to brim my eyes as I managed to keep my voice calm, just like we learned in training, "You see, I was taken away from my family a while ago... and I doubt they're still looking for me. Freelancer is the closest I have to family left, and now there's only three of us. I... in a way, I'm just the older sister, here... and I really don't want you two getting hurt."

"Oh my God! He just shot Lopez!" Donut shouted, alarm in his voice.

"If I could, I'd stop him," My hands began to shake as I tried to suppress the trembling in my voice, "but he's just too far deep in his own pool of hate. Even I can't pull him out. Not yet, at least." I got a growl in response as I watched Donut collapse, "You say he's fine, but that's because you would've killed them for Epsilon, too. I'm the only sane one of the family, and that says something."

"Maine! New Hampshire!" Wash shouted at us, "Take the prisoner up to the base! We need him to make a phone call!"

"Yes, Sir." I say, somewhat reluctantly, as I pulled my knife away from where its mount on my shoulder.

"With haste, please!" He ordered.

"Alright, alright." I sighed, exhaustion settling over me as I placed a hand on Simmon's shoulder, knife pointed toward his back, "Just get moving."