Chapter 11 Hate and Trust
Today was Agent Missouri's lucky day. He was asked to test out an A.I. fragment and if it Connects and works well with him, Missouri shall be permitted to use it in the already has an A.I. chip in his head, so all is left to inject the fragment into it.
A doctor approaches the agent while holding a device that Missouri assumes is used to inject A.I. into the agents' chip, but Missouri does not know for sure, or care to check.
"Agent Missouri this might sting a bit." Missouri appreciate the docs worry and said in response,
"It's okay doc just put the little guy in my head.'' Missouri closes his eyes so all he sees is blackness.
Missouri felt the sting and forming from purplish blue flames a figure stood in the blackness before him. The figure was wearing mark five armor which was an older brand than the common armor found in Project Freelancer, in fact this one looks like the ones spartans would have worn on the planet Reach. It was a black color with a glow matching the flames surrounding it. The only other color beside black and purplish blue was it's crimson visor that had this angry feel to it, like the wrath of a million people all in one physical being.
"Hello Agent Missouri." The voice of the A.I. was eerily similar to Noble Six's own voice, But was more cold, lifeless sending chills down Missouri's spine, "hello… It's nice to meet you." The fragment looked around in the void of Missouri's mindscape and didn't even respond to Missouri's attempt at welcoming him flames like the avatar of the A.I. was covered in, These flames set a foot or two away from the fragment taking the shape of a the flaming sphere were images that Missouri recognized, those were moments in his life, the A.I. was skimming through his entire life while saying,
"I appreciate that you think it's nice to meet me.
You would probably be saying a different tune if you knew what my mission is, the purpose of my existence."
Missouri's head was starting to hurt, this A.I. was speaking in riddles to him, "What mission are you talking about?"
The A.I. did a simple hand gesture causing the flaming sphere to dissipate as he turned to face Missouri with his crimson visor, "I am a being forged by hate. Taking the form of the person that the whole hated most in existence. Thus I hate all things. I hate you for being the human they try in a vain attempt to tame me like some kind of dog. I hate the one who caused me to come into being, and the one who orchestrated it." Missouri felt his mind being drained- no that's not right, it was being deleted!? He tried to open his eyes but could not, "Don't struggle. It makes the process of deconstructing your mind less painful. Be honored you are one of the earliest to join the void. The same one I intend to bring all of life into."
Missouri was gone leaving only the fragment of hate inside the corpse, while to the outside world mere seconds have passed and Missouri hasn't moved an inch or opened his eyes.
Counselor and the Director were watching this through a one way window to see if Missouri could tame the rogue fragment of the Alpha's hate, "I think Director Missouri will be the one to finally tame that… thing." Leonard agrees with his partner in crime but he still has very little faith in the agent.
The doctor who injected the cause for the death of Missouri was trying in vain to wake up the freelancer agent. Attempting one last time to wake up the agent, the doctor got from Missouri a hand ripping through his throat gripping his vocal cords. Blood was shooting out like they were in a slasher movie that had a very high budget for blood as it covered the floor and the agent's face and armor in the red substance. Missouri finally ripped out the vocal cords of the doctor letting him fall to the floor dead as he rose to his feet.
Facing the one way glass window the A.I. who was driving the body said to the Director, "I know you're watching Leonard." Director along with the Counselor recognized the voice and it wasn't Missouri's, "My existence is your ultimate sin, Director. You formed in Alpha's mind Spartan b312 is a monster, a heartless killing machine. You could never have imagined that the fragment of Hate would have taken on the form and persona of the man who took the one you love most in this universe from you. I find that really amusing,"
The Director triggered a security measure to remove all the air inside the room so if this fragment of hate took over the human body, they could kill it so he was just a sitting duck for removal, "Still won't destroy me? Who really is the monster here?" The Fragment pointed out before the body collapsed and finally died due to lack of air pumping through its lungs. The director walked off still angry at what the A.I. said,
"I'll get some other doctors to go and clean the mess and remove Rho from Missouri's head." Director heard but did not say anything back to the Counselor. They head to the training room as they have to put a new duo of a fragment and an agent through a test.
Meanwhile in the viewing room for the training room we see North showing off something to both Six, Wash and York, the four remain in silence until, "I expected it to be… bigger." York looked at Wash who spoke earlier, "Why? You've seen mine. It's small too."
Six comments to himself as he leans against the wall keeping some distance since each fragment has this almost ptsd reaction when looking at the spartan, this one being the most shy of them all might have a heart attack… Can a fragment have a heart attack?"There's nothing small about mine though." The others ignore Six's comment about having a big dick which the rest did not doubt. Wash says to agent York,"Yeah but he's green." leaving the gold and silver agent flabbergasted, "I-how does that even make sense?" North looked at Wash and asked, "Hey Wash? Quit staring. You're making the little guy nervous." Wash spoke some more, "Yeah it's just… they are so small."
"Size matters not. especially when you're just around to support others." Six said with North adding on at the end with, "Besides Wash you are going to have to get used to it, you'll be getting one sooner or later." South finally arrived who was totally not jealous of her brother for getting a fragment before her, "Ugh. Give me a break."
North glanced down and said, "It's alright Theta. Come on out." hiding behind one of North's legs was a pink and purplish glowing hologram that looked childlike with large hands, "People just wanna say hello to you." Theta looks at York and Wash and says to North, "I dunno. There's so many of them. They're so… big."Wash crouches down to get a closer look at Theta while saying to the rest, "You see? I'm not the only one who thinks size is important." York says, "I'm just gonna let that one go."
North tries to reassure his new A.I. partner, "It's okay Theta. They are all friends of mine. For reasons beyond my comprehension." Theta appears floating at level with North's head, "They're looking at me." North, trying to keep Theta's nervousness levels from spiking, said to his little guy, "That is because they want to meet you. This is Wash and York." Washington tried to greet the fragment as friendly as possible, "Hey there little… computer…. Dude."
York shook his head at the youngest agent present, "Give it a rest, Wash." North then turned to Six gesturing to the spartan three, "That's Six our teacher and-" Theta when he noticed Noble Six freaked out, that's putting it lightly in hindsight. Theta fell over and began crawling behind North's head, all the while glitching out turning into a familiar blue to the Ghost of Reach, "Theta what's wrong?" North worried for his little guy.
Theta said, sounding like he was crying, "Don't let him get me." Theta was sobbing as North tried to comfort his A.I. partner. Six moved past South and leaned against the other side of the wall so Theta could not see him. South asked, "It seems kids are terrified of you. Like you're the boogeyman." Six reply back in a serious tone, "I'm the one even he fears." referring to the boogeyman which South rolled her eyes from her perspective and edgy comment by the spartan three.
York had an idea to help Theta to open up more and forget about Six, "Theta, I have a friend just like you. His name is Delta." This piqued the fragment's child like curiosity, "Really?" York nodded, "Yeah! Hey wanna say hello to him?" North looks at his friend nervously, "Um… York?" Yorks turns to his purple and green friend and says, "It's okay man. Just for a few seconds." reassuring him before he calls out Delta. Delta appears and looks at the shy A.I. fragment and said in his calm polite tone, "Hello Theta. I am Delta. It's nice to meet you." Theta was still nervous but having a sibling present was helping him relax, "Hello."
North trying to encourage Theta to socialize more in the future says, "See? Everyone here is nice. Isn't that right, Delta?" "Agent North. I do not feel qualified to make a judgement about humans whom I have only limited experience with. Also, nice is a rather subjective term and I would not use it for-" "Delta." York tries to wheel Delta back in before he gets lost over explaining the subject at hand, "Oh yes. Everyone here is… nice. Within standard acceptable deviations." York yelled at Delta but the rest moved on with North introducing his sister to Theta,
"Lastly there is my sister over there, South. We're twins." though North was clearly the older mentally of the two, "I have a sister." Wash was surprised by this comment by Theta, Noble Six on the other hand was well aware of an A.I. that was of a female sex was given to agentGeorgia before he was lost in the void of space, "We have many siblings."
"What do you mean by Sib-" Wash was cut off by the Director himself who entered the room with the Counselor, "Hello everyone. I hope you are ready to begin our test." All the agents got in line standing at attention, however Six remained out of sight listening to what mister douchebag will say next, "Delta I believe you know very well the protocol about communicating directly with other A.I. units."
"My apologies, sir. I will log off." before the green fragment could, the Director said, "Don't. I want you to help in administering the test. Gentlemen. If you will take the floor." speaking directly to North and Theta at the end. Theta reappeared in front of North so the two can talk face to face, "Okay. Just like we practiced." Theta asked, "Are they all going to watch… Even the monster?" Theta's tone got nervous and scared at the end. North Dakota figured this "monster" Theta was talking about is Six and said,
"Yes but don't worry. I promise he would never do any harm to you. Anyway, let's show them you are as good as I told them." "Thanks. I'll do my best." North gave a nod of approval and said, "That's the spirit. C'mon let's do this." as the two head down into the training room passing by Six who rejoins the rest of the group and sees the Director talking to Delta,
"Delta. I expect you to follow protocol twenty four seven." Delta says in defense of his action, "We were only attempting to make the new unit more comfortable." York chiming in with, "It's my fault, sir. I asked him to do it. New kid seems kinda shy."
Counselor says to the gold and silver agent, "Agent North was paired with Theta for a reason. His nurturing nature is more suited to care for Theta's unique personality." Six also says, "North is used to looking for people, isn't he?" York agreed with Counselor saying in response, "Quite. Delta your skills are more on the analytical side in nature."
"If I may disagree. Theta has made double the number of declarative sentences since my appearance. That indicates a one hundred percent increase in confidence for Theta. Since we modified our interaction strategy, I think that should speak volumes to my caring algorithms." Six thinks Delta is stretching an anthill into a mountain but the spartan seems to be alone in that train of thought with Counselor saying to the green A.I. fragment, "You make an excellent point, Delta. Let's begin the test."
The rest got closer to the window so they could view the test that's about to play out. Agent North Dakota got into the dead center of the training room ready to get this test going, Suddenly turrets pop out from one of the ring parts of the floor surrounding the agent.
Theta acted quickly activating the bubble shield as the Counselor said viewing this play out, "As we may recall, Agent North used his equipment in the field on a previous mission."
Delta going more into detail, "He was able to successfully maintain a deflective shield for three point four seconds in order to block an explosive projectile attack." The Director says, "And he somehow manages not to kill himself in the process." Delta takes the mic once more, "The maneuver only had zero point 1 percent chance of success. If North had to perform that same maneuver nine hundred and ninety nine more times, I'm rather certain that he would have been obliterated on each following attempt."
"Hey, I would rather be lucky than good any day." York said to his A.I pal with Wash chiming in with, "You usually are York." Director says, "Luck will only take one so far. I am in the business of getting results." Six sliding in with, "I don't know doc luck has served Chief well, why not we try that?" Director looked at six with an annoyed look that got a grin on the spartan's face. Director focused on the test at hand, "Let's see what Theta can do. Delta. Reduce Agent North's shield strength by fifty percent." Delta did as he was told by mister Director himself.
North noticed the bubble shield's strength had been weakened and had to think of something quick before being hit by a barrage of fake pilots. At Least he hopes they are fake, "Power dropping! Theta uses your remaining power to compensate for critical tiles."North Dakota is trying to not panic so Theta doesn't panic by proxy"Okay!" Shield was replaced by walls of three hexagons to block the stream of bullets from the turrets.
Director trying to add more to this test, "Add in variables." Delta acknowledged and the turret's started to move along the rail they were on, then the railing started to rise up going over North's head. Theta being an absolute g kept the shields in places to protect North from the shots fired from the moving turrets,
"Great job Theta!" North attempts to cheer on his little buddy but Theta responds with, "Stop talking to me! You will mess me up." Theta did appreciate the approval from North Dakota, "Right. Sorry." Noble Six and the Director were happy by Theta's performance as the head of Project Freelancer said to Delta, "Reset."
The emerald fragment returns the training room to what it was at the start of the test, the Director talks to North and Theta, "Agent North. Your objective now is to eliminate all turrets. Begin." turrets pop open from the floor and begin to unload on agent North but Theta once again activates the bubble shield armor enhancement.
Wash commented about what's going on in the training room, "I thought the bubble shield works both ways.
So there is no way for North to fire back." Six said to Wash, "That's the riddle for North and Theta to solve." North had an idea but first, "Theta! analyse the turrets' rate of fire. Adjust the shields to match." Theta nodded, "Okay. Done." North aims his sniper rifle as he says to his fragment A.I. partner, "Firing, on my mark." Theta said ready so North shouted, "NOW!" North fire's a round from his sniper rifle taking out the turrets one by one until, "All targets, eliminated." Delta said followed by the Director saying, "Test complete! Excellent work!"
"Wow! That was incredible." Wash said hyped up by North's performance and was not alone in this, "Hah! Yeah, what did I tell you?"York shouted as well on the hype train, the only agent not aboard it was South Dakota. Six could see the jealousy flowing through her veins as she walked off leaving the room. Six glanced at the Director and asked, "Not sure it was wise to give North an A.I. and leave South hanging." Six thought she was skillful enough to earn the use of an A.I. It could possibly balance out her hot headedness.
Director responded with, "That is none of your concern." with Six retorting, "It is more or less and since you like to pretend you know what you're talking about I thought I would try the same thing." Counselor trying to keep a fight between the two, "We lack a fragment that would fit well with South's personality." Six accepted it but not knowing the Director purposely did this to see what would happen if one twin got an A.I. and the other didn't. Six left the room as he needed to change since he got a place to be and needed to look less important.
When Six arrived in the hangar he saw Niner who was leaning against her Pelican, "What took you so long?" She asked of the spartan seeing him in a Project Freelancer hoodie and blue jeans. The Spartan finally explains his reason for being late, "I had to stay to view a test of Agent North and his A.I. partner Theta."
Niner understood and let him hop in as they head off to a destination Niner suggested that would be a win for both of them, but for different reasons. Niner wanted to visit someone and where he was would be a place far away from eyes and ears of the project, exactly what Six asked of the pilot.
To pass time on the flight to the destination, Six decided to ask the question of the hour, "So where are we going?"
Niner explains, knowing the spartan three is not going to be happy about it, "We are going to the planet Sheldron, namely Cobalt high." Six put on "are you serious?" face onto his normally stone cold one, "So your best suggestion, was a fucking high school?!" Niner sighs out of frustration at the modified dick head, "Give me a break just be glad I helped you at all." Six could not argue with that as the two remained silent for the rest of the flight.
When they finally arrive at their destination, Six already can tell this high school was a cheap beer left out to get warm and was left open the whole time. It was a tiny school more fitting to be called a middle school than high school, the sides were painted with graffiti if the moss hadn't taken it already. Six glanced at Niner for directions since the less time in that disgusting school the better. Niner did not blame him as she said to the spartan three, "Head through the front door, take a left. There should be signs that will guide you the rest of the way." Six walked to the front door not saying anything to the pilot, "your welcome." Niner mumbled to herself as she turned around facing a large building that is where students not living locally can stay for the school semesters.
Niner headed inside the building and the dumb A.I. at the desk asked, "Welcome, state your reason for being here." Niner pulls out a card, "I'm here to visit my brother." The dumb A.I. scan the card to make sure it was the real deal, once it was checked it opened the door to let her go down the hall towards the elevator to reach the fourth floor and head to room forty one. When she reached her destination, Four Seven Niner knocked on the door and heard her brother running to the door and proceeded to open it so fast he was lucky it did break apart from the force.
"SIS!" Caboose shouted, grasping Four Seven Niner into a bear hug which she appreciated from her little bro, the pain along with it not so much, "Hey michael. Can you let me go." Caboose loosened his hug, placing her down gently since he was taller than her, "Okay want to come in?" Niner looked at Caboose's face seeing his spiked up blond hair he got from his dad but not Niner's, with his blue eyes filled with joy seeing her after so long, "I would love to." She heads into Caboose's room, closing the door so the two can have a private brother and sister moment.
Returning to Six he found the library and like the rest of the school it was tiny, but thankfully they had computers, namely two. The spartan sat down in the chair before one and booted it up before plugging the thumb drive in, preparing to plunder it for it's knowledge. Sadly for the Ghost of Reach not much info on Project Freelancer as he was hoping, however other info piqued his curiosity,
Six learned that Charon industries had kidnapped an alien of the Covenant, an Engineer to be more specific. Six guesses that the thing is within the sarcophagus, but why would the Director need one? The other thing was a pyramid weapon in a desert among the many planets that humanity colonized. Six wonders what's with ancient aliens and having structured weapons? First rings now pyramids? What is next, the square of despair? Nathan pulled out the thumb drive while turning off the computer before heading out to wait for Niner to be done talking to who ever was dumb enough to go to a school like this.
Back with Four Seven Niner we catch the brother and sister chatting, "Karen think's she'll beat me at not talking to the other game but I'm good at not talking to people." Niner chuckles knowing Micheal was bad at letting people have personal space away from him, "I see. Anyway Micheal, I have to go now." as she got up and headed to the door but Caboose also rose to his feet, "Can I see you off?" Niner could not shoot down his excitement and said, "Sure."
Niner left followed closely by Micheal as the two headed down stairs and exited the stood there noticing the blond head with Niner and his guesses were either Niner's brother, or her younger boyfriend."Hey Six this is my brother Micheal, Micheal Six is someone I work with at my job." Caboose looked at the spartan three with wonder,
"You're Six. Wow, my sister talks alot about you. Don't let her know I told you this but she likes you alot." Six had to do a small double take, and avoid laughing at what Caboose said and Niner's face when those words escaped her brother's lips, "Micheal, Noble Six is a pain in my ass. I don't have romantic feelings for him." This confuses the blond-haired boy, "But last time you talked about how much he made you feel appreciated by him and also how yo-"
"Enough. Micheal we are heading out. I'll miss you." Niner hugs her brother to say goodbye and alos silence him before he embarrasses her more in front of her crush, "Okay. goodbye. Also Goodbye six. I hope one day we meet again and become good friends." Six said, "Sure." but he highly doubts it, Six would never allow himself to be surrounded by idiots for more than five minutes.