The First Kill.
Sometime had passed and it was now time for the next major mission. In the debriefing room, the Director was standing alone, talking to something called Alpha.
"Okay! Well, I just ran everything again. All calculations are up to date, taking into account standard delays for communication and response time. Our window looks good!" Alpha said.
"I agree" The Director said.
"Well, you should...I'm sure you'd make the same calculations I did. Just, you know...more slowly" Alpha teased.
The Director looked slightly annoyed "Arrogance is a rather unbecoming trait, Alpha".
"Are you...seriously giving me a lecture on arrogance right now? Pfft. Heads up, you've got a visitor" Alpha said.
Carolina appears behind the Director "Director?".
"Log off" The Director ordered.
"Yeah, yeah. Way ahead of ya, bud" Alpha said before going silent.
The Director turns around "Yes, Agent Carolina?".
"The team is ready, sir" Carolina said.
"Excellent. Let us begin" The Director said as he approaches a holographic screen where several Freelancers and soldiers are waiting "Agents! Your mission today is by far the most important you have undertaken to date. As our Number One, Carolina will be leading from the field".
Carolina takes her position at the front of the screen. She presses a few buttons that activates a holographic sphere onto the screen "Okay, here's what we have. As you may have heard, there is suspected Insurrection activity in this area. Our intel says that members of the UNSC loyal to the Insurrection have acquired a high-level asset and are holding it in this secure location. It's a hundred and ten-story building in the middle of an urban environment".
"What does security look like?" Wyoming asked.
"They have enough troops to fill a hundred and ten story building" Carolina answered.
"So, that's a lot of security" Wyoming said.
"Enough to hold of a small army" Pyrrha added.
"We're up to it" Carolina said as a red line cuts through the tallest building and forms a dot at a specific point inside "Our job is to infiltrate the building, work our way up to the floor where the Sarcophagus is being held, and secure it".
"The Sarcophagus?" North asked.
"That is what we are calling the primary objective" The Director answered.
"But since this is a high-level asset, we need to access a key code to open the Sarcophagus" Carolina said.
"I'm guessing they don't keep that just taped to the side" Wash assumed.
"If only it was that easy" Pyrrha said.
"It's held by an official of the program who will be moving in a vehicle along the freeway between inspections. That's when we'll hit the facility. We need to acquire targets within minutes of each other. We fail that, the remaining target will enter lockdown and we miss our window" Carolina explained.
"We will not have another chance at this" The Director clarified, making sure everyone understood just how important this mission was.
"So that means two teams" Wash said.
"Two teams. Team A will consist of me, Wash, Pyrrha, and Maine. We will work infiltration on the Package's storage facility. York is still in the infirmary, so Wash, you will have to pull off picking duty" Carolina explained.
"Um...okay. Guess I'll re-read my field manual on the transport" Wash said.
But then the door slides open and York enters "Hey, don't be so quick to give away my job".
"York?" Wash asked surprised.
"What are you doing here?" Pyrrha asked.
"I thought you were in the hospital" Carolina pointed out.
"According to their records, I am" York said.
"How's your eye?" Carolina asked.
"It's okay. Docs will let me out tomorrow" Wash said.
"Tomorrow, huh?" Wash said, sound slightly amused.
"Seems like you gave yourself an early discharge" Pyrrha said.
York walks towards the Hologram table "Look, I couldn't let you guys have all the fun without me. Besides, you need someone to get you in".
Wash looked at Carolina "Listen, I'm happy to see him too, but this mission...I don't know...".
"Yeah, he was badly hurt" Pyrrh agreed.
"Hey, if York says he's good, then he's good" Carolina assured.
"If you say so, sis" Pyrrha said, still not to sure.
"It's your call, boss" Wash said.
Carolina approaches York and spoke quietly "You're good, right?".
York looked at her "Okay, look, I said I was okay. Good might be oversettling it a little—".
"It's settled, then. York will join Team A and get them in the facility" The Director interrupted.
"Thank you, sir" York said..
"Transport will be two lightly-equipped Pelican dropships" Carolina continued to explain.
"We're rigged for fast running only, people. No heavy armaments" The Team Pilot said.
"Team B will be North, Wyoming, and C.T. You will act as recon for Team A, and once we enter the building, you will disengage to attack the target on the freeway. North will lead Team B" Carolina said.
"What about Agent South?" CT asked.
"Agent South will not be accompanying you on this mission" The Director answered coldly.
Pyrrha silently gulped. She knew South would be beyond pissed about this. Seems her mistake in the last mission was enough to the Director to not trust her with a mission this important.
"Hmm, guess the world's a tough place when you move down a rank. And where's our new recruit? Will she be joining us?" CT asked.
"That's enough questions, Connecticut" The Director declared sharply.
CT looked at Wash "Notice he didn't say no...".
"Team B should be simple. Stop the vehicle and grab the case. Team A? You have more of a challenge. Mainly if the Sarcophagus is an unknown" Carolina said.
"How unknown are we talking?" Wash asked.
"Unknown in that we don't know its size, or its weight, or its dimensions. We just know it will have these markings somewhere on the exterior" Carolina presses a few buttons and a large red insignia appears above the screen.
"I saw those same markings on the oil platform" North remembered.
"Correct. That facility created the primary objective" The Director confirmed.
"Do we know what's inside it?" Wash asked.
"Yes, we know" The Director answered.
"How do we know what's in it, but not how big it is?" CT asked only for The Director to turn to her silently, as if to warn her about asking more questions "Sorry, sir".
Pyrrha eyed CT for a moment 'Why does she keep questioning him like that when she knows it could anger him?'.
"We have a job to do, people. Let's do it right and come home safe" Carolina ordered.
"That is all. You are dismissed!" The Director declared.
Everyone in the room stands to attention "Yes, sir!".
Everyone moves out. But Pyrrha stopped when the Director called out to her "Agent Greece. This will be your last chance. If this mission fails because of your refusal to use lethal force, your freelancer days will be over".
Pyrrha clenched her fist for a moment before taking a breath "Understood... sir".
With that she follows the rest. As they get ready to leave, they had to break the news to South, who of course was not happy about the whole thing. South watches the Freelancer teams board the Pelican. North hesitates for a moment but follows the others wordlessly. But Pyrrha stopped in front of South for a moment.
"For what it's worth... I think you deserve to be on this mission more than I do" She said.
"I don't need your pity, Pyrrha" South said coldly.
"It's not pity South! I care about you!" Pyrrha argued.
"All you need to care about right now is to not fail. Unless you want to be kicked out and leave me behind" South said as she got in Pyrrha's face "As your friend, I am ordering you to forget about your childish morals and kill any mother fucker in your way. I am not losing the only real friend I have because you are to soft. Got it?".
"I... I got it" Pyrrha said. South nods and then leaves.
Pyrrha watched her for a moment before Carolina called out "Come on Pyrrha, it's time to go".
"Coming" Pyrrha said as she joins the rest. This mission would decide if she was a worthy soldier, or a liability.
Later, they arrived at their destination and North spoke over the com "Team A, you look clear. Window is open. Start your clocks. On my mark. Mark".
"Sync. Roger that. Team A is moving" Carolina replied
"Copy that Carolina. Good luck Team A" North said.
"Thanks. We won't need it" Carolina said as they moved inside.
Carolina, York, Wash and Maine dealt with the guards as Pyrrha kept a look out for more. There was one Guard left, but before the 3 men could make a move, Carolina stopped them.
"Alright Pyrrha, this one is yours" Carolina whispered.
Pyrrha looked surprised "What?".
"Pyrrha, if you fail to use lethal force on this mission, you will no longer be a Freelancer. I can not allow that to happen. This is the moment you prove The Director wrong. Time to prove you are a soldier. Kill him, now" Carolina ordered.
Pyrrha was silent for a moment before taking out her battle knife and began sneaking towards the unsuspected guard. Her teammates watched her as she got closer.
"You sure about this?" Wash whispered in clear concern.
Carolina sighed sadly "It's the only way. I am not letting my sister get kicked out. I... We all need her".
The others said nothing as Pyrrha reached the guard and got ready to stab him. She hesitated for a moment, allowing the guard to sense something was behind him. He turned around and gasped in surprise.
"What the! Who are-" Before he could finish Pyrrha stabbed him through the heart.
Blood seeped through the Guard's mask as he coughed for a bit until is body went limp. Pyrrha pulled out her knife and the dead body fell to the floor. Pyrrha looked at herself, her hands shaking, and she felt sick to her stomach. Carolina walked up to her and took her hand in to her own.
"The first kill is always the hardest" She said softly.
"How... How do you do this?" Pyrrha asked sneakingly.
Carolina put a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder "Killing is something you never get used to, Pyrrha. And there is nothing wrong with having morals. But while you are in the field, you need to close your heart. Ignore the blood and ignore the enemy's begging. Do not feel remorse for them, they will not feel any for you. OK?".
Pyrrha took a deep breath and nodded "Alright... I can do this. Let us hurry, we still have a mission to complete".
Carolina nods and moves on. Maine walked up to Pyrrha and put a hand on her shoulder, giving her a reassuring nod. Pyrrha put her hand on his, letting him know she will be alright and they continued on. Pyrrha was still shaken but she would need to keep herself under control long enough to complete the mission. She could not fail. She didn't want to be kicked out and lose contact with the only family she has.
They moved up to a lock door with Carolina speaking "We're in. York, get up here. How long to crack that lock?".
"Should take about 60 seconds. You can give me 15" York said as he began working "Wow, it's a holographic. That's high-end".
"Can you get through it?" Carolina asked.
"Of course I can. You didn't bring me along for my good looks, did you? Whoever designed this is a genius" York said, and then an alarm sounds.
"You were saying?" Carolina asked.
"Ok, I take it back, whoever designed this is an asshole. There" York successfully picks the lock, opening the doors to the Vault "Everybody in".
"Thanks York, but do something about that alarm system. We don't need anymore surprises" Carolina said.
"Does saying sorry count as something?" York asked and Carolina gives him a glare "Hmm. Guess not".
"We'll secure the package. Set some trackers, then find us a way out of this" Carolina ordered.
"Moving" York turns to leave but stops and looks at Pyrrha "You're good?".
"Good might be oversettling it a little. But I'll manage" Pyrrha assured.
"If you say so. Good luck" York said before leaving.
Pyrrha took a deep breath to calm her aching nerves and rejoined the others. Her hands where no longer clean... She had finally made her first kill... the first of many... this is what it felt like to be a real soldier... Pyrrha knew she would never be the same again after this.
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Shorter chapter to focus on Pyrrha overcoming her moral barrier. She has taken her first life, and now there is no going back.
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Tell me what you think.
