Defection.
The Insurrectionist that York incapacitated drifts by, still sitting in his chair. Three fighter jets leaves the base. The Director and Counselor watches the base from inside inside the Mother of Invention.
"Sir, enemy fighters approaching" The Counselor said.
"Fire at will, Counselor. Let's send them back to the scrapyard" The Director ordered.
The fighter jets proceed to attack the mother of invention while it fires back and takes out a two of the three jets, but the remaining one keeps shooting. A battle was on the way.
"It appears we are now taking fire" The Counselor said, stating the obvious.
"Release the dropships, get the team in position" The Director ordered.
The Mother of Invention keeps firing and four Pelican drop ships exits of the of the last Pelican dropship, the Freelancers were getting ready for a mission they hoped would finally put an end to the Insurrectionists.
"Well, that went to hell quicker than we thought. Out of the frying pan into the shit" Their Pilot said.
"We're going to need a new insertion point. York was supposed to open the leader's hangar for us" Carolina pointed out.
York spoke over radio "It wasn't my fault!".
"We'll have to settle for the main hangar" The Pilot said.
"Which one is that?" Carolina asked.
"The one with the shooting things coming out at us" The Pilot answered as the enemy base began firing at the dropship.
"Never a dull moment, huh?" Carolina said in small humor.
"I'd get your team ready; we're gonna come in hot" The Pilot instructed.
Carolina heads to the back of the dropship where Pyrrha, Wash, CT, South, and North are putting on jetpacks.
"You heard her, we're going for the main hangar! Be ready for anything" Carolina ordered.
"So much for a smooth ride" North said.
"Heh, what's the matter, feeling sick?" South asked jokingly.
"Hey, I'm not the one who needed a barf bag on all our family trips" North reminded in good nature.
"You needed barf bags?" Pyrrha asked her friend in an amused tone.
"Shut up" South warned as they sat down.
"How are you feeling? Are you up to this?" Wash asked Carolina.
"Say what you want to say, Wash" Carolina said.
"It's just, giving up your AI was a big deal. I thought-" Wash began but was interrupted.
"I'll be fine. Worry about yourself" Carolina said sharply "But, if you insist on worrying about someone else. Keep an eye on Pyrrha. This is a big mission for someone who just recently recovered from serious injuries".
South looked at CT "You're awfully quiet".
"Oh, just... trying to prepare myself" CT said, sounding nervous.
"Hey, worst comes to worst, we'll just get kicked off the leader board. At least us ladies will be sticking together, right?" South asked but got no answer.
"Connie, if something is bothering you, then you know you can talk to us about it. I am a great listener" Pyrrha offered softly.
"Thank you Pyrrha. I will keep that in mind" CT said. But it was clear she was hiding something. But only she knew what.
The Pilot tried to get them closer but kept getting hit by enemy fire "Damn it! Opening rear bay".
The Freelancers looks out of the back of the ship which was opening. CT was the one to speak "Right, all together!".
"Use your packs sparingly. Course correction only. You don't want to end up like Georgia" Carolina ordered.
"Wait, what happened to Georgia?" Wash asked.
"Nobody knows! They never found him!" South answered.
"Don't worry Wash. I am pretty sure that will not happen to you" Pyrrha said.
"Are you sure these things are safe?" Wash asked in worry.
South "Yeah!".
Pyrrha "Pretty sure".
"Now!" Carolina orders.
The freelancers jumps out heading towards the hangar of the enemy base. Two Insurrectionists were preparing weapons in the hangar, with one holding a box of shotguns.
"Battle stations! We're under attack!" One of them said.
"No shit, we're under attack. What do you think we're doing, rolling out the red carpet?" The other one asked.
"No, assface! Look!" The first one said as he points to the outside.
The Freelancers are seen coming in except CT. Where did she go?
"Aw, hell!" The other one said as he drops a shotgun, which discharges onto the other Insurrectionist, knocking him over "Not again... Sorry about that".
He then gets shot and falls over. The freelancers comes in, with Carolina running ahead and starts to fight the Insurrectionists with a gravity hammer, and Wash heads to the control panel and began working on it to find the security override.
"Okay, where's that security override? Come on... damn it!" Wash punches the control panel out of frustration and disables the artificial gravity "Uh oh, that's not good. Hey guys? ...Things might get a little... floaty" The Insurrectionists start to float away from the ground and fire randomly into the air, some hitting other, yelling in confusion "Everyone! Enable grav-boots!".
Using their grav-boots, the Freelancers kept shooting the enemy soldiers. Pyrrha took a deep breath to calm herself and then began shooting at the floating enemies. They were practically helpless, little more than target practice now. Pyrrha wasn't to happy about shooting helpless enemies, but she kept reminding herself that she couldn't afford to feel bad for her enemies. They would not do the same for her. Carolina then comes in and with the gravity hammer knocks a warthog into a group of insurrectionists. She then pulls out her two plasma guns and jumps from warthog to warthog obliterating soldiers. She kicks a Warthog as Washington returns the gravity to normal
"Okay... okay... I got it! I got it! Oh man..." The Warthog Carolina kicked flies at Wash and he ducks "Why do cars hate me?".
Insurrectionist and Warthogs fall to the ground and Carolina drops down on one knee unharmed. Pyrrha walked out of cover but one soldier was still alive and stood up with a shotgun. He aimed it at Pyrrha and pulled the trigger. But Pyrrha used her shield to block the blast before quickly disarming him of his weapon, spun around him, grabbed his head and then snapped his neck. Once again, killing had become easier.
The team regroups with Carolina handing out orders "They know we're inside. Wash, North, secure that hallway. South, see if you can access the leader's location, we don't leave without him".
"Got it, I'm already on it!" South said as she heads of.
"CT, get me-" Carolina began until she noticed they were missing someone "Where the hell is CT?!".
Pyrrha looked around, then she remembered Wash telling her once hat CT had been talking to someone. He believed it was just a friend from her home. But their enemies knew more about them than they should... and Pyrrha had learned about the transmissions that were not allowed by The Director. If CT had been in contact with anyone then...
"No... she wouldn't" Pyrrha whispered in disbelief. CT was her friend, she wouldn't do this... she wouldn't.
CT landed on the outside of a the ship. She hops down a hole in the ship then proceed down a hallway and opens a door where many Insurrectionists are waiting.
"Intruder, get him! Open fire!" The Insurrectionists fire at CT and A hologram evaporates.
"Stand down" The Insurrectionist Leader walks forward in front of his soldiers. CT jumps down from the ceiling behind the two minor Insurrection soldiers and knocks them down, taking one of their weapons. She points an Assault Rifle at the Insurrectionist Leader. But then a blade pressed against her neck.
"Don't even think about it" It was Blake, she was here to protect her Leader.
"It's alright Blake. She's with us" The Leader said.
"Sir?" Blake asked in confusion.
"Remember when I told you I had friends on the other side? Connie has been feeding us information for months now. We can trust her" The Leader explained.
Blake hesitated before removing her blade "A Freelancer on our side. Who could've guessed?".
"I don't blame you for being surprised" CT said before looking back at the leader "You didn't wait for me to start? I'm hurt".
She tosses her rifle to the Leader who catches it "I was worried about you. Didn't think you be able to get away".
"You don't know the half of it. They stepped up production. Here" CT hands a datapad to the Leader "The ship was captured by the enemy. I'm surprised there's anything left in the data banks".
"Ha, not everybody follows protocol you should know that better than anyone" The Leader said as he walks over to a computer.
"You really think they found another artifact? How could nobody have discovered that when they were processing the wreckage?" CT asked.
"They didn't know where to look, and they didn't have what you have" The Leader answered.
"Sir, we're in position, awaiting your signal" A Soldier said.
"Is it time sir?" Blake asked.
"Oh yeah. Time for some payback. They will pay for all our good comrades that they slaughtered during their heist" The Leader declared.
Blake was looking forward to that more than she should.
Back in the hangar, Carolina and South are talking to one another. Carolina tosses her Gravity Hammer away. In the background, York screams as he hits a floating Warthog and spirals away.
"What do you mean the leader's not here?" Carolina demanded.
"Exactly what I said. His last check in is upstairs in the main deck, but his call sign just appeared in their internal frequencies. He's broadcasting from out in Bone Valley" South explained.
"Meaning he's not here?" Carolina asked.
South gave her a look "Gee, you're starting to sound like a broken record".
"That would explain the lack of enemy soldiers. If he was here, there should've been at least twice as many" Pyrrha said.
"Fine. Change of plans everyone. We're heading into the junkyard" Carolina instructed as she and the rest all file up in a line and prepare to leave "This is beginning to feel more and more like a setup".
Pyrrha kept thinking about CT. She knew CT was less... idealistic than the rest and had a rather cold personality. But she wouldn't betray them like this. The Connie she knew would never do this... she wouldn't.
Suddenly, York crash lands inside the main hangar with a jetpack on his back. The Freelancers turn their heads towards him, in response to his sudden arrival.
York drops his legs and sits up "Ugh! You would not believe the time I had getting back. It's nuts out there!".
"Let's go, people" Carolina and South take off on their jetpacks and exit the hangar.
"What? No welcome back?" York asked as North walks towards him and pats him on the back
"Alright, welcome back" North takes off on his jetpack and exits the hangar.
"Where are they off to in such a hurry?" York asked.
Wash and Pyrrha walks up and helps him up with Wash speaking "Found the leader. He's hiding out in Bone Valley".
"We're going all the way over there? After what happened to Georgia?" York asked in surprise.
"Would someone please tell me what happened to Georgia?!" Wash demanded.
"Dude, you do not want to know" York said as he takes off on his jetpack and exits the hangar, leaving Wash with Pyrrha.
"I really do though!" Wash insisted.
"Let it go Wash" Pyrrha said before taking of with her jetpack.
"But I want to know!" Wash shouts to no one.
Back with the Insurrectionists. It was not time to begin.
"Time to get out of here" The Leader and his two other Insurrectionist soldiers begin to leave. As the two soldiers continue to walk away, the Leader stops, turns around, and faces CT. He walks up to her and touches her shoulder "You too".
"I can't. Not yet" CT argued.
"If they weren't on to you before, they definitely will be now. Come with us Connie. I'm not gonna lose you over this" The Leader insisted.
"You should listen to him. If you go back to your murder friends, they will tear you apart" Blake said.
"They are not all killers" CT argued.
"I'm sure that is great comfort to all my dead friends" Blake said coldly.
"Calm down Blake. I promised you payback, and I will give it to you" The Leader said, this was enough to make Blake calm down and leave.
"All forces we are go! I repeat, we are go!" An insurrectionist said over the radio.
CT. walks away and leaves with the Insurrectionists. The Leader following her shortly after.
Back with the Freelancers, they were jet packing through space, searching for the leader. The more they looked, the more worried they became. Something was very wrong about this whole situation. CT disappearing, being unable to find the leader. This was no coincidence.
"I don't get it, everything stopped" Carolina said.
"Maybe they're retreating..." North said, but didn't sound to convinced himself.
"Nothing left out here but a bunch of junk" York said.
"They couldn't have escaped without at least somebody noticing them" Pyrrha said.
"Something is very wrong about this" Carolina mumbled.
At first it seemed liked things were calm and that they should start heading back... but then suddenly a large enemy ship emerges from hundreds of scrap metal pieces, going online, showing the reason they couldn't find it was because they had shut down their systems, allowing them to hide in the junk.
"It's a trap, they're hiding in the junkyard. Repeat, it's a trap!" Four Seven Niner shouts.
Inside the ship The Leader watched as the Mother of Invention moved in to evasive maneuvers "Fire".
The enemy ship fires at the Mother of Invention, hitting it several times. A battle between the two ships commence and Blake smiled as their ambush worked, those killers could barely even fight back. They had the upper hand this time. Those armored murder machines couldn't protect their leader this time.
"We're away sir, new course laid in. Are you sure you don't want to stay and finish this?" One of the soldiers asked.
The Leader smiled behind his helmet "Heh, I left our guests a present".
Blake smirked, knowing exactly what kind of present it was. She knew she shouldn't feel this good about killing so many. But after everything they've done to her and her friends. She just couldn't bring herself to feel any sympathy for them. They brought this on themselves, everything that happened now, was on them.
Back outside Four Seven Niner saw the present "Guys, get out of there, they've outfitted that piece of junk with nukes!".
The Mother of Invention turns into jet off postition and began to leave. The Freelancers noticed this and knew their time just got a whole lot shorter.
"Go! Go! Go!" Carolina shouts and The Freelancers increase their jet pack speed and head toward the dropship.
"Get inside now!" Their pilot souts as she opens the rear bay and all of the Freelancers, except Wash and Pyrrha, get in. As the Freelancers look out they notice Wash was still out there, while Pyrrha had almost reached them.
"Wash, what are you doing? Get in here, use your jet pack!" York shouts to him.
"I-I don't wanna end up like Georgia!" Wash cries out.
"You will end up worse than him if you don't get your ass inside!" Pyrrha said as she grabs him and used her jet back to pull him towards the pelican... but her jetpack was running low of fuel "Oh no! Carolina!".
"Hold on!" Carolina shoots her grappling hook and Pyrrha managed to grab it
"Huh? AHHH!" Wash screams as he pulled along with Pyrrha as they are slowly pulled towards the ship.
Carolina yanks the grappling hook in order to lead Wash and Pyrrha inside the Pelican. Carolina manages to pull them inside, with hitting the floor in the process. The Pelican's rear bay doors close and it jets off. The nuclear bomb slowly drifted into a piece of scrap metal. On contact it explodes and the Pelican barely managed to escape the explosion.
"Everyone okay back there?" Their Pilot asked.
"Never better, thanks for asking" York said sarcastically.
South storms up to Wash "What the fuck is wrong with you!? You nearly got yourself and Pyrrha killed!".
"I panicked! I'm sorry Pyrrha" Wash said as he looked Pyrrha was had to sit down due to exhaustion.
"It's ok Wash. What matters is that both of us made it" Pyrrha assured.
Carolina put a hand on her younger sister's shoulder "You sure you are ok?".
"I am a little rustier than I cared to admit. But I will be fine, I promise" Pyrrha said softly, putting her hand on Carolina's own.
Then the Director was heard over radio "What the hell just happened people? Tell me you accomplished your mission".
"Negative sir, their leader escaped" Carolina answered.
"Well, looks like the enemy lives to fight another day" North said in a tired tone.
"Again" South added.
"That is most unfortunate. Are all agents accounted for?" The Director asked.
The Freelancers look around. They all knew the answer to that question.
"All except CT, sir. She's gone" Carolina answered.
"Define gone, agent" The Director demanded.
Pyrrha remained silent. The Connie she knew could never do this... but now, she had a feeling she never knew Connie at all... the real CT.
.
Tell me what you think.
