Conflicts Growing.
Pyrrha had finally gotten her own A.I., a funny one called Penny. She was acting like an innocent little girl, who is still learning. Well in a way she was. A.I. or not, Penny was a young girl who still needed guidance to help her mature and learn. Pyrrha had already introduced Penny to the others, and unlike Theta, Penny wasn't nervous at all. She was quick to be friendly with everyone and asked a lot of questions. She even asked Wash why he was acting strange, and if he had a crush on her. This would make everyone burst out in to laughter... well, almost everyone. Carolina and Maine weren't there and while South was there, she wasn't that thrilled about Pyrrha getting an A.I. But Pyrrha assured South she would get her own soon. In fact, South and Wash were scheduled to receive one really soon.
Right now, Pyrrha was in the locker room with Wyoming and Maine. She was on a different side of the lockers where she could remove her armor out of sight of the two men, since she wasn't wearing much underneath.
"I don't think South likes me" Penny said in a sad tone.
"Give her some time, she always acts a little rough with people she just met. And once she gets her own A.I., I'm sure she will be more friendly" Pyrrha said as the upper part of her armor was removed, revealing her tank top before moving on to the lower parts of her armor.
"If you say so. So, when will I get to meet your sister?" Penny asked.
"As soon as I find her. She's been all over the place recently" Pyrrha said as she was fully out of her armor, revealing black panties. She walked over to her locker to grab her pants, until she heard a sound.
It was, Carolina, who enters the locker room and throws her helmet "Huh, damn it!".
Wyoming gets up and leaves as Sigma appears "Did the training session go poorly, Agent Carolina?".
"No, it went fine, just not good enough" Carolina said.
Pyrrha paused what she was doing and started to eavesdrop. Penny was about to ask what was happening but Pyrrha motioned her to be quiet.
"That is most unusual for you" Sigma said.
"Why does she even have a locker in here if she doesn't use our locker room? And what is so special about her?" Carolina demanded. And everyone knew she must be talking about Tex.
"She does seem to get special treatment, doesn't she? Strange, considering she's not the best Freelancer" Sigma said.
Gamma appears over Carolina's other shoulder "It's probably because of Omega".
"Now Gamma, we're not meant to speak about Omega. You know the rules" Sigma lightly lectured his fellow A.I.
"Well hello Gamma. Does Wyoming know you're talking to another A.I.?" Carolina asked.
"I am not talking to another A.I. We are both talking to you" Gamma answered.
Pyrrha had a feeling they were working around the rules. Since they couldn't talk directly to another A.I. They are indirectly communicating with each other by talking to Carolina. Clever... a little to clever.
"Who is Omega?" Carolina asked.
"He is one of our brothers" Sigma answered.
"He is the strongest of us" Gamma added.
"And Agent Texas has him? She uses an A.I.?" Carolina asked.
"Hmm, I don't think it's our place to say" Sigma said.
"All the top Agents have an A.I." Gamma said.
"Well, except you, Agent Carolina. You chose not to" Sigma reminded.
"That lying-!" Carolina said as she got up "This all makes sense now. I have been an idiot. She's not better than me, it's all been Omega".
Pyrrha did not like where this was going. Carolina was getting obsessed with all this.
"Omega's strength is unmatched. I don't know if anyone could beat him. At least, not alone" Gamma said.
"Hmm, no. Not alone. We are just fragments, after all. Pieces. Omega and Texas... are something else" Sigma said.
"But if we work together..." Gamma suggested.
"Together. What an interesting concept, Gamma" Sigma admitted.
"Together" Gamma said again as Maine grabs his head and growls under his breath.
"You've just given me an idea" Carolina said as she began to leave.
"I do hope you'll use it well, Agent Carolina. Ideas are some of our most potent weapons" Sigma said.
"Don't worry about me; I'll be fine" Carolina said.
"Yes, I'm sure you will be" Sigma said.
Pyrrha however was not so sure. Not even bothering to put her pants on, she rushed out of the locker room to catch up with her sister before she left. Carolina was clearly not thinking straight. She was about to make a decision she can't come back from. A decision that should never be made in her current state.
"Carolina!" She called out, making her sister stop.
"Pyrrha? What the hell are you doing?! Put some pants on!" Carolina said, not happy about Pyrrha running out in to the hallway in just her tank top and panties.
"Never mind that! I heard your little chat with Sigma and Gamma. Please, think this through. Getting an A.I. is a big deal. And not an decision to make without a clear head" Pyrrha pleaded.
"Calm down sis, my head is perfectly clear. In fact, it's never been more clear. I finally know what I must do. It feels good, to finally know the truth" Carolina said. Her tone was a little scary.
"Carolina. Everyone knows you are the best. Tex is not more special than you, no matter what The Director says. You don't have to prove yourself to anyone" Pyrrha said, she really hoped to talk some sense in to her sister.
"Maybe not to you. But this is something I need to do" Carolina said before giving Pyrrha a kiss on the forehead "Do not worry Pyrrha. Big sister will make everything right. Now get some pants on before someone takes pictures. Wouldn't want to have to kill someone for perving on my sister".
Normally a forehead kiss would make Pyrrha feel more at ease. But Carolina really has changed. Pyrrha watched her walk away before hurrying in to the locker room. Put some pants and boots on before rushing towards the training room where she knew Tex and The Director currently was.
At the training room. Tex was talking with the Counselor and Director.
"How do you feel?" The Counselor asked.
"I need to get back into the fight. These targets just aren't doing it for me" Tex answered as Carolina entered the room and the training room guard is telling her to leave.
"You have to get out. You need to go. Nobody's allowed in" The guard said.
"You'll be back in the field soon enough, Texas. For now, just focus on your training" The Counselor said.
"I'm tired of training. I need something, else" Tex said.
The Guard kept trying to get Carolina to leave "You have to go. Orders are orders, nobody's allowed in".
"Have you noticed a change in your aggression, Agent Texas?" The Counselor asked
"I don't see how that-" Tex began but was interrupted when Carolina knocks the guard down and he slides across the floor to their feet.
Carolina then approaches the trio much to the Director's surprise "Carolina. What are you doing here? The training room is off limits when we-".
"When you're with your pet? Yes, I know. I don't care. I need to talk to you" Carolina said.
"Pet?! You know Counselor, I think I am noticing a change in my aggression levels" Tex said, looking ready to strangle Carolina for her insult.
The Counselor quickly tried to defuse the situation "Everyone please just remain calm. Carolina, you can use the training room when you are next assigned".
"I want an A.I." Carolina declared.
The Director raised an eyebrow "An A.I.? What has caused this sudden change of heart?".
"It doesn't matter. I'm still at the top of the leaderboard" Carolina said.
"Not the top of the leaderboard" Tex reminded.
Carolina pokes her with her finger "And you can keep your comments to yourself. I know all about your little secret; what you really are. The next A.I. that comes up is mine".
"Fill me in, Carolina; what exactly is my secret?" Tex asked, her tone had changed. She didn't sound nearly as confidant as she normally did.
"Both of you, stand down! Alright Carolina, if you want an A.I. then you will have an A.I. In fact, you can choose: Agents Washington and South Dakota are both due for implantation today. We have two A.I., Eta and Iota, ready for field testing. Which one o' your teammates do you think you should delay? I'll leave that up to you" The Director said.
The Counselor tried to calm them down "Director-".
"No! If she thinks our decisions are so easy, then let her make one. What's it going to be, Carolina?" The Director asked.
"And whatever I choose you will do?" Carolina asked.
The Director nods "That's right!".
"Then I want them both" Carolina said.
The Counselor looked surprised "Excuse me?".
"Carolina, you cannot have them both" The Director said.
"Yes I can! These suits, wherever they came from, are designed to handle a full A.I., and as you are so fond of telling us, these are not full A.I. They are just fragments, and from what I can tell the newer ones are getting weaker all the time. So I want them both. Or, I'm sorry, is that decision too tough for you?!" Carolina asked.
The Director looked at her for a moment "Counselor, move Agents Washington and South Dakota back in the schedule, and prepare Agent Carolina for surgery".
"I think if we let cooler heads prevail, we will-" The Counselor tried to reason but was interrupted.
"If you wanted to deal with cooler heads, Counselor, perhaps you should have joined the Coast Guard. Prep her for surgery" The Director ordered.
"You won't regret this" Carolina said, happy that her father agreed to her wish.
"No Agent Carolina, I very much doubt that I will" The Director said calmly before her and The Counselor leaves.
Tex shoulders past Carolina then turns around "Hey, that was gutsy. Hope it works out for you".
"When it does, you'll be the first to know" Carolina assured..
"I look forward to it" Tex said as she began to leave but looks up at the observation room and spots Pyrrha, Penny, Maine, Sigma, Wyoming, and Gamma looking down at her, before proceeding to leave. Sigma watches her closely from above.
"I don't know why. But I don't see anything good coming from this" Penny admitted.
"On that, Penny, we are in full agreement" Pyrrha said.
"Do not worry, sister. I am sure everything will be just fine" Sigma assured. But despite his lack of emotions, Pyrrha could feel a sinister intention coming from him. She did not trust Sigma at all.
But right now, Pyrrha was more worried about the consequences of Carolina's choice. Two A.I.'s already sounded like a dangerous thing. But when the other freelancers finds out about this, there is bound to be more than just some annoyed opinions. Pyrrha was sure than Wash wouldn't be to upset, given he's been on the fence about A.I.'s for a while now... but South was different matter entirely. She was already dangerously aggressive, and finding out that Carolina had all but taken her A.I. from her... there is no way she would take that well. And Pyrrha was completely right about that.
Not long after the news spread, Pyrrha, York, Was, North, and South whera gathered in the Freelancer locker room.
South paces around angrily "What?! This is bullshit!".
"South, calm down!" North said, trying to calm down his angry sister.
"Calm down?! That's easy for you to say; you already have an A.I. Who the fuck is she to take away our place?!" South demanded.
"Our turn will come. They've already put me back on the list for..." Wash began but South approaches him, forcing him down on a bench.
"What?! Ugh!" South kicks over the bench to Wash in frustration.
York looks at Wash "You ever notice every time you open your mouth you make things worse?".
Wash looks down "Sorry...".
"And two A.I.?! Why is she so special!? What's so special about either of them?!" Enraged, South punches Texas' locker open, causing the nametag to fall off.
"South I get it you are mad! But you need to..." Pyrrha began but trails of.
"What!?" South demanded before a voice was heard.
"Pick it up" Tex was standing behind South and when she turned around, Tex got right in her face.
"What're you doing in here? You never come in here" York said.
"I've come for Carolina" Tex said before she turns back to South "Pick it up".
The two angrily glare at each other for a brief moment before South picks up a half of the nametag that reads Tex. She shoves it towards Tex's chest and walks out of the room, angrily punching a wall on her way out.
"I...I should probably uh...I better go" North stands up and quickly leaves.
"Where is she?" Tex demanded
"Look, Texas, I don't know if you're looking for a fight, or whatever it is you want, but now is not the time. Carolina just went into surgery. We don't know when she'll be out so we're headed over to recovery to wait for her" As York is speaking, Tex walks over to her locker and finds a dog tag. She picks it up and briefly stares at it as York and Wash walk up behind her.
"Yeah, Recovery One" Wash said.
"Maybe you should come with us" York suggested. There is a brief pause as Tex continues to look at the dog tag "Let's go. You coming, Texas?".
"Yeah, go on York, I'm right behind you" Tex said.
York and Wash leave as Tex watches them go. She looks at the dog tag one last time and pockets it inside her armor, then closes the locker door. She then noticed Pyrrha had not left.
"Aren't you going to check on your sister?" Tex asked.
"Cut the shit, Tex. I am sick of it. What the hell is going on between you and Carolina? Why are you two so obsessed with pushing each other down?" Pyrrha demanded.
"Don't ask me kid. Carolina doesn't bother me nearly as much as I seem to bother her... at least not until recently. She has been a real annoyance lately. Once she gets her A.I.'s, I think it's time I finally put her in her place" Tex declared "Besides, she always wanted to fight me on equal grounds. So this is a win win".
But suddenly, much to Tex's surprise, Pyrrha slammed her against the locker "Listen carefully Tex. I don't give a fuck if you are higher ranked than me. And I couldn't care less if you are better than everyone else. But I swear, if you even think about destroying the only family I have left. I. Will. Kill you!".
Penny suddenly appeared "Pyrrha, you aggression is at a dangerous level. I recommend that you calm down".
"I will!" Pyrrha said angrily before looking at Tex "Have I made myself clear?".
"Crystal" Tex said calmly.
Pyrrha lets go of her and leaves. Tex watched her leave. Looks like Carolina isn't the only sister who has changed. And not at all for the better.
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Tell me what you think.
