An Impossible Choice.
Tex is walking into the Freelancer classroom, holding the dog tag she found in her locker. She walks up to one of the desk's and plugs in the data unit on the dog tag.
A prerecorded message from C.T. appears on the screen "Agent Texas... Allison. If you're reading this, then that means I escaped. Or, well at the very least, I'm probably not around anymore".
Meanwhile, Wash lying on an operating table as his implantation of Epsilon is prepared. The Counselor and the Director is standing by his side, along with equipment and several doctors.
Back with Tex, she was still listening to C.T.'s message "I wanted to leave behind all the data I've been collecting about Project Freelancer. I never could shake the feeling that something was wrong the program; the secrets, the lies, the manipulation. Smoke. All of it. Obscuring a big damn fire. I did some digging, and now I know what the Director has been hiding. What he did. He broke the law, Allison. The one law they don't just slap you on the wrist for. I'm taking the originals with me as an insurance policy. I leave this copy for you not because you are the best solider in the squad, but because I know that I can trust you the most. After reading these files you will understand why. Good luck. Your friend, Connie".
The message ends and new files appear on the screen containing all the data that C.T. collected: "AI Experimentation"; "Mission Logs"; "Personnel Files"; "Financials"; and "Video Surveillance". Tex opens the "AI Experimentation" file. A description of the Alpha AI appears on screen first. She scrolls to the next AI, Beta, but the file is password protected. She continues scrolling through the rest of the AI files along with the emotions each AI stems from: Omega (Rage/Anger), Gamma (Deceit), Delta (Logic), Theta (Trust), and Sigma (Ambition/Creativity). She then begins to scroll through a range of other available emotions. Tex keeps searching through A.I. files. She scrolls back to the password protected "Beta" A.I. file. Tex correctly enters the word "ALLISON" in the password box, resulting in the log of the Beta A.I. and various images of Allison to appear on screen.
As she was doing all this. Wash's implant attempt suddenly lead him to start screaming in panic, forcing the doctors to get him under control before he hurts himself or others... for the first time in who knows how long. The AI implant was a failure. Wash is eventually sedated and sent to Recovery. But this failed implant would lead to big consequences.
Tex reads over the Beta A.I. profile. She then examines an image of Allison. She raises her fist and clenches it. Now she knows... she knows everything. Why she was the best, why The Director favored her above all else... why Connie called her a shadow. It all made sense to her now... She wasn't real... The real Allison was long dead... She was just an attempt to bring her back... and from the looks of it... She was a failed attempt. And just like that, whatever loyalty she still had for Project Freelancer... was gone.
And now that she knew the truth, there was a certain someone she wanted to talk to. One of the only people she could talk to about this.
Meanwhile, Pyrrha was spending time with South. But, this wasn't like they normal friendly hang outs they normally had. South had changed. She was nothing like the woman Pyrrha became best friends with. She just showed up at Pyrrha's room, and when Pyrrha allowed her inside... South just began making out with her. South had teased Pyrrha a lot in the past, even given her playful spanks. But Pyrrha always believed South was simply messing around and was just having fun. And while Pyrrha did have some suspicions that South had different feelings for her, she never expected this.
Right now, both where sitting on Pyrrha's bed, both dressed in simple clothing. Pyrrha was sitting between South's legs with her back facing her. South was hugging Pyrrha from behind with one arm, while using her free hand to hold Pyrrha's hand. South looked really happy, while Pyrrha was really worried.
"It feels so good to finally have you all to myself, Pyrrha. I've wanted this ever since I first laid eye on you" South said as she smells Pyrrha's hair "You smell like a flower, fitting. Isn't this nice, Pyrrha?".
Pyrrha said nothing. She just didn't know how to feel about this. Sure she always cared about South, but she only saw her as a friend, her best friend. Pyrrha had nothing against same gender romance, she just never spent much time thinking about romance at all. She was always busy with trying to keep up with Carolina... though after what's been happening, she's not sure if she can keep up anymore.
Pyrrha was brought out of her thoughts when South gave her a small bite on the neck "I don't like being ignored, Pyrrha".
"Sorry..." Pyrrha said in an uncertain tone.
"Hmm, you seem to be having trouble relaxing. Maybe if we remove all our clothes, you will finally feel better" South suggested with a small smirk.
Pyrrha gasped and blushed bright red "N-No need! This is nice!".
South chuckled at her reaction "You are cute when you're flustered. But I can wait, after all, it isn't something you can rush. But one day, I will be the one who makes a real woman out of you".
Pyrrha knew full well what South meant by that, and it honestly scared her a little. The lack of romance had left Pyrrha very ill prepared for what romance brings. So the mere thought of doing that specific activity terrified her. She just didn't know anything anymore. But South payed little to no attention to Pyrrha's worry, as she just enjoyed having the younger sibling of Carolina in her arms.
"After all, your so called family seems more focused on themselves than you. Even Carolina allowed her obsession with Tex to become more important than looking after you. So who better to look after you than me?" South asked as she kissed Pyrrha's cheek.
Pyrrha wanted to get angry at South for saying that... but part of her knew South was right. Pyrrha couldn't even remember the last time she and Carolina had a sisterly moment together. It's like Carolina had become a completely different person now... just like how their father changed after their mom died.
The moment was interrupted when they heard an announcement. Something had happened, and South was annoyed that her time with Pyrrha had to be cut short because of it... and she was about to become even more annoyed.
Some time passed, and Pyrrha was now walking down the halls while wearing her armor. Turns out the whole A.I. implants had been put on hold after Wash's outburst during his surgery. Not only that, the Director had decided they were going to remove the A.I.'s from their Freelancers. They had already removed Wash's, and in time, they were going to do it to the rest as well.
"Pyrrha... I don't want us to be separated" Penny spoke, she had been very silent for a while now, but recent developments had made her more concerned for her and Pyrrha's bond.
"Nor do I, Penny. But if this is what The Director decides on, then I fear there isn't much I can do" Pyrrha said in a sad tone. She didn't want to loose Penny, but what could she do about it? She didn't know what to do anymore. Suddenly she stopped when someone appeared in front of her "Tex?".
"You and I need to talk, now" Tex said, leaving no room for arguments as she grabbed Pyrrha's arm and pulled her along "I told you I would let you know once I've figured somethings out. Well I have".
Pyrrha wondered what this was all about. Not long after, Tex told her everything. What she had learned about the project and what The Director had been up to all these years. Pyrrha was shocked by what Tex told her, not even sure what to make of it.
"So... what are you saying, Tex? What does this mean?" Pyrrha asked.
"It means C.T. was right all along!" Tex said as she punched a wall in anger, making Pyrrha jump "This whole fucking project has been nothing more than The Directors experiment. He is a war criminal, who broke a law that could ruin the lives of everyone who's ever been near him. Which means, once the truth comes out, you will likely spend the rest of your life in prison. All because of the crimes you didn't even know you were comiting".
Pyrrha looked utterly terrified now, she grabbed her head in panic "N-No! If this is true, then everything I've done, all the battle's I fought, all the people I killed... No, no this can't be happening! I didn't know! I don't want to... I don't want to...".
"Pyrrha!" Tex said as she grabbs Pyrrha and made her look at her "Listen. I will not allow that to happen. You do not deserve to suffer for what your father did, for what he made you do. But I need you to do something... something that will end this life you've lived forever...".
"You... you are going rogue... and you want me to do the same" Pyrrha realized.
"Yes... and by doing so, you will betray everyone who chooses to stay... including Carolina" Tex said.
"But can't we convince her to come with us?" Pyrrha asked, last thing she wanted was to make Carolina her enemy.
"I hope we can... but we both know it's not that simple. At this point I'm not even sure if she even cares about doing the right thing anymore. She just wants to beat me" Tex said, making Pyrrha look down, knowing she was right "This isn't a choice I can make for you, Pyrrha. It needs to be your own. If you choose to stay, I will understand. I will never see you as my enemy".
"Why...? Why do you care about me so much?" Pyrrha asked.
"Let's just say... I guess some parts of your mother still lives on" Tex answered softly.
Pyrrha got wide eyes at that "Wait... you are...?".
"You have until tomorrow to make your choice. And remember, it's your choice to make. Never let anyone make it for you. You are your own person, Pyrrha. And only you can decide your own future" Tex said before she leaves.
Pyrrha watched her leave for several moments, before saying a word she never expected she would get to say again "Mom...".
Penny appears next to her "Pyrrha... what are you going to do? Whatever it is, you know I will always support you".
Pyrrha looked down... she was put in a very difficult situation. An was now faced with an impossible choice. One she knew she had to make, no matter how painful it will be. She closed her eyes, thinking about everything that's happened in her life. Her time with Carolina, her bonds with her friends, the reveal of who Tex really was. So many things, and her choice would decide the future of her entire life. Once she makes it, her life will never be the same. She would go down a path she will never be able to turn away from, and her choice would also effect the people close to her, in one way or the other... She just stood in silence for over an hour, thinking only about her choice, with Penny remaning silent, giving Pyrrha all the time she needed.
She opens her eyes... In the end... there was only one choice she could make... and she has made it.
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Tell me what you think.
