The Pelican zipped across the starry sky as it neared its destination. The task assigned by the Alliance of Defence was simple: do a few training tasks with a new team called Shatter Squad until they can successfully stop a local terrorist group named Viper. Compared to her past exploits, this was a cakewalk. And yet, Carolina couldn't help her slight nervousness. Not in leading training exercises, but for her teammate sitting across from her.
Cerebral hypoxia. The brain damage haunting her best friend. Dr. Grey did everything she could, and outside of ever taking up Sarge's offer for experimental cyborg brain surgery, Washington managed with extra technological help from his armor. To Wash's credit, after resting for a few months, he eagerly rejoined the Reds and Blues in their regular retirement shenanigans. But Carolina knew there was a difference between goofing around on Iris with close friends, and performing a real mission with strangers and threats.
"Carolina."
Oh shit, was she staring again? He'd already reassured her multiple times he was fine, heck even the AOD thinks so! She internally braced herself for another insistent rant.
"Do you think…," he began, trailing off afterward. This she wasn't concerned about. At Grey's advice, Wash's helmet received a minor upgrade in the form of notes on the HUD, so he could record anything he wanted and check it later. Sure enough, he spoke up again after a minute, his tone a tad more confident, "...Do you think Shatter Squad will be more like the Reds and Blues or the Freelancers?"
It wasn't what she expected to hear, but she wasn't complaining. "Well, the AOD was another one of the UNSC's war efforts, so I imagine the troops selected are fairly competent."
"Right, but these rookies are in such desperate need of training the AOD called us? Are you sure this isn't a Triplets scenario?"
She laughed a bit at the thought before adding, "What's the matter Wash? Afraid of being at the bottom of the leaderboard again?"
"H-hey! I'll have you know I'm a far better fighter these days!"
"Oh sure, compared to Tucker and Caboose". She could practically see him pouting through his helmet.
There was another pause, longer this time, before Washington responded, "Tucker's also on his own...training...mission…," he hesitated, waiting for her own assuring nod before continuing, "...so at this point it's a compliment."
Before she could reply further, the Pelican touched down in front of the facility, light pouring in from all sides. Guess it was time to see who this so-called Shatter Squad truly was.
No sooner had Raymond boarded East's Warthog before One slammed down the pedal in her own jeep. Finally, they'd picked everyone up! The real fun could begin!
One had yearned for this day for years. All of basic training's bullshit would finally payoff, she was part of a real squad. The excitement and adrenaline caused her to crank up the speed more and more. She smirked as she saw East do her best to match her.
"Hey East! Fancy a race? First one back to your dad wins!"
East didn't answer right away. Probably her weird complex about her father, or she knew she'd get her ass kicked, but eventually she shouted back, "Sure, while your dad tries to navigate for your hopeless ass, this newbie and I will chat with the Freelancers!"
"W-wait hold on-"
But One didn't hear the rest of Raymond's stammering as she immediately attempted to leave her new teammates in the dust. She heard her dad sigh next to her, but c'mon, he can't tell her he never had some fun when he began working for the AOD. Why else would these vehicles have so many pedals if not to get some real use out of 'em?
Annoyingly, East wasn't as effortless to shake as One anticipated. In fact, she relished the speed even more than One did, and seamlessly took the lead.
"What's wrong One? Can't keep up? Getting motion sick?"
She could also hear Raymond's terrified reply of, "I am! Are all of you this crazy?" from their car as East tried to hush him up.
In his best attempt at helping, Axel brought up the map as a guide, as East predicted. She heard him try to offer some normal shortcut, but fuck that! Like hell she'd let East be right about anything! She could make her own shortcut, what did her dad know! As the map was lost to the wind, she drove up the cliff and through a nearby abandoned building.
"Great. Well if we're aiming for the most damage bonus award, I'm sure you'll scoop it right up."
Despite her dad's sarcasm, the thrill as she popped out the other end in the lead was entirely worth it. "I'm number One for a reason bitch!"
Apparently East didn't appreciate the truth nor fair play, as she forced Raymond into the driver seat before shooting the machine gun at their tires.
"You pissed her off." stated Axel at the same time One noted, "I pissed her off."
As One attempted to swerve away from the bullets and reach the finish line first, she barely reacted in time to a sudden, "Look out!".
The two vehicles ground to a halt, nearly colliding with West who stood far more outside the base than anticipated. Shit, who won? Maybe she could get West to tell her after he cooled down from whatever lecture they got.
"Attention!"
The members of Shatter Squad exited the vehicles and gathered around their leader, Raymond staggering on shaky legs.
"All you had to do was gather the entire squad for our first official day of assignments. Instead, you participated in illegal racing and damage to military property. Imagine if instead of me waiting for you out here, it was the Freelancers. Did you plan to show this abhorrent behavior as your first impressions? Or would you have run over them to see who triumphs?"
"But sir-"
"Lock it up Agent One. Drop and give me 50. You too East."
One obediently began her count. Even focused on the menial exercise, she could still hear East's normal rebellion.
"East I said-"
"Yeah, everyone fucking heard you. Guess you have to order me around now, since you were too busy shipping me off to Starlight Labs as a child to do it then."
Jesus, what was her problem? One didn't exactly know the details, but there was definitely a constant tension between the two the brief time she's known them. West grew quiet at East's remark, so it was up to Axel to reason with her.
"East, I think push-ups are a perfectly lenient punishment. Any other sergeant would have you two scrubbing the latrines with your personal toothbrushes for this ridiculous stunt. So you can do a couple of push-ups, can't you East?"
She heard East's frustrated "Whatever." as she joined her on the ground. Raymond still breathed heavily, trying not to puke in his helmet. Axel shared a silent look with West, which was probably some secret dad code or something. Honestly, One wanted to ditch her teammates, run inside, and show off to their new mentors. All these daddy issues and embarrassing behaviors slowed her down. If Agents Carolina and Washington could break off from the rest of those loser Freelancers, then she would do the same.
She was, after all, number One.
