The group miraculously survived yet another crash landing as they all stood around the wrecked hornet. Kaede had to wonder how they made it from an ice glacier to a much warmer forest on such low fuel.
"Grif! You think you could'a stole a plane that had been topped off with fuel!" Sarge exclaims.
"How the fuck should I know which ones are topped off or not?" Grif asks. Thus, a heated argument between everyone begins. Kaede just sit off to the side, mind on Church. The new guy, Washington, sits down next to her.
"Hows that arm treating you?" He asks her.
"Uh, Fine. Better than fine actually. I didn't think it would stop hurting this shortly after being broken." Kaede answers.
"Thats lucky. For going against the Meta, a broken arm that seems to be healing quiet fast is almost a godsend." Wash replies.
"You make it sound like it could have been a lot worse." Kaede prompts.
"Yeah. Before all this, he killed other Freelancers. Thats where all the equipment came from." Wash answers.
"Equipment? You mean his powers?" Kaede asks.
"Yeah, if you wanna look at them that way." Wash says. "What was with you getting damage on The Meta without actually hitting him? That a piece of new equipment, or power as you like to call it?"
"It has nothing to with equipment. I was born with four two-meter long invisible arms. Don't know why or how it's possible." Kaede explains.
"I'm sorry, you what?" Wash asks, making sure he got that right. Kaede lifts up a piece of debris to show him.
"With these arms, I can lift objects heavier than I could with my flesh and blood arms." Kaede explains. "Additionally, I can do this." The piece of debris was sliced in half and fell to the groud.
"So what are you? A genetic experiment from ONI?" Wash asks. 'Though that wouldn't explain how she ended up with these... soldiers.' He thought.
"No genetic experimentation." Kaede says. "At least, I don't think. Its kind of complicated and hard to believe. Even I don't understand and am still coming to terms with it."
"The beeping is there to CAUSE alarm!" They hear Simmons exclaim.
"Really? I thought that was just something vehicles did whenever they felt like it. My first car beeped nonstop." Grif explains.
"Hey, my first car did that too!" Tucker exclaims.
"Well, I think it'll be awhile before everyone clams down." Wash assures.
"I started out in an orphanage that was either back in time, or in a different universe. I still don't know which." Kaede explains.
"Thats a little hard to believe." Wash responds.
"More unbelievable than the government giving a ten year old super powers and sending her off to a hot canyon to live with two groups of idiots at war with each other?" Kaede questions.
"Fine. How did you meet them then?" Wash concedes.
"I heard them arguing in a forest one day, Church and Tucker that is, and went to see who it was." Kaede explains. "After a few days, we all transported back to Blood Gulch together by some grenade, though I transported by accident and was stuck. "
"I guess that doesn't sound so far fetched. Teleporters do exist, though I never heard of one in the style of a grenade before." Washington responds. "Are you sure you've never come from a different planet or something?"
"I'm from Earth, only my Earth is centuries behind the one you know." Kaede explains.
"Right." Wash responds.
"What about you? You're Agent Washington right? You're a Freelancer?" Kaede asks. She was still weary of him, but he seemed nice enough. Might as well give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Uh yeah. I'm sure you heard of us before." Wash says.
"Tried to get killed by some of you before." Kaede explains. "Wyoming and I guess Tex."
"Three now. The Meta used to be an Agent called Maine." Wash explains.
"Really? Whats their problem? The Freelancers? Not you of coarse, but everyone else." Kaede asks.
Wash sighs. "We are all part of a decommissioned special op to put it simply. Project Freelancer was created to study A.I. and human integration."
"A.I. like Church?" Kaede asks.
"Yes. In fact, it was the Church you know... used to know, the one in Blood Gulch, was their test subject." Wash says. "The Alpha A.I."
"Church I used to know? Alpha A.I.?" Kaede questions.
"Its somewhat complicated." Kaede says.
"Seriously Simmons! I knew you were a nerd, but really!" They hear Grif yell.
"What? There was no point in getting one since I was going into the military, so I didn't." Simmons explains.
"But really dude? You never brought a car when you were still a civilian?" Tucker questions.
"We got time." Kaede says.
"All A.I. are based upon someone, and like that someone their mind could be broken, like a multiple personality disorder." Wash begins to explain.
"Well I know what thats like..." Kaede mutters.
"Since they were experimenting with A.I. and only got the one, they got desperate." Wash says. "They started putting Alpha through various mental tortures, each time he would fragment himself to save himself, a new A.I. fragment was born. Like Delta, and Theta and so on. I believe you encountered one of these fragments before."
"...O'mally!" Kaede realizes.
"Or better known as Omega. He was the Alpha's rage." Wash explains. "Eventually, once the agents found out what was really going on, the rebelled, creating a sort of Freelancer civil war. Thats when the Meta emerged. After that, they moved Alpha. Somewhere no one would think to look for him."
"Blood Gulch. And he assumed the name Church." Kaede finishes.
"Not really. Church IS his name." Wash says.
"Okay, you've explained some things, but what about their being two Churches?" Kaede asks.
"The Alpha version of Church was erased during an earlier encounter with the Meta, the one we were just with is Epsilon. The Alpha's memories." Wash explains.
"But he seemed to remember us after he... got his memory... back." Kaede said.
"Epsilon is the memories. He'll remember everything the fragments and the Alpha went though if he hasn't already." Wash explains.
"Okay, so it was working with A.I., what about the agents? How did they fit into it?" Kaede asks.
"The fragments were paired with an agent and study for their increase of effectiveness in battle. That was the whole point of the project." Wash says. "There were 50 of us. Not many are left."
"Oh... I... I see." Kaede says. Some of those fifty had to have been friends.
"But, there are a lot more of us around then you might think." They hear a voice. Turning to the source, they see a woman in armour the same colour as Tuckers (and lets not get into that debate again) as well as a helmet design that Kaede had never seen before.
"Impossible..." She hears Washington whispers.
"Who the fuck are you?" Grif nonchalantly asks.
"She's... she's agent Carolina." Wash says.
"I am. And your friend has something I need." Carolina says.
"Our friend?" Simmons questions.
"The Epsilon A.I." Carolina clarifies.
"Church? What about him?" Kaede asks.
"He knows about the one responsible for Freelancer. With his help, I can find him and bring him down." Carolina explains. "And you all are gonna help me take him back."
"And what makes you think we'll take orders from you?" Sarge asks. Kaede could have sworn she saw Carolina get ready to attack but she was blocked by Wash.
"Just, uh, give us a minute Carolina." Wash assures. With that, he whirls back on the others. "We should listen to her."
"What? Why?" Simmons questions.
"Back in Freelancer, she was the #1 top agent. But its not just that. Carolina is very... violent, and will use any means necessary to get what she wants. If she attacks, I can't defend you guys. She'll just end up killing me too."
"So? You and me together, I'm sure we can beat her. We beat the Meta after all." Kaede says.
"You don't understand, Carolina was strong than Maine. And you still have a broken arm." Wash brings up.
"Really?" Kaede takes off her sling and moves her around a bit. She couldn't even tell it was ever broken. "I dunno how, but its good as new now."
Caboose gasps. "What if you have super speed. Thats why you're arm healed so fast!"
"I'm not sure thats how super speed works." Simmons says.
"You're just getting weirder by the second." Tucker tells Kaede.
"Yeah..." Kaede says, a faraway look in her eyes.
"Look, we just have to listen to her and we'll get Church back, sound good?" Wash tries to convince them.
"Yes!" Caboose exclaims.
"I guess it could be fun, going on a rescue mission. Even if its for a blue." Sarge says. Simmons nods in agreement while Grif groans, knowing he'll be dragged along.
"I guess I did tell Church I would be there to revive him, only for him to get killed again then repeat the process again. I guess I'll keep going with the cycle." Tucker says.
"Okay, fine. If it gets Church back." Kaede relents. Wash turns back on Carolina.
"We're in. Whats the plan?" He asks her.
So my PS4 took the shits and I lost a lot of game data because of it, so I dedicate this chapter in honour... of... that... I guess I'm at the point where I'll dedicate a chapter towards something random that I've lost.