After a fairly lengthy trip on the road, the group pulls over at O'mallys old base to stretch their legs and, according to Grif, search for funny road signs. Seeing as the others were all engrossed in their own conversations, Kaede went over to someone who was not engaged in any kind of small talk.
"Hey Sarge, what do you make of this Carolina?" She asks him.
"I think she sure has poor taste in colours." Sarge responds.
"Not what I mean't." Kaede says. Grif and Simmons then approach, having finished their conversation.
"Sarge, how come every time the Blues get involved in something stupid and dangerous, we get dragged along too?" Grif asks
"You know what they say. Keep your friends close and your enemies within range of your primary firearm!" Sarge answers.
"Sir! I realize-" Simmons is cut off.
"So you can shoot em!" Sarge exclaims.
"This isn't what we should be discussing! Carolina-" Kaede is also cut off.
"With your primary firearm!" Sarge exclaims.
"...I realize that we agreed to help Wash and Carolina, but how do we know that they're gonna help us?" Simmons asks.
"Thank you!" Kaede says to Simmons. "Thats what I was getting at. Carolina crosses me as cruel hearted. I wpuldn't be surprised if she tried killing one of us if she's pissed off enough."
"Even if we ignore the anger thing, which is a good point by the way, if we run into trouble, do you really think they'll stick their neck out for us?" Simmons questions.
"Well, for a back-stabbing, double-crossing, no-good, dirty-rotten Blue, that Wash fella isn't too bad." Sarge comments.
"What a ringing endorsement!" Grif sarcastically remarks.
"I'm more worried about Carolina. What if after all of this is over, she decides to get rid of us?" Simmons brings up.
"Damn. I never considered that." Kaede says
"Why would she do that?" Grif questions.
"I don't know! To tie up loose ends? To cover her trail? Don't you watch spy movies? They love that shit!" Simmons panics.
"My God, man! Get a hold of yourself! You're making us look weak in front of the enemy!" Sarge exclaims. The group looks to find Caboose a few feet away, listening in.
"Hello." He greets.
"Listen! I don't want to hear you talk about secret double-crosses, or mysterious subplots, or Freelancer conspiracies anymore! We've had enough of those going on around here as it is." Sarge says before leaving.
"But don't you think that-" Simmons tries
"Sorry, sorry! I can't really talk right now, Simmons. I have got to go secure a perimeter over at the, uh, shady spot over there." Grif also walks away.
"Don't worry Simmons. I'll do my best to help defend us from Carolina. It'd be nice if you have my back too." Kaede assures.
"Thanks Kaede. I'll do what I can. If only anyone else was as cautious as you." Simmons says.
"I learned a long time ago to be cautious of people walking up and offering friendship. I mean, Carolina technically didn't do that, but you know what I mean." Kade says.
"Yeah..." Simmons says before turning to Caboose. "I liked it better when we only had to fight you."
"Good times." Kaede reminisces.
"Yeah! Blue Team is pretty awesome right now. Right Tucker?" Caboose asks, looking around to find no Tucker. "Right Church?" Same thing. Caboose turns back to Simmons and Kaede. "Hello."
"Uh... where's the rest of your team?" Simmons asks.
"And why do they keep leaving under our noses. Its getting annoying." Kaede says.
Eventually, Sarge comes running back and orders red team to hide behind their jeep. So the three red soldiers and Kaede watch Caboose just standing around from behind their Warthog.
"So... why are we doing this?" Kaede eventually asks.
"Simmons got me to thinking, and I just wanted to test something." Sarge explains.
"Uh, why thank you sir! I-" Simmons is once again cut off.
"Quiet Simmons. We can't make too much noise." Sarge orders.
Eventually, the group spies Carolina walk out to talk to Caboose.
"Um, hey, hi Caroline. Yes, um, excuse me, um, have you seen Church lately? Uh, he and I were supposed to hang out after we rescued him." Caboose asks.
"Tell your friends to stay out of my way, or else." Carolina says in a menacing tone.
"Or else what?" Caboose asks.
"Or else they'll bring out my ugly side." Carolina answers.
"Oh, oh come on Caroline, I bet you are really pretty under that armor." Caboose provides.
"What?"
"Um, I mean, you know, I mean I understand that there's some helmet hair. We all have helmet hair from time to time, but you know." Carolina only growls at this. "Yes, um so anyways, what did you want me to tell Church and Tucker again?" Carolina pulls out her pistol and shoots a mountain of fusion coil explosives stacked behind Caboose. Kaede nearly attacks when she sees Carolina take out her pistol but is held back by Sarge. She settles for glaring daggers at the Freelancer.
"Just try and put that into words." Carolina says before walking away.
Caboose makes some cool explosion sound effects. "Explosion." Carolina passes by the warthog the group was hiding as she leaves.
"You know, I'm beginning to think you think you two have the right idea about this Carolina chick." Grif voices.
"See!" Simmons exclaims.
"Normally I would agree with Simmons, but in this case it would also cause me to agree with Grif. Therefore, I will simply grunt ambiguously." Sarge says before simply grunting. "Now, I gotta plan for how to get out of this situation."
"Whats the plan, Sarge." Kaede prompts.
"We agreed to help Carolina get Church the assholeish ghost back, and seeing as we've already done that we can just say we're leaving for another mission." Sarge explains.
"Great plan sir!" Simmons exclaims.
"Thats the plan!?" Kaede exclaims. "She's not just gonna let loose ends go! Simmons told us as much!"
"We'll tell Washington that we're leaving. He let us go and we hope that the angry freelancer woman is to consumed with vengeance to chase after us." Sarge elaborates.
"Even if your plan works, what about the Blues?" Kaede asks. Grif can only sigh and shake his head.
"What about them?" Sarge asks.
"They'll be left behind for Carolina to terrorize and they can't pull that excuse to get out since Carolina said she needed Church for something." Kaede explains.
"So, if we go through with the plan, we'll get away unscathed and the blues will be left at the mercy of obviously superior foes?" Sarge questions. "Sounds to me like killing two birds with one stone."
"You know what, you go ahead with the plan, guys." Kaede sighs. "I'll stay here to keep an eye on the blues."
"You're making it sound like you think of us as cowards!" Simmons insinuates.
"If she is, she's right then." Grif brings up.
"No guys. If you go, I won't think less of you. I understand." Kaede assures. "It'd be easier to keep everyone safe having to worry about less people."
"You sure we can't convince you to come with us?" Sarge asks.
"Thank you, but no. The blues are family too." Kaede says.
"Staying behind for your comrades. Even if they are the blues, I can respect that." Sarge says before offering her a salute.
"If you and the blues do get out alive, come to Valhalla. Thats where we and Caboose live now. He knows the way." Simmons says.
"Caboose? Giving directions?" Kaede questions.
"Yeah. Should have known that would be a terrible idea." Simmons sighs.
Kaede watches the Reds conversation with Wash from a distance. Somehow, he convinced them to stay, so there went that plan. They were in this together, and while Kaede was distressed a bit that they weren't out of danger, she was also relived that they would still be together. Even if they were all idiots, they would pull through. They did with O'mally and the Meta, they would do so again with this Carolina.
"It'd just be easier if we kill Carolina. In fact, that would solve all our problems."
'Go away. I'm not playing your games.' Kaede thinks.
"You will and you must. That is why we are here." The DNA voice shoots back. "You must begin your mission to wipe out humanity and it must begin soon."
'Humanity includes me, dumbass.' Kaede retorts.
"It does not. You are above humanity, as you will learn someday." DNA replies.
'You keep saying that, yet years have passed and "Someday" hasn't come." Kaede thinks back. 'You should stop wasting your breath or... however it is you communicate with me.'
"You will see, Kaede. One day. One day for sure..."