Credit to JensenDaniels32 for an idea for this chapter.
Much to Kaede's relief, the group stopped at a much nicer place, with two large structures that looked to be shooting energy bolts into the sky.
"Pelican's over there. That's where Tex ended up." Washington told Carolina.
"You mean her body ended up there." Carolina clarifies.
"Right." Wash says
"Show me." Carolina orders. The ex-Freelancers leave for the crash site until Simmons runs up from behind one of the Warthogs.
"Wait! What about the military? This could all be a trap remember?" He brings up.
"What are you talking about?" Carolina questions.
"Wash told us we were fugitives of the law. Bandits. Cast out by society with no hope of redemption!" Sarge explains.
"Yeah, and that the UNSC would be waiting for us when we got back to base!" Simmons adds. Carolina turns to Wash.
"It was a possibility..." He offers.
"So let me get this straight..." Carolina starts.
"Psst! Hey Church! Over here!" Tucker whisper-calls over to him. Kaede watches as Church blinks over from Carolina to herself and the other two blue soldiers with her.
"Yeah, hey. Can't talk too long. My connection with Carolina's memory unit's not so good. What's up?" Church asks.
"Ah, not much, my first time here so I'm just taking it all in. Really enjoying the scenery. What about you?" Tucker offers.
"Well, I mean, yeah, you know, now that you mention it the trees are kinda nice. Especially in comparison with the desolate environment of the sand and the- wait, wait, wait, wait, is that it?!" Church exclaims,
"No that's not it! What the fuck are you doing with Carolina?" Tucker exclaims.
"Hey, calm down! Turns out she's more complicated than we thought." Church shoots back.
"Like Monopoly!" Caboose offers. "Or like the board game."
"Complicated how?" Kaede asks.
"How the fuck am I gonna describe complicated in a timely manner? Bad connection, remember." Church rudely replies.
"Church, just because you want to get close to someone doesn't mean that you have to end up inside them!" Tucker exclaims. There is a brief pause.
"...Oh come on. Aren't you going to say it?" Church asks.
"No, because I'm pissed off!" Tucker exclaims.
"Alright, alright, look guys. I'm still on your side, okay? But if Carolina is hiding something, I'm going to have to stay close to her in order to find it. See? Proximity is the key." Church offers.
"I thought memory was the key?" Tucker bring sup.
"Yeah, and the sword. Sword is the key too!" Caboose adds.
"Caboose, shut up!" Tucker exclaims,
"Hey, I gotta go. We'll talk later." And with that, Church vanishes.
"We should probably get a key ring." Caboose offers.
"I hate to say it, but we shouldn't rely on Church for getting closer to Carolina now that they seem to be all buddy-buddy." Kaede says.
"Not like Church was very reliable to begin with." Tucker says.
"Just stick close to me, and I'll keep us safe if Carolina turns hostile." Kaede says. The three then spy the Reds leaving to go do their own thing.
"Hey they're all leaving. You know what? I'm going to see our awesome new base. It's so much basey-er than our old one. I've missed it so much!" Caboose exclaims.
"I would love to see it!" Kaede agrees.
"Nyu would love it to!" Caboose exclaims.
"Yes, she would." Kaede agrees before getting smacked, hard, on the head by Caboose.
"Dude! The fuck is your problem!" Tucker exclaims.
"That is the button for Nyu to appear." Caboose explains.
"I mean you're technically right, but that doesn't mean you can smack Kaede anytime you wanna hang with Nyu!" Tucker reprimands him.
"Sorry, It just seemed quicker." Caboose apologizes.
"Nyu?" Nyu says after awaking.
"Come on Nyu! Lets go see our new base!" Caboose says before running off.
"Yes!" Nyu says, taking off after him. The little (compared to Caboose) Diclonius quickly managed to catch up the blue soldier where the two rendezvoused at new Blue base.
"This is new blue base Nyu! Isn't it amazing!" Caboose exclaims.
"Yes!" Nyu eagerly returns.
"I knew you'd like it!" Caboose returns, equally as loud.
"Nyu." Nyu agrees. She always liked it when Caboose played with her, gave her presents, and helped her understand the world a bit better. When ever she was around the blue soldier, or even thought of him, she felt this feeling inside of her she was never able to describe. "Nyuuuu." How she wished she could say his name. She wished she could say all there names, but she wanted to be able to say his the most.
"Amazing? This looks like the shitty old base." The two hear Tucker finally catching up to them.
"Oh! You are gonna love it here! You know, its like our home away from home, that we can't ever get away from." Caboose says.
"Nyuuuu." Nyu says in approval.
"So, let me get this straight, its just two bases, in the middle of a box canyon." Tucker starts.
"Yes. But on one side, instead of a wall, there's an endless supply of water." Caboose finishes.
"Wow. You guys really know how to upgrade. Lemme guess; I bet this time, we've got a tank with eight pedals instead of six." Tucker sarcastically replies.
"Aw, don't be silly, we don't have a tank." Caboose clarifies.
"Nyu." Nyu happily says. She didn't like the tank. It looked scary.
After awhile, the Blues and Nyu joined with the others by the warthogs.
"Nyu!" Nyu greets to everyone.
"Whats wrong with her." Carolina says, confused at Kaede's now child like attitude.
"Thats just Nyu. Kaede's alternate personality." Simmons explains. "She acts like a clueless child, so you'll just have to bear with it until Kaede comes back."
"So, what's the deal? We're leaving already?" Tucker questions
"That's right. You got a problem with that?" Carolina states. Church then appears beside Carolina.
"Uh, hey, Carolina, why don't you let me handle this?" He asks her.
After a short conversation between Church and the others, most of which Nyu didn't understand, though Church sounded meaner than normal, Church disappeared.
"Nyu." Nyu sadly says.
"Oh, don't worry about Church. He's always like that. He'll come around." Caboose assures as he gives Nyu a big hug. While in the hug, Nyu feels all warm inside and starts to blush. Luckily, Tucker doesn't see it.
After another bout of waiting, and more fooling around which led to Kaede coming back, the group was called into the reds basement. Their very large basement! Sarge explained it was capable of producing holographic simulations. Tucker took that opportunity to say what she was thinking.
"Let me get this straight, you built an enormous room capable of creating realistic holographic simulations, but you couldn't figure out how to walk across the canyon and capture our flag?" Tucker questions.
"Actually, Lopez built it." Grif corrects.
"Okay, now that I believe." Tucker says.
"And if you recall we did manage to capture your flag. So you know, suck it Blue." Simmons reminds him.
"Oh yea, well our team has most kills." Caboose brings up.
"Team kills don't count bluetard." Sarge repli s.
"You don't make the rules!" Caboose says.
"Technically Project Freelancer makes the rules, and I say Blue team gets to add my kill count to theirs." Wash says.
"Lame." Grif mutters.
"And thats on top of Kaede's kills." Tucker brings up.
"Uh... no. I'm a red as much as I am a blue." Kaede uncomfortably says.
"We still win!" Caboose exclaims.
"Listen up." Carolina demands their attention. "We got big news."
Caboose dramatically gasps. "You and Wash are going to take your relationship to the next level? I knew it. The writing was all over the wall."
"Nope. Don't see it." Kaede says. "No relationships starting here."
"No." Church denies Caboose. He then shifts to look more like his regular sized ghost self. "We found the Director."
"Church, you're big again! What has she been feeding you?" Caboose asks.
"You know where the Director's been hiding?" Wash asks.
"That's right." Carolina confirms.
"He's hold up in one of his off-site storage facilities. Similar to the ones we've seen before." As Church talks, three images of said facility pop up, giving their audience multiple views of the building.
"But we have no idea what kind of modifications the Director may have made to the compound over the last few years." Carolina continues.
"Or if he has any kind of security with him." Church adds.
"Essentially, we need to be ready for anything." Carolina finishes. "So, lets go over the plan."
"What plan?" Tucker asks.
"The plan to take down the Director." Church clarifies. Kaede spies Grif and Simmons sharing a look.
"Uh, I thought the plan was that we help you find the Director." Grif brings up. That did get Kaede thunking. Why DID they still need to help Carolina.
"Yea, and now we've found him. Good job everyone. Way to hustle out there." Simmons congratulates everyone.
"The plan changed." Carolina firmly states.
"So then what exactly is the plan?" Wash asks.
"Infiltrate the facility and neutralize all hostiles." Carolina says. Kaede was expecting something more complicated.
"Riiight, what's our plan though?" Grif asks.
"That is your plan. I'm counting on all of you." Carolina assures.
"But you said we were the worst soldiers you ever met. And you were right! You're very perceptive." Grif argues.
"Look! I just need enough time to get to the Director." Carolina says. 'We're doing our job away from Carolina? I can live with that.' Kaede thinks.
"So then we're just a distraction?" Wash asks.
"No, Wash, you're on lock duty. I need you with me." Carolina clarifies.
"Um, we have to fight all the bad guys by-our-selves...?" Caboose asks.
"I feel like you guys forget I'm here most of the time." Kaede brings up.
"Yes! Nothing that Director guy can throw at us that our secret weapon can't deal with." Sarge says. It was subtle, but Kaede could tell he was lacking his usual enthusiasm.
"Oh, hell yeah!" Tucker agrees,
"Even so, maybe I should stick with the others." Wash suggests.
"Leave personnel decisions to me, Agent Washington!" Carolina snaps at him.
"Look, will you guys quit complaining and do something for once?" Church asks.
"Son, are you forgetting we saved your sorry ghost ass from the military?" Sarge asks.
"Yeah, we almost died trying to find you!" Simmons adds.
"And did you forget everything else we've been through?" Kaede asks.
"Oh boo hoo. Why don't you come back when you're on your second or third life; then we'll compare notes." Church mocks them. Kaede was utterly gobsmacked to the point of being speechless. Church was NEVER this much of an asshole especially to her, since she was one of the few people who he could actually tolerate.
"Wow. Fuck off Blue." Grif says before turning to leave..
"Where do you think you're going?" Carolina demands.
"I'm going home." Grif simply says. He then continues to walk away..
"Oh that's great Grif! You know, we can always count on you to duck out when there is work to do!" Church calls out to him.
"Well you can count me out too." Sarge adds.
"What?" Carolina exclaims,
"Don't get me wrong. Busting into a military base on a rescue mission is a lot of fun. But I'm not getting turned into Swiss cheese just so the two of you can finish some personal vendetta. This ain't our fight." Sarge explains.
"Took the words right out of my mouth, sir." Simmons agrees.
"Both of you, be quiet!" Carolina demands. Kaede meanwhile clenches her fists as she tries to resist the voice urging her to kill Carolina, even though she very much agreed with it.
"Dude, this is bullshit." Tucker says,
"Tucker!" Church yells.
"Be quiet! That's an order!" Carolina demands.
"Well guess what psycho? I don't take orders from you anymore!" Tucker yells.
"Well, what about now?" Carolina raises her rifle at him. Kaede snaps and glares Carolina, her eyes changing to a cold dead look, with murderous intent. She is stopped however by what happens next.
"Don't. Do that." Wash says as he points his pistol to Carolina's head, point blank.
"Wash, what are you doing?" Carolina growls.
"Protecting my friends. Now lower. The weapon." Wash demands. Kaede lowers her gaze so her bangs cover her eyes. Wash proved he could be trusted. That was a big reason why Kaede went back to resisting the pull of DNA.
"You're siding with them?" Carolina questions as she lowers her rifle.
"Wash, I don't understand. We found the director! We can make him pay! This is what we wanted!" Church exclaims.
Washington lowers his pistol. "All I want is for you to leave. I've already been responsible for enough of their problems in the past, and I'll be damned before I let you cause any more." He then moves over to join the rest of the group.
"So that's it? You're just going to turn your back on us?" Church complains.
"Epsilon, I know that I-"
"No, you're right. You know, I guess I should have seen that one coming. It's not exactly like you're new to the concept, is it?" Church interrupts.
"That's a little harsh." Sarge brings up..
"But you guys, after all the shit you put me through? I really thought at least you would have my back!" Church complains.
"Us? What the hell did we do?" Grif asks.
"You shot me through the head! You put a bomb in my gut, You killed me with my own damn tank, you decapitated me and that's just how we met!" Church yells. He grows large and begins flashing red as he screams.
"Church, calm down! What's your problem?" Tucker says.
"You're my problem! You've always been my problem! Each and every one of you is just a problem that I have to deal with on a daily basis!" Church yells, now nearly five times everyones height, his final word echoing throughout the could tell everyone else felt disgusted and hurt. She just felt hurt. She thought so much of Church, who was basically her father figure, to find out he felt this way...
Tucker just up and leaves, without a word.
"Guys..." Church says in a softer voice as he shrinks down and reverts back to his normal colour. The Reds then follow Tuckers example and leave.
"Guys, wait a minute." Church tries to say. Kaede can't take it any more. She turns and slowly follows the others out of the room, hurt and angry, not to mentioned exhausted with having to hold back DNA, who was now insisting Church be destroyed too. If she were in there longer, she felt she would have complied with DNA's demands and ended at least Carolina. That would just bring more trouble for everyone.
She walks out the door, her hair hiding her face so no one can see her silent tears.
AN: Wait wait wait wait, Nyu's getting romantic feelings for Caboose!?
"No relationships starting here."
Famous last words.