Hello everyone. I am sure that you were not expecting to see me again! But I am alive. It has been a long time since I have gotten on here and all of you that have been writing reviews for me to come back to I have to say was really heart warming. I thought of this story many times and I am sorry for all the fans out there that wanted me to write more. But this is not a message to you all saying I am no longer doing this. This is a message saying that I have a chapter for you! I felt the need to write some more and have been motivated to do so. I hope I can keep getting these out while I feel I have the time in order to allow you to continue down this story you guys seem to enjoy! Thank you so much for that! Where we left off last time Six me the Blues and Reds! What will happen now!
Chapter Seven: Capture.
"I'm going to need that." The voice of Spartan B-312 stated beneath his helmet. His voice still monotone and calm, his finger outstretched as he pointed at Temple and what he was currently holding.
The light blue armored trooper looked around for a moment before staring down at the weapon in his hands. It was none other than the SrS99-AM sniper rifle. Manufactured from the Misriah Armory, a stand issue for Marksmen all across the UNSC. This powerful scoped weapon was capable of piercing and killing both Spartans and Elites alike with fully charged shields. A simple, well placed, bullet straight through the head. It was a very powerful weapon and one Noble Six knew very well.
"Fuck no!" Temple replied, holding the weapon close to his chest and turning away like a child that was just asked to hand over his toy. "You have plenty of cool things you can't take this one! This is what makes me leader of Blue Team!" He proclaim, slowly starting to stroke the weapon like some sort of pet.
"I still don't understand that one. Like, are you saying if I get that Sniper I will be leader?" Bucky chipped in standing next to Temple.
"No, that isn't what I'm saying. You could never be leader, you're a totally idiot." Temple replied.
"Says the one petting the damn sniper."
Noble Six lowered his hand and took a deep breath. He was never one known for having outbursts or having a short temper. Most Spartans weren't known for that sort of thing unless they just had that sort of aggressive personality. Emile was one of them. It did not matter who that soldier was talking to, if you managed to wear thin on his patience you would sure hear about it. Of course he too was a Spartan. All Spartans were mostly calm and collected when speaking. That was part of what made them the 'perfect soldiers'. However, this right here. . .this was something that would test even the most calm and relaxed Spartans.
Spartans had been soldiers since they were children, they grew up in a very particular environment. People always answering with 'yes sir' or 'no ma'am', people that held their tongue when they had nothing of the current topic to say. People who could remain silent for hours upon hours without saying the first thing that came into their mind. These people here, they were not soldiers. At least none like he had ever seen before. Just another piece of the puzzle he guessed.
There was still no answer as to who they were, no official records that he could grab or obtain. He understood he was very limited in the field when it came to certain resources but usually there was something that could always be brought up about someone. These people had nothing. They had the weapons, they had the armor, they even had tanks and warthogs but no official documents or identification. Thinking about it more and more only brought up more questions for Six. Questions that he hoped would be answered very soon.
"Look," Six stated, breaking up the bickering between the two men. "Any day now Freelancers will come back to this base, I need that weapon." He stated once again focusing the attention back to the Sniper.
"What do we care that Freelancers come here? They come here whenever they want anyway." Bucky commented with a shrug of his shoulders, turning to face the Spartan clad in all black.
"I hate to agree with this moron here but, he's right. Last time a Freelancer showed up he had a whale helmet on. He did land on the Red's side though and at first tried to come over here and blow our base up. . .and then he blew our tank up. Actually fuck that guy!" Temple yelled, slowly listing off things this other Agent seemed to do before basically convincing himself.
Though it was a bit strange. Six had asked before what role the Freelancers played in coming to this Canyon. It would seem that they were either dropped off over here by Blue base or Red base and acted to be 'hired' by their team. From what Six could gather about their teams though he could not piece together what actual value the Freelancers were getting from coming here. They had no money, or if they did what would they need money for? Information usually would be a nice trade but what information could these guys offer a huge program like Freelancer?
It just did not make sense. None of it did.
"More than one Agent will be coming here this time. I need to be ready for them when they get here." Six said once more, his orange visor reflecting Temple and Bucky standing next to each other. "Let me use the Sniper Rifle,"
The two seemed to look at each other suspiciously for a moment before turning back to face Noble Six.
"What are you going to do with it?" Temple asked.
"I'm going to shoot them."
"You're going to what!" Temple screamed throwing his arms out to the side. "Are you fucking crazy! We never ever ever mess with those guys! The whale dude was bad enough but imagine we actually tried to shoot at them! They would nuke us or something! No fucking way, nope, nope, nope. You are banned! Banned from Sniper privileges!" Temple screamed some more, pointing his one finger at Six like a dog that just used the bathroom in the house.
"You can have mine. I don't need it anymore." Another voice stated from behind them. Loco stepped out of the base holding another Sniper. His seemed to have been painted a rather strange color. Actually it seemed to have been drawn on by what looked to be crayon. A couple stick figures labeled different things, each sporting their own smiley face. Including the front of the scope, which Six could tell, would make any marksmen want to strangle however did that to a sniper.
But it would have to do. Plus, it would give Six something to do anyway.
"Thanks," Six stated, taking the weapon from Loco and giving him a nod. To which to the. . .more interesting dark colored trooper hugged him. "Okay." The Spartan responded, standing still like a statue as Loco squeezed him.
"See. That is how you do it." Loco whispered before letting him go and taking a step back.
"Loco? What the fuck! Where did you get that!" Temple screamed.
"Ah well you see. Yes. Well. One day I found it. And I used it to watch you when you threatened to shoot me and beat me for being close to you." He said in response before whispering, "and then I used it to watch the little birds before I accidentally made one disappear."
"Okay well one, fucking weird dude. For real. Two, Sierra you cannot fucking shoot anyone-" Temple stopped in his tracked to see that the large Spartan had began his exit. Walking with his back to the group and the drawn on Sniper strapped to his back. His anger flared for a moment as he screamed at the Spartan walking away. "Where the fuck are you going! Did you hear me!"
"Don't worry. Freelancer won't harm you." Six responded just before he walked out of talking range. He did not turn his head to address him but continued to talk. "Let me handle it. It will only take on bullet anyway." He said before continuing towards the cliff wall. Atop the plateau his fighter and a small camp he had created in order to watch over the entire canyon. With that the Blues screamed some more things, Loco mostly screaming about goodbyes while the other two continued to bicker about something. Nothing the Spartan really felt like he needed to concern himself with. With that he went back to his camp.
That was almost two days ago. Currently it was in the middle of the night, Noble Six sat on the ground a small tent pitched with the help of the wings of his Sabre class space fighter and a small fire lit that produced a small amount of light underneath the dark and starry sky. He sat with one leg hanging from the edge of the cliff side, the fire cracking behind him as he held the sniper in his lap. A rag in his hand as he cleaned the lens of the scope that Loco had drawn on.
With a couple more swipes of the rag, Six raised the weapon to his eye behind his visor and looked through it. Clean and clear, that was probably the best this lens had seen in a long time. To be honest it had taken him a good two days to clean it fully. The Spartan had decided to leave the drawings of the stick figures on the base of the weapon, he would return it to Loco almost the same that it was when he gave it to him. With that he gentle sat it next to him and reached for something beside him with his free hand.
His hand gripped onto something metal as it clanked and shifted within his grasp. Dog togs. His teams dog tags. It was rather uncommon for him to sit along without them in his hand anymore. Even if he paid no mind to them, even if his thoughts were not filled from his days on Reach those tags were still within reach. He didn't know why he liked to have them near by. Maybe it was some sort of comfort thing? Or maybe it was his way for making sure they were still with him, walking each step with him, perhaps he hoped one day they would actually provide some sort of actual comfort than just the empty and cold feeling the metal had. What he would not do just to have one more conversation with any of them. I guess this was his way of having that conversation with them.
He shifted the tags between his fingers, like people play with coins as they flip between his digits. One more day, one more day he was away from the fight he actually wanted to be at. One more day the war waged on and he was here, unable to help humanity survive probably the biggest fight it will ever have. Why was it that he had to be stuck here? Why was it that he had to come back to this life. Alone.
The same question came up over and over again, would his team be proud of him? Would they be proud of the person he had to be now. At first, he thought that they really could care less. He doubted any of them really paid any mind to the life he had before the war on Reach. But if they did. . .would they be proud to call the Headhunter their teammate? What would they say?
He lowered his head a little and looked at the clump of tags shuffled in his hand.
They gave their lives for him, in hope that the A.I's chosen would do something to change the tide of the war. The commander had stated that she had made the right choice. But what made that true? What did they see in him that he did not? Was it the ability to win? To live and fight? Had he not failed? Had he not almost died and had to be saved? Was he not currently back to being a lone wolf again?
Maybe that was just who he needed to be. Maybe it was who he was meant to be and what he was good at.
Either way, one day he would get back to that war and he would make sure those wishes they entrusted to him would be carried out. One way or another. This mission, this job to take down Project Freelancer because of the threats they pose to the UNSC and ONI, it was just one more thing standing in his way. He would make sure he jumped that hurdle rather quickly.
Though, he had to admit. There was something going on here that he had yet to understand. Usually these sorts of missions were so cut and dry. Eliminate target, make them disappear, make threat disappear, move on. But this, this was nothing like that. Sure on the surface it was somewhat the same but, there just seemed to be more and more questions the more and more he continued down this path. He had been on this mission for some time now, he had taken down supply chains and outposts, but what sort of risk was he really dealing with here? If this was some sort of big time terrorist group with an alternative motive to truly harm the UNSC what was it?
This mission truly was a lot more gray than he had ever had to deal with before.
Funny to say that sort of thing about missions that involve making people disappear. But usually the job ended with one person, or perhaps a small group, their intention was clear, the way they wanted to act it out was clearer, but Project Freelancer. . .what did they want? How was it that they had such influence this far out in the galaxy without attracting some sort of UNSC attention. Had the war been so much worse than he thought?
Noble Six just did not know.
What he did know that any day Agents would land here, he was close to getting answers. He would make sure he got them. He had a plan.
Incoming Transmission. . .
Noble Six's eyes looked to the top right of hid HUD. O.N.I? He had tried radioing them a couple times. He was sure that he was unable to reach them in this location. It would seem that finally one of his transmissions broke through. The Spartan reached up and pressed a button on the side of his helmet.
"Noble Six, this is the Admiral, if you are receiving this acknowledge."
"Six." He responded.
"Ah, Lieutenant we've finally reached you. It seemed that most of our transmissions couldn't break through to wherever you are. What is your status?"
"No major updates, I've made contact with a group of soldiers in a canyon. They claim to be members of the UNSC, but upon further investigation I could find no evidence of this. They hardly seem like soldiers. No records of any kind that I have been able to locate yet they have equipment that no regular civilians could have playing dress up. Project Freelancer is projected to visit this area soon. I'm going to intercept them and infiltrate the Mother of Invention."
There was silence over the communication line for a second. Static.
"I see. Good work Lieutenant." A strange reply in regards to the information Six provided. He would have hoped that they would have given him some sort of insight or promise to look into it. Perhaps they were already tracking these sorts of individuals. But if they were why were they not listed in any briefs or mission reports? "I looked over the radio transmission from your last mission. I see the operative that responded to your transmission responded aggressively." She stated calmly.
"Affirmative. He wasn't satisfied with the outcome."
"Yes well, never mind that. You are doing good work. I believe he just wished to remind you that yes, the Director is our primary objective, however those Agents are also threats that will need to be handled. Do not pull your punches."
"I understand. I won't."
"I know, you are our most trusted weapon. I look forward to your next update. O.N.I out."
Transmission offline.
The line went dead, silence filled the air once more. The connection blinked for a minute before ultimately disappearing from Six's H.U.D and mind.
Weapon.
The word played over and over again in his mind. Just a weapon. A weapon that follows orders, one that completes the mission. Was that all there was to it? Why did it feel so different on Reach when he was with Noble Team. Why did that word just sit so uncomfortable with him. The Spartan took a deep breath and looked into the sky. Reach had fallen months ago. Maybe more. He stopped counting. Honestly he had yet to find the time to really sit down and understand what that meant. Humanity was losing the war, billions of people were killed, thousands of soldiers, including Spartans.
What was next?
The Office did not seemed that focused on the Great War. If they were surely their 'greatest weapon' wouldn't be here, sitting in a box canyon. Or maybe he would.
Standing up from sit he walked over to his Sabre. He hoped that tomorrow would be the day that Project Freelancer showed up to this place. He wasn't sure how much more time he could waste here.
The thunderous rip of a Pelican engine screamed through the sky. The bright blue sky lined with the hot sun that beat over the box canyon. This was a pretty good indicator that someone important was showing. However, the only important people that were ever going to get close to this place were those from Project Freelancer.
Inside the spacecraft that lowered itself into the atmosphere of the planet in question was none other than Agent Carolina and the pilot of the craft Four-Seven Niner. The Agent, clad in armor now experimental, including a new helmet still dawned her classic aqua colored armor. A bright blue if you will. The number one's mission was quite simple, go in and test the equipment with real combat. Her opponent? Probably another Agent of some kind but left up to mystery for this particular training.
She had to admit, who ever the poor bastard was, was in for a real beating.
Carolina had been in one hell of a mood ever since her meeting with the one that had been named 'Reaper' among the Agents and Staff of Project Freelancer. The Director and his Counselor had yet to say anything official regarding the soldier in black. Some parts of the official report claim the man to be a Spartan. That was left to be seen by anyone other than Agent Texas. Some rumors said that the Agent made that story up in order to make it less embarrassing that she was beaten so badly. Considering the fact the Agent in black armor refused to show her face around any of the regular Mother of Invention facilities only seemed to fuel the fire.
Carolina on the other hand had been relatively left out of any particular rumors surrounding that night. Mostly because the first two personnel that were caught talking about it happened to also find themselves with many broken bones. Her reputation among the floors of the Mother of Invention and even some of the Agents seemed to only get worse and worse in terms of her temper. One thing was for sure though, no one be caught dead saying anything about her.
This exercise was exactly what she needed in order to blow off some steam and reinforce her spot at the top. That was the other thing that came from that night. Talks of whether or not Agent Texas was truly capable of being the Number one. Of course no one was there, so no one truly got to see her fight. However, it was rather clear that no one wanted to truly believe that someone could beat four of the Project's top Agents and walk away.
This was going to be a long day.
Carolina stood up from the co-pilot chair in the front of the Pelican. Hopping down as she rolled her shoulders and stretched. The redhead seemed to looked back at Four-Seven, someone who was usually more talkative during these sorts of activities.
"What's the matter?" Carolina asked, finishing her stretching as she called to the pilot over her shoulder. "No bets you want to talk about?" She joked, turning around with a deep breath and resting one hand on a cocked hip.
"Psstch-" Four-Seven scoffed, "Are you kidding? No one is taking any bets with you involved right now. No one would be caught dead betting against you and the mood you've been in. So they just didn't today." She stated, continuing to control the Pelican with her hands resting on the controls as she spoke over her shoulder.
Carolina narrowed her eyes beneath her helmet. "What're you talking about? What mood?"
The pilot in response shook her head. "Carolina, you broke two guys' legs last week for talking about that mission you, York, and Wash went on. No one is getting on your bad side."
"Hah!" Carolina chuckled and stood up straight. "Good, I like it that way." She stated before turning around towards the back door of the pelican.
"Whatever, you say boss."
Carolina approached the back of the Pelican. Pressing some buttons attached the wall in order to connect herself to the intercom system with Four-Seven. This feature allowed them to talk without the loud noise from the outside flying past them. Not to mention none of them had to scream. It took four full weeks before anyone mentioned this to Wash. The guy went on screaming for all that time before someone finally told him. He was really upset about that one.
"How long until I drop?" Carolina asked, looking down and checking her equipment. Counting all of her ammunition, double checking her weapons and backups, and running system tests on the new armor and helmet she was testing. Didn't want any of those things to slow her down now did she?
"Just about now, less than two minutes!"
The Agent didn't even respond, instead she nodded her head confidently, finishing her checks before placing all of her equipment away. She then raised her head and walked towards the back, there the light above the door remained red. Green would indicate she was clear to open and disembark from the spacecraft.
"Once your finished with your mission I'll be back here to pick you up! Don't take too long!" Four-Seven called out to the Agent in the back before pressing a button on the controls in front of her.
"When have you ever known me to take long?" Carolina responded before looking up and seeing the light above the door had turned green. The Agent slammed the button next to the door and it responded by slowly opening in front of her. Before her clouds that stretched across her sight and wind rushed past her. With a simple couple finger wave the Agent had leaped from the back of the Pelican and into the open world.
Leaning forward, head first, Carolina broke through the clouds and looked before her target. A box canyon, how original. It had not been the first time Project Freelancer used a location like this. Actually most of their training locations were two based in the middle of a canyon surrounded by nothing. It was boring and got old very quickly but allowed for training to continue interrupted, which was quite handy.
Looking at her H.U.D Carolina monitored her decent, spreading her arms to slow herself as she approached her required altitude. Once that took effect and she descended a little more she pressed a button on the touch pad on her wrist. To which the suit deployed air brakes around her limbs and body. Pieces of the armor sticking out in armor to help with falling by using the wind to slow ones fall. As she approached the ground to what her data told her was Blue Base, jets on those airbrakes turned on and allowed her to safely reach the bottom.
As her feet touched the ground Carolina made a note of the features the armor had to offer. It would seem the quick decent worked well, though she guessed it would have been better to figure something like that out in a more safe environment. If that had not just worked she would have completely fallen right to her death. To which Project Freelancer would have had to scrape her body off the ground. What a way to go that would be. There was a reason this armor was still in the experimental phase of things.
Reaching for her weapon on her back, the Agent looked up and inspected the base before her. Simple, two stories, not a lot of features. That would probably mean her objective was in a base similar to this across from the canyon. She would need to capture the flag from the other team and neutralize the enemy Agent. Well that wasn't exactly what she needed to do but she was totally okay for shooting for that goal herself.
Agent Carolina approached the Blue Base, her eyes narrowing at the three simulation troopers that stood outside talking. They seemed to be standing together in a group, slight mumbles could be heard from underneath their helmets as she got closer. Walking with a determination in her stride. She would waste no time to move forward with this current mission. She would attack Red Base right away, kill the troopers, beat the shit out of whatever Agent the Director sent and then take that flag. She was number one after all.
Once she had gotten a little closer, her feet stepping atop short green grass that was lined outside the base, the troopers stopped talking and looked at her. One of them shoved the other in the side as he pointed at her. In some sort of, dude shut up she's coming, sort of way. It was the same sort of action most guards around the Mother of Invention got when she walked through the halls. It was respect, or fear, either way she did not really care.
"Troopers!" Carolina called out, making sure to break them out of whatever type of conversation they were having before. Weapon in hand Carolina walked before them, staring at them behind her thin visor of her scout helmet. Though the visor acted as a shield there was no doubt they could feel the weight of her glare. It was filled with some sort of frustration and almost anger. It was fierce. Scary. "Agent Carolina, I'm here to win you a war."
They all sort of stood there for a second in silence. It was true that the Agents usually played along with the whole, Red vs Blue war thing. The Project said that it helped them really fit into their roles. Granted most Simulation troopers were unaware of the duties they actually were meant to fulfil. They were there to be training dummies more or less. Live target practice and punching bags for Agents of Project Freelancer. Ways to test weapons and equipment so that way when Agents went into the battlefield against actual competent enemies they had some what of an idea what to do.
"Uh, what?" One of them asked, sort of standing on eggshells as he asked this question.
Carolina grumbled under her breath. She hated having to repeat herself but she had to remember she was dealing with idiots, bigger ones than some of the ones she dealt with in the Project itself. "I'm here to help you assault Red Base. We'll move across the canyon, kill their troops and take their flag." She stated, no almost demanded as she looked over the hillside that ran right down the center of the canyon. Splitting the two sides between both Red and Blue bases.
"Wow, wow, wow, lady. Relax." The one in almost matching color armor stated. Raising his hands as he emphasized the word 'wow'. Carolina turned her head and glared holes into the front of his helmet. Her body tensed as she almost wanted to shoot him straight through the face right there. The only one that seemed to realize this sort of tension was the one in light blue armor standing next to him. The other in standard blue looking into the sky paying no real mind to what was happening. "Though I love when a woman takes charge in the bedroom, I will not allow some girl to come in here and- GAH!"
Bucky was cut off instantly with a grunt and the sound of gasping for air as Carolina planted her foot straight into his crotch area. She held his shoulder with one arm, ensuring he continued to stand, as she placed another hard knee straight to his chest and for good measure on the way down a quick backhand to the side of his head. The trooper laid unmoving on the ground as he was effectively knocked out cold. Probably for the best as pain would be shooting through his entire body.
"What the fuck! You crazy bitch!" The other off color Blue one screamed as he threw his hands atop his helmet in shock. He looked down at his teammate and could not believe his eyes. He was yanked from his shock as Carolina placed the barrel of her gun right into Temple's, whose name was unknown to Carolina, visor.
"Listen here you idiot." She threatened, shoving it into his helmet causing his head to jerk back. He raised his hands in defense, speechless at her sudden out burst. No Freelancer he had ever met was clearly this off their rocker! "I am going to march over to Red Base and steal that damn flag. Now I can do that alone, which means I don't need you dumbasses! So! You can shut up or I will shut you up! Permanently."
Temple stood still as his blood ran cold, staring down the barrel of a weapon he was sure that he was going to die here. He was sure that this crazy woman was going to put an end to his misery. His eyes went to the side to see Loco not even paying attention, the man had long ran off chasing bugs or something and Temple's heart dropped. He was sure in a time like this that idiot could have at least taken a bullet for him so he could live. But no, the one time he wished Loco to be here he was not. What were the fucking odds.
But before anyone could say anything, the woman standing before him dropped like rocks towards the ground. Followed by a delayed crack of something exploding in the distance. Actually it was not just 'something'. That something was a large caliber round plowing straight throw the Agent's upper thigh causing her to crumble to the ground with a grunt and thud. Temple backed away as he stared at the Agent clutching her leg in pain as blood rushed out of the now hole created in her leg.
"Fuck!" Carolina screamed, staring down at her leg as she tried her best to cover it with her hands. Pain rushed through her body and her heart began to race. In her mind she told herself over and over again to calm down but she couldn't. Though her mind was racing and she couldn't really focus on any of the hundreds of thoughts that rushed through her mind she was sure of one thing, she had been fucking shot by something massive. The hole big enough to fit two maybe three fingers inside. She pressed her teeth together trying to ignore the pain.
"Holy fuck. Holy FUCK! What is happening! You got shot! You really got shot!" Temple muttered as his brain also began to run at a thousand thoughts per second. He began to pace around as he locked his eyes on Carolina's leg. "I'm dead. . .no I'm in hell. This is hell and I got here because of all the horrible things I've done. I'm so sorry! Please God forgive me!" He muttered in nonsense.
Carolina's mind regained some function as rage rushed through her brain. Still clutching her leg as blood leaked through her fingers, staining her light blue colored armor. "You fuckers!" She spit at Temple who was still out of thought, muttering nonsense. "Who do you think you are! I'll kill you for this!" She reached for her gun, removing one hand from her leg as she focused on the trooper clutching his helmet pacing back and forth.
Though as she raised the gun with shaky hands, her mind staring to waver as her heart continued to race, a rush of chills went down her spine as she could feel something towering over her. Her eyes widened underneath her helmet as the weapon was kicked out of her hands, someone stepping into her sight. Carolina looked up to see someone clad in black, sun to their back covered in shadows, staring down at her with a stone cold and unmoving stance. A rifle gripped in one hand as Carolina's folded and bloody body was reflected in the visor.
"You- Reaper!" She muttered, both in anger and in shock. "What are you doing here!" She demanded, screaming as she was unable to move sitting on the ground.
He did not answer her question, instead he raised the weapon to her visor. Now it was Carolina who was staring down the barrel of a weapon. Noble Six looked over to Temple who was also staring in disbelief. He motioned with his head over to the side in order to tell the trooper to get the fuck out of there. However in that brief moment when the Spartan looked away Carolina turned towards her weapon that had been kicked out of her hand. Six in response quickly pressed the barrel of his weapon to her visor, stopping her in her tracks.
"I have questions for you." Noble Six stated, unmoving as he kept his weapon pointed clearly at Carolina.
"Fuck you." She spit, her leg continuing to bleed onto the green grass below her.
The Spartan did not respond nor did he even move in response to her statement. Instead he stood still, which only succeeded in causing Carolina's anger to grow. What was he doing here! Why was it that she was always caught off guard by him. Why the fuck could she not win! Why was it that it was her always on the ground. Back then she was the one that had to be carried away from the fight, now it was her sitting on the ground before her enemy totally useless! She clinched her fist. Dammit! Why was it that she was so weak! Why couldn't she just be better! Why couldn't she be the perfect soldier! Had she not given enough!
"The Sarcophagus, what is it?"
His voice was unmoving and calm. Carolina's eyes underneath her helmet looked up at the soldier. The man who had destroyed over a quarter of Project Freelancer's resources, alone. He had done that in such a short span of time, maybe a couple months, not even. Though she was surprised she couldn't help but ask herself, that's what he was asking? What else did he not know? What was he after? What could she find out? Her eyes looked up at the corner of her H.U.D at a blinking red dot. It was only a matter of time before her recovery beacon was discovered. If she could hold him until then. It would be a while but she could do it. If she could figure more information out, maybe she could get a victory out of it.
Her eyes scanned over his armor. What clues could she get from this? There was talks of a tag on his helmet, she had read the report even though she was told not to. A Spartan tag? Was this man really a legendary hero of the UNSC. A soldier capable of taking down entire armies by himself?
"What does Project Freelancer want with this canyon?"
Another question from him. This one confused Carolina though. What did he mean? This was a training location, used to train Freelancers, did he not know that? Was that not common knowledge?
"Screw you." She spit, this time her voice laced with much more pain. She was unable to hold her rage though it continued to build in her gut. She dropped her head. She didn't know if she could keep this up. With her leg bleeding as much as it was, he had shot straight through her artery. It wasn't enough time to get a response out of her beacon. Not to mention, with her anger and adrenaline fading she could lose consciousness any second.
Noble Six tightened the grip on his gun. Carolina was sure he was getting ready to shoot her. Could she really not do anything? Was this really it?
"Now, didn't your Mom tell you not to hurt a beautiful woman?" A new voice broke out from behind the Spartan clad in black. The Spartan's body tensed as his body went to spring into action only for him to stop with the sound of a shotgun cocking into action. The loud audible click letting him know that there was a shell ready to go. "Don't go getting any ideas there, Big Guy."
Carolina looked up, that voice sounded familiar. Her eyes focused on a man clad in tan and white armor. She took a deep breath and a wave of calm rushed over her. It was York, Agent New York from Project Freelancer. Though the question came quickly into her mind, what was he doing here? But it wasn't just him either. Her head turned and she quickly understood the situation.
All of them, they were all there. All Agents of Project Freelancer, including some additional ground personnel. All weapons forward pointing at the man in black armor. A whole army ready to shoot this man dead. Carolina could count all but a couple. Including Agent Texas. Soon her attention was pulled away by someone approaching her. She looked up to see it was her junior, Washington.
"Man, Boss." He stated in concern as he reached down to try and grab her and help her up.
Carolina quickly shoved him off. "Get off me, Wash! Give me the damn biofoam." She muttered as she reached her hand out. The younger Agent did nothing but nod, reaching down and giving her the medical supplies. It wasn't as if she didn't pack any. But usually those were carried either in the chest or on the sides of the legs. Unfortunately Six had placed a good bullet, for it also destroyed her supplies packed on her leg. And the ones in her chest were inaccessible. Surely he would have just shot her if she moved.
She placed the container towards the hole in her limb and pressed the button on top. The foam expanding in her wound with a sizzle as she winced in a quick shot of pain. Though finally after a couple seconds the bleeding had stopped and allowed her to finally stand. Washington went to move forward and support her but she quickly waved him off.
"What the hell are you guys doing here?" Carolina questioned, looking at Agent Washington.
Washington turned his head a little. "What you didn't know? We planned this. To capture him." He stated, looking at his leader.
"No, I fucking didn't."
Noble Six turned his head slightly. "Don't even think about it. There's only one of you and a lot of us, guy." York stated as he held his gun closely. "Even if you could somehow take down all of us here, we have two very good shots ready to blow your head off. Trust me, you wouldn't make it out of here." Maybe just maybe that was true. "Now drop the gun and turn around." Agent New York demanded.
Noble Six's eyes scanned his surroundings. He was indeed completely surrounded by many soldiers, including most of the Agents of Project Freelancer. So, he slowly turned around, looking quietly at the man before him with the gun. He dropped the weapon from his hand and continued to stand with his hands above his head. New York looked over at a couple of soldiers next to him and nodded. They walked up and reached for Six's hands as they went to cuff him.
"Uh, we're gonna need bigger cuffs." One stated looking back at York.
"Come on, just figure something out. Make a bigger pair by putting some together or something, I don't know just do it!" York replied as they nodded in response.
They quickly did so before nervously cuffing the Spartan. His body did not move, nor did he make a sound. Carolina had to admit that she was getting some sort of strange feeling from this. He was rather calm. Though, from what she had seen from this guy he was always calm. So, when he lowered his hands in front of him, cuffed and bound, two soldiers stood next to him. York lowered his weapon and turned towards Carolina.
"You okay Carolina?" He asked.
"I'm fine." She spit not taking her eyes off her attacker. "Also don't think I didn't hear that comment. I'll make sure I remember that." She threatened.
"Oh you heard that? Come on, Carolina. I just wanted to sound cool."
In the meantime, a pelican landed before them. Ready to have the Spartan loaded into the back and taken away. As it was landing a Freelancer Agent in purple walked up before Six. They leaned their weapon on their shoulder and looked him up and down with a confident stance.
"You aren't such a badass now that you aren't sneaking around, you damn coward." She spat before quickly throwing a punch straight across his helmet. The soldiers all turned around and stood on edge as they watched Six recoil from the blow. He did not stumble and lose his balance, he merely turned his head and then looked forward. "Yeah, fuck you asshole." The Freelancer spat.
"Come on South, what the fuck?" Washington comment walking up to her.
"Fuck off Wash. I owed him one. And much more." South stated before walking away, of course not before turning back and glaring something nasty underneath her helmet.
The back of the pelican opened and the Agents began to load in. York helped Carolina limp over and up the ramp. Though she threatened to punch him if he made any noise or comments. The other team of people, North, Wyoming and the others would be loaded into another Pelican headed back for the Mother of Invention. As Carolina sat down in a seat and the others sat around her she looked over to York.
"Where is she?" Carolina asked.
Sitting down and leaning back, York sighed. "Who? Tex?" He shrugged. "Don't know, she wasn't assigned to this I don't think."
Carolina looked down for a moment. What did that mean? Usually she would have been happy but right now she was more pissed that she was unaware of this mission. Not to mention if this was a planned mission to capture their number one threat, though she hated to admit it, she doubted the Director wouldn't have sent Texas. So why did he not? What was he playing at by not telling her anything and keeping her off the field. It just didn't make any sense.
But before she could think on it any more the loud and heavy foot steps of another walked up the ramp and caused all the Freelancers to look in that direction. Noble Six, cuffed hands in front of him walked up the ramp, escorted by two guards. Of course they didn't know him by that name and only called him, Reaper. It was out of fear and it showed with they way they all stared. They pushed him into a seat which he complied and the guards locked his feet to the railings. He sat straight, unmoving and looked aimlessly forward. All eyes seemed to be on him, watching him with some sort of glare or look. It would be a tense ride back. All studying him, staring at the tall, huge, man that had been hunting them for months. None of them said it, but all knew it, he was damn scary. He carried himself like someone that could kill anything. Most of them didn't even think he was human. Most of them.
"Agent New York, it would seem my calculations and suggestions to the original plan you had worked in your favor." A green light hummed next to York's helmet as he sat down. The voice was somewhat monotone. The voice, belonging to someone sounding male, carried itself with some sort of curiosity. A slight distortion of the voice making it sound a bit artificial. Soon, a little hologram of a soldier appeared in York's vision.
"Yeah yeah, D. Good work. My Plan was cooler though."
"It was a bit unrealistic."
And though the two continued to have a conversation without anyone caring, mostly due to the fact they were all focused on their new prisoner. Noble Six turned his head slowly and glared at what he was seeing before him. His eyes widened slightly.
Project Freelancer had A.I.
And boom! There it was! The return Chapter of this story! I can't promise anything when it comes to updates and some sort of routine, however! I have not forgotten about this at all. I love writing and I just got so busy that it took me away from this for so long. I started this story two years ago and I'm sorry for anyone that I let down for not writing or updating as much as you wanted. I do want to thank everyone that has been reviewing or did. Those give me motivation to write more. I read them constantly in my time away. I also got some Dms from you guys and I love talking to you. Thank you all for being here and I hope the next one comes so much sooner. I wish you all great days to come. Thank you all again I can't say it enough!
Peace!