A/N: Okay, here's the very late chapter 2 of Agent Reach. The first chapter was a test version, just to see if anyone would be interested, and boy was I surprised. 20 favs and 20 follows! Thank you so much! But now, I will give you chapter 2. Let me start this baby up!

*Chapter 2*

Noble Six was sitting in his bed now, fully interested in what the Director of this mysterious 'Project Freelancer' had to offer. 'If this is a deal to join, I'm accepting without a moment's hesitation.'

His prayer was answered by the Director. "Would you like to join as a new agent of Project Freelancer?" Noble Six opened his mouth to reply, but Tex beat him to it, and he was surprised to find out Tex was a woman. "Sir, are you crazy!? You don't even know who this person is! For all we know, he could be an Insurrectionist spy that managed to infiltrate our defenses!"

The Director sighed. "I am aware, Texas. But we are not winning fast enough for my taste. So now, we are going to be recruiting this man, if he is interested." Noble Six nodded curtly. "I am, sir. When can I start?"

The Director's lips curved upwards in a smile. "Good to hear that, Six. However, you should take the time for your body to recover before we send you out on the field. But, we will give you your new name amongst the Freelancers."

Six held up his hand. "Sir, with your permission, I would like to choose my own name." The Director paused, and after a quick glance with Tex nodded. "Very well. What will we call you?"

"Agent Reach."

-0-

Wyoming and York were sitting down in their quarters, watching a Grifball game when a knock sounded on the door. Wyoming looked up. "Who is it?" The door opened to reveal a bit of a surprise. Wyoming gave a confused glance at York, who shrugged. "Director? What are you here for? It's not another daily dose of knock-knock jokes, is it?" York began to groan at the mention of the British man's habit. "Please don't..."

The Director stepped inside, his hands behind his back. "I'm sure that you must have heard from agents North and South Dakota, but I'm going to tell you anyway. We have a new arrival onboard, and he clearly has sufficient skill. This man has taken up an offer to join us, and become an agent of Project Freelancer." He paused, as if he were waiting for an outraged demand to be heard. When York and Wyoming remained silent, he continued. "He will be known as Agent Reach. Do you have any questions?"

York raised his hand. "Yes sir. This...Reach person, just who is he? I'm not exactly confident fighting or training with someone I barely know. Look at where that got me last time." He pointed to his bad eye, and Wyoming couldn't blame him. It was the day Tex arrived, and York, Maine, and himself tried to take her on three-on-one. After getting utterly destroyed for many rounds, Wyoming and Maine began using live ammo, and the end result was not pretty. Maine had thrown a grenade, and Tex had to put York into armor lock before the blast killed him. It cost him his eye, and his wariness of strangers grew.

The Director didn't flinch. "I am aware of your mistrust of strangers, Agent New York. Agent Texas has also voiced her concerns, and I'm sure many others will too. But, this is not the time for this mistrust. The Insurrection is not dying; in fact it has doubled in size. We need to put a stop to their activities now." York nodded curtly and sat back down.

Wyoming spoke up himself. "i'm afraid I must agree with agents York and Tex. This man, Reach, is not in any of our databases. For all we know, he could be a spy, waiting for the right moment to pick us off, one by one."

The Director gave Wyoming a look, and he couldn't tell if it was annoyance or just the way his face was. "Wyoming, as one of our top five agents, I must say I expected you to be a little less cold in greeting to Agent Reach. As far as I can see, he has done nothing wrong to deserve your coldness. Why don't you two go and see him in the medical bay to decide for yourself if he's part of the Insurrection?"

Wyoming narrowed his eyes, and he jerked his head over to York. "Come. You heard the Director. We don't want to be next on the demotion list, do we?" York sighed in resignation and followed him, casting one last glance at the Director. "I swear, I really hate this shit."

Once they were out of the Director's earshot, Wyoming slammed his fist into a wall. "Goddammit, what the bloody hell is he thinking!? Accepting a complete stranger as an agent of Project Freelancer!? Either he's raving mad, or this is just a bloody joke!" York put his hand on his shoulder. "Calm down. Look, we'll go in there, and we'll fire a few questions at him. If he seems like an Innie soldier, we kill him then and there. No need to drag it out."

Wyoming calmed down, shaking his head. "Chap, this is just madness." They arrived in the medical bay, and there was the man the Director had talked about: Agent Reach.

He had dark brown hair, light green eyes, and a strong jaw. He looked as the two Freelancers, nearly fully armored, entered the room. He lifted his head up. "May I help you? The Director told me to get some rest."

Wyoming shared a nod with York, and the two Freelancers took up flank on either side of him. Reach didn't seem fazed in the slightest, and he just tilted his head back. "So, you think I'm your enemy? i'm not too surprised. Many seem to be that way when they first see me."

Wyoming stroked his mustache thoughtfully. "So, Agent Reach, I am Agent Wyoming, and this is Agent New York. Just call him York; it saves time. Now, we're here to fire a few questions at you. If you say anything that seems like something an Insurrectionist would say, we'll kill you. Clear?"

Reach smirked, as if he knew they would do something like this. "Crystal, Wyoming." Wyoming sat down, and York remained standing, his sidearm on his waist. "Agent Reach, we do not have any information on you in any of our databases, so naturally we are suspicious of your true intentions. Agent York here is especially wary, for he has an extreme mistrust of strangers like yourself."

He paused, letting it sink in. Reach didn't bat an eye, and he motioned for them to continue. "Go on. I'm all ears."

Wyoming glared. "Reach, what do you know about Lieutenant Ian Harper?" Reach looked confused, and if it was all a guise then it was a good one. "Ian Harper? I'm afraid I've never heard that name, not anywhere. I happen to be from another time, another world to be more precise. Didn't the Director inform you of that?" Without glancing to his right, he spoke again. "I would appreciate if you didn't point that at my face. Last time I checked, I wasn't the bulls-eye at target practice."

York lowered his sidearm, holstering the weapon. "Not bad, Reach. Not bad at all." Wyoming shot him a slightly annoyed glance. "York, quiet. He might be good, but it's still unclear if he is the enemy of not. Don't give in so easily."

Reach chuckled in amusement, as if the whole thing was funny. "Boys, do calm down. I am not a part of this Insurrection that you are fighting. Although I do have experience fighting them in my old world. And as far as I can see, in war you need all the hands you can get, am I right?" It was like a dare to say he was wrong. And as much as Wyoming hated to admit it, Reach was correct. The Insurrection was growing by the second, and their new advances in technology were keeping them in the fight with the UNSC and Project Freelancer.

Wyoming glanced at York. "He passes. Report to the Director and the Counselor immediately." York nodded and left in a hurry, off to find the man responsible for this whole project. 'As far as I can tell, he's not an Innie. But when he said he came from a different world, what does that mean? I'll have to ask him later, perhaps.'

He extended his hand in greeting. "Welcome aboard the Mother of Invention, home to Project Freelancer, Agent Reach. May I wish you a full and speedy recovery." Reach nodded and the British man left, casting one last glance at the new agent. 'I do hope this isn't a terrible mistake.'

-0-

After the meeting with Wyoming and York, Noble Six, now Agent Reach, felt himself getting tired. 'I suppose it is only natural for them to be wary of me.' He let out a yawn before crashing his head on his pillow, falling asleep.

Next Morning

UNSC Mother of Invention

Date: Unknown

Reach woke up, and the first thing he realized was that he was no longer in pain. He looked down at his wounds, and they were already fully healed. One benefit of the SPARTAN III program: the accelerated healing. Reach stretched out, and he was surprised to see the medic standing about four feet away, clipboard in hand. "Agent Reach, you are officially discharged from the medical bay. Do me a favor and try not to get set up here again so fast. I could use a break."

Reach chuckled as he got out of the bed, most of his armor (save the helmet) already cleaned and repaired. he put the suit back on, happy to be in it again. "Good thing I still have this." He hated not being in his armor, for it made him feel vulnerable.

He left the medical bay, and he was again surprised to see the Director waiting for him, a small smile on his lips. The new agent snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir!"

The Director returned the gesture. "At ease, son. So, you are fully recovered?" Reach slowly blinked. "I'm at 100 percent, sir." The Director pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Good. Now, I'm afraid that your helmet for you armor was lost, unable to be found. But, luckily for you, we do happen to have a spare ready. If you will follow me, please."

Reach fell in behind the Director, keeping silent the whole way. Reach was not one to be known for his talking skills, unlike Kat or Emile for that matter. He was more of he 'quiet yet deadly' types, which suited him fine.

The Director led him to some sort of armor facility, where spare parts for the suits were held. The Director had a technician inside toss him a helmet, which he gave to Reach. "This is yours. Put it on."

Reach took the familiar piece of equipment, running his hand over the smooth visor of the Mark VI helmet. 'Good to have you back.' He put it on, the familiar hiss confirming it was sealed on. He gave the Director a nod of approval. "Fits perfectly, sir. Thank you, sir."

The Director smiled. "Very good. Now, I imagine you must be very hungry, and I refuse to have any agents pass out in the field, so go get something to eat." Reach was aware of the grumbling his stomach made, and he gave the man a salute again. "Yes sir."

He left, and he became aware of the fact that he did not know the location of the cafeteria. "Bugger." He saw Agent York walking by, and Reach walked to him. "Excuse me, Agent York, but can you show me where the cafeteria is? I'd really hate to get lost in a ship as big as this one."

York nodded. "Yeah, just follow me." Reach fell in behind York, and after about ten minutes they arrived in the cafeteria, with Reach being aware of the fact that all eyes were on him.

Reach got a plate of barbeque, and he sat down at a table alone, silently eating his food. He heard footsteps, and he found himself staring into the visor of another Agent with purple armor. "Can I help you?"

The agent took of their helmet, and Reach saw it was a woman with short blonde hair. "I'm South Dakota. I heard you're the new recruit." Reach simply looked bored as he stared. "You heard right, South," He picked up his fork and started to eat again, he he saw that South didn't leave. Annoyed, he looked up. "What do you want? I'm trying to eat."

South narrowed her eyes, "I want you, you see. They say you're good. Prove to me that you can be an agent of this group." Reach stood up, done with his meal. "Is that a challenge?" He refused to flinch, especially now.

South narrowed her eyes again. "You bet it is, new boy."

"I accept."

A/N: Heh, here we go! Reach versus South! Who shall win? I don't want to make Reach completely OP, but at least make him a good fighter. Questions, comments or any other feedback is appreciated.

Ja'ne!