A/N: Whoo-hoo! Chapter 6 of Agent Reach! Again, I still cannot believe this is my most favorited and followed fanfic! Thanks for the support guys! This is where Reach gets his new armor ability (no, it's not Armor Lock or Bubble Shield), and then they go after CT.

*Chapter 6*

UNSC Mother of Invention

The next day

Reach left the training room, flexing his shoulders. 'That was a good warm up.' For him, there was nothing like getting in a good sweat early.

His helmet COM beeped twice, and Reach stopped as the Director's face appeared on his HUD. "Director." The man leaned back in his chair, his arms folded neatly behind his head. "Agent Reach. Report to the armory, son. We have a certain addition to give you. For your armor."

'What does he mean by that?' Reach wondered, slightly confused. He gave a curt nod. "Yes sir. I'll be there shortly." The COM went blank, and Reach walked to the armory, still wondering about the Director's words. 'What does he mean by armor addition? Is something missing from this? Apart from shielding, obviously.'

The door hissed open, and Reach stepped inside the armory. Three technicians were waiting for him, along with the Counselor. Reach stood straighter at attention. "Counselor." The black man gave the former Spartan a slow nod. "Agent. Please, come here. It is time that you received a gift from Project Freelancer. A new armor ability."

Reach nearly stopped in his surprise, but he forced his legs to move forward. 'Armor abilities? Huh?' The technicians set to work removing his armor, and they were doing all of their work on the chest piece. Reach eyed the Counselor with slight unease. "Permission to speak freely?" 'I'm not too sure I like this…'

The Counselor nodded, and Reach glanced at the technicians, who were still working on the former Spartan's armor. "What do you mean by armor ability?" 'I'd at least like to know where this is going.'

The Counselor gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Reach. This is merely something to enhance your abilities, and will prove to be useful in the field. Once it is fully tested, of course."

Reach let out a small sigh of relief. 'Thank you.' "I see…" It was better than he expected. The three technicians stood up after about five minutes, the main one wiping his forehead. "New upgrade successfully installed, Agent Reach. Would you like to test it out in the training room?"

Reach nodded curtly. "Of course." 'I need to make sure this new ability at least works.'

The technician smiled and waved him along. "Well, feel free to test it out, agent. Let's see if you like it." Reach walked onto the training floor, and a new stat on his HUD appeared. 'Cloaking? Is this what I think it is?'

He activated his new ability, and sure enough, it was. Reach's lips curved upwards into a small smile. 'Active camouflage. This is just perfect.' He ran at a pair of trainers, and he noticed that the cloaking barely even flickered. 'Good. This will be handy in the infiltration of that damn base and in getting Connecticut's armor.'

He turned to the technicians, who were waiting for his feedback. "It's very good. I like it." The Counselor smiled, happy to hear the former Spartan approved. "Glad to hear it."

Reach then got a call on his HUD, and the Director's face appeared. "Agent Reach. Report to the debriefing room immediately." Reach snapped to attention. "Yes sir. I'll be there shortly." Perfect. This is what I've been waiting to hear since yesterday.'

Reach gave the Counselor a quick salute. "I'll be going, then." The Counselor nodded quietly, and Reach quickly made his way to the briefing room, where all of the Freelancers were.

The Director stood in the center of the room, his arms folded behind his back. "Agents. We have confirmation that Agent Connecticut has indeed deserted us, and is planning on turning over her armor to the Insurrection." He paused, and Reach could tell that some of the Freelancers were a bit shocked to hear this news, including North Dakota and South Dakota.

"This cannot happen and must be prevented, at all costs. Agent Reach has suggested a massive team of agents for this mission, and here are the teams that I have decided on. Main combat team will consist of Washington, New York, and Maine. Our stealth team will be Wyoming and Florida, and the armor retrieval will be Carolina, Texas, and Reach," the Director announced.

South immediately began to complain. "And what about us!? How come we don't have anything!?" The Director narrowed his eyes in annoyance. "For that exact reason, South Dakota. Stop complaining, for you and North Dakota will be the ship's guard." The blonde Freelancer grudgingly shut her mouth and looked away in frustration.

The Director shook his head. "Number one priority is CT's armor, but if you see the leader of the Resistance, take him out. He is a threat to the future of this Project. Understand?"

The Freelancers snapped to attention. "YES SIR!" The Director smiled. "Good. Now, get ready ASAP. Echo 479er will be your ticket ride, so don't keep her waiting."

Reach followed the Freelancers to the armory, where he grabbed his Battle Rifle and Magnum, sliding fresh clips into both weapons. Tex holstered a sidearm as well, while Carolina wielded what seemed to be two Plasma Rifles. 'More Covenant weaponry…'

They walked into the hangar bay, where479er was waiting for them. She turned back at all of the Freelancers. "You know the drill. Don't leave my bird bloodied up."

"Are you going to give us our peanuts?" York called out, hints of exasperation creeping up into his voice. Washington scoffed and he slumped in his seat. "She won't ever give us them. She's too lazy."

"Got that right," York muttered, hoping the pilot wouldn't hear his comment. Maine let out a sharp hiss, and the two fell silent before the massive Freelancer got riled up. Reach let out a soft chuckle at the way they seemed to respect the silent Freelancer. 'Heh. Maine certainly has them on a leash, even though he can't exactly yell at them.'

The flight to the landing area was short, and Echo 479er dropped them off without saying a word. Washington jerked his head over to the facility. "There's our target."

The base was massive, easily three times the size of the facility they recently destroyed. Several Warthogs were parked outside, and Reach could see the high number of infantry. 'This won't be easy at all.'

-0-

Washington and York led Maine to a secluded area, where they would be unseen until they were given the signal to start some chaos. Maine grumbled as he stroked his Brute Shot carefully, feeling the sharp blade.

Sigma whispered in his head, and he could feel his fiery temper rise. "That soldier could possibly be here, Agent Maine." Maine let out a growl, furious. That bastard ruined his vocal chords and could have killed him. It made him seem weak, and Maine was not weak.

They heard a sound of shots go off, and the three Freelancers flew into action, firing at the rebels. Most were caught unawares, save for one with a robotic arm. He jumped into a Warthog and tried to drive it at Washington and York.

Maine jumped in front of it, grabbed the bumper, lifted it up, and he tore the Warthog to pieces, one of them striking the man Maine wanted to see dead more than anyone.

The sleeveless Insurrectionist.

Sigma appeared on his shoulder and he had his eyebrows raised. "Agent Maine, isn't that the soldier from the freeway? The one who shot you in the throat?" Maine growled angrily, balling his hands into fists. 'Yes.'

Sigma smirked and folded his arms behind his back. "I thought so. Sick 'em." Maine walked up to the man as he struggled to get up, dazed from the hit. He stood over him, cracking his knuckles and growling in fury.

The man tried to deliver a powerful punch, but Maine caught his fist, bending his wrist back to put the man on his knees. 'Not so fucking tough now, are you?' He cocked his fist back and punched him in the head, sending his helmet flying.

Maine looked at the unmoving body with hatred. 'Welcome to Maine.'

-0-

Carolina leveled her Plasma Rifles at one of the rebels who had fallen, Girlie. "Well, hello. Nice to see you again." Carolina caught a flicker of movement out of the corner of her eye, and she rolled to dodge a punch from the rebel with a robotic arm.

Carolina sucked her teeth as she saw one of her weapons was ruined. She tossed it away, taking aim again when a knife stuck into it, also rendering it useless. Girlie drew a pair of knives from her back and began to twirl them in her fingers. "Pleasure's all mine, bitch."

'Well, now this is a little annoying.' Carolina thought irritably as she dodged a swing from Girlie, with the other man following her strike up. She pushed the two back before drawing her stun baton, fully extending it.

The man with the robot arm was then picked up by a familiar white Freelancer. 'Maine. Thanks for helping out.' Maine slammed the man on the ground, and he then threw himself at him, the rebel barely ducking in time.

Maine flew through the air and collided with Carolina, both of them falling. 'That was not pleasant.' Carolina dusted herself off before beginning to fight with Girlie again, kneeing her in the stomach.

Maine picked up his Brute Shot and fired a round at the man, and he used his robotic arm to throw the small explosive back at its source. The round went off, and Maine was covered in smoke. The Brute Shot soared in the air, and the blade sliced off the man's arm. He fell onto the ground. "Ah! My robot arm!"

Maine picked up his Brute Shot and charged at the man, who was still cursing the silent Freelancer. "You son of a bitch!"

Maine fired several shots, and the man fell off of the base and into the water below, not resurfacing.

Carolina flipped over Girlie, then spun around and kicked her in the head. Her helmet soared off and she barely hung on to the edge of the base.

Maine smirked as he held the fallen robotic arm over Girlie's head. She grabbed it, looked up, and swore. "Fuck." Maine let go, and Girlie also fell into the water.

Carolina gave him a curt nod. "Hold this area, Maine. Wyoming and Florida are going in now." She ran after York and Washington, with Reach and Texas still waiting for their 'go' signal.

-0-

Wyoming and Florida crept into the inside of the base, and sure enough, walking casually with the Resistance Leader, was CT. They were flanked by two rebels equipped with heavy armor and chainguns, and they stopped when the leader put his hand up. 'He knows we're here.'

CT drew her Magnums, trying to find Florida, who was on top of the ceiling rafters. The leader reached behind him, and he drew a tomahawk, the sharp blade gleaming in the dim light. He coked his arm back, and he threw it. "Catch."

The weapon soared in the air, and it struck Florida in the shoulder, sending the blue Freelancer tumbling to the ground. The leader of the Resistance seemed pleased. "Surprise." He turned to the two rebels with the chainguns. "We have company! Mow them down!"

The two rebels aimed their chainguns at the ceiling rafters where Florida was hiding and fired, sending a wave of bullets in that direction.

Wyoming stepped out of his cover, Sniper Rifle in hand, and fired two shots, both of them bouncing off of the heavy armor. 'Damn. These rounds won't penetrate that armor, and Florida is down. This isn't looking too good for us.'

He stepped behind another concrete wall, taking cover. He knew if he stepped out now, he would be destroyed by that firepower.

Wyoming heard the doors open, and two more Freelancers joined him. Washington and York. Talk about good timing.' "Nice to see you join the fun, chaps."

"Hey Wyoming," York returned, also taking cover. Carolina joined them, looking at Wyoming, who was the furthest back. "Wyoming, move up!"

The British man shook his head. "I would like to not be killed, if all possible." Washington looked over his shoulder, only to duck as a hail of bullets soared towards him. "We need to find a way past these two. CT is with the leader of the Resistance, and she has her armor."

"I'm about to find one, involving me throwing a certain Brit at them, if Wyoming doesn't move the hell up!" Carolina growled angrily, sending a glare at the white Freelancer's direction. Wyoming smirked at her comment. "Yes, yes, I can see everything just fine from here, thank you."

Washington scoffed and turned to York. "Maybe he should try one of his knock-knock jokes." Wyoming perked up. "Really? Knock-knock."

York rolled his eyes and put his hand up. "No one's there, now shut up." Wyoming smirked under his helmet. "Shut up who? Shall I go on?" 'Let's see how long it'll take for them to get annoyed.'

York let out a groan of frustration. "We were kidding! Now shut up!" Before Wyoming could open his mouth to say more, two figures in active camouflage ran past them, dancing between the two rebels.

Carolina let out a scream of frustration. "No! Cover me!" She leapt out, running past the bullets while Washington was still stunned. "That's the plan!? Cover me?" He and York fired three rounds bursts to distract the rebels, and they quickly drew back into their cover.

Washington shook his head, panting. "Wow, she really hates to lose." York nodded grimly, looking at Florida's unmoving body. "Yeah, and it's not just them she's fighting against."

-0-

Reach and Texas were outside the door, and Reach groaned inwardly as he heard something activate on the other side. 'Turrets. Two of them. We'll need to take the power out before we can get past them.'

Carolina joined them, and she pressed up on the other side. "Remember the objective. We're just here for her armor." Texas let out an annoyed hiss. "I know what the fucking objective is, Carolina."

The redheaded Freelancer put her ear against the door. "Two turrets. There must be a way past them." Texas let out a scoff. "If there was a way, we would have done so already."

Reach opened a channel on the COM. "York, we are outside the room. we need the power to be taken out again." He could hear gunshots on the other side, and Reach knew they were still stuck with those two chaingunners.

The COM crackled static for a few seconds before Reach could hear York's voice. "We're a little busy at the moment, but we'll step on it. Power should be out in sixty, over."

Reach cut the channel giving Texas a nod. "They're working on it. It'll be dark in sixty." The black Freelancer didn't reply as the seconds ticked by, and they didn't make a sound.

When the lights did go out, Reach could hear the turrets deactivate, along with an annoyed male voice. "Dammit." Reach slid a clip into his Magnum and stepped inside, followed by Texas and Carolina.

He saw a woman in brown armor, trying desperately to get the leader of the rebellion to follow her. "Please, we don't have much time!" Connecticut.

The door hissed closed, and Carolina leveled her Magnums at the two. "Actually, you don't have any time." CT tensed up as she saw both Texas and Carolina. "Carolina, Texas!"

Carolina glanced in Reach's direction. "And…" CT looked at Reach in surprise. "Who are you!?" Reach leveled his Magnum at the leader's head. "Agent Reach." 'Traitor.'

The Com crackled, and York's voice filled everyone's ears. "Reach, Carolina, Texas; the power's out." Reach opened his mouth to thank the tan Freelancer when Carolina shot back an annoyed reply. "We noticed."

"What, and I get no thanks!?" York asked indignantly. Reach's lip twitched as he heard the tan Freelancer's AI speak next. "Actually, I did most of the work, Agent New York."

York let out a frustrated groan. "Give it a rest, D." The Com then shut off, and Texas stepped forward. "CT, you have something that belongs to Project Freelancer. And you know how the Director hates to share."

CT shook her head, trying to plead her case. "Don't you see? The Director's playing you all!" Carolina scoffed and raised her Magnum a bit higher. "CT, stop it. We know you've been feeding information to the rebellion for months now."

The leader laughed bitterly. "Is that who they told you we are?" CT stepped forward again. "They're not the enemy. He's playing you all. You don't know what the Director's done! He's broken major laws, and in the end, we're all going to have to pay for his crimes." She looked at Texas next. "Maybe some of us already are."

Texas tightened the grip on her pistol. "You better stop talking now." Reach could feel the fury dripping from her. 'What does CT mean by the Director's committed major crimes? Something's not right, but she's still a traitor.'

CT shook her head furiously. "No! I know what you are, Tex. And I don't take orders from shadows." Texas began to glare furiously, shaking in anger. "What did you just call me?"

Carolina glanced at the pissed off Freelancer in worry. "You're coming with us, CT. this is your last chance." They didn't notice that the leader of the rebellion was slowly backing up, where a gleaming sharp tomahawk lay.

CT remained firm, unflinching. "No, I'm not going." Texas looked at Reach briefly before turning back to CT. "Actually, we don't need you. We just need your armor."

She raised her pistol and fired, the bullet striking CT in the helmet. The leader of the rebellion cried out, "No!"

Reach noticed that CT's body then flickered. 'A hologram!?' CT twisted Texas's arm behind her and stabbed her in the back. Reach could hear her gasp slightly before she was thrown forward, right into the rebel's tomahawk. Texas fell in a heap and didn't get back up.

Reach was stunned, before he drew his knives and began swinging them in furious arcs, trying to get at CT. 'You fucking bitch.' "Keep him busy! CT's mine!"

He struck CT twice before she used her Hologram ability to avoid him again, and this time, the leader of the rebellion was in her place. Carolina's pistol clattered to the deck, and she began fighting with a stun baton.

Filled with fury, Reach dragged the man in closer to him before slamming his fist into his head, throwing him away. He grabbed a pair of tomahawks, spinning them and catching CT in the shoulder.

The brown former Freelancer flickered, and Reach threw the last of his weapons. The blade sank into CT's stomach, and she fell against the wall.

Carolina tried to stop him before he drew his knife. "What the hell are you doing!?" Reach jerked his shoulder away. "Completing the objective."

Carolina grabbed him to look at her. "By killing a teammate!?" Reach snorted coldly. "She's not a teammate; she's a fucking traitor." He heard a door hiss closed, and Reach saw the two hobble away in an escape pod.

Reach slammed his fist into the metal wall, denting it. "Dammit!" He turned to Carolina, shaking in fury. He pointed at her chest. "That's on you! Maybe you can explain how we lost a full suit of armor, and let the leader of the Resistance get away!"

Reach picked up Texas's still body, hearing her breathe frantically. 'She's barely alive. We need evac. Otherwise, she's dead.'

He put a hand on the side of his helmet. "Command, we have wounded and need evac, now!" Echo 479er's voice crackled out a second later. "Read you loud and clear, Reach. Evac in thirty seconds, over."

As Reach walked out of the base, with Texas in his arms, he heard Carolina hiss something at him. "I don't know what's gotten in to you, Reach, but you better learn the difference between your enemy and your friend."

Reach scoffed and walked away, still furious that the light blue Freelancer stopped him from completing their objective. 'All of this was for fucking nothing.' He saw an escape pod soar away from the base, and Reach clutched Texas's body tighter. 'I'll find you, CT. And when I do, you're as good as dead.'

Echo 479er's Pelican arrived, and all of the Freelancers were silent with shock when they saw Texas barely alive. Maine rested his hand on Reach's shoulder, grumbling something in comfort.

Reach patted him on the back. "I'm sorry, Maine. I let her get wounded." The massive Freelancer stayed quiet during the flight back to the Mother of Invention, and the Director's eyes widened when he saw the scene. "Impossible…"

Reach handed Texas over to him, blood dripping from her wounds. "Mission failed. CT and the Resistance Leader have escaped." 'All because of Carolina stopping me. I could have ended it once and for all.'

He watched as the Director carried her away, and he tried to push the thoughts of her possibly dying out of his head. 'No. Spartans never say die. We never can die.'

'We just go missing in action.'

A/N: *Looks around nervously* um…please don't hate me for making Tex mortal unlike every other fanfic. I do have a good plan on how I'm gonna explain the reason why Tex is a human (sort of). also, for the fight with CT, listen to 'Pray', as it is the bloody song from that fight…that's what I did XD. Feedback is always appreciated.

Ja'ne!