A/N: Time for chapter 9 of Agent Reach! One question was asked that caught my attention from last chapter: Will Reach get his own AI? The answer is yes, eventually. I still haven't thought about which AI, specifically. I thought about him maybe getting Epsilon or Iota, but I want to keep that part canon. I'm thinking maybe he'll get Eta, with Carolina only going for Iota. And no, Missouri isn't based off the guy from the RvB Season 13 Trailer. Don't spoil it; I haven't even watched it yet,
Another good plot question that's been asked: Will Maine become the Meta? The answer is, no. instead of Maine becoming the Meta, it will be Missouri, due to a procedure the Director does to him. Sigma won't drive Maine insane.
Without further ado, let's begin.
*Chapter 9*
Mother of Invention
Date Unknown
The Director pushed a button on the control panel, tilting the bed onto its side. "F.I.L.S.S, we are ready to begin."
"As you wish, Director," the AI said, rotating the bed. "Agent Missouri is stabilized, and currently in the dream state."
The Counselor handed the Director a tube filled with a fiery red liquid, bubbling and hissing. "Director, here it is."
The Director took the tube, hooked it up to a medical machine. 'This will make Missouri stronger. Much stronger. He'll be known as the Meta.'
The machine lined up with the base of Missouri's skull, the sharp needle of the tube injecting the agent with the liquid.
Missouri's eyes shot open, his mouth open in a silent cry of shock. He eventually relaxed, his eyes drooping, but still conscious. They changed from their normal dark green to a deep orange, several parts of his blue/green armor glowing orange as well.
The Director rubbed his hands together, for the procedure was successful. "Excellent." 'It worked. Even Reach won't stand a chance at my creation.'
He faced the still conscious agent, a smirk on his face. "What is your name?" 'Just to make sure this went well. If he still calls himself Missouri, we'll need to give him another dose.'
Missouri looked up, his eyes burning orange and his deep voice little more than a growl. "I am the Meta."
The Director smirked and jerked his head towards the Counselor. "Get me the second supplement." The black man nodded silently, handing the Director another tube filled with a different, black liquid.
The Director held it up, observing its dark depths. 'This will make the Meta stronger than anyone, even Maine and Reach. No one will be able to stop my creation.'
With the tube ready to fill Missouri with the strength enhancements, the Director backed away a few steps. "F.I.L.S.S., begin the second procedure."
"As you wish, Director. Muscle enhancements ready to proceed in three, two, one." The second needle injected into Missouri's body, the agent starting to spasm uncontrollably.
His mouth opened in shock again, and his spasms died down, slumping and beginning to breathe normally again. A strange marking appeared on his chest, growing rapidly.
The Director smiled again. 'The symbol of the Meta. Perfect. Only one more modification to make.' He turned to the Counselor again. "Third enhancement."
The Counselor nodded and gave the Director the final chemical, one that would make Missouri not feel pain, although he would lose his speech as a result. 'I have to make sure that Missouri doesn't accidently announce who he is until the right time.'
The final chemical injected itself into Missouri's bloodstream, and his voice died down, until it was nothing more than a deep, dark growl. The Director wiped his brow, satisfied with the way it ended. "There." 'I have created the perfect killing machine. Nothing will stand in my way. I must continue with my attempts to bring back Allison, the proper way.'
The muscle enhancements kicked in, and Missouri's chest and arm muscles began to grow, rapidly. From the lack of emotion in his orange gaze, he didn't feel the immense pain. Another good sign.
Missouri flexed his arms, and the bindings on his medical bed snapped, releasing him. When he stood up, he sealed his helmet back onto his head, his armor glowing orange.
The Director handed him a Brute Shot, the same weapon Maine wielded. "Take this." Missouri took the weapon, running a gauntleted hand over the razor sharp blade and growling. He sounded eerily similar to Maine, and used the same weapon, too.
The Counselor, holding a small datapad, walked over to the Director, giving the Meta a worried look. "Sir, shouldn't we make sure he's combat ready? We don't want him to be unprepared."
'The tool has got a point, I suppose,' the Director admitted. He nodded curtly. "I'm already ahead of you, Counselor. Set up a round for the Meta in Training Room Bravo. Let's see just how powerful he is."
The Meta growled, seemingly itching for a fight. The Director's lips curved upwards. He has his eagerness to fight, still. A good sign.' "At ease, Meta. You'll fight soon enough."
The Meta let out a harsh hiss, flexing his arms and cracking his knuckles. He was beyond ready for a fight. The Director smirked at his small outburst. 'He'll be very useful, indeed.'
The three walked out, heading to the secret training facility on the ship. Training Room Bravo was unknown to most of the Freelancers, save for Agent Florida. But the veteran soldier never used it, instead preferring to train with the other Freelancers in Training Room Alpha. As a result, Bravo was always empty, save for a few maintenance cleaners.
The Meta stepped inside, loading the rounds into his new Brute Shot while the Director and Counselor went to the observation deck. The Director keyed the private COM, having a few instructors he could spare for this test. "Meta, you have full permission to terminate any targets. Your opponents have been issued live rounds. Do not hesitate. Do you understand?"
The Meta let out a growl, bringing his Brute Shot up. The Director smirked again. "Excellent. F.I.L.S.S., begin the test."
"Test beginning. First round starts in five seconds," the ship's A.I. said, signaling the Meta to get ready.
Five trainers stepped into the room, each with a sidearm and Battle Rifle. They all took aim at the Meta, who stood in an intimidating manner on the other side. He clicked his helmet on, a small hiss as the armor was sealed.
"Begin," F.I.L.S.S announced.
The Meta jumped into action, firing several rounds from his Brute Shot. The small explosions took out two of the five trainers immediately, leaving the remaining three stunned.
Their moment of surprise proved to be fatal, as the Meta swung the sharpened edge of his Brute Shot like a sword. The blade cut another trainer in two, his mouth open in a cry of shock and pain.
The body hit the floor, and the two remaining trainers began to back away, drawing their sidearms and firing. Even with the live rounds, the Meta didn't flinch as specks of blood appeared on his massive chest, and he continued to stalk towards them.
One of the trainers got too close to the enhanced agent, and the Meta grabbed his arm, twisting it. Even from the observation deck, the Director could hear the fragile bones in the man's arms snap like twigs.
The trainer's pained screams filled the Counselor's eyes, who was shocked by the pure power of their creation. He turned to the Director, stunned. "Director, sir, he must be stopped! He's going rampant!"
The Director shook his head and continued to watch the test, his eyes cold. "The test will proceed, Counselor." 'If he doesn't shut up, then I'll gag him myself. This test will continue.'
The Meta spun the man around, kicking him in the back. He flew into the cold metal wall with a loud crash and didn't get up, blood pooling around his body.
The lone trainer cowered away as the Meta loomed over him, growling and cracking his knuckles. "Y-you're not human! You're a monster!" The Meta grabbed him by the throat, slamming him against the wall and crushing his windpipe. A line of foam dripped down the dead man's mouth, and the Meta tossed his body away, the test complete.
"All targets terminated. Test is complete,'" F.I.L.S.S. announced, no change in her voice. The Director nodded in satisfaction. "Good work Meta. Now, we can begin Phase 2 of our plan."
The Meta growled again, and he followed the Counselor and Director, leaving the room filled with bodies.
-0-
A Few Hours Later
Texas rubbed her head, unable to sleep due to someone's voice in her head. "Texas, you should start to eliminate all threats."
The blonde Freelancer let out a groan, rolling over in her cot. "Goddammit Omega. Just go the fuck to sleep!"
The AI laughed darkly, and Texas began to wonder for the umpteenth time if the AI was insane. Ever since the implantation, she noticed her aggression levels had risen, and she had splitting headaches much more often than comfortable.
'And I'm not only one, either,' Texas added bitterly. Earlier today, Carolina had undergone surgery, gaining a new AI by the name of Iota to enhance her abilities. She too was losing sleep, and had opted to go down to the training room to practice.
Originally, South Dakota was going to receive Iota. However, due to her sour attitude and bad temper, the Director changed his mind and gave it to Carolina instead. Not too surprisingly, the lavender Freelancer threw a bit of a tantrum, throwing a bench in the locker room.
And now, just to rub it in, it seemed that Reach was receiving his own AI.
Texas let a small, amused smile curve onto her lips as she imagined South's inevitable rage. 'Even he got an AI before her. Talk about a burn.'
Washington didn't seem upset in the slightest when he found out he was being pushed back a bit. He shrugged it off, saying, "I've waited this long; I don't mind waiting a bit longer."
North Dakota had tried to cool his hot-headed sister down, but she turned on him, saying that he already had an AI and thought he was better.
After a long, tiring argument, Maine eventually ended it by hissing at both of them, brandishing his Brute Shot. Even mute, no one was crazy enough to fuck with Maine. Well, apart from that nutjob Missouri.
Texas closed her eyes again, hoping that Omega would just shut up and let her sleep, but he kept whispering strange, dark things. After an hour of lying there, awake, Texas gave up and walked out of her dorm, deciding to check on Reach.
When she got to the medical wing, however, he wasn't there. 'I guess he's still undergoing the surgery.'
Texas sat down next to a bed, hoping that the AI Reach received would at least be sane, instead of constantly whispering about taking over the world with an evil robot army like Omega.
-0-
Reach was a bit wary when he was called into the medical wing, even more so when he saw a small chip. 'This doesn't look good.'
He stood at attention when he saw the Director, his facial features hidden beneath his Mark VI helmet. "Sir." 'There's no reason for him to suspect me yet. Texas and I haven't had the chance to search CT's files for any clues yet.'
The Director nodded slowly. "At ease, son." His tone was slightly cold, though it still held the same authority.
Reach wanted to ask as to why he was summoned, but something told him to keep his mouth shut. 'I have a feeling this will be explained in a few seconds.'
The Director folded his arm behind his back, pushing his glasses onto his face. "Agent, I feel that it is time you have been given something that will enhance your abilities on the battlefield. An artificial intelligence program, or AI for short."
Reach's brown eyes narrowed slightly under his helmet. 'I swear, the more time I spend here, the more it seems to be a parallel universe to my own. Covenant weaponry; Insurrectionists; AIs…what's next? Dr. Halsey being alive and well?'
The Director held up the chip, which under better light, Reach could see was an AI chip. "We'll begin to proceed." He motioned to the bed, and Reach forced his legs to move forward, removing his helmet. 'No going back.'
Reach felt two needles pierce his skin, and his mind was flooded by an icy coolness, numbing him. 'This is to make me not feel the pain…but I'm a Spartan. I've felt worse than this.'
He heard the chip click into place, along the sound of a drill whirring. 'Or maybe not.' Reach braced himself for the splitting pain he was sure would come.
But it didn't. Reach could feel the drill break his skin, along with the blood trickling down his back, but the pain was nonexistent. The drugs, whatever they were, were working. Reach closed his eyes, forcing the slightly sickening sound of the drill out of his head.
He felt the small incision get stitched up quickly and neatly, and Reach's eyes began to droop. 'So tired…'
-0-
Texas watched as a pair of medics carried Reach onto a bed, huffing a bit at his weight. The blonde Freelancer stood up. "Is he okay?"
The medics nodded, wiping the sweat off of their brows. "Agent Reach's operation was a success. The AI Eta has been installed successfully."
Texas let out a small sigh of relief. 'Good.'
Soon after the medics left the two, Reach's body began to shake, sweat pouring down his face. A small gasp escaped him, and Texas nearly froze in shock at the word that left his mouth.
"A-allison…"
A/N: *smirks* Well, there's the AI and Meta situation figured out. Reach has Eta, Missouri's the Meta, and much more is on the horizon. Wait until next time to see what happens next!
Ja'ne!