A/N: Chapter 35…the one I've been dreading. As much as I hate having Massa betray Wash, it flows with the future chapters of this fanfiction better than if I don't have it happen. I hope I don't get bombarded with the same amount of hate mail like when I cut Reach's arm off.

*Chapter 35*

Hypionia

Washington landed their Pelican, and he stood up, flexing his shoulder. "We're here." Massachusetts got up as well, letting out a slow whistle. "Well damn…what the hell happened to her? It looks like the result of some sort of explosion." In front of them was the rear half of the Mother of Invention, and Washington grabbed his Battle Rifle from his back before stepping out of the dropship, performing a quick sweep of the area. 'We're clear.' "Reactor failed. Blew the ship in half."

"Looks like someone forgot how to fly," Epsilon snorted, checking his holographic rifle. Massachusetts let out a sigh, walking forward and gently touching the Titanium-A armor of the frigate. "Epsilon, can you perform a scan of the frigate's systems? I'd love to ask Xei, but as you can clearly see, she's…busy. And she hates it when I interrupt her." The blue/white Freelancer's AI was actually dancing, and Washington placed a hand over his visor. "You've got to be fucking kidding me…" 'First jump rope, now dancing? What the hell is next with her?'

It didn't help that the pink AI had a song playing along with her dance. In a completely different language. "What. The. Hell." 'Is that J-Pop? Man, these AIs really have peculiar tastes in music. At least Delta's wasn't annoying.' "What the hell are you listening to? It sounds…foreign. And really, really, girly."

"She's been addicted to some J-Pop singer from over five hundred years ago since the time I got her," Massachusetts sighed. "I don't understand it either. Mainly because I have no idea what the hell the girl's saying. For all I know, she could be saying someone's mom is a skank or something."

"I'm getting no read from the ship's engines, artificial gravity, or weapons systems. Computer systems are still online, though. We can get some files," Epsilon informed. "No heat signatures on the thermals, either. It looks like we're the only ones here." Washington grunted and found an entrance, aiming his rifle at the control panel. "Good. We can get what we need and bail out. I don't want to be here any longer than I have to."

He fired, and the three-round burst destroyed the control panel, the door sliding open with a screech. "Come on." Inside the ship, it was dark, with several wires and equipment sparking occasionally. "Power's down. Use your night-vision." 'It's…quiet. Too quiet. I really don't like this. For all we know, the Meta could be using something to mask his body heat.'

The Meta had already been given a Super Strength unit with his AI Zeta, but in his rampage, he had acquired an Overshield, Drop Shield, Super Speed, Time Distortion, Health Regeneration, Active Camouflage, and Chameleon units, along with the AIs capable of running them. Washington wouldn't put it past him to add additional equipment to give him the extra advantage of defeating heat signatures. 'Even with that EMP device…we could accidentally wipe out both Xei and Epsilon along with the Meta's AIs.'

A small contact appeared on his motion detector, and the black/gold Freelancer gave Epsilon a glare. "I thought you said nothing was on the thermals." 'Dammit. Someone's here, and the FOF tag isn't identifying it. Another Freelancer?'

"There isn't," Epsilon growled. "Whatever that is isn't human. It's not the Meta, or a Freelancer. It's probably another AI unit that's stuck here. My guess is Rho, Agent New Jersey's old AI." Massachusetts faced the powder blue AI, confused. "But Jersey didn't use an AI. He practically insisted on not being given one."

"Then someone explain what the hell it is," Washington muttered in annoyance. "If it's not an AI, a Freelancer, or the Meta, then what is it?" Several more red dots appeared on his motion detector as they walked through the halls, some of them moving erratically and too fast to be a person. "Shit. I know what this is." 'That bastard's here. He's using a combination of several pieces of Freelancer equipment.'

"What?" Massachusetts asked, pulling the bolt on her Sniper Rifle. Washington prepped his own weapons, flicking his night-vision on. "It's the Meta. He's using Tex's Active Camo and Carolina's Chameleon abilities. That's why there are all those red dots all over the damn place." 'Either he knew we'd end up here, or we just have shitty luck. Either way, this ends today.'

"Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me," Epsilon sighed. "Xei, stop fucking dancing. We have a goddamn problem. The Meta's here." The pink AI stopped, and she hid back in Massachusetts's suit. "What~!? How~!?" Even though she was a very bubbly and chirpy AI, Xei was scared enough to hide.

To Washington's relief, the incredibly questionable music had also stopped, and he let out a breath. "Don't know. Don't care. This shit ends now." 'I need to repay him for all the trouble he's caused and for what he did to York and North. Those two were the closest to brothers I had…and he murdered them.'

He slid a clip of the Freezer rounds into his Battle Rifle, pushing a heavy door open with a grunt. "Sorry Massa, but your EMP device will destroy Xei and Epsilon, and we need them for our ticket out of this mess. I'm freezing the bastard." The blue/white Freelancer nodded, drawing her DMR. "Alright…but it won't be easy. Don't forget he has both a Drop Shield and a Time Distortion unit. He can use both of those to evade them."

"How could I forget? He got the shield by murdering North," Washington growled, his grip on his rifle tightening. "Of all the Freelancers…he's definitely one who really didn't deserve his fate. Same with York." 'The two nicest guys in the project, and they both end up dead. And then Reach, Tex, and Maine go MIA with South…'

He checked the team roster on his HUD, and he was surprised to see a new addition on the KIA list, and it wasn't just New Jersey who had recently been placed on it. "Wyoming? When the hell did he buy the farm?" 'Now Wyoming's dead, too? Who killed him? Another Freelancer, maybe?'

His motion detector beeped out a warning before Massachusetts could answer, and he pulled a grenade from his waist. The sensor indicated a contact further down the dark corridor, and it seemed to be massive. The black/gold Freelancer pulled the pin and threw it, ducking behind the door way as it detonated. He heard the unmistakable sound of a Drop Shield being deployed just before the explosion, and he ran forwards, his rifle aimed.

But, there was nothing there, save for the shield until it died. Washington checked his detector again, only for it to read that it was clear. But someone, most likely the Meta, was here. "I've got nothing. Whatever it was, it's gone." 'That, or he's crouched down and cloaked to hide. But in all the time he was a Freelancer, stealth was not his biggest attribute.'

"Same," Massachusetts whispered. "Nothing's reading on the thermal imaging, either. But he's definitely here. Keep your eyes open, Wash. Look for a slight shimmer or a distorted space." Washington grunted and flicked his helmet's flashlight on, his Battle Rifle raised. "Thanks. Cover me." 'Xei and Epsilon are being awfully quiet. Hopefully to hide their presence from the Meta.'

He tried to find any trace of the Meta using its invisibility, but he couldn't see anything. "Dammit. It got away. I can't see a damn thing." Massachusetts lowered her weapon, shaking her head. "It's long gone. We probably missed it by a fraction of a second…it most likely used its Time Distortion unit."

Washington growled in anger and walked forward, looking up as a red contact appeared on his motion detector again. 'It's the Meta.' He jumped backward as a large mass dropped through the ceiling, ruined sheets of titanium falling down and burying his Battle Rifle. "Hello, Meta. It's been quite some time, hasn't it?" 'You might have the equipment of the others, but that doesn't mean you have full control of it, even with the AIs. One suit can only handle so much power.'

The Meta had added several additions to his armor, too. Both shoulders were heavy Security pieces, designed to withstand massive physical abuse. And instead of just a Brute Shot as his weapon, he carried a Gravity Hammer in one hand, growling menacingly. 'He has a Gravity Hammer now, too. As if dealing with a Brute Shot wasn't enough.'

Several AIs flashed around the mutated agent, and Washington drew his knife, holding it backwards. 'Zeta, Gamma, Iota, Theta…but where's Delta? If he killed York…then shouldn't he be with him or something?' The Meta's armor began to glow orange, and the black/gold Freelancer cursed under his breath. "Fuck…" 'His Overshield is active. That makes this much harder.'

The Meta growled and drew his hammer, swinging it. Washington ducked, and he rolled backwards, preparing himself for another attack. "Massa, a little help here." The blue/white Freelancer fired her DMR's Freezer rounds, and the Meta threw a Drop Shield down, shielding himself from harm.

The icy bullets froze the outside of the shield, and it shattered as the Meta slammed his Gravity Hammer against it. Washington shielded his head as frozen shards flew in every direction, some getting stuck in the walls of the ship. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me." 'So much for that plan. Right then. Plan C.'

The Meta growled as it shook off pieces of ice from its armor, and it gripped its hammer tightly. Washington tried to grab his sidearm when a powerful swing caught him in the chest, sending him into Massachusetts. "Okay, now that seriously hurt." 'Nothing's broken yet…but at this rate, we'll both end up dead.'

They got to their feet and returned fire, several bullets impacting on the mutated agent's heavy armor. A few rounds managed to penetrate the suit's Overshield, small wounds leaking blood. But being unable to feel the physical pain that would've downed any other agent, the Meta continued to advance angrily, swinging its hammer in an attempt to crush both Freelancers to death. 'This guy's practically un-fucking-stoppable. He doesn't feel pain like the rest of us.'

Massachusetts unloaded a full clip from her DMR into the Meta's chest, his green/blue armor starting to stain crimson. He hissed in annoyance, swinging his arm and knocking the precision weapon away. Massachusetts backed up, trying to get her hands on her Sniper Rifle when Washington leapt, attempting to tackle the Meta. "I'll try and hold him!" 'Easier said than done. He has the strength of a grizzly bear.'

And sure enough, the Meta reached back with one hand, grabbed him, and threw him over his shoulder before kicking him away. Pain exploded in his body, and he bit his lip to prevent from crying out. He struggled to his feet, only to be knocked into the air by a powerful uppercut. Washington fell on his back, and the Meta slammed his hammer down onto him, several bones breaking from the force. 'N-no…not like this…' The edge of the hammer cut into his visor, slicing through his right eye and partially blinding him.

The black/gold Freelancer tried to sit up, and the Meta leveled his Brute Shot at his throat, the blade pressing against it. A silvery gray AI flashed up, a satisfied smirk on her face. "Three dead, and six more to go, including you. Goodbye, Agent Washington. Now, kill him Meta." The Meta growled and prepared to slit his throat when Massachusetts ran, grabbing his shoulder. "NO! Jason!"

The Meta froze, slowly turning around. Massachusetts discarded her helmet, desperation and sadness in her green eyes as she forcefully removed the Epsilon unit from Washington's back armor. "Please…don't kill him, brother. I'll give you the damn AI. Just leave him be."

Washington coughed, struggling to his feet. "W-what are you doing!? I thought we were trying to kill him, not help him!" He rose to his knees when Massachusetts drew her Magnum and fired, shooting him in the chest. Tears were leaking from her eyes, and she choked back a sob. "I'm sorry…but I needed you to come along. You were my best bet at finding Epsilon, and my brother. And now that I have…I can't allow you to turn him in and get dissected by ONI, or face a firing squad. I'm sorry Wash…"

Washington coughed, blood splattering on the inside of his visor. He felt another stinging pain as he got shot again, and his body convulsed. "N-no…" Massachusetts fired a third time before lowering her weapon, silently crying. "I didn't want to do this…but I don't have a choice. I'm so, so, sorry…goodbye, David."

Massachusetts picked her helmet up, and she pulled on the Meta's shoulder, dragging him away. "Come…I'm not letting you become another UNSC experiment. Please…" Washington raised an arm, but he couldn't move. His recovery beacon started to beep, and he let his head crash against the wall as he watched the two leave, abandoning him. 'M-massa…'

'Why…?' His grey eyes lolled, and he slumped into unconsciousness, broken, beaten, and betrayed.

A/N: So sad…I really hate this crap sometimes, especially when I have to either kill or betray a character that I get attached to. And Wash is one of my favorite Freelancers. Next chapter will revert back to the Reds and Blues. See you then.