"DAMMIT!" Tucker screamed as he was thrown back by several feet after being kicked in the gut by Virginia.
Wash spun and kicked Tucker in the back, sending him flying forward. Tucker curled his chin in to his chest and rolled forward, then climbed to his feet.
While the three of them engaged in a spar match, Carolina stood along the wall, talking to the others.
"What if we just go public?" Carolina asked. "You know, go out there and make our presence known. Let them come to us."
"So you're talking about setting up bait again?" Simmons asked.
"I know I'm getting antsy. I'm tired of being cooped up in this underground bunker." Sarge huffed. "We need to charge out there; guns blazing."
"We need a plan that will not get us killed." Grif pointed out.
"How do you know we'll get killed?" Sarge asked.
"Rushing out with guns blazing is just asking to get killed. And getting killed in a hurry." Grif replied.
Tucker was huffing and put his hands on his knees.
"I think, we need to lure them out of hiding." Tucker said. "Carolina has the right idea."
"We can't use Kimball as bait again. Or a robotic version of her." Donut said. "It runs the risk of her being captured and getting killed!"
Tucker sighed and rolled his shoulder.
"What if we have Kimball make an announcement about us? Like... a public party or something?" Tucker suggested.
"Then we run the risk of innocent pedestrians being slaughtered in the process." Wash added.
"Hmmm... how do we tempt them out of hiding?" Virginia said as she walked over to join the others.
"They need to be tempted by something that they want..." Carolina hummed curiously.
"And what could a bunch of fugitives running from the UNSC, looking to hunt down a bunch of sim troopers and Freelancers want?" Wash pondered. "An abundance of what they want."
"Holy shit, I have an idea." Simmons spoke up. Everyone looked at Simmons, who rambled out his idea quickly.
"...That's... actually an impressive idea." Carolina said, surprised.
"Let's get this ball rolling, then." Wash said as he walked down the hallway to talk to Kimball.
The UNSC freighter hummed loudly as it came over the hill. Temple watched through the scope of his sniper rifle; his weapon he obtained off a dead soldier at the federal prison.
"There's our target." Temple announced to Bucky, Cronut and Gene.
The freighter was followed by another freighter, along with a single soldier riding on a mongoose vehicle by the side.
"It's filled with plenty of bombs and armory. Enough to take down the Capitol with one swift strike." Gene announced, looking at a projection of a manifest that listed the inventory on the two freighters. "Right on schedule."
"Let's get down there." Temple ordered. "They're heading to the trap."
They moved down the hilltop, moving through the brush and trees. The sun was an orange glow behind the trees, casting long shadows. The freighters came around a corner, kicking up the dirt in the road.
Cronut put on his act - stepping out into the path of the freighters while waving his hands frantically.
The soldier on the mongoose slowed in front of the freighters. The soldier raised a hand, signaling for the freighters to stop.
"What seems to be the problem?" The soldier asked as the mongoose skidded to a halt. The freighters came to a stop with a screech.
"My ship... it's crashed!" Cronut cried out in a panic. He limped closer towards the soldier on the mongoose. "I have wounded! Please! We need help!" Cronut sounded upset; his armor dirtied with mud and dirt.
The soldier slowly moved a leg over the mongoose and stepped off the vehicle. The soldier was unaware of Gene, who dropped down from the trees to the top of the first freighter. Bucky dropped from the trees and dropped down onto the roof of the second freighter.
"Please!" Cronut continued his act, limping closer to the soldier while holding onto his side.
"Don't worry. We'll help." The soldier said reassuringly.
"T-Thank you!" Cronut cried out, hiding his smile under the helmet as Temple stepped out of the shadows behind the two freighters. Cronut dropped to his knees, moaning in pain.
"Don't worry. We'll help you." The voice of the soldier began to distort with static. It sounded manly and gruff, then it began to change.
Cronut looked up confused, seeing a gun pointed right at his face.
"Uh... what?"
"ATTACK!" Temple called out, not knowing that Cronut was held at gunpoint.
Gene yanked open the driver door to the first freighter, finding himself face-to-face with a familiar brown robot.
"Hola imbécil/Hello douchebag." Grif leaned forward from the side of Lopez and shot Gene with a gun. The gun fired an electronic pulse that electrocuted Gene and sent him flying backwards into a tree.
Bucky swung open the door to the second freighter, finding himself shot by Tucker with the same electronic pulse that sent him convulsing on the ground.
"Booya, asshole!" Tucker laughed.
"What the fuck?!" Temple gasped.
"Surprise." A familiar voice came from behind Temple, and he felt a jab in between his shoulder blades.
"Agent Washington." Temple growled.
"Drop your weapon." Wash ordered. Temple dropped his sniper rifle as he put his hands up in the air.
"Um...?!" Cronut was whimpering as he looked at the soldier before him. The black armor faded to teal, and he realized he was facing Carolina.
"Hello there." Carolina said playfully, her voice no longer distorted by her voice changer. Cronut began to step backwards, until Carolina lunged at him and smacked him over the head.
"Looks like we got you surrounded." Wash pointed out to Temple. Temple heard the clicking of the guns from all sides. His eyes shifted, seeing the familiar soldiers step out of the freighters and pointing their rifles at him and his soldiers.
"Son of a bitch..." Bucky groaned. Tucker stepped over him.
"Hey asshole." Tucker beamed. "This is for Dylan." He stomped on his face, knocking Bucky out. Gene laid slumped against the tree, completely still.
"UNSC is landing now." Simmons announced as he got off his radio. "They'll take these crooks into custody."
Virginia walked over to the slumped over form of Gene, and as she reached for the katana handle that was visible behind his back, Gene thrusted a knife into Virginia's gut.
"AH!" Virginia screamed.
"VIRGINIA!" Simmons cried out, realizing what had just happened.
"VIRGINIA! NO!" Wash called out, suddenly being sucker-punched by Temple. Wash growled and grabbed Temple's throat and threw him into the side of the freighter.
Virginia stumbled back, holding onto her gut. Gene cackled and leaped at her, only to be tackled by Simmons.
"Restrain the others! Tie them up!" Wash ordered.
"I know how to tie fancy knots." Donut announced. Simmons knocked out Gene after punching him furiously. The helmet rolled off of Gene's head and off to the side. Simmons then grabbed the katana off his back and tossed it to the side.
"We got this." Tucker said to Simmons as he grabbed hold of Gene and began to tie him up. Simmons rushed over to Virginia, who was being looked over by Caboose and Carolina.
"Cronut, Bucky and Temple are now tied up." Donut announced.
"Virginia?" Simmons held her head up and removed her helmet. She winced in pain as she held her gut. "Get the medic out here quickly!"
"I know we should have brought Doc!" cursed Wash.
"UNSC is coming this way!" Sarge announced, seeing the soldiers running up the road.
"Will she be okay?" Caboose asked with concern to Simmons.
"I hope so." Simmons said as he helped apply pressure to Virginia's wound.
"You're going to rot in prison." Wash said as he glared at Temple. Temple was grasped by several UNSC guards; being handcuffed quickly.
"You..." Temple growled at him. "You goddamn Freelancers!"
"Hey, don't forget about the rest of us." Tucker chimed in.
The UNSC soldiers grabbed Cronut, Bucky and Gene; handcuffing them and dragging them to their vehicles.
A medic ran over to Virginia and motioned for assistance.
"She's losing blood fast! We need to get her to the hospital!" The medic called out. He motioned for Caboose and Simmons to step back as she was put on a stretcher.
Simmons watched as she was loaded into the back of a vehicle, feeling a rush of panic.
"Do you think they'll want this?" Grif asked as he stood next to Simmons. In his hand was the katana.
"I'll take that." Simmons said and took the katana out of Grif's hand and clipped it to his back.
"Thank you, soldiers." The colonel came running over to the Reds and Blues. "Great plan of attack. Those scum will rot in jail." He saluted the soldiers before running back to his vehicle.
"I'll radio Kimball and give her the good news." Carolina said.
"I'm going to head to the hospital." Simmons said, hurrying past everyone to get a ride to the hospital.
"I'm gonna go, too." Caboose said, following behind Simmons.
"I think I'll tag along, too." Sarge said as he went to follow the other two. Grif sighed and without saying anything, ran after his colleagues.
"Let's all go." Carolina suggested. Everyone got into a vehicle and rushed off into the night as the UNSC claimed their borrowed freighters and mongoose.
"Kimball?" Carolina called out on the radio.
"Good news, I hope?" Kimball asked.
"The plan worked. They are all in custody with the UNSC." Carolina sounded like she was smiling.
"I never doubted any of you." Kimball said, happily. "Is everyone okay?"
"Virginia's been stabbed. She's being rushed in as we speak. We're going with her to make sure she'll be okay."
"Please keep me notified. I will make a public announcement soon about their capture. It will feel good to finally leave this bunker." Kimball forced a chuckle.
Everyone stood or sat in the hospital waiting room, watching the chaos of people being rolled in on stretchers.
Simmons sat in a chair, bouncing his leg.
"Dude, chill the fuck out." Grif said, sitting next to him. "I can feel you shaking from here."
"I can't help it. I'm nervous." Simmons admitted.
"Big freaking surprise." Grif said, crossing his arms.
A television hanging on the wall flickered to a news broadcast of Kimball, standing at a podium. A row of words rolled across the bottom of the screen.
"I am here and happy to announce that the fugitives identified as Temple, Bucky and Cronut, along with a new addition identified as Gene, have all been captured by our heroes known as the Reds and Blues. They have been apprehended and are in custody of the UNSC as we speak."
A roar of applause could be heard echoing through the television.
"Does this give us celebrity status?" Donut asked.
"You should feel proud, Simmons. Your plan worked." Wash said as he patted Simmons on the shoulder.
"Yeah, not bad for a nerd." Tucker chuckled. Simmons nodded, keeping quiet.
"Geez dude, you must be worried. No bitchy comment? No quick remark?" Grif pointed out.
"Worry with love." Donut said, gushing. "It's so romantic."
"Can it, Donut." Simmons grumbled.
A group of hospital workers began to walk by and began cheering and clapping for the Reds and Blues.
They extended their hands and went down the row, shaking hands with them.
"Thanks. Thank you." Sarge was beaming.
"Oh, sure! I'll give you an autograph." Donut said happily.
"Thank you for your service!" One of the hospital workers said happily, and the group skipped off happily down the halls.
"Well, that was... interesting." Wash admitted, feeling slightly uneasy from the unwanted attention.
Simmons was the first to jump to his feet when he saw Dr. Grey coming around the corner.
"How is she?!" Simmons asked quickly.
"Well, she lost quite a bit of blood. Buuut, she is stitched up and will do fine. As long as she's on bed rest and doesn't do anything extraneous for awhile." Dr. Grey said in her hyperactive tone. "So that means NO. FIGHTING."
"Oh, thank God." Carolina sighed with relief.
"That's great news." Wash added.
"Can we go in and see her?!" Simmons asked as he stepped closer to Dr. Grey.
"Of course. She's out of surgery now." Dr. Grey nodded and motioned for Simmons to follow her.
"You guys coming?" Simmons asked as he looked at everyone.
"We'll give you guys some... alone time, first." Carolina said. Simmons nodded and continued after Dr. Grey.
"I'm gonna give Kaikaina a call." Tucker announced.
"Great! I'll call Doc and Jax! I'm sure they're moved out of the bunker now." Donut added.
Simmons stepped into the room and saw Virginia looking tuckered in the hospital bed. She smiled when she saw him enter.
"Hey, handsome." She smiled, looking weakly at him. Simmons sat in a chair next to the hospital bed and took hold of her hand.
"Oh, thank God. You're alive!" Simmons said as he lifted his helmet off over his head. He quickly brought her hand to his lips. "I was so worried." He admitted.
"You were a bit of a bad ass out there." Virginia chuckled. "Kinda hot how you beat the snot out of Gene." Simmons began to blush.
"O-Oh yeah?" He cleared his throat as he tried to hide his blushing face. Virginia nodded.
"And your plan worked like a charm." She squeezed his hand. "I am so proud of you. You really are quite intelligent." Virginia brought his hand to her lips and give it a kiss.
"Ah, it was no... big deal..." Simmons chuckled, his cheeks bright red. "I mean. I guess I am awesome."
"And totally sexy." Virginia grinned. Simmons stared into her eyes, smiling.
"Oh yeah?"
"Yep." Simmons stood up and kissed her lips.
"I'm glad you think so. Rest up, so you can be released." Simmons whispered.
"Will do, Doctor Simmons." Virginia said playfully.
"Hm. That has a nice ring to it." Simmons pondered as he walked out of the room. Virginia watched as he left, her eyes focused on the katana that was clipped to his back.
