Everyone lined up on the stage, keeping their heads up and proud as Kimball walked by them to the nearby podium.
The crowd before them stood to their feet, applauding and cheering wildly. Flashes of lights from cameras danced around them.
Doc, Donut, Kaikaina, Lopez, Sarge, Grif, Simmons, Virginia, Carolina, Washington, Tucker and Caboose gave waves to the audience.
Kimball cleared her throat before she began to speak into the microphone.
"Good evening, everyone! We are here today to celebrate and acknowledge the heroes of the Reds and Blues of Project Freelancer. Their diligence, team work, selflessness and bravery are prime examples of what it means to be a soldier. They brought Temple and his men to justice, yet again. We lost some good lives on the way, and I ask for a moment of silence, to remember those who have been taken from us."
A screen popped up in the background of the stage, flashing images of various soldiers who had passed from the Fugitive Prison Break-Out, the bombing at the Capitol, and lastly, Dylan Andrews.
Jax stood in the front row, recording the ceremony. He sniffled, trying to fight back tears as he was flooded with memories of Dylan.
"Gone, but not forgotten," Kimball continued. "We have erected-"
"Bow chic a bow wow." Tucker whispered. Wash elbowed him lightly in the ribs.
"-a fountain in memory of those who have been lost. It's the new center of the Capitol, and it will serve as a reminder of how precious lives are. A reminder of how precious friends are. A reminder of how not to take advantage of the moments we are given."
Kimball turned to the row of heroes. Behind her, Lord Terrance Hood stepped beside her and they approached each of the team members and stuck a badge to each of their chest pieces. The badge was decorated with a star and a ribbon of red and blue stripes.
Lord Hood and Kimball finished placing the badges on the soldiers, and then saluted them. The audience cheered loudly, throwing confetti into the air.
"Let this day forever be called 'Red and Blue Day'!" Kimball announced and started clapping as she turned to the soldiers.
"This is my proudest moment. Ever." Sarge sniffled.
"I wish my mom could see this." Simmons said, choking back his tears.
"Let us continue this day, in celebration!" Kimball called out over the microphone and the crowd cheered.
"Now, that's what I'm talking about." Grif whispered. "Let's hope there's food."

The team was escorted into the Capitol Hall; a massive building that houses the Supreme Court building, treasury and a library.
The inside had a cleared out ballroom, where various buffet tables had been propped up. Various tables were spread out around the ballroom. They left an opening for a makeshift stage and a dance area.
"Wow, they're really rolling out the red carpet." Tucker said as he looked around the room.
"This will be your table." Announced the soldier escort who lead the group to their seating. A sign in the middle of the table that labeled it as reserved.
"Oh man, I'm gonna go devour that buffet table." Grif announced.
"What a shocker." Kaikaina said in a snarky tone. Grif ignored his sister's comment and made his way to the buffet table, happily scooping up a plate.
Various military representatives stepped in his way and began to shake his free hand and patting him on his back; making him whimper as he looked over their shoulders at the food.
"This is Kimball outdoing herself." Carolina said as she looked around the room.
"I think it's a nice gesture!" Donut said.
"Are you wearing a bow-tie?" Tucker asked Donut.
"Heck yeah!" Donut adjusted his pink bow-tie.
"Hey, isn't that Jax?" Simmons said, nodding his head to the crowd of people flooding into the ballroom.
A familiar cameraman walked in and once he caught eye with the team, he rushed over.
"Hello everyone! What a wonderful speech Kimball gave."
"Did you record everything?" Wash asked.
"Of course I did!"
"Can I trouble you to send me a copy? I'd like to send the footage back home." Simmons acquired.
"OF COURSE! Once I'm done editing." Jax said happily. "I'm thinking of adding some patriotic music in the background, drum beats, maybe having a flag flap wildly in the breeze..." Jax began to ramble. "Just the thought of it brings a tear to my eye."
"I'd like to see that." Sarge admitted.
"Anyway, I'll be on the sidelines recording more footage from tonight! Have fun everyone!" Jax said.
"Just don't record us doing anything embarrassing." Tucker called out to Jax as he walked away.
"I'm gonna go grab a drink." Kaikaina said, seeing a bar set up next to the buffet.
"Would you like a drink, Sienna?" Simmons asked, his arm propped on the back of her chair.
"I would love one. Make it a beer." Virginia smiled. Simmons nodded and walked with Kaikaina to the bar. Tucker got up and decided to join them.
"So, how are things going with you two?" Carolina asked Virginia.
"We're... great. Richard is wonderful." Virginia said, staring at Simmons as he walked away.
"You two are quite cute." Wash commented in a teasing tone.
Grif interrupted the conversation by coming back to the table, holding a plate in each hand with several finger foods.
"Gazooks, Grif. Leave enough for the rest of us?" Sarge asked.
"First come, first serve." Grif shrugged and slipped into his seat. He picked up a shrimp cocktail and began to devour.
The music began to play through the speakers, and an array of lights began to twirl around the room. Simmons came back and sat in his seat, putting a beer in front of Virginia and himself.
"How you feeling?" He asked as he leaned in to Virginia.
"I'm fine. Sometimes I hardly remember that I was stabbed." Virginia chuckled as she took a swig of her beer.
"I love this song!" Doc said and got up from his seat.
"So do I! Let's boogey!" Donut and Doc ran off to the dance floor. Everyone looked out at the dance floor to see Tucker and Kaikaina dancing, holding a drink in one hand as they shook their butts.
"Care to dance, boss?" Wash asked as he leaned in to Carolina.
"Is your dancing any better than your fighting ability?" Carolina teased. Wash put a hand to his chest, acting like he got shot.
"I'll have you know I am an excellent dancer." Wash laughed and hopped up to his feet; extending his hand to Carolina. Carolina shook her head as she took hold of Wash's hand. He pulled her out to the dance floor.
"I'm gonna go dance!" Caboose announced and ran out to the floor.
"El baila como un pez que se cae/he dances like a flopping fish." Lopez commented from his seat.
"Not gonna go do the robot, Lopez?" Simmons asked.
"Caer muerto/Drop dead." Lopez replied.
"I think I feel a little jig coming up." Sarge said as he drummed his fingers on the table. "I might as well go 'cut a rug'." Sarge got up from his seat and ran out to the floor.
"I think we should join." Virginia said as she looked at Simmons.
"Yeah? I'm not much of a dancer." Simmons said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "But I'll gladly embarrass myself for you." The two began to walk around the table, before Simmons stopped to Grif and slapped him in the upper back. "Grif, you should come dance."
"Yeah, in a minute. I don't want my food to get cold." Grif said as he waved Simmons on. Everyone joined together on the dance floor, watching everyone's various techniques in dancing. Grif sighed, shrugged and dropped a cracker onto his plate, deciding to follow his friends.
Once he stepped into the ground, everyone interlocked arms and began to kick their legs out. They spent the night, throwing back drinks, taking pictures and video, and dancing carelessly.
"Guys, I just have something to say-," Donut said as the group huddled together for a picture.
"Don't ruin it, Donut." Grif warned. Donut sniffled.
"I love you guys!" Donut cried out.
"That's so sweet!" Doc commented.
"Ugh. Are we going to get emotional?" Grif sighed.
"I love you too, buddy." Simmons said as he put his arm around Grif's shoulders. Grif looked at Simmons, stunned.
"Are you... drunk?"
"Um. Quite possibly." Simmons said, then he hiccuped. "But that doesn't change the fact that you are my best friend." Simmons poked a finger into Grif's chest.
"...Yeah... you too, buddy." Grif chuckled. "I guess you're not so bad, for a nerd."
"I don't know what I would have done without all of you." Carolina admitted.
"Men. And women. And robot. It has been an honor to serve alongside all of you for several years." Sarge spoke up. "Regardless of our differences, our fights, we came out victorious. We fought against all odds. We have lost quite a few good men along the way, but something remained through all of it...,"
"I love when Sarge gets sentimental." Donut sniffled.
"We had each other's backs." Sarge finished. "I am proud of my team." He patted Donut, Grif, Simmons and then, Lopez on the shoulder. "And, I guess, even you dirty blues."
Sarge extended a hand to Tucker, who shook it firmly. Caboose walked up to Sarge and gave him a hug.
"Good speech, Sarge." Wash said as he gave a nod to Sarge.
"What's going to happen... after all this?" Caboose asked, sadly. Everyone paused, keeping silent. Nobody wanted to say it.
"Let's... just enjoy this night." Carolina said, putting her arms around Wash and Virginia. "We will cross that bridge when we get to it."
Everyone nodded in agreement, and continued to dance long into the night.

Wash groaned, unsure of he was either having a headache from drinking too much or if it was from his neck injury. He rolled over, seeing the familiar red hair tossed up in a pony tail, completely still next to him in bed.
He reached out to her and watched as her body rose with each breath. He scooted his body closer and wrapped an arm around her waist as he gave the back of her neck a kiss. He could see the injection scars from where the A.I's had been implanted.
"Good morning." Spoke up Carolina. He felt her hand run along the top of his hand.
"G'morning." Wash replied, then he sighed.
"You alright?" Carolina asked, sounding concerned.
"It's just... saying goodbye..." Wash tried to assemble the words.
"I don't like goodbye, either." Carolina admitted. "But it's not forever. It's just... for now."

The team grouped together in the dining hall of the hotel they were put in for the night. Everyone sat in silence, stirring the food on their plate.
"So, we're on the next ship home." Tucker said. "We ended our lease to our apartment the other day, and we're all packed."
"Yeah, we're heading back to Hawaii." Grif said as he gave a nod over to his sister.
"It will be nice to see mom, at least." Kai spoke up, still sounding sad.
"What about me?" Caboose asked. "And Freckles?"
"I think we can convince the military to let you keep him." Wash said as he approached the table with Carolina. He pulled up a chair to the table and sat down. "And, we'll help to make sure you get home safely, Caboose." Wash put a hand on Caboose's shoulder.
"I'm staying." Sarge announced.
"What? Why?" Grif asked.
"I can't return to the normal, boring life of being a civilian!" Sarge huffed. "I'm going to stay on Chorus. Help Kimball's military."
"That sounds very fitting, sir." Simmons said.
"And the best part, Lopez will stay with me." Sarge added.
"What are you two going to do?" Grif asked Simmons.
"Virginia is gonna come home with me and meet my mom." Simmons said, almost sounding excited. "We have to finish the last bit of paperwork on the condo, Grif." Simmons reminded him. Grif nodded, staring down at his food.
"Doc and I are going to go backpacking through Europe." Donut said as he patted Doc on the back.
"What about Carolina and yourself?" Simmons asked Wash.
"Well..." Carolina looked over to Wash. "I guess we like it here. We are starting over. A fresh start." Carolina patted Wash's thigh. Everyone went quiet.
"At least we had last night." Donut mentioned. "I'm gonna make a scrapbook!"
"And a lifetime of memories." Sarge added.
"...This kinda sucks." Tucker spoke honestly.
"I actually agree with Tucker on this." Grif said. "At first, I hated this damn army. I couldn't wait to leave. I hated all of you. Now, that it seems like we're going home..."
"This doesn't mean goodbye." Carolina said. "We can all keep in touch."
"You've been awfully quiet, Virginia." Simmons said as he looked at her.
"I guess I'm just... processing." She explained. "First, losing the Freelancers. Then, it's like I'm losing family all over again."
"You're not losing all of us. We're all alive. We'll just be... scattered." Wash explained. Sarge held up a cup of coffee.
"To the Reds and Blues of Project Freelancers." Everyone held up their cups and clanked it against his mug.
"Cockbites."