Simmons rushed to the computer monitor and hooked up the hard drive. His fingers ran over the keyboard, tapping furiously.
"How long do you think we have?" Grif asked as he kept looking down the hallway. Simmons was grumbling as he started the download process.
"I don't know. A few minutes? As long as we're out of here by the time they clear the building." Simmons explained, not removing his eyes from the monitor.
"Well, hurry up." Grif ushered.
"Don't rush me!" Simmons snapped.

The scientist opened the door to his office, giving a sigh as he cracked his neck. He went to put his coffee mug on the desk, when something peculiar caught his eye. He noticed the word 'Downloading...' was up on the screen. He squinted his eyes and leaned over the keyboard, when a hand wrapped around his mouth.
Virginia was attached to the ceiling, using the magnetization ability on her armor. She spun him around and knocked him against the wall. His head jerked back, and the scientist collapsed on the floor.
Nevada came out from under the desk.
"Good job." He said as he moved back up to the keyboard. "We're almost done." Virginia dropped down from the ceiling and moved the body of the knocked out scientist against the file cabinet.
The downloading bar filled up to a bright green, and the word 'Complete' flashed on the screen. Nevada unplugged the hard drive and pocketed it. He flashed a thumbs up to Virginia, and they began their way to sneak out of the facility.

While Donut distracted the tour guide, Lopez had completed his transferring of the files, and quickly sneaked out of the room. He re-joined the group, where Sarge cleared his throat. Donut realized that Lopez had returned to the group and he stopped his questioning.
"I love the curious minds!" The tour guide gushed and continued the tour. She brought them down an escalator and motioned towards the corner of the building. "Thank you for signing up for the tour today! Please, check out the gift shop before you step out today!"
"Oooh!" Caboose got excited and rushed in. Sarge sighed and ran after the excited Blue.
"We should get a T-shirt!" Donut exclaimed as he walked with Doc into the gift shop. Lopez shook his head as he followed everyone inside.

"Finished!" Simmons announced as he removed the hard drive from the computer. Grif and Simmons both turned, ran out of the office and down the flight of stairs. They pushed out of a fire exit, leaving the blaring sound behind. The two ducked into a line of hedges as the fire department and military police pulled up outside.
"Let's get out of here!" Grif huffed. Simmons nodded and they both crouched along the hedges until they were out of sight of the facility.

Everyone met back at Sarge's condo, feeling relieved to see each other again. Donut and Doc were showing off their new shirts from the gift shop, while Caboose was tinkering with his new toy.
"Good job, Lopez." Sarge said as he patted the robot on the back. Lopez handed the hard drive over to Simmons.
"I guess we'll start going through these files." Simmons said as he sat at Sarge's computer and began to plug in the drives.
"I hope we find what we need..." Virginia sighed. Nevada patted her on the shoulder, and then went to Simmons to hand him the drive that they recovered. Simmons tensed up, having Nevada next to him, but Nevada handed him the drive.
"I'll leave it to you." Nevada said, giving Simmons the full reign of the computer hacking. Simmons nodded and plugged in the additional drive as he typed on the computer.
"Can I nap now?" Grif yawned as he dropped onto the couch.
"Lazy, good fer-nothing." Sarge grumbled.
"Hey, I just risked my life to break into a facility, nearly got stuck in a vent with kiss-ass, and was close to being arrested by the police for setting off the fire alarm." Grif growled. "I think I'm entitled to a nap."
"You guys should go ahead and rest." Virginia suggested. "Tucker and Sister will be arriving soon, and it will take some time to go through the files."
"See? I can get behind that." Grif pointed out as he put his head back against the couch. He kicked up his feet on the table, until Lopez walked over and pushed his feet off the table.
"Cerdo/Pig." Lopez snapped. Grif sighed and left his feet on the ground.
Virginia walked up beside Simmons and watched as he typed on the computer.
"I'm glad you're okay." Simmons said as he glanced at her. "I was worried." Virginia smiled under her helmet and placed a hand on his lower back.
"I hope we didn't end up on a wild goose chase." Sarge stated.
"I didn't get to see a goose." Caboose whined.
A knock came to the door, and Lopez opened it.
"Hey, assholes." Tucker announced while wearing his teal armor.
"Miss us?!" Kaikaina jumped in, wearing her yellow armor.
Grif jumped from the couch and rushed over, tackling Tucker.
"OW! YOU FAT FUCK! Get off me!" Tucker yelled as Grif sat on him. Grif began to punch Tucker repeatedly. Kaikaina sighed and walked into the condo, setting down her suitcase.
"It's good to see you again." Virginia said as she greeted her. "Sorry that your honeymoon was cut short."
"Oooh, it's okay. We'll save up and go to Hawaii to visit mom!"
Tucker finally pushed Grif off and kicked him in the gut.
"Glad to see you, too." Tucker huffed as he limped into the condo.
"Tucker! Did you miss me?!" Caboose asked, excitedly.
"Sure, Caboose." Tucker responded, hesitantly, afraid to hurt his feelings.
"Hey guys, I found something!" Simmons announced. Everyone crowded around Simmons as he tapped on the keyboard.
"What'd you find?" Nevada asked.
"It looks like Orion Laboratories has been making a lot of interesting purchases, as of late. Those guns with the stun nets was a recent purchase!" Simmons clicked on a few folders, opening up a recent manifest of orders. "They seem to be working close with Raini Technologies."
"Anything about Wash or Carolina? Tucker asked.
"Hmmm..." Simmons typed frantically, opening a few more file folders. "I got some stuff about... creating an A.I?" Simmons glanced over his shoulder at everyone.
"Like the ones for Project Freelancer?" Nevada asked as he looked at the screen.
"That's... interesting." Simmons focused as he typed. "Ah ha!"
"What?" Virginia asked.
"It says they captured two objectives, and the coordinates they have listed are... Wash and Carolina's house!"
"So they are the kidnappers?!" Donut asked.
"Seems like it." Simmons replied.
"Any idea where they may be?" Tucker asked.
"Hmmm... it says they're aboard a starship known as 'Gears of Time'. It seems to be a mobile command center."
"Looks like we're on another rescue mission." Tucker announced as he clenched his fists.
"Looks like we need to get a ship." Grif sighed.
"I'll call in for back-up." Nevada added. "I think we can get a ship, too."
Everyone looked at Nevada as he stepped into the kitchen to radio his back-up.
"Hmph. Still not sure I trust him." Sarge admitted to Grif and Simmons.

Carolina's eyelids fluttered as she tried to focus her vision. She noticed she was laying on something soft and began to stretch her arms out.
The light poured into her eyes as she finally opened them. She saw a grey ceiling with a single light fixture.
Carolina tried to gather her strength as she pushed herself up. She found she was sitting on a cot in a small room. She felt light-headed and brought her hand to her head.
"Where am I?" She asked, only having silence as an answer.
Carolina forced herself to her feet and attempted to walk to the door. The door had a small glass window that she was able to look out.
All she was able to see was a long corridor with several rooms. She swallowed, feeling dehydrated. Carolina slumped down along the door, feeling weak. She wondered where Wash was, until sleepiness took over.

Wash tugged at his wrists, realizing he was strapped down. He tried to bend his knees, but his ankles were also bound.
"What the-!" Wash growled. He turned his head, side-to-side, seeing two people approach him.
"Hello, Agent Washington." A masculine voice announced his presence.
Wash stared up at the older man dressed in a white surgical gown. The man gave a nod to the second man, dressed in a surgical gown, too.
"And who are you?" Wash asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
"That's nothing to be concerned about now." The man replied as he washed his hands in the nearby sink. "Prep him."
The second surgeon approached Wash, placing a gloved hand on his forehead to keep him still.
Wash squirmed as the surgeon placed a needle into his neck, and then squeezed fluid into his veins.
Wash felt the warm fluid run through his system. His eyelids drooped as his head went back against the table.
"Prepare for the brain..." were the last words he heard before he lost consciousness.

The team assembled their weapons and met at a nearby landing strip.
"So who are we meeting?" Simmons whispered to Virginia.
"I'm not sure. He didn't say." Virginia replied as everyone followed behind Agent Nevada to a parked spaceship.
The door to the ship wheezed open and three soldiers stepped out.
"Oh my God!" Virginia gasped. Agent Michigan, Agent Tennessee and Agent Oregon now stood before them. Virginia rushed to them, greeting each one with a hug.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Ten chuckled as he twirled her around in his arms.
Simmons fidgeted, seeing the unknown men hugging her.
"Looks like your girl is quite popular with the guys." Tucker chuckled as he looked at Simmons.
"Can it, Tucker. The same can be said about your wife." Simmons snapped.
"Ouch." Tucker responded.
Everyone gathered around the new Freelancers.
"Everyone, these are Agents Michigan, Tennessee and Oregon. They're my old teammates." Virginia explained.
"Howdy." Ten saluted to everyone.
"I didn't think you'd find her, Nevada. Good job." Michigan chuckled.
"Oh, ye have little faith." Nevada responded.
"This is Sarge, Simmons, Grif, Caboose, Donut, Doc, Kaikaina and Tucker." Virginia introduced.
"Welcome aboard, men and ladies." Oregon said as he approached Kai to take her hand. Kai giggled as Tucker growled.
"Hey man, hand off my wife!"
"My apologies." Oregon smirked.
"Alright, everyone! Get aboard!" Ten ordered.
Grif went to the pilot seat.
"Hey, that's my seat." Ten said.
"Oh, I'll co-pilot then." Grif replied, feeling relieved he didn't have to be the pilot.
"Yeah, you don't want Grif to fly." Sarge laughed.
"Bite me!" Grif yelled from his seat.
"I'll come up there!" Sarge warned, placing a shell into his shotgun.
"Your friends are interesting." Oregon said to Virginia. Virginia giggled.
Everyone got into a seat and lowered the harness.
"Alright," Ten said as he flipped at the switches. "All lights are green for go!"
The ship rose in the air with the sudden gust of its engines, and sped off into the atmosphere.
"I can't believe you're all okay." Virginia said as she patted Oregon on the arm.
"We took to hiding on a secluded base on Sidewinder." Michigan explained. "Everything got cleared out by the UNSC, but they all left some things intact that made it tolerable to live." Oregon added.
"It was fucking cold, though." Ten yelled from the pilot seat.
"Nevada told us about West. I'm sorry to hear about his passing." Oregon whispered to Virginia as he patted her hand.
"Thank you." Virginia responded. For this mission, she wore his katana on her back.
"I love your armor color!" Donut complimented Oregon.
"Oh, why thank you!"
"Keep your eyes on 'em." Sarge whispered to Simmons. "We can't be quick to trust."
"Yes, sir." Simmons responded, eyeing the soldiers that sat next to Virginia. He felt anxiety fill his chest, and couldn't help but worry...