"Activating Cloaking Ability." Ten announced as he pushed a button on the panel.
"I'm seeing that ship on our radar." Grif announced.
"I'm making sure we don't show up on theirs." Ten responded.
Wash convulsed on the medical table, gritting his teeth in pain.
"Turn off the machine!" The main surgeon yelled. "Get it off his head!"
The second surgeon unscrewed a metallic ring from around Wash's forehead. It lit up red, and then, once it was detached from his skin, the lights turned off.
Another surgeon ran in to assist with the situation.
"What happened?!" The main surgeon huffed angrily.
"From these readouts," The new surgeon said as he looked at a scan of Wash's brain that popped up on a monitor. "It appears this one has brain damage."
"God dammit!" The main surgeon cursed. He pushed a medical table over in frustration. "Get him out of here. We'll keep him... maybe he'll be useful for something else."
"Yes, sir." Replied the other surgeons in unison.
The main surgeon yanked his gloves off and tossed it into the trash as he exited the room.
He made his way to the bridge, where his colleague was standing.
"Problem?" His colleague asked, looking up from a projection of a building.
"Yeah. The second one we were going to use... has brain damage." The surgeon explained as he slumped into his seat. "As is, he's useless."
"We will need to gather the others, then." His colleague replied, taking a sip of whiskey from a short glass. "Place that Agent into his holding cell. We will need to send out the recognizance team to capture the others."
"Understood," the surgeon replied with a sigh. "I'll get right on it."
"So are we just going to drop into their hanger?!" Grif asked, the concern rising in his voice.
"We have to get inside." Ten explained. "How else we going to get in?
"I prefer the choice of less likely being shot at." Grif replied. Ten sighed.
"We're going into their hanger." Ten replied, boosting the jets.
A blue screen could be seen rippling on the outside of the hanger; being the divide to keep the gravity active on board.
Ten coasted the spaceship in through the screen and slowly landed.
'What's the situation?" Tucker asked as he looked out the window.
"Looks like they have some soldiers on the dock." Ten pointed out.
"Oh joy, a welcome committee." Virginia said flatly.
"Our camouflage is going to drop and we're going to be spotted once the ship turns off." Ten explained.
Sarge pumped his shotgun.
"Let's get to stirring the pot." Sarge said.
Everyone lifted their harnesses and then went to stand at the door; weapons ready. Ten touched the spaceship down onto the dock and the cloaking device suddenly turned off.
"INTRUDER ALERT!" Screeched a siren above, flashing red lights.
"Get ready!" Virginia ordered. The door opened downward, letting everyone use it as a ramp as they rushed out.
Guards armed with guns ran to the observatory railing, looking down to see the unwelcome ship in their hanger.
The surgeon and his colleague approached the viewing window that looked down into the hanger, seeing the ship and soldiers.
"Well, it looks like we won't need to go searching for them, after all." His colleague murmured.
"HALT! You are trespassing! Do not come any closer! You must vacate the premises immediately!" Hollered a guard over a loudspeaker.
"Sorry, but we're here for a reason! You have our friends, dickface!" Tucker screamed back. He whipped his hand to his side, activating the alien sword.
"Should we call off the guards?" The surgeon asked.
"No, not yet. I want to see what they can do."
The guards open fired, sending out a wave of bullets towards everyone. The group dispersed, taking shelter by a series of crates.
Virginia ran up along the wall, activating the magnetization on the bottom of her boots. She withdrew the katana on her back as she reached the railing.
The guards began to panic, moving towards her to aim their rifles, but they were too slow. She came down on top of them, swiping the katana.
"Most impressive!" The colleague gasped.
"That one is... Agent Virginia." The surgeon explained as he used a facial recognition system to scan her armor. It appeared on the glass, showing the details of her body stats and armor.
"I like that one."
Virginia then ducked, rolled forward and kicked at another guard, sending him toppling over the railing with a scream.
"Donut, toss some grenades!" Sarge ordered. Donut grabbed at the grenades clipped to his side.
"Bombs away!" He screamed as he picked out the pin and chucked them over his head. The grenades launched across the room and landed against a row of guards.
"The pink one has a really good arm." Agent Oregon gasped. Ten nodded in agreement.
The explosion went off, sending soldiers flying in all directions. The railing collapsed, causing the floor to tremble as it impacted against the ground.
"Yo, you're bad ass Freelancers. Can't you do something?" Tucker asked Agent Tennessee as they ducked down behind a crate from a gunner on a turret. Ten responded with a chuckle.
"I reckon I can." Ten sent out several holograms of the soldiers with a wave of his hand - having them run up along the walls and fire at the turret.
The soldier at the turret looked around, confused, sweeping the turret side-to-side. The bullets were focusing on the holograms, and that's when Ten jumped over and shot at him. The gunner was hit and collapsed to the ground.
"Dude, that was awesome!" Tucker cheered as he jumped over the crate. Ten gave a nod of his head.
"That one will do nicely, too." The surgeon's colleague noted.
Agent Michigan kicked a crate at a cluster of guards, sending them flying off to the sides. He then aimed his gun and completed a head shot on each one.
Agent Oregon ran up alongside of him as another guard aimed to fire at him. Oregon threw up his arms, entrapping them in a bubble shield.
"Thanks, bud." Michigan said.
More guards started to flood out into the hanger, and that's when Simmons and O'Malley loaded their rocket launchers.
"Should I do the honors?" O'Malley cackled.
"How about we both do it?" Simmons suggested.
"Fine! Ruin my fun." O'Malley snapped.
"On 3!" Simmons said. "1."
"2." O'Malley counted.
"3!" They both yelled in unison, launching their rocket launchers simultaneously. The rockets flew directly at the group; as they attempted to scurry out of the way of the oncoming missiles. The rockets impacted, setting ablaze the floor and wall that were once occupied.
"Mwhaha!" Laughed O'Malley. "Eat a dick!"
"You enjoy this way too much." Simmons said, feeling slightly uneasy.
"They're slaughtering our men. Should we stop them?" The surgeon asked.
"Le sigh. I guess. Bring in the second specimen." The colleague said and pressed a button, turning on the microphone.
"Attention! Attention! Hold your fire!" The voice boomed overhead. The guards lowered their weapons immediately and quickly backed away, standing at attention.
"What the Hell is going on?" Sarge barked.
"I don't know if I like this." Grif whispered.
Everyone stepped out from behind the crates, seeing a lift descend down towards them.
On the lift stood two men, surrounded by a wall with a viewing mirror.
One man was dressed in a surgical gown. His hair dangled below his ears with hints of silver in the blackness.
Next to him, was a taller man with broad shoulders, chiseled jaw and brown locks for hair. He was dressed in a grey dress suit.
"Hello." The tall man said as he stepped out from behind the wall.
"Where's our friends?!" Tucker yelled, bending his knees, preparing to lunge with his sword.
"Ah, you must be talking about the other Freelancers. They're fine." The man said, nonchalantly.
"You kidnapped them!" Virginia yelled. The man shoved his hands in his pockets and gave a shrug.
"I had to do what is necessary to revive the project."
"That's not going to go well with the UNSC!" Simmons yelled. The man chuckled.
"They're the least of my worries." He stepped closer towards Virginia. "I think it's best you and the other Freelancers cooperate and come with me, without issue."
"Why's that?" Virginia hissed. The tall man smirked and snapped his fingers.
The team watched as a pair of guards escorted Washington in from the nearby doors. He was handcuffed behind his back and walking weakly.
The man reached for Wash's shoulders and pushed him down onto his knees with ease.
The surgeon handed off a pistol to him and the man aimed it right at Wash's forehead.
"Wash! NO!" Tucker cried out.
"I have no use for this one. I have no problems with killing him." The secretive man stated.
"So if we turn ourselves in, you'll spare him and everyone else?" Virginia asked.
"Of course." The tall man gave a nod.
Virginia felt the panic rise in her throat. The other Freelancers glanced at each other, then dropped their weapons to the floor.
"That's much better." The surgeon smiled.
Virginia sighed, then glanced back at Simmons.
"I love you." Her voice sounded sad.
"Wait, what are you doing?" Simmons asked, the concerned tone rising in his voice.
"I have to protect you. I have to protect everyone." She said, stepping closer to the tall, mysterious man.
"You can't!" Kaikaina cried out. Virginia looked solemnly at the floor, feeling the guard approach her and place handcuffs around her wrists. The other Freelancers followed in suit, allowing themselves to be handcuffed without hesitation.
"I like cooperation. I guess you can keep this one." The mysterious man waved a hand at his guards, and the guards shoved Wash over to the Reds and Blues.
Tucker and Sarge bent down to pick up Washington, slinging his arms over their shoulders and steadying his weak body.
"Alright, the rest of you are free to go!" The handsome man said as he adjusted his cuffs.
"Don't think we won't be back! We'll have an army!" Tucker threatened. The man and his surgeon friend chuckled.
"Ah, threats. That's adorable." He waved at the guards to move the Freelancers away, and they began to be escorted down a corridor. "I don't think that will happen. You would have to find us first, and I promise you, you won't." The man narrowed his eyes angrily, looking over each soldier. "Now I suggest you all leave, unless you want to volunteer to be experimented on."
"What kind of experiments?" Caboose asked.
"Quiet, Caboose." Tucker hissed. He began to walk with Sarge and Washington, heading towards the ship.
"Tucker! Sarge! We can't!" Simmons began to cry out.
"Simmons, we have to go-," Sarge said, speaking softly. "We'll think of something, son." Simmons head lowered, looking defeated.
The guards outlining the hanger aimed their weapons at him, trying to rush them out of their spacecraft.
"Alright, alright! We're going! How rude!" Donut spatted. "Sheeeesh!" Everyone reluctantly boarded the ship, and Lopez took to the helm to navigate them off board.
"We need to call in the military! Everyone and anyone! They can't do this!" Simmons cried out as he sat in his seat.
"I agree. Who knows what kind of twisted experiments they're going to do on the Freelancers." Tucker stated as he sat Wash down into a seat and secured him with a harness.
"A...I..." Wash suddenly choked out.
"Wash?!" Tucker knelt down in front of him. "Wash! It's Tucker!" Wash's head slowly perked up; his eyes adjusting to the scene around him.
"Oh, hey Tucker..." His voice sounded dry. Doc knelt down beside him and scanned him with his medical ray.
"He's on a heavy sedative." Doc announced. "He'll be a little loopy, but should be okay."
"Oh, thank God." Tucker mumbled to himself.
"What was he mumbling about?" Sarge asked.
"A..I..." Wash repeated.
"A.I? What about A.I?" Tucker asked.
"They're... gonna use the Freelancers... to make A.I... " Wash stated, sounding weak.
"Holy cannoli." Sarge gasped.
"That's right..." Simmons said. "They said during Project Freelancer, that the A.I's were copies of someone. They're going to make copies of Carolina, Virginia and the rest!"
"Yeah, but kidnap them and hold them hostage in the process!" Tucker snapped.
"They were going to use me... but due to my injury..." Wash slowly picked up his head and craned it back, so it was resting against the wall.
"This is fucked up." Kaikaina admitted.
"Seriously! Holding the Freelancers hostage, making A.I's out of them, and then what?!" Grif asked. Simmons gulped.
"They won't have no use after that... will they?" Simmons sounded worried all over again. His heart ached in his chest, replaying the memory of Virginia walking away from him.
"Tengo una idea/I have an idea." Lopez called from the pilot's seat.
"What's he babbling about?" Sarge asked in a huff.
"He said he has an idea!" Donut explained. Everyone looked towards Lopez, stunned.
The ship rode out of the open hanger and quickly ascended to hide over the top of the ship. Lopez activated the camouflage ability of the ship, and allowed the ship to rest upon it's wide frame.
"Nosotros vamos a enganchar un paseo/We're going to hitch a ride." Lopez explained. Everyone looked at Donut to translate.
"Um... he said something about losing his favorite pencil?" Donut tilted his head. Grif sighed.
"No, you idiot. He said we're going to hitch a ride." Grif corrected.
"Sí/Duh." Lopez gave a nod.
"Since when in the Hell do you know how to speak Spanish?" Sarge asked Grif.
"Oh, I'm just full of surprises." Grif smiled.
