Chapter 9

In the camp, Amber is sitting close to the edge of the cliff while over looking the ocean. May Zedong of Team BRNZ approaches her.

"You feeling alright?" May asks.

Amber then looks at May, "Just enjoying the view."

"Can I join you?"

"Sure."

May sits next to Amber as they both enjoy the ocean view along with the nice breeze blowing from the east.

May then asks a few minutes later, "Remember anything?"

Amber has been trying her hardest to remember something from her life. But when she looks out at the ocean, "I think I used to enjoy the ocean."

May chuckles a little. "I think everyone enjoys the ocean view!"

"But I do remember something."

"Like what?"

"I think I was a huntress at Vale, on a white horse."

May then started to laugh. "I bet you rescued a charming prince while you were at it!"

Amber laughed as well. "Maybe, but hard to tell."

"Other than that," May starts standing up, "things have been pretty quiet around here. There is no Grimm, but that doesn't mean we can slack off our combat training."

Amber looks at May, "Well, Jaune and Oscar are improving a little."

Then there is a rumble going on near the gate as they look at the direction the noise was coming from. It sounded like a bunch of girls being in a middle of a cat fight.

"What's with all the commotion?" Amber says as she stands up.

"Don't know, but we should check it out."

They two girls ran towards the direction where the noise was going from. When they approach, the fighting stopped and Ruby gives them a lecture along with Pyrrha. When Ruby finishes her lecture, everything went back to normal. The two then approach Ruby and Penny.

"What was that about?" May asked.

"Oh, everyone was fighting over a few bars of soap." Ruby replies.

"Wait, we have soap now?!" May is in shock to hear about the subject.

"We do, but we are limiting one bar per team since we only have 19."

"Fuck." May looks down. "That means I have to share with all the boys in my team. And you know how bad they smell."

"Things we have to do to survive." Amber says with a more upbeat attitude.

"Later girls." Ruby says as she leaves.

Penny smiles and waves by at them.

Both of them wave back at Penny.

"So anyway." May looks back at Amber, "Do you ever wonder if we're the only ones on this planet?"

"Not sure." Amber responds, "But I hope that they're brave, strong, trustworthy, and intelligent enough to survive this place."

Back at the canyon, Simmons found a multi-tool and uses it to construct some structure up above the canyon on the cliffs and it is the habitat building from Osiris: New Dawn. Then he installs a crossway connecting to it. Then Sarge appears.

"Simmons," Sarge speaks to his subordinate, "just what the hell are you making, son?"

Simmons stops and looks at Sarge, "Hey, sir. I am making a new red base which we are gonna use over the lame one that looks like the crappy sandbags one I made."

"New red base?!" Sarge starts to argue, "Simmons, there is nothing wrong with the red base in the canyon! It's perfect! Don't try to mess things up!"

Then Simmons pointed out, "But you said that it was unacceptable back on Chorus. We had to borrow the Blues' tank to make renovations by blowing up the canyon walls to make a mortar cannon. The majority of the east wing was made of sandbags and rain tarps. Not to mention you took half the base to yourself and I got stuck with Grif. And he's disgusting!"

"You're point?"

"Well I'm making a new red base while Grif sleeps in that inflatable dome over there."

They both look at some of the rocks where they see an inflatable dome where Grif will be sleeping and staying.

Simmons then continues on, "So that way he won't bother us and I don't have to worry about whatever disgusting thing he leaves behind."

Sarge then looks back at Simmons, "But he won't be in close range when I get to kill him!"

"Well I'm not going back down there with those giant snakes that would pop out in my sleep!" Simmons does have a good point. For a guy that is afraid of snakes, the best vantage is the high ground. Then he says, "Besides, there is plenty of room for you to make a mortar cannon you always wanted."

"I..." Simmons has Sarge cornered. "Alright, I see your point. But Grif's quarters are going back down there so a bat could kill him. Then I can kill the bat!"

"Ahead of you on that, sir! The dome you see there is actually Donut's."

"Why would you-" Then Sarge thinks about it for a moment and realize why. "Forget it. Donut's quarters are fine. Anyway, I need you and the rest of the team to meet me back in the canyon. I have a surprise for Lopez."

"Oh really?" he says in a bit of a false enthusiastic tone of voice. Then shoots himself in the foot.

Sarge looks at what Simmons done. "Son, did you shot yourself in the foot again?"

"Maybe it has something to do with the programming starting to degrade in my cybernetic brain."

"I'll check on that later. Anyway, let's get the others."

Grif, Donut, Simmons, and Lopez are gathered around Sarge to see what he made this time. And it turns out, another robot.

"Seriously?!" Grif says in a serious tone. "Another robot?! After what happened last time?!"

Simmons has to agree with Grif, "Yeah, I have to agree with Grif here. After everything that happened with Lopez 2.0 and C.C., we may have to stop making robots."

"Oh come on!" Donut is a bit more eager. "It may not be all bad!"

Grif then says, "Not bad?! The other Lopez manage to rip out his own head and try to kill us in a body similar to Freckles!"

Simmons follows up, "And you toss a grenade at him!"

Lopez then says, "Al menos consigo un nuevo cuerpo."
Translation: "At least I get a new body out of it."

Donut then says, "Yeah, I was a pretty good throw."

"Ahora estoy empezando a arrepentirme y desearía estar en las instalaciones de reciclaje."
Translation: "Now I'm starting to regret it and wish I was in the recycling facility."

Sarge then interrupts, "AHEM!" Then proceeds, "Don't worry, I manage to figure out what's wrong and fixed out all the bugs." Then looks at the new robot, "Gentlemen, and Donut. May I present to you, Sanchez!" Then he turns on the robot.

Simmons then goes, "Wait, does that mean the robot can speak eng-"

The robot made a few loud fax sounds and the three reds complain which interrupted what Simmons was saying. Then a few beeps later, the robot starts to move.

Sanchez looks at the people around him and says, "...Olá! Meu nome é Sanchez!"
Translation: "Hello! My name is, Sanchez!"

Grif complains, "Oh come on!"

Simmons says, "Seriously?!"

Lopez lowers his head.

Donut then says, "Alright! Another foreigner!"

Sanchez then says, "Saudações. O que eu posso fazer para te ajudar?"
Translation: "Greetings. What can I do to help you?"

Grif says as he is annoyed, "Spanish. Fucking Spanish."

Simmons then looks at Grif, "No, I think that's Portuguese."

"¿De dónde diablos sacaste la unidad de voz?"
Translation: "Where the fuck did you get the speech unit from?"

Donut then says, "Yeah, where did you get that speech unit?"

Lopez looks at Donut and says furiously, "¿CÓMO ES QUE ES LO ÚNICO QUE PUEDES ENTENDER?"
Translation: "HOW COME THAT'S THE ONLY THING YOU CAN UNDERSTAND?!"

Donut then says to Lopez, "Chill out! Now is not the time to get an oil change."

"Oh, por el amor de Dios!"
Translation: "Oh for fuck sake!"

Sarge then says, "Enough now." Then looks at Sanchez, "Sanchez. You are going to help out Lopez with whatever he needs and you'll be his second in command. You got it?"

"Sim senhor. Eu farei o meu melhor."
Translation: "Yes, sir. I will do my best."

Then Sanchez approaches Lopez. "Saudações, senhor López. Meu nome é Sanchez. Como posso ajudá-lo?"
Translation: "Greetings, sir Lopez. My name is Sanchez. How can I assist you?"

"No es exactamente mi idea, pero puedo usar algo de ayuda. Quédate conmigo, chico. Voy a contarte la historia sobre estos idiotas humanos y por qué son los peores."
Translation: "Not exactly my idea, but I can use some help. Stick with me, kid. I'm going to tell you the story about these human idiots and why they're the worst."

Sanchez says with enthusiasm, "Sim senhor!"
Translation: "Yes, sir!"

Then the two robots left to go do whatever Lopez is working on.

Sarge then says, "With that out of the way, dismiss!"

Simmons says, "Yes, sir!"

Grif goes, "Whatever. Waste of my nap time."

Donut then asks Simmons, "Hey, Simmons? How come I get a tiny single ball while you and Sarge get to have a big base?"

"Thought you might like some privacy."

"Oh, okay!" Donut just took Simmons excuse and leaves.

"But how come I have to be here in this canyon with a bunch of bats that might come out and kill me?" Grif complains. "And I'm not falling for the same trick that you used on Donut."

"Would you rather have Sarge trying to kill you in your sleep or a bat that won't come out unless you disturb it?"

Then they both see Sarge prepping his shotgun while getting a few cardboard cutouts of Grif ready for target practice.

"...Okay. I'm sold. I'm heading to my new home." Then Grif leaves.

Simmons plan actually work. He got rid of Grif's laziness and Donut's...whatever he does.

"Simmons!" Sarge shouted from a distance. "Help me get these training dummies up!"

Simmons then turns to face Sarge, "On it, sir!"

Now we cut to Blue Base where we can see Caboose playing fetch with Freckles in a toy body.

"Alright, Freckles!" Caboose says as he looks down at his robotic companion. He then looks at a random direction while saying, "Fetch!" as he throws the ball.

"Target acquired." Freckles said. "Retrievement mode activated." Then he walks off to get the ball.

Inside the base, Tex and Carolina look at each other like it is some sort of staring contest. But it is hard to have a staring contest in everyone is wearing their helmets.

Washington and Tucker just look at them.

"What are they doing?" Tucker whispers to Washington.

"I don't know. Might be a staring contest." Washington whispers back.

"But how can they have a staring contest with their helmets on?"

"I don't know."

"But I know one thing that they can stare at all day. Bow-chika-" BANG! BANG!

Two pistol shots were fired close at Tucker. Tucker drops his rifle and has his hands up in the air. Both Carolina and Tex have their pistols out, but are still staring at each other.

Tucker then says out loud, "Okay! I'm leaving!" Tucker then runs out of the room.

Washington then says to the two, "I think I have a better idea. I have a training obstacle that I made to test out Tucker's reflexes and mettle. Who ever gets the best time, is the best Freelancer. Deal?"

Both say as they keep on staring at each other, "Deal!"

So they both made their way outside and are in position to get started on Washington's obstacle course.

"Okay," Washington begins to talk, "I may have tweek this a little to make it a bit more challenging since Caboose beat my old one."

"What do you mean?" Carolina asked.

Caboose is then seen running by anxiously while saying, "Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy... Hello, hello, hello!" He greets all three of them.

Washington then says to Caboose, "Ah, Caboose. Good timing. I have a new obstacle course for you to-"

Caboose went inside the cave with a large explosion that follows half a second later as Caboose completed the obstacle course in a second rather then two seconds like the last one.

Caboose emerges out and says, "Okay, that was fun! Gotta go do some stuff! I have some new games to play with Freckles! Along with some outfits for him to try on! Thank you, goodbye!"

The three former Freelancers are completely taken by surprise as how fast Caboose finishes the course.

Washington tries to comprehend what happened, "But I... How did... That was one second less than the last one! What the fuck!?"

Carolina tries her best to process what happened. "What. The fuck. Happened?"

Tex then says, "If Caboose can handle that, I hate to see what would he be like as a Freelancer."

Carolina and Wash say in unison, "Yeah, no kidding."

Doc is in the cargo hold of the destroyed ship as he looks around for medical supplies. He opens one of the crates and found something interesting.

"What do we have here." Doc says to himself.

Then Epsilon shows up. "Hey, Doc. Whatcha' find?"

Doc pulls out what appears to be a wire tool. What happens next is that his implant started to glow and a bunch of schematics flash by.

"Guess we got some new stuff, huh?" Doc says as he puts the wire tool away.

"Guess so." Epsilon agrees. "But aren't you a pacifist?"

"Yeah, but considered everything that happened to us at Chorus." Then Doc goes through another crate.

"Oh yeah, you went postal and kill a lot of people with a rocket launcher while having an O'Maliey complex."

Doc opens the crate, "Considering I was in another dimension and lost and you guys forgot about me. I got so mad that I developed a split personality."

"True. Anyone in your position would've done the same."

"Thanks." Doc looks through the crate and founds a few boxes of cupcakes, jaffa cakes, and some military-grade MREs. Doc holds up a box of Charlies' Cupcakes, "Oh hey. Cupcakes. Caboose would love these."

"Yeah, but keep them away from Grif. Have you seen the way the guy eats?"

"Well I was a prisoner for the Reds back at Blood Gulch so yeah. I have and it was disgusting." Then Doc loads them up in his implant. Then checks some of the other crates.

"Hey, can you tell me why am I here again?" Eplsion asked.

"I may need your help to unlock any electrical locks I may come across." Doc then takes a closer look at one of the crates. "And I think I found one."

"I'm on it." Epsilon then disappears for a few seconds before reappearing and says, "Okay, done."

"Thank you." Doc then opens the crate and sees something amazing. "HOLY!" he says out loud.

Epsilon appears next to Doc and goes, "What? What did you-" He looked inside the crate an goes, "Holy shit. Is that what I think it is?"

"If Sarge gets his hands on it, everyone in this canyon will be in BIG trouble."

Then Alpha appeared floating in and checks on the two. "Hey guys! Man, those guys are really obsessed with flags." The other two aren't looking at him then he goes, "What did you guys find?" Then looks in the crate, "Holy motherfucking god that screwed the living hell out of Tucker. Is that what I think it is?"

Doc and Epsilon then say in unison, "Yep."

"We better hide this so Sarge wouldn't get his hands on it. You know how he is."

Doc chuckles a little, "I'm was thinking the same thing."

Epsilon then says, "Better to stash it somewhere."

Alpha then says, "I'll take care of that." as Doc closes the lid.

Then we cut back to the Remnant camp with Amber and May.

May goes, "Probably so and probably not."

Amber then shrugs, "Well they could be. We're on an alien planet after all."

"I guess."

/: Processing...

...

...

Progression of Project PHOENIX: 6%

Seasonal changes will be commencing at: 3 weeks

Project Z will commence close in autumn.

Good work. Any word on Project ARES?

/: Processing...

...

...

Project ARES is on hold until ADMIN approves of Phase 2.

And the situation at Dead Canyon?

/: Normal. Will commence uprise until Project Z is active.

ADMIN: Terminal User 781. I request your presence in my office immediately.

What for?

ADMIN: In my office.

...Uh-oh.

ADMIN: And please disable speech-to-text while logging off?

Yes, sir.

ADMIN: Terminal User 782. Please take temporary charge until Terminal User 781 returns to active duty.

782: Understood. But what is User 781 charged with?

ADMIN: Classified.

AN: Hey guys! Hope you enjoy the story so far. Let me know what you guys think of the story so far. Later! See you guys next week!