So, yeah, I lied. I guess I can post another chapter before Christmas. Consider it an early present.

"What is this place?" Wash asks.

"One of Dr. Han's secret testing facilities. She had a few of them hidden on different planets, out of the prying eyes of the UNSC" I explain. "We checked them all when we first started looking for her, but had no luck. She must be hiding somewhere she never told us about."

We turn down another corridor, and I gesture to some of the locked doors we pass. "We thought this place would be a good base of operations, since the UNSC doesn't know it exists, although it is a little bigger than we need."

We finally reach the room I was looking for and I usher the two soldiers in. The room's unfurnished except for a large table in the center of the floor. The table is scattered with papers, and floating above it is a holo-board with maps and charts and personal notes. "This is where we've been keeping all the information we have on Mom" I say, setting my helmet on the table.

I hit a button to close the hologram, and another to bring up some chairs from the floor. "Please, sit" I say. I myself pick a seat that allows me to look at both men while also having a clear view of the door. I think from Washington's face that he's noticed this strategic positioning, but he doesn't comment on it.

Wash and Sarge both sit, the latter removing his helmet and placing it on the table. I vaguely remember that Wash left his helmet in the pelican and make a mental note to track it down and return it to him later. I sit silently for a moment, gathering my thoughts, while Wash and Sarge shift nervously.

"Do you have your answer yet?" I ask finally.

Sarge looks as though he doesn't know what I'm talking about. Wash does, however, so he answers. "I'm not sure. I know Caboose wants to help, and I think Tucker will too, same as me. As for the reds, well, I don't know them as well." Wash looks at Sarge when he's done talking.

Sarge clears his throat before answering. "Well, on the one hand we just finished a big mission, which would usually be grounds for some leave time. But since Grif has already used up both his and Simmons vacation days for the next seven years, I don't think that will be a problem." Sarge looks me in the eyes as he says "the real question is: what does any of this have to do with us? We're not part of the UNSC anymore. Whatever happens between you and them is their business. What place do we have in this fight?"

I nod my head, absorbing his words. I want to shout; to call him selfish and ask if he cares about the innocent people who could die because of this. Instead, I keep myself calm as I speak, relying on the negotiation techniques I've seen Dr Han use while arguing for the project's funding.

"You're right" I say finally, meeting his eyes. "You have no stakes in this, and you have no obligation to help us. What I'm asking you to do will not be easy. Both your people and yourself could very well be injured or even die doing this, and there is no guarantee we will succeed. I have no right to demand your help, and I can't order you to do this. All I can do is ask that you help me save my family."

Sarge grunts a few times, trying to find his words. I can tell he's not used to conversations that don't involve shouting at someone. "Ah hell" he says finally. "We'll do it. We have nothing better to do, and I'd hate to let Grif sit around doing nothing when we could be risking our lives. Besides, we wouldn't be red team if we didn't dive head first into battle like heroes!"

I thank him before he goes to find the rest of his team, mentioning something about making Grif pet one of the cats. I watch him go and breathe a sigh of relief. Things are going better than I had expected, aside from the bullet hole in my shoulder.

"You might want to talk to them yourself" Wash says from behind me.

I turn around quickly, feeling slightly startled. I had almost forgotten he was there. "What do you mean?"

"The reds" Wash explains. "You should probably ask them personally. It's like Sarge said; we're not military anymore. We don't work for the UNSC and we don't have to follow orders. Just because Sarge says they'll help you, it doesn't mean they all want to."

I acknowledge this. I need everyone here on the same page, which means all of the Sim-Troopers need to choose this for themselves. Loyalty in a few is more valuable than any numbers.

"What should I say to them?" I ask.

"Just, be sincere" he says. "They're good people. Even if they don't understand what you've been through like I do, they'll still care, although they probably won't show it."

"You understand what we've been through?"

"I was betrayed too" Wash says. "I know it's not the same, losing a team as opposed to losing your family, but I know how it feels to question everything. I know what it's like to not want to trust."

There's a long pause as I consider this. "I never gave up on trust entirely" I say. "I learned not to trust mom when she betrayed us, but I never stopped trusting my brothers and sisters. I know they'll always have my back."

"What about that one who attacked us earlier?"

"That… wasn't his fault" I say quietly.

"There's something you're not telling me" Wash says, folding his arms. "What are you hiding?"

I look at him, studying his face. I'm still not certain if I should trust these people. Caboose says they're his friends, but I still have doubts. There's so much at stake. Still, I have to take the risk. It's the only way.

"I suppose I'll have to tell him eventually, won't I?" I present the question to the room.

A small, female voice chirps from the table. "Yes, you will. He can't help unless he has all the facts."

"As long as you're comfortable showing him, then I guess it's alright with me" I say.

A second, more sober voice responds. "I have no objections." This is followed by some static.

"Well, I'll take that as a 'yes'" the cheery voice says again.

Before Wash has a chance to ask who I'm talking to, a small holographic figure appears on the table.

"Wash" I say, gesturing to the table. "I'd like for you to meet Rho."

"Hello, Agent Washington" she says. "It's nice to finally meet you."

I literally wrestled back and forth with myself for an hour about whether or not I wanted Rho to be a part of this story. I'm still not entirely sure of her for a lot of reasons, not the least of which being that the fragments were all guys and Alpha was a guy but she's a girl and I don't know if that's possible, but whatever. I'm rambling. Sorry. Anyways, I like her character and I think she'll fit into the story. Let me know what you think, and Merry Christmas!

-J