Chapter 1

A crimson figure clung to the side of the wall, trying his best to not get spotted. Slowly, he clambered over to a position to where he could get the drop on the Insurrectionist troops on the platform ahead. He got to the spot just as the leader yelled something out to North and South below. He looked to his left again for his mentor's signal, her adaptive camo unit making her almost invisible against the backdrop. He quickly double-checked his kinetic knuckles, then readied his combat knife.

Carolina jumped down and rolled into a trio of white soldiers, knocking them down with a roundhouse kick. Colorado followed her moves and proceeded to finish off the stunned men. A quick, downward slash with his knife ended one while his kinetic knuckles made sure another would never be able to use his left leg again. His knife hand came around as he spun and into the third guy's face, shattering the helmet if not downright killing him. He looked up to briefly see Carolina using the machine gun turret to take down the other platforms' support braces. Both fell, the soldiers on the left one landing on the helipad.

Carolina kicked the turret around, still launching a barrage of bullets, then leaped off. Colorado ducked low enough in time, then rolled off the ledge. He hit the ground in a roll and ran to North and South, switching out his knife for his specialized magnum. Carolina landed next to him gracefully.

"Okay. My turn," she said, activating her speed boosters. In a second, the teal Freelancer had incapacitated a group of recovered Innies. North and South also entered the brawl, changing to weapons better suited for close range.

Colorado opened fire with his magnum, each shot hitting their intended target. One man tried to charge the crimson Freelancer from behind, but got elbowed in the visor. A kinetic punch sent him flying half a second later. Returning to melee and hand-to-hand, Colorado jumped a soldier and blasted his helmet off, then slashing another across the chest.

He heard a gun spinning up and looked to see the base leader standing behind the weapon. The pad was sprayed with bullet fire, and the Freelancers took evasive action. North pushed his sister away, taking the shots that were meant for her as they cracked through his chest-plate. Carolina fired her grappling gun at the turret and pulled, forcing the gun to fire into the platform below it. It cracked in two and fell, taking everyone on top with it.

South supported North as they walked over to the railing, Carolina and Colorado providing cover fire with their magnums. "Come in, Command! We have wounded, you need to get us out of here right now!" South yelled.

Carolina moved behind the duo and grabbed them. "Come on, you two. We're leaving." She pulled them off the helipad with her as Colorado jumped off. All four landed on top of the Pelican dropship hiding below and out of sight. The ship rose to view the few remaining Innies as well as leave them to see who kicked their butts. "Sorry about the mess, fellas!" Carolina shouted with a small salute.

"We'll pay for the clean-up later!" Colorado shouted in a young, but experienced voice, giving a salute of his own. As the Pelican turned to leave, he helped South get North into the cargo bay. They got him onto a seat, and Colorado secured him.

"South, check our six," Carolina ordered from the cockpit.

Colorado got to the back view-port with South. "Heads up, we've got company back here!"

"Two bogies. Longswords!"

The Pelican shook from the fighters' attacks and from the pilot's maneuvers. Colorado grabbed a harness to stay steady, while South made her way to the cockpit.

"Can't you get us out of here?"

"I'm working on it," he heard the pilot respond.

A few seconds later, the bay glowed red in the warning lights. "What's that noise?"

"They have missile lock."

"That's bad."

"Yes, that's bad."

"Take evasive maneuvers!"

"I'm trying."

Another blast shook the Pelican. "Well, try harder!"

"South, do me a favor, would ya?

"What?" The door to the cockpit closed, forcing South back. "You stupid b***h!"

"I've heard that back seat driving—or piloting!—is not that good an idea," Colorado quipped, still trying to stay steady.

"Shut up!" South yelled as the maneuvers she demanded were coming back to bite her. "I hate flying!" The orchid agent was tossed around like a ping-pong ball, hitting her head on the lowered harnesses. A third hit to her head by the floor knocked her unconscious.

Colorado was too focused on not following South's actions to notice North waking up.

"Everybody hold on back there!" the pilot yelled through the door.

"What do you think I've been doing for the past minute?!" Colorado shouted in return. Fortunately, the craft was brought back to level, allowing the agent to loosen his grip. However, another missile explosion forced him to tighten it back up.

"Countermeasures depleted. North, get moving. I'm clearing you for equipment usage."

North had gotten South into a harness, despite his injuries. Only after Carolina gave the purple Freelancer the order did Colorado notice North's movement. Letting go of the harness, he helped his friend limp over to the ladder. Once he was on the ladder, the crimson agent picked up the busted helmet and quickly got himself actually secured.

Seconds later, the Pelican dropped out of the sky. Colorado was suddenly very thankful that he chose to sit instead of stand. He switched off his radio and shouted in fear, "Talon, if this is the end, I just want you to know that you were an awesome companion."

The AI's avatar popped up on his HUD, chuckling. "Relax, man. You ain't gonna die yet."

Colorado's stomach jumped into his chest as the Pelican leveled out again, just above the ocean. He did breathe a sigh of relief as his stomach went back to where it was supposed to be. "Oh, thank you, Lord." North dropped into the bay, and fell back into unconsciousness from both the impact and his injuries. Colorado unstrapped himself and dropped to his wounded comrade. "Alright. Tal, show me the injuries and best ways to stabilize him, then make yourself scarce."

"Right." A list of currently treatable wounds were listed on his maroon HUD along with the proper procedures. "There you go. Call me if you need me." The avatar disappeared.

The only conscious Freelancer in the bay worked on North as best he could while the dropship moved into the hangar. The door opened and medical personnel were standing by. After he handed off North to them, Colorado looked around.

"Glad to live to see home again."