Chapter 6

'Rado was sure everyone was smiling behind their helmets as the tall Freelancer walked back to the Warthog. He knew he was.

"Nice work, Maine," Carolina congratulated.

"Thanks." Colorado's smile grew wider upon hearing the man's actual voice instead of the quiet grunts and growls that would normally come out. Maine magnetized the briefcase to his back before stepping onto the jeep and into the passenger seat.

"Subtle as always," York said as the white-and-orange soldier packed his Brute Shot in, got in the passenger seat, and accepted Colorado's fist bump. "Response team is probably on the way."

As the driver revved up the engine, Carolina moved onto the turret's turntable while Colorado removed his pistol and squeezed himself between the driver-side roll cage and the back of the jeep. "Let's get the hell out of here," the former ordered.

"Hold on!" The Warthog began to move, then jumped onto the freeway. York swerved and maneuvered his way between the civilian vehicles.

'Rado, facing backwards, was the first to see them. "Here they come! Two Hornets, six o'clock high!" Carolina turned the gun around and immediately opened fire as two soldiers jumped off the helicopters. 'Rado didn't start pulling the trigger until the attackers moved closer.

The two Innies retaliated, forcing Carolina to duck behind the turret's blast shield. Colorado made due with what he had.

"Maine, protect the briefcase!" A rifle shot, quickly succeeded by a pained grunt from Maine, caused Carolina to turn around. "Maine? Sniper!" she shouted, ducking as another shot struck the gun.

Colorado got up, not bothering with suppressing fire, and scanned Maine's unconscious body draped over the windshield. "High-caliber shot under the pectoral plating. Can't do anything for it while we-"

Heads up!

'Rado took his AI's warning a second too late as well as an armored boot into his visor. He was knocked onto his back, but shook it off. One of the Insurrectionist soldiers, a woman judging from her figure was in a fistfight with Carolina. He grabbed his combat knife and slashed at the attacker, but she jumped over it and grabbed the case off of Maine's back. Carolina punched her off the Warthog and tried to get a hold as the objective bounced off her hands.

As Colorado got up, he was kicked hard in the side by the second soldier. The recoil sent the crimson Freelancer over the side, hanging on with just his right arm and foot, his torso inches from the large rear tire.

"Hold on!" York yelled before swerving the Warthog to the left, throwing Colorado back in and Carolina and the sleeveless soldier onto the flatbed in front of them.

"Thanks, man," 'Rado breathed before hooking himself onto the turret. He let himself have a short smile for seeing Maine back up, no doubt desiring revenge. York got the jeep alongside and behind the flatbed, providing 'Rado with a clear line of sight on the female Insurrectionist. Unfortunately, she put Maine between her and 'Rado, causing the latter to curse.

A barrel impacted the front bumper, making York lose control. Talon yelled at 'Rado inside his head to disconnect from the gun. The crimson Freelancer managed to get free before the barrel tore the machine gun off.

"Would you quit throwin' s**t?!" York shouted, bringing the Warthog over to the right side of flatbed holding the sniper. "On your left! On your left!" All three soldiers ducked from the two close-range shots, to which York retaliated by ramming the flatbed. The sniper was knocked off, but he recovered and blasted back to the jeep with his jetpack.

Maine swiftly punched him in the face as he came up the right, the force knocking the Insurrectionist into a lamppost with a painful scream. The flatbed carrying Carolina and the other two Innies came next, and the white-and-orange Freelancer leaped off the Warthog, his intended target being the woman. The woman boosted out of the way and countered Maine's heavy swing, kicking him back against Carolina.

On the jeep, Colorado topped off his pistol and aimed for a clear shot. Before he fired, York tossed Maine's Brute Shot to Carolina, who quickly used it to slash the female soldier across the waist and stab her in the chest. He just switched to the other soldier when he heard the shot.

Maine was thrown onto the flatbed by the sleeveless soldier, his attempt to get up stopped by the loud stomp onto his chest. Colorado stared in shock as within two seconds, a whole magazine of magnum rounds were emptied into Maine's throat, blood spattering onto the white armor.

"NOOO!" he and Carolina both yelled. The team leader stabbed the Brute Shot down on the soldier as Colorado jumped onto the flatbed, kinetic knuckles primed. He charged the female soldier with a hateful scream, Talon subtlety aiding his handler's throws and dodges.

The first punch was deflected and kicked away. 'Rado's second punch was aimed at her feet instead, but hit the flatbed, causing the end to jump a bit and knock the two combatants away from each other.

The flatbed jumped again, this time by a still-breathing Maine and his new toy. The trailer swerved left and right before hitting a car, sending everyone flying. Carolina reached out to take the briefcase off Maine's back, but she missed and landed hard in the back of the Warthog. 'Rado grabbed hold of the jeep's right side as it passed, the force tearing the Freelancer's arm out of its socket. Ignoring the wheel and road grinding against his body, he swung his left arm up. Carolina caught it and pulled him in.

As he got back on the vehicle, he heard a loud roar and turned his head to look behind them. He caught a glimpse of Maine falling before pain overcame his systems. He stayed coherent enough to see Texas race past on a motorcycle.

"Don't let her grab it first!" Carolina growled.

"Who cares who gets it first?!"

"I do!" The tunnel doors ahead began to close. "Both of you, bail out!"

"Bailing!" York jumped out of the driver's seat while Colorado got off on the passenger's side. He landed hard on his dislocated arm and rolled several times before stopping. Groaning, he pushed himself onto his feet and stumbled. Ignoring the burning pain in his arm, he jogged to York.

"You alright, York?"

"I should think you should be asking yourself that question."

"Heh. This," he motioned to his dangling right arm, "is just a flesh wound." He reset his arm and screamed in pain. "Okay," he breathed. "I... I'm good... now."

The roar of engines and the opening of a hatch meant the evac Pelican had arrived. Together, the duo jumped on and took their seats among Team B. Upon seeing Wyoming's state, Colorado moved to help, despite some protests.

One being Talon.