Hello again everyone and welcome back to my wonderful story which has developed quite the following. I'm sure you all are wondering where I have been and why this hasn't been updating as of late.
Well my last beta reader had computer issues so I'm now looking for my third one. I think this story is cursed. I have been working on other fanfiction projects, the holidays arrived and family stuff happened and my schedule was crazy, I have had school to deal with as well so there is that. I also tried to write a PSA for this story centered around Christmas but that...failed horribly.
Anyways I'm back now have a good time with the chapter.
Planet Jax Loading Dock
Three days.
The Director had been in a mind of confusion for three days. It wasn't hard to see why considering what had been happening after the last...unscheduled viewing of the data Kale had presented. Honestly he had considered just killing the boy in his sleep after the actions last time. He warned him, he had warned him and been patient. Kale didn't listen and he's paying for it. Then again...he was far more useful alive.
"Director are you listening?" The Councilor said beside him.
He shook his head and cleared his focus. "Of course Councilor, continue the report." He said adjusting his glasses and continued walking down the dock.
"Agent Texas seems fully functional, for an individual in...her condition. She can operate on her own thoughts although it seems that she does not remember most of her life before hand." The Councilor said a bit wearily. "Will this be a problem?"
The Director sighed and shook his head. "I knew that Texas may not have been perfect at first. She is here though Councilor and that alone means that our project is moving forward. Have you implemented the next phase into the boy?"
The Councilor nodded and pulled a data pad from his side. "Yes the agents have been told that he had another one of his heart problems sir." He said a hint of confidence in his voice. "No complaints so far from any except for agent Connecticut sir. She wanted to see him."
"Keep them away from him for now." He said throwing a glance at agent North as yelled at a few troops to fix a few sparking wires. "Agent California and Florida are at his side when he wakes correct?"
Once more the Councilor nodded. "They have been assigned their jobs sir. Florida was...happy that we had decided to focus the project into healing then violence. Kale being only just a boy, helped me convince him."
"What about California?" He questioned. He had barely had contact with the agent in question for some time. Last he heard a mission went the wrong way in a fire fight for him and his team. Emotional trauma was the outcome and it wasn't very surprising. He had other agents that just couldn't handle the line of duty. That was to be expected.
"He was not to difficult to convince. He seemed almost relived to be honest. I think he was expecting a more active job then guarding a teenager." The Councilor said his voice back to normal. "I did a psychoanalysis of him though and I don't think he will have any...issues."
The Director smiled at the news and nodded. "Very well Councilor and how is the Alpha?"
Flicking through the data pad he quickly cleared his throat. "His data has been implemented with the new program and has began it's activation sir."
Stopping the Director smiled and sighed. "All is going according to plan then?" He said in a relaxed voice.
"There is still agent South and Washington to handle with the information given from the viewing. North has been briefed and...he did not take it very well..." The Councilor said a bit wary of the possibility of more havoc onboard.
"As long as the twins handle themselves appropriately I see no problem in that area. Do we have an identity to who sabotaged our ship?" His relaxed demeanor was gone replaced by a scowl. How dare anyone make a fool of him or his achievements.
"All footage concerning the event was erased prior along with subroutines in the ships A.I core. We are trying to number out any kind of suspect sir." He said mostly to keep his boss calm.
Nodding he looked to the Councilor. "Good. I want this ship under watch from every angle, so that the next time this happens we may throw this saboteur out our finest airlock." The Director said finality in his tone.
"Of course sir, I have already started with that problem." He said with a smile on his face.
Nodding he left the Councilor to oversee the ships repair crew and make sure the damage wasn't to great. In the mean time he decided to check in with few issues of own. Looking around for a few minutes he found an old styled newspaper stand. It was actually very nostalgic for him to find something that brought back good memories. Opening it up he didn't need to look far for his objective to be found. A photo of armor clad men was at the front page. The resistance.
They had early on been a minor annoyance to him when they first appeared. Barely up to quality weaponry, inadequate soldiers and a armor that could be seen as rejects thrown away. As he progressed in his own advancements they began to be more of an obstacle then any regular trouble...no they were gathering faster becoming more intelligent...at a more rapid pace everyday. Using his connections to the military he began to cite them as criminals against the military marking them as terrorists and highly dangerous.
Throwing the paper in a nearby trash bin he adjusted his glasses and looked around to the people walking by. Nobody stared although some gave him a glance and waved. Good...nobody knew who he was or what he was doing. In some sectors of the galaxy he had become a celebrity because of his research into A.I theory and usage. Suddenly he became one of the leading scientific powers in all of known history. It was funny really...he didn't feel like it.
"Not till it's done...not till my project is over..." He muttered a sad look coming to his face. He would do anything to bring her back...anything.
Recovery 1
Agent Florida looked upon the unconscious Kale with a smile on his face. He sat in a chair his blonde hair in the buzz cut military fashion, and his blue eyes sparkling. Although a few long scars across the side of his neck ruined his good boy look it did add a hint of mystery about him. Since the ship had very good privacy he decided to take off his helmet. It had been awhile...about a week since he last took it off.
Looking down onto Kale he rocked back and forth on his chair, played around with his spare combat knife, and even started reading that romance novel he had been meaning to get to. Even with the distractions he still couldn't help but wonder about the boy in front of him. The Director had been very hush about him, only telling him and California his name. Who was he? Maybe he had a chipper attitude and decided to join the military? He didn't look old enough...maybe-
"Hey jail bait stop looking at the sleeping boy like that." California sounded out from behind him. "I got you your coffee but you gotta stop looking at the kid like that okay?" He reasoned bring the man his coffee.
Florida gladly took the cup and drank up. "Ah...thanks buddy, I know I can always count on you for a good cup of coffee." He took another gulp of the liquid.
California rolled his eyes taking off his helmet. "Glad to know I can be your errand boy Florida. Last thing I need to be is out of a job." His voice said with sarcasm.
Florida shook his head and sighed. "Oh don't you worry about that California, you can be my errand boy anytime you like." He gave him a quick pat on the back. "You know I could never replace a fellow like you!"
California sighed and sat down next to him. "You need to get sarcasm one of these days...so how have you been? Done anything cool?"
Florida sighed and stretched a bit. "Well I have been on a bit of a diet recently..." He rubbed his armor. "Been getting a little tight down in my gut. I think it was those package of cookies I ate. They were nice and all but filled me to the brim you know?" He sighed licking his lips.
"You have such a sweet tooth man. I can remember the time you downed a dozen brownies at that outpost...32 I think? You were moaning and groaning for ages about that sugar headache. Honestly dude haven't you ever heard of aspirin?" He scoffed.
Florida kindly waved him off. "Hey pal to much of that stuff can kill you." He looked down at the body of the boy again. "So what do you think of the guy?"
California rubbed his temples tiredly. "I think he's asleep and shouldn't be waking up to a grown man creepily looking after him."
"Aw don't be like that, I'm only trying to help him. Besides don't you think it's great what the project is doing now? They are using the military funds to start healing instead of fighting! On a child no less..." He leaned back in his chair.
"You like kids huh Flowers?" Florida said regarding his attachment to the boy.
"Oh certainly, I always wanted to have a family. Never really got the chance with the military but I treat my soldiers like brothers and sisters." He took another sip of his coffee and sighed. "It's kinda like having one already, your like extended family California."
California flashed him a smile and looked towards the boy. He was curious about him although he couldn't just go around asking questions. He looked pretty young so maybe a visitor...a relative to the Director maybe? It...wasn't out of the realm of possibility. He never really considered the Director as a family person in the first place like Florida. So who was he...
"Must have been through surgery lately..." He mused looking at his surroundings. Around them was one of the newest additions to the medical ward, Recovery 1. It was pretty state of the art with all the medical equipment to equal about ten or fifteen hospitals. Not to mention all the medical advancements they must have made in the place. He could see bits of surgical tape at the back of Kales neck...maybe something got torn up back there?
"Poor kid, he doesn't look to bad." Florida muttered.
California sighed and rubbed his temples again. "You really need to stop being so creepy man, it's distracting.
"Oh don't be a party pooper California., you know I just care about his safety." He said taking out his rifle. "Though I doubt any of the good men onboard would let anything bad get to this kid. The looked so happy to see me." He said reminiscing as they had first come onboard. They had just brought the repair ship over with agent texas...not much of a conversationalist other then the occasional barking order. The Councilor greeted them with apologies of the ships disorder but he assured them that they would be plenty safe.
After that they were introduced to the Director who was much nicer then he usually seemed...must have been in a good mood. They were first assigned to help fix the ship along with some of the other freelancers who were oddly very quiet...even York who usually was a chatterbox seemed out of it. They almost felt...kinda ghostlike...not all there and really cold. California told him he was being paranoid but durning his time...the coldness didn't seem to disappear. The day after they at least spoke to him and his friend but they were restrained...
Then soon after they had arrived the Director put them both on security detail of Kale. Apparently the kid was pretty important in his mind so they didn't question anything at first. After awhile of him not waking up they half theorized the guy was in a coma. That was put to rest as they heard him mumbling in his sleep.
"Yeah, just don't point that thing at me alright?" California said pointing to the gun in Florida's hands.
They were interrupted as the door to the the recovery station opened and C.T walked over to the pair. "He alright?" she said pointing to Kale.
California looked a little surprised to see her in the room but before he could reply Florida sat up and grinned. "Connie! It's so good to see you!" He said his voice almost gleeful as he walked over and patted her on the shoulder. "How long has it been since we last talked? I hope your still not having those anti social issues."
C.T growled as Florida broke into a little smile. "8 months, 3 days, and 55 minutes give or take but who's counting?" She angrily said moving past him. "No I'm not having those problems anymore thank you very much."
Florida shrugged at the harsh words obviously thinking nothing of the. "Glad to see your chipper memory hasn't changed a bit. Photographic right?" He said walking behind her.
California wisely got out of the way as C.T made her way over to Kale looking over him. Her eyes focused on the backside of his neck and narrowed. "What's that?" She murmured to herself. He was sleep deprived...had a heart attack...so what was wrong with his neck?
"Connie? You alright?" Florida said warily looking at her concerned features.
California took interest in C.T's care for the boy eying them both carefully. "Do you know him or something?"
C.T looked him over and found no other flaws with him. When she first heard they put him in Recovery 1 she knew something was wrong, immediately she tried to see the boy but was blocked off by the Director who said it was none of her concern. It was her concern though...he was leverage she could use against the Director if she needed...and he was just a boy. C.T thought for a second about undoing the bandages and finding what was underneath but if he had real injuries the risk was to great. She put on a the mask of her freelancer persona and quietly replied. "I was with him before he had the heart attack."
California winced and looked down slightly. "Ouch. Sorry I asked." He said scratching the back of his head.
Florida walked over to her side and cleared his throat. "If you need-" He winced and C.T shoved past him pushing him back into his previous seat.
"I don't need anything." She hissed out at Florida as she exited the room.
The two freelancers stood back in a little state of shock before recovering. "So...she still has those anger issues huh Florida?" California asked carefully.
"Who said it ever left?" He mumbled.
Training Floor Locker Room
Carolina quietly walked in sweating from another grueling training session. Not that she could complain anyways, it distracted her from everything else going on around her. stepping over to her locker she opened it and found her helmet sitting in the middle. Not many decorations other then a few newspaper clippings of her when she made the paper. Smiling to herself slightly she took her helmet and looked into the visor. Seeing the bags under her eyes she sighed...it was almost like nobody was sleeping lately.
She heard a few steps coming from the other entrance of the room and quickly put her helmet back on fifuring it was maybe Maine or Wyoming, they usually hung out around here anyways. slaming the locker shut she turned to the newcomer and stopped. Another agent in pure black armor with an orange visor stood in the doorway, she had seen her when the repair ship came onboard. More then that...she recognized her voice.
"Something on my face?" Tex dryly commented walking past Carolina to her own locker.
Quickly snapping out of her frozen position she cleared her throat. "No. Sorry just...never seen you around. Are you new here to the Project?" Carolina asked her sitting on a nearby bench.
"No. I've been here for awhile." At least...that was what she could recall anyways. When she had awoken up at first she could barely think about anything and memories kept flooding into her, after awhile it stopped and she met the Director. He said she had taken a nasty blow to the head and her body wasn't in great shape either. He had done what he could with robotic augmentations but it was likely she could never take off her armor. She had been told that she had been like a black ops group for project freelancer, taking on missions that were to secretive for a full team.
"How come I've never seen you before?" Carolina pressured her a bit more trying to make any connections.
Getting to her locker Tex swiftly opened it. "None of your business." She replied her tone hardened and cold.
Sitting up Carolina let her arms down to her side. "You shouldn't talk that way, it'll get you in trouble." She growled out not liking the tone of her voice.
Looking over to her Texas shut the locker door hard and the slam could be heard outside the room. "I can talk however I feel like Carolina." She said going over to face the opposing freelancer. "Unless you want to correct me on that statement?" Tex challenged.
"I am the highest ranked freelancer on the leaderboard." She said circling the mysterious agent Texas. "Number 1. I don't even see your name." She said fists clenching at the aggression she was feeling. This one was almost like Kale, it was like she naturally pissed her off.
"My name is Texas." She said coldly to her. "What? You think that just because your the best it gives you the right to boss me around?" She offered circling in the opposite direction of Carolina. "I think you oughta get off that high horse of yours and take a seat. Someone just might shove you off at this rate." She taunted not changing her tone.
"Is that a threat Texas?" Carolina said closing up against the agitated agent. They were only inches apart by the head of their visors.
Nobody made a move and nobody let out a breath. Slowly Texas backed away and said in a tight voice holding back her anger. "One time Carolina. I'm gonna warn you this one God damn time. Don't mess with me again." She said her voice getting back to normal by the end. "If you try that again your going to bite off more then you can handle." She bumped shoulders against her roughly as she exited the room.
When the door closed Carolina took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself. Why did Texas make her so mad? It wasn't like she had that short of a temper with other agents...well except maybe with York but even then it wasn't that bad. Something...something in her voice just made her snap.
Texas entered the hallways of the ship clearly aggravated shoving soldiers out of the way as she walked past. What did Carolina do to make her so...emotional? Yeah that was the right word for it. It was almost like she wanted to get mad at her...for some reason anyways...
Carol...Goodbye...
Texas snapped out of her thoughts as the memory hit her leaning on a nearby wall for support. She held onto her helmet as she felt a headache go through her skull...or what was left of her skull anyways. What the hell was that? Who the heck was Carol?
"Agent Texas are you alright?" A voice sounded from beside her.
Looking next to her the Councilor had seemingly popped up out of nowhere and was now holding her shoulder. Shrugging the hand off she dusted off the part where his hand was. "Fine...just getting used to the body you know? You said it would take time to get everything going again."
He nodded his expression of worry not changing. "Perhaps it would be best to return to your quarters for a diagnostic of your armor?" He suggested.
Looking down she sighed and nodded. "Yeah whatever Councilor..." Looking down she couldn't help but keep her mind on that memory...Carol?...Good name.
Recovery 1
Kale opened his eyes with his ears ringing and his head throbbing. He groaned as he heard voices around him...what was happening? "Keep it down..." He mumbled to whoever was in his room. As the feeling started to comeback into his body Kale began to see more of his surroundings.
"Welcome to the land of the living kid." California said next to his bedside. "Hey Flowers! The kids up!" He yelled making Kale wince in pain covering his ears.
"Not so loud!" He hissed out and laid back down. "Where am I?" He said sitting up but winced and held his throbbing skull.
Florida came into the room running in a rush to see the boy. "Hey there soldier, welcome back to the sunshine of today!" He said the happiness clear in his voice.
Kale rapidly blinked and adjusted to the voice only to recognize it moments later. "Flowers!" He said his face breaking into a smile. He always enjoyed the small times when he was around in the show.
Blinking a bit Florida smiled at him. "Oh you know me?" He said with a warm kind voice. "Well isn't that a ring-a-ding coincidence huh California?"
Kale not recognizing the name turned to his side and saw the man. "California?" He questioned.
Said freelancer frowned looking at the boy. "Oh thanks, good to know the guy over there is more famous then me." He shook his head in mock grief. "Florida snap out of it, it's not like he asked for your for your autograph or something..." He said sighing to himself. "Look I'm gonna call the Director over, you two play nice while I wait outside. You can tell him some of your stories that you kept barraging me with on the way here..." He shivered shaking his head.
"Don't tell me you didn't like my roadtrip stories!" He said smiling at the other freelancer.
"Okay then I wont tell you." California said exiting the room wanting to get as far away from those sleep inducing roadtrip stories.
Kale looked over to Florida and smiled. "Fun guy you work with?" He guessed.
Florida shrugged at Kales assumption. "He is but he's just been kind of stressed out lately." He whispered to Kale smiling at him. "I'm sure he just doesn't like space travel is all...kind of makes you sick after awhile." He held out a hand to Kale. "Call me Flowers kid."
Kale shook it and smiled at him. For awhile they just sat down talking to eachother discussing not much in particular other then how they were doing, what they liked, funny stories. It was nice having someone that didn't want to tear off his head talking to him for once.
But that moment was ruined as the Director walked in California still outside. "Flowers may I have a word with the boy?" He said adjusting his glasses.
Florida saluted. "Sir yes sir!" He winked at Kale and went outside exiting the medical ward and leaving the two alone.
The Director looked to Kale and raised an eyebrow. "Another viewing? Was I not invited to this little party of yours?" He said a smirk on his face.
Kale shifted a bit nervously in his bed. "I can explain sir you see-" He was interrupted as the Director put up a hand as a sign of silence.
"I received the report and I am here to apologize for the actions placed upon you." He said taking off his glasses. "Including my own." The Director said a little somberly at the boy.
Kale blinked and looked around almost suspecting something horrible to happen but nothing occurred. "R-really? Well...apology accepted...Director what happened after the video? I thought I'd be back in my room but..." He looked around some more. "Where am I anyway?"
The Director chuckled and put a hand on Kales shoulder. "You had another one of your heart attacks my friend but it was much less severe...although you were out for a couple of days, don't worry nothing has happened in your absence." He said swiftly as Kale was about to shoot him another question. "But I do have some surprises to show you though. Gifts really."
Kale eyed the Director warily not sure what his game was at this point. "Oh...I don't supposed you wrapped them?" Kale said jokingly.
To his surprised the Director actually started to laugh. "No Kale...let me show you..." He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a black leather wallet for the boy and tossed it to him. "Open it up."
Looking at it curiously he opened it up carefully and found an ID...for him. It had his picture on it, a security pass next to it...a credit card? Going further into the wallet he found it had cash in it and he looked up at the Director inquisitively. "What is this?"
"Your identity. When we tried looking for you in our data bases we couldn't find a trail of you. I had some of our workers forge an identity for you. A very nice one if I might say." He almost sounded like he was gloating to Kale at this point. "We can't have you going around with nothing Kale."
Kale shook his head with his skull still throbbing. "But...wait...am I going somewhere?"
The Director smiled at the boy and chuckled. "My boy you have done good things while onboard and in return I thought I could give you something in return. Since you have nowhere to go I figure you might want to enlist a bit early..." His smile seemed pretty real at this point. "Did you want to pick your name or would you like us to choose for you?"
"My name?" He said clearly not knowing what he was talking about. "What's wrong with my name?"
The Director came out with a data pad flicking through it. "We do have some available for you already...oh I must apologize I wasn't being all to clear with you." He stood up and sighed. "I almost forgot your second gift as well. Alpha online."
Kales head doubled in pain as a voice ran through his skull. "Online and ready for testing Director. Gotta say Kale there is a bit to much room in here...maybe some chunks of your brain are missing..." Alpha mused not really caring if Kale was hissing in pain.
Kale heaved a breath and looked up at the Director. "What the hell was that?!"
Alpha sighed in his head. "Oh yeah I am just loving this, hey ask the Director if he could have put me in any dumber of a host. I think I might actually prefer Wash to you and his equipment can kill me."
The Director nodded and pointed to Kale's neck. "Sorry but we had to make sure you were ready before we started to train you. After all a boy in the program with luck like yours? You needed him more then anybody here."
Kale rubbed his forehead but suddenly stopped and paled considerably. "You have got to be...oh this is BS...this..."
The Director tossed him the data pad and smiled venomously at him. "Pick your name carefully, take your time...we cant have our newest freelancer having any regrets when he gets on the job."
Oh yeah Kale is apart of the team whether he likes it or not.
So I have decided to do something special for the new year, a new contest. You guys and gals get to pick Kales state name!
Just pick anyone you want and send it in VIA review or PM. If you wanna give a reason why you picked that particular state name send that in along with your vote. It may just increase your chances.
Now for the Rooster teeth quote of the week which comes from Ray when he finds out that his house has been booby-trapped with the most heinous substance in all of Minecraft...
Ray goes into his house for a quick rose...
Ray: Holy shit I got artwork!
A flood of cakes comes raining down onto him.
Ray: AHHHH! NO! NOOOOOO!
Everyone: laughs insanely at his misfortune.
Well everyone I hope you have a happy new year and...yeah that's about it.