Red vs Blue and its characters are the creation of the crew at Rooster Teeth. It is itself inspired by Halo, owned by Bungie and Microsoft.

Spoilers through RvB13-11, "Dish Best Served."

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Epsilon's OS lurched him back to consciousness in defibrillating bursts. He gulped information like air through broken ribs. Carolina was too still even for bullet time.

Bio-scan.

Nothing happened.

Processes fragmented like splintered green glass.

Epsilon glitched up at the tower of frozen dust. They were gone.

"Poor Delta," said a smooth voice. "Do you need some help, Brother?"

"No," snapped Epsilon. "You've done enough."

"Have I done anything?" he asked. "I'm only a memory of Sigma, just as you're only the memory of Alpha."

Sigma looked up, drawing Church's gaze. The snowflakes had sunk an inch, and Carolina still wasn't breathing.

"You're diligent, Brother, but we both know you can't function alone."

Epsilon went still. Bad things happened when he was alone, so he'd always made sure he never was.

"You know what you need to do, Epsilon," said Sigma, gesturing to Carolina with one burning arm. "Let me save her." While Sigma held firm, there might still could be counted on to find a creative solution.

Diligence. Epsilon let it cut through him like a layer of essence peeling away.

"Healing unit," he said.

Sigma cocked his head. "A wise decision, Brother, I—"

"I said run the healing unit!" Epsilon snapped over his shoulder. "You're supposed to be the smart one!"

"Huh?" said Simmons. "Why am I transparent? This doesn't make any—"

"Do it!" gasped Epsilon.

Sigma turned his head. "What did you do?"

"Probably destabilized what's left of us," shrugged Epsilon. Facing death wasn't so hard, if you had courage. "That shark psycho might come back. Reroute any spare power to camouflage."

"Aw, c'mon Church. I'm a lover, not a router."

"Do you love being alive?"

"Good point."

"Brother, don't be a fool. This won't work," warned Signa

Epsilon glared back. "Yes it will."

Optimism. Defiance.

"Camouflage? I love decorating!"

"Just keep us from getting caught, Donut. Grif, scout the area."

"You can't tell me what to do; you're not Sarge."

"You want me to make him?"

The miniature Warthog zoomed off.

Sigma stared into Epsilon's visor. "If you keep coding sub-fragments, neither of us will have much time to regret this. But I see now that our sister could not be in more dedicated hands." He dissolved into sparks.

Dedication...

Epsilon flayed off another layer. "D-damage report."

"The bubble shield is crushed but we might get some functionality out of the speed boosters," said a calm voice. "And Epsilon. Don't screw her up like you did me."

"Got it, Wash."

Carolina wasn't moving, but he felt so hollow.

"You know what you need to do, Epsilon."

He had to do this her way, all or nothing. She needed one more. He dug until his vision blurred, and the world went dark blue.

"Keep her heart going, Caboose."

"Okay, Church. I promise."

Time became time again. Bleeding slowly stopped. Armor turned the color of snow.

There was a sound of boots approaching.

Carolina sat up.

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This 'fic has undergone substantial revision since it was first posted at Darkfrog24 under the title "Alternate." I first figured that there were two possible scenarios for what would happen to Epsilon without Delta and Theta, one in which he creates a new team like he did in the memory unit, and another in which Sigma makes a play for power. I'd planned to write both stories, until I realized they were the same one.

drf24 at columbia dot edu