Ch 4
Gunshots rang out, as 6 practiced his sharpshooting skills. Putting the DMR down, he grabbed a sniper rifle and checked to see if it was loaded.
Resting the butt against his shoulder, he zeroed in on the holographic target and pulled the trigger. The rifle recoiled as the .50 caliber round tore thru the target.
"Good shot." Carolina said.
"Grab a weapon, start shooting." 6 said, as he fired a second round.
"Haven't seen you much since the mission." Carolina said, as she grabbed a battle rifle and started firing down range.
"Yeah. I've been catching up on history and project freelancer, the insurrectionist. One question. Did you fight in the covenant war?" 6 asked.
"No. Wash is the only one who did." Carolina replied.
"I don't know why South is pissed that she moved down the leaderboard. Hell, she should be lucky she's still alive. Take it from me. You don't get second chances at life." 6 said.
"No kidding. South needs to get her shit together." Carolina said.
"All you freelancers need to get your shit together. If you get rid of this competition crap, your chances of success will go thru the roof." 6 said.
"The competition is necessary." Carolina said.
"It'll get people killed in the field! You and the rest of the freelancers are so blind to it." 6 said, as he put the rifle aside and walked out of the training room.
"What's his problem?" Carolina muttered, as she continued her shooting. Noble 6 walked down a hallway when a soldier ran into him.
"Sorry, sir." He said.
"Soldier, where's everyone heading?" 6 asked.
"New freelancer just came in. 3-1 match." The soldier said.
"Got to see this." 6 muttered. He headed to the training room and saw a new agent facing Agents Maine, York, and Wyoming. In the observation booth, he joined the twins, Wash, CT, and Carolina.
"That agent is good." 6 said, as he watched agent Texas easily beat the stuffing out of her opponents.
"You worried about your spot?" South asked.
"I'm more worried about York, Maine, and Wyoming." 6 replied, as he kept his eye on the new agent. The match went from hand to hand to paintball shooting. York tried to get his partners to be a team, but Wyoming and Maine just jumped in head-first, and got shot with paint.
"Told you this shit wouldn't work." 6 snarled at Carolina.
"Why don't you worry about yourself." Carolina snarled back.
"I'm worried about the team. I was a lone wolf before I fought on Reach, so I know how to work alone and as a team." 6 replied.
The sound of live ammunition caught everyone's attention.
"Where did they get live ammo?" 6 asked.
"We should call the director." Wash said.
"Who do you think gave it to them?" CT replied.
"Why would the director do that?" 6 asked, watching the fight go on. Maine broke out of the lock-down paint and threw a grenade at Texas, who easily dodged it. The grenade landed next to York.
With nothing left to do, Texas fired her paintball pistol and York, covering him with the paint when the grenade detonated.
"Shit." 6 muttered, as he headed onto the floor.
"Can't believe she sacrificed him like that." South said.
"Lockdown paint hardens the armor. Probably saved his life." Wash retorted.
The director came out and the freelancers lined up.
"Agents, stand down! You should be ashamed of yourselves. I expect you to act as a team." The director said.
"Ashamed of what? They used live rounds, almost got themselves killed." 6 said.
"You think our enemies will care about regulations on the battlefield, noble 6?" the director asked.
"No. But they're not stupid enough to have a live fire training exercise while training themselves." 6 retorted.
"You're not punishing them?" Wash asked.
"Ingenuity and adaptability are necessary traits to survive. You should all learn something from this. Dismissed." The director said.
"Yeah. Learn something, alright." 6 muttered.
"I can't believe it." Wash exclaimed.
"Don't forget to check your place on that list, Wash." CT said as she walked away.
"Interesting." Carolina muttered, as she watched Texas stand up and walk away, her right shoulder shortening out.
6 followed York to the medical room and watched as they connected him to the life support systems.
"How's he doing?" 6 asked.
"He'll live, but he might lose his eye." The doctor said.
6 clenched his fists in anger and breathed in and out.
"I'll be busy." He muttered. The Spartan headed to the barracks and looked at the other agents.
"Where's Maine and Wyoming?" 6 asked.
"Watching Grifball. What do you need them for?" North asked.
"I want a match with them." 6 answered.
"The director said that we're to hold off the matches. We're close to another mission. Don't want us agents breaking any bones." North replied.
"I get the feeling we're being used as lab-rats." 6 said.