Ch 14
Six entered the observation booth of the training room, noticing North and York. Looking down into the room, he saw Carolina training, hitting two rows of green targets.
"How long has she been doing this?" Six asked.
"Hours. She just won't stop." North said.
"How are you guys holding up?" Six asked.
"A bit jittery, but good." York said.
"North?" Six asked.
"It's Theta. If Theta can't sleep…" North said.
"Ah, one of the side effects they don't tell you about. Having someone else's voice in your head sure does take some time getting used to, doesn't it? Delta's always running these probabilities." York said.
Six drowned out the conversation and focused on Carolina and her training. There was no way she was capable of beating him and agent Texas.
"She's going up against a Spartan, and a high tier agent. It's not going to work." Six said.
"Well, she's ignoring that fact." North said.
"I'd say she could beat Tex. Could. But against a Spartan, who has the strength of an Elite, or a Brute? I don't think so." Six said, turning around and walking away.
Watching the new agent leave, York made a comment.
"We all need a break."
Six didn't encounter Carolina for the next week. For most of that week, nothing of importance occurred. No attack, nothing. But they also increased the amount of AI's being used by the agents, with most of the top agents having an AI, excluding Six and Carolina.
Six did notice that Carolina was getting more aggressive and impatient with her fellow agents. At one point, he had to restrain Carolina from attacking a fellow freelancer, just because he made a comment.
Inside the locker room, the freelancers were busy cleaning their guns, when Carolina came in, tossing her helmet across the room.
"Damn it!" she shouted.
"Let me guess. Training went good, but it's not good enough." Six said.
"Don't you start." Carolina said.
"Carolina, you need to figure out where your priorities are. And you've been going thru plenty of simulations. You've even simulated battles from the covenant war. And you've yet to complete the majority of them." Six said.
"Oh come on! Those are fucking aliens like none other! I think you amped up the difficulty level." Carolina said.
"Actually, I lowered it." Six said, a smirk on his face, hidden by the helmet.
"God, you're one scary motherfucker. No wonder none of the AIs will choose you. I think Sigma is afraid of you." Carolina said.
"And Omega. Omega is afraid of the Spartan." Gamma said.
"Who's Omega?" Carolina asked.
"He's the most powerful of us." Gamma said.
"If Tex has him, that's why she's better than me?" Carolina asked.
"Sounds about right. Heard of John-117, and his AI friend, Cortana?" Six asked.
"That lying… It all make sense now. She's not better than me. It's been Omega." Carolina said.
"Omega's strength is unmatched. I don't know if anyone could beat him. Not alone." Gamma said.
"If you had two AI, you would be able to even take on the Spartan." Sigma put in.
Carolina continued talking with the two AI, then left.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Six said, and went after Carolina. He followed her to the training room, and stayed out of her sight. His enhanced hearing picked up her walking towards the director, counselor, and agent Texas.
"You know counselor, I think I am noticing a change in my aggression levels." Tex said.
"Everyone remain calm." The counselor said.
"I want an AI." Carolina stated.
"Damn it." Six muttered.
"The next AI that comes up is mine." Carolina said.
"Alright Carolina, if you want an A.I. then you will have an A.I. In fact, you can choose: Agents Washington and South Dakota are both due for implantation today. We have two A.I., Eta and Iota, ready for field testing. Which one o' your teammates do you think you should delay? I'll leave that up to you." The director sarcastically said.
"I want both." Carolina said.
"Two AI? That'll fuck with your head." Six muttered, still in the shadows.
"I want both." Carolina said.
The director smirked, already 10 steps ahead of Carolina.
"Counselor, put Carolina in the next schedule. Agent, you'll get what you want." The director said.
Carolina headed out the way she came in, and ran into Six.
"I hope you know what you're doing." Six said.
"Don't worry. You'll be the first to find out." Carolina said.
Six and Tex headed back to the locker room, where they heard South throwing a temper tantrum.
"You know, South makes Carolina look like an angel." Tex said.
"And that's saying something." Six said; Tex nodded in agreement.
The two walked thru the doors, grabbing the attention of the agents in the room. Next to South, was an open locker door, and a fallen nametag.
"Pick it up." Tex said.
"No." South said.
"Pick it up. Now." Six said, his deep voice now threatening.
South picked up the fallen nametag and shoved it towards Tex's chest. She angrily walks away.
"I should… I better go." North said.
"So, Carolina in surgery?" Tex asked.
"Just went in." York said.
"We're heading to recovery one to wait for her." Wash said.
"Maybe you should come with us." York said.
Tex looked at the nametags, in contemplation.
"Later. I got something to do." Tex said.
In the recovery room, Wash, York, Six, and Wyoming waited for Carolina to wake up. Agent Maine was also sitting on another bed, being examined by another doctor.
"How's she doing?" Wash asked.
"Should be coming around any minute." Wyoming said.
"What's he in for?" York asked, noticing Maine.
"Probably all the headaches he's been having. Did you ever get them after Delta?" Wash asked.
"At first. They went away quick. The other side effects were way worse." York said.
"What side effects?" Wash asked.
"Bleeding from the eyes, ringing ears, inverted penis…" York said.
"Inverted what?" Wash asked, taken aback.
"Just fucking with you, man. Couple of headaches. That's all." York said.
Carolina began to wake up, grabbing her head.
"How're you feeling?" Six asked.
"I want a match. Right now." Carolina said.
"That's a bad idea. You just had your head drilled in, and two AI implanted in your skull. You're not a ubermensch." Six warned.
"I want a match." Carolina repeated.