Ch 15
Six approached the table that was filled with weapons, and looked up. He saw Carolina preparing herself for the match. A match she was bound to lose.
"Lets finish this." Six muttered, and walked into the ring.
The match started, and the two freelancers ran towards each other.
"What the hell is going on?! No matches were authorized and… ALLISON, NO!" the director yelled, seeing Carolina and Six about to fight.
All at once, the freelancers that had AI implants screamed and growled in pain and agony. Carolina fell to the floor, screaming as if she were hit with a needler round.
"Make it stop! Make it stop!" She yelled, ripping off her helmet.
"What the hell is going on here?!" Six shouted at the observation booth.
The director and counselor turned around and walked away, leaving Carolina in her misery.
Lowering himself to a knee, he clenched his right hand into a fist and pulled his arm back.
"This is for your own good." Six said, and knocked Carolina out.
He easily lifted her over his shoulder and headed to the medical ward.
"Christ." Six muttered.
Entering the sick bay, he lay Carolina on a bed, and checked her pulse. There was a steady heartbeat.
"What happened?" a doctor asked.
"She had two AI implanted in her head. Went nuts as a result. Start checking her." Six said.
Six watched as the doctors went to work on Carolina. For the moment, she was stable. But he did have one question.
"Come in." the director said.
The door was harshly pushed open, and Six came in. The director half expected the Spartan to have a rifle in his hand.
"Why?" Six asked.
"Why what?" the director asked.
"Why did you give her two AI?" Six asked.
"She requested the AI, and I gave it to her." The director calmly said.
"You're too damned smart to fall for something like that. You have plans, back-ups, and even more back-ups. There's something at plan here, something you've worked out long before. Carolina was supposed to have Maine's AI, Sigma. North tells me that the AI help influence the host." Six said.
"What's your point?" the director asked.
"What will happen to Carolina? To all of us? What games do you have in store for us?" Six asked.
"This is not a game, Spartan! My program is essential to the survival of the human race!" the director balked back.
"That's not good enough. Your freelancers are not Spartans. Hell, they don't have the cohesion of the marine corps, or the army. Whatever your plan is, I'll be ready." Six said, leaving the room.
Six headed to the recovery room, and looked at the unconscious Carolina.
"I'm going to kill him." Six muttered.
"Kill who?" Wash asked, startling the Spartan.
Six quickly turned back, fists raised.
"Hey, Wash." Six said.
"So, who are you going to kill?" Wash asked.
"None of your concern." Six said.
"We're friends, Six. Tell me." Wash said.
For a moment, Six felt sorry for Wash. He was rather naïve about what was going on.
"Wash, there are things that a person can only keep to themselves. You'll know when the time comes." Wash said.
Six spent the next few days doing two things. Practicing his sharpshooting skills, and looking over Carolina. She was still under, and not waking up.
"How's she doing?" Tex asked.
"Still under." North said.
The two freelancers were looking into the recovery room from a medical observatory.
"How long has he been looking after her?" Tex asked.
"He spends time doing one of two things. Looking after her, and practicing his shooting skills. I think he's planning something." North said.
"Lets hope it doesn't involve us. You know your sister petitioned to get one of Carolina's AI." Tex said.
"She didn't." North said.
"She did." Tex said.
"I'll talk to her. That's inappropriate." North said.
"Yeah. She's a fucking vulture. Keep an eye on her." Tex said.
"Something's different about you." North said.
"You have an AI, right?" Tex asked.
"Theta." North said.
"Takes time getting used to. Mine took a little longer than most. I'm not sure I want to depend on him." Tex said.
"You've been pulling him?" North asked.
"Haven't used him in days. And no-one is going to know." Tex said.
"They have to stop implanting now." North said.
"Wash is up for surgery next." Tex said.
"You're kidding me." North said.
"Well, time marches on. So does project freelancer." Tex said.
"Yeah. But lately, it seems that we're getting trampled." North said.
"Call me when she wakes up. Or… if she doesn't." Tex said.
The next day, Six was in the observation booth, watching the implantation of Wash's AI; Epsilon.
"We're going to hell for this." Six muttered.
Meanwhile, Tex headed to the empty freelancer classroom and plugs in the data chip. On the screen, CT's face appeared and started to play the message.
"Agent Texas... Allison. If you're reading this, then that means I escaped. Or, well at the very least, I'm probably not around anymore. He broke the law, Allison. The one law they don't just slap you on the wrist for. I'm taking the originals with me as an insurance policy. I leave this copy for you not because you are one of the best in the squad, but because I know that I can trust you the most. After reading these files you will understand why. Good luck. Your friend, Connie."
Tex went thru the files on the drive, discovering what the director was doing. At the same time, Epsilon was being implanted in Wash. Suddenly, he screamed and grabbed his head. He pushed the table away and continued to scream.
"Sedate him, now!" the director ordered.
The doctor managed to sedate Wash, strapping him to the bed.
"Get him to recovery, now!" the director continued.
"Counselor, I'd like to speak to him as soon as he wakes up."
"Of course. What was that he said about good-by? Director?" the counselor asked, confused.
Six's enhanced hearing caught what the counselor said.
Six headed back to the recovery room, and saw Carolina get up.
"Got bad news. Wash went in for implantation, and it failed." Six said.
"How bad?" Carolina asked.
"I don't know. God, everything is falling apart. First, Connie, the AI, now you and Wash. Hell, I'm considering jumping ship. Head back to the UNSC." Six said.
"Well, I need to see the director." Carolina said.