Days had passed since York's incident. Since then, York never came near the Medical ward or face Carolina's wrath or that of Michigan's.
After almost seventeen days of being in the infirmary Washington finally woke up. His head felt like it was exploding, his body ached and his limbs felt like jelly.
"Well its about f**king time you woke up." He heard a voice nearby. When his vision cleared he saw South standing against the wall and North beside her. He looked around the rest of the room, Carolina wasn't here. He tried to sit up but felt an enormous wave of pain in his head.
"Take it easy. Theres no rush for now." North said.
Washington grasped is head and grabbed in ice pack to cool it down. "My head. How long was I out?"
"Only a couple of days. After the took it out."
"Wait, they took it out?"
"Yeah they took it out." South responded. "You went ape sh*t when they implanted you. Started attacking the docs and sh*t."
Washington looked at her like she was crazy, but he couldn't remember anything. The last thing he remembered was Carolina. Waking after she recovered from her A.I. accident. After that, nothing. "F**k man! Did I hurt anyone?"
"No its all good. Mitch had to choke you out before you actually did anything." South said. "And f**k that guy, now I have a new fetish-"
"-Anyway..." North interrupted. "... whats important is that your awake." He certainly didn't feel lucky. He felt like his body was breaking down and melting.
A doctor came into the room very soon and started on his quick examination. The procedure took only a few minutes, it felt like forever but soon the doctor gave a Washington a clean bill of health. The only difference he noticed that was for concern was his eyes. Instead of their usual blue they were a pale grey. They'd need to look into that later. Right now Washington didn't care about himself he wanted to know whats been happening.
Both of the Dakota Twins started rubbing the back of their necks and shared a look. They didn't know where to start.
"Well, just recently Wyoming is MIA, Mitch, is MIA, Abby is MIA, and Monty..." North paused for a moment at the mention of Montana.
Washington took his silence as bad news. He immediately sat up only to be taken down by the massive headache. Still, despite his current condition, he still demanded an answer about his sister. North had to reassure him again and again that she was now safe and unharmed. She was distracted and injured on a mission. She's since recovered but the Director and Counselor decided she wasn't yet fit for duty. She was currently stationed at a simulation base. Outpost 17-B. "She's not very happy about being back with those guys, but I promise you, she's safe."
Washington gave a huff of breath relieved that his sister was okay. North handed him a message from her, dating back three days ago. A voicemail. He grabbed the device and hit play. Her voice was as bright and enthusiastic as ever.
"Hey Bro, it Mon... its Maddie. Its been like three days and I'm still stuck planet side on some crappy base in the middle of some valley. I think its called, Valhaldagir-jaggle-callit, I don't, I don't speak Portuguese the Captain is probably from Madrigal or something. Anyway I don't want you to worry, I'm okay just... the scar on my leg opened up again, and it was BAAAD. Like Evil Dead bloody. Abby almost passed out. I'm all good now, recovering well and should becoming back in like two, three days tops. Don't win the war until I get back. Okay." There was a momentary pause. When she came back she sounded less enthusiastic, more sad.
"They hadn't told me anything about your condition since I left. Hell, you'd probably still be in a coma by the time this arrives. It doesn't matter, we shouldn't worry. Abrams reassured me that you'll wake up. Someday. Not that I'd need reassurance, because you made me a promise along time ago. And I know you'll keep that promise. So I guess, bye. Until we meet again."
The recording ended. Washington returned the device to North and thanked him for the message. He had to send her one back, she'd be ecstatic that he's finally awake. Right now he was really wanting to get out of this bed, but every time he moved his body ached. He needed to see Carolina.
"Your in no condition to move right now. Don't worry about it, she's with the Director right now, I'll go get her."
Suddenly there was an explosion in the distance, and alarms started to sound. The whole room shook from the attack.
"What the hell was that?" Washington asked.
"Oh no." North said and made his way out the Ward. "Its happening."
Carolina was already on the move. After the first initial attack the Director ordered from the Bridge for her to investigate where the intrusion occurred. She knew exactly where to go. She knew what was happening. All of a sudden the Artificial Gravity stopped working and she found herself launched though the air, flying down the hall. She spun around landing on the wall on her feet and then launched around the corner till she arrived at the elevator.
"Carolina." She heard from behind and then whipped around with her gun drawn. It was York. "It doesn't have to be this way."
She gripped her gun tighter. "York. What are you doing!"
"I'm doing the right thing! You should too." He walked up to her with Shotgun in hand. A tight grip on the weapon.
"I am doing the right thing! You don't know whats happening, whats really been going on but I do! And I'm going to stop it!"
"You don't have to do anything. Come on let me help." He took a step closer, grip softening and then holstering his gun on his back. "All I've done was because I still care about you. I always have."
Carolina had to keep moving. She couldn't hold off any longer. She didn't know what compelled her to stay or lower her gun.. "I don't care whats come between us. I've always cared about you and I know you still care about me. I just want us to go back to the way things were before. Us. Together." He took another step closer and offered a hand. "I know you'll do the right thing. I can trust you."
Carolina holstered her gun and looked at his hand. He was right. Some where deep down inside, she still cared about him. But she loved Washington. "Maybe, but I can't trust you."
She was quick to disarm him, first a strike upper cut to the chin. She then swept his leg and as he fell over she delivered a powerful blow to his face. He was out cold. Delta appeared in his form hovering above his helmet. He was looking at his host and then turned to Carolina. "That was uncalled for." He stated.
Carolina walked back into the Elevator and was ready to go down. Before doing so she turned to back at the A.I. "Take care of him Delta."
"I'll try my best. And for the record. I am quite happy about your relationship with Agent Washington."
She rode the elevator down to her destination. She was expecting to feel somewhat upset, after what York said. But instead it felt gratifying.
She after arriving down the floor she started flying through the hall turning corners and flying past one poor soldier who just couldn't handle the Zero Gravity environment. After one last turn, she had finally made it to the Command Center. When she walked in she saw Texas standing over the console.
"Texas!" She yelled out alerting her presence to her. Texas turned around to see that it was Carolina, and continued with her work.
"About time you showed up. What kept you?"
Carolina activated her Mag Boots and walked towards her. "What are you doing. Its too soon for this."
"We're running out of time Carolina. The Director probably found out. Probably the reason why he implanted Wash with that rampant A.I.!" Carolina was ready to keep shouting when that news silenced her. York must of ratted them out. She was now more upset that she didn't hurt him worse. "Daddy finally shows some love for her little girl by almost killing the man she loves. Asshole!" She says sarcastically.
"This is a huge risk! If we run know he'll hunt us all down. What about the others that are still out there? What about Wash. I'm no leaving..."
"Calm down no ones getting left behind. Abby's with Mitch and he's already set everything up. New names, I.D.'s, accounts, profiles, everything. For all us. We can get away clean, all I have to do is scrub all the info Freelancer has on us. And I'm just about done. I'm also sending Monty to sort of a safe house."
"Will she be safe? This is my sister-in-law, can't have anything happening to her."
"Yeah she will. Maybe. My boyfriend's stationed at this base, but there all idiots. She can handle them."
They really had everything planned out. Carolina couldn't believe how thorough she and Michigan had planned this. It was kind of frightening, but at least she knew that she and Washington would be safe. Once they were free she could get him to the best hospitals and finally get him help. She didn't care how long it'll take for him to recover. She would be waiting right by his side.
"[Come in Tex. Carolina. Do you read.]" North came in over the comms.
"Whats going on North?" Texas replied.
"South reached out to Illinois, Kansas and Vermont and they've sent their location. She's got Alaska, Colorado, Minnesota, and an unconscious York and they're heading out now." No one questioned York's condition. "Once you completed your objective, meet me in hanger three with FourSevenNiner. We'll all regroup at the location. Just as planned."
"Understood North." Carolina responded. "Just as planned."