This chapter would have been up sooner if it wasn't for college applications so blame portfolio work. Hopefully the next chapter will be quicker but I think it's actually longer and my schedule is only getting tighter with holidays coming up. But I will do my best!

Recommended listens for this chapter: 'Unnatural Selection' by "Muse", 'The Only Hope For Me Is You' by "My Chemical Romance", 'Neon Bible' and 'Ocean of Noise' by "Arcade Fire".

Summary: Tex hires someone to watch over Tucker, the Chairman reveals what's been going on to much of the outrage of the freelancers, Washington runs out of patience and the Counselor gladly muses his innocence.

New canon character in this chapter! 8D

Chapter 22, Tremble

==Few Hours Previous of Episode 19==

Just as the sun was setting and soldiers were heading off the Counselor sneak from his office.

Nobody seemed to have notice he had been helping the Director and he was grateful because he just wanted to his job-it wasn't his fault the Director had threatened to fire him. Actually he was surprised the Director hadn't said something about him-but he hadn't.

Thank god.

Once in the barracks he banged hard on a door blank as steel. "What the fuck do you want?" Wash demanded swinging the door open without knowing who it was. "Counselor?" he said abruptly his voice slightly high in confusion.

He leaned towards Wash slightly and began to whisper, the freelancer clad in steel and yellow armor stiffened.

"The Chairman needs to speak with you about a very urgent matter. Go to conference room 12B and say your code number to get in." He leaned away.

"Counselor it's my anniversary I would appreciate being able to get home-" he cut him off gently with his always calm voice.

"It concerns the safety of humanity so your presence is necessary. Excuse our rude timing."

Wash went glassy eyed at his first sentence and completely missed the rest.

The safety of the human race? That was huge alone but the fact they were requesting him to be at the meeting was even larger. What exactly was this?

"Is there anything else I should know?"

"Negative." Wash nodded, brushed passed him and headed down the hall, but the Counselor's honey smooth voice stopped him. "I speak on everyone's behalf when I say we're sorry about bringing you into this."

Wash felt the first traces of fear trickle into his blood stream.

It felt like the room was spinning, his heart pounding and his stomach tingling. He tried to keep his shaking and breathing steady.

To his ears, the sound of his footsteps echoed the entire way.

He stopped only minutes later in front of a metal door with no guard in sight. He grabbed hold of the knob and took a deep breath to calm himself. It couldn't be as bad as it sounded. "R11."

With a click it was unlocked.

He pushed it open wondering why it felt so damn heavy.

Inside the room was mostly unlit but he could see everybody in the dim lights, fluorescent only on people seated in the outer ring of the arena. It was cool the air drifting in from vents on the floor. The main light was on the Chairman who had Project Freelancer since the Director's failure. He sat at a wooden desk with fancy controls, clad in a gray standard UNSC jumpsuit and blond hair buzzed.

His eyes zeroed in on Wash. "Please due take a seat, Agent Washington."

Wash nodded and took a seat next to someone he didn't recognize until he sat next to them. Clad in her armor and helmet resting on her lap.

"What the hell is this about?" he whispered leaning close enough to her ear he could smell the ginger of her hair.

Feeling the heat from his breath and hearing his question she turned to face him coming just inches from his face. Now he too was feeling her breath.

"I have no fucking idea they just dragged me here."

"Dragged?" he repeated as she leaned back.

"I'm thankful you could join us-Tex and Washington specifically." He looked directly at them. It seemed that he was terrified and everyone in the room seemed to notice this at once. Instantly tension was as thick as steel. "I'm sorry that this isn't a pleasant meeting, I must apologize for my timing and for bringing you all into this-but it has been put on my shoulders to prepare you for what may happen in a few weeks. Of course I cannot guarantee." He inhaled sharply the sound loud and irritating over the microphone. "You all enlisted in the military knowing the horrid possibilities and we respectful and honor you for that but I'm not here today to talk to you as soldiers who have fought bravely." He got to his feet with an intense frown on his face. The next time he spoke, his voice was thick and passionate. "I'm here to talk to you as civilians and as human beings with the right to survive and fight for yourself." He looked up and scoured the crowd of freelancers and Wash and Tex followed his gaze. He stopped on Agent South Dakota.

Tex immediately felt hate radiating off Wash like a lamp.

"How is she alive?" he gritted out quietly.

"Agent North and Agent South Dakota were informed of the news a week ago."

South stood with a grim look in her eyes. As soon as she nodded her eyes searched the crowd and locked onto Wash who was now sneering. Certainly pissed, she thought.

"She has agreed to fight under the UNSC." he sighed heavily to give himself a moment.

"Our astronomers were searching the galaxy to be positive there was nothing going on that shouldn't be when Dr. Davis spotted an unknown battleship. After informing us we sent our communications expert and tried to make contact. The alien spoke our language but it didn't sound human. After some standard questions we were informed it was a war craft sent by a planet in a further galaxy to scour ours and determine if we were a possible threat."

After some consideration they came to the conclusion we were a possible threat to their world and galaxy. The rate our technology was advancing someday we may be capable of overrunning them and with our destructive characteristics it would be in ruins. To save their planet, they have decided that we're not worth giving a fighting chance. Now if we-" he was cut off by shouting protests in the crowd of freelancers who were claiming they would kick their asses.

Tex immediately joined in on this little riot. "We can take anything those bastards can throw at us!" However Wash blankly stared off into space catching what they couldn't quite grasp. Maybe they didn't want to grasp it hell not even he wanted to.

Only a second later Wash was standing on his chair furious by their stupidity. "What the fuck wrong with you?" he shouted at the top of his lungs and it fell silent. Everyone-including the Chairman-switched their furious gaze on him. "Don't you understand what this means? It doesn't mean another damn war we can fight our way out of with fucking luck. No this means only two things: you kill yourself-" South flinched, "-or you die with everyone else. You can fight until every damn part your body is screaming. It's your choice but let it be known the outcome is the same just with honor, ignorance or submission."

And he stepped down and started for the door as debates filled the room.

"Fuck…" Tex mumbled unsure how to feel.

She'd had a pretty good idea of how to feel throughout all of life but now she felt mixed up; dice in a cup, and her thoughts were nowhere in particular.

South then barreled by her and Tex glared daggers at her. "Watch yourself Bitch."

She didn't even hear her as she sprinted and touched Wash's arm as he retreated.

He spun around with a look of hatred and anger in his eyes.

She wasn't afraid of him like she knew she should. "You always did know what to say."

He yanked his arm away and clenched his jaw.

"Don't fuck with me, how the hell are you alive?"

"Fuck off Wash I was trying to talk to you."

"Are you quite finished ceding your precious bullshit? I have better places to be; it's my anniversary." He turn away as Tex watched from a distance enjoying every moment of it. From her angle the slight smirk on his face was glorious.

"Anniversary?" South demanded.

"I'm married to Mass."

"Mass? That crazy bitch?"

"On the contrary," he said smugly clearly smirking. "I think I got the sane one in the end."

"You're a bastard." She stomped out the door Wash catching it before she could slam it.

He didn't care nonetheless all he wanted was to go home and spend a romantic evening with his wife.

Tex watched him go.

"He's pretty pissed off." She turned her head to see CT sitting clad in white and brown armor and helmet on her lap. Instead of looking alarmed like she should have a look of nonchalance was over her face.

Tex tried to mimic it and failed miserably.

"What's with you? Bored by the death of trillions of people?"

"Saw it comin' that's all." She leaned back and rested her feet on the empty seat ahead of her. Opening her suit compartment she retrieved a cigarette and lighter cupped her hand in front of the flame and it lit.

"How?"

"What the hell did you think all this shit was leading up to? A picnic? Dance party?"

She fell silent knowing that she should've seen it coming too. All the hell they'd been through had to backfire and this was the time.

Humans had destroyed so much and this was nothing compared to what they'd done. Humans verses humans for centuries ruthlessly fighting over power with hatred fueling the fire. Sometimes she wondered if humankind had a need for bloodshed something to doom them to eternity in Hell. She felt it inside her, distinctly a want to feel the pulse fade away from someone as their last breath left them. Almost every freelancer felt that.

"You have a point. So you gonna fight?"

"I'm not telling you." Tex paused.

"How about I make you a deal?"

"Deal?" CT raised an eyebrow.

"You work with me and keep an eye on my retarded friend Tucker and if we live I give you my warthog and tank." She didn't look at her but her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"You have a tank? But, sure. I don't understand why this Tucker guy is so important though. Your lover or something?"

"I'm married." To show proof she removed her glove and wriggled her fingers her engagement ring sparkling and wedding band reflecting the light.

"Your secret affair?"

"No, just a kid who can't keep his damn mouth to himself. Those things whatever they are will grill his ass in less than five minutes. That's why I need you."

"To pass the salt?" she joked proudly.

Tex realized now how much she was thinking about York. Older than her probably the oldest freelancer he was wise but an idiot all the same. Though he wouldn't have been killed if it wasn't for Omega Tex felt needlessly guilty. He was the only person in the program that she had thought had a sense of humor but now she was learning CT had one too.

"To make sure he survives as long as he can. He won't be alone he'll have the covenant with him. He's like half alien or some shit. Just make sure he lives awhile."

"You have a plan?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out."

CT finally faced Tex her eyes the most intoxicating color of deep brown she had ever seen. Like Church but more complicated, speaking of pain, suffering hatred and carelessness. Despite everything she was carefree.

"If you throw in that if you live you'll try and save me you've got a deal."

"Alright." They shook hands both rough and warm, matching.

They exchanged phone numbers Tex's writing on CT's hand and vice-versa.

Tex left first wondering why she cared about Tucker.

As soon as she made it to her car she called Church. He answered on the third ring. "Hey Babe 'ya comin' home? It's gettin' late."

"Yeah, but I need you to do me a favor and have dinner ready. I had a shitty day."

"Okay. Wanna talk about it?"

"No, now get to work Lazy Ass." With that she shut her phone off and placed it back in her pocket not feeling quite like going home yet and facing his scrutiny. No in fact she felt like lying in the backseat and sleeping forever.

The world was turning out to be more hell than it was worth and the only thing holding her here was Church. His smile, smug and sarcastic remarks, nasty looks she loved deep down and how he kept trying to talk her into adoption even when she pretended not to listen. How could she not listen to him? She loved him and hung on his every word. And he was right, four years was much too long to wait. So she promised herself as she sat in the car in the glow of the sunset with the fresh scent of pine in her car that if she got the chance she'd adopted as many kids as it took to make them the happiest couple on earth-no matter how damn nervous she was.

Resting her arms on the steering wheel and her face in her hands she closed her eyes and imagined it: the giggles from the yard, Cobalt chasing them around as they screamed happily, their hair trailing behind their tiny heads, Church chasing them or watching and smiling. It almost seemed too surreal to ever be real but if they survived it was within grasp.

A smile spread across her face as reality faded from her mind for a split second.

I hope that wasn't too lame! I tried my best but just let me know what you thought.

Also I had to completely rewrite CT's part of this because when I wrote it RT hadn't revealed CT was a woman. So I had to do that over again. Nonetheless I think it came out well.

Reviews make me hurry to update!