Church's Crusade #25: Me, myself and Iowa

"It was about three weeks ago,' said Penny, 'Me and Sig were of on a job when we got a call from the heads of the program. They told me that they needed a fully functional freelancer for a mission of the utmost importance. At first I refused, after all I remembered that they had tried to kill me when I wouldn't give up Sig. But then they told me the details."
"And they were?"
"Bad. Another Freelancer had re-emerged. Agent Iowa."
Church nodded calmly, "And? What did he do?"
"His first move was to break into the original implantation facility. He located where the AI's were stored and…somehow he managed to take on all of the ones there. We don't know what gave him the idea in the first place, but we think taking on the AI's must have driven him mad. His next move was to completely destroy the facility before setting of to the underground bunker that contained the weapons. We think he intends to use them to achieve what every evil insane bastard goes for in the end…world domination."
Anna sighed, "So cliché."
Penny nodded, "That it may be but is also seriously dangerous. If he can get hold of the weapons in that facility then even if he doesn't achieve his goal he will be able to kill thousands of people. That's why we've got to stop him."
Anna sighed, "I know. It's just that I was beginning to enjoy the peace and quiet."
Church shook his head, "You should know better than to expect that by now Anna."
It was at this point that Tucker and Sister wandered in. Tucker looked around and grinned, "So we have a new member to our insane little family I see. And a Freelancer no less', Tucker looked over to Church, 'So I take it we are going to go do something crazy soon."
"What makes you say that?"
Tucker laughed, "Whenever someone new turns up in this hole it means something major is about to happen. It happened with Tex, with Doc, with Sister and then with you and your team. It's a fact of life man."
"Whatever Tucker, I'll explain everything when Doc, Rourke and Paul get back."
"Them? Oh they're just outside. Got here a few minutes ago."
Church's eyebrows rose, "Is that so? Well then, we should get them in here so that we can get this show on the road…"

Everyone stood in the central room of the base. Penny strode to the centre then turned, "So, who held Omega the longest?"
There was a long silence then Doc raised his hand, "I did."
Penny smiled, "Then I shall need your helmet."
Reluctantly Doc pulled of his helmet and handed it to Penny, who set it down then pulled a cable from the arm of her armour and slipped it into the back of Doc's helmet. She raised her head, "Sig, give me a display." Immediately a shifting hologram of code appeared in front of her and she raised her hand and began moving symbols to different positions.
"Should we turn off our radios?', asked Church, ' So he can't possess one of us."
Penny shook her head as she worked, "No need. Without a full set of armour the radio circuit is incomplete. He can't escape."
She worked in silence for several minutes before Anna spoke, "You know, it occurs to me that seeing as he is connected to you, he does have a full suit of armour."
At that moment Penny shifted the last symbol into place. There was a burst of static on the radio lines and the display in front of Penny flickered…and vanished.
There was silence for a moment as Penny carefully removed the cable from Doc's helmet and replaced it in the compartment of her armour. Then she drew her pistols and rose in one movement to point them where Church was standing…where Church had been standing. She spun about to find Church's fist driving towards her stomach. Her hands dropped her pistols and flew down to catch his arm, before she threw herself backwards and hurled him across the room. As he crashed against the back wall she reached down and retrieved her weapons.
As she rose she saw Anna coming towards her, fists raised. Smiling she threw her weapons into the air…then leapt into Anna's body and caught them in time to smash one into the side of Penny's head. Turning, she came face to face with Church whose hand clasped around her neck her neck.
"Get out of her O'Mally', Church growled before bellowing, 'Everyone, radios off!"
Just as he finished speaking Church felt a hand land on his shoulder and pull him back. He turned to see Caboose with his fist raised. Anna was gasping for air and thanking Caboose. Caboose looked at her then lashed out his hand to catch her on the forehead. As Anna crumpled to the ground Caboose turned back to Church with a smile of satisfaction visible through his visor.
Church groaned, "Why does he always pick the stupid one?"
Caboose charged at Church in a flurry of fists. Church was driven back against the wall by the onslaught. Though he knew Caboose was strong he hadn't expected anything like this. He ducked and spun, trying to find a place where he could get through Caboose's defences…and saw it. He drove his fist into Caboose's chin, heard a burst of static as O'Mally left Caboose then, as he could not reach the off switch, smashed the radio in the side of Caboose's helmet. He stood up with a sigh, "He'll be back…"

Simmons was just walking over to Sarge as a burst of static came over the radio and a strange feeling of hatred and aggression washed over him. He raised his gun to point at Sarge…just as Donut walked in saw the scene and shouted a warning to Sarge. As his commander turned to Simmons and brought his shotgun around to knock Simmons off his feet, Simmons looked over to see Grif entering the room…and O'Mally leapt. As he got used to the new body he heard Simmons shouting, "It's O'Mally! Turn off your radios!" He cursed at this and then cursed again as Sarge rose, pointed his shotgun at him and pulled the trigger…

"He'll be back. He'll be back." Church kept repeating this until he heard another burst of static. He looked around, "Does everyone have their radios off?" They all nodded. Church looked around searching for lying faces, until he felt it. He smiled and held out his hand. A small flicker of light appeared in his palm, then resolved into a face. Church continued to smile, "Hello O'Mally…"

The characters Church, Caboose, Tucker, Simmons, Sarge, Grif, Sister, Donut and Doc are owned by Rooster Teeth Productions.