The medical technology aboard the Mother of invention allowed North to recover enough to begin physical training in a little over a week. His vision was still faded since that was the result of irreparable brain damage. His body felt physically weak; out of armor his hands would tremble, he would suffer occasional dizziness and chronic muscle and joint pain. Like the sweet dutiful sister she would give him massages and apply heating pads so he could be comfortable enough to sleep.
Of course none of what mattered since he was destined to be sacrificed in within the dynamics of Four-Seven-Niner's plan. South met with the former pilot in a secret location to discuss the details.
"Agent Washington is recon 1 tasked with obtaining the armor of dead rogue agents, but we don't trust him, because he had yet to return with anything of substance. Now with Agent York out there it's only a matter of time before he dies and Washington will be in possession of the Delta AI."
"and or Agent Texas's Omega AI."South added.
"Trust me the chances of Texas dying before York are slim to none. So the new division I'm heading up is currently tracking York's whereabouts. And the whereabouts of Agent Maine who we believe is evolving in to the Meta; a combination of all or as many of the AI fragments as possible." She continued.
"So where do I come in?" South asked curiously.
"In the event Washington retrieves Delta he will likely be holding it in a separate containment unit since he is no longer able to operate with an AI. Agent North will have to be the very next body he goes in search of. When Washington finds you alive, he will not believe his luck; another agent but with the ability to operate an AI. He'll ask you to help him fight Maine." She said confidently. She continued in a theatrical tone." But if Maine killed York-An agent who's rank never fell lower then 3rd- how can the two of you stand a chance?"
"So you think he'll give me Delta." South smiled. Her mind glossed over that most important element 'Agent North will have to be the very next body'; if no one came after them she would have to kill him herself. But in that moment, she felt this was a non issue.
"And then you will be of course expected to execute that troublesome Agent Washington. And you will not be keeping Delta, upon it's safe return you will be evaluated for your own AI." She added.
"Not a problem." South to both conditions.
"Well I'm glad to be working with you. For now here's what I need you to focus on; I'm going to try and create a cover mission that will have you and North leaving the ship, but if no opportunity comes I need you to pretend like you are planning on escaping. We all know what your brother thinks of Project Freelancer; he only stayed behind because of you. Play in to that; I know you can do it. I will contact you the day you will be leaving the ship." She concluded.
"Roger that Four-Seven-Niner."South said with a comical salute.
"You can just me command since you will be in communication with me exclusively." she offered her hand for a hand shake. Surprisingly South accepted.
For the next few days she would train with North, focusing on weight training to help him regain strength and muscle mass (to aid in reducing pain.) And hand to hand combat skills without armor to help him focus his mind (even with his damaged vision). She wanted the chance to talk to him face to face. She was still mad, she was far from forgiving him, but she needed to see his face. She needed to touch him, maybe it was their connection as siblings, as twins; he was part of her.
"I need to talk to you about something." She said helping him to a bathtub of ice after a 6 hour training session out taking breaks for water and protein bars.
He leaned back savoring the numbing sensation of the cold. "what's on your mind?"
"I think we need to leave this place." She said calmly, but looking away from him to avoid any hint of deception.
"What do you mean?" he asked beginning to fall asleep.
"The way things are run here, how many who have already fled, I don't feel safe here, I want out. I know the only reason you stayed behind was to protect me," she said resting her head on his shoulder.
"If we were to escape I think the best course of action would be to abandon our armor and turn ourselves in." he said, as if that had been his plan all along.
"We couldn't turn ourselves in. They would separate us I would never see you again. And I say 'they' because we have no idea how high up the actions of project freelancer will be punished. We've stolen, killed and caused massive property damage." She put her hand on his shoulder, down his chest resting over his heart. 'This was a lie-this was a lie',she said to herself, was there a part of her that didn't want to go through with this?
"We need our armor; with all the enemies project freelancer has, we would never survive without our armor." She said with emotion in her voice. "and in your current condition" She felt herself starting to show genuine emotion. "you know wouldn't make it without your armor." She now found herself hugging him.
"So you think we should just run at the next chance we get?" he leaned his head back resting in to the ice feeling at peace. He knew they both were skilled so they stood a decent chance against whatever the world had to throw at them. But if she wanted to leave with their armor he would support her decision, even if it meant they would be hunted down like Agent CT had been. Perhaps they could join up with York or Texas to increase their chances of survival.
"Whatever you decide I've always got your back, because no matter what you'll always be my kid sister." he said holding her hand.
"And I will always have you back even though you always call me 'kid or kiddo' because you're all of 40 minutes older." She smiled. They both laughed.
South felt herself squeeze his hand. Did she really want him dead for a shot at an AI?