'Zona grunted as Carolina's foot connected with her already bruised midsection, knocking her to the ground. "You shouldn't have betrayed us, 'Zona. You should've known you can't beat me." Carolina sneered, dropping her depleted plasma rifles to the ground. Plasma burns and bullet holes adorned the walls of the hanger from their fighting.
Grabbing onto a nearby supply crate, 'Zona hauled herself to her feet. "For the last time, I didn't fucking do anything!" She shouted, wincing as she stepped forwards. Damn, must've sprained it… She groaned inwardly.
Carolina laughed, "So that's why you ran? That's why Mary and Rhode are dead? Even if you didn't set off the explosions, there's still plenty more trouble to take you in for." The teal Freelancer swung her gravity hammer off her back, slamming it to the ground in front of 'Zona.
Arizona was thrown into the air, slamming into the wall with a cry as her armored form dented the wall. She hit the floor hard, struggling to get to her feet but only managing to roll over, gasping. "…Go to hell, Carolina…"
"I'll see you there." Carolina shot back coldly, raising the gravity hammer to deliver the final blow and end it.
'Zona closed her eyes, waiting for the end to arrive. She heard the hammer swing, but no pain or impact accompanied it. Instead, Arizona heard Carolina cry out in surprise, as well as the sound of something heavy crashing to the ground further away.
Opening her eyes, 'Zona saw no trace of Carolina. Instead, a very familiar blue and purple Freelancer stood above her, katana in hand. "Hey there 'Zona thought you needed a hand." Ark spoke, chuckling lightly as he offered her his hand.
Damn those puns… "What… what the hell are you doing?!" She asked incredulously, taking his hand and standing up with a groan.
Ark glanced at where Carolina had landed, now in hiding somewhere on deck. "What I always do, interfering in everyone's business." He replied sarcastically.
She stood back to back with him, shaking her head as she searched for Carolina. "You know what I meant… Why?" 'Zona asked quieter.
He sighed, "Is this really the time, 'Zona?" As if on cue, Carolina sprung forwards out of her hiding place, hammer raised high overhead. "Watch it!"
'Zona drew her knife, ready to intercept Carolina's strike when she felt Ark push her out of the way. You fucking idiot! She mentally cursed, stumbling back against the wall. She watched in horror as the hammer came down on Ark's blade, shattering it and forcing him backwards with a curse. 'Zona noticed that his shoulder was held at an unnatural angle, likely dislocated. "Leave him alone you're here for me!"
"I don't listen to traitors." Carolina grumbled, swinging back to slam Ark back against the wall.
She only hit air as Ark ducked, slicing the broken remnants of his sword against Carolina. A trail of red followed his blade's path, before he spun on point and kicked her forwards. "C'mon 'Zona, a little help here?"
Nodding, 'Zona limped forwards to stand by Ark as they faced down the psychotic Number 2 Freelancer. "Fine. But if you try that again, I WILL kick your ass."
Carolina growled, ignoring her injuries as she unfurled her stun baton. "You're going to regret that, Arkansas."
He didn't reply, instead switching his broken blade to his good arm. 'Zona raised her knife next to him, "Like hell he will…"
The teal Freelancer charged, snapping her stun baton between both Ark and 'Zona quickly. She rolled forwards, snapping a vicious kick into Ark's head and following up with a stun baton to 'Zona's chest.
Ark snapped backwards, landing inside the troop bay of the empty Pelican while 'Zona smashed into the side of it, slumping to the ground unconscious. "I told you, you can't win." Carolina sighed, walking over to where 'Zona lay.
"Stay away from her!" Ark shouted, stumbling forwards, barely able to support himself. He was obviously still injured from the last mission he had been on, not to mention the wounds Carolina had inflicted on him.
She ran forwards, leaping up to kick Ark to the ground, at the same time using his body as a launch pad to fling herself towards 'Zona's body. Holding up the unconscious Freelancer by her throat, Carolina quickly stabbed 'Zona in the throat with her own knife. She dropped the dying Freelancer to the ground, smirking underneath her helmet.
"No!" Ark cried out, watching in horror as his love was dealt the fatal blow. Fury surged through him as he stood, throwing his broken sword like a spear. His aim was dead-on, sticking in Carolina's turned back with a sickening smack.
She slumped forwards with a grunt, spinning around to face her attacker. Even Carolina was too slow for once, as Ark barreled into her like a force from hell. He slammed her up against the wall, anger powering his every move. Each punch carried twice the strength, and Carolina's armor soon began to crack from the constant abuse.
With a snap, Ark's fist smashed through the visor on Carolina's helmet, glass spraying backwards onto her face. She kicked out with both legs, succeeding in knocking him away from her momentarily. Falling to her knee's, Carolina unsealed her broken helmet, pitching it at Ark.
He launched up, slamming the helmet to the side with a vicious kick. Ark glanced to the side, growling as he retrieved 'Zona's rocket launcher from where she had dropped it during the early stages of the fight. One shot left… Sure as hell gonna make it count.
Carolina activated her armor's camouflage, futilely attempting to blend in as she saw Ark spin around, launcher poised over his shoulder. Son of a bitch. She was blown backwards as Ark squeezed the trigger, fire and shrapnel filling her vision. She hit the ground hard, blood spilling out of her lifeless body.
Ark didn't stay to celebrate his victory, walking past Carolina's body to crouch by where 'Zona lay. "I'm sorry… I should've been faster." He whispered, taking off his helmet as tears flowed down his face.
He heard marines swarming into the hanger, weapons raised. It's time… Ark thought, looking up to find himself staring at the blade of Maine's Brute Shot. The tank like Freelancer growled, and his AI Sigma burned into life on his shoulder.
Sigma appeared as a man on fire, arms held back behind him in a pose similar to the position the Director often held when addressing the Freelancers. "I'm sorry that it has come to this, Agent Arkansas." A deeper voice echoed behind him as he spoke, his fire reflecting off of Maine's large visor. "Do you have any last requests that you would like arranged?" Sigma mocked, grinning evilly.
"Go to hell, Sigma…" Ark muttered, looking down as he accepted his fate. Sigma merely shrugged in response, turning to face Maine.
"As you wish. Sic 'em." Maine growled, raising his blade up high before slamming it down hard on Ark's neck, instantly killing him.
"A pity, he would've been quite helpful in our plans." Sigma sighed, watching with disinterest as Maine removed his blade from Ark's body. The marine reinforcements parted before the pair as they stalked out of the hanger, Sigma burning close behind. "No matter, we shall press on without him."
The marine's gazes were filled with horror as Maine passed them; glancing at the devastation he had left behind. Carolina's teal armored body lay alone, blacked and charred from the rocket. Her red hair lay around her messily, a defiant expression upon her face, even in death.
'Zona's body lay further away, scarlet blood pooling around her motionless body. Ark lay over her; both Freelancer's bleeding heavily from the separate neck wounds that had ended their lives.
The Director himself walked on deck, sighing as he saw the three bodies. "I am very, very disappointed in you all…" He drawled, turning back towards the marines. "Burn the bodies, that's a direct order."
They stood at attention, "Sir, yes sir!" Quickly, they raced over to the bodies of the fallen Freelancers while the Director turned to the Councilor at his side.
"Erase all mention of Agent's Arkansas, Arizona, Rhode, Maryland, and Carolina."
"Already on it, Director." The Councilor replied coolly, not even remotely shaken by the gore on the deck across from him. His hands glided over the controls on his data pad, and within seconds, all mention of the deceased Agent's was purged from Project Freelancer's records.