She had been told whom she was going to pick up. That given, she also knew why she got the job. For one because she knew how to shut her trap and not tell everyone everything and second because she doubted there were many people up to deal with a dangerous monster and an unpredictable traitor.

479er recognized them right away. Maine and Wash had been close friends, back in the project. If there hadn't been this aura of tension around everyone, she would have said it was like back then. Maine – the Meta – paced up and down like the predator he was, the brute shot on his back. He didn't react at all when she landed her Pelican. She hopped out of her cockpit with ease and walked up on them.

Malcom Hograve, the man that hired her for this only told her she was going to fly two considerably dangerous soldiers for a 'delicate matter' as he said.

After all she'd seen in project Freelancer, she was not even surprised to see the two.

The man pacing was the Meta, not Maine. He didn't even react to her besides a low growl, probably meant to intimidate. No one really understood him after the injury. But 479er was not scared at all. They needed her so she had no reason to worry about getting killed. And even if, there was nothing to do about it and nothing you could regret once dead.

Washington was different, she noticed this. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed and his eyes never leaving the Meta. Even when she approached them he only glanced briefly at her. His whole body was stiff and tense. He wasn't the immature young man anymore neither was he the obedient soldier.

There was cold rage inside of him, boiling and barely continued. She felt it coming off him in waves. It was different than South or Carolinas hot and burning anger. But it wasn't less alarming.

"Seems like neither of you can just go and rest in peace, huh?" she said as she stopped and put her hands against her sides. "At least I don't have to repeat myself all the time when I keep flying you."

The Meta growled as he now turned to face her. Washington however shot him a glare. "Shut up", he told the other soldier, voice cold as ice. He pushed himself away from the wall in one fluid motion and walked past 479er. His steps were firm and steady as he headed towards the Pelican. "Let's just hurry and get this over with. As sooner as it's done, the better."

Washington wasn't a leader. He was a follower. So even now, his voice may be steady but it was forced and he was angry and maybe a tad frantic.

"Wow, someone got bossy", 479er said dryly as she followed him, the Meta behind her. "It won't make you stronger, Wash." He pretended not to hear her and got into the back of the Pelican without as much of a brief stop. The Meta growled and followed him. He wasn't Maine and even 479er saw that. Maine wouldn't have followed Wash the way he did now. He had no reason to. But the Meta seemed to have some reason.

Not that she cared. All she did was her job. And this one was simple. Don't ask questions, bring the two t the location they name you and drop them off. Forget you ever knew about this.

The location Wash named her was Valhalla. The flight there was quiet. Not that she expected anything else. Both men were busy with their own mind and thoughts. Washington never let the Meta out of his eyes, was always attentive. As closer they got to their destination as more edgy did they become.

Wash did this annoying thing with tapping his foot while the Meta started to pace up and down, growling from time to time.

"Would you just shut up" Washington said at some point. "I know that they still have it." He said it as if he was having a conversation. One he did not want to have but a conversation nonetheless. If it hadn't been him of all people, 479er would have thought he was crazy. Funny enough, he had been at the funny farm for a time. But she didn't doubted that Washington actually knew what the Meta said.

"Well, you don't have a choice." Wash continued angrily as the Meta growled again. To her it sounded just the same as before.

"I just have to bring it back. If they promised it to you afterwards, I don't care."

Another deep growl. 479er didn't know what the two were after exactly and honestly, she couldn't care less. She wondered anyway how it must feel to be back in the field with the shell of what once was your closest friend.

"They are nothing. We will get it." He probably thought he sounded confident. But she wondered if anyone would be able to miss the despair in it. She also wondered if Wash really still was foolish enough to actually believe to get whatever they promised him as prize.

479er landed her Pelican somewhere at the beach and the Meta stormed out of it, ready to fight like the machine he was. Washington walked slowly behind him, checking the magazine again. As if he hadn't done it multiple times on the ride.

It still wasn't her business and she still didn't care. But she was curious. After all she knew Washington since years, met him as the most childlike man at heart. But he wasn't like that at all anymore.

"Hey Wash!" She called to the back of the ship, turning in her seat. He actually stopped in his motion and waited, even if he didn't bother to look at her. Well, that was probably the best she would get. "You really think that is the right thing to do?"

He didn't answer right away and his shoulders sagged just the slightest. "No, I know it isn't" he replied, then clicked the magazine back in. He looked at her through the expressionless visor. "But I don't care about this anymore."

He left to follow the Meta and 479er thought there probably was about as much left from Washington as there was left from Maine. She wondered if he even cared for anything at all anymore. Either way, she was sorry for whoever would get in their way.

This time, when 479er started her Pelican she was sure it was only a question of time before she got the call from Washington to pick them up again. She did get a call to pick them up later. But it was a recovery signal that indicated little hope to find them both alive.