Chapter 2
Project Freelancer, many years ago
Agent York had come to the conclusion that his AI partner, Delta, was a very protective being. At night, when Delta couldn't sleep, he would run through statistics in York's head; the majority of these were survival statistics. They could be random at times, such as the possibility of being bitten by a Western Diamondback rattlesnake if you were back on Earth in the western US. Other times, they were helpful, like knowing you were just as likely to die in a Pelican crash as you are to get struck by lightning. Delta would always do his best to speed along a mission, check everyone's progress and make sure that they were where they needed to be. He'd automatically activate York's motion sensors when his handler forgot, or express his concern if Agent Washington was about to do something reckless. Whatever his odd quirks and such, York knew that Delta did all these things to protect those that he cared about.
And as Carolina began arguing with the Director about why she had to go up against the mysterious Agent Delaware, Delta was busy in York's head, whispering all sorts of statistics and running calculations that he tried to keep to himself, but could never completely fool the ever aware York.
'Likelihood of Agent Wyoming being defeated by Agent Delaware, unknown. Data unspecified. Likelihood of Agent Carolina being defeated by Agent Delaware, unknown. Data unspecified.'
Scenario after scenario ran through Delta's programming, survival statistics and tactics being considered for the briefest of moments before being either accepted or rejected, and the cycle continued.
'D, would you give it a rest? Carolina's going to be fine." York tried to placate his aggravated AI, but Delta seemed to ignore York for the moment as he calculated the best weapons to use against an enemy that you didn't know of. York, instead, chose to focus on the end of Carolina's argument with the Director.
"Carolina, if you are so determined to remain stubborn and insubordinate, then you AND Agent Texas will go out there and defeat Agent Delaware. And just to prove my point, take Agent Maine with you as well," the Director snarled into Carolina's face.
"I don't need-" Carolina tried to protest, but the Director shouted her down.
"Yes, you obviously need to learn the value of cooperation with those team members that you most readily avoid! Get out there now, Texas and Maine too!" Scowling, Carolina stalked off to the door, Texas and Maine behind her. York turned his attention now to the training room floor, where the blocks of stone had sunk back into the floor and Agent Delaware was doing some stretches.
The soldier in question was garbed in standard burgundy armor with gold striping along the arms and legs, like those of a tiger. The helmet had the typical amber visor and had a main burgundy theme with a stripe of gold running down the middle, like Wash's helmet. What surprised the onlookers most, though, was that Delaware's figure was, though not distinctly, female.
"Agents Carolina, Texas, and Maine, you're objective is to put Delaware in a position where she would surrender. Agent Delaware, you're objective is to win against these three agents," the Director spoke through the intercom. Delaware looked up, nodded, and watched as Carolina, Texas, and Maine all came charging at her. There were no weapons at the moment, so it must have been hand-to-hand combat, York assumed.
Delaware charged at her attackers before doing a tuck and roll, slamming into Carolina and Maine like a juggernaut/bowling ball, grabbed Maine as he went flying, and tossed him into Texas. Carolina got back on her feet and started swinging punch after punch that Delaware avoided with just as quick of speed as Carolina was throwing them. Maine came up behind Delaware and started swiping at her head, but Delaware ducked, grabbed Carolina's outstretched hand, twisted it behind her back, and flipped her over Delaware's back with one hand while the burgundy agent gave Maine a nasty upper cut. Texas showed up and landed a few blows on Delaware's arms before she was apprehended by Delaware's two hands and kicked in the chest, sending her flying.
"What are you noticing, Agents?" The Director asked the observers as they looked on intently at the battle.
"Delaware's moving like she doesn't care at all. It's almost like she knows whatever move is coming at her from any direction. And her fighting style is a bit strange," South spoke as she leaned on the railing.
"Why is she so readily combating all three agents at once?"
"Because Carolina, Texas, and Maine aren't working together as a team," Washington answered the Director.
"Very good. Now, let's see if they'll be a little better with their AIs," and the Director had FILLS announce that AIs could be used in the training exercises.
Carolina, Tex, and Maine all backed off for a moment to catch their breaths, Omega and Sigma appearing at their handlers' shoulders.
"Why are you not working as a team?" Sigma asked the Freelancers as they gasped for breath.
"I DON'T NEED HER HELPING ME," Carolina and Texas spoke at the same time, and Omega cackled.
"That's it. Infighting will produce the most superior being that can tackle the poor, misguided wannabe that wants to retake her place amongst the Director's favored soldiers," he sneered.
"Shut up, Omega," Tex snarled, and Omega popped out of existence.
Maine growled, and Sigma nodded sagely. "Your own rivalries can resume once we are off the battlefield, Agents Carolina and Texas. For now, Agent Maine is correct. We MUST work together as a team if we are to even come close to achieving our objective," he spoke smoothly. Carolina growled and Texas returned it, but both made no sound to object.
"The Director did not forbid the use of weapons in this exercise, did he? I believe that there is a cache of them two floor panels to the right, Agent Maine…"
Once the rounds of active ammo went off, York's sense of fear heightened and Delta actually came into view.
"The use of live ammo in a training exercise is highly inadvisable," the AI spoke in concern.
"They are finally working as a team and being resourceful, Delta. Let's see where they go with this," the Director replied in a harsh tone, and Delta quieted, choosing to watch as Texas went at Delaware with a standard battle rifle and Carolina with a Grav Hammer.
Though it came as, ultimately, no surprise to anyone that the active Freelancers were using live ammo on the training room floor, NOBODY expected the twin swords that Delaware began wielding with blinding speed. Deflecting bullets and using the flat of the blade to topple her attackers, Delaware was moving across the training room floor with, still, that practiced ease that seemed to exhibit she had no care in the world.
"Let's shake things up a bit, shall we?" the Director muttered, pressing a button. The stone columns erupted out of the floor again, and they actually began moving up and down in a strange synchronization. Carolina and Texas tried to regain their balance, Maine toppled over…and Delaware was doing cartwheels on the moving blocks with the grace of an acrobat or a dancer.
Then, Texas ran forward and grabbed Delaware around the middle, tossing her into one of the tallest of the moving pillars. Delaware's body shattered the stone, and she skidded across the floor before getting back up in time to redirect a fist attack from Maine. Carolina came in at that point and swung her Grav Hammer with precision. Delaware flew across the room again, but she just stood up calmly and dodged further attacks.
Finally, things were starting to get tiring when Delaware made her biggest mistake. She started backing up away from the three advancing Freelancers when her left foot fell out from underneath her and she started to fall over. The others charged and smashed into her all at once, flattening her against the moving stone that finally sank into the floor.
It was all over. Carolina, Texas, and Maine had worked as a team to complete their objective.
Delaware had failed hers.
"Well done, Agents. Most objectives were achieved with precision and teamwork," the Director spoke to those on the training floor as they looked up at him in the window, listening to the intercom. "Agent Delaware, because you failed in your objective, you will NOT be returned to active duty. You shall remain on probationary duty for an extended period of time until it is deemed appropriate that you may try again for active duty," he spoke to the burgundy agent, who barely moved a muscle.
Finally, Delaware tore off her helmet (which now had a cracked visor from the fight) and tossed it into the corner, then looked up at the Director with stormy grey eyes, black hair with the singly scarlet-gold strand waving slightly from the force that she used to tear off her helmet.
"Sir, my opponents used an illegal stash of weapons within the exe-"she started in a voice slightly hoarse with age, but the Director would hear none of it.
"Your opponents were resourceful in their attempt to defeat you, Agent Delaware. I suggest you remember that any enemy will be even more sneaky and underhanded if you ever return to active duty once again. You are dismissed," he spoke with a firm final word, and Delaware could not argue. Angrily, she whipped around, restored her twin blades to their sheaths at her hips, and stalked into the locker room without a word to Carolina, Texas, or Maine.
"Maybe we should go talk to her?" North suggested tentatively as he, York, and Washington all exited the observation deck for lunch and passed a growling Delaware exiting the locker room.
"Likelihood of survival if confronting Delaware's current mood…most unlikely," Delta whispered. A vague statistic, but Delta always meant well when protecting those he cared about.
"Yeah, best to leave angry women alone for a bit," Wash spoke quietly as an incensed Carolina and Texas entered the locker room that Delaware had just vacated.
Still, York couldn't help but wonder. Just how long had Delaware been on probation if they had never heard about her before? Why had the Director suggest that Delaware might NOT see an active battlefield within her career? And just who was Delaware?
And there's Chapter 2. I hope that this story is going better than it was at the beginning. I made some changes to the Prologue and Chapter 1 from when I first submitted them, so I hope they better appeal to your tastes. Keep reading and responding, but NO FLAMES! Thanks to you all. :3