(A/N) Hey guys, just bringing you all the latest update for Phase One: Genesis, and it's a chapter from the POV from the quiet, but deadly, Agent Minnesota, as the agents left behind engage in a Simulation Mission while the others combat the Insurrection.

The list for accepted authors will go up this time tomorrow, and I just want to thank everyone who've applied. It hasn't been easy, and some decisions have really torn me, and it's with a heavy heart that I'll have to turn a few people away. However, I do think we've come to the correct decisions, and for those that don't make it, there's always next time. I, of course, will be prepared to let people know what they can do to improve for the next round of applications. While they will be a bit off, they will include Wash, so I'm already a bit excited for it.

Anyway, enjoy!


Chapter Sixty-Two – Not Exactly Textbook

Agent Minnesota

Written by XxXshadowkitsuXxX


'"I don't want to be a man," said Jace. "I want to be an angst-ridden teenager who can't confront his own inner demons and takes it out verbally on other people instead."

"Well," said Luke, "you're doing a fantastic job."' ― Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes


The Pelican ride to Sidewinder here was nothing but a blur. I had been running every strategy, every tactic I could possibly think of. After leaving us to freeze in this ridiculous training site, York led us to the blue base where our 'V.I.P.s' were waiting for us. Four blue soldiers stood at the entrance as we approached. They all carried different weapons and side-arms, one even carried a sniper rifle, although I doubt he knew how to use it. I was armed with my own sniper rifle and pistol while Michigan wielded a Marine Rifle and two SMGs, York carried his trademark shotgun and a single SMG on his hip.

We entered their poor excuse for a base and York immediately went into Leader mode, which is how he always was but a little bit more serious. He started talking and joking around with some of the simulation troopers while Michigan and I waited for our orders.

"Is this guy for real?" Mich whispered to me.

I just answered with a shrug. While I respected York as a leader and a friend, I had to agree his... methods were too laid back for my taste. I'm use to my commanding officer barking orders left and right at everyone, not having fun. After a brief laugh he finally turned his attention back to us.

"You guys ready? This is gonna be harder than before."

"Bow-chicka-bow-wow!" one of the blues said, laughing to himself.

Michigan and I merely glared at him before turning back to York. These guys were going to be a handful.

"Here's the plan. I will stay here with two of the Blues while you each take one and lead an assault on the Reds. How you do that is up to you. If you need back up, just give me a quick call and we'll be there as soon as possible. Now play nice and try not to kill each other." I could feel the smile under his helmet.

As much as I wanted to ditch her and do this on my own, I needed Mich's help. It would take at least both of us to take down to Project's top snipers in a place like this, not to mention we still had to deal with Massa after that. Grabbing the Blue with the sniper rifle, I exited outside and waited for Mich.

She was reluctantly bringing the Blue that had interrupted York with her. "He was the only one left. York grabbed the other two. So you go do your thing and I'll do mine. Got it?"

"Look, we need to plan. We can't charge in head on against these guys. There's a reason why they're high up on the leaderboard. I know you don't like working with me, but we have to tough it out and complete the mission," I explained.

I thought she was going to ignore me and walk away, but logic must have finally taken over. "Got any ideas?"

"I might have a few. Follow me."

We explored the area close by before we came upon an underground passage. It split off two ways, but I led us deeper into it. It ended with a grated area with a small gap between it and the ground.

"Can you squeeze through there?" I asked Mich.

She walked up to it, "Only one way to find out."

I watched as she wormed her way underneath to the other side.

"My turn!" her blue follower exclaimed as he tried to slide under it only to stop halfway.

"You're stuck aren't you?" I asked.

"Maybe..."

I pulled him back out to my side and helped him up before turning to Mich. "Head towards the base. Try and find Massa and the Reds. I'll distract the snipers and provide cover from somewhere."

She gave a swift nod before taking off. I led the two Blues out down the path we hadn't taken. I motioned for them to stay low, when I realized they had no clue what I was doing.

"Just get over here and stay quiet." I almost face-palmed as they lay on the ground and crawled over. At least it was better than nothing.

I came up to a tunnel that appeared to go straight through to the other side of the icy wall. Telling the troopers to stay put, I crawled down the tunnel cautiously enough to see over the edge of the cliff on the other side. There was no movement, but I could make out a reddish dot in the distance. Through my scope I could easily see the red soldier, but no one else.

I knew he was there somewhere. "Where are you hiding, Wyoming?" I muttered to myself.

There was a slight shift in the snow that caught my attention. I zoomed in closer to barely see the tip of a rifle barrel sticking out of a pile of snow, aimed right at us. I didn't know whether to be impressed or frustrated. Since he wasn't firing, I was assuming that he hadn't noticed me. As I pressed myself as close to the ground as possible, an idea popped in my head.

I called York. "Hey, is Wyoming right-handed or left-handed?"

"Right, why?" he answered, a trace of confusion in his voice.

"Just wondering." I shut off the radio. "Hey, toss me your sniper rifle."

The trooper looked at it then back to me, "I don't know..."

"I'm not going to kill anyone. Just a little test I want to try."

Hesitantly, he slid it to me. Propping both rifles on their stands, which no one ever seemed to use, I aimed one on Wyoming, and one on the Red. I pointed the borrowed rifle just a few hairs to the left of the barrel trained on me. My rifle was aimed directly at the oblivious Red crouching against the wall. From the looks of it, he was just looking around with his Battle Rifle in his hands. Poor guy didn't know what was coming.

Making sure both were aimed just right, I fired them at the same time. Quickly looking down the scopes, I assessed the damage. The Red was lying on his side in armour lock, but the pile of snow hadn't moved except now a small chunk was missing. Something wasn't right.

"Did you get them?" One of my Blues stood up to try and see.

"Get down you idiot!" I hissed. Timed seemed to slow as I realized what happened.

Virginia popped out from behind a large boulder next to the pile of snow. Before I could react, she fired and hit the idiot blue. Using the loss as an opportunity, I fired both sniper rifles at her. There was a spray of blood from her left shoulder before she fell over stiff. This wasn't good. If that had been Virginia's trap, where was Wyoming? My senses were telling he was close by but nothing was on my sensors.

Another idea popped into my head as I crawled back to my other Blue. I took off all the armour on my right arm, exposing it to numbing sting of the cold. Not one of my brightest plans, but it would work. I crouched next to my partner.

"Let's get back to base." He gave no response.

I waved my hand in front of him, nothing. I gave him a small push, he fell over stiff. Son of a... There was a bang and I felt my armour lock up. There was shuffling behind me.

"Well chap, looks like you still have some things to learn before playing with us." he laughed as he gave me a shove on my helmet. I fell to my side, hiding the fact I had no armour on my right arm.

As he walked away, he came into view. He and a Red were heading towards our base. Pulling out my pistol, I emptied my clip in their general direction since I couldn't aim at the moment. I smirked in pure happiness as Wyoming and his buddy froze in place, a strong breeze knocking them over. Arrogant British prick. Now all I could do was wait.


"You're insane. Why would you take off your armour?!" Massa yelled in my ear as she looked over my arm.

"It worked," I simply answered.

Everything was over and done with. Michigan had taken Massa and her two troopers by surprise, managing to take out her and one of the Reds before the other had shot her in the leg, and ran away. After much coaxing from York, he finally surrendered giving us the win.

Now that we were free from our protective prisons, Massa took it upon herself to make sure there was no serious damage done. She'd patched up a brooding Virginia, who kept sending me death glares, and fixed Mich's ankle to the best of her abilities. When she noticed me holding my numb arm and removed armour she went into a hissy fit.

She smacked me upside the head, "It was stupid and reckless."

"In case you haven't noticed, stupid and reckless is how I do things."

I smirked as she shook her head. After making sure I wasn't going to suffer any permanent damage to my limb, Massa gave me permission to join the others, who were all hanging out inside or out of the now fully occupied blue base waiting for our ride home.

"You coming?" she asked as she started to walk away.

"I'm fine. I don't mingle well."

She gave me a disappointed look before coming back to sit with me in my corner of the base with me.

"I thought you were going outside with the others." I pulled out my knife from it spot on my left shoulder, examining it. It's usually what I did to pass time.

"I refuse to let you hide in your corner by yourself. Don't you want someone to talk to?" she sat in a chair across from me.

It's not that I didn't want to talk, it's that I don't know what to talk about. I've spent most of my life shooting things trying to kill me, trivial things like sports and other people's interests weren't things that held my attention. If she wanted to talk, then she could talk.

Massa just sat there watching me toying with my knife. "Why do sit by yourself most of the time? You don't seem like the type to lash out at friends like two certain giants we know."

"Other people just complicate things. My life has been nothing but doing what I'm told, when I'm told, and to the best of my abilities whether I like it or not. The time between assignments is just more time to prepare for the next one."

She shook her head, "You sound just like Carolina. I not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing yet."

I put away my knife. "If it gets me to the top of the leaderboard I don't care."

A moment of silence passed before either one of us said anything. I don't care what these people think of me. As long as I get my name on the top and prove to them, to everyone, that I am important. Especially to him, screw the Director and the Counselor. If I can show him what I'm capable of, it will be the greatest day of my life.

"Hey, you okay?" Massa asked, a concerned look on her face.

I had momentarily forgotten about her. "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You know if you need to talk about something, I'm here for you. I'm sure York and some of the others are too."

It just doesn't make sense to me. Why would they want to help me when I'm their competition? Maybe they don't care about the board. Then why is it there? If we aren't supposed to prove ourselves to each other, then why bother trying? I can't wrap my head around it.

"Yeah, I know. I'll try and remember." I could hear the dull roar of a Pelican outside.

"Sounds like it's time to head home," she said as we started to leave.

"Thanks for hanging back with me."

"No problem. It's what friends are for," she said, smiling slightly.

Friends. The more I think about it, the more it sounds like a good idea. Maybe this time having a few might help. It's worth a try. I looked over our little group huddle in the Pelican. I know I can count on York and Massa. Mich, well I guess she's not as bad as I originally thought. Virginia was still shooting me death glares and I'm not sure me and Wyoming would get along. I'm not too big on knock-knock jokes. I guess they aren't as bad as I thought. It's always felt like the world is out to get me. Maybe, I've been the one out to get the world. I had a lot to think about.

For once, I hoped the flight would take a little longer.