Washington leaned forward, visor locked with South's. "If we don't complete our objective, we could all die. Or worse."

South shook her head. "What are you going to do, then, Wash? Huh? You gonna be the big hero?"

North interjected. "We don't need a hero. We need a team. We do this together, or not at all."

York disagreed. "If we stay together, we all die."

"Then we die together. Failure isn't an option."

"He's right. We're a family. We protect each other."

York swallowed. "Alright. If this is going to be the last day of my life…then I'm glad I got to spend it with all of you."

Wash nodded. "It's been an honor, York." He turned toward C.T. "Connie…"

"Save it for after the fight, Wash."

North hoisted his sniper rifle and turned toward South, who nodded determinedly. They both looked back at the group. "Well, boys…we'll see you on the other side."

The group fell silent for a moment, looking at each other solemnly. Nobody moved.

A flash of white armor passed the doorway, then slowly backed up. "Well, those are quite the long faces," Wyoming commented. "I know what will cheer you up…knock knock."

The entire group let out exasperated sighs with varying degrees of accompanying body language. "God fucking dammit, Wyoming!" South exclaimed. "We were on a roll!" She turned toward a silent blue figure perched on a crate in the background. "Florida, what did we get to?"

"Thirty-six in a row!" Florida proclaimed proudly. "Just two away from your record!"

That didn't help calm South down. "FUCK YOU, WYOMING!"

Wash groaned and put a hand to his visor. "I've been practicing for weeks…" he muttered.

"What exactly is going on in here?"

They all turned as Carolina walked in the door, pushing past Wyoming and staring at them, arms crossed. They all looked at York, who gave a 'really, you guys?' tilt of his helmet. "Oh, hey, Carolina," he said smoothly. "Fancy seeing you here. Your hair looks lovely today."

She didn't budge. "What were you doing? You're all standing in a circle looking like you're about to shoot each other."

"Oh, that?" York waved a hand dismissively. "We were just messing around. Having fun."

"We were practicing our melodrama," Wash piped up. North shook his head a little and York slapped a hand to his helmet.

"Every time he opens his mouth," York muttered.

Carolina looked between them all for a moment before shaking her head a little and turning back to the door. "You know, you may be playing now," she said, half glancing over her shoulder from the doorway. "But you better pray that you never have to use those lines for real." And without another word, she walked away.

"Okay," South declared after a moment of stunned silence. "Carolina wins."