As Missouri fell softly to the ground, dead before he knew what had hit him Speartip gazed with compassion at him.

Truly there was never a man who loved anyone... or anything more than him.

She gazed at the dead memory unit which she still held in her hand.

"Agent Speartip, where does your mission stand?" Hargrave asked emotionlessly.

Speartip kept her eyes on the unit as she answered.

"Mission accomplished," Speartip answered softly, "Agent Missouri has been executed."

"What the fuck kind of monster are you?"

Speartip spun in a hurry pointing her weapon at the sudden appearance of a cobalt-armored soldier.

"I have no quarrel with you." Speartip said sadly.

"You just gunned down an unarmed soldier. And I thought I was an asshole." Church said, looking down at Missouri's body.

Speartip was silent. She noticed when Church's gaze went to the object in her hand.

"You want this?" Speartip questioned, suspicion rising.

"The thought had occured to me." Church responded.

Speartip locked eyes with Church and he with her.

Speartip tossed the dead memory unit off the side of the mountain and into the sea of death.

"Want it? Go get it." Speartip said before holstering her weapon and turning away to make her way to her ship. Within moments she hovered into the air. A second later, she was gone.

Church looked over the edge, knowing he was defeated. His memories flashed once more to Allison.

"Allison... Love..." He stammered.

With no more ideas and knowing he had been grasping at dead straw before he deleted his memory banks of anything having to do with her.

Missouri was no more.

Lambda was no more.

Allison was no more.

BBBBBBB

TWO WEEKS LATER
ABOARD THE STAFF OF CHARON, FLAGSHIP OF UNSC DIRECTOR MALCOLM HARGRAVE

The elderly, bald faced British baron was right there. Standing before her with an emotionless –in a word evil- smile on his weathered face.

"Congratulations Speartip. You have done your duty admirably even in the face of doubt. The UNSC have one more name to check off of their lists. I am proud to say that your efforts have not gone unnoticed."

Speartip looked to the cold steel floor. She didn't know what to think but she knew who was on her mind now.

"Where is Glenn? Where is my husband you son of a bitch?!" Speartip yelled, taking her helmet off and hurling it angry into a nearby panel. It sparked for a few moments and died.

"Pity. You have just cost me 1,200 credits. Coming out of your pay, of course. That goes without saying."

Speartip's light blonde, nearly white hair was wet with perspiration, but her brow was furrowed over bright blue eyes. Her jaw was tightened in suppressed anger.

"Where is he, Director?"

Hargrave sighed. He produced a tiny black remote control. He led Speartip toward a bank of monitors all lit up with different security cameras.

"Here I am trying to congratulate you, young lady, but your mind is on one person. Fine, by all means if it will put you at ease..."

Hargrave pressed a button and the largest screen in the middle of the bank of terminals distorted as it switched to the video feed that showed Speartip's captive husband.

"Glenn J. Porter, C.E.O. of Ocean Dreams Humanitarian Coalition, graduated from Ivy League college Harvard with a Master's degree in the study of Oceanography, Chemical cleanup and Marine Biology, and husband to... Special Agent Earth's Speartip."

Speartip moved closer and stared at the image of her husband in the live feed which showed on the monitor.

"Let me see him! Release him, please!" speartip cried.

Hargrave tsked several times.

"I would love to but as it seems the UNSC has gathered more intelligence on the Freelancer Cleanup Initiative."

"No! You promised that if I killed Missouri for you you would let him out!" Speartip shouted, her voice animated as she saw her husband's freedom stripped away.

"Now, now my dear. I stated that once the Freelancer was executed that your husband would be returned to you safe and sound yes." Hargrave moved toward Speartip who stood in a stunned daze.

He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her face, drinking in her beauty. She bit her lip suddenly embarrassed.

"However, the UNSC has discovered three new Freelancers in hiding. So your mission parameters are still the same. You have not eliminated all of the remaining freelancers. So you still work for us and we will still hold your husband right where he is."

"Why are you touching me? Do you want me to suck your dick or something?" Speartip spat angrily, her eyes narrowed and a scowl on her face.

Hargrave chuckled.

"I hardly need you for that."

Speartip grimaced when she felt her ego drop a bit.

"No my dear, you need only worry about your mission parameters. One day your husband will be returned to you, on that you have my word. But only after you have eliminated the rest of UNSC's agitants."

Hargrave traced her shoulders, making her shudder and turn her face away from him. He drew his face closer to hers and turned her chin to make her look into his eyes.

"And as further incentive, you have my word that if you comply immediately with your objectives, if you kill as ordered without questioning that order, I have a bit of further motivation for you."

"I'm listening." Speartip said softly as she smelled Hargrave's minty breath.

"For every mission you complete without questioning your orders, your husband shall be moved to a more comfortable cell. He will still be locked down of course, he is, after all a prisoner. But he will suffer no longer in that dank prison."

Speartip had to think for only a moment. She smiled atthe new incentive.

"Give me my target."

Hargrave laughed and produced a dossier.

"Tell me, dear one, what you know about Freelancer Agent Kentucky."