(A/N) Hey guys, sorry that this is coming a day late. Basically, between work and studying for my upcoming exams, I have very little time on my hands at the moment, so expect a lot of delays in the upcoming weeks. I'm sorry about that, but it's an unfortunate fact, Real Life has to take precedence. But when my exams are over, by the 13th of January, everything will get back on track! Another new character's POV for you now, débuting the incredible Colorado, written by Minaethiel, who some of you may recognise from Phase One: Genesis, and Grifball: Running Rampant! Again just reminding you that applications for this fic end on the 1st of January, so get a move on if you're interested!

Enjoy!

Chapter Eighteen – Kicking Things Off

Agent Colorado

Written by Minaethiel

"I warn you all, hatred is finding fertile soil within me. And in your compassion, in your every good intention, you nurture it." - Steven Erikson, Memories of Ice

"Initiating lockdown paint scenario."

The voice of the ship's A.I., F.I.L.S.S., was clearly audible through my new helmet. So far I had been impressed by the facilities of Project Freelancer. Top of the line equipment, a CO who didn't seem afraid of getting things done that needed to be done, and supposedly highly trained agents. My new armour wasn't too shabby either; a cobalt blue with coral trim, all spread out over Hayabusa class armour and helmet, and Scout variant shoulders, according to the description provided on my data-pad. I was far more used to your UNSC standard marine gear, but I wouldn't be wearing that ever again. Comparing all of my new equipment to my old gear, however, made me feel like getting kicked out of the UNSC had been worth it. Not that I didn't miss my old squad a bit; they had almost been like family. The feeling really hadn't been mutual though, considering most of them had thought I was psychotic.

Smirking at the actions that had led to such an assessment, I glanced over the table of weapons in front of me. Every UNSC weapon I could think of had been made available to me. I had made it a point to become at least proficient with each weapon so I could be a more dynamic soldier, but my true weapon of choice was the SMG. Easy to carry, high rate of fire, decent clip size, and best of all, it was a close-quarters weapon, which was my preferred fighting style.

Magnetizing a DMR to my back as my secondary weapon, I grabbed two SMGs and slammed a clip of lockdown paint into each. I then turned my attention to the window of the training room viewing area. Behind it were the rest of the new agents, and Agent Florida. I had no intention of getting to know any of them, but I was dying to show off my capabilities.

My attention went to my opponent, Agent North Dakota, or North as he preferred to be called. Looking at his weapon choices, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. A sniper rifle and a shotgun. The shotgun was a reasonable choice for the size of the room, but a fucking sniper rifle? He had to be joking.

"North, maybe I'm blind, but I don't see any grassy knolls around here," I said, motioning to the rifle slung on his back.

He chuckled a bit. "Trust me, I don't need one."

I shrugged and shook my head. It was his funeral if he wanted to use a long range weapon in CQC conditions. I had thought the room would just be wide open, but as F.I.L.S.S. began explaining the rules of the exercise, I realized just how wrong I was. Pillars began rising from the floor. Narrowing my eyes, I began formulating my strategy. It became a much more interesting process when pillars began to withdraw into the floor.

"Round starting in three... two... one... Begin!"

At F.I.L.S.S.' prompt, I shot off like a rocket towards the first pillar and pressed my back against it. Now it was time to see what Project Freelancer had in store for me. When Agent Alaska had stepped onto my Pelican and given me his pitch for the project, I had had high expectations. So far I was not disappointed; North was like a ghost. Wandering cautiously though the stone maze, I caught sight of North once, but quickly lost track of the purple and green soldier. A frustrated scowl crept across my face. What was taking so long? We had to be at least three minutes into this match and nothing had happened so far.

A moment later I regretted my statement as I heard the click of a shotgun next to me. Years of instinct had me dropping and rolling backwards as North charged around the corner, shotgun raised. Son of a bitch! I thought as I scrambled backwards. Bringing up my SMGs, I let out a quick, precise burst where he was, but he dodged expertly behind cover as paint shells splattered the floor and pillar near him. Turning to find my own cover, I nearly yelped in surprise as a pillar started rising beneath me.

Looking up, I could see that the pillar North had ducked behind was lowering, and when it got halfway down, I found myself staring down the barrel of a sniper rifle. Alarmed now, I leapt to my right and rolled behind another pillar with my heart racing. I ejected my spent clips and slammed in two new ones for each weapon. Peeking around the left corner, I could see no sign of North. My relief quickly turned to unease; he had again disappeared.

Cautiously, I stepped around the pillar, and almost immediately felt my leg cement to the block as the crack of a rifle went off. Turning towards the line of origin, I saw North lying prone down the pillar alley. Before I could raise my own weapons and retaliate, I felt another paint bullet impact my vest, and no matter how much force I put into my movements, my armour wouldn't budge.

"Round One, complete. Point goes to Agent North Dakota."

Fuming with embarrassment, I waited as the paint fell away. I could see North offering me his hand, and I hesitated before taking it and allowing him to help me up. Before he could say a word, I hurried off to refill my ammo. I didn't want to hear any gloating over his sniper 'kill.' What a way to show off how I had gotten picked up for the project. The first round and I get flattened by a fucking sniper rifle, and in close quarters conditions!

Slinging the unused DMR off of my back, I replaced it back on the table and turned a sharp eye on the other weapons. Eventually I turned away from my many options and grabbed more spare clips for my SMGs. Walking away from the table, I tried to think of a different strategy. Caution obviously wasn't going to work, and I had never been one for patient strategies anyway. This time I'd flat out rush his position. If I made enough noise on my approach, it could even potentially confuse him. Nodding to myself, I readied my SMGs as F.I.L.S.S. again began to speak.

"Round Two beginning in three... two... one... Begin!"

Before her voice had stopped echoing, I was off and weaving my way through the pillars, my SMGs prepped for firing. My boots pounding on the floor was the only sound I could hear, until the blast of a shotgun went off next to me. Leaping forward, I whipped around and saw first the paint splatter on the ground, followed by a flash of purple. Aiming quickly, I let out a rapid, but controlled, burst that splattered nothing but another pillar. Hissing to myself in frustration, I leapt onto the pillar North had dodged behind and looked down.

North hadn't heard me pull myself up, and was looking around a corner. However, as I brought my SMG up to fire, he looked up and dodged to the left. With my clip spent, and no time to reload, I leapt off and tackled him to the ground as he was bringing his shotgun up to fire. Both of us sprawled on the ground now, I grabbed his arms and attempted to wrench the shotgun out of his grasp, dropping my SMGs in the process.

Out of instinct, I felt my hand go for my now absent combat knife, and almost lost my grip on the senior Freelancer below me. I suppose it didn't matter much anyway, because I found myself being thrown off. Rolling with the impact, I snatched up one of my SMGs and slid behind cover as sticky pink paint splattered my previous location. I hastily inserted a new clip into my weapon and felt my irritation swell. There was no way I'd be having such trouble in a close quarters fight normally. My old squad could barely keep up when we had trained together. Now here I was being beat up like an amateur. Clenching my free fist and narrowing my eyes, I heard a step on the other side of my pillar.

Ok, time to see what this suit could do.

Drawing my fist back, I held my breath for an eternity, waiting for North to round the corner. The tip of his sniper rifle preceded him, appearing in the corner of my vision, and I leapt out, throwing a punch into North's sternum, winding his, and following up with a quick right hook before knocking him onto his back with an uppercut, and my laughter bubbled up as the Freelancer smashed into the ground, not having given him a chance to react. With a self-satisfied grin, I raised my SMG and plastered the stunned Freelancer with a clip of lockdown paint. Smirking, I turned away as the paint began to run off of his armour.

"Round Two, complete. Point goes to Agent Colorado."

I could almost imagine the impressed murmurs and interested gazes of my fellow rookies. If any of us were going to stand out, it was going to be me; I'd make sure of it. Picking up my other SMG off of the floor, I jogged over to the table and reloaded on ammo for what I hoped was the final time. Remembering my knife predicament, I also picked up a pistol as a sidearm in case I needed it. Cracking my neck, I turned to see that North had kept to his same arsenal.

Since my plan had worked so well last time, I decided to keep to my same strategy for this next round. Looking over my weapons, I felt my mind drifting over training sessions in the past. I hadn't always been gung-ho for a pistol as a sidearm, but Aaron had changed my mind quickly enough. Long hours at the shooting range had paid off big time. A scowl ripped away my previous satisfaction. That time was long ago; now I had to focus on the task at hand.

Walking confidently towards the starting point, I waited for the start signal.

"The final round is about to begin!"

So this was my last chance to beat the senior agent down. I felt my hands take a firmer, more tense grip on my SMGs.

"Round Three begin in three... two... one... Begin!"

Exploding forward, I somersaulted behind a pillar and looked around the right corner. The lane was clear, and the only sound I could hear was the grinding of pillars rising and falling. My heart was pounding furiously against my chest as adrenalin surged through me. Taking a deep breath, I raised my weapons and spun around the corner before taking off loudly down the lane. The crack of a rifle went off, and I realized that North had finished with his stint of close quarters combat.

Hissing to myself in frustration, I took cover behind another pillar just as another shot went off and paint splattered next to my right leg. A few flecks plastered themselves to my armour, but not enough to impede my movement. Breathing a silent, thankful phrase, I tried to think of what I would do next. However my musings were interrupted as the barrel of a sniper stuck out beside me. Without thinking, I grabbed it and yanked as hard as I could. North came swinging around the corner and slammed a fist into my face. Releasing the rifle, I stumbled back and raised my guns in an unregulated stream of fire. North expertly ducked behind a pillar, and as I reloaded, he came around the corner with his shotgun raised.

"Shit!"

On a whim, I threw myself around the nearest pillar, only to find that it was lowering into the ground. Bunching my muscles, I leapt across to the next pillar...

...And right into North.

Immediately he brought his shotgun around, and in a stroke of pure luck, I brought my pistol up and fired at the barrel of his shotgun. Paint erupted into the chambers, and he tossed the now-useless weapon away. Before I could get off a shot at him, he tackled me to the ground, and the battle became a show of physical might. In our struggle I lost my pistol, and I couldn't reach my holstered SMGs.

At one point I managed to throw North off and grab an SMG, but as I began to shoot, he fired a shot from his sniper and encased my left hand in paint. My eyes flickered to my useless hand, and that was the only invitation North needed. Immediately my vision went black and my armour locked up as I felt the paint bullet impact my head.

"Round Three, complete. The winner is Agent North Dakota."

I felt anger and embarrassment well up inside of me again as I waited for the paint to fall away. North was again there offering his hand, and I took it before pulling myself up.

"You had some good moves back there, Colorado. Blocking my shotgun barrel was a nice touch."

I still wasn't used to my new name. It felt weird to be called "Colorado" instead of my actual name. At the same time it felt refreshing that no one knew who I was. None of them knew about my past actions or missions. To them, I was brown-haired and green-eyed Agent Colorado. The only people who knew me were the heads of the project, and Agent Alaska. I didn't feel comfortable with another agent knowing everything about me, but I suppose it couldn't be helped.

I gave a small nod at North's comment, not trusting my voice to keep a civil tone. Together, we began walking out of the training room to re-join our ragtag group in the viewing room. On the way there, I found myself recounting my first actual experience with a member of Freelancer. Florida and North had been welcoming, and just a tad annoying with their cheeriness, but Alaska had been a far cry different. Cordial, but confident that he could snap me like a twig. Whether that was mentally or physically, I was still deciding.

When Alaska had shown up, I was on the first Pelican off of Seras Prime, which was really just one big plains world with a forest here and there. When I first saw him, I was wondering why an ODST was talking to my captain. I had gotten suspicious when both of them had started looking in my direction. Hadn't I already been in enough trouble to span three military enlistments? Nevertheless, both of them had walked to my Pelican, but only Alaska had stayed. For a second he didn't say anything; just seemed to be sizing me up. However when he did finally speak, I hadn't remembered being caught so off guard before.

"So, how's Aaron been?"

I think my eyes had nearly popped out of my head when he asked that. After the initial shock, I began feeling the familiar pangs of hurt, as well as the slight stirrings of anger.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. How has Corporal Aaron Gunny been?"

I remember looking him straight in the visor, my mouth in a hard line, my eyes holding a warning to fuck off.

"Dead. Has been for one week, three days, eighteen hours, and thirty-three minutes. Wait, make that thirty-four minutes. Do you want the seconds too, jackass?"

Since I was technically no longer a UNSC servicewoman, it would have been a sign of respect to address him as 'Sir,' but he was getting dangerously close to just outright pissing me off.

"No, that won't be necessary, Corporal. Oh sorry, Serena I mean. You don't get a marine rank if you're not a marine."

A sneer began forming on my lips.

"So are you part of a Helljumper unit designed specifically to piss people off? Well congratulations, you're doing a fantastic job. If you plan on living past retirement, I'd recommend you get the hell off of my bird."

Alaska had tilted his head, and I still didn't know if he had been giving me a confused look, or a sardonic smirk.

"And here I thought we were becoming friends. I was just about to ask you how your brother was."

That... that right there had been the last straw. Immediately I had shot out of my seat, heedless of the other UNSC military personnel outside, and lunged for him, intending to slam his head against the wall, choke him, anything to get him to shut the fuck up. However, none of that had happened. With a speed I didn't think even an ODST had possessed, he neatly dropped the file he was holding on a seat, and grabbed my arm before pinning it behind my back. Standing rather nonchalantly, he tsked for a moment.

"Sloppy. Very sloppy. Your twitching muscles gave away your movements, and you allowed your temper to give away your intentions. In addition you had no further plan besides just trying to beat me into a pulp. Did you even consider the other soldiers outside? How disappointing."

I didn't say anything, instead using my free arm to elbow him in the visor. However he quickly caught that as well and bent it painfully.

"Listen up, Miss Alexander. Your file is a fascinating read; it really is. You have skills that have somehow caught the eye of my superiors. However you lack control. Every decision you make is an emotional process. If you are willing to be civil, to get your rage under control, I'll release you and give you the information I was sent to give you."

I had narrowed my eyes, but stopped trying to escape his iron grasp.

"Fine. Do I least get your name?"

He had dropped his grip so I could return to my seat, and he grabbed the file before responding.

"My name is Agent Alaska. I'm here to give you the chance to join Project Freelancer."

Stopping outside of the viewing room, I shook away the meeting. That had been what? Two weeks ago? A week? It didn't matter. What mattered was what I did now that I was here. As the door slid open I looked over my fellow rookies and crossed my arms, raising my head defiantly. Any bullshit about how I'd get him next time, and I'd drag the offender down to the training room and use them as target practice. Unsurprisingly, Florida was the first to speak up.

"Way to go, 'Rado; you sure showed North here a new trick or two."

'Rado, huh? Interesting nickname. Florida's remark seemed to stir the rest of the group. A couple of them gave congratulatory murmurs that I couldn't hear, and I dismissed them almost immediately. Being quiet wasn't a crime if the meaning was clear. One of them, I think his code-name was Nebraska, flashed me a thumbs up.

"Way to make us rookies look good, 'Rado."

The others seemed to agree, even if they didn't make it obvious. Nevada was clapping in that excited and hyper way that was sure to become even more annoying over time, and I didn't envy Connecticut for having to room up with her. Jersey, my roommate, gave me a nod, while Kentucky tilted his head slightly.

"Well, it was ok, but could have used more boomers."

I nodded to all of them and looked between North and Florida, waiting for instructions. However, I let a stealthy smirk creep across my face. My first day in Freelancer and I had already proved my prowess in combat.

I had full confidence that I would take this project by storm.