Chapter 10: This Is War Pt2
Raising her Light Rifle, Virginia prepared to take out the sniper. In an instant, the entire watchtower was up in flames, the four retorts of 'Zona's sniper rifle nearly deafening her as it was fired next to her face.
'Zona shouldered the sniper, starting to clamber down the wall again. "Zona, what about the objective?!" Virginia cried, torn between orders and her new teammates.
She either couldn't hear Virginia or didn't care, as she crouched down by Ark's body. Surprisingly, it was Carolina who answered, arriving in a whirl and punching a soldier who had been about to shoot the distracted Virginia. "You and 'Zona cover Ark, and get back in the fight ASAP! We'll need you all in here, that's an order, you two!" Carolina added, staring pointedly at 'Zona quickly before beating her way through the hordes of soldiers.
Turning back to the issue at hand, Virginia set about providing cover fire from the rear of the Freelancer charge, slowly making her way down the wall to where Ark and Zona lay. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw 'Zona propping Ark's body up against the wall, removing his blown out helmet.
"Dammnit Ark, you are not dying on me…" 'Zona muttered, opening a field health kit and attempting to apply bandages to his forehead. His normally already light complexion had paled, mostly due to blood loss. Ark's eyes were closed, and blood seeped from a large gash across the left of his forehead. A matching bullet hole could be seen in the visor on his discarded helmet.
As the sound of fighting retreated further into the base, Virginia shouldered her Lightrifle and crouched down by 'Zona and Ark. "How is he?"
'Zona shook her head with a sigh. "…Fine would be overdoing it. He's only unconscious; the bullet went through the visor, skimmed him and then left the helmet. He's lucky, but wasn't lucky enough to make stay on the bridge. I can't stop the bleeding either…" To prove it, she held up her hands for Virginia to see. 'Zona's normal black and purple was coated blood red with Ark's blood.
Reaching into the health kit, Virginia pulled out a roll of gauze. "I need you to cut these into strips for me, Zona." She ordered coolly, handing it to the other Freelancer while she reached back in to pull out a bandage.
'Zona drew her knife, quickly slicing the gauze into long strips. Each one was about a thumbs length in width. Sheathing it, she handed Virginia the strips. "Here…" She spoke quietly, concern evident.
Virginia pushed that observation to the back of her mind, focusing on her new patient. She grabbed the strips, placing the bandage on top of the bloody gash. Blood quickly began to work at soaking through it, forcing her to work quicker. She applied pressure with one hand, winding the gauze strips around Ark's head with the other. Within seconds, all the gauze had been applied, holding the bandage against the bloody gash. "There we go, that should at least hold him the rest of the mission…" Virginia sighed, leaning back in relief.
'Zona let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding, standing up to unsling her rifle. "Good… I'm gonna need you to take him back to the pod. It's the best cover you two will have."
Confused, Virginia glanced over at 'Zona, "Wait, but Carolina ordered all of us back in the fight."
"Yup, I was there." She shot back calmly, turning back to point at Ark's body. "He won't be fit to fight again this mission, not with that amount of blood loss. He'll need someone to take care of him though, even if Ark won't agree, it's true. Now for god's sake, quit standing there and start moving already!" 'Zona added, daring Virginia to argue further.
She shook her head, slinging Arkansas over her shoulder in a fireman's hold. "Fine… If you get in trouble with Carolina, don't complain to me though!"
Arizona didn't stay to hear the rest, charging off into the complex. She quickly switched to her Battle Rifle as she ran, picking off stragglers left by the other Freelancers. Let's see… Okay we sweep west. 'Zona remembered, changing direction to walk into the first building she saw. Bullet fire pinged off her armor as soon as she entered the room.
Cursing, she ducked down behind a computer console. "What is it with these guys and their fucking turrets?!" 'Zona muttered, glancing around quickly to see a heavily armored soldier wielding a chaingun across the room.
He laughed, but was immediately drowned out by the roar of his massive chaingun. The rapid fire was shredding through the electronics in the console that she crouched behind.
'Zona grunted as a bullet pierced through the console and dug its way into her shoulder. Thinking quickly, she pulled the pins on all four of her grenades, tossing them backwards behind her. She heard the crack as they hit the ground, rolling towards the soldier.
The hail of bullets stopped, and she once more glanced around to see. The soldier had dropped the chaingun and was running the other way, although his heavy armor was weighing him down. The frag grenades rolled after him comically, before exploding and propelling him into the wall. The soldier impacted it with a sickening crack, sliding to the floor in a heap.
Serves you right. 'Zona thought, wincing as she stood up to continue her sweep of the west side. Setting her motion tracker, she continued on to ambush the following room. 'Zona smashed the butt of her rifle into a soldiers head, knocking him to the ground. Half raising her rifle, she fired from the hip. The four remaining Insurrectionists hit the ground.
Smiling at her handiwork underneath her helmet, 'Zona once again moved on. As she walked, her motion tracker suddenly lit up, displaying targets all around her. Shit, someone's invisible.
Now on full alert, she turned slowly on the spot, searching for the telltale shimmer of invisibility. Quietly, a black armored Freelancer uncloaked right in front of 'Zona, holding an explosive filled pack. "Where the hell is the rest of your team?" Tex hissed, annoyed at having found one of her least favorite Freelancer.
"Ark was shot; I've got Virginia patching him up in our landing craft." 'Zona whispered back, examining her motion tracker. "Now what the fuck are you doing?"
Tex slung the pack over her shoulder, while loading a round into her SMG in her other hand. "Can't say, orders. Now for God's sake, have you and Ark made up yet?"
'Zona was completely sucker punched by that question, but recovered quickly. "No, and I don't fucking plan on it!" She seethed, gripping her rifle tightly. "Now quit pestering me and do whatever secret shit you have to do!"In response, Tex flicked her off before reactivating her camouflage and disappearing. "Bitch…" 'Zona grumbled under hear breath, stalking down a staircase to come face-to-face with a heavily sealed door.
Huh, I wonder… She mused, unlimbering her sniper rifle and replacing the incendiary rounds with armor piercing ones. 'Zona took aim at the locking mechanism and fired. The sharp crack of the sniper echoed around the empty metal hall as the mechanism shattered to pieces.
She ran forward as the door swung open, rifle still raised as she took in the contents of the room. Two soldiers with shotguns stood guard in front of another heavily armed Insurrectionist, probably their command. He looks familiar. 'Zona thought, firing into the first soldier on the left.
As he fell, she rolled forwards to snag his shotgun. Before the second soldier could fire, she crouched and squeezed the trigger, blowing him onto the table. 'Zona threw the rifle at the third man, before unsheathing her knife and sprinting forwards to impal him.
"Wasn't expecting… that…" The man gasped out as he fell to the floor. Realization dawned on 'Zona as she remembered why he was familiar. That was the Insurrectionist second in command, who they'd been ordered to capture ALIVE.
*One hour later, onboard the Mother of Invention*
"Now Agents, I commend you on your efficiency in dealing with the Insurecionist infestation," The Director began, standing in front of the assembled Freelancers, minus Ark. "I do have to wonder if you listen at all."
"Sir, in all fairness, Arizona disobeyed my direct orders." Carolina protested, earning 'Zona's glare.
The Director turned on her, "Agent Carolina, you are the mission leader. It's your responsibility to ensure that each team upholds their objective!"
Carolina stiffened, obviously pissed now. "Yes sir…"
"Good, now you're all dismissed. Arizona, stay a moment." The Director added, as the other Freelancers filed out of the bridge.
'Zona groaned inwardly, still standing at attention as she waited for him to speak.
"You're our number ten Freelancer, Arizona. I cannot even begin to express my disappointment in your actions. I trust you will not disappoint me again, dismissed." The Director drawled, glaring at 'Zona through her visor.
"Yes sir." She responded sharply, stalking out of the room. On the route back to her room, 'Zona turned and walked into the infirmary. What the hell am I doing? She wondered as she walked to the only occupied bed.
A doctor walked over to the confused and worried Freelancer. "he's fine, blood loss is hell but he'll make it." He explained, gesturing towards Ark's unconscious body. "He'll be awake later if you want to visit."
'Zona shook her head and walked closer to Ark's body. "No, it's fine." Quieter, she added, "Get well soon…", squeezing Ark's hand lightly before leaving the room.