Chapter 12: Rebellion
"All personal, Agent Arizona is officially an enemy to the Project. Bring her down, deadly force authorized!" The Director barked over the ship-wide comm, furious at his elite strike team's humiliation at the hands of the female Freelancer.
Maryland nodded, slapping a fresh clip into her Battle Rifle as she sprinted down the halls. Reaching the corner, she turned to spy 'Zona standing there, frozen in shock.
Not today, bitch! 'Zona thought, raising her stolen sniper rifle. Mary drew faster, however, bullets bursting out of her battle rifle and slamming into 'Zona's shoulder. While the rounds weren't strong enough to penetrate her armor, it knocked her aim off. 'Zona's shot went wide, ricocheting off the wall.
"You just couldn't let us be happy together, could you?!" Mary shouted, surprising 'Zona with her outburst. "We were happy together, without you." The normally quiet Freelancer continued.
'Zona ground her teeth together, anger rising as she charged at Mary. The green Freelancer drew her knife quickly, a decision that was quickly matched by her opponent.
Their blades met full force in the air with a clang, both women putting all their strength into the blow. 'Zona slid to the side, before springing forwards in an attempt to run Maryland through with her knife.
"Just couldn't stay out of our lives, could you? Because you still love him; you want him." Maryland seethed, easily smacking aside 'Zona's lunge, before slamming her through the doors into the mess hall. "Well guess what, North is mine!" A tinge of hysteria was present in Mary's voice as she shouted.
She rolled forwards, leaving a grenade behind her as she activated her armor lock. The explosion didn't even scratch her paint job, whereas Maryland wasn't so lucky.
The blast launched Mary into the air, then smashing down through a table. Mary got to her feet unsteadily, raising a finger to point at 'Zona. "Either way, only one of us is going to walk out of here…"
"It doesn't have to be this way, Mary; it doesn't have to end like this." 'Zona spoke quietly, biting back her temper. Just because I don't like her, doesn't mean I want to kill her!
Maryland laughed bitterly, shaking her head. "No, it does. Even if I wanted to go, I'm under orders to take you in, and you know it." Mary drew her pistol, taking aim at 'Zona's head, "I'm getting out of this mess."
She was too slow, eyes widening as she felt the sniper round pierce her heart. Mary coughed, blood spattering the inside of her helmet as she stared incredulously at 'Zona's smoking sniper barrel.
'Zona sighed, lowering her sniper rifle as she saw Maryland crumple to the ground. Walking over, she noted the clean bullet hole through Mary's chestplate, blood spilling out through and clashing with the greens of her armor.
With the last of her strength, Maryland unsealed her helmet and let it fall to her side. Teary blue eyes met grey visor as she choked out, "All I… I just wanted him…"
"I know. But here's the thing, Mary." 'Zona crouched down by where Mary laid, her breathing ragged as the life drained out of her. "You had him the whole time." She spoke coldly, watching Mary's reaction. With a gasp, Agent Maryland took her final breath and died there on the floor, in the mess hall.
'Zona stood up, turning to leave the mess hall when she saw North standing there, frozen in shock. "North, I..."
"Don't. Just don't, 'Zona. I knew you were jealous, but killing her?!" North yelled, drawing a shotgun off his back. "At least now, Ark will understand how I feel."
"I chose who I wanted, which is why I picked neither of you!" 'Zona screamed back, unable to contain the flood of emotions any longer. "The only fucking reason I killed Mary was because I refused to BE KILLED by her!"
North shook his head, tightening his grip on the shotgun in his hands. "I don't believe you, Mary wouldn't do that."
Pointing at the discarded pistol by Mary's side, 'Zona shot back, "Then why the fuck does she have her pistol out? Why does she have her finger on the trigger?"
"Self defense. I think you're a murderer, and I'm fairly certain that the Director will side with me over a traitor." North all but spat at her, loading a shell into his weapon. "Now, will you come peacefully or do I have to drag a corpse back with me to the Director?"
She raised her sniper rifle, centering it on North's chest. "I'd like to see you try. The only corpse you're dragging out of here is Maryland's!"
They fired as one. Neither bullet found their mark, however. 'Zona was crouched down, having quickly activated her armor lockup as it recharged just in time. North stood incased in a large bubble shield, covering him from every angle.
'Zona could see him standing there inside it, appearing to be speaking with the AI on his shoulder. Unlike Delta, whom she had seen, this one wore hues of blue and purple. It looked smaller than Delta as well, almost childlike.
"North… You shouldn't kill her. I was listening using the comm like you taught me to, and I.." He spoke pleadingly, a slight hum in his voice.
"Theta, I need you to go offline for this. Please."
"But North, I…"
"Now, Theta."
Theta winked out of existence, the bubble shield evaporating with him. North stepped forwards, cocking the shotgun.
'Zona didn't sit around long enough to find out if he was serious or not, squeezing off two more shots.
The first bullet took North in his shoulder, shoving him far enough to the side for the second bullet to pass by him harmlessly. He grunted in pain, attempting to smack 'Zona in the side of the head with his shotgun.
I'm sorry… She thought as she blocked with her arm, before smashing her elbow into North's head. As he reeled back, 'Zona punched him in the gut before kicking him into a metal pillar. North hit the ground hard, unconscious immediately.
She glanced at the scene in front of her, at the unconscious Freelancer and his now deceased girlfriend on the ground, 'Zona felt sick to her stomach. Disgusted at the necessity, she retrieved Mary's battle rifle off her dead body, dropping her near empty sniper rifle to the floor. As quick as she could, 'Zona then sprinted out of bloody mess hall.
As she ran out, 'Zona felt someone's fist smash into her head, knocking her against the wall. Before she could recover, she was tossed against the adjacent wall. The world spun as the impacts disoriented her.
"You just had to do it, didn't you? You call me a whore, but you're just as bad. Hell, maybe worse!" South growled, hauling 'Zona to her feet before knocking her down even harder. "Fucking hypocrite…"
'Zona winced, stumbling to her feet away from South. "I called you a whore because you try to sleep with everyone… All I did was date North and Ark, that isn't a crime."
South snorted back a laugh, "Just dating? Please, I heard you've done a bit more than that to both of 'em."
Blushing under her helmet, she shouted back, "At least they enjoyed it, unlike anyone you've been with!"
As South charged her, 'Zona sidestepped out of the way. With a quick blow to the back of the head, South slammed into the wall and slunk to the floor. "Stay down this time…" She muttered, stepping over South's unconscious form and continuing her run.
As 'Zona got closer to the armory, she saw York and Rhode jump out, weapons raised. "Stay right there!" Rhode shouted, DMR pointed at her.
York glanced over at Rhode, then to 'Zona, before lowering his gun. He pushed Rhode's DMR down as well. "Chill out a little, man."
"I'm following orders, you should do the same. Careful, you might get on the Directors bad side again." Rhode added, a steely tone in his voice. "Arizona, come with us or I'll have to detain you. The Director himself authorized deadly force."
"Yeah, thanks, I got the memo when North and Maryland tried to kill me." 'Zona replied coldly, pistol in one hand and rifle in her other. "I'm not going anywhere with you."
Delta appeared on York's shoulder, adding an emerald tinge to the occupants of the hall. "I advise we all lower our weapons, before another Agent is injured."
"Yeah, thanks D, but I doubt it'll be that easy." York shot back, raising his shotgun to point at Rhode. "Drop it. Orders may be orders, but there's no way I'm gonna kill a teammate just because of the suspicion that they're a spy."
Rhode backed up slightly, alternating between holding York and 'Zona in his rifle's sights. "I'm no traitor! I'm following orders!" He shouted, focusing on 'Zona. "Put your hands in the air, now!"
'Zona sighed, "Fair warning, dipshit, if I haven't raised my hands by now, then your little bitch fest here ain't gonna convince me otherwise."
Growling, Rhode raised his DMR and prepared to fire. Suddenly, his body flew to the side, landing on the floor in a crumpled heap of armor. York stood by 'Zona, his shotgun barrel smoking while Delta flashed red in alarm. "…You should get going. There's an empty Pelican that just got done refueling down in the hanger. I had Delta take the liberty of looking it up, just in case." York spoke, solemn for once. "Looks like I was right."
"…Thank you." 'Zona finally chocked out, acknowledging what York had just done for her.
"Just get going, alright? I'll try to hold 'em off…" York sighed, cocking his shotgun as he turned to the hall that 'Zona had come from.
A tear streamed down her face as 'Zona nodded silently, turning and sprinting down towards the hanger. She could see crew members activating the comm, probably alerting the Director to the path she was taking, but she couldn't bring herself to care right then. Two dead Freelancers, all because of me…
Virginia let out a cry of surprise as 'Zona barreled into her, both Freelancers tumbling to the ground in a jumble of white and black armor. "What the hell, 'Zona?!" She shouted, stumbling to her feet while 'Zona did the same.
"What…?" 'Zona questioned, exhausted from all the previous fighting. "What are you talking about?"
"Going Freelance? You're fighting your way through the entire ship, what the fuck are you doing that for! The Director just had some questions!" Virginia put her head in her hands, groaning. "This is so messed up."
'Zona snorted, "You don't know the half of it… I can't explain why I'm leaving, but I promise you that I had nothing to do with whatever shit is happening right now. Not one bit."
Sighing, Virginia looked up and locked gazes with 'Zona. "Swear to me, swear on something that matters and I'll let you pass."
She froze, pondering Virginia's request. "…I swear on Ark's life that I didn't have a single thing to do with this spy shit."
Virginia nodded, and stepped out of 'Zona's path. "I knew you still liked him." She laughed slightly, before growing serious once more. "Good luck, really."
"Oh, shut up… But thank you." 'Zona grumbled, turning around and looking for the path to the hanger bay. Virginia stifled a laugh, pointing her in the right direction. "…Still shut up."
Battle rifle raised, 'Zona quickly cut through the rows of marines that attempted to stop her, narrowly avoiding a rocket. Oh, no you don't! She fired a burst into his chest, springing forwards to catch the rocket launcher. 'Zona spun on point, crouching down and blasting away the remains of his fire team. She continued running, newly acquired rocket launcher strapped to her back.
Finally arriving at the hanger door, 'Zona let out a curse as she saw it had been locked down, probably by the Director himself. Oh, wait a minute… Blonde moment! She thought, unlimbering the rocket launcher off her back. "Fire in the hole, bitches!" She shouted, adding a maniacal edge to her voice as she squeezed the trigger.
The door was literally blown off, flinging somewhere inside the hanger with a crash. 'Zona stepped out of the smoke filled passageway, glancing around for her ride. Smiling in relief under her helmet, she ran up the staircase to the second level, where the empty Pelican sat waiting. Just like York said…
A teal armored Freelancer stepped out from the Pelican, causing 'Zona to freeze in surprise and fear. A gravity hammer was slung over her shoulder and a plasma rifle in each hand as Carolina spoke, "Going somewhere?"