Chapter 295: The Not-So-Good Ol’ Days

The episode starts at the Island Fortress with Washington still staring in disbelief at the Fortress. Recovery Command is still on the Radio and is yelling at him.

RECOVERY COMMAND: (yelling) Recovery one? Wash? Are you still there?

WASHINGTON: Uh yeah-I'm here-I'm here.

RECOVERY COMMAND: (sigh of relief) Good. I thought maybe We've lost you too.

WASHINGTON: Huh?

RECOVERY COMMAND: Never mind. Recovery One, what's your status please-

WASHINGTON: Ash, is that really you?

RECOVERY COMMAND: (Silence) What did you just call me?

WASHINGTON: S-sorry. Four Seven Niner, I mean Command.

RECOVERY COMMAND: (impatiently) What is your status Recovery One?

WASHINGTON: I'm uh, engaging hostiles, going radio silent.

RECOVERY COMMAND: Negative, you're not allowed- (Wash cuts off Radio)

Washington marches across the beach a bit.

WASHINGTON: (Small sigh, to himself) Ok... Deep breathes, you-know-where-you-are, youknowwhereyouare... Up there, is the body of your old pal, York... surrounded by a bunch of other bodies, and... one son of a bitch "pretending" to be a body so that he can turn you... into a body... and that's fine, this is fine... (brief silence) No, damn it, this is not. fine...! Gotta get to Blood Gulch.

A Plasma Grenade flies onto the nearby Warthog and then sticks to it before blowing it up.

WASHINGTON: Oh, for fucks sake.

Camera pans up slightly, revealing Wyoming up on top of the hill.

WYOMING: Ah, my dear Washington... and here I thought you'd come for the Delta AI.

WASHINGTON: Hello.. Wyoming. I don't suppose you'd happen to have a second Warthog lying around?

WYOMING: Hmm, but now that I know you intend to arrive in Blood Gulch, I'm afraid I can't let you leave. You see, I also have business to attend to... in that particular-

WASHINGTON: Ohhhhh shit.

WYOMING: (clears throat) Are you listening to-

WASHINGTON: I just realized the moment we rescue the Reds and Blues, Genkins will know what we're up to. He'll know we're a threat and stick to Carolina like flypaper.

WYOMING: Who in the bollocks is Genkins?!

WASHINGTON: Do you, have any idea where Carolina is?

WYOMING: I- what? She's dead! What does that have to do with any-

WASHINGTON: She's isn't dead, she's in hiding. Maine threw her off a cliff and she laid low for years until she found me, I just don't know where.

WYOMING: This is just not at all going the way I thought it would.

WASHINGTON: Tell me about it.

Washington unpossess that body and jumps to even further into the past during his time at Project Freelancer.

WASHINGTON: Ooh boy, I am still not used to this...

Wash looks behind him and sees Agents Maine, Minnesota, York and Wyoming coming down the staircase. As they walk by, York, Minne, and Wyoming politely greet Wash.

YORK: Hey Wash.

"Hello, Wash." Minnesota greets.

WYOMING: Washington.

WASHINGTON: H-Hey fellas. Oh wait! York.

York stops and turns around to speak to Wash as Maine, Minnesota, and Wyoming continue to walk away.

WASHINGTON: You and Carolina were always close. If she were to-

YORK: Whoa! Agent Carolina is our leader, she would not appreciate you making such... (somewhat embarrassed) wild accusations.

WASHINGTON: Jesus, what is this? High School?

More footsteps can be heard behind Wash. He turns around and sees Agent South Dakota right behind him.

SOUTH: York, what're you doin' pal-in' around with the lowest in the leaderboard?

WASHINGTON: Oh right, it kinda was.

Now North Dakota also approaches the group.

NORTH: Hey Wash... not to keep beating a dead horse, but uh... try to remember to pull the pin, before you throw the grenades, okay?

WASHINGTON: Uh yeah, I got that.

NORTH: It's just- I... I don't want to be in another situation like last time.

WASHINGTON: Last time? Ohhh wait this does sound familiar...

SOUTH: Hey, here's an idea: Maybe pre-pull all the pins on your grenades so you don't forget, just, be sure to do it far away from the rest of us.

NORTH: Come on South, leave 'em alone.

Both Dakotas walk away.

YORK: Right. Well... see you at the briefing.

York leaves too, leaving Washington alone.

WASHINGTON: Man... I forgot what it's like to be at the bottom of the food chain...

Wash turns around and spots Carolina standing right behind him making him exclaim in shock and surprise.

CAROLINA: Briefing's the other way Washington.

WASHINGTON: Carolina! (To himself, aggressively) Carolina...

CAROLINA: You're in my way.

WASHINGTON: Yeah, hey, do you have a second to talk? This'll probably sound crazy, but... it's really important.

CAROLINA: No. (Walks away)

WASHINGTON: Seriously?!

CAROLINA: Seriously.

WASHINGTON: Oh, she is sooo much meaner than I remember...

A montage ensues as Wash jumps to a later time in Project Freelancer and tries to talk to Carolina once again.

WASHINGTON: Carolina, hypothetical question-

CAROLINA: (sternly) Get. Out. Of. My. Face.

Cut to Wash talking to York during the fight against the Insurrectionists base. Washington is yelling over the gunfire.

WASHINGTON: (yelling) If she had to go into hiding, what do you think her strategy would be. Like, where do you think she would go?

YORK: (yelling) Is now really the best time for this...?

Cut to Wash standing in a corner talking to himself.

WASHINGTON: (sadly) Why won't anyone listen to me...?

Camera pans sideways to Agent South.

SOUTH: Oh, that's easy... It's because you're a loser.

WASHINGTON: Is, this how Donut feels all the time...?

Then we see Wash walking into a firing range area with a few freelancers testing out their weapons, Minnesota is nearby watching. 

Wash walks over to Minnesota. "Hey, uh, As- I mean Minnesota?"

"Hmm?" Minnesota turns around and sees Wash. "Hey, Wash. Need help cleaning your weapon again and if you do, this time please don't almost shoot me."

"No, I don't need help cleaning my weapon." Wash states.

"Oh, good." Minnesota sighs in relief. 

"Uh, Mr. Minnesota." Iowa speaks up from one of the ranges. "My gun won't shoot."

"Did you take the safety off?" Minne asks.

A click is heard in the background. "Thank you."

"So what were you saying Wash?"

"So, if you had to time travel-" Wash starts.

"Time travel?" Minne interrupts. "It could be possible, you would have to travel at the speed of light to time travel, but you could only do it in one direction. But there is a possibility to slow down time, hmm. The equation would be γ = √(1 - v²/c²)-" Minnesota continues to rant.

"Kinda forgot that Minnesota was much more level headed then Ash, and a bit more of a nerd." Wash whispers to himself. "Minne, Minne!"

Minnesota snaps out of his rant. "Oh, sorry. So you were saying."

"If you had to time travel to find out where someone was hiding for many years, how would you get that information." 

"Well, if I knew them in the future I would just ask them there." Minnesota says.

Washington stands in stunned silence for a bit before he jumps to the future on Iris during the Reds and Blues retirement.

WASHINGTON: Carolina, can I ask you something about your past?

CAROLINA: Yeah, of course, What's up?

Washington falls to the floor and starts screaming to himself, although he muted his helmet audio so it comes out muffled.

WASHINGTON: (screaming, muffled) AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH GOD DAMN IT!!!

CAROLINA: Whoa, are you okay?!

Wash jumps back up.

WASHINGTON: (loudly) I'm great!

CAROLINA: Are you sure, 'cause it kinda sounded like you just screamed-

WASHINGTON: (quickly) I didn't. Hey so, about that question I was going to ask you.

CAROLINA: Oh, right. Shoot.

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WASHINGTON: All those years you were in hiding after Project Freelancer, where did you go exactly?

CAROLINA: Why do you wanna-

WASHINGTON: Please just answer the question.

CAROLINA: (sigh) Well, I re-enlisted into the UNSC.

WASHINGTON: AH-HA! YES, YOU... Wait, you re-enlisted into the UNSC? Why?

CAROLINA: It didn't take a genius to see the UNSC was losing the war, they were taking anyone that would sign up in those days. They weren't gonna look twice at forged documents. I figured it would give me constant access to military intel and equipment, allow me to keep my skills sharp and be the last place Freelancer would think to look. I just needed to land myself in an average, unremarkable squad stationed in one of who knows how many stations across the galaxy.

WASHINGTON: I'll be damned, the apple really didn't fall far.

CAROLINA: It was hard back then. I felt I couldn't trust anyone but myself, like I had no one in my corner.

WASHINGTON: Well.. you didn't exactly make it easy.

CAROLINA: Yeah, I guess not.

Ash is heard laughing and Wash looks over to the side to see Ash standing on a bunch of explosives. 

"Hey, Ash!" Wash yells.

Ash stops laughing and looks over to Wash. "Yeah, Wash?"

"Where did you find Xi?"

"Remember that ghost town where you, Church and Caboose found me?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, that building I was in was where I found Xi." Ash says. "She was in a small freelancer lock box on the ground." Ash then looks down to the ground where three grenades with faces lay. "You ready Battye Bombs, Citron Foug and Sigwart?" 

Suddenly a large roar can be hard followed by several large footsteps.

CABOOSE: (voice only) Hey Guys! Dinosaurs are back.

CAROLINA: *Flatly*  Damn it, not again. I should go take care of that.

An big explosion goes off in the background and Ash is heard laughing.

WASHINGTON: It's fine-

Washington jumps back to the Island Fortress.

Washington's radio goes off. The voice of Recovery Command can be heard once again.

RECOVERY COMMAND: Recovery One, this is Command, requesting a sit-rep.

WASHINGTON: uh, Roger that Command, Situations changed, I'm gonna need a Pelican.

A large purple crack briefly flashes.

WASHINGTON: Shit! ... Sorry, space-time continuum, but I'm gonna need you to take a few more hits.

Scene cuts to a train station. Washington is talking to a UNSC Lieutenant.

UNSC LIEUTENANT: Sir, has she done something wrong?

WASHINGTON: I'm afraid that's classified Lieutenant, if you could just lead the way.

As Wash and the lieutenant walk, the scene shows us the UNSC Outpost is that of a relatively small city with a trainline passing through overhead. Several UNSC soldiers and guards can be seen around the Outpost training, talking or patrolling the area. Several trains can be seen and heard whizzing by on the rails.

UNSC LIEUTENANT: She's got a bit of a temper, sure, but I think that's just because she knows she can run circles around the rest of us if she wanted to. Myself included.

WASHINGTON: Mmm-hmm.

UNSC LIEUTENANT: Sorry... (nervous laugh) Get a little chatty when I'm nervous. I skimmed your file.

WASHINGTON: Didn't like what you saw?

UNSC LIEUTENANT: All I really saw was the word "REDACTED" a million times.

WASHINGTON: Well... there's no need to be nervous Lieutenant.

UNSC LIEUTENANT: It's just… nothing really happens around here.

Washington and the Lieutenant arrive on one of the higher levels inside of a parking lot building. A Soldier holding a Sniper Rifle is using it as a Sniper's nest. The Soldier wears the same Tan armour as the rest of the soldiers, but with Aqua accents. 

Upon being addressed by the Lieutenant, the soldier lowers the Sniper Rifle and turns around to face the two.

UNSC LIEUTENANT: McCallister! Got someone here who wants to talk to you.

Another large purple crack briefly flashes.

UNSC LIEUTENANT: Can I help with anything else sir?

WASHINGTON: No, pretty sure I'm in the right place. I'll take it from here Lieutenant.

The Lieutenant leaves, leaving Washington and "McCallister" alone together. The two briefly stand in awkward silence.

"McCALLISTER:" I could've shot you the moment you stepped out of the terminal.

While the armour and color is completely different, there is no mistaking that the voice is obviously that of Carolina's.

WASHINGTON: Why didn't you?

CAROLINA: Because if you don't give me the information I want, I can still kill you quietly before I slip away.

WASHINGTON: I'm sure you could.

CAROLINA: So they didn't send you alone.

WASHINGTON: Nobody sent me.

CAROLINA: Bullshit. I know they've got you running recovery.

WASHINGTON: -and they still think they've got me in their corner, but that changes... today. I've been waiting for the right time. I've been waiting, to find you.

CAROLINA: How exactly did you find me?

WASHINGTON: I... had a little help.

A green light appears, revealing the form of the Delta A.I.

DELTA: Greetings, Agent Carolina.

CAROLINA: Delta-

WASHINGTON: It was just a matter of asking Delta to search enlistment records for-

The cocking of a gun can be heard. Washington looks up behind him to see Carolina aiming a Pistol at his face.

CAROLINA: (desperately) Where... is York...?!

WASHINGTON: (sigh, lowers his head) Wyoming shot him. His armours' distress signal was how I found Delta... but I was too late for York. I-I'm sorry...

CAROLINA: (angrily) I don't believe you...!

DELTA: Agent Washington, is telling the truth. I could provide you with a supporting data, if you would like.

CAROLINA: (tearfully) I'm going to-

WASHINGTON: I've already taken care of Wyoming, I don't mean to rush, but it won't take long before Command realizes they don't have me on their leash anymore.

CAROLINA: What happened to you? You're... different then how I remember.

WASHINGTON: Same thing that happened to you, I learned the truth. About the Project, about the Alpha... and now I want the Director dead. Will you help me?

Scene cuts to the train station. Washington, now accompanied by Carolina, are waiting for the train to come pick them up.

WASHINGTON: I'll make a call to Command when we get to the airfield. I think I can string them along for a, few more hours before the jig is up.

CAROLINA: How is Delta okay with all of this?

WASHINGTON: I, told him he could meet the Alpha if he helped.

CAROLINA: You lied to him?

WASHINGTON: ...No. I didn't.

CAROLINA: There's.. something else going on here.

WASHINGTON: It's okay if you don't, trust me entirely.

CAROLINA: No.. that's the thing... I do.

WASHINGTON: You do...?

CAROLINA: We weren't very close when we were in the project together but.. for some reason I.. feel.. like I can count on you.

WASHINGTON: I...

A train whizzes by, briefly blocking them from view and obscuring the conversation.

WASHINGTON: Thanks Carolina.

CAROLINA: Where are we heading first?

WASHINGTON: We're gonna rendezvous with a group of soldiers i've assembled.

CAROLINA: Ex-Freelancer?

WASHINGTON: ..Ssssssort of...

CAROLINA: Depending on where they're stationed we can pick up my armour on the way. I've still got my Adaptive Camo and-

WASHINGTON: That, won't be necessary.

CAROLINA: What...?

WASHINGTON: Trust me, the moment you see these guy... you'll understand everything.

Another train whizzes by as the screen goes to black.

WASHINGTON: I hope. But we do need to make a quick pit stop on the way.

"Why?" Carolina asks.

"To pick up another friend. Someone you'll be familiar with."

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10-17-2022

2375 words

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