U.N.S.C. WIND POWER FACILITY. PRESENT DAY...

Washington and Ash walk up to Carolina, who is standing by a generator.

Washington: Looking for something?

Carolina: Leads, information, anything. You said Maine had been through here, right?

"Well... yeah, but that was ages ago." Wash states.

"Like a really long time ago." Ash says.

"Then look closely." Carolina orders. "Don't tell me hanging around these morons has turned you two soft."

Tucker: Hey, she said morons, that's us.

Epsilon: Tucker, shut up, let me listen.

Washington: The Meta was attempting to transfer energy from these turbines into his suit. It was the only way he could keep his equipment running.

Carolina: Huh, poor Maine.

Washington: Carolina, it wasn't your fault.

Carolina: But it was my A.I.

Washington: None of us could have known what would happen.

Carolina: Yeah? Well sometimes I'm not so sure.

Washington: What?

Carolina: We were told that the A.I. were specifically designed for each of us, right? North was chosen for Theta, York had Delta, Minne's was Xi, but Sigma was mine.

Xi appears on Ash's shoulder.

Washington: What are you saying?

Carolina: You really think the Director didn't know what would happen?

Washington: Carolina, that's ridiculous.

Carolina: He always had his little experiments. He just forgot to take a few extra variables into account.

Washington: And what about now? The whole world thinks you're dead. Do you think he knows you're coming for him?

Carolina: Yes, I do. And for once, I look forward to proving him right.

Washington: (Sighs) The Director was always hard on you.

Tucker: Dude, he said hard on. Bow chicka-

Epsilon: (Whispering) Shut up. They're gonna hear you.

Carolina: He was hard on all of us.

Tucker: Oh come on, you've got to let me have that one.

Epsilon: Quiet, you're going to give away our position.

Tucker: I've got about five positions in mind for her. Bow chicka-

Epsilon: Tucker, I'm serious.

Washington: Yeah, you're right. But you have to admit, he was also pretty hard on himself.

Tucker: That's it, I'm doing it.

Epsilon: Tucker!

Tucker: BOW CHICKA BOW- (Gunfire hits the wall beside him) -WHOA! SAME TEAM, SAME TEAM!

Carolina: What, are you doing here...?!

Epsilon: Okay, take it easy, Carolina. We just wanted information.

Washington: Epsilon?

"Hello, Tucker. Church." Ash greets.

Epsilon: Look, if you two are planning on dragging us around wherever you want, the least you could do is fill us in.

Tucker: I'll fill her in. Bow chicka- (More gunfire)

Epsilon: Tucker!

Tucker: Sorry.

Carolina: You and your squad are on a "need-to-know" basis. And right now, you don't need to know anything.

Epsilon: Wha- Seriously?! Jesus, you're worse than Tex...! (Gunfire passes through Epsilon)

Tucker: Okay, that one was on you.

Carolina: Get. Out...!

Epsilon: Fine, we're leaving already. (Epsilon starts walking away) Hey Tucker, I need you to leave, I can't actually do it on my own.

Washington: Carolina, you've got to calm down.

Carolina: Don't tell me how to lead my squad, Washington. Now, sweep the area and report back to me when you're done. (Walks away)

Washington: (Sighs) On it, boss.

Ash stands there. "Um... What do you want me to do?"

"Go and make sure those idiots outside don't do anything stupid." Carolina orders.

"It's kinda mean to call my friends idiots all the time." Ash says.

Carolina growls and Ash quickly walks away. "ON IT!"

Cut to the Freelancer training room floor.

Counselor: And as the Director accurately predicted in his thesis on the subject, we see that cognitive impression modeling can be separated from the host. Naturally, this remains an inherently deconstructive process. But most of all, the biggest concern of any full A.I. entity is the prospect of rampancy, which we covered last week.

As the Counselor speaks, the scene pans into a classroom-like room where Wyoming, North and South Dakota, York, Minnesota,Carolina, Maine and Washington, all helmetless, sit with Delta, Theta, Xi, and Sigma at desks. The Counselor and the Director stand at the front of the room.

Minnesota is in a dark corner of the room with his face covered by shadows and Xi.

FREELANCER CLASSROOM. MANY YEARS AGO...

Director: Of course our A.I. units are what we call fragments, so there's very little chance that a personality subroutine can run off unchecked.

Counselor: Are there any questions?

South Dakota: Yeah, I got a question. Why do we need to learn all this stuff?

Carolina: A.I. theory is like vehicle maintenance, South. If we're going to use this equipment, any equipment, we need to know how to care for it.

South Dakota: Oh yeah, Like a coffee maker or a vacuum cleaner.

Theta: Uh...

Delta: That was rather rude.

"Highly uncalled for." Xi states.

South Dakota: Oh, cry me a river, lightbulb.

"South." Minne says with slight anger.

Carolina: No, not the same as that.

South Dakota: I don't even have one because someone didn't bring enough to share, so why am I sitting through this elementary classroom bullshit?

Carolina: I don't have one either, South.

York: That's only because you gave yours to Maine.

Carolina: He needed to be able to communicate after his injury.

South Dakota: Oh yeah. That's the only reason you did it. You're a real hero, Carolina. It's not like Maine has much to say anyway.

Maine: (Growls)

Sigma: I would like to say just how appreciative the two of us are for Carolina's sacrifice. Agent Carolina, if anyone can excel without an A.I. unit, it is you.

Carolina: Thank you, Sigma.

Sigma: And Agent Texas of course. That goes without saying.

Carolina: Right.

South Dakota: I notice she doesn't have to attend class.

Director: Agent Texas doesn't need this training.

Counselor: What the Director is trying to say is that Agent Texas has already completed her A.I. theory course work. I think that's enough for today.

Sigma: If I may, Counselor. I have just one last question.

York: Oh, come on.

Minne groans.

Sigma: On the different levels of A.I. awareness and rampancy.

Counselor: Melancholia, anger-

Sigma: Specifically in the fourth stage of rampancy.

Counselor: Meta-stability.

Sigma: Yes, the meta stage, in which an A.I. can be considered fully human.

Counselor: That is only theoretical, Sigma. No A.I. has ever achieved such a state.

Sigma: But it is possible.

Counselor: In theory, but-

Sigma: But possible. I find that very interesting.

Counselor: Remember, Sigma, you're not even a full A.I. You are what we call a fragment, so something of that magnitude would be even more difficult for an entity such as yourself.

Sigma: Well, as the Director always says, it is important to have ambition.

Director: Why yes it is. Class is dismissed.

The Freelancers and Theta leave. Delta prepares to follow, but stops as Sigma watches the board at the front of the room.

Delta: Sigma, are you coming?

Sigma: Yes, yes. We will be joining you shortly. (Delta leaves)

The board at the front of the room cycles though several symbols made of combined Greek letters before stopping on a particular combination, the future symbol of The Meta

Cut to the outside of the power station, where Caboose stops Carolina

U.N.S.C. WIND POWER FACILITY. PRESENT DAY...

Caboose: Um, hey, hi Carolina. Yes, um, excuse me, um, have you seen Church lately. Uh, he and I were supposed to hang out after we rescued him.

Carolina: Tell your friends to stay out of my way, or else.

Caboose: Or else what?

Carolina: Or else they'll bring out my ugly side.

Caboose: Oh, oh come on Caroline, I bet you are really pretty under that armor.

Carolina: What?

Caboose: Um, I mean, you know, I mean I understand that there's some helmet hair. We all have helmet hair from time to time, but you know. (Carolina growls) Yes, um so anyways, what did you want me to tell Church and Tucker again?

Carolina pulls out her pistol and shoots a mountain of fusion coil explosives stacked behind Caboose.

Carolina: Just try and put that into words.

Carolina walks away.

Caboose: (makes explosion sound effect) Explosion.

Carolina passes by a Warthog. The Reds poke out from behind it after she's gone.

Ash is in the back.

Grif: You know, I'm beginning to think Simmons might have had the right idea about this Carolina chick.

Simmons: See, I told you.

Sarge: Normally I would agree with Simmons, but in this case it would also cause me to agree with Grif. Therefore, I will simply grunt ambiguously. (grunts)

"I don't like the way she talks to me." Ash says. "I'm not a Freelancer, I'm a soldier of Red team."

Cut to Washington walking up to the Reds, who are now congregating by the windmill

Washington: Hey, did Carolina come this way? We've got to get going soon.

Grif: Right, we've been meaning to talk to you about that.

Washington: About what?

Grif: This whole "finding the Director" thing.

Washington: You mean the mission.

Grif: Yeah, that.

Simmons: We were thinking. Now that we've helped you find Church, we should just let you handle the rest. You know, wouldn't want to cramp your style. That whole Freelancer thing. You're good at that.

Washington: So you're abandoning the mission.

Sarge:Red Team never abandons the mission, we're just accepting an alternate mission, of different risk.

Washington: Less risk.

Simmons: Less is different.

Sarge: Securing the front lines of Red Base.

Washington: Going home is risky? On what scale?

Sarge: Well, we haven't been there in ages. Who knows what kind of nefarious ner-do-wells have moved in on our territory.

Washington: Hmm, I guess you're right.

Sarge: What?

Washington: Well, you are wanted criminals of the U.N.S.C. I wouldn't be surprised if they were setting up an ambush for you right now.

Sarge: What?

"Huh?" Ash says.

Washington: I suppose I can't stop you. Anyway, I'm going to go find Carolina. Good luck.

Wash walks away.

Sarge: On second thought, you could probably use the extra help.

Grif: Yeah, we're sticking with you.

Simmons: Never abandon the mission.

"Better find this Director guy!" Ash yells.

Grif: Semper, the sempering thing. Semper, ah fuck it.

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07-18-2022