(Here we go boys! The end of Agent Minnesota's journey.)

Opens up on the main bridge of the Mother of Invention, where Carolina, the Director, and the Counselor are seen standing on a platform.

MOTHER OF INVENTION BRIDGE. MANY YEARS AGO...

F.I.L.S.S.: (voice over) Intruder alert, intruder alert. Breach in Security. Level Zero.

Carolina: It's the Resistance.

Director: No, it's Agent Texas. And her damn partners in crime.

Counselor: We should get back to the lab. Director, we must follow protocol.

The Counselor leaves.

Director: Carolina, look at me. You know what needs to be done.

Carolina: I do.

Director: Then do it.

The camera zooms in on Carolina as the Director leaves. Cut to a hangar, where Tex dispatches multiple Freelancer soldiers with Spike Grenades and soon encounters South holding a Missile Pod.

South: Think you're so fucking tough, don't you, Texas? Well, let me ask you something: who's the monster now, bitch?

Tex: Aw, shit...

South fires her weapon as Tex dives to the side. Cut to the Freelancer locker room, where Wyoming and two soldiers search for infiltrators.

Battle Rifle Grunt: Dude, we get to fight with Wyoming! Awesome!

Wyoming: Just clear the room lads.

Battle Rifle Grunt: All clear!

Assault Rifle Grunt: All clear, sir!

Wyoming: (sighs) Dear god, it's like idiots in stereo.

Assault Rifle Grunt: (giggles) Nice zinger, sir!

Battle Rifle Grunt: Kiss-ass.

Assault Rifle Grunt: Shut up.

Wyoming: Look over there. Now where are you hiding? Knock, knock mate.

Battle Rifle Grunt: Wait, who's there?

York bursts out from the tiled ceiling above, kills the two soldiers, and battles Wyoming.

Battle Rifle Grunt: Whoa! It's York! (screams in pain)

York: Knock knock!

Wyoming: Ah yes, that's what I'm saying, who's there?

York: It's York! (smashes open a locker, hitting Wyoming in the process and sees a photo of a woman) Hello.

Wyoming: Who's there?

York: I told you! It's York!

Wyoming: It's York...who?

York throws a locker at Wyoming, defeating him.

York: It's "York" catch, asshole! (grabs a photo of woman floating in the air) Talk about knock knocks. (stuffs photo in his pocket and leaves)

Cut back in the hangar, where South fires at Tex, who continues to dodge. South then launches multiple projectiles at Tex, but several sniper shots eliminate them in mid-air. Tex looks behind her to see North walking in with a sniper rifle over each shoulder.

North: Well, hello, ladies. What seems to be the problem?

South: North, you know what the problem is. This bitch stabbed us in the back, and now it's time to return the favor. Whose side are you on, brother?

North aims his sniper rifles at South.

North: Tex, take a walk. I need to have a little chat with my sister.

Tex: North? You sure?

North: Go. This is a family matter.

North activates his energy shield. Tex runs out of the way as South and North begin to fire upon each other. She then sprints into another room, where a tank spots her. 

Suddenly a voice comes over South's radio. 

"You know none of this would have happened if you had set your motion trackers!" Minne says over the radio.

"Minne?!" South yells.

"Yup, and I'll be seeing you sweet heart!"

Over with Minne.

Minnesota is running down a hall and suddenly a group of soldiers appear at the end of the hall.

"There he is!" A soldier yells.

"Open fire!" Another soldier yells.

Minnesota grabs the gravity hammer off his back and throws it at the soldiers.

"Oh, no." A soldier yells.

The gravity hammer hits a soldier and the whole group flies into the walls.

Minne keeps running and he grabs the gravity hammer as he runs by and he sets it on his back. Suddenly the gravity cuts out.

"What?"

Minne slams his feet into the ground and activates his grav boots.

Minne hears a growl behind him and he looks to see Maine. 

"Maine?" Minne asks.

Maine takes the bruteshot of his back.

"Uh, Maine?" Minne asks and Maine just growls at him.

"Woh!" Minne ducks as Maine fires his bruteshot at him.

Suddenly the MOI shakes and Minne stumbles forward.

"What's going on?!" Minne yells and his response is a stab in the shoulder from Maine's brute shot.

Minne kicks Maine away from him.

"OW! You little..." Minne growls as he holds his shoulder.

Minne ducks under another slice from Maine. And then flips back and Maine tries to slam the blade of the Bruteshot down onto him. Minne lands on a wall of jumps off it and drop kicks Maine down the hall.

Maine lands on his feet and he looks up to Minne and growls.

"Well, then let's go!" Minne says.

Maine and Minnesota charge at each otehr.

Cut to Tex, who is running on the walls of a corridor. She jumps and lands on an adjacent corridor just as Carolina does.

Carolina: Don't even think about it.

Tex: Don't try to stop me!

Tex charges as Carolina kicks to the opposite wall and kicks off using the force to kick Tex. They both knock each other away, but Carolina quickly gets back on her feet, while Tex plants her stance on the ceiling. Carolina punches and kicks Tex several times, although every one of her attacks are blocked. Tex lunges at Carolina but misses, and Carolina kicks her against the wall. Tex lunges back and knocks them both into doors the bridge. Carolina steadies herself on the railing as Tex lands on one of the now floating doors.

Tex: Give it up, Carolina.

Carolina: Never. I can beat you.

Tex: No. You. CAN'T!

Tex swings to the edge of the doors and kicks it downwards towards Carolina. Carolina dodges the door. Cut to a badly damaged Mother of Invention speeding towards a frozen planet. Cut back to the bridge where both Freelancers land on the observatory glass, cracking it slightly as they battle. The Freelancers begin to exchange more punches as kicks as the glass begins to heat up due to the atmosphere of the planet. Carolina kicks Tex in the face, and Tex retaliates by grabbing Carolina from behind and throwing her into the glass, causing it to crack even more. Cut to the Mother of Invention, gaining speed as the hull begins to heat up and the ship is soon engulfed in flames. Cut to the Bridge, where the glass shows nothing more than the inferno. Carolina floats helplessly, while Tex stands on the glass.

Tex: You can't win Carolina. But you can come with me.

Tex looks down and sees the glass beginning to break apart. She leaps away from the glass as Carolina braces herself for impact. The hull is heard creaking. 

The Mother of Invention speeds past the cloud layer, the entire ship smoking. The left armor plating impacts on a mountain, sending the ship off-course, where it plummets in a snowy field. 

In the bridge, Tex is forced against the railing as Carolina crashes through the glass. The ship slowly comes to a halt. 

The scene fades in to Alpha's torture room. Alpha and Tex are standing there with no weapons.

Tex: Hey there.

Alpha: Huh?

He turns to face Tex.

Alpha: Oh. Uh, hello. Who are you?

Tex: You don't know me?

Alpha: Oh, uh, sorry. I'm just, um... tired. I'm really tired. My name is, uh... it's, uh

Tex: Your name is Alpha. You're Church.

Alpha: Church. That's me. And you are...?

Tex: Let's just say we used to be together.

Alpha: Oh. Um, okay.

Tex: I need you to come with me.

Alpha: Oh, I don't think I can, but thanks. I think I'm just gonna stay here, you know, and rest.

Tex: You don't want to leave?

Alpha: Ah, I just... I don't think I can.

Tex: Okay. Maybe you just rest then.

Alpha: Yeah, buh, what was your na-what was your name? Your name again?

Tex: It's Texas.

Alpha: Texas? Like the state?

Tex: Yeah.

Alpha: Heh. Pretty funny name for a girl.

Tex: Hyeah, well, Church is a funny name for a guy.

Alpha: Yeah. I guess you're right.

Tex: You gave me this name, you know.

Alpha: I wonder why I did that.

Tex: Well, maybe if you think about it, it'll come to you.

Alpha: Yeah. Hey, uh, I'm gonna rest now. But thanks for coming by.

Tex: Okay. You rest. Church?

Alpha: Yeah?

Tex: Goodbye.

Alpha: Huh. I don't know why, but... I hate goodbyes.

Tex: Oh. Me too.

Alpha: Okay. See ya, crazy state name lady.

Tex disappears from the room.

Tex: Goodbye.

With Minne.

Minne raises his right fist from the ground and stands up and looks around the snowy area.

Minne groans as his armor sparks a few times. 

"Yeah, using armor abilities without an A.I. is a bad idea." Minne says and he reaches down to his right leg and feels his pistol. "Good, it's still there."

Some blood drips onto the snow, staining it red. Minne looks around and sees Maine walking towards Carolina.

With Maine.

Maine puts his Bruteshot on his back as he walks towards an unconscious Carolina. Suddenly a snowball hits him on the side of the head.

"Hey, Maine!" Minne yells

Maine growls and looks to the side to see Minnesota grab the Gravity Hammer off his back.

Maine takes the brute shot off his back.

"I want a rematch!" Minne yells.

Maine reloads his bruteshot and aims it at Minne.

Minne lowers himself towards the ground and kicks off, kicking up a bunch of snow.

Maine fires off a rounds and Minne spins in the air to avoid them.

MInne reaches Maine and he brings up the Gravity hammer and swings down at Maine.

Maine rolls to the side and Minne brings the Hammer down onto the ground, snow flies up everywhere.

Maine swings his knifle into the snow cloud, but hits nothing. Minne turns to the side and swings his fist, connecting with Minne's stomach.

Minne drops the Gravity hammer and flies back a few meters and lands harshly into the snow.

"Aw, crap!" Minne groans as he stands up and coughs a few times.

Minne ducks as a fist nearly hits him in the face. Minne sweeps Maine's legs and he falls to the ground.

Minne stands up and tries to stomp on Maine's face, but Maine grabs his foot and flips him over.

Maine gets up and tries to stab Minne with his Bruteshot. Minne grabs the blade before it hits his chest.

"What's gotten into you Maine!" Minne yells as he struggles to keep the blade from entering his chest.

"Come on, Maine!"

Minne's arms start to shake as the blade get lower and lower.

"Fuck, fuck!" 

The tip of the blade pushes into Minne's chest and he starts to groan.

"Come on." Minne coughs a few times as the blade starts to push deeper into his chest.

Minne quickly reaches down and grabs his pistol and fires off a few rounds into Maine's chest.

Maine stumbles back and growls at Minne.

Minne stands up and coughs a few times.

The snow starts to be stained red.

Minne stumbles a few times as he rubs his shoulder. 

"Woh!" Minne ducks as a gravity hammer is swung over his head. Minne flips to the as Maine brings the Gravity hammer down where he was standing.

Minne brings up his pistol and fires off a few rounds. A couple bouncing off Maine's armor and a few striking him in the arms.

All this does is anger the big brute. Maine runs at Minne and swings the Hammer at Minnesota. 

Minne barely avoids the attacks and he slides away from Maine and brings up his pistol and pulls the trigger only for his pistol to click.

"Uh?" Minne ejects the magazine and reloads his pistol.

Minne brings up his right hand and stops the Gravity Hammer. Cracks are heard from his arm and Minne hisses in pain.

Minne's right arm shakes as he holds the Hammer in place and looks to Maine.

"This isn't you, Maine." Minne takes a few deep breaths. "Please, snap out of it."

But the only response he gets is a punch to the gut. Minne stumbles back and coughs. He looks up to Maine only to receive the Gravity Hammer to the face.

Minnesota goes flying and flips in the air a few times and lands on his back. The glass of his helmet is completely cracked and he lies still. His pistol lands next to him.

Minne coughs and looks to Maine and sees him turning around. Minne slowly stands up and almost stumbles over.

Minne takes a few deep labored breaths and he reaches up to his helmet and begins to take it off.

Over with Maine.

Maine growls as he cracks his neck, but suddenly a red cracked helmet slams into the back of his head and it falls to the ground.

"Did I say we were done!" Minne yells.

Maine growls in annoyance and he holds the gravity hammer tight. He turns around and looks to the helmet less Minne.

Blood stains Minne's white hair and blood seeps down from the left side of his head. Golden eyes glare at Maine as a bit of blood falls from the corner of Minne's mouth.

Dog tags hang from Minne's neck and blood seeps down Minne's armor, coating the snow below him in a deep red.

Minne takes a deep breath. "We aren't done, till I say we are done." Minne puts his pistol away and pulls out his knife.

Minne takes a few steps forward and stumbles a little. Minne stabilizes himself and looks to Maine.

"Let's go you big bastard!"

Minnesota runs at Maine and Maine charges at Minne. Maine swings the hammer down on Minne, but Minne rolls under it and stabs Maine in the calf.

Maine stumbles forward and angry growls and he turns and swings the hammer behind him. Minne ducks under the hammer and swings his left fist and it makes contact with Maine's helmet.

Maine growls and stumbles back and looks at Minne. A crack in now on the right side of Maine's helmet.

Minne holds up his knife and wipes some blood from his eye. Minne holds out his hand and makes a come at me motion.

Maine runs at Minne and tries to hit him with the handle of the hammer.

Minne moves to the side and then leans back as the hammer barely misses him.

Minne swings his knife and cuts Maine's arm as the hammer flies past him.

Maine kicks Minne in the leg and he falls over. Minne falls to the ground and rolls to the side to avoid a Gravity Hammer to the face.

Minne kicks himself up and he grabs Maine's arm and pulls him forward and punches Maine in the face.

Maine drops the hammer and falls to the ground. Maine lays still and Minne takes a few breaths.

Minne drops his knife and almost falls over. Minne shakes his head and he turns around.

"Carolina!" Minne yells and he takes a few steps towards her.

Minne hears snow crunching behind him and her turns around and swings his fist, only to stop and cough up some blood.

Right in front of Minne is Maine, with the blade of the bruteshot embedded into Minne's stomach. 

Maine rips the his weapon out of Minne's stomach and the snow is coated red.

Maine grabs Minne by the neck and holds him up and reaches towards the back of his head. But stops as his head hovers at the back of Minne's head. Maine growls at Minne and he chuckles. 

"She's not here, Maine." Minne says with a smirk on his face. "You'll never get her."

Maine shoves Minne to the ground. Minne hacks and coughs as he stands up.

"Is that all you go-" Minne starts.

But he's cut off with a Gravity Hammer to the face and Minne goes flying again and lands on his stomach.

We move to Minne's POV.

Minne opens his eyes and everything is red and blurry. In the distance he sees Maine walk towards Carolina. 

Minne reaches down towards his leg and grabs his pistol and aims it in front of him. Minne's vision blurs more and his hand starts to shake.

Maine picks Carolina up by the throat.

"Ca--rolina..." Minne whispers.

Minne tries to aim his pistol at Maine, but his hand falls to the ground as his vision starts to go black. Blood pools further under him, staining the snow around him red.

"Callie.... Help." Minne's head falls to the ground. "I'm scared."

Minne's vision goes black.

With Maine.

Maine holds out his hand with the Eta and Iota units rested in it. He clenches his fist and proceeds to throw Carolina off the cliff. Tex runs up, in an failed attempt, to stop him.

Tex: NOOOO!!!

Cut to the extent of the cliff, Carolina's falling body evident. Cut to a close-up of Carolina's limp body falling, her face frozen in horror. She then raises up her grappling gun. Cut back to Tex, who looks back at the crashed Mother of Invention. The Director, holding the Epsilon Unit, Counselor and three UNSC troopers are all seen on the bridge, witnessing the scene unfolding before them. 

Tex looks to her right and sees the body of Minnesota laying in the snow with a large pool of blood under him. Then she looks back to Maine.

Maine slides his helmet on, and flexes his body. Tex quickly flees the situation. Suddenly, Sigma, Eta, and Iota appear next to Maine. Sigma looks at the fleeing Tex.

Sigma: You run, Agent Texas. We are the Meta, and we will find you. Very soon.

Close up on Sigma's smiling face. 

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(There we have learned the story of Agent Minnesota.)

09-19-2022