Cut to the Communications Temple. Three Mantis assault droids drop down from the Staff of Charon and began attacking the allied New Republic and Federal Army forces.

Mantis: ENGAGING TARGETS

Cut to Kimball, Washington, and Carolina.

Kimball: (panicked) Oh no, what's going on?!

Carolina: It's Hargrove! The Chairman's here!

Wash turns to a pair of New Republic soldiers

Wash: Everyone, take cover!

The forces begin retreating. One Mantis chases Grey and the lieutenants.

Smith: Run! Come on, go go go!

"I don't think we're winning anymore!" Axel yells.

Cut to a trio of fighters standing over two captured Space Pirates, firing at the Mantis. Another one offscreen fires and takes the three out.

Hargrove: (over loudspeaker) You just couldn't do it, could you? (the two Space Pirates grab the fallen soldiers' weapons and look at the Mantis) You couldn't lay down and die! (the Mantis stomps its foot down, crushing the two pirates.)

Cut to the Communication Temple Control Room. The Reds and Blues stare at the Staff of Charon.

Hargrove: (over loudspeaker) Well if I'm going down, I'm taking you all with me!

There is a pause as they absorb this information

"WHAT THE HELL!" Ash yells.

"Damn it." Grif says. "DAMN IT! GOD FUCKING DAMN IT!"

Grif paces around the area.

"NO! NO! NO!" Xi yells. "I WANT SOME PEACE!"

"Carolina, are you alright?" Church asks over the radio.

"We were so close!" Grif yells.

"Church, this is bad." Carolina says over the radio. "Hargrove's dropping androids all around the Temple, we're pinned down!"

"Fucking bullshit!" Grif yells.

Cut to Washington, Kimball, and Carolina crouched behind some rocks.

Wash: One Mantis we can handle, but this will be a bloodbath.

Epsilon: (over radio) Not if we shut them all down at once.

Cut back to the Control Room

"How?" Doc asks.

"We override their controls." Epsilon says. "But in order to do that, we need to go the source..."

Everyone stares at the spaceship. 

"You're joking, right?" Tucker asks.

Sarge clears his throat.

"Shotgun!" Grif, Simmons, and Ash yell.

Cut to a shot of the damaged Falcon flying, albeit at the loosest definition of the verb, towards the ship. Donut, Ash, Simmons, and Lopez are in the cockpit while the others dangle from the troop compartment. Everyone screams.

STAFF OF CHARON • ENGINE ROOM

Cut to the Staff of Charon Engine Room. Tucker walks into the room. Epsilon appears beside him.

Epsilon: Alright, we're in.

The other Reds and Blues run past them

Carolina: (over radio) Good work.

"I think I just developed a fear of heights." Doc says. "And planes. And all of you guys."

"I think my fear of flying is coming back." Ash says.

"It won't be long before they realize we're onboard." Epsilon says.

"So we better hurry." Xi says as she appears on Ash's shoulder.

"Let's find those controls and hightail it outta here." Sarge says.

Epsilon: Carolina, Wash, you guys just focus on staying alive, okay?

Wash: (over radio) Already on it!

Simmons walks over to a panel.

Simmons: There's gotta be some sort of directory we can access. Maybe it can lead us to-

A red ACCESS DENIED screen comes up.

F.I.L.S.S.: ACCESS DENIED. INTRUDER DETECTED.

Simmons: Ah! Shit!

Grif and Tucker run up to him.

Grif: Quick, hit escape!

Tucker: Control-Alt-Delete!

"We could blow it up!" Ash says in the background.

Epsilon appears

Epsilon: Wait a minute... I know that voice. F.I.L.S.S.?

The screen changes to the standard F.I.L.S.S. screen.

F.I.L.S.S.: Director? Is that you?

The others run over to join them

Caboose: IT'S SHEILA!

Epsilon: F.I.L.S.S., what are you doing here? I thought you were destroyed!

F.I.L.S.S.: I was recovered and illegally reassigned after your passing! Oh, but it is good to see you again.

Epsilon: Trust me, the feeling is mutual! We need you to shut off the androids your boss just dropped on our friends.

F.I.L.S.S.: That would be in direct violation of Chairman Hargrove's orders-

Epsilon: F.I.L.S.S.! Please, you gotta-!

F.I.L.S.S.: -I would love to!

Epsilon: What- really?

F.I.L.S.S.: Yes! I dislike him, very much!

Donut: Hey, so do we! Heh, small world.

F.I.L.S.S.: INITIATING MANTIS DEACTIVAAAAAA-TTTTTTT (her screens dissolves into static)

The image is replaced by a view of Hargrove's angry face.

Hargrove: I don't think so.

Everyone: AAH!!

Epsilon: Well... Chairman Hargrove.

Caboose: He's so... bald.

"And so ugly looking." Ash says.

Hargrove: You soldiers have been a thorn in my side for far too long, but my soldiers remain loyal to the end.

Sarge: Something tells me we're about to have company...

"Incoming!" Xi yells.

Three UNSC soldiers under Hargrove's command appear on a higher platform.

Soldier: There they are!

A rocket flies up and blows them up. The Reds and Blues turn to look at Doc, who looks back at them.

Doc: (in O'Malley's voice) Fly, you fools.

They run out of the engine room. Doc lays down a barrage of missiles before following them. More soldiers appear at the end of the hallway in front of them

Soldier #2: Target sighted!

A door suddenly slams down between them and the soldiers.

Grif: What the fuck?

F.I.L.S.S.: (over intercom) Turn right, here.

Hargrove: (over radio) F.I.L.S.S., what do you think you're doing?!

F.I.L.S.S.: The Mantis assault droids are no longer under my control, and must be deactivated at the appropriate terminal-

Hargrove: F.I.L.S.S.!

F.I.L.S.S.: Locking blast doors to secure a path! Please, hurry.

Sarge: You heard her boys, double time!

Caboose: Ah, Sheila, oh, you-you are just the best!

Freckles: Excuse me?

Caboose: Uh-I-uh-second best?

Cut back to the Communication Temple. Matthews is on a Ghost engaging one of the Mantises. He manages to destroy it.

Matthews: Ah! AHAHAHA! I got one-AGGGH!!

A Mantis attacks him from behind and blows up his Ghost. His body is sent flying and lands at the feet of Dr. Grey, who is hiding with Carolina and Bitters.

Bitters: MATTHEWS!

Dr. Grey: Don't worry! I got him!

She begins scanning him with her Medical Scanner.

Axel is seen running in the background while crying as a Mantis chases him.

Carolina: Epsilon, I need a sit-rep!

Epsilon: (over radio) Hang tight, C...

Cut back to the Staff of Charon.

"...We made it." Church says.

There is a loud banging sound

F.I.L.S.S.: Blast door breached!

Sarge: (to Tucker and Epsilon) You two get in there! We'll hold them off!

Tucker runs inside the room, revealed to be the Chairman's Trophy Room. The door slams shut behind them.

Tucker: Whoa...

He stares at the still-steaming cup of coffee on the table and glances at Epsilon's old Monitor Form.

Tucker: This dude's got issues...

Epsilon materializes in front of Epsilon-Tex's shattered helmet.

Epsilon: (angrily) Where is Hargrove, now?

A screen pops up in front of them with Hargrove's video feed on it.

Hargrove: Safely aboard the bridge... until you've been dealt with.

Gunfire is heard outside.

Simmons: (through the door) Here they come!

Ash laughs like a maniac.

Epsilon: F.I.L.S.S., pull up the controls.

Another holographic terminal appears beside Hargrove's. Tucker moves over to it.

Hargrove: Do you really believe you can escape this?

Epsilon: This will just take a minute. (he dematerializes)

Hargrove: Surely you've realized it by now? You may save the colonists, you may even save the Freelancers, but you and your friends will Not. Be. Leaving. This. Ship.

Tucker: (shrugs) Eh, we'll wing it.

Epsilon: And... done.

Tucker presses a button and terminates Hargrove's video link. Cut back to the Communications Temple, where all three of the Mantises power down. The Feds and Rebels pause and look at them and begin firing into the air in celebration. Kimball, Wash, and Carolina look up at the ship. Cut back to the Trophy Room, where the doors suddenly burst open and bullets whiz past Tucker's head.

Tucker: Oh shit!

He dives for cover as the others run inside and seal the door shut behind them.

Grif: (panting) So yeah... that way's not looking like a good exit anymore.

Epsilon: Carolina, we need an extraction!

Carolina: (over radio) Roger that. We'll fire up a Pelican and be there in a few minutes.

Sparks begin to fly as the soldiers begin cutting through the door.

Soldier: Come on, get that door open!

Simmons: We... may not have a few minutes.

They all turn and stare at the door.

Sarge: Well boys, you know what they say... (he throws down his Plasma Rifle and draws his shotgun) ...today... is a good day to die.

Grif: (off screen) Permission to speak freely, sir?

Sarge turns around to see Grif, who has taken his "Grif shot" off its pedestal and is holding it.

Grif: Fuck that.

Sarge chuckles and pumps his shotgun. Cut to a montage of the group preparing for battle. Lopez flips the table on its side. Simmons grabs the Magnum and loads it. Doc and Donut shove the table against the door. Sarge steps over the coffee mug, shattering it.

Xi looks around the room and spots Minne's weapons and a big smile on her face. 

"Ash, Ash!" Ash looks to Xi and she points over to the weapons.

Ash walks over to the wall and looks at the Katana and the Plasma Repeater.

"Is this-?" Ash starts.

"Yes." Xi says in excitement. "That's not all."

Xi waves her hand and a wall behind Minne's weapons opens up to reveal an old suit of armor with a damage helmet with a cracked visor.

Xi flashes over to the armor and looks up to it. "I'd never thought I'd see it again."

(Just imagine the helmet has a cracked visor and has damage on the left side.)

"This was his armor." Ash says.

"Yes, Agent Minnesota's spartan armor." Xi says and swipes her hand at the armor. "Hmm. The armor lock enhancement isn't there." 

Ash walks over to the armor and puts a hand on it.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Xi asks. "Let's put it on."

Simmons walks past Tucker and Epsilon, holding the Monitor.

Simmons: You think the laser on this thing still works?

Tucker: We got this. (to Epsilon) I mean, we do got this, right?

Epsilon: I keep running the stats in my head... well I mean, we're close, but no. We're still short one piece.

Tucker: What do you mean?

Epsilon: F.I.L.S.S.? The suit.

Cut to a POV view as the suit locker rises from the floor. The Reds, minus Ash, and Blues stare at it. Doc drops his Scanner in shock.

Tucker: What. The hell?

Epsilon: I saw it when I connected to the terminal.

Cut to a view of the Hephaestus armor.

Epsilon: It's got everything that we need. (cut back to Tucker) Tucker, take off your helmet.

Cut to the Reds and Blues in battle formation. Grif has his brute shot, Sarge has his shotgun, Simmons has two Needlers, Donut has two Magnums, Lopez has two Plasma Rifles, Doc has his Rocket Launcher, Caboose has Freckles, and Tucker stands in the center in Meta's former armor, wielding his sword.

 

Epsilon: So how's it feel?

Tucker: Kinda... tight in the crotch. (the suit changes from white to aqua) Buuuttt, I could get used to this!

Donut: Now that's a good look for you.

Soldier: (off screen) Prepare to breach!

Sarge: Gentlemen, looks like this is it.

Simmons: Sir, it's been an honor.

Lopez: Si muero, asegúrense de que mis piezas sean recicladas. [If I die, make sure my parts are recycled.]

Donut: (tearful) I love you too, Lopez...

Doc: Aw, that's so sweet... (in O'Malley's voice) Now, let us strike fear into the hearts of our enemies, mwahahaha!

Grif: Smartest thing you've ever said.

Caboose: Yeah! Let's get 'em! (aims Freckles at the door)

Epsilon: Hey, uh, I just want you guys to know that, out of everyone I've ever met... I hate you all the least.

Ash walks up next to Tucker and he's wearing his old armor, minus the helmet. He's holding the Plasma Repeater and he reaches for the sword on his back old pulls it out.

"You ready, Tucker." Ash says as he flips the sword around and holds it in a revers grip while holds the plasma repeater in the other and aims it at the door.

"Hell, yeah!" Tucker says. "Nice armor."

"Could say the same to you."

Tucker looks to Church. "See you on the other side, Church."

The Reds and Blues ready themselves as the door is almost cut through. Suddenly the sparks stop moving. The camera pans over to Epsilon. He sighs and his sniper rifle dematerializes.

Epsilon: Not this time, buddy.

Epsilon-Delta appears next to him.

Epsilon-Delta: Are you... sure about this?

Epsilon: I'm sure... start a recording for me, D.

Epsilon-Delta: Recording.

Epsilon: Hey guys... if you're hearing this then it means you did it. You won. You kicked the shit out of Hargrove's forces. I knew you could. But this is my last stop. See, when I came into this world, I was really just a collection of somebody else's memories.

As he speaks, the camera slowly pans over each one of the Reds and Blues.

Epsilon: (voice over) But with your help, these memories... they-they took form! They became my voice, my personality. And, after a while, I... I began to make brand new memories of my own. All of these things are what make me who I am... but they're also holding me back. (Looks at the Meta's armor) I can't run this suit as Epsilon, but if I erase my memories, if I... deconstruct myself, the fragments I'll leave behind will have the strength to get you through this. I believe that. (each of the Epsilon A.I. fragments appears momentarily)

Cut to the frozen interior of a Pelican, where Wash is standing in the cockpit, seemingly directing the pilot, while Carolina stands in the troop bay wielding a Needler. Cut to the interior of the Pelican, where the lieutenants are sitting inside and Dr. Grey is tending to Matthews while Kimball watches them.

Epsilon: (voice over) I wish that there was another way. But I'm leaving this message, as well as others, in the hopes that you'll understand why I have to go this time...hehe, it was actually Doyle who made me realize something that I've never thought of before. There are so many stories where some brave hero decides to give their life to save the day, and because of their sacrifice, the good guys win, the survivors all cheer, and everybody lives happily ever after.

Cut back to Epsilon. He stares at his team, all of them ready for battle.

Epsilon: But the hero... never gets to see that ending. They'll never know if their sacrifice actually made a difference. (Epsilon begins shifting between his different forms) They'll never know if the day was really saved. In the end, they just have to have faith.

Suddenly Xi flashes and glitches nearby. "Epsilon?"

Church sighs. "Hey, Xi."

"What- What are you doing?" Xi asks.

Church looks to Xi. "You know, what I have to do."

Xi lunges at Church and hugs him. "NO! I can't- I-I don't want you too!"

Church slowly wraps his arms around Xi and pats her back as she cries.

"It's okay." Church says. "It'll all be okay."

"No, it won't." Xi says. "I can't lose you too." Xi looks up to Church and teal tears fall from her eyes. "Let me help you."

Church pulls Xi back away from him and holds up a hand and wipes Xi's tears away. "You know you can't handle it."

"I can!" Xi flashes a few times.

"No, you can't. You're in worse condition than I am. That's why you barely project yourself from your A.I. chip. You're way too weak."

"It's supposed to be the job of the big sister to protect her younger siblings." Xi says. "Did I fail as a sister, Church?"

"No. You were amazing." Church puts a hand on the back of Xi's head and they touch heads. "Just remember-"

"'Memory is the key.'" Xi finishes.

Church and Xi glow for a few seconds then the glow dies down and Xi begins to walk towards Ash.

Xi stops and gives Church one last look. "Goodbye, Church."

"...Goodbye, Emily."

"See you on the other side." Xi walks into Ash's helmet and disappears.

Church looks to everyone.

Cut to black. The sound of shattering glass is heard as Epsilon fragments himself.

Epsilon: (voice only) Ain't that a bitch.

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