I sigh as the pelican lands near where Alpha was resting. Something wasn't sitting right with this, and it wasn't just with Maine being the Meta. I just felt like someone was walking on my grave.

I backed the truck out of the jet, priming the weapon systems. Lambda made himself at home inside the system as the .50 cal Auto turret lifted out of the back.

"Let's rumble bitch." I mutter as I light a cigar. "I need to get a catchphrase."

I turn on the radio, only for static to play over. I sigh as I put in a disc. I begin driving as a fitting song starts to play.

As I drive, a shiver goes down my spine. "Lambda, check on the kids."

"Everyone is safe and sound sir. Miss Rose is getting a scolding for getting in the cookie jar again. But all is well. Would you like to raise security?"

"Yeah, Prime everything. I just have this bad feeling. Somethings about to happen." I glance out the window to see Caboose and David tailing me. "Something big."

Later

I parked the truck as we stopped at the place Church was supposed to be. An old ruined fort with no strategic value whatsoever. Fitting place to hide a few skeletons Director.

"Alright, David, Caboose, you guys go ahead, I am going to stay here and guard the vehicles." I said as I began to push a few buttons on the dash. "Going to make sure nobody sneaks up on us."

"Nah, come on. Might need you if things go south Maryland." Washington said as Caboose began walking up the path.

"Fine. Whatever."

Soon after walking up to the old fort, Wash turns to Caboose. "And you're sure this is where we can find this guy?"

"I think so." Caboose replied. "We all found out our new orders at the same time. "He tried to hide his from me so I would not know where he was."

"Really? I can't imagine why." I said as I thought back to all of the times I watched them bicker.

"I said it was like a game of hide and seek, and he said that was right!" Caboose mentioned being oblivious to the sarcasm. "He was going to hide from me and the only way he could win, is if he dies without ever seeing me again!."

"And he knows about Freelancer as well?" Wash asked.

"Oh, yeah, he knows the most. He knows, uh, all about your A.I. game." Caboose was babbling on about all of what his memory could remind him. "He dated Tex!"

"Agent Texas?" Wash asked, surprised at this info. "Um, how could a person..."

I smacked the back of his head. "It was before the project. If you read the fucktard's file, you would know."

A sniper shot flew past David's head, startling him. "FUCK!" Church called out.

"Sniper! Get down!" Wash ran for cover as Caboose and I looked at where the shot came from.

"Ok, that was your one warning shot!" Church called out. "The next one's going right between your eyes!"

I snorted as I pulled a cigar out of my cargo pants, having left my armor in belt form.

"Private Caboose! Maryland! Get down!" David called out as me and Caboose just stared at the wall."

"Lambda, what are the chances of him hitting us?"

"0% sir."

"Wait a minute..." Caboose started.

"Alright! I warned you!" Church shouted out. "Sayonara, Biatch!"

Church fired off another round, missing both me and Caboose. "Aw, come on, what the fuck?!"

"Caboose! Avery!" David shouted out.

"I know that voice!" Caboose shouted out in glee. "Church! Church! It's me! Your all time best friend!"

"Caboose?" Church called out. "Caboose, is that you?"

"Huh, that went better than expected." David said as he stood up.

"Just wait for it." I muttered as I walked over to him.

"Huh?"

"Yes, Church it's me!" Caboose shouted out as the sniper shots rang out at a faster rate, starting David. "I have missed you so much! It has been so long! Did you miss me?"

"Fuck!" Church shouted in anger. "I missed him"

Caboose gasped. "I knew you did!"

"GO AWAY!" Church shouted.

"This is your friend?" David asked.

"Right I've had enough of this." I muttered as I walked out. "Church, Stop shooting at Caboose and show yourself!"

"Avery?" Church peaked his head out. "Caboose, why did you bring him here!"

"Nice to see you too ass-hat. Open the fucking gate. We need to talk." I said and I smoked the cigar in my hand.

"This is agent Washington!" Caboose shouted. "He needs to speak to you!"

"Agent Wha... you brought a Freelancer here? What the fuck Caboose!"

"Open the gate Church." I said as I exhaled smoke.

"Uh, no can do bud. See this is a secure facility Nobody in, nobody out. Sorry, guess you'll have to come back... Never." Church said, trying to get us to go away.

"Church open the gate before, A) I punch it open then punch you, or B) We walk through the hole." I said as I brought back my robotic arm. "I'm voting for option A."

"... Fine, I'll open the fucking gate!" Church shouted as he walked away.

As we walked inside I took note of the condition of the place. "Broken. Messy. Suits you Church."

"I would have cleaned up if I had known you guys were coming." Church said. "But hey, no one called ahead."

"No you wouldn't." I said, calling Church on his bullshit.

"Yeah I wouldn't." Church admitted.

"How long have you been here?" Wash asked.

I sighed as I pulled out a thin file, and smacked him in the face with it. "Read it, don't question everything."

"How long? Um... what day is today?"

"Tuesday." I said as Wash laid on the ground, maybe knocked out.. "You've been here 14 months." I puffed my Cigar again. "Alone."

"Yeah, it's been, um... It's been great." Church depressingly said. "I mean, just... just been great. Really great."

The radio buzzed as Command called in. "This is Command calling recover one. Come in recovery one."

"This is Recovery two, Recovery one is... Occupied. We have located two blue team members with experience with the A.I. Omega program. Switch to a secure channel. I believe the Meta is listening in. "

"Roger, switching to secure." Command replied.

"Did he just say Omega?" Church asked.

"Yeah... and some other words too." Caboose replied.

"Roger Agent Maryland, Channel is secure. Please stand by for orders." I wait as I look around, before noticing a blip on the motion tracker in my sunglasses. "Now that you have assembled the Blues, you should head to outpost 17B, see what clues your team can gather there based on what they know."

"Command Hold, Motion tracker just picked up something." I say as I look around, noticing a shimmer move just out of sight.

"Roger Agent. We want you to stop the Meta at all costs, good luck Maryland. Command out." I turned off the radio in my ear as I picked up Washington and smacked him a few times, waking him up.

"Wha?"

"Quiet. We have company."

"What kind?" David ashed as he pulled the BR off his back.

"The bad kind." I said as I looked around. "Church, Caboose, we need to leave now."

"Hey, what point in this conversation did you think we were buddies or something? I'm not going with you." Church said defiantly.

"Yes! You are not in our buddy club!" Caboose said.

"Shut up, Caboose, and what did I tell you about that armor, when we had to pick new suits?" Church bitched.

"You told me to upgrade!" Caboose said cheerfully.

"That's not an upgrade!" Church shouted. "This is mark VI armor, that's mark V! This is an upgrade!"

In a top ten list, Five is better than six!" Caboose said.

"We're not a top ten list!" Church shouted.

"Church, Stop bullying the child." I said as I smacked the back of his head. "Look, I know you guys are wrapped up in your Blue Vs Red battles, but this is important."

"Oh yeah? How so!" Church asked.

"Something is hunting Freelancer agents, and we need all the help we can get to stop it." I said as I walked up to him.

"Stop it?! If it's killing freelancers, then I want to start a fan club for it, build it a website." Church said.

"Church, this thing, Killed Carolina. Killed dozens of other freelancers. And when it's done with them, It's going to come for me, David over there, and You!" I said, pushing a finger in his face. "And when it's done with us, It is going to go after my family, and it will only get stronger as it goes, because with each freelancer it kills, It takes their A.I., Equipment, and adds it to its own. This thing is the reason I lost an arm and a leg."

"Wait, why would it come for you?" Church asked. "You're not a Freelancer."

"I am, I just retired." I said. "Now come on, We need to get to 17B, Tex's ship crashed there."

"Alright, I'm in." Church said as we started to walk away.

"Lambda, Maine will try and send a fake message to send the Reds after us. Don't let him."

"Already on it. Would you like to make a call? With your current state-"

"Enough Lambda. I'm going to assemble the red team anyway. Just to be sure."

"Church, you're with me in my truck, Caboose, you're with Wash. I need to make a call."

I pulled out my phone and pushed a few buttons. It rang a couple times before someone picked up. "Hey Sarge."

"Yeah, Get Grif and Simmons from Rat's nest."

"Just do it. And if you get any calls from command, ignore them."

"Just do it Sarge. Meet us at outpost 17B. Also known as Valhalla."

"Sarge I swear to god I will shove that shotgun up your ass and pull the trigger."

"Uh-uh. Double time it soldier."