No one's POV
Currently, on an isolated beach, Carolina and Zero stare out towards the ocean together.
Carolina: Well, this isn't completely horrible.
Zero: No, it is not. One and Wash are searching the other island, so we should see what we can find here.
Carolina: Right...
Zero: You good?
Carolina: Yeah... I'm fine...
The two of them began searching the island and after 45 minutes, they find a small hut. As Zero goes to search inside it, Carolina gazes out towards the ocean.
Zero: Hellooooo? Carolina? Nat?
Carolina: (turns back to face Zero) Sorry, must have spaced out. Any luck?
Zero noticed Carolina holding something, but doesn't say anything about it.
Zero: No sign of Agent Illinois.This is definitely his place though.
Carolina: How can you tell?
Zero shows Carolina a picture of York, Carolina, himself, One, Illinois, C.T., North and Wyoming relaxing, with their helmets off, all with drinks in their hands.
Wyoming is sitting on the side, his arm resting on a chair that York and Carolina are both sitting in, with York's hand around Carolina's shoulders. Zero, was on the other side of Carolina, smiling. North, One and C.T. were in front of them, all giving the "peace" sign, with Illinois in front holding a bottle of beer.
Zero: Really takes you back, huh?
Carolina: Sure does...
Zero: (talking about York and Carolina) You two look cozy.
Carolina: Pretty sure I hit him for doing that...
Zero just chuckled.
Zero: That you did. Gave him a broken nose.
The two walk back outside, towards the ocean.
Zero: Seems like our friend left in a hurry. The only thing missing from the place is his armor.
Carolina: But where did he go?
Zero: No note. Your guess is as good as mine. Good call in finding him here though. Wash and One radioed a few minutes ago, said the found a red sail boat beached and full of Rum.
Carolina: (turning towards Zero) What do you remember about Agent Illinois?
Zero: In or outside?
Carolina: Outside.
Zero: I never knew him. I wasn't as close to him as I was our team.
Carolina: Illinois was always... different. He actually reminds me a lot about you.
Zero: Me?
Carolina: Yeah. He wasn't ambitious or competitive like the rest of us. He didn't fight for an A.I. or screw over his friends to get placed higher in the rankings. Instead, he was doing a job and dreaming up a life after. Of an island chain that stretched around an entire planet. A shack by the water, with a bar of spiced rum, and a tiny red sailboat. He did it.
Zero: Well, that explains the sailboat and rum. But I didn't realize you two were close.
Carolina just sighed, walking forward and sitting on a large rock in the sand, as Zero walked over, and sat next to her, both of them removing their helmets.
Carolina: We weren't. He and York were drinking buddies though. I heard all about it hanging out with him...
Zero: York, huh? This must... reopen some old wounds. I'm sorry...
Carolina: No... It's fine. It's just sometimes, I think York was my chance at a fresh start. I threw it down an elevator shaft...
Zero: You're being too hard on yourself, Natalie. You've changed over the years, I've seen it myself. Especially compared to how you were when we first met.
Carolina: I've grown from being a dishonorable killing machine to an honorable killing machine. That's quite the journey.
Zero: Well... You say that as if I'm any different. I'm a killing machine just like you. But, it's never too late to start over again.
Carolina didn't saying anything and looked at Zero.
Carolina: Do you really believe that, Adrain?
Zero looked at Carolina and smiled.
Zero: Well, I don't know if rock singer is really in your future... but yeah. And Hey, you can try and be that Vet.
Carolina just rolled her eyes and smiled.
Carolina: It was fun to watch them squirm though, wasn't it?
Zero: God, you can be such a bitch sometimes.
Carolina: And you can be an annoying, pain in my ass, that I wonder how One deals with you.
Zero: ...-_-...Hey, now. I didn't add all that...
Carolina just sighed, pulling out York's lighter.
Zero: York's lighter...
Carolina: This is all I have left from York. From Freelancer. Just this and my armor...
Carolina went to throw the lighter into the ocean, but Zero quickly grabs her arm, stopping her.
Zero: Hey, you don't have to do that.
Carolina: What about starting over?
Zero: Yeah, but just because you're starting over, doesn't mean you don't have to destroy the past. It's like what you said.
Zero works his hand into Carolina's, in which she accepts it, as they looked at each other.
Zero:"Your past doesn't define who you are. It just gives you the starting point for who you're going to be."
As Zero said that, the two of them just looked at each other, into each other's eyes. As they did, they slowly started to lean in,
as their lips met and shared a passionate kiss together. After a minute, the two of them broke it, smiling at each other, but Zero's eyes suddenly widened.
Carolina: What is it?
Zero: Take off your suit.
Carolina looked at Zero surprised.
Carolina: What?
Zero: I got an idea, take it off.
Carolina: Okay, uh, that's a little forward....?
Zero just gave Carolina a look.
Zero: First of all, I know you're not talking about someone being too "Forward"... And second of all, that's not what I meant.The recovery beacons, they're the key.
Carolina: Excuse me?
Zero: Every suit that belonged to Project Freelancer was special. They all had recovery beacons in them, so agents could be located if they were ever in distress. Personally, I didn't like the idea of walking around with an active tracking device.
Carolina: So you and Wash turned ours off, I remember!
Zero: Well, maybe that's why we're still around. Whoever's been tracking down the Freelancers has a way of following the beacons.
Carolina: So we turn ours back on and lure the hunters here?
Zero: Unless you have a better idea.
Carolina: Can't say that I do.
A moment passes where the two Freelancers stare at each other.
Zero: So?
Carolina: Are you going to turn around?
Zero: ...-_-... Natalie, we've had sex, we've seen each other naked already...
Carolina then started blushing.
Carolina: H-Hey! That was the stupid Temple's fault!
Zero: Be that as it may, you were still the aggressor in the situation and we still ended up having sex.
Carolina: Ugh! Fine! But if you're watching me strip, I'm watching you strip!
Zero: Deal!
(Timeskip)
After calling One and Wash, the four of them met back up, turning on their recovery beacons. After a few hours, they see Pelican flying towards the island and landing, whereupon two sets of the Reds and Blues all walk out.
Zero: Oh dear God, you are not going to believe this...
Washington: Mercenaries?
Zero: ...-_-... Nope.
One: Space pirates?
Zero: ...-_-... Dumb it down by infinity...
Carolina: Don't tell me, the Reds and Blues?
Zero: ...-_-...It's twice as bad as that...
The four of them then walked down, to greet the 2 sets of Reds and Blues.
Washington: Let me guess, Sarge built robot versions of everyone.
Tucker: Guess again.
Washington: ...I'd really rather not.
Tucker: Fine. Wash, One, Zero, Carolina. Meet Temple, Surge, Loco, uh, Robo Spaghettio, Bucket---
Buckey: Buckey!
Tucker: Whatever! And Donut 2.0.
Temple: Zero, One, Washington, Carolina. It's an honor to meet you four.
Washington: What. The. Heck.
One: ...-_-... I think I need to lay down...
Carolina: Can you explain why there's two of everyone?
Tucker: They're from another gulch. That's why they look like us. Look, the whole story is long and complicated and we need to get out of here ASAP. You really fucked up activating your beacon. That's how they're tracking us down.
Zero: Yeah, no shit. We were counting on it! We're luring them here.
Tucker: Well lucky for you, we can do the same thing.
Carolina: Yeah. Lucky.
Washington: From our perspective, we set a trap and you all fell in it.
Temple: Well, your trap wouldn't have worked anyway. The UNSC has a nasty habit of nuking from orbit first, asking questions later.
One: Wait, The UNSC?
Tucker: Oh, big surprise. You guy's haven't figured out what's going on yet. Score another for Team Tucker.
Carolina: You have? And Church?
Tucker: He's alive.
Temple: If you come with us, we'll explain everything.
(Timeskip)
Within an underwater base, in conference room, Zero, One, Carolina and Wash were all brought up to speed on the situation.
Zero: Wow...
Carolina: That's...quite a story...
Tucker: Temple only left out the part where Sarge fell in love with himself and Simmons realized he can't stand his own reflection.
Carolina: What about the reporter. Did she leave?
Simmons: No, she's around here somewhere.
Sarge: We've been keeping her in a "don't need to know basis." Can't trust the press these days.
One: Why not? She seemed perfectly trustworthy.
Tucker: Well, we don't, like, know what her agenda and stuff is.
Carolina: But Tucker, she can get the real story out. She publicizes this insane plot by the UNSC to kill the ex-agents––
Temple: AND sim-troopers! We're people too.
Carolina: If she can get the story out, it's game over.
Temple: There's no easy way out of this. This ends with us taking the fight to those that would see us all dead. This ends in violence.
Zero: What if it didn't have to––
Temple: They killed your friends.
Tucker: They have Church!
Carolina: And they need to be brought to justice, but what if for once, it was in a courtroom or a court martial and not at the end of somebody's knife?
Tucker: Are you feeling alright?
Temple: Our adversaries are too powerful! If we come at them now with just accusations, they're going to turtle up and write it out. They're looking for us. They're poking their head out of their shell and I aim to chop it the fuck off!
Tucker: O-oh yeah, boy!
Temple: Anyway, we're getting ahead of ourselves here. Strategizing can wait until breakfast, at least.
Simmons: And breakfast is?
Temple: Fish...
Everybody groans in disgust.
Temple: Sorry...
Tucker: Man, I'm gonna puke if I eat one more fucking fish.
Temple: HEY, there's not like there's any cows or chickens swimming around in our underwater lair–– uh base. (clears his throat) Anyways, how about I give our guests the grand tour?
(Timeskip)
Down in a lower level an elevator door opening, as Temple, Zero, One, Wash, and Carolina walking down a dimly lit hallway.
Temple: Just through here, sorry about the mess.
Washington: You wanted to show us, what?
Temple: Uh, we just gathered some relics from Project Freelancer. I thought you both would appreciate the collection.
Temple stops in front of a doorway leading to a room where suits of armor can be barely seen, with the four of them continuing forward.
Temple: Oh, lemme get the lights.
The lights turn on to reveal several suits of armor of warriors in various poses; some aiming their weapons at something, others looking as if they were about to fight something, and a couple of them looking as if they were trying to stab something or someone.
Temple: Recognize anyone?
One: Wait, Freelancer armor?
Zero: How did you get these...?
Temple: Oh, you know, we've been around quite awhile and visited a few bases that had them.
The four of them looked at all the sets.
Washington: Oh man, that's Agent Arizona's armor, isn't it?
Carolina: And Maryland's. There's Alaska...
Washington: (gagging) Uh, I think you need to check your plumbing. That smell...
Carolina: That's... not... sewage...
Zero walked up to a set and saw it was Illinois's.
Zero: Illinois...?
One: Guys... These are just suits of armor...
Everyone looked at One surprised.
Washington: What...? That's...
They all slowly turn to Temple.
Carolina: You...!
Temple: (nonchalantly) Guilty.
Zero: What did you do to them...?!
Temple: I killed them. I. MURDERED. Them. I set my vengeance free upon them and it felt so-hoho good! But not as half as good as this feels.
Washington: Well, if its a fight you want––
Carolina: Then I think we can oblige.
Zero draws one of his Plasma rifles, and Wash and aims his weapon while Carolina holsters hers and sets herself into a defensive position. But One continued to look at the armor, at their frozen states.
One's thoughts: There's no way he could kill this many Freelancers without a trick... But they're frozen in place...
Temple: I could never best you in a fight.
One's eyes widened, when she realized it.
One: Lock...
Temple: And anyway, don't they say that revenge is a dish best served... frozen.
One: TAKE HIM OUT!!!!
As Soon as One said that, Zero, One and Wash immediately fired at Temple, who dodged their shots. Zero drawing one of knives immediately rushed him with Carolina, who went to bring her leg on him, only for Temple to pull out a toyish looking radio, and presses a button, locking all four of them in their armor.
Washington: Eagh...
Zero: What...?!
Temple: Oh, that was a little too close for comfort.
One: Damn it...!
Carolina: What did you do...?!
Temple then looked over at Carolina. Pushing her and Zero back next to Wash and One.
Temple: My greatest fear is that you would know me, Carolina. That you'd recognize my voice and the game would be up.
Zero: Recognize you...?
Washington: Guys... I can't...
Carolina: I... can't move... either. I'm locked.
One: How did you get Armor Lock tech...?
Temple: It was technology we salvaged from Project Freelancer. Fate is not without irony, and the past, is not with its just dessert.
Zero: The whole yarn about the UNSC, they're not really killing Freelancers...
Temple: Of course not! I am!
Carolina: Why...?!
Temple: Because of you did to us. For what she (gestures towards Carolina) did most of all. The record, for staying alive in this room, locked in your armor is eight days, and eleven hours. I know you've always been the most competitive of the Freelancers, Agent Carolina. So, do try to do better for me.
Temple proceeded to leave the four of them to their deaths.
Washington: The Reds and Blues... will come looking ...
Temple: The Reds and Blues will be dead before they even miss you. So long, Agent Washington. Agent One. Agent Zero.
Zero: YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!
Carolina: NOOOOOO!!!!!!
Temple: So long, Carolina.