Grif exits the Red Base, only to find Carolina standing by the door.
"Hey, you. Orange one. Where's the rest of your team?"
"How should I know?"
"You don't report in to each other?"
"Oh yeah. I mean, I get reports."
"You might be the worst soldiers I've ever met."
"Hey! I take offense at that! What do you mean, 'might be?'"
Simmons and Sarge come walking up the river towards them.
"Here they come. Let's move out."
She turns and leaves.
"Hey, guys! Did you find Lopez?"
"Yeah. Donut nailed him into a board. He's staying here."
"I thought Donut was dead."
"Yeah, we really need to stop saying that." Sarge sighed.
"He almost was. But Doc fixed him up, and now they live together. They say hi, by the way. Oh, and they baked us this banana bread."
Cut to a plate holding a loaf of banana bread, with a card reading, 'Hope you like nuts! -Donut & Doc.'
"How nice! I'm gonna have to forget to send them a thank-you card. Hey, Simmons, when you said Donut nailed Lopez to a board..."
"I mean with nails."
"Okay, had to ask."
"No, no, I understand. I-I should have been clearer. It's my fault."
——Blues——
Cut to Tucker and Caboose approaching Carolina.
"Hey, what's the deal? We're leaving already?"
Carolina turns to Tucker.
Washington is seen walking towards the other Warthog in the background.
"That's right. You got a problem with that?"
Epsilon appears next to Carolina.
"Uh, hey, Carolina, why don't you let me handle this? You need to find Tennessee."
——Red base——
Cut to the exterior of Red Base. A pulse shoots into the sky.
"Tucker, what do you want?"
"I wanna know what you found out about Carolina! Is she evil? Is she crazy? Is she crazy-evil?"
"Is she pretty?" Caboose asked.
"Oh, yeah, is she hot? Ohohoh or is he a dude?"
"Guys! I've got more important things to do right now."
"What are you talking about?! You're supposed to be spying on her! She's the enemy, remember?! Us against them!"
"Hey, you don't know anything about her, Tucker! You have no idea what's she's been through!"
"Since when did-"
"Look! Would you guys just get in the fucking car so we can leave already? Thank you."
Epsilon disappears. Tucker and Caboose glance at each other.
——Carolina——
Cut back to Carolina as Epsilon reappears next to her.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing. I need to talk to you."
——Red base——
Valhalla, where Simmons and Grif are seen standing at Red base.
"Hey, Simmons?"
"Yeah?"
"You ever wonder why we're here?"
"You mean metaphysically?"
"No. I mean why are we going through all this trouble just to find one guy?"
"I don't know. He's evil... or something?"
"Yeah. But so what? I don't have a problem with him."
"Yeah, but he's the one that started all of this. You know. He's the reason we have to deal with the Freelancers, the A.I.s, and the Meta. I mean when you think about it, he's the reason why we're here."
Sarge emerges from inside the base and approaches the two.
"Yep. He's a real dirtbag all right. But...even if he's six feet under, we'll still be in the same damn spot."
"Uh...sir?"
"All I'm saying is we made it back to base in one piece, and even found the rest of our team. So do you boys really think running off again will make things any better?"
Washington was eavesdropping on the Reds from the side of the base.
"Cause the way I see it, leaving this place is only going to make things worse."
"Hmm. I guess you have a point Sarge."
Washington walks away.
"Shut up, Grif."
——Carolina——
Cut to another area of Valhalla, where Carolina is seen walking.
"Church, can't this wait?"
Epsilon appears.
"No, it can't. Carolina, the guys are terrified of you."
"What's your point?"
"My point is that they think you're a killer psychopath and you can't be trusted! But I know they're wrong. I know why you're doing all this. And I know you're not really crazy!"
"Gee, thanks Church. You certainly know how to make a girl feel special." Carolina said sarcastically.
"What I don't know is what happened between you and Tex."
"I don't want to-"
"You mentioned her name back on the island."
"What does Tex have to do with anything?"
"Well, a lot apparently! Because every time I bring her up you act like you're going to put your fist through something. And then, you do sometimes."
"That's ridiculous! I don't-"
"Look, I understand you're angry. I'm angry too. The Director's a fucking dickhead and we're going to make him pay! But Tex was your friend, right?"
"My friend?! Who the hell gave you that idea?"
"Well... she did."
Carolina turns away.
"Look, she was a total bitch. Trust me, I know. But she told me once she would have given anything to save you. I don't know what she meant exactly, but, if you really want to take down the Director, you gotta pull yourself together, you know. You gotta let it go."
"You say that... like I'm sad she's gone, but I'm not. I hated her. I couldn't compete."
"That doesn't matter anymore."
"But even she couldn't find the Director! Agent Texas; the best of the best. How the hell am I supposed to do what she couldn't?!"
"Carolina, if she was really the best, then she would be standing here right now, not you. Let it go."
Carolina looks downward and pulls out something.
"What is that?"
Carolina opens her hand and reveals a dogtag.
"They're her dog tags... Wash found them in the crash."
"Tex didn't wear dog tags."
Carolina cleans off some dirt from the tag with her thumb, revealing Connecticut's name. A USB then quickly pops out from the top.
"Connie?"
"It looks like some kind of data unit."
"Can you tell me what's on it?"
"Only one way to find out. And hey, if I'm not out... in like three months, don't bother coming in looking for me. Just... move on with your lives."
Brief pause.
"Okay, I'm gonna...I'm gonna go now."
——Time Skip——
Carolina is walking around looking for Tennessee.
"Carolina?"
Carolina turns around.
"I know where to find the Director."
"What? How?"
"I just remembered..."
Epsilon vanishes briefly, then reappears in his full form.
"...Everything."
"Okay well, there's Tennessee."
Tennessee is seen shaking with his hands on his head.
"Tennessee?" Carolina was cautious, she's seen him like that before. And it didn't end well for her.
"Is he okay?" Epsilon was a little loud, and Tennessee snapped his head to them.
"I'm fine, Seraphim was having a fit."
"You ready?" Carolina was tip toeing around him. She didn't want to piss him off more than she already has.
"Yeah.. I'll drive the mongoose." Tennessee got up and strapped his battle rifle on his back.
"No not yet, we found the director." Carolina told him.
"Good, I can make that bastard pay for what he did to me. And my A.I." Tennessee growled and Seraphim appeared on his shoulder.