Carolina enters the locker room and throws her helmet. She sees Maine and Wyoming cleaning they're weapons. 

"Dang it!" Wyoming, not wanting to be on the receiving end of Carolina's temper again, gets up and leaves. Sigma appears next to her shoulder. 

"Did the training session go poorly, Agent Carolina?" 

"No, it went fine, just not good enough." She says sitting down. 

"That is most unusual for you." 

"Why does she even have a locker in here if she doesn't use our locker room? And what is so special about her?" She asks angrily. 

"She does seem to get special treatment, doesn't she? Strange, considering she's not the best Freelancer." 

Gamma appears on Carolina's other shoulder. "It's probably because of Omega." 

"Now Gamma, we're not meant to speak about Omega. You know the rules." Sigma reminds the aqua AI. 

"Well hello Gamma. Does Wyoming know you're talking to another AI?" Carolina asks him. 

"I am not talking to another AI. We are both talking to you." He clarifies. 

"Who is Omega?" 

"He is one of our brothers." Sigma tells her. 

"He is the strongest of us." Gamma adds. 

"And Agent Texas has him? She uses an AI?" Carolina says in realization getting up. 

"Hmm, I don't think it's our place to say." 

"All the top Agents have an AI." 

"Well, except you, Agent Carolina. You chose not to." 

"That lying-! This all makes sense now. I have been an idiot. She's not better than me, it's all been Omega." 

"Omega's strength is unmatched. I don't know if anyone could beat him. At least, not alone." Gamma states. 

"Hmm, no. Not alone. We are just fragments, after all. Pieces. Omega and Texas... are something else." Sigma says clasping his hands behind his back. 

"But if we work together..." 

"Together. What an interesting concept, Gamma." 

"You've just given me an idea." Carolina says smirking. 

"I do hope you'll use it well, Agent Carolina. Ideas are some of our most potent weapons." Sigma replies. 

"Don't worry about me; I'll be fine." Carolina then leaves the locker room. 

"Yes, I'm sure you will be." In the training room, the Director, Counselor Price, and Texas are all talking. 

"How do you feel?" Counselor Price asks Tex. 

"I need to get back into the fight. These targets just aren't doing it for me." 

"You'll be back in the field soon enough, Texas. For now, just focus on your training." 

"I'm tired of training. I need something, else." 

"Have you noticed a change in your aggression, Agent Texas?" 

"I don't see how that-" Suddenly a loud thud I see heard and the trio turns to see the guard at the door was knocked out and slides at their feet. Carolina then approaches them. 

"Carolina. What are you doing here?" The Director asks.  "The training room is off limits when we-" 

"When you're with your pet? Yes, I know. I don't care. I need to talk to you." 

"Pet?! You know Counselor, I think I am noticing a change in my aggression levels." Tex growls looking at Carolina. 

"Everyone please just remain calm. Carolina, you can use the training room when you are next assigned." Counselor Price tells her. 

"I want an AI." Carolina demands. 

"An AI? What has caused this sudden change of heart?" The Director asks. 

"It doesn't matter. I'm still at the top of the leaderboard." 

"Not the top of the leaderboard." Tex mutters. 

"And you can keep your comments to yourself. I know all about your little secret; what you really are. The next AI that comes up is mine." 

"Fill me in, Carolina; what exactly is my secret?" 

"Both of you, stand down! Alright Carolina, if you want an AI then you will have an AI. In fact, you can choose: Agents Washington and South Dakota are both due for implantation today. We have two AI, Eta and Iota, ready for field testing. Which one of your teammates do you think you should delay? I'll leave that up to you." 

"Director-" 

"No! If she thinks our decisions are so easy, then let her make one. What's it going to be, Carolina?" 

"And whatever I choose you will do?" Carolina asks. 

"That's right!" 

"Then I want them both." She demands. 

"Excuse me?" Counselor Price says baffled. 

"Carolina, you cannot have them both." 

"Yes I can! These suits, wherever they came from, are designed to handle a full AI, and as you are so fond of telling us, these are not full AI. They are just fragments, and from what I can tell the newer ones are getting weaker all the time. So I want them both. Or, I'm sorry, is that decision too tough for you?!" 

"Counselor, move Agents Washington and South Dakota back in the schedule, and prepare Agent Carolina for surgery." 

"I think if we let cooler heads prevail, we will-" 

"If you wanted to deal with cooler heads, Counselor, perhaps you should have joined the Coast Guard. Prep her for surgery." The Director snaps. 

"You won't regret this." Carolina says pridefully. 

"No Agent Carolina, I very much doubt that I will." The Director and Counselor Price leave. Tex shoulders past Carolina then turns around. 

"Hey, that was gutsy. Hope it works out for you." Tex tells her. 

"When it does, you'll be the first to know." 

"I look forward to it." 

Tex looks up at the observation room and spots Maine, Sigma and Wyoming looking down at her, before proceeding to leave. Sigma watches her closely from above.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Tex was walking down the hall as  she heard Omega in her head. 

"She just thinks that by planting two AI she'll immediately become better than us. Ha! She still has a long way to go." 

~Shut up Omega, I don't need your bull crap right now.~ Tex hears Omega growl before he becomes silent. 

[Is it true?] Tex turns and sees Zone with his arms crossed leaning against the wall. [Is she seriously planting two AI in her head just to prove she's the best?] 

"(Sighs) Yeah. I'm sorry Zone, I know she means the most to you out of all of us." Zone walks up to her and embraces her. Tex didn't expect it at first but wraps her arms around him and they hold one another tightly. 

They both let go and Zone says, [You all mean everything to me, you're my family. And I don't intend to lose any of you. Got it?] Tex nods before they both turn and head for the locker room. 

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

"What?! This is bullcrap!" South says pacing back and forth in the locker room. 

"South, calm down!" North says holding up his hands. 

"Calm down?! That's easy for you to say; you already have an AI. Just who the heck is she to take away our place?!" 

"Our turn will come. They've already put me back on the list for..." Wash says before she walks up to him and forces onto one of the benches. 

"What?! Ugh!!" South then kicks the bench next to him in anger. 

"You ever notice every time you open your mouth you make things worse?" York chuckles. 

"Sorry..." 

"And two AI?! Why is she so special? What's so special about either of them?!" South then punches Texas' locker open, causing the nametag to fall off. 

"Pick it up." Everyone looks and sees Tex and Zone walk in. 

"What're you doing in here? You never come in here." York states. 

"I've come for Carolina." Tex turns back to South. "Pick it up." 

"SCREW YOU!" South tries to punch her but her fist is caught. But not by Tex. 

[You really need to stop letting that extremely short temper of yours control you.] Zone says throwing her hand away. South huffs before punching the door control and leaving. 

"I...I should probably uh....I better go." North then walks off after her sister. Tex then looks at York. 

"Where is she?" 

"Look, Texas, I dont know if you're looking for a fight, or whatever it is you want, but now is not the time. Carolina just went into surgery. We dont know when she'll be out so we're headed over to recovery to wait for her." Tex then opens her locker and sees a dog tag. She picks it up and looks at it curiously. 

"Yeah, Recovery One." Wash clarifies. 

"Maybe you should come with us." York suggests. "Let's go. You coming, Zone?" 

[Be there in minute York, you two go ahead.] York's nods as he follows Wash out of the locker room. Zone looks back at Tex. [Tex what is it?] 

Tex turns around and shows him the dog tag. Zone takes it from her and examines it. 

[Xi what is this?] 

"I think it's a data unit." Xi says appearing next to his hands. 

"Don't read it now." Zone and Xi look at Tex. 

"Why Tex?" She asks. 

"Because we should wait for a safer time. Not now." Tex takes the dog tag back and pockets it. 

[Whatever you say. I'm going to check Carolina. Coming?] 

"No I've got a feeling she probably won't want me there." Zone nods and leaves. Tex heads in the opposite direction exits the locker room. 

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Carolina is lying asleep on a bed in the Med-Bay while Wyoming sits on a chair next to her. York walks in with Wash and Zone and sits down. Maine can be seen sitting on another bed while being examined by a doctor. Zone goes to check on him. 

"How's the patient?" Wash asks Wyoming. 

"Should be coming around any moment." He replies. York looks at Maine. 

"What's he in for?" 

"Probably for all the headaches he's been having. Did you ever get them after you got Delta?" Wash asks York. 

"At first, they went away pretty quick though. The other side effects were way worse." 

"What other side effects?" 

"You know, bleeding from the eyes, ringing ears... inverted penis..." 

"Inverted what?!" Wash almost instantly covers his crotch plate after hearing the last part. 

"Dude, I'm just screwing with you, ok? Couple of headaches, that's it." 

"So what's different about Maine then?" Zone puts his hand on Maine's shoulder. Maine nods that he's okay. Zone pats his back before noticing that Carolina is beginning to wake up. He goes and puts his hand on her cheek. 

[You feelin' okay?] He asks smiling. Carolina awakens and sits up giving him a death glare. 

"I want a match. Right... now." She demands. 

(YEP, SHE MAD! LET'S SEE HOW THE FIGHT BETWEEN HER AND TEX GOES! AND LET'S SEE HOW ZONE AND TEX REACT TO HOW CT WAS RIGHT ABOUT THE DIRECTOR BEING CORRUPT!)