Chairman: To the Director of Project Freelancer. I write to inform you, that by the authority of this sub-committee, officers have been dispatched, to place you under arrest, and we expect your full co-operation. Congratulations are in order, I suppose. When they write the new morality protocols for dealing with A.I., I'm certain they will name entire sections of the doctrine after you. It seems that you will earn your place in history after all, dear Director.

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

The Meta continues fighting the soldiers outside and winning. Back with the group, they rev their vehicles and prepare to leave.

Washington: Alright. Stick to the plan. Just run. Get Epsilon out of here. Turn it over to the authorities the first chance you get.

Simmons: Sarge, shouldn't we help him? He won't stand a chance against that thing.

Sarge: We have our orders, Simmons. We have to think about the mission.

Grif: Finally! An order I wanna follow. "Run away and live."

Sarge: If Agent Wash wants to face him alone, that's his business.

Simmons: Yeah but he doesn't wanna face him alone. It's just that some people won't help him.

Sarge: That's not our business either.

Washington: Just drive. When the E.M.P. goes off-

Caboose: You mean the Emp?

South: Caboose!

Washington: It will destroy Epsilon if you're not far enough away.

Caboose: You got it, Mister Washington.

Washington: Take care of yourself, guys. I know that's one thing you're good at.

Slade: (extends his hand) Wash?

Wash accepts the hand clasps it with Slade's.

Slade: Come back. ALIVE.

South: Ditto.

Washington: (nods) I will. Be safe, guys.

Wash hits a button and a large door opens upwards.

Washington: He's gonna be on you as soon as you clear the gate. Be ready to move. Protect the Blues' vehicle at any cost.

Sarge: Protect the Blues, right, yeah. We'll get riiight on that shit.

Slade: (menacingly) Sarge.

Sarge: (huffs) Fine....

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

The Meta stands victorious over the dead soldiers as he sees the vehicles exit the motor pool and the radio sound out.

Washington: That's it. Lead the Meta as far away from the base as possible.

An A.I.: It's a trick.

Another A.I.: Get the A.I.

A Third A.I.: We need them.

Washington: I just hope there's enough time.

The Meta runs toward Wash and the base.

Simmons: He's fallen for it, gun it Grif!

Grif: Hold on, everyone.

Kan: Let's move!

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

Wash runs through some corridors, pursued by the Meta. He then enters a large room.

PA Voice: Warning. Security breach detected.

Counselor: Agent Washington. Good to see you again.

Washington: Oh, hello. Are you somewhere nearby, Counselor? Somewhere I can say hello in person?

Counselor: Sorry Agent Washington, but we were more than prepared for this... eventuality. I'm afraid we will not be able to see each other in person today.

Washington: Well then you'll excuse me if I don't stop to chat. I'm on a timetable.

Counselor: There is someone else here who would like to speak with you.

Director: Well hello, Agent Washington.

Washington: The Director himself, I should be honored. I should be.

Director: Yes, I realize it has been a while since we've spoke, David. May I call you David?

Washington: No, you cannot. You gave me my new name, the least you can do is use it.

Director: I am certain you have a lot of questions, Wash.

Washington: Just one: How do I turn off this speaker?

PA Voice: Warning. Security breach detected.

The Meta arrives, and Wash puts up a containment field to keep him out.

Director: Well. The prodigal son returns. Agent Maine, you've caused quite a few problems for us. You will not be leaving this time.

Washington: I think I've said that myself about twenty times in the last few weeks. Good luck holding him.

Director: You would be surprised what we are capable of, even from this distance. I suggest you work with us if you expect to survive this.

Washington: I can handle myself. Plus, I made a promise to someone I'd make it out alive.

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

The Reds and Blues continue barreling across the landscape.

Sarge: Still about half a click to go. Step on it!

South: Don't stop for anything!

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

PA Voice: Clearance verified. The failsafe is now online. Awaiting activation.

Director: How did you get those codes?

Washington: You might be surprised what I know, Director. Especially someone who's alive and REAL eager to see you again.

Director: You mean Agent California?

Wash widens his eyes as he looks up at the ceiling.

Washington: How-?

Director: Your friend was one of my greatest achievements, Washington. And there a lot of things about him you don't know. Things that'd probably make you see him lights you never thought possible....

PA Voice: Warning, this is a last resort measure. Activating the failsafe will destroy all electronic equipment in this facility, including this terminal. Please confirm.

Director: It was Epsilon. He inherited the memories, didn't he?

Washington: I've known about what you did since the moment you implanted him in me.

Director: Well, then I am very sorry, Agent Washington, but Project Freelancer no longer has need of your services. Program, disable interior shield.

The containment field Wash activated turns off.

Washington: What?

Director: Agent Maine, please kill Agent Washington.

They both draw their pistols but Meta was faster and shoots Wash, who falls, holding his side.

PA Voice: Alert: incoming recovery beacon. Level zero. Immediate response necessary.

The Meta advances on Wash, who backs away towards the wall.

Director: Agent Washington, I fear this is one recovery beacon you won't be responding to. Kill him, Agent Maine.

An A.I.: Where is it?

Another A.I.: Where is Alpha?

A Third A.I.: Where is it?

Director: The Alpha is not here. It has been moved far away. Attend to the matter at hand.

Counselor: Agent Maine, what the Director's trying to say, is we can discuss the Alpha later. What's important, is that you prove that you can be trusted again. We need to trust you before letting you meet the Alpha. Wouldn't you agree?

Washington: You know, Meta, why wait? Why don't you meet him, right now?

Church materializes over Wash's shoulder as an A.I.

Church: Hi there.

The A.I.s the Meta has accumulated appear around him.

A.I. One: It's him!

A.I. Two: Alpha!

A.I. Three: Alpha!

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

Grif: Caboose, watch out for that rock!

Caboose drives into a big rock, spilling Church's body.

Caboose: Oh no! Church!

Grif: What the hell are you doing, why are you stopping, move!

Caboose: His body fell out!

South: Who the fuck cares?!

Caboose: He's gonna need it!

Simmons: It's just an empty shell, now get going!

The Reds and Kan drive off.

Grif: Caboose! Move it or we're leaving you!

Slade: Caboose, we'll find a way for him. But we need to go!

Caboose nods and continues driving.

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

Church: You know I can see why you didn't want anyone else in your head. Got some pretty heavy stuff going on there. I think you need to talk to a professional.

Washington: That's too bad. I just lost my job, and we have great mental health coverage.

Church: How much time do you need?

Washington: Whatever you can get me. When the E.M.P. goes off-

Church: When it goes off, I'll be fine. It only affects computers, remember? And I am a mother fuckin' ghost.

Church enters the Meta, and all other A.I.s follow him in.

Director: What's going on?!

Counselor: Agent Washington, please, there is time. If you would just secure Agent Maine we can discuss this situation, in a more civilized manner.

Washington: No, we can't.

Wash punches the button.

PA Voice: Thank you, failsafe initiated. Activating Emp.

Washington: Emp? You have got to be fucking ki-

The E.M.P. goes off, making everything shut down. The facility, the A.I. storage room, the motor pool, and everything else electrical.

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

Simmons: Here comes the pulse, don't stop!

The E.M.P. shuts down the Reds' Warthog and Kan's Mongoose.

Kan: Curses!

Grif: Ah, shit, it stalled!

Sarge: Go go go!

Grif: Get Epsilon out of here, don't worry about us!

Caboose: Okay! I'm scared!

Caboose plows past some sawhorses.

Simmons: Watch where you're going!

Grif: No!

Slade: CABOOSE! WATCH OUT!

South: SHIIIIIIIIIT!

Caboose: NYAAAAAAA!

Caboose drives off a cliff overlooking a river with South and Slade as they all scream out and everything fades to black.

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

Director: Dear Chairman. I am disappointed by your decision to press charges, but I am not surprised. My only hope is that the courts will see the matters differently than you have. You see, I never had the chance to serve in battle, nor did fate provide me the opportunity to sacrifice myself for humanity as it did for so many others in the Great War. Someone extremely dear to me was lost very early in my life. My mind has always plagued me with the question, if the choice had been placed in my hands, could I have saved her? The memory of her has haunted me my entire life, and moreso in these last few years than I could ever have imagined. But given the events of these past few weeks, I feel confident that had I been given the chance, I would have made those sacrifices myself. Had I only the chance.

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

In the Valhalla canyon, the Reds and Kan stand in front of their new base and Warthog.

Sarge: Men, I just got word from our new Command. They said that thanks to our brave efforts in bringing Project Freelancer to justice, we can have full use of these former bases to continue our training exercises, until such time as they need them for more official purposes. Whatever the hell that means.

Simmons: Wow, that's great news, sir.

Sarge: We even got a shiny new jeep. Courtesy of the UNSC.

Grif: Yeah, but Sarge, what the hell is- uh, shotgun, by the way.

Simmons: Shotgun- fuck!

Grif: What the hell is the UNSC?

Sarge: Dunno, never heard of it. Sounds made up.

Kan: My Leader said it stands for "United Nations Space Command".

Grif: Yeah, that definitely sounds made up.

Sarge: Where in Sam Hell is Slade?

Kan: I believe he and South left to do something.

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

Director: I know that you disagreed with my methods, and that others will as well. This is beyond my control. However, I cannot imagine that any court would be able to convict me, no matter how low their opinion of my actions might be. You must understand one basic fact for all this to make sense, my dear Chairman. These A.I., they all come from somewhere; they are all based on a person. Our Alpha, was no exception. And while the law has many penalties for the atrocities we inflict on others, there are no punishments for the terrors that we inflict on ourselves. So you send your men. They won't find themselves a fight. They'll only find an old man. An old man tired, but satisfied he did his duty. An old man weary from a mind more filled with memory, than it is with hope.

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

Inside Blue Base, Caboose is there crouching over the A.I device containing Epsilon and Tex's body. South stands next to him.

Caboose: Okay. Time to see if this works.

South: Caboose, are you sure you know what you're doing?

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

Director: Sincerely yours, the former director of Project Freelancer, Doctor Leonard Church.

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

Slade stands on top of Blue Base as he attaches a device to his left hand.

Slade: There. That should compensate for you guys. That way it'll give you some energy boostage to not have to work my equipment as often.

Rho: (in Slade's head) Not bad.

Delta: (in Slade's mind) Processing... confirmed. Energy outlet will suffice for suit and equipment maintenance.

Slade: (nods) Good. Let's hope-AAGH!

Slade falls on one knee as he holds his head. His eyes start to flash red and back to their original color as he hears a dark voice.

Voice: Rip and tear... rip and tear... RIP AND TEAR!

Slade grits his teeth as the pain stops and he stands. South comes up behind him and holds his shoulder.

South: Cal, you good?

Slade: (inhales calmly) Yeah, fine, lass. What do you need?

South: You mind helping me with Caboose? I'm worried he's gonna fuck something up and blow the base trying to bring back his pal.

Slade: Yeah, be there in a sec, South.

South nods and heads back in as Slade looks up at the sky.

Slade: (mentally) What was that? WHO was that? And those words... "Rip and tear"? I'm losing my mind, I swear.

Tex then appears in front of him.

Tex: You're aren't losing your mind, Cal. Me and the guys have been sifting around in your head and have started to find lots of memory blocks in your mind.

Slade: "Memory blocks"?

Tex: I don't think you're who you think you are. What's the last thing you remember in when you joined the Project?

Slade touches and rubs his temples.

Slade: Waking up in the training room? Wait, agh....

Slade then sees a white robot of some kind holding his sword but the handle was different.

Robot: Until we see each other again...

Slade gets brought out of the memory as he looks at Tex in worry.

Slade: Allison, what's happening to me?

Tex disappears then appears in human-size form.

Tex: I don't know, but me and the guys will figure it out. On a different note, you should now that South has get feelings for you.

Slade: I'm sorry, what?

Tex: Ever since you rescued her, me and Delta have been analyzing her behavioral patterns and she heats up when you stand next to her. Plus, I'm a woman so I know when a girl likes a man.

Slade: But I thought you and I were-

Tex: Cal, until we make me a new body I'm stuck as a hologram. Plus, I'm not exactly a hogger, if you catch my drift.

Slade: You're sure about this?

Tex: (shakes her head, chuckling) Just go get her, you crazy, Australian stud.

Slade: (raises his hands up) I don't argue with a women's intuition...

Slade heads inside as Tex disappears.

(AND THAT'S SEASON 6 FINÍTO! SOUTH IS GETTIN' SOME SLADE ACTION (NO LEMON) AND MORE MEMORY FLASHES FOR SLADE! NEXT UP WILL BE THE RELOCATED SERIES THEN SEASONS 7-8! I'LL DO THAT LATER THOUGH, MY FINGERS ARE KILLING ME! TILL THEN GUYS! ENJOY!)