~Flashback~

Counselor: Agent Washington? Agent Washington?

Washington: Sorry, what were you saying?

Counselor: Were you thinking about Epsilon again, Agent Washington?

Washington: No.

Counselor: What happened with Epsilon was not your fault, Agent Washington.

Washington: I didn't think it was.

Counselor: We have safeguards for the unstable emotional patterns of an artificial intelligence. Sometimes these algorithms fail.

Washington: Oh. So then it's your fault.

Counselor: We prefer to think of it as no one's fault.

Washington: Really.

Counselor: Just a possible, but rare, unfortunate outcome.

Washington: How convenient.

Counselor: Are you having new feelings about the incident?

Washington: No. Just the same old feelings. You know, that I had another person in my head, and I got to experience first-hand as their mind unraveled while mixed with my own. That I still have trouble distinguishing between its disintegrating thoughts and mine. You know, the usual.

Counselor: What about the hostility from other agents who lost out on assignments once we suspended the use of implants?

Washington: What about them? Am I supposed to feel bad for them, er something?

Counselor: Do you think you could work with an A.I. or another agent ever again?

Washington: ... No, I don't.

Counselor: Good. Then we have a job for you.

~Present Time~

Washington: South! I need you out here now! Get over here right now, South! Where are you!?

South breathes slowly as Delta appeared in her vision.

Delta: Keep breathing. Hearing my voice internally can be jarring, at first. I am told it helps clear the mind to concentrate on one thing. May I suggest that you try-

South: Will you please not talk for a second, that might help!

Delta: Technically, I am not talking.

South: Delta. Please!

Delta: My apologies.

South: Okay, I'm feeling better.

Delta: Remember to keep breathing.

South: Yes, I'll keep that in mind. How many enemies?

Delta: I do not detect any on my sensors. But the gunfire would indicate that we are facing only one. This is an atypical enemy. I can offer no advice.

Washington: South, I need you out here now!

South: I'm on my way!

Delta: I have functions that could assist in battle. Would you like me to run the tutorial program?

South: Are you kidding me?

South arrives behind Wash at a building's corner, under fire.

South: Wash, I'm here.

Washington: Good, I need help on the left. This guy moves fast, so keep your eyes open. South, you okay?

Delta: She is experiencing difficulty with my presence.

Washington: How difficult?

Delta: Patient has trouble-

South: I'm fine! Let's get this guy.

Washington: No.

South: No?

Washington: See that ship?

Wash points at a Banshee sitting on the edge of an incomplete ramp.

Washington: You get to it and take off. Get yourself and more importantly Delta back to base. I'll cover you as best I can.

Delta: Wash, is your armor adequately compensating for your wounds?

South: You're hit?

Washington: Just twice, I'm fine. Movement on twos. On my mark: sync.

South: But-

Washington: Sync!

South: Sync!

Washington: Move!

South runs off towards the ship as Wash shoots at the attacker. Wash gets pushed back as the a large white-armored soldier advances on him.

South: Come in Command.

Command: Hello Recovery Two, what is your status?

South: Mission accomplished Command. We were able to draw out the enemy, just as you projected. Sending logs now.

Command: Excellent news. We'll use the data to devise a new strategy to combat it. What is the status of Recovery One?

South: (lying) KIA. The enemy took him down.

South gets in the ship and starts slowly flying away.

Command: Understood. Was Wash ever aware of your efforts at any time?

South: Negative. He acted exactly as the profile predicted. He even set up the encounter.

Command: Return to base, we'll rate you for implantation as agreed.

South: Negative.

Command: Say again, Recovery Two?

South: Negative. You got what you wanted, and I have my A.I. now. You won't be hearing from me again. Goodbye.

Command: South, you know we have other agents. We will find you, South.

South: It's not you I'm worried about.

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

As Wash empties his weapon, he rushes forward to punch the soldier but he immediately gets back-handed into the wall, knocking him unconscious.

As the soldier approaches Wash to finish him, a sniper round hits his shoulder making him stumble back. An invisible figure attacks the soldier, landing to hard blows to the face and kicking him back.

A rocket shoots past the invisible figure and lands at the white soldier's feet, blowing him off the ramp and into the ground below. The soldier growls in anger before retreating. The invisible soldier decloaks, revealing it to be Slade.

Slade: You better run! (Turns on his radio) Nice job, Kan.

Kan:

Slade: Good.

Slade approaches Wash's unconscious body.

Slade: Tex, what's his condition?

Tex: (in his head) He's got a few broken ribs but other than that he's fine.

Kan then runs up behind Slade.

Kan:

Slade: He'll live. But he needs medical attention. Kan, you carry him to the Warthog.

Kan:

Kan puts Wash on his shoulder and heads back to vehicle. Slade looks out and stares at where the soldier ran off.

Slade: I'm gonna find you, Maine. And I'm gonna put you down. (Activates his sword)