Alaska declared that they were leaving and South staggered back slightly as the door closed. Outside everything was loud but to her it all sounded fuzzy, like she was underwater. Her eyes were glued to Cal as he lay there in a pool of blood. Iowa had stopped the bleeding but that didn’t stop the images from flashing through her mind. She felt a hand on her shoulder suddenly and looked up to see North. Slowly the girl stood, unsteadily, her brother’s firm footing the only thing keeping her upright as he led her into the cockpit.

“I want you to stay up here, okay?” He knew how distressing it was for her, seeing a teammate injured like that for the first time. However he was surprised when all she did was nod back and sit down, strapping herself in. North was hesitant about leaving her up here, but Alaska was there so it wasn’t like she was alone and he needed to get secured in case they ran into trouble. Making his way back he moved quickly to help Iowa. “We should get him strapped down so he doesn’t move too much.” He said, looking worriedly at Cal.

Theoretically this had been a successful mission, they’d achieved their objective. But if they lost someone… it hardly felt worth it. He felt a small surge of anger bubble up, but quickly suppressed it. Apart from situations involving his sister North rarely let anger cloud him. It rarely helped anything. “You’ll be alright.” He said softly as they got Cal secured. There wasn’t much to do now except sit around and wait. There was this ominous silence that filled the hull as they made their way back to The Mother of Invention.

"Hey south," Alaska said casually when She and her brother entered. "Listen south, I understand that you might not be used to this whole life and death, but-" she took a deep breath calmed herself and took on a more sympathetic tone "Listen South, what I mean is that although you were not a soldier before you are now, These types of thing are just going to happen, we all knew that when we signed up," she looked through the door at wash, "Some of us more than others." She put the pelican on Auto pilot took off her helmet, got up and closed the door to the cockpit. She stood beside south, with her hand on her shoulder, "South, You ought to know, Death is something that we must accept, it has to be balanced, ya know. Our friend back there is stable, he's safe for now, and the way I see it the only way we can make it better is to stay calm." she reached into her helmet and pulled out her dog tags that she had left in there, attached was a small circular shaped pendent with a picture of a planet. "South, when thought I had lost wash I used these I would just think of home with him, if you ever lose anyone; just remember home, “

She sat back down in the pilot chair and muted herself she hated crying it made her look weak, but in this case she felt it was necessary. When they arrived she called through to the cruiser. She cleared her throat, "Mother of invention this is Alpha Romeo 14/32 returning from our mission, we will need to land in a medical hangar we have fatally injured personal on board." there was a brief pause. "Understood Alpha Romeo, landing bay four is clear and medical teams are on route." she pulled in talking it slowly and following the protocols.as soon as the the shuttle landed medical teams flooded the shuttle. Wash, who had stayed silent for most of the journey helped lift Cal's limp body of the shuttle. and then proceeded to wait for the others. He wouldn't admit it but he was angry, he wanted some revenge. He couldn't get it at that moment but when that chance came he would be ready.

South was quiet for most of Alaska’s comforting words and, though perhaps she didn’t show it as much as she could have, she was grateful for them. It was nice to know that they cared about each other beyond the missions, that she could call them friends. “Thank you.” She eventually said once she was done, managing a small smile in spite of the situation. “That means a lot to me.” However as they began approaching the ship she went back to sitting there silently, mentally sorting through everything going through her head, this whirling blur of emotions and experiences.

The ship pulled in and the girl stood, making her way towards the exit. However South found herself facing a small group of strangers, only three, blocking her path as Cal was quickly taken away. “Agent South Dakota, you are in possession of the data correct?” She looked at them curiously but nodded eventually. “Please come with us for a debriefing.” South glanced over to where Cal disappeared through the doors into the ship and then back to the men, nodding slightly as she allowed herself to be led away.

North’s attention had been primarily on Cal, until he noticed South’s absence and turned to see her going off in another direction with a different group. They didn’t look like freelancers, but he’d seen people wearing that kind of amour around here and there, he suspected they did the grunt work for the director. Somewhere in her rush South looked over at him and the pair made eye contact, each nodding to the other, knowing they’d get in contact later. He decided the only thing to do for now was to go and make sure Cal made it. He couldn’t really do anything, but he’d feel better if he was at least close by.

Cal went into surgery quickly the doctors blocking all visitors as they peeled off his armor cut him open. Near half way through it Cal some how woke up, the anesthetic wearing off. He screamed, the shout of pain echoing out in to the halls before they managed to get him back under. His mind plagued with night mares of missions past and the Simulation debacle. At one point he even cried in his sleeps the doctors documenting how he mumbled his fellow agents names and cried in his sleep.

After hours of surgery and four more hours of bed rest Cal blinked his eyes open feeling naked without his armor he tried to look around. He hoped someone was around so he could ask how he got back first, then how the others were, and lastly if they still had his death robot... He really needed a name for it.

Iowa left with Cal, He had handed over all the data and looked after the equipment he had on hand whilst he was under the knife, Of course although he was a medic he wasn't trained to cure people, as his trainer had taught him: "a doctor cures people. A medic just makes them comfortable... while they die." Of course he technically was a doctor but in biochemistry instead. He heard some groans coming from the surgery room, but they were mainly muffled by the large walls. A man came out with a data pad and took no notice of him. Iowa followed when Cal came out; He sat there until he woke up, "Hey, Take it easy, you'll be a little tender. You took one hell of a hit, the sniper that hit you was armour piercing, there was no chance anything was going to stop it. Not even that mech you found. Speaking of which, I believe they might have taken it down to engineering”

He loaded up his data pad, "I'll need to do some quick motor tests, these are just to test your Spartan augmentations are running fine and no neurones are damaged." He attached some sensors to his skin, he applied a warm bag it gently and then removed the sensors. He went through the data and paused, "Oh, and by the way, the others should be along soon, you were in a bad way on the ship, they'll want to see you, but whilst you are waiting I thought you might be a bit bored, so got you your data pad, just in case there was anything you wanted you wanted to watch." he handed Cal the second data pad, and got back to work.

"Thank Iowa, I owe you for getting me back. Apparently the thing doesn't have shielding so I'll have to fix that then add extra ammo. Maybe a Spartan laser with a charging system..." The wounded man trailed off before snapping back to reality. "So who is everyone else? I'm only one hurt right?" He asked laying back. "Hows my armor by the way? Is it bad or can I repair it?" He asked the medic. Cal seemed to be full of questions today and very unworried about his near death experience in the line of duty. So either he'd been in place before or he was crazy, both were solid options considering he piloted a death robot around and was planning on treating it like a pet.

Agent Oregon had only just made it on board as the pelican took off, lucky not to take a real hit. It was hell maneuvering through everything. He was out really quick after he sat down.
Once they made it back to base everyone went on their ways he stayed asleep just a little bit longer. Once he awoke he quickly recalled a certain someone he had to promise to have a drink with, and shortly after a certain person who took one hell of a hit before they all got out of that hell zone. The most reasonable course of action go see the doc and the wounded. He quickly shuffled off to the med bay to check with them.

"So dead man how you holding up? And doctor boy where's that drink we agreed on?"

North hung back slightly as Cal came to; though he let out an internal sigh of relief he didn’t want to overcrowd the man. It had been a hard few hours for him, Cal’s fate had been fairly certain according to the doctors once the surgery had been successful, but he knew better than to trust that something wouldn’t suddenly fail, so he had spent the four hours worrying for his friend’s life all the same, whilst balancing some worry for his sister. She’d sent him a hurried message a few hours ago explaining where she’d been taken and what was going on and made him promise he’d let her know how Cal was doing.

Now that the man was awake he felt confident messaging her that he was going to be okay. That all out of the way he waltzed over to the man, giving him a relieved smile since he’d ditched his helmet soon after arriving. “You gave us a scare there Cal.” He figured he could update everyone on South later when they were all together over better circumstances. Turning to Iowa the smile didn’t fade. “So Doc, how long do you think it’ll be before he’s back up and ready for more action?”

“Don’t worry the others are fine, I dropped your armour in your locker, it will need some patching up ” “you don’t think I’d be unprepared for a drink do you? A good doctor always carries a hit flask of whiskey with him. ” he paused from his work. D into his rucksack pulling out the half empty bottle of whiskey. “Ladies and gentleman, this is one of the best whiskey’s I’ve ever drunk, It’s called the western nightfall, 87% so please drink responsibly” he went over to the medical cafeteria and grabbed some small glasses “speaking of which the surgeons had to patch up the side of your kidney, so that means you’re stuck to the non- alcoholic version I’m afraid,” He held out a carton of squash, “Sorry Cal” he said comically, “I’m just kidding, the stem cells should be functioning by now, that is unless you want the non-alcoholic option…”

He had poured his Drink when North came in. “Hmm it’s hard to say” He took a sip and looked at his latest scans, “the stem cells will one or two days to fully take effect, but due to Cal here being a hard old guy he’ll be running in a few days, though officially I won’t allow him to go on missions until 5 days, trainings are good providing that very little stress is put on his chest,“ he stopped and looked around to see if any doctors were around, “Personally I think they don’t like me being here, I make too much of a mess.” He was about to charge his glass when he noticed South was missing, “Uhhm North, where is your sister?”

Once his body had been lifted down on to a gurney, Wash had the pleasure of the 'sensitive' equipment (The prototype walker) He had to take it down to the engineering deck, he arrived through a large service elevator with the heavy suit dismantled on a large trolley "Afternoon lads, a mutual acquaintance of ours gathered up this 'thing' on our mission it looks like a mech, whatever it took a hell ton of damage so if you can fix it up that would make the powers that be very happy, Thanks" He did an exchange and went to meet up with the others in the med bay.

Alaska on the other hand had been stuck chatting to the pilot marines. They hadn't been too pleased with the damage they had taken in the hangar. "Listen I don't care if you're a Spartan or the director's second hand man, that maneuver was dangerous, you lucked out " She wasn't going to reply but that last comment tipped her over the edge, “You could called that evacuation a lot of things, but lucky isn't one of them. If you want to have a team member bleed out in the back of your shuttle, then fucking go ahead, but otherwise you can get the fuck out my face and do what they fucking pay you to do.” She pushed her rifle in the soldiers face then left.

“You telling me you started without me doc?” Wash said walking in, taking his helmet off and pouring himself a drink. “Yeah, where did she go, I saw her getting escorted by a few other people in they looked like us lot, but different.” Alaska came in she had had some time too cool off on her way there. “Well, if it isn't motor boy himself, I thought you had promised me a trip to the mongoose races, now what am I going to do?” She paused as she took off her helmet and poured herself a drink after her outburst she really needed something to calm herself down. “I’m sure she can have hers later. I really need a drink right now, so then to good health!” she raised her glass and downed it; she was a bit stronger this time and didn't fall over. “Yes, and to more successful missions” Added wash.

"I'll have that drink." Groaned Cal looking over the team. "Alaska your jokes get worse ever time I see you." He said sitting up in the bed. Doctor would be having a fit but he was careful not to rip anything or open any old wounds. "So I'm assuming South got dragged off by the boys up top. Okay story time kids."

He sighed looking between them all. "Were being tested, this is all a game. Rankings, Sims, missions. There trying to weed us out, the loyalists, weaklings, and honest. I guarantee it's all military grade bull." He said looking between them all. "We've all gotta think here, how much do we know about whose running the ship? What about the other teams? We need to look out for the strange goings on around here." He told them all this, he didn't want to spoil the party it needed to be said and the medical wing had no bugs to much sensitive equipment.

"From now on we need to stick together, play the parts of good little soldiers but we take of each other. More than a squad we need to be like a family. I don't see all of us making it otherwise. From here on in we need trust each other completely." Cal told them, he spoke softly yet he looked at each of them ready to make good on everything he said. Cal had barely trusted the project from the start and his experiences so made him believe that come what ever it would bite them all in the ass. Better to say his thoughts now rather than later.

He laughed and looked at Washington then Iowa. "However lets drink to celebrate, hell if someone can dig up a guitar I'll start taking requests." He chuckled looking Iowa for another shot.

North sighed but nodded all the same. “She sent me a really quick message saying that they needed her to decrypt the information we just got, said it may take a day or so and to keep her updated with what's going on.” He sounded less than impressed, mostly because it reminded him too much of the old days back when she’d been sick and would lock herself in her room for days on end with her computer. That in mind he took a big swig of whatever was being passed around as Cal launched into some pretty heavy stuff for a man who’d been on the brink of death a few hours ago.

“I thought we had been playing ‘good soldier’?” North eventually replied. It was a lot to take in and although he would admit this was a little more than a strange situation it still hit him a little heavy to think there was something sinister going on. However he decided it wasn’t the time for that kind of stuff now, he was hungry, exhausted and the alcohol was making him a little sleepy. “Well, you guys have fun singing Kumbia, I’m gonna turn in for the night. Try not to get into any more trouble okay Cal?” He gave the man a critical look before smiling and heading out the med bay doors.

“Well I suppose it’s to be expected. Nearly military operation does it, well not this far, but the thought is still there” He said taking a sip of the whiskey. Alaska got up and yawned leaning on wash as she did so, “Listen I hope you get Cal, the quicker you’re back on our team the better we’ll be and I think everyone here will agree.” She grabbed her helmet as she got up, she got to the double doors and stopped and turned to Cal, “Oh and by the way, I’m still up for seeing some races when you’re fit,” She turned on her heel and left.

“Well, I suppose that’s girls always wanting an early-” his data pad interrupted him, he groaned. “Well I suppose there is really no rest for wicked, I’ve got and Early morning it seems. F.I.L.S.S just reminded me in in for some sparing tomorrow, you’ve got to feel sorry for the marines sometimes.” He got up grabbed his helmet and walked out the door “G’night lads, doc I’ll want to see you there tomorrow as well you know. I don’t want to be on my own, and there isn’t any chance of seeing Alaska there” He stepped out the room and put on the helmet and turned the corner to be greeted by his sister. She had her helmet on but her body position indicated she was deadly serious. She looked around and said “we need to talk, like now.” Wash had no idea what was going on and just nodded along. They walked to the door of their dorm and entered. They were silent in the room and just stripped the room of bugs.

“Listen you said this is a standard military procedure I mean is it?” She paused took of her helmet “I mean what the hell is going on here? Who has a selection program for missions?” She was getting angrier by each word she said, Wash sat down next to her. “Listen sis, like most things it seems, I have no clue what is going on here. I mean neither of us do. We didn’t know each other still existed until this program, so until we find some answers I think we should just stick to thanking them.” He nodded as he put his arm around her. “I’ve never really been there for you sis, and you’re so independent now and--” he stopped he wasn’t going to get into it not there, there was going to be a better opportunity. “All you need to know is that you just need to ask me and I’ll be there for you.” He took off his armour and hopped into bed, as did Alaska. They wished each other good night and they drifted off. Well Alaska did. Wash couldn’t stop thinking if his sister was right, He tell as sleep to one thought, 'If they were testing for something, what was it?'

"Hmmm, it is indeed a natural process, it's basic artificial selection, taking out those not fit and keeping those who work well." He said pouring Cal another drink. "Though i must congratulate The director of this program, it is very a very refined system." He poured himself another, "I think i've got to agree with alaska there pal, I've never heard you sing but if you did I imagine there would be a lot of confused dogs." He lounged back in his chair and Yawned. "Hey Cal, I kinda don't want to leave you on your own, but I need to sort out some things if I'm going to do combat," He got up realised he hadn't got up of his armour yet, And he needed to go through Decontamination, he still had quite a bit of blood on him. "Keep the drink Cal, it will help you sleep, and if the doctors ask you for some just say it's toxic to people not from your world that normally works, Good night Cal."

He was in decontamination for about half an hour, making sure no antibody could've survived. He took off the Armour and made his way to his dorm, He stripped it of bugs and lay in his bed. He was unsure of what was going to happen, but Cal was right if something was to happen they needed to be more than a team. They needed to be a family.

North wasn’t so much eating his breakfast, as he was pushing it around with the fork in his hands, his appetite unusually absent. He didn’t eat as much as his sister, but he liked to have regular meal times. He hadn't slept well the night before, which is what he put down to the odd lack of hunger. It had been too quiet. It was odd how accustomed he’d become to the sound of someone sleeping in the same room as him. And so to have that presence gone made for an unsettling silence that had him up for a majority of the night.

He had considered going to check on Cal but it was still a little early and he figured that he could use the rest. He hoped the others would be up soon, it was always a more calming environment when they were all together, even though that usually only happened around meals and missions, one of which was not a very settling experience at all. Cal’s still whispered quietly in his head, giving North some unsettling shivers. The idea that there were ulterior motives behind all of this brought up too many questions that he was willing to admit he was worried about finding out the answers to. What had he and his sister really gotten themselves into?

Cal had left the canteen under his pillow and rested. He didn't sleep much, until late into the night. He'd even gotten a nice visitor who spent sometime with him. However he awoke that morning alone, his companion gone so with a sighed he slowly turned down the IV drip and thought for awhile. He really should have just said something to her about them both, he could see the signs dammit why couldn't he act on them.

Cal decided enough was enough and started unplugging himself, a few removed needles later he sat up and shook himself throwing his legs over the side of the bed. Crawling into a wheel chair he headed back to his room and showered before collapsing in to his own bed. After what had felt like the Boston Marathon he napped in blissful sleep for a few more hours.

Until hunger awoke him and he rolled off to the mess hall. It was breakfast, or a little past when breakfast began. He wheeled slowly into the room wearing a pair old jeans, that seemed to have every color but blue splattered across them matched to a black T-shirt. He stopped retrieved his breakfast, he yawned rolling up to the table with his wheel chair scratching at his messy hair red, it had grown thick and slightly longer than regulation. The red heads hair stuck up in a dozen places. He looked rough but he smiled and join North for breakfast. "Morning North, sleep well?" He add as if he wasn't out of place at all at the table.

Alaska had slept well, unlike her brother, his kind words had put her at rest for now. She couldn’t be arsed to get into armour in her mind it was her day off. She made her way down to the mess hall she grabbed something and sat next to North, She looked at him playing with his food. “Good morning North, Didn’t your parents ever tell you not to play with your food?” She said in a comedic tone. “Seriously mate, you looked like a wreck. What’s up?” Alaska wasn’t exactly what you could call a people person, but something was obviously wrong. North had always been such a proud figure, the man in front of her was definitely not that. She took a bite into the sandwich she had grabbed and sat down. “Well, if it isn’t the dead man walking, wheeling seems more fitting in your case though, you always did prefer wheels to legs. You know what it kind of suits you.” She took another bite, “What about yourself then Cal, you definitely look good for someone who was shot only yesterday” she smirked and giggled a bit

Wash didn’t sleep well that night, in fact he hardly slept at all. Instead he spent most of the time on his data pad. Making a map of possibilities of what could be going on. There were so many variables at play, it made it impossible to find out was actually going on. He didn’t know if they were the final stage of the selection process or was there more challenges to come? He didn’t go to bed but he fell asleep at his desk. In his mind the best course of action was to log all of what was going on. He booted up his computer and started recording to a USB:

“This is Audio log 1-1 the time is 01:32 in the morning and honestly I imagine it’s a nice day where ever we are right now. As this is the first log it may be best to fill the listener on what is happening. The whole squad went on a mission today, some could say it went well, although our buddy Carolina might disagree, he took a round straight through his chest. But anyway to the point, Things were just revealed to us that this organisation that we were all a part of my not be what it is presumed to be. I suppose I will speak to you later. Finnish time: 1:36 Agent Washington, signing out.”

After finishing his message he closed down the computer he grabbed the USB and attached it to a lanyard, which he attached around his neck, it was too early to go to eat and so he collapsed onto his bed. He passed out the moment his head hit the pillow. He woke up later than his sister, He was in no rush He had a whole hour until Close combat training began. He knew that if he went to the mess hall he would probably just get caught up in conversation, not the best plan, he didn’t even have any of his kit together yet. He stopped at the locker room, and grabbed his helmet. He examined the item, He had not had it for long, and yet it was so familiar to him now, the feel of bulky armour plating he wasn’t a fan of the colour scheme, and by the looks of things they had given him the inverse of his sister. He sat on the central bench of the room and just thought of what might be to come.

Iowa had a rough night's sleep, constant interruptions in his dreams. Every time it was the voice of the man in the simulation. "You have failed your friends agent Iowa", "You cannot save them all, not now not ever." every time he went back to sleep he appeared again repeating the same thing. He got up finally, it was early morning on board, and only the skeleton crew were awake. He went on his normal jog around the ship, before breakfast, and went to the canteen early. No one was there. He grabbed a banana and made his way to the locker room. He was told that after his decontamination his armour would be delivered to his locker.

As he arrived he noticed Wash sitting down, he looked almost as tired as Iowa. "Hey" Iowa said as he moved to his locker and taking out his set. "You good Wash?" he put his kit on and grabbed his helmet. "You're thinking about something aren't you? I know that look. C'mon tell me what's up" he sat down next to him

North smiled at Cal, though he wasn’t sure what the point was, the man could see right through the forced action and he knew it. Maybe it was more of a sign of ‘I’m alright’. However Alaska called him right out on it and he simply gave her the same attempt at a smile. “I just didn’t sleep well.” He assured her, answering both their questions at the same time. He decided not to go into detail on the answer though, since he thought the others would think he was being stupid if he told them that he couldn’t sleep because of South’s absence.

Somehow ‘the room was too quiet’ or ‘it had a different feeling’ just didn’t sound like answers that he should be giving. Alaska may understand, but then again her and her brother had been separated a lot longer than he and South had, and it wasn’t fair comparing because both sets of siblings had drastically different dynamics and relationships. So instead he decided to focus on the other topic he had quick access to. “Clearly Cal had a good night’s sleep, I might need to borrow some of the drugs they gave you.” He said with a small chuckle.

“Seriously though it’s nice to see you… half way up? Too soon? Are you sure you should be up and about all ready?” He was sure the doctors, not to mention Iowa, would probably disagree with the move. But at the same time he understood what it was like to want to get out of a hospital as soon as possible. So long as Cal wasn’t doing any more damage to himself North really had no objections to it. Cal was a good guy, he knew his limits better than anyone else so North was sure he would be fine.

Cal shrugged. "I'm okay, I slept pretty well last night. I was actually going to track down South and see if I could help. I'm not trained in it but I am pretty damn smart and can't really do anything else stuck in this chair." He told them eating his breakfast. "So North I'm guessing you didn't sleep because South wasn't there? It's all over how you carry yourself." He smirked and rubbed his head. "As for your comment Alaska I do like wheels, I also like being able to run after the wheels are no longer useful. While were on the subject of wheels I'm going to be making some modification to that Mech. I'm thinking I can rig a designation device for North's rifle and link it to the missile guidance system. Also I'm going to attach an locker to it for ammo and extra guns. Alaska you mind helping with that later? I don't want the engineers messing with my new war machine." He said finishing his breakfast.

"Anyway, I'm off to find South. Yell if you need psychiatrist or engineer. " He said wheeling down the hall off trying to figure out where South was. He traced back to the servers then to the computer level then sighed and just started checking rooms for her. It would take awhile at this rate.