Ch. 1 Old Friends

February 7th 2550 _ Mother of Invention-Training Arena _ 1500 hrs Earth Time

Wyoming ran at Carolina, and delivered a strong punch. Carolina dodged it and rammed her foot into Wyomings VISR dropping him instantly. Before he could get up, Carolina drove her fist into his face, knocking him out. F.I.L.I.S.S. spoke out through the speaker. "Round complete. Point awarded to Carolina. Match complete."

Carolina walked up and returned to her fellow Freelancers who all congratulated her. It was about time some one put Wyoming in his place. "Nice job out there Carolina." Connie said.

"About time someone showed Wyoming who was boss." York said

"Hey its Wyoming, it was nothing. Besides it was a good stress relief." Carolina said.

"Your stressed out a lot aren't you?"

"Of course, I have to make sure you guys are prepared for everything. So who's up next?"

"Its South and Washington." Connie replied.

"Jezz, I feel sorry for him." North said. They watched as Washington and South walked into the arena and took their stance. "Check that I'm scared for him. I just remembered South was mad about something."

The match begin. South ran at Washington and threw her leg up for a kick. Washington dodged it just in time and shoved her towards one of the stone pillers. South threw a few quick jabs which Washington managed to dodge and block. She then kneed him in the and punched him in the head. Washington spun back and fell. South jumped at him and stomped her foot. Washington dodged the attack and got back up. He delivered a solid punch to her face. Big mistake there and he knew it. South pulled out her pugile stick and chased Washington around the arena. The match was over at that point. The other Freelancers went down the hall to try to make sure South didn't kill him.

"Well looks like we better go help him." North said and led the rest of the agents down the hall.

By the time they made it to the Arena floor, Washington had managed to take the pugile stick and was swinging it at South to keep her away. By the time the agents actually made to them, South had taken back the weapon and started beating him with it. "Ow, ow ow. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Washington just yelled out swing his arms crazy like as a failed attempt to protect himself. One final swing South raised it up only for North to take it away.

"Thats enough South. The guys had enough." South gave up to her brother and walked away, but not before going back and kicking Washington in the stomach.

"Suck it bitch." South said as she walked away. The other agents behind her. The only ones that remained were Washington and Carolina.

"Need a hand Wash?" Carolina extended her hand and pulled Washington up. He was clutching his side from the beating. "South really did a number on you."

"Yeah but I'll be okay."

"What did you do anyway?"

"Nothing I just sort of... told Michigan that she liked him."

Carolina mentally faced palmed. She liked Michigan that was true, but she made sure to lock that down tell no one. So of course she we be pissed at Washington. "You really are an idiot, you know that."

"Yeah I'm starting to figure that out."

Mother of Invention-Freelancer Rec. Room _ 1830 hrs Earth Time

Washington was sitting in the Rec. Room, by himself. He didn't have anyone to talk to so he just checked stuff on his Data-Pad. Carolina watched from the doorway as he sat their alone, with that same stupid look on his face he always had. She walked into the Rec Room and stood in front of him, arms crossed. Washington rarely saw her in civi clothes so it was a pretty strange sight to see.

"Hey Carolina whats up?" Carolina just stared at him without saying a word. "Okay then."

"You know, I don't get you."

Washington was really confused now. "What?"

"I've been in this program since the beginning. I've seen people come and go, and one thing thats for sure is no one stays the same."

"Okay whats that gotta do with me?"

"I've seen this project change people, sometimes for the better, but mostly for the worst. But you, your still that same stupid and goofy kid from high school."

Washington gave a small smile remembering his time in high school. They had some good times. "Is that really a problem?"

"It kind of is, because you still like pulling dumb stunts like back then. Your an idiot."

"Yeah, well this idiot was your best friend back then."

Carolina never thought she could ever be beaten by Washington, but she was just now. It was true. He was her only friend but he was still her best friend. She just sat down beside him and breathed a sigh of defeat. "Yeah you were. I'm sorry. I've just been really stressed out about these past few weeks."

"Hey don't beat yourself up. its understandable if you need to vent stress. You may have changed in the past four years, but I haven't. You can still talk to me."

Carolina gave a light smile. He really was a great friend. Maybe she could talk to him. Just like old times. "Well theres the whole thing with the Insurrection, the Director has been really pushing me to make of you into perfect soldiers and..."

"...And theres Texas."

Carolina lost her smile at the name. Ever since she arrived, its been hard for Carolina to keep things together and stay on top. She could feel her back stiffening and her muscles aching. She didn't really want to be here with him right now but where else could she go? Who could she talk to? Washington was the only one who would listen. "Jezz I hate my life. Why do I have to struggle with everything. I really need something to vent this stress out."

"Well..." Washington said with a grin on his face. She already knew what he was suggesting. "I could help you vent, just like old times."

"Come on Wash, we were dumb kids back then. You just can't suggest that we..."

"Your just mad that I beat you last time."

Carolina sat up. "Ha, no you didn't."

"Yeah I did."

"Oh Whatever." Carolina stood up and headed for the door before being called out by Wash.

"Come on Carolina, just one more time. For old times sake. Theres no one around. It always helped you back then."

Carolina stopped in her tracks. She wanted to leave but she had to stay. She really needed to vent this stress, but she was nervous. It had been a long time she did this with Washington.

"Come on. What if we get caught?"

"We won't get caught. Besides I'm sure your kind of rusty. You couldn't beat me anyways."

At those words Carolina walked up to him with the most stern and defiant look on her face."Is that a challenge?"

"Its what ever you want it to be."

They shared eye contact for the longest time without ever once blinking. Blinking in front of your opponent was a sign of weakness. But right now they were proving they were both strong. This was going to happen that was a fact. "Wait. Right. Here." That being said Carolina walked out of the Rec. Room only to return a few minutes later with something behind her back. "We can't start, without this."

Carolina removed the piece of cloth from her hand to reveal the miniature gong in her hand. Washington made an over exaggerated gasp at the sight of the Cerimonial artifact. "The Gong!"

"The Gong."

"The Gong?"

"The Gong!"

They shared another extensive look. They could see it in the others eyes that they WANTED this. They hungered for it. They were determined to dominate the other. This was really going down. Without even breaking eye contact, they slowly walked past each other and to each end of the table. Their battle grounds. Washington picked the small ping pong ball. "And the battle begins." He threw it at the gong making it ring through out the room. He grabbed his weapon and prepared for battle with classic psychological warfare. "My worthy opponent. Are you prepared to Ping the Pong?"

Carolina's face never changed, even as Washington flailed his arm wildly as though practicing an ancient form of martial arts. This was war. "I am prepared young Padawan. Your Pong is no match for my Ping." She too flailed her arm in the air. Washington readied his shot.

"Do your worst!"

Washington tossed the ball in the air, letting a kung-fu screech and hit the ball. Carolina, being the dumb teenager she was once again, returned the kung-fu cry as she hit the ball back. The cycle continued as they continued to screech as they hit the ball back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Finally the match came to an abrupt end when in one final swing, The paddle slipped out of Carolinas hand and flew towards Washington's unprotected face. He ducked the incoming projectile but only for it to crash through the window of the door. Carolina covered her mouth from shock when they heard the sound of someone screech and a loud thud.

Washington just had to let out one last remark. "You have smashed the window of transparency!"

They quickly ran out into the hallway to find Ohio knocked out cold. His big nose was swollen and red from the high velocity projectile which was the paddle sitting next to him. Carolina and Washington shared a nervous stare and quietly walked away.

Mother of Invention-Mess Hall _ 2000 hrs Earth Time

Washington and Carolina couldn't stop laughing from what had happened. Their ridicules rematch, how childish they were and what happened to that british prick Ohio. "Damn, I almost feel sorry for Ohio." Washington said.

"I don't, its his fault he has a big nose. Did you know when he was kid, he tripped and fell on his nose? Not his face, his NOSE!" Carolina said.

"Really. What the hell man." They kept laughing. Washington was happy. He was able to show Carolina how to have fun again. "Its nice seeing you laugh again Rachel."

Carolina felt like snapping at him for calling her by her real name, but she just smiled. She liked it when he called her by her name. "Thank you David. I haven't had time to enjoy, well anything and have fun in a long time. Thank you. I just wish we could have more nights like this."

"Why can't we?"

Carolina looked at him. It was a good question. Why couldn't they. She felt the need to give a good reason, but she couldn't find one. All she could managed was. "Well we're adults. And soldiers. We don't have time to have fun."

"Come on, thats bullsh*t and you know it."

"Well it is true. We're grown up. We need to start..."

"... Look I'm not taking that as an answer." Washington almost raised his voice that time, but he quickly calmed down. "Listen, yeah we're adults thats true. But that doesn't mean we don't have to forget how to enjoy ourselves. There isn't one person who hasn't pulled a prank on someone. Aside from you and Texas." He was right. Everyone here had at least pulled maybe three pranks on someone, or at least knew how to have a little fun. "Look, we're both like what, 29 right? Sure we're adults, but your still young and beautiful. You don't have to be all super soldier, leader boss 24/7. Learn to kick back and relax every now and then."

Carolina couldn't help but smile. Maybe he was right. She needed to learn to rest and be human again. And one thing humans did was relax and be lazy. She could definitely do that. "Did you just cal me beautiful?"

"Well yeah cause you are. But me, I'm like a male model." Carolina chuckled at that last remark. She noticed to late that he had his hand over hers, but she didn't move it. She liked the touch of his soft hands. "So how about it then?"

"Okay how about a rematch Friday night."

"Challenged accepted. See you then." They stood up and shook hands before walking out.

"Good. Considering I won that last one."

"Hell no. That flew through the window, thats an out. We're at a draw. But I'll be happy to take the win in the next match."

"Keep dreaming buddy."