1112 HOURS, NOVEMBER 15, 2554 (UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)
HALO INSTALLATION: SIRCA--QOPPA--FREELANCER HEADQUARTERS

Their path went through the brig section of the facility, with halls and branching paths leading to holding cells. Bethany was in the lead again, with Tysaic coming up from the rear as the somber encounter of the archive room kept the group silent.

Caboose, who had been keeping pace at York's side, halted as he looked down one pathway and immediately exclaimed, "I smell pink!"

Without further delay, Caboose bounded down the pathway. Tucker tried calling at him, "Hey wait up, stupid! I call dibs on any pink puss!"

York hung back for a moment to watch both Tucker and Caboose run down before following them. Church giving a loud grumble before begrudgingly doing the same, "Why does he always have to do this?"

Tysaic could only watch them continue further down until he heard Caboose exclaim something about a 'Flower Lady'. Whoever and whatever it was, York could likely handle himself with the Blues antics for a bit. Instead, he joined up with Bethany as she came to a stop at another elevator.

She looked at the panel that activated the elevator and whispered, "This is the last one. The Directors just beyond here."

Both Wash and Tysiac caught up to her as Wash asked, "Should we go without them?"

Tysiac gave a thought to it. Having more numbers, even with the questionable competency of the Blues, was a fairly good idea. However, there was a far more troubling issue, and something he needed to do before they reached the Director.

York and Church. Despite York being competent and well trained, he remained a werewolf. Bringing in two werewolves to the Director who was responsible for creating them was asking for a disaster than they ever should allow. Which may mean he had to play his own hand with them if he couldn't do it with words.

Bethany didn't seem to realize the same conclusion Tysiac had, as she shook her head, "Go get the fuzzball."

Behind his visor, Tysiac studied Bethany carefully. Her shoulders tensed, squaring as she stared at the elevator panel. Her breathing was steady, but her fingers twitched near the controls--a silent tell. She wasn't hesitating out of fear. She was preparing.

Tysiac's mind turned over everything he'd seen in his short time at Freelancer HQ--the archives, the records, the broken remnants of a program that had shaped soldiers into weapons. The Director's methods had twisted York and Church, trained into something he could control.

But Bethany...

His thoughts lingered on the music box. The sheer terror in her eyes, the way she had locked up at the short, seemingly innocent jingle. Unlike Church's Werewolf transformation back at L-Base, and how Tucker had explained what set the Chupadore Werewolf off, the reaction hadn't been instant rage or aggression--it had been something else.

A trigger? A buried command? Something worse?

Tysiac silently exhaled. He didn't have all the answers. But despite the mystery, one thing was clear -- the only ones at risk of turning were Church and York.

Wash gave a small, amused smile before sprinting down the hall to where York and the others were at. During that time, Tysaic quietly leaned in, keeping his voice low, "Are you certain you're okay?"

Bethany hesitated, as she glimpsed towards him before giving a deep breath, "Yeah. Just... Didn't think you'd find that..."

She gave a weak chuckle, her confidence quickly becoming absent for the moment. Bethany hesitated as she didn't seem to find the right words, "Tys..."

Tysiac placed a hand on her shoulder, "You don't need to explain if you don't want to. Those were tools used against you, and I won't pry into them."

A partial lie. Tysiac couldn't rely on using someone else's tools, especially with someone he only has parallel characteristics that might not match one-to-one. And with Omega still up and controlling the Halo Installation, Tysiac couldn't find much reason to start picking up hypnotic tools that weren't made by him or ONI. He needed trust and teamwork, and this was it.

Her expression changed to relief as she gave a genuine smile, lacking the smirking confidence that she usually gave him. Bethany didn't reply, but he knew the words didn't need to be heard.

Wash's approaching footsteps alerted Tysiac and Bethany. Tysiac pulled his hand away, and Bethany regained her composure as the Chupadore announced, "Alright, got them coming back." He looked between the two, "Did I miss something important?"

"Nothing." Both Spartan and Chupadore replied at the same time. They had to resist glancing at each other.

Wash raised an eyebrow, but didn't press the matter as the rest of the Chupadores showed up with two extra. Tysiac had his own eyebrow raised as he asked, "Who are those two?"

Both Wash and Bethany turned to see two male Chupadores tagging along behind Church and Tucker. The purple Chupadore was wearing what looked to be a medical outfit, while the lighter red Chupadore had on an... interesting choice of overalls to suit his lithe physique.

"Please tell me they aren't going to slow us down," Bethany muttered.

York gave his own bored and skeptical look to her, "They'll... Keep up."

Bethany gave him a look before turning around to press the elevator call button. As she did so, Tysaic placed his MA5D on his back and moved over to the group, grabbing York and Church by the arms.

York's eyebrows raised in silent surprise and curiosity as he allowed himself to get pulled away. Church, on the other hand, was quick to complain, "'Ay! Quit! Damnit, you tin asshole, don't rip my damn fur out!"

Tysiac didn't respond or explain himself until he brought them just a little further from the group, who had all watched with curiosity and confusion about what he was doing. After letting them go, York crossed his arms, his brown eyes narrowing, "What's up, Tys?"

"You both are to stay behind." Tysiac said bluntly, his voice calm but carrying the weight that made both Chupadores blink in surprise.

Church scoffed, his eyes rolling as he sarcastically said, "Oh sure. Just stay behind and let Tex talk to her boss-daddy." His expression turned sour before demanding, "Are you fucking serious?"

The Spartan nodded, "I am. The Director's been around in both of your heads enough to know what sets the both of you off. You've been through his programs, which gives him leverage and makes you a liability he'll use against us."

York gave a frown as he gently poked Tysiac's energy shielding, "Look, Tys. I'm not leaving Tex or Wash to he might do. And I'm not leaving them behind."

"What ever the Director could cook up by this point, York, it will not work." Tysiac insisted, "I don't say that out of pride or overconfidence. The moment he sees you two, he'll turn you. I'm not giving him the opportunity."

Church bristled as his tail flicked in irritation, "So what? We're liabilities now?"

York brought his own reasons, his expression becoming dark as he glared down at the Spartan, "I've my reasons against the Director, Tysiac. And I'm not skipping out on getting a piece of him. Not after all he's done to the two of us, to Tex, to all of us. You're not deciding this for me."

Church crossed his arms, "Fuck yeah. You're not leaving us behind, asshole. End of story."

A deep sigh escaped Tysiac's lips as the two Chupadores moved. As they passed the Spartan, his grim determination etched on his face, he stated, "Then, I regret only that I've already made the choice for you."

York's head started turning around before Tysiac exploded into action. Reaching behind and nabbing the two doses of sedatives he had grabbed from the ship, one of which was already loaded into a syringe gun and pulled them out of a small bag that was strapped to his belt. Bringing the syringe gun to bear, the Spartan lashed out and grabbed York's arm and took advantage of his surprise to line up the syringe to his neck and plunged the chemical into the tall Chupadore.

York gave a staggering cry as he nearly fell backwards, a claw grasping his neck and nearly crashed into the wall as Church was far too slow to realize what was happening. This gave Tysiac enough time to reload the syringe with a new sedative and brought the same gun to Church's neck and delivered the dosage. Church gave a wince as he tried to shout, "Whah...t-th? Hell?"

"T-Tys!" York glared at the Spartan, his voice growing drowsy as he slumped to the ground.

"Make a raincheck for me, you two," Tysiac solemnly told the Chupadore, the metallic clink of the syringe gun echoing in the quiet space as he pocketed the empty doses, "I'll pay you back later."

As his grimace slackened, York's eyes drooped, the muscles around them twitching with fatigue. Church thrashed against the sedative's effects, muscles tense, before collapsing limply onto the floor, his eyelids fluttering shut as sleep claimed him.

Bethany did not take seeing what had happened well. She nearly screamed, her voice echoing through the corridor as she sprinted towards Church, her claws very close to her pistols as she yelled at the Spartan, "What the fuck, Tysiac?! What the hell did you just do!?"

With frantic steps, Wash approached York, his hands shaking as he felt for a pulse, his voice tight with urgency as he realized York was still alive and breathing, "Are you insane? What the hell did you drug them for?!"

Tysiac continued storing away the syringe and empty doses, "Keeping them away from what could've been a disaster. This is still the same Director of Project Werewolf, not just a director over a Spec-Ops division. Bringing these two would've led him ample opportunity to turn them against us."

A thick, guttural slur escaped York's lips--"Yu, fugn... Maekketcoun..."--his glazed eyes fixed on Tysiac's reflective visor before he lost consciousness, the rasping sound of his labored breath filling the silence.

Bethany was still livid as hell, her claw twitching and coming close to one of her pistols, "You could've warned or talked to us before pulling this shit!"

"We don't have time!" Tysiac demanded, his tone unyielding and making Bethany and Wash recoil, "All I can say is our mission is at stake and I'm doing what needs to get this mission done." He made his way towards Church and began pulling him up into a fireman's carry. He looked to Bethany and Wash, "Help me get these two somewhere safe... We'll use that cell, just don't close the door on them so we can collect them later."

The two Chupadores didn't relent on their angry glares towards Tysiac. Wash relented as he said, "This fucking sucks... But he's right... Com'on."

Bethany was still seething. Even as they carried Church and York down the same pathway the Blues and the recent additions came from, Bethany's fury hadn't subsided. Her movements were stiff and her claws clenched tightly on York's ankles as Tysiac brought Church into one cell cot, being careful and not bang the werewolf's head against the steel wall. Making a quick check over the sedatives and Church, Tysiac ensured the dose was enough to keep him under for the duration of their meeting.

The Spartan turned to see the still fuming Bethany and a glaring Wash hauling York to his given cot. She refused to look at Tysiac, but seeing how her tail lashed behind her, he didn't dare try to speak up on anything irrelevant. Once that was done, Bethany moved to check on Church as Tysiac assured her and Wash, "The doses should be enough to last for our chat with the Director." Tysiac moved back towards the pathway as he added, "Once that's done, they'll be groggy, they'll bitch, but they'll be alright."

Wash turned towards Tysiac, his voice bitter, "They better, human."

He walked away to rally the Blues to not take it as a sign to scatter and panic, leaving Bethany and Tysiac with the now deeply asleep werewolves. Her golden eyes flared with anger and frustration as she left Church alone so she could glare at him.

Her voice was low, but sharp, "So now what, Tys? Planning to knock me out, too?" She gestured towards the cell as her tail flicked furiously, "Leaving me here while you get to go play hero?"

Tysiac shook his head as he turned to face Bethany, keeping himself calm as his visor kept his face unreadable from her hostility, "No."

"No?" Bethany scoffed and her claws turned to fists as she stepped closer, "No? That's it? No explanation? You sure as fuck didn't hesitate with them, so how the fuck am I gonna know you're not pulling the same trick on me?"

Tysiac's furrowed brows softened as he kept his tone steady, "Because I won't need to."

"And you're just so sure of that?" She snapped back, her jaw tightening and her tail lashed about.

"I am."

"Bullshit!" Bethany barked sharply, "You're just hoping I'll be fine? That the Director won't pull anything like...." Her voice broke a little, though still maintained an angry edge as she grounded her words out, "Like back in the archive?"

Silence stretched between them. As much as Tysaic wanted to answer her... In fact, needed to--he couldn't. There was a very good chance that the Director could exploit her against them. Whatever the hell was programmed into her mind, much like the other Werewolves of that mess of a project, was something that scared her and concerned him. But his gut instinct was certain that the Director simply won't. Or rather, couldn't. Part of him remembered the words of Constance when she called Beth as the 'Director's pet'...

He was running one hell of a risk as it is that the Director here held as much of an emotional connection to Bethany as the former Director of Project Freelancer did with Beta-Texas...

Bethany's eyes widened as she took his silence differently. She raised her voice, "You don't know, do you?" Her laugh was hollow and strained, "The great and fucking powerful Spartan doesn't know! You really are just hoping I'll be fine? That I won't go nuts and start attacking everyone?"

"You won't." Tysiac assured firmly.

"Then how would you know?!" She took a step closer, her golden eyes burning into his visor, "Fucking prove it. Right now."

"I just did."

Her glare hardened as her tail flicked sharply. She pointed at the Spartan, "You..." Bethany's voice shook and faded a little as her mind started connecting her own dots. Her eyes lingered on Tysiac's visor before looking down. But Tysiac could see the hesitation and conflict the Chupadore woman was trying to hide and deal with.

Tysiac tried to speak to her, "Betha-"

"I don't want to hear it!" Bethany's voice raised, "And stop calling me by that name!" Bethany glared at him again. Her tail flicked as she took a step back. Silence remained between the two for a few more moments, "Don't make me regret this." She warned, though her tone was soft.

"It won't." Tysiac intoned.

The two stood for a moment longer in silence before Bethany demanded, "Why do you keep calling me by my name? You've heard well enough I'm called "Tex" by everybody else."

He gave a deep sigh as his memories stirred slightly as the Spartan gave a more honest but vague answer, "Because I knew someone else by the codename of Tex before they died. And I don't want to confuse the two of you together."

Bethany's eyes widened and snapped her head up to look at Tysiac's faceplate. However, Tysiac didn't want to continue in that conversation, and motioned with his head, "Let's go. The Director's waiting." Tysiac didn't say another word as he left the room and rejoined with Wash and the others, with Bethany following slowly afterwards.

Caboose had a sad expression that Church was taking a nap, according to what Wash said. While Tucker wasn't entirely pleased, he did seemed relieved that he didn't have to handle Church being a pain. Both the newcomers didn't seem to understand what was going on, but as they inspected between Bethany and Wash, the two figured it was best to not ask as they filed into the elevator.

Bethany gave a glance towards Tysiac before keying in the codes to reach the Director's office. The silence there was palpable, as it was unease during the entire descent.

Soon enough, the elevator doors opened. This room was much smaller, fit with only a small boxed arena while a balcony oversaw everything.

Tysiac was the first to enter, his MA5D was up as he quickly checked both corners before locking his sights to a Chupadore standing on the balcony, wearing a clinical outfit and holding nothing but a clipboard as he raised an eyebrow at the Spartan.

"How curious." The male said, his tone kept at a professional level, "Welcome, Agent Texas. Your arrival's on time, as always."

Tysiac kept his rifle trained on the Chupadore as the rest of the team began filing out. As they did, the male's eyes trailed around the group, "Interesting. Welcome back, Agent Washington. I'm afraid we weren't expecting you to be here... Where might Agent York be if you are here?"

"Enough crap, Counselor." Bethany snapped, "Where's the Director?"

"He will be in a moment." The Counselor said with a bored tone, "He's completing a few... preparations."

Tysiac scanned his surroundings, ensuring no surprises awaited. However, his attention returned to the Counselor as a door opened pneumatically and revealed the Director.

Getting a good look at the Chupadore, Tysiac could see the air of authority the Director tried to exude as he stood on the balcony. His pristine white lab coat contrasted sharply over the darkened area where he stood, his glasses reflecting enough light that Tysiac couldn't see his eyes enough for the time being. He moved in measured and precise steps as he leaned against the railing.

"Well, well. Look what the cat has dragged in." His voice was tinged with smooth condescension, bringing one claw to rest behind his back.

Tysaic noticed out of his peripheral that Bethany gave a hitched breath as she pulled out her two pistols, with Wash bringing out his battle rifle, and aimed them at the Director as she yelled, "You!"

"If you are looking for something, I'm afraid you're too late. HADES have already taken everything of value here." He gave a dry and sarcastic remark, "Perhaps you should look in their house." He gave a small gesture with his claw that remained on the railing, "All that's left here is a sad old man and his memories."

His gaze shifted over to the Blues and extras before a shadow of a smirk appeared, "So this is what the Movement sends to oppose me? Idiots, turncoats, criminals, whores, rats, and..." The Director paused as his eyes rested on Tysiac, "... anomalies. I'm almost offended."

The Director's expression darkened as he looked towards Bethany, his teeth slowly coming to bare, "And Tex... I'd say I'm disappointed. But that would've implied this is, in any way, surprising. I see you've made your choice, and not for the better."

Bethany bristled as she aimed one pistol at him, "You brought this on yourself." She snarled, barely restraining her anger.

"So you say." He dryly remarked, "Yet let me ask: Why, do we need to fight? As you realize, our enemy are one and the same?"

Wash took a step forward and raised a defiant tone, "Yeah. But we're not fighting it by turning people into monsters--or becoming one, ourselves."

The Director's expression darkened as he gave a bared snarl, "Don't sound so righteous to me, Agent Washington. As certain folk not currently present would beg to differ!"

His attention drifted over to Tysiac, who kept his rifle trained on him. The Director's eyes narrowed, "You. You are not one of Omega's puppets. Nor do you behave like him." He muttered the last sentence as he seemed to notice something only he could see from the Spartan, "Interesting. Only recently had I spoken with Omega. He hinted of my destruction and wore similar armor... quite similar to yours..." His voice trailed off, but his curiosity had not faded.

Tysiac could say the same. Already he was getting more curious about the Director and all that he knew. Especially with him revealing he has visually seen Omega and what he looked like. The Spartan made a step forward as he said, "Then, I have many questions to get out of you, especially Omega and his armor." While his grip on the rifle lessened, he didn't leave the reticle from the Director's head as he added, "And I've a few friends who would very much like to meet you, so by all means, Director. Do come in peace."

The Director's expression quickly changed to a smirk, tinged with something calculating, "Fascinating."

His demeanor shifted, as he began turning away, "But enough posturing and threatening guns on an unarmed man. Tex," he said, focusing on Bethany, "If you're so determined for answers, then by all means. Follow me."

Bethany growled softly, but she didn't hesitate to move. Her padded claws clicked faintly on the floor as she moved to a door that had opened up beneath the balcony. Tysiac followed immediately, his movement calm, but deliberate.

"Tys." Bethany muttered a warning without looking back.

He didn't respond but simply came to a stop next to her, his rifle at the ready as he waited for her to open the door with her codes. Realizing his intent, Bethany silently accessed the key console and led Tysiac through the door, leaving Wash and the others behind. Just before the door closed, Tysiac's armor picked up a sharp exhale of exasperation from Wash.

The path to the office itself was quick, as it was quiet. Upon entrance, they stepped in to a relatively dark and minimalist room, dominated by a sleep metallic desk nearby a window that looked out into the Devil's Cauldron. There behind the desk stood the Director, one claw resting lightly on it as his glasses reflected in the dimly lit room.

The Director regarded them with a calculated calm, though there was a subtle twitch from his claw.

Bethany didn't hesitate as she brought one pistol raised at his chest, her voice was cold and sharp as the Director had tried to open his mouth, "Do not say my name." She growled.

He stopped, then his lips curved into a thin smile, "Agent Texas," he corrected, "I suppose it's presumptuous of me to think you don't want to shoot me."

Bethany's muzzled curled into a snarl, "Yeah. It kind of is. But the funny part?" She tilted her head slightly as her claw tightened on the trigger, "I'm still tempted to let you live."

Tysiac moved over towards the open pathway towards the Director. He shifted subtly, bringing Bethany's attention towards him. Tysiac slowly gave a nod towards the Director, showing that he needed the Chupadore alive.

Her tail twitched with restrained anger as Bethany exhaled sharply, "The only reason I'm not right now is because I want to hear it. I want to hear your excuses. Your reasons. Why you lied. Why you tore everything apart--everything you built."

Her voice cracked slightly as she added, "Why you destroyed them."

The Director's expression remained neutral, though Tysiac could tell that his tone had softened subtly, "I did it for you."

Bethany's eyes narrowed as she spat, "Bullshit! We had a deal, Lionel."

The use and discovery of his first name made Tysiac's eyes widened as he quickly brought the recorder on. With a quick recalibration, he brought the IFF to identify the Director as 'Lionel Church'. From the look and sound things, Tysiac was now getting pieces to multiple puzzles he hadn't started on. The Director stiffened from her calling him by his name, which made his composure falter for a moment.

"You said you wouldn't hurt him!" Bethany continued, her voice mixing with rage and sorrow.

Lionel's tone remained calm, though he laced it with defensiveness, "I said I wasn't going to kill him. And I've kept my word."

"You can shove your goddamn word!" Bethany snarled, "Those were your children! And you experimented on them, you sick bastard!"

It was then that Director Lionel's calm broke. He raised his voice, sharp and cutting, "You think I don't know that?? Lina was precious to me. After the accident, she was all I had left." His voice dropped as he continued, "She volunteered for the service, so I put her in my program to protect her."

An edge of grief sent his voice trembling, "This wasn't supposed to end this way for her. None of this was supposed to happen." He gave an exhale as Lionel seemed defeated, "I've spent every day wondering what happened. So if you are here to shoot me, then do me the favor now."

Bethany's grip tightened as her eyes ignited in disgust and fury, "That's all you have to say? Just 'I'm sorry about Lina'? Not even a shred of remorse about him, huh?" The fury died out as her voice cracked with emotion, "Nothing for what you did to your own son--"

Apparently, that had snapped something in the Chupadore. Director Lionel's head snapped up, his expression exploding into something venomous as he came to a yell, raw and unfiltered. His fists came down on the desk with a violent slam that was unbefitting of a scientist, "I HAVE NO SON!!"

Bethany flinched from his roar, and Tysiac had to briefly rely on training and discipline from the sheer suddenness of his declaration.

"That thing," Director Lionel, his fists curling tighter, "is all that's left. And it is no son of mine. I lost him a long time ago, and I do not have him anymore."

Silence reigned as Bethany's voice fell, low and bitter, "Is this why you hated Leonard Church so much? Because you think he took your son away?"

Lionel's lips gave a small quirk of humorlessness, "No. Because you and he are the same."

Bethany's expression darkened with confusion as her pistol lowered, though she kept it ready as she snapped, "What the hell does that mean?"

Tysiac felt a nagging sense in the incompleteness in the Director's words as the ONI side of him mulled. It didn't sound like a lie, but neither did it sounded like the entire truth either. He tilted his head slightly, which brought both the Chupadores' eyes on him for a moment.

Director Lionel exhaled heavily, one of his claws tapping the desk, "You won't believe it coming from me," He murmured. As his other claw dipped into his coat, Tysiac subtly gripped his rifle a little tighter, preparing for whatever the Director might pull.

Instead of any weaponry or a switch, the Director pulled out a small object that Tysiac recognized quickly: a data crystal chip. Its glowing crystal shimmered brightly in the dim room as he placed it deliberately on the desk and slid it towards Bethany.

She eyed the chip suspiciously, her tail flicking with unease, "What's this supposed to be?"

The Director clasped his hands behind his back, "Proof that second chances are abundant in this world."

Bethany's gun raised a little higher as her gaze hardened, "Cute. Now cut the shit, what is it?"

"It's not a trick, for one." Director Lionel said, his voice becoming the same calm tone he had used before, "It's a key. A key to the truth and furthermore, it's a weapon. Something that can defeat our real enemy."

The Director's claws went behind his back, "There is a lab beneath this facility. It has a console that can open this, however you'll need my biometrics to get in the door."

Tysiac kept his eye on the crystal as Bethany could barely keep her skepticism concealed, "Convenient. But it looks more like a get-away-free chip to me. And I've bought one too many of those from you already."

The Director didn't rise to her words as he admitted, "You can see it that way if you so choose. But I'm not offering to escape. I'm offering the answer to a question. Whether you want me dead or the genuine answer is up to you."

"The answer to what, Lionel?" Bethany grew impatient.

He leaned forward and pushed his glasses up, meeting Bethany's sharp gaze with his steady, green eyes, "The answer to the question: 'Why are we here?'"

A fair question, though perhaps Tysiac could provide a few pieces of information to its answer, as he shifted and moved away from being a quiet observer, "I might not know the full answer, but I know part of it."

Having been used to seeing only Bethany, the Director's head tilted towards the Spartan with increased curiosity, "Do you?"

The Spartan brought his rifle around to magnetize to his back before crossing his arms, "I know how your kind has gotten here, and while I have some theory on how your species has ended up on this ring. But what I would like to know, Director Lionel, is if you know what Sirca is. What it truly is and if you ever realized what its primary purpose is. Who built it, and why."

He could tell the Director's intrigue was growing, and from the looks of Bethany, she was getting interested as well on what Tysiac was getting at. The Director gave a slow motion with one claw, "Go on."

Tysiac didn't, "I could." He said pointedly, "But I want to hear it from you."

The Director considered the Spartan carefully, his green eyes narrowing, "I know this much: Omega did not build Sirca. Considering his lack of building any further shrines, temples and the like or even bringing another construction of the likes of this world, something else did. When we first reached space and saw the outer ring, it defied whatever the House tried to play." He gave a shake of his head, "The reason remains... elusive."

Tysiac gave a silent exhale through his nose, "Then you've only made scratch marks on the surface. Sirca does have a purpose, and it's far bigger than your projects, or whatever Omega thinks he is. Though depending on our continuing interactions, Director. I might just fill in more blanks."

The Spartan began moving over towards Bethany's left side, "But first, that chip."

Director Lionel responded dryly, "You can shoot me if you'd like, Agent Texas. But if you're serious about getting answers, you'll follow me. The truth awaits, if you're willing to face that."

Bethany hesitated, her tail flicked around in agitation. Tysiac could tell she wanted to shoot it or shoot the Director, to wipe the smug expression off his muzzle.

But she didn't. Lowering her pistol and holstering it, she muttered, "Fine," Her head slightly turned to Tysiac. She looked at him with a look on her face, to which Tysiac took a guess that she wanted him to back her up.

He replied with a brisk nod, to which Bethany reluctantly snatched up the crystal. It looked as if it physically pained her in taking it as the Director gave a subtle smile, "Good girl."

Bethany's tail almost snapped sharply enough that Tysiac would've expected the sound of a whip crack as she gritted her teeth at the Director. He finally stepped forward, unfolding his arms as his visor locked onto the Director as he spoke steadily, "Where is the lab?"

"Right this way." The Director's voice was smooth as he began moving from his desk. He passed between Bethany and Tysiac, and the Spartan could see the subtle touching between Director's lazily swaying tail and Bethany's agitated tail. A faint shiver passed through Bethany, her teeth gritting tighter as Director Lionel stopped near a door that had been in the dark, just opposite side of where Tysiac had stood.

Tysiac didn't trust him. Not for a second.

But that crystal in Bethany's claw?

He needed to know what was in it.

Red vs Blue © Rooster Teeth. Halo © 343 Industries. Concept by Myshu, assisted by The Department of Chupapology.