1224 HOURS, NOVEMBER 15, 2554 (UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)
HALO INSTALLATION: SIRCA--QOPPA--FREELANCER HEADQUARTERS

Tysiac quickly regrouped with Wash and the Blues--minus Church--surveying the repurposed atrium of Freelancer HQ. They'd cleaned up the site, removing the bodies of both HADES soldiers and the Freelancers who'd perished, as well as much of the wreckage. Meanwhile, they brought in a forklift, adding a pallet of explosives and ammunition to the scene and leaving the furniture barricade untouched.

The Spartan's first sighting of a Chupadore was Wash, observing everything from the second-story railing. The shorter Chupadore glanced at Tysiac, noticing both the damage to his armor and Bethany's absence.

"Where's Tex?" He asked, his tone laden with concern.

Tysiac gave a deep sigh as he slowed his pace, "She's cooling off in the brig."

Wash's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "What? Why??"

"We've..." Tysiac hesitated. He didn't want to reveal too much and risk setting Wash off, "We learned a lot from the Director. It was more than Beth expected... More than I expected. She lost control and tried to storm after Omega alone."

The grey-furred Chupadore's expression turned to that of disbelief, frustration and worry, "What... did the Director tell her?"

Tysiac crossed his arms, trying to keep his own worry and frustration low, "A lot. In fact, more than she expected, and more than I'd like to admit. What I can tell you is that it ties Omega and an extensive involvement from him between Beth and Carolina."

The mention of Carolina caused Wash to give a wince, his eyes briefly looked for York before remembering his large friend-with-benefits was still in the brig. He turned back to Tysiac and asked, "You let her stew in the brig?"

"She needed time to cool off," Tysiac said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument, "What we learned... even I need time to process it. I can barely imagine how angry and lost she feels right now. But just leave her be. Our priority needs to keep this base secure."

The Chupadore reluctantly nodded, rubbing his temples with a claw, "Alright. But what about the Director? Please tell me you've got him locked down too..."

Tysiac shook his head, "I've had to let him go. Bethany's rage forced me into a choice. Either we lose her, or let the Director walk."

Wash's jaw tightened, his claws clenching into fists in a silent, frustrated curse. The Spartan placed an armored hand over Wash's shoulder, "However, he's out of commission. He's unable to do anything more with Freelancers or Project Werewolf. Also spread the word to everyone here: The Director's abandoning the Freelancer Division and whoever wasn't with the Movement is being shanghai'd into it."

This made Wash's eyes stare at Tysiac in surprise at his words, "I... Uh, okay. Don't know if we'll be able to keep everyone here to L-Base, but..."

Tysiac gave a nod, patting Wash's shoulder, "Now, how is the situation here? I'm seeing explosives, are we rigging the entrance to collapse?"

The Chupadore stepped back with a sigh, the weight of the news still settling, "Yeah. Cali's rigging the support columns to collapse the entrance." He pointed over to a black-furred with red highlighted hair Chupadore down by the support columns, busy rigging the charges to her hand-held detonator.

Wash went on as he looked back towards Tysiac, "We're running low on supplies--ammo and medicals, specifically. We're running on a skeleton crew of around fifteen Freelancers. Only a few of the injured survived HADES' assault that we arrived at, and they're in the med-bay. Another Freelancer's at the watchtower and we're looting what's in the HADES vans, but..." He gave a wide shrug, "We're slow going."

Tysiac nodded, "Better than ever. Whatever's in the vans can get repurposed, even if it means taking the doors and using them to reinforce the barricades. As long as we make and give coverage on choke points and keep the barricades strong, it'll improve our chances."

Tucker, who had been idly leaning against a wall, perked up, "So, we're just gonna pretend Tex didn't go full Rambo on Omega? Look, I get you guys are after him, but-"

"She's simply not thinking clearly," Tysiac cut in. Behind the visor, he gave a small wince at his blunt summary before stating, "It's why she's locked in. You would too, if you learned Omega had more involvement in your life than you realized."

It seemed Tucker was about to respond, but he trailed off, his eyes downcast, and he grumbled something indistinct. Caboose tilted his head, which set his collar bell to jingle softly, "Does O'Malley throw surprise birthday parties?"

Tysiac gave a light snort of amusement before shaking his head, "Never you mind, Caboose. For now, let's get as much as we can done, then check on York and Church. Their sedatives should be wearing off soon."

A small smile touched Wash's lips as he nodded, the tension visibly easing from his shoulders as he headed towards the nearby cluster of Freelancers. Turning, Tysiac walked down the stairs over to Cali to speak with her.

An hour passed as the Freelancers and Tysiac worked tirelessly, reinforcing barricades and fortifications. Tysiac had aided in stripping down the HADES' vehicles and adding them to the defenses. His words about the Director abandoning the facility, and the Freelancers currently at the HQ were effectively out of a job had spread. Since HADES viewed them as enemies and traitors, as one Freelancer's debriefing report revealed, the Freelancers had little choice but to join the Movement.

The situation displeased some of them, yet the Freelancers preferred that rather than fleeing the House. As the Freelancer Indiana put it, "Damned if we don't, but slightly less damned if we do."

The tension of the moment was palpable, yet Tysiac's steadfast presence instilled a grim resolve in the Chupadores. At one point, Tucker had commented that everyone appeared content following Tysiac's instructions and allowing him to lead them.

Tysiac's perspective was not the same, "Despite it sounding like everyone here is accepting me as their CO, we're not in a position to argue about chain of command. At best, it's just my personality keeping everyone together." He had pointed out to the turquoise Chupadore, "However, the feelings I doubt are as mutual. They see me as an anomaly that's leading them, with more capabilities than they've seen amongst each other. To me, these aren't Marines or Spartans I would know what to do with. They have half of the same firepower and training I'm used to working with, which means protecting them rather than relying on them. It's not something I disparage them over, but simply highlights the differences between me and them."

Wash, having been nearby and overhearing the Spartan, voiced his own opinion over it, "It's definitely that. I'm still having to adjust to you being quick to take command when I'm still in command with the Movement. Freelancers are more used to taking to whoever the Director dedicated as leader over an operation and doing their own thing. So with you taking charge, it's not rubbing all that well for them."

Despite individual perspectives and distinctions, both Chupadores and Spartan accomplished the job rapidly. Soon, all that remained was to wait for the second wave of HADES forces. During that time, Tysiac and Wash made their way to the brig.

York and Church, while awake, exhibited a lingering grogginess that manifested in slow, deliberate movements and speech. That said, a palpable wave of resentment and anger washed over them as they registered the Spartan's presence.

"Next time," York grumbled as he rubbed his temples and stayed sitting in his given cot, "Just ask us before stabbing those things."

Church was just as unpleased, "Yeah, not a fan of being fucking drugged out and dragged out, asshole."

Tysiac remained stoic over their words, "It kept you both safe and angry."

Muttering a barely audible curse under his breath, Church slunk away, his shoulders slumped. The werewolf shuffled out of the brig, his steps feeling heavy in his search for Caboose and Tucker. The three watched him go, the silence heavy with unspoken words, before Wash turned to York, "You should probably sit this one out, York."

York shook his head stubbornly, before quickly stopping and putting a claw to his head with a slightly dizzy expression, "Not... H-happening, buddy. I can't sit this out with HADES coming around."

Wash gave a worried glare to the large Chupadore for a silent moment before relenting, "Alright. But you're sticking by me. The moment you're not keeping up, I'm dragging you out, alright?"

With Wash at his side offering support, York stretched, gave a listless wave with one claw, and they exited the brig, heading for the defensive positions. Silence descended upon the brig as Tysiac watched their departure.

He turned and approached Bethany's cell.

She was awake, and not meeting his gaze as Tysiac removed his helmet. The Chupadore woman was sitting upright in her cot, her arms still cuffed behind her back and the ankles still restrained.

"I see you're awake." Tysaic spoke calmly.

She stayed silent, her hair a curtain obscuring her furious eyes, the silent rage a palpable thing to Tysiac. After Wash and York's footsteps were completely gone, Bethany spoke up, "What do you want?" Her voice was quiet but sharp, every word edged in bitterness.

He didn't flinch, "To check on you. Have you had time to cool off?"

Her expression darkened, and her lips curled into a scowl. She attempted to stand up before remembering her cuffed ankles before sitting back down with an angry growl. Bethany's claws turned to fists, "You drugged me. You bound me like a fucking kidnapped princess. And you come here thinking I'm just going to 'cool off' after learning my entire fucking life was controlled!?"

Tysiac gave a sigh, closing his eyes but keeping his voice steady, "I did what I had to, Beth. You were ready to throw your life away in a suicidal charge. Beth, you wouldn't have made ten meters before Omega or his House put you down."

Bethany's jaw tightened, her growl rising, "After everything he's done. To me, to Lina, to Church!" She struggled against her cuffs, snarling, "You really think I can just sit here and do fucking nothing?!"

"You are not doing nothing." Tysiac argued. Stepping closer to the energized bars that separated the two, he raised his voice, "And I will not let you ‘do nothing'. You are angry, and you have every right to be. You didn't deserve any of what happened. But telling the rest of us to go hide while you rush off alone will not help. All it'll do is cause more grief to the rest of us than you wanted it to."

She scoffed and turned her head away, "Spare me the lecture, asshole."

Tysiac was never the religious type, but already he felt like asking for patience from whatever god was out there, "Beth, being the best isn't enough. Do you remember when I spoke about the Spartan-IIs?"

She didn't respond, her silence still seething in defiance.

He went on, "What made the Spartan-IIs so effective wasn't merely their training or abilities, it was their teamwork. Each Spartan relied on each other. They trusted each other in everything they did. Yes, they had been one-man armies, but they always returned to one lesson that the rest of us have followed: You do not win unless your team wins."

Bethany still didn't speak up. Having nothing else come to mind, Tysiac changed the topic as he softened his tone, "Do you remember back in the Archives?" Bethany's shoulders immediately tensed. The Spartan heard her sharp inhale from her nose, and seeing her reaction aided him, "You struggled from hearing just a few notes from that box, and I didn't leave you alone. I didn't ask, and neither did you ask. And I'm still here, but you have to let me help."

"You're..." Her voice was cold, but he could hear her trembling hesitation. Her claws had returned to form fists, "Not helping... You're holding me back."

"I'm keeping you alive," Tysiac corrected, trying to get her to see reason, "Going half-cocked would've given Omega another tally on you. Beth, I am more than willing to help you in killing Omega. Everyone around you wants to. But I can't do that if you keep thinking you have to carry everything and everyone by yourself."

Bethany's head turned to glare at him, but before she could retort, the facility gave a shake. A booming echo reverberated through the halls, bringing dust and dirt to rain from the ceiling. The two instinctively steadied themselves against the tremor.

Bethany's eyes blazed as she tried to stand up. Remembering her restraints, she looked towards Tysiac, "It's HADES, isn't it? Tys, lemmie out of this, I can help."

Tysiac shook his head, backing away from the cell's energized bars, "No. We can handle them. Just stay here."

"Tys!" She glared at him with frustration, wrestling against her restraints. However, seeing him place the helmet back on, her wrestling brought her to lying in the cot on her side. Her frustration and helplessness warred on her face before she spat, "Fine. But you better be the first fucking thing I see alive or I'm reverse-haunting you."

Tysiac smirked past the helmet, seeing a bit of Bethany's usual behavior returning, "I'll be sure to bring a souvenir, if there's anything left of them." He wished he could tell if Bethany had that same smirk on her face as he strode out of the brig. It still hurt, leaving Bethany to remain lying down and fume in silence, but such was his twisted luck. Another explosion rocked the halls--Cali had set off the charges.

He sprinted faster.

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