1259 HOURS, NOVEMBER 15, 2554 (UNSC MILITARY CALENDAR)
HALO INSTALLATION: SIRCA--QOPPA--FREELANCER HEADQUARTERS

York was the first to speak up after the Freelancers sans Bethany recovered from the back-to-back revelations. He shook his head, "Church was in Alpha Pack... I remember seeing him, with a lot less fuzz and a lot more light blue, but... How the hell didn't either Carolina and Church recognize each other...?"

Tysiac's brow furrowed, "That's what bothered me as well. Either the Director had been purposefully keeping each other apart, or Church didn't recognize or remember Carolina, and in doing so she kept her distance."

"And you didn't think to ask him?" York somewhat snapped, his tone still mixed between hurt, anger and grief.

The Spartan shook his head, "Didn't think to at the time. With too much going on and Beth nearly marching out and preparing to go on warpath? The thought never came up."

Bethany's tail flicked before curling around her legs, her discomfort evident, "I don't think we would've gotten straight answers out of him anyway..."

The room fell silent once more before Tysiac moved, "For now, we need to get moving. Now we know Omega's claws are this deep, and its time we dug for more."

Wash stirred, slowly making his way to the Director's computer, "Do... You think we should tell Church? About Carolina and the Director?"

York gave a small snort and smirked faintly, though his usual humor was subdued, "Could already tell that if Tex had gone on a warpath and had to be stopped by you, he's definitely the kind to do the same. He barely keeps himself together without grouching."

Bethany gave a dry chuckle, "Yeah. That and he'll get overprotective over me. Again."

Tysiac himself was on the fence, though in a more apathetic manner. While it would give Church some emotional connection and give him more reason to hate Omega, it was already clear the Chupadore was more interested in being left alone with whatever status quo could be made for himself.

He turned the topic away, bringing them to focus on other things, "In the meanwhile, we'll need a location to regroup before heading back to L-Base." Tysiac looked to Wash and asked, "Is there anyone you have contact around here in Qoppa? Any hidden agents or spies?"

Wash gave a nod as he looked back to the screen as the data crystal he was given continued loading files to the terminal, "Q-Base. It's not too far from here and the Movement was planning a major gathering soon. Though..."

Tysiac raised an eyebrow at the shorter Chupadore's trailing voice, "Though?"

Constance and Bethany exchanged glances before Constance snorted, "They hate Freelancers. Can't say I blame them, but they're not going to be entirely friendly seeing us coming out of Command."

Bethany nodded, "And Nel's never been one to be picky, she just hates Freelancers and end of story."

A grumble left his mouth, not entirely picked up by the speakers for the Chupadores to hear, "Fantastic." Biting back a sigh, Tysiac began walking off, "I'll link up with the rest of the forces on ground before we get moving, likely find a way to scavenge some of the equipment on the training floor. Some of it would do better in L-Base than here."

Constance left her spot from leaning against the wall, "I'll help you with that one."

A loud commotion soon echoed from the arena outside the Director's Office, making the group stop and look as the elevator door opened and Caboose galloped into the room on all fours, "Agent Freedancers!"

He skidded to a halt, his eyes wide and his tail wagging anxiously, "I need your help! Its an emer-dancy!"

Tucker walked in after the Chupadore, "It's 'emergency'. But yeah we've a bit of a problem. Church's missing."

That was enough to make Bethany and Tysiac frown. The Chupadore woman asked, "What do you mean 'missing'? Where'd he go off to?"

"Fuck if I know." Tucker shrugged, "He was napping on one of the beds and when I woke up from my own nap, he was gone."

Caboose stood on two legs, gesturing wildly, "I think he's kidnapped! He was napping and disappearing! He went off to fight a bear! Or a bear kidded while Church napped!"

Tucker did his best ignoring the animated blue Chupadore while York came around and placed a claw on Caboose's head, like hitting the snooze on a living alarm clock, "We just checked around the base and nadda. No note, didn't come back and nobody else said they saw him."

"Other than grumbling, did he do anything unusual before going to sleep?" Tysiac asked.

Tucker shook his head, which was all the more baffling to the Spartan. Wash set aside the window of files on the Director's terminal as he got to work, "I'll check the cameras. I doubt he's gotten far."

With Church conveniently given everyone something else to do than sit around, the Freelancers and Spartan were quick to set off to look for the werewolf. Constance had elected to go and work with the Movement forces up top while Bethany would look around the perimeter to ensure Church didn't sneak out. York, the Blues and Tysiac ventured off to where Tucker said he and Church had been sleeping to work out where he had gone off to.

Surprisingly, Caboose had been helpful in that regard.

As Caboose sniffed at the ground with enthusiasm, York, Tucker and Tysiac followed close behind. York's quirked eyebrow relaxed as he glanced at the aquamarine Chupadore, "Your buddy's got a hell of a nose to track Church."

Tucker chuckled, shaking his head, "Don't even know the half of it. One time, I shot a hot dog into the woods with a slingshot during one boring day. And Caboose found it in, like, seconds. Wiped off the dirt and ate it right there."

Tysiac looked at Tucker with a silent look of disgust as York grimaced, pulling a face, "That's disgusting..."

"Yeah it was," Tucker admitted with a shrug, "But it was also impressive and pretty hilarious."

Following along Wash's quick report to Tysiac, and with Caboose's nose leading the way, the group soon came to a stop in front of a familiar sight. With the now exposed metal doorway still there, Tysiac realized that they had taken a second route to the exact same doorway to the terminal the Director had shown to the Spartan and Bethany.

Caboose grew visibly anxious as he started pawing at the metal door as York's eyes widened, "Wait a minute. I've been around this specific hallway a dozen times and never saw this before!"

"And it's the same door me and Bethany followed the Director..." Tysiac commented, "How would Church know about this place?"

Before either of the Chupadores could respond, the door resounded with three loud thumps, followed by muffled cursing.

York stepped closer and raised his voice, "Church! Calm down! Look around on your left of the door, there should be a panic button."

A brief silence followed before the door hissed open, revealing a very grumpy and cold Leonard Church. His fur bristled and his eyes narrowed in frustration as he stormed out.

Tysiac keyed into Bethany's and Wash's seperate radios, "Tysiac here. We've found Church. He was locked inside the hidden room."

"Who thought it'd be funny to lock me in there?!" Church demanded, his voice seething as he locked eyes on Tucker.

The Chupdadore raised his claws in defense, "Hey, don't look at me! None of us did it! I woke up and you were gone, man!"

Church didn't look convinced. Glaring at Tucker, the werewolf Chupadore stepped forward to grapple him, "Oh yeah? Then why the fuck did you leave your necklace with me!"

"The fuck, man!" Tucker retorted, his voice getting angry, "We didn't do a damn thing! You and the necklace was already gone when I woke up, don't blame me on this!"

Tysiac spotted the necklace and took it off of Church's claws as he muttered, "This is the same chip Juwo gave you... You're not one to just leave things behind, Tuck."

Tucker thrust his claws at Tysiac as if to forcefully demonstrate to Church as defense from the accusation. The white-furred Chupadore rolled his eyes angerly and gave an equally heated grumble before marching off.

The Spartan looked inside the cold, dim chamber. Without saying a word, he marched to the central terminal, the same one that had revealed Omega’s hold over Bethany and Carolina. York slowly followed him in before shivering visibly as he stepped into the freezing air, "Geez, feels like a meat locker in here..."

Tysiac ignored the Chupadore as he inspected the interface. However, after a few moments of trying to activate it, and slotting the Data Crystal in and getting nothing he muttered, "Dead. It was working before..."

He frowned and studied the terminal as he took the chip back before pocketing it. York came up closer as the Spartan looked out to where Church had left, crossing his arms to stay warm, "What are you thinking, Spartan?"

"Too many questions, too many mysteries, and too little time to go through them." Tysiac shook his head, "This was the same terminal both Bethany and I saw with the Director, and this chip was given to Tucker by Juwo before we left and ran into Cons' in the tunnels to L-Base. But the terminal's dead. I don't know why, or how, but Church or someone else has been here, and Church didn't seem aware at all of his arrival here."

Tysiac took a small moment to look around before adding, "And nothing around here shows that Church turned into a werewolf. And that's raising more red flags than I'm comfortable with."

With a sigh, Tysiac jerked his head, "C'mon. Time's wasting." Without another word, the two left the freezing room to its darkness. Yet still as he sealed the door to the hidden room and terminal one final time, Tysiac felt something was missing. It involved Church, and it drove his instincts as an ONI agent mad at the lack of answers.

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