Chapter Text
The ground is spinning and Wash is barely able to stand up straight. He has no idea if his shots are hitting the enemy or not. The next thing he knows, he's looking at Tucker in the opening of a cave, looks back at the incoming round of enemies, and then looks up at Freckles. With one more glance towards Tucker, Wash swallows hard and makes his decision.
"Freckles....... shake."
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"We're sorry, Tucker, we couldn't get your friends back. They've been captured."
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Wash wakes up in a cell. His head is burning and untreated, dry blood coating the corner of his forehead. His muscles ache as he starts to sit up.
"Finally, Sleeping Beauty's graced us with his presence!" A gruff voice says to his left. Wash runs a hand through his hair and slowly turns to see Sarge.
"Oh thank god! I was so worried!" Wash turns to his right now and sees Donut in the same situation as him and Sarge. Looking more around the cell he sees they've only got a cot in the corner to sleep on. Looking at the stability of it, it'd be useless as a weapon on someone in armor.
"To fill ya in, Green Giant's been in here to check if you were awake, didn't even care for us two. Probably gonna ask you to Prom or somethin', either way he looked itchin' to talk to ya." It took a moment for Wash to realize he was talking about Locus, which he then slightly smiles at the new nickname.
"Are you guys hurt at all?" Wash clears his throat after hearing how hoarse it was.
"I'm all good! Nothing serious anyways..." Donut chimes in with a reassuring smile.
"Same here, although my knee is actin' up. Yer not lookin' too good yourself." Wash shrugs and starts standing up. He gets a little dizzy but catches himself with the bars of his cell.
"I've been worse..." Suddenly the main door opens up, and four men in armor walk in followed by the Green Giant himself, Locus. Wash does his best to keep a blank stare and drops his hand from the bar.
"Hello, Agent Washington." Wash gives no response.
"Oh, come on, Locus. Couldn't wait five more minutes for me? Oh, hey Wash." Another voice pops up and Wash has to do a double take as he glances towards the door only to see Felix show up. Wash curses to himself for not catching onto Felix earlier. He keeps his guard up and does his best to not show any more of a reaction. "Ouch, Wash, cold shoulder? That's a pretty nasty bump you've got on your head there." Wash can practically hear the smile in his voice.
"You son of a bitch." Sarge says under his breath.
"Can it Grandpa." Felix brushes Sarge off and Sarge gives him a glare.
"Haven't you ever heard of respecting your elders, Felix?" Donut crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow. Felix only chuckles at this.
"You too, Pinky." Donut really glares and frowns at him now.
"Shut up, everyone." Locus says calmly, not once looking away from Wash. "Agent Washington, you and you're friends are to come with us for questioning."
"What if we don't want to?" Donut scowls. Wash can't help but to clench his teeth because he's pretty sure he knows the answer. It's almost immediate when Felix takes one step and easily reaches through the bars, grabs Donut's shirt, and yanks him into the metal. Donut only cringes at the impact and starts pushing against the bars to get free, but Felix doesn't loosen his grip. Donut holds his stance and just starts glaring at Felix.
"You get your nasty paws off my soldier!" Sarge is only met with Locus' gun being pointed towards him. Sarge clenches his fists.
"Well, Agent Washington?"
"We'll go." There's a small pause as Locus and Wash have some kind of stare down. Slowly, Locus puts the gun down and Sarge curses under his breath again. Donut pushes against Felix's helmet as Felix chuckles and let's him go. There's a beep, and the four other soldiers split into two as each pair handles Sarge and Donut. Locus pulls open Wash's cell and Felix comes in to roughly cuff him, giving his arms an extra yank before pushing Wash forward. Sarge looks over at Wash and decides to just let them cuff him as well.
They're lead down the halls and Wash begins to go over his training on how to handle questioning, his only worry is how the other two will handle it. Hopefully they'll catch onto his pattern and follow it. Sadly, that plan goes to shit when they're separated and each set of guards and prisoner are taken down a hall and into separate rooms. Wash curses inside his head and double checks on the mental map he's so far made. A new guard opens up the door in front of him and Felix gives Wash another push to get him to move. The door is shut once the three of them are in. It's nothing but metal walls, a chair, and some equipment. Wash is directed to sit down, and as he does so, Locus messes with the equipment while Felix straps him to the chair.
"Comfortable?" Felix chuckles into his ear. "I would have thought the ever so badass Washington of Project Freelancer would have caught my act. Guess you're not all you're talked up to be." Felix ruffles Wash's hair but suddenly grips it tight and yanks his head back to look up at him. "Answers shouldn't be too had to get out of you." Wash could hear that smile again. Felix shoves Wash's head to the side and snickers.
"What do you want to ask me?"
"Just some questions about your time in Project Freelancer, specifically the AI fiasco." Felix says as Locus joins his side.
"Why do you wanna know about that?"
"That is classified. Agent Washington, it's true that your boss made an AI of himself and split it, correct? Did he also make hundreds of copies of a woman named Allison?" Wash does his best not to flinch at the name as it echoed as a scream in his head.
"Yes."
"Is it true you went ape shit when they put in the memory fragment?" Felix asks next. Wash didn't answer and did his best not to glare. Felix busts out laughing.
"Oh shit I would have paid money to see you in agony from that! Then again, I just might get a free show soon, anways."
"Felix." Locus half scorns. Felix only snickers and shrugs as he starts slowly walking around Wash like he's prey. Wash wouldn't be surprised if he ended up like that.
"Agent, tell us, are you and Agent Carolina the last surviving freelancers?" Wash is kind of put off by this question. All of his past comrades have been confirmed dead. Maybe these two know more than him and have found another. Well, Carolina came back and everyone thought she was dead. Maybe it's possible. Maybe this is just wishful thinking.
"Yes, that I know of."
"Hey, what exactly happened to your buddy, Agent, what was it? Maryland?"
"Maine."
"Ah yes, Maine. The Meta. What a piece of art. I've heard of what he's done, what the two of you have done. Sometimes I wish I was there to witness the blood spilled." Felix gets close to Wash's ear. "The blood of your comrades. New York, those Dakota twins, Wyoming, and let's not forget Maine, too!" Felix moves from the side of Wash to the front. Although his face gives nothing away, Wash begins to breathe faster again. "Now tell me, what was it like seeing the corpses of your friends? Was it satisfying knowing that it'd be the closest feeling to being number one on that leader board? Wasn't it nice to feel practically nothing as they were picked off one by one and you knew you were safe? All because your worthless mind couldn't handle a fraction of an AI!" Wash blinks a couple of times once he realizes he started to space out from memories flooding back.
"These questions won't have the answers you're looking for. Get to your point." Wash stares at Felix for a moment before Locus sighs and continues on.
"Agent Washington, tell us all you know about your boss and the equipment used to make and split the AI unit."
"Why?"
"We have our reasons."
"Are you two working together or were you hired by someone?" Maybe Wash can turn this around, Felix sure likes to talk. Before Wash can even prepare himself, his head suddenly snaps to the side after Felix strikes him with his fist. The solid armor scraping against his flesh and surely leaving somekind of mark. As Wash tries to blink away the pain, Felix grabs his jaw and forces him to look at him.
"Listen, you're not here to ask questions, that's our job. Yours is to sit there and answer them or else we're gonna have to get forceful. Now answer the question." Felix roughly let's go of Wash as Locus repeats the question.
"What do you know about your boss?"
"He was an asshole."
"Oh come on Wash! You've gotta have more than that!" Felix starts cracking his knuckles, thinking that would be threatening to Wash.
"Nope, sorry." Wash tries to dodge the punch but ends up getting the back of his head gripped tightly. Felix's fingers squeeze Wash's skull as he pushes down on it, mercilessly. Wash cringes as his restraints dig into his torso and his airway is slightly cut off. It's not until he feels a finger slightly rub against the back of his neck that he jumps a little. With yet another harsh shove, Felix let's go.
"Last chance, Wash." Wash takes a deep breath and glares at the two assholes in front of him.
"What, too lazy to get your info from the news?"
"There he goes again!" Felix lands the punch this time. Wash's head slams back into the chair as Felix connects with his jaw. In an instant, Felix grips onto Wash's throat. His thumb digs into his wind pipe and Wash squirms as his body shudders and goose bumps from the tip of Felix's fingers pushing into the skin where the AI was placed. Wash couldn't help but cringe. "What's wrong Wash? Are you a little sensitive there?" He puts more pressure on the spot. Pain shoots up Wash's spine and his body flinches. Felix chuckles as Locus just stands and watches.
"You're making this a lot more difficult than it has to be, Agent. Just give us the info and we'll let you go."
"Bullshit." Wash manages to let out. Locus goes to the equipment and presses a few buttons.
"Felix." As the machine starts up Felix let's go and Wash slumps back in his seat. Two screens come alive and video begins to play. It appears to be Sarge and Donut in the same situation, restrained in chairs with guards standing in the room. No audio is heard. Wash then hears Locus say over his radio.
"Guards, start the punishment." Wash's eyes widen and he sees the guards immediately start pummeling Sarge and Donut. Sarge is kicked by one as the other one starts ramming his head against the chair. Donut is being punched practically everywhere. It's a mere glimpse but the look on his face makes Wash want to look away, but for some reason Wash is stuck watching. He's frozen, he knows how to handle this situation, you give in, but what the hell are they going to do with this information?
"Quit, damn it! I'll tell you what I know!"
"Stand by." The guards reluctantly stop. Sarge appears to be screaming at them, probably profanities. Donut looks like he's breathing hard and doubled over. Wash gets really pissed once he sees Donut cough up some blood.
"Wow, Wash! For a second there I thought you were going to let them continue!" Felix cackles. "Like you wanted them to keep suffering."
"What the hell do they have to do with anything? They won't provide you with any information."
"Actually, they can provide us with anything they know of the AI known as, in your case, Epsilon." Locus takes a few steps towards Wash. "Now, tell us about Leonard Church or your friends go for a second round. Talk and we'll let them go."
Wash glares at the screens for a moment before spilling what he knows of the Director.