RED vs. BLUE

REVIVE

CHAPTER 1: THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN

Washington was startled by the chime on his computer console. It had been silent for ages; no alerts whatsoever. He was tinkering around in his office when the blue screen suddenly blinked, and an envelope icon appeared in the center.
He clicked on the letter icon and read over the text that appeared in front of him.
"Holy shi-"

Carolina was throwing out punches rapidly. Every animatronic soldier attempted to dive at her, but she dove out of the way. She leaped into the air, doing a spin kick that connected to the head of a soldier. The head popped up with a spring; lolling backwards and dangling between the shoulder blades. She landed on her feet gracefully, and twirled on her heels, sending another kick into the head of an oncoming soldier. Its head whipped right off and bounced slowly on a spring.
Carolina smiled to herself, suddenly feeling each of her arms being grabbed. She lifted her knees to her chest, rolled backwards and loosened the grip that was once on her. She then grabbed the head of one soldier and whipped it to the side; causing it to lose its footing and smash into its counterpart. Screws, springs and cogwheels went flying from the impact, and Carolina looked at the devastation of robotic parts that laid before her.
"Carolina!" Her heart jumped at that moment from the familiar voice. She looked up from the simulation floor, to the staircase that led upstairs, and saw the familiar, friendly face of Washington leaning over the bars to peer at her.
"Hey Wash, up for a spar?" Carolina beamed. Wash chuckled.
"Looks like Sarge will need to upgrade the simulations. You already made them mincemeat," he laughed. "And I'll pass on the spar. I don't feel like having my ass handed to me." Wash began to descend the stairs and make his way to the platform.
Carolina shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Wash approached her and pulled out a microscopic lens. It blinked for several seconds, before a projection of light appeared; revealing coordinates. It was part of the message that Wash received.
"What is this?" asked Carolina.
"A message that just came in. You're not going to believe who it's from." Carolina squinted her eyes, trying to read the message that was hovering before her.
"Who?"
Wash paused for a moment, then inhaled. "Another freelancer."

Carolina was flabbergasted.
"H-How?! Who?!"
Wash closed the projection and pocketed it. "I don't know. They didn't say. They just gave coordinates to their 'supposed' location."
Carolina crossed her arms. "Well, that figures. You think it's a trap?"
Wash pondered for a moment. "I don't know what to believe."
Carolina began to shuffle on her hip as she thought out loud. "No enemies come to mind. I thought all the Freelancers were killed off."
"You forgot. Some of them had gone 'just missing'," said Wash. "But, there's only one way to find out who sent this message." Wash turned and began to head to the stairs.
"Whoa. You're not going alone." Carolina said as she snatched his arm. "I'm going with you."
Wash smiled underneath his helmet. "I wouldn't expect any less from you."
Carolina began to walk with him as they ascended the stairs from the platform.
"Do you think we should call in reinforcements?" Carolina asked.
"You mean the Red and Blues?" Wash thought for a moment. "It would be nice to get the gang back together again."
"It's literally been two months," chuckled Carolina.
"Well…," Wash felt his cheeks began to blush. "It's… you know. Just been tough. I guess I miss them." His voice trailed off softly. Carolina patted his shoulder.
"I miss them, too." Wash looked at her, only to see his reflection staring back at him on her visor. "Let's get the gang back together again."

"Goddammit, Grif!" yelled Simmons. "You're dirty socks go in the laundry hamper. The. Laundry. "Hamper!" Simmons stood in the doorway of Grif's bedroom.
"The laundry hamper?" Grif asked, puzzled.
"You know. The basket in the bathroom?!" Simmons continued.
"Oooooh. THAT hamper." Grif said, not taking his eyes away from the television screen. "Yeah, I'll get right on that. Once I'm done this movie." Grif said as he casually waved a hand from his bean bag chair. Sitting in his lap was a bowl of popcorn, which had spilled out onto the floor.
Simmons huffed and slammed the door shut, then stomped away, muttering under his breath.
"I can't believe I agreed to share a condo with that pig! I was better off getting a place with Donut!" Simmons continued his cleaning routine, muttering angrily. He gagged when he found a pair of dirty underwear, belonging to Grif, and used the broom handle to pick it up and put it into the hamper. He felt his body shudder in disgust. "I have to do everything around here…," his mumbles continued as he continued to sweep.
Suddenly, a knock came from the front door.
"Grif! Answer the door!" Simmons waited for a response, but only heard silence. "Grif! The door!" He repeated, only to have silence linger in the air. He sighed and dropped his cleaning equipment and went to the door, muttering still.
He swung open the door and before him stood Carolina and Wash, dressed in their armor. Simmons gasped.
"Wash! Carolina! What a pleasant surprise! We weren't expecting any guests today." Wash and Carolina exchanged glances, before Wash pointed at Simmons.
"Why are you wearing an apron?" Simmons felt his face grow hot.
"I-I-I…" he coughed and quickly untied it and tossed it to the side. "No reason." He dusted off his hands and motioned for the two strangers to come inside. "Please, come in!"
"Well, well. Look what the cats dragged in." Grif appeared in the living room, holding his bowl of half-eaten popcorn. "What a nice surprise."
"Oh, NOW you come out of your room."
"I needed more popcorn."
Simmons sighed and sat on the couch. Wash and Carolina followed and did the same.
"Nice place you got here," complimented Carolina.
"Thank you!" beamed Simmons. "It's a nice area. We got our downtown shopping, and parks, and it's close to Sarge, too!"
"Oh yes, thank goodness for that," said Grif sarcastically as he sat in the recliner.
"Well, that is good to hear, because we'll be paying him a visit, too." Wash explained. "We have something we'd like to bring up to everyone."
Simmons and Grif sat in silence.
"You see, Carolina and I received a message-"
"Hold up, hold up. Is this another mission?" asked Grif as he leaned forward.
Carolina and Wash exchanged glances. "Well, technically…"
"Aw, what the hell!" said Grif as he threw his arms up in the air.
"You don't even know what they'll be asking. Just shut up and listen, you lazy ass," snapped Simmons. He directed his attention back to Wash and Carolina. "Proceed."
"So, as I was saying, Carolina and I received a message. This message gave us some coordinates that lead to their whereabouts," explained Wash.
"That… doesn't seem so bad," said Simmons.
"Who is this letter from?" asked Grif. Wash inhaled deeply.
"They said they were another Freelancer."
Grif hopped out of his recliner with a roar. Simmons, Wash and Carolina were startled by his fast reaction.
"I knew it! More shenanigans! More deadly missions! More chances of getting shot at! More freelancers! God!" Grif threw his empty popcorn bowl.
"Grif, calm down!" yelled Simmons.
"I thought you guys had no more survivors!" wailed Grif.
"We… thought so, too. But it's very possible that some went into hiding," explained Carolina. "Look, you don't have to come along, but given how cryptic this message is, we thought better safe than sorry. Wash wanted the team to come along, just in case." She paused, then looked at Wash. "I wanted to go alone, but a certain someone is too stubborn to allow that."
"Like you said, we don't know if it's a trap or not. There's no way I'll risk you getting captured."

Simmons pondered for a moment as Grif continued to stomp off to the kitchen, raving angrily about almost dying several times in the past.

"If Sarge says he's in, then you can count me in!" smiled Simmons. Wash and Carolina hopped up to their feet.
"Perfect! We'll go pay him a visit! What's his address?"

Wash and Carolina stood in the hallway of the condo complex.
"Why am I not surprised?" sighed Carolina. They took a few steps away from Simmon's and Grif's condo door and across the hall and knocked on the neighboring door.
"Who is it?" came a gruff voice on the other side of the door.
"It's Wash and Carolina," announced Wash.

The door suddenly swung open.

"Sweet gibley giblets! It is you two!" Sarge chuckled and stood to the side. "Come in, come in! Make yourselves at home. Mi casa is your casa!" he laughed excitedly.
"Thank you, Sarge. It's good to see you, too," said Wash. He suddenly noticed Lopez, sitting on the living room floor. In several pieces were mechanical parts, guns, bullets, and an array of machinery.

"Hola."
"Hey, Lopez," said Carolina. "What are you guys doing?"
"We're working on upgrading Lopez!"
"But… why?" Wash asked, puzzled.
"'Cause! You never know when an enemy might sneak attack! You got to be prepared for whatever life throws at you!" responded Sarge. "We even included throwing knives."

Wash and Carolina paused. Lopez continued to fiddle with the parts laying on the floor; saying nothing.

"So what brings you two here?"
"Well Sarge, it looks like we might have a mission—," Wash began to say, then Sarge chimed in.
"Count me in!"
"But, don't you want to know what it's about?" asked Carolina.
"Not really. I've been itching to get back in the game. I'm afraid I might have been getting soft." Sarge turned to Lopez. "Lopez! Pack up our arsenal! We are being summoned for a fight!"

Wash and Carolina tracked down Donut next, who was living with Doc in a penthouse suite. They rang the doorbell, hearing a familiar tune by Prince playing overhead. Donut excitedly answered the door and welcomed his friends.

"Oh, em, GEE! Doc! You're not going to believe who's here!" Donut pulled the two travelers inside of his home.

"Welcome! Can I get you something to drink?! Something to eat?! Oh, it's so good to see you both!"

Doc appeared in the hallway from one of the rooms.

"Oh this is such a nice surprise! Hello!" They both ushered Carolina and Wash to the dining room, where they forced them to sit. Donut rushed into the kitchen to fetch some tea, even though Wash assisted they were all set.

"How are you two doing? Any talks of having kids yet?" asked Doc as he joined them at the table.

"What?!" Carolina and Wash yelled, looking at each other, then waving their hands in denial. "Look, we're here to ask something rather important," said Wash as he tried to get comfortable in his seat. The question of kids threw him off and he tried to shake off the uneasiness that he was feeling from Carolina.

"What is it you want to ask?" Donut came back with a tea seat on a platter and set the cups out in front of everyone, then poured out the tea. "This is freshly made!"

"Carolina and I are going on a mission, and we feel its best we have back-up—"
"Say no more! Private Donut is ready for duty!" smiled Donut as he saluted.
"I'd go, but I feel like I'd get in the way," said Doc softly before sipping his tea.
"It's okay. You can keep an eye on the place while I'm gone," said Donut as he patted Doc on the shoulder. "Besides, someone has to stay behind and watch Morocco."
"Who's Morocco?" asked Wash. Donut chuckled.
"Why, our Pomeranian!" Wash and Carolina suddenly heard the sound of scampering from the next room, followed by a series of small 'arfs'.
"Aw, there's our good boy!" laughed Doc as he went to chase the fur ball. "I got this! You all be safe!"

Wash and Carolina then ventured to Tucker, Caboose and Kaikana's place. They were all living in an apartment. As they arrived, they could hear Tucker yelling at Caboose from the hallway.

"Dammit Caboose, stop making friends with the electronics!"

"It's not my fault. If you were a little nicer, maybe they'd be friends with you, too."

"Now the microwave won't work!"
"Oster is a sensitive guy. He does not like to be yelled at."
"Oster is the brand!" Tucker could be heard groaning loudly as Wash and Carolina stifled their laughter before knocking on the door.
"I'll get it."

The door opened, and Wash and Carolina were greeted by Kaikana.
"Oh look who it is! To what do we owe the pleasure?" Kaikana said while putting a hand on her hip.

"We came to chat. May we come in?" asked Wash.
"Certainly." Kaikana stepped aside and let the two in. "TUCKER!" Carolina and Wash suddenly flinched from Kaikana's outburst.

"WHAT?!" yelled Tucker from another room.
"YOU GOT VISITORS!"

"WHO IS IT?! IT'S NOT ANOTHER BOUNTY HUNTER LOOKING TO SERVE ME PAPERS AGAIN, IS IT?!"

"NO! IT'S CAROLINA AND WASHINGTON!"

"OH! I'LL BE RIGHT THERE!"

Kaikana suddenly turned to Wash and Carolina. "He'll be out in a moment."

"…Thanks…," said Carolina as she looked around the cozy apartment. Her eyes caught a glance of a blue flash that ran by the kitchen and out to the living room.

"It's Wash! And Carolina!" Caboose quickly ran up and hugged Wash, who was a little taken back by the greeting.

"Um, yes. It's me, Caboose. Good to see you, too." Caboose released his grip on Wash and suddenly hugged Carolina.

"…Wash… get him off of me…" she mumbled to Wash.

"Nu uh." Wash laughed lightly, before a familiar friend in teal appeared before them.

"Holy shit. I thought Kaikana was yanking my chain. Good to see you guys!" Tucker ran up and bumped fists with Wash.

"Sorry to drop by unannounced, but we need to talk to you guys."

"All of us?"

"Well, anyone who wants to fight," said Carolina.

"Uh oh. What kind of mess have you guys gotten yourselves into now?!" asked Tucker. Wash went on to explain the mystery message, as well as how he had recruited everyone else.

"Yay! We get to see everyone again!" cheered Caboose. "Freckles and I have missed everyone!" Wash chuckled at Caboose's response.

"…Hmm… yeah. Count me in. Life's been a little dull lately. I could use some excitement!" said Tucker.

"I'm in, too!" jumped in Kaikana. "Besides, I want to see my brother. It's been too long." Wash was smiling as he looked at Carolina, and then his eyes passed over the three before him.

"Perfect! Looks like the Red and Blues are going on another adventure!"