War for Freedom

(Chapter 12)/A Coded Recruitment

Chloe's POV:
March 21st, 2093, 14:57:
Twenty-five miles North-East of Vanguard Base:

Come on, where are you Zero, you can't just disappear without something for you. Why did you go to that town without us, was it important to you or something? Driving around in the warthog, Helena was having us trying to locate Zero close to the base, but we all know he can't be anywhere nearby. This was to keep everyone else in check to make sure they didn't go missing.

In the warthog with me was the twins, and both looked bored out of their minds. They probably wanted to do something else other than look for Zero, and considering their continued hatred for humans, it's probably true. Complaining about them not warming up to Zero already isn't going to help find him. After getting to that town, there was no trace of him, not even a misplaced weapon he had.

Was he captured, and if so, by who? The most likely is the C.A., since they were the ones who attacked that place. However, I can't keep that unknown army out of the picture either. While they've been quiet ever since Greenville Bunker, I have a feeling that their building up their strength long enough to figure out something to beat me when I transform.

I still need to get a handle on it, as so far, I can only transform when I'm angry enough at something. I just need to control my anger, and when I can focus it, I can effectively use my powers. Still though, it's all useless with trying to find Zero. Well, except for that tracking ability can do, but it's automatic, so I can't activate it, it can only activate itself.

Interrupting the silence, my com beeped for a second before Rena's voice asked,

Rena (coms): "Any luck on your side?"

Via (sarcastically): "I mean, there's a lot of rocks and dirt, we could probably make a rockman to replace Zero or something."

Rena (coms): "I'll take that as a no, not much luck on our side either, safe to say that Zero's far behind enemy lines."

Chloe: "Agreed, I'm going to call it, return to base."

Rena (coms): "Understood ma'am."

My com then beeped again, signaling that she disconnected from the call. Turning the wheel, I started driving back to base, intent on discussing new ways on locating Zero. As I began thinking of ways to locate Zero, Douglas asked Via,

Douglas: "So Via, what's the chances that Zero would spill everything he knows in an instant."

Via: "Rather low, remember when we interrogated him, and he only found ways to laugh."

Douglas: "Wow, you're giving that no-fur too much credit, he'll spill within an instant, no question."

I clutched the wheel tighter while hearing this, annoyed that Douglas could think of such things. Even after doing so much for us, all that he and Via can do is either insult or make fun of him. I did bring this up with Zero in private, wanting to know what he would do about it.

To my surprise, he didn't want to do nothing about it, as he respected people's rights to have opinions. Didn't mean he liked what was said about him, but he believed that all people, even the twins, would have their minds changed with time. I wonder how he can do that, most of my service had people fear me for being a Spartan, but with Zero, I don't know what I could do.

Ignoring Douglas's accusations, as I knew that Zero would do the same, I focused on driving, eventually making it back to base without trouble driving to the garage, I parked the warthog before hopping out, watching as the other warthog makes it back as well. After it parked right next to us, Rena jumped off from the chain gun placement and asked me,