We Came, We Saw, We Conqured

Hello Counselor

York drove us to the facility the Counselor was hanging out.

"I'm sorry, this is a secure facility," the tree computer said, "Only authorized personnel may enter."

"FILSS?" Carolina questioned, "Is that you? What's happened to you?"

"This is a secure facility," FILSS said, "Only authorized personnel may enter. Please, leave the premises immediately."

"FILSS this is Agent Carolina of Project Freelancer. Acknowledge and go for secure."

"I am sorry: I recognize that designation, but only authorized personnel may enter this facility."

"FILSS," I said, "this is Agent Rhode Island of Project Freelancer. Tell the Counselor I have something he wants."

"And what might that be Agent?" FILSS questioned.

"Me."

The door behind us slid open.

"Why would the Counselor want you?" York asked as we walked in.

"He's determine to break me. Do ye know what happens when ye break a genius?"

"Not anything good, I imagine."

"Nah."

"Shh," Carolina shushed us, "Do you hear a woman's voice?"

"Besides yers?" I questioned.

"Yeah," Church said popping up, "It's coming from over here." He appeared at a door. We joined him at the door. York moved to pick the lock. I smacked his hand.

"Yer not allowed to touch holographic locks, remember?"

"The Counselor already knows we're here," York stated.

"Let her do it, York," Carolina told him.

He sighed and stepped back from the lock, "Whatever you say dear."

I knelt and picked the lock. The door slid open with a hiss. Carolina entered first. York and I followed her in. We found the Director sitting at a desk watching a video of some woman. The woman appeared to be shipping off for war.

"Hello Director," Carolina said.

"Hello Agent Carolina," he responded.

"Hello Director," York and I parroted Carolina's greeting.

"Hello Agent Rhode Island. Agent York." He turned to look at us. "What brings you three here?"

"Lookin' fer the Counselor," I answered.

"How long have you been here?" Carolina asked him as she pulled off her helmet. York followed suit. I stayed by the door and kept mine on.

"Since the start of the investigation, so awhile," the Director answered. He turned back to his video. "This is all I have left of your mother, Katie. Well, besides you. Although, for a while I was told you were dead."

"The Counselor tell you that?"

"He did indeed."

"Yer not the only one he lied too, sir," I said.

He turned back to face me, "What do you mean Agent?"

I stepped forward and pulled off my helmet. "Fer a year, he kept me locked up and lied to me. There was this list he would go through everyday telling me who was dead. It's been a month and I'm still having problems. The Counselor had almost broken me, but Alpha convinced me to escape. Then I found Wash and things started getting better."