The New Project

Who are you?

Carolina stumbles back as though she's been shot.

"You don't remember me?" Carolina asks, hoping that he will recognize her, even after all this time she hasn't changed THAT much. Neither has he, she observes. It's like they were only apart for a day or two. In this building, it feels like they never left Project Freelancer. Until she looks around and realizes that this time she is in charge, and he should not be here. He should be dead. Why isn't he dead?

"No, I have absolutely no idea who you are. But because you keep staring at me, I'm going to assume that you know me. I don't know how though, because I've never seen you before in my life. Regardless, you are the director of this project, I presume?" York responds carelessly.

It's official. Carolina's heart breaks at the words. Then she remembers that she has her helmet on. Maybe if she takes it off he will recognize her. Glancing at her recruits, she completes the final step to their initiation; her own.

"Yes, I am the Director, formerly known as Agent Carolina," Carolina states as she slips her helmet off and turns back to face York, searching his eyes for a sign of recognition.

York just stares blankly at her.

"Was the drama really necessary? All you had to do was say "Yes, I am the Director," or "No, I am a random chick who is kidnapping your child." Its that easy. Instead, you had to go dramatically announce your name and whip off your helmet. Unnecessary. Anyway, I'm only here to take my son home. You can take him off your list, because he isn't staying. Come on Indi, we're going home." York's eyes hold nothing but growing contempt as he scolds Carolina and begins to lead his son away from the other recruits.

Carolina, shocked and heartbroken, realizes two things. First, York has a son. York has a son? How? Second, he is leaving. With his son. That he happens to have. That is also named Indi. None of this is okay. She quickly regains her composure and speaks up, halting York and Indi.

"You can't do that. Agent Indiana has been signed up, all the paperwork has been filled out, and he just completed his initiation. You can't take him away anymore. He belongs to the New Project now," Carolina states, taking some satisfaction from knowing that York will be pissed that he has to leave his son. But hey, it's the law. Indiana belongs to the project now. If York really didn't want his son to be involved in the military, maybe he shouldn't have gotten together with a girl who is so dumb she doesn't read the fine print on contracts that she signs. Or any print on those contracts. They weren't exactly hiding the fact that the kids would be kept separate from the outside world and that once signed up and initiated they would belong to the project. Dumb bitch.

"What? How can he belong to the New Project? People aren't property! You can't own him!" York exclaims.

"Oh, we can't? My bad. I forgot that OBVIOUSLY the ghost knows everything about who we are and what we are doing here. Oh wait..." Carolina says coldly.

"Okay, ghost? You're insane. I can't believe Azetha would sign you up behind my back, Indi. This director isn't any more stable than the last one. Or so I've been told. Strange, I don't remember much about my time at Project Freelancer," York muses, lost in thought for a moment. "That doesn't matter. Come on Indi, we're leaving."

"No," Indi says quietly.

"No? Indi, come on. Now isn't the time to make jokes. Let's just go home so I can speak to your mother. Sorry for taking up your time, director, I promise this won't happen again. Now we'll just get out of your hair and you'll never have to worry about us again," York says calmly, grabbing Indi's arm and beginning to walk away again.

"No dad! I'm not leaving!" Indi shouts, ripping his arm away from his father. "I'm the one that told mom to sign me up. I guess I convinced her that I truly wanted to be here. And I do. I want to train and become a great Freelancer, like you were. But it's more than that. I want a team, and a place to belong. Somewhere I can contribute, where I can make a difference, which is more than I can say about back home."

This outburst, being totally out of character for Indi, makes York pause.

"I thought you liked school! You had your whole life planned out. You were going to graduate with top grades, go to college, get a good career, and have a nice life. Get married, buy a house, have some kids, you knew what you wanted!" York says, astonished.

"No, YOU had my whole life planned out. I never once said I wanted any of that. That's just what you wanted for me. You tell me so often the military was hell, and you never want me anywhere near it. That you're trying to protect me. But the more you said no, the more I wanted to try it. And what better way to get involved than to do basically the exact same program you went through. Go big or go home, you know?" Indi explains.

York is stunned for a moment.

"I never knew you felt that way," York says softly.

"Yeah, well, you never asked," Indi replies, turning away and walking back to his place in line.

Carolina is impressed with the spectacle she witnessed. Kids got guts, she thinks. I never could have stood up to my father like that, not at that age. Of course, he wasn't practically insane yet. I guess my rebellion came later in life, when I tried to kill him. I hope Indi doesn't develop a vendetta against his father. Speaking of which, who is Indi's mother? York has mentioned her, so they must still be together. Are they married? I don't think I could take it if they are. How could he forget about me?

Carolina is snapped from her thoughts when York waves a hand in front of her face. She realizes he has been trying to get her attention, and snaps herself back to full alertness.

"Well, I guess Indi will stay then. But I want to be able to come back and check up on him whenever I want to," York states.

Carolina opens her mouth to object, about to say that that is against the rules, but suddenly realizes something. Indi is staying, which means if she follows the rules she won't see York again. But if she allows him to keep visiting, she can see him more often, and figure out how he is alive, and who the hell he procreated with to create this carbon copy of himself. Excited by her new plan, she rapidly agrees with York.

"I suppose that's fine," She says, sounding bored.

"Good. I have to make sure this New Project isn't the same fiasco the old one was."

"Alright. Now leave, York. I have to finish my giving my recruits their instructions, and you have taken up enough of my time," Carolina says.

"If you haven't noticed, I've been trying to leave this whole time. And by the way, my name isn't York. It's Lancelot."

☼☼☼

So there's the second chapter. Sorry that took so long to get up. I was busy for a while. Hopefully chapters will be faster, especially since I've got ideas. Big ideas. Unfortunately they will need a lot of build-up, so I don't know how long it will be until I actually get to them. But I have a direction for the book now! Thank you for still reading this, all comments are welcome.

Until next time

-Mysti