Dear Director,

Due to your busy schedule, we have begun interviewing members of your staff. I'm certain you will let us know if this bothers you. Our debriefings keep coming back to a single subject at Outpost 17-B. Can you explain to us what this Meta is and what your plans are to deal with it?

I look at the word "Meta" and "it." It's clear that this "Meta" they are talking about is an issue to both sides, but what exactly is the Meta?

I should probably ask Washington about this. Then again, it's been weeks since I've talked to him. After almost getting my cover blown, the Chairman promoted me to be the prison block's Commander and given me three replacements. I decided to run the prison block just as I would on Infinity: calling fellow soldiers by their last names and a better watch cycle. However, in addition to my promoted rank, the Chairman also has me training privates, so I can't guard Washington anymore. I can go as far as to say that he probably doesn't remember me anymore.

There was a knock on the bunk door with a voice sounding on the other side saying, causing me to quickly close out of the file and turn off my datapad, placing it down on the desk beside me. I stood up, and my mind flashes back to when I was on Infinity. I can see each of my former squad's pods as I walked down Hell's Waiting Room. My former self walked by each pod, giving it two knocks, each with a one knock response back. The last pod was Walker's, who gave me a single knock and said, "We're with you till the end, Lieutenant."

"Lieutenant McKenna?" A voice asked. I blinked a few times and was brought back to the present, my right hand shaking uncontrollably. I steadied my hand with the other and let out a sigh. 

"Come in," I answered.

Mike, who's the last name I found out was Wazowski, walks into the bunker and gives a short salute to me before announcing. "Sorry for the interruption, ma'am, but we have an incoming transmission from Washington's channel."

A transmission on Washington's channel? "Show me."

He nods, and I follow him to the prison's main communication room, where he led me to one of the computers that displayed the call but was on hold and said. "I told the guy to hold for a moment and transferred his call to this computer."

"Anything about the guy I should know about?" I asked as I put the headpiece into my ear, adjusting the mic near my mouth.

Wazowski shifts his stance. "He... kind of sounds like a kid."

I looked away from the computer and gave Wazowski a strange look. "You mean a kid called the prisoner?"

"No, no, no, it was an adult, but he acted and sounded like a kid. He called the prisoner 'Agent Washingtub.'" Wazowski explained quickly.

"Right... So a kid." I slowly turn back to the computer. "You can wait outside. I'll let you know if I need anything."

"Yes, ma'am." He answers, and I could hear his footsteps walk towards the door. I waited until he shut the door before focusing my attention on the call in front of me. Freelancers normally have secured channels; how did a kid get ahold of a Freelancer's channel?

I press the button to resume the call and said. "This is Lieutenant McKenna of the UNSC Staff of Charon. Who is this?"

"Hey, Caboose! The music stopped, and a lady is speaking!" Someone yelled very loudly on the other side, causing me almost to rip off the headpiece because it was so loud.

While ensuring that I didn't have any hearing loss, another voice responded to the person. I couldn't make out what he said, but seconds later, a different voice came to the headpiece. I'm assuming it is Caboose. "Ah yes, I would like to order some chicken nuggies and chocolate milk."

What the actual... he sounds just like a kid. I try my best to stay professional and replied. "Sir, this is not a food ordering-"

"Oh, this is a food ordering service too?! I would like a salad, Caesar salad if you have! If you don't have Caesar salad, Garden salad will do!" The other person exclaims. I blink in confusion and shake my head. Who are these people, and the heck do they think this is a food ordering service?

"Do you think they cookies, Donut?" Caboose asks, hopefully.

"I don't know Caboose." Donut replied. "Hey, lady! Do you have any cookies?"

Oh, for goodness sake. "This is NOT a food ordering service," I yelled at them. They both got quiet for a moment, and then Caboose asks, "Can we order some elbow grease?"

I facepalm. These two are literal idiots.

"NO! This frequency was specifically assigned to Agent Washington, formerly of Project Freelancer." I tell them, taking my hand off my face. "State your business, or I will hang up."

"Oh, yes, yes. Agent Washingtub." Caboose says, and I hit my head on the desk. How does someone confuse Washington with Washingtub? I just... don't understand.

"Did... You hit your head on something, lady?" Donut asks. "Cuz I thought I heard-"

I picked my head up and cut him off. "No, I didn't hit my head on the table. Now, why are you calling Agent Washington?"

"We need his help with something! He's a very good friend of ours." Caboose said cheerfully.

These idiots... are friends with the prisoner? I thought about the situation for a moment. I doubt these two can cause any trouble and are probably going to ask Washington something dumb. "Very well. I will transfer the call to a terminal for him to talk to you."

"Thank you, nice lady!" Caboose said cheerfully.

I put the call on hold again and transfer the call to the nearest terminal to Washington's cell. I get up from the chair was walked out of the room where Wazowski was waiting. He gives me a smirk and asks. "How was the call, ma'am?"

"It was.. interesting," I replied while chuckling a bit. "You were wrong about the person being a kid. The two people in that call are just idiots with some sort of ties to the Freelancer."

"How did they get ahold of his secure channel?" He asks.

"No idea," I responded. "I transferred the call to a terminal near the prisoner. I want you to escort him to the terminal and give him three minutes to talk to them."

"Ma'am?" Wazowski looks at me in shock and confusion.

I turned towards the direction of the bunks and said. "Like I said: those two on the phone are idiots. I doubt they have anything to do with Project Freelancer or anything important. They might just be friends for all we know. Now go."

"Yes, ma'am." He answers and swiftly heads towards the prison while I slowly walk back to the bunks. Although this Caboose and Donut seem harmless, I will try to cross-reference them with my files. It's not normal for civilians to have access to a freelancer's comm-link.

 I approached the bunks and pressed the button to open the door. I walk through and sit back down at the desk, picking up my datapad once again. I inserted the name "Caboose" in my file search; however, none of the files had anything reference to the name. I inputted the name "Donut." Once again, no files on the name. It's strange, but I have a theory that Washington met them randomly during a mission and never reported them.

Suddenly, my datapad's screen switched to an incoming call from Wazowski on my comm-link. I only saw him a few minutes ago and sent him to watch Washington take the call. I grab my helmet, put it on, and placed my finger on my headpiece. "This is Lieutenant McKenna speaking."

"Sorry for another interruption, ma'am, but the prisoner requests an audience with you," Wazowski responds. "Something about 'the missing piece in a puzzle."

"I am on my way." I replied and ended the call. I closed my datapad, setting it back down on the desk, holster my Magnum, and once again exited the bunks. I made my way down to the prison block to the place I had transferred the call to. I see Washington in his full gray and yellow armor standing by a terminal with Wazowski standing guard nearby. He gives me a salute and says. "Lieutenant."

I give him a nod and turn my attention to Washington. "I heard that you wanted to speak to me."

"Not you, the commanding officer of this ship." Washington corrected. "I have some information that he may want to hear."

"How dare you talk back to an officer-" Wazowski starts.

"Wazowski." I said sternly, and he instantly gets quiet. I shifted my attention back to Washington. "And what information would that be?"

"That information is none of your concern." He answers flatly. Wazowski began to shift in place as if he was ready to put Washington back in his cell for his rudeness, and I put a hand up to halt him from making any more moves. I shifted my focus back to Washington, keeping eye contact with him for a short while before placing my finger on my headpiece, calling the Chairman. "Sir, the prisoner is requesting an audience with you. He claims to have some information you want."

"He requests an audience with me?" The Chairman repeats in surprise. "Please do bring him to my office. I gladly accept his request."

"Yes, sir." I put down my finger and said. "The Chairman will see you now, Washington."

"Ma'am?" Wazowski says, astonished, while Washington nods. "Lead the way."

"Mike, bring up the rear." I order as I began the trek to the Chairman's office. Everyone was silent on the way there, but I can sense Washington's calmness and the nervousness of Wazowski. 

We approached the massive door to the Chairman's office, the same one I broken into a few weeks back. I turned to face Washington. "Alright, Washington. The man in charge has agreed to see you. You have five minutes."

"Do anything aggressive, and I'll shoot you," Wazowski adds, making me facepalm. "Do anything weird, and I'll shoot you. Do anything I don't like-"

"And you'll shoot me." Washington finishes. "I got it. I think I've identified the pattern."

"Talkback again, and I'll shoot you. I don't know why he's even seeing you." Wazowski snaps back.

"Wazowski..." I warned, but I could tell that he wasn't paying attention.

Washington calmly replies. "Because I know something he wants."

"Well, good for you. You have five minutes."

"Guess I should say thank you." 

"I guess you should get going." Wazowski mocks. "Your five minutes already started."

"That's enough, Wazowski," I ordered. "Go back to the bunks. I will handle it from here."

"But-"

"Are you questioning my orders, Wazowski?" He shrinks in fear and answers. "No, ma'am."

"Then go back to the bunks and rest before your next shift." I ordered him again. Wazowski gives me a salute before doing an about-face and walking back to the bunks. I tell Washington to stay put as I knock on the massive door. It begins to open slightly, big enough to let me inside. I take a few steps forward and give the Chairman a salute. "Sir, I brought the prisoner as you requested."

"Bring him in!" Chairman says cheerfully. "Please, bring him in."

I lowered my salute and walked back out of the office as the doors began to open fully. I tell Washington. "He's waiting."

I stood to the side, allowing for Washington to walk in. I hear the Chairman give Washington a greeting.

"My dear Agent Washington. I am so pleased to make your acquaintance, do come in. I feel that we have much to discuss."

I followed Washington into the office, making sure that he does not make any sudden moves. The door closes behind me, and I take my place at the door with a hand over my Magnum. I did a mental check that I still had the sleeping darts loaded into the gun. If things go south, I'll hit him with a dart because he is my only lead on Project Freelancer besides Charon Industries' information on the matter.

"I'm sorry, but do we know each other?" Washington asks as I focus my attention on the current conversation. 

"You are special Agent Washington," The Chairman answers. "Former member of Project Freelancer, also known by the designation, Recovery One."

"Also known as Prisoner 619-B." I smirked, trying to add to the conversation, but no one entertained the comment as the Chairman continued. "Convicted three counts dereliction of duty, eight counts of conspiracy to commit treason, and my personal favorite, seven counts destruction of protected classified military property."

It's hard to see Washington's reaction, but he replies to the Chairman with.  "And you are...?"

"I am someone extremely disappointed by the destruction of the said property. That is all you need to know."

 "I want to make a deal. I have information that you want." Washington adds, which gains my attention. Is there more information to this Project Freelancer than I thought besides a fallen organization?

"All the information that I want was lost in the destruction of Project Freelancer." The Chairman dismissed.

"Not all of it."

"Agent Washington, if you knew anything that could have kept you out of prison, I am sure it would have come to light during your trial. So if you're quite through with wasting my time, will-"

Washington interrupts him. "I know you're missing the Epsilon unit, and I know where to find it."

The Epsilon unit?! I took my hand off my Magnum as the Chairman looks at him in curiosity. "... You have my attention." The Chairman states.

"It disappeared after the events of Freelancer Command," Washington explains. "You searched everyone associated with the program. Even the Red Team Troopers you found."

"Yes... The ones who were found bickering around the stalled jeep."

"There's another group of soldiers, a Blue squad. They escaped with Epsilon."

A red and blue squad... I heard of some group like that. 

He looks through his records on his computer. "I show no record of these soldiers."

"And you won't," He confirmed. "But I know where to find them. So here's the deal: I give you that missing module, you get me out of here. I get a clean slate, and we forget we ever knew each other."

The Chairman nods. "That sounds fair." I take a small step back. The Chairman is... allowing him to proceed with this mission?

"I'm gonna need some equipment," Washington adds. "Invisibility, over shields, anything leftover from Freelancer."

"I think we can point you in the right direction here." The Chairman pauses, and I noticed that Washington was not paying attention anymore. I put my hand back on my Magnum and brought my guard up. He could be planning a way to escape with this mission...

"Agent Washington, are you listening to me?" The Chairman raises an eyebrow.

"Mm? Yes, I'm listening." I focus my full attention back on my new boss.

"Agent Washington, when you find these blue soldiers that you're talking about, what makes you think that they are just going to give you the Epsilon unit when you ask them for it?"

The former Freelancer laughed. "Hehehe, for as long as I can remember, I've been lied to, taken advantage of, shot in the back, and left for dead. And now: I have a way out of all of this. What in the heck makes you think that I'm going to ask for it?"

The Chairman looks over Washington's shoulder to me. "Lieutenant McKenna, take him to the Armory and get him suited up. I will have some personnel deliver the necessary equipment he needs."

"Sir? You're just gonna take his word for it?" I ask. While I am very shocked that the Chairman is allowing a prisoner to carry out a mission for him, I see this as an opportunity to gather more information before he leaves.

"I am," Chairman says firmly. "And since you volunteered, you'll be accompanying Agent Washington on his mission. Dismissed."

Accompany the prisoner on his mission? This changes everything my plan for the better. Now, I can ask Washington any question without having the Chairman or his minions breathing down my back. "Yes, sir." I replied and turned to Washington. "Let's go, rookie."

"I'm not a rookie." He defended, following me out of the office.

I smile under my helmet, knowing fully well that his capabilities surpass my own. "I'll believe it when I see it."