The snow had started back again, it wasn't strong snow either it was just a light powder. Stepping out the door the cold air hit him straight in the face, the apartment building was heated well. Slowly he made his way to the hideout, the snow was too soft to make a crunch underneath his feet even as it compressed with each step. The lights were still off as he made it back to the house, he reached for the doorknob and tried to turn it, but it didn't budge. Shit Tom thought to himself as he went around to the back and tried that door, also locked. He had locked himself out when he left and he couldn't stay out here until they woke up. Looking up he could see a window, it was his best option to wake someone, he leaned down and picked up some snow before compacting it and hurling the snow at the window. The glass wrang but the snowball hitting wasn't that loud, trying again he got a smaller amount of snow before compacting more then he had before. Now more the size of a golf ball he threw it as it made a loud ringing noise through the window and the snowball exploded on impact. Soon the window opened as Cyd stuck his head out to see what the noise was caused by.
"The hell you doing down there?!" Cyd yelled at Tom.
"I got locked out, can you let me in?" Tom asked back. It was hard to tell but he could see Cyd's eyes narrow before he brought his head back in and shut the window. Tom stood by the door as he waited before it unlocked and opened.
"Dumbass," Cyd said to him as he turned around and let Tom in. Tom walked inside as he shut the door and locked it behind him. Cyd was leaning against the kitchen counter as he lit another cigarette.
"Right now?" Tom asked as he looked at him strangely.
"What, everyone is asleep and I want one." Cyd shot back.
"You totally were high when you lost your toe." Tom spit back his own toxicity. Cyd opened his mouth to say something back before closing it.
"Lucky guess," Cyd said stubbornly as he took a drag. Tom rolled his eyes as he leaned against the counter with him.
"How old are you?" Cyd asked as he looked at Tom.
"Odd question but I'm twenty-two," Tom said as he turned his head in confusion.
"Huh, thought you were older, like your thirties." Cyd replied back.
"Wha- fuck you." Tom said back. Cyd shrugged as he blew out the smoke.
"Well then how old are you?" Tom asked back in retort.
"I turned twenty a few months ago," Cyd said as he put the pack of cigs in his back pocket.
"By Omega you are young." Tom said sarcastically to mess with Cyd.
"It's only a two year difference," Cyd said as he took another drag. Tom rolled his eyes as he pushed off the kitchen counter and crept his way into the living room. Cyd looked at him weird as he did so before he followed him, the house was still quiet for the most part, no lights, and someone was snoring upstairs. Walking up the stairs Tom returned to the room as he waited on Cyd.
"I'm not a princess you don't have to wait on me," Cyd said as he walked into the room before he went to the window. Tom shrugged as he went and sat in his bed, the MRE still sat there.
"So where did you go?" Cyd asked.
"I went to go see someone, it was nice, small problem may be concerned later." Tom replied back.
"Huh, what do you mean?" Cyd asked again.
"I wouldn't worry about it, I'm sure it won't be a problem until somebody actually notices," Tom said as he laid back on the mattress. Cyd eyed him suspiciously before he tossed the cigarette out the window and then shut it.
"The hell are you talking about and will you two shut the fuck up," Singe said as he rolled over from his bed.
"Does somebody need their beauty sleep?" Cyd asked sarcastically.
"I know you're going to get a foot up your ass," Singe said as he sat up.
"Ooooh kinky." Cyd said back.
"Ew you fucking perv." Singe spat back.
"Hey you said it not me," Cyd said as he sat down in bed.
"Whatever, why are you both awake?" Singe asked as he looked at Tom.
"Had to let that idiot inside because he locked himself out." Cyd said.
"And why were you locked out?" Singe asked.
"I went to go see someone, I couldn't sleep either," Tom said as he sat back up.
"Uh huh, just make sure you tell someone next time or that's our asses," Singe said as he laid back down and turned away. Tom stuck his tongue out at him as he turned away then finally laid down himself. By the time he woke dawn was just barely breaking as the window let some light into the dark room. Tom sat up as Singe and Cyd were still both asleep, Singe was halfway off the bed. Getting up and exiting the room the house was now dead silent and the air felt light as he walked. The stairs creaked as he went down them, Alex was sitting up on the couch as she had a large piece of parchment sprawled over the coffee table. Beaver sat on the other side as he leaned his head back on the couch mumbling to himself. As Tom reached the bottom Alex looked up at him.
"Why are you down here?" Alex asked.
"I just wanted to get out of the room because I don't want to lay in it all morning," Tom said as he came over looking at the parchment on the table, now with a closer look it was a close up map of Sampi.
"Uhuh well since you're up you're going to help me go over this and mark points, you get to run some lovely errands," Alex said as she marked a few spots down on the map.
"Like what?" Tom asked.
"A small House camp that's been popping here and there, a HADES change of crew I would take a gun for that, and a Freelancer test trial with no idea what they are testing," Alex said as she cut part of the map, folded it, then handed it to Tom.
"Wait, I have to do this alone?" Tom asked in surprise.
"I looked into you last night, you're an ex-Freelancer you will do fine." Alex said.
"For two days, I got no official training," Tom said back as he took the map piece.
"You will live, and if you don't you'll just be another casualty they will mark as an unfortunate loss." Alex barked.
"Now get the fuck on!" Alex yelled at him. Tom stirred in anger before he nodded and went to the front door and stepped outside but before he went and grabbed a pistol that sat on the lamp table near the door. Solo missions were just his favorite thing in the world. This was sarcasm to himself. He had improved a lot from his first but it was still risky to do. Tucking the pistol into his inner jacket pocket he began his track as he extended out the quarter of the map, it wasn't easy to read it but he wasn't given much. Seems he has to move further down south of Sampi, the tribal regions of Sampi.
"It's not like the tribes are real, just an old myth like the underground bats, people love making stuff up," Tom said out loud to himself as he entered the nearby forest. It was warm this morning and the snow had lowered compared to last night. Tom wondered why they were even looking into a Freelancer test trial, and what sucked the most was that was his first stop. He had wished he got more for the trip, a pair of binoculars at the very least but no, just the gun.

It took a few hours before he finally reached the point on the map, at least a little before it. If this was a Freelancer they definitely had someone running perimeter possibly multiple. Stepping onto a small snow mound he laid down as he looked forward, there was a lake infront of him. It was completely frozen over and nothing was currently on the ice, it may have been a while before whoever got there. Taking the pistol out of his coat pocket he took out the magazine before he racked the slide and caught the bullet that was in it. A modified version of the magnum meant to hold a smaller round and fit more ammo in it, .45 looking at the bottom of the bullet it was ACP, a standard round. It wouldn't punch a hole in thicker armors but it'd do damage. He put the bullet back in the magazine before he loaded it back in the gun and racked it. Looking back out to the frozen lake it was different, a figure stood out in the middle, no identifying features but it was light out so it was impossible for this figure to almost be a pitch black.
"Just more hallucinations, it isn't real, you are awake and lucid." Tom said to himself as he scanned the tree line. Still nothing, for this being a test trial it seems odd to do it out in the open. It's the Freelancer group they have secure facilities probably testing chambers but no they do it out in the open. Tom looked to his right as he was greeted by two black beady eyes of a snow white bunnylops. Startled by the bunnylops just appearing, Tom pushed away.
"Shit little guy you scared me, odd to see one of you guys just approach someone," Tom reached out to pet the thing before it moved back.
"You get nice and close to me but still wary of me, that's fair," Tom said as he withdrew his hand. He looked back out towards the frozen lake as the figure had disappeared now, on the far left appeared a soldier, no concernable markings not that he could tell from this distance. It didn't take long for another two to make an appearance before two chupas walking in chains came forward with what Tom could only call a Freelancer scientist. One more guard followed behind him, the scientist had a briefcase in hand as he stepped onto the ice as the ones in chains were ushered around. One chained stand by the scientist while the other stood on the opposite end of the lake. Two stood away from the lone chained chupa, the chained chupa looked around in clear distress. The scientist opened the suitcase as legs popped out from underneath as he sat it down, taking out something that fit in his hand, maybe a tape recorder. He then took out what could only be described as a children's toy. It was one of those ones that made animal noises.
"The hell are they doing?" Tom asked himself as the scientist took out a gun. It was hand held but it broke open as he inserted something into it before closing it. He then set it to the side before he moved the chained chupa forward before he forced him to kneel before he removed the chains. He spoke into the device in his hand before he spoke out loud.
"Stay down until give a command, if you move you will be gunned down before you've even fully stood up," the scientist chupa said as he backed up from the previously chained one. Picking up the children's toy he pressed it before it made the low tone of a distorted cow, it was weird to hear coming from such an innocent toy. The chupa in the middle of the ice now fell to the ground as he gripped his head, the snarling could be heard from the snow mound Tom was on. His claws dug into the ice as he was now on all fours, the fur stood across his entire body as he began to radiate in steam before he charged the other chained chupa. The chained one stumbled back before he slipped on the ice, he landed on his pack as the now deranged chupa launched on him before tearing out his throat first. It then proceeded to tear into his body, a bloody mess of gore and blood as he continued to steam before looking up. The two guards had made their way back around to the scientist who was now holding the gun from before.

"Stand down subject B-004," the scientist said as he pointed the gun towards him. Subject B4 turned around to face them before he charged again, his eyes were a bright yellow, there was no sense in reasoning with a beast. The scientist shot the dart at him. The dart stuck into the skin as the beast leaped at the scientist who sidestepped him. It hit the ground before it slid, the dart falling out in the process. It stood there for a few moments as it began to slowly approach the scientist before it fell to the ground.
"Subject brought down, lethality on unarmed targets is a success. Move on to small arms fire for the next test, once successful move onto more than one target at a time. Note the subject still doesn't listen to commands and darts are beginning to be less effective, take down time was thirty seconds compared to their usual ten seconds," the scientist said as he spoke into the device and approached the beast. The scientist went back to the briefcase as he set the gun back into it before he closed it and packed up the table part.
"Put the locks back on him and drag him behind us, I hate the cold and wanted to do this quick," the scientist said as he began walking the way they came. Two grabbed subject B4's arms as they began to drag him behind.
"What in the hell did I just witness," Tom said to himself as he backed up from the snow hill. Standing up he made a note on the back of the map before he flipped it back over. The next was the random camp popping up around Sampi, their last location was three clicks from where he was.

Tom walked down the hill as he got onto the frozen lake, the gored corpse on the other side. What was the point of bringing out somebody just to kill them only to test lethality, they could have used a pig or cow. Maybe that was considered too precious of a resource. Though Tom didn't care much it was just a tad uncomfortable to see the blood slowly spread across the ice but he couldn't stay there too long.

Starting to move again he made his way towards this pop up camp, it took another two hours of searching to come upon it. Two small tents, the remnants of a campfire, empty MREs, and a single duffle bag. Whoever was here had only left a while ago and in a hurry with what they left. Tom picked up the duffle bag, it had some weight to it and as he shook it something bumped around inside. He unzipped the bag as he found a pair of binoculars, a magnum with the House insignia, a hunting knife, a flashlight, a walkie talkie, and a single cassette tape. Tom zipped the bag back up as he slung it over his back. Walking up to the first tent he took a peek inside, a sleeping bag and lantern sat in it. The sleeping bag was strewn around and the lantern was cracked at the bottom, the oil had seeped out. Pulling his head out he went to the other tent as he looked in that as well, a sleeping bag and lantern as well except magazines were also strewn around with the sleeping bag. Tom picked up one of the magazines as he looked at it, only to be met by a nude female chupa. Tom tossed it back as he looked in disgust before wiping his hand off on his jacket. He got out of the tent as he walked around the campsite, tracks had gone off in two directions but one pair was fresher than the other. Deciding to follow wasn't hisbbest idea but he was here to gain intel and he wasn't coming back empty handed. Following the tracks he found twigs broken along the trees, something big had come through the path. Finally reaching the face of a tall rock wall was a cave, strange markings outside of it with the snow around the front dug up. Tom opened the bag as he took out the flashlight and pressed the button as it lit up the cave entrance. This was just about his worst idea yet, drawing his pistol from his jacket as he stepped inside the cave and slowly went further in.

Swinging the flashlight around he found more markings on the walls, it was hard to tell what they were only able to depict chupas from it. A noise came from further within as Tom pointed his light in the direction of the noise, a raccoon hissed at him before it scampered off further in. Tom let out a sigh of relief as he followed the raccoon, there were sticks all over the ground, some with spear heads others just sharpened to a point. Maybe the stories about tribal chupas were true but surely they would have killed him by now or at the very least attacked him. Reaching a dead end he found was most likely made the tracks outside, a pitfall right around the corner to this dead end. Looking down he spotted the body of a chupa, his head was turned the wrong way, dead upon impact more than likely. Tom's stomach churned as he turned back around and began to leave the cave, it was hard to tell which way he had come from because he found the caves split into two sections. Tom took a guess and went to the right, there were more cave paintings; these were a little more clear and fresher. It was clear that the chupas in the image were House members, one dressed in robes and two others with what he assumed were guns. Continuing down the cave there was light and the crackle of fire, Tom turned off the flashlight as he peeked around the corner. It was a single chupa with a spear sitting by a fire as it roasted a piece of meat on the spear. Tom eyed him before he turned back around and began to leave, he wasn't going to mess with someone that had a spear especially since he wasn't trying to stay long in case there was more.

It didn't take long before Tom was back out of the cave and he followed the tracks again. Finally reaching back to the campsite before he looked at the map once more, this next trip was a very long walk to the HADES encampment or what he assumed was an encampment not much was told to him. As he walked the forest sounded oddly quiet, taking a look around him he spotted the same figure he did at the ice, closer this time, he turned back around trying to ignore it. He picked up speed as he wanted to get out, he had to get out. He picked up more and more speed before he came to a snow clearing as he tripped over his own feet and tumbled through the snow as he got further away from the forest. Looking back into the forest the figure stood, he didn't try to come forward, seemingly stuck within it. Tom felt his heart beat in his chest, his breathing rapid and not stopping. He tried to take in a deep breath but he couldn't, almost as if someone punched him in the chest. He coughed several times before he finally took in a deep breath, his hands trembled beneath him. Looking up the figure was gone now he looked around for it but it was fully gone now. Tom slowed his breathing as he laid back in the snow, his lungs burned. Getting up and out of the snow he looked over the map for the clearing, he was a little off from where he needed to be, folding up the map he put it back in his pocket. Tom began to walk again as he avoided the forest now feeling uneasy.

Taking out the binoculars from the bag he looked down to the base as he had climbed a tree, they were gathering in the courtyard waiting for the transport. Tom counted twenty of them, all in the armor all armed to the teeth. But he was happy he didn't have to fight them just waiting and watching what they do. It wasn't long before the transport came, a large fully armored truck which opened and out came more HADES agents as the others loaded into the truck. The exchange was quick and the truck was gone, this group was smaller, only eighteen of them. Maybe he had just missed two of them. Climbing down from the tree he was going to get a closer look, he wasn't going to sneak in but he wanted to see what supplies they were given. As Tom came down the tree and turned around he was greeted by the barrel of a revolver. "Just who in the fuck are you." The chupa asked, they weren't HADES, a brown jacket and brown fur, her hair was white.

Red vs Blue © Rooster Teeth. Halo © 343 Industries. Concept by Myshu, assisted by The Department of Chupapology.