Hi guys, and welcome to chapter twelve of More than Machines! I'd like to start with a HUGE thank you to BeccaShannon and Galuran-093 for their wonderful reviews!

Warning: Some violence, coarse language, mild slash

Disclaimer: I do not own Red vs Blue or any of the characters/trademarks associated with it!

The training session started off normal. The agents all grabbed their guns and paintball ammo; for this test, everyone had Magnums, so that everyone was on equal grounds. F.I.L.S.S called the round to a start, and instantly York, Maine and Wyoming ducked behind the blocks. York seemed to be trying to tell them something, when Maine suddenly ran out and was instantly shot down. Wyoming did the same.

North wanted to strangle them for York's sake. He watched as York skilfully made his way through the pillars, expertly dodging and picking strategic cover. North felt a surge of pride at the sight; Texas would have a hard time taking him down.

However, he soon realised that even the best made mistakes, and he winced when York ran right into Texas, and before he could defend himself his gun was snatched out of his hand and he was shot point-blank in the face. North sighed as York toppled over, and F.I.L.S.S announced that Texas had won the round.

The agents had their armour cleaned and unlocked, before they were cleared for round two. Once again, York tried to formulate a plan, and once again he was ignored in favour of charging out. They were almost immediately shot down, and North winced in sympathy for York, who was once again left without backup. He watched as York used all of his skills to find Texas and get her, but, while ducking behind cover, North saw the black Freelancer come up behind him and press her Magnum into the back of his head. York froze, and there was a moment of suspense before Texas fired and York's entire helmet was covered with the pink and purple paint.

"Round two over. Point Texas." F.I.L.S.S monotone, and North watched as the agents were once again cleaned off and prepared for round three.

The rounds passed, with Texas getting the better of them every time. At one point York seemed to give up on talking sense into his teammates and leapt in with them, and all three were shot down virtually instantly. North winced when York was sent toppling backwards over the pillar he'd just jumped over, landing in a rather spectacular faceplant.

At one point North held his breath as York met Texas faced each other head on, where York managed to knock Texas' Magnum out of her hand. For a moment, it really looked like he was going to win, before Texas demonstrated her incredible abilities by kicking her dropped Magnum up into York's face, before grabbing his hand holding the Magnum and forcing him to shoot himself… in a very bad spot.

There was a collective exclamation of sympathy from North and Wash at the sight.

Finally, it was time for round nine, with Texas absolutely destroying the others with a score of 8-0. North watched as York went to grab more paintball ammo for his pistol, but then noticed something strange; Wyoming and Maine hadn't picked up paint ammo. If fact, it almost looked like-

Bang! Bang! The shots rang out. Texas frantically ran from pillar to pillar as the bullets destroyed them..

"What? Are they using live ammo on the training room floor?" Wash demanded loudly.

"Looks like it," South said, a hint of surprise.

"But that's against protocol! They're gonna kill her!" Wash cried.

"Probably," Connie, or CT, as she now preferred, replied calmly. Her voice surprised North; he hadn't heard her come in.

"Someone should get the Director!" Wash said firmly, though he didn't move. CT just laughed.

"The Director?" she asked condescendingly, "who do you think gave them the ammo?"

"Watch your mouth, CT!" Carolina snapped. CT just returned her gaze to the training room, where things were getting more and more heated. Poor York was desperately trying to avoid friendly fire, and North felt a flare of anger at their recklessness. Somebody was going to get hurt!

North watched as York managed to get to Texas, and they seemed to talk for a moment, before Maine appeared, firing at them both. Texas quickly kicked York away and jumped into the fight, shooting madly and managing to stick Maine's fist into one of the pillars.

Suddenly, Wyoming managed to shoot her in the shoulder. She immediately lashed out, beating the crap out of him, before shooting him and then slamming his head into a pillar. North felt a smirk of satisfaction tug at his lips.

York ran out in an attempt to beat Texas, but she merely knocked him away. As he was struggling to get up, Maine managed to free himself and he smashed into the pillar that Wyoming was stuck in. Large chunks of debris went flying everywhere, one of them hitting York square in the head, knocking him back on the ground. Texas quickly shot Maine, locking up his top half. However, as he fell, North noticed something in his hand.

"Is that a-" he was cut off by a surge of panic as Maine threw the grenade, missing Texas. The armed grenade landed a few metres away; right next to York. Still dazed from two hits to the head, York hadn't even noticed the danger he was in.

"York!" North shouted, but it was no use. Texas quickly shot York all over, locking his armour up, just as the grenade exploded, sending York flying. He crashed to the ground, motionless.

"Shit!" North yelled, bolting for the door.

"Dammit, those maniacs!" Wash cried, following. North vaguely registered Carolina calling for a medical team, but he was too desperate to get to York to notice.

Once they reached the training floor, North bolted over to York's side. However, before he could get near him, the medical team had already arrived, and he was shoved out of way.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Wash asked in concern, as York groaned.

"I can't believe she did that to him," South muttered, shaking her head. "Shot his armour, sacrificed him…"

"Lockdown hardens the armour," Wash reminded her gently. "She probably saved his life."

"Quick thinking," North murmured, looking down at his injured partner.

"Yeah, real quick," Carolina muttered sarcastically, watching Texas as she was helped out of the training room.

"Everyone, stand down, now!" Everyone swiftly stood at attention in a line as the Director stormed in, followed by the Counsellor. He glared at each of them. "You should be ashamed of yourselves! I expect you to act as a team!"

"They used live ammunition on the floor, sir," Wash defended. "That's against regulation!"

"Do you think our enemies will care about regulation on the battlefield, Agent Washington?" The Director demanded, getting right into Wash's face and forcing him to take a step back.

"So, you're not punishing them?" he asked hesitantly.

"Ingenuity and adaptability are admirable traits," the Director answered firmly. "You should all learn something from this. Dismissed." The Director turned on his heel and left, the Counsellor following behind quickly. North and the rest immediately relaxed and watched as the medics took York away. CT leaned in close to Wash.

"Yeah, you should learn something alright." She said sarcastically.

"I can't believe this!" Wash exclaimed, shaking his head. CT brushed past him on her way out.

"Don't forget to check your place on that list, Wash," she muttered, before stalking out. North knew that there was something more behind that conversation, but didn't really care at the moment. He quickly hurried off in the direction that the medics had taken York. He had to get to him.

That was the only thing that mattered.

There you go! Thank you so much for reading, and please leave a review! Constructive critism is welcome, flames are not!