With the decision not to take the detour, it wasn't long before the group reached the Great Freezing Plains, the final passage through an icy cavern leading to a snowy plain. From her hiding spot, Texas continued to observe with amusement Tucker's consideration and tending attitude towards Ferdy. She had indeed enjoyed the salad that he made for her, and plainly was embarrassed at the amount of public attention he was giving her...though she plainly wasn't displeased by it. Watching her explain that no, she didn't get cold unless she wanted to thanks to her low-level shape shifting had been amusing, though it quickly became apparent that amusement was at an end.
Ahead of them was a massive temple-like structure, patrolled by a couple dozen troops in red and blue armor. "So, what we want is in there?" Tucker asked Ferdy.
"Bla blargh," Ferdy replied with a nod. "Bla Blargha bla blar."
"She says-"
"I know what she said, Andy," Tucker interrupted. "Guess it's time for me to strut my stuff." Standing up, he began examining the Temple and the deployment of the troops. "...huh, looks like more of the Zealot troops that Sarge and Caboose dealt with, based on the way they're talking."
"Oh!" Caboose spoke up excitedly. "You mean the ones who have a very violent idea of nap time?"
Tucker paused as he let that turn over in his mind. "...yeah, that's right," he mused as he put his gun away and gripped his energy sword without activating it. "So whatever I do to them here, they'll just get back up again eventually?"
"I don't like where this is going," Andy spoke up nervously.
"Blarg!" Ferdy declared excitedly, pulling out a bag of...something, it was hard to tell what...and sitting on a nearby rock where she blended in with the landscape but had a good view of the Temple.
"Heh." With that last sound, Tucker dashed for the Temple.
"Invaders!" one of the zealot troops declared as they all opened fire, one from a turret.
To Texas' stunned shock, Tucker dodged and leapt between the bullets as if he knew where they were going to be before they got there, spinning and twirling about before slicing off an overhanging stalactite with his sword, flipping over, and kicking it at the Temple. The turret stopped firing as the troop manning it fell over, impaled by the stalactite. "How is he tracking all the bullets?" she marveled in awe.
Tucker continued his mad charge at the Temple, going into a diving leap as he swung his sword ahead of him before spinning into a twisting flying kick, smashing the door into four cut triangles that fell apart as he passed through them. As he landed, he spun and caught a thrown grenade with one foot, bouncing it around himself like a mixture of hacky sack and hot potato before sending it flying at a group of charging troops, it detonating just as it got close enough the troops could have done something. As the troops were blasted back, up, and out, Tucker spun and kicked the troop coming up behind him in the face, sending him sliding across the ground to slam head first into the wall.
He then turned towards the next group that had frozen when they saw the devastation he'd unleashed so easily. Cracking his neck, he worked out his shoulders as he drew his sword. "Alright," he spoke up calmly as the blade took shape. "Who's next?"
"Bla...blarg..." Ferdy moaned happily.
"Yeah," Caboose agreed in awe. "Tucker is super cool when he wants to be."
Texas carefully moved forward, keeping up her cloaking as she tried to get a clearer look. "Okay, seriously, how in the world did Tucker get to be this good?"
"They say the love of a good woman can have amazing effects on a man," a somewhat familiar voice spoke up from quite close to her. "And Tucker's got two." The voice paused. "...wow, Tucker is growing up. I was certain that would have had him screaming Bow Chicka Bow Wow."
Texas slowly turned to the invisible figure the voice came from as she recognized it. "I was going to ask how the Freelancer Program missed that natural talent...but I'm beginning to think it was deliberately hidden from them. Wasn't it, Flowers? Or should I say..."
"You should not," Captain Flowers interrupted. "It's best for everyone right now that 'Gary' and his secret partner remain ignorant of my continued survival."
"Is that why Church covered up your death?" Texas inquired calmly.
"Oh no, he was being honest when he said he was maintaining the timeline that had Maud meeting you, that was his objective," Flowers corrected. "However...I guess you could say I have my own objective in this, one that...isn't quite meshing with the goals of the Program...or, necessarily, with what you might want. Though I have the feeling our objectives are aligning over time."
"And just what are your objectives, exactly?" Texas pressed, her hand going from her gun to her sword.
"That is the question, isn't it?" Flowers asked calmly. "Let's just say that Maud isn't the only source of change in this, and...I have my orders. And they don't come from the Director, or the Counselor. I'll leave it up in the air if they ever did."
Texas glanced around, trying to spot the Freelancer...only to find no trace. "What are you talking about?"
"Which is stronger, Texas?" he asked calmly. "The force of Change...or of the Narrative? The flows of time part and meet...and a meeting is coming. Choices, Texas...or should I say...Allison? It's all about...choices."
Texas ground her teeth angrily. "I'm not Allison!" she snapped out angrily.
"No, you're not," Flowers confirmed. "And you weren't. But the question - the choice - awaits...will you be? But for now, I suggest you keep your eyes on the battle. Something's about to happen...and the outcome could change everything. Will it be you who acts to change things? Someone else? Or is there another force in play?"
Texas felt her gaze being directed towards Ferdy as the path cleared to a ship hidden inside the Temple. She felt the pressure building, a pivotal moment approaching...
"Whose choice is it, after all?" Flowers asked cryptically. "The Judges are watching."