The End is Near

The End is Near is the nineteenth episode of Red vs. Blue: Season 13. It aired on August 30th, 2015 for sponsors and August 31st, 2015 for the general public. It is the 284th episode overall.

Blood Gulch Crew

 * Sarge
 * Simmons
 * Grif
 * Donut
 * Lopez
 * Tucker
 * Caboose
 * Epsilon
 * Freckles
 * Washington
 * Carolina
 * Doc
 * Junior
 * Sister

New Republic

 * Kimball
 * Matthews
 * Smith
 * Jensen
 * Palomo
 * Bitters
 * Several soldiers

Federal Army of Chorus

 * Emily Grey
 * Gunman Fed
 * Several soldiers

Charon Industries

 * Felix
 * Locus
 * Malcom Hargrove
 * Several soldiers

UNSC

 * UNSC Police

Other

 * Santa
 * Several aliens

Plot
The battle between the Chorus armies and space pirates rages on at the Communication Temple, with the former army beginning to overwhelm the enemy. As the pirates are forced to fall back, Kimball and the Reds and Blues move forward towards the entrance of the temple. Tucker soon joins them, accompanied with Washington, Carolina and Epsilon, who inform the crew of the destruction of the Purge as well as the deaths of Felix and Locus. Epsilon then notifies them of a teleporter inside the temple that leads to the control room. Just then, a Mantis operated by the space pirates begins killing several Chorus soldiers. Because of this, Carolina gives Epsilon to Tucker and allows the Reds and Blues to go to the control room while she and Wash stay and fight outside.

After the Reds and Blues pass through the teleporter they arrive at the control room and are greeted by Santa. As Santa begins preparing the temple for activation, the crew discover Felix flying towards them in a Falcon. As the crew scatter, the Falcon crashes down at the control room. Felix, along with an exhausted Locus, readies himself to fight the Reds and Blues. As he tries to force Locus to join him, the latter explains that, with the Tartarus destroyed and their numbers low, their mission has failed. However, Felix furiously tells him that he is not doing this for the mission but for himself and leaves to find the crew.

Outside the temple, Wash is contacted by Tucker, who informs him that Felix and Locus are alive and are inside the control room. Being unable to help them, Wash tells Tucker that he and the others will have to deal with them alone, but expresses his confidence that they will come out successful. As Felix searches for the crew, Locus struggles to keep up with him and soon collapses. Santa reveals himself to him and asks why he is doing what he’s doing, but Locus repeatedly replies that he doesn’t know. When Santa asks Locus if he would like to know something Locus requests to know what Felix is afraid of. Santa, in response, tells Locus that Felix is afraid of him.

Meanwhile, Felix calls out to Tucker in fury until the latter confronts him. After a brief fight, Felix knocks Tucker to the ground, until the other Reds and Blues intervene and attack Felix, quickly overpowering him. When Felix becomes surrounded, Locus approaches the crew, but does not harm them. Instead he gives up his weapon and tells Felix that he is not a soldier, but a monster like him. Felix pleads Locus to rethink what he’s doing but Locus disregards him. As a result, Felix attacks everyone but quickly gets a sticky grenade caught on his hardlight shield, fired by Simmons. Tucker then throws a frag grenade towards Felix, which blasts him over the edge of the control room and sends him plummeting to his death.

With Felix dead, Locus, having obtained Felix's sword after the latter threw it at him, becomes the new bearer of the Great Key and activates the Comm. Temple for the Reds and Blues. While the crew refuse to forgive Locus for everything he has done, the latter expresses his understanding and explains that he will make things right, though he will not be imprisoned. Epsilon warns Locus that if he runs they will find him, but Locus assures him that they will not, before cloaking. With the temple now active, the crew proceed to broadcast their message.

The process is successful as the message, spoken by Epsilon, quickly transmits to several communication devices across the galaxy, including the UNSC headquarters on Earth, a Sangheili Embassy, and even Blood Gulch. With the message and its files making its way across the galaxy, the receivers are made aware of Chorus’ location, the survival of the Reds and Blues, and Chairman Hargrove’s crimes on the planet. After Epsilon ends the message, the Feds and Rebels rejoice, having destroyed the Mantis as well as defeating the remaining space pirates. Kimball then happily informs the crew of a ship approaching Chorus from slipspace. Unfortunately, the ship is revealed to be the Staff of Charon, with Hargrove himself, stationed inside the ship, proclaiming that the group has made a terrible mistake.

Transcript
''Fade into the Communications Tower, where the Federal Army and New Republic soldiers are seen battling Charon's forces. Cut to the Fed Gunman. A Space Pirate walks up behind him.''

Space Pirate: You damn colonists. I'm not going back to jail! (loads shotgun) I'm gonna kill you! I'm gonna get my money! Then-

Matthews: (off screen) Heads up!

Matthews runs over the Space Pirate in a Ghost.

Fed Gunman: Hey, thanks man!

Matthews: No problem! I mean, I was actually trying to shoot him but I think I almost got the hang of th-WAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

The Ghost shoots forward and flies past Grif and Simmons.

Simmons: You know, maybe giving alien vehicles to human drivers wasn't the best idea.

Doc drives by in a Ghost.

Doc: (in O'Malley voice) Speak for yourself! (laughs maniacally and drives off)

Cut to Lopez, Sarge, and Kimball, who fire at some pirates near the temple's entrance.

Kimball: Keep pushing!

One of the Space Pirates is shot while the other two turn to look at his body.

Space Pirate: Damn it, fall back!

They retreat, chased by Lopez, Sarge, Grif, Simmons, and Kimball.

Sarge: Hehe, keep running, dirtbags!

Simmons: Okay Tucker, we're in. Can you make it to our position?

Tucker: (Over the radio) Hell yeah! I got my own private escort.

Simmons: What?! Seriously?

Carolina: (Offscreen) Seriously.

Simmons and the others turn around to see Carolina, Tucker, and Wash walking towards them.

Kimball: Carolina! Wash! You made it!

Wash: Sorry we're late. Blowing up a death machine takes longer than you'd think.

Carolina: Well we did manage to kill two mercs with one stone.

Grif: Aw dude, did they go out like bitches, or was it slow and painful?

Tucker: What kind of messed up question is that?

Wash: Incineration by explosion.

Tucker: Aw hell yeah! Straight up Freelancer justice!

Epsilon materializes next to Carolina.

Epsilon: Yeah yeah, may they burn in hell. We still need to get Tucker to the tower controls. There's a teleporter down the hall that'll take us to the Control Room. Once we broadcast our message, Charon will have no reason left to fight.

Carolina: Then let's push our way to the teleporter-

Caboose: (offscreen) RUN AWAY!!

Caboose and Donut run up to the group.

Simmons: What are you guys doing?

Doc drives up, his Ghost sparking and on fire.

Tucker: And what killed your ride?

New Republic Soldier: (on radio) All squads, get to cover! Get to cover-UGH!. (cuts out)

Doc: (fearful) Uh... probably the same thing that killed them?

Cut to a squad of Federal Army soldiers as they are crushed by the foot of a Mantis.

Mantis: ENGAGING HOSTILES.

The Reds and Blues watch from a platform nearby.

Lopez: Ohhhhh mierda. [Ohhhhh shit.]

Simmons: THEY HAVE A MANTIS?!

Caboose: Yes, and for all those who are wondering, uh no, he and Freckles are not brothers... I asked him.

Grif: I was going to ask where your tank went, but you...pretty much answered that.

Sarge: Looks like they ain't going down without a fight.

Tucker: So now what?

Carolina: Take Epsilon. Broadcast his message and end this. Wash and I can deal with the Mantis while Kimball and her men hold this position.

Epsilon: How 'bout it, Tucker? Room for one more?

Donut: We'll be right on your rear!

Tucker looks around at his friends.

Tucker: Right. (pulls out his sword) Let's finish this!

Cut to the Blood Gulch Crew after going through the teleporter, groaning from its after effects.

Tucker: (coughs) Oh god, I forgot teleporting sucks!

Doc: (sighs) You don't know the half of it...

Epsilon: Wimps. Synthetic body for life, yo.

Lopez: Verdad. [Truth.]

Sarge: So this the place?

'COMM. TEMPLE CONTROL ROOM'

Grif: I'm gonna put my money on yes.

Santa appears.

Santa: Lavernius Tucker, welcome to the Control Room.

Caboose: Santa! If I knew you were here, I would've brought cookies!

Santa: Do you wish to transmit a message?

Sarge: You're darn right, we do!

Epsilon: I got all the data the UNSC needs to find us and enough files to place Hargrove under arrest. You sure this is gonna reach Earth?

Santa: It will be heard by every device in the galaxy, if that is what you wish.

Tucker: Yeah, let's go with that one.

Santa: Then I shall prepare the charging sequence.

Simmons: How long is that gonna take?

Santa: Hmm, the process is brief, however you may soon find yourselves preoccupied.

Donut: Preoccupied with...what?

Santa disappears, revealing a heavily damaged Falcon flying towards the Control Room.

Grif: Uh... who's that?

Epsilon: Oh no...

Cut to the Falcon with Felix at the controls.

Simmons: I thought you said they were dead!

Epslion: ''We dropped a fucking spaceship on them! It was kind of assumed!''

Sarge: Scatter!!

''The Blood Gulch Crew scatter while the Falcon crash lands in the Control Room. ''

Cut to Felix getting out of the defunct Falcon holding a SAW, with an exhausted Locus against the wall.

Felix: Wake up! (he throws the SAW into Locus' arms.) I told you we'd make it.

Locus: (groans) Felix... it's over...

Felix: (activates his sword) Run your camo, and stick to the shadows. I'll draw them out.

Locus: The Tartarus is destroyed, our numbers are falling, the mission-

Felix: FUCK the mission!! Jesus Christ, for once in your life, would you forget about following goddamn orders!! I'm not doing this for Hargrove! I'm doing this for me.

''Cut to Washington at the battle at the base. ''

Tucker: (over radio) Wash! Locus and Felix are alive! And they're here!

Washington: What?!

Tucker: (over radio) We need help.

''The Mantis faces Washington and charges its weapons. ''

Washington: (noticing the Mantis) Damn it!

''Washington runs off as the Mantis fires on his position. Cut back to the temple control room where the Reds and Blues are hiding from Felix. ''

Washington: (over radio) Tucker, I hate to say it but you're on your own.

Tucker: But-

Washington: (over radio) I believe in you...all of you. You can do this.

Doc: He thinks we're gonna die!

Sarge: (over radio) No. That time he meant it.

Felix: Tucker! Where are you?!

''Tucker, Doc, and Caboose silently stare at Felix, who walks past. ''

Caboose: So...are you gonna answer him?

''Cut to Locus, who struggles to walk. He finally falls over and rolls himself onto his back in exhaustion. ''

Santa: (appearing) Why have you come here, meddler?

Locus: To kill the simulation troopers.

Santa: Will this secure your victory over their forces?

Locus: No...

Santa: Then what purpose will it serve?

Locus: I don't know...

Santa: Then why are you trying?

Locus: I don't know...

Santa: What do you know?

Locus: I don't know!

Santa: Then what do you want to know?

Locus: I...I want to know...what Felix is afraid of.

Santa: You were broken by war. It was his goal to see you never healed...because despite what he may claim, only one of you needs the other to survive.

Locus: (groans) What are you saying?

Santa: Ignorant creature. Your partner is afraid of you.

Cut to Felix at the center of the control room.

Felix: (angrily) You think you're smart, Tucker?! You think you're all better than me?! Well you're not! You're all a bunch of pathetic, stupid, losers!

Tucker: (appearing behind Felix with sword extended) Then come get me.

''Felix rushes at Tucker with his sword. Tucker blocks the strike but Felix kicks him back. Suddenly, Caboose appears across the room.''

Freckles: Engaging!

''Freckles fires at Felix but the mercenary blocks the bullets with his hardlight shield. The moment Freckles stops, Felix pulls out a sticky-detonator. Before he can fire, a purple bolt streaks by and sends the weapon flying out of his hand. ''

Felix: (shocked) What?!

Tucker is back on his feet with Lopez and Donut standing beside him.

Donut: Double-0 Donut always gets his man!

Felix: (activating hardlight shield) Locus, I need suppo-

Felix yells in pain as needler spikes embed themselves in his right shoulder.

Felix: AGH, god...

Sarge: Over here, dirt bag!

Grif: You give orange dudes a bad name!

Felix turns off his shield and pulls out the spikes before turning and running off.

Felix: You're pissing me off!

Felix is clothes-lined by Doc's rocket launcher.

Doc: (in O'Malley voice) Oh, please. (aims rocket launcher at Felix) I'm the original bad boy! (chuckles maniacally)

''Felix gives a whimper before Doc fires the rocket launcher, blowing Felix across the control room to Caboose's feet. ''

Caboose: Hey, Felix!

''Felix chuckles wickedly before grabbing Caboose's leg and dragging him down. Felix immediately gets to his feet and catches Freckles. Tucker runs up and Epsilon appears beside him.''

Epsilon: Caboose!

Felix: (activating hardlight shield) Say goodbye to your stupid blue moron!

''Felix aims the rifle at Caboose and pulls the trigger...but it makes a party noise and only confetti comes out of it. ''

Felix:(deactivates hardlight shield and stares at the gun in shock) What is wrong with you people?!

Freckles: Hands off! (shoots a round, the recoil smacking Felix in the head)

''Felix falls over and drops the rifle. Caboose then stands up with the gun in his hands. ''

Caboose: Bye, Felix. (walks over to Tucker and Epsilon)

Epsilon: Yeah...we might be losers, Felix, but we still kicked your ass.

''Doc, Donut, and Lopez approach Felix from one side while Sarge, Simmons, and Grif flank him from the other. Felix gets to his knees, laughing manically while a cloaked Locus comes up from behind Caboose and Tucker. ''

Felix: Think again!

''Felix continues laughing until a SAW clatters to the ground in front of him. He looks up in confusion. ''

Tucker: (looking behind him) Huh?

Locus decloaks between Tucker and Caboose.

Grif: Oh shit!

Donut: Look out!

Tucker: (aims weapon) Freeze!

Locus simply glances at Tucker before looking back at Felix.

Felix: Locus, what are you doing? You're supposed to kill them!

Locus: No.

Felix: (shocked) What?!

Sarge: (confused) What?!

Tucker: (confused) What?!

Locus: No more killing.

Felix: What are you talking about? You're a soldier, remember?!

Locus: I'm not a soldier. I'm a monster...like you.

Felix: (standing up) Locus...we're partners. Survivors. We need each other. Wh-what about our orders? Our reward?! Becoming the ultimate weapon?!

Locus: I'm not doing this for the reward. I'm not doing this because someone told me to. I'm doing this for me.

Felix looks around and sighs.

Felix: (darkly) Then you can die with the rest of them.

''Felix takes out and activates his energy sword before flinging it at Locus. Locus and Tucker dive out of the way while Caboose falls backwards. Felix kicks the SAW into the air and catches it. He fires at Sarge, Simmons, and Grif, who all run for cover.''

Grif: Hit the deck!

Doc, Donut, and Lopez aim their weapons.

Donut: Get 'em!

''Felix activates his hardlight shield as they open fire, the energy bolts and needler spines bouncing off the shield. ''

Donut: (running away with Doc and Lopez) Eek!

''Felix turns around and activates his hardlight shield again but a sticky bomb lands on it. ''

Felix: Huh?

Sarge: Guess we learned a thing or two from you villains after all.

Tucker: (holding a grenade) Hey, Felix. Catch.

Tucker throws the grenade, which rolls to Felix's feet as the sticky bomb primes.

Felix: W-wait!

''Both grenades explode, blasting Felix over the edge. He screams as he plummets below the clouds to his death.''

Grif: Holy shit... That was way better than incineration!

More coming soon...

Trivia

 * This episode marks the first time a character is seen in the Halo 2 Anniversary engine.
 * This episode marks the return of both Sister and Junior, after a seven and eight season absence respectively.
 * This episode also marks the return of Blood Gulch, which hadn't been shown presently since Reconstruction.
 * The episode title is a reference to the second half of Gamma's line "The great destroyer has arrived, the end is near." from The Storm. The previous episode before is appropriately named Great Destroyers.
 * Locus telling Felix, "I'm not a soldier. I'm a monster like you.", is a reference to The Federal Army of Chorus, where he tells Washington the opposite response.
 * Doc telling Felix "I'm the original bad boy" while imitating O'Malley is referring to the fact that Omega was the first antagonist of the series.
 * Tucker saying "Hey Felix, catch." before throwing a grenade at him is a reference to Training Daze.
 * Coincidentally, the Lieutenants are seen carrying the same alien weapons their former captains have picked.
 * Sister is revealed to have survived Lopez's attack on her as described in Relocated: Part Three. Instead of dying at Lopez's hands, she merely fell unconscious.
 * Doc riding a Ghost is a reference to Season 2, where he rode one while under Omega's influence.
 * Felix's attempt to kill Caboose is a reference to This One Goes to Eleven, where Epsilon-Tex attempted to kill Grif in a similar way.
 * Sister calling Lopez gray is a reference to her being color blind.
 * Washington telling the Reds and Blues that he believes in them and Sarge saying that he meant it is a reference to Test Your Might, when Washington does the same thing but the Reds feel that he did this because he believed they will die in the upcoming battle.

Video
Coming soon...