"Go ahead," Eve said. "Underestimate me. That'll be fun." She moved forward a step, flexing her hands at her side. The agents in front of her keep their guns up and aimed at her. Colonel Parker didn’t move but stood looking at Eve like a disappointed mother.
“I dare you. I dare you to underestimate me and what I’ll do for my sister.” Eve said again.
“Eve, that is enough,” Parker said. “We just want you both to come home. We both know she is not really your sister. There is no need for this drama. Let’s go.”
“Not happening.” Eve snapped back.
“You have had your fun and been away from long enough. It is time to go home.” Parker said, putting her hands to her hips, once again trying to act like a mother frustrated at her angry teenager.
“No. I am not going back.” Eve stated mater of factly, squaring her shoulders. “But you are right, I have been gone a long time, and right now you have no idea what I am capable of, or just how strong I may be. Now, let her go.”
“Eve…” Parker started to say.
“NOW.” Eve screamed, sending a bit of energy forward , causing the lights and glass window panes to shatter. “Mother, I swear, if you do not tell them to release her, you will see everything that I am able to do.”
Colonel Parker raised her hands in surrender. “Okay, Eve. Okay.” She moved her hand, motioning to the agents behind her. “Let the child go.”
The man holding Lucky moved past the rest and went to set the girl down on the ground. Eve heard a small whimper escape from Lucky, and balled her first to keep her from breaking what small truce there was between the two parties in the room.
‘Help her.’ She thought behind her at Jon, knowing that he would be the one Lucky would responded to most.
Eve kept her eyes on Colonel Parker, prepared to defend Jon as he walked by Eve to help Lucky. He put his arms under Lucky’s shoulders and legs, lifting her up. He turned and carried Lucky back to the group.
Eve reached out her mind to her sister. ‘You okay kiddo?’
‘Yes. Now.’ Came the thought reply.
Eve smirked at her sister’s resilience. ‘Good.’ She thought back to the younger girl as Jon carried Lucky away from the Colonel, and agents, and back to the girl’s surrogate family.
“Okay mother,” Eve said. “Now that that is settled. You can go.”
“Oh Eve. I am not leaving without our missing property.”
“Property,” Eve heard Detective Andrews say behind her.
“Yes, property. Both subject n- one and subject n- thirteen are property of the U.S military. And I am not leaving without that property.” Parker said harshly in the direction of the detective.
“You will leave,” Eve replied. “If you know what is good for you. Now go.”
“No Eve, you will have to make me, and no matter what you do here Eve, both you and her,” Parker said pointing towards Lucky, “will always be military property. And no matter what, they will not stop coming to get you both back. So, both of you, come home now. Save yourselves years of running.”
“We will fight anyone who tries.” Eve retorted.
“Yes. I know you would. But what would you be willing to live with loosing?” Parker asked, nodding her head in the direction of the people behind Eve. “We don’t care about them. Would you be willing to live with that loss? Or live with what you would have to do to try and stop that loss?”
Eve felt the unease in her core growing at the subtle threat directed at the people behind her, her friends, the people she considered family.
“Eve, no matter what you do, more people will come for you. And those people who follow in my footsteps won’t see you as anything but subjects numbers one and thirteen, nothing more than science experiments.”
Eve knew she had to do something. Everything Parker said was true. She knew it. Parker knew it. Everyone in the room knew it. Eve had been running for nearly six years since escaping the LAB, she wanted nothing like that for Lucky. An idea slowly formed, and Eve quickly blocked her mind from Lucky.
“What if we could make a deal?” Eve asked.
“I’m listening,” said Parker, just as behind her Lucky’s broken voice said “Eve?”
Eve ignored her sister, and plowed ahead with her plan. “I’ll go with you. Willingly, without struggle, but in return you have to guarantee Lucky’s safety, and the safety of everyone else behind me.”
“We can talk….” Parker started.
“I’m not done,” Eve said stopping the Colonel mid sentence. “You will guarantee it by destroying every piece of evidence that she ever existed. The LAB here where she was held, destroyed. All records of her, all files about her, destroyed from every database. You will make it so that as far as anyone is concerned subject n- thirteen never existed. And everyone here who knows about all of this, are also guaranteed safety, and they will not speak about it ever again.” Eve took a deep breath. “That is the conditions that you will meet if you want to keep your property.”
A chorus of voices behind her began to argue against her plan. “Shhh.” Eve hissed, pushing her hand back, sending a small wave of energy behind her.
“Eve,” began Parker.
“That is the the offer. That is what you will agree to if you want me to go with you. If not, I can end this particular wave of military property collectors right here and right now.”
“I vote for that plan.” Eve heard Jon mutter behind her as they waited for Parker’s response.
“You will come with us and we will dispose of all knowledge regarding subject 13. I can agree to those terms.”
“No, Eve.” Lucky called.
“However, any breach, or resistance, by you will null and void this deal.” Parker held out her hand.
“Eve. No. Don’t. Please.” Lucky called again. Eve held her left arm behind her, blocking any attempt Lucky might try, even in her weakened state, to stop this. She extended her right hand and shook the Colonels.
“Deal.” Eve said. “I’ll say my goodbyes.”
Eve turned and walked straight to Lucky.
“Eve, what are you…” Lucky started. Eve knelt down to where Jon had sat with Lucky.
“Shh, kiddo, it’s okay. It will be fine.” Eve ran her hands through Lucky’s short hair. “This will keep you, and everyone here safe. Don’t worry.”
“But Eve.”
“You were never unlucky like they called you in the LAB. You are wonderfully lucky and amazing. And me doing this will let you be free. You will grow up, you will go to college, you will have a life, and you will make the most of it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but.”
“No buts kiddo. I want you to have an amazing life. Live it to the fullest. I will always be right here.” Eve said tapping two fingers on Lucky’s chest above the heart. Eve lend forward and kissed Lucky’s forehead. “I love you kiddo.”
“Eve, let’s go,” came Parker’s voice.
Standing up she looked around at everyone she cared about, everyone she was doing this for. “Take care of yourselves. Take care of her.” She turned and walked away, trying to block out Lucky’s crys.
Colonel Parker put a hand to Eve’s back and directed her through the agents who, as the pair passed, turned to follow. “You know, I honestly was not expecting that Eve.”
“I guess you underestimated me, and what I would do for my sister.”
