A Return to Innocence (Closed to Henry)

A Return to Innocence

The whirring of the helicopters blades provided a steady rhythm as the metal aircraft soared over the North Atlantic Ocean. The wind and the water that encased the helicopter lashed out against the loud hindrance, as if mother earth herself had been awoken by the noisy contraption. Waves crashed against each other in the dark blue expanse below, the watery fingers thrusting into the air trying to grasp the steel bird and drag it into its murky embrace. However no matter how hard the elements tried to deter the copter its spinning blades prevailed against the harsh wind, nothing was going to hinder the occupants on delivering their very expensive ‘plaything’.

Bright blue eyes stared longingly at the great expanse below, a sense of loneliness tinged with fear reflective in the otherwise beautiful gaze. A young woman, a girl forgotten by society itself sat with legs pressed together, a white skirt caressing toned thighs which were tightly embraced in equally sterile white stockings, simple cream ballet flats protecting her small feet from the cold interior. Dainty hands were folded on her lap, pale fingers interlaced as the girl clenched her jaw and inhaled, her petite form slowly rising and falling with every tentative breath she took. A simple black briefcase sat motionless at the bottom of her feet, everything she owned was in that small case, and everything that made her who she was lay safely underneath her, cradled by her slender form and the rigid chair she sat on.

This momentarily break from reality, her contemplative stance was shattered when she felt a familiar scent cloud her senses; a mixture of tobacco and energy drinks. The male body behind her leaned in, close enough for her to feel the the agents breath on her quivering neck as she braced herself for what she had so become accustomed to.

“I hope you don’t miss us too much” the slippery voice whispered behind her as hot breath clouded her ears making her shiver and tense up, “You know there’s no reason to leave today, none of the guys gave you a goodbye party..” lust dripped out like dirty water would from a tap and the girl swallowed, trying to distract herself from the filth that was being whispered into her ear. Chunky fingers slithered from behind her chair; fearless hands stroked her thighs as the rough red skin caressed the soft, warm cotton that protected her shivering form. She tried her best to ignore it, opting to stare straight ahead and focus on her breathing attempting to imagine a place much less horrid that where she already was. The lingering strokes and the heavy breathing behind her sent a sickening feeling throughout her body, all of this wanted to make her scream, to cry and run back to her parents.

But she could not.

Everything she knew was now taken away from her. All innocence and joy had been slowly stripped away from her and she now sat rigid within the complete control of those who kidnapped her so many years ago. Simply refusing the disgusting advances of her ‘handlers’ was sure to make her punishment more severe, why it was unfortunate to note that she was somehow used to the lewd petting of those who watched over her…she could not do anything to stop them, any act of defiance was quickly rebutted and the electrical implant within her skull forced the young woman to acknowledge her helplessness.

“Blackbird is now in descent, 3 minutes until landing” The pilot’s voice crackled over the intercom as the helicopter began to lower in the air. A sprawling grey city appeared in the distance, embracing the golden afternoon horizon as the massive skyscrapers soared into the sky staining the otherwise beautiful view. This city, this sprawling expanse of concrete was going to be her new home. She wasn’t told who she was going to be partnered with, why not even ‘Father’ gave her any significant order, simply telling her to be a ‘Good girl’ as he rushed her onto the chopper from the outskirts of Europe. The sterile white laboratory she had survived in for the past 4 years was now no more and for a slight second the young woman prayed that wherever she was being taken to would be more welcoming that what she had endured for much of her teenage life.

“I hope that you entertain Agent Gossamer like you did for us” the armed guard whispered with a chuckle, caressing the side of her rose tinted face, sending shivers down her refined form. She had heard of this agent Gossamer. It was a familiar word for the girl who still had not properly grasped the English language. Whenever father was angry with this Agent Gossamer he’d often lash out against her, somehow blaming her for this mysterious person’s mistakes, his punishments were exceedingly severe; why it was only due to her innate superhuman ability that she believed she was alive because if it weren’t for that she would have surely been dead a long time ago.

The large grey landing pad which jutted out on top of a large building was completely bare except for a single figure which was still a small speck in the distance, the lonesome human form both a source of hope for the young prodigy or another chapter in her endless nightmare. This must have been Agent Gossamer. The girl gulped as a mixture of absolute dread and giddiness wracked her conscience. She started to tentatively pick at the sides of her nails, the nervousness beginning to corrode the quiet and refined stature.

“Agent Gossamer, the package is on its way. Over” one of the Dominus troops stated into a hand held transmitter giving the girl a quick glance as she nervously stared out the window ignoring the men who were fastening their belts, bracing themselves for landing.

This was it. The start of a new chapter. Dominus' best kept secret was going to come out into the open. Their blood diamond, the Prima ballerina of death was 1 minute away from facing her destiny with this unknown Agent Gossamer.

Lilia Ivanov a.k.a Agent Etoile was ready.

Sheryll walked down the streets of New York, she was heading down her favorite route, the one with all the magnificent bakeries and clothing stores. Delicious odors wafted from each one, their contents all beckoning her to enter and fall into the sweet candied bliss that they contained.
Sheryll glanced at her reflection as she passed one of the clothing store windows. She was wearing a large black coat in order to conceal her N.A.S. but under that she worse simple black pants and a white T-shirt. The coat was heavy and made of a cotton like fiber. It was an impulse buy of hers, something to help shield her from the cold and the wind.
That was what she told herself of course. While Sheryll would never admit it to herself, she had bought that coat because it was the one her father had said he would buy if she completed her last assignment without a hitch... which she did. It wasn't until after she had taken her target back to base that things had started spiraling downhill.
The prisoner, Daji had reduced her to little more than a crying heap, begging for her tormentor to stop. When the guards had come to stop the woman, she effortlessly dispatched them and escaped the compound, leaving a rather large hole in the wall while doing so.
Sheryll looked up at the sky and managed a soft smile. It was a deep blue, not a cloud could be seen as the sun's rays shone down onto the iron jungle that was New York City. She looked out at the vastness of it all, viewable even at street level, her enhanced eyes allowing her to see much farther than a normal human could possibly hope to do. In the distance, she spotted a car crash, not too unusual on the streets of New York, but never a pleasant sight.
Sheryll reduced the magnification on her sight back to normal and continued down the street, a pensive expression was spread across her soft face. She had a lot on her mind, not the least of which was why her father was sending back up again. She had taken on two incredibly powerful super humans and won, not only had she won, but she'd managed to capture one of them.
Admittedly the target managed to escape later but that didn't invalidate the fact that she caught the monster on her own.

He'll never trust you again, you're a failure in his eyes, a liability he just wants to be rid of the voice of Daji echoed in her memories.

Sheryll shook it off and continued walking, still deep in thought. What surprised her even more than the fact that he was once again sending back up, was that despite how angry he had been at her, he hadn't taken her in for another whipping session.
She remembered the look on his face when he found her crying in a corner after Daji's brutal psychological thrashing, a mix of rage, hatred, and disgust covered his face without even a hint of concern to be found.

Even in her wretched state she had had the presence of mind to prepare herself for another punishment, but, instead of giving her another violent session, he simply turned and left. It was as if he had found some other way to vent his anger at her. In fact, she was sure of it. Later that night she had heard screams coming from deep within the compound, only audible to her because of her enhancements.
They had been the screams of a young woman, possibly one of the many super humans Sheryll had captured prior to her mission with Cilian.

Her thoughts kept going back there, to that day. That was where it all started in a sense. She had allowed someone inside her 'shell' and she was still paying the price for it. In exchange for that one moment of joy she had earned her father's ire, several new scars, and lost the trust of those she believed important. Sheryll sighed and looked up at the world around her once more. She had reached her destination, a small doughnut shop near the rendezvous point where she was to meet this 'Agent Etoile'. Sheryll searched her memories for any mention of such a person, but nothing came.
All she knew was that this agent was supposedly as deadly as herself, a rare feat given her nickname 'The Angel of Death'. Sheryll went into the shop and picked up several different flavors of doughnuts. She truly preferred those coated with a chocolate glaze, but whatever they had would be enough for her. The shop had little tables outside with umbrellas attached to relieve the heat. Sheryll picked the one farthest into the corner and began to devour the tasty morsels nearly as fast as she could grab them.
By the time she was done, there were only two left. One she would save for herself, and one for this Agent Etoile. Her phone began ringing, the tone that echoed signifying it was her father calling. Sighing, she flipped the phone open and answered.

"Hello?" she said, doing her best to keep the worry out of her voice. She was dreading that her father might say she was taken off the mission or that he was sending EVEN MORE back up.

"Hello sweetie, it's dad. I'm just calling to remind to be at the rendezvous point at 19:00 hours. You'll be meeting Agent Etoile there, once you do, I'll call again with instructions." he responded, his voice a cold monotone.

"Understood dad" she said, nearly crushing the phone, its hard metallic surface cracking under the force of her grip. Not only did he not trust her to complete a mission alone, but he had the nerve to call her and act like she didn't know when the damn mission was set to start. However, even those things could have been ignored, but now, now he wouldn't even tell her what her mission was going to be. Prior to the incident with Daji, even when he trust her to do it alone he had given her all the data she needed from the get go... but now, now she was being treated like a rookie agent, like someone who had never done a damned assignment before.

"I'm glad you do, I'll call you back at 19:10. Goodbye sweetie." he said, hanging up.

Sheryll held the phone to her, until the white noise was replaced by the soft female voice began playing, telling her to dial a number or hang up. Sheryll flipped the phone closed and walked over into a nearby alley carrying her bag of doughnuts. As soon as she was out of sight, Sheryll unleashed a vicious punch into the adjacent brick wall, smashing straight through and sending deep cracks along the surface for several feet. Sighing, she checked her watch. The time read 16:31. She still had nearly three hours before meeting her new partner. Sheryll walked over to a nearby cafe and ordered a small coffee. She wasn't thirsty but they required you to order something. For the next two and a half hours, Sheryll sat there, watching the comings and goings of people, hardly even touching her drink. She was finally brought out of her daze when her watch began beeping.
It was 18:45. Sheryll stood up and left the cafe. She navigated the complicated twists and turns of the new york alleys and emerged just as the street lamps began to flicker to life. In the distance a chopper approached, contained within were several troopers wearing the old non-powered armor. The chopper slowly set down and one of the troopers came out to greet her.

"Ma'am, we're here to deliver Agent 00983 into your custody. Are you prepared to receive her?" the man asked, putting a strange emphasis on the word 'custody'.

"Understood Corporal. Send her out." Sheryll replied in a businesslike voice. She was in no mood to chat with these men. They hadn't yet been issued the new armor which meant they were either one of the least trustworthy squads or that they were up for inspection.

Sheryll watched as the man spoke into his comlink, a sneer going across his face. She glanced over at the chopper, a young girl, barely eighteen years dropped down the few feet to the ground. She was wearing what appeared to be a ballerina dancer's outfit and looked absolutely terrified.. Sheryll raised an eyebrow and turned to the man.

"I'll take it from here Corporal. Now leave." she said, her voice dripping with venom. She had caught the look the man had given the young girl.

The man looked scared and rushed back to the chopper, not even daring to glance at the young girl as he passed. Sheryll watched as the chopper blades resumed their spinning and the great metal beast took off, leaving only her and this new girl there.

Sheryll walked over and smiled at the girl, her cold demeanor dropping back into her usual bubbly self.

"Hi, I'm Sheryll, I like doughnuts, coffee and long walks in dark alleys." she said, her usual introduction was generally enough to diffuse tension in most scenarios.

"Oh, right, I got you something." she said, reaching into her bag and pulling out one of the doughnuts.

She extended her hand out to the young woman and said "Don't worry, it's not poison. Just filled to the brim with sugar."

Lilia was literally flung out of the chopper, her petite unwrinkled form creating an unquestionable contrast with the dark and cold helicopter that loomed beside her. She landed with a muted thud as her flats hit solid ground, her small form swaying for a bit as she tried to regain her balance. Blood rushed back into her limbs, sitting still for 5 hours had really heightened her already tense body. The white skirt billowed in the harsh wind as she tentatively clutched onto her suitcase, trying to ignore the pins and needles. she flinched as the corporal walked ahead of her to the figure that stood isolated on the tarmac, not forgetting to caress her bottom as he briskly walked past.

Their voices were drowned out by the whirring helicopter blades and as she squinted, trying her best to brush her fringe out her eyes she let out an involuntary sigh. This agent Gossamer was a woman. Lilia was now under the care of a woman and for the first time in a long time a sense of hope blossomed within her core, overriding the fear and anxiety that had clung to her from day one. Her grip on her luggage loosened and for a second she thought she would collapse from the massive sense of relief that edged its way into her.

Why this state of genuine joy was only soured for a moment with the return of her handler who strangely enough did not even talk to her, let alone touch her. He just disappeared back into the safe metal cocoon that had transported them earlier that day; it shocked her quite a bit that he did not even say goodbye, for she had unwillingly become an integral part of his weekly activities...not in a good way of course. Maybe it was the thought of behaving in such a way in front of Agent Gossamer that caused him to flee back inside the chopper but for all Lilia cared she was simply stunned that she would never have to entertain the disgusting excuse of a human for what she assumed to be the rest of her life.

The chopper instantly soared into the sky, its noisy hum drowned out by the howling winds and Lilia's own heartbeat. The woman slowly walked towards her, a grin on her face as she clasped onto a paper bag saying something in English that Lilia assumed to be an introduction only replying with a tentative nod. Looking down to her side, she worriedly glanced at her surroundings; what if this Agent Gossamer gets angry at her for her bad English or even worse her complete lack of professionalism.

Lilia flinched as the woman reached inside the bag and what she assumed to be a weapon of some sort only ended up being a donut, the sugary pastry she had not tasted in years. agent Gossamer gave her a warm smile and her body language told the young experiment that the gift indeed was simply just a gift. Lilia tentatively accepted the sugary morsel, pale dainty fingers wrapped around the doughy treat as she tried her best to smile...it had been a while since anyone had shown her some form of kindness. While 'Father' did often give her pretty clothes and time to dance his punishments were always so severe that the most pristine dress could never make up for the psychological abuse he put her through.

"Thank you..." Lilia stated blushing a bit, this was one of the very few things she knew how to say in English and she felt slightly humiliated presenting herself as such a meek and helpless foreigner to the infamous agent Gossamer.

Before she could gorge herself on the tasty treat a sudden thought ran through her head and she immediately dropped to her knees and unzipped her suitcase, opening it to reveal neatly folded clothing, majority of it being white and a few pairs of shoes, mainly flats. However it was not the assortment of pristine dresses that she needed but a heavy paper file tagged with her agent name on the cover.

Classified information - Level 6 clearance only - Lilia Ivanov a.k.a Agent Etoile it read in bright red font with the Dominus symbol on the cover.

Lilia cautiously picked it up and stared at the file. This was all of her, what it held was all of her strengths, weaknesses history and her overall performance back at base and she sharply inhaled as she stood up once again to hand it over to Gossamer. A sticky note was stuck on the front and in messy scrawl it read, "Meet your 'sister', read the info and don't let her out of your sights - love daddy". The older woman scrunched her brow as she read the little note and Lilia bit her lower lip, hugging her small frame as the cool breeze danced around her...waiting for her superior to give her an order to move...

Sheryll looked at the young girl oddly as she searched frantically through her small black briefcase. From what she could see, the case was filled with clothes, all packed in with meticulous precision and care. The young girl finally stopped her manic search and extracted a large file with a sticky note on the front.

Sheryll took the folder gently, careful not grab it away. This girl was much like a lost puppy, frightened and timid.
Reading the note on the front Sheryll felt a brief flash of anger. She had apparently been given a brand new sibling without her knowledge or consent. It wasn't that big of deal, it was just that it was the principle of the matter. It was another thing he hadn't told her. It wasn't like she would have refused had he just told her from the start, but no, he was going to keep secrets.

Although these thoughts flashed through her mind several times the only indication of her frustration was a brief furrowing of her brow before she slid the file under her arm and smiled. The girl, Lilia was just standing there, shivering in her thin white outfit. Sheryll's smile quickly disappeared as she slid off her own thick black jacket and placed it over Lilia's shoulders.

"If you were cold, you should have just said something" Sheryll said softly, the young woman before her still hadn't moved, except to pull the coat tighter around herself. Sheryll stared at Lilia for a few more moments, her piercing blue eyes gazing into Lilia's own identical blue eyes before she broke contact and began repacking Lilia's case. As soon as she was done she clipped the case closed and stood back up. "Let's go shall we? I'm sure tha-" she started before a loud noise cut her off. It was her father calling. Just as he said he would.

Sheryll flipped open her phone, the anger in her voice readily apparent. "Hello dad."

"Hi sweetie, I trust you've met your new 'sister'" he responded, a sense of smugness permeating his words.

"Yeah, I met her, and I have to ask, what the hell? Don't you trust me with details like that any more?" she said, unaware that she was nearly yelling.

"I didn't tell you because Agent Etoile's very existence is a secret. Knowledge of her is restricted to top level personnel and her handlers. Sweetie, you know if I could have told you I would have." he replied, his smugness replaced by a strangely empathic tone.

Sheryll stood there for a minute, unable to decide if he was being sincere or merely attempting to placate her. Sighing, she decided that it wasn't worth getting into an argument about... at least not now.

"Alright dad, I believe you, so what's my assignment?" she said, attempting to reign in her anger.

"Your assignment is twofold. The first phase is to integrate Etoile into normal society. We want to her start operating as a field agent, which coincidentally is the second phase. You'll be bringing her along on most of your missions from now on. There are exceptions of course, but I expect you to have her fully prepared to operate as a solo agent by the time your assignment is through. Understood?"

"Yes dad"

"I'm glad, you have a good night." he said, hanging up. He was always the one who ended the calls. He never called just to see how she was any more. It was always orders, orders, orders.

Sheryll looked back at Lilia, a soft smile on her face. She would hide her pain, if only because she could sense that this young woman needed a strong female role model, rather than one who angsted about her daddy issues. "So, Lilia, let's head back to my apartment. From what I understand you're coming to live with me and I'd like you to see where you'll be staying." she said, holding the folder tight under her arm. They weren't too far from her apartment, and Sheryll believed that the walk would be good for both of them.

The warm embrace of the thick woollen jumper instantly enveloped Lilia's shivering form and she gratefully grinned back at the kind lady who probably still did not know that the young girl could not really understand much of what she was saying. It was a welcome change from what she was used to though; any 'conversation' she had often involved the other party giving her orders or muttering foul things into her ear as she desperately tried her best not to fight back. It was a strange sensation for the girl, feeling genuine kindness hit her with a wave of nostalgia and for a second she was back home in Russia, accepting the tender embrace of her parents.

This short moment of contemplation was shattered when Gossamer's phone let out a shrill noise, snapping the young girl back into the windy reality. She cautiously stared at the older woman who snapped back at whoever she was talking with down the phone, it was almost like the young girl was witnessing a private family argument and she awkwardly shuffled in her spot, cuddling the thick black jacket that Gossamer had so kindly given to her. Maybe she's secretly angry at having to drag me along now... the girl thought to herself,waiting for her superior to finish.

Once the phone call was abruptly finished Agent Gossamer gave her another smile, a gentle grin and Lilia hesitantly replied with a meek simper of her own. Her parents told her she had a beautiful smile; and although such an expression had not been used in years she truly did feel much better smiling than she had for the majority of her teenage life. The men at Dominus could not care less whether she smiled or not, let alone speak with them. Her emotional state was cast away with everything that made her who she was... and here she was standing alone with a fellow agent regaining some semblance to the joy she once held so dearly.

As if Gossamer could tell that Lilia had now warmed up a considerable amount she motioned for them to get going and said something that the girl understood as 'going back home'. Ivanov cocked her head to the side, her wispy light brown hair dancing in the wind like sandy tendrils as she bent down to pick up her suitcase and follow the older woman to the elevator located at the end of the building.

Appearing in the main foyer, business men and women strutted on the polished concrete flooring their noses held high as they barely took notice of the two attractive women who seemingly popped out of nowhere. Lilia shadowed Gossamers every movement, practically clinging onto the agent as her incredibly quick and light footsteps created a muted rhythm with Gossamers confidant pace. She glanced at her surroundings taking in the new sights and smells; she was now immersed in 'normal' society and it was quite an overwhelming experience for someone who had only known the thick cold walls of Dominus' base.

The walk was a short one and the young girl stuck close to the older woman, avoiding any eye-contact with passing pedestrians who gawked at her ethereal, almost fragile beauty. Walking past a large group of men out for their midday smoke, Lilia immediately walked with her head down staring at her feet; quickening her pace as her superior gave her a puzzled look. The sounds of this strange city reverberated through her ears, car horns startled her and masses of people who by all accounts had no idea who and what she was intimidated the girl quite a bit.

As if Gossamer could sense the younger girls unease she gently grasped her hand and confidently led her through crowds of bustling New Yorkers making sure to give her a reassuring smile and holding it until they reached a large apartment complex, red bricks giving off a vibrant warmth making the young girl silently gasp at what was going to be her home for an indefinite amount of time.

This momentary feeling of awe was once again shattered when the Agents phone let of a shrill ring causing Gossamer to scowl and say something under her breath...

Sheryll enjoyed the sounds of the city at dusk, the strange mix of calm and irritability that New York took on at this time as the various shifts changed and those who spent their days asleep finally began their nightly prowl. She looked back to make sure that Lilia was still there, the younger woman's meek nature made it easy to forget her presence. As Sheryll looked away, she suddenly felt an urge to comfort Lilia, who honestly looked not only terrified, but completely lost. Reaching out, she took the young woman's hand in her own and smiled.

"It's okay, you don't have to worry, I won't let those men hurt you any more." she said. It was obvious that her handlers had done something to this poor girl. Sheryll would find out what, and then, she would make them pay. As they entered the lobby of her apartment building, Sheryll's phone rang. She was sure it was her father again so without looking she flipped her phone open and put it to her ear.

"I already told you, I understand my mission, just because I let one man inside my shell doesn't mean I'm fucking incompetent!" she yelled into the phone. Several people turned their heads to look before quickly looking away once more as she glared around.

"Uh... Sheryll... it's me. Cilian..." the voice that flowed from the phone was tinged with a mix of indignation and what could be interpreted as fear.

"Oh!" she said embarrassed, her face turning a bright red as she gripped Lilia tighter and rushed into the elevator. Sheryll quickly clicked the button for her penthouse suite and spoke once more.

"I'm really sorry, I thought you were someone else. So, ah, uhm, what's up!" she said, forcing a measure of cheer into her voice.

"Well I was just calling about how you, you know, broke into my apartment the other day... but, are you okay, you sound very stressed." he responded, his voice no longer indignant. If anything it carried a note of concern for her.

"Oh, I'm fine, just thought you were my friend calling me about something for like the hundredth time today." she said, a note of panic carried in her voice.

"Okay, if that's all. But again, about the whole breaking in thing..." he replied. Sheryll was sure he didn't believe her, but there was no way she could tell him the truth without having to kill him after.

"I just wanted to make sure you didn't forget to go on the mission, that's all. Anyway Cilian, I'll have to call you back, I've got company over and I can't talk right now." she chimed, clicking the end call button and returning her phone to her pocket.

Little more than a second later, the elevator doors opened to reveal a small hallway. Sheryll lead Lilia down it before entering the door code and pushing open the large double doors. She had relocated since her initial meeting with Cilian and she was sure he'd be rather impressed by her change of venue. She turned to Lilia and motioned for her to take a seat.

"Go ahead and sit wherever you like, I'm going to go grab us something to drink" she said, walking into kitchen. Sheryll grabbed a bottle of soda and two glasses before walking back to where Lilia was. She poured them each a full cup and sat down, opening the file that Lilia had brought with her. Inside was several years of data, and although certain parts were blacked out, most of it was fairly unpleasant. The poor girl had been handed to Theta squad, which explained a lot. Theta was a name traditionally given to those who showed little more than mediocre performance within the organization and its members were almost always slated for... termination. She would need to ask her father why on earth THEY had been selected as the handlers of such a delicate young woman. Sheryll looked up at Lilia, her face full of sympathy. She had seen that the girl barely spoke English and would make it a point to teach her all she could.

"So Lilia, since you're my new sister, we'll have to get you settled in. I've got three bedrooms spare. You can have whichever one you want. I aim to make your stay here as happy as possible" Sheryll said, her smile returning to her face as she sat back in her chair and sipped her drink.

Lilia was perched on the edge of the leather sofa, her stockinged legs pressed tightly together as she slowly shuffled her feet against the heavily textured chocolate brown carpet. The sensitive scars on her soles, which were hidden by the white nylon, sent a tingling feeling throughout the lower part of her body as her feet slid against the carpet fibres. The scars themselves were a constant reminder of the sort of atrocities her handlers so eagerly thrust upon her, in this case they had sliced her feet with an assortment of blades and then forced the hysterical girl to perform a continuous pirouette for their sick entertainment.

She had politely left her flats at the front of the door, force of habit for a girl raised with proper manners and had gone on to contently gaze at her superior who had so eagerly welcomed her into penthouse with a complimentary drink and smile. Although the young girl averted her gaze when the older agent began to read her files, a mixture of humiliation and mild panic filled her as she tried to distract herself with the various appliances throughout the spacious apartment.

This moment of embarrassment ended when Agent Gossamer began talking once more, immediately catching Lilia's attention as she strained her mind to try and piece together what the dark haired woman was saying. She got the general gist from the woman's tone, replying with a meek smile and a brisk nod of her head, immediately standing up and following the woman who eagerly showed her around the impressive penthouse. Although Lilia could not fully understand all that Agent Gossamer was saying a warm grin spread across her faun-like face, she was simply happy that someone was actually trying to make conversation with her.

Once the little excursion was complete Lilia pointed to the room adjacent to her superior's, not forgetting to give her a little grin and a cute nod of her head, she had found her bedroom. Not only did she like the soft pastel pink interior but she also chose this room because it was the one closest to Sheryll's allowing her some peace of mind that she could be safe at night knowing the kind lady was nearby.

Lilia cautiously patted the soft inviting fabric of the violet quilt that hugged the large queen bed as she slowly examined the pretty room that was going to be hers from now on. She had never seen such a comfortable looking piece of furniture ever and the very fact that she was going to be sleeping in such a thing summoned a warm feeling to sprout in her heart, a tender smile forming at the corners of her lips as she turned to face her superior... a look of pure gratitude and joy radiating off her angelic face.

Almost on impulse she hopped onto the bed with a whispery giggle, her lithe body slightly sinking into the cozy mattress as the bed embraced her petite form, her head diving into the large pillow. She cared not if she crinkled her clothes or if she wasn't wearing any proper sleeping attire the young girl was simply enjoying something she had not felt in years, genuine comfort.

The years of fear, pain and exhaustion had seemingly caught up with the ballet prodigy and as she sunk into the gentle embrace of her bed, serene blue eyes slowly closed sending the girl into a safe, dreamless slumber that she had missed for much of her teenage years...

Sheryll stood there, leaning against the doorway as the young girl slipped onto the bed and fell asleep, the scars on her feet obvious for her to see. She frowned and resolved that Theta squad would soon experience a sudden and painful case of missing-in-action.
Sheryll spun and softly closed the door, the file that she had left on the table was still open. Sitting down in the chair, Sheryll reached under the table and grabbed a small bottle of wine from the built in cooler. Downing her soda, she poured herself about a third of the glass and began to examine the file with much more intense focus then she had previously.
In it there was contained many comments and doodles scrawled in by the author, likely a member of Theta squad. Several of the little notes made mention of Lilia's superb physical qualities though the method of describing them was far more... vulgar.
Though no photos were shown and there was no direct admission, anyone reading the file could easily interpret what was being alluded to. Sheryll narrowed her eyes as she kept reading, any atrocities that were admitted to were immediately 'justified' as training methods.

Among these torments, one in particular caught her eye. It said that they cut open her feet and made her perform dance moves in a 'successful' attempt to 'improve the little tart's fighting skills'. Sheryll had to prevent herself from tearing the file in half; instead downing the rest of the glass and standing up. Sheryll flipped open her phone and dialed her father's number.

"Yes, Hello?" his voice crackled out.

"Hi daddy, it's me. I was just wondering if I could request Theta squad as backup for my next mission."

"Of course sweetie, but why Theta? Don't you think Alpha or Bravo would be better suited to assisting you?" he queried, a hint of suspicion in his voice.

"Daddy, Alpha and Bravo can handle assignments by themselves, those guys at Theta need to be taught a lesson."

"Well I suppose since they're up for review anyway, you can be the one to monitor their performance."

"Thanks, I'll make sure they're taught exactly what it means to be under your command." she replied, a sense of sadistic joy filling her. She was about to continue but the phone call was abruptly ended, as if her father could sense she had nothing else to say.

Sheryll sighed before standing up and quickly dialing a number into her phone once more. The phone rang three times before a silky, softly accented voice answered. It was tinged with a slight irritation, as if the man it belonged to had been interrupted from some important task.

"Hello?"

"Hi, it's Sheryll, want to grab some food? I promise not to make you pay this time" she said, putting on her coat and walking out the door. She had a long night ahead of her and if Cilian agreed to have dinner with her, it would improve significantly.



((end of topic))