I AM JANE

Part 1
The Five Truths

The simple conclusions she had found were the hardest truths for her to swallow. She had hoped that life would finally be easy on her, and the universe would stay by her side. She had already gone through so much, and she thought that she would eventually, maybe, catch a break. But, the truth was, life chews you up, and then spits you out. Then, after life throws you up, the universe gives you a good beating. Life's outcomes are random, and the universe is mean.

First truth: She was not Taylor Shaw.

A name she had grown to love, her starting point, now was erased just like her memories.

She had come to learn this truth after her team found some files left by her deceased boss. These records helped her ex-colleague, Patterson, find more about her past.

M7G667 was a file found about female 'sleeper spies.' (M7G668 for the male 'sleeper spy' organization) Navy Seal officers in the Special Operations task forces were assigned to find these "to-be" super soldiers. Officers were trained to find outstanding servicewomen to join Orion, a larger organization of spies that helped infiltrate, and take down terrorism against the United States.

After being selected 'Sleeper Spies' were made to be presumed dead. They were legally dead in front of the eyes of the world, "Killed in combat." Following their forged death, soldiers then were trained in specific combat techniques.

When the Spy was ready, their mind would be erased and then given a particular undercover mission. The protocol was made so that minds were erased after each mission was complete. This was done so if the Spy were tortured, they would not know anything about their past family, life, training, or their secret organization. Making them invulnerable to Orion.
They were literal sleeping beauties, awake, but unaware of their existence. Stripped of everything that made them human. Sleeping with their eyes wide open.

They did give her a name, which was the same for every female spy. MG or "Maggie." Short for the Organization M7G667. She was given many opportunities to have more names than just Maggie throughout her service. She was Anna in Russia. Bo in China. Jasimah in Pakistan. The list of her missions seemed to go on forever. Even though her memories were taken, and her adolescent years lost, her linguistic knowledge and advanced combat training never failed to leave her.

Second truth: She was not raised in favorable circumstances.

Her first name was Sarah. She was born in Sub-Saharan Africa by religious Christian parents. Her parents were on a six-year missionary trip building the church, and their gospel in a small African community, when terrorists attacked the small village. She was only five when she saw her parents shot in front of her during the attack.

Since she was a beautiful 'white child,' she was taken captive and sold into the black market of child trafficking.
Her life seemed to have no meaning. Born to do work that no child should do. Born to be a slave. She was starved, malnourished, abused, and threatened. She knew nothing different. She was kept in cold, gray basements with other children. Taken out only when needed.
Her life changed when Navy serviceman found and took down the small child trafficking operation. She was then brought to America and raised in foster care.

She was an exceptional student but known to be an introvert. The only thing she wanted was to become was a Navy soldier. She wanted to be that savior to others like they were to her.

After graduation, she enlisted in the Navy. There she was taught to train. Her learning and combat abilities became exceptional. Throughout her first year of service, she was secretly surveyed by various recruiters, and then, with Jane's permission, placed in the Special Operation forces as a Navy Seal.

When recruited for M7G667 she accepted. She knew that she would not lose much. She had no family, no friends. The only people she trusted, were the people that she was working for. She also wanted her past gone, a past plagued with memories of things that should never be experienced by anyone. Her constant nightmares coaxed her into believing that her memories were best left forgotten.

When she accepted to be part of M7G667, she never would have thought the people she trusted in so deeply would use her for illegal actions. Actions that she never would remember - or so they thought.
Third truth: You can only trust yourself.

She didn't know much about the organization that she joined after "Maggie." She still doesn't. But, they now knew she was a traitor. After being arrested by her recent lover, and willingly questioned by her ex-colleagues, the full truth was set free. She knew that this truth would brand a giant "Kill me now" on her back by her tattoo of "Kurt Weller FBI."
Fourth truth. Her instincts are usually right.

This truth gave her perspective on her present doom. She didn't know how, or who brought her, but she knew why. The brand on her back brought her there. Trapped in a shed in an unknown place. Her swollen hands are tied to a rope held by a ceiling post, and her feet five inches above the muddy ground. She is barely conscious.

She opens her eyes and tries gasping for air through her black mouth gag. Her eyes trail to a nearby wooden stool. Her eyes start to focus, and she sees a small vile on top of a wooden stool by her. She knows the substance very well because it has ended so many times before. ZIP. Her breathing deepens, as the shed door opens, revealing a man's silhouette.

During her interrogation at the FBI two weeks ago, and the information given to her afterward from Patterson, she began to realize her many mistakes. Not just in the FBI, but in her past life. She began to understand that the past she willingly gave up did not define her.

Her abuse did not define her.

Not defined by the Navy, or her unnamed secret organization.

Not defined by Sarah, Maggie, Anna, Bo or Jasimah.

She was not defined her past.

She was defined by what she wanted to become.

She was a Phoenix. Risen by her past, and made for a new future. She was made by her mistakes but created by her new consciousness.

Fifth truth: Her final truth. I am Jane.

Four Hours Earlier

She went through the stages. Shock, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, testing, and acceptance. She thought that after going through all the stages, she would finally get rid of the grief. But, It just got worse. It seemed like it morphed into an unbeatable demon. It made her feel lifeless and unable to eat. She knew she was a different person. She knew who she finally was, however, it seemed like her revelation was several weeks late. She continued to do all in her power to undo what should be done and accepted the inevitable doom of where her actions would now take her.

"You have a visitor," the security guard snarled at Jane through the prison door. He turned the metal key that opened the jail cell. Jane looked up, her weakened figure sitting in the corner of the confined jail cell. Jane stood up as the guard grabbed his cuffs from his blue back pocket. Her green eyes emotionally empty, as she lifted her arms to give the large man her hands.

Jane's thoughts traced back to her confession several weeks ago.

The car drive back to FBI building was only fifteen minutes long. It felt like an eternity for Jane. She just stared at Kurt's stone cold face, as he talked on the telephone to Agent Reade and Zapata. He tried filling them in as much as possible, as he made the arrangements for an interrogation room.

She had begged Kurt to let her speak, but he never let her. He told her to be quiet as he built up the emotional wall between her and the situation. The situation got worse every minute of the drive, as his imagination turned the case every possible way.

She never saw Kurt again after he sent her into the FBI interrogation room. He gave the excuse to Agent Reade that he would just impede the investigation; as he was too close to this case. Still, Agent Reade knew he was just too emotionally drained to get the confession from her. He was too angry at the world.

Weller's anger seethed towards Jane. His last three words to her would sting in her head every day after, "I trusted you." The last of her hope of fixing her relationship with Agent Weller died at that time. The light in her eyes died as she entered the interrogation room.

Her confession to the FBI…to her team… was long and painful. It broke her mentally. She asked for no Lawyer, as she willingly gave all of the details to Agent Reade and Zapata of what had happened in her life the last couple months.

She started with her kidnapping and torture from Agent Carter and ended with Oscars' death. She knew as she gave this information, it would dig her deeper into more jail sentences, and time in prison. She braced herself emotionally and physically, knowing she would not see anything else except for prisons for the rest of her life.

She would see Agent Reade and Zapata giving an occasional glance at the one-way glass during her confession. She assumed that they were staring at Weller, Patterson, and maybe even Dr. Borden. But, she never knew for certain. She wished she had been truthful from the beginning. But, she put her trust in the wrong people.

In the end, she was told she would be tried for several counts of obstruction of justice. Two counts of accessory to murder, for the Assistant Director of the FBI, and Deputy Director of the CIA. Not to mention, the one count of Murder for Oscar. The list went on and on. Her face went paler as Agent Zapata read the list to her.

Agent Zapata sadly finished, "Jane Doe, you are expected to have three to life in prison without parole." Agent Zapata looked down at Jane as Jane put her hands over her face. Agent Zapata touched Jane's shoulder gently, as she quickly glanced at the glass. She looked back at Jane as said softly, "I'm sorry." Agent Zapata and Reade walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. As Zapata closed the door, Jane whispered under her breath, "Me too."

Jane was brought back into her current reality. The door opened, and she saw her. She stared at her with worry. Jane sat down behind the glass partition and picked up the phone with her cuffed hands. Her head slumped down as she slowly placed the phone to her ear.

"Hi Jane," Patterson said, as she quickly gave a quick fake smile to Jane. Her eyes were welcoming, as she quickly glanced at Jane's orange jumpsuit.
Jane looked up slowly to meet Paterson's gaze. Her face was almost completely healed from the fire. Jane coldly asked, "What can I help you with Patterson? What questions do you need to be answered?" Jane's dead eyes stared at Paterson for her reply.

"Jane, I'm not here for questions," Patterson started. "Jane no one knows I came down here to talk with you today." Patterson breathed in deep and sucked back the tears. "Jane you need to get a lawyer…. If you want to have any life after this…you need to get some help. The case that is forming against you is not good. The FBI has fully taken it out of our…my teams' hands. They are going to hit you hard." Patterson looked worried. Her thumbs twisted around the telephone chord, as she breathed deeply.

"I can't," Jane said plainly. "You and I both know, if I get a lawyer he will have to find some sort of loophole to get me less time in jail…or better jail cell to live in. You and I both know these loopholes will cut back on the investigations against this unnamed organization that I was…that I am linked to. They will try to make my problems go away, and this will make them go away. It is not worth it."

"But, Jane. You don't… You don't remember anything! You didn't know anything until the very end. That has to count for something. Jane, you are a victim of a lot that went on," Patterson said, as each word decreased in volume.

Jane looked up and halfway smiled at Patterson. Patterson believed in her confession; she knew she didn't have any bad intentions. That was Patterson… loyal to the end. She saw through this horrible mess and had hoped of fixing it.
Patterson continued, "You did it all for Weller. I would have done the same for David."

Jane breathed deeply as she tried to pull herself together, "Thank you Patterson, but it has to end this way. I have made peace with my life in prison. You should make peace with it too." Jane stood up. She turned her back to Patterson, as the security officer started escorting her out of the room.

Patterson pounded on the glass as she yelled, "Jane! You can't do this to yourself! You can't do this! You can't do this! Come back let us sort this out! I can help. You know I can." The glass only muffled her cries. Tears started welling inside the ducts of her blue eyes, as Jane left the room with the guard.

Jane stared at the officer as he closed the door behind. Jane then looked around at the empty hallway. No one was in sight. The empty hall was the last thing she saw as the officer put the cloth of chloroform over her face. She struggled for a second but then went lifeless. The security guard dragged her down the hall, as he smirked at the disabled security cameras.

The man emerged from the darkness with a gun in hand. She knew the man; he had already tried taking her life before. He was presumed dead by the FBI, and his life taken in front of her. But, she had a gut feeling that it seemed too good to be true. She was just waiting for the day that she would see him again.

He looked Jane up and down as he inched closer. He stroked her cheek as he approached her. "Nice to see you again, Jane," Cade said. Jane jerked her face away from Cades' unwelcome touch.
Cades' eyebrows furrowed in anger, lifting his gun he placed the silver gun onto the middle of her forehead. "Let's try this again. I want you to understand that I am in charge right now," he laughed as he continued, pressing the gun even deeper into Jane's forehead.

"You see I have the advantage here. You are tied up, gagged, and completely useless," staring down at Jane's weakened figure and asked, "Really Maggie? … Or should I call you Jane? That's what they call you know right?" He paused briefly, "I have seen you have better days. Do they not feed you in jail? They should at least give a bone to a dog like you."
Cade then lifted his hand to the back of Jane's neck as he whispered in her ear, "Now, don't try anything stupid," he warned. He then proceeded to slowly untie her mouth gag with his one hand, his other hand still pressing the gun on her forehead. He stepped back as he released the gag from her mouth.

"Now do you have anything to say for yourself?" Cade asked menacingly. Jane looked at him for a second, and then spit on him. The spit landed audibly on his cheek. It did not take Cade anytime to smack Jane's face with the end of the gun.

"Did I not make myself clear? I am in charge! I am in charge! Me, not you!" Cade said in a fury, as he wiped his cheek off with the back of his hand.
Jane looked at him, her eyes trying to concentrate on him, her head throbbing. "How are you still alive?" She muttered.

"I have my perks being the boss' son," he said plainly

"Wait, you are Shepherd's son?" Jane asked, taken aback.

"His blood runs through my veins. Oscar shot me, but he was too scared to finish the job as he took me overboard. We all know Oscar is scared of my father. Always scared he would kill him," Cade stated.

The thought of Oscar made her breathe in deep, as she quickly flashed back to the night she accidentally killed him. The image of the ax penetrated in his sternum made her body weaken for a moment.

"Thanks by the way, for killing him off," Cade chirped.

"How did you know it was me?" She said in distraught.

"Well, It was pretty easy. No one wanted revenge for Marcos except for me. Since I am Shepherd's son, it was pretty easy for us to figure out. Not me. So it was obviously you trying to impersonate me. Not a very good job Jane by the way," Cade laughed.

"So you just brought me here to tell me this?" She said sarcastically.
"No my father sent me here to kill you. He knew I would get some joy out of it, I think. I just couldn't decide on overdosing you with ZIP, strangling you with my hands, or shooting you. I thought the ZIP would be the most poetic, though. Killed by the same drug that you willingly took. It's too bad, though. I liked you before this whole Jane thing. You were invincible, a true super soldier, " Cade glanced away to pick up the glass ZIP bottle. "You see we can't keep you anymore, you burnt all the bridges, and the FBI knows who you are." Cade grabbed the syringe from the wooden seat and pierced it into the ZIP bottle.

Cade continued, "I did want to ask before we get to killing part about your token tattoo."

"What do you mean? Token tattoo?" Jane asked bewildered.

"When we were organizing all the tattoos for placement, you asked for a specific tattoo. You said it had no meaning, just a small image you liked and wanted to be placed with your other tattoos. It was a symbolic memento like a soldier brought into the war. Shepherd never saw the reason behind it. He had our team investigate any double meaning, but there was none. So he let you have it." Cade explained.

"What tattoo is it?" Jane asked as she tried positioning herself to be more comfortable. It was no use as she moved her feet that back and forth, as they dangled above the floor.

Cade pointed to her tied up hands hanging from the ceiling post. "It is that stupid hexagonal pattern on the top of your right hand." Cade looked down as he started sucking the poison into the syringe.

"I don't know what it means. I don't remember anything!" Jane said looking above her at the rope that tied her to the wooden ceiling post. She lightly swung forward as she heard the post let out a small creek.

"Last chance Jane. What does the tattoo mean! I know it means something!" he threw the empty jar of ZIP onto the floor in anger, as he held the full syringe in his hand.

"I don't know!" Jane shouted, "I swear to you I don't know!"

"Suit yourself," Cade said as he walked towards Jane. Syringe in one hand, and gun in the other It all happened in a few mere moments. Jane lifted her legs up, and with all her force kicked Cade backward onto the floor. Cade fell on his back, and the syringe fell out of his hand. It shattered on the floor.
Jane then lifted her legs over on top of the wooden beam. She then let her feet go to swing them as far backward as possible. As the momentum brought her forward, she pulled the rope attached to her hands. The force broke the beam and brought her to the floor.

Cade stood up. As he went to point the gun to shoot Jane; Jane took the loosened beam still attached to her hands by the rope, and swung it at his head. Cade's gun went off. The nail that was connected to the end of the beam was pierced in the side of his skull. The impact killed him instantly.
Jane rolled back and forth on the floor, as she screamed in pain. She looked down as the blood oozed from out of her right leg. Trying to think clearly, she grabbed the gun out of Cade's dead hands.

She placed the gun close to her and then started to untie her hands from the beam. Using her mouth to pull the knots apart. She picked the gun up again, as she slowly scooted her injured body over to Cade. She searched Cade's body, and only found a flip-phone in his right-hand pocket. She opened the burner phone to conclude that there was no signal. She groaned in disbelief. She knew that if she did not get help soon, she would be dead as well.