A SMALL EAST TEXAS TOWN, 2012
Rachael could remember the day perfectly even though she wished she really hadn't, sitting against her couch as a young child, tears of a childhood fear burning in her throat. She sat there with her father and grandfather, glued to the television, watching as the decepticons attacked Chicago. Rachael was about five at the time, and she never knew that she would be a big part of this war and many more to come. Her fear still fresh on her now thirteen year old mind as she stared at the similar seen before her once again. This time it was another alien race, there had been no decepticon sightings for quite a few months sinse she had awakened her abilities. They were called the chitauri, and they were led to destroy the human race by the Asgardian Loki . Rachael wrapped her fingers around her fathers, fear thrumming in her chest, she was begging god that they would make it through again. Her father whispered in her ear, assuring her that everything would be fine. However Rachael had trouble believing him. She squeezed harder in response, whispering to her father, tears trailing down her cheeks, " I should be there! I can help!" her father quickly hushed her, clasping her hand tighter. He had nearly lost her once he refused to go through it again. Pakker, her autobot guardian, leaned down to her ear, in human form whispering to her in response, " not yet Rachael, this war isn't yours to fight." he says repeating the words of optimus prime. Rachael throws him a desperate glance, " whats the point to having these abilities if I cant use them for the good of other people!" her voice cracks as she mutters, " the war with the decepticons wasn't mine to fight either pak, but im still fighting it aren't I ?" at that the room went eerily silent, a hushed tone took over as the portal began to close and the chitauri stopped coming. Rachael sighed heavily, her eyes locked on screen, thinking of she, her family, and her two friends who were caught up in the same war as herself. Emma and Geovanna had been normal girls once too, until they were discovered by NEST personnel. Rachael shivered slightly , her father reaching over and pulling her close as he did when she was a child. Rachael shivered as her father turned to her, she knew that this wasn't the first of many battles and it certainly would never be the last.
ONE YEAR LATER
Rachael sat perched on the couch arm, clutching the phone to her ear, her sisters voice ringing on the other end. Her sister had gotten a scholarship within their school to study abroad in new york city. Rachael never missed a call when it came to her older sister, they were very close and the thought of going a day without her terrified Rachael. She was at home alone today, her father at work, her little brother visiting her mother, and Pakker out on a mission with the other autobots so hearing her sisters voice was a comfort. " I'm proud of you Sarah!" she said excitedly, pride swelling in her voice. Sarah laughs softly in amusement, " you tell me that everyday Rach! Its nothing new to me!" the now fourteen year old Rachael beams with excitement as she teases back, " well since Tu-san is busy working who else is there to tell you but me?" Sarah shrugged on the other end of the line, she had learned to adjust to her little sisters minor changes in personality, she could bubbly one minute and pissed off the next! " Rach, its nothing special, I'm just here in new york studying the rest of my highschool career, besides without you here it gets pretty boring!" Rachael was a year and a half younger then Sarah was, as they grew up they shared everything, clothes, books, toys, movies, and most especially their room. Without her there every morning Sarah felt a little off. " look on the bright side," Rachael says pulling her out of her trance, " you get to talk with me everyday and I hear there are a lot of hot guys up there." Rachael says purring. Sarah smiled again at her sisters attempts to cheer her up, Sarah never really got to see her, considering Seymour never allowed her to stay home for to long, it was honestly nothing new. " Rach I'm sixteen years old and every relationship I've been in so far hasn't worked out! You're lucky that you have somebody who actually cares for you in your life." the other end went silent for a moment, leading Sarah to be a bit worried. She could hear a sniffle on the other end, something wasn't right! " Rach? What happened? Tell me!" her sister quietly murmured, so low that Sarah could barely make out what she said, " he broke up with me Sarah!" Sarah felt a surge of anger burn through her mind, no one hurt her little sister and got away with it! She felt like running their right now and crossing between the portal to kill him right now, but for Rachael's sake she kept calm. " Rachael, I'm sorry!" " don't be," Rachael says softly, " it wasn't your fault to begin with, it was mine for falling for him! Cole told me it was because he wanted to protect me from his enemies!" sarah clenched her fist tightly as she heard Rachael crying softly on the other end. That was a lame ass excuse, and Sarah was seriously considering kicking some pretty ninja boy ass, if it wouldn't risk her identity being discovered! Rachael loved him, and he broke her heart, that ass hole deserved worse than any punishment shield could provide! " Sarah!" Rachael says in a begging tone, " please don't do anything, he loves me and I respect his decision!" Sarah sighed heavily hiding her claws as Clint, her mentor, opened a door behind her, placing his hand against her shoulder. " besides Geo and Emma punished him enough, I wouldn't want him to be humiliated any more than he already has been!" Sarah felt a short laugh echo in her throat, " I cant make any promises Rach! Tell you what, why don't you spend the summer up here with me? My apartment is just big enough for two, and I could use someone to talk to. What do you say?" Sarah could almost see Rachael in her mind, her brown curls bouncing up and down , and her icy blue eyes that matched her own sparkling with excitement as she squeeled, " of course, I'd love too! But I don't think Seymour would approve of it, you know how strict he is!" Sarah rolled her eyes, " I could give a rats ass what Mr. Simmons says, you're in need of therapy and you're coming to new york missy!" Rachael laughs melodically, " okay Ane-chan, I'll see you soon, love you!" Sarah smiles softly in return, " love you too Rach!" and at that the line went dead. Clint glances at her from across the room, his arms crossed over his chest leaving his muscles to ripple under the shirt he was wearing, " who was that?" Sarah answered him simply, " my little sister." Clint frowns as he throws a glance out the window, " not that its any of my business Sarah but have you told her yet?" Sarah's smile faded as she turns away, " no, I haven't. I cant do that to her Clint!"there was no one in the world that mattered more to Sarah then her family, and the thought of Rachael's hurt was just too much. Clint ran his hand through his spiked up sandy blonde hair, an exasperated look in his pale eyes, " listen kid , I'm going to say this now, if you want her here fury wont tolerate any secrets, you either tell her or Fury will , that simple." Sarah ducked her eyes away from him disappointment riding in her chest, " you win! Ill tell her as soon as she gets here." Clint smiles, " good, and I've been meaning to ask you, who is this Mr. Simmons guy you keep mentioning? What is he your step dad or something?" Sarah just lets out a laugh, " hell no!" Clint's eyebrow arches upwards in surprise. Sarah flushes as she quickly responds back, " hes a..." Sarah pauses for a moment, trying to find the appropriate word that wouldn't give up to much about her sisters secret, she trusted Clint but she still wasn't sure about him. If shield found out about Rachael's secret they would use experiments on her and Sarah didn't like the sound of that., " he's a close family friend, he takes care of Rachael when my dad is at work." she responds finally. It was a lie of course, only part of it was true, but Sarah was satisfied with it. She knew Clint wasn't stupid but he seemed satisfied with the story she had provided nodding in response. As an agent of shield Sarah knew one thing, the organization itself was centered around lies, she fit in nicely with everyone else there.