February 2, 2035

08:30 Moscow Time Zone

Russian Countryside

Taking a slow sip of coffee, Van considered the display before her in the research area showing the video feed of their newly acquired prisoner. Next to the video was what details that had on one Matthew Stravis. "So he's an engineer. Apparently a decent one."

At her right, she could feel Bradford nod.

She went on. "And he also passed all of your tests, Tygan? He's not likely to be brainwashed or anything?"

Tygan nodded from her left. "I've run every test we've come up with to check for any type of control."

"What do you think, Lily?" She directed her question to another screen where the Chief was doing something down in Engineering so she was doing a video conference.

"He knows his stuff. It might take him a bit to get used to life on the Avenger, but I'm pretty sure he'll adapt. Be better than whatever the aliens had in mind for him."

"So why am I being asked about him?" Maybe she was just being slow from the time change and the fact that someone had remotely turned off her alarm so she ended up sleeping later than she should have. She was still trying to figure out the culprit, because it could have been any of the three she was talking to at the moment.

Said culprits looked at one another, but it was Bradford who spoke. "Because we want to make sure you're all right with the decision."

So she wouldn't say anything she'd likely regret, Vanessa took a long drink from her mug. "Look, I get that I'm supposed to be in charge here, but the three of you are adults. Not only adults, but experts in your respective fields. So if you tell me that someone is what you need and you can vouch for them. I'm fine with that. Just make sure they don't have access to outside communication until they're fully vetted. We clear?"

When they gave their agreements, she relaxed. "Good. Now from what I understand we're currently grounded because of one of the infamous winter storms of the area?"

"Yes." Bradford grumbled. "I'd checked the weather reports beforehand of course, but this one of those storms that just whips up out of nowhere. It shouldn't last too long, but it's for the best that we remain grounded for a day or so due to the extreme gusts of wind that can occur."

"Fair enough. Unless I'm needed for anything else, I'm going to be in my quarters."

"That's it for me, Vanessa." Lily said. "I'll talk with you later."

As the engineer signed off, the other two also agreed with her. Leaving them to their own business, she headed out, grateful there hadn't been any arguments with her decision.

She'd already had a rather spirited discussion with Tygan about his research. For some reason he seemed disinclined to work on the ADVENT officer just yet, troubled by something he didn't want to discuss. He insisted on finishing his current project, rather than putting it on hold for later.

Or maybe it was like he said, that it was good to be studying something closer to his chosen field of study.

When she came out of R&D, Hause perked up from where he was lounging about and started to nonchalantly amble along with her as she walked along. For some reason it felt like the soldier was acting as a bodyguard rather than guarding those on the Avenger from her.

She very firmly squelched the rising doubt and fear. Which proved to be a good thing when she got paged by Bradford as soon as she walked into the room. "Commander, there's a secure transmission coming through for you from an unknown source."

"Are you sure that's wise?"

"Yes, it has all the current codes identifying it as coming from a Resistance operative."

Feeling more than a little nervous about the message, she sat down at her desk to set the computer to record. Just in case. "All right, put it through."

The large display at her desk flashed to life with an all too familiar image of a suited man backlit so that his features weren't visible. Van was very glad to be sitting down for this. She hadn't expected him to still be around.

He had a second think coming to him if he thought he could tell her what to do this time around.

That too well known gravelly voice came over the speakers. "Hello Commander."

"Mr. Spokesman." Years spent in academia had taught her how to main a blandly polite expression no matter what detestable person you were dealing with. Normally she didn't bother, but with this particular individual, she'd use it.

He gave the impression of leaning forward slightly to consider her. "It's good to see you, Commander."

It sounded like he meant it, which was disturbing. She'd always had the impression that he disapproved of her methods, despite what Bradford had told her the day before. "Thank you. I take it this isn't a social call."

"It isn't." He folded his hands together. "The Council you once knew is no more. Its membership have all sworn loyalty to the ADVENT Administration. With one exception. In the days since your capture I have done all I can to aid the Resistance from the inside."

She nodded in silence. She'd already figured the gutless assholes had given up to the aliens, but it still hurt to hear that confirmation. It pissed her off even more.

The display changed to a room she'd heard about from Bradford. A room full of computer equipment. At the center was a large tube with a certain suit she'd hoped never to see again. The Spokesman continued. "It was these Resistance operatives that provided the intel leading to your recent extraction. As of now, Resistance forces are currently somewhat… disorganized."

It took a great deal of willpower not to snort at that understatement. From what she'd pried out of Bradford, there wasn't much to work with. The staff in Mission Control had been much more informative. There wasn't any kind of organization outside of the small regional cells.

The display returned to the shadowy figure. "If we are to defeat ADVENT and their alien masters, you must change this before it is too late."

Another shift on the display, on the left hand side a long string of reports, on the right a list of ADVENT identification cards. It looked almost as if the top of the cards had a string of DNA as the main identifier beside the standard picture, name and contact info. "What you are seeing are classified reports of missing civilians from across the world. Their numbers are growing. We suspect they have been taken to a nearby ADVENT black site, though its exact location remains unknown."

The display shifted to a blurry picture of some unidentifiable containers. Van suspected she didn't want to see what was in them. Another shift and a topographical map of the world flowed across the display showing locations of the abductions.

"Time is short, Commander McKenzie. We need you to take charge of Resistance operations throughout the world. Establish contact with the local cells and bring them into the fold. Find this black site. And. Shut. It. Down. Save our world. The clock is ticking."

She mentally rolled her eyes at his drama. Though there maybe something he should know.

"Before you go, Mr. Spokesman. There's something you should know." She summed up what Tygan had discovered so far about what the aliens had done to her.

"That is troubling news, Commander, but it doesn't alter my decision in encouraging the Resistance to bring you back to us."

"I see. There is one small thing I would like to know. When exactly did the Council surrender to the aliens?"

He paused. "I think you know, Commander. For what it is worth, I am sorry that I could not persuade them to hold out longer. We were winning under your leadership."

"But they were given the usual incentives to turn," she replied numbly.

"Yes. There is one other thing you should know. The aliens wanted you specifically. The destruction of XCOM was one of their objectives, but not the primary one. I was never able to get the exact reasons why. So when those operatives got the proof that you were still alive, I made sure they knew how to get the information to the remnants XCOM."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome. I'm sending the file with what details I have so far. Good luck, Commander."

When the transmission ended, Van blew out her breath as she stopped the recording. "No pressure there."

Really, it was nothing new from what she'd concluded on her own from what she'd been told by John, Lily and Tygan combined with what research she'd been able to do. It was still chilling to hear that confirmation from someone like the Spokesman. Chilling and infuriating.

But it meant she didn't have to answer to anyone, except for possibly her senior staff. Though she suspected she'd have to violate a great number of her own ethical boundaries before they'd challenge her. Except for possibly Lily, who seemed to have her father's ethics.

So she was free to do what she needed to.

It wasn't the Council's betrayal that was causing her nerves. It stemmed from the confirmation that the aliens had wanted her specifically. Why her? Why the simulations? Again, what else had they done to her?

Refusing to let her mind run around in little circles while gnawing at itself, she rested her forehead against the palms of her hands with her elbows braced on the desktop. She began to study the file after pushing herself upright.

So many people just gone. Instead of just walking out of their homes to work or errands or any other daily task, they just walked out of their lives.

Feeling sick, Van contacted Central. "Did you listen in on that conversation?"

"No. Why would I?"

She sighed and rubbed her forehead, it wasn't time to discuss what keeping someone under observation meant. "Do you have some time? I have something I need to show you from that transmission just now."

"Of course. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Thank you."

Vanessa was staring at the long list of missing people when Bradford arrived. She felt him watching her, but she couldn't face him yet for reasons she couldn't articulate to herself much less anyone else. All she could say was. "Take a seat. It won't be long, but this is likely to end in a long conversation."

He was silent for a moment then said, "All right."

Hearing the creak of the cushions as he sat, she started the video, then brought the file back up once it was over. She forced herself to turn around to face him. Bradford had the same sick and haunted expression that she imagined she wore as well.

"God, Van. I'm not sure which is worse, knowing that the abductions have resumed, if they never stopped, or knowing that it was the Council of all people who betrayed us." He got up to stand next to her to study the display. He shook his head. "Never imagined the Spokesman was still around and was a source of our intel."

Without turning his attention away from the reports before them, he commented a little too casually. "Better not be blaming yourself for the attack on the HQ. They would've done that no matter what."

"I'm not." She wasn't really. "I'm just feeling… Unsettled. Angry. Oddly free."

"I imagine so," John said as he turned toward her to put an arm around her shoulders. Acting on a desire she felt since she realized that John really was the man he said he was, Van turned so she could put her arms around him for a tight hug. Standing there holding and being held by a friend was good. That it was John who was the friend made it that much better.

She let herself to revel just a bit in how well they fit together.

Finally they stepped back and she smiled. "Thank you. I needed that."

He smiled back. "So did I. More than I realized." He sighed and turned toward back to the reports. "Any idea of what they have in common?"

"None at first glance. I'll have Lily run the numbers through the main computer to see if she can come up with any correlations so I have a second set of eyes examining this. I'd ask Tygan, but he's already got plenty on his plate as it is."

"True." He stared at the display for a little longer, then shook his head again. "And I'm holding you up from your work."

"If you don't mind, I think I'd like to come back to Mission Control with you. I could use being around people right now. I can do my research there just as well."

"Mind? Why would I mind when you have as much right to be there as I do."

"Because I feel like I'm underfoot there when I'm not running an op."

He snorted. "Hardly." Then a thoughtful look crossed his face. "You're talking about the old Mission Control too."

"Yes."

"Hmph. You were hardly underfoot there too."

That's not what it seemed like to her, but she wasn't going to argue. He clapped a hand on her shoulder to gently steer her to the door. "C'mon, Commander," he said lightheartedly. "How about we both get underfoot."

She smiled at him again and walked along with him.

As they left her quarters and his hand dropped away, John asked. "Free, huh?"

"Yes. Free from the Council's leash and muzzle. I can run XCOM the way I want to without having to do things to deal with their hysteria. If I have to compromise my ethical principles it'll be on my terms. "

Realizing what that probably sounded like, she paused.

John made an amused sound. "Don't worry, Van, I get where you're going. It'll be good to see what you're capable of without fetters."

Yes. That was the source of her current unease. She was unfettered. Free to do what she wanted. It was a dizzying, dazzling thought.

"Don't worry, Van. I'll keep you grounded so you don't go off course."

"Thank you, yet again."

He just smiled in return as they walked into Mission Control.