Thirteen: Operation Paperclip

"It started as a governmental pet project. I wish I knew which President came up with the idea, but I don't."

The government?

"Around World War II, they started taking it seriously. I'm not sure how much you remember from history classes, but after the war, Germany was devastated.

It was brilliant really, what happened. I mean, if you think about it. The U.S. went in and took their scientists. Some had such incredible minds and of those, some were also monsters. I'm sure you've learned about what happened in the camps," Carlisle paused, thinking back on that time and the regret that still lingered. "Never again," he mumbled. "Isn't that what they say?"

"They offered the scientists asylum on American soil on one condition – they worked for them now. And they took the deal, all of them. The government erased their histories and all affiliations with the Nazi party and gave them new lives…,

Have you heard of the project MK-ULTRA?"

Bella shook her head.

"It was a mind control experiment. There were many of them during this time; some of that information has gone public now. They drugged unwilling participants, gave people STI's without their knowing, there was so much abuse - they even ventured into mind reading. Anyway, this started as a part of that first project, but it became so big they gave it a name on its own – The Thassos Project.

They started studying us." Carlisle gestured toward himself and Edward. "Vampires." He so rarely used the word, it felt fumbling and foreign coming out of his mouth.

"They don't consider us human and I suppose we're not, but we were once. They operate above and outside the law; there's no checks and balances there. It's – gotten out of hand."

"Out of hand?" Edward stood up. "It's genocide, Carlisle."

In the firelight, Edward looked dangerous. He stood off with his father, who brooked no argument in return.

"They're killing us off," Carlisle continued, glancing once more at his son as if to say - There, are you happy now? "The older ones. We can't be controlled the way the newborns can."

"Newborn?"

"A new vampire. They're creating them, they have been for a while though I'm not entirely sure how." Carlisle lost the thread of conversation for a moment. He knew so much, but there was always more that was a mystery to him.

The room was quiet save the crackling of the fire.

They're killing us off.

"What about my dad?" Bella asked. It was the only thing that mattered.

Edward sat down again to give Carlisle the floor.

He hesitated. He didn't want to scare her anymore. He didn't want it to be real, but it was and Charlie was a part of it. He was a leader. Charlie was the bravest man Carlisle had ever known.

"Your father found out about us, I don't know how. I wasn't living here yet. But he did." He paused. "Are you sure you want to hear this from me? I think it would be better coming from your -,"

"Tell me." Charlie would only try to protect her from it and Bella wanted all of the truth.

Carlisle smiled. She was so much like her father. "All right. When the vampires started learning about the genocide, they started moving. Most of us are nomadic; it's easier that way since our appearances don't change. But some of us like to stay put for as long as we can; I fall into this category.

So, even the non-nomadic groups started moving. A few came here, and then a few more. This town is small, it's quiet, but best of all, it's the rainiest city in the country. Do you know what happens to our skin in the sunlight?"

"She saw," Edward said.

"We're safe here. When Charlie found out the truth, he opened the town up to us. There are more of our kind here than yours. But Charlie's organized and he's just; we follow his rules."

"Rules?" Bella echoed. She couldn't believe they were talking about her father. He was the same man that forgot to call her on her eighteenth birthday, the same one that barely looked her in the eye still.

"They mostly deal with staying hidden – not drawing attention to yourself. And, there's another one, the most important one – we're not to hurt humans -,"

"But, I thought…," Bella wasn't sure what she thought. Vampires drank blood, Edward had told her as much.

"You didn't tell her?" Carlisle directed at Edward. She had been alone with him how many times now? And she wasn't scared? He was afraid now that he'd underestimated Bella Swan.

"We drink from animals only. Edward and I have been doing so for many years, but some people in the town struggle. We all do the best we can."

…

Carlisle decided to take a small break. Bella's face would be ashen had it not been for the heat from the fire and he was worried at what this inundation would do to her. He was changing her world, he knew.

"Would you like some water?" He asked. It was all they had, aside from a carton of orange juice that had long expired.

"No, thanks."

"I need something from my office; I'll give you a minute." Carlisle moved out of the room at a human pace.

"Bella," Edward started. He was treating her like a frightened deer.

"I just need to be alone, okay?"

He said he'd go up and find Carlisle.

Bella turned toward the fire and warmed her hands. She stretched her feet forward to do the same. It was nice. It was a quiet night and the couch was so soft and she could sink right into it. If she were to walk outside, she'd see the stars. The world was big, she understood that now.

And this was too big. And she knew there was more truth to tell.

Carlisle and Edward waited upstairs until Edward could hear Bella's heartbeat return to normal. When it had, they waited another minute before venturing downstairs. Carlisle felt the same stirring of intimidation he suspected his son felt around this girl. He couldn't say where it came from, only that it was a vibration of nerves in the pit of his stomach when she was near. It came from not knowing, he believed, of what untapped ability she had inside her.

Once they were back within the warmth of the living room, Bella asked, "What else is my father doing?"

Carlisle resumed his place by the fire. While it didn't make his skin warm, it at least took the edge off. "For the last two years or so, Charlie has made a group within the group. Rosalie is a part of it, several others too. They've decided to form an offensive front. It's the one thing Charlie and I disagree most strongly about -,"

"And you and I," Edward added.

Carlisle acknowledged this and moved ahead. "They call themselves The Resistance."

Edward wanted to jump in, but there was something in the distance that had caught his attention. Footsteps, too fast to be human, and more than one set. The others knew Carlisle's property was off limits.

"Do you hear that?" Edward asked, standing.

Carlisle listened. He heard two people, one much closer to the house than the other. The closer one was loud, pounding, and familiar. "Who's the other one?"

He stood shoulder to shoulder with his son and strained his mind for some sense of familiarity, but there wasn't any.

Edward shook his head.

Bella stood, backing up and away from them instinctively. "What's going on?"

She heard nothing and then a door she couldn't see blew open. It slammed back against the wall and then bounced off the frame. First there was the registration of the sound, and then there was another man in the room.

"Help," he said.

Carlisle heard the moment the other set of footsteps went quiet. "Where?" He was already following his son to the door.

"Too close, he's here." To Bella's eyes, they disappeared.

She took a step forward and Edward blocked her. The plea was in his eyes, but not his words.

"Stay here."

And then he was gone too.

Author's Note: Thank you to my pre-readers and my right now readers :)

Author's Note the Second: Operation Paperclip was a real thing; it's pretty brilliant in a sick way.