Prologue
The stiff back chair dug into her thighs and the pain in her back had ceased to register not long ago. The girl in the seat hadn't closed her eyes except to blink and yet she wasn't there. She was in a busy, bustling city with people and cars and the smell of food vendors wafting through the air. Or she was on the beach. Tahiti. It was a magical place everyone said. Anywhere but the cold, dank room she sat in. Anywhere was better than this place she called home.
There wasn't much to scan or memorize in the room. The door, a metal affair with so many locks it'd take the Winter Soldier an hour to get in by picking the locks. Not that he would. He'd just blow the door in. Not that he'd have to force his way in here either. If he was coming then it was due to orders. The rest of the room was a faded, baby blue with no trim, water stains nearing the ceiling, and a lush white carpet that made her bare feet scream at the texture. It was almost to the point of pain for her. And they knew it.
How long it had been was irrelevant at this point. Time was a construct that only mattered if she were on a mission. 3 days to fulfill orders, 2 hours to extraction. That was all. Nothing else mattered. Her age was what they told her it was when undercover and the number changed so often she couldn't tell what the truth was.
"Subject 3," A voice sounded from unseen speakers, "You are free to stand and report to your handler."
Her legs felt like jello as she was finally able to straighten them. Yet she refused to allow them to limp or show any signs of stiffness as she made her way towards the door. That would only get her right back into that damn chair.
--
A scrawny, weasel of a man tapped on the screens as he watched the little girl walk down the hallway. "Incredible range of self control and fluidity of motion." He muttered to himself, continuing to tap the screens, "Though, it was only 50 hours this time." Adjusting his notes, he finally pressed a recording button, "Doctor Grante, Project: Red Rabbit, Subject 3." He watched as she made it to the designated door and knocked, "For being the only surviving trial, Subject 3 is making tremendous success in the tests. The last 7 years have proved difficult but, as the subject matures, it appears that it will go beyond the abilities of its predecessor. Will begin her training with the Winter Soldier and Widow associates from the KGB in the next year as endurance training comes to a partial close."
Doctor Grante turned the recording off and chuckled to himself, "By the time it's twelve that thing could take on its own damn father!" The blonde, 7 year old girl on the screen stepped into the opened door.
