Traps

Ai wasn't sure about this at all! Weaver had led her to this room and it felt 'wrong' to her. Sam and Maya were with her and all had taken seats in the comfortable chairs that had been placed in a circle. Sam had been remarkably quiet this whole time, his worry clear but his support for Ai and for his sister were felt even in his silence. Maya had finally stopped crying, but she refused to let go of Ai's hand. She was careful not grip too hard, but she did not let go. Almost as if she was afraid Ai would vanish if she did. Mina had gone off with Alley and Weaver, hopefully to have a long talk about the mass of bad things that the girl had sensed in Ai's mind. But that left these three here and-

Ai went still as throat cleared behind her. She spun in her chair to see the door open and an odd woman appear in it. The woman was older than AI looked. Maybe in her thirties? Wait a sec, were her eyes glowing along with bits of her skin? No. A trick of the light. She had dark hair and the most piercing brown eyes that Ai had ever seen. Just looking at her, she oozed trained competence. She was a soldier. Had to be.

"Ai, is it?" The woman inquired, not moving even as Sam and Maya reacted to the newcomer with gasps that they cut off quickly. Both reoriented, but the woman shook her head. "My name is Anya. I am not your enemy. I am here with Weaver's and the Lady's blessing. You lot need help and frankly? So do I." Her smile was bit ironic, but it was also heartfelt. "Weaver should be here shortly. She is looking into options for a few others who cannot be here physically."

"She really should not have gone to this much trouble." Ai said with a wince as Maya squeezed her hand just a little too tight. Maya frowned and then relaxed her grip.

"Oh, this was no trouble. We were doing this anyway. We try to have these informal meetings as often as we can. Once a month, if we can. They help, to talk out our problems instead of internalizing them." Anya reassured the trio. "This just changed the location a little. It is still in the same solar system." Odd, Ai realized with a start. That was not a joke. Anya was perfectly serious. Did Ai want to know? Probably not. "I don't like being beholden to others, but Weaver was right. These meetings to talk stuff out are good for all of us. Such does help." Now, her smile became a grin as Ai goggled at her. "So, can I come in?" She asked, a bit self consciously.

"Uh, sure." Ai blew out a deep breath. "Take a seat. Weaver was frustrating vague on most of the details. Like how many people would be here." Anya smiled in acknowledgment. Soldiers liked to know details such as 'where', 'when' and 'how much'. It was part and parcel to having disciplined beings make plans and carry them out. Plans rarely, if ever, worked in real time but they were better than playing stuff by ear when lives were on the line and death was flying in all directions.

"Um… Usually we go with four or five." Anya said with a small frown as she sat. There were six chairs present. "Sometimes, it is just two of us who can make it due to real life complications, but usually there are at least three."

"I hope we have enough chairs." Sam was hesitant in front of this stranger but Anya smiled at him and the boy who really wasn't one perked up.

"Several of our participants cannot be present in person." Anya said with a shrug. "I can't go into why for operational security reasons, but there is a good reason and Weaver is okay with it." She blew out a breath with a small frown. "The Lady took some convincing, mind you, but it does help us all to meet and talk."

"Really?" Maya was still mostly in her shell, but peeking out of it was curiosity.

"You are Maya?" Anya asked kindly and Maya nodded just a little. "I see. Weaver could not tell me much, but she told me enough about what happened to you to make me very mad. There is so much that none of us can talk about, that it helps to talk about whatever we can." Anya said with a sad nod. "So many secrets. So many lies wear on a soul even long after the fighting stops."

"I was made to be a disposable pilot." Maya wasn't quite savage in that and Ai opened her mouth to caution the girl, but Anya just nodded. Both Ai and the girl holding her hand gawked at the older woman.

"I know. 'I' was made to be a key to a machine that the people making it thought was a mass brainwashing device. Turned out to be a really big bomb instead and a lot of people died to keep it from going off. Idiocy does not change no matter where it is." The older woman scoffed, but there was little humor in it. "Then I was remade to be a super soldier." Anya replied and Maya went still. "I understand all about being a thing for others to use, girl. From what little Weaver told me, you have every right to be angry, but don't let it own you." Her tone held compassion, but no pity and Maya perked up a little.

"I…" Maya wilted and then nodded. "I apologize. I am stressed."

"You have every right to be!" Anya's snarl wasn't directed at Maya who relaxed a bit more. "Weaver had to be very vague, but I do not stand for half of what she told me happened to you. If I had found that guy before Jane Kelly did? I don't know if 'I' could have made it last that long, but I would have made it hurt a lot." Now, she smiled, but there was nothing kind or gentle in said smile. "Or, I might have just given him to my sisters. They probably could do worse than Jane Kelly did. They scare me sometimes." Far from offended, Maya relaxed completely and Anya nodded. "Please do not ask."

"'Do not let them give you to the women.'" Sam quoted in a scared murmur and Anya eyed him. "I think… I may know you or of you, Anya." At that, Anya went still, but Sam just sighed. "My memories are a mess. I think I need to talk to Alley. To forget more."

"What do you know of me?" Anya asked, sitting back in her chair.

"If you are who I think? You are married. You have two kids and you run a school." Sam said very quietly, but then he smiled. "And I know not to make you mad, so I won't blab your clan name."

"Such knowledge might complicate things." Anya said after a moment. "Or it might not. Alley has you in hand?" She asked and Sam nodded. "Good. For someone as powerful as she is, she is the rarest kind. She really cares. She does the best she can. Not all of us can say that."

"No." Ai agreed, just sitting and holding Maya's hand as the girl sank back into her chair. "Alley is unique in my experience."

"Mine too." Anya agreed as she relaxed, sank back in her chair with a nod to everyone else. "So, now we wait and see how much of a mess the virtual displays will be for the others this time." Ai and the two others stared at her and Anya shrugged. "Like I say, some of the attendants cannot be here physically, so we will have screens set up. Our ends will be blank, but that is purely for security. Neither of them are in what anyone sane would call 'safe' places." She paused as two walls lit up with holo displays. "Ah, here they are now. M'lian? Janet? I am here with three newcomers. Sam, Maya and Ai."

"Weaver told us the basics." Came from one blank screen. The female voice was young, but held an old weariness and she was sad. So sad. "It is good to meet you all." Her tone wasn't quite right, but Ai had no way of describing what was wrong with it.

"And Weaver hopes to get some kind of trace on Maya's father." The other screen's voice was older, calm, but underneath lay rage. "I wish I could help. Such things always make me mad."

"Let's keep the ripples to a minimum, Janet." Anya all but begged as she sank back in her chair. "The Lady is already annoyed and-" She broke off as the door opened again and Angela Weaver walked in followed by Valere whose eyes lit up as she saw Ai. "Angela? Is this all of us today?"

"Today, yes." Weaver nodded to Valere who moved to sit beside Maya. The girls clearly knew each other from the smiles they shared. "Sereda is occupied and Sarah is mixed up in a touchy imperial negotiation. No details can be shared, but they are busy."

"Pity." Valere said with a sigh as she sat. "I like talking to Sereda."

"She likes talking to you, Valere." Came from the screen Anya had called 'Janet'. "Have you had time to explain, Anya?"

"Not really." Anya admitted. "Just got here and I had to barf again." The older soldier looked decidedly embarrassed, but Waver waved a hand.

"None of us are kids anymore, Anya." Weaver at in the sole remaining seat. "Even those of us who look like kids had to grow up far too fast. All of us know about being hurt and recovering." Sympathy without pity was hard to do in Ai's experience, but Weaver pulled it off. She turned to Ai and the centenarian X-Com agent nodded. "Nothing said in here leaves here. We use first names only. We cannot go into where we are from without causing all kinds of problems for all kinds of people. Some restricted information may dribble out despite our best efforts, but everyone here knows how to keep secrets." She smiled at Maya and Sam who nodded slowly. "My name is Angela. I was a special operative and fought in a very bad war. I am a mess emotionally, so I am glad to be here." She nodded to Anya who nodded back.

"My name is Anya." The older woman said as she looked Sam and Maya in the eyes. "I fought in several wars. Now, I have kids and am responsible for many lives. So, I am glad to be here." She turned to the nearest screen. "Janet?"

"Me next?" Janet asked and then laughed. "Oh well…. My name is Janet. I am a beacon of hope." She said dryly and everyone winced. "Yeah, no pressure, huh?" She had a definite sense of humor. Ai wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, to be honest. "I was a covert operative and now? Somehow, I got power beyond belief and scared… um… witless…" She corrected herself quickly. "...that I am going to screw things up worse. So talking helps. I am glad to be here too."

"My name is M'lian and I am a soldier of sorts. I don't think foul language will make any of us faint, Janet." Came from the other screen. The voice held old pain and fear, but also a hint of controlled power.

"No." Janet admitted. "But if we teach Maya and Sam new words, I bet their mom, the Lady and Alley will have words for us." A scared gulp came from the other screen and Janet made a noise of agreement. "Yeah. Don't." Everyone nodded fervently.

"I am Valere." Valere was next in the circle and nodded to everyone. "I was a scavenger, then I died and woke up like this." She waved a hand at her enlarged cranium but Ai spoke up before anyone else did.

"You are human, girl." Ai said flatly enough that everyone stared at her. "Wants, needs, feelings and all. You may be a mess like me, but you are human." She smiled at Valere who smiled back. "You better?"

"Some, but… Did you really aim a gun at Syndrome's balls?" Valere all but demanded that. Ai just looked at at her and Valere shook her head. "There are lots of people breathing a sigh of relief with his and Feedback hooking up, but… I have to know… Did you? No one else will say."

"That is his business and mine, Valere." Ai said quietly, working hard to keep her rebuke gentle. Maya was still so fragile. Weaver looked decidedly amused, but Anya was just shaking her head. "No laws were reported broken. No one died. End of story."

"I just-" Valere started, but Maya of all people spoke up!

"You wanted to win the pool on when they would share a bunk." Maya said slyly and Valere's face turned pink. "I honestly do not think anyone did and even if they did? They would have to go to Jane Kelly to get the money and… um… Don't." She copied Janet's tone perfectly and more than one person snickered at Valere's betrayed look. Maya turned a bit shy again. "My name is Maya and I was hurt very badly. I came back with help, but it still hurts in my mind."

"Yeah, it does and it will." Ai said quietly as all of the others in the room nodded with her, face grave. "Pain is not a good thing, but it does tell us we are alive. We all know pain." She took a deep breath and then spoke. "My name is Ai. I am a mess mentally after all of my wars. Physical pain is usually easy to fix or medicate away. Mental pain? Less so." She looked to Sam who was looking at the floor. "Sam?"

"May name is Sam." The boy said in a flat voice. "I did a lot of bad things. Some of them I remember and some I do not. I was not in control of myself, but I still feel ashamed. Alley and the Lady are helping me, but they have to go slowly. I um…" He hemmed a bit. "I am scared I will lose control."

"Being out of control hurts very badly, Sam." Anya said into the silence that fell. "Perfect control of our minds and emotions will never happen for most sentient beings. We try and we fail all too often, but we have tools to help us cope. We can and will give you more tools." She promised and Sam smiled at her. "From what I understand, Ai helps you and you help her. This is a good thing, but you must not only rely on each other. That way ends badly." Her tone held old pain now.

"Teamwork wins wars, Anya." Weaver said with a nod. "We can be a team. We have worked to help each other in the past, but now? We may be able to help you three too." Her face turned grim. "And if we can find Maya's dad in the process? Even better."

"You think he is tracking me?" Maya wilted a little, but paused as everyone shook their heads. "What then?"

"He is tracking me, apparently." Ai said with a wince. "For what? I don't know. I knew a little about cults like he was part of, but not a lot. We had our enemies and yes, there was a cult included in that, but not our main focus."

"Okay. Shall we start with you, Ai?" Weaver asked and Ai shrugged as everyone looked around. No one spoke and Weaver continued. "Okay. What do you feel? Right now?"

"I…" Ai swallowed hard and then searched her feelings. "I am angry. Both with my enemies and with myself for failing to stop them. I can't fight them now and it is all I know. What do I do now?" She asked a bit plaintive. "I am afraid."

"Fear of the unknown is always sharper than any known fear, Ai." Valere said softly and everyone looked at her. "You do not know what is coming. You do not know if you will survive. You were not trained for this, so of course you are afraid."

"They did not have training in such where you were?" Anya asked very carefully.

"They did." Ai stared at the floor and her voice was tiny. "I just... It was too much. They couldn't help me. Couldn't get past my rage. Sam managed, but it was a miracle."

"Rage about what?" Anya asked, still careful. "I know about anger." Ai stared at the older woman and then at Sam as the boy nodded fervently. "Pull out its root causes and study them and they can be lessened. Not removed, but made far less dangerous. I do not and will not know what you did or why, but the harm that was done to you can be healed. If you let it."

"For so long, I didn't want to." Ai admitted and Sam held out a hand to her that she took. "It was just what I was. What I was for."

"Been there, done that." Came a soft murmur from everyone else! No one spoke up so Ai continued after a moment.

"I.. um…" Ai's speech was halting, but no one pressed her. No one had spoken about how long this would take but suddenly? She wasn't worried about that. "There was an armed uprising that took hostages and my team was sent-"

An indeterminate time later

Ai had no idea how long she had sat here. She wasn't hungry, nor thirsty. She didn't need the bathroom. Odd, but she was focused. Everyone had cried. Everyone had been upset. Sam was the latest to spill his guts and oh my god, did he have a lot hurting him.

"'and then I woke up in Alley's care. She said I ejected, but I don't remember much of that." Sam admitted as she slumped back in his chair. "So many memories. So many bad things all jumbled up. It makes sense sometimes, with Alley's help and Ai's, but…" He shook his head. "I have flashback that I cannot explain. I have asked the Lady and Alley for a full mind-wipe, but they have refused."

"You would forget everything, Sam." It seemed Anya was sort in change of this session. Weaver had deferred to the older looking woman and Anya was very skilled in both talking and listening. "Good and bad. Those who hate you and those who love you." She smiled at Ai who now held Sam's hand. "It may come to that, but I for one, think it would be a waste. You saw many things that defy explanation. Wonderful things do not have to make you crazy."

"They can, though." Janet piped up from her screen. "Believe me, too much information can deluge any mind. I know a few tricks than can help with such information overload, Sam and I will see about getting some training material to you." Sam smiled at her screen.

"Thank you." Sam said with a nod and then he turned to the one person who hadn't spoken. Maya had been attentive this whole time. "Maya? What you feel?"

"Betrayed." Maya said very quietly. "And not just for me! Ai has been betrayed too! For my dad to use her? To spy on me through her…"

"I do not think that is what happened, Maya." Ai said softly and suddenly everyone was staring at her. "Think back. You touched me. You felt my mind. It felt familiar. It felt pleasant, but you knew what was going to happen next, so yes, you freaked. You had every right to!" She said sternly when Maya wilted a bit more. "No, Maya. You have every right to anger at what happened to you. Thing is? He was just as angry at what happened as you were. Maybe more."

"Why?" The irate girl demanded. "It makes no sense."

"It does." A new voice spoke up from the door and everyone stopped as William Carter appeared in it! He was clad as an EXALT agent, but with no mask. He was also unarmed but coated with blue energy. He eyed Weaver who had a pistol in hand and Anya whose hands glowed with odd, purplish blue power. Even Valere was glowing yellow. He slowly and carefully held out empty hands to his sides, not moving otherwise. "I come in peace."

"Sure you do!" Ai was on her feet, standing between the newcomer and Maya before her brain caught up with her emotions. "I told you to leave her alone!"

"And I have." Carter agreed. "But she needs to know and so do you. So, um…" Why was he suddenly sheepish? "May I come in?"

"Can we stop you?" Weaver asked as she rose to stand by Ai. Anya did the same. Three soldiers making a powerful and scary wall between Carter and Maya.

"Me? Yes." Carter said flatly. "Her? Not so much." He nodded tot he side and everyone paused as Jenni Parker, (Maya and Mina's mother!) appeared beside him, her face a mask of rage directed at Carter who looked wary. "Um, hi Jenni."

Jenni did not speak. She arced forward and kicked Carter in the crotch!