Five
When she first arrived at the facility, Agent Maria Hill had little to no idea what to expect. The only reports she was given had indicated that the 0-8-4 was a four-year-old who happened to give off a strange energy field. After hearing that Coulson was planning on adopting the girl, she hadn't been entirely surprised. Hill was well aware of how much Coulson cared about kids, and that he'd never been given the chance to start a family. That chance had been robbed of him years ago, and when one was presented to him in the form of the girl, he'd jumped at the opportunity. It didn't help that most of his close friends and allies were also surrounded by families.
She shook her head in amusement as she arrived at the facility a few hours after Coulson was given a debrief on what to expect through adopting the child. She wasn't surprised to find him waiting impatiently outside the hallway.
"The boss told me what you're planning," she said once she reached him. Coulson's brows furrowed together upon her approach. She knew he was anxious over what would happen once the papers were finalized. "What exactly were you thinking when you chose to take her in? She's an unknown variable."
She added the last part with a knowing look while they headed for the mess hall. She already knew the answer. Coulson had likely been thinking of this ever since he was given the assignment. Director Fury had been keeping a close eye on the girl's progress since she was taken into custody. It was clear the 0-8-4 had gone through something traumatic. None of the other agents who tried breaking through had gotten nearly as close as Coulson, and she only shared a few words with him. Maria was beginning to understand there was more going on with the girl than she led on. She couldn't shake off the feeling that whatever sentimental value the girl held was trouble for the agency.
They had enough problems to worry about without the girl getting in their way. But after discussing matters with Director Fury, it became clear that he was equally interested in the girl as Coulson had been. That only served to fuel her earlier confusion as to why the child was suddenly such a valuable asset.
"I was thinking she needed a second chance," he explained after taking their seats. Maria was hardly surprised with that notion. She'd seen the reports that were sent to her before she arrived. After going through the images and the check-list Fury sent her, she knew Coulson was right to take the girl in. "I've dealt with plenty of 0-8-4s in the past, but never anything like her. She won't even talk to anyone other than myself, and that's few and in between."
"So she's more than just another stray," she said thoughtfully.
She'd seen Coulson take in enough strays to know that this was different. This girl had eaten away at him, and something told her the same could be said for anyone with a good heart. Taking her in would do more good than harm. As far as he was concerned it was the best option they had.
"I can't explain it… after seeing what she's been through…"
Coulson couldn't bring himself to finish. A part of him felt guilty for knowing that she'd gone through all of that. She wasn't even five and she'd suffered from the Kelvin incident. When he first agreed to see her, he wasn't sure what to expect. He'd been shocked to find her in that state, more so when Doctor McCoy had been with him.
Maria hadn't taken long to meet the girl for herself. Barely a day had gone by since their conversation in the mess hall. Since then, she had been plagued with visions of what the girl would be like or if the rumors were true. Other agents passing by had been whispering about how the girl would have made a valuable asset to the agency. More so if her energy levels could be utilized into a weapon. That was enough to raise a red flag of alarm. She knew nothing good would come out of those who tried taking advantage of the girl. She supposed that was one good reason for Coulson to adopt her and get her out of that facility before that could happen.
She tried pushing those thoughts aside as she reached the room itself. What she saw next was enough for her to raise a serious eyebrow.
Sure enough, the girl sitting on a biobed was finally wide-eyed and awake. A pair of cold, calculating dark brown eyes seemed to bore right through her when the girl noticed she was no longer alone. Maria pursed her lips together after noticing a pair of fresh bruises along the girl's shoulders. Try as she might to hide them, the girl had been hurt earlier. More than likely from a passing agent hoping to convince her not to take on Coulson's offer.
"I know we haven't had the chance to meet yet, but I'm a friend of Agent Coulson's," she explained after deciding to get straight to the point. When the girl didn't answer, Maria held back a sigh and crossed her arms over her chest. Coulson had been right about her… there was something off that sent a chill down her spine. Most toddlers her age wouldn't have acted that way. More importantly, most toddlers hadn't gone through the kind of trauma she'd gone through. "Has he stopped by today?"
The girl blinked in surprise before shaking her head 'no'. Maria's brows furrowed together with concern as she noticed something else was going on. The girl kept peering over her shoulder, towards the wall where the one-way window was located. It was almost as if she knew she was being watched. Fury wanted to keep an eye on the girl's behavior as she talked to her. Having a different agent talk to the girl might have given him some insight as to what sort of trauma they were dealing with.
"He'll be gone just like everyone else," the girl finally spoke up.
Maria's eyes narrowed in surprise when she finally caught the girl looking at her with piercing dark brown orbs. Those eyes were haunted with emotions she couldn't quite describe.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked carefully.
It was the first time the girl had ever spoken to anyone with more than a couple of words. She needed to gather whatever intel she could on the girl before Coulson made up his choice. The girl's eyes flickered towards her, not making direct eye contact just like before. Maria cocked her head to one side when she noticed how tense the girl was, despite there being no obvious threat.
"It's happened before… people leave me because they're afraid."
For a few seconds, Maria wasn't sure how to respond. She couldn't imagine what the girl had gone through to resort to such lengths. It was obvious from a well-trained eye that she was reciting something that someone had told her. Maria held back a sigh of frustration and ran a hand through her hair.
'I've seen enough,' Fury said through the earpiece, 'She's going home with Coulson, regardless of what Pierce tells me.'
She rose an eyebrow in surprise. It wasn't like Fury to jump to conclusions so quickly and without much of a fight. She suspected he had been watching the girl for some time, despite what everyone else was led to believe. That also led her to believe that the girl was in danger at this facility. She needed to be moved before someone took advantage of her, if they hadn't already. She was ready to say something else when the door suddenly slid open. The girl, who was still handcuffed to the biobed, quickly recomposed herself before the new arrival appeared before them.
"You're coming home with me," Coulson said once he was given the all-clear. Maria couldn't help but glance at the girl thoughtfully as her brows furrowed together in surprise. "I've been talking with my boss for the past few days to discuss what to do from here. I'm taking you home with me."
He added the last part with a hint of certainty that seemed to catch the girl off guard. She flinched instinctively when he reached her, but the moment his hands undid her cuffs was when she simply stared at him with that same blank look from before. Maria felt an ounce of pity for the girl after realizing she was bracing herself. When he made no move to hurt her, the girl still hadn't relaxed. Eventually he guided her out of the biobed, not missing the fact that Maria was watching the whole scene from quietly from the background. Her carefully observant gaze told her everything she needed to know. He would need to be careful around the girl. Triggering a traumatic memory wouldn't end well for anyone involved, and he seemed to sense that as well.
"Is there anything here that you want to take?" she finally spoke up again, ignoring the look Coulson threw her.
When the girl shook her head in response, Maria's shoulders sank with guilt and relief. The sooner they were out of that facility, the better off everyone was.
.
.
Emily had been carefully listening to the adults discuss her fate for what felt like hours. After she finally told the man known as Agent Coulson her name, it didn't take long for them to track down her family. Or what was left of them. She wasn't surprised that her parents hadn't wanted anything to do with her. In fact, she was almost relieved to get away from them.
Her parents had never been keen in taking her back in the first place. She had always been aware of her father's disdain towards her. Her mother did her best to hide it around her, but even she had begun to feel resentful. When the Kelvin was ambushed by Nero and his men, Emily resigned herself to the fact that she would forever be alone. Captain Kirk had sacrificed his life for the safety of the crew… she couldn't help but feel as though he could have survived had she not been on the bridge. She was nothing more than a distraction and a burden to him and the rest of the crew. And the thought of being such left her stomach twisting in an unfamiliar knot.
Then there were the few times Agent Coulson hadn't stopped by for a visit. Emily didn't miss how careful he was around her. He knew something wasn't right when he first saw her. Though she couldn't describe the emotions welling within her whenever he saw her, it felt good to know that someone seemed to care about her. She began looking forward to his visits, having grown adjusted to the almost timely schedule he came up with.
So when he didn't show up one day like she anticipated, she'd been filled with dread. Another man arrived in the room, this one dressed in dark looking gear and far taller than Agent Coulson. Emily hadn't said a word when he stepped into the room, looking down at her with a hint of malice. One thought crossed her mind the moment his eyes danced with an indescribable emotion: Monster.
"Congratulations little brat, you've been selected for one of our programs," he'd said after clearing his throat. Emily knew not to say anything when he addressed her. She was well aware of the punishment that would follow. But the moment his hands suddenly lunged for her shoulders was when she froze on instinct, letting out a soundless wail of pain. "Scream and it'll be the last thing people hear out of you." When she didn't answer, the man released his cruel grip on her shoulders and pushed her back. "That man who sees you regularly isn't going to last. Eventually he'll leave you, just like everyone else has. Once that happens, you'll have us."
Again, she made no sound when he smirked in amusement. It only took a few seconds for her to register that he had done something to her IV bags before he was gone. A blue liquid had been transmitted into the bag and was now mixing with the rest of the fluids. Emily's brows furrowed together when she realized too late that the liquid was a drug of some sort.
Her body suddenly felt as though it was on fire. She opened her mouth to scream, but no words came out. She tried breaking free from the restraints, feeling them tug against the walls the chains were attached to. It felt as though she was being torn apart limb from limb, and she wanted nothing more than for the pain to come to an end. Eventually it did end. She wasn't sure how much time had passed since the man left the room. But when a newcomer arrived, she'd braced herself once again. Only this time, the newcomer in question was a woman.
The woman must have sensed her growing confusion and unease, because she offered a warm smile that was unlike the other visitors she had. At least… not unlike that of Coulson and Doctor McCoy. When the woman started talking to her by introducing herself as Agent Maria Hill, she seemed odd to Emily. She was cautious around her, yet it was clear she had the intention of visiting her. They exchanged few words. Emily was surprised she had spoken in the first place. She knew it was a distraction. The woman was eerily calm in light of the situation, yet she felt her observant eyes flicker towards the testing tubes and back at the girl. It was clear she wanted to say something else, but the door suddenly opened once more. Emily stiffened in surprise upon seeing Coulson's familiar face once again.
"You're coming home with me," he said once he strode across the room. Emily just furrowed her brows together in surprise. "I've been talking with my boss for the past few days to discuss what to do from here. I'm taking you home with me."
Confusion swept through Emily as she realized what he meant by that. She'd known for some time that she was not returning to a Starship. A small part of her was grateful for that notion. After what happened aboard the Kelvin, she didn't want anything to do with a ship. And another part of her fully expected to go with the man who'd stopped by earlier, declaring that she was one of them. But for the first time since waking up in that room, Coulson brought something that she hadn't known before: A second chance.
She watched him warily as he reached the biobed, and she flinched instinctively. Memories of the man from earlier came rushing back, along with the distinctive feeling of a hypospray jabbing her neck. But Coulson did none of that. To her surprise and amazement, he released the cuffs strapped to her wrist. Emily glanced at the nicks and grooves left on her skin from the cuffs, noticing the first time that they had been bound to her too tightly. She paid them no heed, though she hadn't missed the woman eyeing her thoughtfully.
"Is there anything here that you want to take?" she asked in a kind voice.
Her brows furrowed together in confusion before she shook her head. Everything she once owned had never really belonged to her. She'd lost everything on the Kelvin. She tried suppressing that memory, but every time those flames came rushing back, so did the panic attacks. It wasn't until feeling a hand reach for her shoulder that Emily froze on instinct. Coulson was looking back down at her with renewed concern, though she kept her eyes level.
"Don't feel as though you have to rush," he reassured her softly.
It only took a few seconds for Emily to understood what he meant by that. The gravity on Earth was ten times stronger than what she was used to. She grimaced with each step she took, but it didn't take long for her body to adjust to the sudden change. Even when she was wandering aimlessly through the dessert, it hadn't been the same. Coulson walked alongside her, using as much patience as he could muster. She was surprised by his patience. Had it been anyone else, they would have likely pushed her to the point of exhaustion. Still, that didn't stop her from being cautious around him as he stopped for a brief moment to address the woman who'd walked alongside them.
"We'll be keeping in touch," she said quietly. "The boss thinks this could be a good adjustment for her."
"This is more than just an assignment to me," he said with equal quietness. Emily glanced at him uncertainly when she realized what he meant by that. "She needs a second chance at life."
Emily couldn't help but wonder at the fact that this man was willing to sacrifice everything for her sake. He'd taken a risk by taking her in. And she thought of the strange liquid that other man had given her. Somehow she could feel renewed strength filling her. Her muscles had become more apparent, and her reflexes were ten times better than they had been. She tried not to dwell on it as they reached the outside.
The first time she tasted fresh air outside of the dessert was unlike anything she ever experienced. Emily paused in her stride, blinking in surprise when she noticed how dark the sky looked. Barely any light penetrated the sky except for the harsh, unnatural lights that permeated from the cities nearby.
"It's late," Coulson explained after noticing her confusion. "Just wait until you see a sunrise and a sunset for the first time; it'll blow you away."
She presumed it meant to be a joke, but she took it as a threat. She watched him carefully as he led the way towards a hover-car. She had seen them enough times on holoscreens to know what they were and what they looked like. When Coulson allowed her inside and carefully strapped her into the back seat, Emily glanced at him cautiously. He didn't seem to mind her wary gaze though. If anything, he seemed more at ease with it than most agents had at the facility.
Once he pulled away from the facility, Emily found herself feeling more lost than anything else. With no clear future looming ahead of her, she wasn't sure what to expect. The only world she had ever seen was the walls of the Kelvin and that facility. She wasn't sure what to expect when she finally left the facility. Coulson was providing her an opportunity she couldn't exactly ignore. Yet the other man's words lingered in the back of her mind: Eventually, they will all leave you.
She tried pushing those thoughts aside as they drove for what felt like hours. Emily blinked in surprise when she spotted the moon from outside her window. It wasn't nearly as bright as it had been at the dessert. In fact, this version of the moon seemed to pale in comparison to that moon. She suspected the brilliant lights from the city had something to do with blocking the moonlight or the stars that she'd gotten used to seeing.
Eventually, he reached a small crop of buildings that lay beyond the outskirts of a city. These buildings looked as though they had been there for years. Emily eyed the brick-clad buildings warily, not missing the fact that they seemed to stand apart from any other structures they'd driven past. If Coulson worked for the agency that had taken her in, she wouldn't have been surprised if this was what said agency provided for him.
"This is just temporary housing until I get everything in order," Coulson said when he led the way towards what she assumed was an empty building. "Once everything is settled we can officially move into our new home."
Emily paused in her stride, letting her arms drop to her sides as she studied the clean looking floors and blank walls surrounding her. It was bigger than the room she had been in before, at least twice the size. What surprised her the most was that there were windows to look out of. She had missed that aspect of a ship. She'd lost track of how much time passed since she woke in that facility, but Coulson later explained to her that it had been almost a month. The last thing she expected was to spend so much time in such a place. But according to the nurses who looked after her at the time, her injuries had been extensive. She was lucky to have survived in the first place.
"There's a replicator you can order from if you're hungry," he added when she didn't say anything.
She wasn't hungry. But she assumed Coulson would be angry with her if she didn't take up his offer. Instead of saying 'no', she ordered something she was familiar with from the replicator: Plomek soup. It was a Vulcan delicacy that was often ordered on the ship by the few Vulcan officers that had worked on the ship. She'd been forced to adjust to enjoying any kinds of food available through the replicator since meals were limited in space. The Vulcans had always been her favorite people to observe, mostly because they had so much control over their emotions, unlike herself.
Emily quickly found herself enjoying the small meal, because it was composed mostly of nutrients and it had more flavor than most of the meals that were ordered at the time.
Conversation between them had been light and casual. Coulson tried making small talk with her. The few words he could get out of her were 'Yes, sir' or 'No, sir'. He reminded her enough times that night to call him Coulson or whatever she felt was most appropriate. She had gotten so used to referring to her superiors as 'sir' or 'ma'am' that it was almost second-nature to her. But the moment Coulson reassured her that she didn't need to be formal around him was when she finally dropped the subject.
Once they were finished with dinner and had cleaned up, Coulson brought her to the room she would be sleeping in that night. She was surprised he didn't restrain her or lock the door on her. He trusted her enough that she wouldn't try escaping. And for the first time since waking up in that facility, Emily realized with a start that there was no reason to escape. Coulson was giving her everything she had ever wanted in life: The chance of being part of a family, and to have a real father-figure in her life. She couldn't help but wonder how long that would last.