"DU DUMMER HURE!" YOU STUPID WHORE!
He was beyond fury. He was spitting and red-faced, trembling with the force of his rage. He strode over to her, and began to kick her. Still, she lay frozen, staring into the lifeless eyes of the little girl, whose dirty blonde hair was tinged scarlet with her own blood. "Sie sollten für diesen Verrat tot sein!" You should be dead for this treason!
He turned, searching for a weapon. He picked up a discarded brick, and began to hit her. Over and over, and then he reached her head. He smashed into Adeline, and time lost all meaning, as bits of her splattered across the pavement.
Finally, he was spent. He stood, chest heaving. He looked down at what had once been the young female soldier. He turned and vomited up everything he'd eaten in the past day. Then he dropped the brick, and turned to run.
10th November, 1938, the night after Kristallnacht or The Night of Broken Glass.
Anyone who had survived Kristallnacht without much damage to themselves or their belongings were walking the streets, offering their help where it could be used.
Soldiers from the barracks where Adeline had been stationed were also patrolling, although they had a different mission. They were to find the young super-soldier. Her handler had been shot for his slip in judgement, and a new way of controlling the woman had been devised. But first they had to find her. Schmidt was certain that she couldn't be dead, even with the vivid description of her state from her handler.
Finally, two men turned down the street where the last three houses had been burnt down. A group of Jews scattered at the sound of their boots. One of them spotted the felled family, and then made out the form of something else.
As they hurried closer, both of them promptly lost their lunch and breakfast. The half-healed body of Adeline was still there, half of her exposed, as her brain constructed itself again. A half formed eyeball rolled around to look at them, and she tried to move. That final movement was all she could take, and she fell into unconsciousness again.
Adeline was aware of cool hands on her forehead. For a second, she felt like she was four again, and her mother was watching her sleep through a fever, making sure her baby girl was alright.
Then she blinked open her eyes, and the bright white light of the laboratory near-blinded her. The hands retracted, and a head moved over her, obscuring the light so that she could see.
The familiar sight of Abraham Erskine's kindly face was so relieving that she couldn't breathe for a second. She closed her eyes quickly, to make sure she wasn't dreaming, and when she opened them he was still there.
Adeline Wolfe took a deep breath in her repaired lungs, and then cried.
Abraham clutched her hands tightly as she sobbed, tears pouring out of her eyes and falling sideways down her temples.
"Ich dachte, ich wäre tot." I thought I was dead. She said finally. His face tightened.
"Wie tat I." As did I. he said softly. They both smiled at each other – Abraham in relief, Adeline with sorrow. Finally, the moment ended, and he drew away from her. "Sie haben einen Monat lang im koma." You have been in a coma for a month. He busied himself with some equipment, but Adeline could tell from the tenseness of his shoulders that that wasn't all.
"Was ist es?" What is it?
He turned to face her, face full of regret. "Ich habe angewiesen, um Ihnen zu sagen... Sie haben Ihre Mutter. Und wenn Sie sich nicht an Aufträge..." I have been instructed to tell you... They have your mother. And if you do not follow orders...
He didn't have to finish. Adeline looked away, eyes falling blankly on the ceiling. Unbidden, a cry rose in throat. It poured out of her, full of pain, and desperation.
September 7th, 1939, a week after the German Invasion of Poland.
"Stehen für, Reinhard Heydrich, der Chef von Reich Sicherheitsdienst." Stand for Reinhard Heydrich, chief of Reich Security.
Adeline stood automatically, and saluted as the tall blonde man strode to the front of the room. Surrounding her were about 10 other men, all of which were unfamiliar to her. All week, these new men had been arriving, and had been allocated the best of what the base had to offer. Some of them looked strange. Especially one man at the back. He was in shadow, but his huge hulking frame made up for any shyness he might have had. He had been religiously avoided, but Adeline was curious about him - as curious as she could be about anything.
"Sie sind hier, weil Sie die wertvollsten der Soldaten in diesem Bezirk staat." You are here, because you are the most valuable of the soldiers in this country. Adeline almost laughed at how high-pitched his voice was. She could see now, why he was called 'the billy goat'. "Ich bin hier, um Ihnen die begehrte Position des Werdens Spezialist Kader A zu bieten." I am here to offer you the coveted position of becoming Specialist Squad A
Adeline frowned. Specialist Squad A?
"Sie werden als unsere Spezialeinheit aktiv sein." You will be active as our special operations unit. He continued. "Wie Sie sicherlich wissen, sind Sie alle hier versammelt, weil du treu sind, stark und Geschenke besitzen, die Sie zu unserer Sache machen unschätzbar." As you are no doubt aware, you are all gathered here because you are loyal, strong, and possess gifts that make you invaluable to our cause.
Adeline's eyes widened in shock. These people. They were like her… they had abilities. But unlike her…
She looked around at their faces. All of them looked bloodthirsty.
Unlike her… they wanted this.
She bowed her head as the blonde man continued his righteous speech – raving on about honour and great service.