Reset 101

Rita was starting to get used to dying repeatedly. It was almost a game now to see the pattern of how she died. Sometimes it was by a Mimic, and sometimes it was by her own hand. Other times Lee did it or she stepped on a land mine. Those damn things were tricky, and even though she was certain she'd discovered them all, a surprise one always popped up.

"Okay," Lee said, reloading. "What now?" Rita kept her eyes out for Mimics. Then out of nowhere, a helicopter landed on them. That was a first.

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Mimic.

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Herself.

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Mimic.

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Mimic.

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Friendly fire. That one really pissed her off.

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Mimic.

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Lee.

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Bloody landmine.

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"Rita?" Lee asked, seeing her pull out her gun. They weren't even on the plane to Verdun yet. She just was so sick of it. "What are you doing?"

"I don't even know anymore," she answered, pulling the trigger.

Reset 147

Rita was weary by this point. Lee had died so many more times, and she couldn't bear to look at him anymore. When she told him this time, he gave her a stare she recognized. She had seen it once before.

"You need a break," he said. Her heart lifted. She knew she did. It had been 68 more days of fighting, dying, and coming back to life since her last break, and she wasn't getting anywhere. She was no closer to finding the Omega than before. She was feeling incredibly frustrated. She let Lee take her away, knowing that this time when he made his move, she wasn't going to refuse him.

...

He took her to a bar first, and she downed her first drink. When the music started blasting, she decided she wanted to dance. She hauled Lee with her, and he laughed when she started to let loose. Rita didn't care who was watching or what anyone thought. Tomorrow they'd all die anyway. Lee gripped her tightly to him, one arm outstretched, and he swung her around until they were dizzy. Rita could barely breathe, but that was because of how close Lee was to her. All she had to do was move her lips a little, and they'd be touching his. She still thought she couldn't do that to him, though. She couldn't do something so personal that he'd never remember. It wasn't fair to him, but everything else was telling her to do it, that they deserved this after dying so many times.

"I know somewhere we can go," Lee said in her ear then, and she looked at him.

"Take me there," she replied. He instantly pulled her away from the dance floor and the noise. He "borrowed" a car and drove them to the same place she'd already been to, but this time, things were different.

...

As soon as they got inside, Rita lost herself in his arms. They banged about for a while, kissing and crashing into things. She didn't want to think about death anymore. She wanted to think about life, precious life. She clung to Lee as he kissed her. They were on the couch, and she could see the moon reflecting on the water in the background. A flash image of Lee getting killed before her forced itself into her mind.

"No," she gasped.

"I'm sorry," Lee said, immediately releasing her.

"No, no," she responded, grabbing his wrist. "It's not that."

"Did I hurt you?"

"No. I just...had a flashback is all."

"Oh. Bad?" he asked. He was worried about her. He couldn't imagine being trapped in such a horrific time loop that she was in.

"Dying," she answered. Lee was looking at her intently when the vision struck her. She gripped her head.

"Rita?" his voice came to her through what felt like a fog. "Rita?!"

She saw the Omega. She saw where it was. It was in Verdun for sure. It felt like it was taunting her. She saw a great battle. Then she saw Lee's dead body once again, his eyes staring up at her.

"No," she gasped, wrenching her eyes open. Enough was enough. She got off the couch and paced the room.

"Rita," Lee tried.

"Go away," she ordered, hugging herself. She felt cold suddenly. He shouldn't be a part of this. He shouldn't have to die. She didn't want to hurt him.

"Rita," he said again, not going away. He made to stand next to her, but she moved away to the kitchen. She leaned against the counter, trying to catch her breath. She'd had enough of death. She couldn't stand that Lee had no memory of any conversation they had each time she reset the day. She couldn't stand that he didn't remember they had feelings for each other unless she initiated it. She hated that the Omega was predicting Lee's death again, and she hated that the only other person she could talk to about this was Dr. Carter.

"Rita," Lee said one more time, coming up behind her and resting his hand on her shoulder. "What happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it," she said.

"It was something wasn't it? A vision? The Omega? You saw it," Lee urged. "Tell me."

"Yes, okay!" she shouted, spinning to face him. "I saw it. You know what else I saw?!"

"What?" he asked gently, but he already knew.

"You. Dead. Are you happy now?" she glared at him. Lee sighed and pressed his tongue against the inside of his cheek. He figured he wouldn't survive this war. It was a long shot.

"We all knew I wasn't going to make it out of this alive," he said softly. Rita closed her eyes and turned her head away so he wouldn't see her cry.

"But you can. Just don't come to the battle," she urged. She looked back at him, seeing that his face showed both sorrow and defiance.

"I'm not going to hide like some coward," Lee argued.

"I don't want to do this," she insisted. "There's got to be another way."

"Rita, you are the only one with this power. You have a great advantage. You have to use it," Lee said. Rita looked at him sadly then.

"I don't want to lose you," she said quietly. Lee chuckled.

"I know this isn't the first time you've said that to me," he said. "And I'm sure there's a lot of things we've said to each other that I don't remember, but let me assure you that you'll be just fine without me. I'm flattered that you'd miss me."

"You don't get it," she interrupted. "I care a lot about you ever since last time." He cocked his head at her.

"What are you saying?" he asked. She looked at him, blushing, and he knew, he just knew. Something had happened.

"In one of the resets, you told me you thought I was hot. I got all mad because the timing was completely inappropriate, and we started bickering about it. Then you kissed me," she finished.

"Anything else?" he wanted to know. "Did we...?"

"No. We came close once, but I stopped it," she said. "I didn't want to do that to you, to have a...moment...only for you to never remember it." Lee met her eyes, and he came closer to her, putting his hands on her face and making her look at him.

"If this could be the only time we ever get together, I want it to happen," he started. He put his thumb over her lips when she tried to argue. "No, I won't remember, but you will. You can always tell me. I believe whatever you tell me, Rita," he went on. "I do. You can tell me, and then I'll know. I want this. I've never wanted something so badly before. I have never felt like this with anyone." He stopped talking then, standing there before her and waiting for her response. Instead of words, she simply pressed herself against him and caught his lips with hers. He gripped her tightly and lifted her up onto the countertop and continued to kiss her ferociously. Rita allowed herself to lose focus on everything but Lee. She hadn't told him, but she wanted it just as badly as he did.

...

They spent the next day hiding in bed. Rita didn't want to face anything or anyone. She just wanted Lee. The feeling was mutual from him. She had allowed herself to be vulnerable with him, and he respected it and treasured it. He was so different from her ex husband. She marveled at how he cared more about her than himself.

"I have to die now," she said as the sun went down.

"Do you really have to?" Lee groaned, holding her tightly.

"You say that every time," she laughed.

"I bet I do. It's really not nice."

"I'm sorry. I just...I can't go past 9:13 pm, remember? I have to die every day or else the resetting doesn't work."

"And I won't remember any of this," Lee sighed, looking at her. "Too bad."

"Maybe it's for the best," she swallowed. She got up then, leaving him in the bed to go get her gun. She stared at it, hands shaking. This was always the hardest part. Even though she knew she would wake up again, sometimes she had a small fear she wouldn't. Lee came up behind her and took the gun from her gingerly.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"You shouldn't have to be the one to do it," he answered. He didn't want to either, but he knew he wouldn't remember doing it.

"But..."

"Do you regret what we did?" he asked, cutting her off. He had to know.

"No. I don't. I just think it'll be easier for you if you don't remember this. Less painful."

"I disagree."

"Well, you don't really get a choice, do you?"

They were silent for a moment before Lee spoke again.

"Do I accept what you tell me?" he asked. "Every day?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Sometimes you call me a crazy Englishwoman, but you always come around."

"How do you get me to come around? If I resist?"

"You've never resisted."

"I see."

"Lee?"

"Yea?"

"I won't forget this."

"But I will," he said, a little hurt. Rita pulled him into her arms then.

"I wish I could change it, but I can't."

"I know," he murmured. "I know what I signed up for. I'll be all right."

"Please kill me now," she instructed.

"So blunt," he laughed, pulling away. "All right. Stand still." She looked at him while he aimed the gun at her.

"Don't prolong it. It only makes things worse," she said.

He took a deep breath and exhaled, closing his eyes and then opening them again.

"Don't look so sad," she whispered.

"Perhaps it's because I really don't want to kill the woman I love," he said back.

"Le-" she started, but he pulled the trigger.

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The woman I love.

Rita woke up with those words in her head. Lee loved her. She didn't know what to do with that information. It wasn't like she could just walk up to him and say it back. He had no clue. She got thinking then. Did she love him? She pressed her hands into her face, wondering if she really was losing her mind.

"And you said you wouldn't fall asleep during meditation," Lee chuckled. Rita started, realizing where she was. He was looking at her with his crooked grin, and she couldn't help but remember their time together. She forced herself to get up, trying to shake it from her mind. She knew where she had to go finally to find the Omega. At least, she thought she did. She had to tell Lee. She wasn't sure if she'd tell him about yesterday. It might be better if she didn't.

"You all right?" he asked.

"Yes. Lee, there's something I have to tell you," she started. She went through all the same motions she'd gone through repeatedly, and as usual, Lee accepted what she told him and was ready to fight.

"You had a vision this time?" he asked as they walked to the barracks.

"I did."

"Where is it?"

"I...I'm not sure. It looked like it was inside some cathedral."

"Describe it to me," Lee said instantly. He was familiar with a lot of different landmarks thanks to his line of work. Rita did her best, and from his face she knew that he knew exactly where the Omega was.

"Tell me," she urged.

"Luxembourg city. Notre-Dame Cathedral," he told her.

"Hiding in a church," she mused.

"Well, we know where to find it. How are we gonna get there?" he asked.

"I'm sure there's something we can borrow once we get to Verdun," she answered.

Reset 170

It had taken a lot of tries, but they were finally in a car heading for Luxembourg city. Rita let Lee drive while she went through a mental plan of how to take out the Omega. She had grenades. That had to work. She had no idea what it looked like or how big it was. She hoped she had enough firepower to kill it.

"You nervous?" Lee asked, looking at her. He had cuts and scratches on his face and arms. Rita was pretty sure she was sporting a black eye. She tried not to think about Brady's body flying past her. She knew he was dead. He was the one who always died no matter what she did. Lee too. She was feeling very depressed that she probably wouldn't be able to save them.

"I just want this over," she answered. He didn't say anything else. Rita knew he had no idea about their history, and she tried not to feel hurt about it. It wasn't his fault. If anything, it was hers because she didn't tell him.

"Barney used to have this ring," Lee started, trying to fill the void of silence.

"A ring?" she asked. She stifled her laughter.

"Yes. He called it his lucky ring. It was a big ol' skull," he chuckled. "He'd put it on before every mission claiming it's what saved our lives."

"I wish that had been true," Rita said, knowing he probably had it on when he died.

"Me too," Lee said quietly. He knew for him it was only a few days ago that he told her about Barney and the expendable club, but for her, it had been a long time ago. It felt strange for him in a way. Rita looked out the window as they drove along. They didn't get far before they were attacked.

Reset 211

Rita was growing increasingly frustrated. Everything they tried to get to Luxembourg City failed. The Mimics were always waiting. They had tried driving, flying, and even walking. Nothing was working. Rita didn't know how much she could keep doing this. Lee kept dying. She had finally gotten it so that James and Mark survived, but Brady and Lee died every single day. She couldn't stop them from dying. It was with a heavy heart that she accepted if she ever lost this power, she'd lose Brady and most likely Lee too because even if he was with her when she died, she knew he was killed right after her.

Reset 232

"My first name is really Leland," Lee said.

I know, Rita wanted to say. She just nodded instead.

"I see why you go by Lee," she said after a moment, knowing he was waiting for her to say something. They were in the car again, but Rita didn't have much hope they'd get far. They were trying a different route, but it seemed no matter which way she took, the Mimics knew.

"I think I saw my real Dad once," Lee said suddenly. Rita's ears perked. This was new.

"Oh?"

"This guy would come to my school and stand by the gate, watching me. He never approached, and he never talked to me. Somehow, I just knew he was my real father. Maybe it was just a stupid kid's dream, but I wanted to believe it."

"I can't imagine never knowing my parents," Rita said.

"It was hard. My guardian just kept saying they had died and he had saved me. I didn't fully believe him for some reason. I wanted to believe he was lying."

"Is he still...?"

"No, he's dead."

"You really don't have anyone then?"

"Just you," Lee answered, looking at her. Rita didn't know how to respond. She had never told him about their time at the cottage. They had never gone back there.

"Lee," she started, making her decision, but they were slammed into and sent skidding off the road. Mimics. Right on time.

"Rita!" he shouted. Her head hurt badly. She knew she was going to die. It didn't take long.

Reset 266

"Have you thought of telling your whole team?" Dr. Carter asked. Rita was feeling exhausted and out of options. She couldn't get to Luxembourg City with Lee. Nothing worked.

"They wouldn't believe me," she shook her head.

"Are you sure? You said Lee believes you every time."

"I guess I could try," she finally sighed. She honestly hadn't thought it would make a difference. However, she was desperate for something to change, so she made up her mind.

...

"Hey, team," Rita said, approaching them. James, Mark, Brady, and Lee looked up at her. She made sure no one else was listening.

"What's up?" James asked.

"I have something to tell you, and I need you to know that I'm not making it up and I'm not crazy," she said.

"Ookay," Mark laughed nervously.

"What is it, Rita?" Lee urged.

"I'm affected with the blood of a Mimic they call an Alpha," she started. "When an Alpha dies, it resets the day so the Omega, their leader, can re-evaluate tactics and know what to avoid doing in order to win."

"Sneaky bastard!" Brady growled.

"So, you have Alpha blood?" James asked, confused.

"Yes. So I have the ability to reset the day now," she told them. They all stared at her.

"How many times, Rita?" Lee asked. She caught his gaze. How did he know to ask that?

"266 times today," she answered quietly. James and Brady guffawed in shock. Mark simply stared. Lee just nodded.

"Is this...is this the first time you've told anyone?" James finally asked.

"Yes," she lied. She didn't want her team to feel bad that she only told Lee. She needed them to not hate her.

"My God, Rita. 266 times on your own?" Mark asked. "That must have been so hard."

"You all believe this?" Rita asked, surprised.

"Why wouldn't we? If it's an alien power, then anything is possible, and we know that you would never lie to us. Have you figured out how to win the war?" Brady asked.

"Yes. The Omega is in Luxembourg in the Notre-Dame Cathedral, but I can't get to it without dying. I've tried so many times."

The men were quiet for a moment. All of them were thinking the same thing. How many times had they died?

"We can help you get there, Rita," Lee said finally. "Right, boys?"

"Right," James nodded. "Just tell us what to do."

...

Rita was feeling excited. They had gotten farther than ever, and with all her team with her, they were able to kill the Mimics as they tried to attack.

"Okay," James said, steering the car into the city. "Notre-Dame you said?"

"Yes," she answered. Her heart was pounding in her ears. They were so close. Once they parked and got out, she looked around. It was very still.

"I don't like this," Brady said.

"Me either," Mark agreed.

"You've never gotten this far?" Lee asked her quietly. She shook her head.

"No."

"Have you really gone 266 times without telling anyone?" he pressed. He knew she had been lying earlier. She looked at him then, and he knew he was right.

"I told you," she admitted. "I didn't want them to feel hurt that I never told them."

"I won't let on," he promised. He was both surprised and flattered because she hadn't known him that long, but then again, her resets changed that. He just didn't know any of it. He went back to scanning the horizon when he froze. There were Mimics standing there looking at them.

"I see them," Rita said when he tapped her shoulder.

"Why are they just standing there?" Mark asked, sounding afraid suddenly.

Lee looked back and forth between Rita and the Mimics, and with a sudden revelation, he knew they were trying to trap her. This vision had been a trick. They wanted her to lose the power. He aimed his gun at Rita as they advanced.

"Lee, what the hell are you doing?!" James yelled. Rita turned to see the butt of his gun in her face.

"Lee?" she asked, feeling panic. What was he doing?!

"Don't come back here," he ordered. Then he pulled the trigger.

I remember that Cage realized his vision was a trap and that Rita's was too, but she didn't know it at the time. I wanted Lee to recognize it and stop her from losing her power. Anyway, hope you all enjoyed!