After my mother had finished explaining herself to Abe for the fifth time, he finally seemed to understand the reason as to why she'd left. I didn't really need her to explain to me why she left in order to understand her reasoning, though it did help a little.
She left because she knew it was going to help.
I was destined to help all the Spiriteds, and that's what I've done. At least, in this compound and back at the Academy. I have a few more to hit before I really fulfill my destiny, but I knew I was heading in the right direction. I was one step closer to Spirited liberation.
Mom's leaving had kickstarted a chain of events that led us to this point in time. If she hadn't left, I would probably be hiding in Russia somewhere, much like now, but without ever having been captured by Guardians. I knew that my mother and father would have prevented my capture and protected me.
If Mom hadn't left, we never would have been living and hiding in the States, and I never would have been taken. If I hadn't been taken, I never would have ended up in The Academy. I never would have met Dimitri, and I never would have figured out what Victor's plan was. I knew Mom had known that her leaving Abe in Russia and "dying" when I was captured would be integral parts of the string of events that had led us to this moment.
"What do we do now?" Adrian asked. We'd settled all the escaped Projects and relayed the events of each group. Mom had explained her tale, five times, and we were gathered around the center of the building, tired and sleeping Projects littered the space all around us.
"I'm not really sure. I was hoping that you guys would have an idea." I asked, looking around the group. Christian was looking a little dejected, but there was no regret in his eyes. He knew what he had done, and he knew he needed to do it. Lissa was happy to have Christian back and was diligently tending to his emotional state. The other couples had been animatedly telling their significant others the overdramatized version of events, but were now looking between Abe and me, waiting for a decision to be made.
"We'll do whatever you think is best, Kiz." Abe said, sliding his hand in Mom's as a show of unity. Mom smiled over at Abe, giving his hand a gentle squeeze before focusing her attention back on me. I smiled, knowing that even after almost nineteen years, their love survived without hard feelings.
Speaking of love, Dimitri had been glued to my side, never once letting me stray more than a few inches from his reach. If I moved, he moved. I knew he was still a little shaken that the Darkness had taken a hold on me, and I was, too, but I was trying my best to be strong for him. While I'd never meant to kill Victor, I did know it wasn't my fault, well, not exactly. It was the Darkness. I didn't know how to control it yet, but I would be working on it when I got the chance.
I knew Dimitri was keeping a close watch on my emotions and making sure, if I felt even the least bit down about what happened, he reminded me that it wasn't my fault. I also knew that he was scared that I might be lost to the Darkness completely, considering I'd come very close in the compound. He had a constant hum of worry coming from him, and I don't think anything I said or did would make it go away.
"Well, I suppose we should start evacuating the other compounds, right? And then talk to someone about the Project Program, about making it disappear." I said with a shrug. I would gladly take suggestions or for someone to say my plan was flawed.
"What are the Projects going to do?" Mom asked.
"What do you mean?" I questioned, furrowing my eyebrows together in confusion.
"I mean, most of these people have been uprooted from their home. Despite what the compound was used for, that's the only place most had called home since their powers unveiled themselves to them. When they were captured, their loved ones were informed that they are dangerous and to be turned in to authorities should they ever escape and try to contact them.
"Even if they found a way back to their families, and they were willing to take them in, these people could never have jobs. Their names are flagged by a system every time a background check is run. It takes connections and money to get fake documentation, and if by some miracle they got one, most of their abilities are hard to control on a normal day to day basis." Mom explained, looking around the building. "They wouldn't be able to survive without exposing someone to their abilities. While we might be able to get the Project Program disassembled, that will take time, and we don't want to put these people at risk."
"So how do we help them?" I asked. I hadn't even thought about what the other Projects would do. I have a family to go home to, and by default, so did my friends. Dimitri would keep me hidden from anyone trying to harm me, and our abilities could be masked.
"We should probably leave the other compounds alone until we decide where the Spiriteds are going." Abe said, pulling Mom closer to him.
"Which compound is the largest?" I asked after a moment of thought.
"The one we just raided and the one in Montana are about the same size, but larger than the others." Adrian supplied. "Why do you ask?"
"What if we transformed one of the compounds into a place for the Spirited to live?" I suggested. "There's plenty of room, no one would have to share a room. We'd obviously need some assistance from a government entity, but the remaining Spiriteds could work in the compound doing everyday jobs."
"So, what you're suggesting is like the X-Men?" Mason offered. His eyes shone in recognition and excitement.
"Kind of. In the sense that it's a safe place for Spiriteds to live and reside, but not in the sense that it's a school for us. More the purpose of our compound would be to create an environment when it's safe for us to coexist with each other and not have to worry about outsiders judging us or using us for our abilities."
"Who do we talk to in order to get that accomplished?" Lissa asked, trying to see the logistical side of things before definite plans were made.
"In the States it would be the Secretary of the Department of Defense, that's who's in charge of the Project Program." Abe informed us. "I'm sure the same goes for here in Russia."
"Who's the Secretary of the DOD?"
"At the moment? Hans Croft."
"Cool. Do you know what he looks like?" I asked, rubbing my hands together, ready to get a move on.
"Yes, but I don't think just teleporting directly into the DOD would be a great idea." Abe said with a smirk. "While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I don't think that would be the best solution to keep us alive."
"Oh, right." I mumbled, Dimitri chuckled beside me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer and placing a kiss on my forehead.
"How about we talk to Tatiana and see if she could set up an appointment with Secretary Croft." Dimitri suggested. "We'll need to inform her that Victor is dead, anyway."
"So, what do we do in the meantime?" I asked. "I don't think we can leave all these people here to fend for themselves, and we don't know how long it will take to get a meeting with Croft. I would assume he is a busy man. I also don't like the prospect of leaving other Spiriteds in the hands of Guardians. I know we can't shut down the other compounds, but is there a way to make them more hospitable to the Spiriteds currently residing in them?"
"We should probably move these people back to the compound and do exactly what you suggested, Kiz. I agree, it will take some time, but there's nowhere else for these people to go. We move them back to the compound, they start jobs, perhaps some of their abilities would be useful in a specific field." Abe said. "As for the other compounds, when we get word to Tatiana, we'll make sure the Guardians at each one are handled with care, and the Projects residing there treated properly."
"Alright, I think that's a good idea." I said, stifling a yawn. "I know we probably have a lot of work to do to get all of that accomplished, but do you think we could do it after a nap?"
"I think you deserve more than just a nap. Sleep as long as you'd like." Abe chuckled. "I think saving the rest of the world can wait until you're fully rested."
I smiled at him, and turned to find a suitable spot to lay down for a little bit. After locating an isolated, or as isolated as I was going to get in the crowded building, spot, I grabbed Dimitri's hand and pulled him along with me.
Just like before the raid, Dimitri spread out his coat for us to sleep on, and situated himself before he beckoned for me to join him. I snuggled up to his chest, calmed by his presence, or maybe it was actually him doing the calming. Either way, I was calm. I felt reassured by the steady drumming of his heart and the rhythmic pattern of his chest rising and falling.
"I love you, Roza. I'm so proud of you." He said, lightly kissing my forehead, his lips were warm and gentle. I looked up into his brown eyes and saw pure happiness.
"I love you, too, Comrade. I can't thank you enough for saving me from myself."
"You don't have to thank me. I love you, and I won't lose you, not to Darkness, not to Death, not to anything, and especially not to anyone." He growled the last part. "Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me." He finished by pulling me even closer to his body.
"Trust me, I like it." I said, kissing the underside of his jaw before settling back down. My body was tired, but my mind was racing. I tried not to think of all the possibilities the coming change could have for Spiriteds. It wasn't like we weren't feared. Most of the population didn't know about us, and I have a feeling that if we came out into the light, it could get messy.
If we could convince Croft to let us exist separate from the rest of the human population and live within our own communities, there wouldn't be a need to reveal our secrets to the world. Setting up a few compounds or cities that were off the grid would allow us a safe place to live. We'd have to have a connection to the rest of the world, but we wouldn't need to live in it directly.
"Stop thinking, Roza, and sleep." Dimitri mumbled running his fingers through my hair. "I can't sleep if your thoughts keep getting louder."
"I'm sorry, Comrade. I'll try to keep my thoughts to myself."
"You don't have to keep all your thoughts to yourself." Dimitri said before I saw the memory of us in bed together at my father's house.
"I thought you wanted to sleep." I smirked. Lifting myself up on one elbow, I looked down at him.
"I did, but then I thought of you, and suddenly I'm not tired anymore." I laughed at his words.
"While I'd love to continue where that morning was heading, there are a lot of people in this room, including my parents. I'm sure my mother is fine with you, but I'm not too sure about my father. I think it's best we wait until we're in a room to ourselves."
"Promise?" He asked, hope and lust flashing in his eyes.
"I promise." I said, leaning down to place a soft kiss on his lips. Before he could deepen it, I pulled back and settled myself, once more, onto his chest. "Now sleep."
"Yes, ma'am." He said, amusement in his voice. His arms tightened around me, securing me into place. I closed my eyes and forced my thoughts to remain quiet. My body soon took over and dragged my mind into a deep and peaceful sleep.