Chapter 4

After the meeting, I made my way to the rec room where I met my friends but California was not there. "Hey York where is Cali" I asked walking over to the fridge to get a coke. "she's in her room, we all talked to her and maybe you were right she is nothing but nice to everyone she meets, so as a group we have decided to give her a chance" replied York. "told you" I chuckled. "She's still on probation" chimed South "but she does seem ok, exactly your type anyway!" laughed North. Apparently now in the habit of finishing his sister's sentences.

"So where is she? And I was just being friendly not my fault she's a stunner" I retorted.

"she doesn't come to the rec room the other staff aren't as accepting as us and some even go as far as to spit at her when she walks in. And they call her the animal" Carolina scoffs just loud enough for the other agents in the rec room to hear.

"ok, I'm just going to swing by her room and see her I'll see you all later"

As had become my ritual I knocked 3 times on Cali's Cabin and entered, Cali hadn't heard him knock but he could hear the shower running so he took a seat on her bed and waited for her to finish.

A few minutes later Cali wrapped in a towel walked into the room and noticed me sat on her bed she looked a little surprised but the look soon turned to a smile as she ran over and gave me a hug. I chuckled and returned the hug. Cali said "I've missed you, I was terrified when you left but then your friends started to talk to me, what did you say to make that happen by the way?"

"I just told them to get their heads out of there asses they are not hats" I laughed "I'm just angry the other agents treat you like they do, you must point them out to me so they can be taught some manners." My tone became slightly more serious.

"I've had worse" replied Cali

"that's not the point" I argued, "anyway why is your room still so bare, you know you can redecorate right?"

"Yer I know, but I don't own any paint and all the furniture is fastened down in case we with an ion storm"

"what about pictures of family or friends from back home" I persisted

With that Cali's expression turned stoic and she ran from the room tears once again running down her face.

-Cali's POV-

I ran from the room and down the hall I know that Wash has the same problems I do but I cannot let him keep seeing me in the vulnerable condition, I am in during a panic attack, he will think that is all I am and I don't want that especially from him. He was my first friend, anyway I must be strong if only for him seeing me in this state and talking about it may trigger some of his own repressed memories.

I found an old shower room deep in the bowels of the ship one I thought that no one would use or go in. I turned on the cold shower and let the cold water run over me in the corner of the room and I cried. The next thing I knew was a sharp pain in my side as I was kicked. I looked up at my attacker powerless to defend myself, I wasn't even sure if this was real. Above me I saw one of the agents, Ohio I think, he was laughing and spitting on me. "you have come to the wrong bathroom this is mine, this is where I come when I'm stressed to you know; smoke a little Mary Jane and relax. But you know what I find even better, a human punching bag, not that you are truly human are you."

I just lay there unable to move blood now trickling over my eyes. I couldn't speak or call for help I had no choice to just take it. I must have blacked out because the next thing I knew I was lying on the floor of the shower the shower itself had been turned off but I was still in a puddle of water. I had also vomited while I was out. But now Wash was there bursting the door off its hinges and running towards me.

-Washes POV-

As the door flew open and the sight of a bloodied Cali lying in a pool of her own vomit hit me I was instantly filled with a feeling of rage. Who had done this? I didn't know but I was going to find out and when I did they were going to need every medic on the ship to keep them alive. I sprint over to Cali and cradle her slight limp form in my arms just as she opens her eyes, she begins to scream a blood curdling scream. I received a sharp right hook to the side of my face and then she headbutted me which broke my nose in 2 places but I didn't care, I pulled her into a tight embrace, she began to sob uncontrollably. I sat there for nearly 2 hours before Cali was calm enough to walk and I walked her back to her room. We got a few odd looks from members of the MOIs staff as I half carried the blood and vomit soaked agent through the halls towards the accommodation block. Once there I guided her into the bathroom turned the shower on to a comfortable temperature and left to allow Cali to shower in privacy.

While she was in the shower I ran to the rooms of the other members in my squad and told them what had happened, they reacted with emotions varying from shock and horror to ones of rage. They followed me towards Cali's room but hovered outside as I went in to make sure she was ok and decent. She was so I gave the ok for the rest of my squad to enter. As they filled in York announced that the room was to bare and needed some decoration. Cali still sobbing told York that she had no decorations and precious few possessions. I could see York make a mental note of this and then a small smile spread across his face an idea obviously manifesting in his mind. The next hour was spend with the other freelancers trying to console Cali but they never asked how or why this had happened for fear of causing another panic attack. I however remained silent.

After the other freelancers, had left I sat down on the bed next to Cali and she rested her head on my lap. I began to stroke her hair. "who did this to you?" I asked.

"it doesn't matter one of the other freelancers attacked me because I came into his private bathroom, but it was an accident I didn't even know it was a thing, I swear I didn't know" she replied.

"it's not a thing you did nothing wrong but you didn't need to run away, I know what you are going through the only way you can hurt me is to not let me in and then something like this happens" I suddenly became aware that I had clenched my fists while speaking. "who did this Cali?"

"Agent Ohio" Cali states with a shiver, "but promise me that you won't do anything you will end up in trouble and I don't want that to happen because of my mistake"

"I won't" I reply flatly "Do you want me to stay here tonight, I don't think you should be alone tonight?"

"Please, thanks Wash" answered Cali

I ran back to my cabin and grabbed my pyjamas and hurried back to Cali's room. When I entered, Cali had already changed into the clothes that I had given her and was lying on top of the sheets. The joggers were too long and the t-shirt at least 3 sizes to big but she did look cute in it.

I darted into the bathroom and got changed and then climbed into bed next to Cali. The beds were only designed for 1 person but we made do. At first I just lay there next to her but she pulled me over into a big spoon position and fell asleep, sleep took a little longer for me but it was much easier to achieve with someone next to me than on my own.

For the first time in months I slept through the night and was no awoken once and as I appears so did Cali. Cali was still asleep when I awoke and I decided not to wake her so I slipped out of bed got dressed and headed to the cafeteria I would bring some food back for Cali to eat later.

I sat down with my squad who quietened their excited conversations as soon as I sat down.

"what's going on, I know that look?"

"well you know how Cali has no possessions, well what if we gave her some, we would all donate something of our own that we don't use or need to make her room feel more homely" chirped South.

"I love the idea what were you…" I trailed off, I had heard something, I had heard the name California, I craned my neck and shushed the other freelancers on my table and the voice floated over from an adjacent table.

"yer it was that psycho bitch California, she walked into my bathroom and like she owned the place all heavy breathing and shit and collapsed in the corner… psycho bitch had it coming I knocked seven bells of shit out of her, still down there as far as I know, could be dead for all I know" the voice laughed.

I stood up and walked over to where the voice was coming from and put a face to the voice, it was indeed Agent Ohio a 28-year-old man currently ranked 36th on the board. I walked up behind him grabbed him by the back of the head by his ridiculous manbun and slammed his head into the table without warning and without saying a word.

"what the fuck" the man screamed in pain

I lifted his head a spoke softly into his ear "Touch my any of my friends again, and you will have more to worry about than a headache. Are we clear?"

"you should be thanking me, she's a murderer. A savage animal who needs to be put down" He replied.

I saw red and was about to shatter the man's skull when a strong hand was placed on my shoulder, it was agent North, "walk away Wash, I'll take it from here"

Then Ohio said something that he would come to regret for the rest of his life, "go on the Washy, run back to the safety of your squad and to your psycho bitch girlfriend."

"I don't think you get it do you, I sent Wash away because Cali is my friend as well, I couldn't have him having all the fun now could I" north spat before slamming Ohio's head down repeatedly into the metal table. By the end of the beating Ohio was hardly recognisable all his front teeth were missing his skull was shattered and split in at least 3 places and he was blind in one eye. As north turned to leave one of Ohio's friends I think Utah ran to his friend's side and called North a monster. North slammed his armoured foot into the man's shin and it snapped like a twig in a nasty compound fracture. "no being a monster would be me setting my sister on you" North chuckled as he walked away and sat back down at our table to continue his breakfast.

"Now, where were we?" Carolina said calmly as medics carted the injured freelancers out towards med bay.

"I was just saying how much I liked the idea, shall we meet after morning practice to put everything together. Everyone bring at least 5 items"

"sync" said south.

"Sync" replied the rest of the squad.

I grabbed another plate of food and headed back to Cali's room to see if she was awake.