"A riot was thrown today, at this exact spot. The cause, is thought to be a covert government movement that involves 'unique' individuals. More at eleven." A reporter on the TV announced.

I sat forward, paying close attention to the picture behind him. A plume of smoke and dust, along with a few bloodied and beaten police officers. Those rioters sure as hell knew how to riot, I'll say that.

"Hot damn, we made the news." I said with a smile, leaning back.

Paul and Wreav both barged into the room at that cheery note, each with a smile plastered on their faces.

"Hey, we made the news!" Paul yelled with joy.

"Yeah, we saw." I replied, pointing to the TV.

"Stupid TV, I wanted to say it."

"Is there any other reason you just barged into our room?"

"Oh yeah, Colonel Peterson said he needs to see us all. And he made it clear, that she be there too."

"Ok. From now on, call her Emma, ok?"

"Uh… sure…"

I pressed a big red button on the remote, and the TV flicked off. I stood up with a groan, and yawned. Emma reluctantly stood up after me. She sluggishly walked to the table, and picked her helmet up. It hissed as she sealed it, and she let out an overly exaggerated sigh. I knew she was trying to get some attention, but I wasn't sure of why. I mean, did she just want someone to look at her? Maybe she had something to say, or maybe she needed something. I'll never really know.

"Everything alright Emma?" I asked as she joined the group at the door.

She seemed to perk up almost instantly. She just nodded.

Wreav and Paul stepped out first, and Emma followed them. I closed and locked up our room, and stuffed the key back in my pocket. Paul and Wreav had continued their way to meet Peterson in the Command room, but Emma waited patiently at the end of the stairs. She was getting a bit too attached to me, in my opinion at the time.

We walked for about five minutes before we got to the command room. Paul, Wreav, Peterson, and a crap load of soldiers were all waiting for us.

"Ah, good to see you have found your way. Now, there are important matters that must be discussed about the Splicers…" Peterson began.

"There have been sightings on the south side, and we fear they may have set up a base in an abandoned warehouse. We're going to arm you and my task force, and you will be sent to neutralize any and all hostiles. My men will take you to our armory, please try to keep our experimental weaponry out of harm's way. Dismissed." He said, looking out the window.

As I stepped towards the door, I heard light, fast footsteps behind me. As soon as I turned around, I was tackled to the floor.

"No! Daddy, don't go!" Emma cried, barely giving me enough room to breathe.

"Wow, I forgot how much that hurts… glad to see the next generation still has the same pouncing ability…" I mumbled.

"Well, well, that's why she trusts you so much sergeant… she takes you as a father figure." Peterson said with a grin.

"Oh, let's see… if I'm remembering right, that's three daughters now…" I muttered under my breath.

Emma looked up at me, and I could practically feel her eyes locked on me.

"I won't let you go." She said, sounding as if she was about to go hysterical.

"Emma, come on. We need to talk…" everyone stared at us. "In private."

Emma slowly stood up, and I followed. I pushed the door open, and Emma walked through. I followed, and closed the door.

"Ok Emma, from the sound of it, you have something you need to talk about. I'm all ears."

She didn't say a thing, just looked down to the floor. I brought my hand to her helmet, and hit the release latch. I pulled her helmet off, and dropped it onto the floor. She had a surprised look on her face when I began to do the same thing with my gas mask. I dropped the mask, and it flopped onto the floor. Emma didn't move, but she seemed to flinch a little. From her reaction, I got all I needed to know. The Vita-chamber I was revived in probably set my DNA back to the way it was earlier. A.K.A. I got real ugly real fast. I looked to a window, and saw my reflection. Sickly green skin, fangs instead of teeth, and a few scars. I wasn't that ugly, just a bit screwed up. I looked back to Emma.

"Emma, if you have something on your mind, say it. I mean look at me, do you really think that I, of all people, would even have the right to judge you? I'm a corpse for Christ's sake!" I said, staring directly at Emma.

Her eyes began to fill with tears. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and began to cry.

"I don't want you to leave! I can't lose my Daddy again!" she cried, her hot tears running down onto my neck.

I sighed, and brought one hand to the back of her head, and wrapped the other around her. I gently rubbed the back of her head, as she tightened her grip around my neck.

"Emma, I made a promise, didn't I? I can take a few Splicers, even more so considering the advanced weaponry they plan on giving me. Are you really that worried, or is there something else behind this?"

"I… I remember… when I was *snivel* when I was five, I saw you die… but now you're here, and I don't want you to go away again, *snivel* because I'm scared you're not gonna come back again. *snivel*"

"Emma, I plan on coming back from this trip. But… if this'll make you feel better about it, take this walkie-talkie. If you ever get worried about me, just press that green button and you can talk to me. Does that make you feel better?" I asked, pulling a walkie-talkie from a crate conveniently located right next to us.

She took it, and smiled slightly. "I *snivel* I guess so… I'm gonna miss you Daddy." She replied, giving me one last hug.

"Alright, come on."

I grabbed another walkie-talkie and stuffed it in my pocket. What can I say, I have big pockets. Emma and I stepped back into the room, after we both put our "headwear" on.

"Is everything settled now?" Peterson asked.

"Yes. Emma, take the room key." I handed her the key. "Hey, can someone escort her back to our room?"

"I got it. Please come with me." a soldier stepped forwards, and led Emma out of the room.

"Now, to the gun room, eh?"