Illusion 13
Sarah and her team returned to base triumphant. They walked off the helipad with a bounce to their steps. "Job well done soldiers" said Colonel Hawkins. Sarah saluted him and he returned the salute. Even though Sarah wasn't military she still gave him that respect and he acknowledged it in return. "At ease soldier" said the colonel
"go relax soldier you've earned it" said the colonel "sir I was wondering if I might be allowed a special privilege?" said Sarah "what kind of privilege?" said the colonel "I would like permission to dine with one of the new recruits in my room sir" said Sarah the colonel eyed her speculatively for a minutes before replying.
"very well but no funny business, I'll have mess arrange something special." Said the colonel. She smiled and headed into the base falling in step with her girls. She found the guys in the training room and watched as the hand to hand instructor dumped Reid on his ass. She barely stifled a giggle when Caleb dumped the instructor on his. The girls stopped for a moment and watched the guys learn. Pogue was still angry with her and she was certain he would always hold on to that resentment a little bit. The others were a bit more forgiving but not by much.
She hadn't meant to hurt them but she did. She watched pogue attack the instructor with a vengeance. There powers would be useless in there, which was essentially the point. They had to know how to defend themselves without resorting to their talents. Sarah had learned it the hard way; she still remembered the bruises she got during it. She closed her eyes and silently thanked the instructor for all his hard work she had needed it today and it had served her well.
"You aren't going down?" said raferty. Sarah jumped in surprise "no I didn't want to distract them" said Sarah "they have a few issues about still being here still I take it?" said raferty she sighed "yeah but I'm sure they'll come around" said Sarah "I hope so you know what they do to failures" said raferty. "speaking of which I want to up there training do you mind?" said Sarah "of course not I'll see what we can do but you'll have to be sure they can be trusted not to run off" said raferty "what about the tracker?" said Sarah "a possibility but do we really want to waste her time?' said raferty "no maybe we should chip them" said Sarah raferty nodded Sarah was optimistic but at least she was honest enough to admit they could mislead her."I'll make the suggestion" said raferty
Raferty reached for the door."Hey do me a favor tell Caleb he'll be joining me for dinner in my room" said Sarah raferty smirked and walked in the door. Sarah walked down the hallway to her rooms. She had some cleaning up to do and a little rearranging. First thing she did was clean, fortunately it wasn't too messy. Next she showered and changed into something nice. She had moved one of her tables to the center of the room. She had to obtain another chair so she had enough seating but it would work.
She placed the candles on the table after she covered it with a tablecloth. Someone rang her bell. It was one of the lieutenants from the mess hall. He had a second chair and a cart of food. She took the chair and he wheeled the cart into the room. She set up the chair while he unloaded the cart, then he left. A few moments later someone else knocked on her door. She opened it to find Caleb on the other side.
He came into the room with a smile. He glanced around the room taking in the artistic furniture and lavish interior. She could almost see what he was thinking. She smiled at him. "So how did work go?" he asked "great" she answered she couldn't go into details until he was an active member of a team. "So, what did you do?" he asked nervously "the usual save people" said Sarah Caleb nodded in understanding. "You really believe all that hero stuff huh?" said Caleb Sarah nodded yes
"yeah don't you ever wonder why you were born different?" said Sarah she sat down at the table and Caleb sat across from her. he thought about it for awhile "yeah I do but they'll never accept us" said Caleb "yes I know that's why they never know" said Sarah "then why this facility?" said Caleb "because they have some notion we need to be protected even though we do most of the protecting" said Sarah. "Isn't it closer to being a prisoner?" said Caleb
"maybe to some for others it's a blessing to not have to deal with people on a daily basis" said Sarah "then why save them if you don't care for them?" said Caleb.
"Because we've been given this power and it's our responsibility to protect those who need it" said Sarah. Caleb sighed in despair; he had hoped he could reach her and maybe convince her to leave with him. He took a bite of his food angrily stabbing it with his fork.
"why what were you planning on doing with your power?" said Sarah Caleb frowned he hadn't really planned on using it at all. "Nothing I was just going to let it sit there" said Caleb "you're afraid of it" said Sarah he wasn't sure if she was questioning him or stating something. It still made him bristle even if it was true. "Wouldn't you be?" said Caleb
Sarah shook her head no. "No I don't think so I like to think I would be doing what I am now, saving peoples lives" said Sarah Caleb frowned at her statement. "Even if it made you an old woman before you were thirty?" said Caleb she nodded "yes some things are worth it" said Sarah Caleb snorted and cut his chicken in half with the small knife on his plate. "What things?" said Caleb Sarah sighed and leaned back. "people, like the child who isn't made an orphan because you saved her dad or mom or the teenager who will someday grow up to be a doctor because you insured she had one more birthday" said Sarah. Caleb set his drink down and glared at Sarah her words hadn't sounded rehearsed but who knew. He looked at his plate for a few moments.
She reached out and touched his hand with hers. "please try to understand I didn't make this decision lightly you can help people here but you've got to want to" said Sarah. Caleb set his other hand on top of hers and smiled at her ruefully. "So how long before we get to save people?" he said he wanted to change the subject because he was still mad about being here.
The boys weren't very happy about it either. He wanted to find out if they would have a chance to escape some time soon. She sensed the change in his demeanor and eyed him cautiously before saying anything. "you'll only scare the shit out of her" said Sarah Caleb frowned at her and picked up his glass pulling his hands out of hers as he did so. "why couldn't you just leave it alone Sarah" said Caleb she sighed because we need you, I need you" said Sarah
He took another bite of food. Sarah obviously wanted to have a romantic evening but he really didn't feel like cooperating. She sighed he was still mad at her so much for the rest of her plans this evening.
Caleb sighed and eyed Sarah, she did love him and he felt bad bashing her beliefs, even if they were a bit comic bookish. It was obvious she had expected the evening to end in the bedroom. He smiled he was still dating her so why not, maybe if she trusted him he could use her to find a way out of this situation.