The five men walked in formation towards the prisoner cells. Instead of leaving Bradley at the control center, Stryker'd told Wade to keep an eye on it instead. No need to get the girl even more angry than she already was. As they walked, he could see Emma and Remy talking to the girl excitedly. He scowled. That little telepath was going to be in a lot of trouble.
As they reached cell number 118, which was only supposed to be holding two mutants, Stryker crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Emma.
"Emma."
She jumped, as if startled. She turned to see Stryker and the four other men, and she frowned innocently.
"Yes?"
"Emma, I'd like my new recruit back, please."
"Oh, is this the new recruit everyone's been talking about? I didn't know."
She smirked, glancing at Remy. Stryker's frown deepened.
"Emma,"
She turned back to him.
"You know this is going to have serious consequences, don't you?"
Emma had given up her tactic of being stupid to the whole thing, and just let it out.
"Why, because I'm trying to prevent another one of your stupid lackeys from being created and morphed? Amber is sweet, smart, and strong. She doesn't deserve the life you've picked out for her!"
At the mention of her name, Amber turned to face everyone. Everyone, even Victor, was slightly taken aback. Instead of the deep blue color her eyes were supposed to be, as it said in her file, they were completely black, as if they had been spooned out and only the holes were left. Unfortunately, all of them knew that this meant that Emma had been in her head for far too long. Zero swallowed hard, and Stryker cleared his throat, trying to keep calm.
"Emma, get out of her head. Now."
"Why, so that she can help all of you capture more kids like me? I don't think so."
She looked forcefully at Amber, who turned her back to the men once again. It was obvious that she'd never encountered a telepath before, even one that was just starting out like Emma. She had no way to protect herself. Zero took a step towards the cell, but Stryker put a hand up to stop him.
"Emma, let her go."
Emma ignored him and turned towards Amber, whispering to her.
"Emma."
She kept ignoring them.
"Emma, you have no idea how patient I'm actually being with you right now. This is your last chance."
Emma stuck her middle finger towards them without looking, causing Stryker's face to pinch up in rage. He said in a deadly calm voice,
"Fine."
He turned and whispered to Zero and Victor, who ran off. The Colonel took a deep breath. His blood pressure was going to be far too high for his liking after this. Zero and Victor returned extremely quickly, followed by an older woman with long, dark hair and a small, petite frame. She jogged up to the Colonel and said,
"William, what's wrong? By the way those two told me to hurry, you'd think someone was dead."
"Lucille, get Emma's hold off of the two guards and the girl. Please."
The woman nodded, used to being ordered like this, and focused her eyes on the two guards. Their eyes snapped open, and then they relaxed. They looked around, slightly confused. The woman saw Emma try to regain hold on them, but the woman was stronger and much more experienced, and she kept her out. Next, she turned to Amber, her hold still on the guards. Emma was a very weak telepath still, so it was quite easy for the woman to break her hold on the girl and keep her out at the same time. Amber slumped to the floor, eyes closed. The woman nodded, still very focused on Amber.
"Alright, you're clear."
Victor and John pushed the two human guards aside and entered the cell. Emma threw herself in front of Amber, as if this would help at all. Victor smirked, bearing his fangs.
"We warned you, girly. Now you have to be punished."
They closed in quickly and each grabbed an arm, dragging her out of the cell as she kicked and screamed obscenities and the like, cursing all of their names numerous times. Stryker held up a hand to them, and they stopped. Emma's face looked hopeful, although there was no reason to be.
"Zero, get the girl and wake her up. Make sure she sees Emma."
Zero did as was told. He entered the cell and picked the girl up gently in his arms bridal style, carrying her out and making sure her face was towards Emma.
"Now Lucille, wake her up."
Slowly but surely, Amber's eyelids fluttered open and she saw a face enter her vision. The older, more official looking man from before. She frowned.
"Where am I?"
Emma tried to shout out, but Victor kept a hand planted firmly over her mouth. She tried to bite it as hard as she could, but it was no use. He never felt pain. Stryker sighed.
"My dear, you are at Three Mile Island. It's sort of like my secret hide-out, per say. How would you like to be part of my team?"
Amber thought for a a moment, then said,
"Do I have to pay you?"
Stryker laughed, shaking his head.
"No, my dear. All you have to do is help me capture monsters like her."
He stepped out of the way and pointed to Emma. Something seemed to go off in Amber's head when she saw that girl. She seemed really familiar.
"Have I met her before?"
"You have, but not in a good way."
"Oh. I knew I'd seen her somewhere."
Stryker's lips tightened.
"This girl tried to get into your head. Tried to control your thoughts and actions, without even thinking of how it would affect you. She can control your mind, Amber. And she did that to you. Without your consent. She tried to get you to think the way she does. She tried to change you."
Amber's face darkened with every word. Oppression was a problem she was very passionate about, and she did not like people who acted like this girl, even if they weren't mutants. Stryker grinned, seeing his plan working.
"So, Miss Amber, do you want to help me catch monsters like her? Or do you want to conform to her cause, letting her inside your head and your most deep and personal thoughts, without you even consenting to it first?"
Amber glared at the girl, then looked up at the man who'd spoken to her.
"I'm in."