I was the first out of the car when it came to a stop inside Fort Jackson. The bright sunlight blinded me so I put my black '80's style sunglasses on. They didn't help that much. Once we were all out of the car, a solider came run out of the building towards us. The man, or kid, looked to be only 18 years old. The camouflage uniform made all the soldiers look alike so I couldn't tell if I recognized him or not. He flashed an innocent smile in my direction but it was quickly replace with the emotionless slate that most soldier give when they're on duty. "Colonel Stryker would like to speak with immediately." The soldier said in a monotone voice.
"Now?" I said in disbelief. We just got back.
The soldier looked taken aback by my question but the look only lasted for a second. "Yes, ma'am. Now."
I instantly felt older. No one had ever called me 'ma'am' before. It was always 'kid' or just 'Lorna'. But never ma'am. I didn't like it. I followed the group to our normal meeting room. The one with the four concrete walls that made me feel like I was in prison. Stryker was waiting for us, wearing his usual army attire. I sat down in my usual chair. "Good job in New Orleans." Stryker said as he started to pass around another vanilla folder. Not again.
I flipped the folder open, uncertain for what I would see. The picture showed a a 17-year-old boy with hair the color of snow. Pietro Maximoff, 17, Mount Wundagore in Transia, capable of moving and thinking at superhuman speeds. Stryker said his little this-mutant-is-dangerous-speech, but I didn't listen to him. I just said at the picture of Pietro Maximoff. There was something so familiar about him. I've never seen him in my life but I recognized him some how.
"Where's Transia?" Wade said.
"It's a small country between Transylvania, Romania and Serbia." Zero said quickly,
"Why?" I asked, cutting out Wade smart ass remark.
"Why what, Dane?" Stryker said.
"Why are we arresting him? He hasn't done anything." The file said that that Pietro had no criminal background.
"He hasn't done anything yet." Stryker thought that answer would be enough. He was wrong.
"So we're arresting people for thing they haven't done yet? Think of all the things Victor could do if he put his mind to it. Why don't you arrest him?" I felt anger growing in my chest.
"That's enough, Dane. Either follow the order's you're given or leave." Stryker said threateningly.
"Okay, then." I stood up slowly. "I quit."
"You have no place to go, Lorna." Stryker said with an uncharacteristic smile on his face.
"What's the supposed to mean?" I said, confused.
"Your parents think you're dead." Stryker said calmly.
My mind went blank. I stared at him for a few seconds. He was lying. I thought. He had to be. "I'll figure something out." I said before I pulled the do tags out my neck and threw them on the table.
"You can't quit, Lorna." Wade pleaded, as I started to walk to the door. He stood up slowly.
"Watch me." That was the last I saw of Wade as I opened the door and walked out.