Alpha woke me the next morning. Remembering I had to meet Agent Texas, he set my alarm for 4:30 in the gosh darn morning. I tried to ignore it, rolling over and covering my ears with a pillow, but he just yelled in my mind.
'Rise and shine, Sweetheart!' He screeched, a little too cheerfully for my liking.
"For fuck's sake, Alpha, I'm up!" I complained, sitting up and stretching.
Though I'd never say it out loud, I was extremely thankful for Alpha. Despite constantly annoying me, I knew that when he did things like that, it was his own way of showing that he cares.
Plus, I used the extra time he gave me to take a quick shower, since I hadn't yesterday.
Normally, one would feel awkward while standing naked as a miniature human could see and hear everything that you could. But from the very first day, Alpha and I agreed that bathroom times were alone times. Whenever I was in there, he'd go hang out in my room, or talk to F.I.L.S.S. It's not like it mattered much anyway, Alpha has seen me in my worst moments, whether through my memories, or experiencing it with me. Though, he still respected my privacy and left me alone whenever I asked.
When I got out of the shower, I didn't spot the A.I., so I assumed he was with F.I.L.S.S. or something. I dried off, and slipped on one of the many skin tight body suits I had. I always wore one of these under my armor; I couldn't wear anything else due the fact that I chafe real easily. (I know, I know, but you try wearing all this armor with nothing blocking your skin from the rough metal).
As I finished getting ready, Alpha appeared in my room.
"What time is it?" I asked, putting my hair into a french braid.
"5:16 A.M."
"What time do we have to meet the Bet - Agent Texas?"
"…9:00…"
I turned around and glared at the A.I., who had backed up near the door.
"You woke me up at 4:30 in the morning for no fucking reason?" I demanded.
Alpha appeared closer to my face as he argued back, "I just thought you'd like the extra time! You need to eat, and train, and you needed to shower!"
I rolled my eyes but smiled at the little guy, who, if an A.I. could blush, would be blushing.
"Alright, let's go eat then."
The cafeteria had been next to empty. Only people like the medics, and others who had really early shifts, were there. I ate alone, like usual, munching on some oatmeal as Alpha ran off a list of the daily nutrients and vitamins I have consumed and still needed.
"You've gotten: 190 calories, 27 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, 3 grams of fat, and your 10 percent daily value of iron! Along with that, you have 25 percent daily val-"
"Thank you, Alpha, but you do this everyday," I complained, cutting off the useless information that spat out of his mouth.
"Well, I just want to make sure you eat enough to stay alert and healthy during your training. You know what happens if you don't eat enough," Alpha reminded me.
I sighed, definitely remembering, "Yes, but it's almost six. That means we still have two more hours before we need to go see the Director and Allison," I said, realizing the mistake I made too late.
I froze, hoping Alpha hadn't heard what I just said. The Director had warned me not to mention her name. Alpha could become unstable, and could remember too much.
I slowly glanced up at Alpha, noticing as how his eyes seemed to be glued to the table.
"Did you say...Allison?" He asked me hesitantly.
Crap.
"No! Well, yes I did - but, it's not the same-" I quickly tried to make up some excuse, my mind still not functioning properly due to the early hour.
"Allison is dead," Alpha said, his voice laced with a pain I've never heard from him, "she can't be here."
I swallowed, slowly nodding. The Director told me that A.I. could feel emotions, just like humans. They can feel sadness, happiness, love, etc. They just couldn't feel physical pain.
I figured that Alpha wasn't feeling physical pain.
"Yes, I know that, um, it-it just slipped out, Alpha, I'm sorry," I said, looking at the white glowing A.I.
His eyes were still focused on the table, and I felt an immense amount of guilt flowing through my stomach.
"Yes, so please, don't ever mention her again," Alpha said, looking up at me, pale eyes swimming with sadness and what I assumed to be regret.
"Y-yes, of course. Um, do you want to train?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
Alpha nodded and looked back down at the table, before sighing and disappearing. I sighed too, before throwing out my plastic bowl and heading over to the training room.
"Agent California, the-"
"Shut up, F.I.L.S.S.! I'm trying to fo-"
"Cali, look out!"
Alpha's warning came a second too late, as the metal pole whammed into my back, sending me face first into the floor.
I groaned in frustration, cursing stupid F.I.L.S.S. and her stupid timing. Alpha chuckled as I rolled onto my back, chucking my helmet off.
"I tried to warn ya'," he teased, floating above my stomach.
"Yeah, yeah, shut up, Alpha," I mumbled, starting to pick myself up.
"Agent California, the Director would like to see you immediately," F.I.L.S.S. said again.
I sighed, rolling my eyes, "Thanks."
Standing up, I grabbed my helmet and tried to stretch out my back, I could tell I would be receiving a pretty gnarly bruise.
"Cali, I think I'm gonna head to our room, I don't feel like talking with the Director today," Alpha said, floating in front of my face. I could relate, most days I didn't want to deal with the Director either.
"Okay, see you in a bit, Al," I smiled softly, and he disappeared.
I sighed again, kind of dreading my meeting with the Director and Agent Texas. Hopefully Alpha never really sees her, I don't know how he'd react seeing Allison's face.
"Wow," was the only thing that left my mouth when I saw Agent Texas.
It wasn't her badass, black armor, or the way she stared me down, and it wasn't even the fact that she was a realistic, human sized, A.I.
It was how much she looked like Allison.
Every single strand of hair was the exact shade of blonde it was supposed to be, her eyes were the exact same color as they had been in the video, and her facial features were uncanny. I've never met Allison, only seen videos and pictures, but I'd have to guess her body structure was nearly identical.
"Agent Texas, I'd like to introduce you to Agent California," the Director said, his hand pointed towards me.
Agent Texas looked me up and down, a slight frown on her beautiful face. I could see a light spread of freckles across her nose and cheeks.
"Hi," I grinned and waved, deciding there was no need for me to intimidate her. If anything, I felt a little intimidated.
Texas smirked and held out her hand for me to shake. I accepted, but felt weird shaking hands with an A.I. based on a dead person. I mean, does she know?
"Agent California, I'd like you to show Agent Texas around, perhaps even train with her a little, show her the ropes, if you will," the Director instructed, smiling at how the two of us seemed to be getting along.
"Of course, Director. Um, Agent? Would you mind stepping outside for a sec? I gotta ask the Director something," I asked hesitantly, not sure how Texas would react.
She glanced at the Director and nodded, before walking out.
"Director, does she know?" I asked, eager to get an answer as soon as possible.
The Director's gaze turned cold.
"No, and I'd appreciate it if you could never mention it to her. Not about who I am, who she was, what she really is, not even about the Alpha. The two mustn't cross paths," the Director said harshly.
"I understand Director, but does Alpha know about Allison?" I asked, getting nervous again. I didn't want to tell him that I said Allison's name in front of Alpha, but I have to. It might cause something bad, I don't know.
"Yes, which is why I asked you to never mention her to the alpha, as well," the Director said, looking at me as if a teacher was scolding a student.
In return, I did the student thing and looked around, avoiding his eye contact.
"You...didn't mention Allison's name to the A.I. did you?"
Guilt swam through my gut again, and I knew I had to tell him.
"I just-I didn't mean to-I didn't even-"
"Lillian! You know that you weren't supposed to!" The Director yelled at me, causing me to feel angry in return.
"I know this, but it was an accident!" I yelled back, my voice cracking. He knows we all make mistakes! Where's the Counselor, he's understand!
"But this little accident may cause a very big problem in the long run! If the alpha runs into Agent Texas, it can cause significant damage to-"
"To what? To the A.I.?" I argued, "Alpha and F.I.L.L.S. communicate all the time, there's nothing wrong wi-"
"Alpha remembers Allison," the Director said, calming down. "If he see's her, he will think that she is real, that she is alive, and that may cause him to...malfunction."
Despite the fact that the Director stopped yelling at me, I still felt angry. What was the Director's problem? Alpha isn't going to meet Agent Texas, and even if he does, he won't know who she really is! He's not weak, we...we're not weak.
"Alpha is stronger than that. I'm stronger than that," I said darkly, daring the Director to argue.
"I am aware of your strength, Agent California, however, it is not your physical strength I am worried about," the Director took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "If something goes wrong with Alpha, he could tear you mind apart. You would go insane."
"I'm not weak-"
"Yes you are, Lillian. You're weak," the Director said.
My pulse pounded in my ears, and my hands clenched into fists.
"No, you're the weak one Director," I said, getting close to dangerous waters, but who the heck does he think he is? I could hardly focus, I'm not weak! I could destroy the Director right now if I wanted to.
Suddenly, Alpha appeared.
"Agent California, you can't re-"
Suddenly, the world went black.
A/N: Heeeyyyyy! I know it's been quite a while since my last update, and I'm reeaaalllyyy sorry! But like I said, I'd be a LOT less busy after the 12th. Anyway, I feel like this chapter is really rushed and that it sucks, but hopefully it's okay? But whOa, why did Cali pass out? I mean, I know, but tell me what you think happened in the reviews! I'll give you a hint: It has to do with a pretty angry character from the Blood Gulch Chronicles.
Okay, well thank you all sOOOO much!
~Saam :D