I took my seat once more between Wade and John. No one looked at me and no one said a word. I tried catching Logan's eye, but his head was between his knees. I glanced at Wade but quickly looked away, completely embarrassed by my earlier behavior. I knew why I had lashed out, but it wasn't something I was particularly eager to share with the rest of the team.

I knew I would have to apologize sooner or later to Stryker or risk even more of his anger. He couldn't have been happy on me skipping Phase One of the mission. So I let out a small sigh and cleared my throat. "Colonel Stryker Sir?" I called nervously. I was met with silence. "Sir I am sorry…" More silence.

"Sir I-"

"Shut it," ordered Zero. I opened my mouth to start arguing once more, but caught myself. I supposed it would be best to just lay low and wait for Stryker to speak to me. Until then, I would be able to relax in some peace and quiet for once.

I must admit, my curiosity was getting the better of me. It killed me that I had no idea what had happened earlier and that now I had no idea where we were off too. I was especially curious about the strange rock Stryker was holding in his hands. He stared at it completely enraptured and I couldn't help wonder about its meaning.

I was itching to lean over and ask John or Logan, but Stryker spoke first.

"When we land, I want everyone rounded up. No one is to leave, and no one is to be killed…at least not yet." Stryker glanced over to Viktor. "Am I understood?" The team replied with a series of yes sirs.

"Wade, for God's sake do not screw with the translating again. Not tonight, no more problems." He shifted his gaze toward me and I blushed. "And Nadya." I looked up expectantly. "You stay on the plane."

Man, if he hated me so much, why did he even bother with me? I get the shield thing, but seriously…I was basically a pain in everyone's ass, not to mention a kid. Maybe he just got a weird kick out of making little girls shoot people. Whatever his reason, I hated him for it.

I hated that I was always begging for his forgiveness or approval. I hated that he took me from my family. I hated that I've never gotten to go shopping and that I've never kissed a boy. And Jesus Christ, I hated that Dukes had to be the one to tell me when I had my first period. But beyond all that…you know what I hated Stryker for the most?

He scared the living shit out of me. More so than Viktor even. Stryker was a man who was evil. I have no doubt in my mind. Dukes may have been mean and stupid and Viktor mean and crazy, but Stryker was going to Hell one day and I just hoped he wouldn't kill me before that day came.

When Bradley began the landing process once more, I didn't even bother arguing with Stryker. I may have craved his approval, but I wasn't about to beg him to let me help kill people. The men stood up around me, still refusing to talk to me. Only Logan bothered to give me a pat on the shoulder before he left.

I looked through my small window as they headed into the jungles of Africa. I was alone once more, and while I should have been happy with my few moments of peace, I couldn't relax. I began to pace back and forth, while thoughts of everything I had been through went through my mind.

I thought of leaving my mother and I wondered if she was truly still alive as Stryker promised. I thought of the girl not much older than I who was my first kill. I remember crying for days over what I had done, before Stryker finally told me to suck it up and do as ordered or my mother would be next. I thought about leaving the team and what that would mean for me. Where would I go and most importantly, how would I escape?

As it so happened, planning my escape wasn't necessary. About an hour after the team left, Logan came storming back.

"Logan?" I asked confusedly. "What-"

"We're leaving…now." He strode passed me and into the cockpit, while I followed.

"What are you talking about? Where are the others?" I glanced out the window for any sign of the rest of the team.

"We're leaving. I'm done here, and so are you. We should have left years ago…" He was pressing buttons like mad. "How the hell does a guy sabotage a plane?" I wasn't sure who he was asking so I stayed quiet.

"But Stryker…" I started softly.

"Fuck Stryker." He turned around and knelt in front of me. "Nadya, are you getting me? We are going to leave him and this all behind…for good."

"Logan, he'll find us." I was getting really scared. The idea of Stryker…of Viktor tracking me down was terrifying. I would much rather stay and always know where they were, than run into them on the street because of some weird twist of fate.

"Nadya, I need you to trust me. I've never asked anything from you. Please…I know I robbed you of any real life, but right now I'm trying to fix that. Now…what do you say?" At that moment he wasn't the man who took me from my family. He was my friend, my guardian, and the only family I had left.

I gave him a small smile and I nodded my head. "Okay," I told him. He returned my smile and took my hand. We left the plane, but while I started walking into the jungle, Logan stopped me.

"Hold on. We need to destroy the plane. That'll give us some time." He looked up at the craft in thought.

"Hey, I think can do it," I told him hesitantly. He gave me a look of skepticism. I nodded, my confidence growing. "Really. I've been practicing."

"Practicing what exactly?" I smiled and turned toward the plane.

Taking a breath, I raised my hands and concentrated the engine nearest me. Rather than create a force field around it, I created one inside of the engine. It began small, but I felt it begin to grow. I forced it to press the boundaries of the engine walls. Suddenly it blew.

I must admit, I wasn't entirely prepared for that big of an explosion. So when my left sleeve caught on fire, needless to say I freaked out. There was crying, screaming, and God knows there was swearing.

"Logan! Get it off, get it off!" I certainly didn't make it easy for him to help with my running around like a maniac. Finally he got a hold of me and was able to put the fire out, but not before I received a lovely burn on my left shoulder. Great…one last parting shot courtesy of Stryker and his damn plane.

As we were in the middle of the jungle, we couldn't treat the burn until we arrived in the capital of Abuja. For the rest of my days I would have that mark, reminding me constantly of my sins against God and against humanity. I hoped I would escape with only that, but unfortunately people like Logan and me are never that lucky.