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Chapter 23: Tell the truth

Simmons disappeared again and was met by Coulson at the door, accompanied by May. He close the door behind the two of them, pulling then two chairs over so they could sit across from the young woman.

"I believe you have just heard the news. I admit, it came as a surprise when the results were so different from Reina's. As long as we don't know what to make of it, you will have to stay in quarantine."

Imprisoned

Her stomach coiled at the thought of closed walls around her and a lack of privacy for an even longer time.

"For your own good," May added sternly.

Xandra only lifted an eyebrow.

"We don't actually know what abilities you have," Coulson went on, "so we will check your abilities, capabilities, basically index you. This will also get you out of the fish tank for a bit. Then we will see what we can do with you."

Whether you can release me into the wild? Whether I am any use? I am not a tool, even though you tend to forget that

She arched an eyebrow again, without any amusement. Coulson had at least the mind to look ashamed.

"I just meant we will then see whether you still want to be part of the Team. And maybe you should talk to someone about your voice problems."

She nodded curtly.

will do. I need space to move though. and I need to notify my father and my ex, they will worry

"Okay, I think we can risk electronic devices now. Besides - Simmons told me nobody has ever mentioned anything to you about genetic abnormalities. I have to ask you this - do you know anything related to this about your parents? About your father and your mother, that Adriana Averadopulos?"

Xandra frowned. That was definitely NOT the name of her mother - or at least the name of the woman she had known to be her mother for all her life. May seemed to pick up on that.

"Everything okay? You seem confused."

All ok. Just a hard topic

"Your mother left you, right?" May asked.

Xandra nodded. That was one way to put it.

"And you didn't look for her?"

no. She left.

While the woman didn't seem convinced, Coulson nodded sympathetically.

"Your file says she is Greek, do you really have no information about her whereabouts? Or does your father have any contact to her?"

Greek? This S.H.I.E.L.D. file must be full of shit. She couldn't believe somebody had actually come up with an idiotic idea like that (she was light- blonde and fair skinned - or had been - after all) and that Coulson did actually believed that. Where these people amateurs or what? She wondered for a moment whether it was smart to say something - but her instincts told her to shut up.

"You don't look half South European," Coulson remarked.

The woman rolled her eyes.

I know right? must be my Dad's genes. don't have photo, maybe mum had lighter skin

Obviously she didn't look half South European because she wasn't, but that was nothing she was going to spill right now.

"Do you know anything about her?"

Nothing that will help you, I ALREADY TOLD YOU

She huffed.

"You don't want to tell us," May declared, "we could lock you up in a vault, you know."

The young woman just glared at her.

She liked cats. And waffles. You should ask my father about the rest.

Then she didn't say anymore. After a while the other two sighed nearly in unisono and got up from their chairs.

"Look kid, we don't want to do this but we need your cooperation," May said, nearly apologetic.

Coulson looked as if he wanted to add something but then thought better of it. What seemed about a couple of hours later, two agents she didn't know stepped in front of her gold fish bowl while someone looking like a doctor entered. It was confusing, wouldn't that be Simmon's job now? But maybe she was busy. Still, something about the whole situation was odd. Later she would blame tiredness and confusion for her belayed reflexes as the man in the labcoat took out a gun and fired twice, both hitting her square in the chest. It didn't hurt too much, or maybe too many nerves were damaged, she thought, as darkness started to surround her.

When she woke up, there were no glass walls around her anymore, but trees, and the sounds of birds were ringing in her ears. However, when she woke up, she was also laying on a cot SHIELD standard edition. Utterly confused, she let her right hand wander to the side and touched something that felt like stone. Suddenly, everything made sense. They had sedated her to transport her into one of the vaults, that apparently could be decorated and add a simulation. At least she would not panic right away, that was a good thing. Oh bloody hell, her chest hurt! When she looked down, she saw her shirt was ripped where the bullets had pierced the cloth - damn, she really had liked that one! Her head seemed to be okay though, when she slowly looked down she saw a laptop, her sudokus, her pencil case, a book about sign language, and a change of clothing and a water bottle next to the cot. At least something. She opened the laptop - as she had suspected, all programms except the e-mail one had been blocked. At first she composed a short but positive sounding e-mail to her father, entering the signature of the imaginary company she was supposedly working for at the bottom. Then the one to her ex - this was more difficult.

My dear,
how are you doing?
I am fine, but unfortunately I have got quite a sore throat, so communication via e-mail is a lot easier at the moment.
Even though the job is not exactly what I expected, I am very happy I have taken the opportunity. People are nice, work is challenging but I am sure I will find a solution for my current project.
I do miss you more than I had expected though, really I do.
Take care, wherever you are

Xandra

The message was kind of the truth, but she also knew it would mean so much more to him. Then, last but not least, she wrote a third mail, delighted e-mail adresses had not generally been blocked. Probably because Skye was reading her messages anyway, trying to find out what she was doing, she thought grimmly. Anyway, it came in handy.

Dear customer service,
I would like to cancel my subscription. My circumstances have changed so the services are no longer required/useful for me in my present situation.
I would therefore request that you kindly terminate the contract by stopping to debit the usual amount from my bank account and release me from my commitments.

With kind regards

A.S. Edvardson

She entered the e-mail address of a beauty-box provider, clicking send. It wasn't as if she needed more lipgloss at the moment. She got changed into the jeans and t-shirt that somebody had left, it was nice to wear something different than sweatpants for a change. She was so used to wearing tighter, expensive clothing, that too much loungewear made her uncomfortable.

A bit later, one of the walls suddenly cleared. Skye was standing on the other side, seemingly a bit shy.

"Dinner," she said, handing something to Xandra through a whole that appeared in the electric wall. Then she signed the word. The silver-haired woman smiled.

Thank you, she signed back.

"I am sorry," Skye answered, "they don't know what to do with you."

The other one shrugged her shoulders, then went on eating.

"You know - I think you know some facts. You could help and then they would let you out of the vault.

At first, Xandra went on ignoring the other woman, then she pulled out her notebook.

My father doesn't talk about her. And neither do I. I only know her name. Never looked for her. But they don't believe me.

"Coulson is afraid of potential unknown variables - they will probably search for her now, check her DNA. You ready for that?"

She sighed, already knowing S.H.I.E.L.D. wouldn't find anything.

I will have to be, right?

"Probably true. I will probably also have to hack your dad's medical data."

You do that I don't mind.

Skye nodded, alright, I just wanted to inform you. Is there anything else I can help you with for now?"

Hunter back?

"Not yet, but should be soon."

How is rest of team?

"Still pretty shaken up, tired, everyone."

Probably one reason why they put me here, so they could go down with the alert level and sleep, Xandra wrote, grinning lightly.

"Don't know, maybe, they could all use it. Though I still think there will be guards everywhere, with HYDRA and all."

Sure, anything else would be stupid.

She looked at the other woman sternly.

You look like shit girl. You get some sleep too, right?!

"Thank you!" Skye commented, clumsily trying to sign it at the same time.

You're welcome

At least Skye seemed to be healthy and fine so far, as much as Xandra could see that from the outside. Her hand was bandaged but no new injuries seemed to have she left, it was silent again - now she only had to wait.

Wait for what? You will find out in the next chapter, stay tuned!