XCOM had done it. They had finally found her. The fabled Commander that was captured the day XCOM fell. Commander Jynn Gresham Reeves.

Now they couldn't claim all the work; they had Reapers, Skirmishers, and Templars to thank for their cooperation and relaying the information to them. Though the operation to rescue her cost the lives of two soldiers, and wounded three more, their sacrifices would not be in vain.

The first few days were touch and go for the Commander once they pried her out of that stasis suit and removed that chip buried halfway in her brain. Bradford was quick to notice how her most of appearance hadn't changed since the day the aliens had captured her; how she seemed to be untouched by time. Yet, the condition the aliens kept her in wasn't perfect. She was gaunt. Terribly frail. Muscle atrophy was exceedingly apparent as her skin clung tightly to her bone. Who knew what else was wrong with her?

Dr. Tygan, Dr. Tyler, and the rest of the medical staff kept a close watch on her. Tygan immediately poured many hours into examining the chip they pulled out of her. He recognized the design of the chip and it worried him.

While he did that, Tyler ordered the others to take blood samples and run tests to see what the aliens may have done to her. She made sure to share the information with Tygan and the other specialized doctors as soon as the results came. Jynn's condition rather intrigued her. Why did the Elders let her waste away like this?

Seemed odd even for them with how well-guarded she was, let alone how hard it was to find her. Only time and research would tell.

Bradford visited the infirmary daily, to see how Jynn was doing. He would spend a few hours by her bedside in silence, deep in his thoughts. His mind was still trying to process everything. They found her, but in this terrible state of health; he wasn't expecting it.

In a way, he had expected the worst. Part of him felt like they would never find her, or if they did, she would be dead. Cut open and strung up in one of those facilities. He had seen far too many people like that over the years.

But this state… This state… What had those Elders, and by extension ADVENT, done to her? What was that chip? And why hadn't she aged?

His thoughts troubled him. It didn't help that his mind kept replaying what happened moments after Dr. Tygan pulled the chip from her. How her body stiffened and contorted before she sprang up and let out a ghoulish groan of a shriek. Her eyes glazed over, before she crashed hard, flatlining for a few seconds before suddenly stabilizing. Didn't help that she flatlined a few more times over the next couple of days, but she always came back.

But that shriek… that shriek sounded so inhuman to everyone, especially Bradford. Like it wasn't just her that was crying out and dying. Like something else was there, connected with her. Sharing in her pain before she flatlined. He hoped it meant nothing, yet the shriek kept plaguing his thoughts and most of his nightmares.

Bradford had to pull himself out of the bleak parts of his mind on several occasions. The last thing he needed to do was visit the bar and nurse an old habit. The last thing he needed was a session with Dr. Veer. She helped him knock back the habit, but he didn't want to deal with a shrink right now.

"You would kill me if you were awake right now." A little joke to himself. He could only imagine the disappointed look she would give him if she learned that habit.

Whenever he felt his mind slipping off to negative thoughts, he would try to focus on something else, something less negative. He decided to focus on her appearance to keep his mind sane. On each visit, Bradford would examine her appearance and make small comments here and there. Besides her emancipated appearance, what had and hadn't changed about her over those 20 years looked like she hadn't aged a day. Slowly pondering, he personally theorized that the Elders had her in some kind of stasis, which the doctors quickly confirmed within a few days. Though Dr. Tyler raised questions about why her aging was paused and nothing else was which added to his already troubled mind.

He wondered what the doctors would find as they did their work. Hopefully, nothing bad. But he had his doubts.

Eventually, he noticed something on one of his visits. He questioned how the hell he missed it in the first place.

"These past few days have been extremely hectic, and I think this is the first time you've gotten some proper shut-eye for the past couple of weeks."

He could hear Dr. Tyler's voice in his head from that day. A mix of concern and chastisement. It was true; he was rather wired and tired while juggling many things. But he still couldn't believe he missed those marks on Jynn's skin. Strange segmented diamond-shaped marks scattered over her body. Each one was like a tiered set; a diamond, within a diamond, within a diamond. He wondered what it meant. Nothing good if it was the Elders doing.

It took some time, but he was able to push out any worrying thoughts over the marks. Hopefully, there was nothing and just some weird side effect from her being in that suit for so long.

Another day, he decided to focus on her head on one of his visits. He was hovering by her bedside. His finger traced her hairline and a few scars.

"Shaved… makes sense with her being in that suit." He remembered how it looked like years ago, how long it was, and how she liked to keep it in a braided bun. No matter how neat she tried to keep it, eventually, it turned into a frazzled mess as things started to heat up during the Old War.

"Wonder how long it will take for your hair to grow back." He mumbled. He dragged his finger across some fuzz. A bit was already growing back. "Hopefully not too long… wonder how you'll take it when you wake up."

"May remind you of your brother's prank that day." A chuckle escaped from his lips as he remembered their younger days. A particular memory came to his mind; her brother dyeing her hair a horrendously bright pink while they were on a camping trip. He still questioned how her brother managed to pull it off, but her reaction was priceless.

"Oh, you got so mad that day." He chuckled. "You chased your brother around the campsite and up and down the canyon for a good while before you finally caught him."

"You tackled him so hard you broke his collarbone." He shook his head and let out a soft laugh. "That day was ridiculous and your father was disappointed in you two and your mother was just laughing."

Good times. Good times that were long gone.

A pained mumble pulled him from his thoughts.

"Hm?"

Jynn shifted about for a bit. He pulled his hand away from her, seeing her move around uncomfortably. He watched her eyes dancing frantically behind her lids.

"Hope you're not having a nightmare, friend." He sighed. He wondered what was going through her mind and prayed she was having no nightmares. The last thing she needed.

Bradford stuck around for another hour before leaving to go to the shooting range to train some new soldiers for a few hours before turning in for the day.

Later that night, Bradford woke up in a cold sweat, startled and breathing erratically. His eyes darted around the room before he slowly calmed down. His eyes looked at his clock.

04:00 AM

Another nightmare, another sleepless night, whether he liked it or not. The senior officer let out a disgruntled sigh as he collapsed back onto his bed.

"Damn nightmares… that damn shriek she made." That day was still bothering him and had started to slowly infiltrate more of his nightmares, making them worse. He rubbed his face furiously, trying to calm himself down.

"She'll be fine, John. She's a fighter."

From the corner of his eye, he noticed a flashing red light. It was his communicator blinking on the nightstand. He grumbled, raising himself back up to grab it. "Better not be a complaint or trouble." He put in on. "What is it?"

"Took you forever to answer." A young female voice chuckled.

"What is it, Lily?" Bradford was in no mood for jokes.

"Tygan had me call you. He wants you to come to the infirmary."

"What for?"

"The Commander is awake."

"What!?" News he wasn't expecting. He quickly cleared his throat and recomposed himself. "Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, I am. I'm in the infirmary. Tygan and Tyler wanted me to take a look at some data dealing with the chip." She said.

"Okay, I'll be down shortly." Bradford quickly got out of bed.

"Alright, I'll tell them, and just a warning," she paused, "Commander Reeve's is a bit out of it."

"Mm hm. Isn't that to be expected?" He was getting dressed, trying to get his pants on as quickly as possible.

"Yes, but the docs feel like something is off."

"Off?" Not something he wanted to hear.

"It's hard to describe… Just get down here as soon as you can." Shen said. "I may be gone before you get here."

"Alright. See you guys in a bit."

Bradford finished getting himself dressed and headed to the infirmary as fast as he could. His mind raced. What did Shen mean by Jynn was a bit out of it? He remembered the doctors telling him she would most likely be disoriented whenever she would awaken. But with how Shen sounded, it had him worried. Hopefully, it wasn't complications from the chip removal.

As he arrived outside the infirmary, he had to take a moment to calm himself.

"Stay positive."

With a calmer mind, he entered the infirmary and headed over to where they had been keeping the Commander. He froze for a moment when he saw her. She was awake. All the doctors and their assistants were pouring over her. Another battery of tests.

Yet, he saw what Shen meant by "off". Just from his quick observations, he could tell Jynn wasn't responding to the doctors, as they poked and prodded at her. To him, it looked like she was spacing out. Like her mind was somewhere else.

"Central. Bradford." Dr. Tygan noticed him. But Bradford didn't hear. "John."

"He's finally here?" Dr. Tyler looked away from the computer she was on. Those red-tinted glasses of hers were hanging halfway off of her face.

Hearing his name being called snapped him back to reality. "Doctors." He nodded in their direction before going over to him. "How is she doing?"

"She's doing fine." Tygan's eyes were half fixed on his datapad. "All her vitals signs are positive."

"Minus the… lack of response currently going on." Tyler returned to typing. "Concerning for now."

"Good." Bradford nodded. He sighed, hearing what Tyler said next.

"Though most of the mental and physical tests have been positive." Tygan's expression shifted to a disappointed glare, all directed at Tyler. He let Bradford take a quick look at some of the test information on the pad.

"Hey! It is what it is!"

"Most?" He had to question that.

"As you observed as you came in, she's not exactly talking and her mind seems to be somewhere else."

"Right, I noticed that." Bradford shook his head. He held back a sigh. "Any clue why she's like this?"

"Possibly temporary after effects after removing the chip." Tygan theorized.

"Or her flatlining repeated the first few days we pried her out." Tyler butted in.

Bradford grimaced at the mere mention of that. Sometimes, he wished Tyler would temper her words.

"Possibly shock from being removed from that suit. Shock from being thrown into a whole new world, unfamiliar to her mind," Tygan gestured to everything around them, "it has been 20 years for her."

"Right." Bradford liked Tygan's theory more than the possible brain damage from that chip being removed and flatlining.

Bradford asked both of them a few more questions and listened to the various results and theories they had to say. He kept his eyes focused on Jynn as the other doctors continued to pour over her. He watched as they tended over the empty shell, oblivious to the world around her. His heart ached seeing his close friend in such a state. Was there any trace of the old her after what the aliens had done?

He pushed the negative thoughts to the back of his mind for the time being. Feeling like he heard enough of what both of them had to say, he cleared his throat.

"Getting a bit too deep in your science for me, Tygan and Tyler." Bradford shook his head.

"Sorry, but you did ask." Tygan smirked. Tyler laughed.

"Right, right." He shook his head.

"Anyway…," the central officer paused, hesitant to put his thoughts into action, "is it alright if I try to talk to her?" He asked. "Try to get a response out of her?"

Tygan thought for a moment. He tapped at his lips and nodded his head. "Hmm, perhaps…" He headed over to where Jynn was being treated.

"Perhaps what, doctor?" Bradford hated when he would walk off in the middle of talking.

"Perhaps talking with someone she is familiar with can help out of this state." The doctor continued. "Help ease her from the shock of the chip and suit removal."

"You sure about that?" Tyler looked up from the computer. Nose scrunched and lips pursed. "Don't think that's a great idea right now."

"Yes." He looked at her with hooded eyes, lips slightly drawn back into a frown. "Come." He gestured for Bradford to follow him.

"Fine. I'll make a record of this and the reactions."

Once he and Bradford were where Jynn was, Tygan instructed the doctors to quickly finish up the current test they were doing to give her a slight break.

"So talking to her may be a good thing." Bradford somewhat mumbled. He was happy that Tygan seemed to like his idea.

"But…" Tygan paused. Eyes intensely studying the shell before them.

"But what?" He didn't like the pause in the doctor's voice.

"Are her memories of the past still intact?" Tygan turned to face Bradford. "Would she still remember you?"

There was always a catch.

Bradford was about to speak, but he stopped. His jaw went slack. The question stunned him. He hadn't thought about that. And the doctor had a point. He had changed a lot over those 20 years; had been through hell and back several times. He hated to think that there was the possibility that Jynn had forgotten about him, or worse… The possibility the aliens had tampered with her memories.

"From what I've read from the previous XCOM personnel files and what you shared with me about your past, you have gone through a lot and changed quite a lot." Tygan continued.

Bradford lowered his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he let out a heavy sigh. Something else he didn't want to hear. It never crossed his mind that she wouldn't even recognize him because of the time gap.

"Well, let's hope she remembers something." There was still hope in his heart that there was still something in the shell before them.

Once the doctors finished their task, Tygan gestured for Bradford to go over to her. Bradford was hesitant at first, but took steps toward her before sitting down next to her.

He glanced at her. Not a single flinch, no hint of acknowledgment. Her mind was still off somewhere else. He bit his lip. What to say to grab her attention?

"Hey…" He raised his hand, placing it gently on her shoulder. "Reeves." He called her by her last name.

She didn't flinch. Still no acknowledgment.

"Commander Reeves." He said firmly. Maybe adding her title would help.

Still no response.

"Commander Reeves." He said once again, this time gently gripping her shoulder.

Again, no response from this ghostly shell.

He held back a sigh. What to do now?

Say her name. Somewhere deep in his mind told him.

"Already have." He thought back.

Her full name, you idiot. His inner voice sneered back.

"… Didn't think about that."

Because you didn't want to. It hurts thinking about it.

"Right, right." Bradford sighed mentally.

Go back, way back

,

to see if that triggers her memories.

He sighed once more. It wouldn't hurt to try.

"Jynn Gresham Reeves." He spoke her full name. "Commander Jynn Gresham Reeves." He had to add her title. "Born in 1976, November 25, on Thanksgiving Day, if I remember correctly." He didn't know why he added that, but it felt right to say it. "Born to General Johannes G. Reeves and his wife Mali Isi Reeves."

He continued talking about a few other things, bringing up her younger brother Charles, and then a little about how the two meet. Tygan was silently taking notes on the information, information that he could tell Bradford had been withholding. He would add it to the logs later, but keep most of it private. Didn't need to get in trouble for "unwanted commentary" again.

Bradford continued to talk until he felt like he said all there was to say. Still, Jynn was silent and stiff as stone.

"Dammit, please say something." He cursed under his breath. Was it all for nothing?

"Mm…" A mutter came from Jynn's lips.

That caught both Tygan's and Bradford's attention. Bradford's grip on her shoulder reflexively tightened.

"Mm…" She croaked a bit, her head bobbed a bit. What would she say?

Bradford was dying to know.

She continued to mutter and croak out words, but nothing passable. She raised her hand to her throat and rubbed it.

Noticing that, Tygan quickly went to fetch some water for her.

"Hmm…" She raised her head, eyes squinting because of the light. Her eyes glanced about, taking in the odd surroundings. A medical lab of sorts, familiar and unfamiliar all at once. Then her eyes fell on the two, the man in the lab coat coming back with a bottle of water. And then the man sitting next to her in a commando-styled sweater. Face grizzled and tired, yet he looked familiar to her.

"Hmm…" She croaked again, smacking her lips as her mind slowly processed the information.

"Here." Tygan handed the bottle to Bradford.

"Smart thinking." He took the bottle from him and quickly opened it. He gently pressed the bottle to her lips, tipping it slightly. "Drink."

Her eyes focused on him for a moment before switching the bottle. It seemed like she didn't hear until the cool liquid touched her lips and that was it. At first, she took a sip, then another, and another before she wrapped her hands around the bottle and downed it.

"Easy now! Easy!" Bradford wasn't expecting her to just snatch the bottle from him and was surprised by how she quickly downed it.

She let out a few coughs once she finished before looking at him once more.

Bradford was a bit too busy trying to pry the now-empty bottle from her hands. "Must have been thirsty." He grumbled once he got it from her oddly firm grip. But was that a good sign?

"I'll go get another." Tygan said.

"That's a smart idea. Might as well get a bit of food for her to eat." He added.

"B-B-Brad… ford…" Jynn's voice croaked.

Both Tygan and Bradford froze in their tracks, nearly dropping what was in their hands.

"What did you say?" Bradford asked.

She cleared her voice and tried to speak once more. "B-Bradfo..rd?" Her voice was hoarse as a desert and trembled with each syllable. It hurt to speak. "Jo-oohn?" She raised a shaky hand to touch his face. Specifically, that deep vertical scar running down his right cheek. "You…lo-ok…d-diffe-r-rent."

He was stunned by what she said. She said his name, more or less. She recognized him. Tears formed as she touched his face. He was quick to wipe them away and let out a chuckle. "Yeah, I look different, Commander."

"How? Why?" She asked. Her hand gently traced his features. New and old. That scar on his face and the stubble weren't there before, from what she remembered.

Bradford glanced at Tygan, who gave him a so-so gesture. "It's a long story, Comman— Jynn…" He shook his head. Remember her name right now, not title. "It would be best if we told you when you're doing better."

"We?" She glanced at what she assumed was the doctor.

"Yes, again it's a long story, but this is Dr. Richard Tygan." He gestured to the doctor. Tygan nodded in response. "And Dr. Airi Tyler over there." He gestured to the redhead across the room, busy at the computer. Tyler gave a half-hearted wave, too invested in typing.

"Hm…" She took note before looking back at Bradford. "Where… am I?"

"Aboard the Avenger, again, it's a long story Jynn." He wished he could tell her more, but it was best until they waited.

"Avenger? What… about the base? Main HQ?"

"It's…" He hesitated for a moment. Should he? "It's gone, Jynn."

"Gone?" That didn't sound right.

"John…" That frantic typing stopped as Tyler looked up. Concern was on her face as she mouthed "don't". Even Tygan was shaking his head "no".

"Again… it's a long story. A very long story." Bradford stated.

"We do not want to overload you with too much new information, Reeves." Tygan added.

She looked at the two before looking back at the ground as her mind slowly processed the information.

"Hmm…. Hmm." She mumbled, smacking her lips a few times before looking at Bradford. "We lost… didn't we?" Her mind quickly pieced that together. The memories of that day were faint but slowly coming back.

Bradford's eyes lit up. He couldn't believe how quickly she figured that out. So her mind wasn't fully gone. The shock disappeared to a somber look.

Should I? He thought for a moment. But he started to nod as a sigh escaped his lips. "Yes."

"John…" Tyler said again. Voice more stressed than before.

"I-I was captured… wasn't I?" Another faint memory. She looked away.

"Yes." He nodded again, ignoring the doctor's concern. It couldn't hurt to tell, to let her know.

"How long?" She looked at him again.

Bradford looked away from her. He didn't want to say. Not yet.

"Don't!" Tyler raised her voice. She was getting up from her chair.

"I think it would be best if we stop here." Tygan's eyes noticed a change in Jynn's vitals..

"How long?" She raised her voice, slightly croaking. The caginess of the doctors made her want to know.

"20…" He paused. "20 years…" He told her. Part of him wanted her to know now.

An exasperated sigh came from Tyler as she rushed over, fumbling with her glasses. Tygan was already signaling the other doctors to get sedatives prepared.

"20… years?" She didn't believe him at first.

"Yes, 20 years…"

Her eyes lit up, shocked by what he said. 20 years. Captured for 20 long years. Now she understood why they wanted to wait to tell her some things. Her mind and heart raced at this revelation.

"Bradford…" Tygan grumbled. He wished he hadn't answered her. He stepped aside to let Tyler take over.

"If she flat lines, so help me…" Tyler growled, shooting Bradford a nasty glare.

"Sorry." Bradford gruffly replied. He turned his attention back to Jynn, who looked utterly shocked and terrified. He shouldn't have listened to his gut. "Calm down." He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. It surprised him with how much she was trembling.

Jynn drew her knees to her chest, slowly curling up on herself. She wasn't taking the news too well.

It took combined work from all the doctors and Bradford to calm her down. They quickly learned moving him away to let them have space to work made things worse. But once she was calm, she was already asleep. That brief panic attack tired her out.

"Let us try to hold back on telling her information like that until she's better. "Tyler said in a very disgruntled tone. She was shooting Bradford a glare as she jotted down Jynn's current state.

"Yes, let's." Tygan nodded. "We'll have to wait for a better time to inform her. Even then, it needs to be in pieces."

"Sorry." Bradford returned the glare. "Didn't think she would react like that." He sighed. A quick glance at Jynn made his heartache. He let his emotions get the best of him. "How long until she's better?"

"Depends on how quickly she rebounds mentally and physically, but I can see about a few weeks or less for her mentally with something Tyler, Dr. Marin, and Dr. Veer are whipping up. But several weeks to a few months for her physically." Tygan explained.

"Great, great." Bradford grumbled. He wondered what the treatment would. Had to be some advanced psychotherapy with Dr. Veer being involved and something psionic-related with Dr. Marin. "At least that's better than nothing."

"Right." Tygan nodded.

"Hopefully, your frequent visits won't disrupt things." Tyler grumbled.

"I get it. I'll keep my mouth shut." Bradford rolled his eyes. Sometimes he wished Tyler would speak her thoughts so freely. "Keep me posted on her health. Both of you.."

"Will do."

Before leaving, Bradford went over to Jynn once more. He hoped she was resting well. He gently placed his hand on Jynn's shoulder.

"Welcome back, Commander." He smiled.

With that, Bradford headed off to the Mess Hall. He was hungry and knew he wouldn't be getting sleep anytime soon after that. A thought crossed his mind. It tempted him. Telling him to stop at the bar and get a drink. A quick taste wouldn't hurt. But he knew it was best if he didn't. It would be the quickest way to spiral and end up with Dr. Veer and her lovely talks.

After a quick bite to eat, he headed to the nerve center of the ship to see if anything new was happening.

Within a week and a half, Jynn's mental state was at a level Tygan and Veer felt like they could start telling her about what had happened and how the world had changed. They let Bradford handle the task, since she was most comfortable around him. It wasn't a fun task as there were many negative reactions to what he told her, but thankfully, no more serious panic attacks.

The next week, she could stand on her own and stomach a few things. After a few more health tests, they decided they could move her to the quarters they prepared for her so she could have more privacy. Bradford let her know she could look at the ship's computer to catch up on things while he wasn't around and busy elsewhere.

He had to handle the crew's doubts about the Commander. And some unsavory comments about her being the "walking dead." Even with the good news of her recovery going well, a good chunk of the crew doubted she was as special as he and a few others said she was.

He especially hated having to talk to Volk. Their friendship went far back, all the way to the Old World, but the man's skepticism could be something else. Bradford was thankful that the Reapers helped with tracking her down; which was its own special mess, getting them to play nice with Betos and her Skirmishers with the info they had.

At least the Templars were the least troublesome of the three factions so far. However, that was because of their secretive nature. He hadn't been in contact with them for a while after the information they supplied them and the Skirmishers.

"We are waiting for the right time to reveal ourselves. But you have our promise, we are with you." He recalled that phrase Jeriah, one liaison from the Templars, would tell him during their sparse video chats. Just what were they waiting for?

"Agree with Volk on how he views them to a point. Psionics." Bradford mumbled to himself. At the moment, he was updating the logs. "At least their psionics are on our side. Just hope to meet their leader soon."

"Hm?" A notification popped up on his screen. A reminder for a meeting with Volk later in the evening. He closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Volk." The grumbled tone of his voice told that he wasn't in the mood to even think of that future chat. He wasn't looking forward to the chat.

Setting up another meeting between the Reapers and Skirmishers was proving to be a headache. And he was getting annoyed with Volk voicing his doubts about the Commander's recovery — as Bradford felt it was fair he kept him, Betos, and Jeriah in the loop with all they did — and if she would be what they needed to win this war. Somehow Betos was more optimistic. He wondered how the leader of the Templars felt. Hopefully, he could get in contact with them again.

"Have to get in contact with Jeriah and give him an update." Bradford muttered.

But a sigh slipped out. Would Jynn recover?

He hated to admit it, but he had his doubts. He hoped, he prayed, they weren't true.