Hello! So sorry for the long wait, I had lost my muse on this one and suddenly found it again. I'm not sure if anyone is still reading this but I'll post as many chapters as I can create, so enjoy! I also updated/corrected the other chapters so they flow better, will watch for that in the future.

(Sophia's POV)

I walked into the link room, catching a few looks of shock. I was never allowed in here during missions. The shocked looks only grow as they look at their charts, ready to call me out and find my name staring back at them. I glance at the ground, stopping just outside the room.

"What's the matter Sophia, I thought you'd be happy with this." I glance at Grace, watching her slide off her lab coat and hang it on a hook at the door "Don't tell me you're actually nervous?"

"Back off Augustine." A gruff voice snarls from the left, I see Quaritch leaning against the door, receiving just as many looks as I had. He ignores everyone, simply smiling as I run over to him.

"What are you doing here?" I ask softly, happy to see him before I left.

"Well since this is your first time off the base I thought a gift was in order. I wanted to give it to you earlier but you beat me to the punch." I smile softly as he points to the growing shiner on his face.

I look at the small box in his hands and look around, seeing the other scientists, hatred in their eyes. Only Max seems to be fine, simply curious about the gift.

I look back at Quaritch slowly "Well come on kid, I don't have all day." he teases. I take the gift, pulling the white ribbon off carefully.

The box felt almost empty in my grasp but inside was a treasure. I place the lid on the bottom and reach in, pulling out the thin metal chain. Two metal dog tags clang together at the bottom "happy birthday Sophia."

I feel my smile grow, placing the tags in my hand. Sophia Marie Augustine Quaritch. 24736. Military and science division. My eyes fall back to the second name.

"Augustine Quaritch?" I whisper hopefully and watch a small blush slide across his face, his voice was softer then I'd ever hear it before.

"Remember when I said if I had a daughter, I'd hope she'd be half as good as you? Well, I've been thinking about it a lot these last few years and..." He looks to the left with what I'd dare say was fear on his face "I was hoping to make it official." his eyes find mine once more "If that's alright with you?"

"Yes!" I state. Almost too enthusiastically as Grace was standing not even seven feet from me but I couldn't ignore the happiness that bloomed in my chest "Are you kidding?!" I whisper excitedly "I'd love that!"

He smiles, sending a small look Graces way before his hand moves, resting on my head softly "The adoption papers arrived on the last shuttle, we can sign them together when you get back."

I suck in a shaky breath, trying to hold back my tears and nod, pulling the man in for a tight hug. To my surprise Quaritch hugs me back, face buried in my hair. When I pull back he smiles, placing the tags over my shoulders.

"Alright, if you're done disturbing the peace, get out of my link center Ranger Rick. We leave in ten minutes."

He smirks, straightening my tags once more and turns, walking out. I smile, placing my hand on my tags before slipping them under my shirt and pause when every face is on me.

Everyone just stands there, staring at me silently. Thankfully Jake and Norm walk in, both pausing in the tense atmosphere.

"What?" Jake asks, seeming to snap everyone out of their stupor.

Grace blinks, shaking her head twice as the previous energy returns "Alright people, lets link up!"

I turn, catching Max's face. I knew he was happy for me but even a blind man could see his smile didn't reach the usual height. I try to ignore the confused looks Jake sends me and pull open link five.

Max comes over, doing a last minute check and I find myself holding back the tears "Hey...you didn't do anything wrong Sophia," his hand rests on my arm as a few tears spill down my cheeks "It was just a bit of a shock, everyone will come around, I promise."

I pull the metal scanner down, smiling the best I could "Yeah... thanks Max."

The quiet pop of air muffled other sounds and I shut my eyes.

..
..

I stepped into the large helicopter, trying to shake off the negative feelings from before and send Trudy a smile.

"Holy shit, he was serious!" she chuckles "I thought they'd never let you out of that place."

I reach forward, letting her bump my fist as we do our signature handshake, not missing Jake's snort of amusement from my left.

"So this is what the front of the base looks like."

"Yeah girl, magical huh?" she snorts, waving her hands around.

We both jump as Grace drops a heavy container into the floor of the chopper "Can we get a move on, were losing precious daylight."

"Sophia you're in the front with me -Grace, norm and Jake are in the back." Trudy yells into the earpiece as she turns on the large turbines.

I slide into the front seat, my legs hanging out the door and clip my seatbelt on. Norm pulls off his pack, placing it by his feet and moves to the farthest seat, allowing Jake and Grace to climb on. I place my hand down, trying to steady my nerves and feel the metal of my gun. I look down at the large Glock, a second gift from Qua- my father. That and the large hunting knife strapped to my back sent a comforting pulse to my body and for once Grace's glare from the backseat didn't seem so harsh. I didn't like bringing fire power into the forest but the weapon seemed to calm my nerves, a failsafe should things go wrong.

My eyes lift to the sky, the noise getting louder as the turbines picked up speed "Alright, here we go." Trudy states, pulling a few levers down. I grab the top of the chopper, feeling it tilt to the left slightly before evening out. We rose up, higher into the air, clearing over the large walls that had been my home and feel tears rim my eyes. The daunting walls looked so small from up here.

The forest was exactly like I'd imagined and not at the same time. The vibrant blues and greens echoed the sky above and I couldn't help the tears that rimmed my eyes. For so long I had been on the outside and now, I was stepping foot into the inner circle. I feel a hand on mine and see trinity, a soft smile on her face. I smile, wiping a tear away and look around, missing her hand as it moves back to her equipment. I could feel my mother eyeing me, her face mixed with emotions. As exciting as this was for me I knew she was worried, worried this might push me closer or further from her. The metal tags on my neck felt heavy, so heavy I could feel them in avatar mode.

I leaned my head back, resting it on the side of the helicopter, every so often the turbulence would cause me to hit the metal a bit harshly but I laid there, trying to focus my emotions.

My left wrist vibrates. I look down at the small wrist communicator.

It was Max.

-Calm down, everyone is here for you.- M

-I can't, Grace is so close- S

-Then think about what you want for your birthday. -M

-I have everything I could ever ask for.- S

-Yeah, like that stops me from getting you something every year.- M
my watch buzzes again
-You may be Quaritch's daughter now but we all know I'm still your favorite- M

I snort loudly, blushing as Trudy glances my way.

-Yeah? Try telling him that- S

-Thanks, but I'm rather fond of living- M

..
..

"Stay here." Grace states "one trigger happy moron is enough."

I don't miss the snort of amusement from Jake or the look from the guard. Lyle Wainfleet, one of my fathers trusted subordinates and close friends, was a buff man, hair shaved short with many tattoos and a large frame but to us, even my smaller avatar he paled in comparison.

He taps his earpiece, connecting with me only "Quaritch told me to stay by your side."

I look him up and down "He also told me to trust my instincts and mine are telling me that even with that gun and fancy training sheer will is the only thing stopping Grace from folding you up like a balloon animal and stuffing you in the glove compartment." My eyes flicker to Grace, the head scientist was staring daggers at us from her position a few feet away.

"Let's go Sophia!"

I turn back to him "I'll be fine, if he asks I'll say you never left my side." I send him a wink and see him sigh, aiming his gun around the eerily quiet forest.

Trudy snorts from the front, leaning back in her seat comfortably as I send her a mock salute.

I send a grin to Jake as we both walk, Grace and Norm had already left.

"So what's your deal?" Jake grins "You have graces DNA but the way Quaritch talks about you and the added security that wants an update every minute tells me you're important to him."

I grin "oh come on, a girls got to have some secrets."

I step over a thick root, my Glock shining in the light.

"You shoot?"

I smirk, motioning for his gun, flick off the safety and aim at a dead branch about ten feet above us. I shoot once, watching the branch spin twice and fall beside us. Jake watching my movements whistles in approval.

"Damn, make a guy look bad why don't ya."

I flick the safety up and hand him the gun back "All in a days work." I move, grabbing my blade and after slicing away the dead parts of the long branch move, stabbing the ground seven times and drag the dirt back "I mean not to brag or anything but I've been shooting since I was six. I'm pretty sure I'm the best shot on the base."

Jake kneels down beside me, more amused then anything but helps me pull back more dirt. After I have enough I put the twig in the ground, packing the earth around it. I couldn't help but smile as I do, the soil was like velvet in my hands, soft, rich and cool to the touch. Jake pats the small circle gently as I pour some water from the canteen.

"Okay." I can't help but feel self-conscious under his gaze.

"... What?"

"I can see a bit of Grace too." He smirks softly.

"Oh how dare you." I elbow him once as we stand, cleaning the blade on my pant leg and sheath it.

After a few minutes we meet up with grace and Norm, the two of them talking science lingo that went way over jakes head.

"See the neurons? How fast they travel?"

"Oh my god…" he gasps, my eyes flickering to the screen and the rapid fire energy currents.

I see Jake shift, already looking around for anything but this.

This time I smirk "I assume you didn't get along with your brother very well huh?"

"Tommy?"

"No your other brother."

Despite the rudeness of my statement Jake smiles, id learned two days ago that as long as you weren't disrespecting his brother or his sacrifice Jake could take it just as well as he dished it out.

"Oh that one, right." He leans over, hand hiding his lips "We don't talk about Jared…" his hand spins beside his head "Went a bit crazy and we had to lock him in the basement."

"Wow really? I think we'd get along great then. Two peas in a locked pod."

This time Jake elbows me "Tommy and I were very close as kids but as we finished grade eight it was pretty clear that our expertise were in different fields." He looks at his gun "I always felt comfortable looking a bully in the face and he felt at home in a lab." He lowers the gun slightly "when he had the chance to take this flight he reached out three years ago, but I wish I'd done it sooner ya know? We missed so much…"

"The people we love are always with us." I say softly, a hand on his arm.

"I hope so, cuz making smart decisions isn't exactly my strong suit." He chuckles but I don't miss the pain still lingering.

I look up, seeing Grace and Norm completely absorbed in their work and sigh "Hey, come on. I want to show you something."

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