Uranium ➵ The Old Guard

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The struggle to get into a wheelchair was a little too much. Even though Nathaniel had lost his feet, he would still go see Aleandra's grave.

As Sacha wheeled him out to the van, Nathaniel was very much aware of the ghost at the end of his leg. Though there was nothing there, he still flexed his muscles as if to take a step. It throbbed, perhaps it was too soon after having them cut off, and his shin spasmed in response.

Sacha pushed up the ramp into the back of the van and slammed the door after locking Nathaniel in. Nathaniel now waited, staring straight ahead through the windshield. The foggy gray exterior did nothing to lighten his mood and neither did Sacha's grumpy face as he took the driver's seat.

"You wanted to see your girlfriend, huh?" he said as the van started. Nathaniel shrugged.

"Not exactly my girlfriend. She would've punched me if I had said that." Sacha scoffed. Nathaniel looked out the window. "It's not like you don't have anyone you love."

"I told you to forget about that," Sacha said defensively. "What we discuss in the breakroom never leaves. I don't think I'll be seeing you there anymore though."

"I will be replaced," Nathaniel stated. Sacha nodded.

"But I'll always keep you in mind," he said. Nathaniel gave a light smile at that.

They drove silently through the countryside. The ground was covered in snow, but not so much that it could stay for more than a week. It melted as Sacha drove like they were watching time itself speed up.

Sacha eventually slowed down, turning onto a gravel road. Sacha stopped the car and unloaded Nathaniel. He pushed him to where Aleandra was buried.

"It's a shame she didn't get a proper funeral," Nathaniel remarked. Sacha hummed in response.

The clearing came into view but as Nathaniel was wheeled closer he realized.

"What happened?"

-

"Andy you maniac. Where were you?" Joe exclaimed.

Andy continued walking, setting her things down on the bed. She gave a huff and threw down her jacket.

"She's left that woman alone," Booker said, glowering from a chair.

"Booker, now is not the time," Andy argued. "Aleandra Dimitrov will be fine without us. For a while at least. She's free now, she can do what she wants. I'm going to let her live the rest of life while she still can."

"She needs to be guided."

"She'll be here sooner than you think. She'll want to say goodbye properly to her family."

"Since when can you make that decision?"

"I'm giving her the chance to leave when she wants."

"You've left her defenseless!"

Andy scoffed. "She's not defenseless.  Besides, if she says goodbye now then we won't have a repeat of last time."

Booker went silent.

Andy knew what had happened, had experienced it herself. Truth was she wasn't exactly sure why she let Aleandra go. Booker was right. Andy wouldn't ever admit it though. She was the leader, she had to be right.

Andy heard Booker leave. Dramatic as always.

"Andy," Joe started, "do you really think it was a good call to leave her?" He sat on the bed next to her.

"I'm not sure, Joe. She found me and I just didn't think it was fair."

"She found you? How?" Nicky asked.

"Probably just stumbled into me, but she still had the upper hand. She seemed to already have accepted it."

"Are you sure?"

"No."

-

Aleandra had died 3 times. Or was it four? More?

She knew well enough that that wasn't normal. Maybe Nathaniel could come up with an idea for her quick recovery after the accident, but Aleandra might as well consider herself a corpse.

The air was crisp, stinging her eyes slightly as she squinted out into the Russian wilderness. The sun was beginning to set. It was only April so freezing was unlikely, but the cold could still get Aleandra if she wasn't careful.

She refused to go back to the old man's house, to her grave. There must be something or somebody else around. So she walked through the trees, further and further away from where she had come.

It would be good for her. Good to leave. Especially Wisteria and Co, nothing there was any good whatsoever. But she does know what she will miss: Natasha, her Babushka, discovering new properties, eating warm bread, Nathaniel.

Nathaniel had made an impression on Aleandra. She had not shared any bit about what she could do, kept such a big secret from him, and he still offered her compassion and friendship. Aleandra wondered if he was still living or if he was able to keep his life. What did she do to deserve to live when he couldn't?

Aleandra should be dead. Dead with the rest that worked at Kuchatov-77. There was no reason she should be allowed to live. For life was meant to be experienced and Aleandra simply observed. Her ability should have been given to another.

She was a damned soul. But deep in her cold heart, she knew she would find other damned and that maybe she could figure it all out.