Hydra Heart

Chapter Thirty-One

Chapter 31: I'm a Butcher

Banner was seething. Another Kit I need to take care of. I'll have to have director Kevin do research and conduct preventative measures as soon as possible. FUCK!

He decided to personally investigate the breakout scene. THEY CLIMBED THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN RANGE?! HOW DID THEY NOT KNOW ABOUT THE PAVED FUCKING ROAD LEADING HERE!? OR DID THEY JUST OUTSMART THAT?

He stumbled across something odd in the lot next to the road. Two flat, white sticks that looked to be made out of plastic, or something like it. He knelt down to pick them up. Instantly, he felt the connection.

Stand your ground.

On a spiritually spurred hunch, he placed the tiny white boards on the bottoms of his shoes. He took a stance and held it. With both of his feet planted, he felt unstoppable, invulnerable.

"Hey, grunt!" He called.

"Who, me?" One of his guards answered.

"Yeah. Shoot me."

"What?"

"Are you defying orders?"

The soldier shook her head. She aimed her rifle hesitantly. Banner nodded encouragement. She fired a shot, which was followed by a nervous silence.

Hmph. Barely felt it. Things were beginning to look up. Banner turned around and left the complex with a smile on his face. My Kit's name is Terra Firma.

--

The extraction process took two weeks. The group returned to the organization base weary, yet triumphant. In the necessary communications, no one mentioned Violet's existence, so when they got back, some explanations had to be made.

"Man, you guys really do have that family resemblance," Shay commented.

"Really?" Violet asked. "Because she's adopted."

"What?" Shay asked.

"How do you think I was supposed to have a secret family if you could see my daughter sticking out of me."

"... Yuck." Shay said.

They evaded the traps on the walk in, and Molly knocked on the door. Ozzy opened it a moment later.

"Welcome back Molly," he said the next name with distaste. "Vesta... Shay, Violet... Violet?!" He stared at her and stumbled back through the doorframe. The four entered.

Violet drew near to him, causing palpable fear. She grabbed his shoulders and clamped down. "Ozzy... Answer this for me..."

He gulped.

"Do I look older, or what? You are the only one who might remember."

"Not a day over thirty, ma'am."

"Splendid. Anyway, give me my job back."

"Or what?"

The aging, physically unfit woman said, "I will beat your ass."

Vesta chimed in, "Do you want me to...?" She reached into her third gun pocket and gave a questioning look.

"No, he will give it back. Peacefully. I was elected to the position, you know." So, Ozzy did. They went to his office so he could clear his things out. "One more thing," Violet requested. "Go get your Kit back."

"What?"

"You heard me," she insisted. "I know why you lost it, and you do too. Go and earn your place in this organization again. Look..." She drew him close and put an arm on his shoulder. "Those kids down in the lobby do not know why you are here, but I know. I have not forgotten who you are: a ferocious fighter, someone courageous, even heroic. It hurts me to see you like this." She said the last sentence with a sincerity that cut through Ozzy.