II: The Girl Who Ran: Little Monsters

IX: Her Little Monsters

     The plane took off, and Tatiana waved at it. It disappeared into the great white of Siberia. Tatiana turned and started walking toward a cave in the distance. She crossed her arms and shivered. Her thin hoodie was not enough to shield her from the wind. Although her knee screamed in protest, she started running, cotton white snow disappearing under her feet. Tatiana could barely see the frosty clouds of breath in front of her face in the snow.
 
   Tatiana slowed as the cave came closer and closer, breathing in burning air. To be shielded from the wind was an amazing respite. She stomped her feet, listening to the wind for a moment. The door was already open, and she slipped in a long with the wind. It seemed like she could still hear the screams echoing through the halls. So many screams.

     She shook her head, trying to focus. She walked down the stairs, listening for something. Anything, really. All she heard was the drip-drop of melting snow. She crept along passageways to the cryo chamber, her feet silent. She looked around the corner, surveying the corridor.

     Air fanned across the back of her neck. A breath. How hard someone gotten behind her without her hearing? She swung around, hands up, poised to strike. There was no one. She shook her head again.

     She continued forward, trying to relax her shoulders. Her own words floated around her, 'If you're tense, you can't fight as well. You'll jump at shadows and try to fight walls.'

     She reached the chamber and scanned it for movement. There. Near one of the frosty yellow glass cases. A man, about six feet tall. From the back, Tatiana could tell he was a colonel, he had the ramrod straight posture of a soldier. The man turned his head, and could see his profile against the case. "You can come out. I've been expecting you for some time."

     Tatiana straightened and walked forward until she saw what he was holding. A handgun. Ah, stupid! How could she come in here unarmed! "You have?"

     He still didn't face her, but she could see the details of his face in the dim light. She didn't have the words to describe it. It was handsome, certainly, but in a mournful way. He held up a file with his other hand, "I read about what they did to you. And to the other Soldiers as well, but what they did to you... horrendous. I am, quite frankly, surprised you are still in a sane mental state."

     Tatiana smiled, "Whoever told you I was sane?" Just because she never let her little monsters out to play, didn't mean they weren't there.

     Helmut turned around, finally facing Tatiana. His eyes were a shiny hazel, "They destroyed everything that mattered, Soldier. They killed my father and my wife. My son, my only child."

     Tatiana nodded, "I know, I lost several good friends. I attended the memorial. But listen to someone who has been there, you can not use a power you can not contain to get back at the Avengers."

     Helmut's brow furrowed. Then he spat, "You think I'm going to use the Soldiers to kill the Avengers? No, no, no. I'm going to destroy the Soldiers. I have a much better idea for tearing apart the Avengers." He pressed a button and the case slid open. She knew she should stop him, but she also knew raw grieving when she saw it. This would give him some finality. As for the Avengers, they had just tried to kill Snowy. Why should she care what happened to them as long as Snowy and Steven were left alive?

     Helmut walked in, raised the gun, and pulled the trigger. He did that four more times, moving from case to case. She didn't lift a finger to stop him. She watched, leaning against a hunk of machinery. When he finally closed the last case, she asked, softly, "Are you finished?"

     Helmut jumped, as if he'd forgotten she was there, "Are you going to try to stop me, Soldier?"

     Tatiana lifted her hands, "Absolutely not. I am here to make sure my personal interests are assured."

     Helmut tilted his head, stroking his chin. Then he stopped, and a light came on in his eyes. "James? Well, I apologize for having to use him so cruelly in Berlin, but it was necessary."

     "I am not blaming you, Helmut. As long as he is not hurt, you can go your own way. And by the way, there is a control and observation room back there," she motioned to a door in the corner of the chamber, "if you do not want to be caught in the open."

     Helmut dipped his head, "Thank you, Soldier."

     Tatiana nodded back, "Good luck in your affairs." She searched for the records hall, turning her back on Helmut while he went to the control room.