Art of Defiance [Discontinued]

I: Guardian of the Underground

The Art of Defiance

© 2014 EncoreDeZiza 

All Rights Reserved

The Art of Defiance

I: Guardian of the Underground.

+++

“Your wounds were more severe than anyone knew.”

She scoffed, swinging her legs over the side of the table and snatching her coat, “Obviously not. I feel fine, I’m operating fine.” Keeping her eyes leveled with his, she shook her limbs pointedly, stuffing her arms through her sleeves, “See?”

His jaw locked, eyes desperate for her patience. But they both knew she wouldn’t settle, she was Hazel Joa Riley, leader of Arizona’s primary team. She hardly had time for humane affairs. She jerked the jacket forwards, unable to relax until the fabric settled perfectly across her shoulders. “Miss Riley,” The doctor pleaded, taking a frantic step forward, an attempt to capture just a sliver of her fleeting attention. Yet another effort wasted as she occupied herself with her confiscated weaponry. “Take a seat, there’s something you should know.” 

She rolled her eyes, testing the blade of a dagger before turning from her stash, eyes dulled as they focused on the doctor. He swallowed, his nerves getting the best of him- left without an answer, her mind leaped to the most likely explanation.“If she’s dead, I’d prefer you didn’t tell me.” His forehead creased, brows furrowing in confusion.“What then?”

He hesitated, gesturing towards the chair, causing her arms to fold across her chest. With a sigh, he stuffed his hands into his pockets, “On very rare occasion, we’ll get an order to protect a particular agent at all costs.” She waited. “You were one of those agents.”

She watched the road, her road, come to a gradual halt. The driver craning his head to speak to the security. Hazel’s attention, however, never strayed from the road ahead, twisting and spiraling, winding and plunging on and on and on. Her eyes raked over the large, concealing gate, gut dropping as she contemplated the possibilities. A new agency, new colleagues, new roommates, new leaders- a bit much for someone who didn’t favor change, yeah? The driver’s head pulled into the cab just in time for the gates to give one last protestant scream before jerking open, rusted, vintage, hell. 

She didn’t make a single noise the entire trip, mouth wired shut, eyes roaming the vast and foreign space. “You’ll keep in touch, miss Riley, yes?” Her head snapped towards her driver, lips rolling into her mouth as she contemplated his offer. Then again, it was never her decision, or so she’d been told. The Hazel Riley she’d once known and semi tolerated was dead and gone, according to the United States government, and any one else, had you asked, would deny she’d ever existed. Ah, the perks of a hero.

Taring her gaze from his, she let her being tense, goosebumps gracing her flesh as she glanced about the populated yard. These kids.. From here, nothing looked different. But she’d been in this business long enough to know better. “Sorry Schdmit,” She whispered, closing her eyes as the car came to a gentle halt, her halt. “But the minute I walk through those doors, I no longer exist.”

They remained silent, his regular talk show quietly humming in the background. “Well it was nice knowin ya, Hazel Joa.”

She grinned, turning in her seat and giving him one last signature smirk, “Look after the kid for me, yeah?” He gave a stiff nod. One she didn’t return, instead, she turned at the waist, and with a cautious breath, shoved the door open. The minute the soul of her boot ground into the dirt was the second she transformed, the old her gone, vanquished by government command, and this new one... Well, she supposed it was time to recreate herself. But only if she got to be twice as fun.