Project Jamboree

Chapter Two

-Cole's PoV-

Over the next few weeks, she'd progressed further and faster than anyone had expected.

Natasha was a natural.

She had nearly mastered her abilities and the art of fighting, as well as the ability to convey every thought in her mind with a single look.

Her attacks weren't as ruthless as they could be, but if she got worked up or angry, she was so violent I doubted the Viper could beat her.

If anyone doesn't know the Viper, count yourselves lucky.

Vida the Viper was a blue haired young woman with a perfect track record. She was a seventeen year old blue, with remarkable control of her abilities and nearly undefeated in the training ring.

She was also incredibly rude and violent. She was known for irritating everyone she met- if she didn't kill them first.

And strangely enough, she got along with Natasha.

Whether it was the fact that Natasha never argued with her or that they just understood each other, I didn't know.

But they had a way of communicating with glances and twitches, as well as gestures. Vida only spoke four words to her.

I believe they were, "Natasha, right? I'm Vida."

Besides, with Vida, if you put up with the violent behavior and she didn't kill you, you'd ever have a more loyal friend.

Right at that moment, Vida and Natasha were sparring. It was quite funny how different they were. Vida's short, electric blue hair and tanned skin against Natasha's frizzy red hair and pale skin.

Then, I was nearly sick as I remembered the reason her skin was so pale. Never being allowed outside for seven years.

"Natasha!" I shouted down to her, "Nat!"

She looked up at me and smiled, climbing the stairs to the next floor up. She hadn't said a word to me, or anyone else, since the day we brought her in.

And she didn't write things down either. She just communicated using looks and sometimes versions of sign language.

On the other hand, it would make stealth Ops incredibly easy, with the hand signals and quietness.

"I need to talk to you," I said quietly, "And I may need you to respond."

She shook her head.

"You've been doing well at training," I commented.

She gave me a look to say, That's not going to make me talk.

"Why don't you talk?" I asked pointlessly, "It only hurts you. Whatever you're afraid of, you're just letting whatever it win."

"I- I'm not- n- not af- afraid," she stumbled over the words she needed before repeating, "I'm not afraid."

I was somewhat shocked, but asked, "Then why don't you talk?"

Natasha gave the words careful consideration before she said, "Because I don't know what to say."

I sat down at one of the chairs at the aide of the hall, which was empty at this time of the morning.

"I'm going on a deep cover Op," I said quietly, "At Leda Corp."

"No," she replied without a moment's hesitation.

I sighed, "I have to-"

"No," she said, eyes darting around the hallway, "Danger. No."

"It's for research," I explained, "It's so I can find the cause of the IAAN and a cure."

Natasha shook her head, her next words coming out in a jumble, "Jamboree. Danger. Grey. Snowfall. Leda. No. Danger. Psi. Guard. Jamboree. Pain. Danger. Camp."

She started twitching more violently, at which point I grabbed her shoulders, "Nat- Natasha, look at me."

Eventually, she stopped moving and stopped talking. I waited for her eyes to settle as I said, "Take a deep breath. Think about what you want to say."

After a moment, she said, "They'll take you to Project Jamboree."

"I won't get caught. Why do you worry?" I asked, though it seemed like that may be the extent of how much she was willing to speak.

Natasha twitched a couple of times before looking down the hall and back. That time, it wasn't her red twitch. It was her checking no one was coming.

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't. I've done Ops like this before. They think I'm too old to be a Psi," I reminded her, "And I won't get caught."

Natasha did the unexpected. She pulled me into a hug and squeezed tight, as if that alone could keep me here.

She was still a fraction of my size, despite a few weeks of proper food, but she was strong.

"Nat. Can't. Breathe," I choked out, at which point she released me, eyes darting around.

Then, I added, "You'll be joining Cate's unit. With Vida."

She smiled slightly.

"I'm not pressuring you or anything," I said, "But if you could maybe just try to talk to someone."

"What do I say?" Natasha asked quietly.

I smiled, "Whatever you have to. Keep training."

She jumped in my way before I could go grab my bag and head out, "When- when will you be back?"

"In a few months," I told her, "Depends on how smart I am."

She jumped up to punch my shoulder before saying, "Be careful."

I nodded, grabbed my gear, and started walking down the Tube to get to my transport.

And out of the corner of my eye, I could've sworn Natasha cried.

-Natasha's PoV-

No. I was too tough to cry.

Why was this obnoxious little droplet of water so insistent on coming out of my eye?

Cole was going to be fine. He had done Ops like this before. He'd never been caught.

But if he did get caught, the League wouldn't break him out. No. He wouldn't get caught.

I let those thoughts repeat themselves as I went back down to train with Vida. He wouldn't get caught.

"All good?" Vida asked, seemingly a little bit more concerned than normal.

I nodded and raised my fists to a defensive position.

Vida smirked, "You should really go on the offensive more often, little mouse."

I gave her a look that she understood perfectly. The fire that glowed in my palm reflected in my eyes as I advanced towards her.

In a split second, she was down on her back, laughing as I stood over her, helping her up. I tilted my head so she knew what I asked.

And Vida replied, "You're right. You're not a mouse."

For a moment, I feared she would define me as a red, and my subconscious fear of being a monster took over.

But then she smiled wickedly as she swept my feet out from under me, "You're a lion."