Drifters: The First Generation

6

April 26, 2019
APG, Maryland
3:13 a.m.

Dr. Edith Frost stared out the second-story window of the U.S. Army headquarters of the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The roads were empty, soldiers asleep in their barracks. Light wind whipped the trees scattered around the parking lot into shape. The moon glittered over the ocean at the far edge of the base. Tops of tanker ships lined the backdrop of the trees. Such a still night, for what was to come. 

A slight creak was heard as the door behind Edith opened further. She didn’t have to look to know who it was. “They’ll be here shortly.”

Tamira Diaz had let her hair down, it framed her face in sinuate waves, her bangs falling to either side. She was wearing a matching red satin pajama set, a gift from the doctor upon Tam’s arrival to the base. Tam fiddled with the buttons on the front as a bubble of nerves formed in her stomach. Tam felt a mixture of excitement and fear of the new arrival to the team. The doctor hadn’t been vocal about the person, only to Jamie, who had been sent to retrieve the ‘subject’. Tam went to stand beside the doctor, watching the outside streets for any sign of disturbance. “Where are they coming from?”

“Iraq.” Edith said evenly. Tam was surprised that she had answered, everything before this moment was a vague hypothesis. Edith had a way of choosing her answers wisely, Tam had known this since she had met her four months ago. 

Tam turned her head sharply to study the doctor with narrowed eyes. “The terrorist country? What the hell could you possibly be looking for there?”

The doctor glanced at Tam nonchalantly before turning back to the window to search the devoid pavements. “A soldier, a survivor. Much like you and Jamie.”

Tam crossed her arms and kept her eyes on the world outside, waiting for their impending arrival. “Well, this had better be good.”

A moment after Tam spoke, a blue light emanated from within the trees. The radius of the glow was about three feet in width, shadowed by the branches and leaves of surrounding evergreens. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared. With Tam’s new and improved night vision due to the operation, she could see small shapes wandering through the woods. 

Edith formed an ecstatic grin and glimpsed at Tamira with an expression of pride and happiness. She took Tamira’s hands in hers. “Let’s welcome home the new neighbors.”

Tamira trailed behind Edith as they crept downstairs and out of the front doors. Tam kept a steady eye on Edith’s back, watching the swish of her blonde locks as they brushed against her shoulders. The white of her lab coat contrasted against the dark night sky. Tam shivered as a cool breeze swept through, rifling her curls. They walked to the edge of the parking lot, near the edge of the line of trees.

Tam could make out Jamie’s figure, rushing through the trees at a quick pace. As he broke through the edge of the forest, he fell to his knees and the figure at his shoulder dropped to the ground. Jamie’s shirt was covered in blood, stretching down to his pant leg. Tam ran over in concern, quickly checking Jamie for injuries. “Where are you hurt?”

Jamie shook his head. “Not me, her.”

The doctor came over and inspected the girl in question. She wore a ripped and stained burka, the hood had fallen off to reveal her dark hair straying from her ponytail. Her forehead was covered in sweat and her eyes moved frequently behind her closed eyelids. A bullet hole was pouring blood from her side. “Jamie, help me get her inside. She’s fading.”

Jamie pulled himself up and draped one of the girl’s arms around his shoulder while the doctor grabbed the other. Tam hurried ahead of them to open the door. They pulled the girl inside, blood trailing on the speckled concrete floors of the main area. Tam charged ahead to open the door to the lab, where Jamie and the doctor laid the woman out on the table in the center of the room. Quickly, the doctor grabbed a tool that resembled long tweezers and started digging into the bullet hole in the girl’s side. The girl woke up, disoriented, and began swinging at the doctor, who had to duck her attacks while retrieving the bullet from her side. Tam rushed over and held the girl’s arms down. She whispered in the girl’s ear, using her powers to calm her down. The girl stopped fighting immediately and the doctor was able to pull the bullet out. The doctor stepped away from the table and gestured to Jamie.