Drifters: The First Generation

8

November 17, 2018
APG, Maryland
9:52 a.m.

Tamira woke with a start. The last thing she remembered was dropping the knife as Maximiano beat her to death; not the easiest scene to wake up from. She grimaced at the memory, immediately regretting flinching as pain radiated throughout her face. She gasped and gripped the edge of the bed in a stone grip. Then, she noticed the hospital gown. She gazed around at the small medical room, noticing the plethora of IVs stuck in her. Moving her fingers and toes, she realized there was minimal pain in her body besides the stiffness of laying in that bed for god knows how long.

She laid back, enjoying the slight rush from the painkillers. The good news was she was safe, for now. She wondered how long it would be until Maximiano found her again. Anxiety began to thrum in her chest. The door opened, one woman in a lab coat stepping through. The woman was slender and blonde with sharp features. She edged closer.

Tam noticed the woman carried an air of arrogance faintly lingering underneath the surface, not unlike Maximiano. This made Tamira wary of her. Upon looking into her frosty blue eyes, she recognized the look of loneliness that Tam saw in the mirror sometimes. This made Tam think she wasn’t that bad a judge of character. Still, something about the doctor made Tam uneasy. She shifted, raising into a sitting position.

The blonde doctor took a seat next to the bed in the single chair there. “Hello, Tamira. My name is Dr. Edith Frost. I don’t think it would be wise to speak in your condition, so I brought along a tablet to make it easier for you.”

Dr. Frost placed a tablet in Tam’s lap, already set up on a notepad. Tam kept her mouth shut and tried not to move her face so much. Edith didn’t waste time. “Alright. Do you remember anything that happened before you got here?”

Tam typed her response on the tablet. My husband tried to kill me, not the first time. 

Edith nodded casually, as if this wasn’t her first rodeo with domestic abuse. “Yes, he banged you up pretty badly. Many bones have been broken in your face, which is why it is painful to make an expression or speak. When I found you, you were on the verge of dying in an alleyway somewhere in Cuba.”

Doesn’t surprise me, Tam thought to herself. Then, something else dawned on her. You found me?

Edith nodded again, clasping her hands in her lap professionally. “Yes, I’m the one who found you and brought you here to this facility. You see, you’re in America. Maryland, to be exact.”

The words facility and America danced in Tam’s head, making her dizzy with all the circles created. Tam was suspicious that the name of the hospital hadn't been mentioned. Is this a hospital?

Edith shook her head. Anxiety crawled under Tamira's skin as she started to wonder where the hell she had woken up. "Don't worry, though." Said the doctor. "You are on a military base called the Aberdeen Proving Ground. We may not have surgeons in our midst but we have many resources at our disposal. I am a doctor of science, but I have enough medical knowledge to treat you with medicine. As for the physical rehabilitation, I called in a facial reconstruction surgeon to get you fixed up. He should arrive by tomorrow at the earliest."

Tam felt weird that she hadn't noticed she had been kidnapped in the middle of the night, but something about the facility and this doctor excited her. She was far away from Maximiano's control here, in a secure military base not even Maximiano could break into. She felt a weight fall from her shoulders. Another idea occurred to Tam. Why am I here?

"I am compiling people together for a special team of soldiers. I call it the Servare Agency. Servare is Latin for 'save the day', which is an appropriate title considering that is exactly what I'm trying to do." Edith answered. 

You had to kidnap me to do that? Tamira typed, getting angry. 

"Well, your former situation wasn't exactly paradise. Are you saying you want to go back?" 

No. Tamira typed firmly. Nothing would ever inspire Tam to go back to that place. What do I need to do?

Edith smiled. "Well, first you have to go through an operation. The operation will equip you with the powers most suited to you and the abilities you already have. Considering your current injuries, however, we will have to focus on those first."

Only one thing stuck out to Tam in Edith's explanation. What do you mean by powers? 

"Powers as in super. The Servare Agency will be a team of genetically engineered superheroes made from my serum, which is 100% patented and operational on humans." Edith replied. 

Something about the operation didn’t sit right with Tam. The thought seemed nice, but who in the world now wanted to make a difference for a good reason? Tam knew the rarities of genuine compassion. How do I know you’re not lying?

Edith seemed hurt in her expression. “I have nothing to hide. What I’m doing is for the world. There’s too much evil happening, right under our noses. I am growing tired of staring into the face of the Earth’s corruption. Don’t you want to turn your life around and do some good? Wouldn’t you want to not feel powerless at the hands of terrible men?”

Tamira looked away. The doctor had seen right through to her flaws, almost as if by magic. It seemed like Edith knew more than she was putting on. Everything about this seemed wrong to Tam. Why me?

“Why not you? You’re strong and independent. I know how men have treated you all your life and yet, here you are, unabridged and accounted for. What you’ve survived is seen as unimaginable in these parts of the world. I know what your father and your husband did to you. They tried to break you, but from what I’ve seen, it appears they will have to try harder than that. That is an immensely admirable trait and one of great power.” Edith answered eloquently.

Tam still felt unsure of this, but what other choice did she have? She certainly didn’t have any better options. At least here she could make a name for herself and not have to be chained to the names of other men. Besides, there was something exciting about being a superhero. Set in her decision, she typed her reply. I’ll do anything.

Edith smiled. “Great. I’ll get started on setting you up. For now, all you have to do is rest.” She placed a remote beside Tam’s hand. “For the TV, in case you get bored. I imagine you’re hungry. I’ll have someone bring you something from the cafeteria. Is there anything else you need?”

No, thank you. 

“Okay, I’ll be back to check in later.” Edith replied, going to the door and turning back. “Tamira, it’s a pleasure to have you onboard. You and I will do great things.”

As soon as she left, Tamira exited out of the notepad and went to maps. From there, she found her exact location and the location of Maximiano’s place. Quietly, she began to plan their reunion.