'My blood,' she said.
'If you're the cure for this, then there's no time like now to find out if it's true,' Kit said.
Evie hesitated as she held the needles in her hand. 'I can't,' she said. 'This isn't a sterile location and what if it makes you worse?' She asked.
Kit coughed again and was too weak to argue. Her face had become deathly pale and Evie had a sudden memory of when she was back in Volt. All the times she had sat in a chair with needles in her. She had gone through that willingly and she couldn't let Kit die without at least trying.
She sat next to Kit and prepared the transfusion. She felt pain as she let blood flow from out of her and into Kit's wrist. She held her hand, Kit had gone quiet now and Evie was certain that it wasn't going to work. She tied off the transfusion and bandaged up the wounded area and waited.
Kit was still for what felt like an age. Evie looked down the highway, they were completely alone, and the night sky hung over them, the stars shone brightly but offered little comfort. Kit's leg twitched first and Evie rested a hand on her knee, trying to comfort her but soon Kit's seizure spread throughout her body before she fell limp.
'Kit?' Evie asked quietly, after a moment when she lay still. Her eyes opened and turned to Evie. 'Did it work?' She asked. Kit reached out her hand and Evie helped her sit. Kit looked at her like she was unsure of where she was. 'Kit?'
'I...' Kit started. A loud ringing tore through her head and she grasped onto it as it felt like it was going to explode. Evie tried to help her when she heard crackling over the radio. They had forgotten about it after it had fallen silent since they had left the Stacks and she ran to it.
'Hello?' She asked.
There was a voice over the radio waves but she couldn't hear them through the static. 'Is anyone there?' She asked as she knelt over Kit.
Evie then heard the sound of a helicopter over them and heard trucks approaching quickly in the distance. Panic struck her and she dropped the radio and quickly wrapped Kit's arm around her.
'We gotta go,' she said.
'No,' Kit managed to croak.
'If we don't, you're going to die, and I think Hawk's caught up with us,' she said.
'Not Hawk,' Kit said as she rested against the passenger seat.
Evie looked out at the trucks and the helicopter. They didn't belong to Volt. The FSA had found them.
The soldiers had swarmed around them. Evie got out of the truck and shielded Kit from them, she drew Kit's gun and aimed it at them.
'Don't move,' she said and the soldiers stopped, looking at each other with some confusion. They weren't Armistice Guards, but it didn't mean that they were friendly.
'Slow down there little one,' one of the soldiers said. He was wearing a different colored uniform, looked a little older and his expression was soft, concerned. 'We're here to help,' he said.
'During a newly declared war?' Evie asked.
'She asked for us,' the man said, indicating to Kit.
Evie quickly looked back at Kit. 'How?' She asked.
'I'll explain, but she needs help,' he said. 'That's why we're here. We're from Fort Isa.'
Evie felt her guard lower a little. 'Who are you?' She asked.
'William Evans,' he replied. 'I'm in charge of the unit at Fort Isa and a long ally of Katarina's,' he said.
'It's true,' Kit said as she placed a hand on Evie's shoulder. She could barely stand and Evie caught her as she fell.
Evie didn't want to let them help, her instinct was telling her she shouldn't trust them. She looked at Kit, saw her pale face and felt her limp body. 'Help her,' she said. Evans nodded to his men and they rushed forward. Two of them scooped Kit up onto a stretcher and hurried her into the helicopter.
'I'm going with her,' Evie said.
'Of course,' Evans said and ushered her to the helicopter. Evie took a seat next to Kit's bed and Kit grabbed her hand as they took off to the army base.
When they landed, Evan's rushed Kit to the medical unit and ordered her into a surgical room. Evie stopped when the door was closed in her face.
'What are they doing to her?' She asked.
'She needs a transfusion,' Evans told her.
'I gave her one,' Evie said.
Evans looked at her surprised. 'Out on the road?' He asked.
Evie looked at him. 'Desperate times,' she said.
'Her blood is complicated,' Evans said. 'It can't always be cured by a transfusion from one blood source,' he said. Evie wondered if he needed to know what Rook's machine had taught them but thought it would be too much of a risk.
'You've worked with her before?' Evie asked.
'After she left the Shard,' Evans said. 'She was only with us briefly before setting up her own unit in the Stacks, but she was one of the best soldiers I ever had. Even for a mutant.'
Evie looked at him and he saw the steel in her eyes. 'Relax kid,' he said. 'We all have a little mutant in us. Here you're among allies.'
'How do you know I'm mutant?' Evie asked.
'I have the ability to sense things about people,' Evans said and Evie gave him a quizzical look. 'I can detect powers in people, often when they can't see them themselves. It helps when it comes to recruiting people.'
'I still don't like the idea of her going in for surgery,' Evie told him. 'She grew up being experimented on, when she finds out she might not be able to handle it.'
'I wouldn't underestimate her,' Evans said. 'Plus, we're helping her, not hurting her,' he said. 'You can view the surgery if it'll help put your mind at ease?' He offered.
Evie thought for a moment, then decided that she couldn't stomach the thought of seeing someone operate on Kit. 'I think I'll wait here and rest,' she said.
'I think I can arrange something that's more comfortable,' Evans told her.
He led her out to the central area of the military unit where she saw a large building that looked like it belonged in the Nox Prefecture. When she walked inside she saw levels of the building surrounding them. The walls were pristine white and a robot rolled over to her.
'Greetings to Fort Isa neighborhood housing,' it said in a musical tone. 'How may I be of service today?'
'We have a new guest Alfred,' Evans told the robot.
'Alfred?' Evie asked. The persona-less camera looked at her.
'Yes, I am Alfred, welcome Evelyn,' he said.
'How does he know my name?' Evelyn asked.
'I scanned you,' Alfred replied. 'Your vitals tell me you are lacking in sleep, have some wounds which require medical attention and haven't eaten in two days.'
'That's impressive,' Evelyn said.
'Thank you,' Alfred replied. 'If you would like I can tell you more of what I learnt?'
Evelyn looked at the robot skeptically, she had come across robots in Volt but they were all pre-programmed, none were given a personality, let alone given names like Alfred. 'Go ahead,' Evie said as she folded her arms. 'I've always been curious about the advancement of robotics.'
'You are age thirty-one, female, attracted to women over men and weigh 140 pounds,' Alfred said.
'Okay, that's enough,' Evie said, suddenly embarrassed by how personal the conversation quickly turned. Evans tried to hide a snigger. 'And it's 135 pounds thank you very much.'
'I can give you the data if you'd like to dispute my findings,' Alfred said.
'I think if you can just show Evelyn to a room where she can rest, that will be enough,' Evans said, deciding it was best to interrupt.
'Of course, follow me,' Alfred said and turned around on his wheels and headed forward. 'Here at Fort Isa Institute, you will be offered a range of services designed for your comfort, when you are refreshed you can have something to eat in our dining hall before taking in recreational activities for the evening.'
Evie looked around her at the expansive interiors. 'Is this a hotel?' She asked.
'In part,' Evans said. 'It's housing for our troops. It's somewhere to relax when the opportunity provides, and where we
can conduct research,' he said.
'Research?' Evie asked as they followed Alfred into an elevator.
'Please hold onto a railing,' Alfred instructed. 'Your ears may pop as we ascend the building.'
'Genetics mostly,' Evans said. 'We're trying to find a way to help mutants, as you can attest, learning you have abilities can be challenging, and here we want to equip those who Volt have modified with the tools they need to control what's been given to them.'
Evie felt her stomach lurch suddenly as the elevator shot upwards. Within seconds they had arrived at their level and were following Alfred down a corridor that was for people's apartments. 'That's how you know Kit,' Evie said.
'She came to us after her escape, she couldn't control her abilities until we helped her,' Evans told him. 'But she had been in institutions her whole life and we weren't right for her.'
'We aim to have our services be the pleasure of everyone who stays here,' Alfred said and stopped outside a room numbered 513. 'This will be your room,' he said. 'I hope it's of utmost comfort.'
The door swiped opened and Evie stepped inside to a luxurious studio apartment. There was a large window overlooking the city, the usual amenities she would expect but hadn't seen in days and when her eyes saw the large bed on a raised platform, she suddenly felt exhaustion hit her as she longed for the comfort that was in front of her.
'This wasn't quite what I was expecting,' she said.
'You're a friend of Kit's,' Evans said. 'It's the least we can do.'
'Correction,' Alfred said. 'She's a lover of Kit's, and it's more than what we can do.'
Evie swatted the back of the robot's head. 'You need to be programmed with a filter,' she said.
Evans laughed. 'It's part of his charm,' he said. 'But I'm glad to hear that Kit has found someone. I'll let you get some rest, Alfred will show you everything you need and come and collect you when Kit is out of surgery.'
'Will she be out long?' Evie asked.
'A couple of hours,' Evans said. 'Rest up and I'll see you soon,' he said and left her alone in the room with the quirky robot.
'So, Alfie,' she said mockingly. 'What exactly did Kit do that let me end up in a place like this?' She asked.
'That is simple,' Alfred said. 'Would you like to watch a video?' He asked.
She looked at him curiously and he wheeled over to the large window. He pushed some buttons on the keypad and the window changed to a screen. 'I can program the video to start when you are ready,' he said.
'Thank you,' Evie said.
'Video programmed to start in forty-five minutes,' he said. 'I shall collect you upon Commander Evans' instructions,' he said and rolled towards the door leaving her alone in the room.
Evie walked around the apartment carefully. Alfred had programmed the screen to play gentle music until the video started. Evie headed to the bathroom, grateful to find there was a shower. She pulled her clothes from her, sweat mixed with blood and dirt. When she stepped in the shower, the water hit her at full force, and she struggled to breathe as the steam swarmed around her. It quickly passed and soon she could see clean skin again and felt the last few days wash away from her and swirl down the drain.
She dressed in a soft robe, conscious she was wearing nothing underneath. She pushed opened the keypad for the screen and pressed play. An image flickered up on the screen which read Fort Isa Institute it flashed away to a gray room and Evie saw a younger version of Kit sitting at a table. She looked so different, vulnerable almost. Evie walked over to the screen, and she reached out to touch the screen for a moment thinking she might be able to touch her.
'What's your name?' A voice off camera asked.
'Katarina Valletta, but most people call me Kit.'
'Where were you born?'
'Ruby Prefecture, Volt, lab 220.'
'What brought you here?'
'I escaped from a government facility that was creating super soldiers,' she said.
'Are you one of them? A super soldier?'
'I was raised to be one,' Kit replied. 'But when they discovered that I had mutant powers the experiments began.'
Evie knew most of this, at least in parts, but hearing Kit describe it so bluntly made her feel uneasy. She had been part of those experiments, she had played her parts with testing prisoners. Now she finally saw the consequences.
'What do you dream of?' The person asked.
Kit was quiet at this question for a moment. 'Finding my family,' she said. 'My mother was taken from us a year ago and sent to a camp, we've not been able to get word about her but it's likely she's been killed. My father...my father tried to escape with me but was captured. I believe he's still alive.'
'What makes you think your father's alive when you also believe that your mother is dead?' The interviewer asked.
Kit was quiet for a moment as she thought. Evie was captivated, Kit had never spoken about her family to her, and she hadn't known any of this. 'Because my father was the strong one,' she said. 'He was the one who led the family, who bonded us together even though we all knew there was no direct blood relation, he made us a family and made sure we survived. My mother, she had her strengths but she was human, she wouldn't have been able to survive the camps.' Kit was quiet, but she didn't cry for her loss.
'That's an awful lot for a sixteen-year-old to dream of,' the interviewer said, it was as though they weren't sure what else to say.
'When I was in Volt, before I escaped, I dreamt of freedom, to live beyond a wired fence and free from someone else's rules. I dreamt of a day of being free of the scientist’s experiments. Now that I've broken free, I want answers, I want to know why we were created, what happened to my family and why this nation has become so screwed up,' she said and then paused. 'I don't blame the scientists for what they did,' she continued. 'They were all part of Volt's system, and they were victims as well. They just perhaps know it.'
'You don't blame them for making you this way?' The voice asked.
'No,' Kit said. 'If anything, they've given me something that makes me unique, something that can make me valuable in an army that goes against the government of the Empire. Maybe one day I'll be able to get answers from one of them, but for now, they've helped me become a weapon against Galen and her government.'
The video flickered off and Evie sat quietly in the room. Kit had been created to end the Empire. That had been the reason why she was created, why she had been the first who had been allowed to escape. She was the one who could end it all. Evie sat back on her bed, she wanted to help Kit, to stand next to her in the fight they were about to embark on and in that moment she greeted the sense of freedom with everything she had.
* * *
Chapter Nineteen
THE SOFTNESS OF THE bed lulled Evie into a quick sleep from the moment she rested her head on the pillow. She sunk her body into the sheets, and let the blanket curl around her, embracing the comfort that she realized she had missed so deeply. In her dreams, she saw faces mostly, Jack, Kit, Cara. The faces contorted and changed to Hawk. The piercing blue shot through her and Evie's eyes flew open and she took a moment to remember where she was and she felt energized to do something.
Unable to fall back asleep, Evie dressed in black pants, a gray singlet and braided her hair. She pulled on the metallic band she had been left and swiped herself out of the apartment and began to wander around the expansive building. She reached the elevator she had been in just hours before and a computer system lit up with a robotic face.
'Good evening Ms Fox,' it said. 'Where can I take you today?'
Evie thought for a moment, then her stomach rumbled. 'Is there somewhere I can eat?' She asked.
'Of course,' the machine replied. 'Please step inside, and I will take you to the main cafeteria. Your access band is loaded with meal options for you to use.'
Evie looked down at the band as she stepped inside the elevator. 'That's efficient,' she said.
'Life at Fort Isa Institute is about being as efficien
t as we can be for our people,' the machine said.
The elevator whooshed and Evie was grateful it lasted only a moment before the doors opened. 'Have a good day,' the computer chimed.
'Thank you,' Evie replied, as she walked into the large cafeteria. Numerous soldiers were on rest duty, having meals and sharing jokes with one another. She walked into the room not quite sure what she should do but quickly found a line that looked like it was for food and joined it, trying not to draw attention to herself. She walked along the line holding a tray in front of her, surrounded by soldiers. She sensed people watching her, knowing she wasn't one of them, that she was someone new. Evie was grateful when she reached the head of the line and was able to figure out the menu options and punched in her selection.
'Swipe your access card,' the computer said and produced a blue electric panel. Evie waved the wrist band in front of it and it chimed. 'Enjoy your meal Ms Fox,' the machine said. She found an empty table on the edge of the room and set down her tray. After two days of not eating; pasta and chicken with chocolate pudding looked almost divine.
As she ate her meal, she looked at the soldiers and became intrigued when she saw them using a black metal tube. As she watched, she saw them push a button, and a holographic screen shimmered into view. It was interactive and she could see them talking to other people through it. They had communication channels, Evie felt a rush of excitement and quickly finished her meal and headed back to her room.
She looked through her drawers, certain she had seen one of the metallic tubes and had disregarded it. She eventually found it in the top drawer of the dresser and saw an instruction manual underneath. As Evie flipped through it, she saw she might be able to use it to contact Jack, Lil and Rook. She opened the main page and saw a login page. She tried to swipe her access card, thinking it would work but it was unresponsive. There was nothing available to tell her how to get past the main screen.
There was a knock on her door. 'You have a visitor,' a voice overhead told her.
Evie looked up to the voice skeptically but filtered out the response. The door opened and Evie saw Evans walk through, someone was with him in a wheelchair and as they came round the corner, Evie completely forgot what she was doing when she saw he had brought Kit with him, who was being pushed by Alfred.
Rogue (Convergence Series Book 1) Page 20