➢𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗢𝗥𝗦➢

『  𝐓  𝐇  𝐄     𝐄  𝐅  𝐅   𝐈  𝐂   𝐈   𝐄   𝐍   𝐓   𝐒  』

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟏 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟑: 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

『 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐜: 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐫𝐞𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞, 𝐃𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭'𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤. 』

𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭©

𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭©

𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐲... 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭©

-𝚂𝙴𝙿𝚃𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟷𝟺𝚃𝙷, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟹-

𝙻𝙾𝙽𝙳𝙾𝙽, 𝚄.𝙺.

Inside a pink-walled bedroom, two ten-year-old children spend time together while a farewell party occurs downstairs.

One shows off their remarkable abilities, the other in awe, "That... was awesome."

"It could be, but it doesn't matter... Everyone's afraid of me."

"...I'm not afraid of you."

I'm not afraid of you.

He wasn't. Not that day and not right now, when they stand across from one another in a drugstore inside the city of London―seeing each other for the first time in five years.

Seeing the change in height, deepened voice, eighteen years old, their reunion is anything but hateful or maliced.

Unlike one occurring that same amount ago...

Nonetheless, the indistinct voices and memories that come flooding back shortly fizzle out when the reality is thrust forward again, in place. After thinking he was dead, but seeing him right in front of her very sea-foam green eyes, with her sea-foam green eyes... Danielle Rockland greets Matthew Framingham with a gaped expression of pure shock.

 "... Matthew?"

His lip lifts up to a smile, and the best friend of the enhanced teenager inhales before speaking again, "Hey, Dan."

She swallows thickly, tears no doubt surfacing to the top of her eye sockets but the girl runs into the arms of the taller boy before any can fall, and Matthew's arms come around Dani as he holds onto her tightly―squeezing her body as much as she had done with his. 

He is able to feel every ounce of pain, grief, anguish, and something else behind the embrace, though most of all still... surprised, that this is actually real life right now.

That her best friend who lives in New York has traveled ALL the way to London in the U.K. during a time like this... how?

They stay in one another's arms for a while, both truly needing the type of comfort from someone familiar, somebody they trust.

Someone Dani trusts, never not, and that she loves.

Who she thought was dead.

Matthew had other plans.

✰

"I took whatever money was left in my bank account for college, the funding from all those theatre scholarships I got, and hauled ass to the one place I knew you'd be. As soon as I could."

"I was actually at a rehearsal when everything happened, the... kids just started disappearing, so I ran home past all the chaos to check on my parents only to find them―not there."

"Oh, god, Matt, I'm so sorry..."

"―Then when you weren't answering your phone, I assumed the worst, though a couple of visits to the Compound and I put the pieces together that you were alive. But you left."

The features of Dani Rockland helplessly scrunch up more as she apologizes a second time, "I-I'm sorry."

"I'm sure you had your reasons," the ones of Matthew Framingham are firm as he continues retelling, the two sitting on the stoop outside the apartment of the Efficients while two opened Capri Suns stand at their sides.

He resumes his narrative, or rather, explanation of how he found his best friend, "I had hope. Hope that you were out there somewhere anyway, like... like you were too strong-willed to be just dead. You've always been like that, ever since we were kids."

"We're still kids, Matt."

"Well, little-people kids, then... and you were goddamn bossy. Still like that I see, in fact probably even more."

A small smile forms in-between both of Dani's cheeks before it falters greatly when Matthew continues talking.

Talking about her, her past, and his next words sharpen every corner of her face. Her body.

"They're really worried about you, you know, and, they want you to come home."

Before you can hear a pin drop in silence, Dani breaks it, defensively―she doesn't need any context, she knows exactly who 'they' are, "Except I can't, Matt. I just can't."

"This is my home now," she turns to the small sectioned-off building and the streets of London, and then states proudly, "I've found my calling here, where I belong―and it's with people just like me."

Now it is Matthew's turn to become defensive, and it shocks Dani quite a bit when his tone is suddenly pointed, "'People like you'? Okay, Dani, I may not be able to heal others and take away their pain, o-or know what it's like to have a sustainable energy source inside you, but I still know you better than anyone. I'm your best friend."

He too turns his head at her current predicaments and current people in her life.

The boy is honest, "And I know that you're not like them."

"You fit in, oddly enough, but you're different, and not because you were the only success... it's because of your heart. The way you were raised."

The eighteen-year-old develops a sudden bitterness to her response, "That doesn't account for anything anymore... not after 'they' lied."

"Maybe, maybe they were just doing it to protect you." Matthew tries.

Though Dani strongly counters, shivering in discomfort at this topic being spoken about, "They were doing it to protect themselves, to spare themselves from believing what really was true. It was selfish."

"Dani..." He pleads, shaking his head and not necessarily for disagreement but he is trying to diffuse any growing hatred the girl has for the two parents she STILL has, and quite frankly, honestly, "If you really knew Natasha and Steve, you'd know that statement is utter bullshit. They're not selfish, Dan, they loved you―,"

"Did they now?" Anger seeps up and out of the throat of the eighteen-year-old teenager, and Dani's voice rises along with her body off the stoop, "And you know this because you've been checking in on them? Trying to see how they are handling themselves after becoming parentless?!"

"Trying to get information from them in order to find you..." Matthew emphasizes and is startled when the door behind the two opens abruptly.

Experiment #123 pokes his head out, apologizing for the interruption to the two friends and their heated conversation, "Sorry, I heard yelling. Everything okay?"

A soft expression washes over Dani's previously tense one, and she appreciates Dante's concern, "Everything is fine. And sorry, we'll keep it down."

"Oh, there's no need. We don't care." The boy gives one more look toward Matthew affirmatively before rotating his gaze to a breathing Danielle, "When you're all done, D, could you meet me downstairs?"

A mad blush is avoided due to the current state of mind belonging to the eighteen-year-old, and the brunette simply nods gently while saying softly, "Sure."

Dante sends her a nice smile and closes the door of the apartment.

Dani begins to sit back down, but not without a slight amount of redness present on her features, and of course, her best friend does not let it slide.

"Uh, what was that?"

Dani raises her eyebrows at her friend's suspicion, "What?"

Matthew formulates a sly smile, eyes shifting as he asks in a different tone of voice from before, "... Are you guys like... dating?"

"What? Oh, no no no!" Her eyes widen in much embarrassment, though she strongly denies the claim regarding her and Dante with a very unconvincing expression, and her tone jumps up a few notches.

Matthew stares at Dani like she's insane―accurate―reacting very intuitively to her quick and skittish demeanor, and current admonished features.

"Would you stop looking at me like that?"

"Like what, like you're a liar?"

"I'm not lying!" She laughs a little, the boy raising a brow, "Look, can we please get back on track here?"

Dani works to trek back to their conversation about his sudden appearance.

"Right. So I'm bankrupt because of you."

"Matthew..."

There is a pause.

The eighteen-year-old girl looks at her hands, pretending to pick at them, "If you're here to take me back, know that's already a losing battle. Even if I could go home, who knows if they'd ever take me in again... after what I've done. How I've behaved."

The air is the only sound heard in those few moments, the ones where Matthew Framingham witnesses his best friend experience a butt-load of self-doubt, and general loss of faith in others, and he leans back with his palms flat on the ground, "You know what's really great about having a family? Unconditional love."

"That no matter where in the world you are, what has happened, those people who would so much as jump off a cliff for you, will always love you forever. No matter the stupid shit you do, arguably excusable during a time like this..."

Dani shakes her head while still gazing at the ground, "Yeah, well, I'm not so sure about that when it comes to me..."

"Why?" Matthew questions her, "Because you're not their actual daughter?"

"Because I ran away." Her voice is small and brittle.

The boy's is quite the opposite at this moment.

"So what? The world's on fucking fire right now, Dani, and you just found out some terrible, terrible shit that they kept from you... I think there can be some exceptions made here."

"Turns out it wasn't all that terrible after all, though." A tiny simper creeps into the girl's lip line, thinking subtly.

And Matthew calls her out on it, "Because of Dreamboat?"

She rolls her eyes at the nickname for Dante, and her whole body turns around when being completely honest, "I'm able to control my abilities now, Matthew. For the first time in my life I... I'm not constantly living in fear or anxiety."

"And it's all thanks to the Efficient's," Dani looks up, light eyes glancing up into the boy's brown ones, and she explains, "if I hadn't met them, God knows where I'd be right now... I owe a lot to them."

There is a lot of truth in that statement, construed through Danielle but also her human friend, who finally admits what is most certainly blatant, "You do seem to be in a much better place than before, you know, you look healthy... and you seem like your old self again, maybe even with some qualities that are new."

That grin of hers widens, thankful that someone else―who knew her before all of this―can both vouch and recognize how much better she is doing, though no matter what there will always be hesitance.

That's just who she is, and Matthew tells her to own it, "You're a good person, Dani. Don't ever question it."

Her lip threatens to trip up when looking back down, especially when the other eighteen-year-old adds, "And so are the people who raised you. You owe them a lot, too."

She bites down on her lip, pondering for a mere moment longer.

The girl brings a hand to touch his back, and when her lips part as air seeps out sudden sounds of laughter fill the air―joy in having her best friend here right now.

"Come on," she beckons him, "I want you to meet everyone else."

Matthew is right about one thing: Dani is much happier, healthier, and happier.

Finally freed from all her past demons.

✰

The apartment belonging to the Efficients is strangely quiet when Dani and Matthew come in, and it is heavily implied that all are presently occupied in doing their own thing―all except one.

Dani asks a freshly-showered and white t-shirted Marcus, "Hey, where's Dante?"

He replies with dry wit as always, his referral to the male surprising both, "Uh, 'Dreamboat' is downstairs waiting for you."

Dani and Matthew's eyes widen, shortly noticing the opened window to their right.

Marcus just smirks while folding another shirt.

"All right, well," the girl is awkward.

The boy is even more so, "So, what should I do?"

Knowing he cannot―or probably should not―tag along with his best friend, Matthew suddenly feels nervous in a tense environment with super-powered individuals. Intimidating individuals.

Hot individuals... he steals a glance at Marcus, his charisma and all very intriguing.

Dani grabs his arm, pulling him sideways as she somewhat whispers, "Why don't you, make some friends? Talk to Marcus about your love for musicals."

"He likes musicals?" A bit of excitement bubbles in his chest, but Matthew is too anxious to let it come up―he puts two and two together, "Is he gay, too?"

The girl answers him, "He's bi, but," looking in-between the two, she feels as if she's just made a match in heaven, "More or less."

She gives an encouraging smile, "Go for it."

"W-what? I―no, no way." He says flatly.

But he doesn't get a choice.

Because Dani shoves him forward roughly―enhanced strength―plus support as a doting best friend, "You two have fun now."

"Hey, wait―!"

"Later, Dr. Hot Butt."

Dr. Hot Butt. 

Curse you, Dani Rockland. Matthew Framingham scorns himself, she is supposed to be his wing-woman!

"So, uh, you-you like musicals, huh?"

The basement door closes behind a much more solemn Dani as she slowly treks down the steps, the sudden darkness giving her a hard time as she calls out, "Hello? Dante?"

Her presence seemed like a cue when the lights turn on abruptly, and an old song begins playing.

♬ 𝗖𝗨𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚: 𝗣𝘂𝘁 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗢𝗻 𝗠𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 -𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗔𝗻𝗸𝗮 ♬

It's like everything inside Dani Rockland... stops. The invisible gears circulating throughout her body furiously halt when an old swing-type of song brings a memory to the surface, one that presumably had been forgotten.

Well... not forgotten. Repressed.

A minute later the flushed features of Experiment #123 and his curly dark hair are in Dani's limelight, and a small but exhilarated smile plants itself on his face, "So, I had an idea that... well, since we've never really spent any time alone together, I wanted to do something special. Where we could just hang out."

Her entirely pale features are not noticeable yet to Dante in his proud yet shy explanation, "And I remembered you saying you liked old music, so, I found this song, and, and maybe we could dance to it?"

Her breathing is heavy and uneven. 

And in the midst of her body already shutting down the girl is hit by a wave that clouds her vision with a very different setting, but a recognizable one. A sentimental one.

Dani's eyes well up. Her mouth gapes.

A brown-haired little girl with a blue bow stands atop the dress shoes of a tall blonde SuperSoldier, and his strong hands and arms lift her up and around effortlessly in the air.

The adopted child giggles loud and with glee. The Soldier wears a soft smile.

The two continue dancing around a New York Apartment with packed moving boxes and a phonogram in the background, playing a song instantly recognizable as Paul Anka's 'Put Your Head On My Shoulder'.

Eight-year-old Dani does as instructed, contentedly, and from a different point of view, Steve's broad and gingham-shirt chest rises and falls in the same amount of peace.

Eighteen-year-old Dani watches the memory vanish from her eyesight, looks still astonished, eyelids still full of tears, and her mouth quivers before her jaw returns to a more natural position. She experiences a butt-load of pain.

Dante quickly realizes something is off, and his tone shifts, "Dani?"

"I-," the dark-haired teen is left wracked from the incident, though manages to pull herself together slightly, "No, thank you."

The sharp wince that goes through Dante is unavoidable in suppressing, "Oh, okay... uh, was it something I did?"

Dani bites her lip, dismissing the near-to-panic then traceable in the nineteen year old's voice.

 "No, no," she reassures, though it is clear something has shaken her, "It's just..."

There's no use in hiding it, she's not like that anyway, especially with how much she already has opened up to Dante about.

 She trusts him, she's comfortable with him... just very uncomfortable right now, "Uh..."

He steps closer, eyes big and brown looking at her with much worry, concern, and care.

 Dani reminds herself to speak, "That song, and uh, the dancing, I... I used to do that with my..."

She hesitates, though that only brings on more agony and Dante can tell when he sees a tear slide down her cheek.

It seems Dani herself has had a revelation of all the pent-up frustration and sadness that still exists inside her, that is unresolved, undeniably when the girl ultimately fails to say the name of the brave and righteous Captain who took her in years ago―raised her, loved her... Her... Dad.

"With my..."

"With..."

She can't say it. It hurts. It still hurts so bad.

After all these years, counting the ones where she had been living with Tony Stark, Dani struggles with her feelings and estranged relationship with Steve Rogers... the one who left her. Who lied.

Time has passed, a lot of it, though somehow, Dani is still not ready to face what needs to be addressed. Fixed.

She isn't ready to come home, not until or unless she is absolutely broken inside. Physically and mentally.

Not yet.

A hand reaches out and cups the left side of her cheek, thumb swiping the sole tear away and Dani blinks when making direct eye contact with a much taller Dante―whose features and expression are extremely soft. Caring.

There is still a bit of distance between them, the boy unsure of where to tread in wondering if he's hurt her feelings... if he's made her distrusting again... though a sharp and sudden gasp led by those current and protective instincts of his cause him to rip his hand away from her cheek and onto his own―and Dante starts to trill from the inside out.

Dani instantly re-focuses, "Hey, it's okay. I'm okay. It wasn't your fault, Dante. Dante!"

Her voice raises when an orange aura swirls around the Experiment's pupil and bleeds into his irises, and it's clear he is in another power struggle with his abilities. With himself.

And Dani immediately tries to comfort him, stepping forward and taking his own face in her hands. 

The two of them are close to the staircase, but Dani does not run up them for help―she can handle this.

She can ground him, and that's exactly what she does.

"Shh. Hey, it's all right, just look at me." The boy moans in physical pain from his powers, them clearly irritated and the dark-haired teenager doesn't need to look at him to know that because as soon as her hands touch his cheeks, it's like an electric spark―Danielle can feel his energy bouncing off of hers from her palms.

A bit of a more controlled and relaxed blue aura seeps from her fingertips and onto the temples of Dante's skin, and Dani rubs the tense surface in soothing circles with her fingers while also running a hand over his brow in the process.

It can't be helped... she is amazed at their connection. Their similarity, of two sustainable energy sources, as they intertwine. Something she has never experienced before.

He times his breathing with hers, in and out carefully, and thankfully, the orange fiery aura inside the boy diminishes in its ultimate threat level, and it is grateful to the anchoring coming from the icy blue inside of Experiment #124. The Success.

Dante exhales once more before shutting and reopening his eyes that are their normal brown color and now finds himself gazing into her beautiful green ones.

That are just... breathtaking.

Dani's gaze shortly finds him, and the action of them staring at one another is immaculate, unstopped.

Their faces are now much closer, inches apart, and the space between them starts to close when Dante's eyelashes flutter and his head tilts.

Dani's tilts, too.

Her mouth is moving as the boy maneuvers towards it and before anything else can happen, before they get any closer to one another―Dani moves away.

She jerks her head to the right with an amount of distrust stirring inside her, uncertainty, and still a lot of anxiety.

Dante responds to her actions awkwardly, as he was near her forehead and since then Dani has long ago stopped holding his face, and his hands are now positioned to hold hers.

To about to hold hers, in a kiss, but the brunette said no.

She said no.

Why?

"Uh..." All Dante can mutter to fill the tense silence in the room before a distinct amount of rumbling is heard from upstairs.

Better yet, outside, Dani's expression suddenly sharpens, "Did you hear that?"

He nods, and bursting through the door a millisecond later is the silhouette belonging to Kayla, her voice is frantic, "Dani? Dante?!"

"Kayla?" Dante asks.

"Guys, we think someone's outsi―"

BOOM!

A smokey-filled explosion fills the air, and all are greatly impacted as temporary ringing infects the ears of every Efficient, Success, and human being nearby. Dante tackles Dani as they both hit the ground, the initial shock stunting their protective Force Fields for a moment, though the eighteen-year-old pulls herself up to her feet.

Damage has been done to the apartment, hopefully, to nobody else. 

Hands reach out and slide up her hips and the deep voice in her ear encourages her, "Go! I'll make sure everyone's okay!"

Dani races up the rickety stairs and onto the main floor of the Efficient's building, only to find the wall across from her completely blown off―the outside evening sky left exposed, and the girl makes her way outside.

The air is contaminated with white powdery dust, definitely not smoke, and she catches a glimpse of that accusation―and resents it very much―when out of one of the clouds a bullet plunges through.

Plunges through and right into Dani Rockland's stomach.

She groans, falling to the floor helplessly as she lands on her front, and still trying to see through the debris she picks up on the outline of a gun that originally fired at her―that is held by the silhouette of a tall woman.

She wears a black jacket and white shirt, and her features become more prominent and recognizable when stepping closer. Her hair is still blonde.

A packaged needle item rolls right next to Danielle, and instantly the girl realizes it's much similar to what at some point was injected into her―in preparation for testing a drug, so Dani tries to take it.

Her arm is stepped on and broken. The individual as well possesses enhanced strength.

Dani didn't think that was possible. Well, until she remembers.

Remembers what Wanda Maximoff had warned her about, more importantly, failed to tell her about... kind of.

Her cry of pain is shushed by the woman's low sneer and almost tease, her facial features bitter, "I don't think so."

 Deborah Rockland then kneels down to an aching Dani, and with a similar evil smile and haunting tone, as always, she emits, "Hello, daughter. Miss me?"

Well, Dani cranes her neck. Shoot. This is not good.

"I bet you'd thought you'd seen the last of me."

Dani didn't bet... she'd hoped.

Goddamn past of hers, always creeping down every corner. It's like she can never ever run away from it, or escape.

Despite the lack of enthusiasm in the reunion from one, lack of speech, the blonde woman continues to talk, menacingly, "And if seeing me is a surprise, watch this."

Dani looks up, and Deborah's sea-foam green eyes that match her daughters begin to shift colors... to an even more vibrant green.

Green aura twirls around her appearance.

A ball of it flourishes into her hand, to which she promptly shoves into the apartment where shouts of protest are heard and Dani is in a state of horror.

Her mother is back.

Back with powers, like them. Ready... to take them.

They're all gonna die now. No surrender. No escape.

Deborah and the remaining FORCE executives are the hunters, the Efficient's, and Success the prey.

This even now remains a wild... wild game of survival.  

-𝐒𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟕𝐓𝐇, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑-

𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐍, 𝐔.𝐊.

❀

The evening scenery is filled with mist, and street lights all around.

Stepping into another shallow puddle, black boots trek across a street in London, eventually reaching a cemetery.

A gravesite with make-shift graves.

Wooden crosses are pegged into the ground with dirt piled on top of more than a hundred holes, and in the holes are bodies.

Bodies of no one's who would have been someone's, but they were far too young to tell.

Too young when stripped from their homes, and of their freedom.

Dani Rockland's hands bury themselves impossibly further into the pockets of her black jacket, her dark long hair resting at her sides, and the hood previously covering her face has been taken off.

She allows the occasional drops of rain to wet her hair.

Her heart is low in her stomach, the taste on her tongue metal due to the hardness of wiring her jaw shut, and the eighteen-year-old is incredibly torn in her face and in her soul―surely believing at this point, that things will never ever be better again.

They will never be normal, or the same, or, relatively okay with the severe amount of danger she and her friends now find themselves in. The Efficient's.

And Dani blames herself. For had she not been so dead-set on finding them, forcefully, she could have possibly prevented the incidents occurring afterward. 

Her mother's triumphant return was one she could have avoided, could have... by charging in there herself.

But, she couldn't. For it would be detrimental... she would die, could die.

Could have...

Still can.

Now the child is afraid. Frightened, and anxiety creeps up the spine of Danielle Rockland until it pounds atop her skin, atop her head like a stormy rain cloud―and that's when she reminds herself to breathe.

Well, she doesn't necessarily have to when a presence that comes up behind her, stands next to her, and gently, but meaningfully, intertwines their fingers together.

Dani lets the breath she was holding, out, and blinks back a tear whilst tightly gripping onto Phil Coulson's hand.

His expression is soft... kind.

So is his tone, "Are you okay?"

The girl does not respond. Dani has been asked this question by Steve, Natasha, or Tony... and she never ever lies.

This time to Phil, she does, partly, "Yes... though I'm not sure for how much longer."

Her last statement is valid, and the former Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. picks up on it, "Maybe that means it's time for you to go home, Honey."

She swallows thickly, eyes watering, but Dani keeps herself in check―refusing to cry while looking down at the unfortunate fates of the many Experiments that did not survive. The failures.

"I can't." She lies.

He understands, "Because there's something you gotta do first."

Dani falters while keeping her gaze forward, and there's an audible crack in her tone―a loss of hope, "I don't think that I can."

There's a sense that she's lost her confidence, that spark, and Phil, as he did once before with a woman who became like a daughter to him, tries to build that all back, "You've always been capable of more than you can imagine."

The teenager's gaze finally rips away to look at him, and the revived man softly acknowledges―recalling, "I was aware of that ever since I broke you out of FORCE, from the very beginning... I knew you were worth saving. That you were special."

"Not only because you were an innocent child, but an innocent child with remarkable abilities, and most of all... so much potential."

He continues, "So much growth and, and power, you... Dani, possess all of that. Believe in yourself. You should."

She gives him a tearful nod, "Thank you."

Then reality kicks back in, and Dani dismays, "But I just... I don't think I can save them all."

"Not all of us are gonna make it out of this alive."

Coulson bites down on his lip, concealing a bit of a smile, "Seems that's always the case, isn't it?"

 Dani takes a few moments to compose herself, allowing Phil to resume bestowing wisdom upon her, the amount needed and that was unable to be supplied to the eighteen-year-old by any member of her former surrogate family. Captain America or Black Widow.

Agent Coulson is there, and he tells her, "Well, then don't. Don't save your friends."

His statement comes off as a bit silly in the moment, causing Dani to nearly gawk at him, but he simply wears a smile before saying to her with intelligence―experience―and knowledge, "When times are hard, times like this, the beacon of hope that individuals turn to, doesn't have to be just a symbol, but a leader."

"Someone who will lead them."

Coulson emits, "That's you, Dani."

She is aghast, "Me?"

Phil nods, emphasizing, "You're a leader, and that doesn't have anything to do with your experimentation, but in fact, your determination."

"The fight inside you when provoked is mighty... godly."

"You are the person that no matter how many times you get knocked down, you get back up and fight, and you can instill that into other people by leading them―taking them to that light at the end of the tunnel, even if it's not that bright."

The girl starts to gain some of her fortitude back, and he insists once more, impactfully, "Don't save your friends, Danielle. Lead them..."

"Lead them."

She bites down on her lip, drying her tears, and the expression belonging to Danielle Rockland suddenly fills with the willpower to do something about the current predicaments―her friends being in danger, lives at risk.

It's just her right now, no Steve, or Natasha, and Dani is going to take matters into her own hands... and lead.

She will lead the operation that will officially end the FORCE Headquarters. For good.

But first, she must take a match to her past self. Take a burning flame to the past demons and then end them once and for all, rising to the occasion of justice and standing up from the ash.

Rising from the ashes... like a phoenix.

Before she does all that, Dani draws close to the embrace offered by Phil Coulson, and allows herself to be comforted even just a smidge by a trusted adult figure―she whispers into his jacket, again, "Thank you, Coulson."

"For everything."

He pulls away, and places both hands against her shoulder blades, looking at her much older face than when he interrogated her on the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier more than a decade ago, and he says to her, "Good luck, Danielle."

He doubts she will need it.

Little fires everywhere shortly combine into flames, scorching up the entirety of the gravesite in London, United Kingdom.

The once misty evening goes away when this happens, and a mountain of orange and yellow fire burns the underground bodies of these victims who can finally rest in peace.

Through the burning of the sight is a young woman who walks through the flaming fires completely with determination.

She is assertive in her ambitions, movements, and thanks to advice from Phil Coulson, the man who broke her free of her treacherous past—Dani Rockland goes forth to make a plan.

To lead.

First, she walks past the roused fire she created and is not affected in the least.

Because of the pieces of the Tesseract.

The sustainable energy source inside her.

That before ANYTHING, started out as one incredibly impeccable FORCEFIELD.

She could have had it all rolling in the deep...

✰

"Ow, shit!"

"Sorry! Just hold still, would you?"

"Kind of hard to hold still when there's a piece of wood lodged into my head!"

"Well, if you weren't such a baby..."

Kayla and Jackson's squabbling is abruptly cut off when the sounds of someone entering their disheveled home spring a chorus of voices.

"Dani!"

"Are you all right?"

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Why do you smell like smoke?"

She is bombarded by questions, and initially, the girl is silently discomfited until a gentle hand touches her shoulder.

"Hey, you okay?" It's Dante, and from behind him are the Efficients plus Matthew, who are all lost.

Some were injured, though mostly lost in the aftermath of the attack imposed on them. To the only place that they ever called home, together.

Dani finally speaks when the hand that Dante has placed on her is removed, and her voice is strong, yet soft, "We have to fight back."

"What?"

She is too quiet, uncharacteristically, so there is more inflection placed into her tone―solid strength, "We have to fight back."

"If we don't, we're all going to die. No question."

"Yeah, and there's also no question that we'll die if we go charging in there again," Allison's tone is also protuberant, especially when digging as low as she had a year ago―directly to the eighteen-year-old girl, "I know you're more accustomed to the whole 'fighting for our lives' trope, but we aren't. We're not Avengers."

Dani isn't intimidated anymore, nor can she afford to be, "You don't have to be to know that Deborah is coming and that she's got power! Like us to kill us! All for Operation 125!"

"And the real question is," she is accustomed to everyone eyeing her, and relays, "Are we going to let her?"

"We have to do this. If we don't, other people could get hurt, or evidently us again, and again."

The Efficient's are scared, no doubt. However, the thought of standing up, and storming into the base that once held them captive as children is the most unappealing thing ever. It is the most terrifying thing ever... because they aren't known for doing that.

This is what makes Dani different. 

She explains, and they watch her with lifted jaws and brows, "None of us deserved what we got: the abuse, experimenting, but now we have a chance to shut it all down. For good."

She inhales and exhales keenly before raising her arms in the air, "Who's with me?"

They all stare back at her in silence, unsure, and Dani is aware of what she's asking... for them to risk their lives, ideally, possibly die.

It's a lot to ask for people who aren't up to the task. People who are not Avengers.

Jackson is the first to step up.

"She's got a point."

The Efficient's look at him in mild shock, though he expresses his exasperation glossed over a bunch of angst, "I'm sick and tired of living in fear, and if we have a chance to hurt them back, I say we should."

"Kayla?"

The older blonde girl looks up at her name being used, and she shrugs her shoulders.

"If you think we should do something, I'm with you."

She and Jackson make eye contact before Experiment #04 affirms, "I... I trust you," and Dani gives an acknowledging nod.

Both the two of them are loyal in crossing over to stand next to her.

"Okay, you guys are crazy. I'm not suicidal yet." Marcus stifles a laugh that really turns into guilt, and his weakness here is prominent.

Dante, though, is next in speaking up, "Well, you don't need to be, Bonehead. Because Dr. Rockland's gonna end up killing you either way. We may as well be the ones to do it first."

He confirms, "I'm with Dani."

Warmth floods the dark-haired girl's cheeks, and then she turns around, "Allison?"

The other dark-haired and-eyed girl doesn't take as much convincing as the others, seeing as most of her friends are already on board, "Screw her. She's a psychotic bitch who gave me the wrong color for my aura."

"Let's shut this shit down."

Her infectious smile coerces one onto Dani's face before the last and final Efficient speaks up.

In denial, in fear, "Still not suicidal..."

"Marcus." Allison scolds him, and the boy is indecisive as ever, unwavering.

Before the gazes of all the remaining Experiments burn into his body and soul, therefore peer pressuring him eventually to give in, "Ugh. Fine."

"I'm in."

"Well, we're gonna need a plan, first things first." The only powerless teenager says confidently from the other side of the room, and all turn to look at him in shock.

Dante furrows his brows, "Whoa, whoa, whoa," he locks eyes with Matthew, "Look, I know you're trying to add fuel to the fire, but, we seriously don't need the help."

"What are you talking about?" Defense is present in the curly-haired boy's tone, and he argues right back with the taller one, "Dan's my best friend, there's no way in hell I'm letting her do something as big as this without me by her side."

Dani cautiously steps forward, lips parting when saying, "Matt, I can't ask you to do this. It's gonna be dangerous."

"Wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't." He doesn't understand the risks, though fully comprehends what this mission means to her, practically the only family he has left, and Matthew persists―persuades, or in this case leaves no room for alternatives, "Besides, this is your fight as much as it's mine. I'm going to help you."

Dani's green eyes glisten wholeheartedly, "Thank you." 

And then they begin to form a plan.

✰

"All right, so as far as we know, FORCE only has one entrance, and it's the main one. That means the probability of this operation being sneaky is slim to none... so we have to be fast."

Dani, Matthew, and the Efficients lean over a table in a dimly lit bedroom of their apartment, a map outlining the entirety of the abandoned building FORCE, and Agent Rockland takes the lead in the discussion of what to do. 

The Plan.

"Get in, get what we need, shut it down, and get out. Who knows what Deborah's capable of?"

She instructs.

"First, we dismantle the main system where the primary chambers are held. Jackson and Kayla, you guys remember where the extra equipment is inside FORCE?"

"Damn straight." Jackson bobs his head.

Dani continues.

"All right, all that technology is incredibly dangerous and should not be tampered with so our first objective will be getting that stuff out of FORCE's hands and away from the Headquarters. Next are the syringes."

She continues to lead.

"Allison and Marcus, you guys remember where Joseph's office is?"

Experiment #102 fronts with sarcasm, "A little foggy, but it's all the way down the hall past the numbered white doors, right?"

"Yep. The only wooden one. You guys will infiltrate that part of the base and take hold of any illegal experimenting needles and dismantle them."

"Got it. What about after that?" Marcus inquiries.

Dani is firm in her direct response.

"Burn them. No one should ever replicate or be vessels for the procedure that worked on us."

She looks up at the six individuals standing around her, "Are we all in agreement?"

They nod.

"Good. Now Dante, Matthew, and I will be in charge of keeping a lookout, and we'll fight off any remaining members of FORCE that try to stop us. Just keep moving forward."

"What about Deborah?" #123 asks.

Dani meets his gaze, "Leave Deborah to me."

They set out at nightfall, sustainable energy sources and sheer will ready to once and for all, shut down the FORCE Headquarters. The organization was responsible for causing the utmost pain in most of their lives.

Most... as Matthew is here for moral support.

"Well," Jackson straightens to his full height when they reach the street leading right down to the closed-off building, yellow caution tape about to be torn down, and he turns towards Dani, "Considering you've faced them before and won, sort of, any last-minute advice you can supply us with?"

Dani Rockland feels many pairs of eyes rotate onto her yet again, and she is assertive and vigorous. She does the best she can in providing affirmation to her fellow enhanced individuals, and closest friends.

She instills confidence, by reminding them of their cause, and why they are here.

"Our whole lives we've been tormented by this. By our abilities, our pasts, and today we have a chance to take it all back. Tonight. Tonight isn't just for us, but for our loved ones, that hopefully... we can see someday soon. But we won't get to see them unless we do this, so let's do it. Be smart, quick, and take care of one another. Look out for one another, and let's all do our best. Nobody gets left behind. I believe in every single one of you, and you should, too."

Her breath is soft and warm on this last one.

"Because this is the fight for our lives, and we're going to win."

The Efficients are all quiet for a moment, until Allison remarks.

"Damn, Rockie, no one told us you were a poet..."

"Anyone remember Joseph or Deborah being able to produce monologues like that?"

"No, it's not from them." Matthew pipes up, a proud but contorted look shot Dani's way, and she flickers her gaze down when he mentions lowly, "That's from someone else."

The group develops into steady nods before Marcus nearly ruins their focus.

Genuinely curious, "I mean, did you have to write that down first?"

"Guys!" Kayla, like always, brings everyone back on track, and they all stand in a circle before heading in.

Dani leans in close, hair slicked back into a ponytail while she wears a black leather jacket, "Good luck."

"Let's do this."

. . .

https://youtu.be/I_tSS7PiTTk

『 𝐓 𝐇 𝐄   𝐄 𝐅 𝐅 𝐈 𝐂 𝐈 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐒  』

𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟏 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟑: 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐎𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥

𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐲... 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭©

━━━✰━━━

two episodes to go, and we're almost there! The next one is gonna be big. good luck! ❤️

xxxooo, Alessandra (dreamkept)