It didn't take long for us to contact the DCL. They tracked our location quickly and dispatched a chopper to retrieve us.

It was quiet most of the helicopter ride back to the DCL base. A young nurse tended to the cuts on my palm from the shard of glass I used to end the Masters' life. I said little aside from answering the nurse's few questions. A separate medic tended to Dakota's minor wounds. His face had already become expressionless once again.

I held my wounded hand against my stomach as I drifted off into thought. I felt different after ending the overdue lives of the Masters and Dr.Ortega.

For the first time since I was nine years old, they couldn't touch me. I didn't have to hide anymore.

I was free.

However, I could still feel that new serum in the back of my mind, near the base of my skull. The Masters were gone but their touch still lingered. While the inexplicable telepathic invasion with Dakota somehow managed to ward off Agent 17, I could still sense the serum fighting feebly for control. I didn't understand how he'd done it but for a reason unforeseen by Dr.Ortega, uncovering my last memory had been the key.

During the quirk of telepathy, I too, had seen his memories just as he'd seen mine. I distinctly recalled seeing Dakota as a youth in that hospital room as he visited who I could only suspect was his younger sister. She'd been very sick. The scene had been so hazy and foggy that it appeared he had tried to forget about it. Saratoga had mentioned a rough childhood beforehand but 'rough' didn't quite cover it.

But, the one memory that had truly snapped me out of the serum, was the break in.

Somehow Dakota unlocked that memory that I had been forced to forget. It had been stowed away for so long only to be brought back in the most unexpected way.

And I was thankful.

Even though I still couldn't remember the sound of their voices or what bedtime stories they read to me at night. I could at least now think about them and not imagine two blank, featureless faces that represented imaginary guardians. I know that they loved me. Regardless of whether or not I can remember them saying it, I could feel it in that memory.

That was all I needed.

There was also more good news.

We were quickly informed that Saratoga, Teddy, and Royce all survived the LACE invasion and were for the most part in good health and spirit. Teddy had received a few cut wounds that required stitches and Saratoga's thigh had been narrowly grazed by a bullet. However, with her healing factor, she should have been completely healed within the next day.

The three of them had been overjoyed to see Dakota again when we returned and were surprisingly pleased to see me as well. While I perhaps wasn't a part of their team per se, I did try to save their lives and for that, they were grateful.

Upon Doctor Royce's recommendation, I had been residing in a hospital-like room for the past few days that I didn't find particularly homey. It was more like a lab and that made it all the more unsettling. But it was only so that Royce could remove the serum from my blood

stream in the most efficient way possible. He was assisted by Olive, a quiet Japanese girl with a pixie cut and a piercing in her eyebrow who I found pleasant to be around.

The procedure was tedious but effective.

Everything went smoothly, aside from the singular instance Agent 17 regained a sudden control temporarily when Royce first attempted to draw my blood with a syringe. Agent 17 took the syringe from his hand and nearly stabbed it into his neck but thankfully, I stopped myself. Or rather, he shielded his neck causing the syringe to shatter.

I don't think Agent 17 liked syringes anymore than I did.

Aside from that little detour, staying in the lab room was a perfect way to recuperate after dismantling LACE. After using so much power and energy in the past few days, I slept for a full fourteen hours on the first night.

When I was awake, I allowed Royce to run his tests while chatting amicably with him or Olive. At first, Royce was noticeably shy in nature, not at all resembling the dominant agent that I'd first met in Carrollton at the diner. However, during my stay extended in his lab, he gradually warmed up to me. I decided that I liked him too, even if he had a habit not going along with jokes and his clear lack of anything resembling a filing system.

In many ways, he much resembled his ability. I'd felt first hand the gentle, yet powerful, energy that he possessed. It was enigmatic in many ways, easily more complex than my telekinesis, but he wielded it with ease.

The pair had been studying the serum for two days. They'd sent out samples to neighboring agencies as well who shared equally curious observations of the forgiven serum.

Thus far, it has been found that the serum was an advanced nano tech; a micro calibrated mind control that locked onto the brain stem and numbed certain parts of the brain whilst activating others. It was unlike any other technology they'd ever seen and also nearly fifty years ahead of its time which was little comfort since it had recently been in my bloodstream.

Royce did take note that the serum had an unseen effect upon the frontal lobe of my brain where my telepathic abilities derived. He mentioned that it had something to do with my neurons flaring up too quickly and nearly swelling. Supposedly, an extra after effect of the serum was some increase in brain capacity.

But neither Royce nor Olive, or any of the fellow agencies, could clearly explain how Dakota managed to make a mind connection with me. There were a few theories that it was some sort of defense mechanism against the serum that my brain had subconsciously enacted or that maybe it was because my own mind had been so unstable that my powers reversed. It isn't uncommon for Variant abilities to react spontaneously. Especially in near death instances. Although, it typically required the compliance of both parties.

Perhaps, Agent 17 had been looking for a way out as well.

Whatever the reason was, Dakota's actions somehow pushed agent 17 away just enough to let me regain control. I think the memory of the break in triggered Agent 17 to recede because she, similar to me, hadn't been ready for it. There was no training or enhancements that could have prepared us.

Presently, I'd just woken up from a long nap. A dreamless one but entirely refreshing. I yawned loudly as I noticed the lab was uncharacteristically empty. Normally either Royce or Olive were in the lab tapping away on their computers or analysing the serum, a new favorite past time. They must have been getting coffee or something.

I stretched my arms over my head until a small series of cracks from my back and neck and back could be heard. My fingers combed absently through my shoulder length hair until the lab door opened. I looked up from my sitting position on the edge of the bed to see Dakota walk into the room. He wore a grey nylon shirt and cargo pants with his sleek black hair slicked back. His handsome face was once again reserved, however he did have a small, friendly grin on his face as he walked towards me.

Dakota had quickly recovered from the attack and our escape. With no crucial injuries and little to no trauma, he'd been released from his hospital bed after a few hours.

We hadn't had the chance to speak in private after escaping from LACE. I had been stuck in the lab recuperating since our return and Dakota had only briefly come in a day ago to check on the stitches on his upper abdomen and neck that he'd received from Agent 4 and 10.

"Good afternoon Ms. Sterling, I trust you are doing well?" Dakota asked as I stood up off the medical cot.

A grin pulled at the corner of my lips at the sound of my surname. The other Variants didn't bother with the formality anymore.

"I feel rather swell. How about yourself Mr. Gray?" I asked curiously. I found myself inadvertently scratching near the stitches on my palm that were similar to the ones on Dakota's palm. I took a quick peek at the stitches in his neck where Venice's blade had cut.

"I'm alright. Just happy to be back and in one piece," He said back with a complacent shrug. His lack of emotion was all too familiar by this point.

"You? Happy? Hard to believe," I replied, running my hands over my bare arms since the only garments I wore were a pair of sweatpants and a thin white shirt. And this lab was practically the same temperature as the Kaskasapakte mountain range since Royce kept the thermostat at the lowest setting.

So, in other words, it was fucking cold.

Dakota offered a small smile in return. "At least you appear to be emotionally stable." Dakota noted. I gave a peeved grin as fresh memories of recent events reemerged.

"Thank goodness for that," I said while taking a seat back down on the edge of the bed with my legs crossed. "It's kind of thanks to you though. If you hadn't tried to use my own power against me, neither of us would be here right now."

The taller male shrugged as he took a seat on a nearby stool.

"I was thinking about that same thing earlier," He admitted. "It was probably just a Variant fluke."

"Or maybe you're secretly a telepath," I replied with narrow eyes.

He snorted. "Uh-oh, the secret is out," He said with false panic.

I grinned softly, my gaze falling to the side. "I think it was the memory that saved us."

"The last one?" He asked, his tone noticeably becoming gentler.

I nodded slowly.

I could still feel the texture of the brown carpet underneath my feet from the memory. And smell the pungent cinnamon cereal and faint scent of citrus from the air freshener my parents used.

I could also remember how cold and stark it had been in that hospital room with Dakota.

"She was your sister wasn't she?" I asked suddenly. "In the hospital?"

Dakota's stoney expression wavered for a split second at the question.

He hesitated before nodding his head once. "Leukemia," He said simply.

The room went quiet for a moment.

Even though it was Dakota's memory and his emotions, I had felt and experienced everything.

"I'm sorry," I said softly.

"So am I," He replied before meeting my gaze once more and clearing his throat.

"Now that they're gone, what do you plan to do?" He asked.

I quirked a brow in uncertainty.

What would I do?

There wasn't a local rehabilitation center for former assassins nearby last I checked.

Maybe the better question is where could I go?

"I don't know," I said, my eyes falling to the floor. "My entire life I have either been working for or running from LACE. Now that they're gone I...don't even know where to start."

"There are always other options," Dakota claimed knowingly.

"Like what?" I asked, looking up at him.

Dakota opened his mouth to speak but a different yet familiar nasally voice broke through the air.

"That is precisely what I'm here to discuss."

We both turned to look at none other than Director Chandler. His hooded eyes held the unmissable air of authority but his expression was genial. He had his hands casually set behind his back as he walked regally towards us. His arrival wasn't surprising, I had been expecting him to show up eventually.

Dakota stood up. "Director Chandler," Dakota greeted curtly with a formal dip of his head.

Even in a neutral setting, the Director was given highest respect. I could practically smell the loyalty. Dakota obviously saw Director Chandler as more than just his boss. I'd noticed a similar trend with the other Specials.

"Dakota," The Director replied respectfully before coming to a stop a few feet away from where he stood.

"I see you have recovered well Ms.Sterling," Director Chandler started with a quick glance to my palm and also at the red sore area on my neck where Dr.Ortega's syringe had gone in. For whatever reason, the sore was taking longer than usual to heal.

I nodded with an absent wave of my hand "More or less. Royce and Olive were a big help."

The Director gave a simple nod of his head. "Then I believe it's time we discussed your future," Director Chandler said, cutting right to the chase.

My mouth twitched in anticipation as I listened intently.

"I have spoken with some of the team and other agents of DCL and we all agree that your powers are exceedingly valuable," Chandler began. Director Chandler was one of the few people I knew of that referred to our abilities as genuine 'powers'. As if he truly believed that what we had were gifts. "And many of them also believe that you displayed heroic qualities during the infiltration of the false LACE base."

I scoffed softly. "Heroic qualities?" I asked skeptically, my eyes narrowing. One valiant moment didn't feel quite as heroic after taking my past into consideration. "No disrespect sir, but I'm not a hero."

There was no shame in my words, only realization. I wasn't the 'good guy. Not after the things I've done

Dakota stayed silent but I sensed that he wanted to say something.

The Director nodded considerately.

"That may be true. However, it would be inconsiderate of me to judge you on account of a misguided past that you had no control over," The Director began. "That's precisely why I want to give you a chance to join the DCL. To perhaps give you a new chance so that you might right the wrongs from your past."

My eyes widened, causing distinct wrinkles to appear across my forehead..

Join the DCL?

Me?

An ex secret agent slash mass murderer?

My eyes flickered to Dakota, in an attempt to see if this was some sort of joke or fruitless prank. Yet Dakota's calm dark gaze looked back at me with resounding sincerity.

I found myself near speechless as I looked between the two males.

"However, I would also like to offer you a sort of witness protection option. We can very easily set up a normal life for you. A safe life as a normal civilian. It would be entirely understandable if you'd prefer that," Director Chandler added.

Now that's overwhelming.

I didn't speak for almost a full minute.

He was giving me the chance for the normal lifestyle that had been denied to me by LACE ever since I was a child. I could be a human being for the first time. The kind that sleeps in on the weekends and takes Sundays off. The kind that lived practically with the biggest concerns being bill payments and obnoxious young neighbors.

It sounded relaxing and terribly boring at the same time.

It sounded normal.

But I had the chance.

"I-I think I need some time to think about it," I replied honestly, but I doubted I would receive a more generous offer anywhere else.

I think the Director could sense my resolve anyway without me telling him.

He nodded respectfully.

"Absolutely, take your time," Chandler stated before giving a farewell nod to Dakota and I before exiting the lab.

Just as he left, I heard the sound of footsteps from behind me and turned to see Teddy, Saratoga, and Royce entering the lab from the second entrance. Saratoga had a friendly smile on her normally stiff features and she walked with a slight limp from the healing gun wound.

Teddy randomly picked up a stethoscope that had been sitting on top of Royce's computer before taking a seat in Royce's leather rolley chair and rolling over to us. He pressed the circular part of the stethoscope to his own chest, listening for his own heart beat. Royce rolled his dark green eyes at Teddy's childlike actions but said nothing.

"I suppose you guys already know about Director Chandler's offer?" I asked sitting back down on the medical cot as the four of them stood around me.

They nodded.

"Yup, but it's your choice Harper; it's up to you," Saratoga noted as she brushed a sandy brown lock of loose hair behind her ear.

I rubbed my cold hands together. "I mean it's your guys's team. Do you even want me to join?" I asked.

The group shared a silent look between them.

"We all think you'd be a major benefit to the team," Royce claimed kindly.

"It was actually our idea at first and the Director pulled a few strings to make it official," Saratoga claimed.

"Plus, it would be good for you to have some people you can trust," Dakota added to which Saratoga nodded in agreement.

I felt cold metal on the side of my temple all of a sudden as Teddy pressed the stethoscope onto the side of my forehead.

"Please rate your pain on a scale of one to ten," Teddy insisted in a calm bedside tone.

I softly glared at him from the corner of my eyes. "You're going to feel a ten if you don't get that thing off of my face," I replied, unable to fight the smile that appeared on my face.

Royce grinned as Saratoga swiped the stethoscope away from him like taking a toy away from a disobedient child. Even Dakota snorted briefly at the comical scene.

"Anyway," I began as I shifted in the spot where I sat as Teddy stood up from his chair with his signature stupid grin. "It would be a complete waste of my abilities if I did leave for a normal life."

Saratoga nodded in agreement, "We can always use another female on this team too. Especially with genuis here," Saratoga claimed, patting Teddy's shoulder.

"You hear that? She thinks I'm a genius," Teddy whispered to me but it was loud enough that everyone heard.

I chuckled uncharacteristically as I made my decision. We would be a team of five. Like a super hero squad or something overly dramatic like that.

Would we have our own movie?

"Say, what about Callum? The kid from LACE?" I asked randomly.

As it turns out, Lia and him had been held in detainment until Leah made an escape attempt and was killed in the process. She injured two DCL agents during her short lived escape but there were no real casualties.

Callum, on the other hand, was still alive and also recuperating from the serum withdrawal.

"The blonde one?" Royce asked, sounding puzzled.

"He's powerful, well trained, and a good kid," I replied truthfully. I couldn't just allow Callum to be a DCL captive forever.

Or worse.

Even if I had only been his trainer, it was wrong. We hadn't been friends while we were held by LACE but maybe at the DCL that could change.

Dakota's expression turned thoughtful. "I'll bring it up with Director Chandler," Dakota told me as he took the possibility into consideration.

I nodded thankfully. "So does your team here have a cool name?" I asked. The four looked in between each other as if expecting an answer to appear in mid air.

"You guys don't have like a cool name?" I asked disbelievingly. "Or is it just the Variant Task Force?"

"Well... yes? And no," Royce replied awkwardly

"Oh! I've a name for' us mates! The Sensational Six!" Teddy suddenly blurted out, looking extremely pleased with his sudden creativity.

"There's five of us, Teddy," Royce replied blankly, not missing a beat.

"Then we can be the Sensational Five." Teddy insisted, adding a dramatic wave of his hand.

"Teddy, I hate to interrupt you since your few brain cells might actually be functioning at the moment," Saratoga started sarcastically. "But the Sensational five just isn't doing it for me."

"What's wrong with the 'DCL Task Force'?" Dakota asked.

"Oh nothing, it's just a tad bland but I guess we can find another name later," I shrugged.

"Wait!" Teddy exclaimed "What about the Furious fiv-" "Shut up!" Saratoga interrupted astutely earning another goofy grin from the Australian meatball.

Dakota's dark brown brows raised in surprise, ignoring Teddy's immature comments.

"Are you saying you're going to join the team?" Dakora asked optimistically.

"Yeah, why not."