Midnight Starlights

They knew Ava was one of the good ones, but it was hard learning to trust everyone and believe they weren’t sending them back to be tortured. It was hard— spending all those years only with faces that now haunt them in their nightmares. It was hard to believe that was over. Axel might’ve taken away the physical pain but the emotional toll was still lurking beneath the surface, They noticed how Ava was lurking in the doorway and motioned at her, “You can come in.” It was after all her refuges. Lyra nodded at Ava’s words, knowing they needed to put their trust in someone. “I know.” They responded, thinking of ways to keep the conversation going before settling on a safe topic. “Hows Axel? I haven’t been to the hospital lately.”

                                                                                    Saturday October 14th, 2552

The mission was risky, far more than risky – Ava knew this, it was a suicide mission. The idea of attacking back to the Garden just months after the bombing incident had been too risky. And far more idiotic that she was doing it not eve with the rebellion she was part of. Ava had followed Amara, not blindly into the battle but had followed her anyway and that would be a decision she’d regret for life.

The first part of the attack was successful, destroying most of the cloning facilities within the Garden. Yeah, it was well known that Cosima and her people would have a backup for that. Or if they didn’t, they would be able to repair in no time. But they lost nothing by taking back from what had been taking from them. Though the rebel had thought it would’ve been a better idea to rescue the to be cloned subjects, those were the last thing in Amara’s mind.

For someone who preached about saving as many people as possible, that was one hell of a bad decision.

And just like Ava had imagined, their risky mission failed.

A few months away from that place, yet Lyra still felt like it had only been days. They still were getting used to being free, and they found it hard to do. It just seemed like wherever Lyra walked they felt like any minute someone would grab them and take them back to that place. It seemed ridiculous, after all they thought she was dead, but the thought never left. Lyra couldn’t help but tense up when a knock came from the door, but the tension lessened when Ava’s voice rang out. “I’m managing.” She spoke, knowing it probably wasn’t the answer she was looking for, but it was the truth. 

Others would usually tell of how better they were doing, grateful that they had been rescued but that wasn’t the case with Lyra. They had endured far more than any other member of the rebellion – that had been tortured and come back – but still, a part of her; the optimistic part of her hoped the other would’ve feel guess a bit better. But the woman didn’t let it show, instead she offered a soft smile. “ Yeah… It can be a little hard to get accustomed to things again. ” Still standing by the door, not wanting to intrude Ava continued. “ I know is going to be a long time before you can trust any of us. But know that you can count on me for anything, you know? ”

Ava made herself known with a simple knock on the room that had been assigned to Lyra. The woman didn’t want to intrude in the other’s life, much less make it seem like they needed to answer or talk to her now. Ava knew getting used to new things could be hard, specially after an experience like Lyra had lived. Though she didn’t know the extent of it, Ava knew it was horrible what they must have gone through. But it was due that, that the woman was here. She wanted to make sure Lyra felt welcomed, at ease. If not at home then at least in a place where they felt safe. “ How are you holding up? ”

She nodded the other and motioned for her to follow. Crossing the street quickly she stepped into the building. Her eyes shifted back to the other as they reached a group of hallways. “You know this place better than I do, where would people be? or hunker down in a situation like this.”

“ Well for starters, I don’t know. Since there’s never been a situation like this though I suspect that most civilians would hide in the rooms at the top of the building... not the best option though. ” She couldn’t help the tone of annoyance that was laced with her voice as she spoke. It wasn’t directed at the clone, not really but towards in particularly. Ava began walking towards the building across the street, only picking her pace to a small trot when she noticed no patrols were around. “ I believe if we go separate directions we’ll manage to find more people. Unless you have another idea. ”

“To be fair my best and worst decisions were made in another life be another person.” She sighs her head tilting to peer out of the alley, keeping an eye out for the next patrol. Expecting the woman to leave she focused on the street. It’s not that it wasn’t nice to meet someone from Ana’s past but she worried of what Ava would expect of her. It couldn’t be easier for her with the memories of her friend on the mind and a person with that friend’s face right in front of her. Her eyebrow lifted as she heard the woman speak up again. She hadn’t expected that. “Alright…if you’re sure? I know there are people in the building across the way. Patrol will be coming soon”

    Ava gave a simple nod, eyes shifting from the clone standing before her to the building that was located at the other side. Her eyes scanned the area, it seemed to be empty so how did the other even know there’ll be patrol coming soon. Then again she did say she’d been memorizing the patrols route. Guess she shouldn’t argue with them. “ Yeah I’m sure… let’s do this quick and avoid getting caught. ”

Ares was grateful for the assistance. Despite having special abilities that no other human possessed, they could only cause destruction when all Ares wished to do was help people. Lifting with all their strength and the assistance of the other man, Ares let out a deep sigh of relief when the person was freed from the debris. They dropped it carefully back on the ground and dusted their hands off on their jeans, before turning to the commanding lady with a faint smile of gratitude. Ares watched the woman’s facial expressions for a moment as she seemed to flicker between her thoughts. Did she know who they were? Was she going to inform Cosima of their guidance in aiding the injured, even if it was for Cosima’s convenience? “I appreciate your help, ma'am, but-” Ares paused, “No. We need to take them to the Garden. It is the safest place at the moment. Who knows who is about or if the perpetrator of this attack is still among us. We need to take them to the Garden so our medics can help them. Please-” Ares’ eyes were wide with urgency, not wishing for the person to be harmed any further or to go through anymore pain for longer than necessary. It was unknown to Ares that their actions and words were built from naivety and playing into Cosima’s hands.

“of course they want to help us.”

they don’t.  he knows they don’t.  and something this large, this destructive… could have only been manufactured by one person that he can name.  a name that he has cursed over and over - before those things - before his MEMORIES - had been stolen from him.  and she was the thief.  regardless - she was a liar - he wonders how long it might take her to figure it out.  that her ‘husbands’ sweet words of dedication to that immeasurable ‘estate’ that was edens government ( not elected, rather a totalitarian dictatorship… ran by a singular individual ) were nothing more than scathing mockery.  but he assumes, that she’s uncertain.  doesn’t know of the fault in his circuits, the fracture in his programming –

                                            –the ghost in his machine.

and of course, he has no intention of telling her.  as open and forthright as she had been with him.  and he wonders - now - that there’s some kind of clarity to his mind, whether she ever actually saw him as unique.  as an individual.  or as nothing more than an expensive, slightly more complex toaster.  – as ‘just’ a machine.  

“–why wouldn’t they?”

he smirks internally.  he knows damn well that if she’s been hiding a clone, with the full and clear knowledge that he - is - a clone, then she’s not the sweet and innocent little thing she likes to pretend.  just how deep does that rotten core seep?  how over her head is she?  how – afraid – of being caught out in the open - is she?

but right now, he has his hands on a wounded person, blood slick between his fingers, trying to stem a gaping hole before the life blood drains out of them.  immortal or not, there wasn’t a lot could save a person if they were hacked to pieces and bleeding out – 

“i am helping - i’m helping THEM.”

not her.  she seems to have forgotten already - likely in her panic - the little intricacies of the charade she helped to construct, to maintain. the life they’d given him, the role they’d placed him into.  perhaps it was time for a poignant reminder.  

“i’m a doctor, ava.  i think you’re the one who should be helping me.  now, come here and hold this until help arrives.”

she doesn’t need to.  he’s staunched the wound as best he can under the circumstances.  but he’s interested to see just how far he can push her into this.  is she willing to risk her own exposure if she thinks that someone’s life is on the line?  is there an ounce of genuine compassion anywhere in that wretched, lying shell?

“ They just don’t, alright? ” She gives with a certainty yet her voice wavers as she speaks. Is not because she is wrong or wish to change her mind on the chosen words but simply because of the other. The clone words and behavior are oddly different. And she can’t tell how or how does she even know why but she does. And is enough to frighten her. Does he know something? Has he learned the truth and was lying and pretending he didn’t...? That couldn’t be right.

Ava takes a look at the body between the two and where Noah is pressing against the wound before looking up at the clone. By now he should have done something about it, something more than just pressing an old cloth against the injury. He might be living a lie of life but he’s been given the information necessary to do these things, to work with cases like this and the fact that he’s doing nothing more than just apply pressure on the wound, adds up to her fear that he might be knowing more than he leads on.

She shakes her head faintly surprise by the woman’s remarks. It was strange. Ever since she saw her face up on that screen she’d expected fear and anger. She kept to side streets not just to hide but to protect herself from those who’d toss her to the sharks. She had her fair share. People moving quickly away from her. One person she was trying to help even pulled away after seeing her on the screen. She couldn’t blame them, they were scared. But as much as she’d been faced with their fear she was also faced with an odd acceptance. More than just Ava had given her advice to keep safe. “I’m not trying to get caught, I’m mapping their routes and timing their patrols. It’s a lot easier to move when I know where they are. Though not much has changed in their patterns in the last few months”

“Couldn’t the same be said for you? They aren’t big on people being around and its not like they really expect you to come into work today.”

“ That’s a good idea but not your best. ” She gave as a sigh left her lips, raising her left shoulder in what it was a somewhat shrug. “ Yeah you’re but then again my face is not the one put up as the most wanted, so as chances as I have of getting caught, you still have more. ” Ava had gotten what she wanted out of the other - not as much, since the rebel really expected to find her friend and not a clone in her place instead but now she knew what happened to Ana and she could simply walk away. Though for a second another idea emerge just as she was about to leave. “ You could use some help. ” She stated as a matter of fact, arms falling to her sides then. “ Is not like I have anything better to do and well if you’re going to risk yourself out there to save others, might as well have someone helping you, right? ”

Amara frowns at her words. That explained why she recognized her face but her memories were still spotty. She wished she knew more but then again Ava knew Anastasia and despite having her face, Amara couldn’t be her. “Sorry..I..most of the memories I have are bits and pieces except more recent events..or the kids. i’m still putting it all together” Her eyebrow raised to the other surprised at her mention of being a rebel. Made sense now why she wasn’t opting to turn her in. “We?..You’re a rebe-” She paused a moment tilting her head to listen. She stepped back into the shadow of the alley motioning for the other to follow, putting them out of sight of a passing patrol. “No one said I’m special..I just pissed her off recently”

So she wasn’t granted Ana’s memories... but how was that she was remembering things. That was never heard of before in a clone that couldn’t remember anything. So clones could malfunction... Is not like she didn’t know that - just that they malfunctioned in a way that had them remembering their original’s life was just a whole new thing. Ava followed the other towards the alley, for a moment panicking just a bit as the realization that she revealed being a rebel to the other. And it wasn’t something Ava was used to hiding - actually most of her coworkers and everyone that knew her knew she was a rebel but having to hide that part of her for the last months in order to lie to Noah made her forget that. “ Well, pissing her off or not - whether you’re special or not. You’re now the main suspect. So I wouldn’t recommend wandering around. Unless you wanna get caught, that is. ”