Billy

When Talia woke up she filled us in on what she was told. She seemed a bit nervous. I finally asked her what was on her mind? She said that the woman who tried to kill her is apparently stronger. What if I can’t stop her without killing her? What if me beating her won’t stop her? It seems like she has nothing to lose. What then? She has something against me and will come after me until I’m dead. 

I said well I’ll kill her if it’s needed. If I can help it you won't have to kill. If I’m not there to help you then you’ll have to make that decision. In my opinion she needs to die. But I’m very quick to make that judgment. You have your own morals. Stick by your morals unless you don’t have a choice. I don’t want you to feel guilt for the rest of your life. She smiled and said thank you but I think this is something I’ll have to handle.

 I said and why do you believe that? She said well I may have to kill in these fights even if I don’t want to. I can’t always have you do that for me. You won’t always be there to make that decision and protect me. You were right, it won’t always go my way. I may be risking my life and the people I care about by not making that decision. I have to learn when to make that decision and be ok with it. So I need to take care of this even if it’s hard. He said in this past week you've grown quite a lot. I said I guess I just needed someone to talk some sense into me. I needed a reality check so thank you. I laughed and said it also seems like your mom helped. I said well she certainly explained I had some tough foes to fight and to keep my eyes peeled. 

As the days went on Talia seemed more withdrawn and deep in thought. When she wasn’t sleeping she was staring out the window silently. After forty eight hours of that I was exhausted. I pulled over and said ok I’m stopping here and I’m not moving until we talk. She looked up at me a little shocked. But at the end of the day she always knew who I was. So she didn’t stay shocked for long. She just kept eye contact but didn’t say a word waiting for me to finish. She always seemed to be confused as to where I was coming from. Then again I wasn’t very good at explaining myself. I sighed and said we are going to be arriving at my house in four hours and from there the base. So I need to know what’s going on in your head before we arrive. She looked a little dumbfounded and lost for words. Her face made me chuckle and then she looked frustrated which made me laugh harder. Now Alicia became confused and was looking at both our faces and started laughing. The laughing just became contagious and we all were cracking up. After we all settled down holding our bellies with pain from laughing so hard. She finally spoke up. 

She said I’m sorry for worrying you guys. I’m just realizing how scary and hard this fight may be. I was unprepared and I’m a little overwhelmed. Memories are coming up left and right. Memories I pushed back because I wanted to pretend that life was just a nightmare. But I can’t avoid them now that I’m going back and I know this. But the more memories that come the more I realize I only know three rooms in the whole place. I know little to nothing. I am terrified of the powers I’m coming to know exist in that place. I put his hand up to try and slow her down. I knew when she was rambling and it wasn’t helpful. So I stopped her in her tracks and she looked at me expectantly. I sighed like I always do when I need a moment more to search for words. I finally said after another moment of silence. 

So there are only two things I sensed in that whole thing that were of actual importance. The memories and the strength of those we are facing. So tell me what did you see that made you worried? What are we to face? I saw her eyes widen as she realized that discussing that in particular can help her. It was as if it didn’t come to her mind to even address that. She didn’t think it would help her. She sighed and I realized she really must be my daughter. She sighed while trying to get her thoughts together. 

Finally she said there are two strong powered people that I have to worry about. One is the woman I didn’t kill when I was ten. I looked at her, mouth gaped a little. She was not powered, I said as more of a question now. She nodded her head and said she didn’t have powers to begin with. But when she failed to kill me with six armed men in the room she was the one to blame since she was the only survivor. As the survivor she was put through rigorous experimentation and testing. She was made into a lab rat just like I was. Until she came out with her own abilities. 

But that’s not what I really have to worry about with her. It’s more her battle experience and her knowledge along with that power I have to worry about. She rivals me in all categories other than our powers. Plus her abilities are pretty strong. She is what you warned me about. She said but I should still be able to win. I just have to be smart about it. I still can beat her in raw strength and power. But I have to think my moves through.

 I smiled and said you are exactly right. She said and I know where the fight will be. She is the one guarding your house waiting for the one day you decide to come back. I said and that gives us an advantage. We have time to plan and she doesn’t even know we are coming for the fight. Her eyes widened and she said you're all excited. I laughed and thought this girl is truly hilarious. She sometimes acts like she is a fully grown adult. But then things like this happen and I remember what would she do without me? She doesn’t know what to do with herself. She really would run into battle before having an idea of how to fight it. She said hey don’t laugh at me. I said don’t worry it’s not at you. She said yeah yeah you're a terrible liar. 

Then we got down to business. We really didn’t have the weaponry or my tools that were needed; they were all in the house. So the plan was really to use surprise. Talia was going to have to go out first. That was the only way. We also knew this woman must still have some fear left in her over Talia’s power. We wanted to use that to our advantage. So if Talia got the drop on her right away. That will throw her off balance. Then me and Alicia will take the defensive and try to block the attacks that come forward so that Talia can continue the offensive and overwhelm her. Whether that means killing her or not only time will tell. That decision is up to Talia. She knows that and it sits on her shoulders like bricks. But there isn’t anything I can do to lessen the load. She wants to learn to get through this. I have to let her find a way to cope. That’s all I can do for her at that moment. The plan was set and clear. But before I turned the key to get back on the road I said and the second foe? She looked down immediately and fidgeted with the whole in her pants. I was hoping you’d forget about that. 

I said I see so this happens to be the one that truly scares you. Tell me who and why? She says a science experiment. I said you're going to have to explain more. She closed her eyes and I saw the tears stream down her face. She said this girl was never human. She was born from a test tube from my DNA. I gasped and said does that mean what I think it does? She said yeah it does. She has all the same abilities as me and no qualms about killing. She is fully under control by my grandfather. I nodded and tried not to worry her. This was something that even I was not expecting and terrified of. 

She said dad I can tell you're worried too. But I will be ok. He said how? I said because my mother and I being together will make me stronger. Also because I have you on my side showing me the right path. I’m sure I’ll get through this. I just need to keep practicing and somehow get people to join my cause. I smiled because I couldn’t help it. She was telling me because she was terrified yet somehow wound up cheering me up rather than vice versa. She truly was an incredible kid and the best daughter I could have ever asked for. If I could have avoided her battling at all I would have done anything in my power. But I also won’t stop her from getting the justice she deserves and finding out what she believes is right and just in this world. She said what are you smiling at and I said just proud of how strong you are. She said I haven’t done anything though. I said I know and put the key back in the ignition.