The Cost Of Evolution

The tension in the room was suffocating again, but for a different reason now. Maya stepped away from Evie, her face drawn into a frown as she hesitated to answer. Her usually steady composure cracked under the weight of the secret she was carrying. Jarad took a step closer, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

"Maya," he said, his voice cold but controlled. "If you know something about Evie, you better tell me now."

Maya sighed deeply, rubbing her temples. "Jarad, the ORPHANAGE didn't just keep Evie because of her connection to you. They've been experimenting on her."

A sharp intake of breath filled the room. Frieda and Leon exchanged tense glances, while Toni's jaw tightened.

"Explain," Jarad demanded, his tone more forceful.

"She's…different," Maya began, choosing her words carefully. "Her body adapted to the T-04 virus in ways we've never seen before. It's not just rebuilding her—it's evolving her. The virus in her isn't dormant like it is in you. It's active, changing her physiology at a cellular level."

"What does that mean?" Frieda interjected, stepping forward. "Is she like…Jarad but stronger?"

"No," Maya shook her head. "It's more complex. Her body's rebuilding itself continuously, but it's not just about strength. Her reflexes, senses, even her neural processing—they're all heightened. She's becoming…something beyond human."

Jarad's gaze snapped to Evie. She was quiet, her face unreadable as Maya's words sank in. His hands trembled, a mix of anger and protectiveness bubbling to the surface.

"And you knew about this?" he asked Evie, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why didn't you tell me? You behaved like you didn't know anything about it, You acted like you had no idea about what was happening..."

Evie's expression hardened. "Because I knew how you'd react, Jarad. You'd try to stop them, to protect me. And you'd get yourself killed in the process...." With a long sigh Evie continued.

"I didn't mean to lie to you, it's just that I thought maybe you'd do something unhinged or crazy or worse still react like this"

Jarad's chest heaved, his emotions warring inside him. "You're my sister, Evie. I would've done anything to keep you out of their hands."

"And I didn't want you to die for me!" Evie snapped, her voice breaking. "They already took everything from you. I wasn't going to let them take you, too."

The room fell silent as her words hung in the air. Maya took a step back, giving them space, while the rest of the crew remained on edge, unsure of how to intervene.

Jarad finally exhaled, his shoulders slumping. "We'll talk about this later," he said quietly, his voice strained. "Right now, we need to figure out our next move."

Maya hesitated but finally spoke. "Evie's condition...it's dangerous, but it could also be the key to fighting back against the ORPHANAGE. They've been chasing perfection for years, and they're closer than ever with her."

"Are you saying we use her?" Frieda's voice was sharp, her eyes narrowing at Maya.

"I'm saying we protect her," Maya corrected. "But we also need to understand what they've done to her and why. If we can turn their research against them, we might stand a chance."

Jarad stared at Maya, his expression unreadable. He wanted to protect Evie more than anything, but the idea of using her as a weapon left a bitter taste in his mouth. Still, he knew Maya was right. The ORPHANAGE wouldn't stop, and their only chance of survival was to get ahead of whatever plan was in motion.

"Alright," he finally said. "We'll work together to figure this out. But if anyone—anyone—tries to use her for their own gain, I'll kill them myself."

Maya nodded solemnly. "Understood."

Evie stood, her face set with determination. "I'm not a victim, Jarad. If this…thing inside me can help us fight back, then I'm in. But you have to trust me."

Jarad hesitated before nodding. "I trust you. Always."

As the group began strategizing, the faint hum of machinery in the room seemed to grow louder, a reminder of the danger looming just outside. The battle with the ORPHANAGE was far from over, but for the first time, they had something the organization hadn't accounted for—a wildcard with the potential to tip the scales in their favor.

The faint hum of machinery was interrupted by the sound of Leon clearing his throat. "This is great and all, but the ORPHANAGE won't stay in the dark for long. We need a solid plan, and we need it now."

Jarad's jaw tightened as he turned to Maya. "What do we need to figure out Evie's condition? Equipment, resources—what's missing?"

Maya glanced around the room. "This facility has the basics, but if we want answers, we'll need data—samples, their research notes, anything we can get from the ORPHANAGE's labs. Without it, we're flying blind."

Leon groaned. "Great. You're telling me we have to go back to one of their labs? Do you have any idea how well-guarded those places are?"

Maya folded her arms. "I know exactly how guarded they are. But if you want to understand what they did to Evie—and stop them from doing it to anyone else—we don't have a choice."

Frieda stepped forward, her voice sharp. "What about her? We can't risk taking her anywhere near the ORPHANAGE again."

"I'm not staying behind," Evie interjected, her voice firm. "If they're after me, they'll find me no matter where I am. At least this way, I can help."

Jarad turned to her, his expression dark. "No. You're staying here. End of discussion."

Evie's eyes narrowed. "You don't get to decide that for me, Jarad. I've been through hell because of them. I'm not going to sit on the sidelines while you risk your lives."

"Evie, this isn't up for debate!" Jarad snapped, his voice rising. "You don't understand the kind of danger—"

"I understand perfectly," she cut him off, stepping closer to him. "I've been in their labs, I've seen what they do. You think you're protecting me, but I'm not the little girl you left behind, Jarad. I can handle myself."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Jarad's gaze softened slightly, but his voice remained steady. "I know you're strong, Evie. Stronger than I ever imagined. But you're my sister. If anything happened to you…"

"Then make sure nothing does," Evie replied, her tone unwavering. "We're stronger together, Jarad. You need to trust me, just like I trust you."

Before Jarad could respond, Toni, who had been quietly observing the exchange, spoke up. "She's right, Jarad. If she's their target, she's safest with us. Besides, she might be the edge we need to get into their labs. She knows their procedures, their routines."

Jarad let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping. He looked at Evie, searching her face for any sign of doubt, but found none. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But you stick to my side, no matter what. If things go south, you don't hesitate—you run. Got it?"

Evie smiled faintly, a mix of relief and determination in her expression. "Got it."

Maya stepped forward, cutting through the tension. "If we're doing this, we need to move fast. The longer we wait, the more likely they'll relocate their data or tighten their security. I can map out a target lab, one that's likely to have what we need."

"Do it," Jarad said. He turned to Leon and Frieda. "Start prepping for the mission. We'll need everything we've got—gear, weapons, escape routes."

Leon grinned, the tension in his posture easing. "Now this is more my speed. Let's give them hell."

As the group dispersed to prepare, Jarad lingered by Evie's side. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice low. "I mean it, Evie. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."

Evie met his gaze, her expression softer now. "I know, Jarad. But you don't have to do it alone anymore."

For the first time in what felt like years, Jarad allowed himself a small smile. "No, I guess I don't."

The crew worked quickly, the air in the bunker buzzing with energy. Maps were spread out, weapons checked and reloaded, and escape routes memorized. As Maya finalized the details of their target, the weight of what lay ahead settled over them.

They were walking into the lion's den, but this time, they had a weapon the ORPHANAGE couldn't predict.

Evie wasn't just a victim anymore. She was a force to be reckoned with—and for the first time, Jarad dared to hope they might actually stand a chance.