By the time Anna made it outside, much of her vision had returned. An epileptic shuffle of flashing red and white nearly blinded her as she was escorted to an unfolded gurney. She looked around, staring wearily at the myriad of other victims NEST has rescued from that vile dungeon. She realized most of them were metahumans as well and her heart sank as two EMT's lifted her into the back of an ambulance. They fixed her with a saline drip and she urged herself to sleep and forget the horror. The sirens blared as the wagon sped through traffic to the hospital. 

That was the last thing Anna remembered before waking up two days later inside an intensive care ward. All manner of monitors and medical equipment. She lied awake for hours trying to sort through her own memories of the past few days. Many of them were fractured and elusive. With determined effort, she did manage to piece together a rough series of events, but much of it still a hazy mess in her mind.

[center]- - -[/center]

Anna could hear her father's muffled voice and worried tone from behind the thick glass windows of her room. She couldn't make out the words and only a glimpse of him was visible between the slightly parted curtains, but someone was riling him up. He had a firm, imposing stance as if he was trying to ward off a predator.

"As her legal guardian, I deny you permission to speak with her. She doesn't need the likes of you complicating things while she's trying to recover." He fixed a hard stare on the suit-and-tie agent standing before him. "You may leave."

"But sir, listen," The NEST Agent held up a hand, while looking Bruno in the eyes. Attempting to urge him to see reason.  

"-I've listened to all I need to!" He said firmly. His eyes narrowed.

"Your daughter is a Metahuman, our tests confirm it. She [i]has[/i] to register under our directory. You have no choice." The agent said. 

"I always have a choice. And I'm choosing to not register her. What threat does she pose that she has be tagged and labelled like a criminal?"

"... It's the law, sir. Every Metahuman living in the united states [i]has[/i] to register, regardless of the threat they pose."

"And under whose authority did you conduct the test? You sure as [i]hell[/i] didn't get my consent, so where's your court order?" Bruno channeled his wife's pointed ire and legal questioning. He knew enough to act the part.

"Orders came straight from High Command, sir. You'll have to bring it up with them." The Agent said, putting his hands behind his back. 

"Then your high command violated my daughter's right to private medical information, and you as their lackey are just as liable as they are."

"Sir, you have to understand that we're doing our best to protect you, and your daughter. You have to understand some of the..."

"Protect? PROTECT WHAT?! If it's your job to keep her safe, then how did she end up in a dungeon with god-knows-what drugs put in her? Was that YOU protecting her?" His face was tense. "A fine job, you and your boys did there."

"We may have been able to do more if we've known about her status." The Agent said. 

"May have been able to do more, hunh?" He parroted mockingly. "Now you're just covering your ass. Come back when you've got something in writing that [i]doesn't[/i] violate my daughter's rights!"

"... Good grief." Lihua said, as her heels tapping were prominent as she walked up to the scene. Most notably, she had a backpack slung over her shoulder. With one roll of her eyes, she assessed the situation. "Does anyone in this organization have [i]any[/i] tact?" 

She looked down on the NEST Agent, as he looked at her. "Agent Vuhong?" 

"I'll take it from here. You are likely needed elsewhere." Lihua spoke to him, and he nodded his head before walking off. Now, to defuse this situation, this legal disaster waiting to happen. She put her hand out for a shake. "Mr. Aikau, pleasure to meet you again."

"Nice to see you as well." With folded arms, he looked at the outstretched hand and then back at Lihua. "I mean no offense, but I'm not in the mood for a handshake."

[i]Rude.[/i] Lihua thought to herself. Now, she should get down to business. She put the backpack down, and kicked it to the side with the back of her foot. She let out a sigh, before she began, "I fully understand your anger about what happened down there, and it is something that blindsided me as well. Perhaps the last agent could have worded the situation better, because he has clearly left you with little... patience." She nodded her head. "The reason why the orders came through to have your daughter tested were purely... incidental. I saw it with my own two eyes. Did you see the device hanging off that man's belt?"

Bruno did his best to give Lihua the benefit of the doubt, but not without a strong conscience effort. He had seen the device, but disregarded it as a tool of the trade. He glanced past Lihua as if the previous agent were still around and nodded in confirmation. "Just tell it to me straight. I don't need it sugar-coated."

Alright, the direct course, Lihua's favorite. "Well, you see, the people down there have been giving their test subjects powers through means... I cannot disclose. Normal people were taken, as well as Metahumans. After we've extracted everyone, there was the whole mess of who should take care of who. That's where the device comes in. It is a special tool that helps track Metahumans.... While they were scanning through the abductees, it lead to Anna - however, she was not registered. Orders came through from High Command to have [i]everyone[/i] down there tested, and registered for their powers." Lihua shrugged. "Personally, she's been through enough, and I'd rather not add NEST bureaucracy to it. I would gladly let it slide if she wasn't already tested... but, unfortunately, that Agent [i]was[/i] correct about one thing, she has to be registered. I wish it could be different, I know, but it's illegal otherwise at this point."

He told her not to sugar coat it, and there it was. He can get mad all he wants to, but it [i]is[/i] a crime to hide Metahuman powers from NEST. And going off Bruno's stance, it wouldn't be Anna going down for it.

"I appreciate your honesty." He let out a deep sigh, one of begrudging resignation. "I know NEST has a purpose and serves whatever it's government mandates are. But... That doesn't mean they can just skip past legal procedure and unlawfully test my daughter. I can't stop her from being registered, but I will give NEST hell for overstepping their authority."

"Testing her like that wasn't the best move.... Usually we ask for consent, but with everything happening... never mind." Lihua adjusted her glasses as she stopped her trail there. "I cannot give you any reasonable excuse for it.. What I can give you is [i]assurance[/i]"  Lihua stated. "Assurance that NEST will do everything in their power to protect your daughter, and help her learn as much as possible about her new gift."

"And what if she chooses not to? Can you assure her that she can lead a normal life?"

Lihua ruffed her hand through her bobcut, and said, "Of course, that is NEST's job... and if she chooses to reject her ability, then she may opt to be collared, and that'll be the end of it."

[i]Of course it won't deter those men. They know about her, and her ability, and what it can do... All they have to do is remove the collar. Though, I am underestimating NEST's ability, again. Efforts are going to be going towards destroying them, so they cannot commit an atrocity like this again.[/i] Lihua monologued. [i]Her best choice is to accept her gift, and learn how to use it, at least.[/i]

"And so she trades one prison for another with softer beds and a toilet seat." Bruno grimaced. Everything was a mess, and making decisions when every option sounded awful would never be easy. "I miss the old days..."

[center]- - -[/center]

The white room. It was strange to Meifeng, yet so familiar. She's seen this room plenty of times after bones were broken during her many competitions, or whenever she got into a particularly bad fight (Got her nose broken, lost teeth and gained wisdom, etc). Her eyes opened, and she felt grodily. Most likely from the morphine they've been feeding her. She felt something odd on her face, breast, and side. It felt like fabric taped to her... the familar feeling of a bandage. Meifeng's recieved plenty, this is nothing new. Yet, she used a hand to explore her face, and trace over the bandages. She reminded herself of what happened last night. [i]Oh God...[/i] Meifeng thought to herself. She was honestly surprised that she could even go to sleep last night. After seeing that madhouse, and what happened to Jen... oh God, Jen. She prayed that her blonde-haired companion would still be walking. As thoughts ran through her head, realizations rushing in, she was just sitting up. Staring aimlessly at the wall with wide eyes. 

"... Oh, miss, you're awake? How was your rest?" A nurse said as she walked in.

Meifeng didn't even acknowledge her. She felt that she was missing something. Something important. Something she abandoned - but could get back. She recalled Jen, Ratchet, her siblings... Anna. Yeah, Anna! She was so out of it in there... that Meifeng only felt rage towards those captors. Rage that was tripled when she thought that Jen died. Then it became sorrow when the battle was over. She shouldn't have left her behind like that. Jen and Ratchet could wait, she [i]had[/i] to find Anna. Meifeng, despite the urgings of the nurse, simply just reached in and tore the IVs and tubes that were connected to her right out. Letting liquids spill as she kicked the covers from over her. She then realized that she was wearing a hospital gown, didn't care. She could go without decency just this once. She got up, and started walking into the hallways.

"... Can you at least put some clothes on!?"

This place was different to Meifeng... she's been in the base, but she's never been in the hospital wing (She didn't even know they had one). And it was obviously uncomfortable to traverse the place wearing nothing but a hospital gown. She sighed in aggravation as she realized it could take [i]forever[/i] to look in every room. Though, she wasn't the type to give up like a bitch because things seem a [i]little[/i] hard she was going to find Anna if it's the last thing she does.

"Miss-" A passing nurse said to Meifeng as she was promptly ignored.

Through the halls of this hospital, Meifeng eventually reached her clue leading to Anna. The big old X on the map... Lihua and Bruno having a "[i]chat[/i]" outside one of the rooms. The one that obviously had to be Anna's. Geez. Bruno doesn't look all that happy. No one was, really.  And how could they? All Meifeng wanted to do was talk to Anna. Just once. She feared this might be the last chance she got. Letting out a sigh, Meifeng walked up to the door, swung it open, and stepped inside without giving Bruno or her mom a second thought. She closed the door behind her with her bare foot as both adults gave her a odd look.

There Anna was on the bed. In the same gown she was wearing, it would have been worthy of a joke if she wasn't in such a glum mood. Meifeng ran her hand over her forehead, and stepped over to her, "Hey, Anna..." For what felt like the first time in her life, Meifeng stumbled for words. 

Anna found them. "You should've brought popcorn. My dad's been chewing through NEST agents all  morning. I guess the word is out." She laid back and stared at the ceiling. Still overwhelmed by all that had happened, she still couldn't quite believe it. "My mum's coming to town. In fact, this morning was the first time my parents have talked in almost two years. Something about a class-action lawsuit... Everything's all weird now." She sighed and turned to Meifeng with a tired smile. "How are you feeling?'

"That's... heavy." Meifeng said in response to Anna talking about her parents meeting. It made Meifeng briefly muse about how she never actually met her father (Or hear Lihua even mention him), but she didn't want to depress herself anymore. She stepped over to the bed, and sat down on the side. Facing away from Anna, and with her head arced to the side. "Well... for starters, I got all these cuts from the fight... and I feel awful for letting Jen get hurt like that on my behalf... so, I can't say I'm doing good."

"I have a suspicion Jen would've felt awful if she hadn't done that." Anna countered. "And you don't grow back." She giggled.

"I know, but... it really looked like it hurt her, and I honestly thought she was [i]dead[/i] - Hell, she [i]could[/i] have been." Meifeng voiced. "I don't think she should have taken that risk for me. Especially when I could have handled that myself if she just... ugh..." She looked off to the side.

"I think you give her too little credit. She's much stronger than she looks." Anna's expression was soft and calming, like she already knew where Meifeng's thoughts had trailed off to. "Have you talked to her about it?"

"Not yet. I don't even know where she is. I was going to find her later, I guess." Meifeng shrugged nonchalantly. 

"And I don't really think you get it,"  Meifeng started off, letting out a sigh as she realized she was going to share some of her inner struggles with Anna. Should she? Was their bond good enough that she was willing to make herself weak? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. "You see Lihua there? She wasn't there for a lot of my life, and I was just stuck in China with my too-old-to-give-a-shit grandfather. I grew up on my own. Which meant I have to be strong. And when she actually came into my life, that got worse. She taught me that I have to fend for myself, protect other people, really. Handle your [i]own[/i] problems. It just... feels wrong - [i]really wrong[/i] - letting one of my best friends nearly die because I [i]couldn't[/i] handle myself." 

Anna leaned over and wrapped her arms around Meifeng with a warm, but gentle hug. "That's my Meifeng... Trying to take on the whole world by herself." She sighed with a faint chuckle. "Those shoulders are going to get pretty tired, though. It's gotta be tough carrying that much weight." An impish grin started to form. "It's silly, but to be honest... you wouldn't be you, if you didn't keep trying."

She didn't know what was in that hug, but it warmed up something inside of Meifeng, and hearing her talk made her feel better. "I know, my shoulders are just... strong." Meifeng started off. Though, there was something else, she wanted to share. She wanted to get off her chest. "You know... this is probably a real no-shitter, but I was pretty lonely up there in China. It felt like no one really gave a shit about me except for... me. Until I came to Black Fall... then Verthaven, and things changed. Everytime I talk to you, Jen, Trevor... things start feeling a little less lonely, you know?"

Anna didn't say anything, she just squeezed a little bit tighter. She and Meifengs would always be together--she will always be there for her friends--and Anna was certain her feelings would reach her without having to say a word.

Meifeng didn't say a word either - at first. She merely looked straight through the window at Bruno and Lihua talking. It was subtle, but they were keeping an eye on the room. Then the thought occurred to her, something inside changed. "... You know? I promise... I promise I'll protect you, Anna." Meifeng said. "Protect you from those bastards that kidnapped you, and every other maniac that decides to make you their target." She let the words hang in the air. 

Anna looked up to meet her friend's bold expression 
Something welled inside Meifeng; a powerful urge compelled her. With a gentle finger on Anna's chin, she closed the distance between them. Their lips met in a soft caress. Meifeng was so engrossed in the moment, she hadn't even realized she'd done it until their lips parted.

An electric rush coursed through Anna, heightening her senses. The could see with more clarity Meifeng's blush skin and could feel the warmth of their kiss still lingering. Her mind was blank and she struggled to remember how to speak. She wasn't sure what to feel. There are few things in the world which could leave Anna awestruck: firework shows, watching a summer storm roll in from the sea, the vastness of the cosmos. She could add one more to the list. 

"Anna... you light a special kind of light in me, and I never want to lose you again...." Meifeng said, with her heart pounding hard. She felt genuine attraction for Anna - which she's felt for several girls, but Anna now felt different. Everything else was unimportant. Lihua, the Hands of Science, NEST... she would beat them all in the name of Anna. [i]This is what it feels to love somebody.[/i] She thought to herself.

Lihua's mouth was agape. She literally had nothing to say. [i].... Oh my God, my daughter's a lesbian.[/i The thoughts immediately overwhelmed her mind. She just stood there, staring. [i]Trying[/i] to process what she just saw.]

 "What's wrong?" Bruno looked at Lihua and then at the girls inside. Both Anna and Lihua looked so surprised. "What happened?"

Lihua gazed at Bruno, and then said, "No." Before grabbing the backpack and walking off into the halls of the hospital. 

"I think we traumatized my mom...." Meifeng trailed off with a giggle in her voice. "It was great, though."

"What d-" Anna struggled to find the rights words. [i]Why? What do I do? I don't know anymore! [/i] Having no idea what to do or say, she was lost amid the confusion; she felt trapped by it. Nothing need be said. Everything was plainly revealed in worried expression. The muddled mixture of emotions made her feel more conflicted in her life than she had ever been. She looked at Meifeng with pleading eyes as if her dear friend would have the answer. 

Calmly putting her finger to Anna's lips, Meifeng was smiling slyly ear to ear. She chuckled, and playfully said,  "We kissed, dummy." 

She was so calm, and happy about it. Her heart was just full of butterflies. She opened herself up, and got so much in return. Though, she knew that if Lihua reacted like that and left, she's probably coming back with a weapon. Meifeng didn't know what, but it was a weapon. She slid off the bed, and her bare feet hit the ground. She looked back at Anna, and said, "I think I should head back to my room, and let you get some rest.... and my mom's probably going to get a fire axe."  Meifeng took a few steps forward, before she swung her head around - ponytail swinging - and gave Anna a look, "... I'd like to try it again later... if [i]you're[/i] interested."

Meifeng walked out as Bruno soldiered in, giving her an askance look as they passed one another. "Anna? Honey? Are you okay?"

...