Meg nodded once, acknowledging the mention of that day. Creed didn’t like to talk about his life at the Facility, but he had told her about the day he was pitted against Gavil in the “kill or be killed” match. His first act of defiance against Williams’ indoctrination was committed in front of nearly the entire adult population of the Facility.
Meg knew each of the adopted metahumans who escaped Williams to join her family had a clear and memorable instant when they turned away from their training and stepped out on faith. Meg already knew, this was to be Rhett’s moment. He just hadn’t yet grasped the profoundness of what was happening.
“Very few people at the Facility I could say this about, but Creed Young, yeah—I looked up to him. A lot of us did.”
“You’re telling the truth,” Meg narrowed her eyes at Hays as he moved to stand protectively between Meg and his soldiers.
“I have no reason to lie. I only want to do the right thing.”
“And you’ve taught them to think for themselves?” Meg nodded to the base in the north.
“I’ve tried to. We’re different from the other Companies at the Facility.”
“How did you manage that?”
“Years of guarded secrecy.”
“So you preach in whispers. You question the Director’s program in the dark, but when daylight comes, you slip your masks back on and play his game.”
Rhett squared his shoulders. “We did what we had to do to survive.”
“Until now.”
“This opportunity came and we knew we had to take it. It’s all been theory before today.”
“What is it now?”
“Judgment Day.”
Meg nodded solemnly, acknowledging his situation. “Your Company means the world to you, Hays. They’re your family.” Meg motioned toward his protective stance. “You would give your life for them.”
“It’s true,” Rhett agreed, his fists clenched involuntarily.
“My family means the world to me, too.” Meg stood, her muscular shoulders pulled back, jaw locked defiantly. The air around her seemed to shimmer with her courage. “We’ve been hunted for years by both Williams and Arkdone. We’ve suffered casualties at their hands.” Meg swallowed hard at the memories of Paulie and Gavil. “So, let me ask you: What would you do if you were me? What would you do if your family was being hunted and killed by a relentless enemy?”
“I’d do everything in my power to permanently stop the threat.”
“Then you’ll understand when I tell you there’s just one last thing I have to do.”
46 The Standoff
She stepped forward and pulled out the gun she’d taken from him minutes before. He held perfectly still and watchful, but his soldiers tensed, ready for a fight.
“See, my family, they’re more important to me than my own heartbeat.” With skilled hands she released the weapon’s mag to confirm it was fully loaded. “I’m sure both the Director and the Senator want me dead; I’m probably at the top of their kill lists. So bringing back my body would score you and your Company major points in both their eyes.”
Meg glanced at Valen and Harley before locking eyes with Rhett again. She smacked the mag back into place, turned the gun around and held the butt of it out to the Company Leader.
“Take it,” she motioned to her outstretched hand.
Rhett stepped forward to accept the gun.
“This is it, Hays,” Meg glanced down at the muted-black steel in the soldier’s outstretched hand and deliberately stepped into the barrel. “Now’s your chance.”
“Why are you testing me if you know I’m telling the truth?”
“I have learned thoughts and emotions are only part of a person. In the end, a person is defined by what they do, not by what they thought about doing.”
Rhett looked from the gun to the girl and back.
“We don’t have time for you to be indecisive,” Meg prodded. Slowly she moved her hands toward her hips. The sidearm at her weapons belt seemed to spring from their holsters into her hands. Rhett didn’t have time to react as she moved in a blur. Meg’s arms were outstretched to either side; a gun barrel pointing directly at Valen and Harley who flanked him.
Her voice was calm and steady. “I need to prove to you and your soldiers that you can trust me as much I can trust you. If you chose to align with me, you’re risking your lives just as much as I am.”
Valen and Harley remained still as stones, waiting for their leader to decide their fate.
“Springer, Yu—please step forward and retrieve your weapons from the ground.” Meg’s voice was icy calm.
The soldiers hesitated. “Do as she says,” Rhett ordered.
The two moved quickly to arm themselves. For what felt like a lifetime, everybody stood tense and ready to kill, their guns aimed at one another, but Rhett had seen enough. He slowly moved the Glock away from Meg’s chest and slipped it back into his side holster.
Meg followed his lead, dropping her arms and replacing her weapons at her belt. Valen and Harley lowered their weapons last, easing them into their harnesses.
The four metahumans stood, silently acknowledging their new alliance.
“Good. We’re decided.” Meg smiled genuinely.
“One more thing,” Rhett reached into a pocket on his leg, pulled out a small black box and handed it to her.