Uninvited

Authors Note: This is a Series of Six Vignettes from 6 X5's who did not make it out in '09. Adam: X5584. Cree: X5344. Trigs: X5631. Finn: X5802. Frankie: X5439. Dragon: X5776. I own them all, but nothing else.

I was never one of them.

Not once did I ever see myself among them, as their brother, or as a comrade.

I was always a little faster, and a little quieter. Only a few really understood me, and even they never really took notice. I was always there, always one step ahead of Max and Zack. They never noticed. I was another face in the crowd.

When Ben would tell stories I would sit with Frankie and Adam in the back of the crowd of kids. Sometimes Brin would join us if Zack had yelled at her, or sometimes it was Jack when he felt the shakes coming on. Jack would sit with his head on Adam's lap and smile like a little child. Adam loved Jack. I remember holding her hand when he died. She was scared.

Zack never noticed Adam and me. We were tight as tight could be. We were Max and Jondy on a whole other plain. He never saw it. He ignored us, never smiled at us, never let us win.

…I shouldn't say us. Sometimes he yelled at Adam 'till she cried, or smacked Frankie when she started talking too fast. Max just stared at him, shocked at his conduct, till she forgot a few moments later. She was a good kid, little Maxie, just a little naïve.

There were six of us. Six of us who stuck together. Adam was the quiet one. Frankie was brilliant, always the smart one. Trigs was a brilliant doctor, and rather funny. Dragon was a big brute, not that smart, but real strong. Finn was the one with a voice for us. And me, just another X5.

I remember the nights when Ben told stories about the Nomolies. Adam would squeeze my hand and Trigs's at the same time. Adam was scared a lot. Frankie would come over and hug her, hug her like Tinga would hug little Krit and Syl. Tinga never hugged Adam. Adam was different and she scared Tinga.

Dragon and Finn would sit on the same cot with Adam, Frankie and I. They would sit and talk quietly, so quietly that no one else could hear them. They seemed to know how the other thought and when they would say things before they actually did. Those two pulled my ass out of the fire more than once when we went on missions, but back when we were kids, they were just two little strange kids.

Trigs would stand apart from us, though she was never far from Frankie. She and Frankie were best friends. I know now how close they are, but even back then they were bright and alert. Trigs was the best guard we ever had. She, like Max and Jondy, never needed to sleep, she and Frankie. Only difference between them and the infamous Max and Jondy was that Frankie and Trigs were quiet when they stayed up.

I remember Adam leaning back against me and me wrapping my arms around her. I loved Adam back then, I always had. Something about those blue eyes that made me just want to keep her safe from Lydecker. She didn't need my help. By the time she was ten and I was twelve she was able to handle Deck. He left her alone. He was busy yelling at the others.

I remember one night especially, just before the escape. Adam was cuddled up to me, her head resting on my lap. Frankie was on my left, rubbing the scars on her hands. She often burned herself often on food, or trays or other things. She was careless back then. I was holding her arm and squeezing it tightly, holding onto her for dear life. I was worried about Jack. His shakes had been getting worse. Frankie had figured out some herbs to make him stop shaking in the woods, but she hadn't been able to smuggle any in that night. She was worried for her little brother.

Dragon and Finn were sitting behind me making jokes. Adam was giggling, as she finally figured out the code Finn and Dragon spoke in. Finn smiled he leaned over to kiss Adam on the forehead.

Zack had told him a few weeks ago to stop kissing Adam. Zack felt it was bad and would bring the Nomolies.

Finn could care less.

As Ben told the story, Trigs stood by the door watching. I remember her running her hands through her short hair and sighing. She hated it when they cut her hair. I remember scaring one of the newer soldiers who rubbed her head by biting him. Trigs was always very protective of her hair.

"I wish we never had to move," said Adam, smiling at me.

"I know," I answered, squeezing Adam's shoulder.

"I agree," said Finn, smiling.

"Cree?"

"Yeah Trigs?" I said, looking to her. She was white as our uniform white shirts. She was staring at Jack and listening to the door.

"They're coming."

"Everyone to bed!" shouted Zack. Adam jumped from my arms across the room, kicking Brin in the head as she jumped. She dove into bed. Frankie rolled off my bed and into her own. Trigs slipped into her cot right next to Frankie's as Finn and Dragon pulled up their blankets. I lay down quickly and held my breath. I tended to hold my breath when I was nervous.

"Everyone up!" shouted the Drill Sergeant. I got to my feet and looked around. Lydecker walked up and down, yelling for a while.

Then it happened.

Jack began to shake. I could see the look in Adam's eyes, a look that begged him to stop. He couldn't and he collapsed.

That was the night I remember most clearly. There's a lot of time in my mind that's a big blur. My life after the escape is unclear to me. I remember being dragged back to Manticore and living out my days there. I remember seeing Max being brought in with Zack's heart. I remember leaving.

Many things in my life don't matter anymore. Most of the training I got makes nothing better for me. I just need to survive. With all the Anti-Transgenic Propaganda out there is it any small wonder that the ordinaries hate me. Not really.

I wonder if Zack ever really thought I was part of his unit. I wasn't really ever one he knew well. I doubt he knew my designation. X5-344. 439 and me are out here now, out here on our own.

I hope Finn and Dragon are okay. I wonder if Trigs has forgiven my error in judgement. I wonder how my dear sister Frankie is. I wonder if Adam can still feel the tears in her eyes from the night Jack fell.

I wonder if any of the 09 escapees give a damn about me. Me and mine worked just as hard as they did, but we were never part of them.

I guess we were uninvited.