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Buses & Trains

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Later Than Late

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Max strolled into work at least twenty minutes later than her usual ten minutes late and Normal only gave a snort of disgust and a mutter that sounded suspiciously like 'don't know why I bother...' but dismissed it as Normal's normal behaviour. She usually got a real verbal sarcastic swipe at her, which usually passed over her head some thing along the lines of "You're late one more time missy!" You get the picture. But she could care less, she saved another transgenics life last night, while it was immensely satisfying to know she was making a difference it still took a lot out of her.

"Hey Max, you're later than late" Sketchy greeted her and she rolled her eyes, "And you look like shit." He said with a grin in his tone, for once he told the truth, there were shallow half moons under her eyes and her thin face looked more haggard than usual.

"Thanks Sketch." She said sarcastically, opened her locker and grabbed her backpack, closing it she came face to face with Original Cindy who looked like she'd tasted something sour.

"Hey, what's with the face?" Max asked amiably

"The joker card seems to have drooped." Original Cindy replied

"A little more specific please?" Max said with a toss of her head, her brown hair swinging mid-back, Original Cindy nodded over to the other side of the Jam Pony. Max followed her gaze and felt her eyes widen in suprise.

Alec.

Alec alone as well, which was strange just in itself but he looked... sad. The sadness sparkled in his eyes; a few strange glances were going his way and not just from Max and posse.

"He looks really down, Sketch?"

"Yup?" Sketchy looked over from his own locker,

"You tried to-"

"Already tried, he's like a big stone." Sketchy said spreading his hands in defeat, Max made a concerned noise and went to go over to him and both Cindy and Sketchy grabbed her arms. "I wouldn't." He added

"Why not?" Max asked raising a sceptical eyebrow and Sketchy sighed,

"Does the man always have to explain?"

"He doesn't want company, trust me" She said emphatically as Max went to speak, "Besides, Normal's givin' him a run." Original Cindy stepped in taking over the pants role and though it tweaked his annoyance Sketchy let it go, despite the unspoken slight. Meanwhile Max frowned.

"Did anyone get anything out of him?" She asked watching as Alec wheeled his bike out of the workplace then she turned back to her friends who shrugged.

"Not that we know of, a few tried to, looks like there's humanity left."

"Look's like." Max answered softly

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Max pedalled furiously, against her better judgement she had gone after Alec; she had a semi excuse because her run was in relatively the same place. She hopped off her bike and made her way up the path, she may as well deliver her package since she'd lost him anyway, and knocking on the door she sighed heavily but pasted on a smile.

"Hello?"

"Jam Pony messenger."

"Oh, ok" There was the usual and homely sound of a deadbolt and several other locks sliding back and finally the door swung open and a small face looked out at her. Max smiled more genuinely, she was cute, and her elder version sister or mother maybe, smiled at her and took the package quickly signing.

"Thank you,"

"Have a nice day." Max uttered her usual phrase and the woman smiled,

"You too... come on sweetie, inside." Max glanced at the signature, Brittney Murphy was leading the little girl inside and then she hurried down the stairs and grabbed her bike, cute kid. She smiled and moved towards the street, time to return to the pony.

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Alec returned to the messenger service and glanced around despite himself he wanted to make sure it was a Max free zone. Maybe it was that time of month where it was feel pity for Alec, he'd seen the looks he'd been getting all day from his co-workers and now wanted out. He needed to clear his head, and it wasn't going to work if no one would leave him alone.

He went to his locker; feeling like he was moving in slowly motion and like it took an hour to get

there, even if it only took a few minor seconds, a few seconds out of his life, what about that? His head hurt, he needed a good stiff drink.

"Hey Alec! Run!" Normal called, Normal was alright, but sometimes Alec wondered about him, he was slightly scary. But then again, he couldn't say he wasn't, or Max… or Original Cindy, she wasn't that bad, she just said things straight up about the facts of life. Too bad most of it was against the male half of the population.

"Hey, Alec… what's up with the face?" Sketchy swung around the lockers corner and slapped one of the lockers.

"Not much Sketchy, just…"

"Having a bad day?" Original Cindy piped up,

"Yeah, are you two like… male/female twins?"

"We aren't identical dude." Sketchy flopped onto the bench and Original Cindy smacked him around the head.

"He means fraternal fo'."

"Oh. Huh?"

"Connected in mind" Max slipped in her voice and took a seat next to Sketchy while looking up at Alec until he shrugged and turned around rummaging in his locker for something.

"Man, Normal keeps giving me these shit runs… all the way out in sector seven, and he expects me to get a signature, this guys going as sloooow as he possibly can and I just wanna get the fuck out of there, you know?" Sketchy complained bitterly shooting evil looks at the main desk,

"I know." Original Cindy said, "It's like he's trying to make our lives miserable." She paused, giving thought to that.

"This is Normal, he is trying to make our lives miserable." Max added examining Alec's rigid posture, what was up with him?

"I would've taken it, extra cash" Alec said absent mindedly, Max laughed shortly.

"You? Extra work? Yeah right,"

"Lay off!" Alec snapped losing his cool momentarily, Original Cindy avoided Max's appealing gaze, then Alec closed his locker heading for Normal. Taking the package he hopped on his bike and wheeled out quickly, Max hurried over to Normal who eyed her.

"What do you want?"

"Where's his run?"

"You're not going to bother him are you?" Normal asked suspiciously,

"…"

"Stupid question. You can take this one since you're going to go yell at him."

"I'm not-" Max began to protest but normal shook his finger at her.

"Bip, bip, bip!" Max took the package and raised her hand to Sketch and Cindy before grabbing her bike, time to go play Max with a touch of pity. Sometimes she hated having a conscience.

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R E V I E W

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