New story, I know I know I should finish my other story's first but whatever... help me. This story takes place a year after Freak nation.

I do not own Dark Angel or the cover image for this story.

Chapter one: The Space Needle

Running, abandon mission, running.

No extra thoughts, just get out. I felt the fire, the heat of the flames. The smoke pushing itself down my throat into my lungs and making my chest burn, pain making it hard to take a simple breath. I could hear their screams, the ones I couldn't save, I had to get him out! My most important mission.

I jerked awake, bleary eyed and chest heaving. I could feel beads of sweat making their way down my forehead onto my cheeks. I pulled my sweaty hair away from my neck, taking a breath. Choking back the knot in my throat.

I had been sleeping in this barn for two weeks, long enough to feel safe. Which was why it was time to get moving, because when I felt safe and my mind calmed, the nightmares came. They came and they made it real, the images and the pain all flashed back to me. I looked down beside me, feeling my heart beat steady as I peered down at the still sleeping little boy. The sunlight shone through the cracks in the barn loft, lighting up his little face, making the light dusting of freckles across his cheeks stand out. I smiled slightly, brushing his hair away from his eyes.

The one freaking good thing Manticore gave me. Or should I say, let me keep. But not really, I wasn't aloud to be his mother and I couldn't have him in front of the other soldiers, so Manticore made him stay in the lower levels, with the anomaly's. Because if the others knew I was aloud to keep him, that could spark rebellion. But that was only because Renfro had a soft spot for me, a creepy one. She liked me because I was a carbon copy of her niece, who was long since dead.

He stirred slightly, opening his eyes to reveal the brilliant green color they were. That was my favorite thing to see when I looked at his face.

"Morning," I said softly, running my fingers through his blond hair.

He said nothing, not that I expected him too. He was doing what he was trained to do, even after a year outside. He was trained to never speak, never say a word. Because Manticore was afraid if they put soldiers in the basement to be punished, he might talk to them. Therefor adding a new spark into the rebellion that had long since been beat out of everyone.

"We're leaving today, alright," I informed him softly. He nodded, moving to raise up. I frowned at his appearance, a too big shirt with ripped jeans that were to long. They were just some things I stole off a cloths line. He yawned, and slumped slightly, before looking up at me and giving me a reassuring smile.

I was supposed to give him the reassuring smile.

I sighed, stretching gently, being mindful of the ache in my shoulder. We had a lot of walking ahead of us today.

An hour later we were two miles outside the city limits. When Skeet tugged on my sleeve. I looked down at him to see his little fingers moving quickly, forming words.

"Are we going to stay here," He signed. I rolled my eyes, before looking back at him.

"We might OK, but you know we can't stay anywhere to long," I reminded him. Ames White was searching all over the country for stray transgenics. Or at least that's what I heard from an X5 I met a few states back.

"Maybe we could go to TC, that's why we're here isn't it?" He asked.

I took a breath. "We're going to Seattle because its the next stop on the map, you said you wanted to see everything right?" Being locked up your whole life gave you a sense of adventure, in Skeet's case his was doubled. He never wanted to sit still, always wanting to do something or meet someone. It was hard to travel without him chatting up every stranger we came across, with me as his interpreter of course.

"We could stay there a long time, since its the last stop on the map," He signed furiously, giving me a smug look. For only five years old he had an attitude.

"We'll stay as long as I see fit," I said firmly, wincing at the disappointed look on his face. Even the most spastic adventures wanted a place to settle down. I knew that, but I couldn't, had to stay moving, had to keep running.

"I bet you'll like it there," He signed, smiling at me.

"How would you know, you've never been there," I said ignoring the pleading smile on his face.

"Don't matter, I can tell... you'll like it here," He grinned, walking a bit faster, in a hurry to get to the city. I frowned, I loved him but I hated his hopefulness. That was a dangerous quality when your a transgenic.

We walked in silence for the last two miles, until we came to the first sector pass. I took Skeet into the woods, before I combed his hair down over his bar code. I then made sure I had my hair brushed over my neck, and my jacket unzipped.

" I Don't like this part," He signed, looking up at me with a pout forming on his lips.

"Just bare with me, alright. We'll be fine," I assured him, then I took his hand and led him up the hill towards the uniformed guards. The biggest one was asleep, the smaller one on guard. He must be a rookie since he's actually doing his job. But he was also young and bendable.

"Evening officer," I greeted putting on a sickly sweet smile, twirling my hair a bit around my finger. His eyes grew wide, not really expecting a women to just walk out of the woods. But as soon as it came a flirtatious smile was put in place. His eyes briefly flickered down at the little boy grasping my hand tightly, before moving slowly back up to my face.

"Morning is more like it Ma'am," He grinned.

I shrugged, "Its the afternoon somewhere."

As I got closer I notice his eyes get lower, making me feel a bit squeamish. This guy was no match for me but it didn't mean I liked this any better.

"Is there anything I can do for you," He asked as I finally stood in front of him.

"See, my car broke down a few miles back and I left my purse at our house a ways away from the city, we've been walking all day and the kiddo here's hungry," I lied smoothly, tugging on Skeet's jacket sleeve.

"I'm sorry, would you like me to arrange a ride for you, Pete could take you back on his bike," He suggested, looking over at the bigger sleeping guard.

"No of course not, Id hate to trouble you both, could I just go on ahead and go through, I'll come back with my sister who we're visiting and she'll show you her pass."

His eyes widened a bit, before he started to stutter, "I-I don't know if that's such a good idea, the trannie's have been moving back and forth through the country, I'm not supposed to let anyone through without a sector pass," He said reluctantly.

"Come on, please. My son's tired and just wants to take a nap," I asked faking a desperate voice.

He looked like he was fighting with himself a moment, before he sighed deeply. "Alright fine, take care of the little guy alright Ma'am," he said gently. Giving Skeet a small smile.

I sent him a genuine thankful smile. "Thank you so much." He nodded before opening the gate and letting us through.

As we were walking away Skeet smirked up at me. "He was an idiot.. who's that gullible," He signed.

"He was using his down stairs brain," I chuckled. He looked up at me in confusion.

"What down stairs brain," He asked. I mentally scolded myself again I keep forgetting I'm talking to a five year old, I need to stop letting things slip.

"Don't worry about it OK, its not important," There was no way I was having that conversation.

"You never make sense," He signed slowly before he huffed, then he turned his attention back to what was in front of us. He grinned and pointed. I followed his finger before smiling.

"Yep Skeeter, that's the space needle."

I guess we finally made it to Seattle.