All's Fair in Love and War
Ten: When the Tables Turn
Max was nervous. It was a rare feeling for her and she was glad because she sure as hell didn't like it. When Logan had first proposed the idea to her she didn't think it would change anything. But when Original Cindy had called her to tell her what had happened on her way to work one day, Max decided to do it.
It had been a week after the Eye's Only hack that Max and Alec had seen first aired. Original Cindy was seated at a diner drinking coffee with Asha when the current program was interrupted with "Do not attempt to adjust your set…" All heads in the crowded restaurant turned to look at the screen.
"Hey Arnie, shut that guy off will ya." One of the patrons yelled to the owner behind the counter.
"Why don't you shut up." Original Cindy yelled at him.
"What, are you a tranny lover like he is? All this guy does is babble on about how trannies don't deserve the kind of treatment their getting."
Original Cindy opened her mouth to say something but before she could another patron cut her off.
"They don't. How would you like it if you or someone in your family were raped or killed just because of where you came from?"
"Come on, they're trannies."
"You sound just like those guards who raped that woman." A customer in the back of the room shouted. "It wasn't too long ago that I could be lynched for the color of my skin. Would you be one of the guys picking out the rope?"
The man's face reddened. "It's not the same thing and you know it. Transgenics aren't human beings."
"Cruelty is cruelty man. I can't believe you don't get that." Original Cindy whipped her head to the voice and smiled to find yet another person in favor of transgenics. Even better, the customers who remained silent were still nodding their heads in agreement.
Max was a little shocked after hearing O.C.'s story. Yeah, she had hoped that Logan's hack coupled with the footage and tape recordings would make a difference but she wasn't counting on it. But apparently it had. She knew they were a long way from gaining understanding and acceptance from the majority of the public but if they could get that, maybe they wouldn't have to hide in Terminal City anymore.
This was why Max agreed to Logan's idea. He had told her that the biggest problem was people's fear of what was different and unknown. His solution, therefore, was to let the public get to know a transgenic. And Max was going to be that transgenic. He hoped by hearing from her what had happened to her as well as hearing about her life as a transgenic, the public would see that transgenics shouldn't be feared as miscreations of science; if anything they weren't much different from everybody else.
So Eye's Only was going to take on a whole new format. Instead of eyes bordered by red, white, and blue, Max was going to be the only thing on screen. Logan would be off camera asking her questions. They debated on whether or not to put a blue dot over her face or to have her in the dark. In the end, they agreed it would have a much deeper impact if the people could see her clearly. They also thought it would be more powerful if it was done live. For the past week, Logan had been using Eyes Only to promote the day and time it would air.
"You ready Max." Logan asked. Max nodded feeling another twinge of nervousness. "Remember you can stop whenever you want to."
"I know." Max said quietly. But less than a moment later she squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. "Well come on, let's get this bitch over with."
AN: Okay how weird was it that Asha and Original Cindy were in the diner together? Well in my warped little head, I think O.C. and Asha would make a much better couple than Asha and Logan or even Asha and Alec.