She'd been here before. She couldn't leave the clearing because there was something evil waiting for her. The Something was even more dangerous than her. She looked across the clearing to their tree. The wreckage was all around, and she tried to yell no, this is wrong, the accident happened miles from here. Her scream was trapped in her throat, and she had no choice but to continue. All around her the trees seemed to whisper it was no accident, you killed her.
Alicia woke with a start. Her body remained still as she tried to assimilate her surroundings. She lay quietly for a moment trying to slow her heart rate and remember what had happened. She'd had a seizure. Someone had taken her med case. She was feeling very clear headed and refreshed, so someone must have given her a dose of Blue.
She had some vague memories of afterwards. There were points where she'd been almost awake. Zack had been there. Had she dreamed him kissing her? Probably. Had Max come in at some point? Alicia thought so, but she'd probably have a couple of stab wounds if Max had been here by herself.
God, it was hot in here. Why had she had that seizure anyways? True, she'd been on intense training runs right before she left, and then all the fighting, but she should have been okay. The only other thing was…why was it so hot in here? The only other time she ever had seizures anymore was when she was going into…no, oh, no, not now. It was way too early for that. She had to be in top shape now, and not easily distractible for the next twelve hours or so. She wasn't due anyways for a couple of weeks.
There was a light sweat on her forehead as she got out of bed. Please don't let Zack be alone, she thought, already starting to feel the tension building in her. He'd get hurt.
It was nighttime. It was also very quiet. She paused on high alert, and then there was a familiar voice in the dining room.
"Original Cindy just worried 'cause she was the freaky one, now home girl got the real freak show 24 / 7 'round here." There was a pause. "Raise you."
Good. Nobody worth mentioning was around. She grabbed her gym bag, wanting to make sure everything was in it, but not wanting to use the zipper and make noise. Her med case wasn't lying around, so hopefully it was back in the bag. She'd get more if she needed it, though. She did have contacts on her own, she thought proudly.
She turned for the door when Logan's voice stopped her. "You might want to have some dinner before you leave," he called, still in the dining room. "And I think Zack might want his jacket back."
How had he? A small black camera in the corner caught her eye. Place is probably covered better than home, she thought sourly. A thin odor caught her nose, and her stomach growled in response. Okay, so she was hungry. She'd existed on energy bars and low rations for a week, and had been too distracted when Lee took her out to eat then. What was that smell? Lemon…cream…pasta…garlic…maybe she had time for dinner.
She walked into the dining area with the bag still over her shoulder. Original Cindy was playing poker with Logan who appeared to be losing. Logan's smart-ass look could easily be removed, she thought. Ah well, he got her once. Score one for Eyes Only.
"Where is everyone?" Alicia asked.
"Bling had something to do, and Max and Zack are patrolling the block making sure it's clear," Logan replied, looking at his cards. He threw in another chip. Cindy grimaced slightly. He motioned towards the kitchen. "Food's in warmers help yourself."
She went into the kitchen, and found fettuccine alfredo with lemon pepper chicken. Real chicken. She made a plate and went back into the dining room. The least she could do was be civilized. Besides, Logan wasn't hard on the eyes at all…STOP THAT!! Bad girl, she scolded herself. You will be a solider at all times girl, so suck it up.
Logan had noticed her pause when she sat down. He was cute. "What's wrong?" he asked in a slightly sarcastic manner. "Not used to real food at Manticore?"
Maybe since Max was gone he had to make up for the sarcasm. She adopted the most arrogant tone that she could. "I was just wondering what kind of barbarian makes fettuccine alfredo and forgets to top it with nutmeg," she replied. "Good thing I'm trained to deal with inhumane conditions while on missions."
She could tell that wasn't what Logan was expecting to hear back. He actually started to laugh, and so did Cindy. She took a bite. Good. Very good, actually. Who was the cook around here?
"You said Zack and Max were patrolling?" she asked suddenly.
"More like sitting on the roof of the next building talking," Logan replied. It was hard to keep his voice steady. He knew Zack felt more than brotherly to Max, and even though he and Max were really together now, he still didn't like it.
"They shouldn't be exposing themselves."
"Boo got it covered," Cindy said. "Girl knows what glass to break in case of emergency."
Logan looked directly at Alicia for the first time since she'd woken up. "What happened?" he asked suddenly, his voice full of shock.
Alicia was enjoying dinner too much to try and figure out what he was trying to say. Better to think of food then how hot that black turtleneck looked on him. She was in trouble.
"You tell me," she replied placidly. "I was asleep."
"Your face!"
Even Cindy was looking at him like he was nuts.
"When you came in today you had a bad bruise on your cheek. Then Max hit you in the face, and it became more bruised and swollen. Now there's no sign of any damage. Even Max doesn't heal that fast."
Well, he finally decided to make sense. She touched her nose. Didn't hurt at all. Good. Hey, she had one up on the fivers. Sometimes her genetics ruled.
"I regenerate in my sleep."
"Regenerate? Like grow a new leg or hand? What are you," Cindy drawled, "some kind of lizard-girl thing?"
"A little." Was the alfredo homemade? Where'd he get fresh cream? Who cared, it was fabulous even lacking nutmeg.
Now both of them were gawking at her. She put down her fork.
"My genetics aren't exactly like the fivers. The doctors wanted to spice up a few things when they were working X-6. Someone decided to see if they could dig the regenerative properties out of a lizard and drop it into us. So they tried with pretty decent results." She stopped talking and resumed eating. It was better to look at her plate.
"So if we're talking biology, what happened to you?" Alicia asked Logan. She hoped he didn't read anything into the question. She sure was.
"Me?"
"Something did. You walk slightly off centered." But your rear still looks good.
"I got shot in the back," he replied. "I was in a wheelchair for a while, but…ah…after therapy and the like I was back on my feet."
Why is everyone into telling half-truths today, Alicia thought. One complete and honest answer would be nice. Whatever had happened to cure him, he didn't want to talk about. Maybe it was better not to talk at all. He had a very sexy voice. She went back to her food.
"So you got scales anywhere?" Cindy asked, not quite over the lizard DNA thing. Why must I always be the science project, Alicia thought.
"No," she replied, trying not to get upset. She was different, and they were curious. Perfectly natural, but still annoying. "There's not much else in me using that dash of DNA." She thought for a moment. "Except this." She stuck out her tongue and curved it up. It touched the bridge of her nose, and she put it back in. She gave them a tight smile and went back to the pasta.
Cindy looked rather excited. Well, maybe if Logan was off-limits, WILL YOU STOP THIS??? Alicia pulled off her jacket. It was incredibly hot in here. From the look on Cindy's face, it was obvious she'd noticed Alicia's subtle glances. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PASTA!
"You okay?" Logan asked. "You look a little…sick."
"I'm fine," she snapped. This was so much worse than before. At home she would lock herself in her room, and all of the males knew not to approach her until she came out. Now she knew what she was missing, and in about two seconds one of them, maybe both of them, who really cares at this point was going to end up with her all over …COLD SHOWER NOW.
Logan almost fell over backwards in his chair when Alicia jumped over the table, clearing it easily. She had been edgy, and she had looked sick, and extremely fidgety, but he thought it was an aftermath of the seizure. His eyes met Cindy's, and he saw the same confusion in her face.
They followed Alicia's tracks into the bathroom. The door was open, and they could both see her standing fully dressed under an ice-cold spray of water. She had one hand on the wall, bracing herself, and was letting the water pour over her. She was shivering, but not getting out from under the water.
"Alicia?" Logan said hesitantly.
She didn't even want to look at them. They'd been around Max; they should know what was going on. Maybe they thought she was different in that way too. This was way too embarrassing.
"I have the same base biology as Max," she said through clinched teeth. She could see them out of the corner of her eye. They still looked confused. "Oh, just shut up and get me a towel."