AN: Once again, for some reason the rating next to the title won't change. It's going to stay PG-PG13 for the whole story. Thank you for the reviews! Here's the next part.
I'd unconsciously crept around the doorframe. I now stood in wide-eyed horror at the back of Cale's chair. It had never occurred to me that he'd do more research while I was in the city. Stupid really, but I'd kind of imagined myself as a shield between him and his work, so long as I was in the city. Three times more the idiot. In those few split seconds of shock, what continued to run through my brain was that I was going to be a bloody mess by the time Lydecker got through with me for this screw-up. A distant part of my mind registered thinking of my own well being before Manticore's as odd and shameful, but it was a very distant part.
Logan turned his swivel chair around to face me, jumping me out of my shock. I forced my face to become blank and met his gaze, trying hard not to squirm. He didn't seem surprised to see me. Just raised an eyebrow and smiled crookedly. If anything he looked a little annoyed. The annoyance slipped when he saw the look on my face, and was replaced by concern.
"Don't worry. Nobody will find out you were made there." I struggled with my calm exterior, inwardly flooded with shock and confusion. How the hell did he know I was a Manticore? And why wasn't he running in terror? If he knew why I was here as well, there wouldn't be any help for it, I'd have to kill him now, and face the consequences of a sloppy mission.
"How…how did you…?" It was all I could manage, but he understood and gave a lopsided smile.
" One of my contacts keeps tries to tabs on all of the X-series and their missions. When you disappeared, he found no record of a mission for you, and thought you might have made a break for it, so he sent me a picture. I recognized you in the park, and realized that he was right. I thought you might need some help." He paused. "You're not the first to try to get out of that hell-hole, but I'm pretty sure you're the first that's actually managed it. Congratulations."
I blinked. He kept track of us!? And he actually thought that I had turned my back on Manticore-wait, who had tried to run away? Nobody had ever tried, and I would know. My curiosity cancelled out all other thoughts.
"Who else tried?"
"After one of them was shot by Lydecker, a bunch of X5s tried to make a break for it back in 09. I guess they wouldn't have told you." Confusion swirled. When I was nine, I'd started having a dream where the others and I had jumped through the windows and tried to escape, only to be brought down. The dream had never made any sense to me though. I'd had siblings that don't exist. A sister called Eva, who was killed while trying to keep Lydecker away from me, and others who'd been killed while running. I'm always nine in that dream, and I hate everything to do with Manticore, so I've never told anyone about it incase they thought it was treacherous. The time frame matched, and an X5 being shot, but… it was just a dream. No one would ever run away from Manticore.
"I don't remember any of my family dying." It came out as more of a question than I wanted it to. Cale spun around and pulled out one of his files. He flipped it open and pulled out a laminated picture.
"This is the girl that was shot, you don't recognize her?" He handed the picture over, quizzical eyes locked on my face. Unnerved, I dropped my gaze to the photo. I gasped. It was one of the yearly photos that Manticore took of everyone on the base. And the girl…she was the girl from my dreams. Eva. How though? I'd never forget a sibling. And if the dream was true…No, I'll ask Lydecker when I get back. After a second's hesitation, I tuck the picture into a pocket. I'll worry about that later, I've still got my mission to worry about. Speaking of which…Cale's left me alone.
Small clanking sounds lead me to the kitchen. He's chopping up tomatoes with his back to me. I consider him. He's spoken out publicly against Manticore, but he hasn't really said anything other than that it exists, so he must not have much proof. He knows who/what I am, but my mission is highly classified, so he doesn't know why I'm here, and my position is still secure, so there really isn't any reason to kill him yet. It's annoying how relieved that makes me feel. I'm a soldier, death isn't supposed to bother me.
Cale finished chopping and turned to me, looking uncertain.
"You alright?" his eyes had a level of compassion I'd never seen before. It almost scared me.
"Yeah,…I'll be fine. Seeing that girl just…surprised me, that's all." It wasn't all, but I didn't really want to talk about it. He nodded, and looked at me a little warily.
"You weren't supposed to find out who I was, and I'd appreciate it if you didn't spread it around. There's a lot of people who absolutely love to have my head on a plate." Tell me about it.
"No problem." Relief flooded his face.
"Listen,…if you don't have the stuff already, Eyes Only can get you whatever you're gonna need to keep Manticore off your trail. ID, references, history, whatever. And it's easy enough to change if you decide to go somewhere else." I stared. No one had ever been this nice to me. Ever. It made me want to cry.
"S-sure. That'd be great. I think I just need ID." He smiled.
"I'll have it ready by tomorrow." He paused, hesitant. "Would you like dinner when you come for it?" There he went being sweet. It was nice, being treated like this, and I had to smile.
"Sounds great. Around 8 alright?"
"That's perfect." He seemed cheerful. I glanced at my watch. Shit.
"Gotta blaze. Normal's gonna kill me." He laughed as I rushed out the door.
****
I walked into Jam Pony an hour later than my run was supposed to take. Normal walked up to me, looking pissed.
"And where the fire truck have you been?" His voice was really annoying. Way too nasal.
"I took a break. Go bother someone else." Did I just say that out loud?
"You people are all alike." He threw up his hands and strided away, muttering under his breath. I put my hand to my mouth to stifle my laughter. God, that felt good. Still chuckling, I went over to where OC and two other workers, Sketchy and Herbal, were talking.
****
I came home from Crash late that night with OC after hours of drinking, talking, and laughing at Crash. I'd spent most of the night talking in turn to Sketchy, (a drunkard), Herbal, (a philosopher), and OC about everything from Buddha to how many of the women in the bar were likely to be interested in Sketchy. I'd also learned how to play pool and foosball, which was why I was 50 bucks richer. It had been the best night of my life.
Still grinning as I said goodnight to OC and went into my room, my spirits plunged when my cell started ringing. The only one who knew the number was Lydecker, and he would only use it in an emergency, or if he was really pissed. After briefly considering ignoring it, but knowing that that would only make things worse, I took it out of my bag with trembling hands, cleared my throat, and pushed the 'talk' button.
"I'm here sir." At least my voice wasn't trembling.
"X5-452, YOU ARE A DISGRACE!" I jerked the phone a foot away from my ear, but could still here him bellowing. "YOU'RE MISSION WAS TO FIND AND KILL EYES ONLY BEFORE HE COULD BROADCAST ANYTHING! WHAT PART OF THAT SLIPPED YOUR PUNY LITTLE MIND?" I tried to break in.
"But…" He cut me off.
"BUT NOTHING. THE COMMITTEE'S IN UPROAR AND I'M THE ONE WHO HAS TO ANSWER TO THEM FOR YOUR INCOMPETENCE! I WANT YOUR MISSION COMPLETED AND YOU BACK HERE FOR DISCIPLINARY MEASURES IN 36 HOURS! UNDERSTOOD?" He hung up before I could say anything. I stared at the phone, and I couldn't remember ever feeling worse. 36 hours…
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