"What exactly do you want, miss?" The man asked. He was short, bald, and he reeked of something akin to dirt and rotting vegetables. And Max knew he didn't keep a garden, either.

"I just need a description. Has anyone been in here lately looking for a bike?" Max asked.

"If you're not looking for a bike, then I can't help you." He said, and waved her off. He disappeared behind the fabric curtain that resembled something taken from the floor.

Max groaned in frustration. A sudden bark from outside directed her attention briefly to the German shepherd that was patrolling the gates. She had remembered the shop as where her bike ended up before.

"Stupid police." She muttered as she recalled that event.

Then she recalled how she got it back. And a grin crept up to her lips.
***

"Where is Max?" Normal shouted from his window.

Everyone ignored him.

Original Cindy rode in on her last run of the day. She took her backpack off and shoved things inside it. When she shut the door, Normal was right next to her, his face in a tight grimace.

She knew that look.

"What do you want?" She asked. "Forget it. I don't wanna know. I just got kicked by a little kid who tried to steal my bike. This is not my day, so unless you got news with the words 'pay' and 'raise' in it, I'm not interested."

She sat down on the cough with a thump. Herbal and Sketchy sat around her, sympathizing. Normal just shook his head and returned to yelling.

"If it makes you feel betta, Cindy, I went down to the bar and this girl asked me if I was looking for change." Herbal said, nodding.

"And what did you say?" Sketchy asked him.

He smiled. "I said no, and she said 'Good, cause I am. You have any?'"

"That's a new one." Original Cindy said. "Who is this chick?"

"You'd like her, I think. Her name's Kate. She lives down the street from here."

***

You know, I got out for one reason: freedom. And what do I get? FBI agents. Whoever decided to shine on me for a moment certainly has a sick sense of humor. I mean, who is this guy? He's so green, I could run him over with a lawn mower and he'd get greener. The only thing I knew about him I found out from bits and pieces that I got out of the FBI files. They definitely decided to lock up the house a bit tighter now, after the pulse. And Aaron Robinson, who the hell is this guy?

Byrn rode through the streets on her newly acquired motorcycle, her hair tied into a ponytail. She hated it when it got in her face.

What am I looking for even? There's something here. Or someone here. I just have to find out who. Maybe the others are here too. Small coincidence, but I've learned to thank God for small miracles.

She rounded a corner and almost slammed into someone else. Someone on a bike.

'Watch it." Byrn said absently.

The girl on the other bike frowned. As Byrn started to speed away from the near collision, the other rider followed.

As Max rode beside her, Byrn glared at her.

"What are you, a stalker?" She said.

"I know who you are." Max said, knowing that she had said more than she knew.

"And who am I?" Byrn asked. Before Max could answer, she made a sharp turn into an alley.

Max groaned and went after her, matching her speed.

The alley was only big enough for one bike so Max had to stay behind Byrn, avoiding the various objects that she had thrown into the alley.

Finally, Max stopped. She watched the other rider speed away. She silently counted to ten. And then she took off in another direction.

Who the hell was that? And why was she following me? She could be one of Lydecker's gang. But she didn't look like it. Lydecker usually brought in the big troops, guns and berets. She looks like she could be one of the others. But she's just probably some random rider.

Byrn stopped to catch her breath when she had lost the stranger. She closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them-

"This is just great, isn't it?" Max said, smiling.

"Who are you?" Byrn asked.

"I should ask you the same thing. Only I know who you are. And I can help you."

"Why should I trust you?" Byrn asked.

"Because Lydecker knows you're here. And he got that information somehow and I'm betting your agent Robinson has a cell phone." Max took a dive into the unknown. Who knows if what she said was true or not? Right now, she needed to get this girl on her hook.

Byrn sighed. "Fine. I'll give you that one. He is a pretty annoying nutcase."

"I want you to meet a friend of mine. He'll help." Max said, getting on her bike.

By the time they got back to Logan's apartment, Max had been thoroughly impressed. The girl could've left at any moment but she stayed on track. And for an added dose of curiosity, Max shifted course a few times, weaving in and out of obstacles. And Byrn had kept right on course with her.

"So this is who we're looking for." Logan said, looking at her.

"Indeed. You found me." Byrn said. "So where's Lydecker? Is he gonna jump out of a cake?"

"Ugh, I hope not." Max muttered. "Logan, Byrn. Byrn, Logan."

Byrn nodded. "So Max informs me that you can help. I'd thank you but I don't know what I need help on."

"Neither do we, really. The Agent Robinson you're with.."

"The guy's an FBI rookie. He couldn't investigate his way out of a box just cause there wasn't enough clear and plain evidence to suggest that the exit was next to him." Byrn said. "But he knows stuff.'

"Like what?" Max asked, sitting down.

"His sister was a part of my group. You're the X5 group, aren't you?" She looked at Max, who looked stunned.

"How did you know-"

"Before I escaped, downloaded files from the main lab. Some random stuff like weapons specs, obstacle training, and cargo shipment. But there were also dossiers, classified documents confirming that there are at least three other groups out there. You were one of the longest running files. I sent the file to a friend of mine. Someone I could trust."

Logan shifted in his wheelchair. "What happened?"

"Lydecker killed her. But she stashed the information somewhere and I need to find it. And Robinson's sister was in my team. Only he's working for Lydecker still. The only clue I have is the note Ash sent me before Lydecker killed her."

Byrn looked into her pack and fished out a notebook. She took out a note and handed it to Max.

There was only a brief note written:

Byrn,

Must be brief. The sharks have found the fish. I'm sorry I couldn't help any more. The gold is stored in the 16th. I can't say any more, but I know you'll figure it out sometime. Don't let them get to you; you're the only one who can help the others.

Ash

"The 16th?" Max said.

"I think Ash meant the 16th kid in the groups. The file listed us all in numerical order. The 16th one…. 42510681384. There weren't any names. Whoever that is, they weren't in my group."

"They weren't in mine either." Max said. She looked at Logan, who was already working.

"Let's see if we can find the third group.

Max went to the kitchen. Moments later, she returned with two cups of steaming coffee. She handed one to Byrn.

"You think Lydecker knows where you are?" Logan asked.

Byrn nodded. 'I know he knows. Robinson's sold me out. He has from the beginning."

"It's not safe to go back now." Logan said. "We don't know when he might spring the troops on you."

"I know. I can leave town tonight." She said.

"We can help you with this. The 16th, whatever it is." Logan said. "Stay here for the night. It's safe here, trust me."

Byrn didn't know what to say. She wished she hadn't jumped so quickly into trusting Max and Logan. She had been blinded by the joy of seeing someone like her.

She nodded though. It was better than leaving again. More running.

Just then, Max thought of something. "Trytophan." She looked up. "Does your group need it?"

Byrn shook her head. "I read that part in your group's file. Somehow, their methods were different, I guess, but the X9 group didn't need it. But by the time we had all entered our early teens, half of us had died of complications. They said that half of us didn't accept the implant."

"What implant?" max asked.

"The X9's were implanted with a biologically engineered cerebral viral implant. It was supposed to keep the kids loyal to their parents. The ones who died couldn't handle the mental strain it put them under. The brain is forced to think under a set of logical rules. That's what keeps them loyal."

"Then how come you're not loyal?" Max asked.

"The ones who escaped, Kessa and I, we had them removed before we were transferred. They were supposed to put them back in after the transfer was complete, but I split before they could. We don't have addictions like the X5 did. The X1 were worse. Their systems were too weak to sustain heavy activity. Lydecker said they were his failures." She looked down in sadness. "Some of them would completely break down after exercises. It took them days to regenerate. As far as I know, Lydecker only 'repaired' a few of them before he decided it wasn't worth it."

Max nodded. 'And one of the survivors has the information. Does Lydecker know you have it?"

Byrn shook her head. Her damp hair sprayed little droplets onto the carpet.

"I covered my tracks. But he wants us back the same as he wants you."

"According to this, the remaining members of the X1 group were transferred to Fort Oahu in Hawaii."

Byrn and Max looked at each other.

"We got ripped off." Max said.

"Hawaii? I'm stuck in the frozen tundra and they go to Hawaii?" Byrn said. "Oh this war just got worse."

***

"Hey--" Sketchy said, looking up. He stopped when he saw the mystery girl.

"This is Byrn." Max said, nodding to the girl behind her.

She had brought her to Crash, thinking that it was the last place Lydecker would look. And she was always right, wasn't she? Besides, anything she could do to keep Sketchy off the topic of the mystery girl was helpful to the rest of the table's inhabitants.

"You're-"

Byrn nodded.

Original Cindy nodded in approval. "Grab a chair, Boo." She said to Byrn. "Maybe you can settle Sketchy's daze and glaze."

Byrn grinned as she sat down.