Chapter 3
Meeting
Zack walked into the bar alone. He told Tinga, Brin and Zane to meet him there after he talked to Krit. Brin was nearly jumping up and down with excitement when she spotted him across the bar. She's so beautiful, thought Zack. He wanted to smile, but he knew he shouldn't. Smiling would give the impression that he was happy to be with his siblings. He was, but he could never tell them that.
"ZACK!" called Tinga from her spot at the bar next to Zane. Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, Zack knew Tinga and Zane would know each other on sight. Zack walked over and sat down.
"Tinga, Zane, Brin, this is no a safe place," he said, "Honestly I thought you would have had more sense."
"I'm happy to see you too Zack," said Zane, "You know sometimes I forget you're my brother, not one of Stonewall or Meric's."
"I'm sorry if I'm the sane one!" said Zack, "Where's Krit?"
"His apartment," chimed Brin, "He got drunk last night. He's sleeping it off."
"I have an important question," said Zane, who Zack suddenly realized was drunk.
"Yes?" said Tinga and Zack at the same time.
"If you need to sleep before you feel the effects of a hangover, do Jondy and Max suffer?"
"Trust Zane to ask a question like that," said Tinga.
"Jondy doesn't drink," said Zack, "And Max…"
"Yes?" said Brin.
"Max doesn't suffer either."
"Good," said Zane, taking another chug.
"That's enough for you," said Brin, taking the beer away.
"That is NOT enough," said Zane.
"Well at least if they capture you Zane, they won't have to give you a sedative. You'll just fall over with a hangover."
"Ha ha Brin."
"Yes, I am quite the little comedienne," she said, smiling, "Can we go see Krit now?"
"Let's move," said Zack, getting up and walking to the door. Tinga quickly caught up with Zack while Brin attempted to separate the Bar from Zane.
"About Max…"
"What?" said Zack.
"Why haven't you heard from her."
"I'm looking. You know her, she was always the best at escape and evade."
"You'll find her."
"I know, but I miss her Tinga."
"Zack admitting defeat, I am shocked."
"Listen, she's one of those people I worry about."
"Who else you worried about?"
"Ben."
"I know. He called on me a few weeks ago. Scared Charlie."
"And someone you don't know."
"That girl?"
"What?"
"She held me up against a wall trying to find out where you were Zack."
"Her, and my big brother."
"Never heard of him."
"I just found out some things about them from a contact I have inside."
"What?"
"Just after we escaped, a team of 10 X5's were let out to tail us. Two of the girls were raped, one boy was too. They dissected three of them while they were still alive. The leader was forced to watch."
"Oh my god."
"Manticore went berserk, nearly killing the entire group of people, some of whom happened to be Manticore personnel. One X5 was declared insane afterwards, one needed therapy."
"Your mystery girl?"
"She needed therapy. They didn't get her. She was too well protected. The others went first because she was the leader."
"She have a name?"
"Zell."
"I've heard of her. She beat you up once on a mission. You told Max to leave her alone because you lied and said it was a member of the opposite team."
"I was protecting her."
"Why?" said Tinga.
"You wouldn't understand Tinga."
"Why not?"
"You never had to deal with the stuff Zell and I did. Zephyr too. We were always the oldest and best. It was expected."
"I was the oldest girl."
"Max was my second. Zell was the first girl I ever cared for. You know how long it took for me to admit I loved my siblings? You remember?"
"Years."
"That was because I was in love with Zell. Zell is my sister."
"Wait, did you 'Love' her, or was she your sister."
"Sister."
"You seem to mix those two."
"I don't know how it would be now."
"She the same age as you?"
"She, Zephyr and I were the 'oldest'. X5 499 was older than her, but was born premature. I don't remember his name."
"She still in Manticore?" asked Tinga as she pushed open the door and walked up the stairs to Krit's room.
"Yeah."
"She sounds cool."
"She was. I think she would have gotten along with Jondy."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because she and Jondy share a trait. Zell didn't need to sleep much either."
"I need sleep!" called Zane from behind. Zack grimaced as he opened the door to Krit's place. It was a dark little alcove, just the way Krit like it. He was a very dark person; he had been since Zack had made him and his darling Kiri split up.
"We know," groaned Krit as he walked out of his small bedroom into the small living room.
"Krit," said Zack, "I was in Boston and so close to finding Ben when you call me down her."
"I didn't," said Krit, "He did."
"He?"
"Hello Zack," said a kind voice. The owner of that voice walked out into the room, and Zack's eyes widened in shock.
"Adam…"
"It's good to see you Zack. I've been looking for you."
"I thought you were DEAD."
"Most people do. I like it like that. I can watch after my flock without fear, be it making sure Manticore is a few cities behind you, or making sure that the Manticore psychologists leave your sister and hers alone, or keeping your big brother safe."
"Everyone thinks your dead?"
"The ones who need to know don't. I have a few friends."
"Who is he talking about?" said Krit, "He keeps talking about the fact your going to have a family reunion, but when I ask him who, he mumbles about the X5 59's."
"YES!" said Adam, "Zack's big sister and big brother."
"Them?" said Zack; "They're coming here?"
"She's leading them. Her, him, X5 499, X5 763, X5 704, X5 234. You must remember them."
"No, I don't…" said Zack.
"Zell, Zephyr, Jaim, Kikai, Cine, and Misa."
"I remember their names," said Zack, "Zell made me remember them."
"Your sister…My baby."
"Who's this Zell?" said Krit.
"No one," said Zack, "Cause I'm out of here."
"Please Zay," said Adam.
"My name is not Zay. It's Zack."
"Zack, do you remember how you got out of Manticore?"
"Yes. I escaped."
"No. You got taken back."
"Did not."
"Zack, I worked there. I helped get you out."
*+*+*
Gillette, Wyoming, 2009
She moved silently down the halls. She had been trained to hide, and it was what she was going to do. She crossed her toes hoping that Kikai could feign illness long enough to keep the guards busy so she could reach the doctor and save her brother.
She heard a group of X series march down the hall, and panicked. She had been trained to follow orders, to listen to her superiors, to be a proper soldier. No one had taught her to sneak through the halls to save her brother, no one had taught her to fight the other X series to make sure her brother lived, no one had taught her how to act like a spy.
As the X series neared her, she jumped up and grabbed the ceiling, hiding as the X3's walked under her. She kept her toes crossed as she jumped down and kept moving forward.
She knew the doctor was likely in his office. The problem was finding the office. She remembered what it looked like from the inside, but finding it was a problem. As she walked around, she realized how small she was compared to the adults. Stonewall had called her into her office a few days ago and given her a small knife to defend herself. When she asked Stonewall why, she said that some of the guards liked little girls, and she wasn't about to let them have her best X5.
As she went down a third hallway, she stopped and sniffed the air. The scent of fresh coffee wafted through the halls and right into the X5's delicate nose. She turned on her heels and ran as fast as she could to the room at the end of the hall. Without thought, she burst through the door and shut it quickly.
"X5 593," said the doctor, Adam Matheson, a man of about fifty who was sitting on a comfortable looking chair reading a book.
"Doctor," said stammered, "They got him. They got X5 599."
"No they didn't," said the doctor, "He died."
"He's not dead," said Zell with a look of defiance in her eyes, "I saw him. They're going to dissect him, they're going to HURT him."
"X5 593, there's nothing I can do. X5 599 is dead and I have to leave it at that."
"They've already started."
"Then he's dead. They would never let someone cut open a live X5."
"Really?" said Zell, taking out the tape recorder she stole from one of the guards and pressing play.
"STOP!" screamed Zack, "PLEASE STOP! BLUE LADY SAVE ME! JONDY! BRIN! TINGA! BEN! KRIT! SYL! ZANE! TRIGS! ZEPHYR! MAX! ZELLY! ZELLY HELP ME."
"Silence X5 599," said the voice of Kurt Meric, "You are being punished. Take it like a soldier."
"I DON'T DESERVE THIS! PLEASE STOP! I WILL DO WHAT YOU WANT! I WILL HELP BRING THEM IN JUST PLEASE STOP!" he screamed. Zell's face had gone white listening to it, so she shut it off before her emotions got the better of her.
"They were cutting open his legs and touching the muscles," said Zell, "They were hurting Zack."
"This isn't possible," said the doctor, "I have to talk to the director."
"He's not involved. It's some new woman sent by the Mitties."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"We have to get him and show him to the director."
"They'll kill you."
"No, they need me."
"I have a better idea," she said, "If you'll follow me."
"Let's go 593."
"Good," she said, smiling evilly. She peaked out the hallway and led the doctor down the hallways and then ducked into her barracks. He followed her, and saw the other children watching her every move.
He was always amazed at how she moved. Even though she was just a child, she could move with the precision of a cat, her actions quick and deliberate. He marveled as the children gathered around her, their eyes full of love and adoration. She smiled, then gave them all the commands to go back to bed. He knew she couldn't talk because the guards would know.
She walked over to her own cot and he saw one of the males sitting on her bed. She tapped on the wall for about a minute, softly and quickly. The boy nodded and tapped something back. He stood up and started moving bricks out of the way; making a hole that would lead into the hall below. She helped the boy, then motioned for him to leave.
"Zell!" said X5 216, "Where are you and Jaim going?"
"Out, Kao," she said, then motioned for silence. The doctor moved to the hole and slid down. It was a tight fit, but he made it through and into the corridor below. Zell moved forward and tapped softly on the door in Morse code. It slid open, and out walked X5 596. The doctor was amazed. He realized then there was so much he didn't know about his children.
"What?" said Zephyr.
"Zack," said Zell, moving down the hall towards the basement. The doctor followed, keeping close tabs on the two boys. The animosity between them was obvious, though he didn't know why. The one, X5 499, if he remember correctly, was X5 593's second in command. He watched the looks the two boys shared and reminded himself to make a note on it when he got a chance.
He stopped when Zell stopped moving. She was peering through a window that led into the holding cells. He walked over and peered in. Two of Lydecker's X5's were strapped to tables, their wounds being wrapped up by other doctors. His baby boy, X5 599 was there, and another X5 he didn't know. He was shocked and horrified that it was happening.
"I'll stop it," he said.
"No," said Zephyr, "They'll deny it and move him. You were right Zelly."
"I always am," she said, "Jaim, take the one on the right. Zeph, the left. I'll get Zack out of the restraints."
"What am I here for?" said Adam.
"You're going to help us get him out of here," said Zephyr, "And if you say no, you'll join what we're going to do to those guards."
"Why?"
"It's the Mittie. They're hurting him," said Zell, her eyes looking much older than her tiny frame.
"The Mittie? The Committee?"
"Yes. The Mittie. They make the decisions that hurt us," said Jaim.
"I understand, I think," said Adam.
"Good," said Zell, "On three. One. Two…"
On three, they burst into the room. Zell knew there wouldn't be cameras. Miranda had shown her Zack and told her there were no cameras. Miranda had got her the tape. Miranda hated the way Kurt treated the X5's, and she intended to stop it using her own X5's. Never in her wildest dreams would she have guessed that her darling X5 593 would use X5 596.
Jaim quickly snapped the doctor's neck, and he fell with a thump. Zephyr jumped over to the other one and snarled. He was stitching up Zack's leg. Zephyr reached over and snapped the man's arm, then broke his ribs, then slit his wrists with his own scalpel.
"You are not supposed to hurt us!" he said as he left the man to bleed to death.
"Zack!" said Zell as she untied him, "Zack, time to go."
"How are we going to make this look like an accident?" asked Jaim.
"Not easy, but doable," said Zell, "Zephyr, get the gun off the doctor."
"Zell?" said Zack, his eyes glazed over from the pain.
"Zack, you need to do what I tell you," she said, "And Jaim, you need to understand what I'm about to do."
"Zell, he's your brother. I would like to live to be a full soldier though," he said, trying to smile even though he was scared.
"Don't scream."
"I won't."
"Forgive me," she said as she took Jaim's arm and Broke his forearm. She flipped him onto his back and then broke his lower leg.
"ARGH!" said Jaim, raising his other hand to bite on to relieve the pain.
"Adrenaline," said Zell, "Doctor, where is it?"
"On the shelf," he said, watching as Zephyr took a rag and wiped the scalpel clean. He then helped Zack off the table, and helped him grip the scalpel to leave his fingerprints on the murder weapon.
"You gonna give him a dose?" said Jaim.
"If he was up on it, he could do this. Jaim, we were exploring when we heard the commotion. You came in here and Zack broke your arm. I went out after him with Zephyr and the doctor."
"Understood," said Jaim as Zell jammed the syringe into Zack's leg.
"Zack, we've got to move out now!" she said. He nodded, and walked out into the hallway.
"Come on," said Zephyr. Adam shook his head and followed the children. The three of them ran down the hall, Zack limping because of his leg.
"Molly," Zack said halfway down the hall.
"No," said Zell, "I'll take care of her."
"You're not coming with me?"
"I told you no."
"You'll take care of Molly?"
"You have my word on it Zay."
"Thank you," he said as he ran. The doctor could tell they were going slow for his benefit, and he was grateful. He followed the three of them out into the woods, out to just in front of the fence. Zell stopped, her bare-feet leaving footprints in the soft snow.
"Can you get over the fence?" she asked.
"Yeah," said Zack, "Thank you."
"Anything for you little brother," she said, giving him a big hug. He then turned to Zephyr, his identical Twin, and gave him a hug.
"Zelly," said Zephyr, "There're not just going to believe that we let him go with out a fight."
"Zack, hit me and take the knife I keep tape to my leg. Stab Zephyr in the shoulder."
"No," said Zack.
"Do it," said Zephyr, "Zack, get out of here."
"NO!"
"That's an order Zack," said Zell, launching herself at him. He fended her off, but was left with a bloody nose. She fell to her knees, and motioned to Zephyr. Zephyr attacked, but Zack managed to fend him off too.
"DO IT!" shouted Zell. Zack grimaced, and took the knife from Zell. He looked at it, then plunged it into the upped part of Zephyr's shoulder.
"Now take the gun and shoot me in the leg," said Zell.
"NO!" said Zack, "No Zell, you could die."
"A soldier thinks about her squad before herself. I will not be able to live with myself if you die."
"Zelly, don't make me do this."
"I am Zay."
"Damn it," he said, taking the gun from her and aiming at her leg.
"Go over the fence first," she said.
"I don't understand you," he said, "Why?"
"I belong here, and you belong out there. I will take care of Molly and all of them. It's been decided they join my group."
"Zell."
"Remember what you promised me."
"Dancing, I know."
"Bye," she said, kissing him gently on the cheek. She let a tear drip down her cheek and then stood back and let Zack get over the fence. He cleared it easy, then turned the gun his sister.
"I love you Zell."
"I'll always love you Zack," she said, taking a fighting stance as he shot her in the leg, then dropped the gun and ran. It was then that the doctor knew his part.
"Attention!" he shouted into his cell phone after punching in a few numbers, "X5 599 has escaped. X5 596 and 593 went after him. Both are down. 593 has gunshot to the lower leg, 596 has been stabbed. Get Stonewall and Meric out here. I'll do what I can, but X5 599 has cleared the fence and is heading west."
"Copy that doctor Matheson," said the female voice, "We've got X5 493 here with a badly broken arm and leg. Any ideas what happened?"
"The soldiers said something about Adrenaline. Any syringes?"
"One."
"Maybe someone gave the kid adrenaline and pumped him up."
"We'll be right there."
"Thank you," said Zell as she closed her eyes and let herself be consumed by the pain.
*+*+*
Krit's Apartment, Orlando, Florida, 2018
"Do you remember?" said Adam.
"Yeah," said Zack, "How could I forget."
"Well Zell and Zephyr and that other one got hell for that. The officers preyed on their fears as punishment for doing something stupid like chasing you. Zell was locked in a five foot by five foot by five-foot room for a month. Zephyr watched that damned propaganda for almost two months straight. Jaim was experimented on. Zack, they all kept it a secret that they helped you."
"So?"
"These people saved you from Manticore," he said, "Don't you think you should do that same?
*+*+*
X5 599 is the enemy. He is not a soldier. He is a danger. He is a danger to you and your fellow soldiers. He must be eliminated.
"He's my brother," said a little voice in the back of Zephyr's head.
X5 599 is the enemy. He is not a soldier. He is a danger. He is a danger to you and your fellow soldiers. He must be eliminated.
"No. He was my friend."
X5 599 is the enemy. He is not a soldier. He is a danger. He is a danger to you and your fellow soldiers. He must be eliminated.
"He… He is my enemy."
X5 599 is the enemy. He is not a soldier. He is a danger. He is a danger to you and your fellow soldiers. He must be eliminated.
X5 599 is the enemy. He is not a soldier. He is a danger. He is a danger to you and your fellow soldiers. He must be eliminated.
X5 599 is the enemy. He is not a soldier. He is a danger. He is a danger to you and your fellow soldiers. He must be eliminated.
X5 599 is the enemy. He is not a soldier. He is a danger. He is a danger to you and your fellow soldiers. He must be eliminated.
X5 599 is the enemy. He is not a soldier. He is a danger. He is a danger to you and your fellow soldiers. He must be eliminated.
"His name was Zack."
X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599 X5 599
"X5 599 is my enemy."
*+*+*
Gillette, Wyoming, 2018.
"Eyes front!" yelled one of the officers. Zell snapped to attention and kept her face straight, even though she wanted to smile. She felt pretty in her new clothes, different. She knew her mission, and she knew it meant blending in with the rest of society for a while. Stonewall had allowed her to see some of the latest fashions and pick her own. She picked a pair of black leather pants, a black top with one strap, and a leather coat with sheepskin lining. She felt pretty, with her brown hair allowed to cascade to her shoulders.
"Good luck on your mission," said Renfro, "Listen to your leader and only report when you have something good, or something really really bad."
"Yes Ma'am," said the 6 X5's in unison.
"Get going," she said. Zell ran forward and onto her mode of transport. In order to blend in, she had been given a black motorcycle. The rest of her group rode in a green jeep, their guns stashed in the back. She got aboard the bike quickly and set off for Orlando.
Authors Note: You know the legal mumbo jumbo. Sorry it took so long.