The doctors wheeled in the unconscious patient quickly. The other patient in the room didn't even seem to notice, but then again, that was just training.

"Blood loss?" One of the doctors asked, hooking up the patient to an IV.

"Not much, but he's going to need a transfusion." Another doctor replied as she ripped the patient's shirt open to get better access to the wound.

"The series hasn't been eliminated?" A doctor asked as he hooked the patient up to a machine.

"Not as of yet, but you never know when he'll drop the command." A female doctor said. The atmosphere was suddenly more relaxed.

"He's eliminating years of hard work." One doctor commented.

"They want Manticore to be erased." Another doctor said as he worked to get the bullet out.

"Who's they?" A doctor asked.

"The committee? Who really knows?" The doctor who was working on the bullet asked. He just got a few mumbles and murmurs in reply. "Got it." He dropped the bullet in a small metal tin and took a step back. "Someone stitch him up. I'm getting out of here. Let me know how the transfusion goes."

The doctor left the lab, followed by a few others.

"You guys can handle him right? The stitching? The transfusing?" A doctor asked before he left.

"We'll be fine Peter." The female doctor said.

"All right Tracy, I just thought that you and Carla would like a little help." Peter said and raised his hands in surrender.

"We'll page if we need you." Carla said. Peter smiled and left. "Honestly, we girls can handle it."

"Quite right my sister." Tracy said. They both looked at each other and laughed a little.

"I got him all stitched." Carla said and wiped her brow.

"Let's start the transfusion then." Tracy said and went over to a small refrigerator and pulled out some blood. She walked back over to the patient and hooked it up to the equipment.

"So, after this is done we can head out, right?" Carla asked as the blood starting winding down the skinny tube.

"Unless someone else gets injured." Tracy sighed.


The doctors long left and the patient began to stir. The other patient watched him intently. She didn't know why any of this was happening. It wasn't the way of Manticore to do these types of things, but she wasn't about to speak ill of Manticore. Manticore was home, although it didn't feel like home since the Director had been killed. Murdered. The Director had been murdered.

Her curiosity got the best of her and she hopped off her own bed. She walked over to his bed and picked up his chart.

XS-916
a.k.a Theo

"Theo." She said.

Theo's eyes fluttered open and he groaned.

"Where am I?" He croaked.

"You are in Manticore. The hospital wing to be exact."

"Who are you?" He asked. "Are you a doctor?"

"No." She said. "I am X5-734."

"X5-734? Do you have a name?" Theo asked.

"My name is Brin."

"Well, Brin, what are you doing in here?"

"I was shot." Brin said without emotion.

"By who?" Theo asked.

"I was shot by Mr. White."

"I was too." Theo said. "Shot by Mr. White, I mean."

"It says so on your chart." Brin said and clipped it back to the bed.

"Why did he shoot you?" Theo asked.

"I don't know." Brin admitted. "Why did he shoot you?"

"He said I failed him. It was the first time and it's not like the rogues were doing anything bad."

"Rogues? What rogues?" Brin asked.

"XS-618, my sister, and I don't know who the other was. She had dark hair and -"

"Max." Brin whispered.

"Hmmmmm?"

"Rogue X5-452." Brin corrected herself.

"I wish I were a rogue." Theo mumbled.

"What?" Brin asked, hoping that her genetically enhanced ears were deceiving her.

"They get to be free and live out in the real world." Theo said. "I want to live in the real world. They do whatever they want. They wake up at whatever time they want and go to sleep when they want and they get to do all things they want in the real world."

"Sounds like the Good Place." Brin said quietly.

"Huh?" Theo asked, confused.

"Nothing." Brin said. She thought long and hard about her decision. She couldn't even believe she was about to say it. "Lets leave Manticore."

"Are you serious?" Theo asked.

"I wouldn't leave it normally, but I've gotten word...Mr. White is eliminating Manticore. I'd rather leave Manticore than see it destroyed by a crazy man. I don't trust anyone who wants to destroy everything."

'Not the best way to get her out of here, but whatever works.' Theo thought.