"What is that supposed to mean?" Logan asked Lydecker. "That they'll turn into psychotic killers just like Ben? Or something worse?"

"The effects are unknown. Yes, they could turn into serial killers, but I doubt that-"

"You doubted Ben and look where that got you. Cross country murders and a dead X5 soldier."

Lydecker nodded his head reluctantly and chewed on the inside of his cheek. That's when he realized that reasoning with Logan would not help him. Logan wouldn't reveal anything that he thought would harm Max. Lydecker would have to manipulate his mind so that Logan thought he would be helping Max, instead of doing the exact opposite.

"And that's why I need to find Max…and the others."

"So you can put them back in a cage?"

"No, no. I love those kids. I created them, after all-"

"Some way to show your artistic flair," Logan bit sarcastically.

Lydecker ignored Logan's comment and continued, "I just want to make sure that they will be ok."

"You'd like to make sure of a whole lot more."

"Manticore is falling. Without any funding, the entire project will go down the drain. Therefore, if one of my-"

"They aren't yours!" Logan spat.

"Then whose are they?"

Logan said nothing, for there was nothing he could say. Lydecker had a point, and they both knew it.

"That's what I thought," Lydecker replied. "Anyhow, if the kids comes up with a genetic disease-like Brin and the Protega-they'll die because Manticore will no longer exist. And, what about their seizures? I'm sure, considering how well you know Max, that you've seen her having one of those."

"Yes," Logan whispered, remembering how terribly Max's body had been attacked by monsters that she was unable to fight.

"Mm-hmm. If they don't get Tryptophan quick enough, they could die. But-" Lydecker said, raising his index finger to make the point, "we have figured out how to change that."

"I'm pretty sure you can't change a being's genes after they're alive."

"But look at Brin. She was nearly dead and now she's a perfect human."

"Too perfect," Logan muttered.

"The others, all of them, could be cured."

Logan paused, thinking about what Lydecker had been telling him before speaking. If Lydecker told the truth, Max could be in danger of death perhaps and Logan would feel guilty about it for the rest of his life. But, if Lydecker was lying…

"So, what you're saying, is that you brought me here to tell you where Max is so she can lead you to the others, and you can save them all from their genetic defects."

"Something like that, yes."

"Well, what about…Zack? He was here awhile ago. Find any defects with him?" Logan asked, arching an eyebrow. He wasn't stupid, and he could see what Lydecker was getting at. Yet, the truth was still unknown to him.

"We didn't have the technology to treat such faults until lately. When he was here, that wouldn't have done him any good."

"So, you just suddenly developed this radical new technology in a matter of weeks…months at the most…that enables you to cure people. I would assume it would take years to create something so highly advanced."

"The project was finished, but the tests were not. We had to make sure it would work before we would use it for its real purposes."

"And the test subjects?"

"Once generation X2 anomalies…now they're in remission and will soon be up for work."

"Work? Or should you saying killing people?"

"They'll be soldiers. Perhaps, if you're doubting me, you'd like to see them?"

Logan was tempted to smile, for Lydecker had to be lying. There was no way a man such as he could be telling the truth. But, Logan thought, two can play this game and Mr. Donald Lydecker's going to learn not to bite off more than he can chew.

"Fine," Logan answered. "Let's go."