Lying on her bed in a room that wasn't much bigger than a typical faculty bathroom, X5-734, Brin, watched the gentle beginning of snow. It splashed against the glass, which was covered by thick iron bars so that she could not have escaped, no matter how hard she would have tried. Soon, the cement windowsill was filled with the tiny ice crystals, and Brin's view of her outside world started to become obsolete.

Turning over on her back, she swung her legs, covered in cheap, starched cotton, out of the rickety bed. Her bare feet hit the floor, and she nearly drew them back into bed from the coldness of the harsh cement. But, doing so would be a weakness and she, as a soldier, did not feel weaknesses. So, she pushed herself out of the bed and walked over to the window, ignoring how icy the cement felt.

Her long black hair cascaded down her back, no longer in a typical braid. She briefly remembered a time when a boyfriend, with a name she could no longer recall, would run his fingers through her hair, telling her how beautiful she was. He had lived a good life-until she had killed him later on.

She had already been established as a part of Manticore by that time and they were out searching for X5-493. Although she had not been put into Alpha team, Colonel had allowed her to look around the city for any leads that could prove worthy. She found her boyfriend, and the minute he tried to touch her hair again, his neck was broken.

Pinching her small lips together, Brin tried to stop the person she once was from overtaking the new one. Every one in awhile, this old Brin would push emotions into her new counterpart, and there would be a fight to regain control.

Of course, the mental scuffle was brief because the new, improved Brin was far more powerful than the weakling.

As she leaned against the brick wall, she watched the building snow outside, creating speckles against the cloudy sky. She pressed her thin hand to the window and immediately fog built around her imprint. This time, Brin drew her hand back quickly, not only from the pain of such coldness, but from the pain of the memories.

She remembered the freezer and how she had hidden there as the men talked in their foreign tongues. Zack came for her…but no longer was he Zack…he was X5-599. Zack didn't exist.

But, X5-599 came for her and so did X5-452. They helped her. Saved her. They had made her better by allowing her come back to Manticore.

It was almost funny if Brin thought about it long enough now. Both of them had cried over losing her. Even X5-599-who was supposed to be the strongest of all of them, who had led them out of Manticore in the first place-had cried. And he didn't even try to hide it.

Wimp.

Colonel had obviously overestimated his strength. Might as well kill him off with X5-493.

Suddenly, the door to Brin's room opened and Renfro, her true leader, stood there, dressed for travel, looking slightly surprised to see her perfect soldier out of bed. Brin whipped around, immediately saluting her superior.

"Come," she said to Brin. "We have to go on a little trip."

"Yes, ma'am."

Renfro nodded curtly, agreeing with Brin and left, shutting the heavy iron door behind her.

Not questioning such a disturbance in the middle of the night, Brin began to get ready as her fingers flew through her hair, forming the typical braid once again. She pulled on the black pants and heavy shirt with a bulletproof vest. As she finished tying her shoes, she felt the onset of memories as the snow grew heavier outside.

Angrily, Brin spat in the direction of the window, trying to deny everything. Then, she turned and left, ready for whatever her leader had in store.