Outside, the snow was heavy and thick, threatening to suffocate the earth. The Hummer that Elizabeth Renfro sat in would pitch forward occasionally, having a difficult time pushing through the snow. She could only pinch her thin lips together even tighter and hope that they would be able to make it to X5-656 before it was too late.

Beside Renfro sat her most prized possession, X5-734. She was a beautiful soldier. Lydecker had done well with both her military training and overall genetics. She was swift and cunning, ready to kill if necessary, but also holding back so as not to turn into a murderer like her brother, X5-493. Her looks were equally stunning as well, and she portrayed an overall sense of dignity, yet artfulness.

The vehicle pitched forward once again and Renfro nearly tumbled forward out of her seat as they climbed over yet another drift. "How much longer?" she asked the driver impatiently.

"I don't know, ma'am," he admitted reluctantly. "It's rather hard to tell in this snow, ma'am." The driver was actually one of her own private soldiers-not Lydecker's. Lydecker's men were far too stupid and sentimental for Renfro's liking.

"Do you know where we are?"

"I'm not sure. The snow has whited nearly everything out. I can barely see the road, ma'am."

Renfro groaned angrily and sat back in her seat. This could not be happening. She had to get to X5-656 before the girl lost consciousness. As it was, she refused to give into becoming a soldier once again. All of it was so aggravating.

Just then, the two-way radio bleeped, and X5-734 picked it, looked quickly at it to see who was calling in. Then, she handed it over to Renfro.

"It's Agent Sandoval , ma'am," she told her leader.

"Not now."

"Do you want me to disconnect the machine, ma'am?"

Sighing heavily to herself, Renfro made herself regain her cool, dignified composure before taking the phone from X5-734 and answering, "Yes?"

"Renfro?" the voice on the other end asked.

"Yes."

"I've got some news about Lydecker."

"Like what kind of news?"

"He's brought someone…a stranger…into Manticore and is showing them the anomalies."
"What?" Renfro asked in harsh disbelief.

"They're downstairs right now, touring the cells, I believe."

"Who is this stranger?"
"I'm not exactly sure. His name is Logan Cale, but I don't know what Lydecker would want with him."

"Genetics researcher?"

"No, ma'am. He's not a doctor…he's in a wheelchair. I don't suppose you know anyone in a wheelchair."

Rubbing her head to knead out the knots of anxiety, Renfro sighed heavily as she realized that no, she did not know anyone in a wheelchair. If she had, things could be fixed. But now? "No," she admitted to Agent Sandoval. "I don't know anyone in a wheelchair. Do you know what they're talking about?"

"Something to do with finding X5-452. Apparently, this stranger knows where she is."
"X5-452?" Renfro echoed. She had heard enough from Lydecker to assume that this X5 was exceedingly special. If X5-656 were to die, then perhaps this one, this very special one, would be the key to her reentrance into Manticore. "All right," she ordered, "I want you to listen and watch Lydecker and this Logan Cale person very closely. Take a recording device if you need to. Do not let them know that you are watching. I want any and all information on this X5-452 girl. Do you understand?"

"Yes ma'am, but I-" At that moment, the signal from Agent Sandoval was cut off and Renfro was left holding a static machine. She cursed under her breath and rapped it against the seat in hopes of making it work once again.

"Ma'am?" X5-734 questioned, although she usually didn't speak without being spoken to first.

"What?" Renfro snapped, her tension building.

But, Brin wasn't given time to answer. The Hummer dove through a snow bank before flipping onto its side from the icy road and rolling down a hill. Renfro's voice was one long shriek, despite all of the military training she had been through. This was not something that experience could stop; fear was the only thing left to take control. Over and over, the people were tossed. Renfro's head hit the window and left a bloody smear, cutting off her screams of panic for good. Meanwhile, Brin was able to kick open a door and push herself out of the dying car. After all, the primary rule was to save yourself first.