Hey, sorry it's taken so long to write more, I've been so busy it's not funny. This isn't the best, but I didn't want y'all to forget the story.

Oh yeah, I loved the guesses of my age. :D 16? 17? between 20 and 30? Do you actually think I'm a good writer? I'm only 14, still an innocent baby. Lol. not that innocent, I guess. That means any smut will probably be minor *sorry Natters*

Please tell me if I get too long or off character! I am so bad at introducing and manipulating personalities, it drives me nuts.

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"Logan better have a damn good reason for being late."

"Relax Max. I'm sure loverboy just got all wrapped up in his work. The guy's got Workaholic tattooed on his forehead."

"Ya think? He's not as bad as he was, but he can still get distracted. He usually calls though. He better not forget. He said something special was up."

" What exactly is up?" OC gives me an evil look. "Boo, there ain't no reason to get all worked up over a late date."

"This from the same one who told me that wes all foo's for not getting it on in the first place."

"Ladies, ladies. Don't talk about me behind my back."

"Conceited are we?" I ask innocently.

"Just telling the- uhoh." Alec trails off.

"Don't think you're gonna get out of this one buddy."

"It's not that. Guess who just walked in. With a date? Okay, something here isn't right." His brow is furrowed. I pause, not sure if this is a ploy, but look. Lydecker, accompanied by a woman in her mid-thirties, is headed straight for my table.

"You have got to be kidding me." I hiss through clenched teeth. "Hi Deck," I manage a sweetly sick smile. "What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving Seattle." Three days ago, my eyes add.

"He didn't tell you?"

"Who didn't tell me what?" I demand. He seems honestly surprised, not something that happens easily.

"Logan. He promised he'd clear this with you."

"Clear what?" I'm aggravated now.

"Max, this is Lisa." He points to the woman that has remained quiet throughout the conversation. "Lisa, this is Max. Lisa worked at the base. She has a theory on how to deal with the." he trails off, but I know what he means.

"Nice to meet you." I extend my hand, regarding the woman in front of me. She's tall, with shoulder length brown hair and a spunky light in her eyes. This is the woman who can cure the virus? I guess my experience with Manticore should have taught me to never judge a book by its cover. Or a scientist by her looks.

"Where is Logan anyway? He said he'd be here."

A feeling that something resembling friendship had sprung up between the Colonel and the man that I loved- the thought springs unbidden to my mind. The man that I love? Maybe so, but I've never admitted it, not really. I've confessed to being attracted, emotionally and sexually, but never in love. It's such a big step, something I'm not sure I can handle. But Logan's with you, reminds the voice. I'll handle it. There's nothing else I can do.

"I don't know. I thought he'd forgotten. If he knew about this, I find that theory suddenly hard to believe." I move to get up, but a familiar sight on the TV makes me sit down.

"This is a freedom streaming video. It cannot be traced, it cannot be stopped and it is the only free voice left in the city. Wait a minute, not anymore. Eyes Only has been causing so many problems lately in defense of the transgenics. We had to stop him. Not before we get the information we need about certain x5s though."

It's White's voice. The voice of such a cold being is impossible to forget. Oh God, does he have Logan? He must, the hack looks authentic. Logan's still alive, I think. My ears catch muted struggling in the background.

"Really 452. how normal do you think you are? Nice picture by the way. Now we have to be leaving. Don't bother trying to find us, we'll find you soon enough. Thanks to your boyfriend." I almost expect to hear the evil cackling and thunder, so often used in cheesy movies.

Krit and Syl look up from their secluded table across the room. They pick up what's going on, part from the party's reactions and partly x5/sibling intuition. They're by my side instantly. They don't even notice Lydecker until he speaks.

"What do you suggest we do?"

How could he? My life was just shattered by a 30 second cable hack and he's asking what to do. He's right, you know. The voice is back. But what it says is true. Sitting won't do anything. Action will.

"Syl," I give my sister a pleading look. "Do you still have your contacts?"

"Naturally baby sister. Krit and I'll go see what we can get, meet you back at your place, 'kay?"

I catch Original's look. I'm not going to put her in danger. "Better make that Logan's. maybe Lisa can set up a makeshift lab there."

"You're not taking them on again, are you Boo?"

"Cindy, I need to do this. They have Logan for God's sake. Besides, White isn't Manticore." I don't tell her exactly what he is, mainly because I'm not completely sure myself. I know the myth, but nothing else.