Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

A/N: Many thanks to reviewers. Thank you to drkanglfn4evr for reminding me about the fact that Sketchy, OC, and Logan would get sick inside Terminal City. It would've been bad if I had them there, unaffected, and now I have a new plot twist! ^_^  And to Hearns, thanks for the advice!!! Oh yeah, and I'm really serious about needing a new name for Terminal City. The one I have is just so cheesy it's beginning to get on my nerves (tho I thank for sapphirefairy for liking it), lol. PLEASE HELP ME!

The Siege

By

Brin

"The only person you can rely on, Max, is yourself. Everything else is just a lie. It's phony sentimentality and it will get you killed." --Zack

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 2: Toxic

"If you got out so easily, then how come we all can't escape? With group effort, we could escape!"

Max pinned Mole with a glare. "Because 1) we have no where to go and 2) they shot almost every one of us while we were out there. We can't risk it."

"We're all going to go crazy in here," said the anomaly angrily. "The tension is enough to break an X7!"

"Look, Mole, the best thing we can do right now is find something constructive to do with our time, like maybe clean this place up?" She gestured to their grimy living conditions. "Terminal City is a twenty-block area. There has got to be mountains of useful stuff left behind. We should send out foragers."

Mole sighed in defeat. "Okay, okay. I'll do something 'constructive with my time,'" he grumbled. "Besides shoot someone, that is."

Max shook her head as he walked away, his trusty rifle resting on his shoulder like always.

"Some of them never learn," commented Alec, who had been watching the exchange silently from a torn up couch a few feet away. "You should keep an eye on him."

"Always," she replied, rubbing her throbbing temples. "I have a feeling that he's going to do something bad before this is over. Real bad."

"Naw, don't be so negative," said the male X5, grinning broadly as he got up and walked over to her. "There are like several hundred of us here in Terminal City. It's not like just one of us is going to cost the entire group their life."

Max didn't look so sure.

"Look, you need to relax. We're going to be here awhile," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "You're our only hope, Max."

"And I keep telling myself that and I think I'm about ready to hunt down this Sandeman guy and kill him myself for bringing this down on my head… that is, if he's still alive," she said quietly.

Alec chuckled. "Ah, it'll be okay. You'll see. You're Super Girl. Nothing gets by you." When she still didn't smile, he continued, "Girls kick ass. Says so on a t-shirt, right?"

Max turned around to face him and grabbed his hands with hers. "Alec, I need you to do something for me," she said, her voice filled with a sense of urgency.

Alec, staring down at their joined hands, could barely croak, "Anything."

"I want you to go down to the X camp and take care of the problems there. This place is divided among kinds—about ten different camps, like Mole said. There is no way we are gonna get through this alive if we are divided. I bet you that some of the transgenics here don't even know what is going on outside!" she exclaimed. "You do know how important it is that you reach them, right?"

Alec gulped. "A whole camp of Xs… that's kinda dangerous, don't you think?"

"But you can handle it, right?" She punched him on the shoulder, her demeanor suddenly becoming playful. "After all, that Familiar girl didn't kick your ass. You were just setting her up, am I right?"

"Yep. Just setting her up," Alec replied, puffing his chest out proudly.

Max smiled. "So can I count on you?"

"Always."

"Thank you, Alec. I know Xs aren't exactly the easiest people to work with so these might help you out…" She handed him some handcuffs.

Alec grinned rakishly. "Now why might a pretty girl like yourself being carrying around a pair of these?"

Max's eyes widened in shock and she hit him upside the head. "You perv!"

"Hey, lay off!" cried the young man, ducking her hand as she tried to hit him again. "Just a thought."

Max glared at him, then softened and placed her hand on his forearm. "Good luck, Mr. Ambassador to the Xs."

Alec chuckled. "Thanks. I'll need it."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Security has been tightened around the perimeter of Terminal City today after four transgenics rescued their five captured comrades from the temporary prison they had been held in. The police barricades have been placed ten meters back and even the press is not allowed closer than thirty meters from the edge of the perimeter without consent from an officer of the national guard. This action, however, has done nothing to lessen the angry protestors. In fact, it seems that the crowd has grown in the past few hours, the people angry that these transgenics slipped through so easily. Many of them have been saying that if action is not taken soon, the citizens of Seattle will have to take matters into their own hands."

Eddie, Pick, Hank, Junky, Axle, and about thirty other transgenics sat staring at the news reporter, Jan Corrigan, that had become their sole source of information about the world outside Terminal City's perimeter. She was a familiar sight and kept the transgenics occupied for the slowest parts of the day. Today she was interviewing a 'scientist' who had allegedly 'analyzed' the transgenics.

"So, Dr. Vantriez, tell me about what you have discovered," Jan said to the man of about forty or so sitting across from her.

"I have been doing some extensive research, including gathering some information from old Manticore associates who have been willing to share," he replied slowly. "What I have done is classify the different types of transgenics Manticore has managed to create." He held up a large piece of cardboard with different pictures pasted to the front and pointed to a picture of…

"Eddie, that's you!" exclaimed Hank, looking over at the girl, who was nestled in Pick's arms like a kitten.

Eddie's jaw dropped, her turquoise eyes growing wide. It was a picture of her just a week before the main Manticore building was burned down. She had just come in from a training mission and her hair was disheveled, a smear of blood across her cheek. Her eyes reflected the flash of the camera, making her entire eye seem an eerie blue/green color. The effect was startling.

"This specimen can be referred to as an anomaly," continued Dr. Vantriez.

"And what exactly is an anomaly?"

"Well, the definition provided in the dictionary for 'anomaly' is 'one that is peculiar, abnormal, irregular, or difficult to classify.' This describes these creatures perfectly. As you can see here, this female anomaly's features are based on that of a humans—the locations of the eyes, nose, mouth, and ears are correct—but the shapes are much different. Notice the vertical pupils, pointed ears, and angled facial shape.

"These anomalies are the disgrace of Manticore; the failures. They are like horrific scars on Manticore's records and most were kept hidden deep inside the basement. We have, however, come across models that are meant to look the way they do for military reasons, such as camouflage. Most of the anomalies, though, are deformed and useless beings that Manticore kept only to perform experiments on."

Pick tightened his hold around Eddie's waist as the girl began to shiver in his arms. "It's okay, Eddie," he whispered in her ear. "That ass doesn't know anything. Don't listen to him. He is just saying what the public wants to hear."

"Tell us about the infamous Xs."

Dr. Vantriez pointed to a picture of a young X. "The X series are Manticore's most deadly units. They are trained as soldiers from day one. Each different X version was given a blast of DNA from a different animal. So far, I have learned that the X5s were mostly cat, the X6s dog, and the X7s bats and other hive-minded creatures. I have reason to believe that they have developed up to X9s, but for sure they have X8s, which are no more than young children right now. The thing about these Xs is that they are indiscernible from humans and could be your next-door neighbors for all we know.

"On another note, before the hospital was destroyed ten months ago, Manticore began a breeding program to create new DNA for their latest X-series. I can estimate that over one hundred X babies have been born since then. These things are breeding, and there is nothing we can do to stop them. I was told that breeding is most likely a battle strategy for them; they are increasing their numbers to better launch an assault or to weaken the enemy resolve since no one likes to kill babies, no matter how unnatural and illegitimate they are."

Axle growled deep in his throat like a wolf.

"Sniveling, inbred coward," muttered Hank angrily.

"The thing is, breeding these creatures is like trying to hybrid hybrids. We have no idea what these babies will look like; they could be even worse than the parents. The risk is even higher if we have anomalies and Xs mixing…the spawn could be the most dangerous and deformed creatures yet. And besides, having anomalies and Xs mixing is like breeding a cat and dog. It just isn't what nature intended."

"So you don't know exactly what to expect?" Jan tapped a pencil against her chin.

Dr. Vantriez sat back in his chair. "Nope. All I have to say is that these things are quite possibly the most deadly and disgusting, horrific creatures on the Earth and we must take them out at all costs."

"That's it." Axle turned off the TV. "I think we've seen enough for today."

The other transgenics nodded their agreement and dispersed, talking quietly amongst themselves.

Hank put his hand on Axle's shoulder. "You okay, man?"

Axle nodded and mumbled, "Peachy," before stalking away. Hank shot Junky a worried glance and they tentatively followed their friend, though it was a bit of a challenge due to their recent injuries.

"It's sick, what they do," growled a transgenic with white skin and hair, fanning himself with a piece of paper. "I'd like to get my hands on one of them Ordinaries and see how much he has to say when I rip his tongue out."

"Hey!" yelled Pick, getting the Arctic transgenic's attention. "None of that!"

"How'd he find all that out?" a rat-like anomaly asked, whiskers twitching. "I mean, he pretty much covered everything even if he didn't go into meticulous detail."

"Probably used to be a back-up scientist or someone on the outside ring of the Manticore secret," said Pick with a shrug. "Either that, or one of the researchers doesn't have a problem with being chopped into little pieces by Manticore 'associates' for ratting on them." He looked at the rat anomaly and grinned in spite of himself. "No offense."

"None taken."

Eddie clung to Pick's arm, her tail swishing back and forth lazily. "You think it's true what they said?"

Pick tilted her head up to look at him. "What?"

"About the Xs and anomalies? About them being together?"

"Don't worry about it, baby," he said, kissing her on top of the head. "That asshole doesn't know shit."

Eddie sighed sadly.

They looked up as Max came over, a gentle smile upon her face. "Hey, guys," she said, her voice quiet. "I never got the chance to say thanks for helping me out yesterday. So… thanks for helping me out yesterday. You don't know how much it meant to me."

Pick nodded. "Glad for a little action."

Max looked back and forth from Pick to Eddie curiously. "If you don't mind me asking… are you two…?" She raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, we are," replied Pick with a little grin. "Why?"

The X5 shrugged. "I just need to know these details. It's a girl thing."

"What about you and Alec?" teased Eddie. "I saw you two talking earlier. He had his hands on your shoulders, then you were holding hands…"

Max's eyes widened. "No, no, no! Me and Alec? No! Where did you get that idea? No! Absolutely not!" she insisted, her cheeks flushing light pink. Pick and Eddie gave her incredulous looks. "Well, maybe we're attracted to each other, but we'd never… it's just…" She groaned and threw her hands in the air. "Never mind."

Eddie and Pick's laughter followed the X5 as she hurried off, her face turning from pink to red.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alec came to the crumbling hotel that Mole said housed the majority of the X series in the city. Checking to make sure he still had his gun tucked inside his jacket, he went up and knocked on the door. After a few moments, the door opened a crack and two dark blue eyes peered out at him suspiciously. "What do you want?"

"X5-494," Alec said, holding up his hands as a sign of submissiveness. "I need to speak with the X leader here."

"What business do you have with him?"

"I have been instructed by X5-452, the leader of Terminal City, to give him an important message."

"I can deliver the message for you."

Alec placed his foot in the door. "Unless you want me to call 452 down here, I suggest you let me inside. I mean you no harm."

There was a long silence before the door was reluctantly opened. Alec looked down at the young X8, who was glaring up at him menacingly. "Follow me," the kid instructed before turning and walking away.

"Kids today," mumbled the X5. "No respect."

The X8 continued to glare at him as he led Alec through a series of dark, broken hallways before they went up two flights of stairs and entered the third floor. The X5 was surprised to find this floor filled with Xs of every kind, conversing amongst themselves contentedly. As he and the small X8 walked down the corridor, they turned and looked at him strangely.

"Hey! It's Alec!" He heard someone shout.

The X5 turned to see Bugler, Bullet, Fixit, Zero, and Ralph smiling at him from one of the rooms. He waved at them and was prepared to go over for a more friendly greeting, but was dragged forward by his X8 guide. "Whoa, slow down there buddy!" he said, annoyed.

After a few more twists and turns and even a some more dirty looks, they came to a door that seemed in better condition than the rest. "This is the place," said the younger X before running off.

"That kid has got to take a vacation," mumbled Alec before opening the door before him.

Inside, he found that the room had been relatively cleaned up; the floor was clear of debris and the cracks in the walls had attempted to be covered up with dirty paintings and ripped tapestries. There was also a rusting steel bed with a molded mattress and rotting desk. Sitting at the desk was a young man about Alec's age with golden hair and piercing bluish green eyes.

"Hello," he said, his face emotionless. "State your business."

Alec moved forward. "I'm X5-494, sent by X5-452. I deliver a request of unity between the transgenics; the Xs and the anomalies most of all."

"Unity? 494, there is no need for us to unite."

"Look, the Ordinaries are getting real impatient out there and sooner or later they're gonna snap and burn this place to the ground. Do you want that?" Alec reasoned.

"We Xs can take care of ourselves. The anomalies are the ones who the public hate, with their deformed faces. You should know that very well, 494. After all, I can only assume you've spent some time with them."

"Okay, buddy, I don't have all day…"

"Call me 205."

Alec idly noted that 205 was one of the '09 Manticore escapees, but thought nothing more of it. "Okay, 205, I don't like your attitude about this whole thing, so I'm going to give you an ultimatum: You surrender and give us power over your Xs and I won't totally humiliate you by beating your tight ass into the concrete."

205 scoffed. "You are going to beat my ass into the concrete?"

Alec stood up straight. "I'm dead serious about this. I'm not going to waste my time preaching to you. Yes or no."

The other X5 sat forward, an incredulous look upon his face. "No. The anomalies are not the responsibility of the Xs."

"Fine. Then I'll just have to kick your ass from your throne right here." He bent his knees and got into a fighting stance. "Fight me."

"Are you actually challenging me, 494?" 205 asked, his tone mocking. "I've already established my place as ruler of the Xs here. You won't win."

"Heard it a million times, buddy," growled Alec. "Now shut up and fight."

205 rose from his seat and tossed the desk away like a twig. "Okay then. I've been waiting for some action around here."

They sped forward at Manticore speed and grabbed each other's necks, the impact almost breaking both their necks. It was then a contest of strength as they pushed each other around the room; into the walls and the few pieces of furniture present. Finally, Alec flipped his foot out and tripped 205, causing the other X5 to go tumbling onto the bed. X5-494 then proceeded pin 205 to the mattress, only to have 205 kick him in the back and send him flying face-first onto the floor next to the shattered desk.

"Now that… was not nice," growled Alec, brushing the splinters of wood from his face.

205 kicked him in the chin so that he lay flat on the ground on his back, then bent the steel bed over him as a makeshift cage before he could jump to his feet. "Looks like you're caught."

Alec glared up at him through the bars. "Cheater."

"Ooh…too bad."

"Okay…then you won't mind if I do…this!" Alec kicked the steel frame with all his might, causing it to roll off of him and onto 205, who was knocked to the ground with his legs caught underneath.

"This won't hold me!" growled 205, trying to wriggle his way free.

"Nope, but this will." Alec pulled out the handcuffs and handcuffed 205 to the bed frame.

205 scoffed. "Are you serious? This won't hold me anymore than without the handcuffs."

"I'm not finished," said Alec in a singsong voice teasingly. He took the bed dragged it—along with 205, of course—over to the window and bent the steel posts around on the bars on the window. "Isn't it great how post-Pulse Seattle hotels have bars on the windows? I mean, doesn't it just make you feel safe?"

205 glared at him.

"Now, if you don't mind, I'll just be off convincing 'your' Xs that their leader is a dumb asshole and they should join with me. Have a nice day."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Max was busily scribbling down what she needed Mole to find in the abandoned city on an old, half-burnt sheet of paper when she heard someone come to stand behind her. Surprised, the female X5 whirled around and raised her fist, ready to strike.

"Whoa! Calm down!" shouted Logan, backing away.

"Logan! After all this time I think you would've learned not to do that! What if I had touched you?! Think about it for a minute!" Max exclaimed with a bit more anger than she had intended.

Logan turned his eyes to the ground. "Yeah… sorry. I wasn't thinking."

Max sighed and ran her fingers through her long hair. "Look, Logan, this place doesn't have miracle doctors or what I would call the best medical equipment in the country. If I touched you, it would be near impossible to get you a transplant or antidote. You would die."

"I'd die a happy man," he replied softly.

The X5 shook her head and took a step back from him. "Logan…."

"Max, no matter what happens, what you say, or what others say… I will never stop loving you. I guess you have that affect on lots of guys… Zack… me." He looked up at her with a rueful smile. "I just hope you are happy with the one you choose, whomever it may be."

"Don't do this, Logan," she whispered.

"Don't what? Don't speak the truth?" he growled. "You want me to lie to you? Like you lied to me?"

Max took a moment to compose herself before replying, "No. I want you to forget about any chance of us being together. It would only cause problems, Logan."

Logan, tears shining in his eyes, nodded. "I understand that. But what I said before still stands. I will never stop loving you. I may move on and take another wife, but you will always hold the better part of my heart, Maxie."

"And I hope that doesn't prevent you from finding the perfect wife and having perfect little kids," she said quietly. "But you could be worlds happier without me, Logan. I don't belong with you."

Logan sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Okay. Just keep telling yourself that… I'll try to believe it as well." He turned to walk away, passing by Dalton in the process.

"Hey, Logan, you look kinda pale," commented the young X6 without actually showing much interest in the man. "You getting sick?"

"What?" Logan turned around.

Max squinted at him and gulped, a scared feeling coming over her. "Yeah, you do look sort of sick…are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine," he said stubbornly. "What's the problem?"

Dalton handed Max the giant bag of month-old jelly beans he had been munching on and walked over to the man, checking for Logan's pulse and feeling his forehead. "I don't exactly have a medical degree, but I know a sick man when I see one."

Logan's eyes widened. "You don't think…?"

"What?" Dalton looked to Max.

Max stared at the ground, then her eyes snapped up, full of fear. "The toxins. Logan, this place isn't safe!" She hit herself on the forehead with the palm of her hand. "I don't know why I didn't realize it before. You can't stay here! You'll die!"

"Well where am I gonna go, Max?!" he exclaimed. "It's not like I can just walk out there and go home! They saw me helping you."

"Logan, you are not going to die here. Not now. I am getting you out of this place, whether you like it or not. There are still a few good souls out there. You can stay with Shankar or Sebastian… Anywhere but here," said the X5 with so much authority that Logan could do nothing but nod his head. "Now where's OC?"

"Over there," Dalton pointed across the room, where Original Cindy was talking with Gem and playing with the baby.

"Alright… she looks fine… sort of… so where's Sketchy?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Eddie, Pick, and a few other transgenics were sitting around a table playing cards and munching on their daily rations, which included a few pieces of bread, beef jerky, and canned vegetables—things that didn't need refrigeration since they had unplugged the 'fridge to save the generator.

"Royal flush," said Pick, triumphantly placing his cards on the table.

The other transgenics groaned and handed over the smashed bottle caps they were using as a primitive form of money. The adult transgenics thought it was silly and a waste, but teenage transgenics had already set up booths selling things like blankets found in abandoned buildings and sometimes their daily rations. Then, they would pay the people who found the items for sale for them, etc, etc. It was very much like a normal market.

"Ha, ha winner takes all, boys!" Pick cried, dumping the caps in his collecting bag.

"Better watch out Ed," said one of the transgenics, who looked like a normal human besides the fact that he didn't have a nose. "Your boyfriend here seems like the gambling type."

Eddie smiled. "Don't worry. I'll deal with that later."

The gathered transgenics all said 'ooh' and punched Pick on the shoulder with several claims of 'It'll be okay' and 'We know you'll make it out alive.'

"Ha, ha, very funny you guys," he muttered.

Eddie tickled his nose with her tail and stood, looking around the table. "Any more takers?" She jingled the bag and raised her eyebrows. "No one?" A long, silent pause. "Okay then! I'll just be buying myself a block of Terminal City, thank you very much."

The transgenics laughed and Eddie plopped back down into her seat.

"Well, I'm broke so I'm going to go be a poor little transgenic over there," said the one without the nose bemusedly, pushing his chair out. The others followed the suit, leaving Eddie and Pick alone.

They were not alone for long, however, for, as soon as the other transgenics were gone, Max's Ordinary friend Sketchy tiptoed over, trying to look inconspicuous.

"What do you want, maggot?" growled Pick.

Sketchy, who was staring at the ceiling like it was the most interesting thing in the world, looked at Pick, and then glanced behind him. "Me?"

"No, the invisible monster standing behind you."

"Ha, ha, that's funny…yeah, that's…" Sketchy cleared his throat and sauntered over to their table. "So…what's up? Doing the transgenic thing?"

Pick and Eddie stared at him.

Sketchy, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable, chewed on his lip a bit, trying to think of something so say.

"You never answered my question," the X6 reminded him, his voice harsh.

"I—uh…" He shook his head and decided to throw the 'casual' approach out the window for the moment and just get straight to the point. "I wanted to see if I could interview you… ya know, just in case some large, popular news station asks me? I've asked everyone else… could you guys possibly be kind souls and agree to the interview?"

Pick sighed and pointed to a chair. "Sit." Sketchy sat. "Okay, talk fast."

Sketchy pulled a notepad and pencil from his pocket, reading over the questions he had scribbled down there a few times before saying, "So what's it like?" He pulled a pen from behind his ear and placed it on the table.

"What's what like?"

"Being a transgenic; knowing that you were created in a lab."

Pick sat back in his chair and rubbed his face, occasionally glancing at Eddie, who was staring at the floor nervously. "Well…it's sort of like…" He ran his fingers through his hair thoughtfully. "It's like feeling normal, thinking normal, and for some of us even looking normal, but never actually being normal. We love, we hate. We live, we die. We have families, we have friends. The only thing that sets us apart is our appearance and the fact that we were created in test tubes."

"Uh huh…" Sketchy was scribbling things down like crazy.

"To be a transgenic is sort of a blessing and a curse at once," finished Pick.

Sketchy nodded and looked up. "Are you two together?" he asked, gesturing with his pencil.

"Yes," replied Eddie, her voice soft.

"Ooh…this is good. This is real good," mumbled Sketchy, flipping through a few pages in his notebook. "So what's it like to be two young transgenics caught between a rock and a very hard place?"

Eddie rested her head on Pick's shoulder. "It's the same as if we were Ordinaries. We have no clue what's going to happen, no idea if we both will live through this, and no doubt that things will get worse before they get better. I mean, it's not like just because we are transgenics that we can tell the future or anything," she said with a shrug.

"There are a lot of questions surrounding the breeding of transgenics. Could you tell us about it?"

Pick glared at him. "First of all, we don't like it being referred to as 'breeding,' 'mating,' or anything like that. We are not animals. Second of all, I don't think the public needs me to explain where babies come from. And finally, it's no different than Ordinaries hooking up, getting married, and having families. You people need to get it through your head: We are not totally unnatural!" he growled.

Sketchy licked his lips. "You know, people have a real stereotyped image of transgenics. Is there anything you'd like to say to them? Anything that is on your mind?"

 "Now you sound like a reporter, Sketch," Pick said with a chuckle. He took a moment to compile the words for his response. "If I could say anything to those Ordinaries out there, I'd tell them that we are not the monsters they think we are. If they'd give us a chance, we could be of help to them. Our blood holds immunities to horrible diseases; the cure for paralysis! All we ask is a normal life…or as normal as possible."

"That was good. That was really good," claimed Sketchy excitedly, putting away his things. "I really thank you guys for the interview. Everyone else tried to bite my head off when I asked."

The two young transgenics nodded.

"Sketchy!" called a voice.

The three turned to see Max running towards them waving her arms. "Sketchy, you've gotta come with me," she said, grabbing his arm. "We have got to get you, Logan, and OC out of here ASAP."

"Why?" asked the young man, his heart dropping.

Max started dragging him away. "Because this place is toxic and we've kept you in here long enough. Logan is sick, OC is borderline sick, and we can't risk you! You can't stay here."

"Where am I gonna go?" he asked, jerking his arm away. "Max, if we go back out there we'll be arrested and thrown in jail!"

Max gave him a desperate look. "Sketch, I brought all this upon you. It's my fault, and I will get you outta here safe and sound. I already told Logan; there are still a few good souls out there in post-Pulse Seattle." She started leading him away again when she heard Joshua calling her name. Veering off-course, she made a beeline for him, pulling Sketchy with her. "What is it, Josh?"

Joshua pointed to the television. "Uh-uh, Normal. Normal on TV."

The X5 glanced at the screen, then back at Joshua, then did a double take. Normal was on television, alright, and he was holding not an anti-transgenic sign, but apparently a pro-transgenic sign that proudly stated 'TOLERANCE IS THEY KEY! THEY ARE OUR SAVIORS!'

"Well I'll be damned," said Sketchy, grinning. "Normal is a lot more loyal to Alec than we thought. After this, Alec owes the man a dinner and afterwards—"

Max smacked Sketchy on the head, rolling her eyes. "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that for a moment here." She pulled out her cell phone and checked the batteries. Just enough for one more call. "I think I found someone who'd be willing to take you in..."

Sketchy's eyes widened. "Normal?! NO!"

The X5 grinned evilly. "Yep. I think so."

TBC…