3. Big Bang Theory
"I was thinking about the connection," Logan was saying. "How you get from Manticore, to White, to his cult, to the government, and then back to Manticore."
"Uh-huh," said Max. She was curled up on the sofa. She looked like she wasn't paying attention, but Logan knew she was.
"Okay," said Logan. "What purpose does it serve, for Ames White to expose transgenics to the media? Why would he fan the flames of public fear and outrage?"
"It was his job to wrap Manticore up quietly," said Max.
"Exactly," said Logan. "Or else why hunt you all down, and kill you? That was so there wouldn't be any lose ends."
"Right," said Max. "Plus the parallel mandate of his nutty, ancient breeding cult to be the only super soldiers in town."
"So, why the fireworks?"
"They make a big bang," said Max.
"Right," said Logan. "Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain."
She didn't get the reference, but she got his meaning. "A distraction," she said. "But why?"
"What do you think?" said Logan.
"Okay," said Max. "I think you think that they were in danger, White and his merry band of cultists. They had to do something drastic. A little slight of hand, like a magic show. Maybe someone was getting too close."
"Threatening to expose them," said Logan.
Max was excited. "Someone who's done our work for us," she said. "Someone who knows the whole rotten story of Sandeman, father of Manticore, and his ties to White's breeding cult."
"And their ties to the government," said Logan. "Yep. That's what I was thinking. And I was right."