"State your designation."
"x5-494.'
"State your mission."
"Find and do recon on x5 rouges. Report back information for capture of the traitors."
"Mission status?"
"One week under cover."
"Report observations."
"They live as normal people, with jobs and outside friends. The only sign that they are different is that their entire basement area has been enlarged and turned into a training room. The rouges' relationships have evolved from simply sibling relations. There are now ones based more on friendship than connection, and I believe there is some romantic interest between a few of them."
"How are your relations with them?"
"Well, until last night. Syl, Krit, Jondy, Zane and Max were up waiting for me. I avoided all questioning, giving them the escape excuse I was trained with."
"Was it accepted?"
"Yes, sir."
"Very well. Report to the director for your communication device, then to room 243 for more in-depth output."
"Yes, sir."
"Dismissed."
Alec—494—snapped off a salute and headed to the directors office. Lying to his superiors felt wrong, in a way, but it was exiting. One thought in the back of his mind bothered him, though. Why was he protecting 452?
***Zane and Krit walked in the door, back from their late shifts in the mall. "WE BRING FOOD!"
In the living room, four girls exchanged looks. "You're early!" Max yelled back.
"Yeah!" Tinga yelled. "You never get here before 6!"
Zane appeared in the doorway. "It was slow. We closed up early."
Syl pouted. "But… but…" she glanced at the TV, which was showing a black woman singing her heart out, and hitting most of the notes.
Zane sighed and glanced at his watch. "ReRun network again?"
Brin turned to him, looking very serious. "Zanie… it's not just a network for nostalgic people who miss wholesome pre-pulse TV shows. It's a CULT."
Krit walked in, still lugging two bags. "Cult?" He said, sounding half confused and half interested.
Brin grinned. "It's music reality-show week!"
Zane groaned, which just encouraged them. Max piped up. "And tomorrow," she said, grinning, "It's 36 hours of back-to-back, commercial free, MAKING THE BAND EPISODES!"
Syl patted the floor next to where she was sitting. "Come on… it's 5:54. We're waiting for NEXT, ON AMERICAN IDOL TWO, a bunch of people sing and Simon makes snitty remarks."
Brin grinned. "I love Simon."
"But you know who's going to win!" Krit pointed out grumpily.
It was Alec, however, who convinced the girls to move. Peeking his head into the living room, he sniffed. "Chinese?"
They all moved to the kitchen, doling out the
various cartons with only minor problems.
Jondy set down her carton of fried rice at the table. "We should celebrate."
"For what?" Syl asked, setting down her food as well. "For Alec?"
Max grinned and snatched some of Syl's food out from under her. "Yeah."
Sending Max an evil look before setting down his chopsticks, Zane interrupted. "We should go somewhere." As he guarded his chicken, he continued. "Like… a beach."
Max groaned. "Noooooo! Too many horny old men in Speedos."
All the guys snickered. "Well," Alec suggested, "Maybe we should go somewhere on a boat."
"Like, rent one?"
"Yeah!"
"That could be fun…"
Krit raised his hand into the air. "Sorry, guys, but it's my week to be the voice of reason. When? Where?"
Zane glared at his brother. "Sorry, you guys, but it's my week to be the voice of spontaneity," he mocked. "Let's go this weekend. Tomorrow."
Everyone glanced at each other.
"I'll get the phone book and find a place," Max volunteered.
"I'll help." Alec stood up and the two walked out.
The remaining six stared at the doorway they had just walked out of. "Does anyone get the feeling-" Brin began.
Tinga picked up. "That just maybe…"
"They're not telling us something?" Syl finished.
Krit snorted. "Did you guys practice that?" he asked as he ducked to avoid Tinga's slap.
Zane shook his head, watching them. "I don't care what Ben says about growing up elsewhere," he said, "But he's just… different."
Silent agreement rang out.