Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Ch. 2:
"Damn, those transgenics are everywhere," said Peter in between bites of his plain cheese pizza. I nearly choked on my slice of pepperoni as my boyfriend continued, "Bobbie, there's this one guy, I swear he's a tranny, who keeps getting these high grades in every damn bio test. He's even got a job lined up at one of the research plants for genetics."
"Maybe he just studies really hard," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. I could feel my hands shaking and my right leg was bobbing up and down like it does every time I get nervous. Thank god, the Manticore brass couldn't see me now. They'd send me to the basement in two seconds. Peter shook his head and took a sip of his soda. "No, I hardly see him in study sessions and he's never in the library."
"I hardly went to the library back in college to study." Inwardly, I winced at the lie. I hated to lie, but with Peter, it became second nature. Sometimes, I wondered if I should have broken up with him the minute it hit the news that "transgenics were amongst us". It certainly would have made my life easier.
"That's just you, Bobbie," Peter gave me a warm smile and took my hand, "You're the smartest girl I know. In fact, you're so smart, I wonder why you haven't asked that boss of yours for a raise yet." I waved my hand away and took another bite of my pizza slice.
"I like my job, Peter. I love working with kids."
"Yeah, but being a teacher doesn't make much these days."
"Doesn't anything?" I drank more Sprite as I wondered how long it would take for me to change the subject.
"You know what I mean, girl," said Peter, leaning forward, "You care so much about these kids, you ought to be their principal. You'd be doing a hell of a lot more for them in that position, than where you are now."
At that, I shook my head as I got up. Putting the paper plates into the garbage pail, I said, "Being a teacher's important to me, Peter. I'm making a difference in their lives. Teaching them about tolerance, which the whole world could use a lot more these days." Peter crept up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Against my will, I let myself melt into his embrace. He felt so strong and comfortable.
"Girl, I know you," he said, letting his lips rest against my head, "You've got that desire. That hunger for something more than just a paycheck at the end of the week and watching DVDs with me on the weekend."
"Peter…" I sighed. Here we go again. Peter stepped away from me. Once again I felt a cool breeze and once again, it didn't feel like it came from the open window.
"I'm just sayin' that I gave you a ring…"
"It was beautiful."
"My mama likes you and your cooking."
"I know and it's from the box."
"Then why won't you marry me?"
"It's too soon. We've known each other, for what? Three years? I need time," I felt my heart pound at the discussion we were going to have. The discussion, I've tried to avoid for the last three weeks.
"Time? Girl, my Mama and Daddy knew each other for three weeks and they're still together."
"And they had four beautiful children to go with that," I said, letting my hands grip the counter. If I concentrated hard enough, I wouldn't break it.
Peter sighed, "Bobbie, if there's someone else."
I looked at him, appalled, "How can you say that? There's no one else!"
Peter gave me a suspicious look, "Really? Then what about that white dude I saw this morning. You looked pretty chummy."
"He sells the Watchtower," I nearly rolled my eyes as I said it. God, I'm going to kill Alec when I saw him again.
"You know what they say about the mice when the cat's away."
I glared at Peter and gave him a firm hard kiss. When I finished kissing him, I snapped, "Don't you dare tell me that! I love you, Peter James Gardener and you know it! Just give me a little time and space and I'll give you an answer." Peter still looked skeptical. A break-up was looking better and better with every minute.
Peter sighed again and took my hands into his and pulled me close, "All right. I'll give you some time and you know I lo--," Just then, the phone rang and Peter dropped my hands. For a few seconds we both looked at the ground uneasily and then looked up as the phone rang a few more times. "I should answer that," I whispered as I picked up the phone.
"Bobbie?" Alec's voice came over the phone, panicky and unsure. I pushed thoughts of Peter and our relationship out of my mind and focused on my brother.
"Alec, I'm here." I replied, darting a few wary glances in Peter's direction. He sat back down at the table and sullenly ate the rest of his pizza.
"Thank god," he breathed, "Listen, you have to come by Terminal City right away."
"All right. Why?" I could hear an explosion in the background. "Alec, what's going on?"
"Just come over here in an hour. Run if you can." With that, he hung up. I stood silent as I stared at the phone in my hand.
"Go, Bobbie," said Peter. I turned to face him, feeling guilty. "Do what you've been doing our entire relationship. Run. I can take care of myself."
"Peter…" I began, wanting to tell him everything, but he shook his head.
"No, girl. Like you said, you'll tell me in your own sweet time." Peter gave me a bitter smile and took a long swallow of his soda. I grabbed a pair of sneakers and ran out of the apartment. Taking a deep breath and making sure that no one could see me, I took off at breakneck speed. I could feel the air burning my lungs and my heart pumping fast as the buildings whirred by me. My short dark hair whipped about my face as I jumped over a chain link fence. I nearly slammed into a wall before I saw a few trans-humans in the distance. A few of them had eyes that glowed in the night.
"X5?" one of them called. Breathing heavily, I nodded. The one who asked me my class designation, waved his rifle, indicating that I could pass. Looking around, I found the doors that led me into the main conference hall of Terminal City. Stepping inside, I saw several X6s and X5s milling about, while a few of the trans-humans busied themselves with repairing equipment.
"Bobbie?" I turned around and saw Alec holding up his shoulder. He wore a tight black t-shirt that accentuated his firm arm muscles. I said he was like a brother to me, that doesn't mean I'm blind. I walked up to him and swatted him on his good shoulder.
"Hey!" he cried, "What did you do that for?"
"That was for calling me in the middle of a very important conversation," I snapped and hit him again, ignoring his exaggerated moan, "And that was for waking me up at three in the goddamned morning!"
Alec backed away from me as he rubbed his injured shoulder, "Sorry, Bob. Didn't know you were in the middle of lying to your boyfriend." I gave an exasperated sigh. "Okay, listen to me, Jeremiah's here and I don't know how long I can take being in the same place with him."
"You two need to work out your issues."
"Yeah, but look around you, Bobbie," Alec waved his good hand around the conference hall, "There are guns all over the place. Jeremiah and I shouldn't be around each other armed. There could be blood." He gave me a puppy dog look, in which his eyes turned hazel and soft. God, I hated it when he pulled that look.
"Fine," I said. Alec brightened as he wrapped his good arm around my shoulder. "But don't think I'm going to stay here forever. Peter's at my apartment and I don't know how long he'll stay there."
"Thanks, Bob!" Alec chirped happily as he walked over to the catwalk where Max was talking to a computer screen. Using my zoom vision, I could see Logan's face on the screen. I nearly had to refrain from throwing up.
"Bobbie, what are you doing here?" I turned to face a six-foot-tall blond man with a stubbled beard. His pale blue eyes looked directly at mine as he assumed the position of CO.
"Jeremiah, can the CO crap and tell me what you're doing here." I put my hands on my hips and waited. Jeremiah leaned against the wall, whipping out a cigarette and lighting up. I wrinkled my nose and had to keep from ripping it from his mouth. "Don't think I don't know you lit that thing up just to annoy me."
My CO grinned at me, letting his cigarette dangle from his lips. I could see that the swelling around his eyes was going down. "Bobbie, you know me too well. You're a good second-in-command." I snorted.
"I'm good because I had to look after you children." I eyed Jeremiah again, "Look, whatever it is you're trying to pull with Alec, don't."
My CO started to open his mouth, but I held up my hand. "I don't care what kind of 'the unit must stand together' crap you're going to spout, because I don't believe it. Quit driving Alec up the wall. He's been through enough."
"What about me, Bobbie?" Jeremiah asked, leaning against me, "Haven't I been through hell trying to keep this unit together when Manticore burned? Haven't I been trying to get us a job with the government so that we can continue doing what we do best?"
"Jeremiah…" I sighed, looking up at him. He looked so tired, so thin. I wondered how long had it been since he had eaten. "How long has it been since you ate?"
"Doesn't matter."
"It does to me," I said, "I don't want my CO dying on me because he's still stuck inside Manticore." Jeremiah glared at me, letting his lips tighten into a straight line. I threw up my hands, "Fine! You want to starve yourself? Do that! I'm not going to stick around here and watch!" I stomped away from my CO and moved towards the mess hall, formerly a donut shop. An X3 was taking Alec's order when I stepped inside. Alec waved me over to his seat and I sat down beside him, silently fuming.
"The wall tripped you up too," he said.
"Alec, just don't."
"Come on, Bob," he wheedled, "Just once say 'screw you!' to him. It'll feel good, I promise." I looked up at his face, so eager to share in the Jeremiah resentment, that I nearly laughed.
"Alec, I'm not doing it. Jeremiah's a hard-case, but he means well."
"He's stuck in Manticore. Wants me to take a government job," Alec muttered as the X3 waitress returned, handing me a menu and Alec a glass of beer. He took a deep swallow as I glanced over my menu.
"I know," I replied, "He told me about it a few minutes ago. Although, not in so many words." Hmm, Cajun chicken sandwich, that sounded good.
"Can you believe that?" Alec asked, gesticulating wildly, "Manticore's been gone for three damn years and he's talking about setting us up with a government job exactly like the ones Manticore used to give us."
"He means well, Alec," I said, "Jeremiah loved being a CO. It's hard for him to let that go."
"It's been hard for all of us, Bobbie," said Alec taking another long swallow. I eyed him over my menu. "Come on, don't look at me like that."
"Like what?" I asked innocently.
"Like you're going to lecture me on my "drinking problem"," Alec made air quotes as he spoke. I shook my head.
"I wasn't going to say anything," I answered, "I was thinking that maybe you need to cut down on the alcohol."
"This is my first beer!"
"Don't tell me you're not going to order another beer as soon as that X3 comes back to our table." Alec flushed and looked down his beer mug. "I knew it. What happened?"
"What makes you think something happened?"
"Alec, I know you. You drink when you're upset and you're drinking beer. Obviously, we're talking Max issues." The X3 waitress walked up to our table and I gave her my order. Alec looked as though he was about to order something, but changed his mind. He gave me a dirty glare as the X3 walked away.
"For your information, I was drinking the beer to relax. Unwind, if you will."
"Uh huh."
"It's just pure coincidence that after Max and I had a very difficult rescue mission that Logan comes up asking to join in on the next one."
I nearly had to choke back laughter. Actually, I just started howling in the mess hall. Several X-series stared at me as I struggled to muffle my giggles. Alec glared at me once more before continuing, "So, I tell Logan that I couldn't let him in on the rescue mission. He says to me, using that snotty tone he reserves especially for X5 males, that I couldn't possibly help Max now that I was injured."
"You heal fast!" I interjected.
"Yeah, tell that to brainiac over there," Alec moved his head in the direction of the catwalk where Max and Logan were having one of their melodramatic conversations. "So, I tell him that he can't depend on that exo for very long or even the transfusions, but that part I didn't say."
"Which part?"
"The transfusions."
"Everybody knows Logan's a transgenic blood junkie."
"Everybody, but Maxie."
"Ahh. She doesn't know that her sweetie pie's been getting hits from her fellow transgenics."
"Yep. It's been going on, oh for three years now. She thinks she's in some perfect relationship, when it's all a lie." Now, Alec was the one to give me the sharp look. Thankfully, the X3 waitress handed me my sandwich. As soon as I swallowed a couple of bites, I snapped, "Gee, Alec, real subtle. Is there something you want to tell me?"
"No," he pursed his lips, "not at all."
"Say it, Alec. Say what you've been dying to tell me since this morning."
"Okay, fine," he looked at me with those ever-changing eyes and spoke, "You know how you say it hurts you to see me pining over Max? How do you think it makes me feel to see you lying to your norm boyfriend? The lies are killing you, Bobbie." I kept eating my sandwich, even though I was just nibbling on the lettuce. I hate lettuce.
"Look, you are one of the few people from the unit, I really care about," Alec continued, "Aside from Josh and Max, you are the only family I've got. You've known me since I was three years old. When the escape happened, you promised me that you would stand by me, no matter what. God, we even took a blood oath swearing loyalty."
"We were kids, Alec," I said, dully, "We didn't know anything. I mean, literally." Alec shook his head and grabbed my hand. He squeezed, ever so gently, reminding me just how strong we were. When Alec and I held hands, I felt free enough to use my strength in a way that I couldn't with Peter.
"We didn't know much, but we had each other," Alec gave me a sly grin, "Us against the niners, remember?"
"I remember," I gave Alec a brilliant smile and went back to eating my sandwich. Oh, yeah, I remember. Sometimes, I wish I didn't. Looking at Alec's face sometimes, I guess he wished he didn't either.
Ch. 2:
"Damn, those transgenics are everywhere," said Peter in between bites of his plain cheese pizza. I nearly choked on my slice of pepperoni as my boyfriend continued, "Bobbie, there's this one guy, I swear he's a tranny, who keeps getting these high grades in every damn bio test. He's even got a job lined up at one of the research plants for genetics."
"Maybe he just studies really hard," I said, trying to keep my voice neutral. I could feel my hands shaking and my right leg was bobbing up and down like it does every time I get nervous. Thank god, the Manticore brass couldn't see me now. They'd send me to the basement in two seconds. Peter shook his head and took a sip of his soda. "No, I hardly see him in study sessions and he's never in the library."
"I hardly went to the library back in college to study." Inwardly, I winced at the lie. I hated to lie, but with Peter, it became second nature. Sometimes, I wondered if I should have broken up with him the minute it hit the news that "transgenics were amongst us". It certainly would have made my life easier.
"That's just you, Bobbie," Peter gave me a warm smile and took my hand, "You're the smartest girl I know. In fact, you're so smart, I wonder why you haven't asked that boss of yours for a raise yet." I waved my hand away and took another bite of my pizza slice.
"I like my job, Peter. I love working with kids."
"Yeah, but being a teacher doesn't make much these days."
"Doesn't anything?" I drank more Sprite as I wondered how long it would take for me to change the subject.
"You know what I mean, girl," said Peter, leaning forward, "You care so much about these kids, you ought to be their principal. You'd be doing a hell of a lot more for them in that position, than where you are now."
At that, I shook my head as I got up. Putting the paper plates into the garbage pail, I said, "Being a teacher's important to me, Peter. I'm making a difference in their lives. Teaching them about tolerance, which the whole world could use a lot more these days." Peter crept up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Against my will, I let myself melt into his embrace. He felt so strong and comfortable.
"Girl, I know you," he said, letting his lips rest against my head, "You've got that desire. That hunger for something more than just a paycheck at the end of the week and watching DVDs with me on the weekend."
"Peter…" I sighed. Here we go again. Peter stepped away from me. Once again I felt a cool breeze and once again, it didn't feel like it came from the open window.
"I'm just sayin' that I gave you a ring…"
"It was beautiful."
"My mama likes you and your cooking."
"I know and it's from the box."
"Then why won't you marry me?"
"It's too soon. We've known each other, for what? Three years? I need time," I felt my heart pound at the discussion we were going to have. The discussion, I've tried to avoid for the last three weeks.
"Time? Girl, my Mama and Daddy knew each other for three weeks and they're still together."
"And they had four beautiful children to go with that," I said, letting my hands grip the counter. If I concentrated hard enough, I wouldn't break it.
Peter sighed, "Bobbie, if there's someone else."
I looked at him, appalled, "How can you say that? There's no one else!"
Peter gave me a suspicious look, "Really? Then what about that white dude I saw this morning. You looked pretty chummy."
"He sells the Watchtower," I nearly rolled my eyes as I said it. God, I'm going to kill Alec when I saw him again.
"You know what they say about the mice when the cat's away."
I glared at Peter and gave him a firm hard kiss. When I finished kissing him, I snapped, "Don't you dare tell me that! I love you, Peter James Gardener and you know it! Just give me a little time and space and I'll give you an answer." Peter still looked skeptical. A break-up was looking better and better with every minute.
Peter sighed again and took my hands into his and pulled me close, "All right. I'll give you some time and you know I lo--," Just then, the phone rang and Peter dropped my hands. For a few seconds we both looked at the ground uneasily and then looked up as the phone rang a few more times. "I should answer that," I whispered as I picked up the phone.
"Bobbie?" Alec's voice came over the phone, panicky and unsure. I pushed thoughts of Peter and our relationship out of my mind and focused on my brother.
"Alec, I'm here." I replied, darting a few wary glances in Peter's direction. He sat back down at the table and sullenly ate the rest of his pizza.
"Thank god," he breathed, "Listen, you have to come by Terminal City right away."
"All right. Why?" I could hear an explosion in the background. "Alec, what's going on?"
"Just come over here in an hour. Run if you can." With that, he hung up. I stood silent as I stared at the phone in my hand.
"Go, Bobbie," said Peter. I turned to face him, feeling guilty. "Do what you've been doing our entire relationship. Run. I can take care of myself."
"Peter…" I began, wanting to tell him everything, but he shook his head.
"No, girl. Like you said, you'll tell me in your own sweet time." Peter gave me a bitter smile and took a long swallow of his soda. I grabbed a pair of sneakers and ran out of the apartment. Taking a deep breath and making sure that no one could see me, I took off at breakneck speed. I could feel the air burning my lungs and my heart pumping fast as the buildings whirred by me. My short dark hair whipped about my face as I jumped over a chain link fence. I nearly slammed into a wall before I saw a few trans-humans in the distance. A few of them had eyes that glowed in the night.
"X5?" one of them called. Breathing heavily, I nodded. The one who asked me my class designation, waved his rifle, indicating that I could pass. Looking around, I found the doors that led me into the main conference hall of Terminal City. Stepping inside, I saw several X6s and X5s milling about, while a few of the trans-humans busied themselves with repairing equipment.
"Bobbie?" I turned around and saw Alec holding up his shoulder. He wore a tight black t-shirt that accentuated his firm arm muscles. I said he was like a brother to me, that doesn't mean I'm blind. I walked up to him and swatted him on his good shoulder.
"Hey!" he cried, "What did you do that for?"
"That was for calling me in the middle of a very important conversation," I snapped and hit him again, ignoring his exaggerated moan, "And that was for waking me up at three in the goddamned morning!"
Alec backed away from me as he rubbed his injured shoulder, "Sorry, Bob. Didn't know you were in the middle of lying to your boyfriend." I gave an exasperated sigh. "Okay, listen to me, Jeremiah's here and I don't know how long I can take being in the same place with him."
"You two need to work out your issues."
"Yeah, but look around you, Bobbie," Alec waved his good hand around the conference hall, "There are guns all over the place. Jeremiah and I shouldn't be around each other armed. There could be blood." He gave me a puppy dog look, in which his eyes turned hazel and soft. God, I hated it when he pulled that look.
"Fine," I said. Alec brightened as he wrapped his good arm around my shoulder. "But don't think I'm going to stay here forever. Peter's at my apartment and I don't know how long he'll stay there."
"Thanks, Bob!" Alec chirped happily as he walked over to the catwalk where Max was talking to a computer screen. Using my zoom vision, I could see Logan's face on the screen. I nearly had to refrain from throwing up.
"Bobbie, what are you doing here?" I turned to face a six-foot-tall blond man with a stubbled beard. His pale blue eyes looked directly at mine as he assumed the position of CO.
"Jeremiah, can the CO crap and tell me what you're doing here." I put my hands on my hips and waited. Jeremiah leaned against the wall, whipping out a cigarette and lighting up. I wrinkled my nose and had to keep from ripping it from his mouth. "Don't think I don't know you lit that thing up just to annoy me."
My CO grinned at me, letting his cigarette dangle from his lips. I could see that the swelling around his eyes was going down. "Bobbie, you know me too well. You're a good second-in-command." I snorted.
"I'm good because I had to look after you children." I eyed Jeremiah again, "Look, whatever it is you're trying to pull with Alec, don't."
My CO started to open his mouth, but I held up my hand. "I don't care what kind of 'the unit must stand together' crap you're going to spout, because I don't believe it. Quit driving Alec up the wall. He's been through enough."
"What about me, Bobbie?" Jeremiah asked, leaning against me, "Haven't I been through hell trying to keep this unit together when Manticore burned? Haven't I been trying to get us a job with the government so that we can continue doing what we do best?"
"Jeremiah…" I sighed, looking up at him. He looked so tired, so thin. I wondered how long had it been since he had eaten. "How long has it been since you ate?"
"Doesn't matter."
"It does to me," I said, "I don't want my CO dying on me because he's still stuck inside Manticore." Jeremiah glared at me, letting his lips tighten into a straight line. I threw up my hands, "Fine! You want to starve yourself? Do that! I'm not going to stick around here and watch!" I stomped away from my CO and moved towards the mess hall, formerly a donut shop. An X3 was taking Alec's order when I stepped inside. Alec waved me over to his seat and I sat down beside him, silently fuming.
"The wall tripped you up too," he said.
"Alec, just don't."
"Come on, Bob," he wheedled, "Just once say 'screw you!' to him. It'll feel good, I promise." I looked up at his face, so eager to share in the Jeremiah resentment, that I nearly laughed.
"Alec, I'm not doing it. Jeremiah's a hard-case, but he means well."
"He's stuck in Manticore. Wants me to take a government job," Alec muttered as the X3 waitress returned, handing me a menu and Alec a glass of beer. He took a deep swallow as I glanced over my menu.
"I know," I replied, "He told me about it a few minutes ago. Although, not in so many words." Hmm, Cajun chicken sandwich, that sounded good.
"Can you believe that?" Alec asked, gesticulating wildly, "Manticore's been gone for three damn years and he's talking about setting us up with a government job exactly like the ones Manticore used to give us."
"He means well, Alec," I said, "Jeremiah loved being a CO. It's hard for him to let that go."
"It's been hard for all of us, Bobbie," said Alec taking another long swallow. I eyed him over my menu. "Come on, don't look at me like that."
"Like what?" I asked innocently.
"Like you're going to lecture me on my "drinking problem"," Alec made air quotes as he spoke. I shook my head.
"I wasn't going to say anything," I answered, "I was thinking that maybe you need to cut down on the alcohol."
"This is my first beer!"
"Don't tell me you're not going to order another beer as soon as that X3 comes back to our table." Alec flushed and looked down his beer mug. "I knew it. What happened?"
"What makes you think something happened?"
"Alec, I know you. You drink when you're upset and you're drinking beer. Obviously, we're talking Max issues." The X3 waitress walked up to our table and I gave her my order. Alec looked as though he was about to order something, but changed his mind. He gave me a dirty glare as the X3 walked away.
"For your information, I was drinking the beer to relax. Unwind, if you will."
"Uh huh."
"It's just pure coincidence that after Max and I had a very difficult rescue mission that Logan comes up asking to join in on the next one."
I nearly had to choke back laughter. Actually, I just started howling in the mess hall. Several X-series stared at me as I struggled to muffle my giggles. Alec glared at me once more before continuing, "So, I tell Logan that I couldn't let him in on the rescue mission. He says to me, using that snotty tone he reserves especially for X5 males, that I couldn't possibly help Max now that I was injured."
"You heal fast!" I interjected.
"Yeah, tell that to brainiac over there," Alec moved his head in the direction of the catwalk where Max and Logan were having one of their melodramatic conversations. "So, I tell him that he can't depend on that exo for very long or even the transfusions, but that part I didn't say."
"Which part?"
"The transfusions."
"Everybody knows Logan's a transgenic blood junkie."
"Everybody, but Maxie."
"Ahh. She doesn't know that her sweetie pie's been getting hits from her fellow transgenics."
"Yep. It's been going on, oh for three years now. She thinks she's in some perfect relationship, when it's all a lie." Now, Alec was the one to give me the sharp look. Thankfully, the X3 waitress handed me my sandwich. As soon as I swallowed a couple of bites, I snapped, "Gee, Alec, real subtle. Is there something you want to tell me?"
"No," he pursed his lips, "not at all."
"Say it, Alec. Say what you've been dying to tell me since this morning."
"Okay, fine," he looked at me with those ever-changing eyes and spoke, "You know how you say it hurts you to see me pining over Max? How do you think it makes me feel to see you lying to your norm boyfriend? The lies are killing you, Bobbie." I kept eating my sandwich, even though I was just nibbling on the lettuce. I hate lettuce.
"Look, you are one of the few people from the unit, I really care about," Alec continued, "Aside from Josh and Max, you are the only family I've got. You've known me since I was three years old. When the escape happened, you promised me that you would stand by me, no matter what. God, we even took a blood oath swearing loyalty."
"We were kids, Alec," I said, dully, "We didn't know anything. I mean, literally." Alec shook his head and grabbed my hand. He squeezed, ever so gently, reminding me just how strong we were. When Alec and I held hands, I felt free enough to use my strength in a way that I couldn't with Peter.
"We didn't know much, but we had each other," Alec gave me a sly grin, "Us against the niners, remember?"
"I remember," I gave Alec a brilliant smile and went back to eating my sandwich. Oh, yeah, I remember. Sometimes, I wish I didn't. Looking at Alec's face sometimes, I guess he wished he didn't either.