Chapter 6 - The Awakening

Asha woke up from her afternoon nap to the sound of her alarm clock beeping knowing it was about 8:00pm, which was when her shift started at the hospital. Asha had taken to sleeping with the lights on because they hadn't bothered her before but when Asha opened her eyes she had to squint. Why are the lights so bright? She wondered hazily before her mind realised what had happened.

"No," she whispered desperately. She could see! That meant she would have to see the disappointed faces of the only friends she had ever known. Asha felt tears threatening to pour down her face. She didn't want to see. Not now when everyone was so mad at her. She was startled from her thoughts of self pity when a creature burst into her room and Asha could only guess that it was the mysterious Joshua who had been taking care of her these weeks past. Even though she had been expecting what he looked like, to actually see him was still shocking. But not in a bad way, Asha actually found him kinda cute and she smiled at him glad that she could finally see the one who had been her closest friend through all the hard times.

"Pretty Ash awake," Joshua announced shuffling into the room towards the window to open them up and let the cool breeze in. The night sky looked all the more beautiful to Asha now that she could actually see it all, the stars shining brightly above them and the full moon looking like a huge platter in the sky. Asha truly appreciated it this time.

"Wow!" Asha breathed still staring at Joshua in wonder and he turned around surprised and looked around him in confusion wondering what Asha was so amazed at.

"What?" he asked gruffly and Asha laughed with pleasure at the cute face he made when he was confused.

"I can see you, I'm seeing you for the first time," Asha told him and Joshua stared at her in amazement and Asha beamed at him.

"Pretty Ash can see?" Joshua asked happily and when Asha nodded he looked down at himself, self consciously and asked softly, "Ash not scared is she?"

"No, I could never be scared of you, come on lets go see our kids," Asha said getting out of her bed and taking Joshua's hand.

As they exited her room Asha had her first look at the inside of Terminal City. It wasn't what she expected at all. Instead of the armies of transgenics she had expected to see she saw frightened men and women who were huddled together talking and whispering. Some were smiling weakly but most looked plain afraid or resentful. It was dark in Terminal City and the transgenics looked malnourished and Asha remembered Alec telling her that they barely had enough to feed everyone. This is horrible, Asha thought to herself feeling pity for them, I had no idea that they were being forced to live like this. As Asha neared the little orphanage her little group ran out to greet her and Asha saw them for the first time. They were exactly as Joshua had described them and Asha couldn't resist bundling all of them to her in a huge hug that they returned eagerly.

"You can see?" Siren asked cutely and Asha looked down at her and tapped her under the chin unable to resist the innocent eyes that fluttered up at her.

"I sure can," Asha assured them and they exchanged glances with each other then Hawk stepped forward being the obvious spokesperson for the group. He looked a little uncomfortable and Asha knelt down so that she was on his eye level.

"You're not shocked by what we look like?" he asked slowly and Asha smiled affectionately shaking her head.

"Of course not, I would love you all no matter what you look like," Asha assured them looking at each of them and she bundled Hawk to her chest.

"We love you too Asha," Snow ventured to say and Asha reached out to caress Snow's white head then she looked around and counted the group noticing one was missing.

"Where's Tiny?" Asha asked afraid for the little one and Spider looked down at his scuffed shoes while the others all looked away.

"She got sick again, I think she has the flu this time, that's what Cindy says," Spider said and Asha gasped in shock.

"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Asha said hurrying to the sick room with Joshua and her gang close behind her.

Inside the sick room Asha spied her little Tiny in a bed breathing with much difficulty and as Asha approached she sneezed. Her little nose was so red and her face was pale and very thin. Cindy came closer to Asha thinking Asha still couldn't see to explain what was happening.

"Tiny is ill," Cindy said and Asha looked at her and rolled her eyes.

"I can see that," Asha said fluttering her eyes at Cindy who looked at her in surprise then turned to Joshua who confirmed it with a nod. Cindy smiled indulgently. Well its about time, Cindy thought to herself wondering how Max and Logan would take the news.

Asha sat on the bed beside Tiny and gathered the small child up in her arms. Tiny awoke and looked up at Asha then reached her small arms up around Asha's neck to hug her.

"I hoped you would come, I dreamed you would be here when I woke up," Tiny whispered timidly clinging to Asha like a little monkey and Cindy shook her head feeling it a damn shame that such a sweet little girl was so sickly all the time.

"Its down right unfair that she catches every bug, virus and disease going around," Cindy said shaking her head then she heard one of her other patients coughing and she quickly went to see what she could do to ease their pain.

"How are you feeling?" Asha asked and Tiny coughed a little and followed it by a sneeze.

"I'm okay now that you are here," Tiny assured Asha but Asha felt tears pricking at her eyelids again. Her poor little babies. All of them were stick thin, their faces dirty and their eyes wide from lack of food. Their clothes were tatty and Asha couldn't believe that she hadn't noticed before how hard life in Terminal City was on the children. Asha took a deep breath then pulled away from Tiny and brushed hair off the little girl's forehead.

"I am going to go out and buy you some medicine darling," Asha said and Tiny looked a little fearful at Asha leaving her and Asha pulled forward Snow who had been like a mother figure to all the little group saying, "Snow will look after you while I'm gone."

Tiny looked satisfied with that and Asha stood up brushing back her hair that had fallen across her eyes then she strode to her bedroom gesturing for Spider and Siren to come with her. She couldn't believe that they lived in such shoddy conditions and here was Asha with a full bank account just waiting to be spent on a good cause. Asha decided then and there that she would do all that she could for them. She was going to buy them medicine, food, clothes and her number one priority was going to see her father and demanding that he give her the cure to the virus that she knew he must have perfected by now. Asha dressed hurriedly and outside her door she found Joshua waiting for her along with Siren and Spider.

"Where are you going?" Joshua asked surveying Asha's clothes and Asha shrugged on her black jacket then took Spider and Siren's hands in her own.

"I'm going to see father," she said simply walking out of the building taking Spider and Siren with her and Joshua's eyes brightened with joy.

"Joshua come with you," Joshua said as they began walking towards the gate.

"No Joshua you stay here and look after Alec for me," Asha tried to dissuade him but Joshua seemed adamant that he would go with her.

"Joshua want to go with you," Joshua told her strongly and Asha sighed giving in.

"Okay, let's go then," Asha said as they reached the gate and Asha stood there drawing on her powers so that she transformed into the cat creature that she had showed Logan. Joshua, Spider and Siren stood there staring at her for a few moments before the explanation dawned on them.

"You're one of us!" Siren exclaimed with joy and Asha winked at them then scooped Spider under one arm and Siren under the other and jumped over the gate easily with them. She transformed back into her normal form as she waited for Joshua to come and he followed them over he pulled his coat hood around his face so as not to draw attention to himself. Asha took hold of Spider and Siren and they began walking in the direction of the city.

"Asha where are you going?" Alec asked running out after them and Asha turned around to face him thoughtfully.

"Tell Logan and Max.tell them that I'm sorry for everything and I will make it up to them," Asha said turning around and continuing to walk away while Alec stood at the gates not quite believing that Asha was leaving Terminal City and taking the two little ones with her.

"What? Asha come back," Alec called to her but Asha picked up her pace.

"Goodbye Alec I'm sorry you couldn't let yourself love me the way I love you," Asha called back to him as her and Joshua disappeared into the shadows and her words stung Alec.

"Asha wait," Alec called out jumping over the fence to run after them but in the dark he couldn't see where they went,

"Let's go Joshua," Asha said softly not wanting to alert Alec to their presence and Joshua looked perplexed in Alec's direction.

"Alec is calling you, I think he needs you," Joshua said and Asha shook her head.

"No he isn't, Alec doesn't need anyone," Asha replied softly and Spider and Siren looked over at each other while Joshua shook his head.