by
Brin
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Epilogue
TWO MONTHS LATER
"One year ago today, several hundred transgenics were freed from a Manticore facility just south of Seattle by Max Guevara, a transgenic herself, who had been imprisoned at the facility for a period of three months. Since that time, Dr. Shankar and Dr. Sam Carr of Seattle, through close observation of the transgenics' health patterns and blood work, have developed cures for paralysis, the common cold, chicken pox, cancer, and a number of diseases and conditions that were previously considered untreatable.
This is my life
It's not what it was before
All these feelings I've shared
And these are my dreams
That I've never lived before
"A secret government operation exploiting millions of dollars in tax money to capture these transgenics was uncovered by Logan Cale, Max Guevara, and Alec Brady. With the help of several undercover transgenics, the president was found to be part of this illegal operation and was immediately impeached from office. As soon as he left office, X5 and police investigators discovered that he had illegitimately laundered at least five million tax dollars for his own use.
Somebody shake me 'cause I
I must be sleeping
Now that we're here
So far away
All the struggle we thought was in vain
"Hundreds of lives have been saved by the work of Logan Cale, Max Guevara, and Alec Brady. But hundreds of lives have been lost as well—transgenic lives. These lives were lost because of men like the former president, who were allowed to roam freely in America's treasury. Three months ago, The City of Last Hope, popularly known as Terminal City, was brutally attacked by the government using an advanced form of transgenics. Last Hope was burned to the ground, and some of Seattle with it. Two hundred transgenics died in the holocaust of Last Hope that summer evening.
All the mistakes one life contained
They all finally start to go away
And now that we're here
So far away
"And now, at the beginning of a new presidential reign, we transgenics have been granted the rights of American citizens. Months of rugged negotiation was a small price to pay for this day. The document concluding all that I have said here requires at least five transgenic signatures and five signatures from members of the cabinet, along with the president's. I am honored to—" Krit stopped talking as someone walked over and whispered in his ear. His face went from confused to excited to terrified in half a second. "Excuse me, I have to go. My wife's having a baby!" And with that, he quickly exited the stage, leaving an empty podium and shocked press.
Max elbowed Alec. "Finish it!"
Alec's eyes widened. "Me? But—"
Ignoring his protests, Max shoved Alec up to the podium. Cameras started flashing like one continuous stream of light, momentarily throwing the X5 off-guard. He waited for the press to finish their onslaught of pictures before looking down at the messily scribbled speech that Krit had obviously written the night before.
And I feel like I can face the day
I can forgive
And I'm not ashamed
To be the person that I am today
He cleared his throat and picked up where Krit left off, his voice a bit shaky. "I am honored to be here this night, to witness the dawning of a new American age. The new president, formerly the vice president, has helped in overthrowing the totalitarian system of the former president. From here, America should rise to glory once again, but it is clear that America will never be what it was before the Pulse—and we believe that that may be a good thing. American can start afresh and become what it's forefathers dreamt of—the true land of the free. That in mind, let us welcome this new age and the new American way it will bring. Peace. Out."
These are my words
I've never said before
I think I'm doing okay
This is the smile
That I've never shown before
A loud cheering broke out amongst the audience, and Alec timidly bowed his head before going back over to Max, who smiled and took his hand in hers. This was it; the top of the mountain. They had finally done it, had finally achieved normalcy – legally, anyway… and that was enough for them, and for transgenics across America. The symbolism of being recognized as people—as citizens—was worth all the struggle they had endured to get here.
Somebody shake me 'cause I
I must be sleeping
Now that we're here
So far away
All the struggle we thought was in vain
The new president stepped up to the podium and a helper brought out the Transgen Treaty document. He pulled out a feather pen and signed it, then five members of the cabinet followed.
When they were done, all was silent. The first line of press even cowered back a bit as Zack stepped up to the podium and picked up the pen. Everyone held their breaths. He stared at them solemnly, then smiled, much to everyone's surprise. Cameras flashed like mad. He ducked his head and put his John Hancock on the first line, then handed the pen to Jondy, who did the same. One by one—Zack, Jondy, Max, Alec, Zane, and Brin signed the document. At first, everyone had decided on just Zack, Jondy, Max, Alec, and Krit signing the document because they were, essentially, the leaders of Terminal City. Max and Jondy protested, however, and soon Brin and Zane were lined up as well. But they weren't the last to be added to the list.
All the mistakes one life contained
They all finally start to go away
And now that we're here
So far away
A collective gasp went through the crowd as Pick and Eddie stepped into view. Eddie teetered on a crutch while Pick had one arm around her waist, helping her stay upright. Now the press went mad, suddenly shouting questions and rushing forward to try and interview the anomaly, who was the first many of them had ever seen up close.
And I feel like I can face the day
I can forgive
And I'm not ashamed
To be the person that I am today
Eddie shielded her cat eyes, sensitive to the light of the flashes, as the X5s rushed forward to contain the crowd. Unlike the X series, anomalies were not been trained to be immune to the fear of public appearances. Years and years of living in the basement with minimal Ordinary contact had made them fearful and shy. Things were not improved when they escaped the basements and were forced to live underground. Truth be told, this was the first time Eddie had ever been in front of more than just a few Ordinaries.
"That's enough! Stay behind the line!" shouted Zack, pushing the last camera behind the yellow safety line they had set up. He gave them a scowl, which effectively scared them into compliance. "Don't you see she's scared? Stop flashing the cameras. All she's gonna do is sign."
I'm so afraid of waking
Please don't shake me
Afraid of waking
Please don't shake me
Slowly, cautiously, Eddie limped up the podium and picked up the pen. She looked at Pick timidly, and he only smiled back. Her brown eyes peeked out at the hundreds of people watching her every move, then turned downwards towards the simple piece of paper with several signatures on it. She steadied herself against Pick, leant forward, and signed the document. The press looked like they were about to surge forward again, but they controlled themselves. Pick took the pen from Eddie and signed the document—sealing it. Now an uproar of cheering and applause broke out, cameras flashing. The president shook hands with each of the transgenics and they were now open to press interview. It was a madhouse.
Now that we're here
So far away
All the struggle we thought was in vain
All the mistakes one life contained
They all finally start to go away
After two hours of interviews and pictures, Max and the other transgenics discreetly snuck out the back door. They headed to the hospital Syl was staying in, the excited feeling of her having a baby just now catching up with them. They must've looked a bit odd clothed in expensive dresses, but they ignored the surprised glances they received from patients and workers alike.
"Hi, I'm looking for Syl Guevara," announced Max to the nurse at the front desk. "She just had a baby."
"Are you family?" asked the nurse, who was obnoxiously chewing a wad of gum the size of her tongue.
"As close as she's gonna get."
"Room 503."
"Thank you." Max grinned and walked away, the others close behind.
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"Knock-knock," Jondy opened the door slightly and peeked in. Syl was lying on the hospital bed looking worn and haggard. Krit was by her side, holding a tiny pink bundle. Softly clapping her hands, Jondy immediately hurried over to peek at the baby girl. The others filed in behind her.
Max walked around the side of the bed and took Syl's hand. "How are you, big sister?" she asked as she sat on the edge of the cot. "You look like hell."
Syl smiled weakly. "Thanks a lot, little sister," she replied with a slow shake of her blonde head. "But it was worth it."
"Did you guys think of a name yet?" asked Jondy, folding back the blanket a bit to see a pudgy little face. "She looks just like Krit!"
"Her name… is Eve," said Krit with a smile.
"It's perfect," declared Jondy, her eyes sparkling. "She's the first, after all. The first transgenic baby born after the treaty." She touched the baby's fluff of blonde hair and sighed dreamily. "I want one."
They stuck around talking to the new parents for a while, but eventually Syl slipped off into exhausted sleep and the proud aunties and uncles finally left, feeling almost as bushed as Syl. Max and Alec retreated to their hotel room, where they changed into sweatpants and t-shirts and flopped on the bed, wrapped in each other's arms.
"I love you, Maxie," he whispered in her ear as he affectionately stroked her hair.
"I love you too, Alec," she replied, kissing him.
"Twenty years, we've been off-the-books science projects… now we're people. How do you feel?" asked the male X5 with a grin. "It is, after all, your doing. All your fault, Maxie. All your fault…"
Max smiled up into his emerald green eyes. "To tell you the truth, I don't really feel different… just… satisfied. Really satisfied." She flicked his nose playfully. "So what happens now?"
Alec grinned back and gave her supple waist a light squeeze. "Well, Max… this is the part where we turn to the next page and read aloud, 'And they lived happily ever after'."
And now that we're here
So far awayAnd I feel like I can face the day
I can forgive
And I'm not ashamed
To be the person that I am today
finis.