THE END?

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe it didn't end with a phone call. Maybe it ended with the death of the last of the mutant's heroes. Or maybe just maybe it never really ends at all

Liz couldn't say how much time passed before David appeared with everyone else in tow. She looked up at them with tear-stained face. Adrian was at Jesse's side, desperately seeking a pulse while Tammy sobbed quietly into Sandra's shoulder. David, Shazné's hand tight in his, reached out with his free hand and pulled Liz away. He led them both as far as the main hall before stopping and taking a seat on the dojo. Shazné clambered up next to him and lay at the back of the platform, watching the water run beneath her with curiosity. Liz moved up beside her and lay down on her stomach with her chin resting on her hands.

She heard Sarah step out of one of the corridors into the hall and wondered if someone else would have heard her too, of it that was another part of her mutation. Sarah called her name and she turned grudgingly, sitting up but not moving so Sarah had to come to her.

"Sandra told me about Jesse." She said, putting an arm around Liz's shoulder. "I'm sorry." Liz pulled away. "What's up?" She asked, confused.

"You've just found out I'm a freak, don't you want to run away or phone the police or something?"

"Are you going to hurt me, freak?" She asked, jokingly.

"No. It's not like I'm any different than I was before." Liz said, looking away.

"Then I don't see why I should bother. Besides, I kinda like you, I'd rather you didn't get yourself killed." Sarah pulled Liz's chin around so that their eyes met. "It doesn't change anything." She said, serious.

"Are you sure?" Liz whispered. Sarah simply rolled her eyes and kissed her. David made a face at Shazné and, not wanting to be left out the young girl kissed him. The girls laughed as David scrubbed at his cheek. Liz sighed.

"What do you think Daniel will do? He's been killing people like us." David looked up.

"He loves Kelly and Shazné very much." He said. "He won't hurt them."

Liz was going to reply when she realised how empty the hotel was at dinnertime, Liz looked up and around, noting that there was almost absolute silence except for their own voices.

"There's something wrong." She said, standing. She glanced across at David and saw him frown. The others appeared in one of the doorways and Liz started to make her way across to them. A voice, sudden and loud in her ears, shouted "Freeze."

Adrian's shackled arm rested around his sister's waist, Kelly's head was buried in Daniel's shoulder as he held Shazné, rocking her gently as she sobbed at the rough handling. David held Sandra's hand and Sarah and Liz shared another pair of seats. The holding van rattled over the narrow road out of Sanctuary. They were in an isolated box trailing the vehicle, handcuffed, the box insulated and earthed, waterproof and fireproof. The doors were locked from the driver's seat. They were on their way to the station where they would join the rest of the hotel guests in being bloodtested and scanned and all of them found to be mutant would be killed almost immediately in whatever way was deemed most suitable.

"We can't just sit here. We have to do something." Daniel stated.

"What can we do?" Adrian asked. "It's not like they're just going to let us run away."

"But you guys can do things. Can't you?"

"'Things?'" Tammy repeated sarcastically. "What, like flying and seeing through solid walls with our x-ray vision?"

"Tammy. He's trying to help." Sandra reprimanded. "Ade, can you break the chains?" She asked.

"Yes, but Sand"

"No Ade." She interrupted. "It's time we started fighting back."

"What about the door. I'm not going to be able to break that."

"We'll help you."

"We?"

"There are two ferals in this car, Ade. Shazné will have to wait until she's a little older before she can help out." Sandra smiled softly at Kelly's grin.

"Not everyone here has feral speed, Sandra. We're not all going to be able to outrun these people."

"I'm assuming you'll be able to provide some protection?"

"Not enough for seven of you." Sandra thought for a moment, looking at the collected people as the van rattled along. Her gaze settled on David.

"Hey Bill. Pull over, I need to take a piss." Bill looked over at his partner, jumpy at the cargo he was transporting.

"You think that's a good idea, Sam?"

"Do I heck. But I need a piss."

"Yeah, me too. I just didn't want to"

"For christ's sake man, pull over!" Bill pulled over. Checking that all of the doors were locked the two men jumped out of the car and headed into the forest on the roadside to find appropriate trees. If either of them had been looking they would have been very worried to see Tammy stick her head out of their mutant-proof box and jump into the cab. Unlocking the doors to the box quickly she looked in the mirror and watched all of the others clamber out and run into the woods on the other side of the road - Sandra carrying David, the effort of using skills he had never had a chance to practice proving too much for him. Shutting the box again Tammy waited. Checking the tree line she was happy to note that she couldn't see any of the others, though she knew they hadn't gone far. Looking down she realised the flaw in their plan. The men had taken the keys with them. Sticking her head out of the window she looked out into the woods.

"Help! No keys!" She called under her breath, hoping the men couldn't hear her. A figure appeared from the trees and jumped into the cab beside her. Sarah smiled and then gestured that they should swap seats. Surrendering the driving seat quickly Tammy watched as Sarah leant down and pulled some wires out of the steering column. Seeing one of the men emerging from the woods Tammy gestured for her to hurry. Seconds later the engine started and they pulled away. Bill stood shouting after the car as it disappeared, and then at Sam when he emerged. The two police men commandeered a passing car, calling for backup as they went. Careful to check that they had gone the others emerged from the woods on the other side of the road and began the walk back to Sanctuary.

Sanctuary seemed deserted as they arrived back in the driveway. A single police car suggested otherwise.

As they made their way into the entrance of Sanctuary two shots ran out, both going wide, but enough to warn them. They dived back under cover. Daniel began edging his way back to the edge of the artificial hillock they had taken cover behind.

"What are you doing?" Kelly asked. He showed her the handgun in his hands.

"I took it out of the back of the cab, there was a panic kit there." He explained. Two more shots rang out and Daniel lifted the gun two handed to aim. Kelly grabbed Daniel's hand and forced it downwards.

"We don't kill them." She hissed.

"Why not. They're trying to kill us."

"Because we're the good guys. We're trying to prove to them that we can live alongside them. That means not killing them." Sandra looked up at her daughter, proud of the comment. "I've always wanted to be on this side. I hated just watching." She grinned.

"That'll change." Sandra murmured to herself.

"OK, so no killing shots. How are we supposed to get past them? And what exactly were we planning on doing when we get inside?" Daniel asked. Sandra looked to Adrian.

"Is the helix still working?" He looked uncertain.

"She was in a bit of a state last time I looked. I haven't had time to work on her. She should be air-worthy."

"The aeroplane it was real!?" Liz exclaimed. Adrian simply smiled.

"OK, here's what we're going to do. Ade, you're going for the helix. Liz, you go with him. Kelly, stay with the kids. Daniel, how do you feel about being a diversion?"

Liz stood and gaped at the craft in its hanger. Adrian was already inside and starting it up. It didn't look in the best of conditions, occasionally spouting stream as it went through the start-up process. Adrian looked out of the hatch.

"You coming in?" He asked.

Grimacing and silently apologising as she did so, Sandra thumped the two men heavily across the back of the neck as they tried to target Daniel who was bobbing up and down with the gun in his hands. They fell solidly to the ground and Sandra looked up as there was a whirring in the air. The helix descended ponderously and landed on the flat top of the hill. A hatch appeared in the back and Liz looked out.

"We going to rescue some people then, or what?" She called. They were piling into the craft when there was the noise of a vehicle on the road. Taking cover they were all relieved when Sarah and Tammy appeared from the cab of the vehicle.

"You weren't planning on leaving us out of the fun were you?" Sarah laughed.

As one, the new team of mutant's heroes turned and stepped into the helix. Ready to begin their reign and to regain freedom for mutant-kind.

The beginning again