PART 6: Time to Hide

"I'm meant to be his breeding partner?"  Angela commented shocked as she looked at the computer screen.  "Why me?"

"Did Alec ever find out?"  Max asked her.

"No, and what would it matter if her had, according to this I've been a target for a long time.  They know my whole life, my parents.  Everything."

"They know your parents?"  Max asked frowning.  "But you don't know who your father is, so how could they?"

"Max is right."  Logan said going back to the computer and back to the file on Angela.  "According to this you father was X1-826 otherwise known as Tyler.  Do you guys know anything about the X1's?"

"A little," Zack said.  "They were the first, kind of like test runs.  I heard stuff about them, they were meant to be the greatest, only there were too many problems with them, had to be fixed all the time.  They were all about twenty years older than us."

"Is that all?"  Angela asked him.  "This is my father we're talking about, is that all you heard?"

Zack nodded.  "They didn't talk much about the other's.  It was like we weren't meant to know about them.  I don't know why."

"Probably so we wouldn't be influenced by them, or try to be like them."  Sly said.  "You know how the younger ones try to be like the older ones.  They were probably afraid if we saw what they did we'd try to do it, no matter what it could have done to us."

"I think Syl's right."  Max said.  "I mean do you think they tell the others about us, the ones who escaped?  I don't think so."

"Look I don't really think this matters much, what matters is us getting out of here.  From what Alec said, they're coming to get us.  I don't think any of us want to be here when they arrive."  Zack said.  "But we'll stay together.  We have a better chance as a full group."

"But they'll be expecting us to run."  Max argued.  "It's better if we just stay here and lay low for a while until they leave."

"They'll be combing the city for us."  Zack argued back.  "We'd have a better chance if we leave.  Alec knows you guys, he knows your hangouts."

"Max is right."  Angela said.  "They won't expect us to stay here.  We find a place to stay for a while, till things die down, then we can leave, after they've checked places, and won't look again."

"But where is there to go?"  Jondy asked.  "Lydecker has eyes everywhere."

"The factory you guys just took down."  Logan said.  "The police would have finished with it by now and no one'll be there.  It's a secure area, you'll be safe there."

"Okay," Max said turning to the others.  "Go get you're stuff, we'll meet back here in one hour.  Angela and I'll go home and get our stuff.  Logan, Original Cindy's going to stay with you, it's too dangerous for her there by herself."

"I agree.  Get back soon okay."  Logan said kissing her deeply.

The others were already moving out, doing what they had to do before they went into hiding.  Stuff they'd been trained to do.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~       

"Do you think we're doing the right thing?"  Max asked Angela and Original Cindy.  "Or do you just think we're putting ourselves in more danger?"

"It's the right thing to do Max," Angela said.  "They won't expect us to stay in town, they'll be expecting us to run."

"Yeah boo," Original Cindy said.  "You gotta do what you gotta do.  I don't want my girls getting into any trouble.  Plus Original Cindy's been set up all nice."

"Yeah," Max said but a lot of stuff was still going on in her head.  They stepped into Logan's apartment to see the place virtually covered with different stuff.  Food, blankets, lights, practically everything you'd need if you were going camping, but they weren't.  "Are the others back yet?"

"No," Logan said.  "But it's only been forty-five minutes.  Give them some time."

"We're right here."  Zane said walking in the door.  "Well most of us, Zack's just covering a few tracks, making some false leads, the stuff he's good at.  He'll be here soon."

"Let's get this junk into bags while we wait for him."  Max said. 

They spent the next fifteen minutes trying to get everything into bags that they could carry, and even then there was still stuff they had to carry.  Since not all of them had transportation, they were going to have to walk, but decided that the people with motorbikes would take most of the stuff.

"Are we all ready to go?"  Zack asked walking in the door.  He looked around the room.  "If we have enough stuff."

"We do," Max responded.  "But you, Jondy, Zane, Krit and I have to take most of the stuff, and the others'll walk."

"Okay, but Angela comes with me, I'm not having her walk out there."  Zack said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Fine," Max said.  "Let's go people."  She pulled Logan aside and they had a quick conversation and kiss before they grabbed some stuff and went down to the bikes.  About five minutes later four motorbikes tore off down the street and the others started walking.

They got to the factory about ten minutes later and started to make the place a little more comfortable because they were going to be there for a while, but Zack made sure that it could be packed up and hide if the occasion called for it.

"This place is filthy."  Angela commented as she ran her finder over a table, it coming away covered in dust.

"Why don't you clean it up for us then."  Max said, getting out the food and setting it up on one of the tables. 

"Because I don't have a death wish."  Angela responded and went to help them unpack.

The others arrived half an hour later with the rest of the stuff.  "Well, this place certainly looks homey."  Jondy said sarcastically.

"It'll have to do for the time being."  Zack said.  "In the meantime, make sure that everything can be packed up in hurry, we never know when we'll have to leave."

"This place has an old bomb shelter where we can keep some of the stuff and hide if we need to, when it's closed it's practically impossible to see."  Max said coming out of one of the rooms.  "The bathroom's that way.  This place is an absolute shit hole, but we'll have to deal for now."

"When do you think they'll get here?"  Angela asked.  Her and Zack were away from the group in the old bomb shelter setting up stuff there

"Soon, it sound like they were ready to leave when we spoke to Alec," Zack said the name with absolute loathing.  "So they'll arrive in Seattle soon, and be here for about three days before they move on."

"Do you remember Alec?" 

Zack nodded.  "I hated him.  We were always fighting for the role of leader.  I had it and he wanted it.  Lydecker actually encouraged our fighting; he said that it would make a stronger leader.  He wasn't with us when we escaped; he actually liked it at Manticore.  I'm glad that he wasn't with us though, he would have put us in danger."

"How so?"

"He was reckless, wanted power."  Zack responded.

"Yeah, I know, he always wanted to be in control."  Angela said caught up in her memories.  "I remember whenever I wasn't doing something with him he'd always demand what I was doing, like I was going to cheat on him or something.  And whenever we'd go out, if any guy looked at me, he'd get really angry.  It was so scary sometimes; I didn't know how far he was going to take it.  That's what made me break it off with him.  That and Max kept telling me how bed he was."

Zack's jaw was clenched tight, he didn't like hearing what Angela did with Alec.  "It doesn't matter now.  You got away from him and he's not going to get you back."

Angela smiled.  "Thanx Zack.  I'm sorry that I've made you run again.  I know what that's like."

"Well you're worth it."  Zack smiled.  He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her towards him.  He kissed her softly, wanting to savour the moment.  Angela wrapped her arms around his neck to keep his lips on hers.

They were so involved with eachother that they didn't hear Max come down the stairs.  "Can't you guys find a room?"  She asked amused.

"We have go one, but you seem to keep interrupting us."   Zack said pulling away from Angela but kept his arm around his waist.  "What do you want Max?"

"I need to talk to Angela for a minute.  Privately."  She said when he didn't move.

"You know you're going to have to tell us soon."  He said to Angela.

"I will soon.  Just let me talk to Max."  Angela placed he palms on Zack's muscled chest and pushed him out of the room.  "What is it Max?"

"Just thinking.  Your father's a X1.  Why don't you show any of his genes?  You don't have a barcode, you can't do any of the stuff we can.  Why is that?"

Angela shrugged.  "How would I know, maybe it's because I've never tried to use them before.  Come on, Zack's right, the others need to know about me."

"You're sure?"  Max asked.

Angela nodded and went to where the others were to tell them.

"Hey guys, you're about to be filled in on the details that are Angela."  Max said.  "Feel privileged."

"So we're finally going yo hear about the mysterious Angela."  Zane commented.  "Don't let me stop you."

"Shut up Zane."  Jondy said, elbowing him in the stomach.

"So where do you think I should start?"  Angela asked the group.

"How about you tell us what 'power' you have that you and Max always whisper about?"  Ben said folding his arms.

"Alright."  Angela said sitting down on one of the makeshift chairs.  "I'm telekinetic.  I can move things with my mind."

"We know what telekinesis is," Zane said.  "But how did you get it."

Angela shrugged.  "I have no idea.  My mother wasn't telekinetic and my fathers an X1, so I don't know how I got it."

"You might be telekinetic because of who your father is."  Zack said.  "Maybe that's what happens to half-breeds."

"Thanx for the compliment, Zack."  Angela muttered.

"I don't think so," Max said doubtfully.  "What her father is wouldn't give her telekinesis.  It has to come from something else."

"I have no idea where it comes from and I don't really care.  All I want to know is why Manticore wants Alec and I to…" Angela shuddered.  "…breed."

"They must know about you."  Syl said.  "That's the only reason."

"But they couldn't."  Angela denied.  "There's no way they could have found out.  The only people that knew before you guys was Max and Logan, that's it."

"And your mother."  Max stated quietly.

Angela's eyes widened in comprehension and she put her head in her hands.  "Of course.  My mother.  She's the only other person who could have told them.  Great, just great."

"If you and Alec had children, they'd be practically unstoppable.  The perfect warriors.  Our abilities and yours combined.  That's what they want, and unstoppable warrior."  Max said.  "It also explains why you and Alec has sex so much."

"Thanx Max, that's really something I want out in the open."  Angela rolled her eyes.  "But it does explain a lot.  Why he was so territorial, secretive, and the sex."

"But why did he wait so long?  Why didn't they just grab you when they found you.  It doesn't make any sense."  Ma shook her head.

"Nothing makes much sense anymore."  Angela muttered.

"I think everyone thinks that."  Brin said quietly.  "How long are we staying here?  I don't mean to be a pain, but this place is really creepy."

"Yeah, it's kind of got a dead feeling to it."  Angela put in.

"We can leave when the action dies down a bit."  Zack said, assuming his leader role again.  "But until then, no one is to leave this building.  No one."  He said looking directing into Max's eyes.

"Zack, you think I'd go against your orders?  I'm hurt."  Max said putting a hand to her chest and acting wounded.  "Really I am."

"I'm sure you are."  Zack said sarcastically.  "Okay everyone, look around the building, check everywhere for any sort of bugs that might be here, and places that we can get out of in a hurry."

While they all went off to do that, Angela just stayed where she was, thinking.  If Max was right and her mother had given them the information, then she might still be alive and could lead the Manticore people to them.  That's if they realised what she can do, Angela thought to herself.

"What are you thinking about?"  Brin asked Angela after she had finished checking her designated area.  "You look kinda lost."

"Just wishing I hadn't got any of you guys into this."  Angela responded not looking at her.  "It's not fair, what I've done."

"That's not what you were thinking about."  Brin said quietly.

"What?"  Angela asked shocked.

Brin smiled slightly.  "If there's one thing I'm good at, it's being able to tell when people are lying.  It's a gift.  Sometimes."  She added grudgingly.

"I know how that feels."  Angela said.  "But as to what I was thinking, don't worry, I'll be able to handle it on my own."

"But do you want to handle it on your own?"  Brin asked.  "You might think that keeping everything to yourself will be easier on others, but it isn't."

Angela smiled.  "You seem to know everything.  How do you know so much?"

"Always being on the run tends to make a person more wise about things going on around them."  Brin smiled back at her, then they both broke into laughter.

"You two seem to be getting close."  Max observed walking up to them.  "Should feel jealous that you might take my best friend away from me Brin?"

"Of course you should Max, we all know how long you have kept friends for."  Brin said jokingly.

"Until they piss her off."  Krit said.  "I remember when she tried to make friends with some of the X4's, that was a disaster waiting to happen.  They were talking about something, when Max suddenly punched the guy.  You should have seen the look on everyone's face.  It was hysterical."  He was laughing so hard that he had fallen to the ground holding his stomach.

Max went over and kicked him on the butt.  "We had a difference of opinions."  She explained.

"You almost killed the guy."  Krit said still laughing.

"I did not."  Max denied.  "I just showed him who the better fighter was."

"And I take it that was you," Angela said.

"Of course."  Max said smugly. "No one's beaten me."

"I have," Zack said to her.  "Numerous times in fact."

"But you don't count."  Max said waving him off.  "You're part of my team, I'm not including any of you."

"Probably because you know we'd beat you."  Zane said.

"You would not."  Max insisted.  "The only person in this room that could beat me is Zack, and Angela if she really wanted to, but she never would because she knows that-"

"I'll kick your ass if you don't shut up."  Angela said sweetly.

"Here we go again with the secrets."  Zane rolled his eyes.  "Why can't you just tell us everything?"

"I told you everything that you need to know."  Angela said.  "You don't need to know about my control issues."

"Control issues?"  Tinga asked.  "What do you mean by that?"

Angela rolled her eyes.  "Sometimes, if I'm in a really bad mood, or any mood for that matter, I can't control my powers."

"Can control them?"  Ben raised his eyebrows.  "You can't control them?  And you thought that we didn't need to know any of this?  That is a very pertinent detail that you decided to leave out."

"It's not like that.  I have a measure of control over them."  Angela started.

"What do you mean?"  Jondy asked.

"I can direct my power somewhere else so no one gets hurt."

"So instead of blowing up a few people you blow a fuse box or something.  That's what you're saying?"  Ben asked, and when Angela nodded he sighed.  "Well that's a relief."

"What makes you loose control?"  Zack asked quietly.

"Usually it's anger, that's one of the strongest emotions, but I've been warned not to let any of my emotions take over.  That's what does it."  Angela responded.

"Warned?"  Syl asked confused.  "Who warned you?"

Angela laughed.  "A fortune teller.  I was bored and went into China Town one night; this old lady came out of nowhere and told me not to get carried away by my emotions.  I didn't know what she was talking about at first-"

"But when you threw a few people across the room it came back to you."  Max put in.  "It was actually funny from my point of view."

"I'm sure it was."  Zack said looking at Max and shaking his head.  "But we need to talk about this.  Angela you need to get a better grip on your emotions, then you'll have more control."

Angela looked at him is disbelief.  This guy had engaged in major make-out sessions with her and now her was telling her to screen her emotions.  "Get a grip on my emotions?  I handle my emotions very well thankyou.  You wanna see?"  She didn't wait for an answer; she just pulled the knife she always kept with her out of her pocket and threw it at Zack.  Just before it would have hit him in the face Angela raised her hand and stopped it.

"Wow," Zane said, his eyes wide.  "Pretty cool."

"See?"  Angela said.  She drew the knife back to her and put it back into her pocket.  "I have control."  She walked away from the group and into the bomb shelter.

"Good work Zack," Max said as she watched Angela leave.

"What did I do?"  Zack asked genuinely confused.

"Angela hates it when people ride her about her control."

"Well with what she just did it's obvious that she needs to control her anger a bit."

Max just rolled her eyes.