Max took a cautious step backward, "How the hell do you know 'bout Seth? He's been dead for almost three years."
Joss glanced at Kylie, "Ah, been talkin' to another one of our special siblings, have you?"
She nodded, her eyes still focused on Max.
"What is she talking about?" Max asked, tipping her head towards Joss.
"I was one of Manticore's little random experiments. They must've did radical things to my brain, what, they never explained it to me. They were trying to create what they got..."
Max stared at her, "Which is?"
"I'm a medium. I see and talk to ghosts." she said with a shrug.
Max looked at her, mouth agape.
"Yeah, that's basically the reaction we gave her, too. But she knew things back at Manticore that only dead X5's, or in my case, X6's, should know." Joss said with a half-smile.
"Anyway, on the way here, by the Space Needle, I saw Seth, and see said to tell you hello. And that he didn't blame you for what happened the night he died," Kylie said, "Whatever that means."
Max stood still, her dark eyes gleaming wetly for a moment. Then she blinked the tears away.
"Thanks." she said.
"Oh, and by the way, did you know Jack and Eva, too?" Kylie asked innocently.
Max reacted as if she had been sucker-punched, "Yeah...but they died a long time ago. Back at Manticore."
"They talked about you and the others. Wonders how you doing. Eva talks more that Jack."
"He does get angry sometimes though. If I was him, I'd be pissed all the time."
"Why?" Max asked.
"If somebody murdered me, hacked my body up for research purposes because I had seizures, I'd be pretty mad. Wouldn't you?"
"Holy shit. You are a medium." Max said in awe.
"Damn straight." Kylie replied with a grin.
******************************************************************************
Max went back through the door, Kylie and Joss following her.
"Hey guys, say hi to our newest family members. Kylie..."
"Hi." Kylie said, waving cheerfully.
"And Joss."
"Yo everyone." Joss gave the crowd the same mock salute that she had given Max earlier.
Another smart ass, Max thought. Just like her.
Joshua, the lovable dog-boy, came up to their side, "Hi, I'm Joshua. You X5, like Max?"
Kylie smiled at him, "No Joshua, I was just a experiment."
"And I'm an X6." Joss added.
"What kind of experiment? Like me?" Joshua was openly curious.
"Kind of. Only they did stuff with my brain. I'm a medium."
Joshua looked at her, confused, "What's a medium?"
"She can see and talk to ghosts... dead people." Joss explained.
"Like... my Annie?" Joshua asked slowly.
Max was aghast, "Hey Big Fella, no."
"Who's Annie?" Kylie asked.
Max took Kylie by the arm and led her aside, talking in a low tone so Joshua couldn't overhear.
"Her name was Annie Fisher...she was a human, a blind woman who Josh met a few months ago. He fell in love with her, and even when she found out what he was, she didn't care. She knew what was in his heart, and she loved him for it. But the guy who's been hunting down the transgenics..."
"Ames White, it was on the news." Kylie said, listening with heavy heart. She had a feeling where this story where was going.
"Well, one day, Josh was outside with Annie, and some guys attacked him. Joshua went down in the sewers with Annie, and the guys called the cops...who called in White. Annie told Joshua to get out, because if they caught him, well, you know what would happen. She thought a cop would find her, and she'd be fine. Well, unfortunately, Ames White found her, snapped her neck. To blame it on Joshua."
"Poor guy." Kylie glanced over at the towering, seemingly beast-like man.
"Yeah. He loved her so much. Right after, he came here." Max said softly.
"Well, if you don't care, I really don't mind looking to see... if she's there." Kylie spoke hesitantly, not wanting to step on the X5's toes.
Max looked over at Joshua, who had obviously had that idea in mind. She sighed.
"I guess it's all right. What can it hurt?"
"Okay. You coming?"
"Sure. In case my Big Fella needs me."
******************************************************************************
So they were about to leave to the sewers, Joshua, Joss, Max, and Kylie, when a familiar, handsome figure passed by. Alec.
"Hey I know you. I saw you in neuropsychology." Kylie said, noticing Alec.
Max's glance went back and forth, "Why were you guys in neuropsychology?"
Kylie's smile was brief, "Hey, you say that you see and talk to soldiers that are supposed to be dead, you're gonna spend time there."
Alec stared hard at black haired girl, with her the bright pink streaks. She could see and talk to the dead? She must've been a medium.
There was only one thought in his mind.
Rachel.
Max focused on her blond friend, "And you?"
Alec was looking at Kylie still, though, as he spoke, "Because I, along with thirteen other X5's, were considered to be at "high risk" for aberrant behavior, and were sent there for reindoctrination," he gave her a half-smile, "I'm sure you can't imagine why."
"Because you guys were our twins?" Max asked.
"Congratulations Max, you win the daily double." Alec replied, somewhat sarcastically.
"Sorry." she said quietly.
Kylie gave Alec a look, "Hey, I bet she gets bitched at a lot because they escaped. But you know what?"
"What?"
"I bet some of you are just pissed 'cause you didn't have the balls to try what she and her group did." Kylie said, placing her hands on her hips.
For once, Alec was speechless.
"Let's go." Kylie said to the other three.
Leaving Alec staring after the medium, his unasked question burning on his lips.
******************************************************************************
The quartet reached the spot where Joshua had left his human love months before quickly.
Max could see the pain on her big friend's face, this was the reason she didn't want this to happen.
She didn't want Joshua to hurt.
Kylie looked around the dark, dank place. Wisely breathing through her mouth.
But she saw no one.
Slowly, she turned to Joshua, admitting defeat.
"I'm sorry Joshua. She must not have stayed on here." Kylie spoke softly, putting a gentle hand on the giant man's shoulder.
"What-what do you mean?" Joshua asked, his light blue eyes watery with unshed tears.
"You see, usually they only stay on Earth if they have unfinished business, or they're angry or something like that." Kylie tried to explain.
"You'd think getting murdered would be unfinished business? That's what you thought about Jack and Eva back at Manticore." Joss said.
Kylie shook her head, "She must've trusted you, Joshua, to avenge her murder."
"And you did Josh." Max said softly. He had literally ripped Ames White's head off.
Joshua nodded, and the tears finally spilled over on the dog-man's face, "Joshua understands."
"It's okay Big Fella." Max said, wrapping him a warm embrace.
They stayed like that for a long moment, a strange picture.
"Thanks Little Fella." he replied.
"We should probably get back." Max spoke reluctantly.
He nodded.
"Come on Big Fella. We'll go home, and you can show Joss and Kylie your paintings." Max said with forced cheer.
"You paint Joshua? I'd love to see them. Let's go." Kylie took his hand, and they started back to Terminal City.