Disclaimer: I don't own Dark Angel, so on and so forth. You know the drill.

Setting: After FN

A/N: Please review. I'd love any ideas you guys have about what should happen in this story. This is kind of a 'what I would do if I was in Dark Angel' story so feel free to give me some input on that. Thanks.

A Normal Girl

Maleah's POV:

I watch silently as Max and Alec...exchange pleasantries. She's a pretty intimidating person, Max. She seems like she's one of those people who's had a really tough life and has developed an attitude to fight back. But, they've all had a tough life, all the transgenics. You can't hold it against them if they're rough around the edges.

Alec moves past me and collects some papers.

"You're going outside, aren't you?" I venture, seeing as they're meeting at the sewer tunnel that leads outside.

"Don't ever let anyone tell you you're not a quick one." Alec replies, not looking up from the papers he's gathering.

"It's crazy out there tonight. What's so important?" I wonder.

"Not that it's really any of your business just yet, but we like eating around this joint." Alec answers, folding the papers and sticking them in his jacket.

"I can help." I immediately chip in even though I don't even know what's really going on.

Alec glances over at me and smiles amusedly, "I don't think so, babe."

I start to make an argument, but check myself. I have to remember that I haven't earned the right to help them yet. I realize that the transgenics are like abused children or pets in that sense. It takes time and patience for them to be able to trust that you won't hurt them. So, instead of arguing, I nod. Alec seems relieved that I'm not putting up a fight. He gestures for me to have a seat at the table he just cleared off as he turns to go get something from a metal closet. I sit down and look around, catching a glimpse of a bunch of guns in the closet Alec opens. My mind races as I think of what might be required for the transgenics to get food, but I squelch the thought. It's none of my business, like Alec said.

"I'll be back soon. Dog-boy will keep you entertained." Alec promises as he heads out the door. Just before the door swings shut, he pokes his head back in, grinning devilishly, "Miss me."

I roll my eyes and he disappears. I glance over at the giant walking lizard that for some unfathomable reason is called Mole, but he's pointedly ignoring me. Oh, well. You win some, you lose some. Not everybody is going to like me. Actually, in the past I've always been better at making enemies than friends. Why should the transgenics be any different? Well, except Alec. He's plenty different.

I cut off that train of thought quickly. It was starting to seem suspiciously like I was developing a crush. I would not let that happen. No way. I was not going to make this all weird and complicated and...girly. So, instead I decide to play pin the purpose on the transgenic. Mole was pretty obviously designed for some desert environment. He could probably fight for days in the heat with little water. The albino guy working at a computer station with three fans surrounding it was probably designed for combat in the opposite extreme. Got to have all your bases covered, right? Never know where some covert ops mission might take you. And it was pretty obvious by now that these Manticore guys had meant serious business. And while some of their creations seemed a bit too extreme, that had to be the consequence of tampering with genetics.

"Hi." a gruff voice says from right behind me, making me jump.

I spin around to see an immensely tall, half-man, half-dog sniffing at me. It was hard to keep my jaw from dropping even after seeing so many transgenics.

"Hi." I manage in a voice that sounds more like a squeak. Aggravated with myself, I clear my throat and try again, "Hi. I guess you're Joshua."

He nods vigorously, giving a very toothy grin. I force myself not to take a step back. He seems nice enough and besides, Alec wouldn't have left me with him if he was dangerous. Hmmm, maybe I'm placing a bit too much trust in someone I only just met.

"You new fella. Come to live with freaks. Freaks like Joshua." he pauses and sniffs at me again, leaning a little too far into my personal space for my comfort, "But you not freak."

"Well, maybe not your kind of freak." I reply. I shuffle my feet a bit, feeling awkward and uncomfortable. And, unfortunately, when I start to feel uncomfortable, I start to babble, "But I wouldn't say I'm altogether normal, either. Not that you're not normal. Well, you're not...but there's nothing wrong with that! Not that it was okay what they did to you guys, but...I'm glad they did. I mean, I'm glad you guys are around. I mean....oh, hell."

Finally, I manage to make my mouth stop moving and spouting off things that could seriously offend my new hosts. Seriously, how stupid could I be? I glance up at Joshua and offer what I hope is an apologetic smile. I never was very good with facial expressions.

"Sorry." I say sheepishly.

Joshua just grins and gives me a pat on the back. It nearly sends me face-first into the floor, but I'm glad he's not upset.

"Come. Meet everyone." Joshua says, like nothing had happened, like I wasn't a blathering idiot.

Joshua wraps an arm around my shoulders and propels me forward towards the working transgenics. It's all I can do to keep my feet under me. Joshua not only looks a little dog-like, he acts it, too. He's like an excited puppy, barking out the names of transgenics as he drags me past. The transgenics in turn only briefly glance up from whatever they're doing to acknowledge the introduction. Most of them were around when I was dragged in anyway. It was kind of nice to know what to call them for future reference, though. Too bad I was horrible at remembering names.

Only minutes later, Joshua had named every transgenic in the building. I almost sighed with relief. I needed time to register all this new information. Today had been a big day. But before I even had a chance to mentally catch my breath, Joshua was grabbing my considerably smaller hand and leading me outside.

"Joshua, where are we going?" I ask.

"Meet others." Joshua replies.

It then occurs to me in a flash of horror that Joshua might actually intend to introduce me to every transgenic housed in Terminal City. I'm definitely not up for that just yet. I plant my heels, hoping he'll stop, but he doesn't seem to notice. He just keeps pulling me, my sneakers squeaking as they slide on the concrete. I have no choice, I have to say something.

"J...Joshua! Maybe I should wait to meet the others. You know, just a few at a time. That way I can remember their names and not offend anyone. Well, with any luck not offend anyone. Isn't there something else we could do while we wait for Max and Alec?" I ask.

Joshua pauses and thinks, scratching at his thick, shaggy hair.

"Want food?" he asks.

I pause to consider it. Come to think of it, I am a little hungry. Kind of strange since it's the middle of the night. Must be all the excitement.

"Sure." I shrug.

"This way." Joshua says, grabbing my hand again and dragging me in a new direction, "You like paintings?" he asks over his shoulder.

Puzzled, I repeat my previous answer, "Sure."

Joshua flashes another toothy grin and moves even quicker. I have to almost jog to keep up. But I don't complain. At least he seems to like me and I am kind of curious about the paintings comment. Is he taking me to some kind of transgenics all-you-can-eat buffet/art gallery? Unlikely, but anything is possible, right?

Joshua's mumbling something, but I can't make out what it is. It sounds like he's saying something about "mac 'n cheese," but who knows? I decide not to question it. I'll find out soon enough.

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