When they finally arrived the rally was already underway, with banners hanging from every available space. CJ scanned the crowd, noting the exits and counting at least three hundred people. He lazily looped an arm around Jen's waist, skirting them away from the crowd of cameras at the door. He instinctively tilted his head, letting his shaggy hair hide his features.

"What did you do that for?" Jen grumbled, "I wanted to be on TV."

"I'll buy a webcam," CJ replied, more sharply than he intended. Jen glanced at him, her eyes scrunched up but CJ's attention for once wasn't on the people surrounding him.

His eyes were darting around the room, taking note of the banners that fluttered everywhere. Barcodes were printed across the length of them and CJ felt the skin on the back of his neck burn. He resisted the urge to reach up and rub his neck. Intellectually he knew nothing was there to see, the laser had robbed him of any mark, but CJ wasn't stupid.

He started to scan the crowd again and caught sight of at least two guys he was sure were government agents. He recognised the stance from many a covert op when he'd had to imitate them.

"Jen," CJ said, his voice low, his metaphorical hackles rising in the cramped room. "I think I might leave." He watched the exit, counting one agent he'd have to sneak by to get out safely.

Jen raised her head and opened her mouth to protest when she was cut of my an excited shout. "CJ! Jen!" David bounded up, Joey and Jack following behind, with wry grins on their faces. "You guys made it!"

"See, you can't leave now," Jen said in an undertone to CJ as she smiled at their friends.

"He's been like this all morning," Jack said, grinning.

Jen grinned back, letting CJ's hand drop to go and hug Jack. "I didn't know you would be here!"

CJ flexed his fingers, thankful that Jen had let him have both hands free. He was suddenly acutely aware of how bad an idea he had had in coming here.

"Oh, you guys have to meet this guy!" David said, happily, motioning them to follow him through the crowd. "He campaigns for transgenic rights all over the country." David explained over his shoulder as he pushed past people

CJ repressed a shudder as he came dangerously near one of the government agents, he quickly scanned the man. Average height, sandy blonde hair, a nose that looked like it had been broken at least once. He caught a glimpse of the bulge in his jacket and CJ calculated it to be .38 revolver from the size. He cringed inwardly, there were too many people around for the man to fire but it also meant that there were too many people around for CJ to fight back. He looked at his friends, Jen's small frame lost in the group.

He couldn't fight with them there.

"Leave me alone."

"We're a danger to them."

CJ felt like rolling his eyes, he never could follow his own advice.

"Wow, he sounds like your kind of guy, David," Joey was saying, smiling at Jack.

"Hey!" Jack protested. "Boyfriend. Stood right here. Able to hear everything."

Jen laughed and glanced over her shoulder at CJ. 'Hurry up!' She mouthed and CJ realised he had come to a stop in the middle of the people, an overweight blonde woman in a yellow anorak blocking his view of the agent. He pushed past her and caught up to the others.

David caught sight of him, grabbing his arm and moving him to the front of the group. CJ gently moved his arm, making David lose his grip without even realising what CJ had done. "CJ, you'll love this guy. He's all about helping people."

"I thought he was all about helping transgenics?" CJ said, more to rile David up than anything else. He watched, amused, as David's eyes widened and a faint flush hit his cheeks. Technically, CJ didn't count himself as a person but that wasn't the issue here. He wasn't lying when he said he preferred the term 'genetically empowered'.

"Transgenics are people!" David argued with exactly the reaction CJ had foreseen.

"Ah, I see that you're converting even more people, David." A smooth voice seemed to part the crowds until David's new hero was stood in front of them.

"Hey," David said to him, smiling, "these are all my friends; CJ, Jack, Jen and Joey," he motioned to each of them with a hand and then turned back to the man, "and guys this is Colonel Donald Lydecker."