Not Quite Dead – Chapter Two

Taya Guevera

Waking up from her normal 4 hours of sleep, Mischa decided to go for a leisurely ride around her area. It was something she liked to do now and then, part of her 'feel normal' routine. Although it was only 6am, the sun was already out, and she could tell that it would be yet another hot Western Australian summer day. The weatherperson on the news had said that it was expected to get to at least 43C today.

Thank God we don't have a high humidity level

She thought as she wheeled her bike out of the garage and put her helmet on. It wasn't like she needed the exercise but the occasional bike ride was nice and relaxing. Making sure she had her keys and cell phone on her, she jumped on her bike and started pedaling.

When she moved in with the Henderson's, she had been exposed to a life of wealth. 'Growing' up around the suburb of Hillarys had been something that she loved, even now. The soft sound of the crashing waves at nighttime, and the gentle cool breeze in the afternoon brought back memories of her spending all her summer afternoons at the beach – learning to surf, body surfing, getting tanned, ice fights. Just thinking of it made her smile. Sometimes her friends would organize make up football games on the beach which would last until late at night then afterwards, they'd head to Hillarys Boat Harbour for fish and chips – yet another thing that Mischa had learnt to love.

The differences of her life here in Australia compared to that of Manticore were vast and extreme. Her bedroom colors were bright and loud – a mixture of a maroon/burgundy/red color and soft yellow with Japanese styled furniture. Definitely different to the greyness and dormitory style of Manticore.

The winters in Western Australia weren't snowy like Wyoming, but the wind –the Roaring 20's – as they called them, always seemed to find that little gap in your clothing and get through to your skin. Although Manticore had designed them to handle any type of weather, Mischa found herself partial to warm weather.

Probably because I've been here so long

Looking both ways at the corner, Mischa rode across the road and down Summerlakes Parade heading towards Alexander Drive. The road itself went in a big circle, encircling the entire estate, which made out to be a good 'exercising' route. When Markus and later, Aleysha had gone to the East Coast for University, Mischa had decided to move out of home and be by herself. She knew that if her brothers and sisters who had escaped in '09 had all made it, that Zack, if he had taken on the job of 'looking after them all' would have told them to keep moving and make as little attachments as necessary.

Sorry Big Brother, but I don't have the constant threat of Manticore here, so I'm making attachments like crazy.

She thought as she pedaled down the footpath. Through her sunglasses, she saw a rider coming towards her, which, thanks to her enhanced eye sight, she could make out to be her Canadian friend Josh. The closer he got, the bigger her smile got. Many people had said that the two of them should get together, but they had been close friends for the past 4 years and Mischa couldn't imagine ruining it.

"Hey Josh! Out early I see."

"Misch! You always know it's me."

"Can't help it. You ride weird so you stand out."

"Ha ha. So, out patrolling our neighborhood again?"

"You know it."

"And you think I'm strange?"

"A girl's gotta keep in shape."

Josh took the time to give her the once over and frowned.

"I don't know why you think you need to. You're always fine."

"Okay if I tell Carrie that tomorrow night at dinner?"

"She knows that you and I are best mates."

"I know, I'm just playing'."

"It's just after 6 in the morning, and you're wide awake. I'm sure that's illegal somewhere."

Actually Josh, back at Manticore, this is late.

"Can I help it if I don't sleep much?"

"All that talent, and you still don't go clubbing."

Josh turned his bike around and rode alongside Mischa. They talked for most of the ride around the streets, but by the time they reached the street leading towards Marangaroo Drive, Josh slowed down.

"I'm out. It's nearly 7am and I've gotta get to work. Don't you have to as well?"

Mischa, still on her bike, rode around in circles on the quiet road.

"Can you say day off?"

"Smart ass."

"But you still love me."

"Don't know why." Josh smirked as he unclipped his helmet and turned into his driveway.

"Well Miss I've-Got-A-Day-off, same time tomorrow morning?"

"Call me tonight and I'll think about it."

"Okay. See ya."

"Bye."

Riding by herself, she headed back in the direction of the park, deciding to have a swing on the playground. The area had been modernized to match the times, but the park was very much still 'old school'. Jungle gym with swings, slide and some ride that made kids throw up from going round in circles. Putting her bike on the grass, she unclipped her helmet and sat on a swing. It overlooked the lake, which had some ducks swimming around without a care in the world.

It was times like these that made her feel normal. Nothing to worry about except what she was going to do with her day. Leaning back on the swing, she started to move back and forth, until she had created a steady motion. Closing her eyes, she imagined she was flying, just like her favorite bird, the Golden Eagle. Feeling the wind currents push her up, higher and higher until the earth was just a grain of sand behind her.

He had been awake for an hour when she left her house on her bike. Wanting to keep an eye on her, but not having a bike, he'd decided to 'borrow' one from a next door neighbor that he had noticed had obviously gone away for a few days late last night.

He'd followed her from a distance and had unregretfully listened in on their conversation. Maybe this was the 'guy' that he was sure he'd eventually find by following her. Until the mention of Carrie, and the subsequent departure of 'Josh' and the aforementioned Carrie 20 minutes after Mischa rode off. He'd had to hide behind a wall of mailboxes while she had ridden in circles before heading towards the park.

As he made his way there, he realized that he probably didn't have to hide that much, because, from the looks of things, she had fully adapted to not having Manticore breathing down her neck. Stopping on the footpath, he watched as she moved back and forth on the swing, seemingly without a care. Without thinking about it, he found himself riding his bike across the grass and towards the swings as well.

Alec, what are you doing? His mind asked him as he left the bike on the grass not far from hers.

Sitting on the other swing, using his foot, he started to swing. He didn't know what he was going to say to her, but it sure wasn't going to be, "Hey 766. I'm 494. I know your sister."

Granted, her instincts probably weren't as finely honed as they should be, but they were still a hell of a lot better than an ordinary person's. She had felt someone near her as soon as Alec had started riding on the grass, and she felt her body tense up when the person ended up on the swing. Allowing herself a small smile, she thought to herself.

Don't know who he is, or what he looks like, but he sure smells good.

Opening her eyes, she glanced to her left and saw him. Guessing that he was about 6', his dark blond hair and tanned skin were easy on the eyes. He must have felt her gaze because he turned to her and smiled. Looking into his green eyes, something told her to be careful with this guy, like he was used to charming people, especially women.

"Morning." Alec said, saying the first thing that came to mind.

"Morning." Mischa replied, trying to figure him out. It was a habit. Every new person she came across, she automatically sized them up to see what they were really like and what they wanted. Part of the soldier in her she supposed.

"Looks like it's gonna be hot today." Gee Alec, could you be any more obvious?

"They think it'll probably get to 43C. That's not so bad."

It is if you're from Seattle, where it likes to rain 360 days of the year.

"You're a long way from home."

"Sorry?"

Mischa gave a small smile and repeated herself.

"You're a long way from home."

"Oh yeah. Mustn't come across too many Americans since the Pulse."

Mischa raised an eye brown and nodded.

"Well, they tell me that there aren't as many around as there used to be."

She had left herself wide open with that remark, but somehow, she felt that he would understand. It wasn't a feeling that she usually got, but then again, she was usually more conscious of what she said and to whom she said it to.

Alec nodded at her response, and left the unasked question alone. He didn't want to tell her who he was, and he didn't want to test the theory about Max's siblings having the same violent tendencies when it came to him. The last thing he wanted, or needed for that matter was a hit upside the head ala Max.

They swang a little more in silence, until Mischa asked another question.

"Here on holiday?"

"Actually, I'm tracking down some family of a friends back home."

"Where's home?"

Was the base in Washington until Max and Logan decided enough was enough

"I'm living in Seattle at the moment."

"Interesting stuff goin' on there."

"You don't know the half of it. Has it gotten much coverage here?"

"Sometimes, but only when there's violence. Although, if you ask me, the media's a tad bit biased against the transgenics."

"You get that too huh?"

"Yeah."

Mischa got off her swing and walked over to her bike. She bent down to grab her helmet and put it on.

"Sorry to jet on you, but I've gotta get going."

"Not a problem, I've gotta go too. Things to do, people to see."

They laughed, although Alec felt it was more of a nervous laugh from both of them. He had no idea what to say to her. If and when Max found out that Eva was alive, she wouldn't believe it and she'd have heaps of questions. Hell, Alec had heaps of questions. Eva had always been used as an example to the remaining X5's on what lengths Manticore would go to to prevent a similar occurrence from happening.

In many ways, she was a lot like Max, in that she seemed to have left everything Manticore behind, trying hard to forget that part of herself. But at the same time, when he'd been walking towards the swings, he'd known that she knew he was there. They stood there until Mischa smiled again and picked her bike up.

"Nice talking to you. Have a good day."

"Yeah, you too."

That was all he could say as she rode back onto the footpath and to her house. He didn't have to follow her, he knew where she lived, but he wanted to take a bit of a look around. Last night, just after 3am, he'd woken up to the sound of a car driving slowly past. He'd been worried that it had been the police and that someone had reported his car being there, but when he looked, it had been a dark SUV. Very secretive and Alec had immediately thought of White. If that was the case, they knew where Eva was, which wasn't good news.

Picking the bike up from where he left it, he took his cell phone out of his jacket pocket and called Logan. He needed some Intel.

Mischa had ridden just out of sight of the park, when she got off her bike and crept back to where she could see. The guy she had talked to had picked his bike up and had just called someone on his cell phone. Maybe she was just paranoid because of the news of Terminal City, but she was wondering whether there was something different about this guy – good or bad, she wasn't sure yet.

She could only catch parts of the conversation, which didn't really tell her much. For all she knew, he remembered that he needed to make a phone call just after she left. Quickly running to a wall two houses closer, she tried to listen to more.

"Black SUV last night. They might know. Check it out. Annoying as hell."

They didn't really make a sentence, and, unless she knew what the person on the other end was saying, it didn't make a lot of sense either. Running back to her bike, she made her way home having decided what to do on her first day off in a month.

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