A/n: I'm staggered by the number of reviews I got for 15. Now I do feel appreciated.

Also I want to say thanks to those people who expressed sympathy over the London bombings, your support means a lot.

Chapter 16: Grand Theft Auto

Both Logan and Brin froze for an instant, before the X5 moved protectively in front of her companion. At the sight of Brin, the children and their instructors snapped to attention.

"Ma'am! What is the situation, Ma'am?" Asked the man who seemed to be in charge.

"A computer malfunction has occurred. I am escorting this tech to check the door mechanisms in the other buildings for faults. All soldiers are instructed to return to barracks immediately."

"Yes, ma'am." The head instructor saluted and then turned to his troops. Logan did his best to keep his face blank as he watched the children, none more than six years old, march into the building. Their blank faces chilled him, dead eyes in their childlike guises. He struggled not to stare at what could have been younger versions of Max, Zack, Brin herself. The outrage he felt at seeing kids treated like this was overpowering. Logan made a silent oath to himself. No matter what it took, he was going to set these children free. There was no way on earth he was going to let Renfro and Lydecker get away with treating innocent youngsters like this. At last, the instructors passed inside and he closed and locked the door. He pushed his righteous indignation aside and looked up at Brin.

"Well, it should be a while before anyone manages to either bust the code or break down the doors, so hopefully we'll have a head start. We need to steal a car, an inconspicuous one."

"This way. Civilian personnel have separate parking." They headed over to the lot and Logan soon spotted a perfect getaway vehicle.

Brin headed for the nearest car, a shiny black pre pulse saloon. "No," said Logan, "take this one." He stopped by a battered dark green SUV a short distance away. "Less noticeable and easier for me to get into."

"Very well," said Brin, breaking in with ease. She unlocked the passenger door while Logan got into position to transfer inside. "Do you require assistance?"

"No, I do this all the time." He pulled himself into the seat and had his chair disassembled and stowed behind him in less time than it took her to hot-wire the engine.

"Let's get the hell out of here," said Logan, grinning infectiously across at Brin. She smiled in return and hit the gas. By the time they got to the perimeter the car was going flat out. The guards posted there fired at them, but Brin's reflexes prevented most of the bullets finding their mark. They crashed through the gates towards freedom in a shower of sparks, followed by a hail of gunfire.

After about an hour with no signs of pursuit, Brin allowed herself a moment of euphoria. She grinned hugely. "We're out. We're free, I can't believe it!"

Logan smiled at her enthusiasm. "Believe, Brin. You're never going back there again. I won't let it happen." Looking across at him, she saw the determination in his eyes and knew she'd picked a good leader.

"Thank you, Logan," she said, sincerely. If anything, his smile got wider.

"Gratitude is unnecessary, Brin. We helped each other out." He sighed, and his face fell a little. "I just wish we could have done something for those poor kids back there…"

"The X8's? They'd have killed us without a second thought. They were designed to be assassins." Logan actually shuddered. "Are you all right?" Brin asked, concerned. She'd been shaky after the first escape, she knew how it felt to be hit by the backlash of adrenaline and the enormity of being free. He smiled weakly at her.

"I'm fine. Just… brings back bad memories." Brin's brow creased in confusion. Logan didn't seem the type to be involved with these kind of events on a regular basis. He was a thinker, a leader, not a warrior. After a long pause, Logan spoke to her again.

"Take the next turning on the right. I have a friend who lives on a farm not too far from here. We can hide out there and I can phone home and tell everyone we escaped."

"Is it safe?"

"We're on the run from Manticore, Brin. Nowhere is safe. But in this neighbourhood the closest thing to it is Chris and Janey's place."

"If you say so." Brin took the turning.

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