A/N: Hey guys! If you like MA, please check out "Love Can Be Found Anywhere, Even In Hell", and "Ooh Baby". Please review and give me feedback!
"How could you have lost them White?" a voice said on the other end of his phone. "We needed them to get 452. She's the key and we can't afford to have her alive. She could ruin everything we've worked so hard for. On top of that, we still don't know the full prophecy. That's one thing they have that we don't: knowledge of the prophecy. And I don't like the fact that they have more knowledge than us on such a serious matter."
"It wasn't as easy as I thought it would be," White said into his phone. "The girl we kidnapped had strange powers. She opened up a door out of nowhere and she and the transgenic kid went through it. I talked to Vlad and he said that she was one of the Slayer's sister, and had the ability to open portals. I wasn't aware of that, and I won't underestimate her again."
"We need leverage over 452, Brother White. And we need it fast. The Coming is approaching. We can't waste any more time," the voice said.
"I will figure something out," White assured. "Don't worry."
"See that you do," the voice said. There was a click and then White was met with a dial tone.
"Portals," White said to himself. "How fucked up can the world get?"
"What do you mean, 'what are you doing here?'" Zack asked. "Do you know who she is?"
Logan's brain worked furiously. I can't let them know who or what she is or my leverage will be blown. What is she doing here anyway? Did her parents plan a vacation to Seattle or something?
"No, I don't," Logan lied feebly. "I – um – I thought she was someone else. That's all."
"You sure looked like you knew her," Alec contradicted.
"Well I don't," Logan snapped. He looked around at all the suspicious faces and knew that they didn't believe him, so he figured the best way to get out of the heated situation was to leave.
"I'm going to try to find out where Dawn and Zero are," he said as he hurriedly walked out.
"He knows something about me," Raven said, stating the obvious. "Why doesn't he want to tell me?" She looked slightly miffed. "I've been waiting forever to figure out who I am and he won't tell me."
"I'll get Spike to tail him for awhile, keep tabs on what he's doing," Alec said with a grin. "That should give him some fun."
"Meanwhile, I'm going to take Raven to the mess hall for something to eat," Max said.
"Ginger too?" Raven asked, pointing to her newly adopted cat.
"Sure, I think we can find something," Max answered, leading her to the door. "Come get me as soon as you've got something. I'll be in my office."
"Hello there," Raven greeted as Max led her through the halls. "How're you doing?" she said to another anomaly. "You should eat spinach. It gives you more iron," she said to a third transgenic who looked particularly sleepy. She continued on like this, offering advice to random transgenics as they walked through the halls. Max couldn't help but laugh at this girl. She was a riot. A breather from all the disasters happening around her.
"You're quite a character," Max told her as they rounded a corner.
"I aim to please," Raven said with a smile. She didn't know what it was, but she felt like she had a connection to this woman. She made her feel… safe. Something she hadn't felt ever since she realized there were hidden cameras in her room where she undressed at night, people tailing her everywhere she went, and when her family was killed. She didn't know what it was, but she felt like she belonged with all these hybrids.
Just another lost person trying to fit into the world, she thought.
"You better lock yourself up tight next week," Raven said out of the blue. Max frowned, her forehead creasing in confusion.
"You better lock yourself up tight next week," Raven had said. Max pondered this for a minute before her eyes widened with surprise. Next week would be when she would go into heat.
"How – " she started to ask but Raven shrugged.
"I just know," she said. Max took on a bemused smile. She was full of surprises and mysteries. How did she know so much about transgenics and especially about cats? Max thought about her being a transgenic once more, but dismissed it.
She doesn't even have a barcode. And she grew up with a family, not in Manticore.
"Here we are," Max announced. "Go inside and get whatever you want. The food's not exactly gourmet, but it's better than nothing."
"Thanks," Raven said. "By the way, relax. Things will work out in the end. You've just got to fight back and not let them get you down."
"Them?" Max asked. "The ordinaries?"
"No," Raven replied. "The ones who pose a bigger threat to you guys." Then she entered without saying another word, leaving Max standing with a puzzled expression on her face.
Dawn lay down in the bed next to Zero, but made sure to stay on the opposite end. They lay in uncomfortable silence knowing that neither would fall asleep anytime soon.
"I'm thinking we head out tomorrow morning and get to an airport," Zero said finally.
"How are we going to get money for that?" Dawn asked. Zero just shot her a look that told her everything.
"Oh," was all she said.
"I figure since it's going to be awhile before you can use your powers again, we might as well get as close to Seattle as we can, if not get back to Terminal City," he said.
"Okay," she said. She wasn't really used to this kind of thing so she let Zero take charge.
"Well," Zero said awkwardly. "Good night."
"Night," she replied. They turned away from each other and shallowed their breathing, but they still lay wide awake.
"Zero?" Dawn asked tentatively.
"What?" he said.
"I'm – uh – I'm glad that at least you're here with me," she said.
Zero turned over and so did she. He smiled. "Right back atcha."
Finally she figured, "what the hell", and snuggled in close to him. 5 minutes later they were asleep, off to explore their dreams.
Emerald walked into Crash, careful to keep her hood up over her barcode. She spotted Maria, Sketchy, Herbal and Original Cindy and walked toward them in time to hear the end of Herbal's comment.
"I'm de instrument of de most high," he said. "I explained dat to Normal, but he jus' don't overstand."
"Normal's an idiot," Cindy said. "Though I gotta admit, it was pretty cool when he delivered Gem's baby."
"Guys," Emerald said, interrupting them. "I gotta ask you a few favours."
"Sure thing," Maria answered. "Please tell me it doesn't involve anything supernatural with either the Czechoslovakians, or the other two."
Emerald raised an eyebrow at the Czechoslovakian comment, but shook her head.
"No," she said. "We just need you to promote transgenics, get the word out there that we're not all bad. You guys wanted something to do before, so here it is. Sketchy, Max is offering to do an interview with you for New World Weekly."
"Really?" he said hopefully, his eyes shining. "She will?"
"Yup," Emerald said. "Your tabloid is going to be the only thing that's pro-transgenic. It's bound to sell out. The rest of you can spread the word, hand out pro-transgenic flyers; show that we're not all bad."
"You got it," Original Cindy said. "I've got some experience selling info from back when I worked in some stupid insurance company. Gig was a bust, though."
"Great," Emerald answered. She turned to leave. "I need to get some other stuff done so I'll see you guys later."
"So Sketchy. What are you going to ask Max about?" Maria asked him with a smile on her face. As Sketchy proudly explained what he wanted to do, Herbal and Original Cindy turned to each other with knowing glances.
"We're outta here, boos," Cindy said. "Now, you children just don't become PDA offenders. Okay?"
"Nice going, my brotha," Herbal said to Sketchy, and then they were off.
Sketchy shrugged and continued telling Maria about his ideas.
"A fortnight," someone whispered to themselves, seated comfortably in a big armchair looking at a timer counting down slowly. "A fortnight until the Coming. And then, the world will be purified."
A maniacal laugh came from the figure's mouth, and then it grew louder until the room reverberated with the eerie sound.
A/N: Please give me feedback everyone! I'm not sure many people are still reading this.
Thanks to –
HoneyX5-452 – Thanks! About Raven, that's not a stupid idea at all. (Grins) But I guess you'll just have to read on and see.
shygirl1 – Thanks!
meri24 – Thanks! About how Logan knows her, you'll just have to read on and see. LOL
morgan000 – Thanks!
MoonAngel23 – Thanks! About Raven, read on and see. :)
alias-mylife26 – Thanks! It's awesome to have a new reviewer!
screaminheathen69 – Thanks!
Thanks to everyone who took the time to review! Please give me feedback and check out my other fics.