Forest outside the archive perimeter
January 15 2022

Alec tied a makeshift splint to his leg and strained his ears to try and hear the motor bike but instead heard a unit of guards coming towards him. "I've got one on the sensor" one of the guards scanned the bushes with what looked like a radar gun
"There were three of them, he told us there would only be one" the other whispered as they approached the clearing
"Yeah, at least we've got one of em' back up is on the way" the first guard loaded his tazer. Alec shifted nervously trying not to draw attention to himself but he knew it was no use trying to be inconspicuous when they had a heat sensor "Damn it Max where are you?" he whispered to himself as the guards got closer. Another unit approached the other side of the clearing so Alec decided to make a break for it. He leapt out of the bush and landed a boot in one guard and a fist in another before the tazers from the other unit hit him, he fell to the ground shaking. The four guards waited for another unit to arrive, Alec lay helplessly on the ground staring up at the sky, the stars were hidden behind the ever darkening clouds. When the other unit arrived Alec tried to get up "Keep the prisoner subdued" one of the new guards shouted as a jab from an electric prod sent sharp pain running through Alec's body "Any sign of the others?"
"No mam" the first guard replied
"They wouldn't just leave one of their own, keep scanning the surrounding area"
"Ah mam" one guard said shakily
"What is it soldier?"
"There is something large heading directly for us, not a transgenic signature"
The horse burst through the trees and reared up at the cowering guards, Leah flipped off landing in the circle of guards next to Alec "Hey there boys mind if I join in". One guard ran at her with an electric prod she grabbed the handle swung it around and jabbed another guard with it, she ripped the prod out of his hands pushed him into a tree and jabbed him as well. "Four against one that's better odds" she snapped the prod over her knee and threw the pieces away. She waited for someone to make a move then two guards came at her from either side she jumped up and with a scissor kick took both guards out in one hit "You guys are making this a little too easy" then she felt the sting of a prod. "Now that's not very nice" she spun around and kicked him in the head, he stumbled back she layed a left hook just below his temple and he crumbled to the ground.
"I don't understand, you're too good for an ordinary, you're too young for an X5" a voice came from behind Leah she turned to see the final guard standing "too old for an X7 and I don't recognise you from the X6's". The soldier had her dark hair pulled back in a plait, Leah smiled "X5 734 it has been awhile. I would have thought you'd find a new job when good ol' Manticore went down"
"I never abandon my unit, we're soldiers and those nieve enough to try and deny their calling will be brought back to the fold" Brin circled the clearing
"See that's where you're wrong neither me nor my friend over there are going anywhere with you" Leah followed Brin's movements on the opposite side of the clearing
"We'll see about that" Brin launched herself through the air, Leah grabbed her leg and pulled her to the ground. Brin flipped up into fighting position, they exchanged punches and kicks each attempt being blocked, then Leah managed to land a blow in Brin's stomach and she stumbled for a moment. "See all you X5's are the same, you all did the same training, practiced the same moves over and over. I spent hour after hour watching you guys train, I know your all your little tricks and what you are going to do next. That was what I was trained to do, that's my calling" Leah watched Brin closely, Brin came at her again with a high kick, Leah grabbed her leg and flipped her back. "I'm not X5" Leah landed another punch in Brin's stomach "I'm not X6" Leah dodged a futile attempt to sweep her legs from underneath her. "I'm not X7" she kept advancing Brin scrambled to her feet "and one thing I've learnt being out in the real world" she picked up a long branch "is how to play dirty" she used the branch as a lever and landed both feet in Brin's chest then swung the branch low knocking Brin to the ground. Leah pinned Brin to the ground and held the branch under her chin. Alec started to gain consciousness "Max?" he groaned and got up
"It's me Leah. Pass me those cuffs"
Alec looked confused the pulled some handcuffs from one of the unconscious guards "Leah? huh?"
"I'll explain later. We don't have much time" Leah cuffed Brin's hands around a tree then helped Alec limp over to the horse "Do you think you can get up?"
"A horse! You brought a horse are you nuts" Alec climbed up into the saddle
"This isn't exactly motorbike country" She got up behind him and pushed the horse forward. They weaved through the trees towards where they had left the bike. Olly easily picked his way through the trees and fallen logs "Almost there" Leah spoke into Alec's ear. She eased the horse to a stop at the bike,
Alec got down and climbed onto the bike "What about you?"
"Don't worry about me, just head straight for the ranch don't stop, I'll draw the attention away." She turned Olly around and galloped off. Alec started the bike and drove off, he looked back into time to see the headlights of a jeep peep through the trees.

Leah weaved the big horse through the trees, the headlight of a motor bike came up behind her. She turned Olly toward another fallen log, he cleared it with ease, the motor bike rider didn't however, the bike hit it with a crunch the rider flipped over the handle bars and landed on the other side of the log. A few foot soldiers blocked their way Olly dodged to the side and pelted through the trees. Branches flicked back and stung Leah's face, as suddenly as the bush had started it ended and they were galloping across open ground. Two headlights of a jeep shone from behind them, a soldier in the passenger side rested his tazer on the windscreen and took aim, Leah heard the clunk of the tazer and swung Olly sharply to the left the jeep followed closely. The horse was beginning to tire and the jeep was gaining on them, Leah was losing hope when the headlights lit up the marsh gate. "Oh no" Leah began to panic "Logs are one thing but a gate" Olly shortened his stride and raced towards the gate. Leah closed her eyes and hung on. When she opened her eyes again they were on the other side of the gate and galloping towards the farm, she looked back to see the jeep on the other side the soldiers just watched as the horse and rider disappear into the night.

Zack paced back and forth on the porch, Alec rode up on the bike and limped up onto the porch. Max and Logan came out to see him "That was close" Alec sat down in one of the chairs and propped his leg up on a stool to examine it more closely
"Now Alec's here maybe you can tell us what is going on?" Max sat on the railing
"Did she get away ok?" Zack asked Alec
"Did she get away ok? She took out an entire patrol by herself including an X5 and you're asking me if she got away ok" Alec rested his head in his hands
"You let her go alone into enemy territory, she takes out a patrol and an X5 then you won't let any of us go after her to help. What's going on Zack?" Logan sat down in one of the wicker chairs
"You said she was one of us" Max added
"She can't be a transgenic because she doesn't have a barcode, don't tell me she's one of those snake freaks" Alec sighed
"Just because you can't see her barcode doesn't mean she doesn't have one" Zack turned around to face them "She's X series, X9 to be specific"
"She's the X9?" Max spoke softly
"I thought the X series only went up to 8" Logan scratched his head, Alec just sat in silence, eventually he got up and went inside.

The clouds opened up and rain soaked the ground as Leah approached the farm house. Olly's head was low and his hooves slowly but steadily carried them both to the barn. "Leah" Zack jumped over the railing and jogged over to the weary pair. Leah slid out of the saddle into Zack's arms "We made it. Had to jump the gate but we made it"
"I knew you would" Zack half carried Leah and led Olly into the barn.
Leah was brushing Olly down when Zack came over with some feed "We've got to leave tonight" he said solemnly
"Tonight but..."
"It's too dangerous. The whole area will be crawling with Manticore operatives by first light. I've organised Nathan to take over for us" Zack turned towards a noise at the barn door, Alec came hobbling around the corner. Zack made himself scarce as Alec made his way up to the stable, Leah turned to look him in the eye "I'm sorry... I was going to tell you"
"When I was back in Seattle?" Alec shook his head "The first day ... when I didn't see a barcode... you don't know how relieved I felt"
Leah pulled a little torch like object out of her pocket "It's ultra violet, just hold it over"
Alec took the torch and pointed the light at the back of her neck, bright green lines of the barcode glowed under the UV "Why did you lie to me?" Alec sounded hurt
"I was going to tell you Alec I just... I" she turned around again to find Alec had gone, she looked down the barn to see him disappear around the corner. She looked town at the light laying in the straw. Tears began to form in her eyes, Zack's hand rested on her shoulder she turned around and buried her head in his chest "Don't say it"
"Say what?" Zack was a bit unsure of what to do
"I told you so"

Buddy's Ranch
Just past Midnight, January 16 2022

Max was packing everything into the back of the Aztek when Alec came over "Can you take this for me?" he handed her his bag "Just thought it might be easier to ride with less weight"
Max took it and shoved it in the back "Do you want me to take the bike and you can go in the car?"
"Nah, my ankle's feeling better already and I need to clear my head"
"The wonders of Manticore technology" Max sighed
"It's a pity they didn't bless me with a little more balance" Alec joked. Max walked back to the house to get the rest of the bags "Max" Alec stumbled after her, "When I was in the bush I heard them talking and I kinda got the impression they were expecting us... or at least one of us anyway"
Max narrowed her eyes "How'd you figure that?"
"Well they said that HE, whoever that is, said there would only be one but there were three"
Max kept walking Alec tried his best to keep up "I thought about it for awhile trying to think of who knew we were coming. There's Buddy and Mary, I doubt they tipped them off and all the troops back in TC thought it was just you and Logan going on a second honeymoon or something. There is only one person I can think off that would have known you were coming"
"Oh yeah and who's that" Max played along
"Lydecker, he knew you would come and he knew you would want to do it by yourself"
"Lydecker" Max shook her head "he's hardly in a position to be organising an operation like that."
Alec shrugged "Suit yourself, but I'm telling you Max you can't trust him".

Max hugged Zack "Take care of yourself"
"What's up with him" Zack looked over at Alec sulking beside his bike
"He thinks that somehow Lydecker is behind all this" Max shrugged
"I think he might be right. Leah ah bumped into an operative at the Club who had been following you, she said she was working for Lydecker"
"But we've got him back in Seattle" Max sighed
"Just watch your back"
Max shrugged "Don't be a stranger" she smiled and went over to Logan. Leah came over to Zack "Where will you go?" Max asked
"I'm going to try and find the others. I remember a few addresses it's a start, and Leah should be some help"
"Some help, this is what I was made to do" Leah gave Max a quick hug and looked at the house "Nath!" Leah ran over
"Didn't think I'd let you get away without saying goodbye" Nathan walked down to meet her and hugged Leah "You look after yourselves"
"Of course" Leah watched over Nathan's shoulder as Alec spun his bike around and raced off
"Leah we've gotta go" Zack called
"Bye" Leah smiled weakly and got on her bike. They followed the Aztec down the driveway then raced off down another road, Buddy, Mary and Nathan watched as they shrank into tiny specks on the horizon.

Operation Headquarters
January 16 2022

Lydecker sat behind the broken down desk, he looked over his glasses as Brin walked into the room
"Sir we ran into some difficulties" she stood at attention
"What kind of difficulties?" he stood and walked around the desk so he was directly infront of her
"A girl sir"
"452?"
"No sir, she was..."
"She was what 734?" Lydecker looked her in the eyes, another soldier in camouflage burst through the door
"Sir, our undercover operative has just come in from the club and insists she talks to you immediatly"
Without a word Lydecker turned and walked out to were the woman groggily sat in a chair "Sir there was a girl" she said wearily
"Seems to be a reaccuring subject" Lydecker grunted
"She was strong" she moaned
"Stonger than an X series" he mocked
"Thats what I was trying to tell you sir" Brin interrupted, Lydecker squinted at her
"We had one of the group pinned in the forest then this girl turns up and takes out my entire unit. Even I couldn't fend her off sir"
"Did you see a barcode?" Lydecker asked
"No sir, she did not appear to be from any of the X series"
"I see" Lydecker wondered over to the dirty window
"You do not appear to be surprised sir" Brin said curiously
"Private, get Mr Smith on the phone, it seems we've got a possible change in our mission" Lydecker stared out the window with a slight smile on his face.