As Xander approached Seattle, the radio finally decided to come on. For the whole week it took to drive the old car here, with it breaking down constantly, the radio would never work. He could try to find out why later, when he had time to look. He had checked it out before this and every thing looked like it was hooked up right, but it just would not work.

On the radio, the new was just coming on.

"There has been new information on the fire that swept thought the Mountain side V. A. hospital today. A terrorist group calling itself the S1W has claimed responsibility for it. As you know a local Hacker had claimed that the Hospital was a front for a government operation called Manticore, and that it had housed genetically engineered
Soldiers. But that claim was later disregarded as the Hacker would not come forward to give his sources. The fire claimed the lives of 200 mentally ill soldiers and family members that were housed there. And since the time there has been a increase in the tall tales in the area with Monsters that roam
the night. No proof has been provided on them at this time, so if you are out and about, you need to watch out, 'cause there might be a monster beside you."

You could hear the man grinning at his joke as the radio cut out again.

Xander thought, "Well, I need to watch out; Manticore is in the area."

He knew that the hospital had just been one of the many bases was in the area. He hoped that he could get in and out fast enough not to get caught. Just get in, ask around about Sunnydale and get out; that should be easy, maybe even get a map at a gas station. So far that had been a bust. It was not on any map he found. But then maps didn't have every small town on them if they were off the main roads.

Just as he got into the east side of town, one of the Mole troops from Manticore ran across in front of him, causing him to swerve and slam into a bunch of trash cans. As the car stopped, steam poured from the under the hood and the motor was making grinding noises.

Slamming his hand on the steering wheel, he got out to find the trooper was long gone.

"Well, the news was wrong again. First they said there were no monsters in the world; now, that there are no super-soldiers running around here."

Grabbing his stuff from the car, he looked around.

Well the Vamp's car had gotten him to Seattle. That's more than he thought before he left New Orleans.

As he got away from the car, his hands started to shake. He had been having attacks like this all week and could not figure out why. He thought he might be on some sort of withdrawal from a drug that Manticore gave the men. They had to take all kinds of drugs there and never were told what they would do.
He thought some might have been to keep his libido down, because since he'd gotten away he had noticed just about every female in sight and the smell alone just about drove him wild, not to mention that he could taste them some times. Best get away from thoughts like that.

He noticed there was a bar across the Street, The Crash. It seemed somehow appropriate that he go in. He need to use a phone anyway; he needed to find a place to stay.

Inside, the bar was full, looking like a bunch of skater kids mixed up with working class people. All around his age.

At least I can hide here for a while, he thought to himself.

He had just gotten to the bottom of the stairs when another attack happened and this time, it was bad. He started to fall and reached out to grab the nearest thing to keep from hitting the floor. It just so happened to be a black girl.

She looked shocked for a second, and then pissed as Xander's face hit her between her breasts.

"Ok, fool, get your face out of Original Cindy's ta-tas before she breaks your face."

With that she pushed Xander down, and he hit the ground, rolling over to the side. Cindy was thinking about kicking him when she noticed that he looked sick, just like the time Max was out of Tryptophan.

Reaching down, she pulled his collar down and saw the bar code. Looking around quickly for Max, she saw her sitting with Rafe, but staring over at Logan who was with Asha.

"Yo, Max! Your cousin's here. And he looks sick," O. C. yelled to Max.

Max looked over at her and got up. Rafe got up to follow her.

"Don't worry I got it," she said. "He has these attacks all the time."

"Hey I work in an ambulance. I can help."

"Don't worry. He'll be fine in the morning."

When she got over to Cindy, she said, "O. C., this had better be good."

Cindy pointed to Xander.

"He's got a bar code on his neck," she whispered to Max.

"He's having a seizure. I've got get him out of here."
"Ok Boo, do you want any help?"

"Help me get him out of here."

With that the ladies picked up and carried Xander out of the bar.

Back at Max and O. C.'s apartment, she forced some pills into Xander's mouth. She had not seen someone this bad in a while. Manticore had fixed the problem with later X5's, but the ones of her generation still had the problem. It could be fixed with gene therapy but that would lead to questions that they didn't want to be asked.

After a quick check, she thought he would be better soon. There was a scent coming off of him that she found very pleasing. As she bent down to sniff his chest, Xander came to.

"Uh lady, not that I am complaining, mind you, but what are you doing?"

Jumping back, Max started to blush. "Nothing, just... checking your heart."

"My heart, huh? With your Nose?" he said with a grin.

That grin did it. She could felt her body heat go up.

What's wrong? she thought to herself. Then, O God, she was in heat.

Just then, Xander caught a whiff of something in the air. It caused his body to react, and he felt the crotch of his pants tighten.

Looking sharply at the girl in front of him, he knew she was an X5 and she was going into heat. He needed to get out of here; females got real aggressive when this happened. And after Faith, he was not going to let that happen again.

He got up, her eyes following him, and then she started to follow.

Get out! Get out! , the thought kept running thought his head. But then she touched his arm, and he asked himself, Why was he trying to leave? Here was this Goddess walking among mortals.

Shaking his head, he realized, Pheromones! That was it! He needed to get out of there before he did something that they both would regret.

Then she pulled his head down and kissed him, her tongue slipped into his mouth. The taste of her mouth was driving him up the wall. Breathing deep, he pulled in her scent, his tongue was tasting her and smelling her, almost causing his brain to over load.
Hands wandered over each other's bodies, pulling on clothes and sliding on warm skin.

Soon the clothes were on the floor, and they were on there way to Max's bed room.

Later, O. C. came home to what sounded like a fight. Grabbing up a bat, she moved across the living room area, then stopped when she saw all the clothes on the floor.

"No, she didn't," she said to herself, before looking into Max's bedroom. The door had not been closed all the way, and she could see Max and at the guy from the club rolling, pushing and pawning on each other.

"God, that's rough sex. How could they be that flexible?"

She watched for a second to make sure there doing what she thought and not fighting.

Man, they are going to hurt in the morning.

And if he hurts my boo I am going to kick his transgenic ass all over the place.

Next Morning

When O. C. got out of her bed, she heard talking from the next room. Moving to the door, she could hear what was being said.

"Ok, first thing, sorry about last night" the guy was saying. "I don't know what came over me."

"Yes, you do. You're an X5 like me. So how long have you been out?"

"What? I don't know what that means," Xander said looking at the door. Max let a sigh then turned around, pulling her hair out of the way. There was her bar code.

"Ok, we both know what happened last night was just DNA, right? I don't just jump in bed with every guy I meet," Max said.

"Yeah, I understand. This is better than the last time . She kicked me out in my underwear. So it's a step up."

"Really? She was that disappointed?" max said with a grin. After last night she couldn't see anyone kicking him out. He was a Viking in the sack, she thought.

"Hey it was my first time." He said," I cant believe I said that out loud."

"Ok, next question, were am I ?"
"What? You mean you don't know where you are?"

"Yeah, I remember walking into a bar. Then fell into someone with a very nice - " At the look on Max's face, he stopped line of thought. "Well, never mind. Just how did I get here?"

"Well you had an attack, and I brought you here," Max said, noticing a spicy smell around Xander. It was very pleasant and she wanted to just rub over him. At the same time, Xander was noticing a sweet smell from Max. He didn't want to get more than a few feet from her.

"Ok, thanks. You didn't happen bring my stuff, did you?"

"Nope, sorry. How long have you been out of Tryptophan?"

"What's that?"

"It helps with the attacks. You need to get some; you can find it at health food stories."

"Ok, next stop today. After I find a job. I need to get some cash so I can get out of here before Manticore shows up."

"What? Manticore fell down, when boom."

"Nope, just this branch of it. They had them all over the place. Some in schools, some in business places. I have been to 3 so far. And will not go back."

"What? You have to be wrong."

"No way. It was here – all of it."

"What? Do you think that a place had billions of dollars tied up DNA research would keep it in one place? They were all over the place," Xander explained to her. "I mean, why have desert troops with winter troops and just one base, when they could just easily move them anywhere else? You only took out one of the most visible parts."

"I – I need to go talk to Logan." She took off out the door.

Turning to O C, who he thought he had heard at the door, he grinned at her.

"Thanks for the catch last night.

"Original Cindy don't play with boys. And anyway, you slept with my Boo. I don't poach."

With that she turned and left. "Tell Max I'll see her at work."

As she was walking out the door, Xander asked, "Hey have you every heard of Sunnydale?"
"Yeah, somewhere in California around L.A."

"Ok, . One more thing."

OC stopped and gave him a long look. "What?"

"Do you know were I can get a job?"

"Lord," she said, looking up. "You follow me. I'll see what I can do. You do know how to ride a bike?"

"Yeah, I can."

"Well, come on, let's get to Jam pony. They're always looking for someone who can ride."

At Logan's apartment.

After Max had told Logan about the other bases for Manticore, he was busy on the net looking around for any indication about them, and not finding a thing.

"So where did you get this information?" Logan asked, not looking up.
"You saw him last night. You were there with Asha."

That Asha was with him didn't bother her as much now as it did last night.

"Can you trust him?"

You could tell by his voice he didn't, and that was annoying her. After all, Xander had not done any thing wrong.

Well, other than sleeping with her, maybe. Not that there had been much sleep last night. Last night was very good. It was the first time with another Transgenic. They both had the stamina and strength to go all night.

Max was feeling a little guilty being here with Logan after what she had done last night, with someone else, but they could not have anything any more.

Her touch was poison to him, thanks to Manticore. They had infected her with a virus that would kill only one person.. Manticore found some blood at an attack on Eyes Only, the only one to walk away, and used his DNA to develop a virus to kill him.

The only problem was that Eyes Only was Logan Cale, the one person she thought she could love and now she could not touch.
Looking at their relationship was bad; to begin with to him she was a thief, he was rich. He wanted to save the world to him she just wanted to live in it. And help where she could.

He wanted to fight for the ideals to him she wanted for the person. He was used to the fine things in life to him she was just trash on the street to his family.

He hated family. His, in particular. She loved and would do anything for family.

FLASH

Manticore, while she was there a month ago.

Standing in front of Dir. Renfro, and looking through a window into a lab.

There was Zack, with all these tubes running in and out of him.

They had been taking his body parts and putting them into other X5's as they needed them.

Then Renfro said, "We will be sending him to another Facility. We have big plans for him."

END FLASH

"Yes. Did you have fun last night."

"Well, I didn't want to stay home last night."

"Neither did I."

"What's his name?"

"Xander. He just got into town last night."

"Oh. How long is he staying?"

"Don't know yet." In the back of her mind, she said to herself, for a long time, I hope.

She could still smell him from this morning and wanted to go hunt him down to rub her face on his chest.

"MAX!"

"What?" she said with a start.
"You zoned out there for a second. Every thing ok?"

"I guess it's as good as it's going to get. Well I've got to blaze. Gotta get to the delivery of stuff from one thankless person to the next." She turned and walked to the door. "Logan, you do know things between us have changed, right? We will always be friends, but if I can't touch you, why put ourselves thought the heart attack?"

"It might be worth it."

"Logan, I went into heat last night, and slept with someone else. I could not come to you. I would have killed you last night."

"Max, don't talk like that! We can find something. You just need to learn control over it."

"Control? I am what I am, Logan. I was built, not born. There is no control, and I can't touch you. So I need to find someone I can touch. I will always be here for you, and help out where I can, but there is no US any more."

Tears were in her eyes and she opened the door. Asha was walking up. Max looked at her and said, "He's all yours," and quickly walked away.

Jam Pony

Later that morning.

Max pushed her bike in. Looking around, she saw Normal talking to someone.

Normal looked at her, "Look what the cat dragged in. You're an hour late, missy."

"Look, Normal, I have had a hard day so far, so back off."

" Well, that's not good enough. If you want to keep your job, be on time. Oh here is a new rider. Show him the ropes."

Looking over at the rider, she said,. "You."

"Yes, me," Xander said.

"So what are you doing here?"

" Need some money so I can get down to LA."

" What's in LA?"
" I am looking for my family."

" Family? Your Unit, right?"

" Nope. Family."

Looking him over, Max said, "Well grab a bike and I'll meet you outside."

After getting her stuff together, she met Xander outside. He was standing there with his face turned up to the sun, just feeling the rays of his face.

Without looking at her, he said, "Hey Max, I'll leave if you want me too. Get a job somewhere else."

"No. Just don't hang on me like some of the guys do after things like last night happen."

"Don't worry. You're still talking to me, so that's a step up. Last time, I was pushed out the door in my underwear."

"Ok. Now, just so we understand each other, last night was a one time thing?"

Please, say no, she said to herself.

"Only if you want it to be. But I have to get moving soon, I've got to find some people."

After the work day was over.

"Well, see ya tomorrow, Max."

It was almost physically impossible to walk away from her. What was going on? He didn't know.

It was not sexual. Well, at least not all of it. She felt like she was his, and he needed her to be with him.

Unknown to him, Max was feeling the same way and didn't understand it either, which was getting her more and more pissed. And the only one she had to take had been Xander.

He had been at her shoulder all day. She had snapped at him on every thing and he took in stride. Which was another thing that pissed her off ; couldn't he just snap back once?

"Well, got to go find a place to stay for the night," Xander said.

"What? You're staying with me. And O. C," Max said before she could think things through.
People within earshot at the Pony all stopped to look at her and the new guy. Max was taking someone home to stay with her. Someone that she had just met.
That was news. No one but O C had even been to her apartment much less inside.

"Well, let's get going," he said." I'll buy the food tonight."

Later that night.

The evening was going well. Xander had staked out a spot on the couch for the night.

O. C. was watching him from the bed room with Max sitting on the bed beside her.

"So you letting your new honey stay here, huh?"

"Yes."

"Must have been good last night."

"Cindy!"

"Hey, from what Original Cindy saw last night, and the way you were going on, I almost want to switch teams."

This caused both to start giggling.

Xander knew just because two women were laughing didn't mean he had to worry, but if you just had sex with one, it was time to worry.

"Ok girls, going to take a shower, so unless you want a show, stay out," he said with a grin.

If looks could kill, he would have been dead by the combined glare from OC and Max when he called them girls. He moved into the bath fast ,so they wouldn't come back at him. He needed to learn to control his mouth. But it was fun.

After his shower and everyone was off to bed, Max came to the door and looked at him on the couch.

She blew out a breath and then said, " Xander, come on, get in bed with me. I mean, you slept there last night. And I don't think we will be living up to that any time soon."

"Ok, if that's what you want." His eyes were full of trust when he looked at her and she could tell that he would do any thing for here.

"Just get in here." Turning around, she went back to bed. She had her back to him.

When she felt him climb into bed, she smiled and settled down to sleep.
After getting in bed with Max, they both fell into a deep sleep.

Xander started to dream.

DREAM REALM

Xander was sitting at a table. Across from him was 471, looking at him. And in the corner was a hyena in a cage. The Hyena paced back and forth, looking at both of them.

"We've got a little time, Xander, and I have to tell you some things fast,." 471 said. "First, you are Xander and I am 471, and we share one body. I WILL take control some times. I will not let you kill us doing something stupid. Next, because of you not keeping it in your pants, we have a mate now. I don't like it, but it's there. She will just slow us down."

"Mate? We just had sex."

"We have mated. She can feel us and you can feel her. We bonded with her. We will do what she want and she will do what we want."

"You mean I am a slave?"

"No, there is no master or slave here. You will just do things that she wants you to do because she would like it. It's a kind of psychic bond. She should be along soon, so I need to finish this fast. You need to get to Sunnydale. They're in danger there and only you will be able to help. But you don't have to go alone. Think on that."

Looking up fast, 471 said, "She's on her way. I'll be going. Don't worry, she is going to be all right. Just take your time with her."

471 turned and moved away from him, just as Max walked into the room.

"Xander? What are you doing here?"

"Well, from what I understand this a dream," he said with a smile. "Oh, and that we are mates now."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, I was talking to myself before you got here. He told me what's going on with me lately. It seems that I have bonded with you."

"Yeah, right."

"My thoughts, too." He reached up and touched her hand. Then,
FLASH

Kids running through the snow

A small boy hiding under his bed while a man raged in the room

A small girl falling thought the ice and watching soldiers walk over her.

A small boy climbing out a window at night to get away from drunken parents.

A pair of girls hiding from a drunk

The flash got faster and faster, until they blurred by, but they could still understand what was going on.

The next morning, Xander got up. "Man that was a trippy dream."

"Yeah, wasn't it."

Xander looked at her. And then knew it was not a dream.

"Oh boy..."