Chapter 2: Terminal City
I follow Kira sullenly into the nightclub. I can't help but feel that she's adjusted to life on the outside so much better than I have. Ironic since it was my idea to leave.
"I'm not going back, 772."
772 stared at me like she thought that maybe I'd gotten a head injury.
"Not going back? What are you talking about? We've completed our mission, now we have to return to base."
"No." I insisted, adamant.
"No? What do you mean, no? Are you okay, 613?"
"I'm fine. Don't you see? I can't go back there. I hate it. Can't you feel that something isn't right about Manticore, how they treat us, what they make us do? Don't you sense the difference on the outside? It's freedom."
She didn't understand what I was talking about back then, but thankfully she came with me anyway. I'm not sure I could have done it alone. 772 has always been my only true friend. She has always shown such utter devotion. When 494 left me to die in the woods, she spent 38 minutes looking for me until she was captured herself.
494. I've thought about him so often since our last encounter. I can't help but wonder what he's doing, how he's surviving back at Manticore. Does he regret not coming with me? Was he punished badly for allowing me to escape? Did they send him to PsyOps again? Does he hate me now?
I mentally shake myself and cut off my thoughts of 494, redirecting my thought process back to its original track before I digressed: 772, Kira, my best friend. No, she hadn't known why I'd needed to leave Manticore, but once she joined me on the outside, she easily assimilated to her new life. And now I know that she, too, understands what Manticore was lacking. That's why I can't ever let her be recaptured. She's my responsibility. Which is why I've been so strict about constantly staying on the move, covering our tracks. But after spending the last two weeks on the road, I couldn't deny her this chance to relax a little. So, even though it's our first night in town and I would much rather stay in, I feel obligated to go with her to this nightclub instead.
"Cheer up, Jess." Kira prods me.
Jess. It's my name. Yet I still think of myself as 613. I can't help it. I hate it, but I can't help it.
I force a smile and say, "I know. I'm sorry."
I envy Kira sometimes. I envy her ability to adapt so easily. I envy how free she seems, free of Manticore. I envy how normal she appears to be. Even though I know that none of those things are completely true, she isn't normal or completely free or completely adjusted to her new life, I envy her anyways.
Kira charms her way past the bouncer and I follow her down the hallway of the dimly lit building into the club's interior, already wincing at the noise. I just moved us to this city. I'm careful to keep us moving, always trying to erase any trace of where we've been. I don't want to go up against Manticore again. I know I won't be so lucky next time.
"I need a drink." I yell over the music to Kira.
She nods and heads to the dance floor.
I sit at the bar and scan the building as I wait for the bartender. I'm very cautious these days. Paranoid, if you ask Kira. But I have to be. I have to keep us safe.
I order a strong alcoholic beverage even though I know it won't have any effect on me. What's the phrase? It's the thought that counts, or something like that. Swirling the drink in my glass, I turn my back to the bar and check out the people in the room.
My drink suddenly shatters on the floor. Memories flash in my mind, but I still can't believe what I'm seeing.
Suddenly, somehow, his eyes found mine, boring through the bushes, and pinning me in place.
His eyes snap to my location and I find his gaze boring into mine, freezing me in place.
I rise from my seat and slowly walk across the room. He still hasn't noticed me. He's busy talking smoothly to a scantily clad blonde. He seems so different from the last time I saw him and yet it can't be anyone else.
"494." I breathe when I freeze about six feet behind him.
He whips around to face me and his eyes go wide.
"Who's this?" the blonde demands. When 494 doesn't respond, she continues with increasing annoyance, "Hello? Alec?"
"Beat it." 494 snaps, not sparing her another glance.
The girl gasps indignantly and stomps off. Neither of us makes a move.
"What are you doing here?" I finally ask.
"I could ask you the same." he replies.
"How many others are there?" I press, my eyes already searching for signs of a recovery team closing in.
"Quite a few." he admits.
"How much time do I have before they've secured the perimeter?"
"Plenty."
I blink. His answer doesn't make any sense.
He seems to sense my confusion because he elaborates, "No one's tracking you. In fact, you two are the ones who have me cornered."
So he noticed Kira closing in on him from behind.
"What's going on, 494?" I demand.
He glances around nervously and shushes me, gesturing for me to keep my voice down.
"It's Alec now. And I'm not on any mission. Well, except to get laid. I'm a free man now."
I'm astonished. How did this happen? Could he really have left after he turned down my offer of escape? What changed his mind?
As if sensing my thoughts he says, "A friend of mine...well, friend is a bit strong...acquaintance...cohort...associate...anyway, goes by Max a.k.a. 452. She got the place burned to the ground. Set all kinds of transgenics loose on the world."
I don't believe it. Manticore, burned to the ground? It's a trick, it has to be. Some plot to get us to let down our guard so they can find us and drag us back.
"Manticore's gone?" Kira asks, sounding as astounded as I feel.
I'm shaking my head in denial, but Alec persists, nodding firmly.
"Ashes to ashes, baby. But we've still got plenty of problems. Look, this is not the best place for a debriefing. Follow me." 494...Alec...orders.
Kira glances at me questioningly and, after just a moment's hesitation, I nod. We both follow 494.
He's acting so differently and yet somehow I know that he's still hiding the same tormented 494 inside. I sense that he's simply adopted new masks: the nonchalant attitude, cocky grin, and suggestive eyes in place of his cold demeanor and emotionless Manticore persona.
"Are you sure this isn't a trap?" Kira whispers to me.
"I know 494." I reply.
"You think you do." she corrects.
"Talking about me?" 494 calls back over his shoulder, his tone light and teasing, "I know...I'm irresistible."
Neither of us reacts to his comment. He glances back and rolls his eyes.
"Okay. So you don't trust me. Understandable. I mean, the last time we met I was trying to capture you and take you back to Manticore. But that was then, this is now. Time's change. I don't work for the man anymore. And I can prove it if you let me."
I raise an eyebrow at Kira. She looks away. She's never understood my connection with 494. She's spent a lot of time and energy trying to make me forget him. She now obviously believes that my foolish sentiments will get us into trouble. I hope she isn't right.
We soon arrive at an apartment building after traveling the streets quickly in silence. 494 leads us upstairs and unlocks the door to a unit. He makes sure to swing the door all the way open so that Kira and I have a clear view inside. He knows we'll want to check the place before cornering ourselves inside.
"See, no soldiers, no Lydecker, no tasers. Just a normal apartment that a good friend would definitely not mind me borrowing momentarily." he says, spreading his arms and moving to stand in the middle of the apartment.
I enter slowly and Kira follows warily after. After cautiously scanning the whole place with my eyes and listening intently for any telltale noises, I finally relax. Kira, on the other hand, does not.
"Well, go ahead and prove it already." she snaps, still standing in a ready stance, prepared for a fight.
494 retrieves a disc and inserts it into the reader below the old television. A moment later a news segment comes on reporting the destruction of a veteran's hospital by the terrorist group S1W. I've heard chatter about the group here and there before, but never paid much attention to it and I have definitely never seen this footage. I immediately recognize Manticore. So it's true. Manticore is really gone.
"Don't get too excited." 494 warns as he turns off the television, "Manticore may not be hunting you down anymore, but Agent White and his band of freaky Familiars are. Plus,...our cover's kinda just been totally blown and the general public knows all about us and hates us to boot. You guys should really keep up on the news."
I blink a few more times in surprise.
"What?" I finally manage.
494 sighs.
"This guy named White is part of this breeding cult that good ol' Sandeman, the creator of Manticore, happened to be a part of once upon a time. Now his miffed buddies hate us and want to, you know, wipe us off the face of the planet. So, they exposed us and set all the Ordinaries against us. We've been living down in Terminal City, blockaded off from the rest of existence for awhile. Regular people can't stay down there too long or they get sick, but transgenics can take the heat."
"If all that is true, then why are you on the outside and not in Terminal City?" Kira demands suspiciously.
"Because I can sneak out. X-series look like everyone else. We can blend in. So it's our job to get supplies." he explains.
"So you were at a nightclub...?" she questions, eyes still narrowed.
494 gives us a sheepish grin and rubs at the back of his neck.
"Detour?" he offers.
"I can't believe this." I mutter to myself.
"Believe it." 494 says firmly, "World's a different place for us now. You thought you had it rough when Manticore was out to get you? Try living your life when everyone on the planet wants you dead."
I don't bother to explain to 494 that it isn't just that shocking bit of news that has me reeling. It's also his attitude. Sure, he's still self-assured, cocky, and sarcastic. But he's also...sheepish? That does not fit with the star of Manticore, 494, that I know. The outside has sure changed him.
"So, what do we do now?" I ask.
"Come on. I'll take you down to TC. We've got everything set up down there. Besides, Original Cindy should be home soon. Wouldn't want her to know I was crashing her apartment, now would we?" he says, ushering us out the door.
I notice now, as 494 leads the way back outside, that he's careful to keep the collar of his jacket turned up to cover his barcode. And the way he keeps glancing around for any sign of danger. As we walk the streets of Seattle, I'm now able to identify what is so different about this city, what we've missed in the week we spent on the road. The tension in the air is almost palpable. Everyone glances at everyone else with a degree of suspicion.
The crowds thin and the number of police grow as the buildings become more dilapidated. 494 signals behind his back to us to be careful and gestures ahead at a tall barbed-wire fence. Kira and I follow him cautiously as he sneaks past the police and through a chink in the fencing.
"Welcome to Terminal City." he announces after we have both made it through and he's replaced the sign covering the hole in the fence.
The city within the city isn't much. Everything is in a state of disrepair. The streets and buildings are filthy, littered with trash. The air smells funny and the place gives off a slightly hostile feel. I feel like I'm being watched.
"It's okay, Mole. They're cool. X5." 494 says, waving.
A figure separates himself from the dark shadows of a building and nods at 494. The figure is obviously one of Manticore's stranger mutations. He looks like quite a bit of some sort of lizard DNA was used in his creation. He holds a large shotgun and a cigar hangs from the corner of his mouth.
"Max is looking for you." he calls before melting back into the darkness.
"Great." 494 mutters sarcastically, "What did I do wrong now?"
Kira and I maintain our silence as we follow 494 deeper into Terminal City and finally into a building that, from the looks of the equipment inside, is serving as their headquarters.
"Alec! Where the hell have you been? You had better have gotten the gas I sent you for or I'm gonna..." a furious-looking brunette storms up to us, glaring eyes fixed on 494.
"Kick my ass. I know, I know." 494 finishes for her, rolling his eyes, "The night is young. I'll get it."
The brunette looks poised to punch 494 in the face. I'm surprised when he grabs me by the shoulders and yanks me in front of him.
"Now, Max. We have company." he scolds.
So this must be 452.
She immediately changes temperaments as she looks from me to Kira.
"X5?" she asks.
I nod.
"613." I say, then gesture at Kira, "772."
452 frowns.
"We use names around here. Numbers are Manticore's thing."
"Jess." I correct myself, "Kira."
"I'm Max. I take it you've already been introduced to this dingbat." she says, smacking 494 in the back of the head.
"Ow!" he exclaims even though it can't have really hurt him.
"I know 494." I say for the second time that night.
"Alec." 494 insists.
"I'm sorry. Alec." I nod, trying hard to replace the designation with the name in my head.
"You've met before." 452 deduces, glancing from me to 494 to Kira curiously.
"Don't be so nosy, Max." 494 says quickly before either Kira or I can respond.
452 raises an eyebrow at that, but shrugs and doesn't push the subject.
"Well, welcome to transgenic central." she says instead, "It's nothing fancy, but it works. You can make yourself at home, but report back for your duties. We've all got jobs to do to keep this place running. Right, Alec?"
"I'll get it!" 494 says, sounding harassed.
"You better." 452 snaps, then turns back to us, "Be careful around the fence and do not go outside without checking in here first. It's dangerous out there. We gotta lay low."
"That's Maxie's catchphrase." 494 whispers conspiratorially.
"Shut up!" 452 snaps at him again.
He flashes her a bright smile.
"What?" he asks innocently.
452 rolls her eyes and stomps away.
"She's got a thing for me." 494 states, loud enough that his voice carries to 452 across the room.
"Oh, please." she replies, "In your dreams."
494 winks, as if that proves he's right. Kira and I are still too astounded to respond.
"Well." 494 says, clapping his hands together and ignoring our unresponsiveness, "Let's find you a place to sleep, shall we?"
Once again we follow 494.
"We've been doing our best to score some mattresses, but complete beds are hard to get unfortunately. Hope you don't mind. We've got plenty of space, at least. And privacy. And you don't have to hide what you are." 494 pauses and glances at me and I can tell we're both recalling the last time we discussed what it means to be truly free.
"You're not free. You won't ever be free. None of us ever could be. Not with that barcode on your neck. At least at Manticore you're accepted for what you are. That's more freedom than you'll ever find out here. Stop kidding yourself."
"So, yeah. Besides all the people wanting to kill us outside the fence, it's not too bad." he finishes awkwardly.
He stops in front of a building covered in graffiti with the windows boarded up.
"This is empty. I know it looks..."
"It's great." I interrupt.
494 smiles and I make a decision.
"Kira, will you check it out?" I ask.
Kira sighs, knowing I'm really giving her an order. She sends me her 'please, be careful' look before disappearing inside the building.
"I need to talk to you." we both say at the same time as soon as she's out of sight.
494 smiles slightly. I look down, unable to continue to meet his gaze.
"I've thought about you a lot." I admit quietly when he doesn't speak first, "Wondered what happened to you. If they sent you back to PsyOps because of me."
"Don't." 494 interrupts, "Whatever punishment I received was my own doing. It wasn't your fault. In fact, I need to thank you."
"Thank me?" I ask, confused.
"Seeing you and how much freedom meant to you...and then talking to you about Rachel...I never spoke a word about that to anyone before then. You just...you have no idea."
He seems to be having a lot of trouble finding words. Once again I find myself dumbstruck.
"I wanted to see you again, but I did not want you to be captured so I just kept hoping that I'd get sent on a mission somewhere and you'd be there. You had such spirit. Spirit that didn't make sense at Manticore and yet you had it. I just couldn't understand it." he says, shaking his head as if in disbelief, "But I respected you for it."
I don't know what to say, but he's finished speaking and is looking at me expectantly.
"I hated you so much." The words burst forth from my mouth. He looks surprised and upset, but I quickly continue, "You were everything I wasn't, everything we were made to be. But then, that day when I saw the emotion in your eyes, the torment that Manticore was to even you, the perfect 494 whose only flaw was that his twin was a traitor, I knew for sure that it wasn't just me. It was Manticore. Manticore was wrong. And I couldn't hate you anymore because you were only doing what they made you do. You didn't know anything else and you couldn't help yourself even though it was destroying you. I could at least make myself leave."
"I'm glad you're here, 613." 494 says quietly into the silence that follows my outburst.
"I'm glad you're finally free, 494." I reply.
"Jess." he adds, like he's trying out the name on his tongue, seeing how it feels.
"Alec." I speak his name back to him, feeling like somehow that name encompasses everything that has developed since the day 494 allowed me to escape.
We stare at each other in silence for a moment, simply understanding each other without needing to share anymore words. Finally, 494 clears his throat and looks away.
"Well, I'd better go get that gas before Max throws a hissy fit." he says.
"Okay." I nod, wondering why I suddenly feel so desperate to stay in his presence, "See you later?"
"Yeah." he agrees without hesitation and I almost frown at how the promise of seeing him again soon relieves some unnamed tension inside me.
"Well, later then." I say lamely, starting to feel awkward and hoping he can't sense any of these strange reactions inside me.
"Later." he echoes.
494 finally turns and begins to walk away. I watch him until he disappears around a corner, then turn and go inside to join Kira. I still find it hard to really believe everything that has happened tonight. So much has changed in such a short period of time. Just like the last time I saw 494, really. He seems to have a knack for leaving my world fundamentally altered in ways I never anticipated. Now I've got to somehow find a way to make sense of it again.