Making the Rounds

So, Gryph says Normal isn't putting up much of a fight these days what with all the Transgenics he had on payroll a couple months back. Yeah, he just turns the other cheek. Hired our girl and put her to work right off the bat.

Gotta say I wish I'd have gone with them, Max and the others, instead of heading out that door in the first wave. I'd only been there for a short visit too! Missed a pretty interesting life story at the end though.

Not that this story is anything to laugh at. This one's pretty cool too at least what I've found out so far.

-X-

"Ey! Sawyer you working today?"

She stopped with a sigh on her full lips and turned to the dispatch window. She raised a delicate hand and flipped the end of her black hair off her shoulder. Today, she was in her comfortable mood. Meaning she was in black sneakers, ash-gray cargoes, a black long sleeved tee and red igloo vest.

"I'm always working, Normal." She headed up to the window and took the package he handed her. Nÿx was already turning away when he handed her another. She turned with a frown only to get another bigger package.

"Normal, what's the deal here?" she asked getting yet another package.

"We're short handed today so you're taking some extra deliveries. Got a problem with your load have a talk with those lazy slackers who called in sick today."

"But-."

"What are you still doing here?" Normal asked. "Get a move on missy. These packages have to be delivered yesterday. Go. Go!" he waved a hand in the general direction of the door already calling out for the next victim. Nÿx moved out of the way clutching the packages to her chest. A bike came in close behind her and she jumped out of the way turning to face-.

"You are asking for some bruising."

"And you have quite a load for today." Gryph threw her a sly grin as he set the bike aside. "He's in one of those moods, huh?"

"You think?" Nÿx's sarcastic reply was followed by a curse as one of the packages fell. "Its not even midday yet and I can already tell this is going to be a bad day."

"Oh…" Gryph glanced around before leaning close to Nÿx and asking; "So what exactly do you see for me today? Should I bet on-."

"NO!" Nÿx hissed. "I told you it doesn't work that way now would you shut it!"

"Aw lighten up Nÿx." Gryph threw an arm aver her shoulders and walked her towards her locker. "Juts think of all the cash we could make-."

"No." Nÿx shrugged out of his arm and stomped towards her locker setting the packages on the bench.

"Nÿx-."

"Not another word, Gryph." She got her pass and backpack the sound of metal ringing as she slammed the small door shut.

"Hey!" the familiarly cheerful voice of the red head greeted.

"Audny would you tell Nÿx it's a perfectly good idea to-."

"No." Audny immediately replied.

"But you don't know wh-."

"Yeah, I do so leave Nÿx alone."

"Bye Gryph." Nÿx smiled waving as she trudged off to do her deliveries. Somehow the smile wasn't comforting.

"Normal, Gryph said he'd love some overtime." She said to his dismay.

"Great, You see people that's a real messenger right here. Volunteer…" Normal pointed to Gryph who looked as if he'd just seen a mutated Transgenic for the 1st time.

"What! But she-."

"Told you to leave her alone." Audny smirked as she too headed to her locker.

-X-

Today was one of those days, I could tell. Something was going to happen and as always I had no idea what!

What was the point of being precognitive if I couldn't make sense of what I saw? Just random people and events… but I wasn't even a precog in the normal sense either. These were just frozen images, single events or- at best I'd call them a 'gut instinct' but they were in me so there had to be a purpose.

"What am I?"

It wasn't the first time I'd asked and I doubted it would be the last.

Sometimes I would wake up covered in a cold sweat with their faces still fresh in my mind. I mean, who were they? What was I supposed to do? Help them? How? Why?

Why did I care? But those people- girls? There was a feeling attached there- fear, but I didn't know if it was mine or theirs or maybe it had been ours…?

"Next. Hey! Move on! Let's see your pass."

"JamPony messenger, I have deliveries." I said showing my pass to the Sector police. They were getting tough on everyone, even us, messengers. They didn't just look at our passes anymore, they scanned us too. Made sure the faces matched the info in their little boxes and on our ID's.

I looked around seeing the mess this place had become. I couldn't remember what the city looked like before because I wasn't alive back then, because living in a box wasn't what id call alive. But back then, everything had been new and clean, though I imagine it hadn't looked this bad a year ago. Not since 'Max' and the mutated Transgenics barricaded themselves in Terminal City.

I felt the blood rush to my face and tried to think of something else, something that wouldn't piss me off. Life was hard enough but now-.

"Move on." The Sector police handed back the pass and waved me on.

"Sure thing." I muttered pedaling off into the cold day. It was probably going to rain. Then again this was Seattle, it always rained. Maybe the Angels looked down on us and cried for the things we did to one another.

"What?"

Where the hell had that come from? Angels? If there were any I'm positive Manticore bio engineered them. Did they have a barcode?

All of them had one didn't they? That's what Normal and the others kept saying and the news but who could believe the news? Krit had told me the same thing before he'd sent me off on this little mission.

"And how do you explain the things you do, huh?" I wondered.

I blurred like they did, I was stronger like them, I could see better than the others and I knew things- the precognitive thing again, but why didn't I have a barcode? No one at the ranch had been able to explain that one. I wondered again; was I born this way or had they made me in a lab like the others? They had designed me with a specific purpose but none of the files said what that was. So, didn't I belong in Terminal City with the rest of the freaks?

"This is stupid and so am I for entertaining those thoughts."

It was time to get my packages delivered and collect my signatures.

The cold air blew the hair out of my face and bit my nose. That was another thing, I never got sick, no colds, no fevers, nothing except for those blinding headaches but that was only when I got those 'visions'. When they got real bad I blacked out but hardly ever went that far.

My first address came into view and I pedaled just a little faster. I got to the fancy gate and pushed the buzzer. This was one of the nicer neighborhoods, with big houses behind high fences, manicured lawns with fancy gardens…

"State your business."

"JamPony messenger. I have a package to deliver to… uh- Argento." I frowned seeing the name. It didn't seem familiar nor the house-.

"Come in." The gate buzzed opening slightly and I pushed my bike in. I walked up the drive looking at the big trees in front. They were green and leafy swaying in the cold breeze, at its base there were some potted flowers. I slowed down seeing the bright pink color. Something about them-.

"I'll take the delivery." I turned seeing the tall black man make his way down the stairs. He wore a suit and somehow, I didn't think he was the butler.

"Sure." I pulled out the box I'd dropped and handed it over hoping whatever was inside wasn't broken. I handed the clipboard over as well. "Can I get a signature please?"

"Just a moment." He turned the box over in his hands examining it making me just a little nervous. I mean, what if I broke it?

He reached for the clipboard slowly and with a last glance at the box signed it.

"Thank you." I shoved the board back in my pack and flipped the bike around already putting my foot on the pedal ready to get out of there when he stopped me.

"Wait." I froze then calmly turned around with a small smile.

"Yeah?"

"Your tip." He reached in his pocket pulling out a bill. "Here you go." He said.

"Thanks. Have a nice day sir." I shoved the bill in my pocket and hurried out of there. Once past the gate I didn't stop pedaling until I got to my next delivery. Still a big house behind a fancy looking fence but not as unnerving as the one before. I delivered the smallest box to an older looking maid with a sour face before heading to the next Sector.

Once more dealing with the Sector police was a hassle and the lines were getting longer. I think it took me longer to get through the security points than it did to actually deliver my packages.

"JamPony messenger." I held out my pass again only to have it taken and scanned. The Sector policeman came back sooner than I expected and sent me through ready to harass the next unfortunate in line.

My chest began to buzz startling me. It didn't matter how long I'd had the damn thing it still caught me by surprise every time.

"What?" I said into the cell cruising on my bike.

"Where are you?"

"Making a delivery. Now what is it?"

He never called just to say hello not that either of us ever said hello.

"Take a break," He said. "And head over to Sector-." Like it was no big deal, like I wasn't working…

"No. I'm working. If this isn't important then-."

"Whoa, who said it wasn't important, Nÿx? I'm just trying to make conversation. You know how that goes right?"

"Aric…" I warned.

"Fine." He let out a deep exaggerated sigh before getting to the reason he'd called. "Need you to help me on a job there's a cut in it for you-."

"Where? When?" is all I wanted to know.

"You could at least-. Ah, never mind." Another sigh then; "Meet me in Sector9. How long will it take -."

"See you in 20." I hung up and pedaled faster knowing this wouldn't take long. Then again my last delivery was in the Sector before it so I'd be done by the time I was supposed to meet Aric.

-X-