MAP OF THE PROBLEMATIQUE

Chapter 10: Fugitives

We pulled into the club moments later. Thanking the boys, we went on our way to find Dr. Know, and as I made my way with David and Joe through the masses of people out for a great night, I felt like a fugitive hiding in plain sight. I wanted out of sight as soon as possible, so when we finally ducked into Dr. Know's place, I breathed a sigh of relief. The place was virtually empty.

"Joe," I whispered. "You two do what you need to. I'm off to take care of some humanistic needs."

He nodded in understanding. "Return quickly, we don't know how fast we will need to be out of here."

Ducking into one of the many booths that lined the walls, Joe slid a few dollars into the machine, and the screen before us hummed to life. David took a seat next to him. As I made my way down the hall to find the bathroom, I could hear Dr. Know greet them.

"Starving minds, welcome to Dr. Know! Where fast food for thought is served up twenty-four hours a day, in forty thousand locations nationwide. Ask Dr. Know-- there isn't anything I don't!"

I finished what I needed to do and stood at the sink, splashing the soap from my face. I watched the grimy water drain and I'd never even realized how disgusting I'd become from all the chaos of the night. When I looked up at myself in the mirror, it seemed as if ten years had been added to my face. I was so tired. Reaching into my pocket for my lucky bracelet, I realized I'd left it in the stall, so I went back to find it right where I'd left it, but at that moment, I heard the main bathroom door swing open, and two women came breezing through. I froze.

"Seriously, though, how weird is that combo? A Mecha prostitute, a Mecha child and an Orga woman? That has got to be the craziest fugitive grouping I've heard!" The woman laughed.

"I know, right?" The second one giggled as they disappeared into their own stalls. The doors clicked shut. "I can't believe the police asked us, you know? Do we look like we know? I mean, personally, if I ran into a male Mecha prostitute, I'd keep him all to myself!"

Both women laughed, but by that time, I was halfway out the door and down the hallway.

"Joe!" I hissed, and his head snaped up. He and David were just leaving Dr. Know. "We've gotta get outa here."

"What's going on?"

"Two women, talking about a police interrogation.... they called us fugitives, Joe! We've got to leave, now!"

Without a word, we linked hands again and flew from the building, checking before busting out as to avoid running smack into the police.
"We're clear," I whispered, dragging the boys out onto the street.

"No, Wendy! Wait!"

Too late. A police chopper happened to be sitting off to the side, where I couldn't see it from indoors, and right at that moment, a police car pulled up. My blood ran cold. I knew what would happen to all of us. Two officers had Joe by the arms and were hauling him into a car. "We've been lookin' for you for a while now, boy!"

"No, wait! Stop, he didn't do this!"

"Listen, lady," an officer held me back as I tried fighting my way to Joe. "You've got to calm down. This guy's been wanted."

Joe's eyes were locked on me in an eerily calm sort of understanding, yet something flickered there I myself didn't understand when it came to Mecha...... They built Mecha too strong, too well, too quick and too smart; able to display honest human emotions at the drop of a hat, able to produce heat, sweat and even tears, and when an Orga reacts the way I did to Joe's getting arrested, they think I'm the one who's lost their marbles.

There was a whirring sound to my right, one I think none of us had really noticed before, and I looked in time to throw myself to the ground as David, piloting the chopper, swooped around and knocked Joe from the car. A smile flashed across his face. Grabbing my hand, we jumped up and followed David through the crowded streets.
"David," I stared at him severely through the glass. "Are you going to let us in or what?"

The boy actually smiled then, something I'd not seen him do, and opened the chopper door. As Joe took my hand to help me in, sirens started to blare. I knew that was our signal to take off. I hoisted my friend into the chopper and he took over the flying.