Mess
Hall, Terminal City

Max
headed for the mess hall, hungry and more than ready to sit down, if
only for a few minutes. All the stress was getting to her and she�d
actually thought about sleeping, a rare thing for her. Just as she reached
the mess hall, the door crashed open. She was barely able to step out
of the way before a body flew by her, slamming into a nearby post and
sliding to the ground. The short, brown-haired X5 got up, her eyes full
of anger, and started back toward the door. Max hurried after her.

Absolute
chaos greeted Max. She didn�t know how or why, but it seemed that the
two groups who usually worked hard to stay segregated from each other,
the Xs and the transhumans, had come together for one purpose: to fight.
Max barely dodged a very feline looking transhuman man, who stumbled
backward toward her, only to run straight into the group of fighting
transgenics.

�Hey!�
Max shouted, as she pulled at clothing and arms, separating hostile
combatants. �Cut it out! Cut it out!� She grabbed the nearest X5 by
his collar and yelled, �What the hell is going on here?�

He
started to jerk away; his angry eyes fixed on the transhuman with whom
he�d been locked in battle a moment before, but Max held him tightly,
giving him a shake.

�I
said, what the hell is going on here?�

Out
of the corner of her eye she saw Mole, who was sitting off to the side,
watching the entire scene and looking almost amused.

�You
want to give me a hand here?� she yelled at him, but he ignored her
and just sat there chewing on his cigar.

Max
shoved the X5 away from her and reached again into the fray, pulling
and separating transhumans from X5s, X5s from transhumans.

�What
do you think you�re doing?� she shouted over the noise of the group.

Max�s
extra-sensitive hearing picked up the sound of a knife being unsheathed.
She whirled to see an X5 pinning a transhuman against a table. The X5�s
knife was only inches away from his opponent�s throat. Zeroing in on
the X5, Max kicked out, catching him in the ribs and sending him reeling.
She went for the knife, trying to grab it out of his hand, but he recovered
his balance almost immediately and fought her blows for several tense
seconds before her hand came in contact with his arm. She twisted, bringing
his arm up and around, hearing a sharp �snap� before the knife clattered
to the floor and the X5 grunted in pain, his arm hanging limply at his
side.

Silence
invaded the room as the others paused in their fighting, turning to
look at the X5 whose arm she�d just broken. The unexpected move seemed
to suddenly jar them back to reality. Slowly, they relaxed from their
fighting stances, eyeing each other warily. None of them would meet
Max�s angry gaze. She stooped, picked up the knife, then hurled it so
that it embedded in the wall close to Mole�s head, vibrating slightly
beside Mole�s ear.

�You!�
Max peeled the still-shaking transhuman off the table and pushed him
toward his adversary. �Get this idiot to the infirmary.�

�Are
you kidding? He was ready to slit my throat!� the transhuman protested.

�He�s
not your enemy. The enemy is out there!� Max glared at him in frustration.
�When are you people going to learn that?�

The
two transgenics caught something in Max�s gaze and the fire in their
eyes dimmed. They left together, still maintaining a cautious distance
from each other.

Mole
started to rise just as Max yelled. �Now someone tell me, right now,
just what the hell you all thought you were doing!�

�They�re
soldiers, Max.� Mole�s fed-up voice came from beside her before anyone
else had a chance to respond. �They�ve been bred to fight. They need
a mission.�

Max
whirled on him. �Oh, they need a mission, do they? Have a little excess
energy to burn?�

She
paused and scanned the fight�s participants with her best scornful look.
The two groups had already drifted apart, the X5s congregating on one
side of the room, the transhumans on the other.

�Fine,�
she said abruptly. �You and you, latrine duty.� She singled out the
X5 and the transhuman who seemed to be in charge of the two groups.
They just stood there, eyes smoldering, so she took a step toward them.
�Move!�

It
took several moments for either of them to budge and when they did,
they left without even looking at one another, disappearing through
different doors and heading separately toward the latrines.

�And
you two,� Max continued, motioning to the feline transhuman who�d stumbled
into her earlier and the X5 who�d been thrown out of the mess hall.
�You�re on garbage detail,� she said, shoving them away. They left just
as grudgingly as the first pair.

Max
singled out one more from each side and informed them, �I hear they
need some help scrubbing floors in the infirmary. Tell Aveta �hey� for
me.� She turned on the others and saw them quickly straighten, all disrespect
gone from their eyes. �The rest of you can hunt rats for all I care,�
she said bluntly. �Just don�t let me catch you fighting again.� She
dismissed them and turned away. Once they were gone, Max sank into one
of the chairs, completely exhausted.

�Make-work
projects aren�t going to do it, Max.� Mole�s reproving voice startled
her. She looked up at him wearily and glared.

�Then
do something about it,� she hissed.

�You�re
not cutting it, Max.� Mole challenged her in frustration. �You�re way
too focused on that guy.�

�His
name is Logan.�

�You�ve
got hundreds of people relying on you, and you�re taking off to play
nursemaid to Looogggaaaannn.� Mole dragged out the name with disdain.
�You need to keep your head in the game.�

�You
do your job, and I�ll worry about my head. You got that?� Max asked,
her voice low as she rose, staring Mole down. �I�m going to see Logan.
You got a problem with that?�

�No,
ma�am.� Mole backed down and walked away.

Roof,
Terminal City

�Hey,
girl, Original Cindy has turned this town upside-down looking for her
boo. You been sittin� up here all day?�

Max
turned to her friend and sighed. �No, just needed a couple minutes to
myself.�

Original
Cindy sat down next to Max and took her hand.

�Damn,
and I thought your needles were all raggedy when you were just doin�
the Jam Pony gig.�

Max
smiled and laughed lightly. �Yeah, no need to worry about nails here,
that�s for sure.�

�What�s
on your mind, girl?� Original Cindy asked.

Max
shook her head. �It�s not what I thought�not what I expected. Mole�s
all over me. Thinks I don�t cut it�and he�s right. What do I know? I
left Manticore when I was nine. I can�t run this place, can�t promise
to keep these people safe�I nearly killed you today, let alone the others.�

�Original
Cindy takes on danger on her own terms. Don�t be thinkin� you got me
in somethin� I don�t want to be in,� Cindy challenged her.

Max
sighed again. �Then there�s Logan. He�s a whole other set of problems
I�m definitely not ready to deal with.�

�What�s
goin� on, boo?�

Max
turned so she was looking at her friend. �I don�t know. Maybe everything
I ever wanted, maybe not. Dr. Shankar thinks he�s developing immunity
to the virus, but we won�t know unless I infect him again. I�ve nearly
killed him three times now�what if I actually do this time?�

�Girl,
you gotta get some faith,� Original Cindy replied.

�He�s
so sick and it�s killing me to watch him like that�I need to be with
him, but I�m useless around him. I need to be taking care of these people.
I need to be figuring out what we�re doing next�I need to get you out
of here before the toxins kill you.� Max�s head slumped into her hands.

Original
Cindy began to slowly rub her right hand over Max�s back.

�You
take care of your peeps, boo. Original Cindy can handle your man,� she
smiled gently while continuing to work on Max�s back.

��Sides,�
she added with a bigger grin. �You put your mind to it�these transgenics
won�t know what hit �em.�

Infirmary,
Terminal City

Beverly
had been monitoring Logan for over twenty-four hours. He had slept most
of the time, turning periodically in the bed, partially opening his
eyes, but always falling back into an even deeper sleep. His body seemed
to be conserving every resource to fight the virus.

Beverly
found herself craving sleep as well. She rubbed her eyes tiredly in
an effort to fight off the drowsiness.

�Thanks
for covering for me, Aveta. Even this pathetic excuse for a chair can�t
keep me awake anymore.� Beverly turned toward the medic. �You don�t
seem to need much sleep yourself.�

�I
can make do with less,� Aveta explained and then quickly returned to
the task at hand. �His vitals are slowly improving. When did you administer
the last dose of antivirals?�

Beverly
rubbed her eyes once again. �About an hour ago.�

�Looks
like we�ve exhausted our repertoire of interventions,� the medic continued.

�Yeah,�
Beverly confirmed quietly. �Not much else we can do but pray.�

�You
do that?� Aveta looked up in shock.

�Never
used to�� Beverly began, and then faltered, looking away for a moment.
��My usual gig is in the ME�s office, forensic pathology�I�ve seen stuff��
She looked back at Aveta and recognized something in her eyes, ��You
have, too��

�The
handiwork of our fellow human beings�kinda shreds your faith�� Aveta
paused a moment, then gestured cynically toward Logan�s silent form.
�So what is he? Some kind of religious guru, guaranteed to restore your
faith in God and all of mankind?�

�Nah!�
Beverly chuckled. �It�s just his attitude, the way he feels about people.
He thinks anything is possible, never gives up. I don�t know, watching
him work�He can change your whole worldview. Makes you want to believe
there is something good out there.�

�I
was wondering what he was even doing here. We�re a pretty sorry lot,�
Aveta voiced her curiosity. �Guess I�ll get my chance to find out. Looks
like our boy is waking up,� she added, nodding toward Logan.

�How
do you know that?� Beverly asked in surprise.

�His
breathing pattern changed a minute ago and his eye movements have slowed
down. He�s coming out of REM sleep,� the medic stated simply.

�No.
I mean you aren�t using any instruments,� Beverly clarified. �I hadn�t
noticed any change at all.�

�Don�t
need a stethoscope to hear heart rate and respiration. Enhanced sight,
hearing and tactile sensitivity can be very useful out in the field.
Can�t always rely on having equipment on hand,� Aveta explained. �His
heart rate is 120. A little fast, but not bad at this point.�

�Wow,
I�ve heard of enhanced senses, but yours must be off the charts.� Beverly
stared at Aveta in amazement.

�Tested
at the top of the class at age five. Was streamlined into field med
training at that point,� Aveta admitted and then continued with uncharacteristic
nervousness. �Can I ask you a favor?�

�Shoot.�

�Just
don�t talk too loudly, because I can hear that too.�

�I�ll
try to remember that.� Beverly smiled, and then turned to watch Logan
again. As she listened to Logan�s breathing, there wasn�t much noise
to distract her, just the muffled sounds of the other patients next
door and the medics that were tending to them. Despite the buzz of activity
outside its doors, Logan�s room was surprisingly quiet, even peaceful.
Beverly suspected that Aveta had selected this room for just that reason.

As
Aveta had predicted, Logan gradually began to show signs of consciousness.
Only minutes later, he opened his eyes and regarded Beverly tiredly.
She held up a cup of water so he could take a few sips.

�How
are you feeling?� Beverly asked gently.

�Okay.
How�s Max?� he asked, still struggling against sleep.

�She�s
good. Keeping very busy around here. She comes by often.�

�I
remember seeing her earlier.�

�That�s
good. Do you have any questions about what happened?�

�Got
infected again,� he answered, fighting to keep his eyes open. �I just
feel so tired this time. Did something go wrong with the transfusion?�

�We
weren�t able to transfuse you.�

�Then
how am I still alive?� he asked, blinking hard to stay awake.

�I�m
not certain of the full extent, but it appears you are beginning to
develop your own immunity. Possibly you acquired some antibodies from
Joshua.�

Suddenly,
Logan was wide-awake.

�What?�Does
Max know?� he asked sharply. �She needs to know.�

�She
does.� Beverly smiled.

�Okay,�
he smiled back weakly, his energy waning once again. �God, I�m so tired,�
he mumbled as he finally let sleep claim him.

Jam
Pony Messenger Service, Seattle

�This
is it, guys! Listen up!� Sketchy shouted to the Jam Pony crew while
he turned up the volume on the television.

A
crowd quickly surrounded the TV waiting in nervous anticipation. Even
Normal left his domain behind the cage to lean against a post near the
set.

�Channel
3 news has learned that the National Guard pursued a group of transgenics
two days ago. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots and a massive
explosion in the basement of the Bates Hotel. A member of the National
Guard confirmed to Channel 3 that several transgenics were wounded,
but once again the transgenics appear to have eluded capture.�

�YESSsssssss!�
Sketchy shouted, high-fiving the messenger beside him as a cheer rose
up around them.

Normal
sniffed with satisfaction at the news and then turned back toward the
cage as the announcer droned on.

�In
other breaking news, Channel 3 reports a devastating tragedy in the
remote Himalayan village of Dukar. It appears that the entire village
fell victim to an unknown toxin or viral agent. The horrific scene was
discovered yesterday by an unsuspecting truck driver making a weekly
supply run.�

�Now
that�s a story I�d love to get an exclusive on,� Sketchy said yearningly.

�Idiot.
World�s falling apart on your doorstep and you want to do a story on
something happening God knows where,� Normal shouted from behind the
cage. �Get a move-on with these packages or you�ll be reporting on what
it�s like to be without a job.�

Infirmary,
Terminal City

Logan
awoke to find Original Cindy sitting beside him.

�What
day is it?� Logan asked, trying to sit up.

�Friday.
You�ve been out for a couple of days. You hurtin�, boo?� Original Cindy
asked softly as she helped him sit up.

�Pain
I can deal with. It�s the exhaustion�deep-boned tiredness�makes talking�blinking�thinking�difficult
to do�� Logan tried to explain, struggling to get the words out.

�Need
to get some energy into you,� Original Cindy nodded sympathetically.
�You hungry, boo? I can fix you something. My mama says this
girl can cook. And none of that high-falutin�, five-course, too-beautiful-to-smell-let-alone-eat
stuff that you serve my girl, but real food that will put meat on your
bones.�

�I
don�t really want anything right now,� Logan replied tiredly.

�How
you expect to get your strength back, you don�t eat?� Original Cindy
prodded gently, then continued as if the decision had already been made.
�What�s your flavor? Vegetable or chicken noodle? I met this prime female
specimen once who could whip up a mean pot of chicken soup. Will cure
whatever ails you. Showed me the secret ingredient�among other things,�
she added with a wicked grin. �But we won�t go into that.�

�Look,
Original Cindy, I�m not really hungry,� Logan replied quietly, the intent
of the previous monologue completely eluding him. He didn�t have the
energy to eat right now, let alone to make decisions about what to eat.
He barely had the strength to sit up, even with Original Cindy supporting
him.

�Who
you talking back to?� Original Cindy tried to glare at him, but her
face softened involuntarily as she gently helped Logan ease back onto
the cot. �Lay your sick ass back in bed and let Original Cindy take
care of you.�

�God
save me from Original Cindy�s ministrations.� Logan mumbled under his
breath as he painfully complied with Original Cindy�s orders.

�Don�t
think I didn�t hear that.� Original Cindy eyed him threateningly. �Don�t
make me set you straight, �cause if you think you�re hurting now, Original
Cindy�ll teach you a whole new definition of pain!� And with that she
was gone, in search of the secret ingredient and maybe a prime female
specimen to go with it.

Logan
groaned. Every muscle, every joint, ached beyond belief.

�What
was I thinking trying to get up?� he began to ask himself, but before
he could even complete the thought, a dark blanket of sleep enveloped
him once again.

Mess
Hall, Terminal City

�Hey,
staff only in the kitchen. And no eating between meals!�

Original
Cindy turned to find a tall, red-haired woman standing with her hands
on her hips. She looked about Max�s age�an X5.

�Settle,
girl. Original Cindy is just here for a little sustenance for a patient.
You make any soup today? Never mind. Get me some chicken and I�ll show
you how to make the mother of all chicken noodle soups.�

�What
do you think this is, Ma and Pa�s Country Kitchen?� the transgenic replied
sarcastically. �You think we keep a coop out back and butcher them on
demand?”

Original
Cindy grinned. �Not a bad idea, boo.�

The
transgenic smiled a little, adding matter-of-factly, �Infirmary patients
are all sent trays at mealtime, as approved by the medical staff. Didn�t
your patient get his tray?�

�Might
have�also might have been unconscious when they brought the tray. So
what if a certain friend was watchin� over him and happened to eat his
food �cause she was unable to get here for her own meal,� Original Cindy
answered, sliding a couple of feet closer to the red-haired woman. �By
the way, I�m Original Cindy�friend of Max, caretaker of Logan�at your
service, sugah.�

�Yeah,
I heard about you�the human who won�t leave.� The woman answered, her
tone getting a bit warmer.

�Hard
to leave friends in their time of need, don�t you think?� Original Cindy
asked.

�I
might have a chicken stashed somewhere in here,� the transgenic offered,
her face softening.

�Could
also use some salt and pepper and whatever spices you got. Not too much
spice for my guy, he still in bed, but as for me�I like more.� Original
Cindy grinned mischievously, �What�s your name anyway, girl?�

�You
can call me Ginger,� the transgenic replied, returning Original Cindy�s
sassy look.

Infirmary,
Terminal City

Max
ran into Original Cindy in the hallway. She was carrying a meal tray,
like the ones kids used to serve breakfast in bed to their moms in sappy
Mother�s Day commercials on TV. Where in the world had Cindy found that?

�Bringing
your boy some soup. You comin�, boo?�

�Yeah,�
Max answered tentatively, stalling. �But you go ahead. Got a couple
of stops to make first.�

She
stood there for a couple of minutes, then followed Original Cindy�s
footsteps to the infirmary. When she got to the doorway, she hesitated,
silently leaning against the doorframe to watch for a few minutes.

�Oh
man, you should have seen that chica. She was fine�finer than fine,�
Original Cindy drawled as she helped Logan sit up.

Max
barely heard Original Cindy, her whole focus was on Logan. She flinched
when she saw him struggle to sit up, even with Original Cindy�s help.
Max had never seen him accept physical help like that.

�So,
Original Cindy, you finally found yourself a real live Spice Girl,�
Logan smiled weakly, gasping slightly from the pain as he moved. �Man,
my cousin used to have those CDs when we were kids. What was the redhead�s
name?� He began to laugh, then stopped, his hand coming to rest on his
sore ribs.

�You�re
not denying Original Cindy a little spice in her life, are you?� an
uncharacteristically flustered Original Cindy challenged him.

�Of
course not,� he answered, feigning innocence. �What was her name again?
Ginger Spice or Licorice Spice?�

He
tossed Original Cindy a charming smile, then turned his focus to the
meal tray she had brought him. His arm shook each time he reached for
the spoon. Even with Original Cindy unobtrusively supporting his elbow,
he was using every last bit of energy just to eat.

Once
he�d finished, Original Cindy helped him lie back on the cot. Another
wave of pain washed over his face as he settled against the makeshift
pillow she had fashioned out of a blanket.

�God,
we don�t even have pillows,� Max whispered to herself.

Renfro�s
face quickly flashed before Max�s eyes, her words replaying painfully
in Max�s head.

�This
is all your fault, Max. You did this to him, tangled him in your messed-up
life, dragged him into your war and trapped him in this godforsaken
place. You�re poison, Max. You kill everyone you love.�

Just
as Max was about to leave, Logan saw her. His face instantly lit up
as he caught her eyes, giving her a look of pure joy. Max had seen it
countless times, even after she had nearly killed him with this virus.
And each time, along with the joy, the look included an almost desperate
plea for her not to go.

She
had known she wouldn�t be able to leave if she saw that look again,
so the last time she�d infected him, she�d run away. Max had avoided
him, and then deliberately hurt him, because she knew she couldn�t resist
his eyes. They drew her so powerfully to him, just as they were doing
at that moment.

�Hey,�
she whispered.

�How
long have you been standing there?� he asked with surprise.

�Couple
minutes,� she shrugged as she sat down beside him, a cautious smile
teasing her lips.

�Your
girl makes great soup,� he grinned. �It�ll put hair on your chest, though
I�m not sure Ginger Spice would appreciate that,� he added, looking
toward Original Cindy.

�Name�s
Ginger,� Original Cindy rebutted. As an afterthought, she added, �Though
she is pretty spicy. And on that note, I�m heading back to the mess
hall. Help Ginger feed the troops. Can�t believe how much transgenics
eat, and they all want something different. We ain�t no short-order
restaurant,� she drawled.

Original
Cindy turned to Max, her face softening. �You okay here, boo?� she asked
gently.

�Yeah,�
Max smiled back at her.

�Then
Original Cindy�s going to whip herself up some Ginger dessert!� she
grinned as she took off.

�You
okay?� Logan looked at Max in concern.

�I
should be asking you that,� Max answered.

�I
feel like crap, but I�m happy to know I�m not going to die, at least
not today.� Logan said with typical humor.

�How
can you kid around about this, Logan? I almost got you killed again,�
Max said in frustration. She got up abruptly. �I have to go.�

�Please.
Stay,� Logan asked softly.

Max
was looking into those eyes again, those pleading eyes. She could clearly
see the exhaustion that was overtaking him, but he was fighting it with
all his strength.

�You
don�t need to be afraid anymore, Max. We�ve beaten this thing.�

�We
don�t know that for sure,� she replied wearily.

�I
promise, Max,� Logan mumbled softly as he closed his eyes. �Just hold
on��

Hallway,
Terminal City

Three
hours later, Max walked out of the infirmary. Logan had slept the entire
time. He had barely even stirred. Max hadn�t moved either. Her eyes
had remained fixed on Logan as she counted his every breath. Only with
Aveta�s encouragement was she finally able to pull herself away. She
stretched painfully, trying to release the tension in her body.

The
sound of shattering glass down the hall pierced the clouds of worry
that accompanied her every time she left Logan�s side.

�What
now?� she thought out loud. �Another brawl?� She reluctantly turned
in the direction of the commotion when a voice boomed down the hallway
toward her.

�Soldier,
you are a disgrace to your unit and your nation! How will you explain
this mess?�

Typical
drill sergeant. His voice grated on her nerves. She had heard those
words far too many times in her years at Manticore. Most of the residents
of Terminal City continued to order each other around. They seemed ready
to bow before anyone who wanted to exercise authority over them. It
drove her crazy that they were willing to give up their freedom that
easily.

She
turned the corner to see what looked like a seven- or eight-year-old
child looking down in shame.

�Eyes
front!� the sergeant screamed, his face almost touching the child�s.

The
words triggered a fury in Max. In a split second, she had the sergeant
slammed against a post and her hand shoved into his throat.

�What
the hell are you doing?!� Max screamed at him in rage.

�Ma�am,
the private was careless and caused significant damage to a sensitive
piece of equipment,� the sergeant replied, completely confused. He knew
he was absolutely in the right.

�He�s
not a private, he�s a child! A child!� she exclaimed.

�But,
ma�am�� the sergeant began again, unable to accept that what he had
done was an infraction of any sort.

�I
ever see you treating one of the children like that again, I�ll kill
you,� Max interrupted, with cold fury in her voice. �Make no mistake
about it. Now get out of my face.�

She
shoved the sergeant aside, and then knelt down to talk to the child.
She smiled and her face instantly softened. �Hey. What�s your name?�

�X8-621,
ma�am,� the child replied timidly.

�Haven�t
picked a name yet?�

�No,
ma�am.� The child looked flustered.

�Why
don�t you take a couple of days to decide, and then report back to me
at the Command Center,� she smiled at him.

The
child�s eyes grew huge at the idea of visiting the Command Center.

�Yes,
ma�am!� He saluted sharply and took off at a dead run.

�Hey,
kid!� Max shouted after him, causing him to stop short. �It�s �yes,
Max!��

�Yes,
Max!� he repeated breathlessly and raced off again.

Max
grinned happily, then turned and noticed that Mole had been watching.
Her face fell instantly.

�Why
didn�t you stop this?� She threw the words at him accusingly.

�You�re
not one of us, Max.� Mole replied harshly. �You don�t understand their
need for order, for a command structure to rely upon. You talk about
freedom, Max, as if it�s a simple thing you can just pick up at the
store. But these people have no concept of freedom. Who�s going to teach
them that?�

�I�m
heading back to the Command Center. Just make sure it doesn�t happen
again,� Max challenged Mole.

�Yes,
ma�am!� Mole gave a sarcastic salute just as Max turned to leave.

END
ACT III

>>
ACT
IV