Для чего целесообразно использовать виртуальную машину? Как задать параметры виртуальной машины? Какие ограничения при этом имеют место?

Previously on Dark Angel

 

An Old Logger's Cabin

 

"Get out of here before someone else takes a shot at you," Lydecker growled, his face white with pain. "I told you, you don't have time."

 

"You don't have a choice," Max replied. "I'm saving your ass. I need to know what you know." She bent and positioned herself to pull Lydecker upright onto her back. "Suck it up, 'cause this is gonna hurt."

 

Lydecker gritted his teeth as Max bent over him.

 

Then, another shot rang out.

 

ACT I

 

An Old Logger's Cabin – February 23, 12:30 pm

 

Max and Logan both dropped back down to their knees, and Lydecker stifled a grunt of pain as Max let him slip back to the ground. "Max!" Logan hissed, handing her the gun. "Take this. You're the only one who can take this guy out."

 

Max met Logan's gaze, a steely glint in her eye. "I don't do guns."

 

Logan blew out a frustrated breath, but before he could retort, she was gone in a blur. "Hey!" he hissed, but it was useless. "She might as well paint a bulls-eye on her back," he said, running a hand through his hair.

 

"How long have you known her?" Lydecker asked him.

 

Staying low to the ground, hiding behind the scattered bushes and trees dotting the yard, Max zeroed in on the sniper's new location. He was hiding behind a big oak, turned sideways, the slim barrel of the gun aimed at Lydecker and Logan's position. Finally, she got as close as she could without revealing her own position, so she ran her hand along the ground until she found a medium-sized rock, picked it up, and tossed it in the other direction.

 

It only took the split second that the sniper's attention was diverted for her to sprint up behind him and kick the rifle out of his hands. "You're pretty good," she told him, looking him up and down. "I didn't hear you reestablish position. My excuse is that my friend was hurt. What's yours?"

 

He dove at her and she darted out of his way, then shoved him to the ground. He stood again, and she was ready to drive the final nail in the coffin when suddenly he turned tail and ran for the woods. Max sighed, wanting to go after him, but knowing there were more important considerations. Finally, she turned and headed back to the men waiting for her across the yard.

 

State Capitol Building, Olympia, Washington

 

"As Abraham Lincoln said when our nation was torn by secession and civil war, 'With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.'

 

"It is with these words that I am reminded of what our nation stands for. I am convinced in my heart and my mind that our state, that our people, will not be served by severing from this nation--a nation that should learn from the mistakes of its forebears. Therefore, today I tell you all that I cannot support the vote for the state of Washington to secede. I call on our senators to vote this measure down and to work with me to preserve this nation for the generations to come!"

 

The crowd at the steps of the Capitol erupted into cheers as Governor Savidge finished her speech. She waved to the crowd, and then her security force surrounded her as she returned to her offices in the Capitol. She walked down the hallway and then dismissed the state troopers with her as she opened the door to her office.

 

Stepping into the office, she was immediately embraced by a young woman.

 

"That was amazing, Mom!" her daughter exclaimed.

 

"Thanks," Governor Savidge said, laughing as they stepped apart. "It felt pretty damned good, too!" She turned to the small group of people standing beyond her daughter. "Thank you. Thank you for protecting my daughter this week, thank you to your friend who saved her, and especially thank you for allowing me to finally speak my mind."

 

"You're welcome, ma'am," Asha responded as she gestured to the other members of the S1W standing behind her. "The ACLU may not be the powerhouse it once was, but we're always happy to help enforce the First Amendment."

 

The group laughed.

 

"Seriously, I cannot thank you and Eyes Only enough. Is there anything I can do to help you?" the governor asked again.

 

"Just make sure this secession doesn't pass," responded Asha.

 

There was a knock at the door.

 

"Yes?" the governor asked.

 

A young man opened the door and stepped into the room. "The vote is in, Governor."

 

The group stood silent, waiting.

 

"65 nays...35 yays. Secession has failed."

 

The governor clapped her hand to her mouth in shock.

 

"You did it, Mom!" her daughter cheered as, once again, she hugged her mother.

 

Forest near Lydecker's Camp

 

On the south face of a hill at the edge of camp, one of the X6s who'd been assigned sniper duty lay on his stomach, marking targets as he maintained a constant monologue under his breath.

 

"That's it...come on. Keep moving your slow ass along...yes!" he muttered to the Red in his sights.

 

The Red had just stepped into a clearing in the foliage below. The X6 had a clear shot of the Red's head and he took it. The Red fell hard to the forest floor and the X6 immediately turned his focus on the second Red to near the clearing.

 

"All right...two more steps," he whispered, nearly smiling. "This is almost too easy...come on. I don't have all day."

 

The X6 had become totally focused on the task at hand. He paid no mind to the small shower of dirt that trickled down the rock ledge behind him.

 

"Oh, yeah. There you go. Just a little closer..."

 

The X6 frowned as the Red suddenly stopped, moving no further. Only then did the X6's thoughts seem to catch up with his eyes. A rock had fallen from the ledge on the X6's back, accompanied by a bigger shower of dirt. The X6 realized that he was not alone. He flipped over onto his back just as two Reds leapt down from the ledge above.

 

In the forest, the Red the X6 had last marked as a target snapped back into action. He trotted up to the foot of the hill just as a rifle tumbled down it. The Red inspected the rifle briefly, wiping away a bit of the blood that was smeared on its casing. He looked up to see one of his comrades looking down at him. They exchanged a nod, then he swung the rifle over his shoulder and trudged on.

 

Cale Family Cabin – 1:30 pm

 

Lydecker. Funny, I once thought that if I could get him off my tail then my life would be perfect, but I've saved his life twice now. He was half dead today, but he still thinks we can't survive without him. I could see it in his face. He told me once that his 'kids' don't act in their own best interest. What he doesn't get is that there's more to life than self-interest. But we need him right now as much as he seems to need us. Can't blow him off any more than my family. The enemy of my enemy...?

 

Logan's eyes followed Max as she paced nervously across the floor of the cabin. She stopped to look at Logan, her voice tense.

 

"Something's going down, Logan, and we have no clue what it is."

 

"We'll find out. Lydecker is in good hands," Logan reassured her. He stood up and walked toward her, taking her hand in his.

 

"It could already be too late..." Max frowned, just as the bedroom door opened and Aveta walked out.

 

"He's coming around, Max," Aveta smiled. "The combination of blood loss and hypothermia almost killed him, but he's stable now. He's asking for you..."

 

Max quickly strode into the bedroom, not even waiting for Aveta to finish.

 

"I think we both know you're out of the fight, so you'd better give me the goods, Deck, straight up."

 

"Zack and the others need your help," Lydecker said simply.

 

"Why?" Max blurted out, instantly on alert.

 

"A platoon of Reds has been deployed to take them out."

 

"Give me the coordinates," Max snapped.

 

"122°20' W, 47°40' N."

 

Max started running toward the door.

 

"You're going to lose, Max," Lydecker said softly, stopping her in her tracks.

 

"Don't count on it," Max said, turning around warily.

 

"I designed and trained you kids to be the best. But the South Africans have an advantage that can't be overcome on the battlefront. You need to level the playing field first."

 

"How?" Max asked, taking a step back into the room.

 

Windowless Room, Undisclosed Location

 

"McKenzie! How the hell did Eyes Only get to the Governor?" Harriet Short shouted as she walked into the warehouse. She didn't even look at the dead man still tied to a chair in a corner of the room.

 

"Calm down, Harriet," McKenzie responded, his voice even. "This is a minor issue and you know it."

 

Harriet sighed. "That's true. How many people do we have planted?"

 

"Enough to have Seattle up in arms within a couple of hours. The capital will quickly follow their lead, governor or no governor."

 

"Ah, nothing like a spontaneous grassroots uprising to legitimize an unexpected secession." Harriet smiled, then nodded toward the man in the chair. "Did you learn anything new?"

 

"That one was a throwaway," McKenzie shrugged, "but Rex has someone picking up another. Much better quality. We'll take Eyes Only out once and for all."

 

"Good. I've sent out a team to take care of Martin, and Matthew checked in. His operation against Lydecker's camp has commenced."

 

"Excellent," McKenzie smiled smugly. "It appears we are on schedule."

 

Cale Family Cabin

 

"How can I stop the Reds?" Max asked Lydecker again, impatient.

 

"As you remember, the implant in their head is the reason they don't feel pain. It's what gives them the strength to be able to take on a transgenic," he began.

 

"Yeah, I know all that. I've got one in my head too, remember?" She crossed her arms. "So how do I stop them?"

 

"How did you disarm the one in your head?" Lydecker asked, pale eyes shrewd as he watched her. "With an electric pulse, unless I'm mistaken."

 

"That's right," Logan agreed, frowning with confusion. "We used a defibrillator and shocked her until the implant short-circuited."

 

"But we can't exactly defibrillate every single Red we come across," Max protested. "There's gotta be another way."

 

"You're going to need an electric pulse to stop the Reds," Lydecker told her. "You're right. Shock paddles aren't a practical way of transmitting that pulse on a grand scale, but if you were to get your hands on something...bigger, then you could stop all of them."

 

"Something like an e-bomb?" Logan asked with sudden understanding. "Or a bomb like the one terrorists used back in '09?"

 

"Exactly," Lydecker confirmed.

 

Max laughed shortly. "You mean we've got to have another Pulse to stop the Reds?"

 

"It doesn't have to be that big." Lydecker shook his head. "Besides, bombs that size don't exist anymore. Not in the U.S., anyway. What we need is something smaller, easier to lay our hands on."

 

"Let me guess, you know where one of these is?" Max asked, hopeful.

 

"I've found it helpful to know this kind of information in the past. There's a lab in Bellingham where you should be able to find something adequate," Lydecker told her. "It'll take about an hour to get there, so we'd better leave now."

 

Max raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'we'? You're staying put. Write down directions, and Logan and I'll be out of here ASAP."

 

"Do you honestly think I'm going to stay here while my people are fighting for their lives?" Lydecker demanded angrily. "Zack's a good commander, but he's never fought this kind of battle before. I have to go."

 

"Look, I appreciate that all of a sudden you care whether we live or die, but you're not going to be able to help anyone like this," she gestured toward him. "You're too hurt to help, no matter what you think." Lydecker started to protest, and Max shook her head. "You'd just be a burden, that's the bottom line."

 

Logan cleared his throat. "You're welcome to stay here with Aveta. She'll be able to take care of you, and you should be able to reach us on the cell."

 

Lydecker frowned as though he would say something, but then shook his head and stared directly at Logan. "Watch your back. They're after you."

 

"Who?" Max asked.

 

"Kathryn Birman and the Committee."

 

"The psycho bitch?" Max cut in.

 

Lydecker nodded, still looking at Logan. "Your vehicle was at the park. It won't be long before they put two and two together, if they haven't already. They want to take Eyes Only out once and for all."

 

Max turned to stare at Logan with wide eyes. Logan just nodded thoughtfully.

 

"So why do they care so much?" Max asked.

 

"The Committee. They're the power behind Manticore, but that's not all they've got their hands in. Eyes Only has been messing up their plans. They've got a lot invested in this civil war. They may not have started it, but they've been pushing it along. It's going to take everything we've got to stop them. So get out a pen. I'll tell you how to get to the lab."

 

Lydecker's Camp

 

(Max) Zack is one of Manticore's biggest successes – and one of its biggest failures. Kinda strange how the feelings they tried to suppress in him, the caring about others, made him embrace the GI Joe-ness that we all ran so hard to get away from. Good thing, though, in a selfish way – the rest of us wouldn't have lasted a month without Zack watching out for us everywhere we went. Anyway, I'm glad we're all back together, even though it took more than ten years and another apocalypse for it to happen. This time, I won't let them just ride off into the sunset.

 

Zack stared out the door of the tent that now served as his command center, arms folded across his chest, at the clear afternoon sky and the soldiers gathering into units beneath it. It was the calm before the storm. The only sounds that filled the camp were of the soldiers' preparations and their unit leaders' voices as they debriefed their designated troops. The air was thick with tension, anticipation, and the smoke that still rose from the smoldering remains of the old command building and ammunition dump.

 

Jondy saw Zack's eyes turn in that direction and looked over her shoulder to follow his gaze. In a lowered tone of voice she asked, "So...what do you think?"

 

Zane was debriefing the extra snipers they'd put into position around the perimeter. The other higher-ranking officers were each engaged in separate tasks or conversations, and Zack spared a glance in their direction. "You were in the meeting. The loss of the ammo dump will affect our chances of deflecting the Reds."

 

"There's a difference between what a commander will tell his troops about their odds in the face of a potentially losing battle, and what he might believe to be true himself," Jondy said seriously.

 

"You know what our supply status is," Zack said, speaking as quietly as she had before. His eyes told her more than his words. She stared back, unblinking, and nodded. There was that pause again. "We don't have enough for a long, multi-level engagement. Best-case scenario? I'd say we could hold them off for five hours. Maybe six, under normal combat circumstances."

 

Jondy had obviously been expecting bad news when she'd asked Zack to confide in her, but even still she swallowed when she heard what he had to say. "We both know that the Reds do not represent anything resembling normal combat circumstances."

 

He gave her what might have been a small smile, if it had reached his eyes.

 

"But...we kicked their ass once, right?" he said, attempting a rare levity. "And we did it on their turf. Just six of us. There's a lot more than six soldiers out there. Of course, there are undoubtedly a lot more Reds, too," Zack added with an ironic smile.

 

Jondy tried to smile. She'd unconsciously begun to move closer to Zack, and only when they were nearly touching did the corners of her mouth turn up on their own.

 

"I wanted to thank you," she said suddenly, to break the heavy silence that had fallen between them. Zack raised a brow. Jondy continued, "For letting me stay and fight."

 

Zack frowned. "You were right. I have been shutting you out of missions. I don't blame you for getting pissed at me."

 

"Nah," she smiled again. "I wasn't really pissed at you. I mean, I was, but...I guess, mostly..." Then her smile faded away. She looked up at Zack and their eyes caught as they both waited for what she was trying to say. They became aware of how close they were suddenly standing to one another, and the way that neither of them, not even Zack, was pulling away. "I guess I was worried," Jondy managed finally.

 

Zack was surprised. "Worried?"

 

"Do you trust me, Zack?"

 

His answer was immediate and fierce. "Of course," he said. He almost sounded offended that she would ask him that question.

 

Jondy's expression softened as she shrugged. "You always seemed to before. I just wanted to know why that's changed."

 

She held her breath as she waited for what Zack would say next. He smiled at her for the second time that night, this time with a tenderness she'd never seen before.

 

"That's not what's changed," he said. She almost didn't hear him.

 

Zack's radio crackled to life with several urgent voices announcing, "Enemy approaching! Enemy approaching!"

 

Near City Hall

 

(Max) Alec's a lot like me...that's why everything he does pisses me off. Every time he opens his mouth, he reminds me of me...before I cared. Before I knew what was really important. Don't know why I thought Alec wouldn't figure it out like I did. I mean, he already had a taste of it with Rachel. And he was there for me the night I told him about Ben. I wanted to be with Logan that night, but I couldn't be, and somehow Alec understood. And even though sometimes I wanted to strangle him, he stayed and fought with us in Terminal City when he could've taken off for Siberia or wherever. I'd choke before I'd admit it to anyone, but sometimes, I think Alec's even stronger than me...'cause I got out, and he didn't.

 

Alec skirted the angry mob that had grown in front of City Hall. Signs calling for secession were scattered throughout the crowd. People had begun to loot, and the sector police weren't going to be able to keep the crowd at bay much longer. He glanced down the street, then reached in his pocket and pulled out his phone.

 

"Where are you, Max?" he asked as he listened to Logan's voice on the answering machine again. "It's Alec...again...well, I got the Joshua situation taken care of. He's back at the Community Center and I'm...well, I'm looking for you. Call me."

 

He snapped the phone closed and stuck it back in his pocket as someone grabbed the back of his jacket.

 

"What the hell..." he exclaimed as he twisted back to face his attacker.

 

"Relax," Asha said, gesturing for him to follow her onto the side street.

 

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "This is not a place for a nice girl like you to be hanging out."

 

"Nice girl," she snorted. "We just got in from Olympia. Didn't think we'd make it - Tacoma was a nightmare. They've lost total control down there."

 

"Everything go okay?"

 

"Delivered your package to the governor safe and sound," Asha answered as she moved closer to the building. The mob raged in the background as they tried to talk. There was a large boom, and they looked up to see a sector police car catch on fire.

 

"I thought she sounded good on TV, almost like she believed it," Alec replied.

 

Asha shrugged. "It was a mutually beneficial situation. We saved the daughter, she was free to speak her mind."

 

"Too bad those fools down there weren't listening to her," Alec replied, jerking his thumb toward the protesters. "We should get out of here before things get totally out of hand."

 

As Alec and Asha turned to head down the street, an angry mob of about fifty protesters, some carrying guns, others armed with sticks, rounded the corner and moved toward them, effectively trapping them between the mob and the protesters at City Hall.

 

"Any great Manticore ideas?" Asha asked as the crowd got closer.

 

"Ideas, yeah...thinking on your feet, very important," Alec responded.

 

"Think now!" Asha shouted in response.

 

Alec pulled her down to the alley where his motorcycle sat hidden under a pile of cardboard.

 

"You going to jump the shark?" Asha asked.

 

Alec looked at her quizzically.

 

"Never mind, I'll tell you later when we don't have a grenade launcher within fifty feet of us," Asha responded as she climbed on the back of Alec's bike.

 

Revving the motor, Alec raced down the alley. He pulled out onto the street, where the second mob was now ten feet away. He headed the bike toward City Hall, then turned back and raced toward the crowd. Driving the bike up the back of an elevated sidewalk, he pulled back on the handlebars.

 

"Hold on!" he shouted to Asha as she tightened her grip around his waist.

 

He pressed down on the gas and the bike took off, launching them over the mob. They bounced hard as they hit the ground, the bike skidding as it crossed the street and slid up onto the sidewalk. Finally, the bike came to a rest next to the wall of a drugstore facing the street.

 

"You okay?" Alec asked as he pulled himself from the bike.

 

Asha stood up gingerly, looking at a scrape on her arm. "Nothing major, but..." Asha's voice trailed off as she pointed down the street.

 

Alec turned to see where she was pointing. "Oh, man," he replied. "You got a weapon on you?"

 

Asha pulled a handgun from under her shirt. "These days, I don't leave home without it." She reached into her backpack and pulled out a two-way radio. "This is Asha. Come in."

 

The radio crackled as the voice of an S1W member came over the radio. "Copy, go ahead."

 

"We're about to be pinned down two blocks north and a block east of City Hall, corner of Marion and 6th."

 

"Roger," came the answer.

 

Asha looked at Alec and shrugged. "Well, I guess we'd better take cover and hope they come."

 

Lydecker's Camp

 

The soldiers that had been assembling within the perimeter fell into line as the first alert began to sound. Sporadic gunfire had broken out and could be heard in the distance above their voices. One X5 addressed his soldiers in the way each of the unit leaders was doing throughout the camp.

 

"Okay, people, this is it," he told them. "Remember your training. The Red Series are not superior. They're not even remotely faster. They're stronger, but their strength is also their weakness. They rely entirely upon their implants, located right at the base of the skull. You disable the implant, you disable the Red. So hit 'em where it hurts; aim to kill. Go for the head or the heart. Hand-to-hand is a last resort."

 

Troops acknowledged their leader's words with the appropriate responses. Some of the younger soldiers looked distinctly queasy, but nonetheless determined to prove that all their training hadn't been in vain.

 

***

 

Zack stood outside Command, barking out orders. "This is not a drill! Teams Alpha and Echo take up positions. I repeat, this is not a drill."

 

For a moment, his eyes caught Jondy's where she stood as leader of Bravo team. Then he turned to address the rest of the troops. "Move out!"

 

"All teams, I need your reports. I need them now, and I need them every thirty minutes from now..."

 

"Delta team, reinforce sniper positions! Head and heart shots only, people! Body shots won't stop them."

 

"Echo team reporting," came an intense voice over Zack's radio. "Zone 1 is under attack. We're losing ground, sir. There are too many of them. Awaiting reinforcement."

 

"Charlie Team," Zack barked into his handheld.

 

"Affirmative!" came Zane's response.

 

"Reinforce Echo team on the western perimeter! Victor and Sierra teams report to Command."

 

Zack stood still for a moment, contemplating his next orders. Then his face hardened as he came to a decision.

 

"Tango team, you're with me." He raised his handheld again and spoke into it, "Zulu team, report to Command. Now!"

 

Teams Victor and Sierra reached Command and fell into line in front of their CO.

 

"Okay," Zack said. "Here's how it's going to go down. Either we'll hold the Reds where they stand, or we won't. Sierra team, I want you to take up positions at the eastern perimeter. If you don't have the ammo, then find it. If you have the shot, take it, but wait until you can make it count. Don't waste ammo we don't have. Go now!"

 

Sierra team saluted and hurried to comply.

 

"Victor team, head to the south perimeter," Zack continued. "Do not engage unless they leave no alternative. Flank them and close in. I want them cut off. I want them boxed in. I don't want them coming out until we carry them out. Understood?"

 

"Understood, sir!" the troops replied. At Zack's gesture, they headed off as ordered. Zack looked down at his watch, realizing that the last of their reserves had been dispatched only twenty minutes into battle.

 

At the same time seven older, heavily armored troops approached. Some were splashed with blood and some were carrying weapons that they had taken from the dead.

 

"Zulu team here, sir," said the lieutenant in charge of their unit.

 

"We have a situation that needs your team's experience. You will move out of the immediate arena and around the east mountain. You will locate and infiltrate the enemy encampment. They took Krit when they hit our ammo dump. Syl is currently in solitary pursuit. Your mission is to assist her in recovering him."

 

Something flickered in Zack's eyes as he spoke this last sentence, and if the soldiers assembled before him objected to being sent away from a critical battle for the purpose of rescuing a single soldier, they did not show it. Zulu team's leader drew himself up and saluted.

 

"Understood?" Zack asked.

 

"Perfectly, sir."

 

"Move out."

 

Interstate 5

 

"Feels weird, doesn't it?"

 

As they drove farther away from the cabin, Logan drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. He seemed to be trying very hard not to peek in the rearview mirror at Max, who was sitting in the back seat, changing into one of her tight, black catsuits. As Logan caught sight of one of her naked shoulders, he whipped his eyes back to the road.

 

A moment later, he glanced in the mirror again to see that Max was grinning at him, one eyebrow raised. Logan's face reddened and he cleared his throat. Max went back to lacing up her boots.

 

"What's that?" Logan asked finally, in response to Max's question.

 

"Going after this little electromagnetic pulse thingy," she clarified. "I mean, ever since someone set off the Pulse, you've been busting your ass taking down the guys who've been profiting from it. Now you're helping me trigger one. Talk about ironic."

 

Logan smiled. "That it is. But I don't think this is quite the same thing. We're talking about setting off a slightly smaller scale electromagnetic pulse thingy than the one that hit in '09."

 

"Slightly? As in...?"

 

"As in civilization, such as it is, will still be here when we're done."

 

"But the Reds won't be."

 

"Exactly."

 

"Ah."

 

Max had finished changing and climbed into the front passenger seat. She'd left the front of her suit unfastened, and when she caught Logan trying to catch a peek again, she laughed. With a smirk, she reached over and turned his face back to the road, then zipped up.

 

"All of which depends on your getting us there in one piece," she teased. Logan put on an innocent face.

 

"I'll have you know I am an excellent driver. Even when I'm...distracted."

 

"Which is why you've had to patch this thing back together nearly twelve times?" Max asked sweetly, patting the SUV's console. Logan gave her a glare, but the corners of his mouth were twitching.

 

"Bullet holes aren't the result of bad driving, Max," he told her. "Bad aim, maybe," he added. He glanced at Max through the corner of his eye, and when he saw her still grinning, they both laughed. It was a good moment before Max returned to being as somber as she had been when they'd first left the cabin. She looked at Logan, this time with a serious and troubled expression on her face.

 

"Thanks," she said.

 

Logan didn't seem to know what she meant, but he laid a gentle hand on her knee.

 

"For what, Max?"

 

"For taking my mind off, well, everything. If just for a minute."

 

Logan squeezed her knee.

 

"That's all you need, Max. Just to relax for now. Focus on the heist. We'll have the pulse device and be in Zack's camp in no time. We won't let anything happen to him or the others. You'll see."

 

Max looked as unconvinced as he did, but she nodded her head, hoping.

 

"Yeah. We'll see," she mumbled.

 

Community Services Center, Sector 5

 

(Max) A return trip to Manticore wasn't exactly something I wished on a star for – in fact, I probably would have sold my soul – or maybe even my bike – if somebody'd told me that would make things turn out differently. But I guess if it had to happen, might as well get something good out of it...and Joshua wins the prize in that category. Hope springs eternal – even with all that canine DNA, he's got all the humanity that Manticore tried to beat out of us. He lived his entire life in a basement, not knowing if he'd ever be free...maybe not even knowing what free was. And now he's teaching it to anyone who will listen. I've become his sister, his friend, his commanding officer...and he's become my hero.

 

Joshua walked in the door of the Community Center, only to have half a dozen small children throw themselves at him enthusiastically. Joshua patted them on the back happily, letting out a pleased guffaw.

 

"We thought you were gone forever!" Johnny exclaimed. "I finished my math work," he added with the same breath, giving Joshua a proud grin.

 

"Good work, Johnny," Joshua smiled down on him with another laugh.

 

"How did you get back?" one of the adults asked with concern.

 

"My friend helped me," Joshua smiled. "Alec. A good friend. But Seattle has a big problem. We have to prepare..." Joshua began, then stopped suddenly. He cocked his head slightly, as if listening to something.

 

"They're coming," he said, letting out a small whine.

 

"Who's coming?" asked Pete, confused.

 

"Soldiers, rioters. One block away. Quickly, go down to the basement," Joshua replied, hurriedly ushering the group down the basement stairs. He led them through the door at the foot of the stairs and into the back corner of the basement.

 

"I'll be right back. Pete, lock the door behind me. Joe, unlock the back window. I'll be coming back through there. Everyone else, stay away from door and windows. It's not safe," he said, then ran back the way he had come, followed closely by Pete. When he heard the click of the lock behind him, he quickly bounded up the stairs. He looked around thoughtfully for a moment, then picked up some old desks and chairs and tossed them down the stairwell, blocking access to the door. He ran to the back of the room, opened a window and easily jumped the twelve feet to the ground. He pulled open the window, which Joe had unlocked, and climbed quickly into the gloom of the basement, closing and locking the window behind him.

 

***

 

"Free Washington!" a riotous mob shouted as they flooded the street outside the Community Center. They were dressed in a combination of street grunge and army surplus clothing. A few brandished weapons, but most carried only an assortment of sticks, baseball bats, and rocks. Four of the rioters broke off from the mob and walked purposefully across the basketball court and into the Community Center. They looked around for a moment, then fanned out into the empty room. A female pulled out a handheld radio and spoke into it.

 

"Colonel Smith reporting. Over. Yes, sir. We've commenced reconnaissance of the Community Center in Sector 5. Proceeding to establish base of operations."

 

"Colonel," one of the soldiers returned to report. "Offices on this floor are all empty. There's a stairwell leading to the basement, but it looks like it hasn't been used in a while. There's a bunch of junk tossed down the stairs. Should I check it out?"

 

 

"Don't bother. It's a church community center. I doubt they're keeping an arsenal down there."

 

"Thanks, I wasn't looking forward to dragging all that crap up those stairs," the soldier smiled.

 

***

 

Joshua made his way quietly in the dark of the basement as he approached the small group standing quietly in the corner. The children huddled close together at the back of the group while the adults stood in front, armed with brooms, baseball bats, and anything they could find that they could conceivably use to defend themselves.

 

"Is everyone okay?" Joshua whispered with concern as the group listened nervously to the footsteps over their heads.

 

Several worry-filled faces nodded reluctantly.

 

"We'll be okay," Pete answered, then looked around in confusion. "Where's Johnny?"

 

ACT II

 

Forest East of Lydecker's Camp – 3 pm

 

Syl darted swiftly and silently among the trees and underbrush as she made her way steadily toward the east mountain. After a few paces, she flattened herself against a tree and scanned the foliage and forest floor around her, noting where the vegetation had been disturbed. She was about to continue her course when she heard the faint sound of a twig being snapped underfoot several yards behind her.

 

She froze, listening intently for a moment. Then she ducked down into the undergrowth and doubled back in the direction she had come, quietly creeping along the forest floor. When she saw movement through the trees, she stopped in her tracks, holding her breath. Several people were coming toward her and they weren't being very quiet about it. As they came into view, however, she allowed herself a small exhalation of relief. A look of irritation creased her brow. She waited until they were almost on top of her, then leapt up and grabbed the leader in a headlock.

 

"Sloppy, soldier," she hissed in his ear. "Did big brother send you to watch over me?"

 

The other soldiers, at first not realizing who she was, all raised their guns at her. She let go of their leader and he stumbled away from her, swearing. They all sagged in relief.

 

"He sent us to assist you," Zulu leader said.

 

"Fine then, assist me," she snapped. "But quietly this time, or did you sleep through Stealth 101?"

 

Military Science Facility

 

Logan pulled to a stop between a thicket of bushes and a high fence with barbed wire strung along its length. The grass and pavement were wet, as if rain had recently fallen in the area, and they both peered through the mist at the massive concrete building just inside the perimeter of the complex. "I don't have any info on security or anything else at this place. For all we know it could be a candy factory," he said ruefully, turning to Max.

 

She shrugged indifferently. "At least we'd get some Snickers out of the deal," she replied.

 

"Take this," he said, dialing a number on his cell phone and handing it to her. "I have a spare in the glove compartment." As he said that, a shrill ring echoed from that direction. "Not exactly comms, but it'll have to do."

 

He leaned over her to open the glove compartment, and she giggled. "What?'' he asked, straightening back up with cell phone in hand, pressing a button to silence it and setting it on the dashboard.

 

"Just thinking about another time you leaned over me, and I almost...never mind."

 

"We keeping secrets again?" Logan asked.

 

Max rolled her eyes, sighing. "That time when I was in heat, and the windows were all fogged up?" Logan nodded. "When you leaned over me, looking for your cell, you were about two seconds away from being eaten alive."

 

They both smiled, and Logan reached a hand up to gently cup her chin. "You coulda just told me, you know," he said softly, then sighed. "And I coulda told you how I was feeling. How...how I knew exactly where my cell phone was, and just leaned over so I could torture myself a little more."

 

They smiled at each other, and Logan leaned forward to kiss her gently. "I wouldn't mind being a main course right about now," he said, and they kissed again, "but first I guess we gotta go save the world."

 

"Guess so," Max agreed, and pulled away. She stuck the cell phone in a pocket and stepped out of the Aztek. "I know...I'll be careful," she told him.

 

She scanned the fence, looking for any trip wires or electrification. When she saw only barbed wire, she took a running leap and soared over the 7-foot fence, landing softly on the other side. She scanned the perimeter again for guards and then made a dash to the building. It took until she had located a window and hopped up on some crates to get in for a guard to come up behind her and say, "Freeze!"

 

Max turned around slowly. "What's wrong, officer?"

 

"You're on government property, in a restricted area," the overweight security guard replied, but his stance relaxed somewhat.

 

"Am I?" she asked, slowly climbing down to the ground. "I was just...my car broke down, and this is the first place I've come across. Can I use a phone?"

 

"Sure," the guard replied, fully at ease. As he tucked his gun back in the holster, Max rolled her eyes at his stupidity. The moment he looked back up, though, her face was blank again.

 

"So, what is this place?" Max asked as he led her inside. "Do you give tours?"

 

"Like I said, it's a restricted area," the guard said, his wary tone returning. "The phone's right in here—"

 

Max stepped in behind him and put one hand on his gun, still in its holster, and the other arm around his neck. He immediately tried to pry her arm away, but it was useless. "Turns out I don't really need the phone. What I do need is to know exactly what kind of security get-up is running this place. I need details, or I'm going to have to kill you."

 

He choked out the stats on how many guards were stationed around the facility, and it was clear as Max lifted her eyebrows and one corner of her mouth that she was pleased by the answer. "If you're lying, I'm screwed...but then so are you," she told him. "Next order of business is this little contraption that causes an electromagnetic pulse...take me to it."

 

***

 

Logan looked at his watch for the hundredth time, then looked up to see Max sprinting across the hardtop. She leapt easily over the fence, and he started the engine and put the car in gear while she ran to the passenger side and got in. Logan realized belatedly that despite her effortless flight, she was carrying a squat, rectangular metal briefcase, which she held up briefly in triumph before setting it gently in the backseat.

 

"Guess it's not a candy factory after all," Logan remarked as they drove away. "Any trouble?"

 

"Just enough to keep it interesting. I don't think there'll be any permanent damage, though," Max said, and then smiled as he glanced over at her with an eyebrow raised.

 

Her face turned serious in the next instant. "Get us there fast, Logan. For all we know, Zack and the others are already dead," she said, staring out the window.

 

Within the perimeter of Lydecker's Camp

 

"Fall back!" X5-109 shouted. "Fall back!"

 

The battleground around her was a study in chaos. The reinforcements were nowhere near retaking Zone 1. In fact, they were very quickly losing control of Zone 2. Bullets flew from every direction as each Red was fired upon by several transgenics at once. Regardless, they plowed through the mass of soldiers as if they were barely being met with resistance.

 

Next to X5-109 a Red stumbled forward, the right side of his face completely gone. Even ravaged as he was, the Red pushed on, reaching to retrieve the weapons of the transgenics he'd managed to take down. X5-109 planted an elbow between the Red's shoulder blades, knocking him flat on his face, then grabbed the knife strapped to her ankle and plunged it into the back of his neck. The Red's body began to convulse as she dug at the base of his skull for the implant. By the time she had removed it, the Red lay lifeless on the ground. X5-109 pocketed the implant and began to rise.

 

She was immediately dropped back to her knees by a swift kick from behind. Two Reds had advanced on her position as she'd been disabling their comrade.

 

"Zone 2 is lost! I repeat, Zone 2 is lost!" Zane's voice could be heard shouting in the near distance.

 

It was the last thing she heard.

 

Sector 3

 

Buildings were burning, and the sound of gunshots echoed through the air.

 

Original Cindy crossed her arms for warmth and glanced back over her shoulder. She kept her back to the building behind her and crept along quietly, not wanting to catch the attention of any of the people in the street who were engaged in combat. A group of uniformed soldiers had shown up about an hour earlier and had escalated the violence by organizing the rioting secessionists. Sketchy mimicked her behavior, moving as quietly as he could.

 

The violence swept up and down the street. Windows were broken and a car caught fire near Original Cindy and Sketchy, startling them into a run.

 

"Great shortcut," Sketchy panted. "Real far away from the heart of the fighting and all."

 

"We're near Joshua's," Original Cindy noted, ignoring Sketchy's dig. "We should go there and lay low. You know, until this whole riotin' in the streets thing gets figured out."

 

"You mean until there's all-out war," Sketchy muttered, but followed her. "Call me crazy, but I think things are getting out of hand with soldiers showing up."

 

They hurried to Joshua's house and gratefully slipped into the shelter it provided. The sound of their footsteps brought Gem out from the kitchen, Elfie balanced on her hip.

 

"Hey, what are you guys doing here?" she asked, surprised. "Are you two okay?"

 

"Just had a brush with a riot," Original Cindy responded, pushing hair away from her eyes and sagging tiredly into the closest chair. "And that is not Original Cindy's idea of a good afternoon."

 

"Yeah, I've definitely had better days," Sketchy agreed, looking shell-shocked. "Civil unrest is kinda hard on a guy. I think it causes ulcers or something."

 

Gem looked out the window, frowning. "I've been here with Elfie all day, trying to lay low. I don't know much about what's going on out there."

 

"Seems like some people just ain't satisfied with the vote against secession, sugah," Original Cindy said with a shrug. "Got their minds dead set on bein' 'Free Washington' or somethin' like that."

 

"If this is 'Free Washington', I like it better the other way," Sketchy contributed. "Less...war, and all."

 

"Where's the big guy?" Original Cindy asked, looking around. "We figured he and Alec'd be here just chillin'."

 

Gem's frown deepened. "I haven't seen Joshua since this morning. I hope he's not..." her voice trailed off and she cleared her throat. "I'm sure he's okay. I just hope he doesn't get caught up in all that."

 

"Huh, you mean he hasn't been here since all this started?" Original Cindy gestured toward the window. "That ain't like him. You'd think he'd be here protectin' his family and all."

 

"Well, we haven't seen him all day," Gem said, her voice betraying the depth of her worry. "I'd like to know where he is. If he's okay."

 

"Maybe Alec'd know?" Sketchy suggested.

 

"I should have thought of that before," Gem agreed, handing Elfie to Original Cindy. "Can you take her? I'll give Alec a call and see."

 

"Sure, sugah," she replied, playing with the baby. "I always got time for my best girl, don't I, little one?"

 

Gem dialed Alec's number from memory, mouth bracketed by worry lines as it rang. "Alec?...What was that noise?...You're where?!...And Joshua...is he? Oh...oh, okay...I – Alec? Alec? Dammit!" she said in frustration, slamming the phone down.

 

"What?" Sketchy asked. "That didn't sound too positive."

 

"Alec's in the middle of it, fighting with Asha against the 'freedom fighters' right outside City Hall," Gem told them, running a hand through her short hair. "Joshua's at the Community Center, and I don't know what's going on there. It doesn't sound like Alec's doing too well. I need to get out there. I can't just hide in here..."

 

"Listen up, boo, you got the little one to worry about," Original Cindy said with a pointed glance at Elfie. "You have got to stay here."

 

"You're right; I'm just frustrated. It's like there's no way for me to help. He needs people in the field. People who know what they're doing...Wait a second," Gem said, eyes lighting up. "Alec needs reinforcements. Who better to act as reinforcements than the people out in Terminal City?"

 

"You still in touch with them?" Original Cindy asked, surprised.

 

"Yeah, kind of," Gem responded, dialing another number. "I'll give them a call, tell them what's going on...Alec was always popular. I'm sure they'll go help him."

 

"They'll need help finding their way from Terminal City to City Hall," Sketchy observed. "I mean, it's not exactly like they've been there too often, is it?"

 

"You're right," Gem agreed, frowning again. "I can't take Elfie, but –"

 

"Hold up, sugah," Original Cindy said, grinning. "Nobody knows the streets of Seattle like the Jam Pony crew. Why don't we get on the horn to our peeps and see if we can't get some bike messengers to act as guides? They'll get your folk to City Hall faster'n a heartbeat."

 

Gem returned her grin. "This could work, maybe."

 

"It's going to, boo, and ain't no maybe about it."

 

Valley North of Lydecker's Camp

 

The Aztek bumped along an old logging road as it slowly came to a stop.

 

"This is as close as we get," Logan said while putting the car in park and pulling out his laptop. In a moment, he had the laptop fired up with a topographical map on its screen.

 

"The camp is two miles due south in the valley over that ridge," he added, pointing to the mountain in front of them. Max peered out the windshield, staring thoughtfully at the mountain.

 

Logan continued to punch keys on his keyboard, bringing up a frequency scanner. After several moments of static, a voice broke through strongly. "Charlie and Delta teams report," it commanded.

 

"Zack!" Max said, instantly on alert.

 

"I'll keep you apprised of their situation," Logan said reassuringly.

 

Max took it wordlessly, her eyes soft and moist.

 

"How long will it take you to climb to the other side?" Logan asked gently.

 

"If I don't run into any little Red friends, ten minutes."

 

"I'll be listening in on their communications. Steer you clear of the fighting. Oughta make your life a little easier."

 

"Thanks." She stepped out of the car, then turned to look at Logan. "Will you be okay?"

 

"The device only has a range of a few square miles and you will be triggering it in a valley. The waves won't make it over the mountains. My gear will be fine. Besides, this thing survived '09," Logan smiled, tapping the exoskeleton with his knuckles. "I'll be okay."

 

Max reached into the back seat and pulled out the briefcase and a backpack. She transferred the contents of the briefcase into the backpack, then slipped it onto her back. She took a few steps away, then came back, reached through Logan's window and pulled him into a kiss that took his breath away. The worry creasing his forehead couldn't quite erase the smile on his face as he watched her disappear into the forest.

 

Lydecker's Camp

 

All around the perimeter of the camp, teams were falling back and struggling to regain ground as the Reds steadily encroached upon their territory. The soldiers were shooting when they could, but as more Reds approached and more transgenics fell, hand-to-hand combat became more and more necessary. The Reds were simply too persistent. The sniper fire that had covered the soldiers at the frontlines of the assault had ominously ceased.

 

"On the left!" Zack shouted. "Move! Move! Move!" Two soldiers approached, hauling a large stack of crates between them. They were building stationary barricades around Command. Teams from every location within the main arena of the battle were radioing in with casualty reports and cries of distress. They'd lost contact with all of the sniper teams.

 

Zack paused in the middle of his command as a unit of soldiers approached, carrying the wounded on their backs and shoulders. He rushed toward them when he recognized Jondy leaning on an X6. He strode quickly toward her, relieving the X6 and gently easing her to the ground.

 

Jondy smiled, then winced as the cut above her lip reopened. Zack looked down to see that his hand was covered in blood.

 

"Medic!" Zack shouted.

 

He began assessing her injuries, noting one bullet wound in her shoulder and several broken ribs.

 

"Teams Alpha and Bravo are gone, Zack. This is all that's left of them," Jondy said softly, referring to the group of soldiers that had retreated to Command with her.

 

Zack swore. "Zane?" he asked.

 

She hissed through clenched teeth as Zack found a particularly tender spot on her abdomen. "I don't know," she gasped out. He was about to yell for the medic again when the young soldier appeared.

 

"Take care of her!" Zack ordered, not even looking up. He gripped Jondy's hand as the medic began rifling through his supplies. "Jondy!"

 

Jondy's eyes had begun to roll back. Zack touched her face as she finally lost consciousness.

 

"We need a chest tube here. She's losing pressure and there's a decrease in her breath sounds on the right," the medic called out.

 

Zack had turned away, unable to watch as they continued to work on Jondy, when a hand suddenly appeared on his shoulder.

 

Zack blurred as he rose to his feet and swung at whoever had approached him from behind. The X5 caught Zack's fist before it could connect with his jaw, although the power Zack had put behind the punch nearly knocked him to the ground.

 

Zack immediately snapped out of the rage that had overcome him when he saw who was standing in front of him.

 

"Zane!"

 

"Happy to see me, big brother?" Zane grinned, the white of his teeth standing out in his bloodied, muddied face. Then he flexed the fingers of the hand he'd used to block Zack's punch and his grin turned into a smirk. "I think I like it better when I've pissed you off."

 

Zack allowed himself a brief smile before snapping back into action.

 

"What's Echo team's status?"

 

"Not good. We've got a lot of casualties, including X5-109. I took command of the unit and moved them back from the edge of the western perimeter. Charlie team is still there, but they're down to hand-to-hand combat. We're not going to be able to hold them off for long."

 

Zack looked down at Jondy, who was now under the care of two medics, then to the rest of the wounded. His gaze moved on to the distance, where the sounds of battle continued, and finally settled back on the group in front of him.

 

"Maybe not...but we're not going down without a fight," he said grimly.

 

Within the Perimeter of Lydecker's Camp

 

"Okay, people." X5-939's voice was rough with pain and exertion. A handful of soldiers huddled with him at the base of a slope in the camp's terrain, leaning in so they could hear the X5 as he spoke to them. Each of the soldiers was dirty and bloody, some suffering from serious wounds. An X6 on the right of the group's honorary unit leader was gasping weakly with every breath. X5-939 avoided making eye contact with the boy, knowing the young soldier would not be returning to battle. Another X6 had been shot in both legs, but still clutched his rifle to him as if he had every intention of crawling back into battle. A female X6 had lost the use of one arm, while X5-939 was clutching his right side, blood seeping through his fingers.

 

"Looks like we're on our own here. Command's given us one order." X5-939 gestured to the radio lying beside him, where it would be abandoned when he and his fellow soldiers rejoined the battle going on above. There would be no time then to call base for reports or to request reinforcements. There were no reinforcements, and Command was well aware of the status of its soldiers. "Fight," X5-939 continued. "Fight with everything you've got. We can't fall back. Not yet. Only place left for us to go is the interior, and they aren't ready. So retreat is not an option. Get that into your heads and fight like you've got no choice, because you don't."

 

X5-939 looked at each member of the group gathered around him, making eye contact with every living soldier, avoiding the X6 who had stopped breathing. X5-939 reached into one pocket and emptied its contents on the ground in front of him. A handful of Red Series implants now lay in the dirt.

 

"Tell you what," he said, his tone of voice altering as he smiled at the faces he would most likely never see again. "See how many of these you can collect. Winner gets a week furlough on me." The lighthearted promise, empty though it might have been, earned the X5 a number of smiles in return.

 

"All right then, soldiers. Move out."

 

The ridge above Lydecker's Camp

 

Max was halfway down the south face of the ridge, looking down at Lydecker's camp in the valley below. "Okay, I'm in position. Tell me what's going on down there."

 

She heard Logan's voice on the cell phone. "Most of the fighting is around Command now. You better hurry, Max. Things aren't going well for Zack and Company."

 

"I'm on it," she said, and started taking off her backpack.

 

Lydecker's Camp

 

Zack was struggling with a Red soldier, his face already sporting several bruises. The Reds had finally broken through to Command and forced the X-series soldiers into hand-to-hand combat. The ground around Command was littered with bodies, both Reds and X soldiers. Zane and a couple X5s were desperately trying to keep the Reds away from the wounded. They knew they were fighting a hopeless battle, but they were determined to take down as many Reds as they could before the end.

 

The ridge above Lydecker's Camp

 

"I'm set, Logan," Max spoke quickly into the cell phone.

 

"Acknowledged," he replied.

 

Max pressed a button on the device beside her. For a moment, she wasn't sure if it had worked. She spoke into the cell phone again, "Logan?" Nothing. She looked at the cell phone and then discarded it on the ground behind her when she noticed the displ