Chapter 1

 

 

          Her arms tightened around the infant as her breath came out ragged. Looking around Nairne took a sharp right turn into an alley. Seeing a dead end the girl turned around slowly and faced the agents who had been chasing her. She could feel the hair on the back of her neck rise with fear as they closed in around her. Silently she told the child to hold on tight and before the men could react she jumped up the walls and disappeared to the top of the buildings.

 

          He was walking with his head in the clouds. He'd been doing that a lot lately. Trying to bury his thoughts deeper the young man observed the park he was walking through. Noticing a beautiful fountain in the middle he made his way over to it. He stood at the side of the fountain and looked down at his reflection. Shaggy reddish brown hair hid parts of his face. Suddenly his beeper went off. Grabbing it from his back pocket he glanced at the message before sighing and walking off.

 

          Nairne stumbled as the weariness started to creep over her body. Spotting a hole in a building ahead she shifted the baby in her arms. Crawling carefully into the hole, her body collapsed from exhaustion. She curled up around the infant and fell asleep.

 

          He'd been staring at the holographic computer screen for the last five minutes. A frown was set on his lips. He was still trying to actually let it sink in. The door slid open and an older man walked in. Seeing the young man the other froze and shifted uncomfortably. The young man turned around angrily.

 

          "What is this? Is all of this true?" His eyes looked like burning ember. The older man didn't say anything and stopped shifting. Finally, he nodded his head. The young man's body was now almost shaking with fury.

 

          "How could you do something like that? It was a young woman and an infant. I'm not going to kill them for you. I quit. It's over. I'm tired of seeing you guys kill the transhumans because you're scared." The older man's face was pale and his eyes were cold.

 

          "Vance, we weren't the ones who killed them. You were. We only told you too." Vance suddenly turned and started destroying the computers. The older man ran up and tried to stop him, but Vance threw him back. Minutes later Vance slowly started to regain control of himself. Looking around he realized what he'd done and headed towards the door. He stopped in front of the old man and gave him a deranged glare that sent chills down the older man’s spine.

 

          "I'm going to find them. When I do, we are going to destroy this place and you along with it." When he finished he ran out the door without looking back. Standing up the older man also left the room and headed towards the command center.

 

          Nairne held Gene in one arm as she slowly shuffled through the cafeteria line. By the time we get there, there won't be any food left. She thought to herself. Nairne could feel the eyes on her as she moved through the line. They had always shunned her after she escaped with Gene. They all thought that he was her kid. She didn't bother to correct them, it wouldn't have mattered. Occasionally she got pity from people; they gave her food or some new clothes. They'd always ask her questions, but she just shook her head and remained quiet. Waking out of her thoughts she noticed that Gene had been poking her letting her know that the line was moving. After getting their food Nairne walked to a table that was in the far corner of the dining area.

 

           A TV hologram was turned on nearby and a special news bulletin was flashing across the screen. As Nairne finished feeding Gene something on the news caught her attention. Looking over to the screen she watched the broadcaster.

 

          "A special report was just received minutes ago that the F.E.D.S. just released more information on another manhunt for a rogue officer. He is to be considered armed and dangerous---"  Nairne stood up quickly and throwing her food away walked out just as they flashed Vance's picture on the screen.

 

 

 

          Vance ran as fast as he could from a number of things. The top two things being the people he'd been working for his whole life and his thoughts. Noticing an alley ahead he made a sharp turn and slowing down looked around. His breath came out short and raspy. As he walked farther into the alley he noticed that it was starting to rain. Finding a small overhang Vance sat down leaning against the wall. He looked up at the thunder heads in the sky and soon afterwards fell asleep.