Chapter 10: Exposure + Kayla = Reality 

"Kayla…" Kevin began. 
"Shut up," I hissed, I had to think fast. 
Exposure was my only option, but capture seemed a lot worse than being exposed in front of Kevin. I turned in a slow circle as a man stepped forward. I recognized him from the bridge; he was the man in charge. 
"What the…" Kevin began. 
"Shut up, freak!" the man hissed, "check him," he said to one of his men. 
I watched as one of the men stepped forward and grabbed Kevin's neck. He checked the back of it and shook his head. They were checking for barcodes. 
"Check her," he said, "she's the one we saw fighting." 
My eyes widened as a man came towards me holding a tazer. I kept my eyes on the weapon as he approached. He was about to grab my neck when I heard my savior call out. 
"Get down!" Krit yelled as he took 3 men in a simple kick and punch. 
I saw Kevin drop to the floor and I used the soldier with the tazer's distraction to disarm him and take him down with his own weapon. I did a backflip kicking the approaching soldier in the process. Krit and I had taken down almost half of the men by now. I saw the astounded look that fell upon my boyfriend's face as he saw me avoid being shot while taking down men twice my size. That second of distraction allowed a searing pain to hit my arm. I snapped the neck of the soldier I was fighting. I grabbed his gun and shot two more. I saw Krit knock out the last of them. I saw Eve hiding behind some garbage cans. We had a lot of explaining to do, but we had no time. 
"Kai!" Krit called, using my Manticore name. 
"Krit, we have to get back to the barn. If they found me then could zero in on the others," I said frantically. 
"Kayla?" Eve and Kevin asked. 
"Don't ask. I'll explain everything later," I said, unable to find the strength to explain the situation. 
We arrived at the barn in ten minutes, not even bothering with the sector police. I ran into the barn with Eve, Kevin, and Krit right behind me. I ran into Zero and he grabbed my arm quickly. 
"What happened?" he asked frantically and motioned for Max. 
"Man…from the bridge," I panted, "he and twenty men attacked Kevin and I. Krit saved us and I helped take out the guys." 
I heard Krit trying to calm down Kevin and Eve. I turned around to face the angry pair and Krit. I felt Zero only a breath away from my shoulder ready to back me up. I felt relieved that even after that afternoon, he was still my other half in a fight. 
"What's going on, Kayla?" Kevin asked me. 
I look a slow breath, I had to face the music. I never wanted to have to reveal the skeleton I hid in my closet, but I knew I had to. They deserved the truth. 
"Kai," I said looking at the ground, "I'm not Kayla Lang. My name is Kai." 
"But you said you hated the name," Eve said, "you wanted to start over and with a new name." 
"I never hated the name, I loved it. I hated what it represented," I said. 
"And that is?" Kevin asked. 
I could feel the anger in his voice. I could also sense a twinge of jealousy. I guess he noticed Zero. 
"This," I said and showed him my barcode," this is what the man was looking for." 
"What the…" Eve began. 
"It's my identification mark. Never goes away. If I remove it, it comes back. I am 332314184711, or X6-711." 
"Kai! Have you been drinking or doing drugs?" Kevin asked. 
"No," I said shocked. 
I felt Zero tense up and get ready to move forward. I put my hand on his arm to calm him down. I saw Kevin's eyes narrow and guessed he noticed it too. 
"I was raised to be a soldier until I was 15, when I escaped. I had more blood on my hands at 9 than most people do in their whole lives," I said, "I don't have time for this!" 
"Kayla!" Eve said with surprising anger, "we deserve to know the truth." 
"I know you do! But before I tell you, I need to kind of save the lives of the people I grew up with." 
"What about our safety?" Kevin asked motioning to himself and Eve. 
"Me and mine come first. Then you guys," I said, "by the way. Kevin Peterson and Eve Richards, meet Max Guevarra, Zero, Fixit, Bullet, Ralph, Alec, and Bugler. You already know myself and Krit. Two rules, don't ask questions and don't speak out of turn," I stated. 
I walked over to Max and stood before her. I'd made myself self-appointed leader of the X6's. 
"Max," I said curtly. 
"What happened?" she asked. 
"I was walking with Kevin. Some punks tried to take us down, I kicked their ass. The ass from the bridge showed up with twenty men. Checked Kevin for a barcode, went for me. Krit showed up, Kevin fell to the ground for safety and Krit and I took 'em down." 
"Sums it up," Krit said from my left side, I sensed Zero on my right. 
"Fall in!" Max called. 
I kept an eye on Eve and Kevin as they watched us all line up. I was second in line, between Krit and Zero. Ralph helped Bullet, forcing him to stay off his injury. Fixit stood on Zero's other side, grease on her hands. I watched as Max paced before us. 
"The enemy has attacked two of us. I do not believe he knows our locale, I want us to stay up in shifts. Kai and I will take the first shift, Krit you got sentry," Max said, "it's late. Lights out." 
Zero handed Krit his gun and Krit left the barn. I watched as Ralph, Bullet, and Zero retreated to the side of the barn where there were a few things that could be used as beds. I watched the X7 carefully as he continued to stare out the window into the woods. I didn't trust him. Max put an arm on my shoulder and motioned to Eve and Kevin. They had taken a seat on the far wall away from the transgenics. Fixit was still working on the truck alone. I looked over at my kind and then at my friends. I nodded to Max and walked over to Kevin and Eve. 
"I'm still the same girl you know," I said. 
"No you're not," Kevin said quietly helping up Eve, "we had no secrets between us. Or so I thought." 
"What would you have said if I suddenly went 'oh guys by the way. I'm a genetically engineered revved up super solider escaped from her cell four months ago. And I got trained military special forces looking to kill me or put me in a cage'?" I asked sarcasm dripping from every word. 
"I would have called you crazy and told you to lay off the cocaine," Kevin said. 
"Exactly. Besides if I told you, that would be considered exposure. If I'm exposed, I would be hunted down like a creature. To them, I am expendable, a scrap of meat with a few small abilities." 
"Like?" Eve inquired. 
"I can't get into that now. In short, I can fight like a bitch," I said sharply, "don't ask questions, I don't have the time right now." 
"You don't have time? For us?" Kevin asked motioning to himself and Eve, "you've always had time before." 
"That was before I had the lives and safety of eight X-soldiers hanging in the balance. Before my best friends found out the one thing I had to hide in fear of rejection and exposure! Before I walked away from the one man I ever loved, for a boy who would never understand what Manticore was," I said finally breaking down. 
I fell to my knees and began to cry. I hated breaking up like this, I've only down it twice before. When I left Zero behind and when Zel died, Zel had been one of the few X6's to take names. 
"Kayla…" Kevin murmured in my ear concerned. 
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders trying to soothe me. I only pulled away. I felt a strong and intense sudden hatred towards Kevin. He was trying to act as though he knew everything, while he knew nothing. I heard movement from the other side of the room. I sensed him before I heard his voice. 
"Back off," Zero growled to Kevin. 
Kevin backed away immediately afraid of what Zero could be capable of. 
"Kai?" Zero whispered and laid a hand on the small of my back. 
He rubbed my back softly, until my sobs stopped. I turned and looked up at Zero, into his blazing blue eyes. He wanted to kill whatever had caused me pain. He was always like that, protecting me, trying to shield me from pain that I would always have to face eventually. I wiped my eyes. 
"I don't want you to see me like this…" I mumbled with a small smile. 
"I have before," he responded and helped me to my feet. 
"Unfortunately. I have yet to see the great 601 break down." 
"I'm just not emotional," Zero replied with a smirk. 
"Yes. You are," I replied, we both knew I was referring to the night I left. 
We seemed to fall into our own world. We forgot our surroundings of the cold barn and forgot about Kevin and Eve. I had once again fallen under the spell that Zero seemed to always cast upon me. Zero rested a hand lightly on my cheek and wiped away the last tear with his thumb. 
"You okay?" his whispered softly. 
I nodded. Zero had an uncanny ability to take my breath away and I loved him for it. 
"Ahem," a small cough pulled us roughly back to the earth. 
I found myself staring at a jealous Kevin and a flustered Eve. They didn't have to be X6 to pick up on the emotions between myself and Zero. I felt Zero step back. Even though it was reluctant. 
"I almost forgot," he whispered in my ear. 
He began to walk away. 
"Wait!" I called and ran up to him. 
I took his hand in mine and stared into his blue eyes. I ignored the fact that Kevin and Eve were listening to my every word and watching my every move. 
"When this is all over, we need to have a long talk," I murmured. 
I gave Zero a short but meaningful kiss. Zero smiled, I had missed that the most. 
"When it's over," he replied, "I should help Fixit on the truck." 
"Okay," I whispered and watched him as he walked over to help our partner in crime. 
"What was that?" I turned around to face Kevin. 
"A kiss," I replied as though it meant nothing. 
"With another guy. I'M your boyfriend, Kayla." 
"I think we should break up," I said slowly, "this can only end in one of two ways, I leave you for another guy or I leave you in order to save my life." 
"Kayla," Kevin said softly. 
"My name's Kai," I said in a tone that said that this conversation was over. 
I walked away and walked over to Max. She was watching the X-soldiers as they slept. Bullet slept close to Ralph, hovering closely and protectively. I looked at Bugler who slept on his side gripping his bugle to his chest as though it was a teddy bear. The X7 stared out the window and I watched him closely. Alec was around somewhere and Max was pacing through the barn. I finally laid down against the wall and closed my eyes. I steadied my breathing and allowed myself to drop my guard as I fell asleep. I fell asleep for the first time, surrounded by the only people I was certain I could trust. 
The next morning, I woke up to a sound I never wanted to hear again, Reveille. I jerked upright and saw Max grab the bugle from Bugler. I smirked; it was going to take time for them to fall out of their routines. I brushed myself off and looked around. Ralph was scolding Bullet for putting pressure on his wound when he walked. I walked over to where Max stood with some of the others. Alec walked passed us pulling on his jacket. I knew there would be a confrontation before either of the X5's said a word. 
"Well, when the going gets cute, the tough get going," Alec quipped. 
"You're really leaving?" Max asked, I wondered if she had a thing for him, the guy WAS cute. "Afraid so," Alec replied with a smirk. 
"Figures you'd forget the one good thing Manticore ever taught us--never abandon your unit," Max said, I could sense a hurt tone underneath her anger. 
Alec turned around and glanced at each of us. I knew he was fighting an internal battle, even if he didn't show many signs. He decided to follow his pride, bad choice. 
"Well, thanks to you, there is no more Manticore. You made this mess. Not me," he said and walked out without another word. 
Later that day, I sat to the side watching Fixit and Zero tinker with the old truck. I'd purposely avoided Kevin and Eve, but Krit kept them busy. He'd even gone through the trouble of explaining to them about Manticore. 
"Way to go, Fixit!" I cheered as the truck started. 
Fixit grinned broadly and Zero was smiling from his spot in the driver seat. 
I turned at the sound of Bullet's voice. 
"Max! Soldiers outside!" 
"Get away from the window!" Max ordered and turned to X7-354 who still remained in his place by the window, "You, too!" 
He glanced at her as though she was just an annoying fly. I saw Max run over to the window and look out. She turned back to us. 
"Someone's been talking out of school. Ralph, tie him up and blindfold him. We're leaving him here. Fixit, we gotta go now!" Max said, her voice urgent. 
"What the hell?" Zero swore as the truck stubbornly refused to start. 
I ran over to Krit, Kevin, and Eve as the window shattered. I grabbed their hands as the room began to fill with smoke. 
"Why are they using smokers? I thought they wanted us dead," Bullet inquired. 
"I don't like either option!" I fired at him as I got Eve and Kevin over to the truck. 
"Me too. Come on. Hurry up!" Max called. 
I climbed into the truck after shoving Kevin and Eve in. I turned at the sound of Max's voice and shots being fired. 
"As soon as it starts, get the hell out. That's an order!" Max yelled before running back into the smoke filled open area of the barn. 
I heard the truck start as Fixit jumped in. I could make out vague outlines of the fight. I knew Max and Krit could hold their own, but I was still worried. 
"Go," Bullet ordered. 
"Bullet, we can't just-" Ralph protested, worried about the woman who had become a friend. 
"You heard what she said. Move it!" Bullet said, his tone telling us there was no more discussion. 
Zero drove through the old door and knocked down a few soldiers. I saw Kevin and Eve wince at the sight, while the others didn't even seem to notice. I looked around the truck. Zero was driving and Fixit remained in the passenger seat. Ralph, Bullet, and I were in the first bench, while Bugler, Kevin and Eve were crammed into the back. We drove in silence for a while. My thoughts dwelled on Krit and Max. They were facing a lot of men, we should have stayed and fought. I slammed my hand into the back of Fixit's seat in frustration. Fixit slammed forward from the force and looked back to glare at me. 
"Sorry," I mumbled. 
"Don't take your anger out on the only thing we got going for us," she said. 
"I can't believe we left her there...after all she did for us," Ralph said dejectedly. 
"She gave us a direct order," Bullet protested. 
"She told me we don't have to take orders anymore. Not from anyone. Not even her," Bugler piped up leaning forward. 
"That's good enough for me," Ralph agreed. 
"Me too," Zero said, "you in?" he asked turning to me, "you never liked to miss any action." 
"Naturally," I replied, "if I can kick ass, I'm in. Rescuing Max and Krit is just an extra bonus." 
"I'm in," Fixit added smiling. 
"Let's do it," Bullet said. 
Zero smirked and made a U-turn. We all had to grab onto something to avoid being thrown from the car. 
"Where'd you learn to drive? From a madman?" I asked jokingly. 
"Lydecker," he replied, 'which is about right." 
We all laughed, except Bugler, Eve, and Kevin. We continued to drive, making small and playful conversation. I turned my head as I heard a voice yelling at us. 
"You're heading the wrong way!" 
I used my telescopic vision to check out the car. It was a red convertible and was driven by Alec. I smirked as we continued down the road. Zero pulled over after a while. We piled out of the car and I glanced at the other X's. 
"Bugler, Kevin, Eve stay in the car," I ordered. 
Eve and Bugler followed my orders, but Kevin remained defiant. I glared at him. 
"Get in the car," I said. 
"I can help!" he protested. 
"You can help by getting in the car and staying out of our way," I replied slowly, "if you tagged along you could help…you could act as a distraction and get shot as we rescue Max and Krit." 
Kevin got into the car reluctantly. 
"C'mon," I said to the other four. 
We made our way through the woods and to the edge of the camp under the cover of darkness. We watched their activity when we jumped at the sound of a voice. It was Alec's. 
"Let me guess. She got herself caught saving your butts." 
"Pretty much," Bullet replied. 
"All right. Well, let's get this over with." 
Alec took control. He would go to Max and get her out. Zero, Fixit, and I will take out the generator and then find Krit. Bullet and Ralph would take out the soldiers guarding Max. We moved out swiftly and silently. 
Zero took out the soldier by the generator with such ease that it was pathetic. Fixit went to work on the generator and I scanned for any sign of Krit. The lights went out just as I found his scent. I used hand signals to relay my message. 
'I know where he is. Follow me," I signed. 
Zero and Fixit followed behind me watching out for any soldiers as I slid into one of the tents. I saw Krit lying on the ground; I picked the lock of the cell. I walked over to him and prodded him with my foot. Krit opened his eyes groggily and stared up at me. His face showed utter relief. He stood slowly and I put my arm around him to support him. Zero helped me hold him up as we made out way back to the truck. I looked up at the sky and noticed the signal now read for us to scatter and go underground. Bullet and Ralph were already at the truck and helped me get Krit in. I heard an explosion and took that as our sign to split. We drove away as I saw Alec and Max run from the cover of the trees. Mission accomplished.