I'm not a pretty girl. Far from it.

Sat here now, unseen at the end of the bar; no one can begin to imagine the life I've led. Don't get me wrong. I'm just your average Ordinary, living an average life in an average American city. Thing is... my life ain't so average anymore. Hasn't been for a while now. Ever since my rendezvous with the project known as Manticore, my life has taken one too many turns for the worst. Lost my parents during one of their supposed failed missions and found myself in the loving care of one Madam Renfro. Don't let the name fool you; she's no Madam... I assure you. During a brief period of insanity, I was led to believe that I was in good hands; that I was cared for and safe.

Turns out I was simply an experiment. An on-going experiment, actually. And it's still going on, much to my disappointment.

Manticore's gone now, along with Renfro, and although my mission has changed slightly, I'm still very much travelling the same path I was assigned. I suppose in a way I could leave it all behind, turn tail and run like most of the trannies did when Manticore burnt to the ground. But the only way I can escape this hell, this so-called destiny of mine is by tearing out the living, breathing fetus that is currently growing inside of me.

Not my cup of tea, really. Blood and guts was more Renfro's scene.

I'm just one of those orphans that everyone forgot and no one bothers to see. It's probably why they picked me for this particular assignment. No one would guess that this average American gal they see before them is currently carrying a future generation X5 soldier. Yes, Manticore picked me for a reason and now I'm left standing between two worlds, not belonging to either of them, because frankly - which category would I fit into? I'm human to the core, if you don't count the fast-growing transgenic living and breathing inside of me.

Kind of changes the whole human to the core concept, doesn't it?

It's the reason I'm here now, tonight in the bar where I know that transgenics and Ordinaries alike mingle together; oblivious to the fact that they're socialising with people that are so completely different to them, they're an entirely different species. Thing is, when it all boils down, the only thing separating us is DNA. A simple tweak there, a change here and life is suddenly so much more different. I find it ironic that I live in a society where racism and sexism is frowned upon, yet the make-up of someone's DNA is the thin line that separates life from death; love from hate.

What a twisted world we live in.

But what do you expect? The same people that govern this society are the same people that did this to me. The world has no place for a bastard like me, and pretty soon the world won't have a place for the bastard growing inside of me.

I'm here because of it. I'm here in this bar, watching them all pass me by; oblivious to the fact that I hold the future in the palm of my hand. I'm looking for the father of my child, the soldier who, unknowingly, planted his seed inside of me. I am the very thing they all fear - I am the very thing that will taint the human race, and in a way I can't help but feel... smug. Strange thing is, this race is already tainted - by hate, by cruelty and anger. Maybe if I took a little dip in the gene pool, I could spice things up a bit; add a little somethin' to the mix.

Who knows? Maybe the babe within will be the next Jesus; the next miracle in this hollow age. Only time and Fate will tell, and take it from me... Fate's never been one to share her plans.

My life's always had its twists and I feel it's my duty, as the new Virgin Mary of this era, to add my own little twist. And no ones gonna see it coming. No one will notice me, the Ordinary leading an average life in an average American city. Because quite frankly - who would?

I'm not a pretty girl. Far from it.