Author's Note: Yes, I changed the X3's barcodes in the rewrite of Miracles Lost, so you'll find the BARCODES in CHAPTER 4 have CHANGED, thank you.

"So where's this place you wanted to go?" Max whined, squirming in her seat.

"Yeah, it had better be worth it!" Alec added behind her, "If we were going to Crash beaten Sketchy at pool at least four times and found myself some attractive female company by now."

"Shut up!" Max snapped.

However, they weren't going to Crash. Logan had turned up out of the blue at Jam Pony at the end of their shift, announced that he wanted to try a new bar tonight, packed the two transgenics in his car and set off to some unknown destination … that was beginning to look like it might be somewhere on the other side of town.

"So this 'new bar' that's so important all of a sudden? Is there an Eyes Only informant waiting there?" Alec asked sarcastically, leading back in his seat and folding his hands behind his head, "Or is it just that the beer's cheaper?"

"Shut Up!" Max yelled, even bitchier than usual – because, unfortunately for him, Alec had touched a nerve. She didn't think Logan would be travelling to a new bar to simply enjoy himself either.

 Then Logan surprised them both, "The only informants I'm meeting there are you two, and yes, since I know the owner, the beer's cheaper."

"Since when do you care about the price of beer?" Alec asked, "Max normally pays for you anyway."

"Do not!" the lady in question cried out.

"Sure you do. 'Here Logan, have a drink for beating Alec at pool'"

"I never said that!" Max cried, "And that only actually happened once and I nearly killed him in the process."

"Aren't you done with that paperwork yet? Okay fine, but at least have a glass of beer!"

"I never said that either!"

"No? Only … um … three times this week!"

"SHUT UP!"

"Just because you know it's true …"

Max reached back to slap him, but the car stopped suddenly making her lose her balance. Only for a split second, mind you, but that was enough for Alec's enhanced reflexes to kick in and help him dodge the blow.

"We're here!" Logan said, getting out of the car.

"Finally!" Alec sighed and this time he failed to see Max's hand coming. He felt the beginnings of a bruise on his shoulder. "Ouch! Watch it, Maxie!" … but she was already out of the car.

Max couldn't believe her eyes, when she followed Logan through the door of the bar. She hadn't seen a place so clean since … well … since last time she had been in Logan's penthouse, which was yesterday evening actually … but still … it was like the pulse never happened; the paint on the walls wasn't cracked or peeling, there were no marks on the metal tabletops, the cushioning on the seats wasn't frayed – heck – there was cushioning on the seats! But the few customers dotted round the place looked like ordinary people, not rich pimps looking for a place to squander money with other rich pimps. She could see why Logan liked it here.

The three of them (Alec had finally caught up) made their way over to the bar. "Pitcher of beer," Logan said to the bar-keep, "And a private booth please."

She was a slim woman in her early thirties, with long light-brown hair that fell all over her face despite her efforts to keep it platted. The woman smiled at Logan as soon as she saw him, "Oh hi Logan. Take the booth in the corner over there. People tend to stay over here close to the music, so you shouldn't be disturbed. And this is on the house – seeing as I still owe you." She handed him a jug full of the foaming amber liquid and three glasses.

One of her other patrons at the bar snorted into his drink, "Lord almighty! I've come here every night since this place opened – and she hasn't ever given me no beer on the house!" He was a very big, very muscular man with striking hazel eyes – very similar to the barkeep's, "And I'm her twin brother at that!"

"You haven't been as helpful, brother dearest!" the woman snapped and rolled her eyes at Logan, "Can't get the family these days. Here."

He just smiled back and took the beer over to the indicated booth, with two speechless transgenics at his heels.

"Who the hell is she?" Max burst out disgusted.

"What kind of a favour did you do for her?" Alec added, slowly remembering how to close his mouth.

"Helped her find a missing relative," Logan said calmly, pouring the beer, "Now about these files I wanted to show you. A source came up with some info on the head of one of the major pharmaceutical companies in town. Looks like he's trading some drugs to addicts on the black market, but I can't find any proof of it. I need you two to break into the Companies Headquarters and …"

"Why couldn't we discuss this at Crash?" Max interrupted.

"You know why! Too risky! Sketchy and the Original Cindy would've been there, and probably Asha as well, who are all not supposed to know about me being..."

"Then why not at your place?" Alec added, fixing Logan with a piercing glare.

"Because I happen to like the beer here."

"Really?" Max growled.

"Yeah really." Logan added, his voice sounded hurt, but Max was ignoring that.

"Sure! After all this time – there's no need to lie to me, Logan, I can take it."

"Take what?" Logan cried confused, "I'm telling the truth!"

"Fine!" she turned away a bitter look on her face.

"Fine!" Logan snapped, and looked at the other transgenic, "Will you handle this for me, Alec? Just till our favourite but totally unreasonable hot-head over there calms down?"

Max snorted, still not looking at them, "That's almost a compliment coming from a heartless soulless …"

Alec interrupted her, "No thanks! I'm not getting dragged into this."

"Fine," Logan sighed, turning his own attention towards the fairly distant bar, "Kitty!"

Alec raised an eyebrow. Logan couldn't possibly expect to be heard all the way over there. No ordinary person could hear that well.

The barkeep could apparently. She looked up from where she had been serving a customer and caught Logan's eye. Waving for the barmaid to cover for her, she moved over to Logan's booth.

"Problem?"

"Yeah, I've got an Eyes Only mission to run, but apparently my two friends here, don't seem to be able to see past their selfish little lives and …"

"What is it?"

"Just need you to break in here and download a couple of files for me." He handed her a paper file he had brought in with him. She scanned it briefly before putting it back down on the table.

"I'll be back in half-an-hour. Tell Sally to get you guys another pitcher to last till then."

"Thanks."

"No problem. You scratch my back and all that …" She had already vanished back to the bar before Logan could reply. They saw her have a brief conversation with her brother and the barmaid, before disappearing through the door with the muscular man in tow.

"What the hell was that?!" Max asked.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

In a different part of the city, old Jessie Harris stumbled home from work in the pouring rain. She was tired and cold and wet through and wanted nothing more than to slip into a hot shower and then curl up with a good book under her blanket.

Lighting tore up the sky and she shivered slightly breaking into a run. If only she could have afforded a car - she would have been dry and probably home by now – but cars for people of her status had become myth since the Pulse. Thunder crashed overhead.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. Stumbling, she hit the ground. Something was pressing on her back - forcing her to stay there.

She screamed! A cold cruel laugh was her only reply. Then something sharp dug into her neck … and she knew nothing more.