Battle at Terminal City

Max stays around in the building of Terminal City, waiting for an idea to hit her. Every single military protection agency waited outside the gates of Terminal City. If they fought, would they win? Tanks, machine guns, bombs…all would be present. How could they get themselves out of the battle? Running away was now not an option. It was time to stand up and fight for their right to live…

Max stood by Logan…just thinking.

"Still wondering what to do?" Logan asked Max.

"Yea, I don't want there to be a war."

"Do you have a choice?"

"Do I?"

Silence.

"If there's a way, you'll find it," Logan added reassuringly. "Your family is counting on you. I know you won't let them down…you can't."

"I won't…" Max said, after a while.

"Everybody, come here," she announced into the crowd of half frightened, half confident transgenics.

"What are we going to do, Max?" a young X7 asked. Her name was Cam.

"You'll see. Can I have everyone's undivided attention?"

Everyone looked up, everyone but Mole. Someone quickly elbowed him.

"Oh, did someone say something?" he sneered as he looked around.

"If you don't want to help, then leave."

"Fine, I will."

"Good luck!"

He was about to leave when he remembered all the agencies that blocked his escape.

"Fine, I'll help, but don't expect me to run out there unarmed with no plan in mind whatsoever and commit suicide."

"Good idea. Too bad I didn't think of it earlier," she responded sarcastically. "No one is going to die without taking a few others. We won't go into battle until we have no other choice."

"So what are we going to do? Go up to them and yell 'Hey, we're good. Don't shoot at us!'"

"If that's the way you want to do it…be my guest!"

"Ok, you two need to stop arguing," Logan interrupted. "We're not getting any closer to freedom by your fighting. You need to learn to work together or else your family is doomed."

"How do we know we aren't already doomed by her decision of staying here?"

"Well, you don't," Logan answered. "But you've got to learn to trust. I'm pretty sure they didn't teach that over in Manticore so you better learn it out here or else you won't be very happy in life…if you get to live to see it."

"'If?' So you don't believe in us?"

"I believe that if you work together, you will survive, but by looking at the way things are…how can you?"

"Ok," Max cut in. "Lets make a truce: Everybody will do what they can to help us win our freedom; otherwise, they will leave. Everybody who agrees, raise your arm."

All but one did. Finally, Mole gave in. Max separated everyone into groups of twenty or so. Everyone was to work within their group to come up with a plan. Then they would all present it. Whoever's idea had the highest probability of success would be the one they'd use. Everyone began brainstorming and jotting down ideas.

Max sent Alec to check the situation outside. When he returned…it was still the same. The National Guard, Army, Air Force…everything was still out there waiting for them to make a move, but what if they made a move first? They had to come up with a plan fast.

"Max, you know we can't negotiate with them," Alec said, reading her mind. "They won't stop till we all drop dead. We can't win."

"We can always try. Besides, I got a new plan."

"Really… I can't wait to hear it," Alec responded, sounding sarcastic, but anxious inside.

"I'll be right back. I'm going out there to see what they want. Make sure everybody is working on a plan."

"Whatever you say, Max."

Max went to the rooftop where see saw the tanks of the National Guard, the planes of the Air Force, the commanders and generals of the Army. She called out to them, "Please do not be frightened. I just want to talk."

Everyone looked up and searched for the owner of the mysterious voice. When they finally spotted Max at the top of the roof, they drew their weapons, but everyone held their fire.

"Who are you?" the general asked.

"Some know me as X5-452. Others call me Max."

"You must be the leader…I suppose."

"I've come to speak for my people."

"Then you may."

"We do not wish to fight, but we will if we must. We only want to live our life. We do not wish to harm anyone. I do not know where the idea of us harming others came from, but it is far from the truth."

"We don't know that."

Max ignored his interruption and continued. "We were born in America; therefore, we are Americans. Americans are given the right to a life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. We are denied those rights just because we are different."

"Your kind was not born in America. You were made in America. That is different."

"What difference? We are not your enemy. There is another group. Through centuries of special breeding, they grew stronger. They are your enemies. They wish to harm you."

"If 'they' wish to harm us, then why haven't they made an appearance?"

"They are everywhere and they look just like you. They are waiting for my kind to die. Then they will make their move. If you destroy us, we cannot protect you. They will rule the world."

Still not believing Max, he stated," Why would you protect us?"

"You have a lot to learn about us."

Suddenly a black car pulled up behind the last tank…White came out of the car.

"Gentlemen, I give you a member of the breeding cult."

She dashed away and back into the building. She informed Alec of White's presence. Both quickly gathered all the transgenics.

"We will now discuss the plans."

She points over to the farthest group. Their spokesperson anxiously explained their plan:

"We want to blow everyone up! Gather all the X-series with cloaking abilities. They can sneak into the army unnoticed. Then, just set off one of their bombs."

Most nodded in approval. "We do not want to harm them. It will only make them hate us more," Max declared. Alec was about to argue with her, but decided against it. Mole on the other hand yelled," They already want to kill us. What difference will it make? We can't do anything that won't harm them without harming ourselves."

Before Max could argue, another voice spoke. "What if we don't fight them? We could just take the weapons away from them and make them turn back."

Alec looked at Max who looked through the crowd for the owner of the voice. "Who said that?" she asked.

"I did."

Those around the young soldier moved back so she could be seen.

"What is you name?"

"X7-497, ma'am."

"I didn't ask you your designation. I asked you your name. Do you have a name?"

"No ma'am, I don't."

"Please stop calling me 'ma'am'. We're not at Manticore anymore. I'm not telling to not be polite, but you don't need to respond like that here. Tell me the rest of your plan."

"Ok…umm, what do I call you then?"

"You can call me Max."

"Well, Max…if they come to get us, we just take away their weapons. We are faster than they are so they won't know what happened. Then, so they don't think we are holding them hostage, we just push them back out."

"I like your idea. You need a name…." she turned to Alec…"Do you have any names in mind?"

He looked at the young soldier. "How about Caroline…do you like that name?"

"Yes I do. It sounds…nice."

"You're name will be Caroline then. All of you who don't have names may want to start thinking of one because you'll need one when you're out there. People won't like calling you 578 or any other number Manticore gave you. They will call you by your name."

Max heard some arguing outside…she left Alec and Logan in charge. She wanted to end this as fast as possible since Logan, Original Cindy, and Sketchy could ruin their health if they stayed any longer. When she snuck out to take a peek, she saw White arguing with the army general. He was trying to get through, but they wouldn't let him. A grin slipped onto Max's face. The army was putting him under arrest for continuous arguing and refusing to leave. Now he was trying to resist arrest. He would be out of the way. Max returned to the transgenics. Alec and Logan were begging to alter and improve the plan Caroline suggested. Max went to check on Sketchy and her Boo. They weren't feeling very good. When she returned, she also saw that Logan was becoming sick too. She wanted to get them out of there as fast as possible, but how? All routes were sealed. Maybe she could say that they were also extra hostages…or not.

Max told Logan that he was getting sick and so were Sketchy and OC. She didn't want them to stay. Logan refused to leave, but after long arguing, Max won. Max went back to the rooftop. The general was not present so she called him.

He looked up and acknowledged Max's presence with every soldier's gun aimed at her.

"We must stop meeting like this. There are several humans among us…they can't stay in here…they will get sick…"

"So what are you saying? You're going to let them die?" the general muttered something normally to low to hear…but Max heard it all…"just like your kind to do a terrible and inhuman thing like that."

"We do not want them to die or get sick. May they come out safely?"

"How do we know they are not like you?"

"A common sign that they are of my kind would be a barcode. They will not have a barcode…they must be able to come out safely and no harm may come to them afterwards…I want them to be released and allowed to live their life…no press…"

"We will honor you request…send them out…soldiers will wait to make sure you are not sending out anyone other than humans."

"We appreciate this…" Max left to return to Logan and the others. She told Sketchy and OC to leave. Sketchy jumped up so fast he hit the wall…well almost hit the wall. OC wanted to stay, but Max wouldn't allow it. When she finally got everyone to agree to leave, she led them to the entrance.

Back at the entrance, the general awaited them. He was beginning to think differently about the transgenics…but still thought they were harmful. He still greeted her with the guns trained…but not as many…the soldiers checked for barcodes. None. Logan, Sketchy and OC left safely. Max returned to the planning. They had finished. Hours later…Eyes Only did another hack.

"This hack will last only 60 seconds. It cannot be traced. It cannot be stopped. It is the only voice of truth left in this city. Lately, transgenics have been cornered into Terminal City. Why? Because they are different. Because we are scared. This isn't reasonable. They are Americans too. They should be given life, liberty, and happiness. This must end now…this must end now. They won't harm you. They are in fact just scared. Why can't they be accepted into this society? Look around…we are reliving the Civil War again…this must stop…This has been an Eyes Only Hack. Peace Out." It ended.

There was a ringing outside. Orders came from the mayor…who came from the senator…who claimed they came from the President: Kill them all.

The general did as told. Soldiers advanced into the building…but the transgenics were also ready. Max was able to relay the message back. She took her hiding place. The soldiers entered. Suddenly, transgenics ran in from everywhere…but it was at such a fast speed…no one could see anything. After several minutes…there guns were gone and in the arms of the transgenics who held them aimed at the soldiers.

Max spoke. "We won't hurt anyone. We just want to be left alone."

The general's cell phone rang. All those in the front could tell it was the president.

"Yes, Mr. President (who knows who the president will be)"

"How is everything?" (Max heard this along with several of the transgenics nearby the general. The voice sounded familiar…)

"We've got everything under control."

"Are they posing any harm?"

"No…not exactly…they stole our guns…but won't kill us…" the general retreated to the outside. His men followed.

Moments later…tanks began leaving and the general spoke.

"You made us remember what being an American means. You'll have to discuss this with the courts; however, on where you plan to live, but otherwise you are free to go. Oh and don't worry about the crowds that may come up to you. We'll prevent them from doing any harm…president's word."

"Thank you. We appreciate that this didn't turn into a war."

"Others are beginning to believe your true nature…good luck."

The general turned to leave. Once all the tanks and soldiers left, Max led everyone out…or some stayed.

Months later…Max and all the transgenics were registered as citizens of the United States of America…they did have to follow certain guidelines; however:

1.      If they broke a law…there are no warnings…they will be shot if resisting arrest (only because they have superpowers; if arrested…given a trial…blah,blah, blah.)

2.      They are requested to not make contact with young ones for fear they may frighten them.

3.      They are requested to live in a certain area if different…(their address was kept secret)

***The transgenics were free, but not at all too free. White still hunted for them whenever he found them…but those stories will come later…please tell me what you think of this story.***