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This is a true standalone story, a scene that occurs sometime after "Freak Nation." -- author's note

*****

Asha stepped out from a dark alcove as soon as Alec entered the alley. She looked just the same as he remembered, even though several months had passed -- carefree blonde hair, petite features, dark eyes that seemed to look out on the world with just a bit more optimism than they had a right to.

"Hey, Asha," he said, digging his hands into the pockets of his brown leather jacket, a boyish grin on his face and that charming lilt in his voice. "Long time no see."

But she wasn't smiling. Alec found that odd. What did I do now? Of course there had been that bit of nastiness on his part the last time they'd seen each other. Maybe she was holding a grudge.

"Alec," she said in a tone so cautious it kind of hurt. "Look, I only came here because I wanted to tell you guys in person that the S1W isn't going to be helping you any more."

Alec did a double take at that, blinking in surprise. And then he thought he understood. "Look, Asha," he began with another slow charming smile, deliberately turning on the sex appeal. "If this is about that time at Crash when I--"

"--told me to 'beat it'?"

Alec bit his lower lip. Why did women always have such good memories? "Asha," he began again, deciding to try the noble route. "I hope you realize I pushed you away like that because I didn't want you to get hurt. I was tryin' to protect you."

"Yeah, yeah," Asha said, her voice too quiet. "Ancient history, Alec. And that has nothing to do with right now."

"Then what does have to do with right now?" he asked, his tone sliding from playful to serious, hazel eyes narrowing. "What's this about, Asha? The S1W owes Eyes Only, and it owes transgenics. We saved your asses more'n once. Seems like a little reciprocation isn't outta order. We need the info on those thermal scanners the Sector Cops have their hands on -- who, what, and where. You could even say it's a matter of life and death."

He waited. She was staring at him in a way that really bothered him. He'd seen that look in humans' eyes far too often lately.

"They're right," Asha said, finally breaking the silence. "What they're saying is right -- about the transgenics and the transhumans. No matter how you try to justify otherwise, what they're saying is right."

"What's right?" Alec had a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. However, what she said next was even worse than he feared.

"Your kind can't be allowed to contaminate the human race."

If Asha had slapped him in the face she couldn't have hurt him more.

"Asha!" he said, drawing back, truly shocked. "You mean you're buyin' that shit those scientists and preachers are spoutin' off about? That stuff about us not havin' souls or even bein' alive. You don't think we should have the same rights as ordinary people?" And then he stopped, watching her, waiting, hoping he'd gotten it wrong.

"It's not just me, Alec," she said coldly. "The S1W has decided to fight to keep the transgenics and transhumans where they belong -- away from the public, confined by the military where they can be controlled. They can't be allowed to interfere with normal humans ..." Her voice dropped lower and she finally looked away, unable to meet his intense gaze. "They ... you ... can't be allowed to breed."

Alec swallowed with difficulty as he fought to keep fury from clouding his mind. Clenching his fists, he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. This was Asha. She used to have a thing for him. She'd bandaged a bullet wound for him once. He could reason with her. It wasn't like she hated him or anything.

"Are you sure this isn't really about the whole 'beat it' deal at Crash?"

She actually smiled at that, but it wasn't a pleasant expression. Shaking her head she sighed. "You always have to make it about yourself, don't you Alec? So self centered, egotistical ... just like Manticore made you. Well, this time it isn't about just you. It's about your people. You were right when you told me you and I should never be involved, that you were made in a lab and trained to be a killer. It's for those very reasons your kind need to be contained -- separated so your DNA doesn't contaminate ours."

"Sterilized," you mean, Alec said levelly, giving up on the civilized reasoning and going straight for the jugular.

Asha had the decency to look away again. "Yes," she said, speaking to the brick alley wall. "I think your kind should be rendered incapable of having children."

"Well," Alec said. "I gather you'll be contributing to Senator McKinley's re-election campaign then, not to mention the 'Castrate the Trannies' coalition. He wants all of us in Terminal City to be rounded up like a bunch of cattle and herded into camps where we'll be picked over by the Army, neutered, and eventually confined to military prison. Of course, I'd never make it that far."

"What do you mean?"

This time it was her turn to swallow hard, and Alec found the fleeting look of guilt that flashed in her eyes gratifying. He could read most people like a book, and Asha was no exception. Maybe he could still salvage the situation, get the information.

"McKinley's apparently got his hands on Manticore's personnel files," he said. "He claims he has proof there are professional killers in the X5 series -- assassins like yours truly. He wants us to pay for our so-called 'crimes.' I've got a few hits under my belt you know -- enough to insure I'd most likely be strapped to a gurney and have a needle full of poison pumped into my neck, no trial necessary."

"You can't be allowed to pollute the human race!" Asha cried out. "You can't be allowed to breed! Don't you understand? Your DNA is bad ... you're part animal. It's a regression of the species."

"Seems to me you weren't too concerned about my bad DNA that night you came home with me," Alec said, twisting the knife. "Seems to me you were lookin' forward to that breedin' part. If you recall, it was me who backed off. You were ready, willing, and able, Asha -- well, except for that passin' out on my couch part." He winked. "But I could'a worked around that if I'd wanted to. Important thing is, I didn't. At the time I figured I was bein' a gentleman. But now, I'm thinkin' it's what you're really so pissed about. You're wonderin' what you missed."

"Pig!" Asha sneered. He'd finally gotten to her with that one.

"Make that cat," Alec said softly, his eyes narrowing to slits. "If you're gonna insult my forefathers, at least get the species right."

There was a footstep behind him. Asha didn't hear, but Alec did.

"Oh, come on, Asha," Max said scathingly, stepping forward from out of the shadows. "Ego Boy here wanted a quick lay, not to contaminate your own little personal corner of the human genome. From the way you talk, you'd think he asked you to have his love child or something." She shrugged. "Then he dumped you. End of story."

Max moved to stand beside him, hands on her hips now. "So, melodrama aside, what's this shit about the S1W goin' all anti-trannie?"

Asha shook her head. "I should have known she'd be with you." A little laugh. "I told Logan--"

"Told Logan what?" Max said coldly.

"Told Logan that you and Alec belonged together, and that someday that's what would happen. And now just look at the two of you, side-by-side, you defending him, him--."

"Whoa," Alec said. "Max and I are friends. That's all. She loves Logan." Then his lips twitched in a wicked little smile. "But then you know all about that, don't ya Asha. And you hate her for it. That's also what's partly behind this S1W attitude turnaround. You want us ... her ... out of the way so you can have another shot at Logan."

"Shut up," Max snapped without looking at him. "You've made your point so quit babbling." But the words held no animosity. To Asha, "So, I gather you're not going to help us with the Sector Cop information?"

"I'm sorry, Max, I can't. But I really, really want to encourage you and your people to give this up now. Do what the military says. It's the only way to prevent a blood bath." The words were for Max, but she was looking intently at Alec.

"There's going to be a blood bath anyway," Max said coldly. "Didn't anything Alec say sink in, or did you ride the short bus to school? Even if we surrendered, there are quite a few of us who would go up on charges. Alec would be executed ... me too ... probably even Logan for helping us."

"We could help Logan," Asha said carefully. "We could get him away ... hide him the way Eyes Only was going to hide us that one time."

"But you'd leave me hang," Alec said sarcastically. "Not to mention Max and a lot of our friends."

"You've got to hang," Asha said, a trace of pity in her voice. "You told me what you were and you were right. There's no place for you in this world, Alec. You're a--" Her voice cracked and she couldn't look at him any more. "You're a monster." And with a sob, she turned and ran.

Max stood still beside him. For some reason he was breathing hard. "Well," Alec cracked in an attempt to lighten the mood, "that didn't turn out like I'd hoped. Logan's gonna be pissed as hell. You want me to go after her?"

"No," Max replied tiredly. "Leave her alone." She reached out and her fingers clasped his. "I'm sorry," she said, turning her head to look up into his eyes. "You didn't deserve that."

Alec took a deep shuddering breath and squeezed her hand. "Thanks, but I've had worse.You know what they say, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.'"

"But Asha was your friend."

"Max," Alec cautioned. "I don't want your pity."

Her full lips quirked. "Do you want my absence then?"

He looked down at their joined hands. "Never."

THE END