Video: Due to the stupidity of the author, the video contains errors. It will be fixed and re-recorded when I get time.

Also, tell me if you find the name Crimson still in here somewhere. It was Michael's placeholder name and I apparently missed fixing all of them the first time I edited.

Story:

The medic tended to Matt while they waited for an ambulance to arrive. Alexa leaned against a wall a short distance away from the group, watching Matt, Crystal, the medic, and the man in black who was talking to Matt and Crystal. They seemed to know each other. At one point, the man in black looked up at Alexa. Their eyes met in a quick gaze then he looked away, back to Matt and Crystal. Soon the ambulance arrived and the EMTs put Matt on a stretcher. Crystal and the man in black followed them and Alexa decided to go too. When they got outside, Alexa heard Crystal pleading to go along with Matt to the hospital. The EMTs didn’t seem to want to let her. Only after Matt asked them to let her come did they allow her inside the vehicle. Alexa let her eyes fall.

Even medical staff discrimate against us. Alexa thought wistfully as the ambulance drove away.

“Hey, I don’t think we’ve been introduced yet.”

She looked up. The man was looking at her.

“I’m Michael.”

He held out his hand.

“Alexa.” She shook his hand.

“It’s nice to meet you Alexa.”

“Same.”

“You want to get something to drink and we can talk a bit more?”

“Um… sure.”

“I saw some vending machines outside the convention center. That ok?”

Alexa nodded and they walked over to the vending machines.

So, how do you know Matt and Crystal? Alexa asked Michael while they were walking.

“They’re friends of mine. I thought I’d go to their inaugural panel while I was here.”

“Oh, did you come here for a specific reason?”

“Yes, but I would have gone to Crystal and Matt’s opening panel even if there wasn’t something else I meant to do. Things just lined up nicely so I could do both. Other than that little incident with the Brown Fists, things have gone better than I could’ve anticipated.”

“Oh, right. Thanks for your help at the panel by the way. I’m not sure I could have taken all of them at once.”

“It’s no problem. I can’t stand people who are anti-chimera like that.” Michael had a scowl on his face.

Alexa looked at him funny. She thought it was odd that a sapian would be that riled up over an issue like that.

“It’s rare to meet someone like you who’d stand up for us so much.”

“Unfortunately that’s the way the world works at the moment Alexa.”

They arrived at the vending machines.

“So what do you want?”

“Do they have Calpico? That’s my favorite.”

“It’s mine too. They’ve got it.”

“How much is it?” Alexa asked, starting to take her wallet out of her handbag.

“I’ve got it covered.”

“Hm?”

Alexa looked confused for a second.

“I invited you for a drink, so I’m buying.”

“You sure?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Well, alright.”

Michael purchased two Calpico’s. He handed the first bottle that came out of the machine to Alexa, and took the other for himself. Alexa shook the bottle gently to mix the drink then opened the cap and took a few sips. The drink tasted like a sweet mix of milk and citrusy fruits. Alexa liked the tangy sweetness which was why it was her favorite.

“So Alexa,” said Michael taking a swig of Calpico, “Remember when I said I had another reason to be here other than to see Matt and Crystal?”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“Would you like to know what that reason is?”

“If you want to tell me, sure. You seemed to dodge that earlier.

Michael smiled briefly and looked into her eyes.

“I wanted to meet you, Alexa.”

Alexa looked puzzled.

“…Do you… know me from somewhere?”

“You could say that. I know a lot about you actually. Things few others know.”

Alexa instinctively took a step back away from Michael.

“For example?” Alexa asked with a slight hitch in her voice. She hadn’t realized it, but her muscles had tensed and her ears were trained forward.

“I know you were raised in a secret government facility and were only released a few years ago. I know about those scars on your back from the scratch tests they performed on you. I know other things too, things I doubt you want to be reminded of, so I won’t mention them. Basically, I know everything about you that the government knows about you.”

As Michael was speaking, Alexa’s body had loosened, from shock rather than relaxation. When he said he knew about her scars, she had begun to cover herself with her hands. She felt exposed, naked. She curled up while standing, bending at the waist, as she tried to shrink in on herself and cover up more of her body. Tears began to form in her eyes as memories from all that time in those government labs came back to her. Memories she had tried to forget and suppress.

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“What do you want with me?! How do you know all of those things?!

“I’m sorry Alexa. I didn’t want to remind you of those horrible things that happened to you. I only spoke of them because I thought you wouldn’t believe me otherwise. I’m also sorry that you had to go through all of those experiments.”

Michael stepped toward her and put his hands on her shoulders trying to comfort her. Had she been entirely coherent, Alexa probably would have attacked the man, but as it was, she was too upset and confused to think clearly.

“Alexa, I had a reason to bring all of that up and I waited until we were alone for a reason. Don’t worry, I don’t want to harm you in any way.”

Alexa turned her face upward to Michael.

“I know about world governments secretly keeping chimeras to run experiments on them, I know about private companies also conducting illegal tests on chimeras, and I know about private individuals keeping chimeras as pets and slaves.”

Alexa had begun to calm down and Michael took his hands off her shoulders. Instead, he held onto her left hand, but his grip was loose and her hand rested atop his.

“I hate all the atrocities that have been committed by sapians against chimeras. I intend to form a group dedicated to liberating them. I can’t do it alone though. I need others to help me and I especially need chimera help. While reviewing data I hacked from the U.S. government, I discovered you. I thought you could help me so I sought you out. I came here today to meet you and invite you to join me in my quest to liberate captive chimeras. I saw how you defended my friends Crystal and Matt from harm. I’m more convinced now that you can help me in this fight. Would you be open to the possibility of joining me?”

Alexa looked into Michael’s eyes. She could see a burning passion behind the words he had spoken and a genuine desire to help her kind. She was intrigued by this sapian who seemed to care so much about the welfare of chimeras. She wanted to know more about him and this group he intended to found. Her face became resolute.

“I’d like to know more about it first, but I’m interested.”

“Thank you.” He let go of her hand. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone.

“I’m going to check up on Matt. You want to know how he is?”

“Yes I would, do you have their number?”

“Both Matt’s and Crystal’s.”

“Oh, I had forgotten in all the excitement earlier, but I had wanted to hang out with them later. Can you ask them if they’re still open to meeting?”

“I will, but perhaps you’d be willing to let me join? We could meet for dinner tonight after the convention’s over, if Matt’s fit enough for that.”

“That’s fine with me.”

“K, hopefully he didn’t take any major damage.”

Michael pulled up Crystal’s and called her. She picked up after the second ring.

“Hello?”

“Crystal, it’s Michael. How’s Matt?”

“Luckily it’s not too bad for what happened. A few bruised ribs and a lot of flesh bruises. The doctor’s say he’ll be released by this evening, but it will be a little while before he’s fully healed.

“Considering the circumstances, that is good news. You remember Alexa right?”

“Of course I do. I take it you met her right?”

“Correct Crystal. She still wanted to hang out with you and Matt. Think Matt could manage dinner tonight? My treat.”

Michael heard Crystal’s voice decrease in volume as she asked Matt if he would be ok for dinner with him and Alexa. Her voice returned to normal as she turned back to the phone.

“He said yes, provided that we go to that restaurant,” she said with a hint of amusement in her voice.

“Wouldn’t plan on any other. Let me ask Alexa if that’s ok.”

Michael turned to Alexa.

“Is Asian food ok with you, say 6:30pm?”

“That’s fine.”

“Is 6:30pm ok with you Crystal?” He said speaking into the phone.

“Yes, we’ll see you there.”

“Alright. Tell Matt to get better soon. See ya later.”

“Bye.”

Michael hung up and turned to Alexa.

“Matt’s in pretty good condition according to Crystal; a few bruised ribs and some flesh bruises. He’ll be alright.”

Michael began walking back toward the convention center.

“It’s 2:00 now, want me to pick you up at 6:00 or do you have a car?”

“If you don’t mind, I’d appreciate a ride.”

“I think I’ll go enjoy the convention until then. I wanted to go check out Artist’s Alley, you? He asked, finishing his Calpico. Alexa had finished her bottle while Michael was talking to Crystal.

“I was going to the Mixed Martial Arts panel.”

“Alright, can you give me your number? I’ll call you at 6:00, unless I see you sooner.”

“Sure”

The two exchanged numbers via IR. While exchanging numbers, Alexa noticed that Michael’s phone was the newest model of the Ius phone from the Sanctorum Tech company. Following the exchange, they re-entered the center and went their separate ways. Alexa didn’t see Michael again until that evening.