Author's Note: Sorry for the delay folks! This is my version of how Max finally defeats the Familiars and finds Sandeman. It's less angsty this time around! You probably should read "Transgenic on Trial" and "Can't Save Everyone" before you read this. Enjoy! 

Chapter 1: Found but not Lost

"It's coming… its coming…" Max muttered in a trance, taken by the vision she had just experienced. Logan's voice appeared in the back of her head.

"… Max? Max? Are you okay?"

She turned her head and looked into his eye, her eyes oddly diluted. "I have to get out of here," she whispered. Logan cocked his eyebrow in confusion. Max didn't wait for his response but leapt from the stand in one swift motion. She began sprinting for the exit to everyone's amazement. Two guards standing at the doors blocked her path.

"I have to go… you don't understand," she explained, wishing she could tell them the whole truth. Her eyes darted toward White suspiciously, somehow knowing he was connected to the vision. Sensing Max knew something she shouldn't, White stood up slowly, soothing out his suit.

"Your Honor, this isn't a hotel. 452 shouldn't be able to come and go as she pleases. Even they need to obey the rules," he sneered, accidentally letting his hatred for the transgenics slip into his speech.

Max knew the logical thing to do was to go back to the courtroom and take her medicine, but if the vision was real she had to do something about it. Apocalyptic visions weren't the kind of things you could brush aside. Desperate she tried to push past the guards, but they were prepared. Within moments she felt two prongs send electricity through her small body. She wriggled against the force and passed out. The courtroom could only look in awe at the sight of the unconscious transgenic, wondering what had just transpired.

Max awoke in her familiar cell. Grimacing, she rubbed at her tender sides where the prong had hit. She checked the window of her cell and figured she had been out about an hour. Dusk had just descended upon Seattle. What did the vision mean? Was it real or was she finally losing her mind? If it was real, how much time did she have? And who could explain it to her? Sandeman. If this guy really was her creator and White's father, maybe he knew what these apocalyptic visions were and what they had to do with her. She had no idea who Sandeman was, if he was as angelic as Joshua claimed him to be, or if he could help at all. But right now, he was the only shot she had.

Realizing her stunt presumably heightened security, Max decided she needed back up. She climbed on top of her bed, silently hoping Alec had kept his promise about keeping a vigil for her. She carefully positioned her watch and began flashing the signal in Morse code in the direction of the Space Needle. "C'mon Alec, answer," she silently pleaded.

Alec thumbed through a magazine he had fished out of a nearby garbage disposal. Pure smut. Shameless of course; and Max would probably smack him upside the head for looking at it, but entertaining nonetheless. Joshua noted his choice of reading material and growled softly. "Always tricks and treats," he reprimanded him.

"Naaaah, I read it for the articles," Alec lied, smirking slightly. "Whooo! Check out the rack on this one," he said, excitedly pointing to a centerfold and showing it to Joshua. Joshua merely glanced and shook his head in disgust.

"Hey man, just takes my mind off of other things," he claimed as he flipped to another page. "Oooh, keep draggin' that wagon."

"Like Max," Joshua comprehended, nodding. He frowned as he remembered his last meeting with Max. He wished he could take that moment back. She needed him… after she had been there for him so many times. And now… would he ever see her again? He looked down at the floor and put a hand through his hair. Then out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a light. He cocked his head like a befuddled puppy and turned to the source of the light. He blinked a bit, and then poked a deeply focused Alec.

"Alec? Light over there… keeps blinking," he informed his companion.

"Yea well, street light might be out. Another brownout or whatever," Alec mumbled as he looked at another scantily clad model. Joshua took a closer look. No, something was wrong. He shook his head and poked Alec again.

"No… this is different. A pattern," he prodded him.

At those words, Alec hastily pushed his magazine aside and walked to the edge of the Needle. He looked over to the light source and squinted his eyes to focus in. Joshua was right. There was definitely a pattern here. A breath caught in his throat as he translated the message. Max. And she needed help.

When Alec and Joshua arrived after successfully sneaking into the prison, they were surprised to see Max desperately trying to pick the lock of her cell with a deranged look in her eye. She was so deep in concentration that she didn't even hear them approach. They watched her movements in amusement for a moment, until Alec spoke to get her attention.

"Pssst! Hey Max! You gonna keep toying with that thing all night or just give in?" he teased. Max looked up at Alec, then Joshua, and a small smile flashed on her face.

"Took you long enough," she snarked, becoming more solemn.

"Yea well, didn't want to miss the concert," he quipped as he quickly opened the lock with the key he had 'acquired' from the guards. He grinned smugly as the door clicked and flew open. Max rolled his eyes at his exuberance.

"Yea, you want a medal? Let's go!" she insisted, snatching her leather jacket from a nearby stand.

Joshua's eyes darted back and forth in confusion. "Wh-where are we going?" he asked flustered.

Max put her hand on Joshua's shoulder. "We're going to find Father," she explained. Joshua's eyes grew wide and he grinned widely at the news. He started to follow Max and Alec along the corridor with much gusto. Unfortunately, they had only moved a few steps before they heard the click of a gun and stopped dead in their tracks. Max closed her eyes in exasperation.

"I'm going to ask you to turn around slowly," the voice spoke behind them. They did as they were told and faced the guard. Max felt a glimmer of hope. It was Max. Only… he didn't look very friendly right now.

"You know, I was starting to think you weren't so bad. A girl from the wrong side of the tracks. But I guess I was wrong," he told Max, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Listen Max," Max spoke quickly. Joshua and Alec shared a confused look at her words. Max? Alec mouthed to Joshua. "I have to go. You're in danger… we'll all be in danger if I don't go."

"Well Maxie, pleas of insanity aren't exactly believable… especially when they come from a desperate woman," he laughed callously.

"I'd have to be wouldn't I?" Max agreed in a sharp tone. "To leave the trial in the middle of a media circus and risk the lives of my people?" He regarded her, considering her words. She took note of his renewed interested and took a breath. "Please."

Max started to slowly lower his gun. "Do me one favor…" he said, considering his words carefully. "Find them." He knew he didn't have to explain that he meant his wife and kid. A huge lump formed in this throat as he felt the sense of longing again. He gulped and pulled his gun down by his side.

"I promise," Max agreed, seriously.

"Let's get out of here," Alec insisted, tugging her sleeve.

"Not like that…" the guard argued. With that, he pulled down the fire alarm. "Run," he whispered.

The fire alarm proved to be an excellent diversion as the prison guards ran around the complex in a panic. Max did his part by herding the guards toward the fire exits and barking out orders to keep them occupied. Meanwhile, the transgenic trio made their way toward the back exit with little trouble. With their heightened speed and hearing, they were able to detect the presence of the guards. Alec and Max signaled to each other, familiar with the rules of Escape and Evade, while Joshua hung back and did his best to follow their lead. Within 20 minutes, they were free.

Max took a deep breath as she took in the outdoors and her newfound freedom. A blanket of snow had descended upon the city and, for just a minute, she felt delighted to feel its crunch beneath her feet. She walked hastily and began to tug at her jacket. Alec sprinted beside her, confused.

"So we're just gonna start from scratch or do you have a carrier pigeon in there?"

"Thought we'd track down Sandeman's crazy yet less sinister son," she stated cryptically as she pulled out her cell phone and began dialing a number. "Logan, it's me."

"Max? Don't tell me... you escaped from prison," he guessed, rolling his eyes at his rambunctious ex-girlfriend.

"So if I told you the end of the world was upon us?"

"Wouldn't believe it if it was anyone but you," Logan answered, a small smile on his face.

"Yea well, unless you have connections with any psychics in the area, I think we need to contact Sandeman."

"'Founder of Manticore?' Are you sure?"

"Nope, but we're out of options. Where'd you stash C.J.?"

Logan turned to his computer and rapidly typed on his keyboard. "127 Euclid Street," he muttered as he read off the screen.

"Got it."

"Max… be careful."

C.J. stroked the snake wrapped around his arm and smiled. "Don't worry George. They'll never find us here. Just you and me…" he laughed manically. At that moment, Max, Alec, and Joshua broke down his door and stood before him.

C.J. shrieked in terror, nearly dropping George on the floor. He then composed himself and eyed Max. "Took you long enough!" he complained as he walked over to Max, shaking his snake in her direction.

"Woah, woah… watch it buddy," Alec said, throwing up his hands as he backed away from the snake.

Max made a face at White's loony brother. "You were expecting me?"

"Yea! A little late, missy!" C.J. cried and walked over to a calendar, hanging lopsided against the wall. "The Coming is in only three days! We're all gonna be doomed!" he whispered, staring at Joshua with a crazed look in his eyes. Joshua had taken care of all of the basement people for years, but the man who stood before him somehow seemed crazier than all of them put together.

Max grabbed him by the shoulders to calm him down. "CJ… CJ… does your father know about the Coming? Does Sandeman know about all this?"

C.J. rolled his eyes, wondering why this girl didn't seem to understand him. "Of course he did! That's why he created you!" he cried, failing his arms about.

"So can we find this Sandeman guy then?" Alec asked, insistently shrugging his shoulders.

"Maybe," C.J. said, holding his snake by the neck and staring into its eyes. "Only when you sleep I hear." The transgenic trio collectively rolled their eyes at him, growing more impatient. Joshua, desperate to find his long lost father, lost all patience and picked C.J. up into the air by his collar.

"Where is Father?" he growled, insistently.

"Ooooh Dad!" C.J. laughed as he stared at the ground below him, nervously. "Of course I know where he is." Joshua sighed and lowered him to the ground. Upon reaching solid ground, C.J. sprinted for the door. Max, Alec, and Joshua shot each other annoyed looks and followed in pursuit.

The motley crew continued trekking through the snow for what seemed like miles. The transgenics eyed C.J. who was marching forward without a focused look in his eyes, mumbling to the snake in his arms every so often. The wind whipped in their faces and they started to take note of the biting cold. Shivering and feeling a bit fatigued, Alec turned to Max.

"So how do we know this guy isn't leading us to White or even the middle of nowhere? Saying he lost his marbles seems to be an understatement here," he asked. Joshua nodded, sharing his concern.

Max sighed and scooted in front of their guide. "You gonna tell us where we're going? Any landmarks? It is a lab? A shed? A… flying saucer…" she interrogated him.

"We're almost there!" he insisted, frustrated. He picked up his snake, "She's not very trusting is she, George? Wait! Here we are!"

"Man's officially lost it," Alec sighed as he surveyed their destination. They were in the back of an undisclosed alley in Sector Nine. There was no building, no shed, nor UFO in front of them. Instead they faced a horde of people standing in a circle in front of an open fire alight in a trash bin. The people were clad in ragged clothing and looked rather unwashed. Max guessed they were homeless folks, trying to stay warm in the frigid weather. C.J. tapped one of the men huddling over the fire. He was dressed in a long overcoat and supported himself with a cane.

The man turned toward C.J. and pulled him into a tight hug without a word. He then regarded the trio in front of him. Max surveyed the man in front of her. He was an old man, rather tall and frail looking. His hair was thin, white, and dangled slightly in front of his face. His face was gentle, but slightly deformed. One eye was bright blue; the other was crushed slightly by loose skin. His face formed into a tight smile, wrinkling his aged face.

Joshua's breath caught in his throat, "Father."