"Final call, everyone!"

"Finish packing!"

"Leave whatever cannot be transported!"

The next twenty-four hours were critical for the Science Center community. They did not know what to expect from the Canines. Sometimes canines would avoid conflict, but more predictably, they would fight to protect their territory and their young. In this case, however, the situation was different, even dire. There was a new presence within the human ranks; a noxious being waiting in the background. The situation had left the Canines feeling threatened and cornered, ready to fight. A second assault on the Center loomed as soon as the next nightfall.

In the meantime, evacuation efforts from Anderson continued. Many people had already transferred to Corvin Mines, the newly designated center of operations. Others moved to the surrounding shelters. The mass migration had drawn the attention of the other animal species, but the humans' travel routes were not new, and the destinations were not threatening. Plus, the transfers were brisk, without time left for contention. The exodus, thus, had been successful.

The boulder remaining in the room was the humans' reason for leaving Anderson in the first place — the mongrels' true interest — the existence of a monster named Alessandro.

"Who is Alessandro? Why is he staying with us?"

"Where did he come from?"

"What does he want?"

The very thought of a "monster" living amongst the humans was causing discord.

"He's dangerous! That flying freak is the cause of all our problems!"

"If the Canines want the boy, we should just give him to them!"

"We can't protect him anyway!"

Alessandro was drawing too much notice. It was controversial for him to live in any of the human communities.

"The boy is not human."

"But he saved those boys from the snake, remember?"

"And he saved us from the Mongrel King, too!"

Alessandro was a vampire, but he was also human. And, he had never shown ill will toward the human race.

"That boy is the only one who can save Renderton!"

"Should we stay and fight?"

"Freedom! Freedom!"

The debate ranged, with Alessandro in the middle.

"We are not the HPU! We are scientists!"

"Violence only begets more violence!"

"If we fight, the world loses more than our human lives."

The bickering was tearing the humans apart.

"I'll go."

Alessandro understood why he had been sent to the forsaken world.

"I will give myself over to the Grey Wolf King," Alessandro announced.

"Why?" Mimi asked. "Why would you do that, Aless?" She had followed the young man into the Center's library.

Alessandro skeed away, through reference and resource, passing an area filled with unattended tables and chairs. His speed was unmatched, but in this case, the goal was not to escape. Behind him, Mimi chased, the two of them swerving past displays and exhibitions, like a pair of electrons flowing down a path of least resistance. They propelled themselves forward, their steps corresponding like tab-and-groove. Stride for stride, the pursuit continued until, at last, the two reached an open area, distant and isolated. At that, Alessandro slowed enough to be caught by the girl.

The female HP officer forced a face-to-face. She stepped in front and moved side to side, angling for more eye contact.

Every time, however, Alessandro strained away from her silver string and cross.

"Aless, look at me," Mimi pleaded. "What are you doing? Why are you facing Gevaudan? Are you trying to kill yourself?"

Alessandro turned and gazed at Mimi with clear eyes.

"Mimi, Gevaudan and his army are coming. If I am not here, he will destroy Anderson. Then he will tear up every shelter in Renderton looking for me. He'll go on a rampage. Humanity's very existence hangs in the balance!"

Alessandro's eyes flashed momentarily.

"Just because the Wolf King demands a fight doesn't mean you have to give it to him. It's suicide! He's a megalomaniac! You can't possibly take on his entire army and expect to survive!"

"Whether I win or not is relevant. Whether I survive or not does not matter. I have to face Gevaudan."

"Why?" Mimi challenged. "Why do you have to do this?"

Alessandro was quiet. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

"Ever since I came to this world, I have asked myself, 'What am I?' 'Why did God make me a vampire?' Why did He send me to Renderton, of all places?"

Mimi listened.

"Mimi, do you know who the rival to the vampire is? It is the lycan. A werewolf! A canine, just like the Grey Wolf King."

Alessandro paused and let the idea sink in.

"Mimi, I was meant to face Gevaudan. It's why I'm here. It's why God made me a vampire. It's why I've shown up at a place being threatened by werewolves. It only makes sense."

"No, Aless, you're wrong! The Canines are not werewolves. Gevaudan may be a wolf, but he's not a 'lycan,' or whatever else you think he is. You're just trying to turn this situation into something it isn't!"

"No, Mimi, listen to me. God gave me the name Alessandro when He gave me this mission. The name means 'savior of mankind.' It's why I'm here. I'm here to save mankind. From extinction, from the lycans, from Gevaudan. I'm not sure how to do it, how to 'save mankind,' but I have to try. I have to face the Wolf King. I can't run or hide from my destiny."

Mimi stared at her friend, unable to say anything more.

Alessandro had stated his case.

And Mimi understood.

Alessandro covered his face and began to sob. At once, he fell to the floor.

The female officer grabbed the boy and dropped to the floor as well, holding the boy against her chest, rocking and soothing his tears away.

For a while, the two teens held each other and said nothing more.

Later, as Alessandro was recomposing himself, he felt the silver cross against his head, the shiny metal searing into his skin. He pulled away.

Mimi squeezed tighter, but soon gave way to acceptance.

"I know there's nothing I can say to make you change your mind," she said. She released her arms and placed her hands at Alessandro's shoulders. "How can I help you? What can I do?"

Alessandro hung his head and shrugged, pushing Mimi's hands away.

"You can't. I'm alone in this thing."

Mimi pulled the boy from Earth's past back into her arms, hugging him again. "You're not alone, Aless!"

Alessandro resisted, pulling away. "Isn't it ironic, Mimi? That God would have someone not human save the human race?"

Mimi froze, and thought about it. She separated from her embrace and lifted her lower pant leg, revealing her prosthetic leg.

"We'll, I'm not completely human either."

Alessandro looked at the robotic leg with amazement. He half-smiled.

"I guess it means I'll have to save the human race, too," Mimi said. "If you are to face the Wolf King, I'll have Human Protection support you. We have to protect the shelters, but we can also have some officers here at Anderson as well. Elliot will want to participate, but if he does, he'll probably get killed. Promise me you won't allow him to fight?"

Alessandro nodded.

Mimi reached over and hugged Aless once again, leaning her head into his shoulder and staying there awhile.

Alessandro relented, relaxing and resting his weary head.