This is the story for Annie for the Christmas in July Challenge.
Annie's wishes were:
1)Some angst, but not too much (check)
2)Dynamic as in S1 (check)
3)Alec if poss with above (woups!)
Annie's non-wished were:
1)Virus (check)
2)Children - spot the teacher!- (check)
I hope you will enjoy it, Annie!
A very very big 'THANK YOU' to Lisa to have corrected the remaining errors!
In replacement of 'And Jesus Brought A Casserole' ...
A FAST LEARNER
Chapter 1: OverhearingZack ducked behind some garbage as the two guys were walking toward him and as neither of them stopped to catch him, he released the breath he had been holding and started worrying about what he just overheard.
He had been following Lydecker since his last escape from Manticore, led by one of Lydecker's numerous rules: Always keep an eye on your enemy.
But now he would have to let Lydecker go in order to concentrate on the news which he had just overheard.
The news increased his anger and his worries.
The next time he got hold of Max, he would give her what she deserves for fooling her brother.
What was that implant thing these guys were talking about? Why in hell didn't Max warn him about it? And, above all, what was the special metallic alloy of the implant which would allow this guy to find her?
Zack's thoughts were spinning as he was already planning the next few hours and a short list was elaborated in is mind while he was leaving the street noodle place.
1)Find Max
2)Kill Max
3)Ask Max about the implant
4)Torture Max to get the answer
5)Bring Max out of this fucking town
6)Kill Max
Okay, maybe some items would have to be erased from the list before I find her, but I'm going to make her pay for it… Zack thought on his way to her place.
He felt a bit of relief, having seen his own hands around Max's neck in his mind, and he finally managed to settle down his temper and slip his soldier's armor on.
But she won't get away with it…
Although distracted by his acidic inner comments, Zack was analyzing the conversation he had witnessed a few minutes ago.
Lydecker was meeting a guy, plotting to trade an in vitro embryo accompanied with some data from Manticore to put his dirty hands on Max's location. His partner in crime, called Zakes, had sworn that he was able to track her down with an implant she had gotten God knows how. And only this Zakes knew the alloy it contained, as Lydecker had let the man keep his secret.
As the thought crossed his mind, Zack turned on his heel and gazed around the place, cursing himself for having let the man leave without finding out what he knew.
Must have been because I was so damn angry, like only Max knows how to make me…
Zack shrugged off his guilt and headed toward Max's place.
The entire conversation these men had just shared was looping in his head. It didn't quite make sense yet, but Zack had got some clues from their words.
'…my kids perform fine without sticking some gizmo in their brain to rev them up.' Lydecker had said.
'She's got one of our implants.'
'The point is, the mechanism is made of a metallic alloy that returns a distinctive signature when hit with an electromagnetic signal.'
And the worst: 'We can find her for you. We'll have her home for you in no time.' Zakes had finally stated, his voice betraying how confident he was…
Zack revved up his engine as these words were swimming endlessly in his mind, barely disturbed by some thoughts concerning Max's murder. By his own bare hands…
Upon arrival at what could barely be called Max's apartment, he carelessly pushed the door down, not bothering at all about the lock. Screaming her name all around the place, Zack in turn was only rewarded by silence from the apartment and muffled howls from the neighbors. When his eyes fell on the clock in the living room, he sighed heavily and retreated toward the broken door to leave. According to the time displayed on the clock, he should find her at Crash.
Fortunately, the ride to the Crash allowed his fury to melt a little bit, leaving only worry lingering within him. A good thing for Max.
When he walked into the noisy place, Zack had regained his control and was quietly scanning the folk inside the place.
"Where is this scatterbrained sister…?" He mumbled to himself, realizing that, perhaps, he wasn't as cool as he previously thought he was.
Another angry sigh escaped him at the lack of Max's presence in the crowd and he was about to leave when he caught a glimpse of OC out of the corner of his eye. Without missing a beat, he made his way toward Max's roommate and, not waiting for her to acknowledge his presence, he yelled at her.
"Where Max?"
Original Cindy jumped, startled by his sudden appearance more than by his yelling, which was barely audible above the surrounding noise. Her rebukes died upon her lips the moment she recognized Max's brother.
"What happened? Why are you looking for her?"
"I don't have time to fill you in, tell me where she is."
"Logan's."
Zack's face darkened and OC would have laughed if his presence wasn't betraying another threat for her boo. Zack's prickly expression each time he had to face Max's attraction to Logan let OC thoughtful for a moment and she almost missed Zack's departure.
"Wait, Sam! Wait!" she screamed while she was running after him.
Zack stopped and looked at her, wondering if she could be of any help before grabbing her arm to drag her out.
"I told you, my name is Zack" He uttered sharply.
"Nevermind, boy, will you tell me what happen?"
"Max is in danger. I have to get her out of this town. Now. You have to come with me and pack her things." Zack replied without giving her any details. But OC freed her arm from his grip and stood in front of him urging him to explain the situation in more detail.
"We don't have time to fight," Zack cut as she was opening her mouth. "Make your mind up. You come or I go alone."
"If it wasn't for Max…" conceded Cindy " Go ahead, I'm in."
Zack handed her his helmet and they climbed onto his motorbike to ride towards her place. The noise of the engine prevented OC from questioning him further, she just held unto and circled his waist in silence.
Never had a ride seemed so short to OC. Zack drove so fast that she was forced to tighten her grip and close her eyes to fight off the slight panic she was feeling. She was rather wobbly when they arrived in front of her building and Zack had to help her climb up the stairs.
The sigh of the front door widely open made her gasp and, for the first time, Zack looked like he was a little embarrassed and he explained it was his feat. But a second later, he just pushed his faint abashment aside and told her to hurry up. Original Cindy frowned, but than let it go and headed for Max's room.
"Okay boy, who's after Max? Manticore? " She asked while packing Max's things, smirking at the sound of Zack's sharp intake of breath. Obviously, he was surprised at the knowledge she had of this slight detail concerning Max. Quite the obvious, he was doing exactly what Max had expected him to do: cursing at what Fate had provided him, a sibling as reckless as Max was.
"Where did that come from? What's Manticore?" Zack was trying to fool her, feeling his ire rise one more time.
"Don't lie. Just spill it. Who's haunting my boo? The Reds? Manticore? Who?"
"Who are the Reds?" Asked Zack, promptly, frowning at the name.
"Boy, you're surely know your sister, huh? " teased Cindy. "The Reds are a bunch of guys tracking her down for the purpose of using her ovaries and creating an army with them. They plan to put their implants in each of her babies and make them invincible."
Zack gulped his fury at this; anger being just a waste of time. If OC already knew about the implant and, as she seemed to know more things that even he knew, he then dropped his guard and started talking more freely.
"I heard about this implant, it is made with a special alloy they can traced. They plan to start the tracing tomorrow and if she doesn't leave now, they'll be able to catch her."
Cindy handed him the backpack she had already filled with Max's personal items.
"What are you still doing here, boy?"
Zack grabbed the backpack and turned toward the door without uttering a word.
"Must be Max's influence cause this girl to be so witty." he thought while running down the stairs.
TBC...