Chapter 8


It took us about an hour of beautiful Wyoming landscape to get to the small run down restaurant. I looked at the lady at the counter when all of us walked in. It was one of surprise and joy. She acted as if she hadn't had a customer in forever. I sat down with David.
"So, what have you been doing other than tracking you X-5?" I asked.
"Well, I got a job as a phone salesperson."
"Really, sounds boring."
"Well, what are you doing?"
"Bicycle delivery service."
"Well, your job sounds major."
"Major?"
"Big, important, very much needed."
"Oh."
"Can I ask what you two would like?"
"Um, what's the special?" I asked.
"It's a double cheese burger, a large order of fries, and a large soda."
"I'll have that and for the soda, what do you carry?"
"Coke."
"I'll have a coke then."
"And you?"
"I'll have the same."
The waitress walked away and put our bill on the spinner.
"So, where you going after this?" I asked.
"Probably back to Portland."
"That's where you were at?"
"Yeah, I went there after the X-5 and was just basically hanging out."
"Cool, how long have you been there?"
"About a year or two now."
"Cool."
"So where you going?"
"Seattle."
"How come?"
"Well, I have two steady jobs, of course only one pays, but that's all right."
"Two jobs?"
"Yeah, I have... a private employer I guess you could say."
"And he doesn't pay ya?"
"Nope, I don't mind though."
"Whatever."
"Excuse me you two, but can I talk with Jon for a little while?" Max said interrupting our conversation.
"Yeah, take as long as you need." David said motioning with his arms.
"Thanks... sorry I don't know your name."
"David."
"Thanks David, I'm..."
"Max, I know, it was in the briefing."
I walked over to Max's table and sat down.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"I wanted to thank you, I mean, I thought I was gonna be in there forever, and I had to listen to that heartbeat."
"Yeah, who's was that anyway?"
"Mine and Zack's."
"What?"
"I was clinically dead, but Zack committed suicide to save me." Max began to cry.
I motioned for Logan and I held her hand until he got there.
"What's up?" He asked looking at Max and then me.
"I think you would be better here for now." I suggested.
Logan sat down next to Max and hugged her. I left them right after that. I walked over to my table to find David eating and my plate sitting there.
"So what was up?"
"Nothing."
"Whatever."
"What is up with you and whatever?"
"What do you mean?"
"You say it as a reply to everything."
"Really, I guess I never really noticed it."
"Oh well." I said taking a large bite out of my hamburger.
"Whoa, when did that happen?"
"What." I said with my food only partially chewed.
"I remember you always eating in little tiny bites and taking as long as possible."
"Your point, I was giving us sometime to relax."
"What do you mean."
"I mean, I was like Lydecker's son, and we didn't have to work until I was done eating, so I took as long as possible to eat so that you guys could take a break."
"That's because in a way, you are my son."
"What?" I said spinning around and seeing that Lydecker had heard most of the conversation.
"Like Max, I took part of my DNA and put it into you, only with Max it was my wife's DNA ."
"What are you talking about?"
"I am part of you, you have my DNA in you."
"You're telling me that I'm half you?"
"Not half, more like a tenth, but still, yes."
"I'm sickened by that, no wonder I was put in command, I was being shown favoritism."
I stood up and asked for a bag to put my food in and paid my check. I stuffed what was left of my burger and my fries into the bag and gulped down the rest of my coke. Then I walked out the door, jumped on my bike, and sped off.
I only stopped for gas on the way back to my apartment. When I got there Original Cindy was standing outside my door.
"What." I said fairly agitated.
"Boo gave me a call and gave me a heads up. She said your staying at our place tonight."
"Why?"
"Because, she said when she gets back she is gonna bring you back to earth."
"And what makes you think I wont just go right through you and into my place?"
"I know you wont hurt me."
"And why not?"
"Because you wont do anything to me without a cause."
"Your right, I wouldn't be able to do anything to you if I tried, lead the way."
"Don't think so, if you're behind me then you can sneak into your apartment, the door is over there and it is unlocked, so you lead the way."
"Your good, now if you were only genetically engineered then you could be even better than me and Max."
"Thank you, now move soldier."
I walked over to the door and crashed on the couch.
"Make yourself at home." Original Cindy said as she walked into the kitchen. I was out like a light.