Outside Territories

Disclaimer: This story is not really done by me, James Cameron did the story first and I have made some alterations that while many, are not enough to claim this as a original piece of work. With that in mind, please enjoy my story.

Outside Territories

Chapter 1

Getting Acquainted

Blast it's cold, thought Zane as he walked his dog Zakk, he thought it only fitting to name it after the guy who was protecting him, Zack looks like one too chuckled Zane as he thought about Zack panting like his German Shepherd. It was cold in Minnesota, but it was safer than Seattle was by a long shot. Zane had been warned about the imposing threat of being in America, but he didn't care. He liked it there, sure Canada was safer but he just wanted to see more of his homeland. To a person without a childhood, you can of envy the little things. Like children being able to play in the park and not having to run an obstacle course ridden with booby-traps. Besides, he figured Zakk would like it here, plenty of dogs, more areas to investigate and new people to sniff out. "There you are" said a voice from behind Zane, it was his friend Tara. "Come on, you promised we would go window shopping together."

"Ah come on, at least let me take my dog back so he doesn't face the terrible misery that is this winters eve" said Zane.

"Unfortunately for you I have already figured out your plan. As soon as you open the door to your apartment you're going to jump in and lock the door. And I want a male's opinion on what looks good on me" said Tara.

"Please, just because I did that to you the last time doesn't mean I will do it again" said Zane. "Besides, we can't go in if you want to try on something, the dog remember."

"That's ok, pretend you're blind" said Tara.

"It's going to look suspicious if they see you asking me how the dress looks on you" retorted Zane.

"Then you're just going to have to feel what the dress is like on me," said Tara.

"Really?" asked Zane hopefully.

"No you pervert, just follow me" said Tara, dragging him by the arm.

To Zane, it felt like miles, they had walked for about two hours, he was pretending to imagine a dress or shirt on Tara to appease her obsessive fashion craze. Why do women do this to themselves thought Zane? I am perfectly happy with my Khaki pants and T-shirt combo, why does she need an outfit for every mood she could possibly feel at every hour of the day. This was ludicrous to him, he found everything he needed within an hour, and she took days of non-stop searching to figure out if that T-shirt she saw in first store was better than the one she might hypothetically find. All in all, if it weren't for her open behavior he would believe she was shy. "Ahem, you didn't answer my question," said Tara.

"I beg your pardon?" said Zane.

"That dress" pointed Tara to an absurdly over embroidered dress made of a blue silky material and yellow thread for the embroidery.

"What about it?" asked Zane.

"Do you think it looks nice?" asked Tara.

"It looks exquisite for a horse," said Zane, who then took an amazing amount of hits to the head from Tara. "What, I said it looked nice, what more do you want from me."

"I want to know if you think it will look nice on me," said Tara.

"You look beautiful enough, you would look beautiful in a burlap sack" said Zane.

Tara smiled, patted him on the shoulder and said ever so sweetly "You still aren't getting laid."

"But I have been oh so good" said Zane.

"Maybe if you had been paying attention but not now" said Tara. Tara, was good about these things, she knew Zane was attracted to her but she wanted to keep things plutonic, even if it wasn't corresponding to the strict definition. She also liked teasing him with those sultry comments and giving him a hard time. Tara was stunning, very fit, curves in all the right places, firm where it needs to be and perfect feet. She also had shoulder length black hair, with silvery blue eyes and a cute little nose. What also got Zane was that she liked almost everything he liked. She liked his music and movies and Zane got interested in her music choices and film preferences (even the sentimental ones). She was also very insightful and compassionate, qualities which were key for Zane. "Now I'm starved, for your insolence you owe me a hot dog and a drink" said Tara.

"Why is it I always pick up the bill?" asked Zane.

"Because you're a true gentleman and don't believe women should have to pay" said Tara.

"I am?" asked Zane.

"Not if you push it, now move, oh and pick up a hot dog for Zakk, the poor thing, I can't believe you brought him window shopping with us" said Tara.

"But you, uh, for gods sake" said Zane as he walked off to the hot dog stand with Tara giggling behind him.

It was really cold now, the radio at the hot dog stand said it was a cool negative twenty degrees Celsius. Zane brought back three hot dogs, one all dressed for him, a plain one for Zakk and one just with ketchup for Tara. They just sat the at a park bench, watching people walk by as they ate there hot dogs. Zakk wanted to go meet a Collie that he saw but Zane wouldn't allow it because of the strong leash law that they had going on in Minnesota right now. You would be fined a 200$ fee for letting your dog loose. Besides, thought Zane, I want to draw as little attention to me as possible. Zane could never be sure anymore if anyone was a part of Manticore or not, after all the stories he has heard from Zack, he was not likely be heard uttering X5. Zane was feeling secure with Tara, she seemed to except people for who they are not what they are meant or told they should be. Tara was sweet, innocent and funny. Zane always lost himself when he concentrated too long on how perfect she was that too get him back in reality she started making faces at him. "Hello, you ok?" asked Tara, a little concerned.

"I'm cold, can we go home now" asked Zane.

"Baby, ok, let's go back to your place. Umm, do you mind if I slept over at your place today?" asked Tara.

"You, sleep with me?" asked Zane.

"No, I just need to stay over at your place tonight because my roommate Stephanie is having her boyfriend over for a little gathering and asked if I wouldn't mind staying out tonight," explained Tara.

"Oh, sure I don't mind. I will just get some blankets for the couch and you will be on your way" said Zane.

"Oh no, I get the bed. You can have the couch, with my delicate physique you wouldn't ask such a gentle lady to sleep on your cold stiff couch," said Tara.

"Maybe I should just move out so you can have more privacy," said Zane in a very moody tone.

"That would be nice," said Tara in a cheerful, playful voice, which made Zane groan in agony.

They reached Zane's apartment, it was pretty spacious, and one thing Zane was proud of was the working plumbing. Water never had to be heated in a pot before being put in the tub. His apartment had a kitchen, a living room, and a decent sized bathroom with a tub and a bedroom. "I'm tired, I think I am just going to go straight to bed" said Tara as she headed off into the bedroom. Zakk followed her into the bedroom, and before Tara closed the door, Zane got a good glance at Zakk on top of his bed panting, mocking him.

"Traitor" said Zane. Zane went and just stretched out on the couch, he didn't feel much like sleeping, so he thought he would watch some music videos. Much to his dismay, they were showing some ABBA documentary. So he got up and went to his computer, he logged on to his email account. Junk, junk, porn, porn, would you like to save on your coffin, junk. Then something got his eye, a message from Mr. Wylde. Hey it's Zack, wait, he would never send me anything by email, took too long, the uncertainty and lack of privacy was too great of a risk for him. Crap maybe it's a Manticore thing, better delete it. If it was important then he can call me.

"What did he do?" asked a shadowed figure.

"He deleted it sir, are you sure this is the guy we're looking for?" asked a man looking through some high teck binoculars. "He doesn't have a barcode."

"We think he had it surgically removed" said the shadowed figure.

"Maybe this isn't the guy you're looking for," said the man holding the binoculars.

"Maybe, maybe not" said the shadowed figure.