Chapter 2: Something is Rotten in Seattle
Unbeknownst to Max, Dr. Verizon was working into the night for a cure to the virus. She and Logan had discussed it earnestly about the virus. He told her of what happened when Max came in touch with him and what had finally became of their or his relationship towards Max. He said that Max told him a lie to keep him from her. And the doctor knowing Max for the brief time that she had been there at Manticore and what she had read about her she understood now what Max was like. A smile at Logan knowing that that was Max. Keep everyone safe was Max's thought even growing up as was also Zack's, too.
Logan came into the lab where the doctor was working hard and not hearing Logan come in she jumped like a scared rabbit. She wasn't really used to people being behind her, because of Manticore. "Sorry," Logan said. "Well, what's happened since I last came in here," he asked with hope in his eyes. "Is there an answer to the virus, Dr. Verizon?"
"Yes, I think there is. I just need to check a few things first with Max's blood again. It looks promising, Logan. But please, don't get your hopes up or anything until I know for sure, okay?" She knew that she could see the hope already in his eyes. This man did love Max with all of his heart and all of his soul. She was a very lucky lady. Transgenic or human alike, which Max was both. More human than Max knew...
Logan not knowing what Dr. Verizon had up her sleeve with Max's blood, he just assumed it was for the virus. Dr. Verizon had been a long time member of Manticore. Little did everyone know or knew of, even Alec of her length of time at that place. Alec only knew her from growing up and that was a few years ago.
Dr. Verizon was a grand-mother of sorts with all the X series. They had all confided in her as if she was in fact a relative. No one knew that she had children of her own and that her children had in fact stayed at Manticore. But once Manticore was gone her and her children, and grand-children had escaped with her. No one at TC knew this.
Some miles away, Zack was tending to a foal that he had helped deliver early in the morning on Saturday. Zack had named the filly, Max. 'Why did that name sound so familiar.' It was somewhere in his mind he just didn't know where. He'd been having severe headaches for a long time and they were getting worse. His boss had taken him to a doctor for his headache and that seemed to have calm them down for a little while, at least. Zack didn't want to worry his boss so he kept has headaches that had become worse away from him. The time when Zack had past out his boss had insisted that he see a doctor, but since then Zack had said nothing. Today his headaches was the worst. Every time he thought of the name Max it would get worse and worse, but now it was like a screw driver being jammed into his brain. 'What the hell is going on? I never use to have this kind of pain.' Thought of the name Max was the key -- to what? He didn't know, but he was going to find out.
Buddy, his boss, was coming up behind him and he had noticed Adam was holding his head, "You alright, Adam?" Buddy asked him worriedly.
"Yeah, it's alright. It's not that bad." 'No, I don't want Buddy to worry about me,' he thought as he look at his boss. "I think I'll name the filly Max; what do ya think, Buddy?" Zack by all purposes was named Adam a while back when Zack had tried to kill Logan back in Seattle. Zack looked quizzly at Buddy for a sign of any recognition of that name. And surprisingly he did, without Buddy's knowledge he had let the cat out of the bag. "Max is a name I remember from somewhere, I don't know where though. Was it a girlfriend I had before I wrecked that pickup going to Seattle," Adam asked Buddy.
"I don't know? You had so many girls flocking around that I didn't know who was who," Buddy said jokingly and a little apprehensive.
Zack asked quizzly, "Did I meet some girl in Seattle and that's why I wrecked the pickup looking for her?" Smiling shyly at Buddy and a little flushed.
"No, don't you remember? The pickup blew out a tire and you flip over in the pickup; don't you remember now?" Buddy questionly looking up at his face. 'Oh, no. Gotta get word to Logan that Zack is starting to ask questions. Something is wrong. I don't know what to tell Adam now if his memory comes back. Gotta phone Logan, but where?' Buddy was thinking. Zack had noticed the expression on his boss's face that caused himself to wonder about more questions than he had answers for.
Adam said in a surprise that made Buddy jump, "Oh, Well. I'll figure it out sooner or later." Buddy smiled at Adam like as to relief that he didn't know the answer to the questions Zack had asked him.
"Well, if you're through discussing your dreadful trip and this little filly then I think it's time for supper. Mary had supper ready when I came out to get ya, son." Buddy put his arm around Adam to nudge him along to the house.
Back at Terminal City, Max was once again giving blood to Dr. Verizon since she had that doosey of a seizure the other night. And the doctor had asked for some more to study the effect of the liquid Tryptophan. Max asked, "Why are you taking so much blood? It was only a seizure." Max was a little unhappy giving her blood all the time.
"Max, you being out in the world may have a cause for the liquid not to work on you exactly the way it works on the X series back at Manticore. That's all I'm testing for. By the way, you are the first that I've studied that's been in the world for so long I -- I just wanted to be sure, that's all." Verizon said hesitantly. "Your DNA is unusual, I guess by the fact that you've been out here. Other than the normal genetic make-up there are signs of you have something unusual in your DNA." She was scrambling for something to say when she came across a particular gene that brought a red flag up in her brain. "Why don't you give me just a little more for studies so I won't have to ask again for several weeks," she asked questionly to Max. But her thoughts were on that particular gene that she had just found.
Logan and Joshua were walking down the hall discussing something with each other when Joshua smelled something in the air. "Joshua, what is it?" asked Logan when he looked up at his canine friend.
Joshua had his nose up in the air smelling something, "Logan, smell something from Manticore," is all he would say. "Got to find Max." Joshua said in fright. He and Logan started running to the direction of Max, wherever she was. Joshua was unnerved by this time and was panting. Logan didn't know what to think at this time. Then both men all but ran into Max at the corner.
"Wow, where's the fire, guys," Max asked in amusement trying to lighten the faces of the men.
"Joshua smelled something from Manticore," said Logan to Max.
"Joshua smells Manticore. Max needs to go fast. Mole needs to know." Joshua was beside himself now. He wasn't making any sense at all as far as Logan and Max were concerned.
"Okay. Okay, big fella. Calm down. What are you talking about? Manticore -- what are you talking about?" Asked Max in concerned of her canine friend.
"Max, come," Joshua all but shoved Max down the hall where she had just came. Max thought, 'What the hell is going on now. Joshua is so upset about something. I've never seen him so antsy.'
Logan in the mean time kept up with the two and looked on to Max with upset in his eyes for Max and seen Joshua protective toward Max. He was relieved at the site of the big guy wrapping his huge arms around Max that it made Logan's heart lift. She had someone that would protect her when he was at Sandeman's house, his temporally home since his own apartment had been gutted by Ames White and his band of renegades. He once again had his mind on Max and the virus. He thought, 'Just a little while longer, Max. I'll be able to also put my arms around you and' -- the feline in Logan took over yet again. 'Oh man, what's happening to me? I want Max, I want to make her mine!!!' His inability to keep his hands off of her was too much. 'Now I know what Max has been going through all of these years. With her heat. But I'm not a female -- why is this happening to me? Logan was fighting himself as if he had two personalities. Logan now knew what happened with Max's personality when she was in heat. 'I'm beginning to feel like a Tom staking out my claim on a female --- oh, God…. Logan was so beside himself with the rational thought that he had to calm down or attack Max soon. Calming Logan regained his sanity for the moment to find out what in the world Joshua was going on about. The threesome had turned a corner when Dr. Verizon ran into them and Joshua just froze in his steps.
" Hi, Joshua. Didn't know you were here at TC. How have you been these days? Asked and inquired the doctors toward Joshua. Joshua was still unable to speak. Then it occurred to him and his canine grin grew bigger and bigger as he looked at the grey haired woman. He suddenly gave yelp and hugged the woman with all of his strength. Almost breaking her ribs she yelled out, "Hey, watch it big boy. Do you want to put me in the hospital? I really don't have the place fixed up for such an emergencies yet." She grinned to the over-sized dogman.
"Joshua is so, so glad to see you, Dr. V. Where are your kids and grand-kids? Did they make it out? Where are them? Questions was just flying out of Joshua's mouth so fast that only one word was on Max's and Logan's brains. Kids??? Max and Logan froze at the thought of what was said.
Max was the first to ask, "What -- What kids or for that matter grand-kids?"
Logan was right behind her with the same question, "Yeah, what kids?"
Joshua looked at the doctor sheepishly and he realized he had spoken up in his excitement about the secret he and the doctor had kept between them for years. And it came down to them all looking at Verizon.
"Well, Joshua is telling the truth. For the longest time I kept the identity of all my kids and grand-kids from Manticore so that they didn't have to suffer like I did if they were caught." Dr. V said As her eyes fell from Joshua to the other two. "I didn't want to sneak my kids into that place, but I had no choice. Manticore gave everyone strict orders not to leave the compound. I had my kids to think about then and I didn't have any choice. Max, I'm sorry I kept all of this from you, Logan and the rest here at Terminal City. Mole and Joshua as far as I know are the only two that knew. Maybe some of the other Nomlies knew but I don't know who else now from the basement." I would take the kids when they were little down to talk with certain ones that wouldn't do my kids harm and they would play with them. As they grew up their kids did the same thing. I'm so so sorry, Joshua and everybody."
When Max had regained her speech she softly asked, "Where are your --- um, everyone in your family?" Max was at this time numb from the words coming from the doctor. Logan was also speechless to say the least. And Joshua eyes lit up like a Christmas tree at the site of hearing Max's question. Joshua asked in excitement, "You know where little ones are and other ones?"
"Yes, Joshua --- and Max. I know were they all are. If you all want to visit with them I'll show you in just a little while. Is that okay with you Max?"
Max just looked at everyone stunned. "Oh, okay. She said still stunned.
Logan on the other hand was questioning everything that had been said from the doctor. He took Dr. Verizon to the side after Joshua and Max rounded the corner and was happy at the news.
"I thought we were friends? Why didn't you tell me? I know Eyes Only and he could have help you and your family get away from here." Logan said with madness in his voice.
"This is where I need to be – for now anyway. And my family knows what's going on so you don't need to contact Eyes Only or anyone. That's where I know you from!" She stated with excitement.
"You work for Eyes Only and you were at the Jam Pony fall-out. You were the one who leapt on to that car and yelled Max." Again said with excitement in her voice.
Logan was angry now, "Yeah, yeah. I want to know why you're here and what do you have to do with that virus." Logan was at a boiling point by now and couldn't control his temper. 'Max was in harm from this woman'. He thought with venom. But he didn't know what harm the doctor had in store for Max. Things were unsettling for Logan so he stayed around and watched.
Meanwhile at the ranch, Buddy was getting an uneasy feeling concerning Adam. Zack continued having severe headaches. He kept getting flash-backs that he didn't know where from. A beautiful girl, no, four girls. 'Now I know I'm dreaming or something. The girls are gorgeous, what are they to me? Okay, then. What are their names? Think, think…. Max and, um --- yeah, Johndy, Syl and, shit, I can't think. Alright, clear your mind, A—Adam? Wait --- my name isn't Adam it's --- Zack!! Yeah, my name is Zack!!! Okay, let's find out what the hell is going on. Time for some answers Buddy! Zack was very, very pisst off by this time and his head was about to blow up. "Buddy, what the hell is going on. Why are you calling me Adam? My name is Zack and what am I doing here? Can you tell me what's going on and how did I get here. Last thing I remember is seeing Max. 'Oh shit… Max --- where is Max? And all the others. Oh, damn! Damn it.' Zack was now completely confused at the knowledge he had regained. Looking at Buddy in wonderment. Buddy's eyes were looking at Zack in fear, sorrow, and confusion all at the same time. Buddy didn't know what to say to Zack.
"Adam --- I'm mean Zack, let me take you into the house, okay? And I'll tell you what I do know." Buddy said in frustration. Buddy told Zack everything he had been told to by Logan, excluding the kill message that was drill in his head from Manticore. He had hoped he was doing the right thing since he wasn't able to get into contact with Logan. He didn't know what else to do. The boy had questions and he deserved to have answers. Zack just sat on the couch pondering the knowledge he was told looking out of the big picture window in front of him. His brain was whirling like a top at the news.
Syl and Johndy was making their way to Seattle after seeing the news a couple of months ago. Since Zack was not around they had found each other and were wondering what was going on and where was he. And for that matter the rest of their siblings. Max, Krit and Tinga was three that were on both of their minds. They for sure knew where Max was after the broad casts on the TV. So the two set out for Seattle --- Terminal City in fact.
Later that weekend the girls finally made it to Terminal City and found a way to get in with out anyone seeing them. Mole was on the look at point of the command center when he noticed two female approaching the doors at TC. Mole yelled out at Max, "In coming."
Max looked up with a start and called, "I didn't here anything. I must have wax in my ears. I didn't hear any whirling or crashes." Max was shaking her ears with her finger trying to feel if there was indeed wax in her ears. When suddenly the doors flew open and everyone with guns, including Mole, pointed guns at the two women. Max was to stunned to say anything.
Sly and Johndy said at the same time, "Max…. Is that really you????" All three of the women ran to each other and hugged each other till no one could hardly breathe.
Finally Max spoke up with a faint breath, "Mole, everybody stand down." Looking at Mole he grumble then went on chewing his cigar, that wasn't lit by the way. Max asked in excitement, "where in the hell did you two come from? Syl is that you? And Johndy is that you, also? Where --- where is everyone else? Krit? Oh, it's so great too finally see ya. Max was so happy. All the women lit up like Roman candles at each other.
Johndy got her word in as Syl was beginning to speak, "Max do you know where Zack is? He was suppose to see you and then Sly and then me. A questioning note in her voice alerted Max. Max saddened at the name. With her head hung down she gestured her sisters to follow her to a place where no one could hear their conversations.. Everybody at Terminal City had heightened hearing except the humans who had remained there.
She looked at her two sisters and began to speak as Logan came up behind her. Johndy, Syl this is Logan my --- friend. The two girls looked at each other an silently said, 'That a hell of a lie if ever I heard one.' They both stood up and stuck out their hands to Logan and Syl said with a gleam in her eye, "Hi, I'm Syl This is my sister Johndy. We are Max's sisters if you hadn't heard." Johndy just giggled.
Logan just stood there eyeing the two girls and said, "Hi, I'm Logan -- Logan Cale. Nice to finally meet you both. Max's family by what Zack has told me is living all over the place.
That pricked up Jondy's and Syl's ears like a silent whirling fire cracker. They both said at the same time, "Where did you see Zack? Do you know where he is?" It was like a dual stereo sound system to Logan and Max.
Logan stood by with hands up, "Wow, wow ladies, please. Max you want to take over?
Max in amusement of Logan looked at her sisters, "Both of you come here and let me explain about Zack.
Logan could only look from afar. His sadness was in his eyes and he didn't want the sisters to see it. He waved to the girls including Max and went back down the hall to Dr. Verizon.
Max quickly explained what had happened to Zack and took them both to her room and told them to make themselves at home. Max was worried about Logan. He had been quiet for a couple of days not saying anything to her. But to Joshua and sometimes Mole. She sighed as she thought of Logan and could not comfort the man she loved. 'Oh, how it hurts all over not to be able to caress him when he's down like that. And I can somehow feel his pain. I'm so glad my sisters are here finally! I have missed them terribly since we left Manticore.' Just about that time she reached the lab and looked in and saw Logan. He was smiling and grinning from ear to ear. 'Boy, that's damn odd! I haven't seen that look on him in several, several months. Wonder what the deal is?' Max quickly snuck through the door and came up behind Logan and Dr. Verizon asking, "Okay. What's going on in here? What are you hiding you two?" Her eyes were twinkling like stars in the night sky.
All of a sudden Dr. Verizon and Logan turned around and faced Max together. For some reason they both had that grin on them as the doctor spoke, "Max, do you remember, oh, about a week ago now that I gave you a shot that you thought it had Tryptophan in it?
Max looked confused, "Yeah -- yes, why? I'm not allergic to it am I?
Logan just looked blankly at Max and back to Dr. Verizon to go on with it.
The doctor looked down and tried to hide her smile and said, "Max it wasn't Tryptophan."
Max gasp at that note fearing she had been poisoned.
Don't worry it's not anything to be concerned about. I gave you the cure for the virus. I didn't want to get ya'll's hopes up in case it didn't work. Logan just came and then you followed. So ya'll both found out at the same time!! Congratulation to the both of you!!!! Everybody's eyes shined with tears as they smiled at one another. Joshua was hanging behind the door and came bouncing in as everybody hugged everybody. Max saw Joshua and said, "What are you doing here? Do you have anything to do with this? What have you been keeping from us now? So many questions from Max that Joshua just raised his arms in a jester of complete frustration for Max and her questions. 'Little fellow needs to get her glad face on. Geez, Max soo uptight.' Everyone just stood laughing at Joshua's face when Max was hitting him with questions. The sisters having heard all the laughing came running to the lab to finding Max grinning from ear to ear and so was Logan. Syl and Johndy just looked quizzly at each other.
Max shook her head and waved for the sisters to come over to the merriment saying, "Come on over you guys. We're having a party. Joshua, Dr. Verizon this is two of my sisters. Syl and Johndy this is Dr. Verizon and this handsome guy is Joshua. And you met Logan earlier. Everybody this is Syl with the blond hair and Johndy is with the red hair.
Logan looked at the two and said to everybody, "Max, this is a special occasion. Everybody except you two know about the virus that has kept Max and I apart since she came back from Manticore. I would like to thank the doctor and Joshua for curing it. Logan had gotten a bottle of champagne into the lab without anyone's knowledge to celebrate this occasion. And they all lifted their cups up to them.
