disclaimer: i dont own DA, or anything involved w/ the show.

A/N: First off, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed, i wasn't sure if i was going to continue to post, but as long as people review, I'll continue posting. Also thankyou Michelle Drake for proof reading all the chapters.



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It took Logan ten minutes to drive to the corner of 34th street and Lessard road. He hurried to the door of the warehouse on the corner and knocked twice. "Come on," he muttered to himself impatiently. Aften swung the door open and invited him in. "Where is she?" he asked, genuinely concerned "Is she okay?"

"Well I'm no doctor," Aften said, leading him to the couch, where Max was laying, "but she's gonna' have one hell of a headache when she comes too. Between the blow to the head and the traquilizer, damnit." She cringed at the thought. "She's gonna be hurtin' for a while."

"Whoa," Logan interrupted. "What blow to the head and tranquilizers? I thought you said she was seizing?"

"She was," Aften answered. "That's why i didnt get to tell you what happened."

"Well, what the hell happened?" He asked as he rolled up next to Max and took her hand in his.

"Well," Aften began, "she was riding her bike or something, when these three guys hit her with a pipe and shoved her in the trunk. They were big, but stupid. They left her without a guard, and I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. So I got myself a new car and got your girlfriend out of the trunk."

"She's not my girlfriend," he said quickly.

"Oh." 'For a friend he sure holds her hand a little tight,' she thought.

"But, thank you," Logan said. "If there is anything I can ever do to repay you just let me know." He wrote his number on a piece of paper. "My name's Logan Cale. I don't think that I ever got your name?"

"Aften Davids," she replied.

"Well, I think I should probably take her back to my place now. Thank you so much again," Logan said gratefully.

"Yeah, no problem," Aften said "Let me help you carry her to the car at least." Logan didn't object. When Aften bent down to pick Max up, Logan could clearly see a barcode on the back of her neck.

"So how old are you?" Logan asked curiously.

"16," the girl replied. "Why?"

"Just curious," Logan answered. "You seem kind of young to be living alone, that's all." 'Too young to be an X-5,' he thought a little confused by this mystery that was beginning to form.

"I can take care of myself pretty well," Aften replied, placing Max carefully on the back seat of Logan's car.

"Thanks so much again," Logan said, "and if you ever need anything, just let me know. I'm more than happy to help you out a little, after what you did for me."

"It was no big deal," Aften replied. "Take care of yourselves."

With that, Aften walked back into her home and collapsed on the couch. She wasn't tired so she grabbed her guitar, stared up at the high ceiling in the warehouse, and started playing, after a while she started singing. "All at once the ghosts they come back reeling in me now. Oh, tell me what if they came down crushing. Me and you, we used to play for all of the lonliness, that nobody notices now. Oh I'm speeding fast into nowhere . . . "

Logan placed Max gently on his couch, and covered her with a blanket. His curiosity overpowered his will to sit next to her and watch her sleep, or fall asleep himself. He had to find out if Aften was somehow related to Manticore. An hour and a half later, he was fast asleep at his computer desk. Max woke up early the next morning. She was immediatly overcome by a horrific headache, so she laid back down to scope out her surroundings. It didn't take her very long to figure out where she was, but she was having trouble remembering exactly what happened. She was just about to try and get up again, when Logan came rolling into the living room. "Hey," he greeted, a little worried about her. "How are you feeling?"

"I feel like my head's going to explode, but other than that I'm okay- I guess," she replied, then pausing a moment. "What happened anyway?"

"Why don't you have some breakfast and I'll explain while we eat," Logan said, as they both went to the table. While they ate, Logan told Max about the three guys hitting her, and ended by telling her about Aften and the barcode on the back of Aften's neck.

"I'm assuming that you have a theory?" Max asked.

"As a matter of fact, I do," Logan said. "And if my informant comes through, I should have the proof to back it up," he started wheeling torwards the computer room, and Max followed him. "Remember why I called you over last night?" he asked her.

"Yeah, you said you had some info for me," Max remembered.

"Right," Logan said. "Remember on the night of the escape Zack got recaptured, then escaped again. Well, the second time, he didn't escape alone. He brought a four year old X-6 with him. For some reason this X-6 was being kept isolated from the others. According to the documents that my source got me," Logan pulled up a new screen on the computer, "this particular X-6 showed resentment to Manticore at an early age, and instead of killing her they kept her for observation. Well, somehow Zach got a hold of her, and helped her to escape."

"Makes sense," Max said. "Zack took responsibility for each younger sibling he had, X-5 or not."

"I'm going to see if my informant can come through with more information on Aften," Logan said. "I got the feeling that she was lying when she told me that she had no clue who those three guys were. Until then, maybe you should try and get some more rest, you look tired. I'll call Normal for you, and you can use the guest room." Logan didnt have to work very hard to convince her to get some sleep because the tranquilizers had not really worn off fully yet.

TBC

A/N: so what do you think? (i know its another slow chapter, but it will get more exciting) is it getting better? worse? believe me i want to know either way :) if i get some reviews, i'll post the next chapter within the next few days. thanks for reading!

--peace