I'm Always Ready.
Disclaimer: See the first chapter. I only swim in the world they created
A/N: Thanks always to Kasman for the betas. Thanks to those who have read and those who have reviewed.
Chapter 3 Plans
Seattle, four hours earlier:
"Hey, Asha, you back in town?""Yeah, I need a favor," Asha says into her cellphone as she walks out of Alec's apartment.
"Anything for you, you know that," the voice on the other end answers.
"Well, this maybe a bit more difficult," she replies, pausing at the front door of the building as a fresh downpour drenches the early morning. "I need you to check out something from a news report for me...about an assassination attempt on the transgenic leader in Terminal City."
"What's that got to do with you? Never thought you were cozy with the freaks."
"They're not freaks...it's for a friend. He's trying to pin down whoever started this mess. Can you do it?"
"Sure. It won't be easy, but I can find out...sorry about the freak thing. It's just that people are scared of what's been happening. You've been away, but we've had transgenics killing blind girls and hostage situations."
"That's why I want to find out. I think some friends are being set up."
"Okay, I owe you...give me a day or two—"
"No, need it sooner."
There is a sigh on the other end, "I'll see what I can do. Call me lunchtime."
"Thanks, I owe you," Asha replies then ends the call and steps out into the rain walking rapidly down the street.
Terminal City, The Command Center:
Alec, Dix, Mole and Joshua are standing behind Luke as he goes through the surveillance tapes. "This is a waste of time. He's run, that's what they do," Mole says in disgust.
"Yeah, we run, but we only do it for a good reason." Max says as she climbs up the steps to the command platform. We run for the wrong reasons too, but we've come back for the right ones. Max looks back at Logan and smiles.
Logan returns her smile in understanding. I nearly drove you away, more than once...but you stayed, we'll run if we have to, but only together.
»»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Logan wheels out of his office and into the kitchen,
"I read this guy's paper. Claims he can cure what ails you by moving your genes." Max says, following him.
He half looks over his shoulder as Max says this, then turns and goes through the exercise room to the front door, "You think he can help you with your seizures?"
"Worth looking into. You know you oughta come down there with me," Max frowns thoughtfully, not noticing Logan starting to get fed up. They reach the front door and Logan turns to face her as she continues, "Dr. Tanaka talks about how, by using the body's genetic blueprints, it can re-engineer itself. I mean, if the man's on the level, you'd be walking around in no time."
"You know what Max," Logan says rolling his eyes and blinking a couple of times, "I'm having a hard enough time dealing with the here and now. You want to go listen to whatever pie-in-the-sky Dr.Feelgood's hustling, be my guest. Just leave me out of it, okay?" sounding fed up, Logan more or less glares at her.
"Okay, I just..." Max's face falls, not understanding why he's so angry with her.
"Just don't," Logan says opening the door, "I'll call you if I can swing the conference thing," then shakes his head slightly, his look, one of anger.
After giving him a look of disappointment Max walks out. Her previous smile and joy gone completely now.
»»»»»»
Sighing, Logan walks up and stands beside Max, his hand lightly brushing hers.
"There!" Dix shouts pointing to a blur on the screen. "Back it up...no, forward, there."
"Yep, that's a transgenic moving at speed, can't tell who it is but I guess it's your brother Maxie." Alec says a touch of relief in his voice.
"Where's the guy who was guarding him?" Max asks looking at the screen as the sequence is repeated. Where are you going, Zack? Why couldn't you stay and talk to me? I could've used your help here.
"Over there. Imagine being caught like that," Mole says, contempt lacing his words, as he flicks an arm towards a dejected X6 standing below.
"Right, Mole, you would've been so ready for a cyberneticly enhanced X5," Max says sarcastically, turning to go down the stairs. "Better stand down the patrols. I don't think he's coming back," catching Logan's attention so he follows her.
As Max walks towards the X6, he cringes slightly then pulls himself to attention.
"Relax, I'm not going to eat you," Max says, a faint smile on her face. I wonder what Mole and Alec have been telling this kid I would do to him to make him react like that. "What's your name?"
Relaxing slightly at the light tone in Max's voice, "Div, ma'am," he replies.
"Okay, Div. It's Max, by the way. So give me the 411 on what happened?"
Pausing, Div looks from Max to Logan, then back to Max and swallows, "That's it ma...Max, one minute the door was locked, next he was standing in front of me no expression on his face...next thing I know I wake up in his locked cell."
Max looks over at Logan, both raising their eyebrows at the same time.
Turning back to Div, "Did he say anything?"
"Yes ma...Max, something about people to see and things to do."
Looking closely at the X6, Max slowly nods. "Thanks, Div, it wasn't your fault. I was the only one who knew how good he was at escaping," Max says, with a pointed look at Logan, who studiously ignores her.
Turning around, Max starts to walk back to the command platform, her brow creased in a frown. "Guess it will be too much to ask..."
"What's too much to ask?" Logan asks, as he follows her.
"Oh, that Zack told you his plans."
Laughing softly Logan, shakes his head, "Not something Manticore alumni seem big on—"
"Or secretive cyber-journalists either," Max interrupts, a touch of annoyance in her voice.
"You're right, Max, I'm sorry...no, I figured he'd just try and contact the others." Now is not the time for this.
Looking back at Logan, Max notes his hesitation. So, there's something you're not telling me. You better get real, Logan, because I'm not standing for this secrecy stuff anymore – things have changed between us...or have they? A flicker of fear lances through Max and she stops and stares across the room.
»»»»»»
Flashback outside Logan's Apartment building:
Logan is wincing in pain, leaning heavily on his walking stick, seeming to be concentrating on not falling, as Max comes up behind him.
"Hey, stranger."
Logan half turns his head quickly and looks at her for a second, "Hey, Max," then continues on his way to his car.
Max smiles sarcastically, then she frowns, "Don't I get an, 'I'm sorry I stood you up last night, but I was out saving the world from giant robots. Can you ever forgive me?' Or even, 'I forgot. Will you accept my apology?'" Max says, as she walks past Logan and turns back to look at him.
"Yeah, something came up." Logan says looking at the ground, frowning.
»»»»»»
You were hiding things then - something that nearly split us apart when we began to get close..."Max?" Logan asks touching her on the shoulder.
"He's going after White," Max says casually, none of her thoughts evident, then looking at Logan again, "I'm going after him. He's got no idea what he's up against."
Shaking his head, Logan drops his hand from Max's shoulder, "How are you going to do that? You have greater responsibilities now—"
"Logan, don't even start. Zack needs backup or stopping. I'm the only one who can do that, you know it."
"You don't even know where to start looking and you seemed to have forgotten you're the only person who can stop both sides from killing each other...no Max, Zack is on his own."
"No, Logan, you and Terminal City are important, but you can survive till I get Zack back. White will kill him," Max says staring hard at Logan, a mixture of emotions crossing her face.
Holding up his hand, "I know there's no stopping you...we've been here before, but lets figure out a plan before we go rushing off to rescue Zack again."
"We! When did this become we?" Max asks in exasperated surprise.
"I said I wasn't going anywhere. That also means anywhere you go I go too. I'm going along to cover your back," Logan says, his stance one of stubbornness.
Throwing up her hands, Max turns back towards the command platform, "Fine, but you better keep up," then adding softly, "The company would be nice," she smiles to herself.
Smiling behind her back at his small victory, "No problem," Logan replies nodding as his expression turns thoughtful. I better check over the exoskeleton.
Joint Police /National Guard Command Center Outside Terminal City:
"Lieutenant Clemente, with due respect we should be trying to infiltrate Terminal City either on the ground or getting hoverdrones over the enclave."
"With due respect, colonel, I will not put anyone into a possible hostage situation, and as for the hoverdrones, we've not spotted anything significant."
"But—"
"No buts, colonel, this is a Seattle Police operation."
At the other end of the Command Center, Matt Sung is standing drinking a cup of coffee, watching the conversation, when his cellphone rings.
"Detective Sung."
"Hi, Matt."
"Logan?"
"Glad you're back."
"Well, I'm not so sure...hold on a minute."
Stepping outside, Matt Sung walks away till he is out of earshot of any of the police and soldiers. "Logan, does your boss know what you're up to...in fact, what's happened to him?"
"He's working on something...something to do with this transgenic situation—"
"You convinced him that this is more important than all the other things plaguing us?" Matt Sung's voice starts to rise in anger.
"No, Matt, Eyes Only is still concerned, but those responsible for escalating this situation are on his tail so he's keeping low...that's why I had to take point."
"Or is it that you're in this for personal reasons?" Matt Sung asks, sarcasm mixed with hurt in his voice.
There is silence on the other end of the phone, "It's always been personal...it was to protect her and you, Matt. I'm sorry," Logan replies.
"You didn't trust me, Logan...I can guess why now—"
"Matt, I trust you, that's why I want a meet. You, me, Max and Clemente."
"Why? I need something to convince Clemente. He has me investigating you."
"Hmm, okay, tell him that we have some information on an assassination attempt."
"Who? When?"
"You arrange the meet. I'll pass on the information."
"Okay...you better. I'm trusting you, Logan."
"And I trust you, Matt."
Command Center Terminal City:
As Logan closes his phone, he looks over at Max and Alec.
"He's going to do it,"
"Logan, I don't like the idea of revealing Zack," Max says as she starts to pace the floor near the pipes at the back of the Command Center.
"I'm not going to...I want Clemente watching Terminal City, but we need his help getting out and being able to look for Zack, and to do that we have to give him something so he trusts us. White has already made an impression. Why not build on that."
"I still don't like the idea. Who does that leave in charge around here?" Alec asks.
Max stops her pacing as she and Logan look pointedly at Alec. "No way. I'm a screw up, Max, you know it."
"Are you, Alec?" Max asks as she continues to hold Alec's attention. "Besides, you'll have the others to make sure you don't."
"Why me, Max?" Alec asks, pleadingly.
"I've got to do this, Alec, and you need to cover my back."
Looking at Logan, Alec sees him nod, "I'm not promising anything...so what's the plan?"
Max looks over at Logan, "We're going to record some tapes of Max talking with Clemente that can be edited so that anybody seeing them will think they're real time."
"I still don't see why we need the deception." Max says, puzzled. "It's not as if they've been calling me on a regular basis to discuss the weather or anything."
"No, but with that news reporter mentioning something about an assassination and the flag flying over Terminal City, we have to start getting our story out, but we also need to get Zack, right?" Logan asks looking at Max.
Alec shakes his head, "You think they're going to believe its Max?"
Max walks away for a moment and looks up and sees the painted sign between the pipes. 'Commander's Office, knock before entering.' When did I knock on that door? I know what you're feeling, Alec. Until I met, Logan, I would've been running in the other direction by now – the fact you're still here means something. "You're forgetting who Logan is," Max says turning to Alec, with a smile of affection at Logan.
Alec looks at the two of them, "There's no stopping you two, is there? I knew this was going to happen from the night I saw Manticore blow up," Alec says, shaking his head.
"This can work, Alec. We have the equipment. All we have to do is convince Clemente," Logan says taking Max's hand.
Shrugging, Alec turns and walks away.
"You think he's going to stay?" Logan asks with a twisted smile.
"He better, or I'm going to kick his ass big time...are you sure this is going to work, Logan?"
"Well, if it doesn't, we'll all get our asses kicked big time," he says in reply.
"And yours is just too pretty for that," Max replies saucily causing Logan to blush.
Jam Pony:
"Bip, Bip, B—"Normal stops, his mouth half open staring at Zack as he walks down the ramp past hurrying messengers on their first runs of the morning.
Shaking his head, "If you're looking for Max, she isn't here. She's holed up in that cesspool, Terminal City." Turning towards the dispatch counter, "Three of my best riders gone, even if they're more trouble than their worth," he mutters, under his breath. Turning around with his clipboard in his hand, "You walk in...you better not be wanting your job back after last time."
Zack, looks around. The room is busy, even at that early hour. Taking note of the new window at the back, and the bullet holes in the walls and pillars, "I'm not looking for a job, just to leave a message for Max," he says, smiling as his gaze focuses on Normal.
"If you think any of my people are going to go down there, you're crazy," Normal replies sarcastically as he clutches his clipboard to his chest.
"There won't be any need. It can stay here," Zack says holding out an envelope towards Normal.
Looking from Zack to the envelope in his out stretched hand, Normal eventually shrugs, "No skin off my nose," and takes the envelope, "Cost you twenty dollars."
Laughing softly, Zack fishes a twenty-dollar bill out of his pocket and hands it to Normal, "Make sure she gets it."
"Hey, we're professionals," his tone disgruntled, Normal turns away and puts the envelope on the counter, turning back, "So—"shaking his head at Zack's disappearance. Normal turns to three messengers chatting by the bike rack, "Hey time is money and it's my time you're wasting. Here, delivery South Market," he grunts, tossing a package to one of them. As he heads behind the counter the other two slink off.
TBC