A/N Sorry again for the long delay in posting the next chapter - I hope it
was worth the wait. I had company for a few days, plus I have been writing
letters and emails to try and save "Dark Angel". I hope everyone else is
too - I refuse to give up!
Chapter 6
"Max," said Logan in disbelief, "What are you doing here?"
"Saving your sorry ass," snapped Max, "But I am not sure from what - or who - anymore." Max had envisioned many nightmare scenarios of how she would find Logan when they finally caught up to him - Logan tortured and dying, Logan unconscious or brainwashed, even chained to a wall and beaten to a bloody pulp. But she never imagined she would find him lying comfortably in bed passionately kissing a beautiful woman. Max felt both betrayed and enraged.
"Logan, dear, aren't you going to introduce me to your little friend?" Gina requested sweetly. Well, she thought, if Logan can use me to play games with Ames, I can do the same with him and his friend.
"Gina, this is Max, my ex-girlfriend, and just coming in behind her is her brother Krit," Logan smiled at Krit, genuinely happy to see him, "Hey, Krit. Just introducing Max to Gina, my fiancée. Nice of you guys to come. I'd have sent invitations to the wedding but it's such short notice and I didn't have your addresses with me."
"Wow, Logan, you don't waste time!" said Krit, much impressed, "One day you're kidnapped, the next you're marrying into the family. But I gotta ask - do they kill snakes at the weddings too?"
"I don't know, I'm just the bridegroom, and men don't generally get much say in the wedding plans. How does it work, Gina?" he asked, curious, "Is there like a two handled knife we use to cut off a snakes head together? Or just dance around with one?"
Gina was momentarily stunned that these people knew of the cult, but recovered rapidly - she was not slow to figure out the significance of their knowing either. "No," said Gina, "No snakes at weddings, only at religious rituals. You won't have to be around them, since you will never be truly one of us." She pulled a small gun out of her pocket and pointed it at Max. "Ames showed me your picture and told me to watch for you. I didn't expect to meet you so soon, but this is a nice wedding present for me - getting to capture the most wanted transgenic. Looks like I get the man and get rid of the old girlfriend too!"
Gina was completely caught off guard when Logan jumped out of bed and snatched the gun from her hand.
"That's no way to treat a guest. Now Max won't want to be your bridesmaid. Actually, that works out okay as I don't want Ames to be my best man since he tossed me downstairs," Logan chided her. He was barely able to hear Max mutter something about how White needed a bigger staircase. "You know something, Gina? I just don't think this marriage will work out - we are from two different worlds, two different philosophies. I believe in working hard to make the world a better place for everyone and using my family's money to help people, You believe in killing off anyone who doesn't measure up to your family's standards and using their money to further your people's ambitions. I'm not religious, you're a snake- worshipper. I'm a liberal, you're a Republican. It just won't work, my dear, better to call it off now."
"And you'll be in a wheelchair for real when we get married, but it won't be because of your legs, Logan Cale,!" spat Gina, but before she could yell for help Max was on top of her. Logan jumped out of the way as the two hit the floor, and Krit shut the door and locked it. The two men watched the battle for a moment, then Logan went and got his clothes from the closet.
"Man, oh man," said Krit, "Now two women fighting over you. How do you do it? I have got to get lessons!"
"It's a gift," said Logan, stepping into the black slacks Gina had brought for him, Max struck Gina one last time and knocked her out. The fight had actually been over quickly - Gina was strong and agile, but no match for Max's years of training and experience. Max looked over at Logan as he was shrugging into his shirt and the sharp remark she was going to make died in her suddenly dry throat. When had she last seen him shirtless - or had she ever really? Had it only been in her fantasies? Logan noticed her staring, and quickly buttoned up his blue shirt.
Max and Krit placed Gina on the bed. Logan pointed out the restraints stored under the bed and they used those to tie her down. Logan put on his shoes and the yuppie black leather jacket Gina picked out for him - he was going to hear about that, he knew already.
"You won't make it, Logan," said Gina, waking up again, "Now you will die for sure - Ames will see to that. Too bad - we could have made it work, for a while at least."
"No, it never would have worked. I already knew too much about your people. Besides," Logan said, leaning in close, "I'd rather try to make it work with my ex-girlfriend. But we can still be friends." Logan had seen something in Max's eyes that gave him hope. He quickly gagged Gina and headed for the door where Krit was waiting. Max whispered something in Gina's ear before following. She knew Krit could probably hear what she said, but she would have died if she knew Logan heard too.
"Keep your hands off my man or I will shave you bald with a dull and rusty knife," Max had told Gina. Logan's heart soared - had she already broken up with Alec?
The three left the room, Logan pulling his chart from the box outside the door and flipping through it quickly. "Just a second - I need to get something here," he said heading for the nursing station with Max and Krit on his heels.
"Excuse me, ma'am," said Logan to the night nurse with his best smile, "I need the rest of this patient's chart."
"I'm sorry, sir. Patient charts are confidential and only hospital staff and the patient themselves can see them." She held out her hand for the file Logan was holding.
"That works - its my file," Logan was searching the nurses station as he spoke, and Max and Krit stepped in to help. The nurse reached for the phone and Krit grabbed her at the neck with one hand, then lowered her unconscious body to the floor.
"This it?" asked Max after searching the doctor's boxes on the wall, and opening up the packages within. In a padded mailer she found a file with Logan's name on it. Logan took it and briefly scanned it, nodding. "Let's go then."
"Sorry - just need to take care of one more thing here," Logan said, typing quickly on the computer. Max and Krit noticed he was making frequent use of the delete key. He went deeper into the computer's harddrive and made sure that all the files he had deleted were unrecoverable. Now there was no trace of Logan Cale anywhere on the hospital computer, nor of any tests done on him or the results. Satisfied, Logan headed for the front exit, but Krit shook his head.
"This way, Alec's holding the way out open and Syl is guarding the car." Krit led the way to a corridor to the left of the nursing station. "Not that we expect much trouble - we made some fairly large distractions for the good townspeople. The police and fire departments should be busy for a while."
"What'd you blow up?" asked Logan interestedly.
"Why do you always assume explosions? Maybe we just set a nice little fire," replied Krit defensively, then admitted, "We set a charge in the church's fuel oil tank, and one at the back of the town hall. They should have gone off about twenty minutes ago. We're betting there's an armory in one or both locations."
"Probably," agreed Logan, "They are getting ready for something."
"Syl should have rigged the generator here to blow up too," Max informed him, "She'll set it off when she sees us, or in about another ten minutes if she doesn't."
Alec seemed to appear from out of the wall as the three walked rapidly down the hallway. He looked Logan up and down and grinned wickedly. "Dude – where's the frat party?"
"Kegger at Logan's," agreed Krit, "Killer yuppie threads – I'm betting his fiancée picked them out."
"Fiancée? As in wife-to-be? Is she pretty?" Alec asked.
"Literally to die for! Max was so upset when she saw them kissing she tried to kill her – what's her name again, Logan – Ginger?" Krit informed him enthusiastically, "Logan's gonna give me lessons – want to sit in?"
"Her name is Gina and she's my ex-fiancée – or did you miss the part where I broke up with her?" said Logan giving both of them a haughty glare.
"I don't know if this is the right time or place to tell you this, but Max lied to you about us," said Alec to Logan, suddenly serious.
"Shut up, Alec," said Max furiously, grabbing Alec and holding him back as the other two moved rapidly on, "I'll tell Logan when I'm ready!"
"I think he already figured it out, Max, and not from what I just said. If you beat up what's-her-name just because Cale was kissing her, he probably bought a clue from that already." Alec shook off her hand and hurried to catch up with Krit and Logan. Max heard footsteps behind her and ran after the men, who heard her running and turned to see several armed security men running up behind Max.
"Listen," Logan said urgently, "If there is any possibility that we don't make it out of this town, this file gets destroyed. Shred it, burn it, feed it to wild pigs – I don't care, but no one but us gets their hands on it! It's more important than my life or any of yours that this doesn't fall into the wrong hands – I mean it seriously, understand?" The X5's looked at him and the medical file he held curiously, but raised as soldiers they knew an order when they heard one.
"Yes, sir! Matches ready, sir!" quipped Alec, as the four sped out the door into the parking lot.
Logan saw Syl perched on the hood of an SUV looking absurdly youthful in her cherry red sweater with her blond hair tied back by a matching red ribbon. Five men in dark suits surrounded her, but she looked unworried as she waved to them. "Hi Logan! Good to see you again – and on your feet! But since when do you do the GQ dork look?"
"And nice to see you too, Syl," said Logan. The men around her turned to face the group that came out of the hospital, but Logan and the X5s saw Syl's hand drop back down to the jacket that sat beside her on the hood of the car, so none of them were surprised when an explosion blew up the generator at the side of the building, plunging the hospital and parking lot into darkness.
Syl sprang straight up into the air, leaping over the men lunging towards her. She did a flip in midair, landing on the hood of the SUV, then immediately launched herself onto two of the men, knocking them down. Syl sprang up and squared off against a third as Krit blurred over to help her. Logan, Max and Alec faced the armed security men, the X5s moving faster than the eye could follow. Logan grabbed the gun arm of the one closest to him, spun on his heel and drove his elbow into the man's solar plexus, then he was able to easily twist the gun out of the guard's hand and knock him out with it. Logan used the gun to shoot another guard who was taking aim at Alec, who along with Max, was taking out the remaining security guards. The three moved toward the other fight, where Syl and Krit were being overpowered by the five Familiars.
"Give it up, Cale," said their leader, "Tell your friends to surrender and you can get out of this alive. I won't pretend the transgenics will, but we can make their deaths painless."
"What do you think, Logan? Personally, I'm underwhelmed by the deal," said Max sarcastically.
"I think we can do better, Max." said Logan gravely, "There is room to negotiate."
"Negotiate this!" snarled Max, launching herself into the air and sweeping a kick to the head of one of the men holding Syl. The man was able to grab Max's leg as he went down and the two rolled over in the parking lot. Syl broke free from the other man and threw a powerful blow to his jaw, making him reel back. Alec tackled one of Krit's opponents, while the leader grappled with Logan over the gun.
"White guessed your mutant friends would come for you, but no one really believed him, until the explosions went off tonight," the leader said, "Not very subtle, are they? I got my team together and came here to watch for them, but they were already here, so we just waited by the car."
"Not subtle perhaps, but effective," gasped Logan, as the man slammed Logan's hand against the car, causing the gun to go flying across the parking lot. Logan stomped on the man's foot, making him loosen his grip on Logan's arm so Logan was able to pull away and defend himself. One on one, the X5's were slowly winning the battle with the Familiars, when Krit finally dropped his opponent for good and helped Syl finish her battle. Alec danced away from his adversary, found an opening and landed a kick in his stomach, then, as the man doubled over, Alec spun around and delivered a heel to his head finishing the fight. Glowing with victory, Alec looked over to see if Logan or Max needed help. Max was pounding her opposite's head into the asphalt, but Logan had just been knocked to the ground, and the leader was springing forward to jump on his prone body. Before Alec or any of the others could react, Logan shot one of his legs up, catching the man in the chest and he came down on Logan. Logan reached up and caught the Familiar by the shoulders and redirected his motion in the air so that instead of landing on Logan, he rode Logan's foot past his body and crashed headfirst into the car. The team leader did not get up, but Logan did.
"Nice move," admired Alec, "Where did you learn that?"
"Product of a misspent youth. I used to watch Jackie Chan movies all the time," admitted Logan, "And I really think we should take this mutual admiration society to a new location."
"He means we should haul ass out of here," translated Syl to Krit, "I think he's right too."
The five piled in the car, Krit at the wheel. "Where to?" he asked.
"There's a little airport at the east edge of town - you know it?" Logan replied.
"Sure - we looked at the map," Krit said casually. Logan smiled - he loved dealing with the Manticore alumni - they almost never required explanations.
"Told you he had a plan," Alec said smugly to Max, "So Logan, what happened to you anyway?"
"Cliff notes version - White and his guys took me because they knew I was involved with Max and Eyes Only, but they rehurt my back when they arrested me. They took me a base in Texas where an ex-Manticore doctor did experimental surgery on me. Then the conclave got involved - they want Cale Industries and into Seattle society, I was an easy way to get both - if I married one of them. Or else. White could have done me in any time he wanted to, and this was a chance to escape, so I accepted."
"So what's in that file that is so important?" Krit asked.
"Dr. Mitchell's experimental surgery notes. I haven't had a chance to look at them - I am not really sure what all he did to me, but I don't want anyone outside of us to know either," Logan explained.
"Mitchell?" Max exclaimed, "He was one of the chief sadists at Manticore! God, Logan - you're lucky to be alive!"
The car pulled up to the gates of the airstrip. There was a small knot of men standing around outside a private jet. A couple were dressed in mechanics' coveralls, one in a flight jacket and jeans, the others were in business suits and overcoats. Krit smoothly drove the car past the gate and around the corner where it was hidden by a hanger.
"I take it you were going to take that plane? You think it's fueled and ready to go?" asked Krit.
"That's the plan," agreed Logan, "It wasn't much of one, but it stands a better chance now with you guys here. I hope one of you knows how to fly - I'm pretty rusty these days. By the way, I'm sure one of those guys is White - the plane is probably ready to take him back to Seattle."
"We can all fly - part of standard training at Manticore," Max said, "This is too good, Logan - taking their plane from White himself!" She thought for a moment. "Logan and I go in the front - White knows us and my even sort of expect us. You three come in from the side while we distract him." Krit, Syl and Alec pulled handguns from a bag and vanished over the fence, melting into the shadows around the hanger. Logan took the wheel and drove back to the gate and drove into up near the plane.
"Ames - just wanted to say 'bye and no hard feelings!" called out Logan as he and Max got out of the car.
"Cale! I was right all along," White looked Logan up and down, then turned to Max, "And 452. Looking to hitch a lift back to Seattle? Nothing doing. Take them!" White said to the suited men.
"I don't think so," Alec said, appearing from behind a fuel drum a few feet away. His gun was pointed right at White's head. Syl and Krit emerged from behind the wheel of the plane and pallet of boxes respectively. The mechanics immediately put their hands in the air, and Krit ordered them to get down on their knees, which they promptly did.
"Four of them?" White said, somewhat surprised, "You must really be in good with the mutant scum community."
The man in the flight jacket, whom Logan guessed was the manager of the airstrip, was watching White rather than Alec or him, and Logan braced for trouble reaching for the gun in the waistband of his pants. The scene suddenly exploded into gunfire as the four Familiars darted in every direction, firing their guns as their as they went. Logan, Alec, Syl and Krit ducked for cover while firing back. Max ran around the back of the SUV to heading to the far side of the plane where one of White's men was taking cover behind the rear wheel. Max was on top of him before he saw her, and had him disarmed and unconscious in seconds. Alec shot the second man, while Krit winged the airport manager in his gun arm. White had taken several shots at Logan, who took cover behind the door of the SUV, but with the other three down, himself now out of bullets, and four guns aimed at him, White had no choice but to surrender. Krit, Syl, Alec and Logan relaxed their guard and emerged from cover. Max ducked back under the tail of the plane and looked up to see one of the mechanics pulling a gun from his pocket.
"Look out," she screamed, but the mechanic fired before her friends could react. Krit went down as Logan, Alec and Syl fired back at the man, killing him. The other mechanics hit the ground and covered their heads. Max and Alec bound the surviving Familiars with duct tape while Logan and Syl tended to Krit. Krit had taken a bullet in the side, but it had gone through cleanly and apparently without hitting anything vital. Logan helped him up onto the plane and hunted for a first aid kit while the other X5's piled their belongings onto the plane and Alec started it up. Logan waved cheerfully to the neatly bound Ames White as the door was shut and latched, then the plane taxied down the runway and took off..
"We made it," Krit exulted, as Logan disinfected the gunshot wound and bandaged it.. "Man, that was great!"
"I want the full story, with annotations this time, Logan," demanded Syl.
"I do too, Syl," said Logan, picking up the file, "But first I need to do some research."
Chapter 6
"Max," said Logan in disbelief, "What are you doing here?"
"Saving your sorry ass," snapped Max, "But I am not sure from what - or who - anymore." Max had envisioned many nightmare scenarios of how she would find Logan when they finally caught up to him - Logan tortured and dying, Logan unconscious or brainwashed, even chained to a wall and beaten to a bloody pulp. But she never imagined she would find him lying comfortably in bed passionately kissing a beautiful woman. Max felt both betrayed and enraged.
"Logan, dear, aren't you going to introduce me to your little friend?" Gina requested sweetly. Well, she thought, if Logan can use me to play games with Ames, I can do the same with him and his friend.
"Gina, this is Max, my ex-girlfriend, and just coming in behind her is her brother Krit," Logan smiled at Krit, genuinely happy to see him, "Hey, Krit. Just introducing Max to Gina, my fiancée. Nice of you guys to come. I'd have sent invitations to the wedding but it's such short notice and I didn't have your addresses with me."
"Wow, Logan, you don't waste time!" said Krit, much impressed, "One day you're kidnapped, the next you're marrying into the family. But I gotta ask - do they kill snakes at the weddings too?"
"I don't know, I'm just the bridegroom, and men don't generally get much say in the wedding plans. How does it work, Gina?" he asked, curious, "Is there like a two handled knife we use to cut off a snakes head together? Or just dance around with one?"
Gina was momentarily stunned that these people knew of the cult, but recovered rapidly - she was not slow to figure out the significance of their knowing either. "No," said Gina, "No snakes at weddings, only at religious rituals. You won't have to be around them, since you will never be truly one of us." She pulled a small gun out of her pocket and pointed it at Max. "Ames showed me your picture and told me to watch for you. I didn't expect to meet you so soon, but this is a nice wedding present for me - getting to capture the most wanted transgenic. Looks like I get the man and get rid of the old girlfriend too!"
Gina was completely caught off guard when Logan jumped out of bed and snatched the gun from her hand.
"That's no way to treat a guest. Now Max won't want to be your bridesmaid. Actually, that works out okay as I don't want Ames to be my best man since he tossed me downstairs," Logan chided her. He was barely able to hear Max mutter something about how White needed a bigger staircase. "You know something, Gina? I just don't think this marriage will work out - we are from two different worlds, two different philosophies. I believe in working hard to make the world a better place for everyone and using my family's money to help people, You believe in killing off anyone who doesn't measure up to your family's standards and using their money to further your people's ambitions. I'm not religious, you're a snake- worshipper. I'm a liberal, you're a Republican. It just won't work, my dear, better to call it off now."
"And you'll be in a wheelchair for real when we get married, but it won't be because of your legs, Logan Cale,!" spat Gina, but before she could yell for help Max was on top of her. Logan jumped out of the way as the two hit the floor, and Krit shut the door and locked it. The two men watched the battle for a moment, then Logan went and got his clothes from the closet.
"Man, oh man," said Krit, "Now two women fighting over you. How do you do it? I have got to get lessons!"
"It's a gift," said Logan, stepping into the black slacks Gina had brought for him, Max struck Gina one last time and knocked her out. The fight had actually been over quickly - Gina was strong and agile, but no match for Max's years of training and experience. Max looked over at Logan as he was shrugging into his shirt and the sharp remark she was going to make died in her suddenly dry throat. When had she last seen him shirtless - or had she ever really? Had it only been in her fantasies? Logan noticed her staring, and quickly buttoned up his blue shirt.
Max and Krit placed Gina on the bed. Logan pointed out the restraints stored under the bed and they used those to tie her down. Logan put on his shoes and the yuppie black leather jacket Gina picked out for him - he was going to hear about that, he knew already.
"You won't make it, Logan," said Gina, waking up again, "Now you will die for sure - Ames will see to that. Too bad - we could have made it work, for a while at least."
"No, it never would have worked. I already knew too much about your people. Besides," Logan said, leaning in close, "I'd rather try to make it work with my ex-girlfriend. But we can still be friends." Logan had seen something in Max's eyes that gave him hope. He quickly gagged Gina and headed for the door where Krit was waiting. Max whispered something in Gina's ear before following. She knew Krit could probably hear what she said, but she would have died if she knew Logan heard too.
"Keep your hands off my man or I will shave you bald with a dull and rusty knife," Max had told Gina. Logan's heart soared - had she already broken up with Alec?
The three left the room, Logan pulling his chart from the box outside the door and flipping through it quickly. "Just a second - I need to get something here," he said heading for the nursing station with Max and Krit on his heels.
"Excuse me, ma'am," said Logan to the night nurse with his best smile, "I need the rest of this patient's chart."
"I'm sorry, sir. Patient charts are confidential and only hospital staff and the patient themselves can see them." She held out her hand for the file Logan was holding.
"That works - its my file," Logan was searching the nurses station as he spoke, and Max and Krit stepped in to help. The nurse reached for the phone and Krit grabbed her at the neck with one hand, then lowered her unconscious body to the floor.
"This it?" asked Max after searching the doctor's boxes on the wall, and opening up the packages within. In a padded mailer she found a file with Logan's name on it. Logan took it and briefly scanned it, nodding. "Let's go then."
"Sorry - just need to take care of one more thing here," Logan said, typing quickly on the computer. Max and Krit noticed he was making frequent use of the delete key. He went deeper into the computer's harddrive and made sure that all the files he had deleted were unrecoverable. Now there was no trace of Logan Cale anywhere on the hospital computer, nor of any tests done on him or the results. Satisfied, Logan headed for the front exit, but Krit shook his head.
"This way, Alec's holding the way out open and Syl is guarding the car." Krit led the way to a corridor to the left of the nursing station. "Not that we expect much trouble - we made some fairly large distractions for the good townspeople. The police and fire departments should be busy for a while."
"What'd you blow up?" asked Logan interestedly.
"Why do you always assume explosions? Maybe we just set a nice little fire," replied Krit defensively, then admitted, "We set a charge in the church's fuel oil tank, and one at the back of the town hall. They should have gone off about twenty minutes ago. We're betting there's an armory in one or both locations."
"Probably," agreed Logan, "They are getting ready for something."
"Syl should have rigged the generator here to blow up too," Max informed him, "She'll set it off when she sees us, or in about another ten minutes if she doesn't."
Alec seemed to appear from out of the wall as the three walked rapidly down the hallway. He looked Logan up and down and grinned wickedly. "Dude – where's the frat party?"
"Kegger at Logan's," agreed Krit, "Killer yuppie threads – I'm betting his fiancée picked them out."
"Fiancée? As in wife-to-be? Is she pretty?" Alec asked.
"Literally to die for! Max was so upset when she saw them kissing she tried to kill her – what's her name again, Logan – Ginger?" Krit informed him enthusiastically, "Logan's gonna give me lessons – want to sit in?"
"Her name is Gina and she's my ex-fiancée – or did you miss the part where I broke up with her?" said Logan giving both of them a haughty glare.
"I don't know if this is the right time or place to tell you this, but Max lied to you about us," said Alec to Logan, suddenly serious.
"Shut up, Alec," said Max furiously, grabbing Alec and holding him back as the other two moved rapidly on, "I'll tell Logan when I'm ready!"
"I think he already figured it out, Max, and not from what I just said. If you beat up what's-her-name just because Cale was kissing her, he probably bought a clue from that already." Alec shook off her hand and hurried to catch up with Krit and Logan. Max heard footsteps behind her and ran after the men, who heard her running and turned to see several armed security men running up behind Max.
"Listen," Logan said urgently, "If there is any possibility that we don't make it out of this town, this file gets destroyed. Shred it, burn it, feed it to wild pigs – I don't care, but no one but us gets their hands on it! It's more important than my life or any of yours that this doesn't fall into the wrong hands – I mean it seriously, understand?" The X5's looked at him and the medical file he held curiously, but raised as soldiers they knew an order when they heard one.
"Yes, sir! Matches ready, sir!" quipped Alec, as the four sped out the door into the parking lot.
Logan saw Syl perched on the hood of an SUV looking absurdly youthful in her cherry red sweater with her blond hair tied back by a matching red ribbon. Five men in dark suits surrounded her, but she looked unworried as she waved to them. "Hi Logan! Good to see you again – and on your feet! But since when do you do the GQ dork look?"
"And nice to see you too, Syl," said Logan. The men around her turned to face the group that came out of the hospital, but Logan and the X5s saw Syl's hand drop back down to the jacket that sat beside her on the hood of the car, so none of them were surprised when an explosion blew up the generator at the side of the building, plunging the hospital and parking lot into darkness.
Syl sprang straight up into the air, leaping over the men lunging towards her. She did a flip in midair, landing on the hood of the SUV, then immediately launched herself onto two of the men, knocking them down. Syl sprang up and squared off against a third as Krit blurred over to help her. Logan, Max and Alec faced the armed security men, the X5s moving faster than the eye could follow. Logan grabbed the gun arm of the one closest to him, spun on his heel and drove his elbow into the man's solar plexus, then he was able to easily twist the gun out of the guard's hand and knock him out with it. Logan used the gun to shoot another guard who was taking aim at Alec, who along with Max, was taking out the remaining security guards. The three moved toward the other fight, where Syl and Krit were being overpowered by the five Familiars.
"Give it up, Cale," said their leader, "Tell your friends to surrender and you can get out of this alive. I won't pretend the transgenics will, but we can make their deaths painless."
"What do you think, Logan? Personally, I'm underwhelmed by the deal," said Max sarcastically.
"I think we can do better, Max." said Logan gravely, "There is room to negotiate."
"Negotiate this!" snarled Max, launching herself into the air and sweeping a kick to the head of one of the men holding Syl. The man was able to grab Max's leg as he went down and the two rolled over in the parking lot. Syl broke free from the other man and threw a powerful blow to his jaw, making him reel back. Alec tackled one of Krit's opponents, while the leader grappled with Logan over the gun.
"White guessed your mutant friends would come for you, but no one really believed him, until the explosions went off tonight," the leader said, "Not very subtle, are they? I got my team together and came here to watch for them, but they were already here, so we just waited by the car."
"Not subtle perhaps, but effective," gasped Logan, as the man slammed Logan's hand against the car, causing the gun to go flying across the parking lot. Logan stomped on the man's foot, making him loosen his grip on Logan's arm so Logan was able to pull away and defend himself. One on one, the X5's were slowly winning the battle with the Familiars, when Krit finally dropped his opponent for good and helped Syl finish her battle. Alec danced away from his adversary, found an opening and landed a kick in his stomach, then, as the man doubled over, Alec spun around and delivered a heel to his head finishing the fight. Glowing with victory, Alec looked over to see if Logan or Max needed help. Max was pounding her opposite's head into the asphalt, but Logan had just been knocked to the ground, and the leader was springing forward to jump on his prone body. Before Alec or any of the others could react, Logan shot one of his legs up, catching the man in the chest and he came down on Logan. Logan reached up and caught the Familiar by the shoulders and redirected his motion in the air so that instead of landing on Logan, he rode Logan's foot past his body and crashed headfirst into the car. The team leader did not get up, but Logan did.
"Nice move," admired Alec, "Where did you learn that?"
"Product of a misspent youth. I used to watch Jackie Chan movies all the time," admitted Logan, "And I really think we should take this mutual admiration society to a new location."
"He means we should haul ass out of here," translated Syl to Krit, "I think he's right too."
The five piled in the car, Krit at the wheel. "Where to?" he asked.
"There's a little airport at the east edge of town - you know it?" Logan replied.
"Sure - we looked at the map," Krit said casually. Logan smiled - he loved dealing with the Manticore alumni - they almost never required explanations.
"Told you he had a plan," Alec said smugly to Max, "So Logan, what happened to you anyway?"
"Cliff notes version - White and his guys took me because they knew I was involved with Max and Eyes Only, but they rehurt my back when they arrested me. They took me a base in Texas where an ex-Manticore doctor did experimental surgery on me. Then the conclave got involved - they want Cale Industries and into Seattle society, I was an easy way to get both - if I married one of them. Or else. White could have done me in any time he wanted to, and this was a chance to escape, so I accepted."
"So what's in that file that is so important?" Krit asked.
"Dr. Mitchell's experimental surgery notes. I haven't had a chance to look at them - I am not really sure what all he did to me, but I don't want anyone outside of us to know either," Logan explained.
"Mitchell?" Max exclaimed, "He was one of the chief sadists at Manticore! God, Logan - you're lucky to be alive!"
The car pulled up to the gates of the airstrip. There was a small knot of men standing around outside a private jet. A couple were dressed in mechanics' coveralls, one in a flight jacket and jeans, the others were in business suits and overcoats. Krit smoothly drove the car past the gate and around the corner where it was hidden by a hanger.
"I take it you were going to take that plane? You think it's fueled and ready to go?" asked Krit.
"That's the plan," agreed Logan, "It wasn't much of one, but it stands a better chance now with you guys here. I hope one of you knows how to fly - I'm pretty rusty these days. By the way, I'm sure one of those guys is White - the plane is probably ready to take him back to Seattle."
"We can all fly - part of standard training at Manticore," Max said, "This is too good, Logan - taking their plane from White himself!" She thought for a moment. "Logan and I go in the front - White knows us and my even sort of expect us. You three come in from the side while we distract him." Krit, Syl and Alec pulled handguns from a bag and vanished over the fence, melting into the shadows around the hanger. Logan took the wheel and drove back to the gate and drove into up near the plane.
"Ames - just wanted to say 'bye and no hard feelings!" called out Logan as he and Max got out of the car.
"Cale! I was right all along," White looked Logan up and down, then turned to Max, "And 452. Looking to hitch a lift back to Seattle? Nothing doing. Take them!" White said to the suited men.
"I don't think so," Alec said, appearing from behind a fuel drum a few feet away. His gun was pointed right at White's head. Syl and Krit emerged from behind the wheel of the plane and pallet of boxes respectively. The mechanics immediately put their hands in the air, and Krit ordered them to get down on their knees, which they promptly did.
"Four of them?" White said, somewhat surprised, "You must really be in good with the mutant scum community."
The man in the flight jacket, whom Logan guessed was the manager of the airstrip, was watching White rather than Alec or him, and Logan braced for trouble reaching for the gun in the waistband of his pants. The scene suddenly exploded into gunfire as the four Familiars darted in every direction, firing their guns as their as they went. Logan, Alec, Syl and Krit ducked for cover while firing back. Max ran around the back of the SUV to heading to the far side of the plane where one of White's men was taking cover behind the rear wheel. Max was on top of him before he saw her, and had him disarmed and unconscious in seconds. Alec shot the second man, while Krit winged the airport manager in his gun arm. White had taken several shots at Logan, who took cover behind the door of the SUV, but with the other three down, himself now out of bullets, and four guns aimed at him, White had no choice but to surrender. Krit, Syl, Alec and Logan relaxed their guard and emerged from cover. Max ducked back under the tail of the plane and looked up to see one of the mechanics pulling a gun from his pocket.
"Look out," she screamed, but the mechanic fired before her friends could react. Krit went down as Logan, Alec and Syl fired back at the man, killing him. The other mechanics hit the ground and covered their heads. Max and Alec bound the surviving Familiars with duct tape while Logan and Syl tended to Krit. Krit had taken a bullet in the side, but it had gone through cleanly and apparently without hitting anything vital. Logan helped him up onto the plane and hunted for a first aid kit while the other X5's piled their belongings onto the plane and Alec started it up. Logan waved cheerfully to the neatly bound Ames White as the door was shut and latched, then the plane taxied down the runway and took off..
"We made it," Krit exulted, as Logan disinfected the gunshot wound and bandaged it.. "Man, that was great!"
"I want the full story, with annotations this time, Logan," demanded Syl.
"I do too, Syl," said Logan, picking up the file, "But first I need to do some research."