An: Wow I found an old old notebook. Wonder if anyone will still read this? Well I'm sick and need to do something, so here goes nothing!

Chapter 7: Hidden Objectives

Max checked her pager again as they rode up the elevator. Earlier she had only seen part of Logan's number because her thumb had covered part of the display screen. it had been in the aftermath of their ambush from Sketchy, no one could blame her for shrugging it off as they were heading back to the towers anyway. Looking again only the first five numbers of Logan's phone number were displayed. Logan never screwed up like this no matter how hard he tried to blow up Max's pager, or how often he'd done it. Max stiffened at the realization that something was very wrong. Shade picked up on the change of the atmosphere in the small box and was suddenly on alert. By the time the elevator reached the top floor, all three of the X's were on a muted high alert. Tension was contagious.

Max was the first out of the elevator. The messed up page plagueing her self-conscious, but not in a way she knew she'd even be able to communicate to the other two, at least not at all in a way they would truly understand. The hallway smelt strange to her, tinged with the light smell of fear and a smokiness she couldn't place. Something close to incense, but not quite. Something was off. She snuck down the hallway on the side of the penthouse door, and let her hand rest on the door knob. She twisted and found it unlocked, holding up a fist to bring the others to a halt. A silent alarm went of blaring in her head. She signaled to the others to be on point and as she turned the knob silently and began to count. Zack had produced and drawn a sidearm as if out of thin air and held it at the ready, a relaxed look on his face. Shade dropped into a defensive crouch behind Max as she quick and cautiously kicked the door open.

Logan jumped at the bang as he sat in his chair facing a clearly agitated girl on the couch, their knees close to touching. They had been compromised! Max and Shade blurred into the room and took up positions to attack the intruder. Zack's side arm disappeared to wherever he'd drawn it from and he relaxed, leaning up against the door frame after he'd quickly turned to shut it.

"You're back!" The relief was instantly evident in Logan's voice.

Max moved behind him and rested her arms on the back of his chair.

The stranger ground out the cigarette she'd been smoking in the ashtray, clearly not her first. She jumped up from her spot on the couch. She casually made her was across the room to stand in front of Zack, the expression on her face undefinable. An odd mixture of distress and relief. She moved carefully almost as if in pain, too slowly for an X-series, too quickly for a normal. She nearly fell into his arms and her whole demeanor relaxed. "Zack!"

Zack wrapped his arms warmly around the girl and caught her before her knees buckled, with no-show of his normal restrain. He knew her well. Had she had black hair and green eyes he would have called her Jade. If she was a red-head he would have called her Shannon. The multi-colored hair and the piercings gave it all way. She was living in the rivet-head section of her neighborhood again.

"Candy." He spoke softly into her hair with his chin resting on top of her head. "What are you doing here and how did you find me?" He smirked and lightly kissed her forehead.

"I was ... I needed ..." She twitched lightly in his arms.

"Hey, hey." Zack moved so that they were eye to eye and held her gaze. "Calm down, deep breaths sweets." Zack smoothed her hair down never breaking the eye contact.

"Zack, you know her?" Max had her hands on Logan's shoulders, still on edge.

"Yes." Zack snapped. "She's okay." Then softly as he ran his arms soothingly down the girls. "You're okay."

The girl only nodded lightly and shivered none the less.

"Sir, 599, Sir?" With each word, Shade took five steps questioningly away from what she perceived to be a threat. Still at the ready to defend herself her face conveying her total confusion.

"Everything is alright." He tried to reassure everyone at once. Zack held the girl who clung to him as if he were a life preserver and she couldn't swim, lost at sea. He squared his shoulders. "Everything is" He cleared his throat stuck on a suitable term. "All Clear."

"You left me again," The girl said softly her voice filled with dejection. "They left me ... and you never showed up." She exuded panic. "I-"

"Everything is fine now." Zack purred softly. "I'm sorry Candy."

She nodded jerkily and sighed as she clung to him. Then she stretched up on her tip toes and kissed him, it was soft and quick. Zack cleared his throat. Logan's eyes widened at the sight of the X5 softening to of all things what they called a normal. Shade made a little gasp out of surprise and finally broke free out of her defensive crouch. Max frowned and didnt move. Only Logan could feel her grip tighten on the back of his chair, some hidden emotion was boiling up under her skin.

Max closed her eyes for a split second even as Candy and Zack broke apart, arms still laced around each other. It was something she could have never believed if she hadn't seen it with her own two eyes, and she was still having difficulty. Zack was in love! Zack was in love with a normal female. He had been designed, born and raised to be her breeding partner when they had grown. Now he had lowered himself to loving a normal girl. Zack, it just didn't seem right. Even if it wasn't her, and it could never be, he was destined to be with someone who matched his perfection and power. Another X5 at very least. Max shook her head, not caring to get to know just who this Candy was.

"Logan put Shade to bed." Her words carried a connotation of an order and a hint of disgust.

Logan jumped and Shade tensed and raised a protest.

"I need to take a bath." She coughed for emphasis.

"Fine. Whatever." Max snapped. "Logan just take care of it!"

Max didn't need to bear witness to what Zack would have called a sickening display of false sentimentality. She grabbed her jacket and turned back to the door. What the hell? It wasn't like she needed to sleep anyway. "I'm going for a ride."
* * * *

Max headed out the door as Zack and Candy broke their embrace and Shade fled into the safety of Logan's lap. Logan headed down the hallway into his bedroom so that Shade could take a bath and Candy and Zack could have some time alone to catch up.

Max sped down the street the wind in her face and her baby purring beneath her. Goddess she loved that bike. It was her ultimate release from her problems. She knew that she shouldn't have a problem, not really. If Zack loved this girl then he loved her. Max would be a hypocrite if that made her mad. She knew if she looked deep enough down inside that she felt the same way about Logan. An X5 and a normal, it was something that if Manticore had their way would never, ever happen.

Since Manticore was totally against it, then Mx should have been all for it. She was with herself and Logan, She was happy for Tinga and Charlie but for some reason with Zack it felt like it should have been different. Something more. It should have been like Krit and Syl. Max grinned. Zack had let that slip one night when he had actually gotten drunk. Angry and drunk, but still drunk and loose lipped. Zack had seemed different this time when he'd showed up. Max had been blind to think that somehow it was Shade that had changed something in him. Now she knew that Zack had been compromised by the enemy, by the false sentimentality he so despised.

She was wrong for him. Zack was strong and powerful and she seemed like an emotional wreck. Zack was a rock. Despite Manticore's intentions for them any feelings Max had for Zack in the past, as a child, this was Zack and he deserved the very best. She was sure it wasn't any resentment towards the fact that she and Zack were supposed to become breeding partners, no they were never 'like that'. Max was not the jealous type, not over things in the past like that. Especially not in a past that she'd rather not remember, one that tried to force her into a role she didn't want.

Zack deserved something, someone perfect. Max had always thought that since it could not be her who Zack ended up with that even on the outside it would be an X5. Tinga would have been his perfect match, if it wasn't for her finding Charlie. Brin would have worked nicely if she hadn't been captured and re-conditioned. Syl would have fit, if it wasn't for Krit but they were perfect together and deserved each other. Honestly since it couldn't be Max, not on the outside, she had always thought it would have been her best friend and quasi twin sister Jondy. Jondy would have been perfect but Max still didn't know about her whereabouts, if shed made it out or was still free. Vada had made it out the night of the escape too ... Anyone but a normal girl.

That was what upset and confused Max the most, at least that was her story and she was sticking to it. Yes she was confused, upset and disappointed but she was not angry. He hadn't even told her! Zack was no doubt in love and he didn't tell her. He never trusted her! Not with his sensitive intel. Max always had to break down walls and weasel things from him. Love and it had happened right in front of her eyes. No, being angry would have made her a hypocrite.
* * * *

Zack listened to Shade splashing around in the tub and Logan speaking softly to her. Logan would watch over her and make sure all of the medications were working, and that they didn't have any of the complications she had last time they had left her by herself. Logan was a kind hearted guy. Zack could hear all of this because he had gone to the guest bathroom to relieve himself. He wasn't gone for very long but still the moment he got back he found Candy sobbing softly and hugging her knees in the dark room.

"You left me." It was they same desperate plea she had fired at him before. Somehow she curled in upon herself and managed to look even smaller.

"But you were never alone." Zack sat back down and pulled her into another tight hug.

"You never came back, and you were supposed to. I know i had the date right." She snuggled into his arms.

"You did." Zack traced the path of a tear down her face with his knuckle. "But you were never alone."

Wide eyes med his in the dark. "They left me four days ago, and you never showed up ..."

I know they did. Right on schedule and right when i was supposed to be there." Zack was never one for apologies. "Even to her and not with Logan, no less and X-8 in ear shot. He wasn't ready for them to know the truth yet. Plus Max had a right to be there when the truth came out. "Candy, something came up."

"I can see that now." She sniffled, trying to calm her small outburst. "It's new here..."

"Shade, that little girl is different."

Candy scoffed. "I can see that too. No normal little girl would be up that late."

"No." Zack sighed. "I would have made it. Only I got the call about her. If not i would have sent someone else in my place."

"You didn't."

"I know. I got sidetracked, it wasn't right of me."

"No one else makes me feel as safe as you do." Candy stifled a yawn.

A grin broke out on Zack's face. "You tired?" He asked jokingly.

"Never." Candy shook her head no, but blinked hard. She'd not had any decent sleep in almost a week.

"Get some sleep. I'm not going anywhere. You're safe now." Zack draped his arms around her and she curled up like a cat, resting her head in his lap.

As Candy drifted off to sleep Zack sat back and listened to Logan telling Shade a bedtime story. It was a wonderfully concocted faire tale complete with a happy ending. His voice was oddly familiar and soothing as it rumbled through the walls. Candy mumbled something in her sleep, but the only word Zack thought he could make out was Ben. Zack rubbed Candy's back and surpressed a smile. That had been exactly what he was thinking about too. His smile was quickly tucked away behind the mask as he realized something that worried him. Logan really was a good guy, good enough even for Max.

Candy shot awake in the pitch dark curled up next to something, no someone warm. She was surrounded by the sounds of sleep. Three distinct sounds. The first was light even breathing, the sound of normal sleep. The second was a soft simple snore. The third was an echoed slightly labored sound, normal sleep paired with a wet gurgle. Still Candy liked the sound of sleep. It helped remind her that she wasn't alone. The sound of others sleeping was familiar to her, comforting and a constant in her life. Yet still she was covered in sweat and her chest felt like it was being crushed. The sounds of sleep were drowned out by the thudding of her heart in her tightening chest, which was too fast. The ghosts of a nightmare chasing her awake which she couldn't even remember. She always woke up in the grips of the same panic wether she remembered the nightmare or not. At least she hadn't screamed her throat raw tonight. She had to escape, so she carefully untangled herself from Zack and the sheet and fled into the bathroom where the girl had been earlier.

The spray of the shower was hot and hard, she had the water turned on full blast. Candy huddled under the water her knees drawn up to her chest. She rested her shoulders against her knees and stretched. She trapped her arms between her knees and grabbed her toes in her hands making herself as small as possible. She concentrated on breathing the steamy air and trying not to hyperventilate. She was failing miserably and all to aware that she was in the grips of a full blown panic attack. She raised her hands ignoring the slight tremor in them and laced her fingers together over her forehead, he elbows now digging hard into her knees. Sometimes any little thing would ground her. Her shuddering breath came out in a groan that was a mantra, hers and hers alone. "Not alone. Safe and Alive." She could not catch her breath and the tub began to spin slowly around her. She was so messed up she didn't even hear the bathroom door open and then shut.

"Hey." Zack's voice broke over the lull of the shower spray against the porcelain tub, as he perched on the toilet lid.

She jumped, the tinny ball that her body had become twitching. Deep breath in and out. "Hey yourself." Candy spoke up through a curtain of multicolored hair and water, her voice small and barely a whisper over the water itself.

"SO." Zack nearly barked and this time Candy flinched. He hadn't even picked up on her distress, yet. "How did you find me?"

Zack was more mad at himself for having possibly slipped up in security then he was aggravated at the girl.

The only response he got was a glassy eyed half interested gaze and fast pace hitched breathing.

"Candy!" Zack was instantly by her side and reaching out to turn off the tap at the same time.

"Don't!" Her voice was shrill though her protest was soft and she did not move to stop him, fast enough. She sniffled whipping her wet hair back and out of her face. Deep breaths, in and out. 'Not Alone. Safe and Alive.' She closed her eyes. "I happen to be good friends with someone who is very good at sat comms, and they just happened to have noticed that your cellphone was the same as when you left them. Hoped it would work."

Zack barely supressed a snort and raised an eyebrow. "Well shit!" He shook his head and grabbed a towel offering it to her. "Guess it's past time to dump it."

He let her get dressed and then scooped her up and carried her to the couch. "No more nightmares tonight, okay?" Through his voice was soft it carried all the connotations of an order.

She stuck her tounge out at him. "Yes Sir." He tone light and mockingly she saluted him.

* * * *
Max had popped by Crash and by the time she stumbled into Logan's apartment it was morning. Yes she actually stumbled. Drunk, well not really drunk, maybe buzzed. It took a lot of alcohol, a full bottle drank quick and she managed to do it. She was calm now. Candy and Zack were curled up on the couch sleeping. She didn't care now. 'Happy' Zack was an interesting change. This Zack was good for Shade. She stumbled past the couch and quietly opened Logan's bedroom door. She felt eyes on her back which she ignored. Shade was laying as far away from Logan as she could in the bed, her arms straight at her side, laying on her back. At least Shade was a good judge of character, apparently she didn't trust this Candy either. Max wandered into the guest room and passed out on her stomach, a few hours of sleep would do her good.
* * * *

Logan woke up to Shade doing push ups. It had taken a while and some soft convincing to get her to stop. Logan didn't want to yell at the girl. Instead he asked her if she wanted to help make breakfast. Logan even let the girl pick. So it came to be that they were eating oatmeal when Zack and Candy woke up.

Zack was worried about Max but all of her questions would be answered soon. Zack knew Candy well and after a night of little sleep she would be cranky, he headed straight to the refrigerator once they were both awake offering Shade a small smile, which she returned with what seemed like force even though the smile looked easy though practiced. Zack grabbed a container of left over Chinese food he had seen the night before and two pairs of chopsticks. Shade watched the two of them eat. They moved the same and both had mastered the art of using chopsticks well. They spoke softly to each other and ate with gusto. Logan watched the silent girl cock her head and knew something was up. Shade watched the could too closely.

Shade abandoned her breakfast all together and managed to sneak up behind Candy and Zack. Zack turned his head slightly acknowledging that he'd heard the girl's nearly silent approach. Candy did not. Shade stood watching her closely from behind, her light breathing enough to tussle Candy's hair, she nodded to herself.

"State your designation, soldier." Shade said with all of the connotation of an order that a sleepy child could muster, her body tense.

Max, still wobbly from the night before had just stumbled out into the room. She stole Logan's bowl of oatmeal and flopped down into an arm chair at just the right time.

Being caught off guard Candy felt herself snap to attention and bit off her reply. "X5-766."

Max gasped, if it wasn't for her cat like reflexes she would have dropped the bowl to the ground, instead she placed it shakily on the table in front of her. She plaed.

"You're lying?" it came out as a threat and a plea. "She looked to Zack for confirmation. "Tell me she's lying Zack?" Tears brimmed in her eyes. Why would she ... she had to be lying. "Eva's dead."

Zack scowled at Candy. "Tell. Her. The. Truth."

"I can't." She was a broken down soldier. Candy chewed on a strand of her multicolored hair. Then more softly. "Is it safe?"

"You tried to deceive me, us?" Shade sounded hurt.

"It's okay." Zack answered her, not sure whom he was reassuring at this point.

"Zack, what's going on here?" Max was fuming again, but her eyes conveyed hurt and confusion.

"Candy can tell you." He answered the room at large. "It'll be fine." He nudged Candy softly. "State Your designation." His tone left no room for non-compliance.

"X5-210." Candy said it so softly that Logan had to strain to be sure she'd even replied. Candy's gaze never left the tabletop.

Shade gasped and her eyes widened very slowly. Her forehead creased in concentration, her nose wriggled and then her face cleared with a dawning recognition. Images and conditioning tightened all of her muscles.

Max choked on the coffee Logan had given her, her questioning reply of 'what' lost in a fit of coughing. At the same time the two locked gazes and Candy asked softly.

"Zack, how does she know?"