Chapter 4: Waking Up from the Spell
"…after the bad men were gone all the special people were happy, except for the angel. No-one needed her help anymore and she didn't know what to do…"
It was at the weekly TC meeting that it began to dawn on Max. Sitting in the Ops center with the division leaders, she started to wonder what was happening.
"…and we need to look at re-supplying the medical center…"
"Don't need to worry about that anymore Max. Gem and Davie are talking to Harbor Lights about utilizing their facilities in exchange for limited donations of high stem-cell blood. Looks like it's going to go ahead soon."
"Oh. Okay. Well, we also need to look at upgrading the security feed cameras with…"
"Infra-red capabilities? Dix and his team did it last Friday."
"Nice to know. Taye, how are the talks with the Seattle City officials going?"
"Good, Max. Really good. They've said that we need to keep the Biohazard signs up to warn the ordinaries but other than that, we are free to make any changes as long as we stick to the city Construction Code. They'll reconnect TC to the power grid and we will have to notify them of any problems, but it looks like it's going to work out just fine."
"That's gre…"
"Max, before I forget."
"Yes Mole?"
"MDE industries just got approached by the US Navy to supply amphibious support to their submarine fleet. Do you have a way to contact Ariel and Eric to ask them for help?"
"Who are Ariel and Eric?!?"
"You know them Maxie. Remember the mermaid girl and her partner? Their real names are unpronounceable clicks and whistles but they said we could call them Ariel and Eric."
"Thanks for the clarification Alec. Who was the Disney freak who decided to call them that?"
"That would be Mole."
"…"
As Max disbelievingly turned her head to stare at the scaly transgenic, a hint of red could be seen creeping up Mole's cheekbones.
"Don't ask. Just don't ask. Anyway, do you know how to contact them?"
"Not rea…"
"Joshua knows. Will talk to them. Let you know."
'Thanks Big Fella. Well, I guess that's all. Same time next week?"
Expecting easy acceptance, Max was surprised when instead she go hesitance and uncertainty. In the end it appeared that Taye was nominated to be spokesperson via a kick to the ankle under the table.
"Um, Max, we were talking and maybe we could make the meetings monthly instead. It's not like we have the same situations as before."
That was when the realization fully kicked in.
"Oh….okay. Well, if we all agree, same time next month then."
As the room quickly emptied, Max just sat there, thoughts running through her head and filtering down to just one conclusion.
"…they don't need me."
"Huh?"
Surprised at the exclamation, Max glanced up to see Alec leaning in the doorway, a look of confusion on his face, but with hints of comprehension hiding in his eyes. Since Logans' death, Alec had become not only her Second in Command, but a friend as well. And now it felt like he was the only one who might understand.
"I'm not needed. Terminal City would run perfectly fine without me here. When did this happen?!?"
"Max, as much as this will pain me to say (since you will probably hit me after saying it), this city does not revolve around you. Yes, you were our leader during times of war, but now the war is over. Everyone is relaxing their guard and making lives for themselves. Mole and Dix have MDE industries, Taye is on the City Council, Gem and Joshua set up the day-care center. Even Original Cindy and Sketchy brought into Jam Pony and are helping Normal run it. They are happy. They have found what they want to do. And now for the big question, what do you want to do?"
"I don't know."
"What did you always want to do?"
"Alec, I never got the chance to think about that. I was always on the run, first from Manticore, then White and the Breeding Freaks. I thought that I would be running until one of them finally caught me. Now they're gone and I don't know what to do."
The silence that descended after that statement seemed to suffocate them. That was, until Alec's head rose sharply, the "Idea" lightbulb almost visable above it.
"You could keep running."
"What?"
"You said it yourself, they don't need you here. So why don't you run away? We could take the bikes, find another city, another group of people who need help and you could help them!"
"I can't just leave and…wait. What do you mean 'we'?"
"Maxie, the most important thing I did last week was help Joshua pick the color scheme of the new rooms at the day-care center. I need to escape. Besides, who else will get you out of trouble when you inevitably screw up?"
"I do believe that the screw up count is way more in your favor than it is in mine, mister!"
"Does this mean that you are going?"
"It means that …yeah. I do believe I am going. Go gas the bikes while I leave a note for Joshua and the others."
"Yes Ma'am!"
"Oh, and Alec?"
"Yeah Maxie?"
"Call me Maxie one more time and you will be singing soprano for the rest of your natural life!"
As the suitably cowed Alec departed to complete his orders, Max realized that this might be just what she needed.
Freedom
"…and so the angel and her best friend left the Special's castle and traveled throughout the kingdom, punishing the bad guys and helping those who needed help."
"Daddy, do they live Happily Ever After?"
"I don't know sweetie, Happily Ever After hasn't arrived yet.
T.B.C