I've Got You'R' Back
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
A/N: Thanks heaps to Kasman for the betas especially when you are busy and tired. Thanks to those who took the time to read and review Max and Logan appreciate it. This keeps them alive.
Chapter 10 Gathering Intelligence Two
Command Center two hours later:
Well, at least they made backups, and after all the security and cutouts and the erasing of the files in the first place, they go and put them in the file room at Police HQ. Well, it's all in the details, and that's where people always mess up.
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Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Max has showered and is walking around wearing only a towel. She is very angry.
"You said there'd hardly be any security."
"My guy screwed up."
"No kidding."
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My intelligence wasn't accurate that night, but I did learn two things: never brush off a dinner date with you, and you look beautiful wrapped in a towel...don't go there now, Cale. I nearly lost you then, and it was not checking the details that got you killed Max.
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Flashback: van in the woods outside Manticore genetics facility:
On a monitor, Lydecker sees children soldiers preparing to leave their barracks. "This is not good. Hack into the control panel at corridor 7- Alpha. We've got to lock down ward C16."
"Why? What's wrong?" Logan asks.
"Must have been a last-minute change in deployment—there's still a contingent of X7s in the building."
"They're just kids."
"They're stronger, faster, and designed with hive minds. We don't want our people tangling with them."
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I won't let that happen to you or anybody else.
Logan looks at the time and then scans the Command Center for Max, and sees Joshua standing talking to an X5 in the middle of the room. I wonder where Max is? I need to pass this on to her so she can send somebody to get those backups. Standing up stiffly, Logan walks over to Joshua.
"Hey, Joshua, how's tricks?"
"Tricks, Logan? Joshua doesn't do tricks." He says with a puzzled growl.
"No, not you doing tricks...it's just a saying...sorry forget it."
"Ah, I understand now, Logan's playing with words," and laughing he slaps Logan on the shoulder.
He winces at Joshua's strength. "Right, something like that...have you seen Max?"
"No, she's not been back," the X5 replies.
"Thanks..."
"X5-751, Dan."
"Thanks Dan."
"See you, Joshua."
"Not if I see you first, Logan," Joshua says, causing Logan to pause in mid step and turn to look at him in shock. With a snicker, Joshua turns to continue his conversation with Dan.
'Appearances do deceive.' Max is right. Joshua is smarter than he seems, a lot smarter – probably more than even she realizes...I won't forget that again. He makes his way over to the communications section in the Command Center. Been sitting too long with this exoskeleton on. I'm stiff. First chance I get, I've got to take it off.
"Hey, Tom, did Max take any comms with her when she left?" Logan asks the X6 sitting at the radio.
"No, why? Is there something important?" he says, looking up.
"Just some information she needs to know. I'll try her cell." He turns and walks over to the Command Center entrance while pulling out his cell and speed dialing Max's number...
Outside Command Center, two hours earlier:
Running through the slackening rain to an empty doorway, Max takes shelter.
I don't really want to be doing this, but I had to get out of there...being so close to you - lying and evasion...our relationship has had plenty of that – we've both had our reasons...so why do I feel guilty about lying about Alec...I shouldn't, I won't, but I'm getting tired of this. First, find out about Zack. Then, if I've got to, I'll tell Logan the truth. He'll just have to deal with it...and so will I. Might as well go and get a cup of coffee, or at least what they're trying to pass as coffee in the mess hall...maybe bring one back for Logan. Yep, that sounds like a plan.
As Max is about to step out of the doorway for the mess hall she sees Alec and Joshua leading a mixed group of armed transgenics walk pasts.
Slight change of plan. Logan's right about responsibilities, but a girl's gotta kick some butt now and then. Not that I expect anything to happen, but I have nothing else doing now...and anyway, what they're calling coffee here I can give a miss for awhile longer.
Following the others, Max, stays far enough back and hidden so their heightened senses can't detect her. Eventually, they near the RV, and Max, behind them, moves into cover. She is surrounded by the stink of the refuse washed down from the decaying city above.
Jeez, what a girl has to put up with to get some action...
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Flashback Sector Police HQ Seattle:
Max is hanging upside-down outside the window to the sector pass office.
God, I feel nauseous. If this idiot doesn't leave soon, I'm going to hork and I hate horking. Ah, gone...a little knife work and in we go...and Logan and I have Class One, VIP, no questioned-asked sector passes. They could come in useful later to get around after our trip to the cabin.
Max is on her motorcycle riding fast towards her crib.
Logan really needs to get away, since the transfusion failed he's retreated further into Eyes Only. It's never mattered to me...when I thought he'd committed suicide...I don't want to loose him. Maybe we can finally have sometime to figure out our relationship and get away from the madness around us.
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That weekend was a bust...although we ended up helping Sage and Trudy and found out a few things about each other. It definitely was not what I'd hoped it would be...This will probably be a bust as well. Logan's working on finding out how they're tracking us, and he'll probably find what we're looking for. But that's what I'm doing down here...to cover his back so he doesn't burn himself out – I have a feeling time's running out, and this is a distraction, from finding out what I'm supposed to do - according to the runes...never mind solving our other problems.
Eventually, Max hears voices coming back along the sewer. Gradually she makes out Alec's voice.
"Well, it ain't exactly paradise, but we got some beer for the moment and a roof over our heads."
"We'll have food and running water soon," Joshua adds.
"Did you have any problems getting past the cordon?" Alec asks.
"There was a scary moment just after we got through, a patrol came towards us but then they went down a different street. We waited to make sure they hadn't doubled back and then came down...sent back Mil and Toni to check if we had a tail, but it was clear."
Nodding in approval, "Good, we'll soon be there," Alec says.
As they pass a side passage, Alec glances over. Sensing something, he leans over to Joshua, "Big guy, you take them on in, I want to check something out."
Looking at Alec with a frown, "You know what Max said...Don't get lost."
"I know what Max said and I'm not going to get lost...just something I gotta check. Catch you later."
Looking hard at Alec, Joshua shrugs, and then continues on with the others.
Waiting till the group has moved on, Alec flattens himself against the wall and slowly makes his way back towards the entrance of the side passage. Just as he reaches it a dark shape steps out, and Alec lunges...
As, Max, steps out of the side passage, she sees a shape making a grab for her. Turning, she grabs an arm, and continuing the turn, throws her attacker against the far wall with a bone-jarring thud...
As his eyes refocus Alec, sees a fist inches from his face, and behind it a very angry, and very familiar, face.
"Max, what are you doing here?"
"I might ask you the same thing."
"What? The fumes down here making you lose your mind? You sent me down here, remember?" Alec says sarcastically, trying to catch his breath.
Max letting go of Alec, lowers her fist and rests it on her hip. "No, I sent you down here to help guide a group of our peeps back to Terminal City, not to be skulking around," she replies angrily.
"Skulking around? I'm wondering what you're doing skulking around...or shouldn't I ask?"
Relaxing slightly, Max, looks down the main sewer passage then back at Alec. "No, you shouldn't, but if you must know, I was going to see if our friends from above had decided to follow some transgenics...see If I could find how they were doing it."
Looking sharply at Max. "What happen - your boyfriend not found out anything? Thought he was good at this sort of thing?" he asks mockingly.
Glaring at Alec. "What Logan and I are is none of your business, and yes he is very good at what he does...he's found out that the files of how they are tracking us have been erased. He's looking for where they're keeping their backups...not that it's any business of yours," Max says fiercely.
Alec's expression softens. "Sorry, Max...I didn't mean anything by what I just said...I know how you feel about, Logan, and believe me, I know from close up how he feels about you...It's just that dragging me into your drama is not my idea of fun."
Max looking thoughtful, softens her expression. "Sorry, Alec. If I had this to do over, I wouldn't have got you involved, but it was the only way I could push Logan away...to protect him. You're right, we're a danger to them...at least, I am."
Straightening up. Alec steps closer to Max, who steps back. "Listen, Max, Logan loves you. He's made that very clear to me, so you've got to come clean with him...and you better do it soon...you and he are more a danger to each other apart than together, and I'm the one caught in the middle. Believe me, I don't want to be the one who has to deal with the fallout."
A slight skeptical expression passes across her face. "There won't be any fallout, Alec. I'll deal with it. Now, you get back to Terminal City and take care of that other task for me...I really appreciate your help on this, Alec."
Grinning at Max he steps past her. "Yeah, well every big sister needs a little brother to cover her back now and then...just don't make it too often, okay?"
"I'll try and cut back," Max says grinning. "Now get back and keep an eye on things."
"Right, take care down here Max, saw some big rats earlier." He gives Max a light punch on the arm.
Max, in response, pushes him in the direction of Terminal City, but before he has gone more than a few steps she calls out to him, "Oh, Alec, don't tell Logan where I am or what I'm doing."
Stopping, Alec looks over his shoulder at her, then shrugs in resignation, "Sure, Max...sure."
I know Logan would never come straight out and tell Alec he loves me - so what did he say or do to convince Alec that's the way he still feels, despite everything? No use asking either of them...The men around me, I'll never understand them. Maybe that's why OC is the way she is. Grinning broadly and shaking her head...nope they provide too much of a challenge for me to change. She continues walking down the passage.
After about five hundred feet she hears faint voices coming from a side passage to her left. Keeping close to the wall, she eases up to the opening waiting, her senses on full alert. Straining to hear what is being said, she gradually makes out parts of an argument between three or four people.
"We're lost, you know the lieutenant said..."
"Yeah, I know what he said, now can it, we had those two on the imager clear and he let them get away, damn trannie lover."
"Hey, I ain't sure he is - I know him, he's okay and..."
"Doing his job? Letting those freaks get away?"
"This thing's not working...pick up their...and give a reading on the screen."
"Maybe they got too far ahead. I said we should be closer for it to pick up... "
As they get closer to Max she can make out the voices of four people, definitely heading her way.
These clowns seem to have something that can track us, so lets see if they will share a little information with me voluntarily, if not, I get to kick some butt.
"Yeah, and they would've heard us and taken us out. I have two kids, I don't want to be killed by no freak. Let's turn back."
"We'll go to the next main passage, that should lead us out, and if we pick up the signal we'll know what passages they're using."
"Maybe reduce the ass chewing we're going to get for being down here, even if we don't get any of the damn freaks."
At that point, the four cops see the cross passage and walk more quickly towards it. As the first cop steps out into the main passage, he doesn't see Max pressed against the wall. The second steps out and suddenly exclaims, "Damn! We've got a trannie," as he turns towards Max, pointing the radar gun shaped device in his hand.
In a blur Max chops at the first cop's neck knocking him unconscious, at the same moment, kicking out at the second cop who blocks her kick with the device in his hand which goes flying and hits the opposite wall. Max ducks as the third cop takes a swing at her from the side passage with the butt of his rifle. In a sweeping movement, she kicks his legs from under him and he falls back into the fourth cop, and they both fall into the sewers filthy water.
As Max, turns the second policeman has recovered enough from his shock to hit Max in the back just above her kidneys knocking her to her knees with a grimace of pain on her face. He follows up with a savage kick to her ribs knocking her back into the wall with a grunt, as he starts to bring this rifle around from where it was hanging from his back. Max, launches herself head first into his stomach knocking the wind out of him in a loud whoosh, as he slowly folds over on to his knees she is about to punch him, but he has already passed out.
Behind her the other two cops have regained their feet and stepped into the main passage, "Don't move freak or you're dead," one of them says as they point their rifles at her.
"I don't think so. Been there, done that." Max says as she leaps running sideways up the wall as the third cop fires missing: Using her momentum she runs along it hitting the cop who fired on the side of the head with her fist dropping him in his tracks. Then she leaps over the last cop's shoulders, Landing behind him, she grabs his rifle and pulls it out of his hands.
"Please, don't kill me, I have kids and a wife."
Looking with disgust at the rifle in her hand Max throws it away after unloading it. "I don't kill without reason...you all have given me enough...there're people here you're hunting who have families as well" she says fiercely. She looks down at the three unconscious policemen and then at the last one standing, "Just get the hell out of here, but before you go tell me how you've been tracking us."
"I'm not going to tell you that," the cop replies with bravado.
Moving superhumanly fast, Max grabs him by the front of his uniform and lifts him, one handed, off his feet. "I've been told more than once that I have very little patience and believe me, at the moment it's almost non- existent." Max cocks her head to one side and pulls it back as if examining an interesting specimen. "So don't push me or I might change my mind about you and your friends. Spill it," she says, shoving the cop harder into the wall and getting right into his face.
Glancing at his companions with bulging eyes. "The Feds have been issuing us some sort of thermal imaging device. It reads transgenics body temperature," he answers rapidly.
"How?"
"I don't know."
Max lifts him higher. "How?" she hisses.
Looking into Max's dark eyes, he sees no pity, "Honest, I don't know, I'm no tech. All they told us was that anybody reading a temperature of 101.8° Fahrenheit is a transgenic...that's the truth...please, my wife and kids."
Max lets him drop, and walks over to where the broken tracking device is lying. She picks it up and turns to the cop who is sitting in the filth of the sewer, but before she can speak, her phone rings.
"Hey, you."
"Max, where are you? Are you okay?" Logan's voice urgently asks over her phone.
Sighing softly. "I'm down in the sewers with some of our guards from outside...I got some info on how they're tracking us...guess you have some info for me, too?" she says with some amusement in her voice.
"Hmm, we'd better meet up."
"You stay where you are and send some of our people down here to escort our guests home. They're a bit the worse for wear. Alec or Joshua know the passage," Max, says grinning with savage pleasure at her handy work. The cop sitting in the sewage cringes as her look sweeps over him.
Smiling to himself grimly, Logan nods, "Okay they'll be on their way...can't wait to hear this one. See ya."
"See ya," Max replies.
Wonder if Logan is pissed at me? Stole a bit of his thunder there. Nah, he'll be pissed I shrugged my responsibilities - should have known he would find me. He always does, but this has relieved some stress and Logan will just have to deal with it.
Outside Command Center:
Standing outside as he looks up at the dark sky which now shows a few stars through the remaining rain clouds Logan shakes his head. Should've known you wouldn't sit still for long...hope you're really okay.
Command Center, late evening:
As Max walks in, Logan gestures her to follow him over to their private conference area by the pipes.
"What the hell do you think you were doing down there? Didn't we have a little conversation about responsibilities not too long ago?" Logan asks angrily, looking at Max.
"Look, Logan, I didn't ask for this" Max replies, tightly controlling her anger, and sweeping her arm around the Command Center, "and I certainly don't want to be the savior of mankind along with the other problems I have. Especially between...worrying about OC and Sketchy and you in here, but that's what I've got into. So cut me some slack in how I deal with the stress. Okay?" Suddenly smiling like the very young women she really is, "Besides, I brought us a present." She holds up the battered tracking device as if presenting Logan a gift. "Sorry it got busted. Found out how they use it. We need to find out how it works."
Looking at her for a moment Logan sighs with a faint smile on his lips. "I worry about you, Max...I care."
Smiling back "I know, Logan, and it's appreciated...I care as well, you know, about...So what did you find out."
Pausing for a moment before he answers, Logan stares at Max who returns his look seeming to challenge him to ask what she was going to say. He looks as if he is about to then his expression becomes neutral. "Well not as much as you obviously did, but I did find out that there are backups and, surprise, surprise, they're keeping them in our favorite place for getting hidden information..."
"You're not serious? After all the effort to keep this secret they've gone and put them..."
"In Police headquarters," they say in unison, then laugh easing the earlier tension.
Around the command center the transgenics look over in curiosity at the sound of hilarity near the pipes.
Max and Logan noticing the stares and laugh again "I really need an office –"
"With a door, too." Logan interrupts her.
"Yeah, a door." Max says thoughtfully.
Which I'd keep shut to protect you from me and which you would find a way through anyhow. I love you Logan. Though if you were going to ask me that, I would have probably said yes right then, too.
"So, how are they tracking transgenics?" Logan asks, cutting into Max's thoughts.
"Using our body heat. This thing reads us having a higher temperature. We're about three degrees above normal humans. The cop has no idea how it does it...I'm guessing some kind of thermal imaging."
"Probably, but we need to know how to counter it. The backups may have some schematics or other data, which could give us some idea on how to disrupt it. So, time for a little breaking and entering. Are you up to it?"
The expression of utter surprise on Max's face causes Logan to chuckle. "You should see your face. I think this may be the first time I've seen you lost for words, Max."
"No, I'm not. Just wondered if some how aliens had replaced Logan Cale while I was standing here. You're actually asking me to do this? The very person who just chewed me out about responsibilities?"
"I figured I wasn't going to be able to stop you anyway so might as well ask and make it official."
"Logan, you continue to surprise me, that's maybe why I...yeah I'm up to it. But can we do this later, after I've had a shower. The cops would probably smell me a mile away."
"More like two. But that's the price you pay for having fun."
"Whatever. I'll be back later."
"Yeah, I'll be ready."
Pausing, Max looks closely at Logan. "When was the last time you had a rest?"
Shrugging. "I'll get some soon, Max. Got to make sure that the security is still as lax as it used to be...I'll get my head down right after that," He says with a resigned look on his face.
"See that you do. If I'm going to be doing this, I want my back up on the ball." As she walks off she says over her shoulder, "And drink some water."
"Yes, Mom," Logan replies with a smile.
With her back to Logan, Max smiles as well, and there is a bounce to her step as she walks over to Luke.
Well, Max, I don't know what you were going to say each time you interrupted yourself. I was tempted to ask you if you loved me, but I figured now would not be the right time - with the whole of the Command Center trying to hear what we were talking about. I guess letting you do this job will help take your mind off the stuff we can't solve right now. It's good to be working with you again, and to hear you laugh...hell, it's good for the both of us. Walking from the pipes Logan goes up onto the platform to the nearest free computer. I hope that X5 makes it in tonight, Max, really needs a change of clothes and so do I. There were few more rips in her catsuit tonight. If this keeps up, she won't have anything on...now there's a thought. Really have to get a solution to this virus.
"Hey, Luke, you fixed the water yet?" Max asks as she walks up, the smile still on her lips her eyes sparkling.
"Yes, Max, got two shower stalls working in the living quarters, and plenty of water, not hot though."
"Thanks, a girl's got to take what she can in these trying times. Later"
"Later, Max."
Well, I guess there is no way Logan's going to give up on us, so might as well go with the flow and get this tracking thing solved so we can find a cure for this virus damn quick, because the more time I spend around him the more chance another accident is going to happen...I won't let it happen. As soon as I get back, I'm going to ask Logan to find out about Zack. Hope that X5 makes it in tonight. Logan really needs a change of clothes and his glasses. And if I get into anymore fights, I'll be down to my underwear. That would really have tongues wagging around here. I can already hear them whispering about our little meetings by the pipes
TBC
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
A/N: Thanks heaps to Kasman for the betas especially when you are busy and tired. Thanks to those who took the time to read and review Max and Logan appreciate it. This keeps them alive.
Chapter 10 Gathering Intelligence Two
Command Center two hours later:
Well, at least they made backups, and after all the security and cutouts and the erasing of the files in the first place, they go and put them in the file room at Police HQ. Well, it's all in the details, and that's where people always mess up.
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Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Max has showered and is walking around wearing only a towel. She is very angry.
"You said there'd hardly be any security."
"My guy screwed up."
"No kidding."
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My intelligence wasn't accurate that night, but I did learn two things: never brush off a dinner date with you, and you look beautiful wrapped in a towel...don't go there now, Cale. I nearly lost you then, and it was not checking the details that got you killed Max.
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Flashback: van in the woods outside Manticore genetics facility:
On a monitor, Lydecker sees children soldiers preparing to leave their barracks. "This is not good. Hack into the control panel at corridor 7- Alpha. We've got to lock down ward C16."
"Why? What's wrong?" Logan asks.
"Must have been a last-minute change in deployment—there's still a contingent of X7s in the building."
"They're just kids."
"They're stronger, faster, and designed with hive minds. We don't want our people tangling with them."
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I won't let that happen to you or anybody else.
Logan looks at the time and then scans the Command Center for Max, and sees Joshua standing talking to an X5 in the middle of the room. I wonder where Max is? I need to pass this on to her so she can send somebody to get those backups. Standing up stiffly, Logan walks over to Joshua.
"Hey, Joshua, how's tricks?"
"Tricks, Logan? Joshua doesn't do tricks." He says with a puzzled growl.
"No, not you doing tricks...it's just a saying...sorry forget it."
"Ah, I understand now, Logan's playing with words," and laughing he slaps Logan on the shoulder.
He winces at Joshua's strength. "Right, something like that...have you seen Max?"
"No, she's not been back," the X5 replies.
"Thanks..."
"X5-751, Dan."
"Thanks Dan."
"See you, Joshua."
"Not if I see you first, Logan," Joshua says, causing Logan to pause in mid step and turn to look at him in shock. With a snicker, Joshua turns to continue his conversation with Dan.
'Appearances do deceive.' Max is right. Joshua is smarter than he seems, a lot smarter – probably more than even she realizes...I won't forget that again. He makes his way over to the communications section in the Command Center. Been sitting too long with this exoskeleton on. I'm stiff. First chance I get, I've got to take it off.
"Hey, Tom, did Max take any comms with her when she left?" Logan asks the X6 sitting at the radio.
"No, why? Is there something important?" he says, looking up.
"Just some information she needs to know. I'll try her cell." He turns and walks over to the Command Center entrance while pulling out his cell and speed dialing Max's number...
Outside Command Center, two hours earlier:
Running through the slackening rain to an empty doorway, Max takes shelter.
I don't really want to be doing this, but I had to get out of there...being so close to you - lying and evasion...our relationship has had plenty of that – we've both had our reasons...so why do I feel guilty about lying about Alec...I shouldn't, I won't, but I'm getting tired of this. First, find out about Zack. Then, if I've got to, I'll tell Logan the truth. He'll just have to deal with it...and so will I. Might as well go and get a cup of coffee, or at least what they're trying to pass as coffee in the mess hall...maybe bring one back for Logan. Yep, that sounds like a plan.
As Max is about to step out of the doorway for the mess hall she sees Alec and Joshua leading a mixed group of armed transgenics walk pasts.
Slight change of plan. Logan's right about responsibilities, but a girl's gotta kick some butt now and then. Not that I expect anything to happen, but I have nothing else doing now...and anyway, what they're calling coffee here I can give a miss for awhile longer.
Following the others, Max, stays far enough back and hidden so their heightened senses can't detect her. Eventually, they near the RV, and Max, behind them, moves into cover. She is surrounded by the stink of the refuse washed down from the decaying city above.
Jeez, what a girl has to put up with to get some action...
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Flashback Sector Police HQ Seattle:
Max is hanging upside-down outside the window to the sector pass office.
God, I feel nauseous. If this idiot doesn't leave soon, I'm going to hork and I hate horking. Ah, gone...a little knife work and in we go...and Logan and I have Class One, VIP, no questioned-asked sector passes. They could come in useful later to get around after our trip to the cabin.
Max is on her motorcycle riding fast towards her crib.
Logan really needs to get away, since the transfusion failed he's retreated further into Eyes Only. It's never mattered to me...when I thought he'd committed suicide...I don't want to loose him. Maybe we can finally have sometime to figure out our relationship and get away from the madness around us.
»»»»»
That weekend was a bust...although we ended up helping Sage and Trudy and found out a few things about each other. It definitely was not what I'd hoped it would be...This will probably be a bust as well. Logan's working on finding out how they're tracking us, and he'll probably find what we're looking for. But that's what I'm doing down here...to cover his back so he doesn't burn himself out – I have a feeling time's running out, and this is a distraction, from finding out what I'm supposed to do - according to the runes...never mind solving our other problems.
Eventually, Max hears voices coming back along the sewer. Gradually she makes out Alec's voice.
"Well, it ain't exactly paradise, but we got some beer for the moment and a roof over our heads."
"We'll have food and running water soon," Joshua adds.
"Did you have any problems getting past the cordon?" Alec asks.
"There was a scary moment just after we got through, a patrol came towards us but then they went down a different street. We waited to make sure they hadn't doubled back and then came down...sent back Mil and Toni to check if we had a tail, but it was clear."
Nodding in approval, "Good, we'll soon be there," Alec says.
As they pass a side passage, Alec glances over. Sensing something, he leans over to Joshua, "Big guy, you take them on in, I want to check something out."
Looking at Alec with a frown, "You know what Max said...Don't get lost."
"I know what Max said and I'm not going to get lost...just something I gotta check. Catch you later."
Looking hard at Alec, Joshua shrugs, and then continues on with the others.
Waiting till the group has moved on, Alec flattens himself against the wall and slowly makes his way back towards the entrance of the side passage. Just as he reaches it a dark shape steps out, and Alec lunges...
As, Max, steps out of the side passage, she sees a shape making a grab for her. Turning, she grabs an arm, and continuing the turn, throws her attacker against the far wall with a bone-jarring thud...
As his eyes refocus Alec, sees a fist inches from his face, and behind it a very angry, and very familiar, face.
"Max, what are you doing here?"
"I might ask you the same thing."
"What? The fumes down here making you lose your mind? You sent me down here, remember?" Alec says sarcastically, trying to catch his breath.
Max letting go of Alec, lowers her fist and rests it on her hip. "No, I sent you down here to help guide a group of our peeps back to Terminal City, not to be skulking around," she replies angrily.
"Skulking around? I'm wondering what you're doing skulking around...or shouldn't I ask?"
Relaxing slightly, Max, looks down the main sewer passage then back at Alec. "No, you shouldn't, but if you must know, I was going to see if our friends from above had decided to follow some transgenics...see If I could find how they were doing it."
Looking sharply at Max. "What happen - your boyfriend not found out anything? Thought he was good at this sort of thing?" he asks mockingly.
Glaring at Alec. "What Logan and I are is none of your business, and yes he is very good at what he does...he's found out that the files of how they are tracking us have been erased. He's looking for where they're keeping their backups...not that it's any business of yours," Max says fiercely.
Alec's expression softens. "Sorry, Max...I didn't mean anything by what I just said...I know how you feel about, Logan, and believe me, I know from close up how he feels about you...It's just that dragging me into your drama is not my idea of fun."
Max looking thoughtful, softens her expression. "Sorry, Alec. If I had this to do over, I wouldn't have got you involved, but it was the only way I could push Logan away...to protect him. You're right, we're a danger to them...at least, I am."
Straightening up. Alec steps closer to Max, who steps back. "Listen, Max, Logan loves you. He's made that very clear to me, so you've got to come clean with him...and you better do it soon...you and he are more a danger to each other apart than together, and I'm the one caught in the middle. Believe me, I don't want to be the one who has to deal with the fallout."
A slight skeptical expression passes across her face. "There won't be any fallout, Alec. I'll deal with it. Now, you get back to Terminal City and take care of that other task for me...I really appreciate your help on this, Alec."
Grinning at Max he steps past her. "Yeah, well every big sister needs a little brother to cover her back now and then...just don't make it too often, okay?"
"I'll try and cut back," Max says grinning. "Now get back and keep an eye on things."
"Right, take care down here Max, saw some big rats earlier." He gives Max a light punch on the arm.
Max, in response, pushes him in the direction of Terminal City, but before he has gone more than a few steps she calls out to him, "Oh, Alec, don't tell Logan where I am or what I'm doing."
Stopping, Alec looks over his shoulder at her, then shrugs in resignation, "Sure, Max...sure."
I know Logan would never come straight out and tell Alec he loves me - so what did he say or do to convince Alec that's the way he still feels, despite everything? No use asking either of them...The men around me, I'll never understand them. Maybe that's why OC is the way she is. Grinning broadly and shaking her head...nope they provide too much of a challenge for me to change. She continues walking down the passage.
After about five hundred feet she hears faint voices coming from a side passage to her left. Keeping close to the wall, she eases up to the opening waiting, her senses on full alert. Straining to hear what is being said, she gradually makes out parts of an argument between three or four people.
"We're lost, you know the lieutenant said..."
"Yeah, I know what he said, now can it, we had those two on the imager clear and he let them get away, damn trannie lover."
"Hey, I ain't sure he is - I know him, he's okay and..."
"Doing his job? Letting those freaks get away?"
"This thing's not working...pick up their...and give a reading on the screen."
"Maybe they got too far ahead. I said we should be closer for it to pick up... "
As they get closer to Max she can make out the voices of four people, definitely heading her way.
These clowns seem to have something that can track us, so lets see if they will share a little information with me voluntarily, if not, I get to kick some butt.
"Yeah, and they would've heard us and taken us out. I have two kids, I don't want to be killed by no freak. Let's turn back."
"We'll go to the next main passage, that should lead us out, and if we pick up the signal we'll know what passages they're using."
"Maybe reduce the ass chewing we're going to get for being down here, even if we don't get any of the damn freaks."
At that point, the four cops see the cross passage and walk more quickly towards it. As the first cop steps out into the main passage, he doesn't see Max pressed against the wall. The second steps out and suddenly exclaims, "Damn! We've got a trannie," as he turns towards Max, pointing the radar gun shaped device in his hand.
In a blur Max chops at the first cop's neck knocking him unconscious, at the same moment, kicking out at the second cop who blocks her kick with the device in his hand which goes flying and hits the opposite wall. Max ducks as the third cop takes a swing at her from the side passage with the butt of his rifle. In a sweeping movement, she kicks his legs from under him and he falls back into the fourth cop, and they both fall into the sewers filthy water.
As Max, turns the second policeman has recovered enough from his shock to hit Max in the back just above her kidneys knocking her to her knees with a grimace of pain on her face. He follows up with a savage kick to her ribs knocking her back into the wall with a grunt, as he starts to bring this rifle around from where it was hanging from his back. Max, launches herself head first into his stomach knocking the wind out of him in a loud whoosh, as he slowly folds over on to his knees she is about to punch him, but he has already passed out.
Behind her the other two cops have regained their feet and stepped into the main passage, "Don't move freak or you're dead," one of them says as they point their rifles at her.
"I don't think so. Been there, done that." Max says as she leaps running sideways up the wall as the third cop fires missing: Using her momentum she runs along it hitting the cop who fired on the side of the head with her fist dropping him in his tracks. Then she leaps over the last cop's shoulders, Landing behind him, she grabs his rifle and pulls it out of his hands.
"Please, don't kill me, I have kids and a wife."
Looking with disgust at the rifle in her hand Max throws it away after unloading it. "I don't kill without reason...you all have given me enough...there're people here you're hunting who have families as well" she says fiercely. She looks down at the three unconscious policemen and then at the last one standing, "Just get the hell out of here, but before you go tell me how you've been tracking us."
"I'm not going to tell you that," the cop replies with bravado.
Moving superhumanly fast, Max grabs him by the front of his uniform and lifts him, one handed, off his feet. "I've been told more than once that I have very little patience and believe me, at the moment it's almost non- existent." Max cocks her head to one side and pulls it back as if examining an interesting specimen. "So don't push me or I might change my mind about you and your friends. Spill it," she says, shoving the cop harder into the wall and getting right into his face.
Glancing at his companions with bulging eyes. "The Feds have been issuing us some sort of thermal imaging device. It reads transgenics body temperature," he answers rapidly.
"How?"
"I don't know."
Max lifts him higher. "How?" she hisses.
Looking into Max's dark eyes, he sees no pity, "Honest, I don't know, I'm no tech. All they told us was that anybody reading a temperature of 101.8° Fahrenheit is a transgenic...that's the truth...please, my wife and kids."
Max lets him drop, and walks over to where the broken tracking device is lying. She picks it up and turns to the cop who is sitting in the filth of the sewer, but before she can speak, her phone rings.
"Hey, you."
"Max, where are you? Are you okay?" Logan's voice urgently asks over her phone.
Sighing softly. "I'm down in the sewers with some of our guards from outside...I got some info on how they're tracking us...guess you have some info for me, too?" she says with some amusement in her voice.
"Hmm, we'd better meet up."
"You stay where you are and send some of our people down here to escort our guests home. They're a bit the worse for wear. Alec or Joshua know the passage," Max, says grinning with savage pleasure at her handy work. The cop sitting in the sewage cringes as her look sweeps over him.
Smiling to himself grimly, Logan nods, "Okay they'll be on their way...can't wait to hear this one. See ya."
"See ya," Max replies.
Wonder if Logan is pissed at me? Stole a bit of his thunder there. Nah, he'll be pissed I shrugged my responsibilities - should have known he would find me. He always does, but this has relieved some stress and Logan will just have to deal with it.
Outside Command Center:
Standing outside as he looks up at the dark sky which now shows a few stars through the remaining rain clouds Logan shakes his head. Should've known you wouldn't sit still for long...hope you're really okay.
Command Center, late evening:
As Max walks in, Logan gestures her to follow him over to their private conference area by the pipes.
"What the hell do you think you were doing down there? Didn't we have a little conversation about responsibilities not too long ago?" Logan asks angrily, looking at Max.
"Look, Logan, I didn't ask for this" Max replies, tightly controlling her anger, and sweeping her arm around the Command Center, "and I certainly don't want to be the savior of mankind along with the other problems I have. Especially between...worrying about OC and Sketchy and you in here, but that's what I've got into. So cut me some slack in how I deal with the stress. Okay?" Suddenly smiling like the very young women she really is, "Besides, I brought us a present." She holds up the battered tracking device as if presenting Logan a gift. "Sorry it got busted. Found out how they use it. We need to find out how it works."
Looking at her for a moment Logan sighs with a faint smile on his lips. "I worry about you, Max...I care."
Smiling back "I know, Logan, and it's appreciated...I care as well, you know, about...So what did you find out."
Pausing for a moment before he answers, Logan stares at Max who returns his look seeming to challenge him to ask what she was going to say. He looks as if he is about to then his expression becomes neutral. "Well not as much as you obviously did, but I did find out that there are backups and, surprise, surprise, they're keeping them in our favorite place for getting hidden information..."
"You're not serious? After all the effort to keep this secret they've gone and put them..."
"In Police headquarters," they say in unison, then laugh easing the earlier tension.
Around the command center the transgenics look over in curiosity at the sound of hilarity near the pipes.
Max and Logan noticing the stares and laugh again "I really need an office –"
"With a door, too." Logan interrupts her.
"Yeah, a door." Max says thoughtfully.
Which I'd keep shut to protect you from me and which you would find a way through anyhow. I love you Logan. Though if you were going to ask me that, I would have probably said yes right then, too.
"So, how are they tracking transgenics?" Logan asks, cutting into Max's thoughts.
"Using our body heat. This thing reads us having a higher temperature. We're about three degrees above normal humans. The cop has no idea how it does it...I'm guessing some kind of thermal imaging."
"Probably, but we need to know how to counter it. The backups may have some schematics or other data, which could give us some idea on how to disrupt it. So, time for a little breaking and entering. Are you up to it?"
The expression of utter surprise on Max's face causes Logan to chuckle. "You should see your face. I think this may be the first time I've seen you lost for words, Max."
"No, I'm not. Just wondered if some how aliens had replaced Logan Cale while I was standing here. You're actually asking me to do this? The very person who just chewed me out about responsibilities?"
"I figured I wasn't going to be able to stop you anyway so might as well ask and make it official."
"Logan, you continue to surprise me, that's maybe why I...yeah I'm up to it. But can we do this later, after I've had a shower. The cops would probably smell me a mile away."
"More like two. But that's the price you pay for having fun."
"Whatever. I'll be back later."
"Yeah, I'll be ready."
Pausing, Max looks closely at Logan. "When was the last time you had a rest?"
Shrugging. "I'll get some soon, Max. Got to make sure that the security is still as lax as it used to be...I'll get my head down right after that," He says with a resigned look on his face.
"See that you do. If I'm going to be doing this, I want my back up on the ball." As she walks off she says over her shoulder, "And drink some water."
"Yes, Mom," Logan replies with a smile.
With her back to Logan, Max smiles as well, and there is a bounce to her step as she walks over to Luke.
Well, Max, I don't know what you were going to say each time you interrupted yourself. I was tempted to ask you if you loved me, but I figured now would not be the right time - with the whole of the Command Center trying to hear what we were talking about. I guess letting you do this job will help take your mind off the stuff we can't solve right now. It's good to be working with you again, and to hear you laugh...hell, it's good for the both of us. Walking from the pipes Logan goes up onto the platform to the nearest free computer. I hope that X5 makes it in tonight, Max, really needs a change of clothes and so do I. There were few more rips in her catsuit tonight. If this keeps up, she won't have anything on...now there's a thought. Really have to get a solution to this virus.
"Hey, Luke, you fixed the water yet?" Max asks as she walks up, the smile still on her lips her eyes sparkling.
"Yes, Max, got two shower stalls working in the living quarters, and plenty of water, not hot though."
"Thanks, a girl's got to take what she can in these trying times. Later"
"Later, Max."
Well, I guess there is no way Logan's going to give up on us, so might as well go with the flow and get this tracking thing solved so we can find a cure for this virus damn quick, because the more time I spend around him the more chance another accident is going to happen...I won't let it happen. As soon as I get back, I'm going to ask Logan to find out about Zack. Hope that X5 makes it in tonight. Logan really needs a change of clothes and his glasses. And if I get into anymore fights, I'll be down to my underwear. That would really have tongues wagging around here. I can already hear them whispering about our little meetings by the pipes
TBC