Wheeling Around
Chapter 11
At Terminal City, Max lay on her cot, finally asleep after crying for hours. Jondy and Cindy watched over her like mother hens. As far as Joshua was concerned, he wasn't going to move from Max's side. She had snuggled in his lap for hours, crying. They had never seen Max in such shape.
"Little fella finally sleeping. But heart still broken," Joshua said, sighing.
Jondy and Cindy just looked at each other then Cindy said, "Doggy-Dog, why is my boo's heart broken? Did she say something to you while we were in the courtyard?"
"She kept on saying over and over, I tried to show him, I tried to show him. It doesn't matter to me. Logan. Logan. But Joshua didn't understand," Joshua quietly said.
"Cindy, you mentioned that doctor said Max had been poison. By what?" Jondy said, trying to figure out what was going on.
"By the spray painting on her body. Those creeps painted her body all up. Logan saw it first and covered her up. I didn't see it until I took her to the bathroom to get it off," Cindy said.
"Cindy do you have a cell phone?" Asked Jondy. Cindy shook her head no. "Okay, Joshua would you go get Alec for me?" Joshua complied. He moved quickly to the command center, then to Alec's room and finally found him in the cafeteria.
"Alec, come. Jondy want to see you." Joshua put his big hands on Alec's shoulder, was just about dragging him out the door when Alec convinced him, he was coming. Both men went to Max's room where the girls were.
"Hey, what's so damn urgent that I can't finish my skimpy dinner?" Alec blew up at Jondy.
"Do you have a cell phone?" Jondy asked softly.
"Yeah, sure. Why?" Alec had a questioning look as well on his face.
"I've got a plan and I need some back up. Do you mind?" Jondy spoke quietly so Max wouldn't hear her. Going out the door down the hall, into another room Alec and Cindy followed her. Joshua stayed behind to watch Max. She dialed a number and immediately it was answered.
"Hello?" The male voice from the other line answered.
"Hey, it's me. Is Syl with you?" Jondy inquired.
"Yeah, what's up, sis?" Krit asked. "Zane's here too."
"Good. Just another reunion," Jondy said, smiling. Bring your gear. Gloves especially. Meet me at the tunnel entrance in an hour."
"Oh okay. You'll tell when we get there right?" Krit asked. Syl and Zane just looked at Krit with curiosity.
"I'll tell you then, but know this. We're going to help Max," Jondy said, matter of factly.
"Max? Okay, be right there." That's all Krit said, and hung up. Krit, Syl, and Zane got their gear together and left for the tunnels of Terminal City. Driving silently through the streets of Seattle, they reached the tunnel and there stood Jondy, Alec, and Cindy, dressed all in Black.
"Took you long enough," Jondy tried to sound angry but failed with her wide grin. She hugged them all and it was returned. "Alec this is Krit, Syl, and Zane. Cindy is Max's roommate and best friend. Cindy these are our brothers and sister. She didn't know we were here."
How long have yous been here? My boo has been looking for ya'll for a long time. So has Logan," Cindy said in shock.
"About two months give or take," Zane said, with a grin. "What has Maxie got herself into?" He was now concerned about his little sister. He had the big brother posture.
"Well, to make a long story short; she was poisoned. We need to case the joint for a spray can. Wear your gloves, all of you. That includes you too Cindy. I don't know what this stuff is, but I'd rather us be safe than sorry," Jondy said, looking at each and everyone in the group. "Double up on the bike, people. Let's ride!" Jondy said with a wave of her hand.
Jondy was in front with Cindy hanging on in the back, telling her where Logan's apartment was. They pulled their bikes in the tall bushes and snuck up to Logan's apartment. As they entered through the skylight, they noticed a light going through each room. Krit was the first one down and then the rest.
"Hey," is all Krit said to the person, then knocked him out.
Cindy not being able to see in the dark grabbed the flashlight turned it toward the person Krit knocked out. "Oh, shit!" She said loudly. After having a good look at the person, she tried to revive him. "Tony? Tony, it's me, Original Cindy. Tony?" She said and softly tapped him on the face.
Coming to, Tony stood on his feet with wobbly legs. "What truck ran me over," he said jokingly and rubbing his neck. "Hi, Cindy or is it OC, like Max calls you?" Tony was looking at her plus looking at everyone else in the room.
In unison, they all said, "You know our sister?" Except Cindy of course.
"Sister?" Tony said, still turning to Cindy for answers.
"Max, Tony." Cindy said giggling.
"Oh, you're the other X-5s from Max's group," Tony said, before a knife was shoved up to his throat. "Whoa, I come in peace, man," Tony said. shaken by the big knife at his throat.
"What you doing fool? Zane, is that your name? Anyway, he's Logan's cousin and we know him. Max and me, okay?" Cindy said, standing between Zane and Tony. Cindy was protecting Tony as best that she could. "Tony these are Max's sibs. Let's do the intro later. There are bad guys out there and I don't want to be stuck here."
"What are you doing here, Tony?" Cindy asked.
"Logan called a few hours ago and I thought I'd surprise him. Looks like I was the one surprised," Tony said, grinning, but still was rubbing his neck where the knife had come skin close like a razor.
"Okay, people. Spread out. Look for a spray can of paint," Jondy ordered.
"Jondy? I know where they came at Max with the paint if that's what you're looking for," Cindy said, looking at the redhead.
"Well, don't just stand there get a move on. I'll follow you." Jondy giggled looking at Cindy trying to see with that little flashlight of Tony's.
"Ah, here it is!" cried Cindy proudly. "Does any of yous have a plastic bag?"
"Yeah, sure," All said in unison.
"Well, that's good." Cindy said. She slightly jumped when everybody said the same thing at once.
"Where's the bathroom, Cindy?" Jondy spoke out.
"Which one?" Cindy said, confused at that question.
"Duh, why didn't I think of that? Rich people have more than one bathroom, I gotta remember that," Jondy said, with a smirk. "The one you took Max to."
"Oh. My bad. Right down the hall, I'll show you," Cindy said, waving a finger toward the hall then changed her mind.
As Jondy and Cindy left, the group approached Tony. He hesitated for minute then relaxed. "Cindy said your name was Tony. How do you know our sister?" Zane asked, standing in big brother stance, as he had stood at the tunnel.
"I . . . we . . . Bling, Logan, Max and I did a job a few months ago. Let me see, its really been about a year ago now, geez. Time flies when you're having fun." Tony said trying to sound humorous with a whole gang of X-5s engulfing him.
"Got it. Let's move," Jondy said softly, so only her siblings could hear. As Cindy and Jondy were approaching the living room, Jondy heard something.
Zane heard it too. "Sssh. Someone's coming," He said, low but to the point that Tony and Cindy could hear. "You two hide," he said, speaking to Tony and Cindy.
"Won't get me to argue," Cindy said grabbing Tony's coat sleeve. They went behind the partition out of sight. However, they could see what was about to happen.
Three people came through the door from the elevator in black suits like all the sibs had on. "Find him." One of them quietly said.
Zane spoke up and said, "Looking for me by chance?" Then the party started. Within minutes, all three of the guys were subdued, lying on the floor.
"Wow. That was quick. Are any of them hurt, real bad?" Tony exclaimed, shaking his head. The wonderment in his eyes with the speed and accuracy of the X-5s astounded him.
"Yes! Wow, was right." Cindy looked dumfounded at what she had just seen. "Max is fast, but all yous together, wow."
"What are you going to do with them?" Tony inquired. "Um, I could call Matt Sung, a detective here to get them." He suggested.
"No thanks." Syl spoke up. "Their gonna take a trip to TC so we can get some answers OUR way."
"Okay. How is OUR way going to be taken at . . . TC . . . Oh, you mean Terminal City, right?" Tony asked. Shaking his head, he added, "Well, I might as well go with ya'll to protect these three from you. Mind you, I don't want to, but I am a Special Agent out of D.C., so it's my job to bring the bad guys in what ever shape their in," Tony finally said.
"Yeah. What do you do for a living?" Krit had to ask.
"Um, don't kill me, but . . . I'm an agent for NCIS," Tony said hesitatingly. He was getting ready to be knocked out by that statement.
"He's cool ya'll. Max likes him. And I do to for a three-legged gender, like Logan," Cindy said giggling to Tony. Everyone relaxed with Cindy's statement.
"Whew, Cindy. Thanks," Tony said, and then said, "Three-legged gender? What the hell is that?"
"You man." Cindy giggled, and motioned to the southern region of his anatomy.
"OH!! Um, well, do you want me to drive them to . . . TC in my car?" He asked, changing the subject. Everybody laughed then. Tony for the first time in years, blushed all shades of red. I've heard of everything now, he thought.
"Zane, you ride with Tony here. I rather he gets to TC safe rather than to face Max's wrath if he gets hurt. Let's move, people," Jondy ordered. Krit, Zane, and Tony gathered the three goons up, rode down the elevator, and shoved them in Tony's car. Everyone was down including Cindy by the time Tony and the others had his prisoners in the car.
"I shoulda gone with you Tony. You know, down the elevator." Cindy said shaken slightly. "You peeps are whacked, just like my boo." Mounting their bikes, Syl took Zane's bike, since she doubled with Krit. They escorted Tony and his prisoners to TC.
Driving to the gate, he showed his badge and was shown in while the rest entered the dark tunnels.
Tony wavered at entering the doors at Terminal City without his escort. Zane, thank goodness, came up beside him and gave his shoulder a light pat. "It's all right, man." Zane said with a slight smile. They opened the doors and then were surrounded by several guns.
"Stand down! You wanna put those pea shooters down," yelled Jondy, from the opposite side of the room.
Mole came up and looked at Tony. "Logan, how did you get so old?"
"He's not Logan, Mole. This is his cousin, Tony," Cindy elaborated.
"I didn't think he smelled right," Mole said, and turned around.
Tony was in shock. Damn. What did Manticore do to these people? He thought, and then jumped through his boots when a soft hand was placed on his shoulder.
"You're not edgy are yah?" Jondy said with a giggle. "Okay. There are some guys out in his car that did whatever to Max. Don't bruise them too much, guys. But bring them to me, k?" She motioned for Tony to follow her. "Hey, guys. How about some food. I'm starvin." She spoke to a couple X-7s.
As the two walked down the hall, Tony was fascinated by all the different species there. He stared for too long at one person, and was promptly chastised. "Hey man. Take a picture it'll last longer," the toad-face-like man said sharply.
Looking a Jondy, Tony finally spoke, "Wow, Manticore was out to play God weren't they?"
"How do you know about them?" Jondy asked inquisitively.
"Um, it's a long story, Jondy," Tony responded vaguely.
They reached Max's room and Joshua shot out the door, almost running into them, saying, "Blood! Little fella bleeding from mouth!"
"Oh, shit! Joshua, go get my bag in the lab. Tell Krit and the others to come here. Hurry!" Jondy shouted.
"I thought Logan would be here. Where is he?" He asked absent-mindedly, knowing Jondy just came in with him. "What can I do, Jondy?"
"Hold her head up. She'll strangle like that. Damn, I have to get somebody on an antidote. Her pulse is shallow!" Jondy said talking to herself. About that time, everybody raced in the room including Joshua with Jondy's bag. "Krit, Zane, and Alec see what you can get out of those creeps, quickly. She doesn't have much time," Jondy said then took the bag, and was rummaging through it.
Sniffing Tony, Joshua said to Jondy, "He no Logan, who is he?"
"Joshua, this is Logan's older cousin, Tony. Tony, this is Joshua. That's as formal for now that I'm gonna get," Jondy hastily said.
Cindy came in the door and went pale. She went immediately to Max's side, and said, "Boo? Max, where does it hurt? Boo. Jondy, what is it?" Cindy asked, in shock seeing her girl like that. Max was so weak and frail looking it freaked her out totally.
Through blurry eyes, Max opened her eyes and settled them on Tony. Thinking Tony was Logan she weakly spoke, "Logan. Logan, I tried to show you, that it doesn't matter. I love you, that's all that counts. I just wanted...."
Jondy felt of her to check her pulse. Shaking her head, "That guy must be something special. She's just passed out, thank God. Cindy, what is so special about a guy in a wheelchair? No offense, Tony," Jondy said, curiously.
Before Cindy could answer in rolled Logan. At the time, he could only see Max. He didn't even bother being polite, just bulldozed his way to her side. "Max? Max Sebastian gave me the cure. Please wake up, Angel. Jondy, what's wrong with her now?" He said.
"Other than blood coming out of her mouth, she's dying Logan. Without the cure or antidote there's nothing we can do," She said harshly.
"Here," Logan said, pulling out a piece of paper with the information to produce the antidote. Is your lab up and running?" Logan asked, with a pleading look in his eyes.
"Kinda. What has this Sebastian guy got going?" Jondy asked hopefully.
"He's putting it together now. I was hoping that the lab would be up and running, save time transporting it to here," Logan whispered, looking at Max with love. Tony hadn't seen the love Logan had shown since his time here at the cabin.
"Damn, does anybody have a cell phone? Alec? Somebody?" Jondy said getting very annoyed.
"I have one, Jondy," came a voice from the corner of the room.
Logan recognized the voice, "Tony?! Tony, what are you doing here?"
Tony got up, gave Jondy the phone, and reached for his cousin for a bear hug.
"Touching. Logan, can you call that guy?" Jondy said, as she was getting in the middle of the reunion.
Smiling Logan said, "Sure."
"Well, hop to it, man. She doesn't have much time, Logan."
While Logan was talking to Sebastian, Krit, Zane, and Alec raced into the room. Zane said, "Okay, it's an oriental root definitely found in Asia that should work on anyone. Not just us but all humans. That root is poisonous, Jondy, to anybody. Are you listening?" Zane took Jondy's arm while saying that.
"Oh. Yeah, Zane I heard you. Okay, Mr. Agent Man, what are you or whoever gonna do about this?" Jondy spoke directly to Tony this time.
Logan held up the phone and said, "Jondy, Sebastian wants to speak with you."
Jondy kept saying 'yeah', and nodding as if Sebastian could see her for a long time. She finally put her hand over the receiver and said to Zane, "Zane, who has the fastest bike? And no bullshit. The honest truth." Jondy was in command mode now. "His lab is about two miles away. Who's faster you or . . .
Max broke in saying, "Logan? Logan."
Logan wheeled to Max's side again, "Here, Angel." Reaching for Max's hand, she felt his touch and purred slightly. Everybody heard it and smiled. "I knew you wouldn't leave me. I love you."
"I love you too, Angel. Now get some rest. Jondy is going to fix you right up," Logan said starting to release her hand.
"Don't leave me, Logan. Come lie by me, please," Max asked very softly not having the strength to raise her voice.
Logan said as tears were forming in his eyes, "Okay, Angel." The purring was even louder than her voice. Joshua was waiting in the wings and heard Max's request, ran and got another cot for them. Grinning from ear to ear said, "Little fella happy now. Heart not breaking."
"No. I think I know where there is a big bed," Jondy said, as she wiggled her eyebrows. "Zane, move it. Whoever is faster?" Turning back to Joshua and said, "You and the boys go to the apartment, let me see, where did I see that?
Oh, 214. In the apartment by the church. Hurry, Joshua," she said with a smile.
All that were left in the room were Tony, Cindy, Logan, and Jondy for just a little bit. All were quiet, trying to think of something to say, but didn't want to get Max upset. Jondy motioned the two out of the room. "Let's leave the lovebirds alone for just a minute," she said closing the door softly. Her attention was turned to Tony, "Well, have you come up with something?"
Tony shrugged his shoulder and said, "About?"
Jondy was using her sexy voice now, "The poison, silly." She slapped him playfully on the shoulder.
"Well, I'll need to get some more information, but I think I'll call Matt Sung in the morning and go from there. How does that sound?" he said with a wide grin.
"Oh, shit," Original Cindy squeaked. "Gonna go get some bedding, if it's all right with you guys?" Cindy said, knowing all too well that look Jondy was giving Tony. She had seen it on her boo more times than she could count. Oh man. Their gonna have to find another bed for them too, Cindy thought as she was rounding the corner, when Zane appeared carrying a small cooler. "Whatcha got there?" Cindy yelled scurrying after him.
"Max's medicine, I mean antidote," Zane hollered, not waiting for Cindy to catch up. He rushed up to Jondy, shaking the cooler at her and said, "20 minutes. It's been 10 already."
Jondy whirled around and ran to Max's side. "Max. Max, darling can you hear me. Max? Logan, see if she will speak to you. We've got to get this in her." Jondy was frantic now, because no response from Max means she couldn't inject her with the antidote. "5 minutes, Logan." Is all Jondy would say.
Logan gripped Max's hand said, "Angel? Angel, wake up. Angel?"
There was a growl sound coming from Max. "What Logan?" She spoke roughly, and opened her eyes very slowly.
"Good girl. Max, I'm going to inject something in you, k? It will make you feel better." Jondy said that and injected the antidote at the same time. All held their breath. "One minute to spare," Jondy said, smiling.
During this time, Joshua and a whole herd of transgenics had come with the bed Jondy had told Joshua about. "Little fella healing?" Joshua asked Jondy.
Yes, I think Max will be fine. Let me see. Where, oh, now I know. Two doors down and to the right Joshua. That room is big enough for everything needed to make Max comfortable and Logan of course," Jondy said looking at Tony.
"Bedding anybody?" Cindy said as she came around the corner.
"Just follow the line, Cindy and I'll be there shortly," she said. Placing an arm through Tony's, she walked to the room and said, "Long night for you. And interesting to boot, I just imagine, right?" Jondy said, and smiled at the answer coming.
"Yeah. It's not everyday I meet such interesting people." Tony said grinning broadly.
