Break

Chapter Twelve

Split

Max couldn't help but feel completely conspicuous as the Created left their compound in a caravan of mismatched vehicles. Xandy had commandeered Otto's considerably nicer car, claiming that she didn't want the two Ordinaries to desert. Truly, Max was sure Xandy just wanted drive a well made car instead of driving one of those broken, barely running junk heaps. She was pulling up the lead, with Zane heading up the back to make sure none of them were taken out. Max was not happy about the idea of following Xandy the whole way to Seattle and she refused to be an easy target by traveling in a large group. This whole trip would be like Ames White's wet dream; defected breeding cult members, transgenics and his wife and ex-partner moving like a herd of sheep waiting for the fox to come for the hunt.

Of course, Xandy wouldn't listen to her when she suggested going separately, likely because it had been Max's idea to start with. So Max had decide to go to Zane, hoping he would listen to reason. Zane had balked against the idea at first, particularly after he had heard Xandy had said no. He was tired of fighting with Xandy all the time. With Max around, it was like Zane had to prove he wouldn't betray the Created all over again. Zane knew that it was the price he had to pay for escaping Manticore when he was a kid. But he had shown his loyalty to the Created repeatedly. His whole reason for leaving Manticore as a kid was to stay loyal to his unit. Loyalty was what Manticore bred and it was one of the few qualities that transgenics could never shake. Sometimes, Zane wondered if he just wanted to convince Xandy of his allegiance, not just the organization. Deep down, Zane knew Max was right about splitting up to go back to Seattle. Max was adamant in what she thought. And Zane was finally worn down by Max's dogged begging and he was agreeing to bring it up to Xandy once they got on the road before he even know what was happening. Max had known Zane would be her ally. They had always had to stick together.

Max watched Otto's car to see when Xandy got the cell phone call from Zane. Max saw the phone snap up to Xandy's ear after it vibrated. Max could barely hear what was being said over the roar of the engines, despite her super-hearing, but Max still caught the gist of the conversation. After Zane pulled out his power of persuasion, Xandy didn't stand a chance at resisting. She had fought it at first, yelling at him for being little Maxie's puppet, railing him for trusting Max's instincts over hers. Zane calmly lied, telling her he had no idea what Xandy was talking about, that he only wanted to make sure the Created wasn't going to be taken out or captured in one fail swoop. Zane was an extremely talented liar. He had an uncanny ability to make his voice sound almost blank with just enough twinges of innocence in it that invaded one's sense and made the victim actually feel guilty for ever doubting him in the first place. Zane pulled that deceptively innocent voice at Xandy when he insisted that the Created split up on the trip to Seattle. In the same way that Zane hadn't realized he had agreed to help Max, Xandy agreed to follow Zane's suggestion before she even realized she had. And she almost felt horrible for yelling at Zane for favoring Max when Zane had come to her with his own idea out of his concern for the Created. Almost. Who would blame her for doubting him, really, after all the illogical favor Zane had given to Max? Besides, by agreeing with Zane, it was like apologizing for ever doubting him. She hung up on Zane without another word and began to send the message to the whole organization to divide and meet at Max's apartment by 2300 hours. Max received her page quickly and she immediately sped up past Xandy, only to cut her off, much to Max's enjoyment. She couldn't help but send Xandy a triumphant smile that sent Xandy's blood boiling. She had been played by Zane yet again. Maybe Max would get hit by a car on the way to Seattle. Max could die, Alec could survive and Xandy's life would be back in order and definitely for the better.

Ames White rarely felt as good as he did at that moment, and he almost never let it show when he did. He was hanging toward the back while McKinley interviewed for a new aide. The man that had come into the office for this interview had nearly made White drop to the floor in laughter and delight. He was rarely prone to fits of laughter and delight was an emotion that was rarely affording in the cult. McKinley had instantly picked up on White's reactions, so he had made this interview fairly simple in a way that made it almost completely impossible for the interviewee to blow it, and hard enough where others who looked over McKinley's notes on this man wouldn't become suspicious. He couldn't wait until he didn't have to answer to anyone else in this ridiculous government. But that was a side note. This boy needed to be hired. That must be what White's reactions must be.

"Honestly, Sir, I've never been terribly interested in politics. However, your platform has drawn me into them, to the point that I can't imagine not being involved in your campaign. I admire your tenacity, Senator McKinley, and being your aide, being able to help you on the campaign would be a dream come true."

He felt a little self-conscious by the raving review he had just given the Senator. He probably sounded like an eager, inexperienced kid and that would be enough to make them decide not to hire him. Seriously. A dream come true? What, was he writing some kind of cheesy screenplay that would never see the light of a camera? He couldn't stop himself from feeling nervous, though. He was in the presence of Senator McKinley…a man that was running in the presidential election. This man could be the future of America.

He raised his eyes from his lap to scan the office. He saw a man in the corner, not cowering there, but trying to look inconspicuous. He hadn't even noticed that there had been anyone else in the room for the interview. The way the man was watching him made him feel uncomfortable. The man was studying him, almost sizing him up for something else other than the job he was here for. He felt so uncomfortable that he hadn't even realized that the Senator was talking to him again. Great. One more mark against him for this interview.

"Pardon me, Senator, I didn't hear what you were saying."

The Senator smiled tightly and repeated himself.

"We could use your enthusiasm around this office and in my campaign. I'll have to pass your application by some of the others in this office as well as complete your background check, but I think it's safe to say you'll be able to start on Monday."

He was ecstatic by what the Senator said, but he tried his best to hide the excitement that coursed through his body. He hadn't completely blown the interview, obviously. He would be work in Seattle on Monday. He stood to shake the Senator's hand while his mind raced about moving his stuff to Seattle from Texas by Monday. It wouldn't be too hard to have things moved, if they could get permission to have it passed through the checkpoints. He would have McKinley's stamp of approval, however, so it would be no problem.

Senator McKinley returned the firm handshake and accepted his not so subtle thank you for the opportunity.

"I look forward to working with you, Zack."

"Me, too, Senator McKinley. Thank you again!"

Zack turned to walk towards the door, but he couldn't stop himself from casting one more glance at the mysterious man in the corner. A shiver ran down Zack's spine, but he ignored it as he exited the office. The minute the door shut with a click, McKinley looked over at White.

"Well…"

"452 and 494 were just dropped into our laps with a nice big bow."

With that, White allowed his smile to shine through, his eerily perfect white teeth sparkling in an almost flawlessly taunting fashion.

Max couldn't return to her apartment yet. As much as she wanted to sink into her own bed after catching up with Original Cindy, she knew that she had to finally deal wit Logan first. She needed to fill him in on everything that was happening with the transgenics and probably Wendy White as well. Of course, he would probably find a way to make the whole situation about himself and how Max had let him down by leaving town. Even though this entire thing had nothing to do with him, the Created didn't even include Ordinary membership. It pained her to admit that Alec was often right where Logan was concerned, and he had continually told her that Logan was self-involved and more interested in using her than loving her. She was typically blinded when Logan was involved, even when he treated her badly and put his own needs as well as everyone else's before her own.

Her muscles drew taut just thinking about Logan. Her feelings of relaxation that she had absorbed from the open road and her Ninja disappeared. Almost nothing could rip that peace away from her, but Logan could. Alec was the only other man Max could think of that was capable of turning her insides into a tumultuous whirl of emotion. Alec noticed Max's tenseness immediately and he almost made the mistake of asking her if she was okay. He knew it was likely she would bite his head off if he showed any kind of interest in her life, so he decided he would just stay out of it, so he could avoid Max's abuse. Besides, the tenseness was probably all that sexual tension she had pent up while she insisted on having a 'non-relationship' with the Log. In fact, she was probably upset about him right now. All Max seemed capable of thinking anymore was Logan-centric.

The officers at the last checkpoint looked over their Jam Pony passes. The one good thing that job was good for. Alec held in a sigh. He was hardly looking forward to seeing Logan again. Logan really knew how to bring down anyone's spirit just by opening his mouth. He didn't even have to say anything…one could imagine what he would be saying. Even when he wasn't talking about saving the world, his topics and tone of voice was enough to make someone die of boredom and feel like they were leaving Logan a lesser person. Alec's thoughts were interrupted when Max pulled to a stop and turned off the motorcycle. They were already at Foggle Towers. Alec hadn't even realized they had pulled into the parking lot. She removed her helmet and shoved it at Alec.

"I want you to stay here while I go talk to Logan."

Alec's smirk appeared as he realized that he wasn't even going to have to see Logan. His day was already looking up. But he wouldn't just let it go.

"I'll stay here like a good little puppy, if you'll bring me back a treat. And I don't mean pasta and pre-Pulse wine. I want something good."

Max rolled her eyes in slight bitterness, knowing that Alec's joke about the food was true.

"Alec, you don't even know how things are anymore. Listen, if you want to be a smartass, you can just walk back to my apartment to meet up with that sweet girl, Xandy."

"I didn't want to leave my happy little Zen state anyway by talking to the Log. You know, the threat of Xandy really doesn't scare me. She likes me…it's you that she wants to squash under her little thumb."

"Fine, whatever. Just stay here." Max finally turned on her heel, feeling flustered in the way that only Alec could arouse.

Max hesitated outside the door, willing herself to walk in so she could get this over with. She could already hear the lecture she was about to receive because she had taken a not-so-relaxing break. "The world does not take a break, Max. I don't ever take a break. Evil does not take a break."

Obviously, Logan didn't take breaks. He wouldn't feel like a martyr if he allowed himself to enjoy life. Max had escaped –with Alec- to get away from St. Logan (though she hadn't realized that she felt that way before her break). She had suppressed it. She was always suppressing her feelings with Logan, one way or another. She contemplated running away from him again, just as she had before, but deep down, she knew it wasn't an option. She would have to swallow her fear and pride and face Logan. She took one deep breath before reaching to open the door, using her shirt to touch the knob, careful not to let her skin come in contact with the cool metal. She entered the apartment quietly, not purposefully, but enough to give Logan a start when she approached him from behind.

"At least you used the door this time."

Logan's comment was meant as a joke, to make Max laugh and to calm himself from his startled nerves, but it fell flat on both accounts. Max was unapologetic for surprising Logan; after all, she hadn't meant to do it. Logan started too easily, anyway. She leaned against the computer desk. She waited impatiently for Logan to begin his, "We-need-to-save-the-world" speech. He would bring up Wendy White eventually and that's when she would fill Logan in The Created.

She scanned the screens in Logan's version of an office. One screen was full of a semi-dossier on Wendy White, another map with various blinking red lights for tracking and yet several others watching the checkpoints. The hum of machines working together comforted her inexplicably and it soother her impatience to a degree.

Logan stared at Max intensely, not even sure of where to begin. Max had completely blown him off, being the selfish, self-centered person he had known when they first met and Max had tried to rob him blind. He had thought Max had moved past that, become a better person since she had met him. He had been sure his influence had made a positive impact on her life. He almost always did. But since Alec had become her constant companion, Max had become more self-centered again. Obviously Alec had been single-handedly undoing all of his positive influence on Max.

"You had absolutely no right to flee Seattle with the intention for taking an irresponsible break when the work we do is so important. Our work is more important and vital than anything else we could ever do, and you blew it off completely, even when I told you there was a case."

Max's mouth broke into an ironic smile, loving that Logan was already preaching to her.

"Our work, Logan? It's not our work. It's your work. I only started helping you after you said you would help me find my family. I have never felt the same way you have about the jobs we pulled off."

Logan ignored Max's clarification of what their work meant to each individual. Instead, he continued to berate her for her actions, like a father would a five-year-old who stole a candy bar.

"Wendy White – a woman who is connected to your kind's archenemy – went missing not long after her third born did, and you blew me off to go out and, what, party, with Alec. I've never known anyone to be so selfish, especially when this could have a connection to an entire population – including yourself."

"Logan – "

"I thought we had moved past only thinking about yourself. You'd been doing so well, working for the greater good and Alec swoops into your life and messes up everything I had taught you about being unselfish."

Max had slowly been reaching her boiling point the whole time. Logan had lectured and ignored her. She fought the overwhelming urge to reach out and touch Logan to put them both out of their misery. Instead, despite the satisfaction swift death to Logan might give her, she finally overtook the voice of a man who loved to hear his own too much.

"You're not any more selfless than I ever have been. You do what you do so you can feel better about yourself and cry about being a martyr all the time. You don't help people out of the goodness of your heart and neither do I. I'm done being your lap dog, Logan.

I am not at your beck and call. I don't know why I didn't see that you were using me before. All the other transgenics could see it, but I always chalked their words up to the general mistrust that transgenics hold towards Ordinaries. But now I see it. Now that I'm doing hearing you berate me, we can move on.

Wendy White is safe for the moment. Otto found her at a breeding cult warehouse facility and along with The Created, we are moving forward with our plans to stop the breeding cult. You can help us. After two years of being your personal puppet, you will help us with whatever we need. It's your turn to play the lap dog."

With that last sentence, Max pushed away from the desk and started to stalk out of the apartment, filled with relief. She actually felt better after having told Logan what she thought. She couldn't believe she has allowed Logan to suppress her personality for so long. She wouldn't make that mistake again.

She stopped at the door for a brief moment, and turned back to Logan. "I'll call you when we need you. Don't contact me until then."

She shut the door with a resounding slam that filled her with satisfaction.