Sandeman's House …
Logan threw his headset across the room. Oh how he missed being able to pace around the room. He laid his glasses off before pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Damn, another dead end." Once again, another Manticore scientist had proven elusive. I'm never going to find the cure to this bastard virus, he lamented to himself. He wondered when his run of bad luck would end. From a penthouse at Fogle Towers to squatting in a rundown shithole, it wasn't how he'd imagined his life a few years before. Being hopelessly - literally hopelessly - in love with Max hadn't figured into his five year plan either.
A knock at the door interrupted Logan's thoughts. He wondered who would knock since Transgenics weren't known for their manners. His human friends were just as bad, though.
"Coming!" he shouted as he replaced his glasses. A moment later he opened the door to Jarod.
"To what do I owe the honor, you actually knocked this time." Logan didn't bother to hide his sarcasm.
"I came bearing gifts as well." He held up a computer disc for Logan to see.
"I found a link between Dr. Liston and Addams; several links actually." Jarod followed Logan toward his computer room set up in the second bedroom.
"Thanks, Jarod. I'll pass it along to Max."
"Did the two of you have a disagreement?"
Logan took a deep breath before answering.
"Max and I have a history; a strictly professional relationship these days."
"Because of the virus?" Jarod ventured.
Logan wheeled around to face the older man standing framed in the doorway.
"Your search for Manticore scientists hasn't gone unnoticed." Logan wondered at the man's bemused, even mysterious expression. He suspected Jarod knew more than anyone could guess.
"Every time I get close to a cure something snatches it away." Alec and the explosive device White had put in his head came to mind.
"Perhaps I can help. I have had some experience in virology." Jarod stepped into the room.
"Have at it." Logan handed him a disc containing all the research he and Max had accumulated over the last several months.
"All hope isn't lost." Jarod assured him.
Logan gave the older man a weak smile as he began scanning the disc Jarod had given him.
"Have a seat, Jarod. Tell me your story." He doubted the other man would tell him the whole truth, but it was worth a shot.
"I grew up in Blue Cove, Delaware at a place called the Center. I was stolen from my parents. So was my brother, Kyle. The Centre has stolen many children over the years." He thought about Angelo, Kyle, Miss Parker's stolen childhood, even that bastard Lyle. Maybe if Catherine Parker had raised him things would have turned out differently. Jarod had long since quit pondering 'what-ifs', they only led in circles.
Logan listened partially in disbelief and in certainty. If Manticore could engineer super soldiers like Max and her siblings, then the Center was a distinct possibility. His ears really perked up when Jarod described meeting Joshua and Isaac as children and how Jarod's sims had contributed to Manticore's plans.
"I thought Sandeman was solely responsible for the gene splicing and cloning." Logan took off his glasses, toying with the ear pieces as he fit it all together; what he knew from his research, from Max and now Jarod's narrative.
"Oh, he was very close," Jarod said sadly. The mournful way he talked reminded Logan of Max. They both felt a profound sense of responsibility and guilt.
"My life since escaping the Centre has been about redemption, helping right as many wrongs as I can. The world is so big and there's still so much to learn; to experience." A light glowed in Jarod's eyes as he talked about finding his father, mother, sister and clone - Jay. Logan could understand why Joshua liked the man, they shared a sense of wonder and innocence.
"You've helped other families, have you ever thought of starting your own? The light in Jarod's eyes dimmed. Logan wished he could take the question back.
"I know a thing or two about star-crossed love." Both men sat silently for a beat or two, lost in their own thoughts. A loud chime broke the spell.
"Hey, Dix," Logan greeted the Nomalie.
"Max asked me to call. She wants to know if you would drive your Aztec tonight?" He quickly filled both men in on Max's plan.
"Pardon me, may I have a word with Max?" Jarod interrupted as the call wound down. Logan frowned, wondering what his guest had in mind.
The Pay Off …
Light pollution hid the stars even away from the center of the city. A chilling mist wetted every surface as Addams' Towncar pulled alongside an SUV. Windows slowly rolled down and two men leaned out to talk. Addams handed a paper bag to the SUV's driver.
"This is the last load and it's a big one. I'll need three or four Freaks. They keep jumping ship. Sharks seem to have a taste for Freak meat." Both men laughed. A second man in the SUV chuckled a bit.
"You don't say. I hear human meat tastes just like chicken." Max sauntered up to within a few yards of the vehicles. Her heavy biker boots thumped against the pavement only because she let them, each step like a prowling jaguar. Behind her, dressed in all their Freak glory, walked the entire complement of Manticore's Transhumans living in Terminal City. Fangs, feathers, fins and scales gleamed in the dim light. Rumbles from dozens of throats vibrated off the brick walls as the transhumans closed in around the vehicles. Amongst all the noise came the sound of Logan's exo-skeleton's servo motors, the distinct clicking X-8's used to communicate, even the sound of hooves clip-clopping.
"What the …" Addams' eyes bugged out at the sights and sounds filling the alley. He pulled a handgun from beneath his jacket. Next to him the SUV's driver started the engine, which he hadn't turned off, grinding the starter to hamburger. One of the winged Freaks dropped onto the hood with a thud. She reached into the window and pulled the driver out. He promptly fainted.
"Nuh uh," Max grunted as she jerked the handgun away from Addams.
"No bitch Freak is gonna get the best of me," he ground out. He waved for two men in the backseat to step out.
"This the best you got, Addams?" Max wrinkled her nose in disgust, not even deigning to take a fighting stance.
"Bring it, Freak," the one from the driver's side challenged. He towered over Max by almost a head and outweighed her at least one hundred pounds. She rolled her eyes as he pulled a wicked-looking hunting knife. Little did he know that what she could do with a butter knife would put his Rambo knife to shame.
"I hate being called a Freak."
Both goons presented themselves before her and attacked at once.
"Must be hard up for glory, working for a fat, little man like Addams," Max taunted, lashing out with a booted foot.
"Messin' up freaks, I'd do it for free," the passenger side goon answered, light glinting on a pair of brass knuckles. He swung, but Max easily ducked, dealing a kidney punch.
"Afraid you'll see something of yourself in one of us?" This wasn't the first time the transgenic leader had run into prejudice against her and her brethren.
"Get her, boys. A thousand dollars for her barcode!" Addams shouted from behind the Towncar.
Max zoomed her vision in on the rotund business man waving a handgun. He lacked a Breeding Cult tattoo, that she could see. He also didn't seem the type, too short, too bald and uncultured. So how did he know about barcodes, she wondered. A near-miss by the driver's side goon cut her thought process short.
Okay, time to shut these morons down, Max told herself. Several blurred moves later and one sported a broken jaw while his colleague lay in the fetal position, wondering if he'd be able to father children.
While Max dealt with the driver's side goon, Dr. Liston decided to sneak away. Transhumans flanked both vehicles so he decided to try the building's side entrance.
"Tut, tut, Dr. Liston," Jarod countered when the metal fire door opened.
"Jarod, what are you doing here?" Liston questioned, edging back toward the alley.
"Better yet, what are you doing here?"
Liston flinched at the menacing sound of Jarod's voice and the obsidian-sharp glint in his eyes.
"They're just Freaks; not even human. So what if a few disappear?" Liston's voice rose with each word, his face pale and sweaty. Jarod advanced on the man, righteous fire lighting his countenance.
"And what about Abby Smith? Was she just another Freak?" Liston winced at the depth and projection of his 'colleague's' baritone.
"She was a mistake - an accident."
Jarod didn't let up. He stepped forward once more.
"We can work something out, Jarod. There's money to be made, for everyone."
Like Jarod hadn't heard that before.
"You took an oath, 'First, do no harm'." Jarod's gaze bore down on him like an Old Testament prophet. Liston glanced behind him to see a group of transhumans in military BDUs.
"Not only have you caused harm to these people, you've been stealing from the V.A. hospital, selling medicine and replacing it with cheaper, tainted versions. You, Dr. Liston, have blood on your hands."
"Addams, my brother, he made me. He used my identity to start shell companies. He said he'd turn me over to the police if I didn't do what he said. I have a wife and kids to consider." Liston began begging as Jarod backed him into the waiting group of transhumans. He screamed when one of the lizard-looking ones clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Save it for someone who cares." Jarod leaned down in his face as he spoke. The lizardman pulled a pair of handcuffs out and put them on Dr. Liston. Together, the four transhumans ushered him to a waiting Seattle P.D. van.
"Nice work, Jarod." Logan made his way over, skirting Max who stood triumphantly over Addams' goons.
"It was my pleasure." Jarod grinned mischievously.
They watched as Seattle P.D. took Addams, the official he'd come to pay off and the goons to the paddy wagon. Max and Alec joined the group. Most of the transhumans had disappeared as soon as Max finished with the goons.
"Is this a private party or is anyone invited?" Max quipped as she adjusted her leather jacket. She hadn't even mussed her hair.
"So, you're Max," Jarod greeted her.
"And you're Jarod, the guy I have to thank for my shark DNA," she shot back, much to Jarod's chagrin.
"Jarod!" Joshua broke the silence. The exuberant dogman pulled his friend into a crushing hug.
"Hello, Joshua, good to see you, too," the Pretender chuckled.
"Joshua free! Jarod free! Family free!" Joshua hugged Max against one side and Jarod to the other. That brought a smile to everyone's face.
"Everyone's free, big fella," Max agreed. "C'mon, let's go to Logan's for a victory toast," she suggested.
"Hell yeah!" Alec cheered.
"You do have beer, right, Logan?" Max asked as an afterthought.
"Would it matter if I didn't?" he said dryly.
"Nope," she grinned.