Chapter Four: Consciousness
The first touch of consciousness strummed over her fried nerves as someone gently touched her chin and raised her slack head. All was agony in her body as he performed that act. She wanted to react, to lash out but was unable to make her muscles move. Lydecker had really worked her over that time, and she was yet to understand why she was the target of his wrath. She watched behind her lids as his hand came down again connecting with her already stinging cheek, her swollen and bloody lip. She knew deep down what the problem was, she was a symbol to him. A symbol of every failure in his life, from his drinking problems, even though that was before she had ever been born, to the escape, to the fact that he had never retrieved all of X-5. Even for his frustrations with those who directed his actions higher up the chain. The ones who had said that he was under orders to destroy "his children" if it came to that.
Somewhere deep down she laughed, even though she could push no air past her dry vocal cords. She tried to refocus her attention, there was someone here and he was watching her. The man still held her face and she could only think that he was assessing her. It wasn't Lydecker… his movement wasn't right, but who was he?
No one else had been allowed near her since she had been brought here, not even Lydecker's personal entourage came with him when he came down here. But here was this man, his motion did tell her that much, looking her over and assessing her. Did Lydecker have something new planned? Was he handing the reins over to someone else? Was he still trying to break her after all this time? She felt determination harden in her gut as her body began to respond to her wishes. She continued on as if she was still out listening as the stranger moved and shifted before her.
She heard him stand up and move around behind her, slowly she opened her eyes staring at the dusty floor. She tried to suppress goose flesh as he reached and touched her hair moving it off her sweaty neck. She almost jumped when he drew in a quick surprised breath. She grit her teeth as he knelt down saying, "Oh my God!" then she whipped her head back satisfied when she connected solidly with the man's forehead.
He grunted heavily and fell back. But he quickly recovered his feet dashing around to face her again, which shocked her, it should have put the man's lights out. She was again surprised when she got a good look at his face as he rushed in grabbing her by the chin and bending her head back painfully. He stared angrily into her eyes. He was barely out of boyhood! He couldn't have been more than about sixteen or seventeen. His face was as soft featured as hers was, only he looked to be of Asian descent, with dark upslanting eyes and a cropped shock of dark hair. By his build he was at least part Samoan, tall and thickly built, very strong she knew by the grip on her jaw that threatened to break it. And above all there was the bar code between his brows identifying him to the entire world as a product of Manticore. By his age, she could only guess that he was at least X-9 or X-10. She couldn't be sure though she had stopped keeping track of who, what, where, when, and why at least a year ago.
"Go ahead," She whispered daringly, "Finish me off. That's what you're here for isn't it?"
Sanity returned to his eyes at those words and the grip on her chin slackened. As it did she ripped her chin from his grip. The Samoan Manticore stepped back looking at her oddly.
She made to lunge forward hitting her restraints which hurt but she was too mad to feel it, "Come here to gloat?" She spit.
That seemed to snap him out of whatever thought track he had gotten stuck in, "No," It was almost inaudible. He tilted his head slightly looking at her, "Who are you?"
"Like you don't already know! Lydecker's started parading the Troops past me as an example of what not to become now, I suppose. Where's the rest of your playmates, Manty boy? Get your tickets, step right up, see Manticore's worst screw up…" She continued on in her tirade.
"Shut up," the Manticore said, "Do you want them to hear you?" He peered out the small window for any sign that someone knew of his presence here, "Lydecker doesn't know I'm here. He'd kill me quite literally if he did."
She had bristled at him for so coarse an order but the second half of his statement stopped the retort in her throat. She looked him over again, "Why are you here then, Manty boy?" She said sarcastically, "Come to get some jollies?"
He was taken aback by that statement she saw by the look in his eyes that hardened like water in subzero temperatures, "Why are you here is a better question. You're Manticore as well, so why are you down here and why is Lydecker torturing you?" The hardness in his eyes was still there but the curiosity was mingling his mask of authority.
"Oh that is the longest story." She said rolling her eyes, "If you let me out of here I'll tell you all about it."
The young man smiled a knowing smile, "You must think that because I'm young I'm impressionable... and stupid."
"The thought had crossed my mind," she said sourly.
"Wrong answer," He said shaking his head, "You aren't getting anything without answering a few questions for me… beginning with who you are."
She looked away from him a moment, "My name is Max…" she looked up into his eyes, "Max Guevera."
Kito's eyes narrowed as she said the name, thinking for some reason that he ought to know it. But he was unsure why that thought stuck. He listened as she told him a long detailed story of her life. She seemed relieved to have someone listen to her for a change. She was an X-5 one of the twelve infamous escapee's from 2009, and she had eluded her pursuit until about three years before when her and her husband… that thought was weird to him that a Manticore could be married and live a "Norm life"… Had been ambushed near where they lived. The man had been injured in their attempt to escape and had been captured, leaving her torn about whether to stay and fight beside him or flee for her own life. He had convinced her to flee and save herself, and she had complied with his wishes. She was shot in her attempt to get away and had come very near death when they had taken her back to Manticore. They of course nursed her back to health and then had tried to reindoctrinate her to Manticore Life. She had foiled all attempts at it, retaining her individuality and her desire to be free and live, as she wanted. Manticore would have none of it, and neither would Lydecker.
A pain crossed her face as she said, "Logan…" her eyes became unfocused, "I have no idea what happened to him… I don't know whether they killed him or not. Lydecker was there and won't even tell me… at least they don't know about him," the last she had said to herself, but it was easily audible to Kito.
"Know what?" Kito asked curiously.
Max's eyes pinned him accusingly, "Nothing," she lied realizing that she had said it out loud. "Damn stupid…" she thought, "They are sure to have this place bugged."
Kito let the subject go seeing the set of her face. He could tell that she was not lying or making any of her stories up although it did not jive with the Manticore that he knew and lived. Having lived on the outside for 27 years would give her a wildly different take on the life offered here. Something in him wanted to help her escape her torture and allow her to reunite with her husband, if he was still alive.
Kito looked at his watch, "Damn," he muttered. It was nearly time for reveille. He started toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Max said sounding slightly desperate, "You gotta get me outta here.
"I have to get back before everyone wakes up," Kito said sounding a bit desperate himself, "I'm sorry… I will come back and I will get you out of here… I promise."
He turned around and nearly ran Lydecker over.