He had jerked back into a defensive stance. His eyes were ice cold, and even cut up and weaponless he had an aura of danger around him. She was impressed. But, she was too tired to get into it with him, and she needed to listen to the surveillance tapes.
"Aren't you supposed to be dead?" she asked.
He ignored her question. "Let him go," he repeated.
A slight groan came from behind her. "Zack?" he muttered. "Where's Jhondie?" He lifted his head slightly, and groaned again.
She was on her feet. "Zack," she tried again. "I'm not the one that hurt the norm here. But the guys who did it are going to realize where we are any minute." He didn't run, so she continued. "They don't care which one of us they get as long as it's Manticore. Unless you're ready to run round two with them by yourself, calm down and help me."
Her hands were out, palms up to show they were empty. At Manticore it was a gesture of truce so embedded, it was unconscious. Knowing Manticore, the gesture could be genetically embedded.
She could see him debating internally. "Who are you?" he finally asked.
"Cut off," she replied immediately. His eyebrows rose in question. "I am designated 608, don't run!" she snapped in one breath. "I can't turn you in without exposing myself to the traitor at command."
Zack seemed to relax an infinitesimal degree. "You're lying," he snapped.
She rolled her eyes. This was wasting time. "I don't have time for this," she snarled. "I got set-up to be turned into a lab rat, and all of the fivers in danger." She knew that he had become the protector of the fivers. Don't go Zack, she thought. I'm going to need help, and I can't call for my own backup.
He paused again. She pointed to the surveillance equipment. "I'm going to find out where these guys are headed now," she said. "Someone had mentioned Seattle once, and…" she broke off as he whitened. She understood. He was their protector, their leader, and he was so busy trying to help a norm, that he had left one of his charges in the open.
The norm had finally regained consciousness enough to pull himself into a sitting position. He looked up at Zack, his eyes swollen nearly shut. "Jhondie?" he questioned again.
Zack looked from him to Alicia. He had promised Jhondie he would help Justin if she would leave LA, but now Max was in serious trouble if these, well, whatever they were had decided to go after her. He knew he couldn't kill Alicia right now, she was too strong, and if he let her go she would inform on his position to Lydecker.
"Jhondie's fine," Zack finally answered Justin.
"Thank God," he muttered, and then collapsed again.
It was Alicia and Zack. "We're running out of time," she re-emphasized. "My mission is to make sure no Manticore technology falls into enemy hands. That means me, you, and Seattle." Their eyes were locked together.
"Just make sure it falls into Lydecker's hands?" he sneered. "Why else do you want to help?"
She thought. He didn't believe that she was cut off, and in his place, she would have her doubts. "Let's call it repaying an old debt, shall we?" There was no sign of recognition. "Wyoming. Obstacle course. Little girl, big wall."
Comprehension dawned in his eyes. "You were jumping like someone shoved lead in your shoes." She nodded, a tiny smile touching the edges of her mouth.
"You helped me then. Let me help you now." He immediately hardened again. This was getting them nowhere. "I got set up by one of my own people! You saw my jeep. You think I would lead enemy forces to my route of escape? They were waiting for me. I cannot call for help. I cannot speak to Command because I don't know who the traitor is. I'm cut off Zack, but I will complete my mission."
He could see the fury in her face. She was telling the truth. She wasn't mad at him, but at whoever had betrayed her. A good solider uses all available tools. That had been taught since his infancy. He would use her until she was a liability, and then terminate. She might be cut off now, but she would run back to Manticore at first opportunity. He wouldn't give her that opportunity.
"We have to get him to a doctor first," he said. She didn't reply, just grabbed the surveillance tape, and Zack's dropped gun. Curiously it was the same as the one she'd lost in the warehouse. She threw them into a gym bag that she had left when she had made her ill fated run to her jeep.
Their eyes met again. "Move out," she said quietly.
Zack scooped up Justin and they began to move quickly, but with more stealth than getting there. Once she saw the black van, and they waited until it had passed. Zack seemed to know where they were going, so she let him lead the way. She was irritated to be wasting so much time, but Zack wasn't going anywhere with her until he took care of the norm in his care.
He's been outside too long, she thought. Why should he care about a norm? There are many of them, and few of us. Even a fiver should realize that. Our first priority is protecting each other always. She knew that even her father didn't realize how deep the sixer's commitment to each other went. He was part of their inner circle yes, but he didn't know what is what really like to be them.
Zack finally stopped at a run down building that housed a palm reader, and a Chinese herb shop. They had passed the building once before. She grinned internally. Zack had run her in a few circles to throw her off. It would have worked except she had kept the map of the city firmly in her head the whole time. It was good to be underestimated.
"I thought we were going to a doctor," she said as he surveyed their surroundings. Her ribs ached. She could ignore the pain, but she wanted to sleep for a bit to regenerate.
"The guy who runs the herb shop is a doctor," Zack replied absently. It seemed clear of enemy forces. Except for the blonde girl standing next to him of course. Jhondie had told him about this doctor, but he'd never been here before himself. Justin knew the doctor too, but he wasn't going to be much help.
There was an entrance to the building from the roof. They made their way down the steps and found themselves in the back room of the herbal shop. A Chinese man, around forty-five or so, was sitting behind a desk. He looked up in surprise. The trio had obviously come through a rough time, and he didn't want anyone in here that the police might be looking for.
Zack spoke first. "Jhondie said you could help."
The man looked confused and replied in Chinese. Zack didn't need to understand the words to read his expression. I don't know you, he was saying. I don't want to know you; I don't know your language, get out. He didn't recognize Justin, and didn't understand that Jhondie had sent them.
Alicia was not amused. Taking care of a norm was a waste of time. She wished the Africans had just killed the guy so they could already be on their way to Seattle. Oh well, only one way out of this.
"Sir," she said in perfect Mandarin Chinese, "Jhondie told us that you could help. We were in an accident, and you know how the hospitals are. My brother and I are fine, but please help Justin." Perfectly pitiful, she thought. She even manages to get a few tears in her eyes. Crying on demand was still tough for her, but from the look on the doctor's face, it was well worth the effort.
"How do you know Jhondie?" he asked suspiciously.
"She's our sister," Alicia replied. She looked at Zack, and almost laughed at his stunned expression. I guess he didn't get to language skills in his training, she thought. She repeated the gist of what she had told to the doctor.
The doctor seemed to debate for a moment, then gestured for them to follow. "I'm Dr. Lee," he told Alicia as they walked down the corridor into an exam room. Zack lay Justin down on the table. He stirred slightly, but didn't wake. In the bright light his injuries seemed to be even more severe. He looks bad, Zack thought; if he dies Jhondie is never going to forgive me. More than anything, he didn't want to let her down.
Dr. Lee looked closely at his patient for the first time, and gasped in surprise. "Justin?" he called to the young man on the table. He looked up at Alicia. "How did this happen?" he snapped.
"We were attacked by a gang," she replied, actually quite honestly for once. There were so many of them, and Justin was protecting us." She hoped she had him pegged right. The doctors understanding nod reassured her. Well, well, it looked like the norm was another savior of humanity. She wondered what a fiver was doing with him.
While the doctor began treating his patient, Alicia turned to Zack, her voice low. "Is the fiver really fine, or is she in danger?" Zack refused to answer. He didn't even look at her. Fine, she thought. We'll play.
Dr. Lee finished his preliminary exam, and said something in a very serious manner. His expression was grave, and Zack could see he was extremely concerned for Justin. Zack finally looked at Alicia for a translation, but she just folded her arms and stared at him.
"I asked you a question solider, and I want an explanation." She had him. She knew it and so did he. "Is the fiver in danger, and who is Justin to the fiver?"
"I knew someone was looking for Jhondie, so I got her to leave LA. He's a friend I had to watch out for for her," he snapped, every word sounding like it was being ripped from his throat. His eyes blazed at her, furious that he would have to give up any information to the enemy.
"Dr. Lee says that we need to get Justin to a hospital," she said immediately. "He understands that we can't check him in, but he can at County General. His niece is an administrator there and won't ask questions."
Dr. Lee saw their hesitation, and spoke again. Zack saw Alicia's eyes get huge, and she whirled around, her other hand instinctively smoothing her hair. She wished she had her gun out right then. "What did you say?" she growled.
"Your barcode begins with 402," he repeated. He continued on, "Jhondie's begins with 223. I've treated her for a long time for seizures, and I know who you are."