Max shuddered involuntarily. Lydecker made a motion to Chris, who bent and unlocked the cuffs. Max flinched, another shot of pain running across her shoulders.
"Sorry…sorry," she heard him whisper under his breath.
"Leave us," Lydecker commanded.
"Yes, sir." Chris saluted, the turned and left. Max longed for him to stay. She wanted to shriek after him, "NO, STAY! PLEASE STAY!" Instead, she bit her lip and stared at Lydecker.
"Sit." He motioned to one of the two chairs that sat in front of the large mahogany desk. She sat.
"Good to see you again," Lydecker said. Is he being snide? Or sincere? He almost seems like he means it…
"Well, hard to stay away from family," she said, caustically.
"Max, Max. Such behavior."
Max felt herself go cold.
"Why did you run, Max? Huh? Why? Did you really think I wouldn't find you? You're mine. You're my creation, my brainchild, mine. I made you. And you ran anyway. Why?"
Does he really want me to answer? Does he really expect me to? She remained silent.
"Well, it doesn't matter now. You're here now, where you belong. This is where you belong."
He stopped again, searching her face.
"There's so much for you, Max. You know that don't you? You're flawed."
She shook her head slightly, wincing.
"What? No? So I guess you do sleep all night, I guess you don't seize out…"
"That doesn't make me flawed."
"Yes, it does. You're flawed, you're flawed. You know it."
"No."
"You're too emotional. Just look at you."
"That's not a flaw."
"Yes it is. Self-pity? Flaw. Compassion? Flaw. Desire? Flaw. Sorrow? Flaw. It gets in the way, it's a flaw."
"No," she said again, softly. She felt a dull ache in her head.
"You don't look right. Are you going to pass out?" His voice was still cold. He seemed annoyed.
"No…" Max felt lightheaded. When Lydecker talked, it was if he was right there, right inside her head.
"Max?" Max slumped back. Lydecker walked over to her. She was passed out. He felt her pulse. It was there, he decided, and that was good enough. He picked up his radio from his desk and called a guard.
+++
When Max came to again, she found herself laying on the narrow bench inside the cell.
"Are you okay?"
"Logan?"
"Who's Logan? No, it's me, Chris."
"Chris."
"Yeah, from last night. Remember."
"Yeah." She dropped her feet to the ground and sat up, leaning against the wall.
"Here." He held a sandwich out to her. "You've got too many tranquilizers running through you, not enough food. When's the last time you ate?"
"Depends. What's today?"
"Friday." The lunch had been Wednesday.
"Two, maybe three days ago."
"Well, no wonder." Max accepted the sandwich. She had doubts about eating anything made at Manticore.
"Don't worry. It's just from the cafeteria."
"Do you have any milk?"
"What?"
"Milk. Do you have any milk?"
"Um, yeah. Just a sec." He disappeared for a minute, then reappeared, holding a carton of chocolate milk. "Here."
"Thanks." She began to eat slowly, realizing gradually that she was starving. And that she would really like a shower. Although I don't suppose that really matters anymore.
Chris leaned against the wall opposite the door, watching her eat.
Max felt strange, to be here, to be now, eating this sandwich with mayonnaise, which she didn't really like, joking with this stranger, given all the givens. Crazy. I wonder what Logan's doing. I wonder if he's realized something's wrong. I wonder if Normal's fired me yet. She licked her fingers off carefully, then downed the milk.
"That guy wants to see you again."
"'kay." Max stood up as Chris opened the door. She put her hands behind her back and they began the previous day's journey again.
Max took her chair in front of Lydecker's desk again.
