Max instantly leapt at Zack knocking him off of Wren. In the ensuing struggle several shots rang out through the calm night air. Zack managed to push Max off of him and stand up. Max was instantly up and kicked the gun from Zack's hand and out the open window.
"What are you doing?" Zack demanded.
"I won't let you kill her in cold blood!" Max almost yelled.
"They're trying to kill us. When will you quit clouding your judgment and think about your own safety?"
Logan was already in his wheel chair as he rolled over and got between them trying to play the mediator, "Stop this. Fighting won't get you anywhere."
Zack contemptuously glared down at Logan, "Stay out of this or I'll throw you out that damn window."
Max was already next to Logan as she pushed Zack away from him, "What is your problem? You're only going to make things worse."
"Me? You're the one trying to save those that are trying to kill us. I'm disappointed in you Max," Zack shook his head and started to gather repelling equipment.
"You're disappointed in me? What about you oh great big brother? Every one of us is a disappointment to you because we've done the one thing you can't do. We've moved on."
Zack stopped what he was doing and stared at Max for several moments, "This is it Max. You either come now or you're here forever. I'm done with saving you from yourself. Don't think for a minute that you come first over all our brothers and sisters."
Max turned away from Zack, still standing next to Logan as she fought back tears, "I'm not going anywhere without Logan. Just run away like you always have Zack. Like you did to Jacen."
Zack tried to focus on putting on the repelling gear but this last comment stung him. He stepped over to her and forced Max to turn around, "Why are you taking his side? Do you want to back to Manticore that much? After all I've done for you?"
Max looked up in Zack's eyes briefly and then looked down at Logan who was staring back and forth between them, "I'm not taking his side. I'm just tired of taking yours. Get out of here Zack. I can handle things myself."
Logan briefly took Max's hand in a small effort to comfort her without enraging Zack further but he noticed the subtle movement. "I hope you're happy," Zack looked down at Logan, "she's willing to throw away her life for you."
Without realizing it a small, satisfied smile had creased Logan's lips at the realization that Max cared enough for him to risk going back to Manticore again. "She has her own free will Zack. You can't control that anymore."
This comment finally put Zack over the edge. He picked up Wren's gun and, with Max turned away from him, slammed the butt of the gun into Logan's forehead just enough to knock him out. He backed away quickly realizing he had let his emotions get the better of him.
Max was instantly on the floor next to Logan, "Logan," she cried, "please Logan wake up." She looked up at Zack, her voiced filled with anger and fear, "What are you doing? Get out of here. I don't want you anywhere near me anymore."
Zack was still in shock that his feelings got the better of him and it was at that moment he almost understood why Max had stayed in Seattle all this time. Why all of his brothers and sisters disobeyed his orders and settled down. Their emotions had clouded their judgment. It wasn't the first time it had happened for Zack. He finally admitted to himself that he had come back to save Max because of his feelings for her but now it was all ruined. In a moment of rage he had struck a blow to her more powerful than one he could have ever physically inflicted onto her.
With a few more backward steps Zack leapt off the side of the building and began repelling down the fifteen story building.
Cradling Logan's head Max felt her tears run down her face as she instinctively ran her hands through his hair hoping he would wake up. It was in that moment she realize that the connections she made in real life could overshadow those of her checkered past. She noticed Wren who was still unconscious and she instantly started to try and wake her up as well.
All of a sudden the door to the penthouse crashed in and there stood Jacen and Seth who looked from Max to Logan to Wren in confusion. Seth snapped out of it and started running from room to room looking for Zack as Jacen kneeled on the ground next to Max.
He looked into her tear stained eyes and smiled, "I always knew you were nothing like Zack."
"What are you doing?" Zack demanded.
"I won't let you kill her in cold blood!" Max almost yelled.
"They're trying to kill us. When will you quit clouding your judgment and think about your own safety?"
Logan was already in his wheel chair as he rolled over and got between them trying to play the mediator, "Stop this. Fighting won't get you anywhere."
Zack contemptuously glared down at Logan, "Stay out of this or I'll throw you out that damn window."
Max was already next to Logan as she pushed Zack away from him, "What is your problem? You're only going to make things worse."
"Me? You're the one trying to save those that are trying to kill us. I'm disappointed in you Max," Zack shook his head and started to gather repelling equipment.
"You're disappointed in me? What about you oh great big brother? Every one of us is a disappointment to you because we've done the one thing you can't do. We've moved on."
Zack stopped what he was doing and stared at Max for several moments, "This is it Max. You either come now or you're here forever. I'm done with saving you from yourself. Don't think for a minute that you come first over all our brothers and sisters."
Max turned away from Zack, still standing next to Logan as she fought back tears, "I'm not going anywhere without Logan. Just run away like you always have Zack. Like you did to Jacen."
Zack tried to focus on putting on the repelling gear but this last comment stung him. He stepped over to her and forced Max to turn around, "Why are you taking his side? Do you want to back to Manticore that much? After all I've done for you?"
Max looked up in Zack's eyes briefly and then looked down at Logan who was staring back and forth between them, "I'm not taking his side. I'm just tired of taking yours. Get out of here Zack. I can handle things myself."
Logan briefly took Max's hand in a small effort to comfort her without enraging Zack further but he noticed the subtle movement. "I hope you're happy," Zack looked down at Logan, "she's willing to throw away her life for you."
Without realizing it a small, satisfied smile had creased Logan's lips at the realization that Max cared enough for him to risk going back to Manticore again. "She has her own free will Zack. You can't control that anymore."
This comment finally put Zack over the edge. He picked up Wren's gun and, with Max turned away from him, slammed the butt of the gun into Logan's forehead just enough to knock him out. He backed away quickly realizing he had let his emotions get the better of him.
Max was instantly on the floor next to Logan, "Logan," she cried, "please Logan wake up." She looked up at Zack, her voiced filled with anger and fear, "What are you doing? Get out of here. I don't want you anywhere near me anymore."
Zack was still in shock that his feelings got the better of him and it was at that moment he almost understood why Max had stayed in Seattle all this time. Why all of his brothers and sisters disobeyed his orders and settled down. Their emotions had clouded their judgment. It wasn't the first time it had happened for Zack. He finally admitted to himself that he had come back to save Max because of his feelings for her but now it was all ruined. In a moment of rage he had struck a blow to her more powerful than one he could have ever physically inflicted onto her.
With a few more backward steps Zack leapt off the side of the building and began repelling down the fifteen story building.
Cradling Logan's head Max felt her tears run down her face as she instinctively ran her hands through his hair hoping he would wake up. It was in that moment she realize that the connections she made in real life could overshadow those of her checkered past. She noticed Wren who was still unconscious and she instantly started to try and wake her up as well.
All of a sudden the door to the penthouse crashed in and there stood Jacen and Seth who looked from Max to Logan to Wren in confusion. Seth snapped out of it and started running from room to room looking for Zack as Jacen kneeled on the ground next to Max.
He looked into her tear stained eyes and smiled, "I always knew you were nothing like Zack."
