Okay, I finally got through the few parts that were giving me trouble...Please keep in mind that the next few chapters are actually fast paced. If it seems like they are dragged out, it is only because I wanted to include the details.
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Max and Miranda exchanged a fleeting glance but neither one allowed anything to show on their faces. It was a silent agreement to protect their mutual sister - Cassi was not to be mentioned.
"Don't try it." Lydecker said, misreading the glance. "I taught you everything you know."
"Not quite." Max replied, "I have feelings...unlike you."
Lydecker waved his free hand in the air as if dismissing the feelings. "Emotions can be controlled just like people. You just have to know how to do it." He paused to look at Max. "You do realize that any action on your part will jeopardize the civilian...and your mission."
Max tried to push what he was saying out of her mind. He was trying to keep her off balance and thinking like Manticore again so she wouldn't make a move against him. He was wrong in his tactics. Fear didn't work on her anymore...not from him. She just needed to wait for the right moment.
"Who is with you." He repeated with his gun still pointed at her. He moved so he could watch her, Miranda, and the entrance of the cell at the same time. (If he only knew it was a seven year old he was afraid of...) "It's not Zack. Miss Carlisle asked where "she" was." He continued the questioning. "Too bad. You and Zack always worked well together. Maybe you recruited someone else? No, that would put you at a tactical disadvantage. A normal person's skills are unacceptable to your own. I taught you better than that. It must be an X-5."
Max seethed inside. He made himself sound like a wise teacher or mentor instead of the cold, cruel monster that was his true nature.
Lydecker still stood erect with the gun focused on her. "Not going to tell me?"
She let her silence answer for her.
He smiled in spite of himself. "Mission Training Lesson 36 - Never reveal the position or identity of a fellow soldier."" He said to Max. "You are still one of us."
"I am not one of you." She hissed.
"Then tell me who is with you."
She looked at Lydecker and remained silent for a second. (Why is he just standing there asking me questions? Why hasn't he done something by now?) Then she noticed it - he had no radio with him. He had no way to call for backup. He was in a room with one exit, two hostiles, and an unknown, possible X-5 somewhere...maybe even outside the door. Lydecker couldn't leave because he could be walking into an ambush. He didn't want to shoot either of them. His options were limited...Stalemate.
Half-smiling, Max softened her voice. "There's no one but little ole me." She knew he wouldn't buy it and the mocking familiarity would grate on him. "Can't a girl come back for a visit?" She made eye contact with him. There was no way that she was going to let him get to her and she would not let him win. Carefully, she took a step closer to him in a veiled challenge.
"Good." Lydecker responded. "Act like you don't care. Respond with sarcasm. Never let the enemy get to you. You did learn well."
She tilted her head to the side and lightly said, "Didn't I?"
"Let's see how well." He replied, as he placed the gun to Miranda's head.
Not wanting to register any emotion, she replied carelessly, "You wouldn't. You need her too much."
"I admit that we had hoped to use her again. She carried TX-1 very well but I think you will be a more than satisfactory substitute. There are others with similar and even better capabilities than her. At least we will have the one child to work with and train.
Miranda was trying to remain calm but Max saw her grip on the sleeping baby tighten. Lydecker noticed too.
"So, who is with you?"
Without hesitation, Max whipped her body around, connecting the heel of her boot with the gun, sending it flying across the room. A second kick threw him back against the wall but only hindered him momentarily. She swung her arm to knock him down but he ducked down and then kicked Max's feet from under her. Leaning slightly down, he placed his boot heavily on her chest and said slowly, "Remember, I've spent years training people like you. I don't go down that easy. I know your tricks."
"But you don't know mine." Miranda replied, gun in hand. She had gone after the gun during their struggle and now stood pointing it at Lydecker. "Let her go."
"You're not a killer." Lydecker said, not moving.
"Yes, well, I wasn't a lot of things before you abducted me. I adapt quickly. Let her go."
Lydecker backed up and offered a hand to Max. She gave him a dark look and jumped to her feet. When she did, Lydecker grabbed her arm, twisted it behind her back. She was about to move when she felt the cold metal against her temple. Of course, he carried a spare.
"Well, Miss Carlisle. It seems we are back to where we began. I'm prepared to shoot. Are you?"
Miranda's hand wavered as she looked from Lydecker to Max. She wasn't trained as a soldier and the pressure was definitely showing. Suddenly, there was a movement near the doorway and Lydecker pushed Max to the wall. Her face was a few feet from Miranda's but she wasn't looking at Max. Both her and Lydecker were staring at the figure in the doorway. Max turned her head slightly and gasped but it was Miranda who voiced their thoughts in a gasping, emotion-filled word. "Cassi."
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Max and Miranda exchanged a fleeting glance but neither one allowed anything to show on their faces. It was a silent agreement to protect their mutual sister - Cassi was not to be mentioned.
"Don't try it." Lydecker said, misreading the glance. "I taught you everything you know."
"Not quite." Max replied, "I have feelings...unlike you."
Lydecker waved his free hand in the air as if dismissing the feelings. "Emotions can be controlled just like people. You just have to know how to do it." He paused to look at Max. "You do realize that any action on your part will jeopardize the civilian...and your mission."
Max tried to push what he was saying out of her mind. He was trying to keep her off balance and thinking like Manticore again so she wouldn't make a move against him. He was wrong in his tactics. Fear didn't work on her anymore...not from him. She just needed to wait for the right moment.
"Who is with you." He repeated with his gun still pointed at her. He moved so he could watch her, Miranda, and the entrance of the cell at the same time. (If he only knew it was a seven year old he was afraid of...) "It's not Zack. Miss Carlisle asked where "she" was." He continued the questioning. "Too bad. You and Zack always worked well together. Maybe you recruited someone else? No, that would put you at a tactical disadvantage. A normal person's skills are unacceptable to your own. I taught you better than that. It must be an X-5."
Max seethed inside. He made himself sound like a wise teacher or mentor instead of the cold, cruel monster that was his true nature.
Lydecker still stood erect with the gun focused on her. "Not going to tell me?"
She let her silence answer for her.
He smiled in spite of himself. "Mission Training Lesson 36 - Never reveal the position or identity of a fellow soldier."" He said to Max. "You are still one of us."
"I am not one of you." She hissed.
"Then tell me who is with you."
She looked at Lydecker and remained silent for a second. (Why is he just standing there asking me questions? Why hasn't he done something by now?) Then she noticed it - he had no radio with him. He had no way to call for backup. He was in a room with one exit, two hostiles, and an unknown, possible X-5 somewhere...maybe even outside the door. Lydecker couldn't leave because he could be walking into an ambush. He didn't want to shoot either of them. His options were limited...Stalemate.
Half-smiling, Max softened her voice. "There's no one but little ole me." She knew he wouldn't buy it and the mocking familiarity would grate on him. "Can't a girl come back for a visit?" She made eye contact with him. There was no way that she was going to let him get to her and she would not let him win. Carefully, she took a step closer to him in a veiled challenge.
"Good." Lydecker responded. "Act like you don't care. Respond with sarcasm. Never let the enemy get to you. You did learn well."
She tilted her head to the side and lightly said, "Didn't I?"
"Let's see how well." He replied, as he placed the gun to Miranda's head.
Not wanting to register any emotion, she replied carelessly, "You wouldn't. You need her too much."
"I admit that we had hoped to use her again. She carried TX-1 very well but I think you will be a more than satisfactory substitute. There are others with similar and even better capabilities than her. At least we will have the one child to work with and train.
Miranda was trying to remain calm but Max saw her grip on the sleeping baby tighten. Lydecker noticed too.
"So, who is with you?"
Without hesitation, Max whipped her body around, connecting the heel of her boot with the gun, sending it flying across the room. A second kick threw him back against the wall but only hindered him momentarily. She swung her arm to knock him down but he ducked down and then kicked Max's feet from under her. Leaning slightly down, he placed his boot heavily on her chest and said slowly, "Remember, I've spent years training people like you. I don't go down that easy. I know your tricks."
"But you don't know mine." Miranda replied, gun in hand. She had gone after the gun during their struggle and now stood pointing it at Lydecker. "Let her go."
"You're not a killer." Lydecker said, not moving.
"Yes, well, I wasn't a lot of things before you abducted me. I adapt quickly. Let her go."
Lydecker backed up and offered a hand to Max. She gave him a dark look and jumped to her feet. When she did, Lydecker grabbed her arm, twisted it behind her back. She was about to move when she felt the cold metal against her temple. Of course, he carried a spare.
"Well, Miss Carlisle. It seems we are back to where we began. I'm prepared to shoot. Are you?"
Miranda's hand wavered as she looked from Lydecker to Max. She wasn't trained as a soldier and the pressure was definitely showing. Suddenly, there was a movement near the doorway and Lydecker pushed Max to the wall. Her face was a few feet from Miranda's but she wasn't looking at Max. Both her and Lydecker were staring at the figure in the doorway. Max turned her head slightly and gasped but it was Miranda who voiced their thoughts in a gasping, emotion-filled word. "Cassi."
