Chapter Two : The Test
Jondy sat in the dark of Logan's office. There was so much she wanted to tell Max, her best friend, but she just couldn't trust her yet. How had she escaped? How had she managed to not be turned? Why was she still alive if she hadn't turned? There were just too many questions. But the question that she wanted an answer to the most was the one question she was most scared to ask.
Where is Zack?
Krit and Syl had said he was captured, but surely Max wouldn't have left Manticore with out him. Maybe she didn't know he was there? But then, Max had not seemed shocked when Jondy had mentioned Zack being gone. Where is he? Is he alright? Is he hurt? Or worse, is he turned? Is he… She couldn't even think it.
She typed a little on Logan's computer and an old picture of Zack popped up. He couldn't have been anymore then 12 years old in the picture. Jondy touched the screen and the tears began. She lay her head on the desk and softly cried. She knew it would all begin soon. She knew that they wouldn't move until they had more to capture. She knew that if she didn't play it safe, and if she didn't keep control, she would lose everything she cared for.
Across town in a four star hotel, Renfro waited for the call to come in. She knew it wouldn't be long. It was only a matter of time before she would use the girl to find the others. She looked out the window and smiled at all the people walking around, pretending the pulse had never happened. Fools. All of them. Soon, they would know. They will all know soon enough. But first she needed to capture the X-5's and bring them in. Some were useful alive, others needed to be contained. She couldn't rush her plans. If even one X-5 was still on the out side, and not on her payroll or under her thumb, it could ruin everything. She tried to contain a smile, as she looked out and envisioned her plans for them all.
Max and Logan held each other, talking all night. He caught her up on the Eyes Only Informant net, but she remained quiet about her months at Manticore. Logan wasn't going to push. He knew it would be hard for her to tell him. He just needed to know, so that he and Jondy could be sure, and so he wouldn't have to see Max in the Machine.
Max watched Logan, he had fallen asleep almost an hour before. They hadn't made love, but held each other instead. She knew she couldn't, not yet. Not until she knew for sure she would not have to leave him. Leave him? How could she? The only thing she knew for sure was that her very presence was putting him in danger. She had to leave. There wasn't any hope. She knew Jondy didn't trust her, and that she was probably being watched right now. Every mannerism being analyzed, every word scrutinized. Worst of all, she was pretty sure that she couldn't even trust herself. But if there was a way, any way of staying, she had to try. She had to let Logan know she was alive, that he had not failed to save her. Now she needed to know for herself that she was alive. He had saved her in so many ways. He would probably never know. Please, let there be a way, she pleaded to no one in particular. Please...
Jondy sat in the dark of Logan's office. There was so much she wanted to tell Max, her best friend, but she just couldn't trust her yet. How had she escaped? How had she managed to not be turned? Why was she still alive if she hadn't turned? There were just too many questions. But the question that she wanted an answer to the most was the one question she was most scared to ask.
Where is Zack?
Krit and Syl had said he was captured, but surely Max wouldn't have left Manticore with out him. Maybe she didn't know he was there? But then, Max had not seemed shocked when Jondy had mentioned Zack being gone. Where is he? Is he alright? Is he hurt? Or worse, is he turned? Is he… She couldn't even think it.
She typed a little on Logan's computer and an old picture of Zack popped up. He couldn't have been anymore then 12 years old in the picture. Jondy touched the screen and the tears began. She lay her head on the desk and softly cried. She knew it would all begin soon. She knew that they wouldn't move until they had more to capture. She knew that if she didn't play it safe, and if she didn't keep control, she would lose everything she cared for.
Across town in a four star hotel, Renfro waited for the call to come in. She knew it wouldn't be long. It was only a matter of time before she would use the girl to find the others. She looked out the window and smiled at all the people walking around, pretending the pulse had never happened. Fools. All of them. Soon, they would know. They will all know soon enough. But first she needed to capture the X-5's and bring them in. Some were useful alive, others needed to be contained. She couldn't rush her plans. If even one X-5 was still on the out side, and not on her payroll or under her thumb, it could ruin everything. She tried to contain a smile, as she looked out and envisioned her plans for them all.
Max and Logan held each other, talking all night. He caught her up on the Eyes Only Informant net, but she remained quiet about her months at Manticore. Logan wasn't going to push. He knew it would be hard for her to tell him. He just needed to know, so that he and Jondy could be sure, and so he wouldn't have to see Max in the Machine.
Max watched Logan, he had fallen asleep almost an hour before. They hadn't made love, but held each other instead. She knew she couldn't, not yet. Not until she knew for sure she would not have to leave him. Leave him? How could she? The only thing she knew for sure was that her very presence was putting him in danger. She had to leave. There wasn't any hope. She knew Jondy didn't trust her, and that she was probably being watched right now. Every mannerism being analyzed, every word scrutinized. Worst of all, she was pretty sure that she couldn't even trust herself. But if there was a way, any way of staying, she had to try. She had to let Logan know she was alive, that he had not failed to save her. Now she needed to know for herself that she was alive. He had saved her in so many ways. He would probably never know. Please, let there be a way, she pleaded to no one in particular. Please...