Part 6
May 18-19, 2001.
Spoilers: Female Trouble
They had finally moved into the warehouse by which they had been situated. Droplets of water ran down Max's face, traced a path down the back of her neck and further still down her spine beneath her soaked top. Her hair was a mess of heavy, damp strands which she knew would dry full and frizzy. She would have liked nothing more than to wring the excess water out of her hair and lay her clothing out to dry. Instead, Max was standing on guard, stiff and suspicious beside Zack as they warily watched the two individuals before them.
The man stood closer to Max than he did to Zack. He was tall, with brown hair which held hints of red. He had a nice body--one which Max suspected came more from good genes than any hard physical activity. The man's bearing in no way marked him as a soldier, and his reaction to the fight which had erupted upon their arrival spoke of little comfort with physical confrontations. His hands moved constantly as he spoke, long fingers flickering nervously, clearly proclaiming his unease. He had a nice voice, something which Max had only recently discovered as he had been screaming near non-stop until moments earlier.
He had not been the cause of the tension. It was his companion who had served to ignite hostility in the two X5s. Max had been hovering in the background, keeping an eye out for any signs of Manticore. Zack had already engaged Jace by the time she had reached their position. There had been barely masked rage on Zack's face, and Max had wondered exactly what role Jace had played in Tosh's death. Victor had waved his hands about, helplessly darting through the air as he watched the fight unfolding before him with horror. He had taken a step forward only to back away as a kick from Jace had sent Zack tumbling back towards him.
Zack's hair was plastered to his head. Jace hadn't been pulling her punches--there was a bruise forming around Zack's eye and blood was smudged at the corner of his mouth. He looked fierce, nearly savage as he regarded the woman who had once been his sister. "Talk," Zack commanded, the word skirting along the edges of a full-out snarl.
Victor evidently didn't trust Jace to present their case, for he cut in before an explanation could pass Jace's lips. He caught sight of his fluttering hands and slid them into the pockets of his rain-slicked jacket. "We need your help," Victor said, his voice soft as if muting the words would somehow make them more acceptable. "Please--" he cut off Zack's response, "let me finish." He took a deep breath, casting a look in Jace's direction. Her expression was stony, eyes fixed on Max and Zack. Victor seemed to find something strengthening in her face, for his voice grew firmer. "We want your help in getting free of Manticore."
Zack blinked in slow disbelief. He took a moment, and Max could see him gathering his patience. "Why?" Zack asked as calmly as he could manage, although darker emotions still ran strongly beneath his more moderate tone. He turned the full weight of his gaze towards Jace. "After all this time--_why_?"
Jace met Zack's eyes without flinching. "The situation had changed," Jace stated. "I no longer believe that Manticore is the best place in which to remain."
Victor drew forth a smile, holding it in place through pure force of will. He began to move his hand in Jace's direction before thinking better of it. His hand hovered momentarily before falling back towards his body. He slid it back into his pocket, not trusting it to remain free. "We're in love," Victor admitted. He straightened, face hardening at Zack's scornful snort. "Think what you will, but it's the truth," Victor said hotly. "We're in love and. . .," his face filled with conflicting emotions, "and we're going to be parents."
Wide-eyed, Max turned towards Jace. "You're pregnant?" she gasped, unable to reconcile the Jace before her with what she thought to be necessary of mothers. Max couldn't picture herself as a mother, had been shocked to discover that Tinga had a child--and Jace, who had remained in Manticore and had lived with their teachings for the entirety of her life was about to have a child of her own. It was inconceivable.
Jace turned her steady gaze in Max's direction. "I am," she affirmed crisply. "And it is for that reason that I find it necessary to leave Manticore." Her emotionless presentation of facts faltered, feeling leaking into her voice. "I fear what will happen to us--and my baby--once Lydecker finds out." She drew in a breath, dipping her head slightly. "I didn't go with you that night because I was frightened of failing and the consequences of such, and because I was just as fearful of success and what that would mean for me. But I'm going to have a baby and I can't. . ." she broke off, swallowing.
Victor picked up the explanation. "Manticore has been testing the offspring of the various classes--all in laboratory settings, so far. It hasn't been pretty," he admitted, looking slightly queasy as if the mere mention of the experiments Manticore had been performing was enough to make him ill. "I don't doubt that the labs will be more than eager to get ahold of a child conceived naturally between an X5 and non-X5." He fixed pleading eyes on Zack. "You have to help us--please, I'm begging you."
Max didn't know how Zack managed to keep his voice cool. "Why do you think that we can help you?"
"Why do you think?" Victor demanded. "You guys have managed to keep out of Manticore's grasp for years. I figured that there must be something. . . I don't know, some way for you to make new identity papers for us, _something_!" His hand had freed itself from his pocket once again, running through his hair. Short locks jutted outwards messily, disturbed by the passage of his hand. "Look, I've helped you before--lots of times, even when doing so put me at risk."
Zack's eyebrow climbed upwards. "Is that the extent of your argument?"
"For Christ's sake, man!" Victor exclaimed. "Didn't you hear anything I said? I'm talking about basic human decency here. Don't you care that a member of your family will be tortured, put through barbaric tests and--"
"Forget it, Victor," Jace said. "I knew that it would be a waste of time to come here. Zack always was rather selective in those duties as CO which he fulfilled."
"I am no longer your commanding officer," Zack countered, his voice frigid.
"Helping us--the child I am carrying--is in the best interest of all of the X5s. Think past your anger, Zack." Jace's upper lip curled slightly, "if you're still able to do so, or has the outside world truly dulled your mind?"
"_Jace_," Victor hissed softly in protest. She ignored him. "Zack, I'm sorry, she didn't mean--"
Zack cut off the other man's apology. "Shut up," he snapped. "Max," Zack addressed her, nodding his head in the direction of the corner opposite of that where they were currently positioned. Max followed as Zack moved away. She already knew what she would recommend. For all that Jace had done, she was still her sister, still family. Max would not allow a child--her niece or nephew--to be put through the never-ending hell which had been her life until the escape. She suspected that Zack would agree with her sooner or later--after all, he was as fiercely protective of family as was she.
...~*~...
Victor had been right--Zack did have contacts with people capable of forging identity papers. Once he had decided to give his aid to Jace and Victor, Zack had moved quickly to obtain the necessary documents. He hadn't allowed Jace or Victor to accompany him, not willing to compromise a valuable resource on a story he was still wary of. He had left the others with the car, parked in the lot of a fast-food restaurant after stopping to get the pictures necessary for the documents which would be created.
Max and Victor sat in the front seats. Jace was curled up in the back-seat, head pillowed on Victor's jacket. In a soft, awed voice, Victor had explained that the pregnancy had impacted on the amount of rest Jace needed. She needed more sleep more often, couldn't go without food for as long as she had been able to previously, and couldn't engage in any sustained strenuous activities. His face grim, Victor told Max that he had feared for Jace's safety and that of their child while she had been fighting Zack.
Max drummed her fingers against her thigh, considering Victor through narrowed eyes. "How has she managed to conceal her pregnancy, then? They are fairly observant back at Manticore--especially when it comes to the performances of their creations."
"She's been in the field for the last month," Victor explained. "That's why I had to put off our meeting so long--her return to base was pushed back several times. I didn't think we would both be able to get out at the same time. I had nightmares about all the things that could go wrong." Victor turned in his seat, looking at Jace over his headrest. His eyes went soft and tender. "But no matter the risk, I knew I couldn't let Manticore hurt her."
It was difficult to imagine what could have attracted Victor to Jace and vice versa. Despite his employment at Manticore, Victor seemed. . . soft, was the best word Max could come up with to describe her impression of the man. And although she had broken regulations in becoming involved with Victor, Jace was still very much a soldier caught up in ideals of strength, duty and destruction. Max knew that when older, the classes were allowed a degree more freedom than had been the case while younger. That small amount of free-time didn't seem to account for how the two could have fallen in love--a stolen minute here and there hardly seemed conducive to the formation of a deep emotional attachment.
"How did it happen--you and Jace?" Max questioned. If the question had been directed towards her, Max would have shot it down. Victor seemed more open, nearly eager to discuss his relationship with Jace. Max doubted that there had been many opportunities for him to express his emotions while inside Manticore.
Victor shrugged lightly. "I'm not sure, myself, sometimes. I knew that become involved with an X5 held definite risks, but I never thought that I'd have to worry about that. You guys are perfection, and I'm just. . ." he held out his hands, "me. No normal girl has ever considered me to be much of a catch. No way in hell would I have imagined I'd gain the interest of an X5." He settled back into his seat, leaning his head back. Victor's eyes drifted shut, a smile forming at his lips. "I'd seen Jace before, and I had known that she was special--something _more_, you know? And one day, she looked right back at me."
"It must have been hard," Max commented, "having and hiding a relationship in Manticore."
Victor's eyes slitted back open. "It was. Bad enough just being able to find time together somewhere safe, but it killed not being able to do normal stuff--just being able to hold her hand, or kiss her whenever I wanted to." His lips compressed, pain marked by the lines around his lips. "I couldn't go to her when I most wanted to--I found out that she was injured, once, and I couldn't go to her side and let her know that I was there and that I loved her." Victor sighed, summoning forth a smile. "But it's all going to be different now, Max."
"I hope you're right," Max responded cautiously. She wasn't so sure that things would turn out as well as Victor wanted. Relationships--life in general--were still difficult for Max on occasion and she had had years to adjust to the world beyond Manticore. After being exposed to Manticore for as long as she had been, Max didn't know whether Jace would ever be able to shake off her training to become to woman Victor seemed to feel she could be.
"I am right," Victor said certainly.
"It won't be easy," Max cautioned him.
"I know," Victor responded. "But we can do it. It'll be worth it. This is all I've ever wanted--the woman I love at my side, a family, the chance to create a life for ourselves." His hand rested against Max's, Victor's eyes intent against her own. "Thank you, Max. I can't thank you enough for giving us this opportunity."
Max's lips turned up into a small smile. She couldn't help but like Victor. He seemed so sincere, so passionately in love with Jace. He truly believed everything that he was saying--Max's enhanced senses would have picked up on changes in his heartrate and any number of other signs had he been weaving a lie. "I didn't do anything, Victor. This is happening because of you--your bravery, your determination, and your love."
Victor smiled back. "Maybe so, but getting away from Manticore would be a hell of a lot more difficult if you and Zack hadn't agreed to help us."
There was movement beyond the rain-slicked windshield. Zack moved in front of the car, moving towards the passenger side. Victor took the hint, opening the door at stepping into the light rain. He clambered into the rear seat, smiling when Jace murmured sleepily and opened her eyes. Zack claimed the vacated seat next to Max, slamming the door shut behind him.
Jace had shaken off sleep quickly. "You have the papers?" she asked, sharp and worried.
Zack's lips compressed, his jaw held stiff. Helping Jace had been difficult for him. Max suspected that a great deal of his hostility came from the events surrounding Tosh's death, but Zack had simply stared at her with blank eyes when Max had asked. They had all done things they regretted--Zack himself had been involved in murder--so she knew his anger was rooted in more than Jace's affiliation with Manticore. Zack's face had been cleared of emotion when he shifted in his seat to face Jace and Victor.
"Alex Clute and Jenn Nicholis," Zack said, handing the corresponding package to each of the passengers. "I got you the full package--there is every piece of identification necessary to set up a new life."
"Thank you," Victor said as Zack turned to face forward. "I can't express how much this means to us." Victor's hand crept across the seat, holding onto Jace's. "We're going to be okay, Jace," he breathed. "We're going to make it." Victor leaned forward, meeting Jace in a kiss.
Zack had looked away. Max cast a glance at the two in the rearview mirror. 'Sweet,' she tapped out against Zack's clenched hand.
His face was hard when he opened his eyes to Max. "She's anything but sweet," he spoke softly, below the range of Victor's hearing. Jace had caught Zack's harsh reply, her eyes wide and glossy, reflected in the rearview mirror. "Let's go," Zack said into the sudden silence.
"Right," Max murmured, tearing her eyes away from Jace's. The car stuttered back to life around them. Max pulled out of the parking lot, turning onto the street. The wipers squeaked across the windshield, clearing free rain in dragging arcs.
Victor was speaking softly in the rear of the car, his words clear to everyone in the vehicle. "Maybe Vermont--I grew up there, you know. We'll buy a small house once I get a job and save up a bit of money. We'll fix it up, the two of us. It'll be great, Jace, you'll see. You're going to love life outside of Manticore, Jace--it'll be better than you ever imagined."
Jace's laugh was low and throaty. "I do love you, Victor."
Max concentrated on driving.
...~*~...