Summary: What I hope will happen during season 2. Max will escape sometime in later chapters (that is,
if all of you don't think it's horrible) with help from Zack who (obviously) isn't dead. It'll eventually
become a m/z story, so if you don't like it screw you, don't read it, and I mean that in the nicest possible
way; really I do.
Spoilers: just to be safe, every episode to date (AJBAC), I'll probably bring up a lot of past episodes.
Rating: PG-13 (this chapter) language and eventually some m/z encounter(s) *wink, wink* but if you
watch the show it's not that big of a deal.
As Zack held me under his arm, we walked away from Manticore. We were taking the same two-lane road I'd followed the night of the escape. I remembered being scared to death as a woman, Hannah, stopped and offered me a ride. Things had changed so much since then, but now, as I walked with Zack, away from Manticore, it seemed like nothing had changed at all. Things hadn't changed, I had. Zack was the same as he was in Manticore, maybe a little more human, but still in command, and always protecting all of us. Maybe that's why we connected so well, he was still the little boy that got the balloon for me, and kept me safe when everything was falling apart.
Maybe we'd really be free for good, but then again, maybe Manticore would be restored someday, and I'd never be safe. Now that the X7s were freed and no one was in charge, that wasn't likely, unless Deck turned on us again. I wasn't too worried, whatever happened would happen, and I'd worry about it when the time came. As I continued this train of thought, staring absent-mindedly off into the woods. I fought back laughter as I heard the alarm finally sound...a little late, some TAC leader probably found all the knocked out guards and missing X7s.
Some guards ran out of the building, responding to the alarm. Hell, they didn't even have anyone to command them, so what was the point in trying to recapture us? We picked up pace, not wanting to stay behind killing off guard after guard. Manticore's perimeter fence finally ended, now we were pretty much out of proximity of any real danger. Still cautious, Zack and I walked in silence after he'd answered several of my questions.
It turned out that another guard had rushed into the room after Renfro was released from Zack's grip. She had alerted the guard that was traipsing through the corridors, making sure everything was sound after the infiltration by the X5s. The guard had shot Zack in the leg, causing it to give out. He collapsed onto me, passing out from blood loss due to his wounded shoulder; and the shot in the leg didn't help his condition much either.
We didn't dare to hitch-hike, Zack wouldn't allow us to get into danger by unknowingly accepting a ride from some Manticore worker. I groaned to myself after imagining us walking all the way back to Seattle from Wyoming. X5s or not, a girl could get used to not having to walk from state to state through heavily wooded forests. Seattle was a long way from here...
Seattle; it reminded me of Logan. What would I tell him? Just barge in with Zack and announce that I was in love with another man, and sorry, but I'm over him? I hadn't even told Zack about how I felt; but mainly because every time I'd open my mouth to speak, he'd hold his finger to his lips. If he had his way, which he most likely would, we wouldn't even speak until we were completely out of Wyoming.
He'd removed his arm from around me long ago; now busy darting left and right across the road and deeper into the forest, making sure no one was following us. He'd ventured off ahead on lookout, and I saw him run back toward me, his long blond hair falling in his face, blue-green eyes flashing excitedly. He looked like a hunter searching for his prey. His face was neutral as he climbed high into trees, looking around, and sprinting through trees, ignoring the brush cutting at his already wounded and bruised arms.
It was like the game we used to play; escape and evade, we'd escaped and now he was averting and danger that might be nearby. Zack lived for moments like these, where he could be the soldier that he was created to be. His instincts kicked in, and he moved fluidly, almost gracefully; almost like an animal. I watched as he jumped from an especially tall tree into a grassy clearing not too far away, narrowly avoiding a small stream.
He looked around carefully, and satisfied that everything was safe, headed back over to me. The collar of his shirt was damp from sweat, and his hair was plastered to his face. Pushing his hand through his hair, he grinned at me, the face of a soldier disappearing as he stopped bounding around the forest searching for danger. He appeared to be calm, but I watched his eyes move back and forth, taking in our surroundings.
Suddenly, as Zack joined me, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I shuddered. We were being watched...silently, I gestured to Zack that an enemy was in pursuit. He nodded, he felt it too, and I closed my eyes while we walked, not concentrating on vision, only sound. I was listening for the slightest sound, using my enhanced hearing. Finally, I honed in on something a few meters to my right, behind some brush and a large tree. I continued watching straight ahead, wanting to surprise the pursuer.
We'd veered off the road a little, far enough into the surrounding forest that we wouldn't be out in the open, so at least we weren't sitting ducks if there really was watching us. Now everything was silent, but I knew someone was there. Waiting, watching, and ready to pounce at any minute. We were being followed, I'd thought I felt it off and on as we moved away from Manticore. Who would follow us shooting at us, and be able to move quickly and silently whenever Zack would search the woods nearby? Only an X prototype could possibly have those skills.
"Show yourself!" I commanded, turning to my right. Like I said, I was never the subtle type. Before I had a chance to draw my gun, a figure dressed in all black emerged from behind a tree, gun drawn. "Brin..." I started. Zack spun around to face her, his eyes were cold as they met hers. She'd been turned, and Zack was disheartened by her inability to stay strong through her reprogramming. I knew he probably felt he'd failed when we couldn't escape with her. He'd never admit it, but as he watched Brin, I could tell. His eyes had softened for a moment, and then turned gray and dull as he watched her place her finger in front of the trigger.
"Renfro's dead; you're free Brin. So put down the gun and come with us." Zack ordered, figuring Brin would respond better if he took the position of authority. She was Manticore, and if Zack became our CO again, she might obey his commands.
"Never." She spat bitterly. And then again...maybe not. The reprogramming she'd been through had done a number on her. Not that it surprised me, Deck was still at Manticore then, and he knew exactly how to break us. He knows everything there is to know about 'his kids'. He was the man who put us through hell and back to become his idea of perfect. Now he'd sunk so low that he actually teamed up with us to take down his greatest accomplishment. How ironic.
Among other things, the fact that we (the free X5s) were traitors had been pounded into her head, and she now thought us to be the enemy. They'd done the same thing to Zack when he turned himself in for me. I couldn't believe Deck could be so sly, he'd actually known Zack escaped. At least Brin hadn't known much, if any information on the locations of the other X5s, otherwise they'd be caged up in Manticore too.
If she only knew the truth about Renfro. I could try to get through to her, maybe she'd remember those nights where we'd gather around her as seizures shook her violently, comforting her until she fell asleep again. Maybe she'd remember how much we all trusted each other. Now she was suspicious and skeptical about every word Zack or me said.
She aimed the gun up toward my head. All she had to do was fire, I called to her, "Why are you doing this Brin? We aren't the traitors, Renfro is...was. She's gone, you're not a soldier anymore, you're a person! I know Renfro probably ordered you to kill me if I escaped, but she killed our sister, so how could you carry out her orders? What would you gain by shooting either of us?"
I could see her bite her bottom lip, and her face contort into a frown. She was thinking it out. "She really killed Tinga?" She asked, lowering her gun slightly. At least it was pointed toward my head. She was still reluctant, but at least she was listening. I might actually have a chance of getting through to her.
"Yes," I replied, voice full of hatred and rage toward the woman, "she had a son...he's much smarter than a normal child; better memory, and more intelligent than usual. Deck found out, and wanted to take Tinga in to study her. Somehow Renfro got involved in the capture, and ended up getting Tinga, and hiding it from Deck. I saw her Brin...she was in some tube while they tested her, they'd killed her, she killed Tinga..." I choked, and watched Brin look to the ground.
"I was told that operational secrecy was to be in effect, especially in regard to Liedecker. If I'd told him...maybe she'd still be alive. You have her heart you know..." Brin revealed. She was actually beginning to sound human...wait...did she just say I had her heart? I looked at her suspiciously, and then frowned as I thought of Manticore doctors harvesting her cold, frail body, removing her heart and other vital organs to be sold or used for other injured X soldiers.
I was stunned, my eyes wide in shock, I just stood staring at Brin. My had subconsciously found its way to the scar from the procedure. Tinga's heart? I would have to tell Charlie too, and I'd promised Case I'd bring him back his mom. Zack interrupted the silence. His face was serious, and was watching every move she made with apprehension. He doubted her loyalty to us, but realized since the woman who commanded her was dead, she had no other choice but to leave Manticore.
"Are you coming?"
"I-You....." She trailed off, and a look of sadness and anger crossed her face as she threw an earpiece from her ear to the ground, smashing it beneath her boot. "You're right Max, this is us out here, not Manticore. Where are we headed?" She questioned. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, but was immediately erased as she marched ahead of us.
"Seattle, where would you like to relocate to?" Zack asked, stopping to take in the information.
"Iowa...I had a life back there I'd like to get back...I'm heading in the wrong direction."
"So this is goodbye?" Max asked slowly. She'd just gotten her sister back, and now they were heading their separate ways. Zack rattled off the contact number, not caring about there sister coming back to their side. Actually, he probably did care, he just wouldn't let on that he did.
"Let's just say I gotta blaze...but I'll make sure to add Seattle to my list of places to visit." She promised, turning to head back in the opposite direction. Max just stood there, watching Brin freeze after walking a few paces. She spun to face Max and Zack.
"Max...I'm sorry. For Tinga, for being so hard on you, for listening to that bitch Renfro...everything." She apologized remorsefully.
"It wasn't your fault Brin." I reassured her, giving her a quick hug. "And you better come visit me in Seattle, I'll come hunt you down myself big sister. Don't be a stranger."
"I won't." She responded, smiling. The expression was unfamiliar to her, and it looked strained. She wasn't used to smiling; the thought saddened me. Brin waved as she began to jog away from us. Looking at Zack, he was grinning back at me.
"Zack..." I began seriously.
"Max." Zack encouraged. I guess now my superior CO was allowing me to speak. How could someone I loved so much be so annoying at times.
"I don't really know what to say...or where to begin."
"Why don't you try the beginning?" He suggested teasingly. I didn't know whether to admit that I loved him, or punch him as hard as I could in the gut. The former seemed more appropriate, but that doesn't mean I couldn't consider the latter. I'm supposed to be the sarcastic one.
"This is serious Zack. I thought you were dead, and...I realized how I really felt about you. Logan isn't the one I love, I thought I did, but could never compare to you. Everything he lacks, you have, everything he can't relate to, you do.... What I'm trying to say is...Zack...I love you." I confessed, watching him process what I was saying. He just stood there, looking me in the eye, searching as if he was trying to find out if I was telling him the truth. He scratched the back of his neck and looked at his shoes nervously. I'd never seen Zack nervous before. He wasn't used to hearing such emotion and 'phony sentimentality.' "Zack!"
"Sorry...it's just...you have no idea how long I've been waiting for you to say those words. You mean more to me that anyone else every could, you make me feel like a person, not just a number. I love you too Maxie, I've loved you since we were kids." He breathed, holding the back of my head with his rough hand, running his fingers through my hair.
After what seemed like hours of just reveling in the moment, and watching one another in awe, Zack bent down and kissed me. Up until now, I never understood how a person could give themselves completely to another. As I wrapped my hands around his neck and up and down his strong arms....nothing had ever felt so right.
A/N: Hooray! They're together (yeah, I already know I'm a typical blond). Ok, I wrote this in under half an hour, while on a major sugar high from eating 5 boxes of nerds after an especially brutal weight training session (6-7:30 in the morning, ouch), so if it sucks I'll make up for it next chapter; honest. I was half asleep when I wrote it, and could barely move my arms. It wasn't all that realistic, but hey, I said maybe I'd make it more realistic. Too happy I guess, maybe someone should die (Logan). I kinda forgot to add in the other X5s that stayed behind/got captured the night of the escape at Manticore...but just act like they all died...or something. I'm going to slow down on posting chapter since my wrist hurts like a bitch. Maybe I should probably pay more attention to details and making it...good too. I'm thinking about how to tie in the whole Logan/Deck/Krit/Syl situation in. Again, thanks for all your support+advice and keep reviewing, you can always email me 2 (GCPunkerGirlE87@hotmail.com)