Unconventional Warfare

Max and I went to Logan's apartment and raided for all things resembling food. We would have bought some, but neither of us had any money on us. Logan had wanted to come, but Max stopped him with a brief kiss and a few soft words that I had not ordained to listen in on.

"So why do you think Mr. Stick Up His Ass never told us about you?" Max asked on the drive.

I shrugged.

"He has his reasons. He wants to keep me safe." I said.

I didn't say that I had often wondered the same thing. Didn't Zack trust his own family to keep the secret? I think that maybe through me Zack was guarding a part of himself.

I changed the subject.

"So who's this Logan?" I asked.

Max smiled.

"Logan is...you know, I'm not sure exactly what Logan is. He's special. (He's not special he's gifted. And he shaves with a butter knife! Dull one at that!))"

"But you care for him, right?"

"Yes. I care a lot, really." Max admitted.(Cause he's hot. Can't shave his own face worth a damn, but he's hot.)

And now my brother's feelings came into perspective. I dropped the topic.

We made what Zack would call pointless small talk until we arrived back at what I'd come to think of as our base of operations. Despite the fact that she was causing my brother all kinds of problems, I decided I liked this Max.

We got out of the car to the noise of Zack yelling loudly at SP-452/493.

"You will speak when you are spoken to, soldier!"

SP-452/493 smiled sarcastically.

"What's the matter, Zackie (Ok lets set the record straight, these are our Dark Angel nicknames: Zackie Wacky, Logie Wogie, and Maxy Waxy, yes we are mentally challenged! Its time to pop the pills!) ? Can't handle it when someone doesn't treat you like the big C.O.?" she taunted.

"She's got guts." Max commented, "Even I wouldn't call him Zackie."

I didn't comment but continued to watch.

Zack got right in the SP's face and his voice lowered to a growl.

"You don't know who you're messing with."

"Neither do you." she replied. (All aboard to Naughtyville, woo woo!)

Zack was really mad. I could see his jaw twitch from where I stood. One more comment from SP-452/493 and things would become physical instead of verbal.

"Besides," she continued with that one comment that would do it, "you couldn't take me if you tried."

"Krit!" Zack yelled.

I could see Krit wince as he cautiously approached.

"Where are the keys to those handcuffs? (Wait a minute, everyone leave right now, handcuff hehee... Zackie...) (Um...those keys wouldn't happen to be in Krit's pockets cause we'll get em! For Zackie!!!)" Zack asked, his voice clipped, gesturing at the handcuffs that restrained the SP.

"Are you sure that's a good..." Krit began.

"Are you questioning me?" Zack demanded, whirling on Krit.

I knew Zack. He would not tolerate his command being questioned in the presence of the enemy. Krit knew this, too. I could tell.

"No, sir." he said, eyeing the SP as he said it.

"Give me the keys." Zack said stiffly.

Krit (Ty and Cade)pulled the keys out of his pocket and tossed them to Zack. He then retreated to his former position beside Syl.

"This outta be good." Max said, leaning back against the car to watch the show.

The SP didn't move until Zack had unlocked both handcuffs. A smart move considering she wouldn't have the use of her hands if she had kicked Zack the second her feet were free.

Zack backed up, tossing the keys back at Krit. The SP followed, her eyes never leaving him. They circled, each studying the other. Everyone in the building from Max and me to Lydecker and Renfro were watching.

I heard Logan wheel up beside Max, but didn't take my eyes off the fight.

"What's the point of this anyway?" Logan asked.

"He's trying to break her." Max explained, "He's proving he's C.O."

"So basically he's trying to prove that he's still dominant over his little pack. (So he's gonna pee on a bush???)" Logan said disdainfully. (And I really don't want to be there if he is...) said Logan (For you gifted people who didn't figure that one out.)

His tone of voice made my eyes snap towards him and I felt an urge to shake him until his teeth rattled for such a comment(Hasn't everybody wanted to do that at one point?). Apparently Max hadn't taken it too lightly, either.

"Just don't, Logan. I'm getting really sick of the petty jealousy thing. There's nothing between Zack and me and there isn't going to be. But he is my brother, got it? So stop with the chauvinistic crap! (And go shave!!!!)" she said.

"I'm sorry, Max. You're right. You're right. I trust you. Zack and I...we just have conflicting personalities. I can't help it." Logan apologized quickly.

This soon after loosing Max and thinking he would never get her back I wasn't surprised at how quick his apology was. Just from the little I knew about Logan, I doubted he and Zack would ever like each other.

I dismissed Logan from my thoughts as I sensed a rapid movement out of the corner of my eye. Someone had attacked. The SP, she had attacked first. Zack blocked and counterattacked. Their blows were all very fast. Zack scored the first hit, to her stomach. The force of the blow sent her stumbling back a few steps as she caught her breath. Zack showed no mercy. but continued to attack. She blocked furiously, but she had lost the offensive and her advantage. We all knew it was Zack's fight although she fought really well. Better than I had when I fought Zack. I had to admit that although I did so grudgingly. She had scored on him a couple of times, exploiting his weak spots: the bullet wounds. If Zack hadn't been so angry she might have won. (I DID NOT LOSE!!!!! I NEVER LOSE!!!!!! NEVER!) (coughsorelosercough) (Coughbitemecough) (Careful everyone this cough is contagious)

But had it had any affect on her besides to make her glare up at Zack from the ground where she had fallen and not yet risen from yet? The whole idea was for Zack to earn her respect in a way that she would understand.

"On your feet, soldier." Zack ordered her.

The SP looked at Zack, then looked at Renfro. She looked back at Zack again and spat on the ground in disgust. Zack turned away from her, still angry and motioned to Krit and Syl to go get her and handcuff her again. He signaled to Max to watch everything, then signaled to me to follow him. I nodded and walked with him outside.

"Are you alright?" I asked once we were beyond the hearing of everyone inside.

"I'm fine." Zack grunted in that way that I knew meant he was hurt but wouldn't admit it.

"You know you might have made a little progress there if it hadn't been for Renfro. We have to separate the two." I said.

"I know." Zack agreed.

"So what did you want to talk to me out here for?" I asked, stopping.

Zack refused to meet my gaze and said nothing.

"Are you going to talk or aren't you?" I pressed.

"You're the only one I can talk to, Ty." he said slowly.

I waited for him to continue.

"I'm attracted to her." ( Whoo hoo!!!! Yeah what can I say...)

Did he mean the SP?! He had to mean her. But how could he...? Why was he telling me this?

"Why are telling me this?" I asked cautiously.

"You're supposed to yell at me! Tell me that it's sick and wrong to be attracted to her because she's part Max! You're supposed to tell me what an asshole I am for not stuffing this phoney sentimentality! You're supposed to tell me that I don't ever have a shot in hell with Max and I shouldn't hate Logan for having her. You're supposed to call me a sick, cold-hearted bastard for trying to substitute SP-452/493 for Max." (It's ok Zack, Really :) There is a Naughtyville comment in there somewhere but it escapes me...)

"Zack, stop." I said. (Take off your pants... This is Cade by the way it would be wrong for Ty to say that...)

"Why?" he asked scornfully, "I deserve worse. I should..." (strip naked!)

"Stop it!" I yelled at him. (This is straight to Naughtyville!)

Zack just looked at me strangely.

"Zack, there is nothing wrong with you being attracted to her. (Hell, she's already ready to join you in the shower) Max is NOT your type and I guess, so is she. That's normal. I don't know about substituting her for Max, but you are right that you shouldn't hate Logan. And you shouldn't hate yourself either."

"But I do, Ty. I hate that I feel this way and I can't do a damn thing about it. I hate that I can't say a word about how I feel to anyone but you. I hate that I'm so much like the soldier that Manticore wanted me to be because I don't know how to be anything else. I hate that I am the way I am." Zack insisted.

"But Zack, if you were any other way, you wouldn't be you. You sacrifice yourself repeatedly for us and I don't think you know that you do. And that's who you are. You're my strong, caring, protective big brother and I love you." I finished and hugged him.

"Ty." Zack protested in his embarrassed voice and I could almost see him roll his eyes without having to look.

"I'll stop embarrassing you if you stop the Zack-bashing." I offered.

"Deal."

I let him out of the hug and stepped back. We were both silent for a long moment.

"Your hair smells good. (Hitting on your sister is very wrong.)" Zack commented finally.

"Zack!" I said in mock-surprise, "That sounds like an attempt at meaningless small talk."

"If I let you ride my motorcycle (Nice motorcycle, pretty motorcycle, hmm Naughtyville, motorcycle :wink wink: Ok we will try to lay off they Naughtyville comments...)will you stop making fun of me?"

"Of course." I agreed quickly, "But you have to go eat. You made me go find food so you better eat it."

"And trust you alone with my motorcycle?"

"Don't try me."

"No, sir." Zack taunted me.

"Careful. You might get a sense of humor." I replied.

In the end, I was granted the freedom of flying down Seattle's streets while Zack disposed of a large portion of Logan's food supply. With the wind in my face it was hard to think about anything else.

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