---transcend---
chapter8: fated
"Report!" Renfro snapped as she stormed into her office. She was never in a good mood, let alone when she was awakened in the middle of the night.
The Major who had awoken her stood ready at her door. "We are under attack. There are perimeter breaches in Sectors B, L and S. All of which are along the forest perimeter. Troops have swarmed the area and are in the process of securing the forest edge. No intruder will get out of the forest and to the base."
Renfro sat at her desk, little comforted by the Major's confidence. She studied her computer screen on which she could see the entire layout of the base. Each of her soldiers were marked with a blue dot and she watched as they formed a line all along the forest edge.
"I want men at the research building…" Renfro said.
"But Ma'am," his voice carried a patronizing tone, "that's on the other side-" he cut his own sentence short as the computer screen indicated 2 new alarms were set off. Both in the research building.
"Fuck!" the major cursed as he stormed out, yelling new instructions into this two way radio.
Renfro sat and stared at the drama unfolding on her screens. Blue dots were moving all about the screen. A good two thirds of them were either watching the forest edge or scouring the forest itself.
Now, with the new orders, she could see most of the remaining third making their way toward the labs on the other side.
She watched as a huge gap developed in the middle. It only took a moment for her to figure it out.
"Idiots! They are going after X5-452."
Renfro pulled out her phone and used speed dial. She waited impatiently for two rings before someone picked up.
"Surveillance."
"Is there much movement in the research building?"
"We didn't see anything when the alarms went off."
"How is prisoner H-16?"
There was a moment's pause. "She's still lying on her bed. She's been like that ever since they put her in there."
*****
Logan found the camera that was trained on Max. His heart skipped a beat as he watched her sitting on her bed. Despite everything she must have went through she was still beautiful. If only he could somehow talk to her now. He wanted to run out of this stuffy van and hold her in his arms. Tell her it was all over now.
'I'm here Max… come to me.'
His thoughts seemed to prompt her to stand and walk to the door. Logan's eyes were glued to her as he watched her move. She seemed stiff and slow and slightly hunched over in pain, a far cry from her usual confident grace. He was taken by surprise when the screen he was watching blinked out and turned to snow.
"Damnit!" He was too intent on watching Max that he forgot to watch his systems to avoid virus detectors, and for that he was found and booted off the system.
"Logan? What's wrong?" Cam was the first to respond to his curse.
"I got booted off. I'm trying to get back in now." He typed furiously on his keyboard.
"Is our cover blown?" Syl's voice was full of concern, "We still have to get Max out…"
"No, no, the looping program was uploaded into their system, it should still be intact so long as they don't find it."
*****
Evan went through the building, a man with a mission, knocking unconscious anyone who stood between him and Max. He couldn't waste time explaining why he was inside instead of outside securing the base.
Soon enough, leaving a trail of motionless bodies behind him, he reached Max's room. Upon opening it, Max was standing waiting for him, the look in her eyes told him she was waiting for him. She looked tired, and she was hunched over, one arm protecting her stomach. It was obvious she had not yet fully healed from the day's torture. It didn't even seem that the drugs they had used had fully worn off as she still seemed a little dazed and her movements were sluggish.
But he could see the determination in her eyes. There was no mistaking that, though her body was weak, her mind was strong.
"Come on, let's go," he said as he took her arm and rest it over his shoulders, while putting a supporting arm around her back.
*****
Renfro grabbed her gun and ran out of her office, ordering whatever soldiers she came across to follow her to the cell block. None questioned her authority and walked briskly at her heels. By the time she reached the front doors she led a small army of fifty men. In the front entrance she gave her commands.
"Non lethal shots are preferred boys," she emphasized the word 'preferred', "I want them stopped, not killed. But if there is no other way, shoot to kill, those kids are better to us dead then rogue." They nodded and headed down the main hall, Renfro close behind.
*****
Krit and Jondy ran down the empty halls, only meeting three or four guards in total, which they easily disposed of. They knew Cam's plan would have made it quiet, but they never anticipated it would be this quiet. It could have just been that the plan was extremely well executed, but conditions were never this ideal.
Soon they ran across a soldier who lay sprawled unconscious on the ground.
"Are we running in circles?" Jondy asked.
Krit leaned down and turned the man over to see his face. "Never seen this man before. Something was going down here before we even got in." he said more to himself then anybody. This was not a good omen. "Logan, are you back in? What the hell was going on in here?"
"I don't know. I'm still off the system. I saw her in her cell last time I was on. Keep running that way. I'll be back on soon. Cam, Avery, where are you?"
"Zane and I are heading out." Cam replied.
"We're on our way." Avery answered. "Krit, you guys need help?"
"Not yet…" Krit sounded very unsure.
Finally Krit and Jondy reached the room Max was supposed to be held in only to find the door ajar, the room empty. Krit stepped in and took a quick look around, "Shit! She's not here!"
*****
Though Evan could have probably been at the perimeter fence by now, Max's injuries slowed them to a brisk walk even when she was fully leaning into him. But he would not leave her, even when he heard the footsteps of several men catching up from behind.
"There are too many of them," Max said, she sounded scared.
"Go," he said, trying to unwrap her arm from around his neck, but she clung fast.
"You can't take them all on your own, we have to hide.".
"There is no where to hide, you have to go."
"I won't leave you behind."
The footsteps were fast approaching and when the first few men rounded the corner at the far end of the corridor, they quickened their pace and yelled for them to halt. Evan could here another man as he yelled back to those who were following him. "It's XI5, he's helping the prisoner escape!"
"Please Maxie," he softened his tone, pleading with his azure eyes, "Please."
Max hesitated a moment, not wanting to lose him, but it was obvious he would not turn away from this fight. He was dogged to protect her and if she were to stay she would be even more of a hindrance to him. "Be close behind."
"I promise." And they turned their separate ways.
Evan walked slowly toward the sound of the approaching soldiers, gathering his energy for one final battle, fingering the trigger of his only gun.
Max walked as fast as she could, running her hand along the wall for support, praying to the blue lady that he would keep his promise.
*****
"What do you mean she's not there?" Logan's typing faltered for a moment, "I just saw her there! She was standing at the door…"
"I mean she's not here. H-16. It's open and she's not here. First a bunch of unconscious soldiers in the hallway and now Max is missing. This is not good."
"Maybe she knows we are here and is fighting her way out right now," Logan's voice was full of hope.
Krit wasn't so optimistic, "The locking mechanism is on the outside, and it's been opened cleanly. There is no way Max could have done this herself."
Cam's voice cut in, "Krit, Jondy, get out now. If she isn't there, there is nothing we can do."
"No! Wait! I can find her. Just give me time," Logan yelled, angered that they would give up on Max so easily.
"Time isn't a luxury here," Avery sounded annoyed.
Cam agreed, "Logan, this was a strike operation, timing was essential."
"So we just give up on her? She's your sister for fuck's sake."
"Jondy and Krit are family too." Avery bit back.
Syl tried to bring the civility back into the conversation. "They don't have time to search for her, Logan. They are putting themselves at risk."
He was so close to having her, and he wasn't about to lose her again.
"I can handle it." Jondy cut into the tense silence, her confidence was unmistakable. "Logan, just get back online and be my eyes." It was obvious she was as determined to get Max out of there as Logan was.
"I'm with Jondy, we can handle this." Krit backed his sister up.
*****
Evan easily took down the first five soldiers that approached him. When the others saw Evan and the bodies that surrounded him, they could think of nothing else to do but shoot.
The large hallway seemed anything but when the bullets started to fly. He shot off all but four of his rounds into the crowd, each shot deadly accurate, killing soldier after soldier, but the approaching wall of fatigues didn't seem to diminish.
The bullets whizzed all about him, one so close to his ear he felt it nick his cartilage. Evan jumped, rolled, and dodged but it was inevitable. A bullet tagged him in the leg and he could feel the blood soaking his pant leg. It hurt like hell, but the anguish only seemed to drive him harder. The more adrenaline that pumped through his veins the less he felt the pain.
Having no bullets he sprinted straight for them, ducking and dodging until he got within reach of the closest soldier. Evan kicked the gun out of his hand and using the same momentum, rammed his elbow into the man's face. Grabbing the body before it hit the ground he threw it into the crowd of men. The shooting ceased for a moment as they all jumped to the side to doge the body. The cramped quarters finally worked to Evan's advantage, as three men could not avoid their comrade's flying body.
Evan took the moment of ceasefire to attack. He ran straight into the middle of the crowd. It was dangerous but it also forced them to stop shooting, and Evan chances of survival increased exponentially when the guns were put away. But he wasn't out of the woods yet. The previous forty-four hours of training had worn him down, and his aching leg was bothering him but he prayed his muscles would be cooperative for this fight. By the looks of it there were only twenty men left standing.
Three men ran at him, the butts of their rifles ready to strike. He sensed their attack and quickly crouched low, tripping one up with a sweeping kick, winding another with a punch to the gut. However he was not quick enough to stop the third who struck him forcefully in the face with his rifle. Dazed for a split second it took a while for Evan to realize that the man raised his arms in preparation for another attack.
Just as the weapon was raised Evan pulled it together and stood as quickly as he could, adding all that momentum to an uppercut to the man's chin. The force was so great that the follow through drove the man's head into the ceiling.
There was no time to catch his breath before the next group was on him.
*****
Besides the clicking of Logan's keys, there was an unsettling silence on their coms. That is, before the sound of gunfire rang through.
Zane, Cam, Avery and Syl, only a minute away from the van, stopped in their tracks.
"What was that?" Zane asked.
"There is some serious gunfire in this building." Krit responded, his voice conveyed how concerned he was.
"Max…" Syl whispered it only to herself, but they all heard.
"Logan," Jondy said, "We need to know what is going on, and he need to know now!"
Jondy was stating the obvious and Logan didn't sound impressed, "Yeah, I know." His typing increased, "Almost…almost…Yes, I'm back in."
There was no time for congratulations. "Where is she?"
Logan skipped from camera to camera until he finally found her, relief loosed the grip of fear on his heart. "Thank God, she's alive."
"Lead us to her Logan," Jondy was sounding impatient.
"Turn around, take your…third left, she's running straight toward you, no one is following her. You need to get to her now, she looks hurt…"
"We're on it. Just keep an eye out for where those gunshots are coming from."
It took them only a moment to find her. "Max!" Jondy yelled down the hall. So relieved to see her sister, Jondy forgot where she was or who could have heard her.
Jondy ran to her sister's side and took her arm around her shoulders. "Jondy?" Max looked at her sister's face, a weak smile brushing her lips. She was tired, very tired.
"Do you have her?" Logan asked, "How is she?"
"She's fine Logan. What about the gunfire?"
"It's on the other side of the building…It's a huge group of soldiers…I can't see what they are doing…"
"Just as long as we are clear to leave."
"Same way you came in, everything's clear."
"Come on, this way," Krit said helping to support Max.
"Krit." Max leaned into them both, her eyes drooping with exhaustion.
"We're here Max, just hold on a little longer and we'll get you out of here."
"No… wait…" She straightened a bit, momentarily fighting their advance, before she keeled over again, her wounds were still aching. She turned and looked over her shoulder impeding their progress, "We have to go back…"
"What are you talking about Max?" Jondy asked, brushing Max's hair back with her fingers. It was strange to see Max so weak.
"We have to help him. He needs me…"
Jondy and Krit gave each other a knowing look. XI5-603. "No Max he doesn't need our help." Krit took the earpiece out of his ear and slipped it into Max's.
Logan saw what he had done and spoke, he tried to keep his voice calm, hiding his anxiety. "Max. I'm here…"
"Logan?" She eyes widened, "Logan." Max was so happy to hear Logan's voice she forgot about XI5-603 and followed wherever Krit and Jondy lead her.
*****
"Where are they?" a general called through to the surveillance room.
"The building is completely empty except for our men. No one has been in or out of the labs."
The general put his radio away and muttered to himself, "Shit, if this is a drill…"
Louder he addressed his men, "We need to sweep the building. You ten, come with me, the rest of you go to Labs C and D. Anyone you don't recognize, you shoot."
The men split down two different hallways.
*****
Cam and Zane, followed closely by Jaxx reached the van first.
"Avery, what is your e.t.a.?"
"Less than a minute. I can see the van from here."
Cam nodded, and got into the van, looking over Logan's shoulder at Jondy and Krit as they helped Max out of the facility. "Where are they?"
"Second floor. They should be clear soon."
Krit, who had taken back his com from Max spoke, "We're well on our way out now…"
"How is activity by the labs?"
A quick command and the screen changed, showing soldiers flooding the research building.
"We can't risk them deactivating the bombs. Set them off."
*****
In the surveillance rooms, the lights of the television screens reflected onto the soldier's faces. Just by chance a screen caught one man's eyes. It was a security guard walking casually through his building. He seemed strangely unaffected by all the alarms that were going off on the base.
"Guys, does this guy know…" he paused as the guard disappeared, and then reappeared at the edge of the screen and walked down the hall in the exact nonchalant matter he had done before.
"What the…oh fuck, the cameras have been looping."
It didn't take long for the three men to scour their database, find the virus and dispose of it.
When they got their cameras back online the empty halls of the research building magically filled with soldiers.
"Holy shit! There are heavy explosives in the labs!"
"Fuck!" one called out as he switched to the camera in the hall that lead to the main DNA lab. Sure enough a group of soldiers were fast approaching the lab. He tried to reach the General who led them, "General! General! Turn back! Evacuate immediately!"
But his warning came to late. The explosion poured out of the lab, a fiery tsunami that the soldiers had no hope of escaping.
All they could do was watch as the flames engulfed their comrades, and just as quickly the screen blinked out and became static.
There was a moment of silence for the loss but they did not dare mourn for long.
*****
Renfro watched XI5-603 systematically take down all the men she had gathered. He kicked a man in the gut and when the man bent over, XI5 used his back as a spring board to leap at another man and kick him in the face, snapping his neck around.
Renfro's feet were glued to the ground despite the impending danger.
It was beautiful. It was watching 80 years of research and 21 years of training liquefied into a few minutes of fury. She was almost happy until she realized she was the only one left standing, and that the transgenic super soldier that she had taken special interest in, was now turning his attention on her.
Biting the hand that feeds him…
She had grossly underestimated him. She knew those kids were good, but she thought fifty fully armed men could have handled one. What sad circumstances it was, that she finally got to see XI5-603 reach his full potential.
Renfro pulled out her phone and speed dialed a number, but before she could get the phone to her ear, it was shot out of her hand. Dropping her hand to her side she looked at XI5, standing her ground. There was no use in running.
Evan held the gun aimed straight at her head. He had saved four bullets just for her. His breathing was heavy and his shoulders rose and fell with every intake of breath. The wound in his leg was still bleeding profusely and he was favoring the leg as he walked toward her.
"I want you to leave the X5 alone."
"I can't do that." Renfro shook her head, "Have you been listening to her lies, 603?"
Evan ran at her and used his forearm to pin her to the wall. "No." he pressed her hard and she winced momentarily at the pain. His face only inches from hers, he bared his teeth menacingly, "You were the one with all the lies. I read my files Renfro, I know about my past. I wasn't alone."
"Don't kid yourself. You were always alone. You were trained to never need anybody but yourself to rely on."
"You've kept me from my family long enough."
"Is that what she told you?" Renfro shook her head in pity, "Did she offer you a family? I told you to stay away from her, she would only confuse you."
"I've never thought clearer in my life!" Evan was filled with rage, he saw nothing but her smug face and wanted so much to grab her neck and choke off her air supply. A quick death was too good for her.
"Come now 603, don't you realize she is just using you to get out of here? What family can she offer you out there? We are your family, the X5 abandoned you."
"They didn't even know I existed because of you! I want you to forget about the X5s and me."
"I'm sorry but I just can't do that."
He was so filled with rage he didn't even notice the familiar click of a safety release. Only when he felt the familiar sensation of hot metal penetrating his skin did Evan realize she had a gun.
Stumbling backward he fell on both his knees, he pressed his palm just under his ribcage and again felt warm liquid. He pulled his hand back and saw it was coated in crimson. More blood. Too much blood.
Faster then the human mind could register, Evan raised his own gun. Renfro had time to do nothing else but freeze as the bullet fired from the barrel, hit her in the corner of her eye and left through the back of her skull, finally coming to an abrupt stop in the wall behind her.
Like all the soldiers that lay before her now, her lifeless body crumpled in a heap.
Again he fired a bullet into the human shell that was Renfro, and a fourth. Soon he was firing an empty gun, the dull metal snap was the only sound to fill the halls save for his ragged breath.
For two deep breaths he stared at her, watching the red pool grow around her. Her face still held that icy expression that seemed strangely satisfied, as though she were happy it was one of her own that took her down. It made Evan feel sick.
Grunting at the throbbing in his stomach, he ripped his shirt and tied it around his torso, trying to apply pressure to his wound. He did the same for his leg. With the aid of the closest rifle, trying so hard to ignore the excruciating pain, he got onto his feet.
Looking briefly over his shoulder he saw the carnage he had done. The hall was awash with blood.
Evan turned his back on the scene, on this violent way of life, on Manticore and hobbled as fast as he could after Max.
He had a promise to keep.
*****
The scene on the closed circuit TV wasn't pretty. The hall was lined with motionless bodies. One of them belonging to Renfro. "Oh Jesus, Prison Block H. We need men there now!"
*****
Krit, Jondy and Max were already out of the building and were well on their way to the cover of forest when Max heard someone call her name.
"Max!"
She looked back over her shoulder and saw Evan struggling to catch up. It was evident that he was severely hurt, his clothing drenched in blood.
"We…We have to help him…" Again Max fought her siblings, trying to turn back and help him. She wouldn't leave him behind.
Krit looked back at who was following them and saw the limping figure. It was Zack. 'No,' he corrected himself, 'XI5-603.'
Jondy, too, was amazed. She knew it wasn't Zack but he looked so much like him that she almost found herself turning back to help him to safety.
"No, Max. We need to get you home."
"But he's hurt!" she sounded almost childish as she fought to free herself and help Evan, but in her weakened condition she was no match for her siblings.
*****
Evan stumbled out the doors and saw Max across the field. Two people were helping her run and he knew without having to think twice, that those were the X5. He saw more standing at the edge of the forest.
He called out Max's name just to let her know that he had kept his promise and was staying close behind.
*****
Cam and the X5's waited for them a step beyond the cover of trees. They all inhaled sharply when they saw the solitary figure that was following behind.
They all searched the man's face, trying to find some distinguishing scar, or imperfection to tell him apart from Zack. Any little thing that would make them feel better as they left him behind. They saw XI5-603 call out Max's name. And the sound of his voice sent shivers up their spines. Even his voice was exactly that of Zack…What else could they expect from Zack's genetic twin.
"Guys," Logan's voice rang in their ears. "There are soldiers in hot pursuit. They will be on you in less then a minute."
"Jondy," Cam spoke urgently, "you have to hurry."
"We're trying." Jondy replied then turned to Max, "Max, we need to go."
"What are you doing?!" she pleaded almost hysterically, not understanding why they refused to listen to her, "Please! He's hurt!"
*****
Evan tripped and fell to one knee, he could feel his wounds ripping anew. But he pushed it all out of his mind. He was almost free.
With much ache he got back onto his feet and called her name out once again.
*****
"Max!" The stranger with the familiar face yelled out once more, holding his hand out towards them. With that Max fought even harder.
Far behind them, out the doors of the building streamed soldier after soldier, the sound of their gunfire soon filled the air.
Startled Evan stumbled once more. It was getting harder and harder to get back up.
*****
Cam raced towards them, followed closely by the others. "Hurry!"
The other's pulled out their weapons and began shooting at the soldiers that were quickly gaining ground. Some fell, but there were just too many…
"No! He's hurt! They're gonna kill him!" Max's strength had not yet returned but it was out of sheer will power that she broke free from both Krit and Jondy. She set aside the pain, and ran for Evan.
Krit and Jondy started to run after her, but a freak bullet caught Krit in the hip, and Jondy stopped to help him.
"Aw, fuck!" Cam said, shaking his head. Max's stubbornness left him no choice. Cam stopped and, out from under his jacket, pulled out a P14-45. He didn't want to do this. It was like shooting at Zack. Maybe this XI5-603 thought like Zack as well. Maybe he could be easily swayed to join them on the outside. But could they take that chance. This person had undergone ten more years of training and indoctrination. Was there a point where one could not be converted? Zack was one of their best. If they could change this clone…
His hand shook as he aimed it at the clone and for the first time in his life, Cam hesitated.
*****
By now XI5-603's treachery was clear. Orders were given to take them all down.
One soldier, faster then the others, sprinted up ahead. Close enough, he dove to the ground and centered XI5-603 in his sights.
*****
Max ran toward him, as quickly as she could still clutching her wounds. "Evan!" she yelled his name. The whole world seemed to slow down. The bullets flying in both directions became lazy butterflies. He had kept his promise and came back to her.
As she closed in it was obvious that he was even worse off then he seemed. The strips of cloth that were tied around his ribs and leg were dripping with blood. He was wincing at the simple effort of walking. Seeing this, and knowing that he was injured saving her, Max's own pain faded away. It was nothing compared to what he voluntarily did for her.
*****
Evan's pace quickened to catch up to her. What was she doing running back? Didn't she see the soldiers behind him? It was dangerous for her. She had to turn back around, head back to safety…
*****
Only a few strides away Max saw Evan's eyes widen. His feet fumbled and he fell forward into her.
"Evan? Evan!" Not expecting it, and still weak, Max fell clutching him in her arms. With her hands on his back she could feel the warm wetness. She could feel his warm blood surge out onto her own chest from new wound right were his heart was. "No!" she screamed in his ear, desperately switching positions to cradle him in her arms. "Don't leave me!"
Blood dribbled out of the side of his mouth. He lifted his hand weakly, knowing he was about to die. "Go."
"Evan, no…"
"Please Maxie…" The life was quickly fading from his crystal blue eyes, "Please."
*****
Cam and Zane got to Max first and dragged her roughly away. They had no time to be gentle. But she seemed more cooperative this time, actually running with them toward the forest to which Jondy had already escaped to with the injured Krit. Syl and Avery stood like two sentries, discarding used weapons only to use fresh ones to plow down the soldiers that tried to follow.
Soon they were all under the cover of forest and were quickly on their way to the van where Logan was waiting nervously.
Logan gathered Max up in his arms, she leaned into his warmth, taking comfort in his strong arms.
Avery jumped into the driver's seat, Zane and Jaxx got in beside her, as the rest of them crammed into the back. All its passengers safely inside, the black van sped off into the night, Syl hastily closing the rear doors, watching behind to see no one following.
"It's okay," Logan's voice was soothing, "It's all over now… We have you… You're safe." He brushed the hair from her face and wiped the tears away from her cheeks, softly kissing her on the forehead and hugging her close.
*****
Evan lay staring at the stars above him as his death loomed near. In Max he finally had a family, if only for a few weeks, and he died content, knowing she was safe.
----------------------------------------------------------------
author's note: this is the first time i have actually completed a story. please let me know what you thought of the ending, or the whole story in general.
chapter8: fated
"Report!" Renfro snapped as she stormed into her office. She was never in a good mood, let alone when she was awakened in the middle of the night.
The Major who had awoken her stood ready at her door. "We are under attack. There are perimeter breaches in Sectors B, L and S. All of which are along the forest perimeter. Troops have swarmed the area and are in the process of securing the forest edge. No intruder will get out of the forest and to the base."
Renfro sat at her desk, little comforted by the Major's confidence. She studied her computer screen on which she could see the entire layout of the base. Each of her soldiers were marked with a blue dot and she watched as they formed a line all along the forest edge.
"I want men at the research building…" Renfro said.
"But Ma'am," his voice carried a patronizing tone, "that's on the other side-" he cut his own sentence short as the computer screen indicated 2 new alarms were set off. Both in the research building.
"Fuck!" the major cursed as he stormed out, yelling new instructions into this two way radio.
Renfro sat and stared at the drama unfolding on her screens. Blue dots were moving all about the screen. A good two thirds of them were either watching the forest edge or scouring the forest itself.
Now, with the new orders, she could see most of the remaining third making their way toward the labs on the other side.
She watched as a huge gap developed in the middle. It only took a moment for her to figure it out.
"Idiots! They are going after X5-452."
Renfro pulled out her phone and used speed dial. She waited impatiently for two rings before someone picked up.
"Surveillance."
"Is there much movement in the research building?"
"We didn't see anything when the alarms went off."
"How is prisoner H-16?"
There was a moment's pause. "She's still lying on her bed. She's been like that ever since they put her in there."
*****
Logan found the camera that was trained on Max. His heart skipped a beat as he watched her sitting on her bed. Despite everything she must have went through she was still beautiful. If only he could somehow talk to her now. He wanted to run out of this stuffy van and hold her in his arms. Tell her it was all over now.
'I'm here Max… come to me.'
His thoughts seemed to prompt her to stand and walk to the door. Logan's eyes were glued to her as he watched her move. She seemed stiff and slow and slightly hunched over in pain, a far cry from her usual confident grace. He was taken by surprise when the screen he was watching blinked out and turned to snow.
"Damnit!" He was too intent on watching Max that he forgot to watch his systems to avoid virus detectors, and for that he was found and booted off the system.
"Logan? What's wrong?" Cam was the first to respond to his curse.
"I got booted off. I'm trying to get back in now." He typed furiously on his keyboard.
"Is our cover blown?" Syl's voice was full of concern, "We still have to get Max out…"
"No, no, the looping program was uploaded into their system, it should still be intact so long as they don't find it."
*****
Evan went through the building, a man with a mission, knocking unconscious anyone who stood between him and Max. He couldn't waste time explaining why he was inside instead of outside securing the base.
Soon enough, leaving a trail of motionless bodies behind him, he reached Max's room. Upon opening it, Max was standing waiting for him, the look in her eyes told him she was waiting for him. She looked tired, and she was hunched over, one arm protecting her stomach. It was obvious she had not yet fully healed from the day's torture. It didn't even seem that the drugs they had used had fully worn off as she still seemed a little dazed and her movements were sluggish.
But he could see the determination in her eyes. There was no mistaking that, though her body was weak, her mind was strong.
"Come on, let's go," he said as he took her arm and rest it over his shoulders, while putting a supporting arm around her back.
*****
Renfro grabbed her gun and ran out of her office, ordering whatever soldiers she came across to follow her to the cell block. None questioned her authority and walked briskly at her heels. By the time she reached the front doors she led a small army of fifty men. In the front entrance she gave her commands.
"Non lethal shots are preferred boys," she emphasized the word 'preferred', "I want them stopped, not killed. But if there is no other way, shoot to kill, those kids are better to us dead then rogue." They nodded and headed down the main hall, Renfro close behind.
*****
Krit and Jondy ran down the empty halls, only meeting three or four guards in total, which they easily disposed of. They knew Cam's plan would have made it quiet, but they never anticipated it would be this quiet. It could have just been that the plan was extremely well executed, but conditions were never this ideal.
Soon they ran across a soldier who lay sprawled unconscious on the ground.
"Are we running in circles?" Jondy asked.
Krit leaned down and turned the man over to see his face. "Never seen this man before. Something was going down here before we even got in." he said more to himself then anybody. This was not a good omen. "Logan, are you back in? What the hell was going on in here?"
"I don't know. I'm still off the system. I saw her in her cell last time I was on. Keep running that way. I'll be back on soon. Cam, Avery, where are you?"
"Zane and I are heading out." Cam replied.
"We're on our way." Avery answered. "Krit, you guys need help?"
"Not yet…" Krit sounded very unsure.
Finally Krit and Jondy reached the room Max was supposed to be held in only to find the door ajar, the room empty. Krit stepped in and took a quick look around, "Shit! She's not here!"
*****
Though Evan could have probably been at the perimeter fence by now, Max's injuries slowed them to a brisk walk even when she was fully leaning into him. But he would not leave her, even when he heard the footsteps of several men catching up from behind.
"There are too many of them," Max said, she sounded scared.
"Go," he said, trying to unwrap her arm from around his neck, but she clung fast.
"You can't take them all on your own, we have to hide.".
"There is no where to hide, you have to go."
"I won't leave you behind."
The footsteps were fast approaching and when the first few men rounded the corner at the far end of the corridor, they quickened their pace and yelled for them to halt. Evan could here another man as he yelled back to those who were following him. "It's XI5, he's helping the prisoner escape!"
"Please Maxie," he softened his tone, pleading with his azure eyes, "Please."
Max hesitated a moment, not wanting to lose him, but it was obvious he would not turn away from this fight. He was dogged to protect her and if she were to stay she would be even more of a hindrance to him. "Be close behind."
"I promise." And they turned their separate ways.
Evan walked slowly toward the sound of the approaching soldiers, gathering his energy for one final battle, fingering the trigger of his only gun.
Max walked as fast as she could, running her hand along the wall for support, praying to the blue lady that he would keep his promise.
*****
"What do you mean she's not there?" Logan's typing faltered for a moment, "I just saw her there! She was standing at the door…"
"I mean she's not here. H-16. It's open and she's not here. First a bunch of unconscious soldiers in the hallway and now Max is missing. This is not good."
"Maybe she knows we are here and is fighting her way out right now," Logan's voice was full of hope.
Krit wasn't so optimistic, "The locking mechanism is on the outside, and it's been opened cleanly. There is no way Max could have done this herself."
Cam's voice cut in, "Krit, Jondy, get out now. If she isn't there, there is nothing we can do."
"No! Wait! I can find her. Just give me time," Logan yelled, angered that they would give up on Max so easily.
"Time isn't a luxury here," Avery sounded annoyed.
Cam agreed, "Logan, this was a strike operation, timing was essential."
"So we just give up on her? She's your sister for fuck's sake."
"Jondy and Krit are family too." Avery bit back.
Syl tried to bring the civility back into the conversation. "They don't have time to search for her, Logan. They are putting themselves at risk."
He was so close to having her, and he wasn't about to lose her again.
"I can handle it." Jondy cut into the tense silence, her confidence was unmistakable. "Logan, just get back online and be my eyes." It was obvious she was as determined to get Max out of there as Logan was.
"I'm with Jondy, we can handle this." Krit backed his sister up.
*****
Evan easily took down the first five soldiers that approached him. When the others saw Evan and the bodies that surrounded him, they could think of nothing else to do but shoot.
The large hallway seemed anything but when the bullets started to fly. He shot off all but four of his rounds into the crowd, each shot deadly accurate, killing soldier after soldier, but the approaching wall of fatigues didn't seem to diminish.
The bullets whizzed all about him, one so close to his ear he felt it nick his cartilage. Evan jumped, rolled, and dodged but it was inevitable. A bullet tagged him in the leg and he could feel the blood soaking his pant leg. It hurt like hell, but the anguish only seemed to drive him harder. The more adrenaline that pumped through his veins the less he felt the pain.
Having no bullets he sprinted straight for them, ducking and dodging until he got within reach of the closest soldier. Evan kicked the gun out of his hand and using the same momentum, rammed his elbow into the man's face. Grabbing the body before it hit the ground he threw it into the crowd of men. The shooting ceased for a moment as they all jumped to the side to doge the body. The cramped quarters finally worked to Evan's advantage, as three men could not avoid their comrade's flying body.
Evan took the moment of ceasefire to attack. He ran straight into the middle of the crowd. It was dangerous but it also forced them to stop shooting, and Evan chances of survival increased exponentially when the guns were put away. But he wasn't out of the woods yet. The previous forty-four hours of training had worn him down, and his aching leg was bothering him but he prayed his muscles would be cooperative for this fight. By the looks of it there were only twenty men left standing.
Three men ran at him, the butts of their rifles ready to strike. He sensed their attack and quickly crouched low, tripping one up with a sweeping kick, winding another with a punch to the gut. However he was not quick enough to stop the third who struck him forcefully in the face with his rifle. Dazed for a split second it took a while for Evan to realize that the man raised his arms in preparation for another attack.
Just as the weapon was raised Evan pulled it together and stood as quickly as he could, adding all that momentum to an uppercut to the man's chin. The force was so great that the follow through drove the man's head into the ceiling.
There was no time to catch his breath before the next group was on him.
*****
Besides the clicking of Logan's keys, there was an unsettling silence on their coms. That is, before the sound of gunfire rang through.
Zane, Cam, Avery and Syl, only a minute away from the van, stopped in their tracks.
"What was that?" Zane asked.
"There is some serious gunfire in this building." Krit responded, his voice conveyed how concerned he was.
"Max…" Syl whispered it only to herself, but they all heard.
"Logan," Jondy said, "We need to know what is going on, and he need to know now!"
Jondy was stating the obvious and Logan didn't sound impressed, "Yeah, I know." His typing increased, "Almost…almost…Yes, I'm back in."
There was no time for congratulations. "Where is she?"
Logan skipped from camera to camera until he finally found her, relief loosed the grip of fear on his heart. "Thank God, she's alive."
"Lead us to her Logan," Jondy was sounding impatient.
"Turn around, take your…third left, she's running straight toward you, no one is following her. You need to get to her now, she looks hurt…"
"We're on it. Just keep an eye out for where those gunshots are coming from."
It took them only a moment to find her. "Max!" Jondy yelled down the hall. So relieved to see her sister, Jondy forgot where she was or who could have heard her.
Jondy ran to her sister's side and took her arm around her shoulders. "Jondy?" Max looked at her sister's face, a weak smile brushing her lips. She was tired, very tired.
"Do you have her?" Logan asked, "How is she?"
"She's fine Logan. What about the gunfire?"
"It's on the other side of the building…It's a huge group of soldiers…I can't see what they are doing…"
"Just as long as we are clear to leave."
"Same way you came in, everything's clear."
"Come on, this way," Krit said helping to support Max.
"Krit." Max leaned into them both, her eyes drooping with exhaustion.
"We're here Max, just hold on a little longer and we'll get you out of here."
"No… wait…" She straightened a bit, momentarily fighting their advance, before she keeled over again, her wounds were still aching. She turned and looked over her shoulder impeding their progress, "We have to go back…"
"What are you talking about Max?" Jondy asked, brushing Max's hair back with her fingers. It was strange to see Max so weak.
"We have to help him. He needs me…"
Jondy and Krit gave each other a knowing look. XI5-603. "No Max he doesn't need our help." Krit took the earpiece out of his ear and slipped it into Max's.
Logan saw what he had done and spoke, he tried to keep his voice calm, hiding his anxiety. "Max. I'm here…"
"Logan?" She eyes widened, "Logan." Max was so happy to hear Logan's voice she forgot about XI5-603 and followed wherever Krit and Jondy lead her.
*****
"Where are they?" a general called through to the surveillance room.
"The building is completely empty except for our men. No one has been in or out of the labs."
The general put his radio away and muttered to himself, "Shit, if this is a drill…"
Louder he addressed his men, "We need to sweep the building. You ten, come with me, the rest of you go to Labs C and D. Anyone you don't recognize, you shoot."
The men split down two different hallways.
*****
Cam and Zane, followed closely by Jaxx reached the van first.
"Avery, what is your e.t.a.?"
"Less than a minute. I can see the van from here."
Cam nodded, and got into the van, looking over Logan's shoulder at Jondy and Krit as they helped Max out of the facility. "Where are they?"
"Second floor. They should be clear soon."
Krit, who had taken back his com from Max spoke, "We're well on our way out now…"
"How is activity by the labs?"
A quick command and the screen changed, showing soldiers flooding the research building.
"We can't risk them deactivating the bombs. Set them off."
*****
In the surveillance rooms, the lights of the television screens reflected onto the soldier's faces. Just by chance a screen caught one man's eyes. It was a security guard walking casually through his building. He seemed strangely unaffected by all the alarms that were going off on the base.
"Guys, does this guy know…" he paused as the guard disappeared, and then reappeared at the edge of the screen and walked down the hall in the exact nonchalant matter he had done before.
"What the…oh fuck, the cameras have been looping."
It didn't take long for the three men to scour their database, find the virus and dispose of it.
When they got their cameras back online the empty halls of the research building magically filled with soldiers.
"Holy shit! There are heavy explosives in the labs!"
"Fuck!" one called out as he switched to the camera in the hall that lead to the main DNA lab. Sure enough a group of soldiers were fast approaching the lab. He tried to reach the General who led them, "General! General! Turn back! Evacuate immediately!"
But his warning came to late. The explosion poured out of the lab, a fiery tsunami that the soldiers had no hope of escaping.
All they could do was watch as the flames engulfed their comrades, and just as quickly the screen blinked out and became static.
There was a moment of silence for the loss but they did not dare mourn for long.
*****
Renfro watched XI5-603 systematically take down all the men she had gathered. He kicked a man in the gut and when the man bent over, XI5 used his back as a spring board to leap at another man and kick him in the face, snapping his neck around.
Renfro's feet were glued to the ground despite the impending danger.
It was beautiful. It was watching 80 years of research and 21 years of training liquefied into a few minutes of fury. She was almost happy until she realized she was the only one left standing, and that the transgenic super soldier that she had taken special interest in, was now turning his attention on her.
Biting the hand that feeds him…
She had grossly underestimated him. She knew those kids were good, but she thought fifty fully armed men could have handled one. What sad circumstances it was, that she finally got to see XI5-603 reach his full potential.
Renfro pulled out her phone and speed dialed a number, but before she could get the phone to her ear, it was shot out of her hand. Dropping her hand to her side she looked at XI5, standing her ground. There was no use in running.
Evan held the gun aimed straight at her head. He had saved four bullets just for her. His breathing was heavy and his shoulders rose and fell with every intake of breath. The wound in his leg was still bleeding profusely and he was favoring the leg as he walked toward her.
"I want you to leave the X5 alone."
"I can't do that." Renfro shook her head, "Have you been listening to her lies, 603?"
Evan ran at her and used his forearm to pin her to the wall. "No." he pressed her hard and she winced momentarily at the pain. His face only inches from hers, he bared his teeth menacingly, "You were the one with all the lies. I read my files Renfro, I know about my past. I wasn't alone."
"Don't kid yourself. You were always alone. You were trained to never need anybody but yourself to rely on."
"You've kept me from my family long enough."
"Is that what she told you?" Renfro shook her head in pity, "Did she offer you a family? I told you to stay away from her, she would only confuse you."
"I've never thought clearer in my life!" Evan was filled with rage, he saw nothing but her smug face and wanted so much to grab her neck and choke off her air supply. A quick death was too good for her.
"Come now 603, don't you realize she is just using you to get out of here? What family can she offer you out there? We are your family, the X5 abandoned you."
"They didn't even know I existed because of you! I want you to forget about the X5s and me."
"I'm sorry but I just can't do that."
He was so filled with rage he didn't even notice the familiar click of a safety release. Only when he felt the familiar sensation of hot metal penetrating his skin did Evan realize she had a gun.
Stumbling backward he fell on both his knees, he pressed his palm just under his ribcage and again felt warm liquid. He pulled his hand back and saw it was coated in crimson. More blood. Too much blood.
Faster then the human mind could register, Evan raised his own gun. Renfro had time to do nothing else but freeze as the bullet fired from the barrel, hit her in the corner of her eye and left through the back of her skull, finally coming to an abrupt stop in the wall behind her.
Like all the soldiers that lay before her now, her lifeless body crumpled in a heap.
Again he fired a bullet into the human shell that was Renfro, and a fourth. Soon he was firing an empty gun, the dull metal snap was the only sound to fill the halls save for his ragged breath.
For two deep breaths he stared at her, watching the red pool grow around her. Her face still held that icy expression that seemed strangely satisfied, as though she were happy it was one of her own that took her down. It made Evan feel sick.
Grunting at the throbbing in his stomach, he ripped his shirt and tied it around his torso, trying to apply pressure to his wound. He did the same for his leg. With the aid of the closest rifle, trying so hard to ignore the excruciating pain, he got onto his feet.
Looking briefly over his shoulder he saw the carnage he had done. The hall was awash with blood.
Evan turned his back on the scene, on this violent way of life, on Manticore and hobbled as fast as he could after Max.
He had a promise to keep.
*****
The scene on the closed circuit TV wasn't pretty. The hall was lined with motionless bodies. One of them belonging to Renfro. "Oh Jesus, Prison Block H. We need men there now!"
*****
Krit, Jondy and Max were already out of the building and were well on their way to the cover of forest when Max heard someone call her name.
"Max!"
She looked back over her shoulder and saw Evan struggling to catch up. It was evident that he was severely hurt, his clothing drenched in blood.
"We…We have to help him…" Again Max fought her siblings, trying to turn back and help him. She wouldn't leave him behind.
Krit looked back at who was following them and saw the limping figure. It was Zack. 'No,' he corrected himself, 'XI5-603.'
Jondy, too, was amazed. She knew it wasn't Zack but he looked so much like him that she almost found herself turning back to help him to safety.
"No, Max. We need to get you home."
"But he's hurt!" she sounded almost childish as she fought to free herself and help Evan, but in her weakened condition she was no match for her siblings.
*****
Evan stumbled out the doors and saw Max across the field. Two people were helping her run and he knew without having to think twice, that those were the X5. He saw more standing at the edge of the forest.
He called out Max's name just to let her know that he had kept his promise and was staying close behind.
*****
Cam and the X5's waited for them a step beyond the cover of trees. They all inhaled sharply when they saw the solitary figure that was following behind.
They all searched the man's face, trying to find some distinguishing scar, or imperfection to tell him apart from Zack. Any little thing that would make them feel better as they left him behind. They saw XI5-603 call out Max's name. And the sound of his voice sent shivers up their spines. Even his voice was exactly that of Zack…What else could they expect from Zack's genetic twin.
"Guys," Logan's voice rang in their ears. "There are soldiers in hot pursuit. They will be on you in less then a minute."
"Jondy," Cam spoke urgently, "you have to hurry."
"We're trying." Jondy replied then turned to Max, "Max, we need to go."
"What are you doing?!" she pleaded almost hysterically, not understanding why they refused to listen to her, "Please! He's hurt!"
*****
Evan tripped and fell to one knee, he could feel his wounds ripping anew. But he pushed it all out of his mind. He was almost free.
With much ache he got back onto his feet and called her name out once again.
*****
"Max!" The stranger with the familiar face yelled out once more, holding his hand out towards them. With that Max fought even harder.
Far behind them, out the doors of the building streamed soldier after soldier, the sound of their gunfire soon filled the air.
Startled Evan stumbled once more. It was getting harder and harder to get back up.
*****
Cam raced towards them, followed closely by the others. "Hurry!"
The other's pulled out their weapons and began shooting at the soldiers that were quickly gaining ground. Some fell, but there were just too many…
"No! He's hurt! They're gonna kill him!" Max's strength had not yet returned but it was out of sheer will power that she broke free from both Krit and Jondy. She set aside the pain, and ran for Evan.
Krit and Jondy started to run after her, but a freak bullet caught Krit in the hip, and Jondy stopped to help him.
"Aw, fuck!" Cam said, shaking his head. Max's stubbornness left him no choice. Cam stopped and, out from under his jacket, pulled out a P14-45. He didn't want to do this. It was like shooting at Zack. Maybe this XI5-603 thought like Zack as well. Maybe he could be easily swayed to join them on the outside. But could they take that chance. This person had undergone ten more years of training and indoctrination. Was there a point where one could not be converted? Zack was one of their best. If they could change this clone…
His hand shook as he aimed it at the clone and for the first time in his life, Cam hesitated.
*****
By now XI5-603's treachery was clear. Orders were given to take them all down.
One soldier, faster then the others, sprinted up ahead. Close enough, he dove to the ground and centered XI5-603 in his sights.
*****
Max ran toward him, as quickly as she could still clutching her wounds. "Evan!" she yelled his name. The whole world seemed to slow down. The bullets flying in both directions became lazy butterflies. He had kept his promise and came back to her.
As she closed in it was obvious that he was even worse off then he seemed. The strips of cloth that were tied around his ribs and leg were dripping with blood. He was wincing at the simple effort of walking. Seeing this, and knowing that he was injured saving her, Max's own pain faded away. It was nothing compared to what he voluntarily did for her.
*****
Evan's pace quickened to catch up to her. What was she doing running back? Didn't she see the soldiers behind him? It was dangerous for her. She had to turn back around, head back to safety…
*****
Only a few strides away Max saw Evan's eyes widen. His feet fumbled and he fell forward into her.
"Evan? Evan!" Not expecting it, and still weak, Max fell clutching him in her arms. With her hands on his back she could feel the warm wetness. She could feel his warm blood surge out onto her own chest from new wound right were his heart was. "No!" she screamed in his ear, desperately switching positions to cradle him in her arms. "Don't leave me!"
Blood dribbled out of the side of his mouth. He lifted his hand weakly, knowing he was about to die. "Go."
"Evan, no…"
"Please Maxie…" The life was quickly fading from his crystal blue eyes, "Please."
*****
Cam and Zane got to Max first and dragged her roughly away. They had no time to be gentle. But she seemed more cooperative this time, actually running with them toward the forest to which Jondy had already escaped to with the injured Krit. Syl and Avery stood like two sentries, discarding used weapons only to use fresh ones to plow down the soldiers that tried to follow.
Soon they were all under the cover of forest and were quickly on their way to the van where Logan was waiting nervously.
Logan gathered Max up in his arms, she leaned into his warmth, taking comfort in his strong arms.
Avery jumped into the driver's seat, Zane and Jaxx got in beside her, as the rest of them crammed into the back. All its passengers safely inside, the black van sped off into the night, Syl hastily closing the rear doors, watching behind to see no one following.
"It's okay," Logan's voice was soothing, "It's all over now… We have you… You're safe." He brushed the hair from her face and wiped the tears away from her cheeks, softly kissing her on the forehead and hugging her close.
*****
Evan lay staring at the stars above him as his death loomed near. In Max he finally had a family, if only for a few weeks, and he died content, knowing she was safe.
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author's note: this is the first time i have actually completed a story. please let me know what you thought of the ending, or the whole story in general.