Author's Notes: Takes place immediately after "The Air That I Breathe"...later, at the reception. This consists mostly of a flashback. I had to let you guys know how Max and Logan finally committed to each other right? And how they can all be so dog-oned happy. What about Manticore? Hehehe...Read and find out. The first song is the same as the last song, and it's by Sarah McLachlan off the "Toy Story 2" Soundtrack...It belongs to Disney and Randy Newman. The Dark Angel characters aren't mine either. They belong to James "I'm The Kind of the World" Cameron and Company. Please R&R. I'll try to get part three up by the end of the weekend. I already have this thing arced, beginning to end. Hehehe...that'll keep ya coming back for more. :) And now...on with our show...
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* When somebody loves me
Everything is beautiful
Every hour we spend together lives
Within my heart*
"To the newly weds!" Bling raised his glass in a simple, joyful, elegant toast to his friends. They smiled gratefully as their friends erupted into thunderous applause.
"About damn time!" Original Cindy said through her laughter.
Max and Logan smiled at their friends and exchanged a quick kiss. They had changed out of their wedding attire and into clothes that were slightly more casual. Logan was wearing a tailored black suit, light shirt, and matching silk tie. His new bride had taken her hair down, and was wearing a cream colored suit, and a shirt underneath of the same color and material as Logan's tie.
*And when she was sad
I was there to dry her tears
And when she was happy
So was I
When she loved me*
Finally breaking apart, ending their kiss, max and Logan stood before their guests as he addressed them. "Thank you all so much for sharing this special evening with us. There's no one we'd rather spend it with."
"Except just each other," Kendra said, piping up. Everyone laughed.
Max smiled at her friend, "Okay everybody, let's eat."
Bling raised an eyebrow, "Who cooked?"
Max folded her arms across her chest in mock annoyance, "You trying to say something bad 'bout my cookin' boy?"
Bling grinned, wisely staying silent.
Logan chuckled and squeezed Max's hand. "Not to fear; I did the cooking."
Herbal cleared his throat, "Not to disrespect ya man, but I don't care who did the cooking. I just want to eat it. Had me a busy day t'day at the office."
Sketchy, Herbal, Cindy, and Max glared at Normal, who appeared typically indifferent. He shrugged, folding his arms across his chest and avoiding their eyes, "It's not my fault half the city had packages they wanted delivered."
Cindy rolled her eyes and muttered, "All day, all I heard was 'bip freakin' bip.'" Sketchy and Herbal chuckled and gave each other low fives behind her back.
"If you please, there's a buffet table in the dining room," Logan said, pointing. The table was laid out with the most elaborate spread many of them had ever seen.
"You cooked *all that?*" Kendra asked, stupefied.
Max shook her head, "He got out the tried and true Cale family recipes and hired chefs to make 'em." Logan shot her a look that said, "Thanks for blowing my secret." She smiled and kissed his cheek before following Cindy and Kendra towards the dining room.
*Through the summer and the fall
We had each other that was all
Just she and I together
Like it was meant to be*
As their friends piled their plates high with the lavish food, Logan came up behind his new bride and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck. She brought one arms up to cradle his head while resting the other atop one of his arms, entwining their fingers. "Enjoying the evening Mrs. Cale?" he asked, a hint of mischief in his voice,
She smiled and turned her head to lightly kiss his temple. "Yes, Mr. Cale, thank you."
"Thank *you*," he whispered. "You've no idea how happy you made me tonight when you spoke those vows."
"I never thought it could be this perfect," Max whispered, giving Logan butterfly kisses on the cheek.
*And when she was lonely
I was there to comfort her
And I knew that she loved me*
"Hey Boo!" Original Cindy called from the end of the buffet table. "Are you gonna eat or are you two gonna work on the foreplay all night?"
Max rolled her eyes and reluctantly pulled out of Logan's arms, grabbing two plates and joining Kendra and Cindy at the table. Logan watched her every move, unable to control the smile on his face. Bling handed him another glass of champagne, "You're a lucky man, my friend."
Logan sipped his champagne, "I really am." He knew he was, especially since he knew how close they had come to nearly losing it all.
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~~18 Months Earlier, Gillette, Wyoming~~
Logan wondered if he was dying. He felt like he was. Every inch of his skin was afire with pain. Blood seeped out of various wounds, mixing with the sweat that wouldn't stop coming. He was strapped to a chair, being pumped full of various nefarious drugs. He had been beaten, drugged, and tortured for days. Or minutes. Or hours. Logan couldn't remember any more. It had taken Lydecker quite a while, and despite numerous deterrents, and Logan's best efforts, the man had tracked down Eyes Only.
Now Lydecker was using him to get to max and the other X-5's. Hence the brutality and pain. As far as Logan could tell, he hadn't broken, he hadn't betrayed them, betrayed her. He might have five years ago, but for some reason, he suddenly had a higher pain tolerance. It might have had something to do with everything he had been through with his legs-the surgery, the therapy, the setbacks. However, he was nearly certain that he could thank max and the large amount of her blood that was coursing through his system.
He knew Max would be planning an attack. She might even be considering a trade, But Logan knew, for the same reasons he had let her go to Canada with Zach all those years ago, that he would rather die than have Max back in Lydecker's hell. He loved her too much to condemn her.
Logan screamed in pain as Lydecker broke one of his fingers. "Tell me where she is, Eyes Only, and this will all be over."
"Go to hell," Logan hissed, spitting bloody saliva in Lydecker's face, trying not to black out from the pain.
Lydecker grabbed Logan's broken finger and twisted it, "Is she worth all this? All this pain? What is she to you?"
Logan squeezed his eyes shut against the waves of dizziness that were crashing over him. "Funny, I was just going to ask you the same questions."
Lydecker backhanded him and turned to a guard, "Break another every half hour until he talks."
Logan's head fell against the chair. "Stay away Max, please," he whispered before losing consciousness.
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"You're not going in there!"
"Like Hell I'm not!"
Zach and Max shot dagger-filled glares at each other. They had been having this fight for three days. First, when she had sent out another Eyes Only hack to summon the other X-5's, praying that Lydecker was no longer monitoring them now that he had Logan. Zach had fought her again when he had discovered where she wanted their sibs to go. Now, he was fighting her again, as he heard her plan.
"I'm not going to let you turn yourself over to the slaughter!"
"Zach, it's the only way I can be sure Logan gets released."
"Leave him. He's not worth it."
"He is to me, damn you!" Max hollered, her eyes flashing like fire. "Look, Zach, I am doing this with or without you." She turned to the other X-5's. "The same goes for you guys. I know you usually think Zach's way is the best way. Most of the time, I don't entirely disagree. Nevertheless, this operation needs to be done my way. No questions. No challenges." She took a deep, steadying breath. "So, are you in, or are you out?"
One by one, her sibs-Tinga, Jace, Jondy, Zane, Johnny and Brin, and several others-stood up. Lydecker had "rehabilitated" Brin true to his word, but with Logan's help, Max had found her and sent her off to the others for de-programming. She smiled with gratitude. Looking hopefully at Zach, her face fell when she saw him look away. Max sighed.
"Okay, let's go over the plans again." She pointed to the Manticore blueprints Logan had obtained shortly before his abduction. "Lydecker probably had Logan here, where he had Zach and Brin. Jondy and Brin, after I go in, wait ten minutes, and then take your teams in through marks Alpha and Delta. Brin, you, Tinga and Johnny will find Logan, eliminate the guards, and get him out through egress Beta or Epsilon. Jondy, take Jace, Zane, and the others to lay charges at points Kappa, Phi, and Omega. Then egress through Gamma and Theta. I will take care of Lydecker. Once everyone is clear, detonate the charges, no matter where you think I am."
Solemnly, her sibs nodded. A few took sidelong glances at Zach, hoping the man who had led hem for so long would swallow this pride and join in what they hoped was their final campaign. But he stood straight and tall, arms crossed, showing no signs of wavering.
"Zach," Max said sadly. "In or out?"
He did not even turn to look at her.
Hiding her tears Max sighed and picked up her cellular phone. She waited for the call to go through and said, "Lemme talk to Lydecker. I've got a proposition for him."
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"Get up Cale! We're going for a little walk."
Logan felt himself being unstrapped. Roughly, the IV was removed from his hand and he was forced to his feet. Too weak to stand on his own, Logan felt his legs go out from underneath him. They guards dragged him down the hallway. Through half closed eyes, Logan saw doors and lights flash by him in a blur. Then he was thrown to the floor, where he lay for sometime, felling the cool cement soothe his painful skin. To his shock, he felt hands on him, soft, gentle hands. Struggling to open his eyes, Logan blinked to bring them into focus. "M-Max?" he rasped through parched lips. "H-how...?"
She smiled and placed a finger on his lips, "Shh, don't talk. Just rest. You're getting out of here. Close your eyes for me, Logan, please." He obeyed and she whirled around, facing Lydecker in a fury. She asked through her unabashed tears, "What did you do to him?"
Logan could not hear Lydecker's answer. Then, his mind snapped into nearly complete alertness. Lydecker! He began to panic. Logan struggled to sit up. "No Max, don't! Please!" He knew she was trading herself for him.
"Take him away," Lydecker commanded.
"No," Max cried. "Just a few more minutes, please!"
"Restrain her, " Lydecker snapped, his disgust audible.
"Max!" Logan screamed as she was dragged away.
She called desperately after him, "Logan! It'll be okay. You'll be okay." She wrenched free of the guards as she watched Logan be dragged away. He was screaming her name. She turned to Lydecker, "I'm not your prisoner."
Lydecker nodded, "You were never my prisoner, Max. None of you was."
"No," she replied bitterly. "We were experiments." Lydecker considered this as he ushered her down a hallway. She glanced at the clock; the mission had gone active.
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Logan heard gunfire and once again was thrown to the floor. He heard the sounds of scuffling and fighting and dragged himself to the nearest wall for safety. Minutes later, he felt a hand touch his face. His eyes, full of hope, flew open. "Max?" To his disappointment, he saw another woman. Unmistakably an X-5.
She seemed relieved he was alive. "Can you walk?" she asked.
He nodded but could not speak. All he could think of was that Max was once again in the jaws of Satan. He felt himself being hoisted to his feet and he forced himself to run along with the team that was, as far as he could tell, led by Brin. She had his arm draped over one of her shoulders. "What about Max?" he croaked.
Brin did not answer. Instead, she led the team down another hallway that was poorly lit. Fortunately, it was also poorly guarded. Before he knew it, Logan felt the cold northwest air hit his face.
He was free
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Meanwhile, on the other side of the compound, Jondy's team was laying explosive charges that would hopefully lay waste to Manticore and free them all from their lives on the run. They would be able to live free of fear, of persecution, of constantly looking over their shoulders. They would finally be able to settle down, achieve some greater sense of normalcy. As she laid another charge, Jondy could not help but think of Max and Logan. They made each other happy, even if they couldn't admit it.
"Jondy!" she heard Tinga call. "We've got company. Two dozen commandos headed our way."
Laying her last charge, Jondy raced to assemble her group. They got into formation, taking fighting stances and preparing their weapons. "Take 'em out!" she commanded. As a unit, they circled and were circled by the commandos. Each one was sizing up their opponents, developing tactical strategies, using logic, just as Lydecker had taught them to do. With a quick nod of her head, Jondy and her siblings leapt into the air, vaulting over the commando's heads, taking them by surprise. They used that element of surprise to take out half a dozen with the first volley of machine gun fire. Then, each took on three or four in hand-to-hand combat. X-5's were not easily matched, but Lydecker's soldiers provided an adequate challenge for them.
Suddenly, someone landed in the midst of their group. Tinga smiled when she saw who it was. "About damn time," she said.
Zach shrugged and shot two commandos, "I figured you guys could sue a little help."
With Zach's added manpower, they were able to finish off the opposing squad in a matter of minutes. Several X-5's were beaten and bruised, but they were victorious. Jondy rounded up her troops, "All right, let's go, egress Theta. Head for the rendezvous point. Take out anyone who comes across your path."
They started down the hallway, but Zach went in the opposite direction. "Zach!" Tinga called after him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Helping Max!" he called back as he sprinted away, taking several weapons and rounds of ammunition off the bodies of the dead commandos. "Now go!"
Tinga exchanged a look with Jondy before heading for the rendezvous point.
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Lydecker had brought Max up on the roof of Manticore. To Max's surprise, they were admiring the view, the scenic and surprisingly pristine wilderness that shrouded Manticore from the prying eyes of the outside world. Lydecker took a deep breath, "Smell that Max? What do you smell?"
Max sniffed, "Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon Monoxide and Dioxide, animal feces, decaying plants, and the fumes from your vehicles." Gotta love the great out doors, she thought wryly.
Lydecker shook his head, "That's not Mother Nature and my trucks you're smelling. It's fear and weakness and human decay. It's why you and your siblings were created."
Max rolled her eyes, "Is that why you brought me up here? To make me feel better about the hell you put us all through every day of our lives for the last twenty some odd years?" She shook her head, "Cuz if it is, I'd rather skip the pep talk and get down to business. What are you going to do to me?"
Lydecker grinned, "You were always one of my favorites Max. You had such potential." He looked her up and down critically. "It's a shame you've wasted it on weakness and emotions."
She folded her arms, "Call me crazy. I like having friends."
Lydecker shook his head, "We can change that." He paused. "You didn't really think I was going to let Cale go free, now did you? Max, now, I taught you better than that."
Stoically, Max stared him down, "No Donald I didn't. That's why I brought back up." She grinned with delight at the look of shock on his face as gunfire sounded from below.
He peered over the edge of the roof. On the ground, he saw five figures darting across the south lawn towards the border. Behind them, to his dismay, Lydecker found a trail of the dead and dying bodies of his men. He whirled to face Max, "What the hell is going on?"
"I brought some family with me," Max said smugly. "They're all here Donald. They were right under your nose and you were too busy gloating to notice." She frowned. "Looks like you have some weakness of your own there, *sir*."
Lydecker's eyes bulged as the grim reality set in. he immediately pulled out his walkie-talkie and frantically began summoning various members of his crew. To his abject dismay, he discovered nearly half of his force had been taken out. Angrily throwing the hand held radio to the rooftop, he with drew his gun and leveled it at Max. "Well, Max, it looks like it's come to this."
She shrugged, "Look's that way. Don't worry, Donald, I'll make it quick. I've fought bigger men than you." Without any more thought, without any more words, Max attacked with all the fury and anger of the last twenty plus years of her life. With the skill he had taught her, Max fought Lydecker hand to hand, calling upon all her training. He was a surprisingly adequate opponent, given his lengthy military history.
The fight was long and tiring, and to Max's initial shock, she and Lydecker took turns gaining the upper hand. Once, he had her pinned to the ground, leveling the gun squarely at her face. They struggled for several minutes before Max got enough momentum to swing her legs up and hit him in the back of the head. He tumbled off her and he leapt to her feet, wiping away the blood and sweat from her eyes. With her speed and agility, she was able to traverse the roof in mere seconds, keeping him on his toes as to where she was. She finally disoriented him and snuck up behind him. Grabbing him by the throat, she slowly applied pressure to his larynx, cutting off his air supply.
"Goodbye *Dad*," she said, her voice full of anger and hate. "Thanks for everything." His eyes closed and she dropped him to the roof deck.
Just then, she heard the sounds of clapping. Whirling around, still in a fighting stance, she saw Zach on the other side of the roof, leaning against an air conditioning vent. "Looks like you didn't need my help after all."
She did not reply.
He held out his hand, "Come on. Let's get out of here before Brin and Jondy blow this place to bits."
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"Max!" Logan screamed. "We've got to wait for her."
"There's no more time," Zane snapped.
"Zane!" Brin yelled. "Take it easy man, he loves her."
Johnny glanced at his watch, "We gotta do it now, before Lydecker's goons can track us down."
Tinga nodded, "We have to. Jondy, there's no more time."
"No!" Logan pleaded. "Just give her a little more time."
Brin and Jondy exchanged glances. "Zach's in there too," Brin murmured.
Jondy sadly closed her eyes, said a silent prayer, and reached for the trigger.
Logan wept.
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Max and Zach raced through the building, avoiding what was left of Lydecker's men. The Manticore compound was a labyrinth and even with their genetically enhanced super powers, Max and Zach still found they were getting lost.
"Which way?" Max asked as they came to another dead end.
Zach paused.
"Zach, we're running out of time!" Max cried. She begged silently that they would find a way out. She hadn't come this far to lose it all now. Especially not when Logan was right outside the gates waiting for her.
"I know!" Zach replied.
Then, they heard a sound that actually made their hearts skip a beat.
Over the PA, came Lydecker's voice. "Maaaaaaaaaaax? Where are you? I'm coming to find you."
"Shit." Zach said. Then he grabbed her hand and they raced back the way they had come.
Max began to pray.
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"I'm sorry," Jondy whispered, and could not bring herself to look at Logan.
She took one last look at her sibs, and pressed the trigger. As they watched in sadness and glee, they watched a series of chain reaction explosions thunder through out Manticore. As each X-5 looked on, the place that they had considered hell all their lives went up in flame.
Logan stared emptily, tears silently running down his face.
Brin reach out and put a hand on his shoulder.
He would not turn to face her.
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Logan had no recollection of the next twenty-four hours. He did not remember driving back to Seattle with Brin, Tinga and Jondy. He did not remember entering the penthouse, or smashing all his breakable belongings in a fit of rage. He did not remember threatening to kill Bling for taking him to the hospital, or ignoring the doctor who examined him. He did not remember releasing himself from the hospital. Nor did he remember coming back to the penthouse and taking a shower so hot his skin was bright red. He did not remember putting his Sibelius CD into the entertainment center and opening a bottle of Scotch. All he remembered was the pain.
Max was gone.
According to all the reports he had seen, Manticore had been reduced to rubble. Among the ashes, they had found destroyed computers and paper records, many bodies, most of who were too charred to be identified.
Logan sat at his computer and turned it on. "This is a Streaming Freedom Video. Do not attempt to adjust your set, this cable hack is being sent across the country. Eyes Only cannot be bought or threatened, beaten, tortured or killed. This hack will terminate in sixty seconds. The explosion that destroyed Manticore Technologies also took the lives of two very special people. One was strong and courageous. The other was beautiful and kind. They will be missed. Especially the one I loved. Peace. Out." He ended the hack before his voice broke and took another swig of Scotch.
He nearly fell out of his chair when he heard clapping coming from behind him. He swiveled in his chair and his eyes bulged as he saw Max standing in his doorway, looking worn, tired, and beautifully alive.
She smiled tiredly, "Reports of my death have been highly exaggerated."
He stood slowly and walked toward her, "Shut up."
She frowned, "Excuse me?"
Instead of replying, Logan walked to Max and firmly pressed a kiss against her lips, taking her breath away. Too tired to struggle, to shocked to consider the possibility of struggle, Max wrapped her arms around Logan, burying one hand deep in his damp hair. Abruptly, Logan pulled away and they were gasping for breath. A strangled sob escaped his lips and he dropped to his knees, burying his face in her stomach. She kneaded her hands through his hair and bent over him, rubbing her hands up and down his back and she spoke soothing gibberish to him. She his side and kissed him again.
Logan swept her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, placing her gently on to the bed and looking at her as though she was something to be worshipped. She wrapped herself around him and whispered, "Make love to me." And he did. Happily and whole-heartedly.
Later, when they lay tangled in each other's embrace, Max's head resting on Logan's chest as she listened to his heart beat, Logan's hands gently caressing her bare neck and back, he whispered, "I thought you were dead."
"We almost were," she confessed. "I didn't kill Lydecker like I thought and he tried to hunt us down. Plus, Zach kept getting lost." She chuckled, "He wouldn't pull over and ask for directions."
Logan chuckled as well, the laughter resonating deep inside his chest. "How did you finally escape?"
She grinned and looked up at him. "The same way we did the first time. The same way I did when I met you."
He smiled. "Out the-"
"Window." They said in unison.
"Never again," he whispered.
"Never again what, love?" she asked, tracing abstract patterns on his chest.
"Don't even leave me again," he kissed the soft crown of her hair.
Max slid up his body so that their heads were resting on the same level. She nuzzled his face, whispering in his ear, "Never again."
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"Penny for your thoughts?" Max asked, pulling Logan from his reverie. She handed him a plate full of food and they went and sat on a loveseat. Around them, their guest migled. It made Max and Logan laugh to see Herbal and Sketchy talking shop with Johhny and Zane while Kendra talked to Brin and Jace about the first time she banged the gong, and Original Cindy explained to Tinga and Jondy the benefits of being a lesbian. Even Zach, who had walked to bride down the aisle and given her away, appeared to be having a good time as he tried to save Bling from a conversation with Normal.
He set their plates down on the coffee table and took her hand, "They're not worth that much. I was just thinking."
She smiled, reaching out and stealing a piece of shrimp from his plate, "You better have been thinking about me."
He grinned, "Always, love, always."
*When somebody loved you
Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together
Lives within my heart
When she loved me*
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Well? Did you like how I got rid of Manticore? Isn't this lovely shipperish fluff? More to follow, I promise.
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* When somebody loves me
Everything is beautiful
Every hour we spend together lives
Within my heart*
"To the newly weds!" Bling raised his glass in a simple, joyful, elegant toast to his friends. They smiled gratefully as their friends erupted into thunderous applause.
"About damn time!" Original Cindy said through her laughter.
Max and Logan smiled at their friends and exchanged a quick kiss. They had changed out of their wedding attire and into clothes that were slightly more casual. Logan was wearing a tailored black suit, light shirt, and matching silk tie. His new bride had taken her hair down, and was wearing a cream colored suit, and a shirt underneath of the same color and material as Logan's tie.
*And when she was sad
I was there to dry her tears
And when she was happy
So was I
When she loved me*
Finally breaking apart, ending their kiss, max and Logan stood before their guests as he addressed them. "Thank you all so much for sharing this special evening with us. There's no one we'd rather spend it with."
"Except just each other," Kendra said, piping up. Everyone laughed.
Max smiled at her friend, "Okay everybody, let's eat."
Bling raised an eyebrow, "Who cooked?"
Max folded her arms across her chest in mock annoyance, "You trying to say something bad 'bout my cookin' boy?"
Bling grinned, wisely staying silent.
Logan chuckled and squeezed Max's hand. "Not to fear; I did the cooking."
Herbal cleared his throat, "Not to disrespect ya man, but I don't care who did the cooking. I just want to eat it. Had me a busy day t'day at the office."
Sketchy, Herbal, Cindy, and Max glared at Normal, who appeared typically indifferent. He shrugged, folding his arms across his chest and avoiding their eyes, "It's not my fault half the city had packages they wanted delivered."
Cindy rolled her eyes and muttered, "All day, all I heard was 'bip freakin' bip.'" Sketchy and Herbal chuckled and gave each other low fives behind her back.
"If you please, there's a buffet table in the dining room," Logan said, pointing. The table was laid out with the most elaborate spread many of them had ever seen.
"You cooked *all that?*" Kendra asked, stupefied.
Max shook her head, "He got out the tried and true Cale family recipes and hired chefs to make 'em." Logan shot her a look that said, "Thanks for blowing my secret." She smiled and kissed his cheek before following Cindy and Kendra towards the dining room.
*Through the summer and the fall
We had each other that was all
Just she and I together
Like it was meant to be*
As their friends piled their plates high with the lavish food, Logan came up behind his new bride and wrapped his arms around her waist, nuzzling her neck. She brought one arms up to cradle his head while resting the other atop one of his arms, entwining their fingers. "Enjoying the evening Mrs. Cale?" he asked, a hint of mischief in his voice,
She smiled and turned her head to lightly kiss his temple. "Yes, Mr. Cale, thank you."
"Thank *you*," he whispered. "You've no idea how happy you made me tonight when you spoke those vows."
"I never thought it could be this perfect," Max whispered, giving Logan butterfly kisses on the cheek.
*And when she was lonely
I was there to comfort her
And I knew that she loved me*
"Hey Boo!" Original Cindy called from the end of the buffet table. "Are you gonna eat or are you two gonna work on the foreplay all night?"
Max rolled her eyes and reluctantly pulled out of Logan's arms, grabbing two plates and joining Kendra and Cindy at the table. Logan watched her every move, unable to control the smile on his face. Bling handed him another glass of champagne, "You're a lucky man, my friend."
Logan sipped his champagne, "I really am." He knew he was, especially since he knew how close they had come to nearly losing it all.
******************************
~~18 Months Earlier, Gillette, Wyoming~~
Logan wondered if he was dying. He felt like he was. Every inch of his skin was afire with pain. Blood seeped out of various wounds, mixing with the sweat that wouldn't stop coming. He was strapped to a chair, being pumped full of various nefarious drugs. He had been beaten, drugged, and tortured for days. Or minutes. Or hours. Logan couldn't remember any more. It had taken Lydecker quite a while, and despite numerous deterrents, and Logan's best efforts, the man had tracked down Eyes Only.
Now Lydecker was using him to get to max and the other X-5's. Hence the brutality and pain. As far as Logan could tell, he hadn't broken, he hadn't betrayed them, betrayed her. He might have five years ago, but for some reason, he suddenly had a higher pain tolerance. It might have had something to do with everything he had been through with his legs-the surgery, the therapy, the setbacks. However, he was nearly certain that he could thank max and the large amount of her blood that was coursing through his system.
He knew Max would be planning an attack. She might even be considering a trade, But Logan knew, for the same reasons he had let her go to Canada with Zach all those years ago, that he would rather die than have Max back in Lydecker's hell. He loved her too much to condemn her.
Logan screamed in pain as Lydecker broke one of his fingers. "Tell me where she is, Eyes Only, and this will all be over."
"Go to hell," Logan hissed, spitting bloody saliva in Lydecker's face, trying not to black out from the pain.
Lydecker grabbed Logan's broken finger and twisted it, "Is she worth all this? All this pain? What is she to you?"
Logan squeezed his eyes shut against the waves of dizziness that were crashing over him. "Funny, I was just going to ask you the same questions."
Lydecker backhanded him and turned to a guard, "Break another every half hour until he talks."
Logan's head fell against the chair. "Stay away Max, please," he whispered before losing consciousness.
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"You're not going in there!"
"Like Hell I'm not!"
Zach and Max shot dagger-filled glares at each other. They had been having this fight for three days. First, when she had sent out another Eyes Only hack to summon the other X-5's, praying that Lydecker was no longer monitoring them now that he had Logan. Zach had fought her again when he had discovered where she wanted their sibs to go. Now, he was fighting her again, as he heard her plan.
"I'm not going to let you turn yourself over to the slaughter!"
"Zach, it's the only way I can be sure Logan gets released."
"Leave him. He's not worth it."
"He is to me, damn you!" Max hollered, her eyes flashing like fire. "Look, Zach, I am doing this with or without you." She turned to the other X-5's. "The same goes for you guys. I know you usually think Zach's way is the best way. Most of the time, I don't entirely disagree. Nevertheless, this operation needs to be done my way. No questions. No challenges." She took a deep, steadying breath. "So, are you in, or are you out?"
One by one, her sibs-Tinga, Jace, Jondy, Zane, Johnny and Brin, and several others-stood up. Lydecker had "rehabilitated" Brin true to his word, but with Logan's help, Max had found her and sent her off to the others for de-programming. She smiled with gratitude. Looking hopefully at Zach, her face fell when she saw him look away. Max sighed.
"Okay, let's go over the plans again." She pointed to the Manticore blueprints Logan had obtained shortly before his abduction. "Lydecker probably had Logan here, where he had Zach and Brin. Jondy and Brin, after I go in, wait ten minutes, and then take your teams in through marks Alpha and Delta. Brin, you, Tinga and Johnny will find Logan, eliminate the guards, and get him out through egress Beta or Epsilon. Jondy, take Jace, Zane, and the others to lay charges at points Kappa, Phi, and Omega. Then egress through Gamma and Theta. I will take care of Lydecker. Once everyone is clear, detonate the charges, no matter where you think I am."
Solemnly, her sibs nodded. A few took sidelong glances at Zach, hoping the man who had led hem for so long would swallow this pride and join in what they hoped was their final campaign. But he stood straight and tall, arms crossed, showing no signs of wavering.
"Zach," Max said sadly. "In or out?"
He did not even turn to look at her.
Hiding her tears Max sighed and picked up her cellular phone. She waited for the call to go through and said, "Lemme talk to Lydecker. I've got a proposition for him."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Get up Cale! We're going for a little walk."
Logan felt himself being unstrapped. Roughly, the IV was removed from his hand and he was forced to his feet. Too weak to stand on his own, Logan felt his legs go out from underneath him. They guards dragged him down the hallway. Through half closed eyes, Logan saw doors and lights flash by him in a blur. Then he was thrown to the floor, where he lay for sometime, felling the cool cement soothe his painful skin. To his shock, he felt hands on him, soft, gentle hands. Struggling to open his eyes, Logan blinked to bring them into focus. "M-Max?" he rasped through parched lips. "H-how...?"
She smiled and placed a finger on his lips, "Shh, don't talk. Just rest. You're getting out of here. Close your eyes for me, Logan, please." He obeyed and she whirled around, facing Lydecker in a fury. She asked through her unabashed tears, "What did you do to him?"
Logan could not hear Lydecker's answer. Then, his mind snapped into nearly complete alertness. Lydecker! He began to panic. Logan struggled to sit up. "No Max, don't! Please!" He knew she was trading herself for him.
"Take him away," Lydecker commanded.
"No," Max cried. "Just a few more minutes, please!"
"Restrain her, " Lydecker snapped, his disgust audible.
"Max!" Logan screamed as she was dragged away.
She called desperately after him, "Logan! It'll be okay. You'll be okay." She wrenched free of the guards as she watched Logan be dragged away. He was screaming her name. She turned to Lydecker, "I'm not your prisoner."
Lydecker nodded, "You were never my prisoner, Max. None of you was."
"No," she replied bitterly. "We were experiments." Lydecker considered this as he ushered her down a hallway. She glanced at the clock; the mission had gone active.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Logan heard gunfire and once again was thrown to the floor. He heard the sounds of scuffling and fighting and dragged himself to the nearest wall for safety. Minutes later, he felt a hand touch his face. His eyes, full of hope, flew open. "Max?" To his disappointment, he saw another woman. Unmistakably an X-5.
She seemed relieved he was alive. "Can you walk?" she asked.
He nodded but could not speak. All he could think of was that Max was once again in the jaws of Satan. He felt himself being hoisted to his feet and he forced himself to run along with the team that was, as far as he could tell, led by Brin. She had his arm draped over one of her shoulders. "What about Max?" he croaked.
Brin did not answer. Instead, she led the team down another hallway that was poorly lit. Fortunately, it was also poorly guarded. Before he knew it, Logan felt the cold northwest air hit his face.
He was free
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, on the other side of the compound, Jondy's team was laying explosive charges that would hopefully lay waste to Manticore and free them all from their lives on the run. They would be able to live free of fear, of persecution, of constantly looking over their shoulders. They would finally be able to settle down, achieve some greater sense of normalcy. As she laid another charge, Jondy could not help but think of Max and Logan. They made each other happy, even if they couldn't admit it.
"Jondy!" she heard Tinga call. "We've got company. Two dozen commandos headed our way."
Laying her last charge, Jondy raced to assemble her group. They got into formation, taking fighting stances and preparing their weapons. "Take 'em out!" she commanded. As a unit, they circled and were circled by the commandos. Each one was sizing up their opponents, developing tactical strategies, using logic, just as Lydecker had taught them to do. With a quick nod of her head, Jondy and her siblings leapt into the air, vaulting over the commando's heads, taking them by surprise. They used that element of surprise to take out half a dozen with the first volley of machine gun fire. Then, each took on three or four in hand-to-hand combat. X-5's were not easily matched, but Lydecker's soldiers provided an adequate challenge for them.
Suddenly, someone landed in the midst of their group. Tinga smiled when she saw who it was. "About damn time," she said.
Zach shrugged and shot two commandos, "I figured you guys could sue a little help."
With Zach's added manpower, they were able to finish off the opposing squad in a matter of minutes. Several X-5's were beaten and bruised, but they were victorious. Jondy rounded up her troops, "All right, let's go, egress Theta. Head for the rendezvous point. Take out anyone who comes across your path."
They started down the hallway, but Zach went in the opposite direction. "Zach!" Tinga called after him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Helping Max!" he called back as he sprinted away, taking several weapons and rounds of ammunition off the bodies of the dead commandos. "Now go!"
Tinga exchanged a look with Jondy before heading for the rendezvous point.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lydecker had brought Max up on the roof of Manticore. To Max's surprise, they were admiring the view, the scenic and surprisingly pristine wilderness that shrouded Manticore from the prying eyes of the outside world. Lydecker took a deep breath, "Smell that Max? What do you smell?"
Max sniffed, "Oxygen, Nitrogen, Carbon Monoxide and Dioxide, animal feces, decaying plants, and the fumes from your vehicles." Gotta love the great out doors, she thought wryly.
Lydecker shook his head, "That's not Mother Nature and my trucks you're smelling. It's fear and weakness and human decay. It's why you and your siblings were created."
Max rolled her eyes, "Is that why you brought me up here? To make me feel better about the hell you put us all through every day of our lives for the last twenty some odd years?" She shook her head, "Cuz if it is, I'd rather skip the pep talk and get down to business. What are you going to do to me?"
Lydecker grinned, "You were always one of my favorites Max. You had such potential." He looked her up and down critically. "It's a shame you've wasted it on weakness and emotions."
She folded her arms, "Call me crazy. I like having friends."
Lydecker shook his head, "We can change that." He paused. "You didn't really think I was going to let Cale go free, now did you? Max, now, I taught you better than that."
Stoically, Max stared him down, "No Donald I didn't. That's why I brought back up." She grinned with delight at the look of shock on his face as gunfire sounded from below.
He peered over the edge of the roof. On the ground, he saw five figures darting across the south lawn towards the border. Behind them, to his dismay, Lydecker found a trail of the dead and dying bodies of his men. He whirled to face Max, "What the hell is going on?"
"I brought some family with me," Max said smugly. "They're all here Donald. They were right under your nose and you were too busy gloating to notice." She frowned. "Looks like you have some weakness of your own there, *sir*."
Lydecker's eyes bulged as the grim reality set in. he immediately pulled out his walkie-talkie and frantically began summoning various members of his crew. To his abject dismay, he discovered nearly half of his force had been taken out. Angrily throwing the hand held radio to the rooftop, he with drew his gun and leveled it at Max. "Well, Max, it looks like it's come to this."
She shrugged, "Look's that way. Don't worry, Donald, I'll make it quick. I've fought bigger men than you." Without any more thought, without any more words, Max attacked with all the fury and anger of the last twenty plus years of her life. With the skill he had taught her, Max fought Lydecker hand to hand, calling upon all her training. He was a surprisingly adequate opponent, given his lengthy military history.
The fight was long and tiring, and to Max's initial shock, she and Lydecker took turns gaining the upper hand. Once, he had her pinned to the ground, leveling the gun squarely at her face. They struggled for several minutes before Max got enough momentum to swing her legs up and hit him in the back of the head. He tumbled off her and he leapt to her feet, wiping away the blood and sweat from her eyes. With her speed and agility, she was able to traverse the roof in mere seconds, keeping him on his toes as to where she was. She finally disoriented him and snuck up behind him. Grabbing him by the throat, she slowly applied pressure to his larynx, cutting off his air supply.
"Goodbye *Dad*," she said, her voice full of anger and hate. "Thanks for everything." His eyes closed and she dropped him to the roof deck.
Just then, she heard the sounds of clapping. Whirling around, still in a fighting stance, she saw Zach on the other side of the roof, leaning against an air conditioning vent. "Looks like you didn't need my help after all."
She did not reply.
He held out his hand, "Come on. Let's get out of here before Brin and Jondy blow this place to bits."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Max!" Logan screamed. "We've got to wait for her."
"There's no more time," Zane snapped.
"Zane!" Brin yelled. "Take it easy man, he loves her."
Johnny glanced at his watch, "We gotta do it now, before Lydecker's goons can track us down."
Tinga nodded, "We have to. Jondy, there's no more time."
"No!" Logan pleaded. "Just give her a little more time."
Brin and Jondy exchanged glances. "Zach's in there too," Brin murmured.
Jondy sadly closed her eyes, said a silent prayer, and reached for the trigger.
Logan wept.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max and Zach raced through the building, avoiding what was left of Lydecker's men. The Manticore compound was a labyrinth and even with their genetically enhanced super powers, Max and Zach still found they were getting lost.
"Which way?" Max asked as they came to another dead end.
Zach paused.
"Zach, we're running out of time!" Max cried. She begged silently that they would find a way out. She hadn't come this far to lose it all now. Especially not when Logan was right outside the gates waiting for her.
"I know!" Zach replied.
Then, they heard a sound that actually made their hearts skip a beat.
Over the PA, came Lydecker's voice. "Maaaaaaaaaaax? Where are you? I'm coming to find you."
"Shit." Zach said. Then he grabbed her hand and they raced back the way they had come.
Max began to pray.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'm sorry," Jondy whispered, and could not bring herself to look at Logan.
She took one last look at her sibs, and pressed the trigger. As they watched in sadness and glee, they watched a series of chain reaction explosions thunder through out Manticore. As each X-5 looked on, the place that they had considered hell all their lives went up in flame.
Logan stared emptily, tears silently running down his face.
Brin reach out and put a hand on his shoulder.
He would not turn to face her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Logan had no recollection of the next twenty-four hours. He did not remember driving back to Seattle with Brin, Tinga and Jondy. He did not remember entering the penthouse, or smashing all his breakable belongings in a fit of rage. He did not remember threatening to kill Bling for taking him to the hospital, or ignoring the doctor who examined him. He did not remember releasing himself from the hospital. Nor did he remember coming back to the penthouse and taking a shower so hot his skin was bright red. He did not remember putting his Sibelius CD into the entertainment center and opening a bottle of Scotch. All he remembered was the pain.
Max was gone.
According to all the reports he had seen, Manticore had been reduced to rubble. Among the ashes, they had found destroyed computers and paper records, many bodies, most of who were too charred to be identified.
Logan sat at his computer and turned it on. "This is a Streaming Freedom Video. Do not attempt to adjust your set, this cable hack is being sent across the country. Eyes Only cannot be bought or threatened, beaten, tortured or killed. This hack will terminate in sixty seconds. The explosion that destroyed Manticore Technologies also took the lives of two very special people. One was strong and courageous. The other was beautiful and kind. They will be missed. Especially the one I loved. Peace. Out." He ended the hack before his voice broke and took another swig of Scotch.
He nearly fell out of his chair when he heard clapping coming from behind him. He swiveled in his chair and his eyes bulged as he saw Max standing in his doorway, looking worn, tired, and beautifully alive.
She smiled tiredly, "Reports of my death have been highly exaggerated."
He stood slowly and walked toward her, "Shut up."
She frowned, "Excuse me?"
Instead of replying, Logan walked to Max and firmly pressed a kiss against her lips, taking her breath away. Too tired to struggle, to shocked to consider the possibility of struggle, Max wrapped her arms around Logan, burying one hand deep in his damp hair. Abruptly, Logan pulled away and they were gasping for breath. A strangled sob escaped his lips and he dropped to his knees, burying his face in her stomach. She kneaded her hands through his hair and bent over him, rubbing her hands up and down his back and she spoke soothing gibberish to him. She his side and kissed him again.
Logan swept her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom, placing her gently on to the bed and looking at her as though she was something to be worshipped. She wrapped herself around him and whispered, "Make love to me." And he did. Happily and whole-heartedly.
Later, when they lay tangled in each other's embrace, Max's head resting on Logan's chest as she listened to his heart beat, Logan's hands gently caressing her bare neck and back, he whispered, "I thought you were dead."
"We almost were," she confessed. "I didn't kill Lydecker like I thought and he tried to hunt us down. Plus, Zach kept getting lost." She chuckled, "He wouldn't pull over and ask for directions."
Logan chuckled as well, the laughter resonating deep inside his chest. "How did you finally escape?"
She grinned and looked up at him. "The same way we did the first time. The same way I did when I met you."
He smiled. "Out the-"
"Window." They said in unison.
"Never again," he whispered.
"Never again what, love?" she asked, tracing abstract patterns on his chest.
"Don't even leave me again," he kissed the soft crown of her hair.
Max slid up his body so that their heads were resting on the same level. She nuzzled his face, whispering in his ear, "Never again."
***********************************
"Penny for your thoughts?" Max asked, pulling Logan from his reverie. She handed him a plate full of food and they went and sat on a loveseat. Around them, their guest migled. It made Max and Logan laugh to see Herbal and Sketchy talking shop with Johhny and Zane while Kendra talked to Brin and Jace about the first time she banged the gong, and Original Cindy explained to Tinga and Jondy the benefits of being a lesbian. Even Zach, who had walked to bride down the aisle and given her away, appeared to be having a good time as he tried to save Bling from a conversation with Normal.
He set their plates down on the coffee table and took her hand, "They're not worth that much. I was just thinking."
She smiled, reaching out and stealing a piece of shrimp from his plate, "You better have been thinking about me."
He grinned, "Always, love, always."
*When somebody loved you
Everything was beautiful
Every hour we spent together
Lives within my heart
When she loved me*
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Well? Did you like how I got rid of Manticore? Isn't this lovely shipperish fluff? More to follow, I promise.