Chapter 7
Suddenly Zack bit an insult that shocked Max to her core. " Kind of reminds you of Tate doesn't it Maxie? You do remember Tate don't you?"
"Of course" she whispered
~Flashback to Manticore~
Young Max, Zack and Jondy are leading 8 of their siblings through a rough dessert terrain. Their military issue clothing was wet with sweat and their shoeless feet were swollen and blasted but they still pressed on. Manticore issue helicopters had left them of an hour ago their objective was to reach the helicopter pad in less than two hours. Suddenly Tate fell to the ground and began to shake. The X5s stopped and turned to Zack, Jondy and Max expectedly. Zack moved forward to help his brother but Max stepped in front of him and shook her head. Max knew what they would do to Tate if they found out he had the shakes- they would do the same thing they did to Alex and Jeff. They would cut him up to find out what was wrong with the perfect soldiers. Max knew that his shakes were too severe for him to survive the journey. Zack shoved past Max and gestured to the rest of the X5s to help him move Tate. Max and Jondy both sliced their hand across their throats. The X5s looked at each other uncertainly.
Zack whirled on his two sisters angrily "What are you doing?" he hissed "He's our brother". Max and Jondy turned to the others and ordered them to move out all but one obeyed.
Tia, Tate's twin sister, knelt by her fallen brother. Tate had stopped shaking. He was dead. Tia walked up to Max and Jondy her face a mask of deadly calm. " I will never serve under you again. I will follow your orders but know this- I hate you and I will rejoice in your deaths." she then saluted them and walked to the body of her dead twin. She picked him up walked to the nearest bolder and buried her brother behind walked to join the others.
Zack's team was the first to reach the pad. Nobody mentioned what had transpired in the dessert. Lydecker questioned Zack on what happen to Tate and Zack told Lydecker that Tate had fallen and broken his leg and was unable to keep up. Max and Jondy winced inwardly as Zack continued to lie for them. Tia eyes continued to harden at each lie that passed Zack's lips
Lydecker accepted Zack's story and sent some of his men to find the body. For weeks after Tate's death Jondy and Max tried to explain Zack and Tia why they had refused to help Tate. Eventually Zack accepted their explanation but nothing they said could bring Tia to understand. The night of the escape Zack had offered Tia a chance to go with them she had refused. Her words still chilled Zack to the bone. " I've sworn to hate you and my heart will swell when you're in pieces by the dogs."
End of Flashback
Meanwhile back at the Cale Estate
A worried Wendy Cale was tearing from room to room, barking orders at startled maids as she went. Michael Jones had arrived a day early then they had planed. He was bringing his daughter Jondy with him, and Wendy always found herself ill at ease with the girl. It was her eyes that troubled Wendy the most, eyes that looked right into your soul. Jondy refused to act like a lady of her class should, Mrs. Cale had even caught Jondy teaching the guards how to use weaponry correctly
A very nervous doorman lead a tall gray haired business man through the parlor, at his side stood a beautiful young woman with long braided chestnut hair. As the doorman knocked nervously on the door to Madame Cale's private conference, Jondy made careful observations of her surroundings, noting all possible exits. Mr. Jones saw this and lent down and whispered, "You're safe here."
"I am safe nowhere." was the reply.
Wendy Cale came bursting into the room at look of false cheerfulness on her face. "Michael, Jondy it is wonderful to see you again."
As she approached Michael reached out and took her hand. " Its good to see you too Mrs. Cale." Jondy merely nodded. Wendy turned to the X5 and said, "Jondy, dear you remember my daughter Caitlin? She is taking a walk in the gardens, I'm should she would love to meet you and my nephew Logan is with her. I would love you to meet him". Jondy was not interested in meeting this dimwit's relations until she saw her father give a slight hand signal. Could it be? Her heat leaped.
"I would love to Mrs. Cale."
Jondy wandered through the network of garden mazes until her enhanced hearing picked up the soon of familiar voices yelling
"You left him to die!"
"I had no choice."
Jondy picked up speed and ran around the nearest corner. Her eyes widen when she looked at the scene. Zack looking exactly as she had pictured him was about to punch a girl who was lying on the ground- could it be Maxie? Who ever it was Jondy had to stop Zack. Two people, Caitlin and her cousin stood by watching helplessly. Using all her training Jondy approached the group silently.
"This was so was not the reunion I was hoping for, what the hell is going Zack?" Jondy demanded.
Zack froze and turned to face his long lost sister, "Jondy is it really you?"
"No it's the freaking Easter Bunny, of course it's me. I repeat the question what the hell is going on? Last time I checked we were trained to kill others not each other."
Their fight monetarily forgotten Max and Zack leapt up simultaneously and rushed to embrace their sister. Zack was the first to reach her and in his typical manner greeted her. "Why didn't you wait till the time we agreed? Your position could have compromised."
Before Jondy could respond Max reached them and threw her arms around Jondy, whispering, "I sorry." over and over again.
Jondy gently stroked Max's hair, "For what sis?" she asked trying not to wince as Max's grasped tightened.
"For letting them get you." replied Max.
"Maxie listen to me, it wasn't your fault they were firing blanks anyway."
Jondy suddenly realizing that they had an audience walked up to Logan and Caitlin " Hi! I don't think we've been introduced I'm….."
"Let me guess you're another long lost sibling" Caitlin said dryly
Jondy looked at her sharply and then turned to face her brother her face full of questions. "They know about us?" she asked not bothering to hide her astonishment
At Zack's nod Jondy turned back to Caitlin and said "You must be one heck of a girl" she stated before walking back to Max, who was still in shock. Max fell into her waiting arms and cried. "I'm here Maxie and I'm never leaving you again." she whispered soothingly
Before Max could reply all three X5s heard the sound of Mrs. Cale's voice calling them. Max quickly regaining her composure walked up to Logan and said "Your aunt is calling us, lets go."
The next morning tension between Max and Zack had eased considerably. The three X5s were sitting in Zack and Max's guestroom they are talking about everything suddenly Jondy raises a topic that neither of her teammates are ready to deal with.
"So how many Manticore rules did you break when you fell in love 20, 30?"
Max and Zack looked at her sharply. "What do you mean solider?" Zack asked harshly.
"Oh came on guys! A blind, deaf mute could see you are in love with them never mind your sibling who knows you better then anyone."
"Caitlin and Logan?" ventured Max softly
" No, Rudolf the freaking red noise raindeer." she said as she rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Jondy we're not in love with them, we can't fall in love with them we soldiers." Every word Zack said sounded strained as if he wished that every word was not true.
"But you did" challenged Jondy
Zack gaze at her expressionless, Max who had came to stand beside Zack nodded her agreement.
"Jondy our feelings are irrelevant, no matter how much we may care for them, no matter how much we want to settle down with them and live happy ever after, it isn't going to happen. Besides how much can we mean to them? I'm sure if we left next month Caitlin would have found new love by the time I reach the next state."
" Found a new love by the time you reach the next state huh, you better get moving if you're to reach the lost city of Atlantis. Because that is the only way I will find a new love- if you disappear into fairytales. Even then I would do everything in my power to get you back." Challenged a new voice.