Chapter 17
Zack gazed angrily at the pelting sheets of rain. The weather was the outward personification of his inner rage and turmoil. His fists were clenched and his knuckles had turned white a long time age. Suddenly he was overcome with a blinding rage. Priceless sliver antiques slammed into the wall as Zack thew everything within reach to the floor.
"What is with you guys and destroying priceless artifacts?" said a calm voice behind him.
Zack spun around fully prepared to fight. Logan stood causally leaning against the doorway. Logan grimaced as he stepped over his aunt's favorite set of china cups.
Zack tensed and fixed his cold intense gaze on the cyber journalist. Logan meet his gaze unflinching.
"Why don't you hate me?" Zack's voice was calm and emotionless
"Why should I hate you?" Logan replied
"If it wasn't for me, Cat would be perfectly safe and happy. It's my fault she's being tortured by Lydecker!" Zack exploded.
Logan watched calmly as Zack began to pace.
"That maybe so, but throwing everything within reach to floor is not going to bring her back," Logan stated calmly as he walked up to Zack and placed his hand on the raging X5s shoulder.
"I love her too, we'll get her back I promise," he said with as much confidence as he could muster.
A faint smile played at Zack's lips.
Jondy was sitting on the double bed in the room she shared with her father. Her hands worked furiously the laptop in front of her. On the screen detailed schematics of a military base. Logan had said that this was the most likely location. Zack had ordered her and Maxie to work on possible ways of entry and escape while he and Logan cheeked the base weaponry capabilities. It was amazing how fast they settled into their childhood training and teamwork despite the terrible circumstances. Jondy couldn't help feeling glad to be back working with them. She'd been away from them for so long
Flashback Two weeks after the escape
Young Jondy hiding behind a dumpster in the ally behind a cooperate building. Using her enhanced eyesight Jondy looks into the window of the top floor. Perfect! A lone figure is reading at a wooden desk. Jondy whirled around as she heard a twig snap. Jondy holds her hand up to block the blinding beam that engulfs her prone form. A guard dressed in uniform curses in surprise as a young girl in a thin hospital gown bolts passed him.
"Hey kid! Wait! I won't hurt you," he yells making a vein attempted to follow the fleeing child.
Jondy froze as six German shepherds; identical to the ones at Manicure blocked her exit. She looks around franticly, there was no way out, they were going to take her back to Manticore! The guard came to a wheezing halt in front of the terrified child. He placed a hand on her shoulder, Jondy tensed, she could easily throw this overweight male into the nearest wall but who knew what kind of control he had those dogs under?
"Blend into your surroundings, never give away your positions," Lydecker's familiar voice echoed in her mind.
Jondy forced her lip to tremble and her eyes to cloud with tears. She turned to the soft-heart guard. "I'm sorry sir, but the big dogs scared me," her voice trembled in the exact someway a normal child her age would.
The softhearted guard felt his heart melt. He had a daughter around this girl age. "Come with me little one," he said gently guiding her away from the dogs.
Jondy followed mutely as they walked into the building. Her shoeless feet made no sound as she followed the guard to elevator. As they wait for the elevator Jondy stood expressionless. Alan looked down at the girl next to him. "What's your name kid?" he asked softly.
The mysterious girl glanced at him, her blue eyes expressionless.
"Jondy," was the short and only reply.
The elevator came to a halt. When the doors opened Alan led Jondy through the hallways to an ornate set of mahogany doors.
"Come in Alan," said a deep tenor voice.
Jondy made sharp observations as they enter a lavishly decorated room.
"Well, who do we have here?" said a voice behind her
Jondy whirled around.
A tall man, dressed in a gray suit with graying hair was leaning casually against the wooden desk
"Who are you child? What were you doing behind the ally way?"
Jondy remained silent.
"I won't hurt you child," the man's voice was soft and gentle, something that was foreign to the X5.
"I found her behind a dumpster, she tried to run but the dogs scared her." Alan supplied.