Chapter 7

Chapter 19

Logan tried hard not to grimace as Max, Zack and Jondy explained their plan. Sure they were three of the most advanced forms of biological technology in existence, but this seemed like suicide. Direct assault against a Manticore convoy, who was most likely anticipating some form of attack. As he stared at the resolute faces before him the message was clear- "help us or get out of our way". He let out a sigh of resignation.

"There is absolutely nothing I can say to talk you out of this, is there?" he asked.

"Nope." Max confirmed.

"In that case bring her back home," he said softly.

The X5s nodded.

"Be careful," Logan said, focusing his intense blue eyes on Max.

Max forced herself to look away as Zack gave the order to move out.


Unknown Location 8:30 pm

Mary started awake at the sound of the rusty hatch opened. Her first thought was, 'Where am I?' Then it all came back to her- the torture of the young girl, X5-599, his love and the order to evacuate the building. Mary looked over at the subject. Her eyes, which had once burned with defiance, were now dull and lifeless as they stared at the gray walls of the truck. She did not respond when the door opened.

Mary looked up and gasped.

X5-5463.

Tia smirked as she saw the doctor quake in fear. She turned her gaze to woman her former CO loved. 'The girl had spirit' Tia privately admitted, she had received torture well above the safe limit and still refused to beg. Tia walked up to the girl, completely ignoring the terrified doctor. She squatted down until she was eye-level with the silent girl, "So you think big bro will ride in on his white horse and safe you huh?"

Tia grew angry at the girl's luck of response. "I'm going to tell a little story. I had a twin brother his name was Tate, we where close, we looked out for each other. One day we were doing a training sim, it was like any other. Zack, Max and Jondy were in the lead suddenly Tate fell. They wouldn't go back for him! They left him to die." Her eyes were gazed and faraway but her voice was hard with anger and hatred.

" The point of this little story is, if Zack is a big enough coward to abandon his family, do you really think he'll come back for a woman he probably picked up during his heat cycle?"

Before Tia could continue her spiteful tirade her earpiece crackled. "X5-63, the general wants to see you ASAP. Over."

"On my way Alpha leader," with a final smirk at Cat and arrogant glance at the doctor, Tia strolled out of the truck.

Mary's heart constricted. What in the name of everything good was she doing? She was sitting ideally by watching an innocent girl being tortured. She had convinced herself that her research was not directly involved with the creation of the X series but this she could not excuse. Mary reached out to comfort the shaking girl, but she flinched away as if she expected to be struck. Mary felt a wave of guilt, the girl had every right to hate her, and after all she was the one who gave her all the pain.

Suddenly frantic voices fill the air, accompanied by sound of boots on gravel, must be on one of the side roads off the main highway Mary concluded.

"Zack."

Mary whirled around and saw the subject struggling to sit up. Her eyes were bright with hope and love. Mary moved over next to her and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.



Zack gritted his teeth as Lydecker came striding towards him, flanked by six armed soldiers. This hadn't been in the plan. They had seen the small convoy from the forest. Jondy had been the first to see Tia among the group with one of the X5s in the group. Their original plan would be impossible to execute. Tia's abilities would pick up the slightest movement, when they were young Tia had proven that she had exceptional hearing.

"X5-599." Lydecker said coolly

Zack remained silent.

"You know she's quite a girl, but you're a solider, you allowed your feelings to compromise your judgement. Here's our offer- you come back to Manticore peacefully and we'll give you the girl." Lydecker let a slow triumph smile play at his lips when he saw the tortured look in Zack's eyes.

"Where's Cat?" Zack asked emotionlessly.

Lydecker motioned to one of his men. The requested solider moved to a nearby truck and yelled orders to the occupants inside.

Zack struggled to maintain his mask of indifference as the woman he loved of forced out of the truck. His breath caught in his throat when he saw her. Her once athletic body was wasted away, the hospital gown hung of her skeletal form. When their eyes meet Zack had to fight back tears.

"Let me get her to a safe place, then I'll go with you." Zack said to Lydecker

"Reasonable, just to make should you don't try and run, I've injected her with a cerebral cortex inhibitor. If you try to run I will block the pathways to her brain. Once we have you, I'll deactivated it." Lydecker said softly.

Zack nodded calmly.

The solider roughly shoved Cat at Zack and she stumbled, disoriented. Lydecker motioned to the soldiers to move out of her way. Zack moved forward and caught her as she began to fall. He cradled her in his arms while glaring at Lydecker.

"You have two minutes solider."



Zack tenderly led Caitlin towards the woods. Once they reach the woods Zack scooped her up in his arms and ran. Once they reached a particular point Zack stopped and set her down gently.

"Zack… don't go please don't leave me please!" she gasped choking back tears.

Zack gently placed two fingers on her lips. "Shhh I not going to leave you please trust me" he whispered. He leaned forward and kissed her gently. "I will return to you I promise."

Zack ran back the way he had come. It was all up to Maxie and Jondy now.