Welcome to Jam Pony
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: The day Max walked into Jam Pony looking for a job, her life changed forever. Also featuring Original Cindy.
DISCLAIMERS: Dark Angel, Jam Pony, etc. belong to James Cameron and the people at FOX. Don't sue, I'm just a poor fan fic writer entertaining my audience.
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Max pedaled angrily, weaving in and out of traffic. Nice as Original Cindy was, she had no right to tell her off. She didn't know what it was like to run from city to city, always looking over one shoulder and never staying long enough at a job to make any money. If Max didn't steal, she would've starved to death--or worse--long ago. And who could expect a transgenic killing machine to have good morals in this crazy-ass world?
Even as she thought that, Max remembered something else. Lydecker had taught them morals, of a sort: duty and discipline, and never leaving a member of your team behind enemy lines. And she knew from experience in the Outside, as they used to call it, that no matter how bad off you thought you were, there was always someone who had it tougher than you.
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. I need the money, she thought. Do you really? asked another part of her mind, one that sounded a lot like Original Cindy. One li'l clock ain't worth all this trouble.
Fine,' Max muttered to herself. Have it your way.' She turned a corner and began pedaling harder.
Seven o'clock was a busy time at Jam Pony headquarters. The last messengers were trickling in from their runs, while others left for home. Original Cindy closed her locker to see Max standing right beside her.
Original Cindy don' even wanna talk to you,' she said, walking away.
Wait!' Max dodged in front of her. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry.' She took a deep breath and went on. You were right, I shouldn't've stolen the clock. I went back to the woman and apologized. That's all I wanted to say,' she finished and turned to leave.
Hold on a minute. Why'd you steal it in the first place?' Cindy stood with crossed arms, determined to get an answer.
The girl kept her eyes lowered. I needed the money for an apartment. I don't have anywhere to stay yet.' That's part of the truth, at least.
Then why didn't you say so?' Cindy's voice was gentler this time. She called to a tall Asian man who was talking to Herbal. Hey, Theo!'
This my girl Max,' she said, introducing her to Theo. She just started at Jam Pony.'
I'm impressed. Not many people survive their first day,' Theo said. His voice was warm and kind, and Max liked him right away.
She need a place to stay. There still room on your floor?'
He nodded. There's a woman named Kendra a few doors down who needs a roommate. You can stay with her, if you want,' he said to Max. The building...it isn't exactly legal, though.'
Max knew that the residents of many tenements were squatters, whom the Sector Police could--and did--evict at will. That's fine by me. Thanks, Theo.'
It's nothing. Listen, I better go. I gotta pick up Omar tonight.' Theo walked toward the door.
Original Cindy looked at Max, noticing how relieved she seemed. Maybe Cindy was a little hard on you earlier. What do you say we head to Crash for a drink?'
Crash?' She looked puzzled.
It's a bar bout five blocks from here. The unofficial Jam Pony hangout.'
Max smiled. Let's go.'
Walking down the stairs into Crash Café, Original Cindy immediately recognized the song playing. It was one of her favorites, a Pre-Pulse song called Respiration'.
The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis
Shinin', like who on top of this?
Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living is preposterous,
Stay alive, you play or die, no options
No Batman and Robin, can't tell between the cops and the robbers,
They both partners, they all heartless
With no conscience, back streets stay darkened
Where unbeliever hearts stay hardened........'
The two quickly claimed a foosball table at the back of the bar. They talked and laughed as they played, and the score was 7-0 in Max's favor before Cindy called a halt. You too good, girl. You know what we need?'
A pitcher of beer,' Max replied, smiling.
Read my mind.' They sat down at a table and Original Cindy brought a pitcher of frothy beer and two mugs.
So how old are you, anyway?' she asked as they drank.
Nineteen.'
Your parents throw you outta the house? Or you left on your own?'
Max ran a finger around the rim of her mug. My parents died when I was a baby.'
Sorry.' Cindy's voice grew soft. Original Cindy had a family once, but that part'a her life is long gone.'
Max felt her eyes sting suddenly. Her family.... how long had it been since the escape? Nine years? Ten? She wondered where Jondy and Zack and Tinga were now.
Original Cindy saw the faraway, wistful look on her friend's face. She took another sip of beer. About this afternoon.... you did the right thing, Max.'
The girl shrugged. Aren't many people who care about right and wrong anymore.'
True dat,' Cindy said, thinking about the thieves, gangsters, and corrupt officials that lived all over the city. Sometimes it was hard to tell who was bad' and who was good'.
Max stood up. Wanna play another round?' she asked, jerking her head toward the foosball table.
No, you too good for Original Cindy. Sides, I gotta stop by the Market on my way home fore it closes.'
I'll walk with you for a little while,' offered Max. They walked up the stairs and out into the cool Seattle night.
They were halfway down a dark, narrow alley when she heard a soft footstep behind them, but by then it was too late. One man threw a musty sack over her head, and from Cindy's muffled cries, she guessed the same had been done to her. But the man who grabbed Max around the waist underestimated her, and a backwards kick sent him flying into a pile of crates. She whipped the sack off her head. There were three men besides the one who'd grabbed her. Max almost smiled, it was so easy. The three hulking, ape-like men left Cindy and rushed her. The bald man went down first with a swift punch and a hard kick to the groin; the fat one wearing the Marlins shirt got two blows to the head before he was hurled into the third man.
Less than a minute after the thugs had first grabbed them, Max was helping Original Cindy to her feet as the four men lay groaning in the street.
What--' Cindy started to ask.
Shhh. Let's get away before they recover.'
They didn't stop until they were several blocks away. Max was alert the whole time, but nobody had either followed or seen them. You okay?' she asked her friend with concern.
Original Cindy took some hits, but she gonna be aiight. Max, how'd you take them thugs out like that?'
I... took karate as a kid. Girl power, right?'
Right.' Cindy smiled. Well, I gotta blaze. See you tomorrow, boo.'
Max looked bemused. Boo?'
Yeah, boo. As in friend, girl, sistah.' Original Cindy started to turn away, but thought of something else. Where you goin' now? You ain't got your own place yet.'
Max shrugged. Then she smiled mischievously. I've always wanted to visit the Space Needle.'
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A/N: Well, how did you like it? Please review, people! A few notes: Respiration' is a real song, it's by Mos Def and Talib Kweli. I think. I don't have the CD, just the lyrics. Some of you might be wondering why I didn't use real quotation marks. The reason is that I hate pressing SHIFT so much, my poor little pinky gets tired. Thanks for reading!
