A/N I'm just along for the ride at this point…it promises to get interesting….
The two men in black advanced softly into Asha's apartment closing the door behind them. Asha stood in her kitchen in shock and fear. Then the leader of the two spoke.
"Come sit down Miss Coupland. You have nothing to fear from us." The other man meanwhile was swiftly walking through her small apartment making sure there was no one else there. At his nod the other walked over and settled himself on the sofa as his assistant took up a post where he could watch the door and windows.
Asha found her voice. "It's late, and I don't know why you're here. There's nothing I can help you with so I'd appreciate it if you would leave."
"Now Miss Coupland or should I say Barlow? What are you calling yourself these days anyway?" Asha didn't answer so he went on. "I know you're still involved with your little group, what is it S1W? I also know that you have a friend who can get to Eyes Only and I can find him if need be. If you don't help me I'll just have to go see him and hope he's more cooperative than you. You do remember how unpleasant things can get when I'm angry don't you?" his voice was silky and soft but she knew how quickly he could explode.
"Damn you. What do you want with Eyes Only?" she demanded, terrified that this man, the one she knew only as White, would go after Logan in an attempt to get to Eyes Only. Knowing Logan and his stubbornness he wouldn't get anywhere and she shuddered at the thought of his anger directed at Logan.
"Actually nothing. It's a friend of Eyes Only that I want. A female friend. A rather unique female at that."
"What kind of female?" Asha was starting to get a glimmer of what he wanted.
White looked at her with interest. "Have you met any unique females lately Miss Barlow?"
"Describe her." Asha heard herself say.
"Here's her picture." White held out a digital image and Asha was not surprised to see that it was Max. Trouble had followed Max ever since she had shown back up in Logan's life. Still, she knew what White was and struggled with herself at the thought of turning anyone over to him. White had been watching her closely and saw the clenching of her jaw. So Miss Barlow knew X5-452. Well he knew the perfect way to get to her.
"Since you can't help me I'll head out now." He rose from the couch. Asha looked at him, knowing he wouldn't quit that easily.
"Head out where?" she asked already knowing his answer and fighting hard with her conscience.
"Why to find your friend Mr. Cale and to see if he has more information than you do."
His assistant held open the door for him as Asha stood biting her lip. He was about to walk out when he was stopped by her words.
"Wait. I can help you. I've met her. I can probably help you find her. Leave Logan Cale out of this though – he can't help you." White stopped and turned around.
"Why Asha how good of you to see things my way."
* * * *
Next morning Max sauntered jauntily into Jam Pony and with one look Cindy knew that life was looking up for her boo. As they stood at their lockers she regarded her wisely.
"So your boy everything you thought he'd be?" Max shot her a look but couldn't keep herself from grinning.
"More, Cindy, way more. And that's all you're going to get out of me." She turned to walk to the front desk but stopped and frowned at the sight of Alec standing there.
"Must I see you first thing in the morning? I had enough of your unwanted company last night." Cindy looked at the two of them curious as to what had gone on.
"Max. Thought you'd be in a much better mood today. Didn't your night of wild abandoned passion help relieve any of that bitchiness I sometimes detect in you?" he grinned at her wickedly.
"Maybe if we hadn't had uninvited and unwanted guests in the middle of the night…not to name any names." She snapped. "Next time take her anywhere but my place or Logan's if you don't want to lose an arm or a leg." She stalked off leaving Cindy looking at Alec shaking her head.
What?" he demanded with a cocky grin.
"You playing with fire boy. One of these days she going to kick your ass, super soldier or not."
"I had Asha unconscious on my hands because of some stupid errand her boyfriend sent her on. What was I supposed to do? I didn't know it was the honeymoon suite at the Plaza there last night." Alec walked off whistling to his locker leaving Cindy shaking her head at him. As Max reached the front desk the cell phone Logan had handed her this morning chirped and she pulled it out of her pocket.
"Hey."
Logan's husky voice sounded in her ear. "Hey yourself."
"What's up? Everything okay?" she asked.
"Everything's fine. You?"
"Yeah it's all good. Is that why you called?" she smiled at the thought.
"Not exactly." He paused "I was hoping you'd swing by for dinner tonight."
"Well I don't know. See there's this guy, he's kind of a slave driver and he likes me to come by so he can give me assignments to do for him at night." Max teased.
"I think I can assure you that that person is out of town. How does Lemon Chicken sound?"
"Sounds heavenly. What time?"
"As soon as you can get here. It only takes about half an hour to make and you can clean up here while I cook it if you want. Hot running water an enticement?"
"You just hooked me with that one. Catch you later. Gotta blaze, Normal is about to kill me I can tell." She snapped the phone shut and headed to where Normal was indeed giving her dirty looks.
* * * *
Max's day had passed quickly and she had just finished up her last run and dropped off her slips to Normal. No one was around Jam Pony as she retrieved her stuff from her locker and then walked out and climbed on her bike. She was about to start the motor when her pager buzzed. She looked at the number and frowned unsure of who it was.
Pulling out the cell phone Logan had given her she dialed it only to be answered by a female voice.
"Max? It's Asha. Look I need you to come over here. It's about Logan, he may be in trouble." Max would have given her short shrift but at the mention of Logan and trouble she paused and then asked.
"What kind of trouble?"
"I can't talk about it on the phone. Can you just come over?" Max looked at her watch and sighed.
"Yeah I'll swing by now. Where?" Asha gave her directions and she quickly dialed Logan's number only to get his answering machine.
"Logan? It's Max. I just finished work but Asha needs me to stop by there for a minute.Shouldn't take long. I'll be there in about 45 minutes I figure. Hope you saved me some hot water." With that she was off speeding through the Seattle streets. Chances were Asha had just got some stupid bug up her ass about Logan but she figured she'd better check it out. More likely the blonde wanted to have some kind of confrontation with her and if that were the case she'd rather get it over with away from any witnesses. Getting into a catfight in front of Logan was the last thing she wanted and she wouldn't put it past Asha to engineer that if Max didn't satisfy her this way.
Shortly she pulled up in front of the address Asha had given her and after quickly checking the streets out of long habit, she headed up the stairs to the door. Ringing the bell Asha had indicated she waited for the outer door to buzz open then headed down the hallway to Asha's apartment. Once there she knocked on the door and within seconds Asha pulled it open and motioned her in.
"So what's the big danger Logan's in?" she demanded eager to get this over and get out of the place.
"You."
Max sighed. So this was going to be the catfight she'd feared. "Look Asha…" she began only to realize too late that they weren't alone. As she started to spin to confront the other party she felt the prick of a needle in her neck. Completing her turn she saw Ames White and a second man standing smiling at her.
"Well so we meet again X5-452. Sorry you won't be conscious long enough for us to talk but we'll have plenty of time later." As he spoke Max's vision began to blur and she stumbled forward. She dimly heard Asha saying.
"What did you give her? You said you weren't going to hurt her."
"Just a mild sedative. She'll be fine when she wakes up. As will you Miss Coupland."
"What? You said…I won't…" Max heard faint sounds of a struggle before everything went black and she found herself drifting off into a formless gray fog.
