Broken Wings - XXII -
Justin
Dealing with Seattle was going to be like using explosives. I decided this on the way to her hotel. Useful, and even a little cool, but be very, very careful. Novices need not apply. She seemed a little more at ease now that she knew I was going to help in every way possible. I was going to do everything but let Jhondie get involved. Granted, she would be the best resource as far as getting into a secured location, but I knew her. She didn't let things go.
"So," I said, trying to make some civil conversation. "You've been working for the boss long?"
"He's not my boss," she retorted quickly, and not without a little arrogance. She smirked. "I help him; he helps me in a little project. It's a quid pro quo thing." She paused, and then decided to try the civil route as well. "You been around a while?"
"A while," I replied. "You know how it goes. Too young and dumb to know what I was really getting myself into, and when I did...then it was too fun to get out of." I also at that point had a genetically engineered partner that made things way more interesting. If it wasn't for her, I might not still be working for Eye's Only, but she always kept things in high gear. And there was the off chance that she would one day consent to telling him who and what she was and seeing if he could help with that whole being hunted thing.
She grinned for real. She was rather pretty when she wasn't trying to be a smart-alecky street punk out-toughing the guys. "So how did you get your girl into this mess?" she asked. "Don't know many girls jumping into something like this just for their man."
I laughed. Jhondie had jumped into this. Literally. "Actually, it was blackmail," I replied. She looked interested. "Long story," I said dismissively. "But she got even when she blackmailed me into doing something for her, and then a few years later, here we are." That got a little laugh out of Seattle.
We pulled up in front of her hotel a minute later. I thought about offering to do dinner with her or something. Chances were that she didn't know much about LA or knew anyone here. I nixed the idea quickly. I was not going to get away from talking to Jhondie that easily. Delaying the inevitable was only going to give her more time to think up what she was going to do to me. And it wasn't going to be something I was going to like.
"See you later!" Seattle said, hopping out of the car. I popped the trunk and let her get her overnight bag, and she bounded off with that stride that eerily reminded me of Jhondie again.
I grinned and drove off, heading to my apartment. I had no doubt that Jhondie was waiting for me there even though I had taken her back to her mother's. If I was lucky then she didn't pull the stunt she did last time she was mad at me and had my bedroom wallpaper redone in roses and blue ribbon with pink hearts on them. It was embarrassing as hell when I came over with a couple of the guys from the gym that night and she had doilies everywhere and cute little hand towels with baby ducks and piglets in the bathroom with a copy of Glamour and Vogue. She even remembered guest soaps. Try explaining that to guys who you showered with. She wouldn't tell me how she had done it all in less than twelve hours either.
I changed lanes and swerved around some traffic at high speeds in the usual LA fashion. People that are cautious drivers end up getting killed. We have no use for them since all they do is block up the people that know how to drive in LA. I hit the onramp for the freeway and accelerated, cutting off a semi in the process. He honked, and gave me the finger. God I love this city. And that was when a hard voice spoke up from the backseat.
"What the hell are you doing?"
It took me a second to respond. I first had to peel myself off of the roof of the car, and then stop that odd swerving that happens when you let go of the steering wheel so that you can peel yourself from the ceiling. I got the car back under control without being shot at as my heart attempted to restart after being vapor locked. The last thing I was expecting was to hear my girlfriend's brother pipe up from the back seat of my car.
I glanced back. "Trying to not kill us in a car accident, Zack," I replied. From the way his lips tightened slightly, I had hit him harder than I intended. He was still a little upset over the accident with Jhondie. "What the hell do you think I'm doing?"
He slid into the front seat of the car with an oily grace that was very distinct to X-5's. Well, it was to Jhondie and Zack at least. Zack had on his favorite expression. It said that he was barely tolerating the situation, and it better change very quickly. I was usually rather confused when he had it, and Jhondie would roll her eyes a lot. It had a lot to do with being the X-5 CO, and since I wasn't X-5, I tended to be rather confused. There was a lot about Manticore I still didn't know, but they seemed to be able to share a thought with just a look or a movement. It was rather strange and possibly one of the reasons that I agreed with Zack on his separation policy. Too many of them together would drive a mere mortal insane.
"I want to know right now what is going on with my sister," he demanded. Ah, hell. The last thing I needed was getting a royal a$$ whipping from a brother thinking I was fooling around on his sister. Denise's brothers I could handle. Jhondie's brother would turn me into paste without breaking a sweat. I wished someone had warned me to date girls that were only children. Oh well, a little late for that now.
"Stand down soldier," I said firmly, holding up a hand while trying to keep my eyes on Zack and the road at the same time. Neat trick if you can accomplish it. I was failing dismally. "The only thing I'm doing that your sister wouldn't approve of is not letting her tag along with a broken leg. Seattle is just a fellow employee like you must have heard, so don't get all stressed on me."
The oddest expression crossed Zack's face before he clamped back down. They must have added clam DNA to his mix. "Seattle?" he questioned.
"It's been three years and Eye's Only still only knows us as LA and LAX," I said with a little smile. "I am careful, remember?" Zack had admitted that once, albeit grudgingly. He seemed to relax a little, but with Zack, having a stick up the rear was relaxed.
"Jhondie's not part of this...assignment from him?" he asked me. The concerned brother had just shown up. He had been here more than normal over the last month. Actually him showing up twice in a month was amazing. Twice in a year was more like it. Maybe he would be able to talk her into taking it easy until she was better. I certainly couldn't.
"I'm trying to get her to let her leg heal," I replied with a frustrated sigh. "But you know her." I thought for a second. "Besides, I just spent the last few hours with Seattle. Trust me, those two would kill each other."
A rare event occurred. A slight smile edged Zack's mouth. He nodded. "That's good," he remarked casually. Which part was good though? Something was slightly left of center. Instinct was on high alert, but questioning Zack was like asking Cody what the deal was. You got an arrogant noise and then a back turned to you with nose in the air.
"So," I said, "is there anyone else's car you need to sneak into to give them a heart attack, or can I take you to Jhondie?"
He looked out the window. "I'll see Jhondie later," he said. "Got some things to do first. Let me out at the next exit."
A mile up the road I pulled over at a defunct gas station and he climbed out. I wondered what the things were that he was going to do. There was another X-5 in the city, I thought immediately. That's why he's really here. He knows Jhondie is fine, but there's someone else he's worried about. That made sense. I smiled. Zack was good, but this journalist was very good with putting the pieces together to make the story.
"Zack," I called out, getting out of the car. It worried me a little that he would be bringing an X-5 to LA. There shouldn't be two in a city. If he had one here, it meant they were passing through unexpectedly, or they were in trouble. Zack wouldn't ask for help, but he had been known to take it if offered.
Zack paused and turned around to face me as I came around the car. "Listen," I said, "If you need papers or anything to get the X-5 out of here, let me know."
I wasn't expecting his next move. One second he was standing there, and the next I was pinned against the car, Zack grabbing my shirt, his eyes blazing into mine. "What do you know about another X-5?" he snapped at me. Was there a sign on my forehead that said 'please attack me' today?
"I haven't seen anyone and I know Jhondie hasn't either," I said calmly. How many people in the world can get attacked by a trained assassin and not freak out? Pretty few. Still not fun though. Jhondie wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt me. Zack was a whole different story. "But you're too on edge to just be checking up on Jhondie."
He let me go and stepped back as if trying to refute that idea. I straightened my shirt, and then added, "You should know I'm not going to say anything to Jhondie. But obviously something bad happened for you to risk a second X-5 in LA. If you need Jhondie out of here for a few days or something, just let me know."
Zack smirked. "I thought you had work to do."
"Between what Seattle wants and what Jhondie needs, there's not a contest," I replied.
He gave me a curt nod, and then turned, heading down the road. I got back in my car, and headed back onto the freeway, catching a glimpse of him disappearing in my rearview mirror. There was a lot I didn't understand about the whole Manticore deal, and what possessed them to do different things. What I did know was that I was part of it, no matter what Jhondie or Zack wanted to think. As to whatever was going on with Seattle and the little girl, if it was Manticore too, then that made me part of it, regardless. I headed to my apartment, ready to do battle again today. I was so going to bed early tonight.
Justin
Dealing with Seattle was going to be like using explosives. I decided this on the way to her hotel. Useful, and even a little cool, but be very, very careful. Novices need not apply. She seemed a little more at ease now that she knew I was going to help in every way possible. I was going to do everything but let Jhondie get involved. Granted, she would be the best resource as far as getting into a secured location, but I knew her. She didn't let things go.
"So," I said, trying to make some civil conversation. "You've been working for the boss long?"
"He's not my boss," she retorted quickly, and not without a little arrogance. She smirked. "I help him; he helps me in a little project. It's a quid pro quo thing." She paused, and then decided to try the civil route as well. "You been around a while?"
"A while," I replied. "You know how it goes. Too young and dumb to know what I was really getting myself into, and when I did...then it was too fun to get out of." I also at that point had a genetically engineered partner that made things way more interesting. If it wasn't for her, I might not still be working for Eye's Only, but she always kept things in high gear. And there was the off chance that she would one day consent to telling him who and what she was and seeing if he could help with that whole being hunted thing.
She grinned for real. She was rather pretty when she wasn't trying to be a smart-alecky street punk out-toughing the guys. "So how did you get your girl into this mess?" she asked. "Don't know many girls jumping into something like this just for their man."
I laughed. Jhondie had jumped into this. Literally. "Actually, it was blackmail," I replied. She looked interested. "Long story," I said dismissively. "But she got even when she blackmailed me into doing something for her, and then a few years later, here we are." That got a little laugh out of Seattle.
We pulled up in front of her hotel a minute later. I thought about offering to do dinner with her or something. Chances were that she didn't know much about LA or knew anyone here. I nixed the idea quickly. I was not going to get away from talking to Jhondie that easily. Delaying the inevitable was only going to give her more time to think up what she was going to do to me. And it wasn't going to be something I was going to like.
"See you later!" Seattle said, hopping out of the car. I popped the trunk and let her get her overnight bag, and she bounded off with that stride that eerily reminded me of Jhondie again.
I grinned and drove off, heading to my apartment. I had no doubt that Jhondie was waiting for me there even though I had taken her back to her mother's. If I was lucky then she didn't pull the stunt she did last time she was mad at me and had my bedroom wallpaper redone in roses and blue ribbon with pink hearts on them. It was embarrassing as hell when I came over with a couple of the guys from the gym that night and she had doilies everywhere and cute little hand towels with baby ducks and piglets in the bathroom with a copy of Glamour and Vogue. She even remembered guest soaps. Try explaining that to guys who you showered with. She wouldn't tell me how she had done it all in less than twelve hours either.
I changed lanes and swerved around some traffic at high speeds in the usual LA fashion. People that are cautious drivers end up getting killed. We have no use for them since all they do is block up the people that know how to drive in LA. I hit the onramp for the freeway and accelerated, cutting off a semi in the process. He honked, and gave me the finger. God I love this city. And that was when a hard voice spoke up from the backseat.
"What the hell are you doing?"
It took me a second to respond. I first had to peel myself off of the roof of the car, and then stop that odd swerving that happens when you let go of the steering wheel so that you can peel yourself from the ceiling. I got the car back under control without being shot at as my heart attempted to restart after being vapor locked. The last thing I was expecting was to hear my girlfriend's brother pipe up from the back seat of my car.
I glanced back. "Trying to not kill us in a car accident, Zack," I replied. From the way his lips tightened slightly, I had hit him harder than I intended. He was still a little upset over the accident with Jhondie. "What the hell do you think I'm doing?"
He slid into the front seat of the car with an oily grace that was very distinct to X-5's. Well, it was to Jhondie and Zack at least. Zack had on his favorite expression. It said that he was barely tolerating the situation, and it better change very quickly. I was usually rather confused when he had it, and Jhondie would roll her eyes a lot. It had a lot to do with being the X-5 CO, and since I wasn't X-5, I tended to be rather confused. There was a lot about Manticore I still didn't know, but they seemed to be able to share a thought with just a look or a movement. It was rather strange and possibly one of the reasons that I agreed with Zack on his separation policy. Too many of them together would drive a mere mortal insane.
"I want to know right now what is going on with my sister," he demanded. Ah, hell. The last thing I needed was getting a royal a$$ whipping from a brother thinking I was fooling around on his sister. Denise's brothers I could handle. Jhondie's brother would turn me into paste without breaking a sweat. I wished someone had warned me to date girls that were only children. Oh well, a little late for that now.
"Stand down soldier," I said firmly, holding up a hand while trying to keep my eyes on Zack and the road at the same time. Neat trick if you can accomplish it. I was failing dismally. "The only thing I'm doing that your sister wouldn't approve of is not letting her tag along with a broken leg. Seattle is just a fellow employee like you must have heard, so don't get all stressed on me."
The oddest expression crossed Zack's face before he clamped back down. They must have added clam DNA to his mix. "Seattle?" he questioned.
"It's been three years and Eye's Only still only knows us as LA and LAX," I said with a little smile. "I am careful, remember?" Zack had admitted that once, albeit grudgingly. He seemed to relax a little, but with Zack, having a stick up the rear was relaxed.
"Jhondie's not part of this...assignment from him?" he asked me. The concerned brother had just shown up. He had been here more than normal over the last month. Actually him showing up twice in a month was amazing. Twice in a year was more like it. Maybe he would be able to talk her into taking it easy until she was better. I certainly couldn't.
"I'm trying to get her to let her leg heal," I replied with a frustrated sigh. "But you know her." I thought for a second. "Besides, I just spent the last few hours with Seattle. Trust me, those two would kill each other."
A rare event occurred. A slight smile edged Zack's mouth. He nodded. "That's good," he remarked casually. Which part was good though? Something was slightly left of center. Instinct was on high alert, but questioning Zack was like asking Cody what the deal was. You got an arrogant noise and then a back turned to you with nose in the air.
"So," I said, "is there anyone else's car you need to sneak into to give them a heart attack, or can I take you to Jhondie?"
He looked out the window. "I'll see Jhondie later," he said. "Got some things to do first. Let me out at the next exit."
A mile up the road I pulled over at a defunct gas station and he climbed out. I wondered what the things were that he was going to do. There was another X-5 in the city, I thought immediately. That's why he's really here. He knows Jhondie is fine, but there's someone else he's worried about. That made sense. I smiled. Zack was good, but this journalist was very good with putting the pieces together to make the story.
"Zack," I called out, getting out of the car. It worried me a little that he would be bringing an X-5 to LA. There shouldn't be two in a city. If he had one here, it meant they were passing through unexpectedly, or they were in trouble. Zack wouldn't ask for help, but he had been known to take it if offered.
Zack paused and turned around to face me as I came around the car. "Listen," I said, "If you need papers or anything to get the X-5 out of here, let me know."
I wasn't expecting his next move. One second he was standing there, and the next I was pinned against the car, Zack grabbing my shirt, his eyes blazing into mine. "What do you know about another X-5?" he snapped at me. Was there a sign on my forehead that said 'please attack me' today?
"I haven't seen anyone and I know Jhondie hasn't either," I said calmly. How many people in the world can get attacked by a trained assassin and not freak out? Pretty few. Still not fun though. Jhondie wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt me. Zack was a whole different story. "But you're too on edge to just be checking up on Jhondie."
He let me go and stepped back as if trying to refute that idea. I straightened my shirt, and then added, "You should know I'm not going to say anything to Jhondie. But obviously something bad happened for you to risk a second X-5 in LA. If you need Jhondie out of here for a few days or something, just let me know."
Zack smirked. "I thought you had work to do."
"Between what Seattle wants and what Jhondie needs, there's not a contest," I replied.
He gave me a curt nod, and then turned, heading down the road. I got back in my car, and headed back onto the freeway, catching a glimpse of him disappearing in my rearview mirror. There was a lot I didn't understand about the whole Manticore deal, and what possessed them to do different things. What I did know was that I was part of it, no matter what Jhondie or Zack wanted to think. As to whatever was going on with Seattle and the little girl, if it was Manticore too, then that made me part of it, regardless. I headed to my apartment, ready to do battle again today. I was so going to bed early tonight.
