"Me be hittin ya ba-"
"Max we have a problem." Logan cut her off, his voice urgent and serious, as if she were talking to Eyes Only.
"I told ya, the diapers are-" Logan cut her off again, but what he said drew the blood from her face.
"Cole's gone."
"What do you mean gone?" she didn't like this frantic feeling creeping up her spine. What was that? Fear. Dread. So rarely did she feel these things she didn't know how to respond.
"The kid left, I was working and Zack was taking a shower." He inhaled as if to calm himself down, "A window was opened a crack, and Zack found it wide open. Ironically the one you jumped out of. If that is how the kid got out, he landed fine. Zack left to go search already."
"When?"
"Five minutes ago."
"I'll be there. Tap into the hover-drone videos, it'll take me two minutes." Her voice was grave and without even saying good-bye to her friends she left.
*****
He let out another slow breath, and turned off the speakerphone. What she didn't know was that he had been checking the hover drone videos while they were speaking. All he found was a quick fifteen second clip, and he reviewed it seemingly endlessly until Max finally came to his side.
"Anything?" She seemed to have calmed down now.
"Just this," He quickly typed something in, and the screen came alive with an exterior view of his penthouse. Nothing really caught the hover drone's attentions as its view swept quickly by. Logan had to freeze-frame it but Max's perceptions caught the slight movement in the corner of the screen. It moved like a cat, lazily jumping down two stories, extending its limbs and gracefully absorbing the impact. It stopped briefly to glance around, and only then with his human head turned toward the camera, could you tell that that was in fact Cole and not some stray tabby cat.
"Which way did Zack go?"
"North," was the only word he could get in before she bolted out door.
They couldn't go to the police. Not only would it be hard to describe the situation but also Lydecker probably still had his claws in the Seattle police department. Who knows what information would find its way to his eyes. For two exhausting weeks there was nothing. Logan could find no clips from the endless reels of hover drones security logs, and Max and Zack were having about as much luck searching the broken streets of Seattle. Zack was so intense on his search that he would spend three days and nights systematically sweeping the streets, but to know avail. It was coming upon the third week when they just about ran out of hope.
One weary night Zack was searching the perimeter of the city when a familiar voice sounded from behind. No, Zack thought to himself, it couldn't be…
"Zack," the voice was confident and steady, but with an undertone of pleading. "Where is my son?"
Zack didn't know if he was surprised or shocked. He had never experienced either before. "Kat?" he tried to keep his voice as steady as her own, "How did you get out of the compound? Lydecker's men…"
"I'll explain it later. Just, please, I need to see my son." He could see her hand was shaking but the rest of her exterior was stone. What had Lydecker done to her in only three weeks? Of all the X-5's that survived the escape Kat was the kindest and had most of her humanity intact, easily shedding her Manticore military training for a normal life. Now she stood before her with the confidence of a marine. There was no way Lydecker could have reindoctrinate her in such a short time. They would have to crack her mentally first, and if she still retained a sliver of her previous training she would have been able to withstand 2 months of mental and physical torture. The separation from Cole must have affected her severely.
Zack could find no other way to say it, "He's missing. He has been for three weeks now." Her toughened exterior shattered at the news and she fell to her knees. Zack knelt down beside her, trying what he could to comfort her, but failing at it miserably. She rocked back and forth, her face in her hands, her trembling shoulders the only clue to the sobs that she hid.
"Kat, Max and I have been searching, with you here as well we will find him."
"Max. I knew you would bring him to Seattle. Any chance to see your precious Max." Her eyes shined with hatred. Whether it was aimed at himself or Max, he did not know, but he was dumbfounded by the words. "I'm sorry, Zack, I didn't mean that, It's just…" she tried to take her words back as quickly as she had spit them out. The stress she must have been under, he could not blame her for snapping at anything, though her particular comment caught him off guard. He shrugged it off prioritizing his concerns. At the moment Kat was at the top of the list. With an uncommon show of affection he knelt down and wrapped his arms around her. It was a simple gesture, but it was enough. The strength in his arms comforted Kat, as though his presence alone would ward off everything that may harm her. He did not speak a word, and she did not break the silence for what may have been an eternity.
"How is Max? I haven't seen her in so long."
"She's fine, I'll take you to her."
"You'll take me to her?" her words were slow and deliberate as if she was trying to clarify each word.
"Yeah. Come on."
"Where will we meet her?"
"What does it matter? I'll take you there." Something was definitely wrong here. "Is there something wrong Kat?"
"No. Why would you think that?"
"Come," was all he said. And she followed in silence.
*****
It seemed as though no one had touched the apartment Zack rented out a few weeks ago. Luckily for him since this is where he brought Kat. With her at Manticore there is no telling what tracking or listening devices Lydecker may have implanted. The chances of her being brainwashed again in such a short time were improbable. But something was definitely wrong.
"So tell me how you escaped," Zack questioned before he downed some tryptophan.
"You won't believe me," she warned but continued anyway, "There is a vent that leads to the exterior of the building., I was barely able to fit through, and they tried to flush me out by turning the furnaces on full, but I eventually found my way. I waited just inside the outer grate, when the guard got lazy I bolted."
"What did they do to you?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she turned rigid.
Zack's mind filled with liquid hatred for the man. Max convinced him to let Lydecker live but this…this was unforgivable. This is what was probably happening to Brin at this very moment. No, Zack wouldn't shoot Lydecker dead, that was too good for him, too quick a death. He could still hear Lydecker's voice: "Are you still so filled with hate Zack?" Well he was, and he welcomed the familiar feeling, oddly comforting amongst all this turmoil.
"Stay here, there's a payphone outside," he said, heading out the door.
*****
He looked up to find Kat staring at him through the window. She stood perfectly still and her face was devoid of any expressions. Zack refused to believe she had been broken, but why was she acting like this? One moment hysterical with hatred or grief or some other emotion, then the next she would show no signs of humanity at all. What had happened at Manticore? Sadly with this knowledge he couldn't trust her completely. He turned his back to her so she couldn't see the numbers he was dialing. A scant minute later she called back.
"Who's this," Max questioned without saying hello.
"It's me, listen you have to come to MY apartment."
"Your apartment?"
"Kat escaped, she's here with me."
"I'll be right there," she could not help but let her happiness and relief weave into her words. Zack could almost hear her smile. Truly he wished that his suspicions were unfounded, and that Kat was the Kat that had escaped and not the one sent out on a mission from Lydecker.
*****
The minutes were awkward between Kat and Zack so he filled the time explaining what had happened, where they had searched, and anything else he could think of to sooth her concerns for her missing son. She was itching to go search but she knew alone she could do nothing. Only when they were together could they do an efficient systematic search throughout all of Seattle. Finally, Max burst through the unlocked door.
"Kat?" Max's eyes filled with tears of joy, invoking a similar reaction from Kat. They hugged and released and hugged again, as any sisters would have after such a long separation.
"I missed you so much," was all Kat could sputter out as she wiped her tears away with the heel of her hand.
Max looked at her, not caring about her tears, "I've searched for you for so long. And not look at me, I don't even know what to say."
"Don't say anything, I feel the same way, just help me find my son. I need to hold him. I miss him so much." She burst into tears again, rubbing her hands together as if to wash off the guilt of having left him in the first place. It was Zack now who hugged and comforted her, tucking her head under his chin and stroking her hair, then rubbing her back. He placed one hand on each side of her face and pulled her away just enough to look her in the eyes to see if she was still crying. Imperceptible to the normal human eye, Max caught the brief widening of his eyes as he did this last act. It was as though he had just discovered something or confirmed something to himself.
Zack pulled her close again, letting her cry and he hoped he could do this quickly enough so that Max couldn't react to stop him, and Kat in her emotional stupor wouldn't realize what was happening before it was too late.
He leaned in closer to her ear, and softly, in the most soothing voice he could muster, whispered, "Stay here the night, I think you may actually need some rest." After a quick pause he whispered more quietly, "I'm sorry." In one quick motion he reached over at the table and grabbed his switchblade and slashed Kat behind her ear. His incision, though so quickly made, had the precision of an expert surgeon. And as he had guessed Max couldn't react, and Kat never saw it coming. It was mayhem after that. Kat screamed from both fear and pain, and Max stood frozen, unsure of what had just happen, unsure of how to react, unsure anything at all. Blood trickled into Kat's hair and down Zack's arm as he still gripped Kat's head. Finally he let go and Kat stumbled backwards. Between his forefinger and thumb he held up a small microchip.
"Max we have a problem." Logan cut her off, his voice urgent and serious, as if she were talking to Eyes Only.
"I told ya, the diapers are-" Logan cut her off again, but what he said drew the blood from her face.
"Cole's gone."
"What do you mean gone?" she didn't like this frantic feeling creeping up her spine. What was that? Fear. Dread. So rarely did she feel these things she didn't know how to respond.
"The kid left, I was working and Zack was taking a shower." He inhaled as if to calm himself down, "A window was opened a crack, and Zack found it wide open. Ironically the one you jumped out of. If that is how the kid got out, he landed fine. Zack left to go search already."
"When?"
"Five minutes ago."
"I'll be there. Tap into the hover-drone videos, it'll take me two minutes." Her voice was grave and without even saying good-bye to her friends she left.
*****
He let out another slow breath, and turned off the speakerphone. What she didn't know was that he had been checking the hover drone videos while they were speaking. All he found was a quick fifteen second clip, and he reviewed it seemingly endlessly until Max finally came to his side.
"Anything?" She seemed to have calmed down now.
"Just this," He quickly typed something in, and the screen came alive with an exterior view of his penthouse. Nothing really caught the hover drone's attentions as its view swept quickly by. Logan had to freeze-frame it but Max's perceptions caught the slight movement in the corner of the screen. It moved like a cat, lazily jumping down two stories, extending its limbs and gracefully absorbing the impact. It stopped briefly to glance around, and only then with his human head turned toward the camera, could you tell that that was in fact Cole and not some stray tabby cat.
"Which way did Zack go?"
"North," was the only word he could get in before she bolted out door.
They couldn't go to the police. Not only would it be hard to describe the situation but also Lydecker probably still had his claws in the Seattle police department. Who knows what information would find its way to his eyes. For two exhausting weeks there was nothing. Logan could find no clips from the endless reels of hover drones security logs, and Max and Zack were having about as much luck searching the broken streets of Seattle. Zack was so intense on his search that he would spend three days and nights systematically sweeping the streets, but to know avail. It was coming upon the third week when they just about ran out of hope.
One weary night Zack was searching the perimeter of the city when a familiar voice sounded from behind. No, Zack thought to himself, it couldn't be…
"Zack," the voice was confident and steady, but with an undertone of pleading. "Where is my son?"
Zack didn't know if he was surprised or shocked. He had never experienced either before. "Kat?" he tried to keep his voice as steady as her own, "How did you get out of the compound? Lydecker's men…"
"I'll explain it later. Just, please, I need to see my son." He could see her hand was shaking but the rest of her exterior was stone. What had Lydecker done to her in only three weeks? Of all the X-5's that survived the escape Kat was the kindest and had most of her humanity intact, easily shedding her Manticore military training for a normal life. Now she stood before her with the confidence of a marine. There was no way Lydecker could have reindoctrinate her in such a short time. They would have to crack her mentally first, and if she still retained a sliver of her previous training she would have been able to withstand 2 months of mental and physical torture. The separation from Cole must have affected her severely.
Zack could find no other way to say it, "He's missing. He has been for three weeks now." Her toughened exterior shattered at the news and she fell to her knees. Zack knelt down beside her, trying what he could to comfort her, but failing at it miserably. She rocked back and forth, her face in her hands, her trembling shoulders the only clue to the sobs that she hid.
"Kat, Max and I have been searching, with you here as well we will find him."
"Max. I knew you would bring him to Seattle. Any chance to see your precious Max." Her eyes shined with hatred. Whether it was aimed at himself or Max, he did not know, but he was dumbfounded by the words. "I'm sorry, Zack, I didn't mean that, It's just…" she tried to take her words back as quickly as she had spit them out. The stress she must have been under, he could not blame her for snapping at anything, though her particular comment caught him off guard. He shrugged it off prioritizing his concerns. At the moment Kat was at the top of the list. With an uncommon show of affection he knelt down and wrapped his arms around her. It was a simple gesture, but it was enough. The strength in his arms comforted Kat, as though his presence alone would ward off everything that may harm her. He did not speak a word, and she did not break the silence for what may have been an eternity.
"How is Max? I haven't seen her in so long."
"She's fine, I'll take you to her."
"You'll take me to her?" her words were slow and deliberate as if she was trying to clarify each word.
"Yeah. Come on."
"Where will we meet her?"
"What does it matter? I'll take you there." Something was definitely wrong here. "Is there something wrong Kat?"
"No. Why would you think that?"
"Come," was all he said. And she followed in silence.
*****
It seemed as though no one had touched the apartment Zack rented out a few weeks ago. Luckily for him since this is where he brought Kat. With her at Manticore there is no telling what tracking or listening devices Lydecker may have implanted. The chances of her being brainwashed again in such a short time were improbable. But something was definitely wrong.
"So tell me how you escaped," Zack questioned before he downed some tryptophan.
"You won't believe me," she warned but continued anyway, "There is a vent that leads to the exterior of the building., I was barely able to fit through, and they tried to flush me out by turning the furnaces on full, but I eventually found my way. I waited just inside the outer grate, when the guard got lazy I bolted."
"What did they do to you?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she turned rigid.
Zack's mind filled with liquid hatred for the man. Max convinced him to let Lydecker live but this…this was unforgivable. This is what was probably happening to Brin at this very moment. No, Zack wouldn't shoot Lydecker dead, that was too good for him, too quick a death. He could still hear Lydecker's voice: "Are you still so filled with hate Zack?" Well he was, and he welcomed the familiar feeling, oddly comforting amongst all this turmoil.
"Stay here, there's a payphone outside," he said, heading out the door.
*****
He looked up to find Kat staring at him through the window. She stood perfectly still and her face was devoid of any expressions. Zack refused to believe she had been broken, but why was she acting like this? One moment hysterical with hatred or grief or some other emotion, then the next she would show no signs of humanity at all. What had happened at Manticore? Sadly with this knowledge he couldn't trust her completely. He turned his back to her so she couldn't see the numbers he was dialing. A scant minute later she called back.
"Who's this," Max questioned without saying hello.
"It's me, listen you have to come to MY apartment."
"Your apartment?"
"Kat escaped, she's here with me."
"I'll be right there," she could not help but let her happiness and relief weave into her words. Zack could almost hear her smile. Truly he wished that his suspicions were unfounded, and that Kat was the Kat that had escaped and not the one sent out on a mission from Lydecker.
*****
The minutes were awkward between Kat and Zack so he filled the time explaining what had happened, where they had searched, and anything else he could think of to sooth her concerns for her missing son. She was itching to go search but she knew alone she could do nothing. Only when they were together could they do an efficient systematic search throughout all of Seattle. Finally, Max burst through the unlocked door.
"Kat?" Max's eyes filled with tears of joy, invoking a similar reaction from Kat. They hugged and released and hugged again, as any sisters would have after such a long separation.
"I missed you so much," was all Kat could sputter out as she wiped her tears away with the heel of her hand.
Max looked at her, not caring about her tears, "I've searched for you for so long. And not look at me, I don't even know what to say."
"Don't say anything, I feel the same way, just help me find my son. I need to hold him. I miss him so much." She burst into tears again, rubbing her hands together as if to wash off the guilt of having left him in the first place. It was Zack now who hugged and comforted her, tucking her head under his chin and stroking her hair, then rubbing her back. He placed one hand on each side of her face and pulled her away just enough to look her in the eyes to see if she was still crying. Imperceptible to the normal human eye, Max caught the brief widening of his eyes as he did this last act. It was as though he had just discovered something or confirmed something to himself.
Zack pulled her close again, letting her cry and he hoped he could do this quickly enough so that Max couldn't react to stop him, and Kat in her emotional stupor wouldn't realize what was happening before it was too late.
He leaned in closer to her ear, and softly, in the most soothing voice he could muster, whispered, "Stay here the night, I think you may actually need some rest." After a quick pause he whispered more quietly, "I'm sorry." In one quick motion he reached over at the table and grabbed his switchblade and slashed Kat behind her ear. His incision, though so quickly made, had the precision of an expert surgeon. And as he had guessed Max couldn't react, and Kat never saw it coming. It was mayhem after that. Kat screamed from both fear and pain, and Max stood frozen, unsure of what had just happen, unsure of how to react, unsure anything at all. Blood trickled into Kat's hair and down Zack's arm as he still gripped Kat's head. Finally he let go and Kat stumbled backwards. Between his forefinger and thumb he held up a small microchip.