After Raven confirmed Zack's suspicions of a new Manticore base, the dreaded topic came up.
"We need to leave for Canada soon." Zack's words cut to her heart, but she knew it was for the best. For her, for Logan, for the friends she had made here in Seattle. If Manticore knew she was there, it would be a matter of time before they found her friends and used them to get to her, by any means necessary. Even if it were pure coincidence that they landed on her doorstep, they would find her eventually and she couldn't risk her friends like that.
"I know."
"Don't fight me on this one Max…" Zack was taken aback, he had been expecting a long argument, "What?"
"I just need a little time, you know, to give everyone a heads up." She tried to make her voice strong, but a sorrow still seeped through. It may be best, but she didn't have to like it.
Zack caught the hesitation in her voice and his eyes filled with understanding. Though she didn't mean to, Max looked away, her cheeks were hot. "We'll give you a day. It'd be best if I took Raven to my apartment until then. The sooner we leave, the sooner our scent can disperse, in case Raven's siblings decide to come looking for her."
"A day should be all I need."
*****
Logan woke the next morning the instant the sun brushed his face. This was it. He had taken his first injection the night before and the doctor had said the results would be dramatic. So, this was it. As he pulled himself up into a sitting position, his breath caught in his throat. He felt the sheets against his legs.
Throwing back the covers he stared at his lower limbs in disbelief. With an uncertain hand he reached out to touch his thigh, praying to whatever higher power might be listening that what he felt before wasn't just a ghost sensation. But it was true. As his hand made contact with his leg, the limb also registered the feeling. Tears brimmed in his eyes as a smile came to his face.
He couldn't move them just yet, but it was a start. Still marveling at the sensations in his legs, he went to the washroom to take a shower. It seemed that his range of sensation also encompassed temperature and he stayed in the shower for an extra ten minutes just to feel the warm water on his legs. It was amazing.
When he got out, he put on his clothes and took his second shot. His room filled with sunshine as though the world itself was telling him that today would be a good day, and that anything was possible.
"Logan!" Bling called from the front door.
"Yeah, I'll be right out." Rolling out of his room, he realized his apartment was noticeably empty. All the genetically engineered super humans were gone. 'Probably out for a walk or something '. He dismissed their absence and any other concerns that came to his mind. They would be fine, he reassured himself. Besides, this was a good day so far, and he didn't want to bring that crashing down with unfounded worries before the sun reached its peak. Returning to the burdens of Eyes Only would do that so enough.
The workout went as any other day, but this time Logan could feel Bling working his legs. It even got to the point where he was aware that his muscles were moving.
"What's the status?" Bling asked, eager to know how the treatments were working.
"I can feel everything you're doing. It's incredible, I can feel my legs working."
"Any movement yet?"
"Not yet, but with these shots I have a feeling it will be soon. Sam told me that I would be walking by the end of the week."
"So…" one of those knowing smiles came to Bling's face, "How does Max feel about the whole situation?"
"I haven't told her yet."
"What?!"
"I didn't want to say anything cause I didn't want to be so sure and get my own hopes up."
"Yeah, right."
Logan laughed. Bling always caught him in a lie. "I guess I'm just nervous. What'll happen when I'm walking again? There will be no more barriers, no more excuses…"
"I couldn't tell ya," Bling said finishing off the last of the reps, "It's up to you and Max to decide that."
They finished up the workout and Bling left again for the day. It amused Logan to no end that his legs once again had sensation as he took another shower and changed into a normal outfit. He didn't even mind that his legs were sore from the workout. In fact he reveled in the sensation.
Finally getting over himself, he headed to his computer to continue his life as Eyes Only, scouring the informant net for anything new to investigate. As he approached his office he noticed something was propped up on his keyboard between the keys. It was a note with his name on it.
It read:
Hey Logan,
I figured this would be the best place
to put this so I know you would get it.
We've all gone to Zack's apartment so we
don't draw any more attention to your place.
I'll swing by around 8. We need to talk.
Max
*****
Max walked down the sloping entrance to Jam Pony. The walls of this place looked so different when she knew she would never see them again. They were still covered in posters and graffiti. Bikes still hung from ceiling hooks, lockers by the far wall, change room in the back, but now it was different. This was the home she was going to leave behind.
"Two day weekends were a pre-pulse thing." Normal barked at her with his dry humor.
"Needed to brush up on my history. To be all I could be for this job." She threw her own smart ass remark back at him.
"Excuse me missy, but you can't just waltz in here without an explanation. Those lackeys you've called your friends have been trying to cover for you all weekend with everything from fatal injury to long lost relatives."
Max smiled at the irony of that comment. "They got it about right."
"You're fired."
"Miss you too Normal. Have a nice day." She kept on walking to the lockers in the back to try and find Original Cindy and the others.
"Hey, boo," Original Cindy's voice came from behind her. "Haven't heard from you in a while. Original Cindy was beginning to wonder if you finally got some booty with that boy toy shuga daddy of yours and decided there were better places to be then this dump."
"I heard that." Normal yelled from his little booth.
"Good," O.C. called back.
"I've just been around."
"You mean around the bases and back."
Max felt her cheeks grow warm, "I gotta tell you something…"
"Shoot. Original Cindy is all ears for you."
"Hey Max." It was Sketchy, riding down the entrance ramp past the 'No riding bikes indoors' sign. "Where've you been? I needed someone to tell me to not make an ass of myself yesterday."
Max laughed, "But you would have made an ass of yourself anyways."
"Ah, yes, but it means so much more when someone tells me not to."
"Max," Herbal followed behind, "In mine eye, me was wondering if God had found you a better place den dis, and you were holdin' out on us."
"Where would I find a better place than this? But I gotta tell you guys something." They all became concerned when they heard the tone of her voice. "I have to leave for Canada."
"What? Why?" The words were barely out of Max's mouth when Original Cindy questioned them.
"My aunt, in Canada. She just had a stroke and I need to go help take care of her." No one responded, in fact they all stared at her dumbfounded, so she continued, "I don't know how long I'll be gone. Hopefully for only a little while, but I'll be back soon I'm sure." Deep down she knew that was a lie, but she couldn't bring herself to tell them that she would be gone for good. There was no way she could explain that.
"When'd you figure this?" Sketchy asked, that worried look once again returning to his face.
"The other day. I got a call."
"Original Cindy didn't know her boo had Canuck blood running through her veins." If she had only known what was really pumping through Max's body.
"So, be dere a party at the Crash tonight, to bless your trip with sweet flowing booze and Bob Marley singing farewell?" Herbal was already planning the activities in his head.
"I can't," Max said, with honest regret in her voice, "I'm leaving tonight and I still have to pack."
"You're just gonna up and leave us then?" If Sketchy didn't stop furrowing his brows soon he was going to pull something.
"Don't make it sound like I wanna do this."
"Now if the slackers over there would make some pickups I might be inclined to give them their paychecks!" Normal interrupted the moment.
"How about we all drop by the apartment. That way Mr. Bossman over there can pay us for slacking." Original Cindy offered.
"Sounds like a plan." Max said, fighting back some tears. She was gonna miss this place but she would have time to cry later.
"Don't leave, without Original Cindy's good bye." O.C.'s eyes were starting to shine with tears.
"Is it bad that I'm thinking what I'm thinking right now?" Leave it to Sketchy to break the emotional tension. Both Max and Original Cindy rolled their eyes and walked away, leaving a view Sketchy could not help but stare at.
Herbal slapped him upside his head.
"What?"
But all the response he got was Herbal smiling and shaking his head.
*****
"It is very impressive." Major Mathews said as they watched Cole through a one sided mirror, fighting four of the X-6 and holding his own. "Very impressive indeed."
"Get him out of there!" Kat cried, hoping some of the desperation she poured into her plea would make it past this man's toughened exterior. She tried to take a step closer to the looking glass but was held tight by two X-6s who both had a firm grip on her still shackled arms.
"All other previous attempts to naturally breed X-groups have ended in still births, horrible disfigurements, vegetable children…Even our first endeavors at creating the X-6 from preexisting X-5 genes produced strange things. In fact the very first X-6 was a stillborn humanoid with a dolphin's skin, tigers eyes, and fins on her fore arms."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Now Cole was frantically punching and clawing at the mirror. He knew someone was beyond the glass. Behind him two of the X-6 were laying unconscious, another was gripping her head and the fourth was wiping away the blood that spilled from a cut above his eye.
"I just find it amazing that you were naturally able to produce this child who will be our greatest soldier yet. His genetic code will be extensively studied. That is, after we break him."
"No! Lydecker said you would make him normal!" Kat's hopes and dreams for her son were shattered. Max and Zack were right, how could she have ever doubted them? Manticore did everything for its own purposes. Why did she ever let herself think otherwise?
"And destroy that genetic masterpiece? After a moment of lust and nine months of gestation you have created what Manticore had been striving for during it's fifty some years of existence."
"You son of a bitch."
At that moment Cole leapt at them, using his shoulder to try and break through. The two X-6s that were on the floor had now regained consciousness and all four were advancing on him again. The glass was reinforced and though it cracked it held strong. Pushing a button, Major Mathews spoke into an intercom, "That's enough. Use your tasers." At his command all four produced the weapons and made quick work of the boy. Cole's body lay convulsing on the floor. Even after he was down, they continued to shock him and Kat could only look on in horror, her throat too dry to speak. 'What have I done? '
"Major, you have an incoming message." Another man had entered the room but Kat didn't take notice of him.
"I'll be there," he said, then turning to the two X-6s in the room, "Quince, Fox. Strap her down in white room 510. She's to be re-indoctrinated immediately."
An overwhelming misery came over her as she watched her son, his small muscles seizing as the X-6 continued to send volts of electricity into his limp body. She could not find the strength to fight as the ones called Quince and Fox dragged her to that dreaded room.
"We need to leave for Canada soon." Zack's words cut to her heart, but she knew it was for the best. For her, for Logan, for the friends she had made here in Seattle. If Manticore knew she was there, it would be a matter of time before they found her friends and used them to get to her, by any means necessary. Even if it were pure coincidence that they landed on her doorstep, they would find her eventually and she couldn't risk her friends like that.
"I know."
"Don't fight me on this one Max…" Zack was taken aback, he had been expecting a long argument, "What?"
"I just need a little time, you know, to give everyone a heads up." She tried to make her voice strong, but a sorrow still seeped through. It may be best, but she didn't have to like it.
Zack caught the hesitation in her voice and his eyes filled with understanding. Though she didn't mean to, Max looked away, her cheeks were hot. "We'll give you a day. It'd be best if I took Raven to my apartment until then. The sooner we leave, the sooner our scent can disperse, in case Raven's siblings decide to come looking for her."
"A day should be all I need."
*****
Logan woke the next morning the instant the sun brushed his face. This was it. He had taken his first injection the night before and the doctor had said the results would be dramatic. So, this was it. As he pulled himself up into a sitting position, his breath caught in his throat. He felt the sheets against his legs.
Throwing back the covers he stared at his lower limbs in disbelief. With an uncertain hand he reached out to touch his thigh, praying to whatever higher power might be listening that what he felt before wasn't just a ghost sensation. But it was true. As his hand made contact with his leg, the limb also registered the feeling. Tears brimmed in his eyes as a smile came to his face.
He couldn't move them just yet, but it was a start. Still marveling at the sensations in his legs, he went to the washroom to take a shower. It seemed that his range of sensation also encompassed temperature and he stayed in the shower for an extra ten minutes just to feel the warm water on his legs. It was amazing.
When he got out, he put on his clothes and took his second shot. His room filled with sunshine as though the world itself was telling him that today would be a good day, and that anything was possible.
"Logan!" Bling called from the front door.
"Yeah, I'll be right out." Rolling out of his room, he realized his apartment was noticeably empty. All the genetically engineered super humans were gone. 'Probably out for a walk or something '. He dismissed their absence and any other concerns that came to his mind. They would be fine, he reassured himself. Besides, this was a good day so far, and he didn't want to bring that crashing down with unfounded worries before the sun reached its peak. Returning to the burdens of Eyes Only would do that so enough.
The workout went as any other day, but this time Logan could feel Bling working his legs. It even got to the point where he was aware that his muscles were moving.
"What's the status?" Bling asked, eager to know how the treatments were working.
"I can feel everything you're doing. It's incredible, I can feel my legs working."
"Any movement yet?"
"Not yet, but with these shots I have a feeling it will be soon. Sam told me that I would be walking by the end of the week."
"So…" one of those knowing smiles came to Bling's face, "How does Max feel about the whole situation?"
"I haven't told her yet."
"What?!"
"I didn't want to say anything cause I didn't want to be so sure and get my own hopes up."
"Yeah, right."
Logan laughed. Bling always caught him in a lie. "I guess I'm just nervous. What'll happen when I'm walking again? There will be no more barriers, no more excuses…"
"I couldn't tell ya," Bling said finishing off the last of the reps, "It's up to you and Max to decide that."
They finished up the workout and Bling left again for the day. It amused Logan to no end that his legs once again had sensation as he took another shower and changed into a normal outfit. He didn't even mind that his legs were sore from the workout. In fact he reveled in the sensation.
Finally getting over himself, he headed to his computer to continue his life as Eyes Only, scouring the informant net for anything new to investigate. As he approached his office he noticed something was propped up on his keyboard between the keys. It was a note with his name on it.
It read:
Hey Logan,
I figured this would be the best place
to put this so I know you would get it.
We've all gone to Zack's apartment so we
don't draw any more attention to your place.
I'll swing by around 8. We need to talk.
Max
*****
Max walked down the sloping entrance to Jam Pony. The walls of this place looked so different when she knew she would never see them again. They were still covered in posters and graffiti. Bikes still hung from ceiling hooks, lockers by the far wall, change room in the back, but now it was different. This was the home she was going to leave behind.
"Two day weekends were a pre-pulse thing." Normal barked at her with his dry humor.
"Needed to brush up on my history. To be all I could be for this job." She threw her own smart ass remark back at him.
"Excuse me missy, but you can't just waltz in here without an explanation. Those lackeys you've called your friends have been trying to cover for you all weekend with everything from fatal injury to long lost relatives."
Max smiled at the irony of that comment. "They got it about right."
"You're fired."
"Miss you too Normal. Have a nice day." She kept on walking to the lockers in the back to try and find Original Cindy and the others.
"Hey, boo," Original Cindy's voice came from behind her. "Haven't heard from you in a while. Original Cindy was beginning to wonder if you finally got some booty with that boy toy shuga daddy of yours and decided there were better places to be then this dump."
"I heard that." Normal yelled from his little booth.
"Good," O.C. called back.
"I've just been around."
"You mean around the bases and back."
Max felt her cheeks grow warm, "I gotta tell you something…"
"Shoot. Original Cindy is all ears for you."
"Hey Max." It was Sketchy, riding down the entrance ramp past the 'No riding bikes indoors' sign. "Where've you been? I needed someone to tell me to not make an ass of myself yesterday."
Max laughed, "But you would have made an ass of yourself anyways."
"Ah, yes, but it means so much more when someone tells me not to."
"Max," Herbal followed behind, "In mine eye, me was wondering if God had found you a better place den dis, and you were holdin' out on us."
"Where would I find a better place than this? But I gotta tell you guys something." They all became concerned when they heard the tone of her voice. "I have to leave for Canada."
"What? Why?" The words were barely out of Max's mouth when Original Cindy questioned them.
"My aunt, in Canada. She just had a stroke and I need to go help take care of her." No one responded, in fact they all stared at her dumbfounded, so she continued, "I don't know how long I'll be gone. Hopefully for only a little while, but I'll be back soon I'm sure." Deep down she knew that was a lie, but she couldn't bring herself to tell them that she would be gone for good. There was no way she could explain that.
"When'd you figure this?" Sketchy asked, that worried look once again returning to his face.
"The other day. I got a call."
"Original Cindy didn't know her boo had Canuck blood running through her veins." If she had only known what was really pumping through Max's body.
"So, be dere a party at the Crash tonight, to bless your trip with sweet flowing booze and Bob Marley singing farewell?" Herbal was already planning the activities in his head.
"I can't," Max said, with honest regret in her voice, "I'm leaving tonight and I still have to pack."
"You're just gonna up and leave us then?" If Sketchy didn't stop furrowing his brows soon he was going to pull something.
"Don't make it sound like I wanna do this."
"Now if the slackers over there would make some pickups I might be inclined to give them their paychecks!" Normal interrupted the moment.
"How about we all drop by the apartment. That way Mr. Bossman over there can pay us for slacking." Original Cindy offered.
"Sounds like a plan." Max said, fighting back some tears. She was gonna miss this place but she would have time to cry later.
"Don't leave, without Original Cindy's good bye." O.C.'s eyes were starting to shine with tears.
"Is it bad that I'm thinking what I'm thinking right now?" Leave it to Sketchy to break the emotional tension. Both Max and Original Cindy rolled their eyes and walked away, leaving a view Sketchy could not help but stare at.
Herbal slapped him upside his head.
"What?"
But all the response he got was Herbal smiling and shaking his head.
*****
"It is very impressive." Major Mathews said as they watched Cole through a one sided mirror, fighting four of the X-6 and holding his own. "Very impressive indeed."
"Get him out of there!" Kat cried, hoping some of the desperation she poured into her plea would make it past this man's toughened exterior. She tried to take a step closer to the looking glass but was held tight by two X-6s who both had a firm grip on her still shackled arms.
"All other previous attempts to naturally breed X-groups have ended in still births, horrible disfigurements, vegetable children…Even our first endeavors at creating the X-6 from preexisting X-5 genes produced strange things. In fact the very first X-6 was a stillborn humanoid with a dolphin's skin, tigers eyes, and fins on her fore arms."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Now Cole was frantically punching and clawing at the mirror. He knew someone was beyond the glass. Behind him two of the X-6 were laying unconscious, another was gripping her head and the fourth was wiping away the blood that spilled from a cut above his eye.
"I just find it amazing that you were naturally able to produce this child who will be our greatest soldier yet. His genetic code will be extensively studied. That is, after we break him."
"No! Lydecker said you would make him normal!" Kat's hopes and dreams for her son were shattered. Max and Zack were right, how could she have ever doubted them? Manticore did everything for its own purposes. Why did she ever let herself think otherwise?
"And destroy that genetic masterpiece? After a moment of lust and nine months of gestation you have created what Manticore had been striving for during it's fifty some years of existence."
"You son of a bitch."
At that moment Cole leapt at them, using his shoulder to try and break through. The two X-6s that were on the floor had now regained consciousness and all four were advancing on him again. The glass was reinforced and though it cracked it held strong. Pushing a button, Major Mathews spoke into an intercom, "That's enough. Use your tasers." At his command all four produced the weapons and made quick work of the boy. Cole's body lay convulsing on the floor. Even after he was down, they continued to shock him and Kat could only look on in horror, her throat too dry to speak. 'What have I done? '
"Major, you have an incoming message." Another man had entered the room but Kat didn't take notice of him.
"I'll be there," he said, then turning to the two X-6s in the room, "Quince, Fox. Strap her down in white room 510. She's to be re-indoctrinated immediately."
An overwhelming misery came over her as she watched her son, his small muscles seizing as the X-6 continued to send volts of electricity into his limp body. She could not find the strength to fight as the ones called Quince and Fox dragged her to that dreaded room.