"Are you sure you won't mind?" Dr. Marion questioned for the fourth time as they drove back to the hospital.
"What? Being virtually naked, attached to machines monitoring every movement I make while a bunch of fully clothed doctors tell me to walk around? Nah, it'll be great," he smiled.
"It may take a while, so if you really don't want to…"
"I'm joking Alyssa. If the board approves and you can get your treatment out of the experimental phase and into widespread practice, I would be happy to help."
*****
The room the Triumvirate held their meetings was dark save for the far wall, which held a rotating 3-D image of Donovan. The top corner of the display read: Project Nemesis.
"His skeletal system," the eldest of the three held a remote to the image and the model of Donovan was stripped down to his bare bones, "is fifty percent more efficient than the X-6. He can run faster, jump higher, and fight harder than anything we have created to date. Unlocking his genetic code is essential to the success of Manticore."
"He also has an immeasurable healing factor which could prove useful for Stage Three." The only female member of the triumvirate held up her own remote and the bottom corner of the screen showed a time lapsed film of an deep incision made into Donovan's arm. According to the time frame, it healed in less than half an hour. "If we can understand his genetic code we can enhance the others via retroviral genetic treatments."
Again the image of Donovan changed this time showing the circulatory system. "Lung capacity comparable to a dolphin as well as enhanced hemoglobin. He could hold his breath for forty minutes," the first man added.
"The only thing we could have predicted that would have arisen from the mating of 5k and 5z would have been his O-neg blood," the woman laughed. She could see the irony in the fact that despite the unpredictable and volatile nature of reproduction, it had produced the prototype they have been striving for since the inception of Manticore itself.
They all paused to let the gathered information set in.
Finally the third spoke, "I believe we should wait until we see him perform in the field. If he establishes that he is as lethal as we believe him to be there might not even be a need for stage three. Either way we need to secure his loyalty. We should proceed with Operation Lock Down."
"Are we sure we are willing to make that sacrifice?" the lady questioned.
"It is all in the name of progress," the third of the three tried to assuage her concerns.
"Agreed, the message has been sent to Lydecker." the other man spoke.
"Speaking of Lydecker, I have another matter to bring up," the woman said, "concerning Major Mathews."
*****
"Major," Lydecker addressed his inferior without standing. He was, as of yet, still too weak for even such a simple movement, but he demanded he be placed in his office. "The Triumvirate believes that today seems like a good day to proceed with Operation Lock Down." The major could hear the distaste in Deck's already sour voice. It seemed Ty was not the only one who disliked the idea. "Debrief Eden on her duties and make sure to tell Ty that X-5k must be conscious and able to … perform."
"Yes sir." Mathews turned to leave. He could not stand being under this man's command again.
"And Major." Deck's words stopped Mathews just before he exited the office, "I will talk to you later about the deployment of X-6r."
Poised to leave the room Mathews replied, "Yes sir." He did not bother to turn around before he left the office.
*****
Max came to an hour later, her head throbbing with pain. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts and remember where she was. Canada. The loft. Then she remembered what had transpired. Zack had gone berserk with rage when she had crushed the bottle. Around her the room told a different story. There was no trace of a battle, let alone Zack. His clothes were gone, the bed was back in its original position, and the sheets were straightened. Only the whole in the wall where Zack's fist had gone through hinted at a fight. However, looking down at her still bloody pal Max remembered all too clearly; the look of a killer in Zack's bloodshot eyes that looked hauntingly natural for Zack. The thought sent shivers up her spine.
He had whispered something in her ear. "Don't follow me," he had said. Follow him where? But she didn't have to think too hard. An addict desperate for his next hit would go back to the source…
With Zack in that state of mind Logan could be in some serious danger. Max went to her room and gathered her things together, slinging the pack over her shoulder. She also picked up Raven's sack which lay in the corner, packed and ready to go at a moments notice, just as Manticore had taught them all.
After a quick sweep of the loft to ensure she hadn't forgotten anything essential, Max took her ninja down the stairs.
*****
Now standing exactly four feet, Donovan stood with Fox and Quince at the bottom of the tank. Their feet were chained to the floor and there was a good four feet of water above their heads. Donovan loved this drill. The pressure of the water all around him was oddly comforting. It could also have to do with the fact that he could easily outlast any of his siblings at holding his breath. He closed his eyes and relaxed.
By his judgment six minutes had passed and he could sense slight vibrations in the water informing him that one of the other two had reached their limit and was struggling for air. After a few more seconds the devices that held their ankles released their grip and around him Fox and Quince shot up to take a gasp of air. Not yet needing to replenish his lungs, Donovan stood where he was, looking up at the instructor who still had the timer in his hands.
*****
"So where are you from?" Ethan asked as he chomped down on his sub.
"Well, I was born in Wyoming, but I've traveled a lot in my life."
"Yeah," Ethan's interest was peaked, "Like where?"
"Let's see…" she paused to think. Assassinations in "Tibet, China, Japan, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Cuba, Hong Kong." Recon in "Congo, Somalia, Russia, Ivory Coast, Fiji, Australia…the list does go on…"
"Are you an army brat or something?"
"Yeah," Raven smiled, "I guess you can say that."
There was no time for further discussion as Max burst into the Subway. Her eyes frantically searched all the booths until they finally came to rest on Raven. It was then that she saw the cut on Max's lip and the bruise under her eye. Much to Raven's surprise, Max used a few generic hand signals which conveyed urgency and trouble.
Ethan's back was turned to Max, but he did see the concern developing on Raven's face. "What's wrong."
"I have to go," she stood, grabbing her jacket as well.
"But you haven't even eaten…"
"I'm not hungry. I have to go." She faintly smiled down at Ethan who was still sitting in the booth. "Thanks for lunch. It was nice knowing you."
"What do you mean, are you not coming back?" but his question was too late as Raven had already left.
*****
"What's wrong? Has Manticore found us?" Raven asked as she secured her helmet.
"No, Zack has gone back to Seattle."
"Why would he do that? It's not safe."
"It seems he is addicted to Logan's medicine. You know, the stuff I injected into him the night you brought him to the penthouse."
"Wait, then how did you get a cut lip? Zack didn't fight you did he?" Though Max didn't answer, Raven knew her guess was true.
"We gotta get back there soon. If Zack gets there… I just hope, for once, Logan isn't home." They blazed down the streets on the highway to Seattle.
*****
"Are you ready, soldier?" Ty said to Eden who stood before him. She held tight to two straps of leather that hung from the ceiling, each strap wrapped two or three times around each hand.
She smiled. "I'm a big girl now Ty, I can take it. I'm just wondering if you can handle it. Try not to wuss out on me, 'kay guy?"
"I wouldn't me teasing me if I was in your position," Ty laughed, handing Eden her mouth guard and waiting until she had it positioned properly.
Eden nodded to confirm she was ready; a look of determination filled her eyes and her hands gripped tighter around the leather straps.
Ty took a deep breath, and curled his hand into a fist. Mere moments later he punched her with such force her head turned to the side. Eden righted herself and after another well placed punch her lip split open, red liquid staining her pale skin and falling down on her uniform. Satisfied that he had drawn blood, Ty pulled back his fist aiming his next blow much like an artist planned his next stroke on a canvas.
*****
At the first checkpoint they were forced to pass through, Max noticed the guard seemed to be favoring his right hand. Whenever he had to move it he winced at the effort.
"What happened to you?" She asked casually as they took her card and ran a quick background check.
"Nothing," the guard replied busy staring at the computer screen.
Raven tapped Max on the shoulder and pointed at the small hut where another guard was talking on the phone. Max focused her hearing on the second guard.
"Two hours ago…Uh huh…South on a motorbike…Uh huh," the man nodded to himself, "Yeah he was about five ten. Uh, dirty blond hair, medium length…Oh right, yeah, caucasian…Age? Ah," he squinted his eyes as he thought. "He looked to be about late teens, early twenties…What was that now? … Oh no, he didn't steal anything, he just seemed to be in a hurry. But he was carrying a gun. Hold on, my buddy…Yeah the one who got attacked, knows what it was. Just hold on." The man put down the phone and picked up another.
Almost instantaneously, the phone beside the first guard rang, and he picked it up just as quickly, "What is it now? … I'm pretty sure it looked something like a Colt M1911A. Is that all? … Alright then. Bye." He hung up the phone and turned his attentions once again to the computer screen.
What are you doing Zack?
"Uh miss?" the guard interrupted Max's thoughts, "here you go, you're free to pass."
Max didn't give the gate enough time to fully rise before she bolted down the street in an urgent game of catch up.
*****
"And how are you today, Kat?" Ty entered the room where Kat lay. It had white padded walls, but at least this time Kat was free to move around, and there was no constant streaming of propoganda.
The only response Kat gave was a glare in Ty's direction.
"Still not talking are we?"
Again only a glare.
"Eden," he called over his shoulder, and a small fragile looking girl stepped into the room, her face bruised and bloody, her uniform bloody and torn. Kat did not know what to make of this, as the girl approached her. All she could think to do was curl up and hug her knees tighter. The one called Eden came to Kat's side and began to stroke her hair, like a loving mother. And in the most bazaar show of affection, Eden put her arms around Kat and hugged her tightly, smearing some of the blood onto Kat's face. Kat was so repulsed that she wanted to shove the girl off, but she was too afraid to move.
Finally the girl released her, and exited the room as if nothing had happened.
"Well," Ty turned to leave the room as well, "At least your son is a little more cooperative. He's turning out to be quite the soldier."
"No!" That pushed her over the edge and she forgot how scared she was. Kat leapt at Ty, as if stopping him would return her son to normal.
Ty was not surprised as he turned around and blocked the attack. Needing to vent all her frustrations Kat continued to pursue Ty with punches and kicks. All which, much to her chagrin, he easily blocked.
After a minute of this it seemed Ty was getting bored. He grabbed her wrist as she punched at him, and pulled her toward him into his waiting knee. Winded, Kat grabbed at her stomach and fell forward. She would have hit the ground had Ty not caught her throat in his one hand. The action was not meant to save her as he lifted her up and slammed her onto the ground on her back. Her head hit the ground hard, and had it not been for the padded surface her skull would have surely cracked.
As he kneeled over her, Kat could see the smile on his face.
"Excellent," was all he said before he left the room, leaving Kat to wonder, what exactly had just happened.
*****
An hour later the guards at the next station were in much the same shape as the one before. Again another guard inside the hut was reporting the incident. But this time she didn't want to believe what she heard.
"Yes, I got that last warning… uh huh… yeah… but I'm telling you, that guy must not have seen the guy clearly…same gun…motorbike, yup… heading south…everything else matches… but the guy was clearly in his thirties… ma'am I'm not the only one who saw…yes, all eight of us agree on that age…yup…I understand it could be a different guy but what are the chances of that…no don't put me on hold… Damn!" Obviously frustrated the officer hit the phone against the desk. He yelled out the window to his workmates, "Can you believe this? They aren't believing me!"
"You're good to go miss," the officer said, returning the card to her possession. "And you better watch out for you and your sister here, there's a crazy guy running around with a gun."
"Yeah, thanks for the heads up." Max said, tucking the card away in her pocket.
Max smiled but her mind was racing. There was no way Zack would succumb to the rapid aging syndrome, he was so strong…
"What? Being virtually naked, attached to machines monitoring every movement I make while a bunch of fully clothed doctors tell me to walk around? Nah, it'll be great," he smiled.
"It may take a while, so if you really don't want to…"
"I'm joking Alyssa. If the board approves and you can get your treatment out of the experimental phase and into widespread practice, I would be happy to help."
*****
The room the Triumvirate held their meetings was dark save for the far wall, which held a rotating 3-D image of Donovan. The top corner of the display read: Project Nemesis.
"His skeletal system," the eldest of the three held a remote to the image and the model of Donovan was stripped down to his bare bones, "is fifty percent more efficient than the X-6. He can run faster, jump higher, and fight harder than anything we have created to date. Unlocking his genetic code is essential to the success of Manticore."
"He also has an immeasurable healing factor which could prove useful for Stage Three." The only female member of the triumvirate held up her own remote and the bottom corner of the screen showed a time lapsed film of an deep incision made into Donovan's arm. According to the time frame, it healed in less than half an hour. "If we can understand his genetic code we can enhance the others via retroviral genetic treatments."
Again the image of Donovan changed this time showing the circulatory system. "Lung capacity comparable to a dolphin as well as enhanced hemoglobin. He could hold his breath for forty minutes," the first man added.
"The only thing we could have predicted that would have arisen from the mating of 5k and 5z would have been his O-neg blood," the woman laughed. She could see the irony in the fact that despite the unpredictable and volatile nature of reproduction, it had produced the prototype they have been striving for since the inception of Manticore itself.
They all paused to let the gathered information set in.
Finally the third spoke, "I believe we should wait until we see him perform in the field. If he establishes that he is as lethal as we believe him to be there might not even be a need for stage three. Either way we need to secure his loyalty. We should proceed with Operation Lock Down."
"Are we sure we are willing to make that sacrifice?" the lady questioned.
"It is all in the name of progress," the third of the three tried to assuage her concerns.
"Agreed, the message has been sent to Lydecker." the other man spoke.
"Speaking of Lydecker, I have another matter to bring up," the woman said, "concerning Major Mathews."
*****
"Major," Lydecker addressed his inferior without standing. He was, as of yet, still too weak for even such a simple movement, but he demanded he be placed in his office. "The Triumvirate believes that today seems like a good day to proceed with Operation Lock Down." The major could hear the distaste in Deck's already sour voice. It seemed Ty was not the only one who disliked the idea. "Debrief Eden on her duties and make sure to tell Ty that X-5k must be conscious and able to … perform."
"Yes sir." Mathews turned to leave. He could not stand being under this man's command again.
"And Major." Deck's words stopped Mathews just before he exited the office, "I will talk to you later about the deployment of X-6r."
Poised to leave the room Mathews replied, "Yes sir." He did not bother to turn around before he left the office.
*****
Max came to an hour later, her head throbbing with pain. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts and remember where she was. Canada. The loft. Then she remembered what had transpired. Zack had gone berserk with rage when she had crushed the bottle. Around her the room told a different story. There was no trace of a battle, let alone Zack. His clothes were gone, the bed was back in its original position, and the sheets were straightened. Only the whole in the wall where Zack's fist had gone through hinted at a fight. However, looking down at her still bloody pal Max remembered all too clearly; the look of a killer in Zack's bloodshot eyes that looked hauntingly natural for Zack. The thought sent shivers up her spine.
He had whispered something in her ear. "Don't follow me," he had said. Follow him where? But she didn't have to think too hard. An addict desperate for his next hit would go back to the source…
With Zack in that state of mind Logan could be in some serious danger. Max went to her room and gathered her things together, slinging the pack over her shoulder. She also picked up Raven's sack which lay in the corner, packed and ready to go at a moments notice, just as Manticore had taught them all.
After a quick sweep of the loft to ensure she hadn't forgotten anything essential, Max took her ninja down the stairs.
*****
Now standing exactly four feet, Donovan stood with Fox and Quince at the bottom of the tank. Their feet were chained to the floor and there was a good four feet of water above their heads. Donovan loved this drill. The pressure of the water all around him was oddly comforting. It could also have to do with the fact that he could easily outlast any of his siblings at holding his breath. He closed his eyes and relaxed.
By his judgment six minutes had passed and he could sense slight vibrations in the water informing him that one of the other two had reached their limit and was struggling for air. After a few more seconds the devices that held their ankles released their grip and around him Fox and Quince shot up to take a gasp of air. Not yet needing to replenish his lungs, Donovan stood where he was, looking up at the instructor who still had the timer in his hands.
*****
"So where are you from?" Ethan asked as he chomped down on his sub.
"Well, I was born in Wyoming, but I've traveled a lot in my life."
"Yeah," Ethan's interest was peaked, "Like where?"
"Let's see…" she paused to think. Assassinations in "Tibet, China, Japan, Germany, Spain, South Africa, Cuba, Hong Kong." Recon in "Congo, Somalia, Russia, Ivory Coast, Fiji, Australia…the list does go on…"
"Are you an army brat or something?"
"Yeah," Raven smiled, "I guess you can say that."
There was no time for further discussion as Max burst into the Subway. Her eyes frantically searched all the booths until they finally came to rest on Raven. It was then that she saw the cut on Max's lip and the bruise under her eye. Much to Raven's surprise, Max used a few generic hand signals which conveyed urgency and trouble.
Ethan's back was turned to Max, but he did see the concern developing on Raven's face. "What's wrong."
"I have to go," she stood, grabbing her jacket as well.
"But you haven't even eaten…"
"I'm not hungry. I have to go." She faintly smiled down at Ethan who was still sitting in the booth. "Thanks for lunch. It was nice knowing you."
"What do you mean, are you not coming back?" but his question was too late as Raven had already left.
*****
"What's wrong? Has Manticore found us?" Raven asked as she secured her helmet.
"No, Zack has gone back to Seattle."
"Why would he do that? It's not safe."
"It seems he is addicted to Logan's medicine. You know, the stuff I injected into him the night you brought him to the penthouse."
"Wait, then how did you get a cut lip? Zack didn't fight you did he?" Though Max didn't answer, Raven knew her guess was true.
"We gotta get back there soon. If Zack gets there… I just hope, for once, Logan isn't home." They blazed down the streets on the highway to Seattle.
*****
"Are you ready, soldier?" Ty said to Eden who stood before him. She held tight to two straps of leather that hung from the ceiling, each strap wrapped two or three times around each hand.
She smiled. "I'm a big girl now Ty, I can take it. I'm just wondering if you can handle it. Try not to wuss out on me, 'kay guy?"
"I wouldn't me teasing me if I was in your position," Ty laughed, handing Eden her mouth guard and waiting until she had it positioned properly.
Eden nodded to confirm she was ready; a look of determination filled her eyes and her hands gripped tighter around the leather straps.
Ty took a deep breath, and curled his hand into a fist. Mere moments later he punched her with such force her head turned to the side. Eden righted herself and after another well placed punch her lip split open, red liquid staining her pale skin and falling down on her uniform. Satisfied that he had drawn blood, Ty pulled back his fist aiming his next blow much like an artist planned his next stroke on a canvas.
*****
At the first checkpoint they were forced to pass through, Max noticed the guard seemed to be favoring his right hand. Whenever he had to move it he winced at the effort.
"What happened to you?" She asked casually as they took her card and ran a quick background check.
"Nothing," the guard replied busy staring at the computer screen.
Raven tapped Max on the shoulder and pointed at the small hut where another guard was talking on the phone. Max focused her hearing on the second guard.
"Two hours ago…Uh huh…South on a motorbike…Uh huh," the man nodded to himself, "Yeah he was about five ten. Uh, dirty blond hair, medium length…Oh right, yeah, caucasian…Age? Ah," he squinted his eyes as he thought. "He looked to be about late teens, early twenties…What was that now? … Oh no, he didn't steal anything, he just seemed to be in a hurry. But he was carrying a gun. Hold on, my buddy…Yeah the one who got attacked, knows what it was. Just hold on." The man put down the phone and picked up another.
Almost instantaneously, the phone beside the first guard rang, and he picked it up just as quickly, "What is it now? … I'm pretty sure it looked something like a Colt M1911A. Is that all? … Alright then. Bye." He hung up the phone and turned his attentions once again to the computer screen.
What are you doing Zack?
"Uh miss?" the guard interrupted Max's thoughts, "here you go, you're free to pass."
Max didn't give the gate enough time to fully rise before she bolted down the street in an urgent game of catch up.
*****
"And how are you today, Kat?" Ty entered the room where Kat lay. It had white padded walls, but at least this time Kat was free to move around, and there was no constant streaming of propoganda.
The only response Kat gave was a glare in Ty's direction.
"Still not talking are we?"
Again only a glare.
"Eden," he called over his shoulder, and a small fragile looking girl stepped into the room, her face bruised and bloody, her uniform bloody and torn. Kat did not know what to make of this, as the girl approached her. All she could think to do was curl up and hug her knees tighter. The one called Eden came to Kat's side and began to stroke her hair, like a loving mother. And in the most bazaar show of affection, Eden put her arms around Kat and hugged her tightly, smearing some of the blood onto Kat's face. Kat was so repulsed that she wanted to shove the girl off, but she was too afraid to move.
Finally the girl released her, and exited the room as if nothing had happened.
"Well," Ty turned to leave the room as well, "At least your son is a little more cooperative. He's turning out to be quite the soldier."
"No!" That pushed her over the edge and she forgot how scared she was. Kat leapt at Ty, as if stopping him would return her son to normal.
Ty was not surprised as he turned around and blocked the attack. Needing to vent all her frustrations Kat continued to pursue Ty with punches and kicks. All which, much to her chagrin, he easily blocked.
After a minute of this it seemed Ty was getting bored. He grabbed her wrist as she punched at him, and pulled her toward him into his waiting knee. Winded, Kat grabbed at her stomach and fell forward. She would have hit the ground had Ty not caught her throat in his one hand. The action was not meant to save her as he lifted her up and slammed her onto the ground on her back. Her head hit the ground hard, and had it not been for the padded surface her skull would have surely cracked.
As he kneeled over her, Kat could see the smile on his face.
"Excellent," was all he said before he left the room, leaving Kat to wonder, what exactly had just happened.
*****
An hour later the guards at the next station were in much the same shape as the one before. Again another guard inside the hut was reporting the incident. But this time she didn't want to believe what she heard.
"Yes, I got that last warning… uh huh… yeah… but I'm telling you, that guy must not have seen the guy clearly…same gun…motorbike, yup… heading south…everything else matches… but the guy was clearly in his thirties… ma'am I'm not the only one who saw…yes, all eight of us agree on that age…yup…I understand it could be a different guy but what are the chances of that…no don't put me on hold… Damn!" Obviously frustrated the officer hit the phone against the desk. He yelled out the window to his workmates, "Can you believe this? They aren't believing me!"
"You're good to go miss," the officer said, returning the card to her possession. "And you better watch out for you and your sister here, there's a crazy guy running around with a gun."
"Yeah, thanks for the heads up." Max said, tucking the card away in her pocket.
Max smiled but her mind was racing. There was no way Zack would succumb to the rapid aging syndrome, he was so strong…