I think I'm spoiling you all by doing this but here is parts 7,8,&9a. Don't ask why (about the a part) that's just how it was written. I hope you like it and I promise it gets even more interesting. -puppy
Carina
Part 7
Carina sat quietly on the floor of Logan's living room. She had gotten his permission and moved the furniture and rug off to the edges of the room. She sat silently, her legs crossed Indian style, her eyes closed, and thought, or rather she tried not to.
Every once and a while she heard the soft sound of tires wheeling across the wooden floor and stopping at the edge of the room. She knew he was worried about her. Max had no doubt filled him in on her condition. But the worry Logan felt for her went beyond their partnership and beyond the sisterhood she shared with Max. It warmed her heart that someone she had just met had that much concern for her. It felt like home. She waited for the soft sound to start again and for Logan to return to the computer room.
Taking a deep breath she stretched her legs out in front of her and then to the sides as far as she could. She placed her hands out in front of her she leaned forward. Pulling all of her weight onto her arms she stayed that way, her legs levitating off the floor about an inch. Slowly pulling herself up vertebrae by vertebrae, she lifted herself to a handstand with her legs still pointing out to opposite sides. She was suddenly startled by the doorbell but held her position. She again heard the sound of Logan's wheelchair heading towards the door. She couldn't stop the information from flashing through her head but while in such a relaxed stated she flowed along with it. "It was safe," was the answer her mind came up with. "Despite his work most dangerous people don't ring the doorbell." She continued with her exercise while keeping part of her mind on their conversation. She slowly picked one hand up and itched her nose before setting it back down. She then starting to bring her legs upward.
Logan wheeled to the door. He wasn't expecting anybody. He even had Bling take a bit of a vacation, despite his protests, since Carina arrived. Logan left the chain on and peeked out.
"Hey Logan," the young man said cheerfully. Logan shut the door, undid the chain and let him in.
"Hi Jake how..." Logan began but was interrupted by a loud thump. Immediately he went for the living room. "Carina!" he shouted. He was almost there when she suddenly swept by him with her head tilted back and her hand over her nose.
"I'm okay." She stated in a nasal tone as she rushed to the kitchen. He could see blood through her fingers. He followed her and watched as she went for a towel.
A few minutes later Logan had her sitting down with her head over the back of a chair while he held ice to her nose.
"I don't think you broke it." He said lifting the ice a little to get a look.
"I don't break, Logan," she answered forcing a smile.
"Your human, you do break. Here hold the ice." She took a hold of it as he went to get a fresh towel.
"Can I?" Jake said stepping out of the backdrop and gesturing towards her face. She took off the ice and let him assess the damage. She was expecting it to hurt when he put his fingers on either side of her nose but his was touch was very light.
"There's a lot of kids in my family. A lot of broken noses and with the pulse you didn't go to the doctor a lot." He took his hands away. "Amazingly enough it was my sisters doing most the breaking." She looked up into his warm brown eyes upside down and smiled. He was tall, of medium build. His hair was dark brown and looked perfectly in place. He didn't look anything like her manticore brother who had blue harsh eyes and blond hair. This Jake was kind and gentle.
"So doctor, what's the prognosis." She said trying to lighten her usually measured voice. She placed the icepack back over her nose trying to hide her blush as he gazed at her intensely.
"You'll live." He stepped away to let Logan give her a fresh towel with new ice.
"Hey Jake can you give us a second?" Logan asked.
"Yeah sure I'll just get the equipment out of the van." He took a second to smile at Carina then walked out of the kitchen.
"So you going to tell me?" He prodded gentle.
"It was just his name. It took me by surprise. Logan I promise I won't turn into a basket case every time my past comes up..." Logan interrupted her.
"I understand. You're in a new place and it will take time." That wasn't what she was about to say but she just smiled. She was going to tell him how safe this place felt and how it was like opening a floodgate she didn't know how to close. But he knew that, she could see it in his eyes.
Carina
Part 8
Logan ordered her to stay in the kitchen for a half hour and until she stopped bleeding. So she sat there...and sighed. She didn't feel silly so much as useless. The boys were in the other room hooking up new equipment and she wanted to help. She felt like a poor kid whimpering out side a toy store. Sighing again she filtered through the music that Logan was playing to try and listen to their conversation. To her annoyance, they weren't saying anything. She tuned the music back in and listened to the soothing melody. She had never heard this piece before so she was studying it so intensely that she didn't hear when they finally did talk.
"So who is Carina?" Jake asked trying to sound nonchalant but after twenty minutes of silent computer work it came out awkward.
"Max's sister." Logan said flatly. He wasn't expecting to talk about her and didn't really want to.
"Really? They don't look much alike." Jake baited, he knew Logan was hiding something and he knew who Max was. One day when he was over, he had seen her barcode and with the connections his father had from working the black market, he easily found out what it meant.
"Different mother." Logan answered reluctantly. "So the boss never told me what he ordered," Logan lied. "What does this do?"
"It sets up a direct link between your laptop and computer using satellites. You can use any program that you have on your main unit on the laptop." Jake put the cover back on Logan's CPU and screwed it back together. "It's like a network but your not downloading the programs you just sending commands through the laptop. The main system does what you want it to then sends back the results."
"That can't be secure." Carina said uncertainly. Logan and Jake turned around to see her standing in the doorway. "Half hours up." She said when Logan was about to protest.
"It is I assure you." Jake grinned at her then went to the keyboard and finished the installation for the program. "The message is scrambled and any computer that gets between the satellite and one of the units will be stalled with useless static if it doesn't have the codes ready. Here we go."
Carina's eyes went wide as she suddenly assimilated what he said. She heard Logan yell "Jake no!" as the useless static coursed into her brain. It felt worse than any panic attack she had ever had. She couldn't control it, couldn't organize it. She cried out and clutched her head. The pain stabbed through her and she felt herself drifting away as if the chips in her head were erasing her character to make room for the information.
Logan's head had snapped to Carina to see her looking at him. Her eyes were filled with terror as Jake hit the enter key. He had heard himself yell out to Jake but it was too late and time seem to be going in slow motion. Her scream brought everything thing back to focus and he turned to a confused Jake.
"Turn it off." Logan commanded.
"I can't it's a permanent connection, it's only a prototype."
"Then uninstall the program." Logan yelled at him. Jake seemed to suddenly get control of himself and turned back to the computer. He was searching for the uninstall program. Logan turned back to Carina as she dropped to her knees. She was still clutching her head but her scream was more of a cry and she was starting to shake.
"It's uninstalling now." Jake said as he jumped out of his chair to get to her. The computer beeped, signaling the successful uninstall. He skidded to his knees in front of her and held her by the shoulders. She stopped crying but he was unsettled that her eyes were glazed over and she continued to shake. "Logan what's going on? This isn't right." Jake placed his hands on the sides of her head and tried to get her to look at him. "Carina." He said, his voice quivering with fear. "Carina look at me." He commanded but she just continued to shake.
Logan's mind raced through the past few days. Max had said something about why she went crazy. He suddenly realized it. "It's the static. Her brain is trying to analyze it."
"Why? It shouldn't even effect her." Jake didn't look away from Carina so he couldn't see the torn look in his eyes.
"You have to tell him," Logan thought. "He might be able to help." "She's got chips in her head." Logan's answered hesitantly. Jake looked at him with realization, shock, and incredible guilt.
"Oh God." He whispered to himself. His mind was racing thinking of what the static did to normal computers and terrified of what it would do to a human computer. He watched as her hyperventilating was slowing and her body was suddenly racked with one more shutter before she collapsed.
"Carina!" He cried as she lifted her head to see her eyes still glazed over.
"Is she breathing?" Logan asked starting to panic.
"I don't think so." Jake set her carefully on the floor and listened for her breathing. He picked up her wrist and checked her pulse. "I don't feel anything." Almost automatically he tucked her head back and started to do CPR. Logan pulled out his cell phone and dialed Jam Pony, all the while praying Max was between runs.
"Jam Pony's messenger service." Normal answered.
"I need to talk to Max."
"Personal calls aren't allowed on company time." Normal said annoyed and about to hang up.
"This is a personal emergency. Her sister is having seizures I need to reach her." Logan lied.
"Max doesn't have a sister. Her application specifically said no next of..." Logan knew Max had grabbed the phone out of his hand and waited.
"What's wrong?"
"She shut off. Do you know what to do?" Logan said trying to sound clear although his thoughts were racing.
"Yeah, listen carefully. At the base of her skull, where her neck starts there is an indentation. Push there until you hear a click. It'll take a sec but she'll be okay."
"Okay but come home as soon as you can."
"I'm on my way." Max hung up the phone and looked up at Normal.
"Only if you work on Saturday." He responded.
"My sister's dying and you're hitting me up for more hours." She whined in disbelief. "Fine." She yelled as she turned to rushed towards the door..
"Sit her up," Logan said as wheeled to her. Jake held her up while Logan pushed her hair aside and reached for the point Max told him about. He held his breath as he felt around for what he thought he would feel. He pressed on what he assumed was bone but it gave way and clicked. He released the air he was holding and looked at the expectant Jake. "I think that was the reset. Max said it would take a sec."
Jake tipped her head back and looked at her face. Her eyes were still glazed but he let out a sigh of relief as she started to breathe again. He reached out and brushed his hand against her cheek.
"Carina." He called softly. Her eyes blinked once and then twice and then started to focus on him. "Hey welcome back." She wanted to respond but her mind was numb still. In the corner of her sight, she saw a red blinking light. He watched as her eyes were starting to close despite her obvious attempts to fight it. "You should sleep." He urged. Upon that, she let her eyes close and her head fall to the side.
Part 9a
Jake lay her on the guest room bed and covered her. He studied her intensely. She was perfect despite her little swollen red nose. He reached out and brushed some hair out of her face. He felt that part of him, that had bulldog protectiveness for his family, extend to include her.
"I've just met you and I've almost killed yourself twice." He laughed ironically. "We really shouldn't start things out like this angel." He took one last look at her and walked out of the room. Just as he closed the door behind him, Max rushed through the front door.
"Is she okay?" Max asked Logan in that pout that made her incredibly cute.
"She's sleeping." Jake answered. Max looked at him in shock and then looked questioningly at Logan. If Jake didn't know to look, he wouldn't have seen Logan shake his head slightly.
"Max we think the program was turned off before it caused too much harm." Jake said assuredly. Max's head snapped to Logan with a look that Jake was glad wasn't directed at him.
"What program?" She practically yelled. Logan felt like a deer in a semi's headlights, he saw it coming but their was nothing he could do. "Jake," she said without looking at him, "give us a minute." Jake waited for Logan's nod of assurance and then thankfully retreated into the bedroom and silently wished Logan good luck.
Carina
Part 7
Carina sat quietly on the floor of Logan's living room. She had gotten his permission and moved the furniture and rug off to the edges of the room. She sat silently, her legs crossed Indian style, her eyes closed, and thought, or rather she tried not to.
Every once and a while she heard the soft sound of tires wheeling across the wooden floor and stopping at the edge of the room. She knew he was worried about her. Max had no doubt filled him in on her condition. But the worry Logan felt for her went beyond their partnership and beyond the sisterhood she shared with Max. It warmed her heart that someone she had just met had that much concern for her. It felt like home. She waited for the soft sound to start again and for Logan to return to the computer room.
Taking a deep breath she stretched her legs out in front of her and then to the sides as far as she could. She placed her hands out in front of her she leaned forward. Pulling all of her weight onto her arms she stayed that way, her legs levitating off the floor about an inch. Slowly pulling herself up vertebrae by vertebrae, she lifted herself to a handstand with her legs still pointing out to opposite sides. She was suddenly startled by the doorbell but held her position. She again heard the sound of Logan's wheelchair heading towards the door. She couldn't stop the information from flashing through her head but while in such a relaxed stated she flowed along with it. "It was safe," was the answer her mind came up with. "Despite his work most dangerous people don't ring the doorbell." She continued with her exercise while keeping part of her mind on their conversation. She slowly picked one hand up and itched her nose before setting it back down. She then starting to bring her legs upward.
Logan wheeled to the door. He wasn't expecting anybody. He even had Bling take a bit of a vacation, despite his protests, since Carina arrived. Logan left the chain on and peeked out.
"Hey Logan," the young man said cheerfully. Logan shut the door, undid the chain and let him in.
"Hi Jake how..." Logan began but was interrupted by a loud thump. Immediately he went for the living room. "Carina!" he shouted. He was almost there when she suddenly swept by him with her head tilted back and her hand over her nose.
"I'm okay." She stated in a nasal tone as she rushed to the kitchen. He could see blood through her fingers. He followed her and watched as she went for a towel.
A few minutes later Logan had her sitting down with her head over the back of a chair while he held ice to her nose.
"I don't think you broke it." He said lifting the ice a little to get a look.
"I don't break, Logan," she answered forcing a smile.
"Your human, you do break. Here hold the ice." She took a hold of it as he went to get a fresh towel.
"Can I?" Jake said stepping out of the backdrop and gesturing towards her face. She took off the ice and let him assess the damage. She was expecting it to hurt when he put his fingers on either side of her nose but his was touch was very light.
"There's a lot of kids in my family. A lot of broken noses and with the pulse you didn't go to the doctor a lot." He took his hands away. "Amazingly enough it was my sisters doing most the breaking." She looked up into his warm brown eyes upside down and smiled. He was tall, of medium build. His hair was dark brown and looked perfectly in place. He didn't look anything like her manticore brother who had blue harsh eyes and blond hair. This Jake was kind and gentle.
"So doctor, what's the prognosis." She said trying to lighten her usually measured voice. She placed the icepack back over her nose trying to hide her blush as he gazed at her intensely.
"You'll live." He stepped away to let Logan give her a fresh towel with new ice.
"Hey Jake can you give us a second?" Logan asked.
"Yeah sure I'll just get the equipment out of the van." He took a second to smile at Carina then walked out of the kitchen.
"So you going to tell me?" He prodded gentle.
"It was just his name. It took me by surprise. Logan I promise I won't turn into a basket case every time my past comes up..." Logan interrupted her.
"I understand. You're in a new place and it will take time." That wasn't what she was about to say but she just smiled. She was going to tell him how safe this place felt and how it was like opening a floodgate she didn't know how to close. But he knew that, she could see it in his eyes.
Carina
Part 8
Logan ordered her to stay in the kitchen for a half hour and until she stopped bleeding. So she sat there...and sighed. She didn't feel silly so much as useless. The boys were in the other room hooking up new equipment and she wanted to help. She felt like a poor kid whimpering out side a toy store. Sighing again she filtered through the music that Logan was playing to try and listen to their conversation. To her annoyance, they weren't saying anything. She tuned the music back in and listened to the soothing melody. She had never heard this piece before so she was studying it so intensely that she didn't hear when they finally did talk.
"So who is Carina?" Jake asked trying to sound nonchalant but after twenty minutes of silent computer work it came out awkward.
"Max's sister." Logan said flatly. He wasn't expecting to talk about her and didn't really want to.
"Really? They don't look much alike." Jake baited, he knew Logan was hiding something and he knew who Max was. One day when he was over, he had seen her barcode and with the connections his father had from working the black market, he easily found out what it meant.
"Different mother." Logan answered reluctantly. "So the boss never told me what he ordered," Logan lied. "What does this do?"
"It sets up a direct link between your laptop and computer using satellites. You can use any program that you have on your main unit on the laptop." Jake put the cover back on Logan's CPU and screwed it back together. "It's like a network but your not downloading the programs you just sending commands through the laptop. The main system does what you want it to then sends back the results."
"That can't be secure." Carina said uncertainly. Logan and Jake turned around to see her standing in the doorway. "Half hours up." She said when Logan was about to protest.
"It is I assure you." Jake grinned at her then went to the keyboard and finished the installation for the program. "The message is scrambled and any computer that gets between the satellite and one of the units will be stalled with useless static if it doesn't have the codes ready. Here we go."
Carina's eyes went wide as she suddenly assimilated what he said. She heard Logan yell "Jake no!" as the useless static coursed into her brain. It felt worse than any panic attack she had ever had. She couldn't control it, couldn't organize it. She cried out and clutched her head. The pain stabbed through her and she felt herself drifting away as if the chips in her head were erasing her character to make room for the information.
Logan's head had snapped to Carina to see her looking at him. Her eyes were filled with terror as Jake hit the enter key. He had heard himself yell out to Jake but it was too late and time seem to be going in slow motion. Her scream brought everything thing back to focus and he turned to a confused Jake.
"Turn it off." Logan commanded.
"I can't it's a permanent connection, it's only a prototype."
"Then uninstall the program." Logan yelled at him. Jake seemed to suddenly get control of himself and turned back to the computer. He was searching for the uninstall program. Logan turned back to Carina as she dropped to her knees. She was still clutching her head but her scream was more of a cry and she was starting to shake.
"It's uninstalling now." Jake said as he jumped out of his chair to get to her. The computer beeped, signaling the successful uninstall. He skidded to his knees in front of her and held her by the shoulders. She stopped crying but he was unsettled that her eyes were glazed over and she continued to shake. "Logan what's going on? This isn't right." Jake placed his hands on the sides of her head and tried to get her to look at him. "Carina." He said, his voice quivering with fear. "Carina look at me." He commanded but she just continued to shake.
Logan's mind raced through the past few days. Max had said something about why she went crazy. He suddenly realized it. "It's the static. Her brain is trying to analyze it."
"Why? It shouldn't even effect her." Jake didn't look away from Carina so he couldn't see the torn look in his eyes.
"You have to tell him," Logan thought. "He might be able to help." "She's got chips in her head." Logan's answered hesitantly. Jake looked at him with realization, shock, and incredible guilt.
"Oh God." He whispered to himself. His mind was racing thinking of what the static did to normal computers and terrified of what it would do to a human computer. He watched as her hyperventilating was slowing and her body was suddenly racked with one more shutter before she collapsed.
"Carina!" He cried as she lifted her head to see her eyes still glazed over.
"Is she breathing?" Logan asked starting to panic.
"I don't think so." Jake set her carefully on the floor and listened for her breathing. He picked up her wrist and checked her pulse. "I don't feel anything." Almost automatically he tucked her head back and started to do CPR. Logan pulled out his cell phone and dialed Jam Pony, all the while praying Max was between runs.
"Jam Pony's messenger service." Normal answered.
"I need to talk to Max."
"Personal calls aren't allowed on company time." Normal said annoyed and about to hang up.
"This is a personal emergency. Her sister is having seizures I need to reach her." Logan lied.
"Max doesn't have a sister. Her application specifically said no next of..." Logan knew Max had grabbed the phone out of his hand and waited.
"What's wrong?"
"She shut off. Do you know what to do?" Logan said trying to sound clear although his thoughts were racing.
"Yeah, listen carefully. At the base of her skull, where her neck starts there is an indentation. Push there until you hear a click. It'll take a sec but she'll be okay."
"Okay but come home as soon as you can."
"I'm on my way." Max hung up the phone and looked up at Normal.
"Only if you work on Saturday." He responded.
"My sister's dying and you're hitting me up for more hours." She whined in disbelief. "Fine." She yelled as she turned to rushed towards the door..
"Sit her up," Logan said as wheeled to her. Jake held her up while Logan pushed her hair aside and reached for the point Max told him about. He held his breath as he felt around for what he thought he would feel. He pressed on what he assumed was bone but it gave way and clicked. He released the air he was holding and looked at the expectant Jake. "I think that was the reset. Max said it would take a sec."
Jake tipped her head back and looked at her face. Her eyes were still glazed but he let out a sigh of relief as she started to breathe again. He reached out and brushed his hand against her cheek.
"Carina." He called softly. Her eyes blinked once and then twice and then started to focus on him. "Hey welcome back." She wanted to respond but her mind was numb still. In the corner of her sight, she saw a red blinking light. He watched as her eyes were starting to close despite her obvious attempts to fight it. "You should sleep." He urged. Upon that, she let her eyes close and her head fall to the side.
Part 9a
Jake lay her on the guest room bed and covered her. He studied her intensely. She was perfect despite her little swollen red nose. He reached out and brushed some hair out of her face. He felt that part of him, that had bulldog protectiveness for his family, extend to include her.
"I've just met you and I've almost killed yourself twice." He laughed ironically. "We really shouldn't start things out like this angel." He took one last look at her and walked out of the room. Just as he closed the door behind him, Max rushed through the front door.
"Is she okay?" Max asked Logan in that pout that made her incredibly cute.
"She's sleeping." Jake answered. Max looked at him in shock and then looked questioningly at Logan. If Jake didn't know to look, he wouldn't have seen Logan shake his head slightly.
"Max we think the program was turned off before it caused too much harm." Jake said assuredly. Max's head snapped to Logan with a look that Jake was glad wasn't directed at him.
"What program?" She practically yelled. Logan felt like a deer in a semi's headlights, he saw it coming but their was nothing he could do. "Jake," she said without looking at him, "give us a minute." Jake waited for Logan's nod of assurance and then thankfully retreated into the bedroom and silently wished Logan good luck.