Chapter Three: Discussion, Reluctance, and Secrets
Liz stared at her brother, momentarily confused. "Why now Zack?? Why'd you decide to attack Manticore, so long after the escape??" Zack signed, running his fingers thorough his blond hair. "I wasn't going to tell you Risa, but, now, I think you deserve to know." Liz grabbed her brother by the arms, "I deserve to know what, Zack??" Zack turned away from his sister, and replied, "Tinga and Ben are gone little sister, they killed Tinga." Liz stumbled back a few steps as though she had been struck. "Tinga?? Those bastards killed Tinga??? Zack sighed, and lay a hand on Liz's shoulder"I'm sorry little sister, they got to Tinga." Liz finally raised her head, and looked her brother in the eye. Her face was a mask of practiced Manticore calm, although Zack knew that she was struggling with her emotions underneath. Zack knew his sister all too well, to know that she wasn't used to putting her training to use, after having eleven years, of no reason to use it. A small tear formed in the corner of Liz's eye then, and Zack gently wiped it away with his finger. "Go on, Risa, I know there's something you want to say." Liz looked Zack in the eye, intense hatred for the people who had taken her older sister away, simmering in her eyes. "What happened Zack?? What happened to my older sister, and our younger brother??" Zack sighed, "Listen little sister, I'd tell you if this was the right place, but, you and I both know it isn't." Liz's eyes momentarily lost some of their stormy quality, as she suddenly thought of something she needed her brother to do for her. "Zack, I have a favor to ask, before we disembark on this mission, my first I might add, in eleven years." Zack glanced at her, "Sure, go ahead little sister." In a flat tone, Liz made her request"I need you to train me Zack." Startled, Zack looked up. "What?? What'd you say Risa??" Liz looked at her brother"You heard what I said, Zack, I need you to train me." Zack stared at his younger sister, noticing the old determined look of a soldier on her face." Why Risa?? You're one of the best you know that, I've seen you training with Ty." Liz averted her eyes from her brothers' questioning gaze. "The thing is Zack; do you know what happened to me on Sept. 15th??" Zack nodded, grimacing as he remembered. "You let yourself get shot, in order to maintain a normal identity, so Lydecker wouldn't find you." Liz nodded"I freaking got shot, and the idiot had to go and save me. Damn it, I knew I'd be able to take it, and he saved me anyway." Zack snorted in disgust, thinking of the day Max saved his sister's life. "That damn bastard. Because of him, you risked exposure, and Lydecker catching up on your tail. You fucking nearly got killed because of him!!!" Liz knew her brother was well over being pissed, and she knew if Zack ever saw Max coming anywhere near her now, he'd rip his lungs out, and proceed to dissect him like the precisely trained genetically enhanced killer that he was. But, the more she thought about it, the more she thought that she'd let Zack do just that. After all, Max had gotten almost gotten her killed on several occasions, and now he had completely turned his back on her, just because she did a fucking 360 on him, just to save the God-damn world.
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Zack turned to face his sister the expression on his face was one she knew all too well. His face was an unreadable mask of practiced Manticore calm, but, in his eyes, Liz could see the fire burning, the volcano about to erupt, and all hell about to break loose. Despite being separated for eleven years, Liz still knew her brother well enough to know that, if Max Evans ever lay eyes on her again, Zack would casually eliminate him, the way he eliminated all threats to his siblings. The harsh, slow, and painful way that they were taught to dispose of enemies, and of prey. In some ways, she would happily grab a front seat to her brothers' execution of Max, but, in others, she wanted to do that herself. The bitter, anger, dead, and cold feelings she felt inside of her, just made her hatred of him grow. She couldn't believe that she once thought she loved him. Yet, she was able to admit to herself, somewhere deep down inside, below her animalistic instincts, and her anger, that she couldn't blame it all on him. As much as she now hated and loathed him, she couldn't blame all of what happened on him. Ashamed of her weakness, and her obvious neglect of her training, she was unable to look her brother in the eye, as he gently tipped her face up, and stared at her, his blue eyes analyzing her brown ones. "What's wrong little sister??" Liz finally dragged her eyes up from the floor, and stared at her brother, her hatred of Max, and of herself radiating off in waves. "I was weak, big brother, I neglected my training, I let emotions cloud my judgment and I could've been killed for it!!! I ignored my training entirely, and made myself believe that I was falling in love with him. I let you down, big brother, and I should've died as payment. I'm sure the Colonel would've been so disappointed, X5/595, appointed S.I.C., showing signs of weakness." Zack stared at his sister, choosing his words carefully, before replying to her statement. "You're right little sister, you neglected your training, you were weak, you let emotions get the best of you, and that's exactly what we were taught not to do. You tried very hard to have a normal life, but, you couldn't, not with Ty around. All I ever saw you guys do was train, but, at the same time, like the others, all you guys wanted was a normal life. But you didn't deserve to die for it Risa, I know where you're coming from."
Liz glanced at her brother questioningly, but Zack shook his head. "Not here, right now we have to get started on you training, soldier, we only have 5 days, a week and a half at the most." Liz nodded quickly, "You're right, sir, my training is the most important thing. I'll go change." Zack grabbed her arm before she could leave. "Feels strange calling me sir, doesn't it 595?" he asked in a low voice. Liz nodded, trying to keep her face as blank as possible. Zack smirked, "Well looks like you're going to have to get use to it 595, I am still your C.O." Liz executed a crisp salute, then went to go change. After Liz came out, Zack glanced towards the back room and nodded at Liz. "You know what you have to do soldier." Liz nodded, and Zack quickly drew an 'X' across his left wrist, indicating that time was limited. Liz went into the back room, and explained to Michael that she had to leave.
Shortly after Liz and Zack had left, Maria came into the back room, currently on her break. "Where's Liz??" Michael shook his head, "I haven't got a clue, she just said she had to leave, and she wanted you to cover for her." Maria threw up her hands in exasperation, "Well, it was nice of her to let me know." she intoned sarcastically. "Who was that monument of male perfection that left with her??" Michael flashed her a semi-hurt look, and Maria laughed. "Just joking Spaceboy, you know nobody's as hot-looking as you. Seriously, though, who was that guy??" Michael smiled for a second, pleased at Maria's comment. "I'm glad you think that. But, as for that guy, I have no idea who he is, but, I am going to find out. If he has any connections to us, I'm going to take him out, once and for all."
tbc…………………..
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