Ch. 5:
Aside from swimming, I love going fast. Driving a car at 80 mph, a motorcycle at 90, heck even jumping down from a thirty-story rooftop to the ground gives me a head rush. So, when I raced Alec in the dark Seattle night, I felt free again, reliving the first time I truly realized that Manticore was gone and I didn't have to follow anymore of their damned orders.
"Hey, Bobbie, you see Jeremiah?" Alec shouted at me, holding on to the handlebars of his motorcycle.
I looked behind me, noticing that Jeremiah was catching up to us.
"Yeah," I shouted back to him, "He should be with us in a few seconds." Just as I said that, Jeremiah's bike rode beside mine, so I was in between Alec and him. Goody, the story of my life.
"Alec," Jeremiah shouted. "You give any thought about what I told you?"
"Hell no, Jer," Alec snapped back. "I am not joining some stupid assed quest to relive the days on the Inside. I'd rather go back to the basement."
"You would," said Jeremiah, a dangerous tone entering his voice. "You spent a lot of time down there." Alec growled and looked as though he was going to maneuver his bike to hit Jeremiah. Maintaining my balance on my bike, I reached out to slap Alec's shoulder. Grunting, he snapped his eyes to the front.
"Boys, quit fighting," I said, hoping against hope I wouldn't have to separate them by the time they reached Josh's old house. I just got my hair done yesterday and I hate to ruin a new 'do.
"Bobbie, stay out of it," said Jeremiah, looking pointedly at Alec. "Alec wants to say something to me, he better say it now before he ruins the mission."
I glared at Jeremiah and slapped him on his shoulder. "Only person ruining the mission is you, Jeremiah. Alec, wipe that smirk off your face." I felt relieved when we finally reached Josh's old house. Leaving our bikes resting against the curb, Alec led us into the rickety shack where Max and Logan were sitting at opposite ends of the table in the kitchen. Alec, Jeremiah and I paused in the hallway, watching an argument unfold between Max and Logan.
"Logan…" Max was saying. "It's not that I don't think you can't do it."
"Max," said Logan, with an intense gaze at the transgenic. "I told you I can take care of myself out there. You've seen me. The exo and Josh's transfusion have kept me strong. The guys my contact's set me up with are dangerous. You need me."
"I know," said Max, with a tear falling down her cheek. Logan reached over to wipe it away with a latex-covered hand. "It's just that I think you ought to stay behind. Alec, Bobbie and Jeremiah can back me up. You can help with being in the car and keeping an eye out if things go sideways." Logan's jaw tightened and his hand fell away from Max's face.
"Max, let me help you. Alec's injured…"
"He heals fast. Like me."
"Doesn't matter," Logan's voice was petulant. "Alec can't protect you the way I can. Those other people from his unit can't protect you the way I can. Face it, Max. Those three are only in this fight for themselves. I'm in this because I want this world to be safe and for you to be safe."
Max, looking uncertain, didn't know what to say. Her eyes turned towards the table and her fingers were pulling the seams out of the fine white linen tablecloth. Logan leaned over her, a rubber-gloved hand grasping Max's free one.
"Look," Logan began, his voice soft. "I know you're scared. It's okay. I am too. It's a risk I have to take every time I'm with you, but you know I've got your back, right?"
Max nodded and Logan gave her a big smile. Cupping her chin, he said, "When this is all over, we'll celebrate by getting the virus cured and we can have everything back to the way it was. The way it should be. Us against the world."
"Yeah," said Max, her eyes downcast. Alec and I exchanged glances. Looking uncomfortable, he cleared his throat. The noise brought Max and Logan's gaze upon the three of us standing in the hallway.
"Hey guys," Alec said, his voice was too chipper even for him. Max looked up at him with a small smile, but it faded as soon as she looked back at the death glare Logan was giving Alec. "So, are we ready?" Max and Logan exchanged glances. Max's face nearly crumbled when Logan shot her a harsh look.
"We're as ready as I'll ever be," said Max, standing up. Logan stood up as well, excusing himself to use the bathroom. Alec, Jeremiah and I exchanged wary looks. Max couldn't be that stupid, could she? I looked at Max and saw that she looked distinctly uncomfortable. Then her face took on that blank expression I had begun to despise over the years.
"Logan's coming along with us," she said, her face impassive. She kept her eyes focused on the tablecloth. "Anybody got a problem with that?" Alec and I shook our heads. Max's gaze fell upon Jeremiah who leaned against the kitchen wall, lighting up a cigarette. I felt my heart sink as Max walked up to him and grabbed the butt from Jeremiah's mouth. As his face turned from surprise to thinly veiled anger, Max dropped the smoldering butt to the floor and ground out the smoke with the heel of her shoe. Then she threw the cigarette into the garbage pail.
"What did you do that for, 452?"
Max, with arms crossed over her chest and a haughty expression upon her face replied, "My name is Max! That habit is disgusting." She wrinkled her nose as she gazed at what she had thrown into the garbage. Jeremiah stood up from his position against the wall and looked directly at Max with cold contempt.
His lips were pulled into a straight line as he spoke, "I'm just here to help out my unit. As much as you like to think you're the second coming, 452, there are other people in this world besides you and Logan." Max flushed as Alec stepped up to Jeremiah.
"Jeremiah, shut up before you get yourself deeper into trouble." Alec's eyes were cold as he stood ramrod straight at Jeremiah. He held up his fists in a familiar fighting stance and Jeremiah immediately dropped his lazy demeanor and readied himself to fight. The two men glared at each other for a few seconds, waiting to see if the other would land the first blow. I felt my hands curl into fists, tensely watching to see if I needed to step in again.
"Guys, I'm ready to go," said Logan, looking fresh and clean as he returned from the bathroom. "Guys?" he said again, looking back and forth between Jeremiah and Alec. "What's going on?"
Alec maintained his fighting stance, as he replied, "Nothing, Logan. Nothing's going on, right, Jeremiah?" His eyes looked piercingly at Jeremiah who had dropped his fists and was once again leaning against the wall.
Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Jeremiah smirked bitterly as he answered, "Everything's cool, Alec. I've got no problems. You?"
Alec slowly relaxed, bringing his fists down to land limply at the sides. "No, man. We're cool."
Logan smiled broadly. "Good. Let's go. Max, you ready?" He turned to look at Max who had a rather glazed expression upon her face once again. She looked blankly at Logan and then shook her head.
"Yeah, I'm ready." She straightened her shoulders and walked out. Alec followed behind her and then Jeremiah left the kitchen, glaring at Logan as he moved away. Just as I was about to leave, Logan grabbed my arm. The slight pressure on my arm told me that he was already high from transgenic blood. I looked into the man's eyes and found a desperate glint in them.
"Logan," I said, trying not to lose patience. "Let go of me." Logan only pressed harder. As I struggled to pull away from him, Logan kept on squeezing. I could see beads of sweat pouring from his forehead. He must have taken in a double dose of transgenic blood to feel this strong.
"Logan," I said again, sounding braver than I felt. "Let go of me before I kick your ass." The man gave me a hint of a smile, placing his body in front of me, pressing close as he did so. I felt a shiver shoot straight down the back of my legs. My heart pounding, I struggled desperately to get away from him. Logan pulled me closer, his mouth grazing my ear.
Voice soft, he asked, "Bobbie, I feel strong, don't I?"
I swallowed hard as I replied, "Yes, you're strong." I felt ill. Not again. I couldn't be doing this again. Logan squeezed my arm again. I could feel the vein and bone almost crushing together. To my horror, I felt a tear fall down my cheek. Logan reached up, his hand bare of latex, and wiped it away.
"Bobbie," he whispered. "Tell Alec not to cross me." With that, he pushed me down to the floor and walked away. My behind hit the ground with a loud thud and I cradled my bruised arm. I felt the tears burn my eyes and fiercely, I wiped them away. God, I could feel my stomach rising and churning.
"Bobbie?" Alec called from outside of the house. I could hear heavy footsteps falling until a pair of hands grabbed me and pulled me close to his chest. Closing my eyes, I bit my lip to keep from crying. God, three years on the Outside have really made me soft.
"Bobbie?" Alec asked again. "You all right?" I looked up at my little brother, his eyes big and green with concern. I couldn't burden him with this. I just couldn't.
"Alec," I hated how my voice broke, but went on. "I'm okay. Really. I just fell, that's all."
He looked at me with suspicious eyes. His gaze was aimed directly at the light purple bruise on my arm. "It's Logan, isn't it?"
I shook my head. "No. No, I just fell. It's okay. I heal fast, you know that." I blinked my eyes to rid them of my tears and swallowed hard. I am calm. I will be calm.
Alec looked at me impassively, but seemed to accept my words. He lifted me off the floor and led me out of the house. Logan and Max were already in Logan's car while Jeremiah was seated on his bike. As we passed by the Aztek, Logan gave me a warning look. I stared back at him, my eyes refusing to blink. Logan looked away. Quitter. Alec looked at the two of us with a disturbed look on his face.
Leaning close to me, he whispered, "It's okay, Bob. I'll protect you." I gave Alec a big smile at that. As we settled onto our bikes, Logan and Max drove off to the meeting point. As I watched Logan's head pass by I had to shake my head to clear it of the desire to whip out a gun and just shoot him.
Aside from swimming, I love going fast. Driving a car at 80 mph, a motorcycle at 90, heck even jumping down from a thirty-story rooftop to the ground gives me a head rush. So, when I raced Alec in the dark Seattle night, I felt free again, reliving the first time I truly realized that Manticore was gone and I didn't have to follow anymore of their damned orders.
"Hey, Bobbie, you see Jeremiah?" Alec shouted at me, holding on to the handlebars of his motorcycle.
I looked behind me, noticing that Jeremiah was catching up to us.
"Yeah," I shouted back to him, "He should be with us in a few seconds." Just as I said that, Jeremiah's bike rode beside mine, so I was in between Alec and him. Goody, the story of my life.
"Alec," Jeremiah shouted. "You give any thought about what I told you?"
"Hell no, Jer," Alec snapped back. "I am not joining some stupid assed quest to relive the days on the Inside. I'd rather go back to the basement."
"You would," said Jeremiah, a dangerous tone entering his voice. "You spent a lot of time down there." Alec growled and looked as though he was going to maneuver his bike to hit Jeremiah. Maintaining my balance on my bike, I reached out to slap Alec's shoulder. Grunting, he snapped his eyes to the front.
"Boys, quit fighting," I said, hoping against hope I wouldn't have to separate them by the time they reached Josh's old house. I just got my hair done yesterday and I hate to ruin a new 'do.
"Bobbie, stay out of it," said Jeremiah, looking pointedly at Alec. "Alec wants to say something to me, he better say it now before he ruins the mission."
I glared at Jeremiah and slapped him on his shoulder. "Only person ruining the mission is you, Jeremiah. Alec, wipe that smirk off your face." I felt relieved when we finally reached Josh's old house. Leaving our bikes resting against the curb, Alec led us into the rickety shack where Max and Logan were sitting at opposite ends of the table in the kitchen. Alec, Jeremiah and I paused in the hallway, watching an argument unfold between Max and Logan.
"Logan…" Max was saying. "It's not that I don't think you can't do it."
"Max," said Logan, with an intense gaze at the transgenic. "I told you I can take care of myself out there. You've seen me. The exo and Josh's transfusion have kept me strong. The guys my contact's set me up with are dangerous. You need me."
"I know," said Max, with a tear falling down her cheek. Logan reached over to wipe it away with a latex-covered hand. "It's just that I think you ought to stay behind. Alec, Bobbie and Jeremiah can back me up. You can help with being in the car and keeping an eye out if things go sideways." Logan's jaw tightened and his hand fell away from Max's face.
"Max, let me help you. Alec's injured…"
"He heals fast. Like me."
"Doesn't matter," Logan's voice was petulant. "Alec can't protect you the way I can. Those other people from his unit can't protect you the way I can. Face it, Max. Those three are only in this fight for themselves. I'm in this because I want this world to be safe and for you to be safe."
Max, looking uncertain, didn't know what to say. Her eyes turned towards the table and her fingers were pulling the seams out of the fine white linen tablecloth. Logan leaned over her, a rubber-gloved hand grasping Max's free one.
"Look," Logan began, his voice soft. "I know you're scared. It's okay. I am too. It's a risk I have to take every time I'm with you, but you know I've got your back, right?"
Max nodded and Logan gave her a big smile. Cupping her chin, he said, "When this is all over, we'll celebrate by getting the virus cured and we can have everything back to the way it was. The way it should be. Us against the world."
"Yeah," said Max, her eyes downcast. Alec and I exchanged glances. Looking uncomfortable, he cleared his throat. The noise brought Max and Logan's gaze upon the three of us standing in the hallway.
"Hey guys," Alec said, his voice was too chipper even for him. Max looked up at him with a small smile, but it faded as soon as she looked back at the death glare Logan was giving Alec. "So, are we ready?" Max and Logan exchanged glances. Max's face nearly crumbled when Logan shot her a harsh look.
"We're as ready as I'll ever be," said Max, standing up. Logan stood up as well, excusing himself to use the bathroom. Alec, Jeremiah and I exchanged wary looks. Max couldn't be that stupid, could she? I looked at Max and saw that she looked distinctly uncomfortable. Then her face took on that blank expression I had begun to despise over the years.
"Logan's coming along with us," she said, her face impassive. She kept her eyes focused on the tablecloth. "Anybody got a problem with that?" Alec and I shook our heads. Max's gaze fell upon Jeremiah who leaned against the kitchen wall, lighting up a cigarette. I felt my heart sink as Max walked up to him and grabbed the butt from Jeremiah's mouth. As his face turned from surprise to thinly veiled anger, Max dropped the smoldering butt to the floor and ground out the smoke with the heel of her shoe. Then she threw the cigarette into the garbage pail.
"What did you do that for, 452?"
Max, with arms crossed over her chest and a haughty expression upon her face replied, "My name is Max! That habit is disgusting." She wrinkled her nose as she gazed at what she had thrown into the garbage. Jeremiah stood up from his position against the wall and looked directly at Max with cold contempt.
His lips were pulled into a straight line as he spoke, "I'm just here to help out my unit. As much as you like to think you're the second coming, 452, there are other people in this world besides you and Logan." Max flushed as Alec stepped up to Jeremiah.
"Jeremiah, shut up before you get yourself deeper into trouble." Alec's eyes were cold as he stood ramrod straight at Jeremiah. He held up his fists in a familiar fighting stance and Jeremiah immediately dropped his lazy demeanor and readied himself to fight. The two men glared at each other for a few seconds, waiting to see if the other would land the first blow. I felt my hands curl into fists, tensely watching to see if I needed to step in again.
"Guys, I'm ready to go," said Logan, looking fresh and clean as he returned from the bathroom. "Guys?" he said again, looking back and forth between Jeremiah and Alec. "What's going on?"
Alec maintained his fighting stance, as he replied, "Nothing, Logan. Nothing's going on, right, Jeremiah?" His eyes looked piercingly at Jeremiah who had dropped his fists and was once again leaning against the wall.
Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Jeremiah smirked bitterly as he answered, "Everything's cool, Alec. I've got no problems. You?"
Alec slowly relaxed, bringing his fists down to land limply at the sides. "No, man. We're cool."
Logan smiled broadly. "Good. Let's go. Max, you ready?" He turned to look at Max who had a rather glazed expression upon her face once again. She looked blankly at Logan and then shook her head.
"Yeah, I'm ready." She straightened her shoulders and walked out. Alec followed behind her and then Jeremiah left the kitchen, glaring at Logan as he moved away. Just as I was about to leave, Logan grabbed my arm. The slight pressure on my arm told me that he was already high from transgenic blood. I looked into the man's eyes and found a desperate glint in them.
"Logan," I said, trying not to lose patience. "Let go of me." Logan only pressed harder. As I struggled to pull away from him, Logan kept on squeezing. I could see beads of sweat pouring from his forehead. He must have taken in a double dose of transgenic blood to feel this strong.
"Logan," I said again, sounding braver than I felt. "Let go of me before I kick your ass." The man gave me a hint of a smile, placing his body in front of me, pressing close as he did so. I felt a shiver shoot straight down the back of my legs. My heart pounding, I struggled desperately to get away from him. Logan pulled me closer, his mouth grazing my ear.
Voice soft, he asked, "Bobbie, I feel strong, don't I?"
I swallowed hard as I replied, "Yes, you're strong." I felt ill. Not again. I couldn't be doing this again. Logan squeezed my arm again. I could feel the vein and bone almost crushing together. To my horror, I felt a tear fall down my cheek. Logan reached up, his hand bare of latex, and wiped it away.
"Bobbie," he whispered. "Tell Alec not to cross me." With that, he pushed me down to the floor and walked away. My behind hit the ground with a loud thud and I cradled my bruised arm. I felt the tears burn my eyes and fiercely, I wiped them away. God, I could feel my stomach rising and churning.
"Bobbie?" Alec called from outside of the house. I could hear heavy footsteps falling until a pair of hands grabbed me and pulled me close to his chest. Closing my eyes, I bit my lip to keep from crying. God, three years on the Outside have really made me soft.
"Bobbie?" Alec asked again. "You all right?" I looked up at my little brother, his eyes big and green with concern. I couldn't burden him with this. I just couldn't.
"Alec," I hated how my voice broke, but went on. "I'm okay. Really. I just fell, that's all."
He looked at me with suspicious eyes. His gaze was aimed directly at the light purple bruise on my arm. "It's Logan, isn't it?"
I shook my head. "No. No, I just fell. It's okay. I heal fast, you know that." I blinked my eyes to rid them of my tears and swallowed hard. I am calm. I will be calm.
Alec looked at me impassively, but seemed to accept my words. He lifted me off the floor and led me out of the house. Logan and Max were already in Logan's car while Jeremiah was seated on his bike. As we passed by the Aztek, Logan gave me a warning look. I stared back at him, my eyes refusing to blink. Logan looked away. Quitter. Alec looked at the two of us with a disturbed look on his face.
Leaning close to me, he whispered, "It's okay, Bob. I'll protect you." I gave Alec a big smile at that. As we settled onto our bikes, Logan and Max drove off to the meeting point. As I watched Logan's head pass by I had to shake my head to clear it of the desire to whip out a gun and just shoot him.