Breakdown by Star24
Disclaimer: Dark Angel and its characters are property of Twentieth Century Fox and James Cameron and Charles Eglee. This original story is property and copyright 2003 Star24.
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Jam Pony
Original Cindy stood in front of the front desk of Jam Pony facing off with her boss. Normal was on the warpath. "She isn't even back one week, and she's back to her old tricks. That's it. She's history. Tell your girlfriend that she's out of here, and not to bother to show her face again."
Original Cindy held her ground, "My homegirl's sick as can be. Been vomittin' up her insides all night long. But if you really want her to get on that bike and deliver more than packages to your valued customers, Original Cindy will get on that phone and tell her to come in."
Normal grimaced at the image Cindy had conjured. "Sick all night, hah. Morning sickness more like. She probably spent the last three months shacked up with that money-is-no-object boyfriend of hers who dumped her when she got in the family way."
Suddenly, Normal found himself practically yanked across the counter. Original Cindy had grabbed his shirt and pulled him up close to her face. He'd never really seen her angry before, but her eyes were practically shooting fire at him.
"Don't you ever go dissin' on Max that way. You forgettin' that she saved your sorry ass when those gang bangers were about to waste it over that painting? Max is no whore or slut, and she ain't in the family way. If you want to find yourself running a messenger service with no messengers you just keep it up, Normal. Max is a straight up friend to us all, and she also happens to be the best damn messenger you got."
Original Cindy released him and, as he reached up to smooth his shirt, he looked around to see the entire messenger staff gathered behind her. They were nodding in agreement with her words.
"Well, then." he huffed. "You tell her that she better be back here with a doctor's note explaining her illness. And it better be signed by a real doctor, not some quack you hang out with in that bar." He turned and started grabbing packages, handing them out to the messengers. Sketchy and Original Cindy exchanged relieved glances as they each took a package, grabbed their bikes, and headed out the door.
"So where is Max anyway?" Sketchy asked as they rode down the street together. "She wasn't at CRASH last night. She really that sick?"
"You heard what I told Normal, fool. You doubtin' on Original Cindy's word?" Cindy glared at Sketchy who quickly backed down.
"No. Sorry." Sketchy backed down in a hurry. "See ya later." When they reached the corner he quickly headed off towards Sector 6. Cindy watched him for a minute and then pulled her bike over to a payphone. She dropped in some coins and dialed a number.
"Yo, Logan. This is Original Cindy. Max never came home last night and I'm sure hopin' it's because you two finally worked out some of your issues. Hit me back on my pager and let me know. I worry about my homegirl 'specially after what's gone down."
Shaking her head in frustration, Cindy hung up the phone and got back onto her bike. She checked the delivery address on the package she had grabbed and pedaled slowly into the sparse Seattle traffic.
Safe House, several hours later
Max was still pacing, and she had begun to mutter to herself. She was sweating heavily, and even from where he was lying, Logan could see that her pupils were almost completely dilated. Something was clearly going on with her, but he was at a loss as to what exactly it was, and how to handle it. He didn't think it was her old seizures, he knew those symptoms. This was something different, something he hadn't seen in her before.
Suddenly, Max stopped pacing and dropped into a fighting stance, facing the door to the room. Logan hadn't heard anything to raise an alarm, but he assumed her enhanced hearing had picked something up. Max remained motionless for a few moments then she began to circle as if she was facing an opponent. Chills went down Logan's spine as she began to speak in a flat, yet somehow deadly voice.
"Did you really think you were going to get the drop on me? Fat chance, Brin. You were never as fast as me. And I heard you coming a block away." Max kicked out and then jumped back as if dodging a blow. She stumbled and grunted holding her stomach briefly, as if she had just been hit. She launched into a flurry of spins and kicks, occasionally dropping back as if her unseen opponent had landed a blow. Finally, she stood looking down at the floor. She lifted her foot and pushed at something on the floor, as if she was shoving a body aside. "I told you, you weren't fast enough."
She stood there for a moment more looking down, but then, with a sudden change of mood she dropped to the floor and her shoulders began to shake as she broke into sobs, "Brin. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry. Please Brin, talk to me… "
Logan watched in fascination and concern. When Max eventually raised her head and looked over at him he couldn't help an involuntary flinch backwards. Her eyes were wild, almost predatory, and the look on her face didn't seem quite sane. She slowly stood up, never once taking her eyes off of him. Logan felt a shiver go down his spine. For that moment, he was truly afraid of Max and what she might do to him.
"Max." he said softly, trying to sooth her, as she stalked towards him.
"You thought your traitor was going to get you away, didn't you? How did you manage to turn Brin? What did you do to her?" Max's fists were clenched in anger as she drew closer to where he was lying on the bed, helpless to get away.
"Nothing, Max. I've never even spoken to her." Logan kept his voice calm and low, refusing to panic even though he could feel the danger emanating from her as if it was a tangible thing.
"Liar. You did something and I had to kill her. Look at her lying there on the floor. You forced me to kill my sister, you bastard." Max's voice was rising as she moved closer, cold fury in her eyes.
"Max, there's no one there. It's an hallucination." Logan desperately injected a tone of command into his voice, "Halt where you stand, soldier."
Max hesitated, and Logan held his breath. She halted her advance and stood rigid.
"Turn around and look. There is no one else in this room." Logan waited, as Max seemed to be struggling with herself.
After what seemed like hours, but was probably only seconds, Max turned slowly, her eyes scanning the room. Her body seemed to relax, and when she turned back to Logan there was confusion in her eyes, replacing the anger that had been there only seconds earlier. Her skin was even more flushed than it had been, and she appeared dazed.
"Who are you? What are we doing here? Where's Colonel Lydecker? What happened to the unit?" Her voice was that of a child, and her entire posture had changed. "Zack? Where's Zack?"
Before Logan could respond, Max began to shake violently. She pulled her arms into her chest as if she was cold and dropped to the floor where she curled into a small ball. Logan watched in horror as the shaking continued and she began to moan as if she was in pain. This continued for several minutes, until Max let out a scream of agony and then went completely still.
End of Chapter Three