Here we go with chap 2 of The Trouble with Jondy. Max and Jondy have left for the cabin. Logan promises to meet the girls at the secluded lakeside residence when he's completed his investigation of the gang wars going on in sector 6. Max and Jondy reminisce in peaceful comfort while Logan, Alec and Biggs sort out clues leading to an unexpected problem for Eyes Only.
This one has started out kind of slow but I assure those reading. It's building to something none of you will be expecting. Or at least I plan on it turning out that way. I can't read your minds but such a gift could be interesting…
Well, maybe not. Anyway, read, review and as is most important with these tales. Have fun and Enjoy! That's why you're here, right?
I thought so…
Moving Along
Chapter Two
Penthouse
The next day…
Max held Jondy as her seizures subsided. Within minutes she was asleep and resting comfortably in her sister's arms. Logan stood in the doorway watching. He wasn't sure whether if leaving the room was such a good idea. He didn't know if he could be presumptuous and join the girls on the bed. It wasn't like there was much he could do anyway. He got his answer when Max tucked Jondy under the covers and walked over to Logan. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek into his chest.
"She's going to be okay." She said. "It's the way we're made." She wasn't proud of this. She wasn't saddened by it. It just was…
"Max." Logan started but he knew the truth of her statement. She pulled back and looked up at him as he pressed his lips to her forehead. "I'll find Lydecker and get him to do something about this. I promise." He said. "Were they bad this time?"
"They were." Max said. "It was a violent set. She was having a hard time of it trying to breathe for a while. I wasn't sure the tryptophan was even helping."
"Was she talking about Zack again?"
"No. She was telling me about Frisco when you did that cable broadcast. She had been working that night. They had the TV on at the end of the bar where she was pouring drinks when your cable hack came. She said there were some guys sitting there that were fans. When your hack came on she listened expecting the usual." Max recounted Jondy's tale.
"Only it wasn't the usual save the world stuff that time." Logan whispered.
"She said she went on auto as soon as she heard you say X5. She picked up some glasses and wiped down the bar one last time so she could hear the whole broadcast and then called a cocktailer over to watch the bar. She headed out the back way and toward the roof leaving everything behind. As she jumped roofs, she heard the trucks approaching but when she looked down it wasn't Lydecker."
"Right, because Lydecker went to Portland after Tinga." Logan said. "So he couldn't have been in Frisco and made it to Portland before we got there. He had to have gone straight there."
"Exactly."
"It was a squad then." Logan surmised. "A group of Manticore black ops sent out to retrieve her."
"It was White."
"White?"
"Yes. She told me she used to sing one day a week in a mob lounge across town from where she worked. She had an obsessed fan." Max explained.
"White." Logan spit his name. "How long has our favorite cult loony been hunting her?"
"That's just it. He hasn't, at least not until he found out that she was a transgenic. It seems he was a fan of her singing." Max said. "She said he showed up in that lounge during her third set every week for eleven straight. He tried to meet her on several occasions. He was obsessed with her and even tried to follow her one night before the Boss' meat pulled her into a limo and drove her home."
"Is that how he came to be looking for her?"
"No. She doesn't know how it happened." Max answered. "One day he's trying to catch up to her on the street and the next he's gone. He was there every week for eleven weeks and then three weeks passed and he didn't show up once."
"Then I ran the X5 hack." Logan caught up. Max nodded. "Somewhere in those three weeks he went from obsessed fan to transgenic hunter."
"Yeah, but how?" Max asked. "Who told him about transgenics or Jondy at the least and why?"
"She doesn't know?" Logan asked.
"The seizures kicked into overdrive at that point and I didn't…" Max looked at Logan. Jondy stirred. She was waking up.
"I understand. She may not even know." Logan said. They were silent for a few moments. "When I was on my way back from Frisco, I stopped at that truck stop just north of the city limits. There was White and his henchmen. He specifically called Jondy a Rogue…"
"Rogue bitch." Jondy said. Her voice cracked. It was barely audible. "Its okay, Logan, I've been called worse." She tried to smile but she coughed. She sighed and let her head fall to the pillow just watching her two best friends.
"How are you doing? What do you need?" Logan asked. He and Max walked over to the bed. Max sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled some hair from Jondy's face. Logan stepped close ready to jump at her first request.
"You've done enough for me. You both have." Jondy whispered. "I just need to rest for a while and get some sleep and I'll be good as new in the morning."
"You said that yesterday and look what happened." Max smiled.
"I'll be fine." Jondy said as she closed her eyes. "You two are here with me." Her voice trailed off as she dozed again.
Logan's hand pulled on Max and she stood. They walked out and toward the living room.
"Why don't you and Jondy head up to the cabin for a few days." Logan suggested as they sat down to watch the rainy Seattle night.
"That would do her a world of good not to mention us." Max smiled. "I'd like that. You promised us a vacation anyway."
"I won't be going with you. I've got something to look into for Eyes Only. Nothing major but I got a hit on something that could turn into a serious turf war near or around sector six."
"What do you need me to do?" Max asked.
"I need you to take Jondy to the cabin and when I'm done with the investigation and figure out what's going on I'll come up and join you."
"So you think we should?" Max asked. "You really don't mind?"
"Why would I mind? She needs the rest and I didn't get to give you that vacation you wanted anyway." Logan said.
"What about you?" Max asked. "What are you going to do?"
"I'll look into this turf war over on the east side and see what it's all about. If I need anything looked into I'll call Alec or Biggs. They want to work for Eyes Only anyway or at least do the things they were trained for." Logan said. "It's nothing major I'm sure.
"What if it is?" Max asked. "Alec's not always on the ball. He's got trust issues and he's not exactly a team player."
"That's a polite way of saying it." Logan laughed. "He's trained and wants something more exciting than just being a bike messenger. At least that's what he said to me. He and Biggs did a lot for us on that Lempkin thing if you remember?"
"I remember. I'm just saying, that's all." Max said. "He's not as interested in setting things right like you are. This world we live in, even broken like it is has more freedom than anything he ever knew. He's not your standard freedom fighter into the good fight."
"Then I won't treat him like he is." Logan smiled. "You two go and when I have what I need on all of this, I'll come up and join you. Sound like a plan?"
"Sounds like a plan." Max agreed. "But you promise you'll call me if you need me?"
"First number I'll dial." Logan said. He tilted his head down and kissed Max. She smiled, tilted her head and pushed into his lips. They sat there for a long time just watching the rain run down the large windows and soak the city far below. Logan dozed off after a while. Max held him until she grew tired herself. It had been a long day but the moment she moved Logan woke up and smiled.
"How's Jondy?" He asked when he realized nothing was wrong. Max wondered what he had been dreaming about. He had mumbled a few inaudible phrases and called her name once or twice but there didn't seem to be anything to worry about. He hadn't been frantic.
"She's still asleep I think." Max said. "What were you dreaming?" She asked.
"What? Oh, nothing really. Did I say something?" Logan asked.
"You called my name a few times." Max snickered. "You were dreaming about me."
"I always dream about you."
"You do?" Max asked. "What kind of dreams?"
"Usually, in the dreams, you're all wet. Mostly naked and I'm standing nearby in my shorts and nothing else. The sand is hot and white and you've just climbed out of the ocean and are walking toward me. It's not like I'm having one of those kind of dreams. It's more like you and I are just alone somewhere without any issues, you know."
"Why am I naked? How come you're not naked? Why does the woman always have to be naked?" Max asked with a kittenish grin. She had started to purr a while ago but Logan noticed the intensity of her vibrations starting to rise. "What beach is it? Is anyone else around?" Max pushed up onto his lap and straddled him. She didn't give him any time to answer the question. They were lip-locked when Jondy came out of the bedroom.
They heard her clearing her throat. With a slight snicker, Max pulled away from Logan and turned to face Jondy. "I'll get some stuff ready for the cabin. You'll need it tomorrow when you get there." He smacked Max on the butt and turned. He smiled as he walked by her and left the room to gather supplies.
"The Cabin?" Jondy asked.
"We're going to the cabin for a while. The seizures have been hitting you pretty hard lately so Logan and I thought a few days out of the city might do you some good. You know, dizzying heights and fresh air can do a body good."
"Is Logan coming?" Jondy asked.
"He's got a few things to do around here but he'll come up in a few days." Max said. "Until then we're going to rough it."
Outside Fogle Towers
The next morning before lunch…
Max revved her baby and smiled. The motor was music to her ears. Jondy revved hers and smiled as well. They both loved this part. "Time to go fast." She said.
"Be Careful." He shouted. "Call me when you get there."
"We will." Jondy said.
"Are you going to be okay?" Logan asked her.
"I'm fine. I've rested and Max says it's a short trip." Jondy assured him. He rubbed her back up and down a few times before turning to kiss Max one last time before they headed off.
"Things are getting worse over in sector 6." Max said. "I was talking to OC this morning and she said the cops are going to lockdown the sector and let the gangs have their turf war until there's a winner."
"What turf wars?" Jondy asked.
"Don't worry about it." Logan said. "I'll take care of everything. Call me when you get to the cabin and make a list of some things we'll need so I can bring them up with me." He said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out three cards. He handed one to Jondy and two to Max. "This one's for gas. The other two are for supplies and whatever you need over at the general store."
Jondy tried to give hers back to him but he shook his head and told her to keep it. He also pulled a phone and handed it to Jondy. "What's this?" She asked.
"It's your phone. Max can show you how to use it."
"Consider it your secret decoder ring." Max snickered. Jondy raised an eyebrow. "It means you're one of us now." Max reached up and pulled Logan down to her lips with one hand for a kiss. She revved the bike when she kissed him sending a wild vibration through both of them. As she let go both girls were off.
Logan watched after them as they headed north toward the sector checkpoint to leave the city. He turned with a smile and headed back toward his tower. Alec and Biggs walked around the corner just as he was approaching the entrance.
"Hey guys." Logan said.
"You got something for us?" Biggs asked.
"The message didn't sound urgent so we waited for lunch." Alec said with a smile. "You got anything to eat?"
Logan laughed. "There's food in the fridge. Knock yourselves out. I have to make a phone call and get some information first."
"So what's going on?" Biggs asked. "You got a mission for us?"
"Whoa, down boy." Alec said. "Logan's got something or he wouldn't have called. Personally, I'd like to eat first."
"One track mind today?" Biggs asked.
"I didn't get anything to eat last night." Alec said.
"You wouldn't let go of that blonde last night." Biggs said. "I'll bet that had something to do with it."
"She was blonde?" He smiled. Biggs shook his head and Logan rolled his eyes.
When they made it to the penthouse, Logan headed for the office while the guys went into the kitchen. Ten minutes later Logan wandered into the kitchen to find a mess on the counter.
"What news O' great and fearless leader?" Alec asked.
"Nothing good I'm afraid." Logan said. He reached for a piece of lunchmeat and some bread. "There are some turf wars in sector six."
"There are always turf wars in sector six." Alec said. "There have been turf wars in sector six since I got into town."
"What kind of wars?" Biggs asked.
"Gang wars." Logan clarified. "Ridin' 40 is the largest and arguably the strongest gang in Seattle. They even have their own lawyers and are actually running some legitimate businesses around town. Unfortunately, for Ridin' 40 there seems to be a group effort against them. It seems some of the smaller gangs have banded together after laying their hands on some premium firepower and are trying to take down 40." He said. A knock sounded at the door. Biggs and Alec dropped their sandwiches on the counter, disappearing into the apartment as Logan moved to answer it.
Logan opened the door. He knew who it was. Matt Seung was standing there with a small leather pouch in his hands. It looked heavy. "What's up, Logan?"
"I should be asking you that question." He said. "C'mon in, Matt."
Following Logan to the kitchen, he noticed the sandwiches. "You got company?" He asked. Logan nodded directing Matt to turn around.
Alec was standing there. Biggs was stepping out of a shadow along the wall. Matt nodded but was obviously shaken by their sudden appearance. He stepped around the counter opposite the young soldiers.
"What'cha got for me, Matt?" Logan asked.
"I've got this." Matt said. "We found these during a routine investigation of sector six." He set the pouch on the counter as Alec reached for his sandwich. It clanked down heavily. Biggs and Alec looked at each other when they heard the noise. They recognized the sound of weapons hitting the hard surface.
"Sounds like an M16." Alec said. "And an Uzi."
"No." Biggs corrected him. "That's an H and K G41." He said as Matt pulled the cloth wrapping back revealing a short assault rifle.
"Very good." Matt smiled.
"H and K?" Logan asked. "You mean Heckler and Koch? How did these turn up in sector 6?"
"That's an MP5." Biggs said. "Where did you get these?"
"I got these from a warehouse we raided in the sector." Matt said. "There were more weapons there."
"How many?" Logan asked.
"Cases." Matt said.
Logan picked up a Spectre and turned away from everyone. He checked the weapon before tossing it to Alec. "How many cases?" He asked.
Alec and Biggs looked at Matt awaiting his response.
"Three hundred. The weapons we found were these guns along with some MPi 69s, Steyr AUG from Australia, Sar 80s and a couple of cases of Makarov 9 mils." Matt said. "There was enough ammo for a few weeks at least."
"Where did it come from?" Alec asked.
"That's what I'm working on. An informant is digging around for some information for me. I should have something by tonight." Logan said.
"I really appreciate this Logan. We're stumped. Frankly, I'm glad we got it off the streets." Matt said. "I have no clue what this could have been for but it wouldn't have been good for the city. Anyway, I've got to get back to work."
"Can I hang on to these?" Logan asked. "I can turn them over to some people I know and see what they can find."
"I figured as much." Matt said. "These particular weapons don't really exist." He smiled as he turned, taking the long way around Alec and Biggs. He nodded but otherwise avoided them. When he was gone, Logan returned to the kitchen.
"Logan. I understand the necessity of getting these weapons off the street but let's face it, these things are damn near obsolete." Biggs said.
"That doesn't mean they can't still kill people." Logan said. "Someone is supplying the smaller gangs with enough firepower to take over the city. We need to find them and stop them."
"You need recon." Alec said.
"Get in. Find out what you can and get out. I need to know yesterday what the hell is going on over there. Who supplied these weapons and why? Ridin' 40 has their own arsenal. The other gangs have weapons but these things showing up… had to happen for a reason and we need to know what that reason is."
"We'll figure it out tonight and drop by in the morning." Alec said. "It's interesting." Alec said. He picked up the MP5 and looked at it. "I trained with this weapon." He said looking at Biggs. The hard stare from the dark soldier affirmed Alec's admission.
"You know, Logan. We used to practice live fire exercises with the SAR and the AUG. Smaller weapons fit the kids back in Manticore perfectly." Biggs said. Alec nodded.
"Are you saying these weapons came from Manticore?" Logan asked.
A cabin by the lake…
Max and Jondy pulled up in front of the cabin. It looks peaceful and Max smiles remembering her first kiss with Logan through the window of the old Aztec. The girls had a relaxed ride doing the whole trip at around eighty miles an hour restricting conversation to necessary shouts.
"What are you looking for?" Jondy asked. She grabbed her pack and walked over to Max.
"Nothing. I was just remembering."
"What?"
"The first time I kissed Logan. He was sitting in his car right over there. Lydecker was still looking for us at that time and he had a manhunt out for me. He was offering a huge reward and I had been forced to hide behind a vent panel in South Market. I didn't know it at the time but Zack killed a man that had set me up in a trap for Lydecker. Deck was trying to pin the blame on me. Zack reluctantly asked for Logan's help and they both got me out of the city."
"Zack actually went willingly to Logan?"
"Not willingly. I had to make him go." Max said. "When we got up here I realized I might never see Logan again. I didn't like the way that made me feel so I asked him to go with us. He refused. He was very ill at the time."
"How ill?" Jondy asked.
"He was dying. The spinal injury was bad… the bullet was migrating. He was going to die." Max turned back to her bike and un-strapped her weekender. "Zack would have been so pissed off if he knew I asked Logan to run away with me."
"Everything pissed Zack off." Jondy laughed. "At least everything we did." The girls laughed as they opened the doors to the musty old cabin. It had been sealed up tight for months and didn't have a pleasant odor. Jondy busied herself with the windows while Max worked on the doors. "So what happened? What did Zack do when you kissed Logan?"
"Nothing. He was already inside the cabin. Probably scouting for enemy cockroaches or something." Max laughed.
"I'll bet he swept the entire cabin for listening devices and surveillance equipment." Jondy said. "Is that the first time you saw Zack?"
"No. He had been in town for a while. He pretended to be someone else and took a job as a courier with Jam Pony for a while. It wasn't until I got a report from a PI I hired to find you and the others that it became clear Zack was, well, Zack." Max said. "Anyway, after Logan and Zack rescued me Logan drove us up here and gave us the key. I was heading to the cabin when something turned me around. I looked at him and walked over to the car. Then I kissed him. It was the best… it was impulsive and I shouldn't have done it but I couldn't stop myself. It was the most passionate kiss I've ever had." Max said. "I realized then that I didn't want to lose Logan." She sighed, staring straight ahead for a short time. Jondy gave her the moment she needed.
"How did you guys find this place?" Jondy asked. "It's beautiful here. Quiet."
"It belonged to Logan's Uncle Jonas but after his death, his wife had started liquidating the family's assets. Logan used the last of his money to buy this place but I didn't find out about it for a long time after the fact." Max said. "He said something once about living up here and raising a family." Max mused.
"That would be nice." Jondy said. "Would you be interested in that life?"
"With Logan?" Max asked herself more than actually clarifying Jondy's question. "Only with Logan." She said finally. She smiled. "Yeah, I would be interested in a family with Logan." Jondy smiled but Max changed the subject. "When did you first meet Zack, or should I ask, when did Zack first locate you?"
"That's a long story." Jondy said. She remembered the incident in the warehouse when she had been free of Manticore for a few years. "I had been in a bad situation. I made some bad decisions and a few terrible mistakes. I fell in with some girls my age living on the streets like I was. They had a guy that they trusted, you know, got them things." Jondy said. Max nodded. She remembered Moody. "Only he couldn't be trusted. He had planned all along to sell us to a foreign slave trader named Chou and his punk sidekick Gerhard. Gerhard got away but I killed Chou and his henchmen."
"Gerhard? As in Gerhard Bronck?" Max asked.
"I don't know. Maybe. He was bald and had a creepy smile. His eyes were evil. I was pissed off that he got away from me but I was about twelve and there were six of them. They had weapons and I didn't. By the time I finished with Chou's bodyguards, Gerhard had escaped. I wish I could find him. I tried to, but I didn't know anything about him and I wasn't about to go to the police."
"Hold that thought a second." Max said. "I forgot to call Logan." She pulled out her phone and dialed his number. She got his answering machine.
"You've reached the number you dialed." His voice said. The tone followed and Max left her message.
"We're at the cabin safe and sound. I need you to do me a favor. Check Bronck's file and tell me if he ever associated with an Asian man named Chou. It's just a curiosity but Jondy was telling me about something that happened to her back in the day and I thought maybe she might have had a run in with Bronck several years before we did. Thanks." She hung up.
"You had a run in with this Gerhard guy?" Jondy asked.
"Logan and I took out a slave trader several months ago. His name was Gerhard Bronck and he almost shot Logan and Matt Seung. If it is the same character then I got to him. He's dead. I made sure of that." Max said. "So tell me about Zack."
Jondy stared at Max for a few seconds before smiling and continuing her story. "I didn't know it but Chou had men with him. They were highly trained with big guns. I took out five before eight more came into the warehouse and chased me out the back. I assumed that Bronck had sent them after me. I just unloaded my clip into a guy and had no ammo so I turned and ran when I saw them. I didn't know they had the back exit covered and when I got there four more had the other girls at gunpoint. I didn't know what to do so I just stopped. I waited, ready to pounce…" Jondy said.
"What happened?" Max asked.
"One of the girls screamed and when I turned to look at her I noticed two of the four men in back were dead and there was something blurry going for the third. It was one of us, Zack actually but I couldn't focus on him so I just turned and attacked the other eight. One of them pulled a weapon but I grabbed it as I ran past. I killed him and took out two others. When I turned to face the rest of them there were only two left. Zack had killed the others and was holding one of them by the neck. The last one was running away. I shot him and then I shot the one Zack was holding."
"I'll bet he wanted to leave the girls behind and get you out of there." Max said.
"More or less, but I was holding the gun at the time." Jondy laughed. "I told him to help or leave. I still wasn't sure it was him. He hadn't told me his name yet but I knew as soon as he turned around and his ponytail swung over his shoulder." Jondy said.
"He had a ponytail?" Max asked.
"He had a long thick ponytail. After a while I learned he hadn't cut his hair for over two years. It had grown halfway down his back. He looked, weird actually. I had been keeping my hair short at that time and I wasn't used to seeing any of us let alone Zack with long hair."
"I can't picture Zack with a ponytail." Max said. She picked up her phone again and dialed Logan's number.
"You've reached the number you dialed." Logan's voice said.
"Logan. Did you know that Zack used to have a pony tail? I thought you might like to know. Anyway I was just checking to see if you got back yet. Everything's okay right? Let me know." She said. She punched the off button and put the phone away.
"You're worried about him." Jondy said.
"He can take care of himself." Max said. "If he's doing what I think he's doing then he's researching while Alec and Biggs are getting some recon on this turf war." She said. "He's probably so busy with his files that he's not paying attention to the phone."
"He wouldn't go with Alec and Biggs, would he?" Jondy asked. "Not that I would worry about him actually. He didn't seem to fear White outside that truck stop."
"White has seen him before but never for long periods of time. Logan seemed to think that White had finally recognized him when he picked you up." Max said. "Logan isn't afraid of anything really. Well, spiders actually and he used to be afraid of heights but getting tossed from the roof of the Steinlitz hotel cured that. He doesn't like needles though."
"What do you mean tossed off the roof?" Jondy asked.
"He turned himself over during a hostage negotiation to get the women released. The May 22nd movement had been one of the good teams but they got twisted by this guy named Darius. He was some psycho-flip that flopped and when he imploded he almost took Logan with him. I left him alive when I got to him but Deck was at the same genetics conference."
"So Deck killed him." Jondy said.
"That's my bet." Max said.
"You didn't tell me how Logan survived getting tossed off of a roof."
"I jumped after him with a line and we swung into a window around the fourth floor just as Darius' men shot the line. I left Logan there on the bed and went after the rest of May 22nd, but some had broke and ran. I took out a few of them and found Darius with the kid."
"I remember hearing about that on the news. That made big news down in San Francisco at the time because we were having a lot of problems with a group called the S1W."
"S1W?" Max asked. "Who are they?"
"I don't know but they were involved in a few things that made the news. One of them was reported on an Eyes Only hack. The local news said that the S1W had taken some supplies from a warehouse somewhere. They had taken some kind of chemicals or something that were to be used in some terrorist attack or something. The local feds went after them but they seemed to have disappeared. The Eyes Only hack came a few days later but didn't mention them."
"Do you think Logan had something to do with them?" Max asked.
"I don't think about them at all." Jondy said. "Just another group of terrorists like your May 22nd group."
"They aren't my group." Max laughed. She picked up the phone and called Logan's again. She listened for the message and left another one of her own. "This is the third message in an hour, hotshot. If I come back there and find out you were running around gangland with Alec and Biggs… I'll kick your ass." She paused counting to five in the hope he would pick up. "That's it. You're not there right? You're out doing something stupid that you shouldn't be doing, aren't you? I know you Logan Cale and I expect to hear from you tonight or I'm coming back there and smack you upside the head…" She paused long enough for the machine to disconnect the call.
"Where would he be?" Jondy asked.
"He's probably out meeting an informant." Max said. Her face told Jondy something else.
"Or…"
"Or he's in sector 6 with Alec and Biggs…"