Chapter 10: If he dies I die!

Disclaimer: Read chapter 1.

Bold = thoughts or point of view

Italics = emphasis

~~~~~ = scene change

[] = telephone conversation

            Jade arrived at home; she leaned her bike against the wall, and called out to Lee as she headed to the living room. There was no answer and Jade thought this was for the best only because she didn't want to deal with anyone right now. She headed up to her room and shut the door behind her; once upstairs she went into the bathroom and drew herself a bubble bath. When the tub filled she shut the water off, stripped down, and got into the tub, once inside she let the hot water relax her and she nodded off to a light sleep, but the conversation with Zack was still fresh on her mind.

~~~~~Flashback~~~~~

Jade: Hang on, I don't think I heard you right, you what?

Zack: I killed his girlfriend three years ago…at least that's what he thinks.

Jade (taking a seat): I don't understand why would you do such a thing?

Zack (grabbing her by the shoulders and turning her to face him): His girlfriend was an X5 that hadn't escaped with us in '09. Manticore sent her to kidnap my nephew Case; he was only two years old. She had, I think six months to complete the mission, in that six months she got closer to my sister and her husband Charlie.

Jade: So when she did kidnap the kid they wouldn't think she was the one, right?

Zack: Yea, but along the way she met your brother and I guess they had a thing but she never forgot about the mission. One day Charlie was home alone with Case and she came to "visit," he offered her coffee and got some for himself too. When he went to the other room to check on Case she slipped something into his drink that knocked him out cold.

Jade: What happened next?

Zack: That day I met up with Tinga, told her what I had discovered, and when we got there Case was gone and so was she, Charlie was still out cold. Good thing was she left a trail, we followed her to an airstrip outside of town and we got her and Case out of there.

Jade: Why didn't you just kill her on the spot?

Zack: I wanted to, Tinga didn't. So we took her back to her place, which was a rundown motel room and Tings left Case in the car and told me to watch him. A few moments later I heard shots and then I saw your brother coming from the other direction. I ran into the room, told Tinga to head out the back, and I took the fall. Your brother came in, got a good look at me, and I shot him in the leg so I could escape.

Jade: If what you're saying is true then Zack he's not only coming after Logan he's gonna come after you too.

Zack: What would make you think that?

Jade: Because when I went to talk to him today, and I told him I knew what he was doing he told me there was more to this then I understood, and this is what he's talking about.

Zack: Don't worry about it.

Jade: I can't help it. So where are your sister and her family now?

Zack (sadness in his eyes): A couple of months ago Tinga was in trouble again, Manticore had found her, and Case had gotten really sick; the only cure to his sickness was in Manticore's hands. Tinga made the ultimate sacrifice, she went back to save her son, but in the end of it all Manticore killed her.

Jade (giving him a hug): Zack, I'm so sorry, that's a terrible thing. What happened to Case and Charlie?

Zack: Logan hooked them up with new identities and some cash; as far as I know they're safe in Canada.

~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~

            Jade suddenly opened her eyes and knew she had heard a noise come from downstairs. She quietly got out of the bath, dried herself off, and put on her bathrobe. Silently she walked out of the bathroom and into her room; she turned on her bedside lamp and searched for her gun. Once Jade found it, she headed downstairs and called out for Lee, just to make sure he wasn't the one down there. When no one answered she knew she was in the clear to shoot whoever was in the loft, from her spot in the living room she could see down the hall to the door and she saw that it was ajar.

            Now I'm one hundred percent sure I didn't leave that open. She thought suspiciously.

Jade (into the darkness with her gun still raised): Look, I know you're here, so just show yourself before anyone gets hurt.

Connor (coming out of the shadows): Didn't know you packed so much heat these days.

Jade: Well I never know who or what is gonna come my way.

Connor (bringing out his own gun): Good thing I brought my own.

Jade (a little surprised): You might wanna put that down.

Connor: What, you scared?

Jade: No, I've been shot more than I can count so what's one more.

Connor: Then why don't you put your gun down?

Jade: You know what's surprising; instead of you getting smarter since the escape you've gotten stupider.

Connor (small smirk): How do you mean?

Jade: This is my house remember? You broke in, so if I killed you it would seem as self defense so the most I'd get was maybe two years of probation and some odd hours of community service. You on the other hand dear brother would get forty to life.

Connor: You know this whole 'I don't give a damn about anybody but me' scenario doesn't suit you.

Jade: Yea and the whole avenging death drama suit you? Give me a break.

Connor (lowering his gun) I just came to talk.

Jade (still having hers raised): Try calling next time or knocking.

Connor: Who's Lee?

Jade: Nobody.

Connor: Do you always call out to nobody?

Jade: Life on the outside gets lonely, girl has gotta get her kicks somewhere.

Connor: You're gun is still raised.

Jade: I've noticed.

Connor: Jade please, I just wanna talk. I want to make you understand.

Jade: Understand what, the fact that you wanna kill people? No thanks. Why'd you even come here? You made it crystal clear this morning that whatever I said didn't make a difference.

Connor: I just thought we could talk, like old times.

Jade (her voice was soft then it got cold and mean): Oh Connor…get your head out of the fucking clouds and into reality. We can't do anything like old times cuz the girl you used to know died ten years ago when we escaped our own personal hell. So don't come up in here and act like things can just be the way they used to be, cuz they can't.

Connor: When did you become like this? I didn't want to believe the things Vince said about you but it's true.

Jade (lowering her gun): Well don't try to understand it because I sure as hell don't, just accept it, I have, because whatever I'm doing it's working.

Connor: What do you mean?

Jade: I'm still out here aren't I? I'm not locked in some cage waiting to be experimented on.

Connor: You know what I see Jade?

Jade: What?

Connor: A lost and scared little girl.

Jade: Hey that's better then what I see when I look at you.

Connor: What's that?

Jade: A liar and a murderer.

Connor: That's cold even for you.

Jade: Truth hurts big brother, deal with it.

Connor: No the truth is, you're just like me.

Jade: No I'm not and I will never be like you.

Connor: This world's made you soft Jade what would Galloway say?

Jade: I know what I'd tell him and you, kiss my ass.

Connor: I know why you're like this, you're mad because I played you that night at the club. You're pissed cuz I was right under your nose—no pun intended—and you let me slip through your fingers.

Jade: You wanna sit down Connor? Cuz I know your brain must be tired of all that thinking.

Connor: Funny.

Jade: Glad you think so. You know you're right I am mad, but not for getting played but for letting myself be played. You and Vince probably had a good laugh or two at my expense. What I don't get is you must have known that I was searching to find at least one of you guys but you led me to believe that you were Shane Black.

Connor: And now that you've found us how do you feel?

Jade: I wish to God I never had, at least before my life wasn't so complicated.

Connor: Yea, well our lives have been one big complication ever since we were born.

Jade: Get out of my house and don't ever come back.

Connor: If I walk out now, you'll never see me again.

Jade: Hope that's a promise.

            Connor walked out and at the door Jade stopped him, he turned around with a small smile on his face, thinking he had won.

Connor: Changed your mind?

Jade (ripping off the heart necklace he had given her all those years ago, and throwing it at him): You forgot something. (Before closing the door in his face.) One more thing, if you come near me again, I won't hesitate to kill you.

            She then slammed the door in his face and ran upstairs to get ready for her date with Zack.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Jade had waited almost two hours for Zack at the hotel but he never showed, so she got tired of waiting and decided to go look for him. Her first thoughts were the penthouse so she rode over there hoping that Connor hadn't done something.

~~~~~Two hours earlier~~~~~

            Connor walked into the penthouse knowing that what Jade had done tonight would make it easier on him of what he was going to do.

Connor (calling out): Vince?

Vince (coming from the kitchen with Gwen): Hey bro what's up?

Connor: We're doing things ahead of schedule, pack up everything we need to execute this and load it into the van. (Vince nodded then walked off. Connor turning to Gwen.) Gwen, I'm giving you a choice you're either in or you're out. What's it gonna be?

Gwen (taking a minute): Let's take these sons of bitches down.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            Zack was down in the Foggle Towers parking garage, getting into Logan's car; he needed to hurry up because he was late for his date with Jade already. He had asked Logan if he could borrow his car for a few hours and Logan was happy to oblige. Zack was about to pull out of the parking space when a big black van pulled up behind him and blocked his way. Two guys in black attire and black ski masks got out of the back door and just as Zack was getting out, one of them shot him twice with a tranq gun. When Zack collapsed the two guys dragged him to the van and then they pulled out.

~~~~~Present time~~~~~

            Jade knocked on the door and Logan opened it, he smiled at her, and stood aside for her to come in.

Logan: Hey Jade.

Jade: Hi.

Logan: You seem preoccupied, everything alright?

Jade: Actually no, is Zack around?

Logan: No he left a few hours ago. Why?

            By now Max had come in and was curious herself to find that Jade was looking for Zack.

Jade: Zack and I had plans tonight to have dinner and he never showed.

Max: Wait a minute; you and my brother had actual plans for a date?

Jade: Yea, why do you act all surprised?

Max: Oh no reason. (Under her breathe.) Damn it's about time that boy got out.

Jade: I'm worried that something may have happened to him.

Logan: Did you try calling his cell?

Jade: No but there is the lack of me having his number.

Max (going to get the phone): I'll go call him.

Jade: I don't have a good feeling about this Logan.

Logan: I'm sure everything is fine.

            Max came back to join them in the living room with the phone in tact.

            [Hello?] [Zack? It's Max.] [Why Max, so lovely to hear from you but I'm sorry to say that X5- 599 can't make it to the phone right now but I'll be sure to let him know you called…before I kill him.] [Look you son of a bitch if you hurt my brother--] [Oh don't flatter yourself and put the phone on speaker if you ever wanna see your brother again.]

            Logan and Jade were looking at Max quizzically as she took the phone away from her ear and pushed the speaker button.

            [Talk asshole.] [I don't wanna talk to you; I wanna talk to my sister.] [You have Zack, don't you Connor?] [Yes, I do Jade. Question is: how long will I keep him a live for.] [What do you want?] [Not what Jade, who. I want Max to ask herself is she will to do anything to save her brother.] [What kind of a question is that you sadistic son of a bitch?] [It's simple really, are you willing to give up your lover to save your brother?] [Tell me where Zack is.] [Go downstairs to my penthouse and wait for my call, oh yea, and Jade, don't go about this stupidly cuz if you do then you will have signed Zack's death warrant.]

            With that said he hung up and left Max, Logan, and Jade staring at each other in confusion. Jade got up and headed out, Logan and Max followed suit to Connor's penthouse; what they found shocked them all.

            Jade switched on the lights and they found several scattered pictures of Logan, Max, Jade, Syl, Krit, Zack, Lee, Maria, and basically their work places, homes, and their usual haunts. Something caught Jade's eye on the desk in the corner, as she slowly walked to it she realized Max and Logan had disappeared. On the desk she found a video tape labeled play me and that silver heart necklace. A few minutes later Connor called her and told her she had an hour to find Zack and if she didn't then Zack would die; with that he hung up. Jade had returned to Logan's with the tape and necklace in tact. She asked them where they had run off to and they told her they went to check the parking garage for any clues; they had only found Logan's car unattended.

Max: Did you find anything else besides those photos?

Jade (showing them the tape): They left me this.

            Logan took it and put it in the V.C.R., they all watched with horror as they saw what was being done to Zack. He was cuffed to an armored chair both hands and feet included, not dead but clearly knocked out. What they saw next was the shocking part; Connor was attaching something around Zack's neck. Jade later realized that it was a bomb as did the others. Now Connor faced the camera and began to speak.

            "Hello, dear sister, as you know you previously had sixty minutes to save him now it looks like it's down to forty-five. The only thing that can save him is this little button in my hand. If you try to dissemble it yourself it'll blow the both of you up. I really wish things could have been different Jade, I really do but I guess things happen for a reason. Before I go I have one last proposition for you, if you find us before it's too late, we could offer a trade, Logan for Zack. Think about it and in the meanwhile you best be careful cuz if you step to close to the fire the flames will consume you. Hop, hop little bunny times a waistin'."

Max: I'm calling Syl and Krit.

Jade: No, you heard him Max we've only got about forty minutes left till that bomb goes off.

Max (furious): This is all your fault and if you think for a second I'm gonna stand here and listen to you then you've got your head so far up your ass then I thought.

Jade: Max I understand that you're—

Max (cutting her off): No you don't understand anything; don't you think for a second that I will let you trade Logan for Zack my family and I will find another way to save him.

Jade: I hope that it won't be too late.

Max (catching her off guard): If anything happens to Zack I will kill you.

Jade (looking back from her position in the doorframe): And I won't stop you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

            As I enter the loft I can hear voices and the sound of laughter. Oh God how I'm going to miss those laughs I was a fool to think that I could stay here for much longer; I guess I should thank my lucky stars for how long I have stayed. After this I need to leave. Once Zack is safe, I'm gone.

            She walked right past everybody who was at the loft without saying hello. She went upstairs, packed some weapons, changed her clothes, and was out the door.

            She had exactly thirty minutes left to save Zack; she ended up a block away from her place of work. She had figured that most of those photos were taken of her at the coffee house and they were taken at a certain angle; an angle that could have only been taken from the roof of an old abandoned cremation building. Hence the words from Connor being "…if you step to close to the fire the flames will consume you."

            Jade rode a little bit more till she found the building. She gunned the ignition to her bike and quietly but quickly walked into the building. She turned on her flashlight and swiftly saw Zack in a corner; her gut was telling her that this was a trap but she didn't care. She ran over to Zack and he was in and out of it. He had a big cut on his forehead, a split lip, and a black eye. Jade took out her lock picking tools and started working on his cuffs once she finished he seemed to have steadily become conscious.

Jade: Zack? Zack can you hear me?

Zack (groggily): Jade? Is that you?

Jade: Yea, come on let's get you out of here.

Zack (trying to push her away): No, the bomb, it'll kill you too.

Jade (sternly): I'll risk it.

            Connor turned on the lights and came into view then Gwen and Vince closed in on her from both sides.

Connor (making a mock clap): That's very heroic of you little sister.

Zack (still groggy): Just let her go she has nothing to do with this.

            Jade looked sympathetically at Zack, a man she could possibly love and that sort of put her mind at ease about the thing she was going to do next. Before anyone knew what was happening Jade took out her knife and aimed it at Gwen's left thigh, then she threw it and the noise of blade piercing through flesh caused her to feel disgust. As she yelled out in pain and went against a wall for support Jade was getting ready to shoot Vince but not a kill strictly a wound; he was too quick and expecting something so before she could do it he went over to Zack and aimed a gun at his head.

Vince: Don't even think about it, or you can kiss your boyfriend goodbye.

Jade (icily): Get the fuck away from him.

            As Vince went to assist Gwen, Jade went to Zack and helped him out of the chair. He seemed to be a little less disoriented now; Jade guessed the tranqs they used was wearing off.

Connor: How did you find us?

Jade: Followed a trail you left.

Connor: Did you consider my offer?

Jade (lying partially): No I was to busy setting up a rescue mission for Zack with Logan, Max, and two other X-5s.

Connor: You're lying cuz if that were true you wouldn't have just blown your cover.

Jade: Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to find out? I mean come on Connor these are X-5s we're talking about, all of them could kick your asses within seconds. They're our equal strength maybe a bit stronger; I mean look at what you had to do to Zack, you needed to neutralize him before you could kidnap him.

Connor: Are you through?

Jade: Actually there is one more thing; I had this dream a couple of weeks back. You were in it, so was Zack, and of course my own personal anti-Christ Galloway. He was killing me, Zack saved me, and then he came after Zack I tried to stop it but you held me back. Before Galloway was through he said I would choose you over Zack but as always he was wrong. You know why Connor because when I look at you all I see is a pathetic shell of a human being that you used to be. I used to be proud to have you as my brother and I was proud to call you my brother but now it feels like that person I used to know was somebody else and he's long since died.

Connor (raising his gun at Zack): Nice speech, hope you have a good memorable one for his (Zack) funeral.

            Before he could pull the trigger Jade walked closer to him and stood right where the gun was pointed at her heart.

Jade: Before you pull that trigger think if you're ready to kill your own sister cuz if you're gonna kill him then you gotta kill me.

            Connor contemplated this and before he could come to a decision Jade kicked both the gun and bomb control device out of his hands. She threw them to Zack who only had about ten minutes left and then engaged in hand to hand combat with Connor.

            As they fought Jade caught a glimpse of his neck and saw no serial number thus throwing her off her game and giving Connor the upper hand. Before he could cause permanent damage to Jade, Zack shot him in the leg making him fall to the floor.

Jade (to Zack): Thanks.

Zack: There is time for that later. We need to stop this bomb.

Jade: Did you try the switch?

Zack: No use.

Connor: Did I fail to mention the only way the bomb will turn off is when it blows up.

Jade (expecting something like this): Zack go to my bag, inside are a pair of pliers get them, get the bomb off your neck and throw it as far as you can.

Zack (hesitant): Jade…

Jade (looking straight into his eyes): Zack do you trust me?

Zack: You know I do.

Jade: Then trust that nothing will happen to you.

            Zack did this and once he got the bomb off he threw it clean across the building and it blew up in mid air. As the explosion occurred Max, Syl, and Krit arrived thinking they were too late. They were glad to see only part of the building was damaged but not too much. Once inside they all went to Zack glad to see he was alive and well.

Connor (sadistically): Aahh and the cavalry have arrived. Been wonderin' when you guys would show.

Jade (going over and punching him): Shut up and tell me where my brother is.

Connor: You're looking at him.

Jade (knowing everyone else was confused): Stop playing games and tell me the truth. I know you're not Connor, I knew it before I came her and everything that took place here confirmed it. So tell me or do I have to beat it out of you?

Connor: You're crazy.

Jade (punching him): Not the answer I was looking for.

Connor (changing the subject): Look…look at Gwen she's lost a lot of blood. How does it feel knowing she's gonna die all because of you?

Jade (looking in horror at what she had done but quickly recovering and pulling out her cell): [Yes, I need the paramedics…we have one wounded but I'm not sure how much blood she's lost and another dead…looks like a suicide.]

            She gave them the address then turned to Gwen. She walked over to her, took off her belt, and tied it tightly above her wound.

Jade: To stop the blood loss.

Gwen (nodding not sure to be pissed off or thankful): Smart thinking.

Connor: What's this whole suicide thing about? Who's gonna die?

Jade (walking to him and pointing the gun at the side of his head): You, but before I kill you and make it look like a suicide. I need to make a call.

            She took out her phone and put it on speaker, then dialed Logan's number; when he was on the other end everyone was surprised except for the obvious caller.

            [Hey it's me.] [How'd it go?] [Actually turns out I was right.] [Oh, well did you give him my little surprise yet?] [Nope, I was just about to but I wanted to call and let you know everything's cool, Zack's fine, Max and the gang are here, and we'll be seeing you in a bit.] [I'm glad to hear that and I'll be waiting.]

            She hung up and then continued to make everyone unconfused by telling them how she had discovered that "Connor" isn't really Connor.

~~~~~Logan's Penthouse~~~~~

(Before Jade started searching for where they were holding Zack)

            Jade was standing in the doorframe of Logan's computer room and she watched a bit as he worked then she purposefully coughed to make her presence known.

Logan (startled): What are you doing back? Thought you'd be out looking for Zack by now.

Jade (walks in): Where's Max?

Logan: Give you one guess.

Jade: Out looking for Zack?

Logan: Yup. So again, why are you here?

Jade: I have this theory and it's that whoever this guy is he's not my brother.

Logan: I find that very hard to believe.

Jade: I don't. You see, I think that Shane Black was an alias that Connor was using when he came to work with you and Eyes Only. That night when he went on that mission for you guys I think the mission went wrong because of this guy pretending to be him or whoever he's working for.

Logan: That's one helluva accusation you're making.

Jade (tears welling up in her eyes): Yea and if I'm right that means my brother is dead.

Logan: How does that make you feel?

Jade: Honestly? Relieved because I rather have him be dead then know he could do something like this.

Logan (nodding): What led you to this conclusion?

Jade (wiping some tears away): It started when we first met; he complimented me on a necklace…a necklace Connor had given me when we were kids. Connor would never give himself away especially not in the way this guy did. Then he came to me before my date with Zack and I didn't get the feeling that I get when I used to be with Connor when we were kids.

Logan: What about those feelings you had when you guys met the first time?

Jade: I read more into those feelings because I wanted to cling to something that wasn't there I think that was a sense of warning that I ignored.

Logan: Before you were saying you didn't feel a connection with him like you did when you were kids, what's that about?

Jade: Before I escaped I was shot, but it was an accident. I had lost a lot of blood and they needed the blood of someone like me and Connor was the only match. You see at Canidae they made sure that everyone in each unit was a blood match with someone else in their unit. Anyways since then we've had this inexplicable connection between us.

Logan: Although all of this sounds reliable, you're forgetting one thing, their uncanny resemblance?

Jade: I hadn't thought that far ahead but I'm sure he could have had plastic surgery or it could be one of those look a like masks.

Logan: Jade do you hear yourself? Are you positive this isn't just all in your head because you want to believe that this isn't your brother, that your brother is still the guy you use to know and love, the guy you grew up with?

Jade: Damn it! This isn't in my head; this guy is not my brother because my brother would never do something like this.

Logan: Well Max thought the same thing about her brother Ben but turns out he wasn't the same man she knew and only God knows what she had to do to stop him.

Jade: I'm not Max and if it comes down to it I will kill this guy with a clear conscience because he's not my brother.

Logan: I'm just saying that there's a possibility—

Jade (cutting him off): Well I'm telling you something. When we were kids Connor excelled in bombs, he built them; he knew every single kind, and every single detail about any kind of bomb.

Logan: Your point being?

Jade: My point is if you were listening to that tape he said the bomb would blow up if dissembled. I know what kind of bomb was put on Zack and so would Connor.

Logan: Meaning?

Jade: Meaning this bomb has a thirty second window after being taken off its target. You could take it off, throw it before thirty seconds is up, and you'd come out of it unharmed. The only thing he was right about was turning it off with the switch. So Logan, tell me now, is it all in my head?

~~~~~Present time~~~~~

Jade: So you see, you aren't our brother and like I told Logan I will kill you but not before I get what I want and that's information on Connor.

"Connor": Well I ain't telling you shit bitch!

Jade (going over and grabbing his head by his hear and putting it down to show his bare neck): Vince and Gwen just in case you don't believe me you might want to take a look at his serial number or lack of it.

Vince: He could have gotten it removed.

Jade: Vince, I know you want to believe that this is Connor because he played you so well and we were all taught better then that but even you know that we could never get our serial numbers removed. This guy is not Connor but he might be the only one who knows where he is.

Gwen: Why does he look like Connor then?

Jade: Plastic surgery or a mask.

Vince (furious): If it's a mask let's remove it.

Jade (stepping aside): By all means, go ahead.

            Vince came over while Jade went and supported Gwen. He started punching "Connor" in the face and soon enough the edges of the mask started coming off and then Vince completely took it off. Revealing a dark haired, dark eyed, and with a goatee man. Everybody was pretty surprised but Gwen, Jade, and Vince were relieved this wasn't their brother.

"Connor": I still ain't telling you shit.

Jade (coming now and taking a syringe with some fluid in it, out of her pocket): It's alright Logan gave me a little something to loosen your lips, so to speak. It's called a truth serum, ever hear of it?

            She went over to him and injected it into his blood stream; it would only be a matter of minutes before it would take affect.

~~~~~TBC~~~~~

A/N: Hey everyone thanks to everybody who reviewed I think there will only be two more chapters and I'm thinking of doing a sequel but not until I do the sequel to my story "Slayer". Thanks again to everyone.