by Kirsten Tapp
Disclaimer: Dark Angel doesn't belong to the author, but to James Cameron, etc. The characters of Tek, Devon and Rein however do belong to the author. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: With 'The Coming' fast approaching Max and her siblings have to race to stop the conclave from finishing what they started.
Timeframe: Occurs after Freak Nation, Follow up story to Oops, I did it again.
Rating: PG - some graphical violence
Category: Drama, Romance
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Adam stroked the nose of the black mare inside the pen as he thought about Max. It seemed so unbelievable that only a month ago, she had married Logan. He just hoped that she was happy.
Sensing that someone was behind him, Adam spun around to find his favorite redhead sitting on the fence, the wind blowing her copper colored hair out behind her. Beside her sat her tattoo covered brother. "So what brings you two to this neck of the woods?"
Jondy grinned, her blue eyes sparkling. "We thought you might want to come and help us save the world."
Zane mirrored his sister's amused look. "If it's alright with your four legged lady friend, that is."
Adam rolled his eyes at their teasing. "When do we leave?"
Max felt Logan's arms tighten around her pulling her closer. They hadn't slept all night. The prospect of what they were about to face so early in their marriage had left them not wanting to lose sight of each other for a second.
They had made love slowly, savoring each touch, each sigh, each moan of pleasure in case it was their last. That was how they had spent the entire night, not wishing to speak of the fear each had waiting to break out and surround them.
Now they lay entwined in each other, knowing Max's siblings would descend on them at any moment. Every second would be focused on stopping 'The Coming'. There would be no time to worry or fear. There was too much at stake to let emotions prevent them from doing what needed to be done.
"We'd better get out of bed." Max mumbled. "My brothers and sisters will start arriving at any moment." She didn't want to move. She could have quite happily stayed like this, wrapped in the security of Logan's arms forever.
"I guess so." Logan kissed the top of Max's head. "If we can find out what the rest of the ingredients are maybe it won't get as far as the day of 'The Coming'. Can't say I'll be happy to see Sandeman again."
Max untangled herself from Logan and pulled on a red bathrobe that had originally been Logan's. "God, you sound so hot when you talk business." She teased.
Logan couldn't help but chuckle at his wife. "You keep talking like that, we are never leaving this room." He pulled on a bathrobe as well and followed his wife out the door.
Sitting waiting in the apartment living room were Max's siblings, all but Zane and Jondy. Krit grinned at the couple who didn't seem that surprised to see so many people in their living room. "You know what Logan, I think Max is right. You sound so hot when you talk business." He grinned mischievously.
Logan rolled his eyes upward. "How is it I forget how good your hearing is?" When Jondy had first stayed in his guestroom of his old apartment, she had warned him that the X5s could hear what was going on in the next room.
Syl lightly slapped Krit's head. "Leave them alone. Newlyweds think everything about each other is hot."
Tinga giggled at her sister. "And you would know this how?" It struck her as funny that her sister talked as though she were an expert.
"I think I may have mentioned it." Jace grinned. "But only because I didn't think she was paying attention. As I remember, Krit was doing pushups shirtless at the time."
Max shook her head in amusement, but then noticed that she was two siblings short. "Where are Jondy and Zane? I thought they'd be arriving with the rest of you."
Rein shook his head. He had picked everyone up from the airport. "Jondy said she had to make an important stop before coming here so Zane went with her."
Alec looked down at his boots. "He's gone along to protect her. That's not going to be easy."
Max could see the guilt on Alec's face even though he had done a good job of trying to hide it. "What exactly happened with you and Jondy?"
"It seems I talk in my sleep." Alec began sheepishly. "Which might not have been so bad if I hadn't called Rachel's name out instead of Jondy's at the wrong moment."
Logan couldn't believe Alec had blown it so badly. "And you're still alive why?" He had seen Jondy's temper at full force and knew she would never forgive and forget.
"She didn't want to ruin your wedding so she settled on giving me a black eye and a tongue lasing." Alec knew he deserved to be hanging from a vital organ from the space needle.
Before Max could utter any sort of response, Jondy walked into the apartment with Zane and Zack. "Got anything to eat?" Jondy grinned at Logan.
"Hello to you too." Logan kissed her cheek and shook hands with Zane and Zack. He was slightly wary of Zack being there, but at that moment they needed all the help they could get.
After a noisy breakfast they all headed to Terminal City. They would need a play by play description of every event involved in 'The Coming' if they were to have any chance of stopping it. Not one of the X5s were interested in having Sandeman near their sister for one second longer than necessary.
Zane walked into the command center and shook hands with Mole, Tek and Joshua. "Hey guys. How's it going?"
"Not bad considering we could be facing the end of the world." Mole sarcastically replied. "Where's the redhead?" He had noticed that Zane seldom let Jondy out of his sight when they were both in Seattle.
"Talking to CJ." Zane ignored Mole's sarcasium. He spotted the extended fence line and it's occupants on one of the monitors. "What happened there?"
Tek gave him a throaty chuckle. "We found some stray animals yesterday. We thought we'd better cage them up for everyone's safety."
Joshua saw Jondy walk into the room and quickly hugged her. "Lydecker's out of the way for the moment." He explained when he saw the confused frown on her face at the sight of the men laughing at something on the monitor. "We've got your back."
"That's good to know." Jondy smiled up at her friend. "Zane, we're meeting in the mess hall. I don't want to leave Zack near Logan for too long without you or I watching him."
Mole frowned. "If you don't trust him, then why is he here?"
Zane answered for his sister. "Because he'd give his own life before he'd let anyone take Max's." He followed Jondy out the door.
"Well, this should be interesting at the very least." Tek turned back towards the monitor. "Do you think we ought to put a 'Do not feed the animals' sign on that part of the fence?"
Sandeman glanced around the table at the X5s. He couldn't be prouder even if they had been his actual children. But he knew that was the last thing any of them wanted to hear. They had come together for one reason, to keep Max safe.
He had drawn a map of sorts showing the different stages that led up to 'The Coming'. "By my calculations this is approximately the stage we are at." He pointed at the map. "I've written a list of ingredients need for the final ritual."
Max looked at the list. "I take it that substitutions can be used without ruining the end effect."
Sandeman nodded. "Since the pulse some of these things are difficult to get hold of."
"What's on the list? An eighteen year old virgin?" Alec quipped, which resulted in him getting a smack around the head from Jace who was sitting next to him.
Max handed Jondy the list. "What do you think?" She noticed that Jondy was sitting quietly absorbing everything that was being said.
Jondy glanced over the list. "At least a quarter of this can be replaced with dried herbs. We can't exactly guard every grocery store. I'd recommend we get hold of the High Priestess, but I'm guessing that she can be easily replaced."
Sandeman nodded. "There are numerous understudy's. You take out one, another will take her place. Jondy is correct about the herbs also."
"So how the hell do we stop it?" Zane grew exasperated. "You've told us what we can't do. What is that we can do?"
"We can find out where 'The Coming' is to be held." Logan spoke up. "What happens when the planets align."
"I'm not sure." Sandeman shrugged his shoulders. "Somehow it signals where 'The Coming' is to take place."
Tinga chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully. "You know Case has taken an interest in astronomy. It's a long shot but what if when the planets align, combined with the placement of the stars it creates a map."
Rein could almost hear his sibling's minds ticking over. "What about if we approach it this way? We each take a different task. Tinga's probably got the inside edge on the astronomy angle. Jondy's got the medical knowledge to be able to spike whatever those ingredients make up. Logan, you have a contact inside the police department. Can you get one of us in there to question White."
"I'll see what I can do." Logan dialed Matt's number on his cell phone. It felt good to be able to finally take even a small step towards stopping 'The Coming'.
"I'll take the police station." Zane offered. "Maybe I can play Jondy's death to my advantage."
"I figure the conclave are probably expecting Sandeman to show up at the last minute to stop 'The Coming'." Jace spoke up. "They'll have people watching the check points."
"Then so shall we." Zack felt as though he should be issuing the orders, but his siblings as far as he could remember had changed. They wouldn't take orders from him now. "How many people are we looking at for the final ritual?"
"About twenty to take part." Sandeman considered the question carefully. "Of course there will be numerous spectators."
"So we could be looking for a clearing." Krit offered. "I can look at it from the air and see if I can find anything suitable."
Syl frowned slightly. "They could use the roof of a building for that. I know some antique dealers that may know where I can find the type weapons on that list Jondy has."
Alec cleared his throat. "So Rein, Zack, Jace and I will patrol the four main checkpoints." He looked over at Max. "I guess we need to keep you out of sight."
Max ignored Alec's comment. "I gather this ritual will require some form of formal dress." She tossed Sandeman a pencil. "I want you to list every last detail. We wouldn't want to be inappropriately dressed for the end of the world."
Sandeman was about to comment, but caught sight of Jondy removing her jacket. The pale redhead was wearing the usual black jeans and stiletto boots. Under the jacket she was wearing a chocolate colored singlet top and showed her scared skin. The scar became more apparent when she pulled her long hair back off of her face into a ponytail.
"I could have a look at that." Sandeman offered. "Perhaps I can find a reason for it not healing completely."
"I think not." Jondy reached out and laid her hand on Zane's shoulder. Her brother looked ready to attack Sandeman. "I think I'll stick with the scar. It's sort of character building."
Logan hung up his phone. "Zane. Matt's expecting you." He could see his brother in law was reluctant to leave Jondy in Sandeman's presence. "I'll stay with Jondy."
Zane nodded in agreement. "Fine. I'll call you if I find out anything, but I don't think it's going to be easy getting information out of White." He kissed the top of Jondy's head. "Stay out of trouble."
Jondy mumbled something, but stayed focused on the pad of paper she was already scribbling notes on.
Max was relieved that Logan had volunteered to watch over Jondy. It meant he had something to focus on and would have less time to worry. "Ok. Let's move out."
They split up and approached their various tasks with the finesse of a well oiled machine. Logan set up a lap top computer for Tinga so that she had access to the sites he had previously sourced his information from. He had also set a standard computer up for Jondy. While he looked up the various ingredients on the list and broke down their properties for Jondy, she came up with an alternative that could be used.
In the end Logan had Alec go to his apartment and bring back the white board and marker he had stored in the spare bedroom. Logan stared at all of the information written up on the whiteboard. "Does any of this make any sense to you? Cause it's just a load of words to me."
Jondy stretched her arms above her head and rotated her neck to relieve the cramps in her muscles. She never had liked to sit still for too long. "It makes sense. What we need to do is find a counteragent for it."
Logan smirked. "You make it sound so easy."
Jondy sat back down beside Logan. "It probably is. I just have to wait for that piece of the puzzle to click into place inside my head."
Logan decided to ask Jondy the question that had been lurking in the back of his mind. "J, is there a possibility that the conclave would try and use you as the alternative to Max?"
"No." Jondy shook her head. "We don't have the same DNA. I suspect some of the alterations Sandeman made to Max's DNA were made after Max and I were born. I'm sorry, I wish I could take Max's place in this."
"That's not why I was asking." Logan ran his hand over his face. "I didn't want to put you in the same danger as Max."
Jondy squeezed his hand. "Thanks, but at the moment I'm presumed dead. I'm a lot safer than Max."
Logan felt the strength in the petite hand that held his. "I was wondering, did you turn Sandeman's offer to help you with your scar because of his involvement in 'The Coming'?"
Jondy shook her head. "I turned him down because I don't want to be in his company any longer than possible."
Max walked up to the table that Logan and Jondy were working at. "J, you are going to hate the outfits we are wearing for 'The Coming'. The make up sucks as well." She handed her sister a sketch pad.
Jondy screwed up her nose. "Ew. That so does not go with my hair. Do you think it's too late to ask the conclave to wear blue shapeless robes? Cause I can work with blue."
"Sorry Sis. I don't think blue is their signature color." Max sat down on Logan's lap. "So how are you guys doing?"
"Well every ingredient apart from you has an alternative." Logan wrapped his arms around Max. "So what is it about you that they need to complete 'The Coming'?"
Max frowned slightly. "I've been thinking about that. It obviously doesn't matter if I'm dead or alive considering the number of times that White tried to kill me. It could be that the conclave already have what they need from me."
"Like a blood sample." Jondy had also been thinking about Max's part in the conclave ritual. "They could have got their hands on that when you were in Harbour Lights Hospital. Of course since they only need a sample of your DNA, then they could have stolen the sheets from the bed you used. Dead skin cells, dried blood or even hair could be obtained from the sheets."
"So when I was worried about getting Max out of the hospital safely, I should have stripped the bed and trashed the lab as well." Logan hadn't even considered at the time to remove the sheets from Max's hospital bed. "Basically, our best chance is you finding some sort of neutralizer, J."
"I'm working on it." Jondy could see that Max and Logan needed a moment alone. "I'm going to check and see if Tinga has found the location the planets are meant to point out. It won't do us any good if we can't find out where the conclave are holding the party."
Max smiled as her sister crossed the mess hall to where Tinga was working. "What sort of chance do you think we have? There's only five and a half days left until 'The Coming'. That's not a lot of time."
Logan shrugged his shoulders. "We've got as good a chance as any. Jondy's pulled off more than her fair share of miracles since I've known her and there's no telling what a group of X5s can pull off when they band together."
Max giggled. "So what you're really saying is the odds are stacked in our favor."
Logan grinned. "Pretty much."
Zane walked up to the bars of the cell White was locked in. The man who sat muttering to himself behind the bars was a shadow of the arrogant enemy he remembered. "Remember me Ames." Zane snarled. He couldn't help it. "Thought you'd be dancing around your cell with 'The Coming' approaching. Not that your friends can complete your voodoo ritual without Max."
Ames looked up at the tall man glaring at him. "We already have what we need from your freak of a sister. She would be worthless to us now even if she were alive."
Zane sat against the wall away from the bars. "Still, Max wasn't the sister you were interested in anyway. Jondy would have sooner killed herself than allow you to lay even a finger on her." He noticed that the mention of Jondy's name seemed to have grabbed White's attention. "You represent everything she despised. Not that it matters now that she's gone."
White threw himself against the bars. "I would have protected her if she had only seen sense."
Zane stood up. "Seen sense. She hated you. You wanted to destroy everyone she loved starting with her twin sister. What made you so sure that you were even worthy of her. Especially after you shot Devon."
"I loved her." White's words echoed of the walls.
"You don't know the meaning of love." Zane stormed away. He waited until he was outside of the building before he phoned Logan's cell. "Hey Logan. White let it slip that the conclave have what they need from Max already. I'm heading back now." Zane said goodbye and switched off his phone. If he had his way, White would never find out that Jondy was still alive.
Rein shifted uncomfortably on his perch out of sight of the Sector Police. All of this time he had spent distanced from his Manticore siblings, never realizing that one of his sisters was also in Seattle. He didn't want one of their rare family reunions to end with them losing a member of their unique group.
He figured members of the conclave would be traveling in groups. They would be over confident in thinking that nobody would try to stop them. With the transgenics, as far as they were concerned, able to be detected, it allowed them to travel undetected among the humans.
Rein dialed Jace's cell phone. "Hey Sis. You seen any snake dancers yet?"
Jace giggled at Rein's description of the conclave members. "No. Do you think they'll leave it till the last minute to gather together? I mean, they must be expecting Sandeman to try and stop 'The Coming'. Leaving things till the last possible minute limits the opportunity of any sort of interruption."
Rein couldn't agree more. "But on the off chance they want to get a good seat for more snake dancing."
"Don't forget the funky robes." Jace joked. "Heaven forbid they miss out on one of those. Better get off the phone just in case one of the others find something."
Rein grunted. "Guess so. Watch your back Sis."
"I always do big brother." Jace switched off the phone and continued her surveillance.
Syl sat on the hood of Logan's car which she had borrowed, waiting for Krit to leave the plane he had just landed. "Hey babe. Did you find any sites for an end of the world party."
Krit kissed Syl as he sat beside her. "There are a few rooftops that may fit the profile. If I were throwing a party like that, I'd head for the high place."
Syl nodded in agreement. "A crowd would be able to sit on surrounding rooftops to watch the festivities."
"We could keep someone posted on the space needle and the buildings that I thought would be suitable. You can see most of them from one position." Krit went through all of the possibilities in his head.
"It might pay if you go up in the plane each day until 'The Coming'. You'd be able to spot any activity in the area. My contact for the weapons seems to have left town, so that's a dead end." Syl slid off the car. "Better head back to Terminal City. Maybe one of the others have found something."
Zack sat wondering if he could actually be of some use in Seattle. His brother and sister didn't trust him to stay alone in a room with Logan. He couldn't blame them. It wasn't really that long ago that he had tried to kill Logan.
"See anything yet?" Alec sat down beside Zack.
"Why aren't you at your post." Zack couldn't get used to seeing the face that he remembered being Ben's with a different personality.
"Zane relieved me." Alec shrugged and handed Zack a cell phone. "He asked me to give you this. It's on loan from Jondy. If you need to get hold of one of the others, all the numbers are programmed in. If you want to speak to Jondy, dial Logan's cell."
Zack shoved the phone in his jacket pocket. "So, have any of the others found out anything?"
Alec nodded. "Zane found out from White that the conclave already have what they need from Max. Krit saw a few places that would be suitable for the conclave rave, but we won't know for sure until they start gathering. Combined, we have a lot of ideas but nothing concrete."
Zack looked Alec up and down. "So what was it about Jondy that made you decide she wasn't the one? Was it the scar? Do you find it a turn off?"
Alec shook his head. He guessed Zack had got his information from Zane on their trip to Max and Logan's apartment. "Actually I find any marks on Jondy's body sexy cause she used to let me kiss them all better. The reason your sister dumped me is because I couldn't let go of the memory of a dead girlfriend. Jondy wasn't never meant to live in anyone's shadow and she wasn't going to make an exception for me. Nor should she."
Zack gave a short sharp laugh. "I remember Jondy being this sweet, shy little girl with huge blue eyes. On my trip to Florida I discovered she grew into this beautiful evil tempered woman. So I'm wondering why you are still alive."
"Unlike you, I have great timing." Alec quipped. "Jondy would never do anything to ruin Max's wedding day. I'd better get back to my post. Zane gets antsy about leaving Jondy near anyone he considers dangerous." He disappeared as fast as he had arrived.
Tinga tapped another couple of keys on the keyboard. "Hey Logan. Any idea if 'The Coming' has been here before?"
Logan left Max and Jondy staring at the whiteboard to stand beside Tinga. "No idea. Have you tried doing a search on the computer?"
Tinga nodded. "If it happened prior to any form of written record being kept, there's no way we'd find information on it. I'd suggest we ask Sandeman, but that information would be before he was born. I don't think any member of the conclave lives forever."
"I think you're right." Logan hadn't slept for thirty six hours and he was really starting to feel it. He wasn't willing to risk leave his wife and her sisters alone though. He would wait for Zane to return. "Why don't you see if you can find another time the planets have aligned."
"I'll give it a go but there's no guarantee it's going to map out an invitation to 'The Coming' party." Tinga started tapping away on the keyboard again.
"Logan looks exhausted." Jondy rubbed her scared neck absentmindedly. "You two made the most of every second last night, didn't you?"
Max smiled at her sister. "You know, there are times I really hate your twin's insight." She looked over her shoulder at her husband. "He promised Zane he'd look out for you, so he won't rest until Zane gets back."
Jondy reached into her bag and pulled out a large tube of green gel and started smoothing the gel on her scar. "I don't think Zane has anything to worry about. Joshua is keeping Sandeman at a distance."
"So I've noticed." Max stared at the tube in Jondy's hand. "What is that?"
"Aloe Vera gel." Jondy handed Max the tube. "It has healing properties in it. Also it stops the damn itching."
Max handed back the tube. "At least it's a pretty color." She saw her sister look at the tube, then at the whiteboard and then back at the tube. "What?"
"I'm such an idiot." Jondy shook her head in disbelief. "Sage is a natural antibiotic and Aloe Vera is a natural healing lotion. Neither are in the conclave recipe. At the very least they would cut down on the damage the conclave would do."
"How much of this stuff will we need to ruin the conclave part." Max felt as though they were starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
"If we want to do some serious damage we're going to have to split up and go to different stores. We won't want to tip the conclave off, so we'll have to go shopping over the next few days." Jondy couldn't believe she hadn't seen the answer before now.
Logan had noticed the change in expression on the two women's faces. "What's the matter?"
"Know anywhere we can get a lot of Aloe Vera and sage that won't draw attention." Max grinned up at Logan. "We just might have a way to neutralize the conclave recipe for disaster." She hugged her sister. "You did it again."
Jondy wasn't as convinced. "Don't get your hopes up just yet. We still have to get close enough to dump Sage and Aloe Vera in their fry pan."
Logan knew Jondy was right, but he had more hope than he had, had a few minutes ago. "This is a start."
"What's a start?" Zane walked in and immediately noticed that Jondy had been rubbing her neck. Taking the tube of gel off his sister, he carefully pushed her ponytail aside and proceeded to apply the gel to her neck where she had missed her scar.
"Jondy found a way to at the very least tone down the effects of the conclave recipe." Logan realized that he hadn't given any thought to how his sister in law would feel about the possibility of facing White again. His only thought had been for Max. "I'm sorry Jondy. I never thought your scar would still be giving you problems. I figured with White behind bars, being in Seattle wouldn't be such a big problem."
"I know. You were only thinking about Max." Jondy smiled. "And that's fine. None of us expected you to take responsibility for the whole X5 clan when you married Max."
Max rolled her eyes. "You're wasting your breath J. Logan lives to take responsibility for the world. It's one of his most endearing qualities and also one of his most annoying."
Logan kissed the top of Max's head. "Thank you Honey. Now tell us what you really think."
"I think you need to get some sleep." Max stood and took hold of Logan's hand. "It's safe to leave now that Zane is here. The womenfolk will be looked after and Joshua is watching over Sandeman and CJ." She shot him a sexy smile. "I'll make it worth your while."
Logan answered without a moments hesitation. "See you in the morning." He was out of the door taking Max with him before any of the X5s could respond.
"Why can't I have that?" Jondy muttered to herself.
"You mean have a guy that worships the ground you walk on." Zane massaged his sister's shoulders. "Somebody who would face the end of the world by your side, just because it meant he would get to spend more time with you."
"Yeah." Jondy shook her head, clearing the self pitying thoughts.
"One day Prince Charming will come along." Zane sat beside his sister. "First though we have to get Max her fairytale ending."
Krit spread a map out in front of his brother and sister. "Once upon a time the planets aligned and a bunch of crazy's held an end of the world party on the Space Needle."
"I think I've heard this story." Zane looked at the map in front of him.
Syl laughed. "Yeah, it's the one that ends with the good guys kicking ass."
Tinga placed the sheets of printouts from the computer on the table. "We're taking for granted that the party is on the Space Needle." She pointed to the first sheet. "The last time the planets aligned, none of the buildings that are there now were around."
"We considered that." Sandeman stood in the doorway. Joshua was blocking the way, stopping him from going any further. "The conclave will have people in place to be able to seize the rights to any building."
"They either have the Mayor in their back pocket or he's one of them." Joshua supplied. "That's why White got away with so much."
"Have you got anything helpful to tell us?" Zane glared at Sandeman.
"Your best bet is to get someone who can replace the High Priestess." Sandeman ventured. "It would have to be done at the last minute when she is in costume with her make up on, otherwise the conclave will just bring one of the understudy's in. Whoever stands in for her will have to be able to recite the accompanying chant. In French."
"We have to find them first." Syl pointed out.
At that moment Zane's cell phone rang. "Yeah." He groaned when he heard the news that his caller told him. "When." He talked for a moment longer before hanging up the phone. "That was Logan. Matt Sung just called him. White's escaped."
Jondy held her hand out for Zane's phone. "We have four people watching the Sector check points. We'll get them to keep an eye out for them." She quickly dialed Rein's cell.
Logan managed to get enough sleep so that he could think a bit more clearer in the morning. As he dressed he heard Max groan in the bathroom. "What's wrong?"
"The damn runes are back." Max walked out of the bathroom. She had the strange black markings across her chest. "I don't know about you, but I'm fed up with Sandeman only telling us bits and pieces."
"Let's get dressed and see if we can get the whole story out of him." Logan was fed up of only getting the highlights as well.
Max was worried. They only had five days left and they still weren't sure where 'The Coming' was taking place. "I hope the others have good news for us."
"We have a way to neutralize the witch's potion. One of the others will be able to locate White. We'll just follow him to 'The Coming' and gate crash." Logan had to look on the bright side otherwise there was no hope.
"I wish I had your faith." Max smiled lovingly at Logan. "I trust my family, I just don't trust anyone connected with the conclave."
Logan pulled Max into his arms. "I know. I think that we have the better team though. We have to win Max, cause I'm not losing you again."
Zack opened his eyes when Max and Logan walked into the mess hall. He was using Jondy's lap as a pillow. "I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing them together."
Jondy looked over at Max and Logan. "Nobody's asking you to Zack. I know that Max is happy with Logan and that's more than some of us have. I don't know about you, but I'm going to make sure the conclave doesn't ruin that for her."
Zack patted his sister's knee and closed his eyes. "Count me in." He drifted off to sleep.
Rein poured himself another cup of coffee. "Morning Max, Logan. We may have some good news for you."
Max poured herself and Logan a cup of coffee. "Good, I need some good news. Where's Sandeman by the way? I have something I want to get off of my chest."
"Still asleep I think." Rein nodded towards Jondy. "Joshua won't let him near Jondy. Zane, Tinga, Krit and Syl swapped with us to watch the check points so we could get some sleep."
"So what's the good news?" Logan cast a glance over to where Zack was asleep with his head on Jondy's lap. "It's hard to believe he's the same person that tried to kill me last year."
Alec joined the group and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Jondy can have a calming influence on people. Usually right before she kicks their ass."
Rein chuckled at Alec's description of his sister. "Ok, so the good news is that Tinga tracked back to the last time the planets aligned and compared it with the sites that Krit felt would be suitable for a conclave party. It looks as though the Space Needle is party central."
"It gets better." Jace sat down beside Max. "Sandeman reckons that we'll have to nab the High Priestess while she's in costume and make up. Then whoever replaces the High Priestess has to make some chant in French. That will be the perfect opportunity to spike the punch."
"God no." Max put her head in her hands.
Logan looked at his wife. "What am I missing?"
"Jondy's the X5 that was trained in French. The rest of us only know bits and pieces, not enough to be able to fake it." Alec answered. He had been just as shocked when the others had filled him in on the latest developments. "She's going to be right in the middle of 'The Coming'. She won't be able to use coms cause the conclave will be able to hear us contacting her."
"How are we going to get hold of the High Priestess?" Max asked.
Logan guessed the answer. "We're going to let White lead us to her."
Joshua led Sandeman into the mess hall. "Little fella. Father says that you have the speech hidden in your DNA."
"The runes on my chest." Max practically spat the words out. "Tell me Sandeman, do you have any more surprises for us?"
Sandeman shook his head. "No. That's the lot. No more surprises." He didn't see the look that passed between Max and Jondy.
"Good. Because we have just short of five days for you to teach Jondy the chant that is written on my chest." Max nodded towards Joshua. "You will be supervised by Joshua 24/7, understood."
Sandeman nodded. "Understood."
The next three days were spent hastily preparing for 'The Coming'. The X5s alternated shifts of watching the sector checkpoints and the Space Needle. Everyone was tired and on edge, but also focused on their mission. On the morning of 'The Coming' Logan walked around the gardens that he had planted in Terminal City.
When this had all started, Logan's only concern was that he had to get Max through 'The Coming' safely. Now Jondy would be smack in the middle of the ceremony and Zack's behavior was still unpredictable, which meant Zane's attention would be split between the two of them.
"Penny for your thoughts." Jondy sat down on one of the park benches.
Logan smiled bitterly. "Save your money. You don't need the added concern."
Jondy stared at Logan's face for a moment, before speaking. "We're all going to get through this just fine Logan. Zane's got my back, Rein's watching Zack and you've got Max's safety covered."
Logan sat down beside Jondy. "I know, but we still have to get hold of the High Priestess and I don't like not knowing where White is."
"That's one of the reasons I came out here to find you." Jondy grinned. "Rein and Zack have located White and are following him as we speak."
"Looks like the action is about to begin." Logan took in the woman before him. "Are you sure you want to do this? Nobody will think less of you if you don't want to."
Jondy took a deep breath before she answered. "I figure with my feline DNA, I have nine lives. Over the years I got real picky about who I was giving my spare lives up for. Trust me when I say I couldn't find a better choice than my family. Let me do this."
Logan nodded. "You know, I think of all of you as family, even Zack. You're like the sister I always wanted." He chuckled to himself. "Of course the picture I painted in my head didn't come with the over protective brothers and you weren't mean to be so pretty."
Jondy's face lit up as she laughed. "Well judging from what I'm looking at, no sister of yours could be anything but gorgeous."
Zane walked up behind Max who was watching her husband and sister. "We're not going to have a repeat of Thanksgiving are we?"
Max shook her head. "No. I'm not jealous. I'm in awe of our sister. She out of all of us, is going to be in the most danger tonight with White being there. Yet, there she is making sure my husband has less things to worry about."
Zane put his arm around his sister's shoulders. "We're all going to get through this tonight Max. By the end of next week, Jondy will be back in Florida with her kids and you and Logan will be living happily ever after."
Rein and Zack stood in the shadows watching the happenings at the Space Needle. Zack looked from one robbed person to the next. "Any idea which one of these freaks is the High Priestess?"
"Not a clue." Rein scratched his head. "Our idea of letting White lead us to her was blown when he put on one of those robes. Maybe I'm wrong, but didn't Sandeman say that they had to wait for the planets to align to know where 'The Coming' was to be held."
Zack nodded. "Yeah, so what's your point?"
Rein pointed to the crowd. "My point is, how did that lot know 'The Coming' was going to be here."
"They're early." Zack used Jondy's cell phone and dialed Logan's number. "It's Zack. The freaks are jumping the gun. We need Sandeman down here right now to identify the High Priestess. All of these freaks look alike to me. We have to do the switch right away."
Logan looked over his shoulder as a costumed and made up Jondy walked into the room. "We're on our way Zack." He hung up his cell phone. "It's show time."
Jondy twirled around. "How do I look?" Her voice and sky blue eyes were the only clues to who was behind all of the make up.
Logan grinned. "Like a freak."
Jondy grinned back. "Good. That's just the look I'm aiming for. Let's go."
"Max!" Logan called out to his wife. "It's time to go. Krit and Syl are already in the air with Tinga and Jace. Bring Sandeman with you."
Alec and Zane joined Rein and Zack outside the Space Needle. Alec cast a glance over the robed members of the conclave. "Who do we have to kill to get one of those robes each?"
Zane pointed to the rear four members. "How about those guys? I'm thinking the High Priestess is probably in the middle of the group that just entered the Space Needle."
"Why would they be so sure that the High Priestess would need protecting?" Zack was ready to charge ahead and take out the first conclave member he came in contact with. Only Rein's hand on his arm stopped him from doing so.
"Jondy and I ran into the last High Priestess." Alec shrugged his shoulders. "She didn't live through the encounter. Maybe we can take pot shots at the rear four. Are you guys packing?" His three brothers flashed the guns they were carrying under their jackets. "Anyone got a silencer on their weapon?" The three men shook their heads. "Well, that's that idea out. We'll tip the others off if we start firing our weapons."
All of a sudden the last four conclave members fell to the ground. Max appeared in front of her four brothers a second later. "Suit up boys. We need to get Jondy to the front of the line before they get to the top of the Space Needle."
Zane saw Logan standing with a tranquilizer gun in his hand keeping Jondy hidden from sight. "Your husband's not a bad shot Maxie."
Max grinned. "I know. Come on, Jondy says that damn robe is itchy."
The four men pulled the conclave members out of sight tying them up securely and changed into their robes. Checking the coast was clear, they signaled Logan, Jondy, Max and Sandeman over.
"You got anymore darts for that thing?" Zack raised an eyebrow. He wouldn't admit that he was impressed by Logan's actions so far.
"Enough to get us a few more robes." Logan reloaded the gun. "I just hope we can get one in my size."
"Yeah, cause they just don't make these things in extra long." Jondy joked. "Can we hurry this along guys. My make up is starting to melt."
"They won't start the ceremony until it gets dark." Sandeman tried to reassure them.
"Just like they wouldn't know where the ceremony was going to be held until the planets aligned tonight." Alec pointed out. "Tell me, is any of your information going to be correct."
"Things change over time." Sandeman offered. "Last time 'The Coming' happened there weren't computers. It wasn't as though we could surf the net back then."
"You've not exactly been forth coming in giving us all the information we need." Rein pointed out. "You've held stuff back from the start. So you'd better tell us right now and don't even think about lying to us, can you identify the High Priestess?"
Sandeman nodded. "Yes. We have to get Jondy in her place soon though. The conclave don't have to wait for the planets to align. All the High Priestess has to do is start the chant. It can only be done once."
"Anything else?" Max stood with her hands on her hips. "Cause I'm sensing there's more."
Sandeman looked her straight in the eye. "You have to be the one to stop 'The Coming'. Jondy can be substituted for the High Priestess, but you have to be the one to end it."
Max handed Jondy twenty dollars. "You know, this wasn't a bet I minded losing."
"Love you too Sis." Jondy stuffed the money down the top she was wearing underneath the robe.
"Mind filling us in?" Logan handed Max and Sandeman a robe each. "I don't know about anyone else but I feel as though I missed something."
Max tugged on a robe. "Jondy hasn't slept since she got to Seattle. I lent her that book you translated the original set of runes with. Had a feeling we couldn't rely on Sandeman, so Jondy translated the runes so that we knew exactly what we're up against. I have to be the one to neutralize the potion because my DNA starts 'The Coming' and my DNA and a couple of other ingredients will stop it."
Logan ran his hand over his face. "And the ritual complete with Max's DNA was started all those months ago with the snake dance that CJ saw."
"Which means just stopping today's show wouldn't do any good unless Max is the one who stops it." Zack filled in the rest of the blanks. "So we all have to be in the inner circle, but the focus will be on Jondy while she does the chant."
Zane pulled Jondy aside. "Sandeman's been playing us from day one hasn't he?"
Jondy nodded. "He may have wanted to stop 'The Coming' to begin with, but somewhere along the line he decided he wanted to join the game again. Do me a favor, keep an eye on him. Once he figures out that Max and I know exactly what we have to do, he may try and stop us."
Zane nodded. "I've got your back."' He led her back to the group.
Surrounding Jondy, the group made their way past the conclave members undetected. Sandeman pointed out the High Priestess and each of the X5s took their position behind a conclave member. After a minor struggle the X5s replaced the conclave members including the High Priestess, while Logan kept an eye on Sandeman.
By the time everyone had taken their places it was getting late in the day and the sun had started to set. Sandeman signaled Jondy to start reciting the chant. Max had positioned herself directly on Jondy's left. Jondy recited the first three lines of the chant without anyone showing any signs of knowing their cult had been intruded upon.
As Jondy began the forth line, a helicopter flew over the top of the Space Needle and Jace, Tinga and Syl descended on lines and landed in the center of the conclave's inner circle, disconnecting their lines from the helicopter once they were on the surface. Jondy continued the chant as Tinga tossed a bag containing the neutralizing mixture to Max, who had ripped off the robe. Grabbing a knife off of Jace, Max ran the blade along the palm of her hand and held it over the pot that was sitting in the center of the circle. With her free hand she tossed the mixture into the pot.
As several of the conclave members raced forward to stop Max, Logan whipped off his robe and started firing his handgun which had been tucked into the back of his jeans. The other disguised X5s tore their robes off and started to fight. Their only objective was to keep the conclave clear of Max and Jondy for a few more minutes.
As Jondy finished reciting the chant, Zack signaled Krit in the helicopter. "Time to get Maxie out of here J." Even though it had begun to get dark Zack could still see the line being lowered for Max.
Jondy yanked her robe off and pulled the straps of her back pack down her arms. She pulled two harness' out of her bag and handed one to Max. "This party sucks. Let's get out of here."
"I heard that." Max reached out for the line, but in the next instance found herself falling. Just as she toppled over the edge she felt someone grab her wrist and stop her. Looking up she saw a jaggard scar on the arm holding onto her. Following the arm up to the rest of the body of the person holding her, she saw that Jondy had grabbed the line with her other hand when she had leapt after her. "If you wanted to hang out, all you had to do was say so."
"I'd tell you to go jump but you already did." Jondy winced as the line bit into her hand. "Can you hook onto the line with your free hand?"
"No, I can't get to the line." Max could see members of the conclave coming after them. "Logan!"
Logan heard his wife's cry and saw what was happening. He had lost track of Sandeman once the chant had begun. "Zack! The girls are hanging off of the edge of the Space Needle." He started firing at the persistent conclave members.
Zack ran to his side. "Damn it."' He pulled a radio out of his pocket. "Krit, bring them up slowly." With his free hand he joined Logan in picking off the enemy."
Jondy cried out as she felt the line wrapped around her hand being pulled up. "Hang on Max we're on the move."
It was as if the heavens had suddenly opened up as the rain poured down. The heavy rain washed the freakish make up off of Jondy's face revealing her identity.
White stopped fighting Tinga, absolutely stunned at what he was seeing. It was as though he was looking at a stunning ghost. Pushing Tinga aside he started charging for Jondy.
Zack quickly hooked Max's harness onto the line as soon as the two women got near. Logan held onto Jondy while Zack untangled her hand and then hooked her harness onto the line. "Ok Krit take them home."
Hearing the sound of running footsteps behind them, the foursome spun around to see White charging towards them. The sound of a gunshot rang out as White jumped at Jondy, who swung herself and Max out of the way. White went straight over the edge with no one to stop him from falling.
As the two women floated up into the air, Zane joined Zack and Logan. "We'd better make sure that bastard's dead this time." He peered over the edge.
"Did either of you see how Max and Jondy ended up hanging off the edge of the Space Needle?" Logan noticed that most of the conclave, realizing 'The Coming' had been ruined, had headed for the hills.
"Yeah. Max was pushed and Jondy went after her." Zane turned around looking for the person who had pushed Max.
"Who by?" Zack had thought they had managed to keep all of the conclave away from Max and Jondy.
"Him." Zane raised his gun and shot Sandeman straight between the eyes. "He's been holding back all along. He never considered that Jondy would translate the runes herself. All he needed us for was to get him back into the conclave fold." The man fell to the ground dead.
Logan glared at the body for a moment. "Who wants to tell CJ his father and brother were killed in battle."
Alec walked up to them. "I'll do it. I know how to seem sincere when I'm lying through my teeth."
Tinga pointed to the pot still sitting on the Space Needle. "What should we do with that?"
"Better bury it." Jace screwed up her nose at the smell coming from it. "Really deep."
Rein pulled his car keys out of his pocket. "Who's up for a road trip?"
"I'll go with you." Syl offered. "Krit will have to take the helicopter back after he's dropped Max and Jondy off, so he won't be back for a while."
"I'll call Matt Sung and let him know that White committed suicide." Logan started dialing the number when Zack took the phone out of his hand.
"Go home and look after your wife." Zack switched off the phone and handed it back to Logan. "We'll call Sung as soon as we've cleaned up a bit."
"Thanks." Logan was more than a little surprised, but he wasn't about to argue. "See ya there."
Alec slapped Zack on the back after Logan had left. "That must have been tough for you."
"More than you'll ever know." Zack glanced around him. "I'd suggest we make this look like a mass suicide if there weren't so many bullets. Guess we'll have to settle for freaky cult ritual. Sometimes the truth works in our favor."
Logan burst through the door to his and Max's apartment. He was completely drenched, but his only concern was that his wife and sister in law were alright. He found them in the bathroom, both wearing bathrobes and their hair wrapped in a towel each. Jondy was dressing Max's hand. "You two alright."
"Nothing some bandages and disinfectant won't cure." Max glanced at her husband. "Honey, as sexy as you look in those wet clothes, I think you ought to change before you catch a cold."
Reassured that both women were alright, Logan went to change. Jondy waited until she heard the bedroom door close before she spoke. "So you've been feeling queasy in the morning and you've been sleeping a lot more than usual. Anything else?"
Max didn't have time to answer as in the next second she was bending over the toilet bowl being sick. Jondy dampened a face cloth and handed it to Max. Max took it gratefully. "Does that answer your question?"
Logan chose that moment to walk back into the bathroom. "Sweetheart, are you sure you're alright?"
Jondy chuckled as she pulled something in a brown paper bag out of her bag and handed it to Max. "I'm pretty sure I know what's wrong. Why don't you follow the instructions on the box while Logan and I go in the living room and he dresses my hand."
Max peered into the bag. "Why do you have one of these in your bag with bandages and disinfectant?"
Jondy smiled mysteriously. "I had a feeling this morning that you might need them. I never got a chance to speak to you before we had to save the world." She picked up her bag and gently shoved Logan out of the bathroom.
After Logan dressed Jondy's hand, he started to pace while waiting for Max to come out of the bathroom. "What was in that bag Jondy?"
"A pregnancy test." Jondy pulled some spare clothes out of her bag as the ones that she had been wearing were still wet. She looked up to find a stunned Logan staring at her. "Surely you noticed that Max was sleeping more than usual. The only times I've slept more than a couple of hours a week were when I was ill or pregnant."
Max walked out of the bathroom with a small white stick in her hand. "Wow." She was so shaken by what she was looking at, that it was all she could say.
Jondy stood holding onto her dry clothes and took a look at the stick herself. "Congratulations Logan. You're going to be a Daddy."
Logan grabbed his stunned wife and kissed her passionately. This was more than either of them could have hoped for. Jondy discreetly made her way to the guest room, mumbling something about not wishing to watch them celebrate the news. When Jondy left the guestroom ten minutes later, Max and Logan were celebrating in the privacy of their own bedroom.
Jondy smiled to herself as she headed for the door to tell the others know what was going on, so that they didn't disturb Max and Logan. She would also have to get Mole and Tek to let Lydecker and his men loose. She paused in the doorway. "And they lived happily ever after." She murmured as she quietly closed the door behind her.
