Disclaimer: Still not mine. Still making no money.
A/N: Yep, a nice, quick, follow up post! I've been possessed! There's another chapter waiting in the wings, but I don't want to post yet, in case everyone hates where I'm going and I have to rewrite. So let me know! Many thanks to all the usual people. You know who you are. J
Chapter 13 – Cat Outta the Bag
*** Two weeks later ***
*** Seattle, DAY ***
Zane drove his stolen pickup into sector nine; mentally thanking Logan for the sector pass that had magically waved him through the checkpoints without trouble. He smiled, thinking of his two week trip he had taken to reunite himself with the other X5 rogues, and each and every one of their expressions when they figured out who he was. Except for Syl's. He was still angry at Krit for ruining that surprise. The pair lived within walking distance of each other, and he envied their closeness. Syl even shared her apartment with Krit's girlfriend, and the siblings had seen each other almost every day since Zack had reunited them to save Max. Naturally, Krit had ruined Zane's surprise by taking a short cut to his sister's apartment and given her the heads up. The pair had thought it hilarious. No matter, he'd just have to spring a different sibling on Syl to get the desired reaction from her. He grinned at the thought, then at the sight of Fogle Towers coming into view.
*** Fogle Towers, DAY ***
"…With the help of the Seattle police department, these criminals have been put behind bars, and the girls returned to their homes. Seven police officers have been removed from the force and jailed following news of their involvement in the case.
The man on your screen is the current chief of police in the Seattle area, Chief Brendan Mackenzie. Chief Mackenzie is also the man responsible for arranging to have these girls kidnapped from their homes and sold to the highest bidder. Chief Mackenzie, you will be stopped. The people of Seattle will not tolerate your corrupt actions in their city. This has been a Streaming Freedom video bulletin. Peace. Out."
"The man sure knows how to get a city's attention." Zane said from underneath the skylight of Logan's apartment. "Can you cook as well as you broadcast, Cale?" He finished with a smile.
"Zane!" Max exclaimed, rushing over from her position behind Logan. Logan turned his wheelchair and wheeled over to the X5s.
"Hey." He said with a grin, looking up at his skylight. "I really should keep that thing locked."
"You could try." Zane grinned back. "How'd you go with dog-proofing the apartment?" He looked around with interest. As if on cue, a whine came from outside the penthouse.
"You didn't." Logan warned. Zane nodded happily.
"It's ok, we'll go straight there." Max soothed, placing her hand on Logan's shoulder.
"Straight where?"
"Straight to your new apartment." Max said proudly.
"I have a new apartment?" Zane asked happily.
"And a potential job. The guy wants to give you a kind of audition. Logan checked him out. Seems ok."
"Maybe I should go away more often." Zane said, walking over to the door and pulling it open. He held out his hand to the German Shepherd on the other side of the door, and got a lick in response. He smiled and crouched down, scratching the dog behind the ears. With a few low words, he stood, the dog remaining by his side.
"This is Jet." Zane said with pride, smiling from the dog to Max and Logan.
"This is not staying in my apartment." Logan answered.
"Just for lunch. Then we'll leave." Jet sniffed at Max with interest, and then padded further into the apartment before settling at Zane's feet.
"Isn't he great? He's really gentle. Protective too."
"Great." Max said edgily, taking an extra step away from the dog.
"Fantastic." Logan agreed, moving into the kitchen without a second glance at the animal.
*** Jam Pony, DAY ***
Brianna stood at the entrance to the messenger service, taking deep breaths and looking around nervously. A bike messenger came toward her and she took a step forward to ask him a question, while the other messengers watched from across the room.
"Knock it off, fool. That girl has too much class to even inhabit the same space as you." Original Cindy slapped Sketchy lightly, temporarily distracting his attention from the woman in the doorway. He looked at her, shrugged, and looked back at Brianna.
"Am I the only one that works around here? Bip bip bip!" Normal's voice floated into their space, and Original Cindy sighed.
"One day that man's gonna bip himself to death. Original Cindy just hopes she's long gone by then." The two of them watched in surprise as the girl asked a messenger something and was pointed in the direction where they were standing. Sketchy cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair in preparation for her arrival. OC rolled her eyes.
"I'm looking for Original Cindy." Brianna said in a clear and steady voice, focussing on the pair in front of her. "Is that you?" She inquired politely, turning to Original Cindy.
"You in luck, sugah. Original Cindy at your service."
"Hey missy, may I remind you that you're at my service right now?" Normal's drone came at her from behind.
"No you may not." OC answered with her usual attitude. She turned her attention back to Brianna.
"I'm actually looking for Max." Brianna elaborated, looking from Original Cindy to Normal and then to Sketchy.
"Don't even get me started on that one." Normal turned to Original Cindy. "Tell your friend that if she's not in tomorrow she's fired. Doctor's note or not."
"Normal, be fair!" Sketchy protested, apparently having decided that his chances with Brianna were too small to concern himself with, and choosing to pester Normal instead. "Max is recovering from major surgery." He reminded him in an annoying tone, chasing him around the building. Original Cindy watched them for a minute, shaking her head.
"Fools." She turned her attention back to Brianna. "So you looking for Max?"
"Actually, I'm looking for Zane." Brianna explained. A look of understanding crossed the messenger's face.
"Say no more, sugah, Original Cindy's all up on the black helicopter dealio." She said knowingly.
"Uh-" Brianna replied with a blank look that OC wrote off as an act.
"No matter, Original Cindy won't tell. Secret's safe. I'll take you to Max. She should be able to point you in the direction of Zane." Brianna brightened at the promise of finding Zane and tried to cover her confused expression with a knowing one. Original Cindy looked around to make sure they were out of earshot before continuing. "Original Cindy will say one thing for the black helicopter guys though. When they created you in that lab, they sure as hell knew what they were doing. What's your name, sugah?"
"Brianna." She answered quietly, unsure of exactly what was going on.
"Little longer than the rest. Thought Manticore had a thing for short names."
"Short names?" She asked weakly, following Original Cindy as she pushed her bike along.
"You know. Max, Zane, Sam. Wait, Zack, not Sam. Original Cindy has met quite a few of your little family."
"Family." Brianna repeated, hurrying to fall into step with her guide, her head furiously trying to process the information Original Cindy was feeding her.
*** Fogle Towers, DAY ***
"So you avoided all fights with the female gender this time around?" Max teased from her position on the sofa.
"And made a quick cross country journey to check in on some siblings." Zane grinned at her evilly. "Jondy says hi."
"Zane!" Max exclaimed, throwing the first thing she could get her hands on, which, luckily for Zane, was a throw cushion. At the sudden attack, the German Shepherd leapt from the floor and began a frenzied barking assault at Max, with a few growls thrown in for good measure. Teeth bared, the dog awaited a command from his master.
"Down, Jet." Zane said simply, and the dog returned to its previous state, lying faithfully at his feet.
"Some dog you've got there." Max commented dryly.
"I have a way with animals." He shrugged. "Tell me about the latest world saving mission."
"Zack said that thing was sweet." Max persisted, not breaking eye contact with the dog.
"Zack said that?" Zane said incredulously. "Zack always hated Jet. Poor thing loved Zack though. Ignored me completely whenever he was around." Zane smiled briefly at the memory, and of Zack's apparent annoyance whenever he turned around to find the dog at his feet yet again.
"He kept a lot of himself hidden from me." He said softly.
"He kept a lot of himself hidden from everyone." Max corrected. Zane nodded, and scratched Jet behind the ears again, staring off into space.
"What's going on with this roommate of Kia's?" Max said brightly, doing her best to change the subject.
"Nothing. I haven't spoken to her since I left Kia's, and that was over two weeks ago." Zane replied, his head down.
"Zane, you're a terrible liar."
"What makes you think I'm lying?" He stammered in surprise, wondering just how Max could be so good at reading him after knowing him for so short a time.
"The blush spreading over your face, for starters. Ooh, Zane and Brianna, sitting-" Max got cut off as the throw pillow slammed into her face.
*** Fogle Towers, Exterior, DAY ***
"Well, here we are. You want the top floor. Penthouse." The messenger said as they arrived outside the apartment complex. "Actually, I might come along, see what's up on the Cale lunch menu today. Boy sure can make a mean meal." Head spinning, Brianna trailed behind, following Original Cindy into the elevator to the penthouse.
*** Logan's Penthouse, Fogle Towers, DAY ***
"So there I am, dangling above the head of this police officer for over half an hour, and he actually-" Max froze at the sound of the elevator door opening. Logan approached the door to the apartment, exoskeleton whirring, and pulled it open. Max's face relaxed at the sight of Original Cindy, and she took another bite of her sandwich. Zane followed her gaze, stopping mid-mouthful as the messenger walked forward and revealed the person standing beside her.
"Jam Pony messenger! I'm delivering another member of your happy family I found wandering around. I'm gonna need a signature!" Original Cindy joked, looking around with a smile. "Getting to be transgenic central in here." Max studied Original Cindy's companion eagerly, looking for something familiar in her features. Zane swallowed and stood up, his face pale, eyes fixed firmly on their newest guest.
"Brianna." He whispered. Max jumped up, looking from Zane to Original Cindy and to Brianna, not quite sure of what else to do. Original Cindy was looking from one X5 to the other with uncertainty.
"What did you tell her?" He demanded, directing the question at Original Cindy, but not taking his eyes off Brianna.
"I-" Zane ignored her, instead crossing the room in two steps in order to block Brianna from the elevator.
"Brianna." He addressed her quietly. "We should talk." She looked at him briefly, and then tried to dodge him to find an escape route. He took hold of her by the shoulders and caught her eyes. "Privately." Her hand flew, and he didn't try to stop it from slapping his face. He noticed Logan flinch behind him.
"I came here to tell you that Kia's been kidnapped." Brianna muttered, her voice cold. "Just what the hell are you people?"