Forgotten But Never Forgiven
Chapter 10
Max sat back on her bike, rolling her shoulders and pulling a picture out of her pocket. From her little visit to Logan's she had managed to pull a hoverdrone file covering the last week's movements throughout the Seattle and Wyoming districts and had come across one frame in particular that had gotten her interest. It was of a diner, taken on one of the lesser known routes out of sector three of Wyoming of which there was one person in particular, who had her back to the drone, that looked very much like the back Syls head. Thinking back to the last time Max had seen Syl she figured that from this girls height sitting in the seat of the diner it would be a close match, that plus the fact that Max herself had dodged many a drone in her time to realize that this girl wasn't in fact looking at the menu like she was portrayed to be but was really looking slightly to the left of it, one wary eye on the doorway of the diner.
The only other information Max had come across that could have been related to her siblings had been a report from a hospice two days after Zack had come to see her outside crash. The report had been for a large order of Tryptophan as their supplies had been stolen earlier that day. It was a long shot but that plus the picture of Syl taken only yesterday morning led Max to hope that she was on the right track, and that by starting her search at the end of sector three close to where Syl had stopped, she could maybe dig up something fresher.
Sighing Max folded the picture back up, her thoughts drifting back to the scene outside Crash only three nights ago, and Zack's furious confrontation. Never in a million years would she have imagined he would look at her the way he had, the mixture of disappointment, anger and hurt gracing his hard features was more powerful than a slap in the face could ever had been, pulling max away from her thoughts of Seattle and her job and Logan, and focusing them on the bigger picture, Manticore, her barcode, and her siblings. Looking up into Zacks face that night had stirred a buried fear deep down in her stomach. The fact that Zack had come to see her for information meant that he'd had nowhere else to go, and that something terrible must have happened to the others, and it scared the hell out of Max. God she hoped they were ok. If one of them were killed because of this she would never forgive herself. She remembered Zack saying Tess was also sick, and her mind replayed the last time she had seen Brin, remembering her sickness, remembering Zack, his grief as he had wept as she herself had when they had left Brin there, on that park bench.
Her thoughts returning to the task at hand Max swallowed. She knew she had to find them. Zack would be angry, that was a given, but she would be damned if he thought she was just going to sit back and not do anything to help.
Sighing Max shook her head, clearing her thoughts she looked up at the road in front of her. She figured she was getting close, and praying that luck was on her side Max kicked up the bike stand and pulled out from the curb.
Pulling up at an intersection, minutes later Max paused as her sensitive hearing picked up the sound of a speeding car coming her way and frowning she sat back on her bike, deciding to wait until the fool had passed before pulling out. Having an inpatient idiot up her ass the whole way wasn't Max's idea of fun.
She didn't have to wait long till an old Merc came speeding round the corner in front of her she began to fold her arms only to stop mid glare as the car sped past her. Catching a glimpse of the fair haired male driver Max's jaw dropped, and, eyes glued to the back of the merc she pulled out and followed it, mentally slicing off a piece of cake to save for later.
*************************
"They're here" Syl called, hearing the sound of Zack quickly maneuvering the car to a park five houses down. Their morning had been pretty uneventful, both Syl and Kai readying the abandoned two bedroomed flat they had chosen for the invasion of their siblings. They would need to do at least one job tonight, to attain the essentials, Kai had managed to redirect an electricity route which would supply them with enough for their stay and Syl had set to work on the water and had gathered ice from a local service station, which now sat ready in the bath.
Now both her and Kai moved towards the front door to meet Zack halfway, Syl stepping aside to let him through, her beaming smile fading as her gaze flicked over the limp form of Tess in his arms. Then hearing another set of footsteps she turned, wrapping her arms around Krit who had entered the house, in a warming embrace.
Krit sighed, relaxing into her and pulled her closer, breathing in her warm scent. "Hey Beautiful"
"I missed you" suddenly overcome with a fear she had often felt when thinking about the others Syl tightened her grip on him and Krit began to rub her back soothingly.
"Its ok, I'm ok, Zack's ok, and Tess. well Tess will be fine" He finished, kissing her softly on the lips and pulling back, looking sincerely into Syls deep blue eyes.
"We will get through this" he assured her.
Taking a deep calming breath Syl leaned forward, kissing him again before turning out of his arms, both following in the direction Zack and Kai had taken.
********************
Max pulled quietly into the curb a distance away from where the rusty merc had parked and watched silently as Zack got out of the drivers seat, going round and opening the back door and lifting what looked like an old woman out, her body hanging limp in his arms.
Her eyes flicking to the opening house door a couple of driveways down Max saw Syl emerge, her face somber as Zack walked past, then flinging her arms around Krit, she hugged him fiercely, and, after a moment they too turned, retreating back into the house.
Max took a deep breath, surprised at how nervous she felt. After all, these were her brothers and sisters, people she loved and trusted - and people- a little niggling voice told her - who if it weren't for you wouldn't be in this mess. - Pausing a beat Max frowned, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. Either way, she wanted to help them she thought, squaring her shoulders she swung off her bike and walked determinedly toward the house...
************************
They were gathered in the living room when Max walked through the door. Three outstretched arms each holding a clean cold gun readily pointing toward the tiny gap between her eyes as she faced them. She paused, frozen in the doorway as three sets of eyes slowly focused on her face.
Krit was the first to move, swiftly tucking away his gun and moving over to her, enveloping her in a huge hug, mumbling "hey Maxie" into her hair.
"Krit" she smiled, her worry and uncertainty ebbing she felt his strong arms wrap around her, and relaxing, she returned the hug breathing in her brothers scent, the smell momentarily bringing thoughts of the last time they were together into her mind. Smiling over his shoulder at Syl, who grinned back, holstering her gun Max's gaze shifted and she noticed the tall red haired man move swiftly toward the window, his glance searching the surrounding neighborhood while his gun remained trained on her.
"I'm clean if that's what your wondering" she said abruptly, pulling roughly away from Krit and glaring at the stranger who then turned towards her, a wide smile illuminating his familiar grey eyes.
" Just checking little sister," he said, reaching round and tucking his gun into the back of his pants.
Max stared at him a moment longer, the words 'little sister' echoing through her head as his piercing grey eyes took her on a walk down memory lane.
*"State you designation soldier"*
*Flashes of a stony child's face, grey eyes cold, mouth set and stance strong and focused*
*"X5-698 Sir"*
"You haven't changed a bit" Max laughed, moving over to give her brother a hug then turning to do the same for Syl.
"By the sound of it, neither have you" She heard Kai reply.
Sighing she stepped away from Syl, holding each other at arms length they smiled, a wave of emotion washing over both and Syl chuckled thickly "it been a while" Max just managing to nod as she pulled her sister in for another hug, both sisters teary eyed with wide grins adorning their features.
There was a movement off to their right and Max froze, all four x5's turning to find Zack standing at the other entrance to the room. Taking one look at his stormy gaze Max steeled herself for what was to come, and, his voice low and dangerous, Zack growled "What are you doing here Max?"
Max turned to face him, taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders she retorted,
"I heard there was a party and I got sick of waiting for an invite" She shot him a level glare, her soft regretful eyes giving away her true feelings.
"Hope you don't mind me crashing" she shrugged, moving her arms in a wide gesture of the room around her.
The tension in the room had thickened, the three other siblings casting confused glances between the two while Zack remained standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. "Unfortunately Max, I don't like gatecrashers, so you can turn around and go back to your precious Seattle" He said, his voice low and forceful.
Syl stepped forward, thoroughly confused at Zack telling Max to go, she was about to contest him when Max cut in, all traces of the witty sarcasm gone her voice took on a pleading tone, and she stepped closer to him.
"Zack I know what I did was terrible and I don't expect you to forgive me, but I also know that something's going down, and I want to be able to help," she explained, her eyes never leaving his in her attempt to get some sort of positive reaction out of him.
"This is obviously some sort of rescue attempt" she added, indicating the three X5's behind them, "I can help, I want to help" she ended, raising her chin as she stared at him defiantly.
"And what makes you think that I need your help?" Zack said quickly moving forward till there was barely any space between them, his cold furious eyes staring down at her.
"What makes you think that after everything you've done, after everything you've put us through, I'm just going to let you back in, let you go on playing the good little X5 sister when it was you who put Johndy and Zanes lives on the line in the first place?"
She could see the barely contained fury simmering behind the ice blue of his eyes and she longed to look away, to flinch and hang her head, step away from his towering presence but she couldn't let herself. Instead she returned the glare, her jaw set stubbornly.
"Zack I know as well as you do that your gonna need as many people on this thing as you can get. And I have contacts that can get us into the right places"
"Contacts?" Zack cut in "Is that what you call the great computer hack, roller boy, love of your life these days huh Max?" He growled, and Max, giving up, looked away from his stare and tried her last tactic,
"I have a doctor that can help Tess" She murmured and Zack stepped back, becoming silent for a minute.
"What kind of doctor?" Syl asked, and Max and Zack started, both having forgotten the three standing behind them until Syl spoke. "How much does he know about us and this disease?" She continued, glancing from Max to Zack.
"He knows a bit about us" Max answered, throwing a last glance at Zack she turned towards Syl. "If we brought him up to speed with regards to the virus he'd be able to help find a cure" she explained and Syl nodded, turning back to Zack.
"I have no idea what's going on between you two, but she has a point Zack" she said, continuing on before he could respond, "We really do need as many people as we can get, and, if this doctor really can help I think we'd be cutting ourselves off at the knee if we didn't take up the offer" Syl concluded.
"I agree Zack" Kai nodded, still standing at the window.
"At the very least she's another pair of hands that can fire a weapon" Krit spoke up and Zack, after having glared at each one in turn returned his gaze back to Max.
"Fine" he growled, locking stony gazes with her once again.
"But I want you to understand Max. I want you to stand there and listen carefully for once to what I'm telling you. This is not just your life on the line here but the lives of every single brother and sister you have. We're all here, fighting alongside you and if you make one more little mistake, step out of line or change plans midway, it'll not only get you killed, but it will kill the rest of us too" His steady low voice sent a chill through the room and for the first time Max realized just how much of a leader Zack was, how strong, how smart, and how caring he was, and just how much she had always underestimated him in the past.
"I want you to think long and hard about that fact Max," he continued, his gaze never leaving hers
"Are you sure you are ready to jump on the bandwagon? To help us in our little crusade?" Zack asked and then paused,
"Are you ready to take orders from me Max?"
There was a long pause, and the entire room stood still as Max and Zack remained staring, neither moving their gaze from the other.
And then Max spoke, "I am" loudly and firmly, and, standing there she realized that she meant it..
Chapter 10
Max sat back on her bike, rolling her shoulders and pulling a picture out of her pocket. From her little visit to Logan's she had managed to pull a hoverdrone file covering the last week's movements throughout the Seattle and Wyoming districts and had come across one frame in particular that had gotten her interest. It was of a diner, taken on one of the lesser known routes out of sector three of Wyoming of which there was one person in particular, who had her back to the drone, that looked very much like the back Syls head. Thinking back to the last time Max had seen Syl she figured that from this girls height sitting in the seat of the diner it would be a close match, that plus the fact that Max herself had dodged many a drone in her time to realize that this girl wasn't in fact looking at the menu like she was portrayed to be but was really looking slightly to the left of it, one wary eye on the doorway of the diner.
The only other information Max had come across that could have been related to her siblings had been a report from a hospice two days after Zack had come to see her outside crash. The report had been for a large order of Tryptophan as their supplies had been stolen earlier that day. It was a long shot but that plus the picture of Syl taken only yesterday morning led Max to hope that she was on the right track, and that by starting her search at the end of sector three close to where Syl had stopped, she could maybe dig up something fresher.
Sighing Max folded the picture back up, her thoughts drifting back to the scene outside Crash only three nights ago, and Zack's furious confrontation. Never in a million years would she have imagined he would look at her the way he had, the mixture of disappointment, anger and hurt gracing his hard features was more powerful than a slap in the face could ever had been, pulling max away from her thoughts of Seattle and her job and Logan, and focusing them on the bigger picture, Manticore, her barcode, and her siblings. Looking up into Zacks face that night had stirred a buried fear deep down in her stomach. The fact that Zack had come to see her for information meant that he'd had nowhere else to go, and that something terrible must have happened to the others, and it scared the hell out of Max. God she hoped they were ok. If one of them were killed because of this she would never forgive herself. She remembered Zack saying Tess was also sick, and her mind replayed the last time she had seen Brin, remembering her sickness, remembering Zack, his grief as he had wept as she herself had when they had left Brin there, on that park bench.
Her thoughts returning to the task at hand Max swallowed. She knew she had to find them. Zack would be angry, that was a given, but she would be damned if he thought she was just going to sit back and not do anything to help.
Sighing Max shook her head, clearing her thoughts she looked up at the road in front of her. She figured she was getting close, and praying that luck was on her side Max kicked up the bike stand and pulled out from the curb.
Pulling up at an intersection, minutes later Max paused as her sensitive hearing picked up the sound of a speeding car coming her way and frowning she sat back on her bike, deciding to wait until the fool had passed before pulling out. Having an inpatient idiot up her ass the whole way wasn't Max's idea of fun.
She didn't have to wait long till an old Merc came speeding round the corner in front of her she began to fold her arms only to stop mid glare as the car sped past her. Catching a glimpse of the fair haired male driver Max's jaw dropped, and, eyes glued to the back of the merc she pulled out and followed it, mentally slicing off a piece of cake to save for later.
*************************
"They're here" Syl called, hearing the sound of Zack quickly maneuvering the car to a park five houses down. Their morning had been pretty uneventful, both Syl and Kai readying the abandoned two bedroomed flat they had chosen for the invasion of their siblings. They would need to do at least one job tonight, to attain the essentials, Kai had managed to redirect an electricity route which would supply them with enough for their stay and Syl had set to work on the water and had gathered ice from a local service station, which now sat ready in the bath.
Now both her and Kai moved towards the front door to meet Zack halfway, Syl stepping aside to let him through, her beaming smile fading as her gaze flicked over the limp form of Tess in his arms. Then hearing another set of footsteps she turned, wrapping her arms around Krit who had entered the house, in a warming embrace.
Krit sighed, relaxing into her and pulled her closer, breathing in her warm scent. "Hey Beautiful"
"I missed you" suddenly overcome with a fear she had often felt when thinking about the others Syl tightened her grip on him and Krit began to rub her back soothingly.
"Its ok, I'm ok, Zack's ok, and Tess. well Tess will be fine" He finished, kissing her softly on the lips and pulling back, looking sincerely into Syls deep blue eyes.
"We will get through this" he assured her.
Taking a deep calming breath Syl leaned forward, kissing him again before turning out of his arms, both following in the direction Zack and Kai had taken.
********************
Max pulled quietly into the curb a distance away from where the rusty merc had parked and watched silently as Zack got out of the drivers seat, going round and opening the back door and lifting what looked like an old woman out, her body hanging limp in his arms.
Her eyes flicking to the opening house door a couple of driveways down Max saw Syl emerge, her face somber as Zack walked past, then flinging her arms around Krit, she hugged him fiercely, and, after a moment they too turned, retreating back into the house.
Max took a deep breath, surprised at how nervous she felt. After all, these were her brothers and sisters, people she loved and trusted - and people- a little niggling voice told her - who if it weren't for you wouldn't be in this mess. - Pausing a beat Max frowned, shaking her head to clear her thoughts. Either way, she wanted to help them she thought, squaring her shoulders she swung off her bike and walked determinedly toward the house...
************************
They were gathered in the living room when Max walked through the door. Three outstretched arms each holding a clean cold gun readily pointing toward the tiny gap between her eyes as she faced them. She paused, frozen in the doorway as three sets of eyes slowly focused on her face.
Krit was the first to move, swiftly tucking away his gun and moving over to her, enveloping her in a huge hug, mumbling "hey Maxie" into her hair.
"Krit" she smiled, her worry and uncertainty ebbing she felt his strong arms wrap around her, and relaxing, she returned the hug breathing in her brothers scent, the smell momentarily bringing thoughts of the last time they were together into her mind. Smiling over his shoulder at Syl, who grinned back, holstering her gun Max's gaze shifted and she noticed the tall red haired man move swiftly toward the window, his glance searching the surrounding neighborhood while his gun remained trained on her.
"I'm clean if that's what your wondering" she said abruptly, pulling roughly away from Krit and glaring at the stranger who then turned towards her, a wide smile illuminating his familiar grey eyes.
" Just checking little sister," he said, reaching round and tucking his gun into the back of his pants.
Max stared at him a moment longer, the words 'little sister' echoing through her head as his piercing grey eyes took her on a walk down memory lane.
*"State you designation soldier"*
*Flashes of a stony child's face, grey eyes cold, mouth set and stance strong and focused*
*"X5-698 Sir"*
"You haven't changed a bit" Max laughed, moving over to give her brother a hug then turning to do the same for Syl.
"By the sound of it, neither have you" She heard Kai reply.
Sighing she stepped away from Syl, holding each other at arms length they smiled, a wave of emotion washing over both and Syl chuckled thickly "it been a while" Max just managing to nod as she pulled her sister in for another hug, both sisters teary eyed with wide grins adorning their features.
There was a movement off to their right and Max froze, all four x5's turning to find Zack standing at the other entrance to the room. Taking one look at his stormy gaze Max steeled herself for what was to come, and, his voice low and dangerous, Zack growled "What are you doing here Max?"
Max turned to face him, taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders she retorted,
"I heard there was a party and I got sick of waiting for an invite" She shot him a level glare, her soft regretful eyes giving away her true feelings.
"Hope you don't mind me crashing" she shrugged, moving her arms in a wide gesture of the room around her.
The tension in the room had thickened, the three other siblings casting confused glances between the two while Zack remained standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. "Unfortunately Max, I don't like gatecrashers, so you can turn around and go back to your precious Seattle" He said, his voice low and forceful.
Syl stepped forward, thoroughly confused at Zack telling Max to go, she was about to contest him when Max cut in, all traces of the witty sarcasm gone her voice took on a pleading tone, and she stepped closer to him.
"Zack I know what I did was terrible and I don't expect you to forgive me, but I also know that something's going down, and I want to be able to help," she explained, her eyes never leaving his in her attempt to get some sort of positive reaction out of him.
"This is obviously some sort of rescue attempt" she added, indicating the three X5's behind them, "I can help, I want to help" she ended, raising her chin as she stared at him defiantly.
"And what makes you think that I need your help?" Zack said quickly moving forward till there was barely any space between them, his cold furious eyes staring down at her.
"What makes you think that after everything you've done, after everything you've put us through, I'm just going to let you back in, let you go on playing the good little X5 sister when it was you who put Johndy and Zanes lives on the line in the first place?"
She could see the barely contained fury simmering behind the ice blue of his eyes and she longed to look away, to flinch and hang her head, step away from his towering presence but she couldn't let herself. Instead she returned the glare, her jaw set stubbornly.
"Zack I know as well as you do that your gonna need as many people on this thing as you can get. And I have contacts that can get us into the right places"
"Contacts?" Zack cut in "Is that what you call the great computer hack, roller boy, love of your life these days huh Max?" He growled, and Max, giving up, looked away from his stare and tried her last tactic,
"I have a doctor that can help Tess" She murmured and Zack stepped back, becoming silent for a minute.
"What kind of doctor?" Syl asked, and Max and Zack started, both having forgotten the three standing behind them until Syl spoke. "How much does he know about us and this disease?" She continued, glancing from Max to Zack.
"He knows a bit about us" Max answered, throwing a last glance at Zack she turned towards Syl. "If we brought him up to speed with regards to the virus he'd be able to help find a cure" she explained and Syl nodded, turning back to Zack.
"I have no idea what's going on between you two, but she has a point Zack" she said, continuing on before he could respond, "We really do need as many people as we can get, and, if this doctor really can help I think we'd be cutting ourselves off at the knee if we didn't take up the offer" Syl concluded.
"I agree Zack" Kai nodded, still standing at the window.
"At the very least she's another pair of hands that can fire a weapon" Krit spoke up and Zack, after having glared at each one in turn returned his gaze back to Max.
"Fine" he growled, locking stony gazes with her once again.
"But I want you to understand Max. I want you to stand there and listen carefully for once to what I'm telling you. This is not just your life on the line here but the lives of every single brother and sister you have. We're all here, fighting alongside you and if you make one more little mistake, step out of line or change plans midway, it'll not only get you killed, but it will kill the rest of us too" His steady low voice sent a chill through the room and for the first time Max realized just how much of a leader Zack was, how strong, how smart, and how caring he was, and just how much she had always underestimated him in the past.
"I want you to think long and hard about that fact Max," he continued, his gaze never leaving hers
"Are you sure you are ready to jump on the bandwagon? To help us in our little crusade?" Zack asked and then paused,
"Are you ready to take orders from me Max?"
There was a long pause, and the entire room stood still as Max and Zack remained staring, neither moving their gaze from the other.
And then Max spoke, "I am" loudly and firmly, and, standing there she realized that she meant it..