Notes: First of all, thank you reviewers! You aren't many but your reviews
make my day (I'm serious here!)
In this chapter, Noah makes an interesting meeting with one of the
character of the show; one of the only two characters that know exactly
where to find Zack. Plus, Noah's impressions on living in Seattle.
This chapter takes place between 'Dawg day afternoon' and 'She ain't
heavy'.
Read, Enjoy and pleeeeease Review.
Chapter X: Hope, for losers?
Noah's POV
This place, this city is so different from what I'm used to. Well, I guess that when you come from Phoenix, a city ruled by Mafia, you're not used to seeing police along with their hoverdrones everywhere. Those checkpoints every once in a while and that division of the city in sectors also seem unusual to me but hey, Manticore's taught me how to get through anything. Even to get through their own security system so, the only trouble is I gotta travel by foot mostly, no bike's included into my-quietly-sneaking- through-the-checkpoints plan.
I've got to meet interesting creatures; not all human looking, I mean. They hang in a place called Terminal City, been kind enough to let me stay a while. No wonder they stay locked up in there! I'm Manticore and I got scared when I first saw some of them. How high d'you gotta be to design a chimpanzee man? And, it's not even the weirdest creature! Have I mentioned the lizard man?
There's a rumor saying some X5 girl's let them out when Manticore burnt down. Some of them even say that she's saved them again once in the outside world from some federal agents. The girl's description fits Max, but it also fits Tinga's or Jace's. But I know Max and Tinga are.Whatever, this doesn't concern me. I've got my own problems.
I gotta find Zack. If Manticore doesn't exist anymore, he's gotta be around here somewhere. Who knows what they might've done to him when he was back there? Maybe he's been re-indoctrinated and suffers from amnesia. I dunno, but hey, we're talking Manticore here, anything's possible.
I've tried to do like Zack: check to police and hospital records to find some blonde guy with a bar code. Turned out useless, couldn't find anything.
I'm also trying to get a lead on that Eyes Only character but the guy's not easy to track down. Looks like he's been putting his nose in Manticore's business after Zack got recaptured and Max died. He probably knew her. That would explain why he helped the others when Deck was after them last year.
The only real, concrete thing I've got is this name: Logan Cale, Max's boyfriend from what Syl's told me. Well, Mr. Cale I think it's time we had a little chat.
Logan's POV
I've just finished recording my hack. That last case had nothing to do with transgenics but still it gave me one hell of a headache. Oh, well. I've done my duty, made people's life easier. I just wish I could make mine easier too. I would just need to get Max rid of that virus.
It's been a while since I last saw her. She's been avoiding me, not taking my phone calls and never calling me back. Well, I can understand her reaction after the little show I pulled off a few nights before. Alcohol make some people feel all light and carefree. It only makes me feel even more miserable and desperate. What a pitiful sight that must've been!
I stand up thanks to the exoskeleton and decide to head for the kitchen. After a mission accomplished, Eyes Only deserves a good meal even if it is close to midnight. I turn around, still in my office and stop right there. My mouth drops open.
"Sorry to break in at such a time, I suppose visiting hours are closed but I needed a confirmation which I've just obtained"
All dressed up in a black cat suit, some black girl's standing in front of me. Her green eyes go from the screen on which she can see Eyes Only and then to my face. She giggles, shakes her dark curls and comes closer to me.
"Well, then has Eyes Only himself lost his tongue?" she asks slightly smiling.
"It's just that I thought I was alone" I manage to say recovering from my surprise.
"You should close your windows if you don't want intruders" she shrugs.
Yeah, Zack's told me that before. Maybe I should seriously consider it. This nonchalant attitude, the way she walks, cases the place, she reminds me of Max. This whole thing seems like a déjà vu; Max holding the Baste statue.
"Who are you?" I ask painfully swallowing and feeling uneasy although she seems really comfortable.
"Where did my manners go?" she says softly hitting her forehead, "My name's Noah. I'm looking for someone and I know you can help me"
She's slowly walking around my office, carefully looking at every object in the room and at every paper.
"I'm sorry I don't do into recovering lost puppies," I say trying to sound relaxed.
It's funny how I just can't seem to get used to people breaking into my apartment like that. It still makes me nervous. She stops her inspection, slightly smiles and says:
"No wonder you were with Max"
She definitely knows a lot of things but I can smell transgenic now. I think that hanging around them so much has kinda given me a sixth sense. They all have this attitude.
"You seem to know a lot about me. Maybe you could tell me a little bit more about you. Noah is it?" I say trying to get a confirmation of her being an X5.
"Yeah, it's Noah and no, I don't have time to relate you my absolutely thrilling teen years. So, let's get down to business, shall we?" she says determined.
She's leading the game and it looks like she's done fooling around. Her smile that seemed permanent has just disappeared and she's stopped inspecting the whole place. She really seems determined to find whoever it is that she's looking for. If she really is a transgenic, there's nothing that I can do to make her go away so, I just nod and ask:
"What do you want?"
I'm even more tensed then when I first saw her. But I think I'm hiding it pretty well.
"I'm getting there. Let me ask the questions" she softly says but nevertheless, it remains an order.
I can't believe it. She's the own breaking into my apartment and I'm the one that has to shut up and answer questions. She definitely reminds me of Max, she's gotta be one of her sisters.
"I know that some girl's burnt down Manticore and freed all the transgenics. I've met a few of them in town. Nice job I gotta admit" she shrugs.
Maybe she doesn't know Max personally after all, since she refers to her as 'some girl'.
"If you have questions about Max why don't you just go ask her? You're kinda related, aren't you? You're an X5 aren't you?" I ask.
She looks up to me. She looks surprised but only during half a second. Is it because she wasn't expecting me to find out she was a transgenic? I don't think so, I must've said something else. Then, her face closes up and I'm unable to tell what's going on in her head once again. She slightly smiles and says:
"I was almost starting to be disappointed Mr. Cale, but you're up to your reputation"
"Thank you" I say slightly inclining my head.
Now, we're playing on the same field. I can relax but still need to find out if we are on the same team.
"I have my reasons for not going to see Max and I'd like tonight to stay between us, if you don't mind?" she says.
"I think I can arrange that" I say feeling more at ease.
"I need to know what happened last time Max went to Manticore"
"Could you be more precise? What exactly do you want to know Noah?" I say crossing my arms and leaning on a chair.
"When she and Zack got recaptured. I was told she was dead" she says sitting on a chair, facing me.
Yeah, that was also what I believed. during three months. Maybe that's why Noah looked so surprised a few seconds ago; she had no idea Max was still alive.
"She was shot in the chest. Zack shot himself in the head to give her his heart" I say.
"He what?" she lets out obviously shocked.
"The bullet damaged his memory of course but Manticore made a few cyberneting enhancements and he" I say.
"He's still alive?" she asks.
Her voice is filled with hope and I can see her eyes are moistened.
"Yes, but he has no memory of his previous life" I answer raising my brow as this is all getting weirder by the minute.
"Where is he NOW?" she orders more than she asks, almost looking threatening.
"He's safe, don't worry" I say.
"Don't you tell me not to worry! Where is he? What have you done with him?" she screams out, gets up and dangerously walks up to me.
Last thing I want is another furious X5 after me, last one nearly killed me. Better not put her in a bad mood. Especially now that I've lost my personal genetically engineered killing machine. But I don't intend to show one bit of fear.
"Last time he recovered his memory he tried to kill me" I say fully raising, no longer leaning against the chair, "Obviously, Manticore had conditioned him to hate Eyes Only. Max decided to give him the normal life he had always wanted"
"Did he fully really recover his memory?" she asks looking just as threatening.
"I think so. Why?" I think I do deserve some answers.
"He promised." she mumbles gazing at the air.
She looks shocked and sounds more like a lost little girl than like the furious female rogue she was two seconds ago.
"Why d'you wanna find him so much?" I ask.
"Just tell me where I can find him! You and Max have no right to hide his past from him! What does Max know about what he really wanted anyway?" she says tears in her eyes.
I know Max always gets sensitive as soon as you talk about Zack but Noah's way over sensitivity. She's hysteric. If I didn't know the guy, I'd think her relation with Zack involved a lot more than fraternity.
"Look just knowing that he's safe and happy should be enough" I say.
"And I suppose I should take your word for it" she scoffs.
"I've helped transgenics a lot lately and if you really love him." I say.
"Love? Tell me Logan, would you let Max down because you love her, knowing that she still needs you?" she asks me.
A silence falls between us. There's this virus, forbidding us from being together but there's even more than that now. There's Alec. I don't think I ever would've given up on Max if he hadn't entered the picture. I know I'll never be happy without her and I know I could make her happy too but I guess she thinks so could he. I'm not so sure about that. Alec is. not what she needs, but then, who am I to say what Max really needs? If I knew for sure, she wouldn't be with him.
"The situation's completely different. Max has a retro virus specically targeted to my DNA and we." my voice just breaks as Noah's look getting more and more intense and insistent.
Her eyes seem to be endlessly repeating this same question: would I ever let Max down?
I told Max I'd always be there for her no matter what happened between us. I promised I'd always have her back because I love her and that I know she still needs me. So, the answer is. No, I'd never let her down.
I look straight into Noah's green eyes. Green, isn't that supposed to be the color of hope? But, she just looks so desperate, hurt and exhausted. I understand that I'm the only one that can actually do something about it. I grab a piece of paper, scribble Buddy's address on it and hand it to her.
"I hope you'll find what you're looking for," I sincerely say.
"Thank you and I hope you and Max'll get through this" she says also looking sincere and taking the piece of paper.
Then, she disappears in the dark, jumping out the window.
Notes: I thought about making Noah meet Max and all but there's no such thing in the show. I've stuck to the show up until now so why change? I also thought about making her meet Alec but it kinda made things a lot more complicated. How would Noah have found him? And how would Alec know where to find Zack? So, Logan was definitely the best choice, according to me. Their meeting would never be mentioned in the show because Logan would just not tell Max about it. Makes sense doesn't it? Well, I think it does. Review and tell me what you think. By the way, next chapter's the last one. Is Noah going to find Zack? Does he really wanna remember his past? Maybe he's just satisfied with the life he's got, finally a normal life? Love. BO.
Chapter X: Hope, for losers?
Noah's POV
This place, this city is so different from what I'm used to. Well, I guess that when you come from Phoenix, a city ruled by Mafia, you're not used to seeing police along with their hoverdrones everywhere. Those checkpoints every once in a while and that division of the city in sectors also seem unusual to me but hey, Manticore's taught me how to get through anything. Even to get through their own security system so, the only trouble is I gotta travel by foot mostly, no bike's included into my-quietly-sneaking- through-the-checkpoints plan.
I've got to meet interesting creatures; not all human looking, I mean. They hang in a place called Terminal City, been kind enough to let me stay a while. No wonder they stay locked up in there! I'm Manticore and I got scared when I first saw some of them. How high d'you gotta be to design a chimpanzee man? And, it's not even the weirdest creature! Have I mentioned the lizard man?
There's a rumor saying some X5 girl's let them out when Manticore burnt down. Some of them even say that she's saved them again once in the outside world from some federal agents. The girl's description fits Max, but it also fits Tinga's or Jace's. But I know Max and Tinga are.Whatever, this doesn't concern me. I've got my own problems.
I gotta find Zack. If Manticore doesn't exist anymore, he's gotta be around here somewhere. Who knows what they might've done to him when he was back there? Maybe he's been re-indoctrinated and suffers from amnesia. I dunno, but hey, we're talking Manticore here, anything's possible.
I've tried to do like Zack: check to police and hospital records to find some blonde guy with a bar code. Turned out useless, couldn't find anything.
I'm also trying to get a lead on that Eyes Only character but the guy's not easy to track down. Looks like he's been putting his nose in Manticore's business after Zack got recaptured and Max died. He probably knew her. That would explain why he helped the others when Deck was after them last year.
The only real, concrete thing I've got is this name: Logan Cale, Max's boyfriend from what Syl's told me. Well, Mr. Cale I think it's time we had a little chat.
Logan's POV
I've just finished recording my hack. That last case had nothing to do with transgenics but still it gave me one hell of a headache. Oh, well. I've done my duty, made people's life easier. I just wish I could make mine easier too. I would just need to get Max rid of that virus.
It's been a while since I last saw her. She's been avoiding me, not taking my phone calls and never calling me back. Well, I can understand her reaction after the little show I pulled off a few nights before. Alcohol make some people feel all light and carefree. It only makes me feel even more miserable and desperate. What a pitiful sight that must've been!
I stand up thanks to the exoskeleton and decide to head for the kitchen. After a mission accomplished, Eyes Only deserves a good meal even if it is close to midnight. I turn around, still in my office and stop right there. My mouth drops open.
"Sorry to break in at such a time, I suppose visiting hours are closed but I needed a confirmation which I've just obtained"
All dressed up in a black cat suit, some black girl's standing in front of me. Her green eyes go from the screen on which she can see Eyes Only and then to my face. She giggles, shakes her dark curls and comes closer to me.
"Well, then has Eyes Only himself lost his tongue?" she asks slightly smiling.
"It's just that I thought I was alone" I manage to say recovering from my surprise.
"You should close your windows if you don't want intruders" she shrugs.
Yeah, Zack's told me that before. Maybe I should seriously consider it. This nonchalant attitude, the way she walks, cases the place, she reminds me of Max. This whole thing seems like a déjà vu; Max holding the Baste statue.
"Who are you?" I ask painfully swallowing and feeling uneasy although she seems really comfortable.
"Where did my manners go?" she says softly hitting her forehead, "My name's Noah. I'm looking for someone and I know you can help me"
She's slowly walking around my office, carefully looking at every object in the room and at every paper.
"I'm sorry I don't do into recovering lost puppies," I say trying to sound relaxed.
It's funny how I just can't seem to get used to people breaking into my apartment like that. It still makes me nervous. She stops her inspection, slightly smiles and says:
"No wonder you were with Max"
She definitely knows a lot of things but I can smell transgenic now. I think that hanging around them so much has kinda given me a sixth sense. They all have this attitude.
"You seem to know a lot about me. Maybe you could tell me a little bit more about you. Noah is it?" I say trying to get a confirmation of her being an X5.
"Yeah, it's Noah and no, I don't have time to relate you my absolutely thrilling teen years. So, let's get down to business, shall we?" she says determined.
She's leading the game and it looks like she's done fooling around. Her smile that seemed permanent has just disappeared and she's stopped inspecting the whole place. She really seems determined to find whoever it is that she's looking for. If she really is a transgenic, there's nothing that I can do to make her go away so, I just nod and ask:
"What do you want?"
I'm even more tensed then when I first saw her. But I think I'm hiding it pretty well.
"I'm getting there. Let me ask the questions" she softly says but nevertheless, it remains an order.
I can't believe it. She's the own breaking into my apartment and I'm the one that has to shut up and answer questions. She definitely reminds me of Max, she's gotta be one of her sisters.
"I know that some girl's burnt down Manticore and freed all the transgenics. I've met a few of them in town. Nice job I gotta admit" she shrugs.
Maybe she doesn't know Max personally after all, since she refers to her as 'some girl'.
"If you have questions about Max why don't you just go ask her? You're kinda related, aren't you? You're an X5 aren't you?" I ask.
She looks up to me. She looks surprised but only during half a second. Is it because she wasn't expecting me to find out she was a transgenic? I don't think so, I must've said something else. Then, her face closes up and I'm unable to tell what's going on in her head once again. She slightly smiles and says:
"I was almost starting to be disappointed Mr. Cale, but you're up to your reputation"
"Thank you" I say slightly inclining my head.
Now, we're playing on the same field. I can relax but still need to find out if we are on the same team.
"I have my reasons for not going to see Max and I'd like tonight to stay between us, if you don't mind?" she says.
"I think I can arrange that" I say feeling more at ease.
"I need to know what happened last time Max went to Manticore"
"Could you be more precise? What exactly do you want to know Noah?" I say crossing my arms and leaning on a chair.
"When she and Zack got recaptured. I was told she was dead" she says sitting on a chair, facing me.
Yeah, that was also what I believed. during three months. Maybe that's why Noah looked so surprised a few seconds ago; she had no idea Max was still alive.
"She was shot in the chest. Zack shot himself in the head to give her his heart" I say.
"He what?" she lets out obviously shocked.
"The bullet damaged his memory of course but Manticore made a few cyberneting enhancements and he" I say.
"He's still alive?" she asks.
Her voice is filled with hope and I can see her eyes are moistened.
"Yes, but he has no memory of his previous life" I answer raising my brow as this is all getting weirder by the minute.
"Where is he NOW?" she orders more than she asks, almost looking threatening.
"He's safe, don't worry" I say.
"Don't you tell me not to worry! Where is he? What have you done with him?" she screams out, gets up and dangerously walks up to me.
Last thing I want is another furious X5 after me, last one nearly killed me. Better not put her in a bad mood. Especially now that I've lost my personal genetically engineered killing machine. But I don't intend to show one bit of fear.
"Last time he recovered his memory he tried to kill me" I say fully raising, no longer leaning against the chair, "Obviously, Manticore had conditioned him to hate Eyes Only. Max decided to give him the normal life he had always wanted"
"Did he fully really recover his memory?" she asks looking just as threatening.
"I think so. Why?" I think I do deserve some answers.
"He promised." she mumbles gazing at the air.
She looks shocked and sounds more like a lost little girl than like the furious female rogue she was two seconds ago.
"Why d'you wanna find him so much?" I ask.
"Just tell me where I can find him! You and Max have no right to hide his past from him! What does Max know about what he really wanted anyway?" she says tears in her eyes.
I know Max always gets sensitive as soon as you talk about Zack but Noah's way over sensitivity. She's hysteric. If I didn't know the guy, I'd think her relation with Zack involved a lot more than fraternity.
"Look just knowing that he's safe and happy should be enough" I say.
"And I suppose I should take your word for it" she scoffs.
"I've helped transgenics a lot lately and if you really love him." I say.
"Love? Tell me Logan, would you let Max down because you love her, knowing that she still needs you?" she asks me.
A silence falls between us. There's this virus, forbidding us from being together but there's even more than that now. There's Alec. I don't think I ever would've given up on Max if he hadn't entered the picture. I know I'll never be happy without her and I know I could make her happy too but I guess she thinks so could he. I'm not so sure about that. Alec is. not what she needs, but then, who am I to say what Max really needs? If I knew for sure, she wouldn't be with him.
"The situation's completely different. Max has a retro virus specically targeted to my DNA and we." my voice just breaks as Noah's look getting more and more intense and insistent.
Her eyes seem to be endlessly repeating this same question: would I ever let Max down?
I told Max I'd always be there for her no matter what happened between us. I promised I'd always have her back because I love her and that I know she still needs me. So, the answer is. No, I'd never let her down.
I look straight into Noah's green eyes. Green, isn't that supposed to be the color of hope? But, she just looks so desperate, hurt and exhausted. I understand that I'm the only one that can actually do something about it. I grab a piece of paper, scribble Buddy's address on it and hand it to her.
"I hope you'll find what you're looking for," I sincerely say.
"Thank you and I hope you and Max'll get through this" she says also looking sincere and taking the piece of paper.
Then, she disappears in the dark, jumping out the window.
Notes: I thought about making Noah meet Max and all but there's no such thing in the show. I've stuck to the show up until now so why change? I also thought about making her meet Alec but it kinda made things a lot more complicated. How would Noah have found him? And how would Alec know where to find Zack? So, Logan was definitely the best choice, according to me. Their meeting would never be mentioned in the show because Logan would just not tell Max about it. Makes sense doesn't it? Well, I think it does. Review and tell me what you think. By the way, next chapter's the last one. Is Noah going to find Zack? Does he really wanna remember his past? Maybe he's just satisfied with the life he's got, finally a normal life? Love. BO.