Seattle, Washington.
January 10, 2022.
12:00 pm.
Logan took a deep breath before he stepped out of his car and into the alley that William Connors had insisted on for their meeting. Logan's mind had been racing with questions as he drove to meet a man he'd thought dead for a year. I wonder where he's been, Logan thought. And why is he trying to make contact now after such a long absence? Logan had no answers for those questions, but for the first time that he could remember the desire to have those answers was matched by something else. Logan had become, Eyes Only, when there had been no one else he had to think about, but now he had Max. For the first time Logan felt fear about continuing his crusade, but brushed it aside as it was nothing more then an afterthought. Logan realized it was more then that, but for now he could do nothing about it and later he would talk about it with Max.
The air outside was cold even for Seattle in January, and the clouds overhead were clearly gathering in preparation for a heavy snow fall. Pulling his coat closer to his body and wishing he'd thought to bring some heavier clothes Logan entered the alley. With his contacts he'd reached this point in Sector Six without much trouble, and early. He'd checked out the area around the alley before finally deciding to enter it, and leaving his car in a position where he could use it to escape if this turned into a trap. Bill Connors hadn't set him up in the past, but he hadn't seen this man in almost a year.
Logan was almost halfway down the alley when he hard it from behind him. The soft click of a semi-automatic pistol being cocked was deafening in the quiet alley. Logan started to turn around when he suddenly felt the gun barrel get rammed into the base of his skull.
"I told Cale to come himself."
Taking a breath Logan answered, "I am Logan Cale."
A harsh laugh came before Connors answer, "Not unless they invented a cure for being shot in the spine, and forgot to tell the rest of the damn planet."
"If you don't believe me check my wallet. Right coat pocket."
At first Logan thought Connors just ignored what he said, but then felt a hand reaching into his right coat pocket. For a second a thought of worry crept into his head as he thought he might have left his wallet in his pants pocket, but then felt Connors lift his wallet out of the pocket. The long seconds before Connors next statement were among the longest of Logan's life.
"Oh, thank god it's really you. Then I really did get out. Oh, thank god," Connors said as he pulled the gun from Logan's neck.
"Bill what the hell is going on?" Logan asked as he turned around to face Connors. What he saw shocked Logan, and just started his mind racing with new questions. What he could see of William Connors face was pale and his eye were covered up by his hoodie which hung low on his head. Connors no longer wore his usually loose clothing with beat up black trench coat. Now Connors wore a grimy gray hoodie with a torn up blue jean jacket over it, and worn down Levis blue jeans. This clearly gave away that Connors had lost a lot of weight, and his body looked lean like a marathon runner.
"I need you get me to Eyes Only, and convince him to make me disa."Connors couldn't finish his sentence as he began coughing. Every cough seemed to weaken the man so that by the time it was over Connors looked like he could barely stand up.
Logan stepped closer to try and offer help, but Connors stopped him short when he raised his gun once more.
"Look you need help so would you just put down the gun?"
"Don't you touch me," Connors said before another series of coughs forced him to his knees as Logan watched.
"Bill I think you need to get to the hospital," Logan said as he walked up to Connors to keep him from collapsing any further. Connors didn't struggle as Logan took the gun from his hand, but when Logan tried to pull Connors back to his feet Connors seemed to resist. It was then that Logan noticed that Connors low hanging hoodie had fallen off, and he got a clear look at Connors face.
In that instant Logan realized he couldn't take Connors to a hospital, and began trying to think of any transgenics he knew with medical training. Despite all the recent ground in turning around public opinion about the transgenics there was still a prejudice against them. Which Bill Connors would have felt the moment a doctor or nurse looked Bill Connor in the eyes. The only problem was Logan remembered the man's eyes, and how they had looked when he last saw the man. They did not look the same. In fact right now they resembled those of the transgenics like Joshua and other early X-series transgenics. This brought up an entire new galaxy of questions, but Logan realized they would have to wait. I have to get this man to safety, he thought. He refused to think about what his observations could mean till he had some proof for his theories, but now an overwhelming sense of fear now entered his thoughts.
"My car is just outside the alley. We are getting out of here now," Logan said as he helped Connors walk towards Logan's car. As they neared the mouth of the alley Logan felt Connors stumble as walked.
"Logan, oh god, it hurts! It feels like my body is tearing itself apart!"
"It's okay. We're almost to my car. Just relax for a second everything will be alright."
Connors started to smile, but stopped and turned his head violently to the right as if he'd heard something. Logan watched as Connors eyes roll back into his skull as his chest exploded from a bullet impact. Logan was shocked to find himself covered in blood, but recovered quickly and dove for cover behind a dumpster. Grabbing his coat, Logan wiped his hands free of most of the blood, and then drew his own 9mm glock to return fire.
======================
Seattle, Washington. January 10, 2022. 12:02 pm.
Max watched as Original Cindy started ripping into Sketchy for interrupting their day together. She paused for a second then turned back to find a pay phone. The humor of this seemed so out of place with how her life had been going for the last year that she feared this was some really good dream. No, she thought, this is missing someone for this to be a good dream. Logan. He was her other half. They complemented each other in such away that it was like they weren't just a couple, but to pieces of something greater. Manitcore couldn't have designed her a better match. Of course that was assuming Manticore cared about the people it created as something other then pawns on a chessboard. It was a feeling Max had repressed for the longest time, and the removal of the virus and Ames White's death had given her the breathing space to move past her usual cynicism.
Max made herself stop thinking so romantically. It sounded too much like that weird dialogue from one of the romance novels Original Cindy had always been a fan of. She remembered when O.C. had tried to explain it too her. Her answer had been, People don't think or talk like this. Of course that was before she met Logan. Still she was able to regain her focus about using the phone. Reaching into her pocket she dropped in the cash, and dialed Logan's cell number figuring that he probably had it close by.
"Hi."
"Logan its Max."
"You have reached Logan Cale; I can't come to the phone right now, but leave a message after the beep and I will get back to you as soon as I can."
God damn it, Max thought. I hate that message.
======================
Seattle, Washington. January 10, 2022. 12:02 pm.
Logan had tried to peek around to see if anyone was there, but a near miss by a bullet had convinced him of that being a bad idea. Looking around he noticed an open door across the alley, and tried figuring out how he could get there. Deciding quickly if he couldn't see where to shot his gun would not help him much. Logan pushed the gun back into his coat pocket, and then grabbed the dumpster with both of his free hands.
The dumpster was old, and on rusty wheels but Logan figured with the added push of his exoskeleton he would be able to get it across the alley. Okay on three just like in the movie Logan. Yeah think positive you're going to make it. Logan pushed the dumpster and found it moved slowly even with his exoskeleton's help. Soon the dumpster began shaking as bullets began slamming into it. Almost to the door a bullet slammed into the dumpster, and cut through it to imbed itself into Logan's right hand.
"Shit!" Logan screamed as he felt the bullet pierce his skin. Realizing the dumpster wasn't going to be much use now Logan began trying to judge the distance to the door. Whoever is shooting is waiting a little between each shot, and if I can get him to shoot at something the other way I might just make it.
Reaching into his pockets Logan pulled his gun out of his pants, and waited for the shooter's next pause. Then he tossed the gun at the other side of the alley, and just as it hit the opposite wall dove for the open door. Come on, Come on, he thought as he neared the door. Just a second more, he thought.
He didn't feel the bullet hit him in the leg, but the force of it cause Logan to fall into as he made it through the door. Turning himself over Logan began looking for the bullets entry wound, and when he did he laughed. The bullet had hit him in his cell phone. The phone was destroyed, but he was alright.
======================
Seattle, Washington. January 10, 2022. 12:02 pm.
Med watched the man who was talking to subject NX3-334 escape into the open doorway. He cursed at the losing of another research subject when he was so close to finding the solution. Crowds were forming, and the cops would be here soon. There was not enough time to collect the body, and those fools at the Morgue would destroy most of what he could learn before he could reclaim the body.
Still as he placed his rifle back into its case, the man NX3-334 had contacted interested him. He had shown great calm in a violent situation, and clearly was able to adapt quickly to changing situations. He would track down on this man. He may have lost one research subject, but he may have just found another more promising one. With a shrug he turned, and began walking across the roof towards the fire latter that would be escape root. Very promising indeed.
Logan took a deep breath before he stepped out of his car and into the alley that William Connors had insisted on for their meeting. Logan's mind had been racing with questions as he drove to meet a man he'd thought dead for a year. I wonder where he's been, Logan thought. And why is he trying to make contact now after such a long absence? Logan had no answers for those questions, but for the first time that he could remember the desire to have those answers was matched by something else. Logan had become, Eyes Only, when there had been no one else he had to think about, but now he had Max. For the first time Logan felt fear about continuing his crusade, but brushed it aside as it was nothing more then an afterthought. Logan realized it was more then that, but for now he could do nothing about it and later he would talk about it with Max.
The air outside was cold even for Seattle in January, and the clouds overhead were clearly gathering in preparation for a heavy snow fall. Pulling his coat closer to his body and wishing he'd thought to bring some heavier clothes Logan entered the alley. With his contacts he'd reached this point in Sector Six without much trouble, and early. He'd checked out the area around the alley before finally deciding to enter it, and leaving his car in a position where he could use it to escape if this turned into a trap. Bill Connors hadn't set him up in the past, but he hadn't seen this man in almost a year.
Logan was almost halfway down the alley when he hard it from behind him. The soft click of a semi-automatic pistol being cocked was deafening in the quiet alley. Logan started to turn around when he suddenly felt the gun barrel get rammed into the base of his skull.
"I told Cale to come himself."
Taking a breath Logan answered, "I am Logan Cale."
A harsh laugh came before Connors answer, "Not unless they invented a cure for being shot in the spine, and forgot to tell the rest of the damn planet."
"If you don't believe me check my wallet. Right coat pocket."
At first Logan thought Connors just ignored what he said, but then felt a hand reaching into his right coat pocket. For a second a thought of worry crept into his head as he thought he might have left his wallet in his pants pocket, but then felt Connors lift his wallet out of the pocket. The long seconds before Connors next statement were among the longest of Logan's life.
"Oh, thank god it's really you. Then I really did get out. Oh, thank god," Connors said as he pulled the gun from Logan's neck.
"Bill what the hell is going on?" Logan asked as he turned around to face Connors. What he saw shocked Logan, and just started his mind racing with new questions. What he could see of William Connors face was pale and his eye were covered up by his hoodie which hung low on his head. Connors no longer wore his usually loose clothing with beat up black trench coat. Now Connors wore a grimy gray hoodie with a torn up blue jean jacket over it, and worn down Levis blue jeans. This clearly gave away that Connors had lost a lot of weight, and his body looked lean like a marathon runner.
"I need you get me to Eyes Only, and convince him to make me disa."Connors couldn't finish his sentence as he began coughing. Every cough seemed to weaken the man so that by the time it was over Connors looked like he could barely stand up.
Logan stepped closer to try and offer help, but Connors stopped him short when he raised his gun once more.
"Look you need help so would you just put down the gun?"
"Don't you touch me," Connors said before another series of coughs forced him to his knees as Logan watched.
"Bill I think you need to get to the hospital," Logan said as he walked up to Connors to keep him from collapsing any further. Connors didn't struggle as Logan took the gun from his hand, but when Logan tried to pull Connors back to his feet Connors seemed to resist. It was then that Logan noticed that Connors low hanging hoodie had fallen off, and he got a clear look at Connors face.
In that instant Logan realized he couldn't take Connors to a hospital, and began trying to think of any transgenics he knew with medical training. Despite all the recent ground in turning around public opinion about the transgenics there was still a prejudice against them. Which Bill Connors would have felt the moment a doctor or nurse looked Bill Connor in the eyes. The only problem was Logan remembered the man's eyes, and how they had looked when he last saw the man. They did not look the same. In fact right now they resembled those of the transgenics like Joshua and other early X-series transgenics. This brought up an entire new galaxy of questions, but Logan realized they would have to wait. I have to get this man to safety, he thought. He refused to think about what his observations could mean till he had some proof for his theories, but now an overwhelming sense of fear now entered his thoughts.
"My car is just outside the alley. We are getting out of here now," Logan said as he helped Connors walk towards Logan's car. As they neared the mouth of the alley Logan felt Connors stumble as walked.
"Logan, oh god, it hurts! It feels like my body is tearing itself apart!"
"It's okay. We're almost to my car. Just relax for a second everything will be alright."
Connors started to smile, but stopped and turned his head violently to the right as if he'd heard something. Logan watched as Connors eyes roll back into his skull as his chest exploded from a bullet impact. Logan was shocked to find himself covered in blood, but recovered quickly and dove for cover behind a dumpster. Grabbing his coat, Logan wiped his hands free of most of the blood, and then drew his own 9mm glock to return fire.
======================
Seattle, Washington. January 10, 2022. 12:02 pm.
Max watched as Original Cindy started ripping into Sketchy for interrupting their day together. She paused for a second then turned back to find a pay phone. The humor of this seemed so out of place with how her life had been going for the last year that she feared this was some really good dream. No, she thought, this is missing someone for this to be a good dream. Logan. He was her other half. They complemented each other in such away that it was like they weren't just a couple, but to pieces of something greater. Manitcore couldn't have designed her a better match. Of course that was assuming Manticore cared about the people it created as something other then pawns on a chessboard. It was a feeling Max had repressed for the longest time, and the removal of the virus and Ames White's death had given her the breathing space to move past her usual cynicism.
Max made herself stop thinking so romantically. It sounded too much like that weird dialogue from one of the romance novels Original Cindy had always been a fan of. She remembered when O.C. had tried to explain it too her. Her answer had been, People don't think or talk like this. Of course that was before she met Logan. Still she was able to regain her focus about using the phone. Reaching into her pocket she dropped in the cash, and dialed Logan's cell number figuring that he probably had it close by.
"Hi."
"Logan its Max."
"You have reached Logan Cale; I can't come to the phone right now, but leave a message after the beep and I will get back to you as soon as I can."
God damn it, Max thought. I hate that message.
======================
Seattle, Washington. January 10, 2022. 12:02 pm.
Logan had tried to peek around to see if anyone was there, but a near miss by a bullet had convinced him of that being a bad idea. Looking around he noticed an open door across the alley, and tried figuring out how he could get there. Deciding quickly if he couldn't see where to shot his gun would not help him much. Logan pushed the gun back into his coat pocket, and then grabbed the dumpster with both of his free hands.
The dumpster was old, and on rusty wheels but Logan figured with the added push of his exoskeleton he would be able to get it across the alley. Okay on three just like in the movie Logan. Yeah think positive you're going to make it. Logan pushed the dumpster and found it moved slowly even with his exoskeleton's help. Soon the dumpster began shaking as bullets began slamming into it. Almost to the door a bullet slammed into the dumpster, and cut through it to imbed itself into Logan's right hand.
"Shit!" Logan screamed as he felt the bullet pierce his skin. Realizing the dumpster wasn't going to be much use now Logan began trying to judge the distance to the door. Whoever is shooting is waiting a little between each shot, and if I can get him to shoot at something the other way I might just make it.
Reaching into his pockets Logan pulled his gun out of his pants, and waited for the shooter's next pause. Then he tossed the gun at the other side of the alley, and just as it hit the opposite wall dove for the open door. Come on, Come on, he thought as he neared the door. Just a second more, he thought.
He didn't feel the bullet hit him in the leg, but the force of it cause Logan to fall into as he made it through the door. Turning himself over Logan began looking for the bullets entry wound, and when he did he laughed. The bullet had hit him in his cell phone. The phone was destroyed, but he was alright.
======================
Seattle, Washington. January 10, 2022. 12:02 pm.
Med watched the man who was talking to subject NX3-334 escape into the open doorway. He cursed at the losing of another research subject when he was so close to finding the solution. Crowds were forming, and the cops would be here soon. There was not enough time to collect the body, and those fools at the Morgue would destroy most of what he could learn before he could reclaim the body.
Still as he placed his rifle back into its case, the man NX3-334 had contacted interested him. He had shown great calm in a violent situation, and clearly was able to adapt quickly to changing situations. He would track down on this man. He may have lost one research subject, but he may have just found another more promising one. With a shrug he turned, and began walking across the roof towards the fire latter that would be escape root. Very promising indeed.