DISCLAIMER:
All characters that appear in this story belong to their respective
Creators, including Cameron/Eglee Productions and 20th Century
Studios. No money is being made from the use of these characters.
Scene: Logan Cale's Apartment - Nighttime, Logan is working on his computer,
18 months after Max's "death" at Manticore. (End of the first season, this story is a
replacement for the second season which I did not care for.)
Max remembered this part. Sneaking into the apartment only to stare
into the computer light. Staring at Logan, without his knowledge of
course. What she did not remember was why? She knew why tonight. She
had her mission and her hope was to gain information from this man.
This Logan who she knew, or thought she knew. Most of that time was
now a blank in her mind. She remembered doing things, delivering
messages, stealing art, but never remembering why. Max remained hidden
in the hallway. Close enough to hear and see, but far enough away to
remain stealth. A soldier never gives away her position until
required.
"Max, what should I do now? Should I transmit this or not?"
Logan had spoken, directly to her! 'Have I compromised my position?'
'Do I answer him?' 'If he knows I am here, it will be better if I
speak. He will not be wary of me if I speak.' 'If I remain silent...
What will happen?'
Max continued this banter in her mind.
"Max, I have the information to transmit but it doesn't make any sense
yet."
At this Max knew her position had been compromised. She would have to
speak out. "How can I give you an opinion if I have not read the
article?"
Logan froze. Max felt the fear rise in him. She suddenly realized
that he had been speaking to his visions and memories of her, not
directly to her. 'How could I have missed that? What should I do
now, I have to regroup.' "Do you always talk to ghosts?"
Logan, his mouth dry from the thoughts racing though his head, calmed
himself before speaking aloud. "As a matter of fact I do. But rarely
do they answer me back."
Logan started to turn, wheeling around in a tight little circle. "Do
I have a Manticore issued revolver aimed at me or am I safe for the
moment?"
Max thought about it. "If I had wanted to kill you, I would not need a
revolver and the mission would already be complete."
From the light monotone of her voice, Logan immediately knew this was
not his Max. "Step out where I can see you. I have missed you and I
have many questions." She stepped out of the shadows. She had
changed. More muscular, but thinner. 'How could that be?' Her face
showed none of the emotion that Logan currently felt. And her eyes.
They were cold and almost translucent. No longer the deep pools of
brown that he had longed to reclaim. 'How could she be standing here?
Why was she here? What had they done to her? Where was his Max?' So
many questions and all he could say is, "Are you hungry?"
Max looked at him. 'What kind of question is that? What does he mean?
What does he want?' There was only one logical answer to that
question, "Yes."
Because of his fear of her, Logan started rambling, "It's late, but I
have some leftovers from dinner that we can reheat. In fact, one of
your favorites, chicken pesto. You remember the light pesto sauce and
the grilled chicken with spices. I can open some wine as well. Do you
still drink from time to time? I have pretty much given it up. It's
no longer any... Why are you looking at me like that?" Logan had
turned to find Max staring at him with those eyes. So different than
he remembered. Her face remained stone. Absolutely no emotion.
"What ever you have is fine, I am sure," said Max. She had to think of
a way go get the required information to complete her mission. Max was
sure this man would not willingly give it to her, so she has to deduce
a plan. Max thought while he worked in the kitchen.
While the meal was being prepared, both were silent. Thoughts going
through Logan's head were wild and erratic, ranging from 'What have
they done to her?' to 'Is she going to kill me?' So many questions,
where should he start? Logan set the meal on the table. "Do you want
some wine with this?"
"No," was all she said. She started eating. The food was very tasty,
much spicier that she was used to at Manticore. And, she was very
hungry. She had eaten about 18 hours ago, and even then, nothing that tasted
like this. She continued to eat while being scrutinized by Logan.
Logan started his questioning. "What are you doing here?" He thought
he could get through that one first and then delve into why she was
still alive.
"I am on a mission to gather information." Max's tone remained soft
and controlled. Letting out only enough information to make him ask
the next question. She knew he would get to the question eventually,
he was a journalist after all. Her plan was simple, make him think he
was in control of the questions and she would lead him to the result
that she was after.
"What information?"
"I need to know the whereabouts of Donald Lydecker."
"Why would you come here?"
"His last known position was transpiring with you. You will know."
"I have not seen him in almost 18 months. I don't know his location.
I actually never knew his location; you brought him into the group.
How are you still alive"
"I was never dead. Why would you think that?"
Tears stung Logan's eyes. "I saw you die. Shot in the heart, bleeding
out. There was nothing we could do to save you."
"Losses will happen during any raid. I was saved by Manticore doctors,
they gave me a new heart." To emphasize the point, Max pulled on the
neckline of her black tank top displaying the vertical scar that was
the only remnant she kept from that raid.
"What did they do to you after giving you the heart?"
"I went through training. There was much to catch up on and remember."
"Do you remember your friends, your work here in Seattle?"
"I remember being in Seattle and I remember people. I do not need
friends, I need information to complete my mission."
"Do you remember me?"
"I remember you, of course I do. Why should I not?"
"Do you remember what we meant to each other?
"What did we mean?"
Logan stopped. He knew the answer he was searching for was 'no she did
not remember him.' They had erased her emotion and gone were all her
emotional memories. Tears started forming in his eyes now.
He knew he had lost her for good. Logan could not keep in his emotions
any longer. Looking straight at Max, fully crying now,
"Max, what have they done to you? Don't you
remember your friends, the clan at Jam Pony? Do you remember me?"
Then quieter, "...remember us?"
Max rose from her seat. "I can see that you are not up to receiving
guests tonight. So I will make this quick. Do you know the
whereabouts of Donald Lydecker?"
More quietly, Logan simply stated, "No."
"I will be leaving then. Thank you for the meal; it was quite tasty."
Max walked to the door.
Logan wheeled around to watch her go. "Max!" She stopped walking.
"How do you sleep at night knowing there are people out there you have
hurt?"
Slowly turning, Max looked back at Logan, "You must have forgotten, I
don't sleep." With that, she turned and walked out the door to the
sound of Logan's sobs.
................
She did not leave the building. Part two of her plan was now in
effect. She made her way to the perch, the area of the building just
above Logan's sky light. She sat waiting and listening. With her
acute hearing she could hear any conversation from any part of his
apartment. She heard his continued sobs. 'What good could come from
all this emotion? He is expending perfectly good energy for nothing.
Energy better spent in training or working.' She waited and watched
the city below. It was dark and little movement occurred, but the
lights were on across the city. Lights that looked like the stars
twinkling; the stars she watched from her cell at Manticore.
She startled herself alert when she heard the speed dial on his cell
phone. She listened closely, although she only heard one side of the
conversation.
"Hey, it's Logan...
I saw Max tonight...
No, it was definitely Max, not an X7 clone...
She has a scar across her chest, they transplanted a heart...
I think you are right, she has definitely changed...
Well, her voice is monotone, her demeanor is direct, and her attitude is terse...
Yes, no emotions at all. I lost it at the end and she just got up and left...
Yes of course I asked her what she wanted; she wants to know where you are...
Of course I didn't tell her or even lead her to believe that I knew,
but I thought I should warn you...
OK Deck...
Good Luck."
Logan closed the cell phone.
Max heard Logan moving around the apartment toward the window. She
knew he oftentimes studied the city from the window below and she reminded
herself to be quiet.
"MAX!! WHERE ARE YOU?!!" Logan yelled out the window.
'Don't say anything this time; again he is only talking to his ghosts,
Max you must remain stealth!' Max thought to herself.
Logan continued yelling out the window. "MAX! Do you know what you
have done here tonight? Do you understand? Did you know that it took
almost six months for me to 'get over you' the first time? Well, that
won't happen again!"
Logan sat quietly then. Max heard his continued sobs. The he spoke
again, quieter and without the fury previously exhibited. "Max, all I
ask is that you think about your actions; actions here tonight and
while you're in Manticore employment. Think about why you left before.
If a bunch of 10-year-olds can figure it out, why can't you... now? I
know they have messed with your mind, I know they probably exert more
control over you than before, but can't you remember the freedom? Can
you no longer think for yourself? Max, only you know what goes on
there. What they do to you. Do they hurt you? Do they control you?
Why do you let them? Why are you loyal to them?"
There was a pause before he spoke again. He spoke quieter then, almost
as if praying. "Max, over 225 years ago here in America, there was a system
used to control people, to make them work and obey the masters. Many
of the controlled individuals accepted the system as being okay because
it was all they knew. But it wasn't okay. Not then and not now. Some
of those controlled individuals tried to change things. They had help
from outside their group too. The system changed for everyone then. I
pray that it will change now for you and for all the Manticore children.
You deserve your freedom."
Another pause interrupted his mantra. "Well Max, I don't believe there
will be any further saving of the world tonight. You told me once that
I didn't know when to quit. But today I do. You took the wind from my
sails Max. I'll go to bed now, probably dream the awful nightmare
that kept me awake so many nights after you died. Awake to the feel of
you in my arms; then feel the blood from your chest as it surrounds and
drowns me. God speed Max."
He spoke no more. Max listened to him wheel around the apartment
to his bedroom. It was some time before she heard him climb into his
bed and another expanse of time until she heard the steady breathing
sounds of sleep.
She knew what had to be done. She sneaked into the apartment again.
Found the cell phone, opened the calls menu, memorized the last number
called. The screen identified the number for "Deck" and she turned to
leave, stopping as she heard Logan stir. She heard him call for her.
Max knew Logan was deep into the nightmare he had talked about.
She stood in the living room listening to his midnight phantasm for
quite some time before leaving the apartment through the same portal
she entered.
..................................
From a pay phone booth at a bus station:
"Ma'am, this is Max checking in...
Yes, I have the number. It is 867-557-1423-2284...
I know it is still active at least it was four hours ago when the call
was placed...
Yes Ma'am. I will return to Manticore, but you do not want me to pick
up the traitor?...
I understand, a squad will perform that duty...
Yes Ma'am I will report directly to you for debriefing upon my return...
Thank you Ma'am...
