Hero On the Run: Old Friends
He was running down the halls of Manticore. Max was here somewhere… he could feel her. He could hear her pleading, sobbing. He kept running and running, not knowing whether he was running to her rescue or running away from her gut-wrenching screams.
All the halls he knew by heart were flashing by him. Everything was swirling together. Max was screaming his name. She was in pain. He couldn't reach her. He was failing her. Finally, the screaming stopped and became a terrifying silence. He just kept running.
Zack shot up and grasped the bedsheets in his fists, looking around wide-eyed. Slowly, his breathing became less erratic. He examined his surroundings, remembering where he was.
He breathed in deeply, then climbed out of bed. Raking a hand through his hair, he walked towards the living room, looking for Jondy.
He found her in the kitchen, humming a song. It looked like she was making some tea. Old habits die hard… he thought.
Jondy had always been a paradox to him. She was just a mess of contradictions. The thought made him smile. Silly Dee.
He glanced at the clock. It was already seven PM.
With a slight smile, he leaned against a nearby wall in the kitchen. Jondy whirled around, already in defensive position. When she saw it was only a disheveled Zack, she relaxed and gave him a wide grin. "Good morning, sleepyhead. Want some tea?"
He shook his head. It sounded like heaven, but he didn't want to be any more of a burden than was necessary.
Jondy just shrugged and turned back to her tea kettle.
"A watched pot never boils, you know," he prodded, trying to break the silence.
"A watched pot never goes unguarded, though," she retorted, "I would have thought that you'd made that your motto by now."
Zack laughed and stood up. "You still working at that bar?" he asked.
"Yeah," she replied as the tea kettle finally began to whistle. She poured the boiling water into her cup and dropped a teabag into the scalding liquid. "I know you don't like me working there, but it pays damn well. It's cash, no questions asked. I do my job, and it's not like I need a lot of sleep at night… so it suits me."
He gave her a disapproving look and crossed his arms over his chest. "You know… I think that you've been in this place too long. You're in danger, just like Maxie."
"Zack," she said condescendingly. "As long as we're genetically-engineered killing machines, we're gonna be in danger. Even you can't make that go away."
"That doesn't mean I can't protect you from that danger. And protocol…" he was immediately cut off by Jondy… again.
"Shove your protocol. I remember my training, Zack. And I'll always rely on your opinion more than anyone else's. But that doesn't mean that you're always right."
Zack ground his teeth together for a moment, then nodded. "I'm just looking out for you, Dee."
"I know, Zack," she replied, walking over to him to wrap him in an embrace. "Why don't you let me look out for you?"
Zack held her lovingly, planting a kiss on the top of her head. "I don't know, sis. I just can't risk it. Not right now."
She nodded into his chest, pulling away slowly. "I've gotta get ready for work. I'm opening tonight… figures, huh?"
"Yeah… I'll drop by near the end of your shift. I've got to go do some things I need to do," he said, walking to the bedroom to grab his jacket and his wallet.
When he emerged, Jondy was on the couch, drinking her tea. "I'd tell you to be careful… but you're careful enough for all twelve of us. Saying it would be way too redundant for my taste," she teased.
"You be careful too. I'd hate to have to save you from a bunch of raving drunks… again," he countered. He savored the look of protest and fury in her blue eyes for a split second. Before she could come up with a witty comeback, he was out the door.
In a blur of motion, he was down the stairs and revving up his Ducati 750 Sport. He put on his helmet and took off with a small, satisfied grin on his face.
He headed towards the center of town until he reached a small shop by a neighborhood market. There were no signs, no distinguishing features. It was one of those hole-in-the wall places that no one knows about. No one except those who had a purpose for being there. It was hidden in plain sight… classically genius.
He entered the shop and walked up to the counter. Seeing no one around, he leaned against it and tapped the nearby service bell. Still no one. "Damion, I know you're in here. C'mon… I don't have all day," he bellowed.
Immediately, a disheveled young man came running out. He was buttoning up his shirt, and had lipstick smudges all around his face. "Zack!" he cried, abandoning his attempt to make himself presentable.
Zack just rolled his eyes with a knowing grin and moved around behind the counter. He was immediately pulled into a brotherly hug and clapped on the back heartily.
Damion Karkaroff was a young Russian "informant," no older than 24. His dark hair was constantly in a state of chaos, making his fair skin stand out. Clever, dark blue eyes and a mischievous smile only added to his charm. No job went down in California without him knowing about it.
Zack had met him on his first trip to find Jondy in San Francisco. He'd been attempting a cat burglary at the wrong, or… depending on perspective, right, time and place. They gained a mutual respect and friendship, and had each other's back ever since.
"What's up?" the young Russian asked in a thick accent. "You haven't been around in forever!" Zack laughed and shook his head. "Not much, man. I've been… busy."
"I understand," the older man replied. As soon as he opened his mouth to continue, there was a distinctly feminine shout from the other room. "Damion! What's taking so long? I'm getting lonely…"
Zack raised an eyebrow and nodded toward the other room. "That doesn't sound like Nadia…" he commented.
"Nadia… ahhh… she decided that her career was more important than me. And I couldn't have that," Damion replied, then turned towards the back room. "Just a second, love… a very old and important friend is here."
An over-exaggerated sigh was clearly audible as an attractive woman with long auburn hair sauntered out. She was clad only in a long shirt, obviously Damion's. Unabashedly, she turned to Zack and gave him a dazzling smile.
"Darling… this is Zack. Zack… Amber," Damion introduced, apparently undaunted by his mistress' lack of clothing.
"Pleased to meet you… Damion talks about you all the time," Amber said, voice full of sex and money.
"Likewise," was the only thing Zack had to say.
"Amber… let me talk with Zack for a while, then we'll continue, yes?" Damion pleaded, seeing the restless look on his friend's face.
Amber nodded and trotted out of the room, running her hand over Damion's arm as she passed.
"Now… what did you come to talk about? And, make it quick. She gets vicious when left waiting," Damion imparted with a grin.
"It's about Jondy. Have you been keeping an eye on her, like I asked?"
"Of course, why would I not?" came the innocent reply.
"Because you've been… otherwise engaged?" Zack retorted, looking pointedly at the room that Amber had sauntered into.
Damion ran a hand through his messy, dark hair and shrugged. "I know how to manage both work and play… something I cannot say about you, my friend."
Zack frowned for a moment, regaining his normal rigid posture, and shrugged back. "Alright… I get your point," he replied dully. "Does everything seem to be alright with her? Any potential threats?"
"No… her apartment is usually very quiet, from what my man tells me. Very rarely does she have… company."
Zack's gaze jerked up suddenly, brow furrowed. "And her job at The Wild Cherry?"
"You know men… they are beasts. And with a beautiful woman like Jondy, they tend to act exactly as such," Damion replied, gesturing with his hands.
Zack's eyes flared, much like they had when attacking the Manticore soldiers last night. "Well… tonight we'll see how they behave."
"Don't go acting irrationally, Zack. They are not as good of men as we," Damion warned, a slight smile playing across his features.
"Don't worry about it. It was good to see you again… I'll keep in touch. You know how to reach me if there's an emergency."
Damion nodded and grabbed Zack by the wrist, shaking firmly. "Come back soon, my friend."
Zack nodded with a grin and pointed to the back room. "Go on… she's waiting," he said, and walked out of the shop.
Author's Note: So… what do you think of Damion so far? I'll be developing him more. Oh… and there will be some conflict with Logan soon enough! Just you wait! Big thanks to my sugah, Kirsten. She's just full of ideas when I prod her enough.
