Disclaimer: See chapters 1 to whatever…I'm not saying it again…
A/N: Many thanks to catherder and alaidh for the beta.
Chapter 8
Logan booted up the computer, logging into an alternative secure server through the satellite hookup, hoping against all hope that it hadn't been compromised as well. The satellite connected quickly, and before doing anything else, he thoroughly checked his system and fired off a quick e-mail to Sebastian, asking him to start tracking down replacement parts for the exoskeleton…yet again.
He also played back the video, touching the screen with his fingers as it played, before suddenly becoming aware that he wasn't alone – that there was someone standing behind him. "Where did that come from?"
Logan looked over his shoulder into Krit's serious brown eyes and, not for the first time, was struck by his physical resemblance to Max. He presumed that the two of them had been created from eggs taken from the same donor, thus making them closer to being real siblings than any of the other X5s he had met to date. "It came in piggy-backed on another file," Logan replied, looking back at the screen.
Krit pulled up a chair and sat beside Logan, watching as the video followed Max at a distance through the markets. Logan recognized the sweater she'd worn the previous day, his sweater, he realized with a start. "When was this taken?" Krit asked.
"Yesterday."
"How do you know?"
"Firstly, because it's dated," Logan pointed to the tiny date blinking in the corner of the screen. "Secondly, because those are the clothes Max was wearing yesterday." And she thinks I never notice, he added mentally.
"Logan, they wanted you to know she was being watched."
"I know," Logan replied evenly. "Which is why I got a friend to watch her."
Krit grinned. "Bet that'll make her happy."
Logan turned and looked at him uncomfortably. "What was I supposed to do?"
"Well, you could have told her for one thing. You haven't told her, have you..."
Logan shrugged sheepishly. "I-I…"
Krit grinned and thumped him on the shoulder gently. "Oh, boy, I hope I'm there when she kicks your butt."
"I didn't want to worry her," Logan said softly, "but all I've done is worry myself."
"Hey, it's okay, man. Max is a big girl. She can take care of herself."
"Krit…" Logan started to speak, then stayed his tongue as the video finally showed a full-body shot, rather than a floating head and shoulders one.
Krit just squeezed Logan's shoulder and left the room.
*~*~*~
"Who else do you have on your team?"
"Syl, Krit…Zack…"
"No one else?"
Lydecker shook his head. "We're pretty isolated here, and we've been keeping on the move, especially once we discovered that OpSec had been breached. There's only those three, myself and Logan here, plus a small group keeping watch on the facility, of course. No one else.
Alec drove the Toyota up to the rear door of the barn, turned off the engine, and caught Max's eye in the mirror. When Max nodded in response, he got out of the car and walked around to the rear door.
Only then did Max leave the vehicle. Alec roughly pulled Lydecker out the other side, then Max took over, taking his arm in a deceptively loose grip and pushing him ahead of her. Alec brought up the rear, carrying the backpack Lydecker had been holding when Max grabbed him at the motel.
Syl, Krit, and Zack were huddled together in conversation when Max, Lydecker, and Alec entered. They swung around as one, pulling out their weapons, realizing that Lydecker wasn't alone. As soon as they saw Max and Alec, they relaxed. Max grinned, "This a private party, or can anyone…"
Alec's "Hey guys," from behind Lydecker was ignored, as Syl, Krit, and Zack greeted their sister.
"Hey, there," said Logan from across the room. He'd turn to face them as soon as he heard Max's voice.
Max's smile of relief lit her whole face. "Hey, yourself," she responded. "What's a nice boy like you doin' in a barn like this?"
Max stepped out from behind Lydecker and moved toward Logan. As Zack saw Max properly for the first time, his expression changed from pleasure, to pain, to anger. He turned away from them and walked out the far door. Max was about to follow him, but Syl grabbed her arm and stopped her. "Let him go, Max. He knows you'll never be more than a sister to him, but that doesn't stop the hurtin'."
Max just nodded. "I know…"
Logan took her hand. "Hey," he said looking up at her, eyes shining now that he knew she was safe. "I'm glad you're okay."
"What happened to the exoskeleton?"
"Busted."
Max gave a chuckle. "That piece a junk ain't worth what you paid for it."
"Um, Max, I didn't pay anything for it."
"Hmmf, you got what you paid for. Where's your shoes?" she asked, noticing that all he wore on his feet was a pair of thick wool socks.
"I am not wearing those heavy boots just to wheel around the place."
Lydecker handed Logan his backpack. Logan dug around in the bag, coming up with the two computer disks and his cell phone. "It fell into some bushes," Lydecker explained. "Wasn't hard to find."
Logan nodded, "Right," and started to turn away from him.
"Max, it might be better if you stay here," Lydecker said seriously.
"Lydecker, I have no intention of goin' anywhere until this bitch is done. Alec, you wanna go?"
Alec hesitated a moment. "I'm staying."
Max nodded. "Looks like you're stuck with both of us."
Lydecker's expression never changed, but something in his body language told Max that he had what he wanted. She narrowed her eyes and looked at him closely as he walked away. He disappeared into the doorway to what appeared to be a small storeroom off the main area and shut the door.
Syl, with Lydecker finally gone, had no hesitation in hugging Max. "I'm glad you're here, little sister."
"Me too, I guess," Max shrugged.
Logan slotted the CD back into the drive on the computer and started the decoding program again. The screen ran fast with numbers. Max, hearing the computer beep as the program started up, walked over and occupied the chair used by Krit earlier. Lydecker stuck his head out the door and issued some curt commands to Krit and Syl, then shut himself back inside his "office" again. Alec nodded at Max, then said he'd go with them.
Max looked around her curiously. The barn was in good repair, with a set of double doors at the front end, plus a smaller side door, and another small door at the back. There were two small side-rooms, one of which was Lydecker's office. A peek into the other revealed that it contained the army cot used by Logan earlier, and the exoskeleton. There was the long table on which Logan had set up the computer, and several boxes of equipment. Max turned her attention back to Logan, bit her lip, and said, "You gonna tell me why you had Alec following me 'round? Not that I'm not glad he was there or anything, but…" She turned her head, watching Alec follow Syl out the door, then heard Beverly's SUV start up again.
"Someone had you under surveillance."
"And you didn't tell me? Logan!" Max cuffed the back of his head.
"Ow!" He rubbed his head ruefully, gently touching the lump with his fingers.
Max looked at him oddly. "Hey, I didn't hit you that hard."
"Max…" Logan still fingered the bump.
"Here, let me take a look at it." She stood behind him and gently ran her fingers through his hair until she found the spot, parting the hairs so she could see underneath. Someone had already cleaned the small graze, but the lump was quite impressive. "What happened? Someone hit you with a baseball bat?"
"Ha-ha. Hit my head on the verandah post when the room blew up."
"Well, you'll live. Your head's pretty hard."
Logan grinned wryly. "Max, how'd you locate Lydecker?"
"The explosion made the news – we just started lookin'."
Logan nodded. "I'm sorry about…you know…"
"I'll let it pass – this time, but you gotta stop keeping things to yourself. I've been outta my head with worry for two days."
"If it makes you feel any better – so have I."
Max paused for a moment. "Don't suppose they got any food in this chicken outfit. I gotta use the bathroom as well."
Logan gave her a cheeky grin. "That's news."
"What?"
"Since when aren't you hungry and…"
"Yeah, all right, Mr. Hacker. You worry about breaking codes and I'll go eat and pee for two."
Max exited through the nearer door and found herself in the yard of an old farm. There was a cluster of aging wooden buildings, including a doorless shed holding the rusting remnants of a tractor that appeared to have been stripped of all useful bits; a large chicken coop with no wire mesh; and an old house. The roof of the house was partly missing. Fading scorch marks on the walls gave evidence as to the reason. The kitchen was still useable, however, and the door stood open. Max could see Zack sitting at the table, morosely glaring at a can of Coke.
Max picked her way around some junk on the ground, and knocked hesitantly at the kitchen door. "Hey."
"Hey, Maxie." Zack looked at her evenly.
"Is there a bathroom anywhere?"
Zack pointed to an internal door. "First left."
Max was back in a few moments, shaking drops of water from her hands. She pulled out a chair and straddled it, leaning her arms on the back.
"Max, I'm sorry for before."
"It's okay, Zack, I do understand." She smiled, "Tinga and me – we're a lot alike." She hesitated, seeing Zack's face. "Zack, this is my one chance at some kind of normal life. I'm grabbing it with both hands."
"It's okay, Max. I'd like that too. The trouble is, that kind of normal life – it's not safe for us."
Max sighed. "Got any food?"
"Check the cooler."
Max peered deep into the confines of an old drink cooler with a time-yellowed white lid. She found the contents somewhat lacking in home comfort. There was a container of something at the bottom that looked like it had been there for a while. It was growing a fur coat and looked like it was about to sprout legs. Max grimaced in distaste and examined more favorably a small block of cheese and two small apples that looked like they were edible. The only other items she could see were about a dozen cans of Coke, less the one on which Zack was still fixing his gaze.
"Gees, what're you people living on – air?"
Zack shrugged.
Max took the cheese and the better of the two apples and stood leaning against the doorframe, eating and watching the sunset above the line of trees. She shivered slightly, which made Zack look at her curiously. He got up from his chair and disappeared inside. The living room of the house wasn't really habitable – it had been badly damaged by smoke when the upper story caught fire, apparently several months before, but they had been using it to store their clothes. He came back holding a fleecy jacket and a pair of running shoes. "Here," he said, handing them to Max. "Put this on. The shoes are for Logan."
She turned and looked at him in amazement. He just shrugged and went back to his seat. "Thanks."
"Can't have any harm coming to that baby."
"What, you rehearsing to be godfather?"
"You never know, Maxie, you just never know." Max gently touched his head before leaving him to Zen and the art of soft drink can turning.