A/N okay. Here we go again. Please please can someone help? In my other story Moving Ahead/Alongside I made pics for the characters and I can't recall who Drew and Tara are in Real life. Can anyone help? I just need names!
16
~~~~~~
Ames White did not count patience among the skills that he possessed. Some might say that it had been bred out of him, much like other emotions such as sentimentality and compassion. Unfortunately he knew that patience would, on occasion, come in handy- especially when dealing with this cold hearted transgenic bitch 452.
She had resisted his every attempt to find his son.
Brutus had gone all out until she was just a mass of bruises and blood. Thanks to Cordon almost every bone in her body was broken, although her transgenic healing had kicked in and healed a few as he had moved onto knives.
Her shoulder still had the bullet wound from her failed rescue attempt that had finally put her in his clutches, he had used a knife to reopen the healing wound and wished she'd have screamed when it hurt like the bitch she was.
He had gotten a sadistic kind of enjoyment from carving her designation into her left arm and using a lighter which he never needed for smoking to burn it into the other arm. The smell of smoking flesh had left him feeling quite queasy so he hadn't carried on with fire torture.
But with each slice and each breakage he could feel her closer to dying and she still hadn't caved. Despite himself he was impressed and lamented that she wasn't a Familiar or part of the cult, her breeding stock would be very high. Even through his admiration for her resilience he was fast reaching the end of his temper. He wanted his son dammit.
"452, where is my son?" he roared at her.
Max spat out blood from the last time that Brutus had swiped her and shot him a weak grin.
"Ru-"she coughed and spat out more blood. It seemed like Brutus had hit a lung. "Running with the drug lords?" she managed not to spit up her internal organs which was kinda the plan. "or maybe hiding from daddy dearest who turned out to be a psycho?"
"BITCH!" White screamed and whipped his gun out from his shoulder holster which had made its way behind his back.
"Temper temper Amesie." She taunted and he lost his last piece of composure and aimed the gun.
"Fen'os tol bitch." He spat and a shot rang out loud and clear.
~~~
O.C sat with Ralph and Joshua playing a hand of poker. Truth be told she had become fond of the blonde haired transgenic, coming to think of her like a little sister.
"So you and Zero got a little sumin' goin' on?"
Ralph blushed and cursed the fact that she did. She was reasonably certain that Manticore trained soldiers shouldn't turn cherry red every time someone embarrassed them… just as she was sure that Manticore soldiers didn't throw up every time they saw blood either.
Probably a good thing the place blew up.
"No, Zero is a total jerk. I don't like him."
O.C looked across at Joshua "Methinks the gal protests a whole lot more than she should huh Joshua?"
Joshua grinned "Zero and Ralph that's the plan."
"No." Ralph shook her head "Fold by the way, he's mean to me."
"Well you mean right back suga." O.C said with a glint in her eye. She put down her cards and raked in the chips "Way Original Cindy sees it takes two ta tango."
"What?"
Alec who was sitting in the corner his head turned to look out of the window at the darkness leaned his head against the wall and sighed.
"Ralph never took common verbal, it means you both do it."
"Oh." Ralph frowned "He makes me crazy."
"Well now." Cindy said as she dealt out the cards "see this scenario sets some serious flags a-waving. I recall a certain good looking punk ass transgenic riling up my girl just so she'd talk to him. Ain't that right baby boo?"
Alec didn't answer his mind on other things so Joshua answered for him.
"Alec make little fella mad and Little fella smack Alec ass."
They all stared at him for a heartbeat.
"She put the smack down on his ass." O.C corrected.
"Smack down." He repeated dutifully.
"Look Ralph, the delio is this; no guy will do a double take, eyes deuce, looking twice atcha if he don't want to kick it, got it?"
"Um." Ralph often wondered what language Original Cindy spoke because she was sure it wasn't English.
"Word up, even a transgenic like Zero is deep down a guy. All guys wanna kick it, especially with a knock down sista like yourself. He's just too scared to put up boo."
Alec laughed at Ralph's perplexed look and she glared at him.
"Hey don't shoot the messenger." He held his hands up.
"No shooting messengers. Alec not at Jam Pony anymore."
Ralph smiled and patted Joshua's hand.
As she dealt out a hand O.C got up and walked over to Alec.
"Hey baby boo, you okay?"
"She's out there somewhere Cin." He stared out into the darkened city. "God knows where and in what condition and we're sitting here playing poker."
"Some are." She glanced back to where Joshua and Ralph were playing games still. "You think you should be out there still lookin'?"
"I know it."
"Boo, you've been looking for two months, we won't ever give up on my girl but we have to chill back or we won't be in any condition to save her ass when we find her."
"Manticore used to say the same thing. Shove aside your feelings because they'll get you killed." His tight jaw told what he thought of that.
"I ain't saying to push aside no feelings Alec. You love Max and she loves you."
Alec looked up at her, hope and tears shining in his eyes, a rare moment of vulnerability with one of the few people that wouldn't mock him for it.
"I don't care if she hates me Cindy, I just want her back."
"Me too boo." Original Cindy put her arms around Alec's shoulders and held him tight as tears slipped from her eyes and traced down her cheeks.
Cindy suddenly laughed "Damn Max is gonna kick our butts if she sees us messing up my make up and your rep like that."
Alec laughed despite himself "Oh she's just fixated on my ass anyway."
"Well it's nice for a guy."
"I'll turn ya yet." He teased and his grin turned her stomach in knots. She was a sister playa but damn he was fine.
"There's ma boy and that diamond smile and now come play with us?"
Alec shook his head "Not tonight Cindy. I wanna watch." He motioned out into the street and O.C smiled and rejoined the game.
Alec stared at the window pane his thoughts miles away and his heart even further.
Max was out there somewhere that much he hadn't lied about. He knew it with every fibre of his being, every beat of his heart. Whether she loved him or not didn't really matter, he wasn't lying when he told Cindy that she could hate him as long as she was back here with him. Kicking his ass and calling him a screw up, hell he'd even support her getting back together with stooge boy Logan just as long as she was safe. He leaned his head against the cold window pane and listened to the sounds of his friends playing in the background. He knew that tonight, just like every night he had had since she had vanished that he wouldn't be sleeping well. His mind tormenting him with images of what was happening to her, where she was and the condition she was in. Each one left him shaken and covered in sweat, they had him waking up screaming- the sight of her blood soaked body crying for him to save her a constant nightmare, one that didn't disappear in the daytime.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Max had often wondered why Manticore referred to them as machines. They had feelings, emotions, drives and thoughts independent of their "unit" what was so machine like about that? But as she slowly regained consciousness she felt herself checking for damage control and suddenly understood. Her body did a systems check.
Head- intact, bruised and hurting like hell; but intact.
Body- possibly broken ribs and punctured lung, healing thanks to Manticore. Bruised ribs definitely and a shoulder wound possibly infected. Covered in blood.
Arms- sore as hell, numb with blood loss and burnt.
Legs- one gun shot wound care of Ames White's temper tantrum and one almost healed broken leg care of Cordon.
All in all she about as in shape as… okay she felt and looked half dead but she wasn't and for the first time she wasn't in the company of Ames White and his retards.
Her brain opened her eyes and she felt herself come online.
Mission priority- Kill White.
Primary consideration- regroup for tactical analysis and recuperation.
To achieve aims- escape.
Max surveyed her surroundings with the keen eye of a soldier. The grappling hook that she was hung upon was standard four star mainly used for burglar work and if she could swing herself high enough then she could unhook herself. This would cause considerable damage to her already taxed body but it seemed to be now or never.
Max lifted her legs up and felt her arms and stomach muscles scream with the effort as she swung them backwards. Pain exploded in her back and for a brief moment she wondered what they had done to her while she had been unconscious. But that wasn't part of her primary directive and she pushed it aside as she swung herself higher. The wire around her wrist bit in as it rubbed in the metal grappling hook. She felt fresh blood begin to trickle down her arm. But she persevered and swung, ignoring the excruciating pain that made her want to seek oblivion.
Kill White.
Max pushed herself harder and felt the wire slip over the top of the spike and she fell to the ground, her legs unable to support her.
Shakily she rolled onto her back and bought her wrists to her mouth, working the wire with her teeth yanking it up above her hands scraping the skin raw on her fingers, blood running down her chin like juice.
She didn't care.
The wire was made slippery by all her blood and it came off, she massaged feeling back into the bruised and withered digits as she tried to come up with a plan. She edged to her feet hoping they'd hold her after who know how long of misuse.
Her leg had started to bleed as she had put pressure on it.
She tore off her small t-shirt, now clad in only a tank top, and tied it tightly around the bullet wound on her leg. It stung like an SOB but at least it was braced for whatever she had to do to get out of here.
White had taken his weapon with him but there had to be something in here that she could use. She wrapped the wire around her hand and hobbled over to the wooden table. Picking up one leg she smashed it against the wall. With a crash it splintered and she had to lean against the wall for support as that exertion tired her already taxed muscles.
She picked up a leg and cradled her arm to her chest. Her dark eyes glinted at the thought of freedom as she made her way to the stairs.
She crept up, keeping as low to the ground as her cramped legs would let her, listening with her whole being as she waited for her opening.
The bolt on the door looked formidable but it was still just a bolt and she had it undone in a matter of seconds. She pushed it open cautiously and listened out for any guards.
"Sloppy Ames." She almost grinned at the scary sing song voice that came from her. She sounded like Ben.
She pushed that thought away and its connections before pain from the heart could cripple her.
She crept quietly along the corridor pausing when she heard a flush from her right.
Obviously Ames had posted a guard but he had to answer the call of nature.
And now he had to answer the call of nature's biggest nightmare. As Brutus walked out of the men's room doing up his flies Max jumped him and wrapped the wire around his throat. For a big guy he had a little voice when his life was being choked out of him.
She let his body fall to the stainless floor and a smile spread across her face at the thought of the beating that she had taken from this overweight minion. She tore off his white shirt and put it over her shoulders with trembling arms, whether from cold or overexertion she wasn't sure. She grabbed him under his arms and threw him down the stairs to the basement that she had crept out of. She heard the squish as he landed on his head and the image of his head impacting like a melon was satisfying.
In the back of her head, the part of her that was still Max was beginning to get scared at the thoughts that she was having. But 452 had a job to do.
She let her feline hearing stretch as far as she could and heard nothing in either direction. Ames was either so impressed with Brutus' strength or he had vastly underestimated her- again, because this was easy. Just tell that to her aching muscles.
Max crept silently down the hallway trying to regulate her harsh breathing which was ragged due to the internal damage that she had sustained.
The part of her that was Max Guevara told her that she couldn't do this. Her body was too broken and in too much pain to even try to escape, she needed to lie low until she was at least partially healed before trying to…
Max's life hadn't been easy and whenever she had something that would take more strength than she had she let out 452.
452 was the creation of Manticore that they had always wanted her to be and the part of herself that Max denied even existed but it was there. However much she hated to give into it, it was what they had been born, what they had been trained to do, to be.
452 had helped her to escape Manticore and lose her brothers and sisters. 452 had helped her escape her abusive foster father. 452 had gotten revenge for Moody, 452 had killed Ben and 452 had helped her through the loss of Zack and the new Manticore. 452 had shoved Max aside to take Whites torture without screaming or breaking. 452 was faster, smarter, stronger, more ruthless and superior in every way to Max and knew when she had to come out and help Max to live.
Like now.
Right now Max Guevara was debating on how to lie low and regroup and 452 knew that she had to escape. She pushed Max out of the way and soon there was nothing left but Manticore's finest creation.
452 super soldier.
As she edged her way along the corridor she kept her eyes and ears alert for any sounds of movement or sensors that would give away the fact that she was escaping. At the end of the long corridor was a window with bars. She peered out at the darkness wondering where in hell she was and how long it would take to get back to Terminal City and any friends that remained there. Even if, like White said, they were all dead then there would be fewer humans around the toxic dump and she could use the solitude to rest and re-heal. She pushed away any emotions that erupted at the thoughts of her family. She couldn't afford to be distracted right now.
She trailed her fingers over the bars and tugged at the hinges, another stroke of luck was that this place was so old that it was the rust that was holding the bars on. She pulled and whimpered as the action caused the wound on her shoulder to reopen but it was worth the pain as the bars swung inwards and the window was free.
452 pushed up the window and glanced out quickly, her excellent memory making short work of the details. Seven foot wire fence surrounding the perimeter with barbed wire on the top- damn was going over that gonna hurt.
Six guards interspersed probably not Familiars since White was adamant that they already had what they wanted. Under normal circumstances this would be a cake walk but Max was far from perfect shape. The drop outside the window was too far but there was a pipe just outside that she could shimmy down as long as she was quick. Then it was a matter of using her blurring to get across the two hundred yard space between the building and the fence without being seen. Luckily it was night and she had the cover of darkness.
And she had to do it now. She could hear footsteps and was out of time.
She swung her legs over the frame of the window and sat on the sill. Twisting in true cat fashion she landed face first against the drain pipe and wrapped her legs close, scraping her knees on the granite of the building. Her leg muscles screamed and she could see blood spilling through the cloth she had tied over her leg and her arms shook with the effort.
Shimmying down the pipe and landing quietly on the floor, she took a second to get back her breath and bent double as her cracked rip made its presence known. 452 had no idea how far she was going to get in this condition. She could feel blood beginning to seep through her clothes again, staining Brutus's black shirt.
The guards were at the furthest point that they could be and seven more seconds and it would be the optimum time that she could make a break she waited.
6…5…4…3…2…go
She sped across the grounds and dodged behind a tree to hide from a wandering guard. She took a deep breath and readied herself mentally. Her body was protesting at the brutal pace but her brain shut down that response and bunched her legs and with feline grace and superhuman strength she soared over the seven foot fence and landed on the other side, her body already running into the cover of the trees before she'd even realised that she'd landed.
She was two miles away before she stopped to get her bearings. She coughed and spat out a patch of blood onto the muddy ground. 452 scraped her foot across the leaves covering the telltale blood in case she was followed and pushed her body to move.
Slowing down but listening intently to any sounds of telltale tracking 452 placed one hand on her side and felt her hand slip on the blood that was pouring down her shoulder. The flight and moves that she had made had torn open the healing bullet wound on her shoulder and the subsequent blood loss was making her feel dizzy.
There was no way that she could survive a night in the cold without risk of capture or further damage to her systems and there was little chance of being able to fully escape while she was this wounded. She needed to go to ground.
As 452 was musing she heard a sound that made her smile. It was the sound of an approaching vehicle.
452 hid behind a tree and braced herself. A few minutes and her patience was rewarded as her superior eye sight saw headlights shine down the road.
It was a truck, an old fashioned hay wagon that was most recently used for cargo like animals to be taken to markets in the city to be sold. This one looked empty so it was possible that it had unloaded its cargo and was headed away from the city. Anywhere that was far away from here was fine by her anyway. As it roared past she swung herself up and over the wheel and vaulted the high sides of the cart and landed softly on bales of earthy smelling hay.
452 pushed aside the bales closest to the driver's cab where she could feel the vibrations of the engines and pulled the bales over her to keep warm and then she closed her eyes and tried to get some sleep to let her body have a chance to recuperate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
m/a fan- The goodness will have to wait, Max is in no shape to be thinking of smooches…plus she thinks he's dead.
Kathryn Buffy Gellar- Oh I'm so not telling you that! The gal doesn't need encouraging. You wanna know what's in her head? it was a BLATANT Mary Sue fic. Nauseating. Glad you liked that line about Alec/ Logan. I thought it fit.
Ting- I can't believe it either. Who'd choose Logan over Zack? AS IF!!! What was J. Cameron thinking?
Bittersweet bitch- I like Zack. Bring back Zack!!
Acb-It took a while but here it is. LOL, I don't think Max bashing fic serves a purpose. But seriously it made me feel bad about all of the Buffy bashing that I did and that is just not allowed! pout
Secretlybeautiful- Glad they made you laugh. Makes you wonder what little Ray os actually doing though!
Nat452- White's not gonna know what hit him! Except it'll probably be Max. LOL
Grumpy2348- More here. Alec and Logan do work well against each other.
Cloudburst- we find out about the picture soon. Max is too injured to think cleary at this point so who knows what's gonna happen! Good luck with your papers!
Max and T.C- Two parts for ya today- enjoy!