Chapter Seven: Flowers, Cereal and Reunions
Disclaimer: I own neither Dark Angel nor Post. I should though.
"Okay kid, this better be good. I just let an incredible massage for this," Max threatened the previous disturbance. She was close to furious. Something about earlier had felt so right and was pissed that is ended.
"Ma'am –"
"Max."
"Max?" The X5 nodded. "There are several people in apartment 2D that are requesting to see you. They say it is urgent. Dix ushered them down and is currently with them."
"Riiiiight...I'll go. Still rather have that massage," Max added.
"Oh, and ma'am...Max?" the X6 questioned nervously.
"Yes?" Max spun on her heel. She was annoyed enough already. Being patient was not one of her best skills.
"There are some flowers for you. They were sent to the edge of Terminal City's fence." Max snatched the flowers away from the kid and read the note that had been placed inside. It read:
To my honey bunches of oats,
Come have dinner with me. I'll make pasta!
Love, Logan
"Hey kid, chuck this. Make sure I never see it again," Max said, once again annoyed. "I'd rather eat dirt," she mumbled under her breath before tossing the plant to the child and beginning the long trek to the other side of the toxic city.
As she walked, Max talked to herself, venting on the previous events. "Everything was good up until then. Damn kid. Damn Logan! What kind of nickname is 'Honey bunches of oats'? Sounds like a goddamn cereal! How creative. I knew he had no imagination, but this..." Max hushed as she got in earshot of the apartment. Listening, she didn't hear more than a whisper. By taking a transgenic's closer look, she viewed Dix shutting the blinds. Obviously, the newcomers were either dangerous, one of Dix's generation or very important. Dix had become significantly more attached to Headquarters since Ashley had begun working there. Max's curiosity level was piquing as she reached the front door. She slowly knocked, and was welcomed in by Dix himself. He cleared his throat and loudly said, "Hi MAX."
"SURPRISE!!!" Five voices yelled as they came out from behind various items of furniture.
"Oh. My. God! You.... You're...and Zack!" She pulled the blond man into a tight hug as though she would never let go. In fact, if she could, she never would. He slowly but surely returned the loving gesture.
"Maxie, I never forgot you. Not for a second. I'm still filling in everything else, but you, you were always there," he breathed into her ear as tears began to fog her vision.
"You too," she countered. It was all she could choke out. Eventually the pair released each other and one by one, Jondy, Syl, Krit and Zane embraced their long lost sister.
Max and Jondy were immediately stuck to each other. They hadn't seen each other since the escape and tears streaked down their cheeks. "I can't believe you're here. We never should have split up. I thought you had gotten recaptured."
Jondy put on a humble smirk. "Well, training comes in handy when you're dealing with big, bulky idiots."
Zane was shocked at Max's looks. It was surprising how much they looked alike, although they weren't blood related. Zane couldn't stop staring at his baby sister and even whispered, "My little sister's all grown up." Max blushed, but smiled. She couldn't help but think that was something Ben would say- or at least the Ben she really knew. She knew he was here in sprit, along with Tinga, Eva and her other lost siblings.
Syl couldn't stop grinning. Having seen your sister before she died is something that can only be cured by a huge hug and a promise never to die again.
Krit, who always tried to be the macho man, broke down his barriers and kissed Max on the forehead, threatening her never to scare him like that again. Krit wouldn't release Max until Zack threw him his death glare and growled at him. Even so, the movement was reluctant.
Electricity shot through Max and happiness overcame her. She felt at peace with the world and like nothing could get better than this. The only thing missing was an explanation.
"How? I mean, all of.... and Zack?" Syl, who was closest to Max, decoded the cracked sentence.
"Krit and I gained control of Zack's contact number after the Manticore job, knowing both you and Zack had been captured. Jondy and Zane both called us a couple weeks ago, to check in. We met up and explained the whole situation. When we got to the part where you 'died', Zane informed us we were wrong; he had seen you and this place on TV not so long ago. We decided to come by your apartment. Original was surprised that we didn't have Zack. She told us Logan knew where to find him. He gave us the general direction, and us being Xs we didn't have a hard time finding him."
"I'm so glad to see you! Just one question: how did you get Zack to remember?"
"We found that he remembered us when he saw us, heard familiar phrases and relived events. Ya know, we called him and told him Lydecker was after us. That certainly brought back a lot."
"Unfortunately," Zack spoke up. "Why do you ask?"
"Funny thing about Manticore's shutdowns, they really mess with a girl's memory." Nods surrounded her and for once, she felt completely accepted.
"Why did you have to go to drastic measures? I mean, that maneuver was only for crucial situations." Zack inquired. He was defiantly becoming himself again; he always needed specifics on missions.
"I don't exactly remember, but I believe it was something like White, the new bad guy in our lives, had kidnapped me and wanted to get information out of me."
"You seem to remember everything," Krit commented.
"Almost. I don't remember one thing. Well, person really. Alec," Max paused at the pleasant memories that claimed her at the mention of Alec before shaking herself out of it. "But that's a different story. Plus, only Zack know – or forgets- who he even is. Hopefully you'll meet him soon. But for now, let's celebrate the first ever '09 reunion!"
The six excited transgenics partied, conversed, danced and (of course) drank all night until they crashed on the couches with smiles pulling at their lips.
Disclaimer: I own neither Dark Angel nor Post. I should though.
"Okay kid, this better be good. I just let an incredible massage for this," Max threatened the previous disturbance. She was close to furious. Something about earlier had felt so right and was pissed that is ended.
"Ma'am –"
"Max."
"Max?" The X5 nodded. "There are several people in apartment 2D that are requesting to see you. They say it is urgent. Dix ushered them down and is currently with them."
"Riiiiight...I'll go. Still rather have that massage," Max added.
"Oh, and ma'am...Max?" the X6 questioned nervously.
"Yes?" Max spun on her heel. She was annoyed enough already. Being patient was not one of her best skills.
"There are some flowers for you. They were sent to the edge of Terminal City's fence." Max snatched the flowers away from the kid and read the note that had been placed inside. It read:
To my honey bunches of oats,
Come have dinner with me. I'll make pasta!
Love, Logan
"Hey kid, chuck this. Make sure I never see it again," Max said, once again annoyed. "I'd rather eat dirt," she mumbled under her breath before tossing the plant to the child and beginning the long trek to the other side of the toxic city.
As she walked, Max talked to herself, venting on the previous events. "Everything was good up until then. Damn kid. Damn Logan! What kind of nickname is 'Honey bunches of oats'? Sounds like a goddamn cereal! How creative. I knew he had no imagination, but this..." Max hushed as she got in earshot of the apartment. Listening, she didn't hear more than a whisper. By taking a transgenic's closer look, she viewed Dix shutting the blinds. Obviously, the newcomers were either dangerous, one of Dix's generation or very important. Dix had become significantly more attached to Headquarters since Ashley had begun working there. Max's curiosity level was piquing as she reached the front door. She slowly knocked, and was welcomed in by Dix himself. He cleared his throat and loudly said, "Hi MAX."
"SURPRISE!!!" Five voices yelled as they came out from behind various items of furniture.
"Oh. My. God! You.... You're...and Zack!" She pulled the blond man into a tight hug as though she would never let go. In fact, if she could, she never would. He slowly but surely returned the loving gesture.
"Maxie, I never forgot you. Not for a second. I'm still filling in everything else, but you, you were always there," he breathed into her ear as tears began to fog her vision.
"You too," she countered. It was all she could choke out. Eventually the pair released each other and one by one, Jondy, Syl, Krit and Zane embraced their long lost sister.
Max and Jondy were immediately stuck to each other. They hadn't seen each other since the escape and tears streaked down their cheeks. "I can't believe you're here. We never should have split up. I thought you had gotten recaptured."
Jondy put on a humble smirk. "Well, training comes in handy when you're dealing with big, bulky idiots."
Zane was shocked at Max's looks. It was surprising how much they looked alike, although they weren't blood related. Zane couldn't stop staring at his baby sister and even whispered, "My little sister's all grown up." Max blushed, but smiled. She couldn't help but think that was something Ben would say- or at least the Ben she really knew. She knew he was here in sprit, along with Tinga, Eva and her other lost siblings.
Syl couldn't stop grinning. Having seen your sister before she died is something that can only be cured by a huge hug and a promise never to die again.
Krit, who always tried to be the macho man, broke down his barriers and kissed Max on the forehead, threatening her never to scare him like that again. Krit wouldn't release Max until Zack threw him his death glare and growled at him. Even so, the movement was reluctant.
Electricity shot through Max and happiness overcame her. She felt at peace with the world and like nothing could get better than this. The only thing missing was an explanation.
"How? I mean, all of.... and Zack?" Syl, who was closest to Max, decoded the cracked sentence.
"Krit and I gained control of Zack's contact number after the Manticore job, knowing both you and Zack had been captured. Jondy and Zane both called us a couple weeks ago, to check in. We met up and explained the whole situation. When we got to the part where you 'died', Zane informed us we were wrong; he had seen you and this place on TV not so long ago. We decided to come by your apartment. Original was surprised that we didn't have Zack. She told us Logan knew where to find him. He gave us the general direction, and us being Xs we didn't have a hard time finding him."
"I'm so glad to see you! Just one question: how did you get Zack to remember?"
"We found that he remembered us when he saw us, heard familiar phrases and relived events. Ya know, we called him and told him Lydecker was after us. That certainly brought back a lot."
"Unfortunately," Zack spoke up. "Why do you ask?"
"Funny thing about Manticore's shutdowns, they really mess with a girl's memory." Nods surrounded her and for once, she felt completely accepted.
"Why did you have to go to drastic measures? I mean, that maneuver was only for crucial situations." Zack inquired. He was defiantly becoming himself again; he always needed specifics on missions.
"I don't exactly remember, but I believe it was something like White, the new bad guy in our lives, had kidnapped me and wanted to get information out of me."
"You seem to remember everything," Krit commented.
"Almost. I don't remember one thing. Well, person really. Alec," Max paused at the pleasant memories that claimed her at the mention of Alec before shaking herself out of it. "But that's a different story. Plus, only Zack know – or forgets- who he even is. Hopefully you'll meet him soon. But for now, let's celebrate the first ever '09 reunion!"
The six excited transgenics partied, conversed, danced and (of course) drank all night until they crashed on the couches with smiles pulling at their lips.