Disclaimer : Who am I kidding, not mine.
At a glance, it hardly seems relevant what a certain manufacturer's choice in material for boxers would have to do with a certain cyber journalist's life and death. The makers motto, 'Made to last a lifetime' indeed held true to its promise as Logan's life hung precariously on the stubborn strength of a sharp protruding hook.
From below where the gawking spectators were standing, Logan resembled an oversized piñata swaying back and forth violently aided by his flailing arms and legs. By now, everyone had recovered from the earlier scare of Logan falling off the roof and could appreciate the funny side of Logan's dilemma.
A socialite remarked to her companion that she never knew that Logan had such – scrawny legs. They somehow reminded her of chicken legs. Did she feel the same? Her companion tittered behind gloved hands, "Now that you mentioned it, it does look like chicken legs. Very hairy ones."
"Yeah, it's such a pity though. Good looking face but neck downwards – such a disappointment."
Luckily for Logan the Seattle Fire Department had finally arrived and they commenced with the rescue operation. Their wailing siren had attracted more curious spectators and the crowd below swelled in numbers.
Meanwhile, Sketchy – the designated wedding photographer – hired on by Max in a small act of unspoken rebellion against Logan's high-handedness; had arrived late and was having a field day snapping pictures of the whole drama. His imagined terror of facing an enraged Max gave way to his photographer instinct for snapping the most newsworthy picture. He darted under the ladder and pointed his camera upwards as he shot various angles of the fireman carrying Logan over his shoulder.
It didn't matter that the pictures he was now taking had nothing to do with aliens or transgenics, the number one hot news in New World Daily.
Finally on terra firma, the waiting paramedics quickly took over from the Seattle Fire Department and loaded Logan into the waiting ambulance.
'Click' 'Click' Sketchy's camera went on overtime capturing for posterity's sake Logan's every gesture, every grunt and every rant.
Bitsy had elected to accompany her cousin in the ambulance and Alec followed in his red convertible.
In the ambulance, Logan's condition deteriorated rapidly, as he started vomiting and convulsing on the way to the hospital. His pulse was thready; welts of angry red rash had appeared all over his body. He was in danger of going into full cardiac arrest.
The paramedics did all they could to stabilize him but there wasn't much they could do. Bitsy watched anxiously as she held Logan's limp hand. She bit her lips to hold back her tears.
The pace at the Harbour Lights Hospital ER was frantic as Dr. Carr barked out instructions to his staff, and trying to defibrillate Logan for the fifth time – his heart had stopped minutes after he was wheeled into ER.
Sweat beaded Dr. Carr's brow as he laboured to save Logan.
"350! Clear!"
He touched the highly charged pads to Logan's chest.
Outside, Alec and Bitsy waited as the people in the other room battled to bring Logan back to life.
Logan's body jerked in response. Everyone looked at the EKG anxiously. In what seemed like forever, a beep sounded then followed by a long silence then another beep and then another and another. Soon, the beeping picked up a steady albeit weak rhythm.
"Okay people, let's keep that heart beating take him upstairs to ICU."
S.O.L vs. G.Y.T
Alec sat in his car with the engine still running, mulled over Dr. Carr's surprise announcement.
Flashback
"Based on the symptoms he exhibited; the unusually dilated pupils, the vomiting, the rash and hyperpyrexia; I'd say we're looking at anti-cholinergenic poisoning. "
Bitsy frowned at the medical sounding jargon, "Hyper-what?"
"Hyperpyrexia – where the body temperature rises from within but is not able to sweat it out." Alec interrupted automatically before he realized what he just said.
"What? I read that somewhere." Alec said self-consciously at both their astonished look.
Dr. Carr recovered from his surprise and continued with his explanation, "Yeah, that's right. Logan probably OD-ed on some sort of psychotropic drug. Speed, amphetamines - I don't know. I'll let you know once the lab report comes back"
"Are you saying that my cousin is a junkie? That's impossible."
Dr. Carr tucked both his hands into his medical coat pocket and shrugged, "My job is to call it as I see it, not judge his private life," Dr. Carr turned to walk down the corridor leaving them with, "If he didn't take it voluntarily, someone must have given it to him. Either way, it's in his system."
End flashback
Any way he looked at it – there were just too many suspects. Anyone of them could've done it. Let's face it, Logan isn't even popular as himself; it was 100 times worse as Eyes Only.
Was it meant to kill or to incapacitate?
Did it have anything to do with one of Logan's past pet do-gooder projects?
Logan is probably on every Seattle mob's hit list, if not, it could be one of his disgruntled informants from the Informant-net.
He finally decided that the best place to find answers would be at Logan's place.
Alec took out his cell and speed-dialed 5.
Yeah?
"It's me"
What happened today? How's Logan? the voice became serious.
"He'll live. Just gonna have to take it easy for a week or so. But listen, I need to do a little B & E tonight"
Where?
"Foggle Tower. Penthouse."
Logan's? Why? the voice becoming curious.
"Long story. I'll brief you when I see you – at 2100 hrs," He shift the gear in reverse, "and try not to be late this time" He slowly backed out of the parking lot and narrowly missed hitting an old lady who came out from between two cars.
It's a wonder Alec didn't register her on his radar; she was so petite that the bulk of the cars hid her from his sight. What is with small sized old ladies who get their thrills lurking behind big mobile eyesores scaring the hell out of unsuspecting victims?
"See you tonight." He told his friend on the phone.
'kay
Alec snapped his cell phone shut and placed in on the dashboard. He turned in his seat to look at the lady he almost ran over.
Alec apologized and gave the old lady his best 'butter won't melt in my mouth' look, which has a 99.99% success rate with the female population. The remaining 0.01% was Max. But she was an exception to a lot of rules.
The old lady scowled at him completely immune to his attempts at charming her. If anything her scowling face became even more so.
Whaddya know – another broad who is immune to me. Can this day get any better
"Young man, do you know that you almost hit me? I didn't survive a multiple bypass heart surgery just to get run over by young speed demons like you. You young people these days are always in a hurry to get somewhere. No respect for your-"
"Like I said, ma'am," the last part tacked on as an afterthought. Alec continued in his most respectful tone, "I'm sorry – I didn't see you. You're not exactly- I'm sorry." Alec surrendered the battle realizing the futility of arguing with her.
All he wanted to do now was to get telling Max about Logan's condition over with if someone hadn't already beaten him to it, which of course would mean certain bodily harm for him. Good thing he loved living on the edge of danger.
"Is there any way I can make it up to you? Money? A lift or something?"
If possible the old lady puffed up even more with indignation, "Young man. Are you trying to bribe me? How dare y-"
The old lady shrieked in alarm as Alec leapt out of his red convertible, she backed several steps away from him thinking he was one of those good-looking serial murderer she'd always read about in the papers. Alec pretended he didn't notice her retreat. He gave her a beatifically innocent smile taking out 100 bucks from his wallet putting it in her hands.
"Be good and I'll buy you something shiny and big," Alec grinned naughtily waving his goodbye over his shoulder and he continued on his way leaving the old lady to stare at his fast disappearing taillights in a stupor.
Alec laughed lightly as he watched in the rearview mirror the stunned old lady's figure becoming smaller and smaller and then finally disappeared from view.
Keeping one hand steady on the steering wheel, he rested his head lightly on his other hand. Automatically going through the motions of driving while he thought of other important matters.
Max.
The 'blushing' bride.
Who won't be a bride – at least not today.
Whose life motto is 'hit first then ask questions later.'
Here kitty, kitty, kitty.
Alec stood uncertainly in front of Max's apartment door. Debating on how to break the news without further risk to his life and limbs. Granted that he can beat her anytime in good ol' hand-to-hand, but you know, he's grown really attached to his pretty face after all the hard work and passion Manticore techs had put into creating such a masterpiece.
Raising one hand to knock on the door, he paused at the very last second before his knuckle made contact with the wood. He lowered his arm and stared at the door for a while. He felt like a prisoner being led to the execution block. Taking some deep breaths, he tried to compose in his mind the perfect way to break the news to Max.
Hey Max, guess what? You've been left at the alta-
He made a grimace, I can't say that, she'd kick my balls. Okay, Max, I'm sorry that-. Scratch that. If I say that it'll sound like it's my fault. Whatever she thinks it was definitely NOT my bad
Max, please listen to what I'm going to tell you calm-
The sound of the door swinging open with a violent whoosh jerked him out of his thought process as he suddenly found himself being bodily hauled in, leaving him no time to take in the new threat.
Max slammed Alec against the wall pinning him there with her right arm against his throat.
"What the hell did you do to Logan?!"
Alec looked into a pair angry – no, make that furiously murderous brown eyes - and was that lust in her eyes? No, he decided it must be the trick of light. Why would Max look at him with lust anyway?
"What, no 'Hi Alec. Long time no see I missed you'?" Alec wheezed out, tugging at Max's immoveable arm to ease his airway.
It was obviously not the smart thing to do as she exerted more pressure, leaning dangerously closer to Alec so that they were practically nose-to-nose.
"Hey easy there Max. Need air here."
"What the hell did you do this time? Mmmm..you smell nice. What aftershave are you using?" She purred at the last part completely blindsiding him with her last comment.
Max rubbed her breasts against Alec, unable to control herself.
Alec sighed rolling his eyes. How predictable. Always the bad guy-what the hell? Did Max just purred at me?
"Err..Max, are you feeling okay?"
He felt his temperature and something else rising in response to Max's provocative rubbing. He tried to get out of the chokehold but his thinking process at this point was turning to mush as his nose caught the scent of pheromones emanating from Max. He frowned, trying to place the familiar scent but not quite remembering.
OC gave Ce-Ce an alarmed look, Uh-Oh! Time to put a stop to this before Max did something she might regret later.
Ce-Ce got the unspoken message loud and clear.
"You know, Max, maybe we should ah..leave. TC..ah..Mole..um..needs more cigars. He's been going on and on bout it. And the others..lots of things that need Alec's personal Alec?"
"Huh? What?" The words coming out in a hoarse sexy whisper. He swallowed thickly shaking his head slightly trying to clear it, "Er..yeah..I..uh..guess so," Alec replied distractedly staring at Max licking her lips suggestively.
"Right. Boo, you need another cold shower. Now would be a good time."
"What are you talking about? Mmm..you taste nice." She huskily purred out her pleasure as she lightly nipped his neck making him groan in helpless pleasure.
Max, with her face stuck at the crook of Alec's neck, kept her hands busy pulling his jacket off his broad shoulders impatiently. Alec found himself helping her. His mouth started gravitating towards her neck, he growled when OC tried to not-so subtly pull Max away from him. Max hissed at Ce-Ce when she caught the scent of a rival near Alec.
OC put up both hands and backed away from the feral look in his eyes. She looked to Ce-Ce for help. Ce-Ce shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head, Hey don't look at me. I don't do that martyr thing
Max had now managed to somehow tear his jacket off him. She carelessly tossed the now-shredded garment behind her as she ripped his shirt open, popping a few buttons. The sorely abused jacket landed on the lamp behind with a silent whoosh.
Cindy's eyes widened, damn they do make 'em pretty all over and Ce-Ce felt embarrassed for them.
OC and Ce-Ce stood by torn between admiring Alec's bare sinewy and muscular torso and watching helplessly, too afraid to go near the almost-mating pair to stop them – neither wanted to risk being attacked by two very territorial and horny transgenics.
Max finally abandoned Alec's lips for greener pastures. She greedily kissed her way up and down his chest – Alec issued a protest growl, pulling Max back up, kissing her hungrily.
Unnoticed by all in the room, Joshua got up quietly to go the bathroom.
When it looked like all hope was lost and they would be subjected to front row seats for the performance of a lifetime, a heroic figure in the form of Joshua comes to save the day sans cape, outer underwear and tight spandex.
Splash!
The cold water hit the two hot and heavy transgenic effectively jarring them back to their senses.
"WHA-!!" Max spluttered angrily; she quickly realized that her hands were still on Alec's naked chest and that Alec's hands were occupied underneath her shirt. They both locked eyes – Alec's eyes had that 'That was fun but, Uh-oh' look and Max's said 'you are one dead transgenic'
You all know the drill, to be continued…