"Logan," a voice was calling him back. "Logan, you gotta wake up man."
Out of the darkness, Logan came back to consciousness to find himself lying on the floor of his computer room. He rubbed his temple with his hand, and came into contact with a warm, sticky substance. That was too close, Cale. That bullet just grazed your temple, three inches off and Bling would have been wearing wings.
Bling looked at him curiously. "What the fuck do you think you were doing with your gun? I thought you were through with suicide. What would Max think, if she could see you now?"
"That I'm an idiot for almost offing myself when I'm supposed to be saving her," Logan said flexing his neck. He moved to stand up, but found that he just didn't have the energy to get off the floor.
Bling saw his efforts to pull himself up, and offered a hand up. "Man, you have to let this go. If you don't, it will kill you."
"No, I won't let this go. I heard her. I HEARD HER. She told me she was coming back to me," Logan explained moving to sit in his chair. He immediately started flicking through his drop boxes looking for something from her or related to her. "She's alive, Bling."
"Logan," Bling began, "you held her in your arms. She's gone."
"No," Logan said smiling. "I can feel it now. I just wouldn't let myself feel it before." Placing a hand over his heart he glanced up at Bling, "I can feel it here. I just need to find out if Max has been able to send me anything." Hang on Max, I will find you. And if you can hear me, I love you too.
"I love you too."
"Logan!" Max screamed as she sat up in her bed. Breathing heavily she glanced around the room, noticing that she was alone she dropped her head into her hands and gave a muffled scream. She got out of the bed and walked to the sink to splash some water on her face, that's when she heard them. Two people were standing outside of her door arguing about something. She froze and allowed her hearing to take over.
"I thought you said she wasn't ready yet," Renfro questioned.
"Well, ma'am I'm not saying she can outrun a bullet yet, but she is capable of light missions." Victor explained. "I'll give my consent for her training to recommence in a few days, but only if her missions can be simple, nothing complex yet. She still needs more time to heal, both physically and emotionally."
"Emotionally? You don't need to worry about that. Before I authorize X5452 to participate in a mission, I will make certain that she is completely back in our folds. She starts reprogramming tomorrow."
"Yes, ma'am. I have the serum and the machinery ready." Victor replied reaching for the door. "I'm just going to draw some more blood from her, and run a few diagnostics before we begin in the morning."
Max stealthily crept across the room and sat down on the bed, as the doorknob turned. That little creep. He's selling me out, Max fumed. Jace or no Jace, I'll show him you don't double cross an X-5.
As Victor came into the room and shut the door, he found himself being thrown up against the wall, a hand at his throat.
"Give me one good reason why I should believe anything you say," Max said tightening her hand on his throat.
"I'm playing her, Max," he choked out. "You gotta believe me. You're Jace's sister, we're family."
Max released her hold and he dropped to the ground, "For Jace. What's this about reprogramming?"
"In four days, Dr. Reinhart, a geneticist from Africa, is giving a lecture in Seattle."
"Seattle?" Max interrupted. "And I'm going to be there?"
"If we can convince Blondie that you're back in the folds. I can fabricate the serum—they'll think it's a hypnotic drug, when in actuality I'll just give you a shot of tryptophan. But you're gonna have to fight the machines. They want you to have four, three-hour sessions a day watching clips and footage, just like when you were little. I'll give you the shot at the end of the day so that I can observe you for about an hour. During which time we will be deprogramming you. You're gonna have to fight."
"I will. I can play the good little soldier if it gets me back to Seattle." And back to Logan, speaking of which, "Can you get a message out for me?"
"A message?"
"An email, I need to let some people know that I'm aiight," Max clarified.
"Some people?" Victor asked raising his eyebrows. "The message would have to brief and very cryptic. How smart are your friends?"
"He's brilliant," smiled Max. "Got a piece of paper or can you remember this. It has to be word for word."
"I'll remember, no paper trails. This is gonna be hard enough as it is."