CHAPTER FIVE

Victor barely recognized Max when she was escorted to the lab that evening. After only one day of re-integration, he could not make out an inkling of fire in her eyes. She looked like she had already fought the battle and lost. Her normally bright chocolate eyes were now sunken and dead. Worry lines marring her young face. She looked as thought she were a hundred years old. He went to her, reaching out to help her sit on the gurney. "You're dismissed," he said to the guards without breaking contact with Max.

"But sir, we are supposed to remain with the girl…" argued the young private.

"I said, you're dismissed," Victor repeated evenly turning around and glaring at the two men.

Sensing there was no need to argue the point any further, they saluted and left the laboratory.

"Max," Victor whispered staring at her unseeing eyes, "can you hear me?"

Staring straight ahead, Max responded quietly, "Make them stop. Please make them stop."

"Make who stop, Max?" Victor asked slightly on edge. Fuck! I can't believe they did this to here after only one day. She was fine earlier this morning. They must have injected with her something to make her more cooperative. Frantically, he ran a hand through his hair trying desperately to think of something he could give her to neutralize the effects of the drug.

A single tear slid down her cheek as she weakly responded, "The voices." Then she passed out.

Victor looked at Max lying on the bed. One part of him was crying for the tragedy that had befallen the woman before him. The other part silently rejoicing that it wasn't Jace they were doing this to. How are we going to survive three more days of this?

Meanwhile, back at Logan's…

"Don't forget the sisters," called a voice from the doorway.

Startled out of their reverie, Zack and Logan turned to see Syl casually leaning against the doorjamb…with a gun trained on Zack.

"Syl," Logan began, standing up.

"Sorry, Logan," Syl interrupted, "you need to move out of the line of fire. Baby sister would kick my ass if something happened to you." Shifting her focus from Logan back to Zack, she motioned to him to follow her as she slowly backed out of the room.

"Syl, what the hell are you doing?" Krit asked as he watched her slowly walk into the living room. "Zack!"

"Hey Krit," Zack replied keeping his eyes trained on Syl.

"Search him, Krit," Syl commanded, keeping the gun on Zack.

Snapping into military mode, Krit went obediently to Zack and searched him for weapons and tracking devices. "He's clean."

"Yeah, he's been here awhile guys," Logan said from the entryway. "He has more reason to kill me than the two of you."

"Satisfied?" asked Zack.

Lowering the gun, Syl responded, "For now."

"How'd you get out?" Krit asked as the foursome made their way to the couch.

Bypassing the couch, Zack walked to the mammoth window, and looked out at the city for a second time that day. "I remember it all now," he began slowly. "At first it was just bits and pieces, I think I wanted to forget what had happened. Max was dead, the X-7 had shot her and the bullet went into her heart. I can remember thinking, 'No, she can't die. She's the best of me, and I never really told her.' In truth, Maxie's the best of all of us," Zack said pausing, but never turning to look at the others. "She had to much to live for—friends, family, a man who loved, loves her. So I tried to sacrifice myself. I got the guard's gun and I remember pulling the trigger and collapsing on Max. But then I woke up in a cell. I had a bandage around my head and a helluva headache. Funny, you know, I warned you guys against sentiment and emotion."

"But how did you get out Zack?" Syl asked as she came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"I became the golden boy again," Zack chuckled softly. "Within two weeks I was out and on an op with Brin. But I had to wait for the right opportunity to escape. A couple days ago, I was on recon in Portland, setting up cover for an assassination. I rigged some explosives, and pulled a few teeth for good measure. I made my way here 'cause Max always said Logan could keep us safe."

"So Max is dead?" Krit asked softly.

"No," Logan and Zack responded vehemently.

"Max is alive," Logan said standing up from his spot on the couch.

"But Zack said…"

"She has Tinga's heart," Zack said turning to face the group. "They gave her Tinga's heart because Max is to valuable for them to lose."

"We'll get her out," Syl said.

"We need reinforcements this time. A better plan. More thought out," Krit added.

"And we only have three days to assemble the cavalry," Logan announced drawing everyone's attention. "Saturday night, Max will be back in Seattle at a reception for South African geneticist, Dr. Greyson Rhineheart."

"We've got work to do," Zack said. "And family to call."