I've Got You'R' Back
Disclaimer: See previous chapters. Still got no money. Won't get any for this either.
A/N: Thanks heaps to Kasman for the beta I still owe you.
Spoilers: Freak Nation and a few other episodes try to guess.
~*~~*~~*~~*~
Chapter 5 Walk Among Dreams.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Terminal City
Max and Logan are walking down a street.
"Thanks for coming with me, Logan...it's been a rough few days and loosing CeCe...well thanks anyway."
"No problem."
"Well, at least the police have kept their promise and haven't tried anything yet, gives us time to get a bit more organized in here."
"We'll handle it, Max, you have a good team, even if some are a bit mule headed and have no patience."
Max stops and looks at Logan with a smile, "Right, like two people we know."
Logan grins back, "Wonder who that could be?"
He reaches for Max's hand; she pulls back in fright.
"Logan—"
"It's okay, Max. I borrowed some surgical gloves and I even put on a pair of normal gloves to protect them...you didn't notice?"
"Must be tired."
"Thought super heroes never got tired, only us mere mortals." Grinning, he again reaches out and strokes a strand of hair from the side of her cheek with his right hand.
"Whatever." Max lifting her left hand takes his in hers.
They stand looking into each other's eyes. He into her brown pools of never ending depths, she into his sparkling green behind his glasses. The two contrasts light and dark, for the moment one.
"Get away from him, Max! He betrayed us and is doing it again."
Turning they see Zack standing with a Beretta 93R pistol leveled at Logan
"No, Zack!"
"Zack?"
Before either of them can move he fires, two rounds to the heart and as Logan falls back one to the head which jerks his body into Max's arms.
"No! Nooo! Not now, Logan—"
"Max! Max, wake up, we got a situation."
"Huh!"
Max jerks awake, pushing Dalton away.
"What? What situation? Where's Logan? Need to find him."
"Logan's in the command center. He told me where to find you."
"He's safe?"
"Yes, last I saw, but we heard some shooting on the perimeter down by the rail yards and Mole took off with a team. Logan tried to stop him but he just brushed him off, so Logan sent me for you."
'Where's Alec?"
"He's in the infirmary, a cracked rib. Logan said to get him after I found you."
"Okay, you found me. Go get Alec, tell him to get to the command center, stat."
As Dalton turns to leave the room.
"Thanks, Dalton. You're doing a good job, now go get Alec quick."
He leaves his back straighter and his head held high.
A dream, a damn nightmare. That's why I hate sleeping, I just can't get away from them - awake or asleep. At least awake I can do something. Have to ask Logan the situation with Zack, if he knows how he's doing...can't let him know why, have to find some excuse.
~~~~~~~~~
Command Center, Terminal City.
As Max walks in she hears shouting over the speakers.
"We had the trannies."
"Did you hit any?"
"Yeah, one was down, and I think we hit the other as well. They went down a manhole we're going after them"
"No! I repeat, no! You are to stay above ground. That's an order! Over.
"Who the hell are you—"
"Lieutenant Clemente, and if you don't stop right now, I'll have your badges. So stay where you are."
"Yes sir...damn trannie lover."
"Oh, and make sure you stop transmitting before you say anything else. Out."
Luke looks over at an X5. "Civvies and radio procedure. Pathetic."
Turning, he sees Max. "Hey Max we got some excitement going down. Seems a police patrol spotted two of our own trying to get through the fence and opened fire, hit one, maybe the other."
"How bad?"
"Not sure, Mole's on his way and Logan's sent over our very own camera team."
"Camera team?"
Luke gestures to where Logan is sitting amongst some X5s and X6s watching a monitor and fiddling with some controls on a keyboard assembly. Max walks over.
"Hey you, what's going on?"
"Hey...just a moment...bingo...here we go kids, live and direct."
On the screen in front of the group an image appears of an open manhole. A mixed group of transgenics is standing around it, with leveled weapons pointing at the hole. Mole is crouched by the hole with his shotgun pointing down, his ever present cigar protruding from the side of his mouth.
Over the speakers, they hear him give an order.
"Name and designation, now?"
They hear a muffled reply from the hole.
"Okay, we'll give you a hand, hang on."
Standing, Mole orders four transgenics down the hole, then turning to the camera, "Get the medics here ASAP. We got two wounded, one walking the other not."
"Can I talk to him," Max asks.
"No, he took off without a comm. set," Dix replies walking up.
"That's why I sent the camera team. They have one and we can get pictures."
"Good, tell them to give Mole their comms. and get some shots of the wounded."
"Why? You planning to sue the police?" Alec asks walking up to them.
"You never know," Max answers distractedly.
"Can you hold the fort here while I go down and check this out?"
"Yes, I'm feeling fine now Max. Thanks for being worried about me, and yes I can."
Max looks at Alec. "Sorry...I'll be back soon so you can get your beauty rest."
Turning to Logan who has been watching the exchange between Max and Alec.
"Cancel that about the comms. I'm going there. Can you get the camera team to head down to the perimeter fence and see if they can film the cops who did the shooting?"
"What's up Max? Are you planning on suing the police like Alec said?" Dix asks.
"Maybe later...but something's not right here. They should have gotten past that patrol and in without being spotted Sneak and Evade 101...I just don't know...a feeling.
Max heads out to the manhole where the two wounded transgenics are being helped out to those waiting above.
"Hey, Mole, can I have a word?" Max gestures over to a shed.
Mole hesitates then follows Max off to one side.
"What'd you want? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Yeah, so busy you run off without comms into a situation you don't know anything about...real busy."
"Well, somebody had to take charge and I don't take orders from no ordinary."
"His name is Logan and you better get it in your head...he is not ordinary."
"Yeah...yeah, Joshua told me...okay, Max, but you know being here, being trained the way I have."
"I know, Mole, but if we don't stick together—"
"Right, we hang separately."
They stare at each other for a moment.
Well at least you realize that. Logan is definitely not ordinary even without Joshua's transfusion.
»»»»»»
Flashback Steinlitz Hotel:
As the women hostages walk down the hallway, Max sees Logan coming in escorted by terrorists. He shakes his head at her.
"Go," he mouths to her.
Around the corner Kendra whispers
"Wasn't that—"
"Yeah. I'm gonna say hi. Don't tell."
»»»»»
Mole, he never has been, and never will be, ordinary.
"So, what's the situation?"
"The X5 and the Nomlie were coming in, got jumped by the blue suits. Pretty damn careless, must have failed basic snoop and poop to get caught like that. Anyway, the cops shot the Nomlie in the back and hit the X5 when he did the pick up. For some reason they didn't follow them into the sewers and finish them off or capture them."
"Yeah, we got an ordinary friend covering our backs out there...the cop from Jam Pony, seems he's still running the show for now."
"Right, lucky us," Mole says sarcastically.
Just then the medics arrive and with the help of the other transgenics take the wounded back to the infirmary.
"Mole, can you cover the camera crew? I have them doing a job over where the shooting took place."
Mole looks at her if she's just grown two heads.
"Just humor me...I have a hunch that our two alumni weren't careless or flunked training."
Mole nods and follows the camera team. Max turns and heads back to the command center.
Logan is still in front of the monitor as she walks in. On the screen is the police ambush team standing around the manhole.
Sensing Max behind him he turns around.
"So you and Mole friends again?"
"Well, I wouldn't go that far...but an understanding maybe. Spot anything?"
"Nothing, all they've done is stand around. At first, they were a bit jumpy I suppose they expected us to come charging out in revenge, but since then, nothing else. Recording what the team is filming so we can go over it later. What are you looking for?"
"I don't know, but ever since the vigilantes killed Biggs, and White had all those transgenics ready for transport when CJ helped me to escape, I've been wondering how they got onto him and how they captured so many of us in such a short time. 'Specially when they hadn't had any success for awhile."
"Hey, they captured me pretty early on." Alec says walking up.
"Yeah, but you were being an idiot...Monty Cora."
"Right...we've all been staying low or heading here, so they must be able to track us somehow."
"That's what I'm thinking, but how?"
"We'll find it, Max," Logan says standing up and stretching his back. He nods to an X6 to take over at the board and to watch the screen."
God, a few weeks ago I would never have been able to do that. I just hope it lasts. Max says it was never the wheel chair, but for me it always was.
»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
"Look Max, I didn't want to tell you about this...for all kinds of reasons."
He steps forward and falls flat on his face
"Logan!"
"Don't. I can do it."
Struggling, he tries to lift himself but Max has to lift him by the armpits and eases him into the wheel chair. He pushes her away.
"I gotta ask you...is it easier for you if I'm in the chair?"
"Come on. Let's go see her."
She flings his jacket at him and walks off. He follows after a second.
In the Car:
"I'm sorry."
"I understand."
"I'm not sure you do. I felt what it was like to function like a regular person again...to be whole and complete."
"You've never not been that to me."
"Staying out of that wheelchair matters more to me than anything else in my life. Anything. And if I wind up back in it...Let's just say that I'm not gonna live my life like that."
»»»»»
You showed me there is something more important than that. There is life, there is the love I feel for you, and the love for me you have now hidden. You saved me, Max. I'll never forget that gift.
You could never have done that a few weeks ago - stand and stretch. Maybe you're right and Joshua's blood has cured you. I just hope it lasts. I couldn't bear to loose you again to that despair you felt the last time. Seeing the ambulance outside Fogle Towers...I was so scared
»»»»»
Flashback Inside Logan's apartment:
"Logan! Logan! Logan!"
Max sees the gun lying on the desk. Hearing the door open, turns and runs towards it, and seeing Logan, drops to her knees and hugs him tightly.
"I thought...I was so scared...the ambulance..."
Logan hugs Max, running his hand over her hair.
"It's okay," he whispers.
Drawing apart, they look at each other for a moment, their arms still around each other. Logan wheels over to the desk, breaking contact, and Max stands up.
"Little accident upstairs. Mrs. Moreno fell down. Bathroom sink overflowed."
»»»»»
Thanks, Mrs. Moreno. You saved this man I love, that I denied having any feelings for so often, and now I can't have or tell that I love. Even if this transfusion fails, you'll always be complete and whole to me Logan. You've never not been that way.
"Maxie, if you don't, mind the medics gave me some stuff for my injuries and it's started to kick in...it's making me drowsy."
"Sure Alec, go get some rest. I've got it covered."
Turning to Logan. "So, how did we get hold of a camera and why are we able to transmit?"
"Well your brothers and sisters are up to their old tricks again, taking things that don't belong to them."
"Hey, you know the army saying 'if it ain't nailed down'..."
"It belongs to me, so take it?"
"Something like that, especially if it might prove useful."
"Still, Max, we're going to have to be careful about what they liberate, otherwise Terminal City is going to be blamed for the rise in theft and other crimes. Then the police will have to act."
"You're right, can't have them blaming us for theft as well as viruses, plagues, every unsolved murder, and lets not forget the economy."
"Max, you know what I mean."
"I know, Logan, but we need supplies, we need weapons, although I wish we didn't, we need stuff to trade, we need money. Otherwise, we aren't going to last long."
"I'm working on that. Asha and her S1W team should be back from Portland soon, and I was thinking maybe some of Eyes Only contacts maybe able to help indirectly."
"That's a big risk Logan...for them."
"Yeah, well, there are high stakes here, and Eyes Only has a personal reason."
They look at each other and smile sadly.
»»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Logan is sitting on the couch with his laptop.
"So the bad news is what? He wasn't murdered? He fought the good fight and got a life. Makes sense to me."
"Figures you'd relate to someone turning their back on responsibility."
"Listen to yourself. Alina got her father back and you're all, 'Who cares?'"
"I didn't say that."
"Don't make this about yourself, Logan. It isn't. You don't know what it's like to be alone in the world. I do."
"Now who's making this about themselves?"
"You know, some guys are willing to rearrange their priorities when they find a girl who moves their furniture. In fact, some guys are even looking for it."
Logan looks at Max, who swallows, "Or so I've heard she adds," trying to sound casual about her comment.
»»»»»»
So, the great Eyes Only, the defender of the weak and helpless, is on the side of the genetically enhanced super soldiers against mere mortals. Yes, Logan this is personal for you...you care for me and you're ready to rearrange your priorities at last. I wish there was a chance for us, but I can't let myself think that. Then again Eyes Only has always been on the side of right, so here we go again. Blah blah, woof, woof.
This is personal for me, Max. Eyes Only is only one part of me, you're the other. You came into my life and rearranged more than my furniture. So, now, after all the things that have happened, it's time Eyes Only got off his butt, stopped feeling sorry for himself and helped the woman he loves and her family. After all, he's always on the right side, right?
"Gotta jet...need some food. All this rushing around makes a girl hungry, you coming."
"Yeah, why not, could use a cup of coffee."
"Keep dreaming—"
Max stops as the color drains from her face at what she just said.
"What's wrong, Max?"
"Ah...nothing, just remembered something I forgot to tell Alec, catch ya later."
She walks off hurriedly, leaving Logan standing looking after her, puzzled and hurt.
What was that all about? All I said was I wanted was a cup of coffee - or what may pass for coffee in this joint and she said 'keep dreaming.' What's wrong, Max? What did you forget to tell Alec?
God, suppose it isn't a dream. What if it's one of Sandeman's little surprises - like the thing with the familiars at Jam Pony. Logan and I walk out of here and Zack is out there and kills him. I have to find out if he is, where he is supposed to be, and not coming after Logan. Or was it just a nightmare? I don't need this...another thing to keep us apart.
****
To be continued
Disclaimer: See previous chapters. Still got no money. Won't get any for this either.
A/N: Thanks heaps to Kasman for the beta I still owe you.
Spoilers: Freak Nation and a few other episodes try to guess.
~*~~*~~*~~*~
Chapter 5 Walk Among Dreams.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Terminal City
Max and Logan are walking down a street.
"Thanks for coming with me, Logan...it's been a rough few days and loosing CeCe...well thanks anyway."
"No problem."
"Well, at least the police have kept their promise and haven't tried anything yet, gives us time to get a bit more organized in here."
"We'll handle it, Max, you have a good team, even if some are a bit mule headed and have no patience."
Max stops and looks at Logan with a smile, "Right, like two people we know."
Logan grins back, "Wonder who that could be?"
He reaches for Max's hand; she pulls back in fright.
"Logan—"
"It's okay, Max. I borrowed some surgical gloves and I even put on a pair of normal gloves to protect them...you didn't notice?"
"Must be tired."
"Thought super heroes never got tired, only us mere mortals." Grinning, he again reaches out and strokes a strand of hair from the side of her cheek with his right hand.
"Whatever." Max lifting her left hand takes his in hers.
They stand looking into each other's eyes. He into her brown pools of never ending depths, she into his sparkling green behind his glasses. The two contrasts light and dark, for the moment one.
"Get away from him, Max! He betrayed us and is doing it again."
Turning they see Zack standing with a Beretta 93R pistol leveled at Logan
"No, Zack!"
"Zack?"
Before either of them can move he fires, two rounds to the heart and as Logan falls back one to the head which jerks his body into Max's arms.
"No! Nooo! Not now, Logan—"
"Max! Max, wake up, we got a situation."
"Huh!"
Max jerks awake, pushing Dalton away.
"What? What situation? Where's Logan? Need to find him."
"Logan's in the command center. He told me where to find you."
"He's safe?"
"Yes, last I saw, but we heard some shooting on the perimeter down by the rail yards and Mole took off with a team. Logan tried to stop him but he just brushed him off, so Logan sent me for you."
'Where's Alec?"
"He's in the infirmary, a cracked rib. Logan said to get him after I found you."
"Okay, you found me. Go get Alec, tell him to get to the command center, stat."
As Dalton turns to leave the room.
"Thanks, Dalton. You're doing a good job, now go get Alec quick."
He leaves his back straighter and his head held high.
A dream, a damn nightmare. That's why I hate sleeping, I just can't get away from them - awake or asleep. At least awake I can do something. Have to ask Logan the situation with Zack, if he knows how he's doing...can't let him know why, have to find some excuse.
~~~~~~~~~
Command Center, Terminal City.
As Max walks in she hears shouting over the speakers.
"We had the trannies."
"Did you hit any?"
"Yeah, one was down, and I think we hit the other as well. They went down a manhole we're going after them"
"No! I repeat, no! You are to stay above ground. That's an order! Over.
"Who the hell are you—"
"Lieutenant Clemente, and if you don't stop right now, I'll have your badges. So stay where you are."
"Yes sir...damn trannie lover."
"Oh, and make sure you stop transmitting before you say anything else. Out."
Luke looks over at an X5. "Civvies and radio procedure. Pathetic."
Turning, he sees Max. "Hey Max we got some excitement going down. Seems a police patrol spotted two of our own trying to get through the fence and opened fire, hit one, maybe the other."
"How bad?"
"Not sure, Mole's on his way and Logan's sent over our very own camera team."
"Camera team?"
Luke gestures to where Logan is sitting amongst some X5s and X6s watching a monitor and fiddling with some controls on a keyboard assembly. Max walks over.
"Hey you, what's going on?"
"Hey...just a moment...bingo...here we go kids, live and direct."
On the screen in front of the group an image appears of an open manhole. A mixed group of transgenics is standing around it, with leveled weapons pointing at the hole. Mole is crouched by the hole with his shotgun pointing down, his ever present cigar protruding from the side of his mouth.
Over the speakers, they hear him give an order.
"Name and designation, now?"
They hear a muffled reply from the hole.
"Okay, we'll give you a hand, hang on."
Standing, Mole orders four transgenics down the hole, then turning to the camera, "Get the medics here ASAP. We got two wounded, one walking the other not."
"Can I talk to him," Max asks.
"No, he took off without a comm. set," Dix replies walking up.
"That's why I sent the camera team. They have one and we can get pictures."
"Good, tell them to give Mole their comms. and get some shots of the wounded."
"Why? You planning to sue the police?" Alec asks walking up to them.
"You never know," Max answers distractedly.
"Can you hold the fort here while I go down and check this out?"
"Yes, I'm feeling fine now Max. Thanks for being worried about me, and yes I can."
Max looks at Alec. "Sorry...I'll be back soon so you can get your beauty rest."
Turning to Logan who has been watching the exchange between Max and Alec.
"Cancel that about the comms. I'm going there. Can you get the camera team to head down to the perimeter fence and see if they can film the cops who did the shooting?"
"What's up Max? Are you planning on suing the police like Alec said?" Dix asks.
"Maybe later...but something's not right here. They should have gotten past that patrol and in without being spotted Sneak and Evade 101...I just don't know...a feeling.
Max heads out to the manhole where the two wounded transgenics are being helped out to those waiting above.
"Hey, Mole, can I have a word?" Max gestures over to a shed.
Mole hesitates then follows Max off to one side.
"What'd you want? Can't you see I'm busy?"
"Yeah, so busy you run off without comms into a situation you don't know anything about...real busy."
"Well, somebody had to take charge and I don't take orders from no ordinary."
"His name is Logan and you better get it in your head...he is not ordinary."
"Yeah...yeah, Joshua told me...okay, Max, but you know being here, being trained the way I have."
"I know, Mole, but if we don't stick together—"
"Right, we hang separately."
They stare at each other for a moment.
Well at least you realize that. Logan is definitely not ordinary even without Joshua's transfusion.
»»»»»»
Flashback Steinlitz Hotel:
As the women hostages walk down the hallway, Max sees Logan coming in escorted by terrorists. He shakes his head at her.
"Go," he mouths to her.
Around the corner Kendra whispers
"Wasn't that—"
"Yeah. I'm gonna say hi. Don't tell."
»»»»»
Mole, he never has been, and never will be, ordinary.
"So, what's the situation?"
"The X5 and the Nomlie were coming in, got jumped by the blue suits. Pretty damn careless, must have failed basic snoop and poop to get caught like that. Anyway, the cops shot the Nomlie in the back and hit the X5 when he did the pick up. For some reason they didn't follow them into the sewers and finish them off or capture them."
"Yeah, we got an ordinary friend covering our backs out there...the cop from Jam Pony, seems he's still running the show for now."
"Right, lucky us," Mole says sarcastically.
Just then the medics arrive and with the help of the other transgenics take the wounded back to the infirmary.
"Mole, can you cover the camera crew? I have them doing a job over where the shooting took place."
Mole looks at her if she's just grown two heads.
"Just humor me...I have a hunch that our two alumni weren't careless or flunked training."
Mole nods and follows the camera team. Max turns and heads back to the command center.
Logan is still in front of the monitor as she walks in. On the screen is the police ambush team standing around the manhole.
Sensing Max behind him he turns around.
"So you and Mole friends again?"
"Well, I wouldn't go that far...but an understanding maybe. Spot anything?"
"Nothing, all they've done is stand around. At first, they were a bit jumpy I suppose they expected us to come charging out in revenge, but since then, nothing else. Recording what the team is filming so we can go over it later. What are you looking for?"
"I don't know, but ever since the vigilantes killed Biggs, and White had all those transgenics ready for transport when CJ helped me to escape, I've been wondering how they got onto him and how they captured so many of us in such a short time. 'Specially when they hadn't had any success for awhile."
"Hey, they captured me pretty early on." Alec says walking up.
"Yeah, but you were being an idiot...Monty Cora."
"Right...we've all been staying low or heading here, so they must be able to track us somehow."
"That's what I'm thinking, but how?"
"We'll find it, Max," Logan says standing up and stretching his back. He nods to an X6 to take over at the board and to watch the screen."
God, a few weeks ago I would never have been able to do that. I just hope it lasts. Max says it was never the wheel chair, but for me it always was.
»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
"Look Max, I didn't want to tell you about this...for all kinds of reasons."
He steps forward and falls flat on his face
"Logan!"
"Don't. I can do it."
Struggling, he tries to lift himself but Max has to lift him by the armpits and eases him into the wheel chair. He pushes her away.
"I gotta ask you...is it easier for you if I'm in the chair?"
"Come on. Let's go see her."
She flings his jacket at him and walks off. He follows after a second.
In the Car:
"I'm sorry."
"I understand."
"I'm not sure you do. I felt what it was like to function like a regular person again...to be whole and complete."
"You've never not been that to me."
"Staying out of that wheelchair matters more to me than anything else in my life. Anything. And if I wind up back in it...Let's just say that I'm not gonna live my life like that."
»»»»»
You showed me there is something more important than that. There is life, there is the love I feel for you, and the love for me you have now hidden. You saved me, Max. I'll never forget that gift.
You could never have done that a few weeks ago - stand and stretch. Maybe you're right and Joshua's blood has cured you. I just hope it lasts. I couldn't bear to loose you again to that despair you felt the last time. Seeing the ambulance outside Fogle Towers...I was so scared
»»»»»
Flashback Inside Logan's apartment:
"Logan! Logan! Logan!"
Max sees the gun lying on the desk. Hearing the door open, turns and runs towards it, and seeing Logan, drops to her knees and hugs him tightly.
"I thought...I was so scared...the ambulance..."
Logan hugs Max, running his hand over her hair.
"It's okay," he whispers.
Drawing apart, they look at each other for a moment, their arms still around each other. Logan wheels over to the desk, breaking contact, and Max stands up.
"Little accident upstairs. Mrs. Moreno fell down. Bathroom sink overflowed."
»»»»»
Thanks, Mrs. Moreno. You saved this man I love, that I denied having any feelings for so often, and now I can't have or tell that I love. Even if this transfusion fails, you'll always be complete and whole to me Logan. You've never not been that way.
"Maxie, if you don't, mind the medics gave me some stuff for my injuries and it's started to kick in...it's making me drowsy."
"Sure Alec, go get some rest. I've got it covered."
Turning to Logan. "So, how did we get hold of a camera and why are we able to transmit?"
"Well your brothers and sisters are up to their old tricks again, taking things that don't belong to them."
"Hey, you know the army saying 'if it ain't nailed down'..."
"It belongs to me, so take it?"
"Something like that, especially if it might prove useful."
"Still, Max, we're going to have to be careful about what they liberate, otherwise Terminal City is going to be blamed for the rise in theft and other crimes. Then the police will have to act."
"You're right, can't have them blaming us for theft as well as viruses, plagues, every unsolved murder, and lets not forget the economy."
"Max, you know what I mean."
"I know, Logan, but we need supplies, we need weapons, although I wish we didn't, we need stuff to trade, we need money. Otherwise, we aren't going to last long."
"I'm working on that. Asha and her S1W team should be back from Portland soon, and I was thinking maybe some of Eyes Only contacts maybe able to help indirectly."
"That's a big risk Logan...for them."
"Yeah, well, there are high stakes here, and Eyes Only has a personal reason."
They look at each other and smile sadly.
»»»»»»
Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Logan is sitting on the couch with his laptop.
"So the bad news is what? He wasn't murdered? He fought the good fight and got a life. Makes sense to me."
"Figures you'd relate to someone turning their back on responsibility."
"Listen to yourself. Alina got her father back and you're all, 'Who cares?'"
"I didn't say that."
"Don't make this about yourself, Logan. It isn't. You don't know what it's like to be alone in the world. I do."
"Now who's making this about themselves?"
"You know, some guys are willing to rearrange their priorities when they find a girl who moves their furniture. In fact, some guys are even looking for it."
Logan looks at Max, who swallows, "Or so I've heard she adds," trying to sound casual about her comment.
»»»»»»
So, the great Eyes Only, the defender of the weak and helpless, is on the side of the genetically enhanced super soldiers against mere mortals. Yes, Logan this is personal for you...you care for me and you're ready to rearrange your priorities at last. I wish there was a chance for us, but I can't let myself think that. Then again Eyes Only has always been on the side of right, so here we go again. Blah blah, woof, woof.
This is personal for me, Max. Eyes Only is only one part of me, you're the other. You came into my life and rearranged more than my furniture. So, now, after all the things that have happened, it's time Eyes Only got off his butt, stopped feeling sorry for himself and helped the woman he loves and her family. After all, he's always on the right side, right?
"Gotta jet...need some food. All this rushing around makes a girl hungry, you coming."
"Yeah, why not, could use a cup of coffee."
"Keep dreaming—"
Max stops as the color drains from her face at what she just said.
"What's wrong, Max?"
"Ah...nothing, just remembered something I forgot to tell Alec, catch ya later."
She walks off hurriedly, leaving Logan standing looking after her, puzzled and hurt.
What was that all about? All I said was I wanted was a cup of coffee - or what may pass for coffee in this joint and she said 'keep dreaming.' What's wrong, Max? What did you forget to tell Alec?
God, suppose it isn't a dream. What if it's one of Sandeman's little surprises - like the thing with the familiars at Jam Pony. Logan and I walk out of here and Zack is out there and kills him. I have to find out if he is, where he is supposed to be, and not coming after Logan. Or was it just a nightmare? I don't need this...another thing to keep us apart.
****
To be continued