I've Got You'R' Back
Disclaimer: See previous chapters.
A/N: Thanks heaps to Kasman for the beta you are super. Thanks to those who took the time to read and review, Max and Logan appreciate it. Parts of this chapter were written after watching 'Designate This' on Arabic television in the Sinai. Whether Logan and Max find out if there is a cure, I will have to wait for them to tell me.
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Chapter 11 Surprises
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Command Center, just after midnight:
Max walks in and over to Logan who is sitting at a computer.
"Hey, you."
"Hey, yourself, you're looking refreshed and...you washed your clothes?" A look of surprise crosses Max's face. Thought I didn't notice these things eh, Max.
"Yeah, I see you got some rest...and a shave!" OC was right he does notice.
"Well new day and one of the X5s traded me a razor for the body armor I got from the Phalanx guy." Logan replies with a smirk.
"Right...anything new in security?"
"Not much since your last visit. Couldn't get the code, if any, for the file room - it may still be a key lock. Since you got away clean last time, don't think they suspect they've been compromised."
"Cool, in and out and back in time for breakfast."
Looking hesitant, Logan, stands up and walks towards Max who backs away with a worried frown.
"Max, I've been think maybe you shouldn't be the one to go after all."
"Logan, I'm still going, you know I have to."
"I know Max, but—"
"I'll be careful...and I've got you covering my back right," Max says with smile on her lips which reaches her eyes.
"Right, that's what the sidekick's for." A faint smile plays across his face but a look of worry still lingers in his green eyes as they regard the beautiful woman in front of him.
I missed you, Max, the not seeing you, the just having you drop by for food or a game of chess. We both admit what is between us, then Manticore puts us back to square one...whatever happened between you and Alec, I have to let it go – 'pride has to suffer pain.' You're too important to me to let you go. I'll cover your back, always.
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Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Max is reading the Little Mermaid to Brittany,
"'I would give gladly all the hundreds of years that I have to live, to be a human being only for one day, and have the hope of knowing the happiness of that glorious world above the stars.'"
Logan turns unnoticed from his computers as he hears what Max has just read.
"'You must not think of that,' said the old woman, 'we feel ourselves much happier and much better off than human beings.'"
"'So I shall die. Is there anything I can do to win an immortal soul?' the little mermaid asked her grandmother."
"'No,' said her grandmother, 'unless a man were to love you so much that you were more to him than his father or mother. And if all his thoughts and all his love were fixed upon you, and he placed his right hand in your hand, and he promised to be true to you forever. Then he would give you a soul while retaining his own and you would obtain a share in the future of mankind.'"
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One day, Max, I promise we'll have a future; you already have a soul.
Seeing the smile but the lingering worry in Logan's eyes, Max continues to hold his gaze as if trying to reassure him. Thanks, Logan; I missed being with you. We have to get this sorted and back to finding a cure. I'm real tired of hiding what I feel about you.
"Max; Logan, we got a problem with that new group coming in," Luke says walking over. "They didn't make the RV. And I just got a call from the X5 bringing your things; he says that he'd a run in with a National Guard patrol two blocks away from Terminal City. He's gone to ground, says he'll try again, but will do some more recon."
Reluctantly breaking their gaze on each other, Max and Logan turn to acknowledge Luke's presence.
"Damn, I need that computer, and my glasses," Logan says in frustration.
"Yeah, and I really need new underwear, but with the National Guard out there now as well, we'll just to have deal with what we've got," Max says with grim humor.
"Max, you don't understand. I need that computer to solve...to get the GPS and sewer system files for the rest of the city to download here."
Max looks quickly over at Logan as he changed what he was about to say in mid-sentence. Solve what Logan? What are you keeping from me now?
"Right...well he said he'd try again, and to make that sooner rather than later, that means going after those backups."
Logan looks sharply at Max. "Ah, Max, you think that wise to try tonight? With the National Guard also probably equipped with scanners, it's going to be dangerous for whoever goes."
Max looks thoughtful for a moment. "Luke, do we know where they spotted this last group and the ones previously? Maybe there aren't that many scanners and they have them working sweeps. They could've only got lucky so far."
Logan walks over to the computer and starts calling up the GPS files and map of the area around Terminal City.
"Here and here, that's where they were all spotted, and the two this morning at the rail fence, but smaller groups, the scouts and camera team have not been spotted," Luke says looking over Logan's shoulder and pointing to places on the map."
"You're right, Max, they seem to have only a few scanners, smaller groups have gotten in tonight and those spotted were all down the south and towards the east," Logan says plotting a graph.
"Well, lets get this bitch done...I think it's worth the try, we need to know how to jam them up before they bring in more than we can handle."
Max turns and heads for the door, Logan quickly gets up and follows her, leaving Luke with a puzzled expression on his face, looking at them.
"Be careful, Max...we can't afford to loose you," he says looking into her dark brown eyes as she looks back at him, "I can't afford to loose you," he adds so softly that even with her enhanced hearing Max only just makes it out.
She returns his look and smiles slowly, "I'll be careful," she mouths at him and looks away, then she turns around to face him.
"Logan?"
"What is it, Max?" he asks softly, watching her, waiting.
"Can you check up on Zack? I need to know he's safely where he's supposed to be."
Looking quizzically at Max, "Why? If anything had happened, I would have heard from Buddy."
"I just wondered...it doesn't matter, forget it." Max turns away to leave.
"Hmm, there is the possibility that he might have seen the news, and it might have triggered something. Is that what's bothering you, Max?"
Max stops and looks back at Logan, "Right, it's a possibility;" she says quickly, trying to cover her surprise at Logan's intuition.
"I'll check in the morning, don't worry."
Putting on a smile, "I'm not worried just don't want anymore surprises is all," Max says waving a hand to dismiss Logan's statement that she is worried."
"Right, I'll make the call just to make sure...for my peace of mind."
With a nod, "Well, better get this done so we can all rest easier and get some clean clothes...and your glasses." Max turns and heads for the door and out into the darkness.
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Outside:
Max walks through the damp air towards the northern perimeter fence
Well, one hurdle over. Logan sure knew that it's bothering me that Zack may be on his way here. He's really gotten to know me, but he still surprises me – twice in one night. Max grins slowly, well, I'll have to do some payback and give him a nice surprise.
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Command Center:
Logan is sitting at the computer rechecking the security system of the Police Headquarters.
Max, is right to be worried about Zack, but why all of a sudden? If he saw the news reports of Jam Pony and the siege going on here, it's likely that it may have triggered something. The last call I got from Buddy said he was settling in nicely. Even gone out with one or two of the girls in town – another thing I've kept from Max...If she ever found out I was keeping tabs on Zack and not telling her...don't even think of the smack you would get...if only.
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Flashback Outside Metro Medical:
"Max, this isn't a good idea, to be seeing Zack again," Logan says in a tight tone.
"I have to, Logan, after all the time I spent looking for him and...I won't ever see him again...I don't even know where you're sending him."
"It's an old friend, Buddy. He lost his son in the fighting in Cuba—"
Holding up her hand to silence Logan, "I don't want to know...but I still have to see him one last time...he's my brother...my family," Max says with a touch of anger mixed with frustration at Logan's lack of understanding.
"Yeah, and what if seeing you starts the implanted memories, all my work and Sam's, goes down the tubes," Logan angrily waves towards the hospital.
"That's all you care about...your precious work?" Max replies furiously.
Suddenly realizing that he's gone too far, "That's not what I meant...I was only trying to protect you from the hurt Max...I know what it's like to say goodbye to someone you love," Logan says gently looking up at Max from his wheelchair.
Slowly a tear runs down her right cheek, "I had hoped that Zack, would have told me where the others are, now I'll never know...and it hurts Logan...I have to see him. He's the last link I have with my brothers and sisters."
"I still don't like it, Max, but I understand...we'll just deal with whatever happens."
Nodding at Logan, Max turns and walks towards the hospital door where she pauses and looks back at Logan, and smiles, a smile that says a lot more than a mere thanks.
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Smiling sadly at what cannot be, he types in a new search into the computer. Still, for my peace of mind better check with Buddy first thing in the morning. Max better be careful out there - White's still loose and after her. Suddenly his attention is caught by the information displayed on the computer screen.
An invoice sent to the Seattle police for repairs to the file room door, "Damn, how did I miss this," quickly typing a new set of commands Logan traces the invoice, leaning back after a moment he shakes his head. White, I should have known.
Reaching for his cell phone, Logan is about to press the speed dial with Max's number, hesitating he shakes his head after looking at the screen, putting down his phone and smiling to himself he starts hacking into the electrical system of the building. That's what the sidekick is for.
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Seattle:In the darkness a manhole cover shifts on a side street behind the Seattle police headquarters and a small, slim figure crawls out of the ground and darts to cover into the shadows against a wall just as a car passes by.
Looking around the corner towards the security fence surrounding the building. Taking note of the two guards in the far corner of the compound. The figure dressed in black races for the fence with a burst of blinding speed and leaps the seven-foot barrier with ease, and without breaking stride, makes for the shadows next to the building.
A quick glance at the guards again, and the dark figure climbs the side of the building. On reaching the ledge on the second floor, the figure walks along it to the third blacked out window, and with a quick twist of a knife blade, is through the window and into dark beyond, just as one of the guards below looks up while taking a last drag on his cigarette.
The silent figure moves through the darkened office without hesitation to the door at the far end, and slowly opens it and looks out into the dimly lit corridor beyond. The dim light reveals the face of a strikingly beautiful young woman, with long dark hair, full lips, and brown eyes that sparkle, but which also have a depth to them that seems to go on forever.
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Stepping out into the corridor, Max makes her way to a flight of stairs, but as she is about to go down, she hears the sound of footsteps coming up. Quickly backing up along the wall, she enters the office she has just left and quickly locks the door.
Pressing her ear against the door to listen for footsteps. What a girl has to go through – a hot bath and a change of clothes - is that too much to ask for? Well, this is almost like old times - this is personal and not an Eyes Only gig...still, it's nice to know he trusts me to do this. He worries about me - just as I worry about him. Glad he's going to check on Zack. I wonder if he's been doing that all along...I should give him a smack for not telling me though. Shaking her head, she sighs, Logan and his secrets...he's not the only one though. When will we ever be able to tell each other...or even touch? Have to make sure I'm there when he calls, suddenly Max smiles to herself 'for my peace of mind.'
Hearing footsteps outside the door, Max, steps back preparing herself for a fight if the guard should enter, but there is only the quick shake of the handle, and the footsteps, accompanied by a tuneless whistle, continue down the corridor away from the stairs.
Slowly opening the door, she quickly runs down the stairs and along the corridor of the next floor to the third door. Pulling out her lock-picks, Max quickly opens the door and slips in and makes her way to a set of shelves containing file boxes.
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Lobby, Police Headquarters:
As a light begins to flash over a number on a panel, a policeman steps into the booth. Picking up a radio he presses the transmit button.
"Hey, Mike, where are you?"
"I'm on the second floor. What's up?"
"I've got a light flashing for the file room on the first floor."
"I just checked it, it's locked."
"Well, you better check it again."
"Damn, I was hoping for a cup of coffee. That's the third time this week that alarm has gone off since the Feds installed it. Probably stuck again.
"Yeah, well check it anyway, I don't want that little bastard who's in charge chewing me out if something's really wrong."
"Okay, on my way already."
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File room, first floor:
Well, Logan strikes again, I don't know how he does it but he always finds where the secrets are kept. Max pulls out a box labeled, 'Transgenic Tracking Communications' and quickly removes the four disks inside. Hope these have what we need to know – there must be a way to disrupt the scanners...there has to be, or White wins.
She is about to put the empty box back when she pulls out another box next to it, labeled 'Sweet Secrets Surveillance' and removes those disks, and with a mischievous smile places them in the communications file box. Making her way to the door, she is about to put her hand on the handle when it begins to turn.
"Mike, I've got another light flashing now for the Feds office...hold it, I've got ones on for the armory, the back entrance, what the... I've got lights on all over the place here and over at the courthouse."
"Told you the Feds' system was going to screw us up, I even heard they tried to stiff us with the bill. I'm on my way down...see if we can reset the system."
Waiting a moment for the sound of the cursing cop to head down the stairs, Max then slowly opens the door and looks out. With a quick pull, she shuts the door and is along the corridor and up the stairs in a blur. Retreating the same way she came, she exits onto the ledge just as before. Moving along till she reaches a drainpipe, she lowers her self down to the ground and runs for the fence, clearing it with ease.
As she lands, a silver early model BMW pulls up and screeches to halt in front of her the passenger door opens, as around the corner of the building the two outside guards come racing towards the fence shouting.
"Get in, Max," a voice says urgently.
Without hesitation, Max leaps into the car, which accelerates away, as the two cops reach the fence.
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Max looks over at the driver with a look of mild surprise mixed with a lot of pleasure.
"So, what brings a nice fella like you out to this neighborhood, at an hour like this?"
Looking slightly awkward, the driver looks over at Max and smiles slightly, "Visiting a friend, until I figured it was time to come and pick you up."
"Logan, called you didn't he, Bling," she says ruefully.
Smiling fully now, Bling looks at Max, "You two...just like old times."
Suddenly looking away and out the window, Max does not reply.
Oh, how I wish it were even like that.
Glancing over, Bling catches a glimpse of the sadness in her eyes mixed with a look of contrition on her face reflected in the window.
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Flashback Logan's Apartment:
Bling walks in to find Logan sitting in his chair looking out the window at the Seattle skyline.
"Hey, Logan, you want anything before we start our session to today."
Turning slowly from the window, Logan, looks at Bling, a confused expression crossing his features. "Session, I thought that was an hour from now?"
"It is, but I thought we could get started early after all that's happened today."
"How do you...Max called you didn't she?" Logan asks ruefully.
"Said something about you having to rescue Mrs. Moreno and you might like some company, as she had to get a friend to the bus station."
Logan turns without replying and looks out of the window, which reflects a deep sadness and contrition.
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Yes, just like old times, but worse now...you finally admit you love each other, and then all the hope is taken away. This is one whacked out world we're living in.
"So what's his plan?" Max asks turning to Bling with a neutral expression on her face.
"He said that's your department. Just to get you away and you'd decide what to do."
So you missed something and sent in the cavalry. It must have been you messing with their security system. We'll see if you apologize for this little mistake...but it's all good, got what I came for, hooked up with a friend and...
"Hey, Bling, you know where I can score some clothes for Logan and me and a couple of friends."
"Sure, I know a place over on Melbourne Avenue, he never seems to close."
"Did you just say Melbourne?"
"Yeah, guy sells vintage clothes, pre-pulse stuff."
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Flashback Langford, prison yard:
"More spotlights than a movie premiere," Break says looking out into the yard from their hiding place.
"Looks like I'm going to need a diversion," Max, says turning to look at him.
"Well, leave it to me. If there's one thing I'm good at, it's drawing attention." Max looks at him and smiles slightly. "Sure I can't talk you out of this?" Break continues to say.
Max puts her Jam Pony hat on his head. "Here, so you don't forget me. Thanks for the milk."
As Max sneaks towards the fence, hiding behind cars and walls. Break walks into the open, singing opera.
"La donna e mobile qual piuma al vento muta d'accento...
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"Max, you okay? You want me to call Logan?" a note of concern in his voice, Bling is looking over at Max.
"Just remembering somebody...Melbourne sounds fine, anything will do now." Looking down at her catsuit. "I've got it, I'll call him."
The rest of the drive continues in silence.
Can it get any more whack? Here I'm sitting in a car with Bling heading to see Break after ripping off Police HQ...wonder how Logan's doing - I should give him a call...Nah, let him worry awhile, since he missed whatever set those cops of. Then I can spring my surprise. Max slowly smiles in anticipation.
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TBC