PHASE TWO :HELL HATH NO FURY
Gem frowned as she poured the black and deliciously bitter liquid in the Max's cup.
'' It's already the third one '' '' Then be happy for the business ''
Max kept sipping her coffee as she wanted to taste every single drop.
'' They will be fine even if I don't over stimulate your nervous system with caffeine '' '' Glad to hear it. How's your girl ? '' '' In love with Joshua. He's the perfect nanny ''
Emphasizing on last the word, Gem braced herself toward her client with a fond smile on her face, and the other woman chucked, remembering how the young mothers of TC leaned on the large dogman in those busy days of peace.
'' You haven't been around for awhile'' Gem covertly inquired, resting her chin on her hand, obviously in the mood for small talk.
'' I've been busy'' '' With your Ordinary, I take ? '' Max considered making it clear that it wasn't fair to expect that humans stop considering them biological walking weapons if they themselves kept marking the difference between their species, but then decided to let it run. Her friend meant no offense and it wouldn't be the most appropriate time for considerations like that, judging by the offensive graffiti she had spotted on the roller shutter of the coffee shop.
'' Yeah. I helped him out with a lot of his Eyes Only job '' She didn't mention that it was mainly a matter of maintaining social connections. For some reason, she thought Gem would laugh at the very idea. Who knew it was so important staying within *the* circle to do what Logan did ?
'' Good . '' - the other woman replied, not very interested, looking at her speculatively before asking if she had known about Jan. Max remembered Jan well, even if she didn't know her very much. Female X5, six foot tall, reddish blonde hair habitually tied in a loose knot for comfort, high cheekbones and herb- green eyes, naturally elegant. Sticking out even among the X. She used see her giving the X7 combat lessons. '' I don't think '' Max answered, distracting herself temporarily from her intense love for the smell and taste of coffee . '' She's pregnant with twins '' '' No way '' Max never saw Jan expressing real interest about anything. She made what was told to her and preferably by herself. End of the story. The woman was a loner and made a point of staying that way. Jan with kids in the way? A strange picture, indeed. She didn't look like the type to nourish cosy dreams of motherhood. '' Yes way, it was heat. '' '' Ah '' - Max paused, returning to her coffee- '' Who's the dad? '' '' Who do you think ? Alec '' This definitely got the Max's attention , who violently put down her cup and grimaced, her eyebrows raised as she stared at her coffee-supplier indignantly. '' What ?! '' Gem looked awfully satisfied with herself, whatever were the reasons for her actual playful mood. '' I was just joking! It's Drue. Don't you remember that he's the one who got away with Jan before her cycle? ''
For helping disastrous accidents due at the prompt responsiveness of the males to pheromones, the women of Terminal City took care of leaving the place for the entire duration of their heat cycles. They frequently chose a mate to bring along among their fellow citizen. It was a lot like when humans gave flowers and chocolate on Valentine's day.
'' Drue? Uh, yes, I remember '' What a relief.
Drue was a hunk of X4 who Max knew because he had volunteered often for whatever chore the command of TC needed . Tall, raven-haired, Indian- complexion and massive- looking, eyes of the exact color of steel, the man was certainly built from Manticore to look at pleasantly to watch, even if not in the pretty-boy way Alec was. But certainly better fitting with the image of father to be.
'' Ours did a lot of analysis. If you recall, even Kiarra had un-identical twins after being put in the Breeding program from Renfro during her heat. Reagan too, although one of hers was born dead. It turns out that given our partly animal physiology, chances of multiple ovulation are pretty high during heat if you aren't under birth-control for an extended time''
'' That's interesting '' - Max commented, caressing the edge of the cup absently while she absorbed this newest piece of information . Why hadn't anybody thought about informing her too? She for sure would've appreciated the courtesy.
'' You can bet I won't be forgetting my pill anytime soon. ''
Max smiled, curious but content about Gem's peculiarly relaxed manner. '' Drue, You had me all alarmed for a moment there, imagining two little Alecs running around unleashed for the world!''
Gem chuckled, her eyes dancing with merriment. '' Not the case. He already has his hands full with Lia '' '' Lia? '' The first visual image Max had of Lia was of her eyes: cerulean with many freckles of violet, cold and expressionless most of the time, sometimes lightened with feminine malice. The second one was a full frontal of her face: fine rosy lips, delicate features not exceptionally striking but soft. The face of a doll, framed from golden straight hair falling tenderly on her shoulders. As Deceptively innocuous-looking as enigmatic and cold-blooded, this was Lia.
'' Yeah, Lia. They are dating- Gem paused, frowning at Max - Hasn't he told you? ''
Max made a face.
'' Alec doesn't date! You know what it's like with him: go, bag them and forget their names. And all in one night! '' But if he was changing regime, she would know. They were friends. He told her about Rachel. She told him about Ben.
Gem shook her head. '' To say the truth, I was getting worried. He hasn't been fooling around for awhile. Too busy with all our recent admistration - troubles, I think but still .. I was relieved when Lia started standing by him at command. At least she's a bit more social than Mole, which in those cases is an added bonus. '' Max took a moment to picture Lia beside Alec. Lia was small like she was, more physically endowed. The other female X5 was very different from her smartass companion: genuinely carefree, often quiet but silently astute. She heard stories about Lia in TC. Stories from Manticore. Stories to make the blood of an Ordinary run cold.
'' So are they an item? '' Gem nodded, fleetingly distracted by the sight of another costumer entering. '' So it would seem. It ain't official yet but they stick together a lot lately. Lia accompanied him to the Gathering last week. '' It sounded serious. Max had called Alec to ask if he needed her to accompany him but Alec had told her that he could handle it by himself.
'' It seems a bit sudden to me '' She said it more to herself than to Gem. Alec had never demonstrated anything but indifference toward Lia' s charm.
'' I wouldn't say. They knew each other quite well in Manticore. At least for how it was possible knowing someone back there '' '' Did they? ''
This surprised her. Max remembered asking Alec if he knew Lia when the girl arrived in TC. She remembered how casually he had dismissed their knowledge. Justifying it as job related. Not personally.
'' I can't tell if they were friends or not, but I know they were paired up on a lot of solo missions if it was necessary for a team of two. There were not many of us qualified for that kind of assignment to begin and they were quite good. The best ones, I think.''
'' I see '' It wasn't true. Max didn't see *it* , any thing *it* was, at all.
Gem stood upright, her eyes fixated on something on the background. '' There's a client down there. I will be back '' '' No forget, it's better if I go. Logan is waiting for me and I still have to do the shopping ''
Max stood upright too, moving to take money from her rucksack, but the other waved her away. '' Spare it, it's on the house'' '' Thank you then. See you around'' '' It'll be better ''
When Max got out of Gem's coffee shop, she wasn't very happy. Alec did it again.
They were long time friends. Hell, when she thought about it, he had been there for her even when Logan could not. She had saved his sorry ass more times than he cared about remembering. He had covered her back as she did his.
But every time, every single fucking time she thought she had figured him out, Alec went and did something that demonstrated irrefutably that she didn't know at all how his head worked.
She hated it, relying on someone so elusive.
His hearth was a wild place, like a kite without threads. With any insult and any feeling, she couldn't reach it.
Rachel lived there .
But Max Guevara was nothing more than a familiar stranger to it.
Gem frowned as she poured the black and deliciously bitter liquid in the Max's cup.
'' It's already the third one '' '' Then be happy for the business ''
Max kept sipping her coffee as she wanted to taste every single drop.
'' They will be fine even if I don't over stimulate your nervous system with caffeine '' '' Glad to hear it. How's your girl ? '' '' In love with Joshua. He's the perfect nanny ''
Emphasizing on last the word, Gem braced herself toward her client with a fond smile on her face, and the other woman chucked, remembering how the young mothers of TC leaned on the large dogman in those busy days of peace.
'' You haven't been around for awhile'' Gem covertly inquired, resting her chin on her hand, obviously in the mood for small talk.
'' I've been busy'' '' With your Ordinary, I take ? '' Max considered making it clear that it wasn't fair to expect that humans stop considering them biological walking weapons if they themselves kept marking the difference between their species, but then decided to let it run. Her friend meant no offense and it wouldn't be the most appropriate time for considerations like that, judging by the offensive graffiti she had spotted on the roller shutter of the coffee shop.
'' Yeah. I helped him out with a lot of his Eyes Only job '' She didn't mention that it was mainly a matter of maintaining social connections. For some reason, she thought Gem would laugh at the very idea. Who knew it was so important staying within *the* circle to do what Logan did ?
'' Good . '' - the other woman replied, not very interested, looking at her speculatively before asking if she had known about Jan. Max remembered Jan well, even if she didn't know her very much. Female X5, six foot tall, reddish blonde hair habitually tied in a loose knot for comfort, high cheekbones and herb- green eyes, naturally elegant. Sticking out even among the X. She used see her giving the X7 combat lessons. '' I don't think '' Max answered, distracting herself temporarily from her intense love for the smell and taste of coffee . '' She's pregnant with twins '' '' No way '' Max never saw Jan expressing real interest about anything. She made what was told to her and preferably by herself. End of the story. The woman was a loner and made a point of staying that way. Jan with kids in the way? A strange picture, indeed. She didn't look like the type to nourish cosy dreams of motherhood. '' Yes way, it was heat. '' '' Ah '' - Max paused, returning to her coffee- '' Who's the dad? '' '' Who do you think ? Alec '' This definitely got the Max's attention , who violently put down her cup and grimaced, her eyebrows raised as she stared at her coffee-supplier indignantly. '' What ?! '' Gem looked awfully satisfied with herself, whatever were the reasons for her actual playful mood. '' I was just joking! It's Drue. Don't you remember that he's the one who got away with Jan before her cycle? ''
For helping disastrous accidents due at the prompt responsiveness of the males to pheromones, the women of Terminal City took care of leaving the place for the entire duration of their heat cycles. They frequently chose a mate to bring along among their fellow citizen. It was a lot like when humans gave flowers and chocolate on Valentine's day.
'' Drue? Uh, yes, I remember '' What a relief.
Drue was a hunk of X4 who Max knew because he had volunteered often for whatever chore the command of TC needed . Tall, raven-haired, Indian- complexion and massive- looking, eyes of the exact color of steel, the man was certainly built from Manticore to look at pleasantly to watch, even if not in the pretty-boy way Alec was. But certainly better fitting with the image of father to be.
'' Ours did a lot of analysis. If you recall, even Kiarra had un-identical twins after being put in the Breeding program from Renfro during her heat. Reagan too, although one of hers was born dead. It turns out that given our partly animal physiology, chances of multiple ovulation are pretty high during heat if you aren't under birth-control for an extended time''
'' That's interesting '' - Max commented, caressing the edge of the cup absently while she absorbed this newest piece of information . Why hadn't anybody thought about informing her too? She for sure would've appreciated the courtesy.
'' You can bet I won't be forgetting my pill anytime soon. ''
Max smiled, curious but content about Gem's peculiarly relaxed manner. '' Drue, You had me all alarmed for a moment there, imagining two little Alecs running around unleashed for the world!''
Gem chuckled, her eyes dancing with merriment. '' Not the case. He already has his hands full with Lia '' '' Lia? '' The first visual image Max had of Lia was of her eyes: cerulean with many freckles of violet, cold and expressionless most of the time, sometimes lightened with feminine malice. The second one was a full frontal of her face: fine rosy lips, delicate features not exceptionally striking but soft. The face of a doll, framed from golden straight hair falling tenderly on her shoulders. As Deceptively innocuous-looking as enigmatic and cold-blooded, this was Lia.
'' Yeah, Lia. They are dating- Gem paused, frowning at Max - Hasn't he told you? ''
Max made a face.
'' Alec doesn't date! You know what it's like with him: go, bag them and forget their names. And all in one night! '' But if he was changing regime, she would know. They were friends. He told her about Rachel. She told him about Ben.
Gem shook her head. '' To say the truth, I was getting worried. He hasn't been fooling around for awhile. Too busy with all our recent admistration - troubles, I think but still .. I was relieved when Lia started standing by him at command. At least she's a bit more social than Mole, which in those cases is an added bonus. '' Max took a moment to picture Lia beside Alec. Lia was small like she was, more physically endowed. The other female X5 was very different from her smartass companion: genuinely carefree, often quiet but silently astute. She heard stories about Lia in TC. Stories from Manticore. Stories to make the blood of an Ordinary run cold.
'' So are they an item? '' Gem nodded, fleetingly distracted by the sight of another costumer entering. '' So it would seem. It ain't official yet but they stick together a lot lately. Lia accompanied him to the Gathering last week. '' It sounded serious. Max had called Alec to ask if he needed her to accompany him but Alec had told her that he could handle it by himself.
'' It seems a bit sudden to me '' She said it more to herself than to Gem. Alec had never demonstrated anything but indifference toward Lia' s charm.
'' I wouldn't say. They knew each other quite well in Manticore. At least for how it was possible knowing someone back there '' '' Did they? ''
This surprised her. Max remembered asking Alec if he knew Lia when the girl arrived in TC. She remembered how casually he had dismissed their knowledge. Justifying it as job related. Not personally.
'' I can't tell if they were friends or not, but I know they were paired up on a lot of solo missions if it was necessary for a team of two. There were not many of us qualified for that kind of assignment to begin and they were quite good. The best ones, I think.''
'' I see '' It wasn't true. Max didn't see *it* , any thing *it* was, at all.
Gem stood upright, her eyes fixated on something on the background. '' There's a client down there. I will be back '' '' No forget, it's better if I go. Logan is waiting for me and I still have to do the shopping ''
Max stood upright too, moving to take money from her rucksack, but the other waved her away. '' Spare it, it's on the house'' '' Thank you then. See you around'' '' It'll be better ''
When Max got out of Gem's coffee shop, she wasn't very happy. Alec did it again.
They were long time friends. Hell, when she thought about it, he had been there for her even when Logan could not. She had saved his sorry ass more times than he cared about remembering. He had covered her back as she did his.
But every time, every single fucking time she thought she had figured him out, Alec went and did something that demonstrated irrefutably that she didn't know at all how his head worked.
She hated it, relying on someone so elusive.
His hearth was a wild place, like a kite without threads. With any insult and any feeling, she couldn't reach it.
Rachel lived there .
But Max Guevara was nothing more than a familiar stranger to it.
