A Final Farewell
Chapter 8
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters they all belong to James Cameron and Fox.
A/N: I want to thank all of you who have reviewed my stories. Sorry for the long wait, there was a major catastrophe with my computer that involved smoke and a very fried motherboard. I couldn't retrieve any of the previous chapter that I had written from it, but I think this actually turned out better then the old one. There are only a few more chapters in this story, not sure how many but most likely 3 or 4. This story has turned out to be longer then I had originally planned because I kept getting ideas of where I could take the story and then I take it that way and I actually liked the way it turned out so please take the time to tell me what you think of the story as a whole so far. I have a pretty good idea of where I am taking the story right now and how I am going to end it, but if any of you have any ideas of anything I can do to make the story more enjoyable or easier to read (more details, fewer details, shorter chapters, longer chapter ect…) those are always welcome. So as usual enjoy and on with the story.
A/N 2: I want to know if any of you are happy having parts where Logan is in the story or do you think that I should just stick to Max (Carmen) side of the story. Please give me feedback on what you think.
Carmen entered the facility through the front door and passed through the security checkpoint, smiling at the guards on her way through. She made her way down the long hallway to her boss's office. Knocking first to announce her presences she entered the room slowly.
"Oh, Carmen please come in." Renfro said to her. "I want to congratulate you on a job well done." She turned a briefcase towards Carmen filled to the brim with money. "This is your cut from the job, we got confirmed report not to mention that it is all over the news that Triano is dead."
"Thank you ma'am, it means a lot that you think so highly of my work. I hope that I can be of future service to the agency and anyone else who might require my help. Now if that is all that you needed then I will take my leave. I will be in my room if anyone needs me."
"Before you go Carmen, there is a job that will need to be taken care of and soon." Picking up a file from her desk she flipped through it and showed Carmen a picture of a pair of eyes surrounded by the words "Streaming Freedom Video".
"Who's this?" Carmen wanted to know, taking the picture from Renfro's hand.
"This is the man that could blow everything that we have achieved. He knows information about the facility that he shouldn't." Pulling another picture from the folder it showed the man's full face and body. Carmen thought to herself 'Damn he's sexy'.
Snapping out of her thoughts she asked, "How? I didn't think that anyone would be able to hack into the system."
"They didn't, actually it's your fault," she said slowly. When Carmen looked at her disbelievingly she continued, "You used to know this man before you worked for us full time. He's a freelance reporter who does the Eyes Only hacks, you revealed to him information about us, but you would not remember that." she stopped and looked inquiringly at Carmen who's eyes were very wide.
"But why would I do that?" she said a little defensively.
"You were very close to him, we believe intimately close and that is why you gave up your secrets. He asked you questions and you answered not wanting to lie to him."
"But-"
"It's all right, we're not mad at you, but we believe that he is going to use the information that he learned to reveal this facility and what we do here. We need you to eliminate him; this order has come direct from the higher ups. If the location of this facility is revealed it will have deadly consequences."
"I understand." Carmen knew that she couldn't be so cold as to kill someone that she had once knew but if she couldn't remember him what was the difference? "When shall I carry this out?" she said through clenched teeth.
"You need to leave tonight. I know you just got back but I can assure you that you will be paid handsomely for your troubles."
"Let me guess, it's back to Seattle for me, right." Carmen prodded.
"Yes I'm afraid so."
"Why didn't you tell me on the phone when I called you from Seattle?" she said trying to not let the disdain she felt for the women.
"We didn't know the order just came in from my superiors an hour ago. I tried to call you to tell you to stay but you phone was off."
"Actually I was ignoring it but I guess that was a pretty stupid idea. Because then I would still be there and I wouldn't have to put unwanted miles on my car."
"I'm sorry if it inconveniences you but you must leave within the hour if you are going to make it back to Seattle in time to get the job done tonight."
"They want it done tonight, I'm not even sure if that is possible to accomplish in one night." she said forcefully.
"I know but they need it done they have information saying that he is going to attempt a transmission tonight. They aren't sure if it's going to be the one that they fear but they can't take that chance. They need it done tonight."
"So when you said they needed it done soon you meant tonight?"
"Yes, pretty much."
"All right I better get going, the guns in the trunk I just have to change my clothes into something a little less business like."
"Good, I expect a report from you when the job is done." Pausing she handed Carmen a file folder. "Everything that you need to know is in there, where he lives, what his favorite food is, everything."
"Okay, so I'll get going then." Rolling her eyes Carmen snatched the file from Renfro's hand and proceeded out the door. It was just like Renfro to do this to her, no sleep in two days not that she necessarily needed it but no time to relax in that long. She passed people she knew and some that she didn't but smiled at all of them. One in particular stopped to talk to her, he looked angry.
"Max where have you been?"
Looking around Carmen said, "You mean me?"
"Who else do you think I'm talking to?"
"It sure as hell isn't me. My name is Carmen not Max." Carmen said walking away.
He came up behind her and grabbed her forearm. "Max what the hell are you playing at? This isn't funny, where have you been."
"Why should I answer to you? I don't even know you."
"Max yes you do, it's me Alec what the hell happened to you, where have you been for the past week?" He put his hand on her shoulder forcing her to look at him.
"What the hell do you want? Just leave me alone." She said moving out of his grasp, turned and walked away.
He ran up behind her and blocked her path. Carmen who had, had enough of this moved to the side to get past him but her followed her. "I hope you know that you are tap dancing on razor blades right about now." Pushing him to the side she continued to walk away, glancing back once to see him staring at her with his mouth hanging open.
Wondering why he had called her Max preyed on her mind until she got to her room. She used the key that she kept in her jacket pocket in her wallet she unlocked her door. Flipping on the light switch that was on the right wall the hallway was filled with light. Going into the bathroom she looked at herself in the mirror. She had dark circles under her eyes and her hair had gone flat despite the pounds of hairspray that she used to keep it from flying away. Picking up the brush that was perched on the edge of the sink she ran it through her tangled hair. She didn't bother with hairspray; her hair was just going to get screwed up again from the wind in Seattle.
Going to her room she grabbed black clothes out of the dresser and threw them on. Turning off all the lights in the bare apartment she proceeded again to her car for the second time that day. The metallic blue convertible was Carmen's pride and joy. She had bought it off the Internet and had not bothered to consult Renfro first. Renfro said that such a color was liable for her to be noticed. Carmen had come back with Renfro's own words; the best place to hide was in plain sight. Not that Carmen actually believed that but it sounded good at the time.
Starting the car Carmen loved the hum of the engine, putting down the top even though it was cold, she turned up the heat as far as it would go. It didn't make sense not even to herself but she loved the wind in her hair, but didn't feel like freezing to death. It didn't matter anyway Manticore paid for the gas anyway; she could waste as much as she felt like wasting.
Cruising down the interstate in the fading light the sun reflected off the car giving it an orange glow. She got weird stares from the people that she passed by, it wasn't everyday that you saw someone as young as her self, driving a new sports car. Rich people usually drove such cars, and considering the sum of money that Carmen had acquired during the last job, she in no way considered herself rich.
~*~
Two hours later Carmen parked her car in front of the Fogle Towers, she wasn't exactly sure how she was going to approach the job, she had scoped out all possible angles that she could shot from but none of them seemed to have a clear path to the penthouse apartment he lived in. She would have to get into his apartment and shot him at close rang and hope that no one would come running.
She took the elevator to his floor hoping that he wasn't checking the surveillance system in the building for signs of intruders. Taking the lock pick out of her coat pocket she inserted it into the lock and jiggled it around noiselessly. The lock gave way and she turned the knob. Pulling the gun out of the waist of her pants she opened the door cautiously making sure that he hadn't heard the door open.
Creeping slowly down the hall she looked both ways before she crossed to the living room, she heard a voice coming from a closed off section of the apartment. Walking slowly around the apartment she was almost to the one side when a board squeaked under her weight. Groaning inwardly she looked for some place to hide. She ran over to the farthest side of the couch and crouched down. She heard heavy footsteps coming closer until they were almost on top of her. She rolled out from behind the couch only to be tackled from behind by her target.
"Who are you, what do you want with me?" The gun had dropped out of Carmen's hands when he had tackled her she was trying desperately to get out from underneath him and get the gun that was just out of reach. Instead he reached forward and grabbed the gun. Getting up off of her he said, "Get on your knees and put your hands behind your head." Much to his surprise she obeyed. "I ask again, who are you?"
Flipping her hair off her face, Carmen glared up at him venomously. "I'm the woman who will be killing you." Making a quick movement she grabbed the extra gun that she had stashed in her boot for occasions such as these. Cocking it she got to her feet and pointed it at him.
"I figured someone would come and try to kill me because of the transmission, I just never figured that it would be you Max." He said harshly, putting emphasis on the word Max.
"You know that is the second time I've been called Max today and it is really starting to piss me off. My name is Carmen, Car-men, say it with me now Carmen, not Max whoever the hell she is."
"That was your name, before Manticore worked its major and turned you into some kind of heartless bitch."
"I'm not heartless, I'm just simply a bitch." Logan had the other gun aimed at her. Carmen in a motion to quick for Logan to see she went into a roundhouse kick and kicked the gun out of his hand. He went to move for it but Carmen counteracted by aiming the small gun at his private area. "If you ever have hopes of having children I would suggest you leave the gun right where it is."
"You're not going to shoot me." Logan stated. He stepped forward and watched as Carmen took one back.
"Yes I would." Carmen said regaining her composure. Without a second thought she pulled the trigger on the gun. The sound ricocheted through the apartment.
A/N: Woo-hoo a little M/L interaction, there will be a whole lot more in the next chapter I can only hope, if the plot bunnies don't take over which they have been known to do from time to time.