Chapter 18: Monument (Original Edit)

Morning came and with it arrived a pale shade of silvery grey that enveloped the city of Seattle. The air was remarkably fresh, last night's storm a kind of purification. The streets were still coated in large puddles and streams gushed along the roadside. Drips still fell from the roof edges of worn buildings and a thin mist hung casually in the air. The city was practically deserted; the majority of people still fast asleep, blissfully unaware of what had transpired the previous night.

Max sat atop the space needle gazing out across the wide panorama before her. She sat holding Logan's hand in her own in a comfortable silence, each finding solace in the others company. Max took a deep breath, sucking in a large quantity of moisture-enriched air, and turned to face Logan who still stared blankly ahead. He soon felt her gaze and turned to face her. He smiled and gave Max's hand a re-assuring squeeze.

"Did I say I was sorry about Asha?" Max asked, her face falling slightly. She had seen the lifeless body of the petite blonde and she was concerned about how Logan was handling things. Sure she and Asha had been love rivals in the past but Max knew that she was a good person and she did not deserve to become another one of Gray's victims. Ames White however: Max could let that one slide.

"No, but thank you…I'll miss her and Alec and…"

"Everyone," Max cut in, looking to the heavens with a faint hope of seeing their fallen friends.

"Yeah, it's been quite a year hasn't it?"

"Yes it has. We've lost so much and I feel like I've been dragged through hell and back…and then back again."

"At least we got to meet the devil…sort of," Logan offered.

Max laughed. "Yeah and he was quite the bastard!"

"Wasn't he just?"

"At least we still have each other," Max said, taking her turn to give his hand a re-assuring squeeze, being careful to remember not to apply too much force; she was still adapting to her new found super strength.

"Yeah and that's something right?" Logan said

"It's more than something…it's everything." Max smiled and there came a gentle pause. "So, what was it like to die?" Max asked with a small laugh.

"You know, I don't really remember," Logan shook his head, "it was so weird you know, kinda hard to explain. To be honest I don't really know why I'm still here."

Looking out to the blurred horizon, Max breathed a heavy sigh and felt the cold comfort of the gentle breeze massage her face and play with her hair.

"Max," Logan sounded serious now, "I know what Gray was, I understand why he came into existence. I also know that last night I…well I died. Now, something tells me you know something that I don't."

Max turned to Logan and grinned. "That's because I do."

"Well would you care to enlighten me, I mean, what exactly happened last night?"

"Alright Logan I will try and explain things to you."

"Thank you so much," Logan replied rather sarcastically.

Max laughed. "Well we know that Sandeman wanted to create a special transgenic, one which he could use to stop the Conclave. I guess I was that transgenic but I came with a side effect, namely Gray."

Logan nodded. "Yeah, you were like opposite sides of the same coin; good and evil."

"Yup, two powerful but incomplete transgenics rather than one perfect one. Gray was, lets face it, pure evil and I…well I, believe it or not, am the embodiment of all things good."

"I can believe it," Logan cut in. Max smiled at him warmly.

"Yeah I know," Max paused feeling Logan's loving eyes wondering over her body, she giggled a little girlishly. "Anyway, Sandeman realised what had happened and recognised that I was the messiah that he wanted. However, he also knew that if I were to defeat the Conclave, I would first have to kill Gray and become whole. Therefore, he arranged for a prophecy to appear on my body telling me of this great evil that I had to stop. Of course I couldn't read the stupid thing and so when Gray turned up I had no idea what was going on."

"But now you understand?"

"Yeah, after I killed Gray, I heard this voice inside my head. I'm certain it was Sandeman. He explained everything, even apologised for Gray."

"So now you're complete you're like what, just as strong and fast as Gray was?"

"More so, his power was added on top of my own…I am complete; the perfect genetically enhanced killing machine designed to save the world."

"Jesus! I hope I never get on your bad side."

"Well make sure you cater to my every whim and you'll do fine."

Logan laughed. "I'll try, I will definitely do my best but not because I am afraid of you."

"No?"

"No I'll do it because I love you."

"Well that's good to hear."

"Why?"

"Cos I love you too."

The air fell silent as Max and Logan stared at each. The love between them was now complete and it seemed to drift in the air between them.

"I'm still worried Max," Logan broke the silence, "if Sandeman made you this powerful then the Conclave must be cooking up something really bad."

"It's called the Coming," Max paused to run different horror scenarios of just what might be coming. She shuddered and continued to explain. "I think it is like an accumulation of all their weird little breeding activities, probably their version of me. So, if we thought Gray was bad…"

"Then we aint seen nothing yet," Logan finished. There was another pause and, feeling the mood dropping, Logan decided to change the topic. "So just how, exactly, was I resurrected then?"

Max looked over at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Lets just say you have your own guardian angel."

"That doesn't really explain why…"

"Does it have to?"

Logan's eyes glowed warmly, "no I guess it doesn't."

Max got to her feet and Logan quickly followed suit. They turned and Logan put an arm round Max's shoulders as they looked down at a large slab of marble that had been driven into the concrete surface of the Space Needle. Max knelt down, kissed her hand lightly and then pressed her hands against the cold marble, fingering the carved inscription.

"I love you guys," she said quietly. "I'll miss you."

With that, Max returned to her feet.

"Come on lets go," Logan said with a nod of his head.

Max nodded and together they slowly began the ascent down. As they did a small ray of sunshine broke the thin layer of cloud above, highlighting the letters that were dented into the marble:

To my family and friends who are no longer with me. I love each and every one of you and I carry your strength and belief with me always. You are all a part of me and you made me complete. I miss you. Love…Max Guevera.

Max reached the ground first and helped Logan down. He seemed a little embarrassed but made no comment. Hand-in-hand, they walked to his car where they found Jess waiting patiently.

"Hey," Max said when they reached her. "Hope we weren't too long."

"Not at all, looks like it might be a nice day." Jess said looking up at the pale sky.

"I'll believe it when I see it," Logan retorted while unlocking the driver's side of his car.

Max grabbed Jess by the arm and took her to the side. "Listen," she felt strangely awkward about what she was about to say, "I just wanted to say…you know…thanks, for what you did last night."

Jess smiled. "No need, it was my pleasure. Besides it's a start right, the beginning of the road to redemption?"

"Quite a big step," Max slapped Jess's arm. "Listen I was hoping I could ask you to do me a favour."

"Sure."

"I was hoping you could look after this place while Logan and I are not around."

Jess looked at Max a little confused.

"It's just bad things seem to happen here and I want it to be in one piece when in one piece when we get back," Max explained, "it' still our home you see."

"I understand. Consider it done."

"Thank you…well, I guess I'll see you." Max offered Jess a hand that she slapped casually, their differences now fading to where they belonged; the past.

"See you," Jess replied with a warm smile.

Max turned and got into the car with Logan. They waved goodbye to Jess and then set off on the long road to Canada.

Jess watched the car tail away into the distance and she sighed. Looking around, Jess began to feel at home. Seattle, she thought, not a bad place to hang out…I could set up here.

"I can't wait to see Joshua again," Max said excitedly.

"I don't know Max…I'm still concerned about this whole Conclave thing. I mean do you really think we should be taking holiday time."

Max rolled her eyes. "Jeez, Logan don't worry…we got time."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's time we start living a bit, don't you think?"

"You know what," Logan turned to Max and smiled, "I think you' re right."

Just then a blinding ray of sunshine erupted over the horizon and filled the car with a blinding light of warmth.

"Wow," Max cried, "looks like Jess might have been right; it is going to be a good day!"

"About bloody time," Logan agreed.

With her spirits now running at an all time high, Max leaned her head against the side window and squinted her eyes in the presence of sunshine. The dark was over now, in every sense, and at long last Max was able to breathe in contentment. For the first time in a long time, Max felt like things would be ok…for a little while at least. She looked over at Logan, and for now that feeling was more than enough.

Ok there you go, the alternate and original ending. I kind of feel like my story has now been packaged like a DVD and I apologise for the lack of commentary but I didn't have time to record the track! Anyways whichever ending you like best then you can use that. Right well now I have really sold myself out but fuck it, give peeps what they want and all that. Right…hmmm…bye bye!