As Yet Untitled
Chapter 2
A/N: I'm glad you liked the last chapter, I'm very appreciative with the feedback that I got. I guess I should say that this takes place a few months after Freak Nation.
It had been a routine food run, they had snuck out the one sewer that wasn't guarded and were going to get enough food to last them for at least a month, who knew when they would have an opportunity to make another run. They seemed to be getting new arrivals everyday, and the food supply was getting smaller and smaller. A truck had been stationed at the sewer exit. Logan had called in a favor he had contacts that had been able to get them the massive amount of food that Terminal City required to operate. They had picked up the food, and had been returning when White's people had ambushed the truck that they had been using.
Alec and Mole had gotten out alive, but just barely, they had stumbled through the sewers holding on to just a thread of life. Alec had been shot three times, twice in the stomach and once in the right shoulder. Mole had been shot twice, once high in the left shoulder and once in his right leg. It had been days before she had found out what happened to the others that had not made it. Logan had been among those killed.
She had told him not to go, that the rest could handle it, but he insisted and she hadn't done anything to stop him. They found his body and the bodies of the others, Zue, Trace, and Reno, in an alley a quarter of a mile outside the perimeter of Terminal City. She had gone looking with some of the others to find them. Raid had seen them first and had tried to keep her away, telling the others to hold her back, so she wouldn't see the horrible sight that lie before them.
But it was useless nothing could hold her back, not for anything. When she saw his body she had gone crazy throwing things and screaming, asking whatever higher being there was, why, over and over that's all she asked. The others looked amongst themselves as Max held Logan's limp form in her arms, they had discovered the cure to the virus months before, when Max had finally cracked the code.
It had been an accident, an accident that had saved them a lifetime of heartache and suffering. Common knowledge was that prolonged exposure to a disease would build up resistance. After extensive research on Logan's part they had discovered the same was true also for genetically targeted diseases. It had been hard for Max to intentionally touch Logan, the first time had been small touch on his palm. The second a clasping of the hands, the third was a kiss, something that they had not shared in almost a year. Each time was less severe than the time before, putting Logan farther and farther away from the prospect of death. Until finally on the third try nothing had happened, not the sniffles, not a cough, not anything, the virus had been officially eradicated.
They had carried the bodies through the sewers and had laid them on tables covering their mangled remains with sheets so no one could witness the devastation that had befallen them. They planned a proper burial, even had a wake, where people could pay their respects to their fallen comrades. It seemed as though every member of the Terminal City family had passed through the room hoping that it was some sort of lie, that it had all been a mistake. But bodies never lie, they were dead.
Max had no part in the burial, it was the rest of them that planned it, in a little patch of trees, the only living thing left inside the fence. One of the craftier transgenics had carved headstones for the four dead, and another had nailed together crude caskets to place the bodies in for burial. Max hadn't spoken to anyone living since the day in the alley, and the others were starting to worry about her. They needed her to lead, and she just wasn't capable of it at the moment.
Watching him lie there not moving and not breathing, was the hardest thing that she ever had to do. It was during those few days that she sat by his side, she made her decision. Day and night you could find her by his side. Except for Alec anyone who wanted to talk to her was turned away. Even then she let him do the talking only occasionally nodding, she wouldn't even look at him.
He told her what happened that day, "They attacked so suddenly, shooting out the tires causing him to lose control of the truck, it crashed into the side of a brick building. The soldiers surrounded us pulling open the doors and dragging everyone out into the alley. They were armed with AK-47 machine guns, and we only had a few pistols and those were stashed back in the truck. I didn't see what happened to Logan or the others, but I heard the shots. I got hit in the shoulder first, but I kept trying to get to them, but it didn't matter, they were already down. I was hit two more times before I was finally forced to the ground. I didn't hear them leave, I only heard the blood rushing through my ears, they must have thought we were all dead.
I passed out because the next thing I remember is Mole standing over me shaking me awake. We limped together to the sewer entrance, we made it almost halfway, next thing I remember is waking up in the medic wing. I was in so much pain, I couldn't think straight, so when Gem asked me where the others were I couldn't tell her. Then I remembered what happened and it was like it was all a dream. But seeing you bring their bodies in made it all real. I'm sorry Max, for not being able to save him, I know how much you loved him... Do you want to be alone now?"
He left shortly after leaving her alone with her thoughts, that had been that morning, now she stood facing her fate alone. The sky opened up and let down a torrent of rain, soaking everything in its path. She heard the soldiers behind the fence groan with frustration, they were praying that the rain would stop.
Waiting was the hardest, because it made her question if she was doing the right thing, her head reasoned that she was, but her heart screamed for her to turn around and go back. She tried to tell her heart and her head to quiet down, but there were still those nagging voices arguing. Never having been a patient person before didn't make things any easier, she wasn't accustomed to waiting.
Looking back at the buildings of Terminal City, she thought about all the people who counted on her. They counted on her to make decisions that were in their best interests, and she tried with the best of her ability but sometimes it just wasn't enough. Now she had the chance to finally do something that she knew was right, and no one was going to stop her from doing it.
Reaching up to wipe the water droplets from the collar of her jacket, she watched them fall into the surrounding puddles of standing water. Cascading ripples spreading bigger and bigger until finally they reached the end of their constraints and stopped. It was almost like Terminal City in a way, the population grew steadily every day, and she knew that sooner or later they would out grow Terminal City. All she hoped was that when that day finally came, it was at a time when they might finally be accepted. That they may be able to integrate themselves into society without having to worry for their lives.
"Well, well, well, finally smartened up 452?" she heard from behind her, she would recognize that mocking voice anywhere. "I knew you'd finally come to see things my way."
A/N: I'm having a bit of a problem starting the beginning of the next chapter, so it may be awhile, forgive me. But in the meanwhile hope you liked the chapter, please review, thanks.