by: iluvaqt@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: As per default chapter.
iluvaqt's Notes: please comment. I love reading your views. :)
Chapter 2 -
Saturday, November 21st 2020
Bedroom, Krit/Syl's house
It was around 5 o'clock in the morning when Syl heard it. Shooting out of bed and grabbing her hockey stick in the space of a second flat, she was in a defensive stance when it dawned on her where and who the noise was coming from.
With a sleepy groan, Krit rolled over and tried to recover the blankets that had been rudely stripped off him. Through half-closed lids he caught sight of Syl and was quickly shocked fully awake.
"What, where? What is it?" he demanded, his voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes darted to the window, the door and back to her again and Syl couldn't resist a laugh at the comical scene. A snicker slipped out and as she clamped her hands over her mouth in an effort to silence her pending laughter, a loud snort escaped.
Krit shot her an annoyed glance and narrowed his eyes disapprovingly. "What's so funny? I don't think there's anything worth laughing over." He pumped up his pillow and buried his face in it. Turning his head to peek at her, he gave her a dirty look. "Thanks for waking me up," he said disgruntled.
Crawling back in beside him, she drew up the covers and snuggled up to him. "I'm sorry," she giggled softly. "Not used to having a kid in the house. Leo woke me up. I don't know what I thought it was. Bluey, maybe. Leo doesn't cry near as loud as I imagined. I'm not surprised you slept through it."
"Who says I slept through it," Krit said yawning.
"Oh you…" Syl picked up her pillow and hit him over the head with it. "And then you wonder why I don't want us having a dog. You lazy lump of…"
Krit rolled over and put his hand over her mouth, effectively cutting off any further comment she was going to throw at him. He looked down into her eyes and saw the fight ignite into something else. Slowly lowering his hand to cup her face, he dipped his head lower, hovering a mere breath away from her lips.
Syl tilted her chin and parted her lips, waiting for him to kiss her. It never came. A knowing glint sparkled in his eyes as he pulled away from her, and she hit him hard this time. Hating how easily he could have her begging for his kiss.
The sting of her blow to his chest wore off almost immediately. He'd have a bruise for the rest of the day. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings. He was just having fun with her.
Perhaps if she weren't so easy to bait, he wouldn't enjoy it so much. There was only one way Syl showed hurt, and that was masking it with aggression. And she'd go to her grave before she'd apologise too. Which made their relationship all the more difficult in his book. A good thing he wasn't as proud as she was. He knew, that just because she couldn't say sorry, it didn't mean she valued their relationship any less than he did. She just couldn't say the words. He'd learnt to read her actions instead. Which he'd concluded, were a lot more meaningful than words could ever be.
Pulling her close even as she resisted, he nuzzled her neck. "I was just teasing," he said, kissing the exposed flesh just above her nightshirt. "Do you still love me?"
He asked with the tone that cut right through her defenses and melted her body to his. It made him sound a though her answer would make or break his world. Krit was anything but vulnerable. He had the strongest character, a resolve to rival Zack's. He was a lot stronger than she was. Without him, she wouldn't have survived Manticore. And even now, there was a huge void in her days when they were apart. And he knew how to make her feel important. Needed. A smile played on her lips, and she curled to him. She wouldn't let him know he was completely forgiven for that little stunt just yet. Repentant Krit was too much fun.
Over breakfast, Syl happily hummed to herself as she fried the eggs and sausages in a pan. A hot breakfast was usually reserved for Sundays, but they had guests. They could always have blueberry pancakes tomorrow.
Jondy walked into her kitchen, her hair damp and already neatly brushed. She wore brown stretch pants and a very plush-looking knit turtleneck. "Morning," she said with a smile, as she poured a glass of orange juice.
"Good morning," Syl smiled back. "Did you sleep okay?" Something that had been on her mind most of the morning - after she couldn't go back to sleep - was how many sleepless night's Jondy had.
With a weary grin, Jondy tilted her head thoughtfully. "I think Leo enjoyed having a huge bed to roll around in. I tried to sleep, couldn't. I don't really need it though. Remember all those nights Max and I used to stay up and it used to drive you guys crazy."
Syl grinned at the memory. There were a few things about their time at Manticore that weren't all bad. Most nights she would discreetly edge her cot closer to Krit's, just so she could easily reach out to him. From the day she'd joined the unit, he'd always been there. Watching over her, encouraging her. She had always felt a mutual connection with the boy with dark eyes. Soulful eyes that became cold mirrors when their jailors were present. He reserved his kindness and his softer nature for her alone. She had felt special to him for as long as she could remember.
When Jondy mentioned Max, Syl only just caught herself from talking about her. Something stopped her. What she wasn't sure. She just thought it wasn't right to talk about Max. Maybe it was the fact that Zack had made her swear not keep contact with her. "I remember," Syl said in what she hoped was an easy manner. "I still envy the fact that you don't seem to need sleep."
Taking a sip of her juice, Jondy craned her neck to look into the lounge. Leo was still on his blanket when she'd left him. He was happily pulling on his feet, rolling from side to side. She gratefully took the plate of food Syl offered her and wondered after her brother's whereabouts. It was just after 8 o'clock. She'd already dressed and fed Leo an hour ago. "Where's Krit?"
"He's still snoring. The luxuries of working in the recreation sector," Syl said rolling her eyes. "He'll make an appearance around 9. I'm thinking of going into town after lunch to get groceries for the week. Do you wanna join me?"
Jondy shook her head. "I'll hang here. It's a bit cold out for Leo."
Syl was about to protest that Leo wasn't the average baby, but decided against it. It wasn't her place to say how Jondy should bring him up. It might be better for him, being raised as a normal child. Maybe he'd fit in better with others if he were brought up never knowing any different. Scraping the last batch of eggs and sausages onto a plate, she put the dish in the oven.
"I'm off for a shower, if you need anything just help yourself."
Jondy nodded in acknowledgement and Syl left the kitchen.
The study, Syl's house
It was around midday. She'd spent most of the morning on the phone tracking down her once-dictator. She had to take her hat off to him, if he didn't want to be found it took a hell-of-a-lot to find him. Kind of put into perspective how much they meant to him. He'd dedicated years of his life to looking for them. And it wasn't about the money or the Committee. Syl learned that much working with the man. Despite his human weaknesses and the mistakes he'd made in their childhood, his dream wasn't so much of stretch from her own. Why send an army and lose hundreds, when you could send ten perfect soldiers and lose none. The idea wasn't a dream anymore. They were the reality. And the answer. Why not send the best? And like she always said - every chance she got - she was the best. She'd be flat lying if she said she hadn't enjoyed the espionage assignments Lydecker had given her after they took down Manticore.
If it hadn't been for the next few sentences Lydecker spoke, Syl might have been happily reflecting rather than concentrating on not loosing her cool.
"My sources tell me that Max was transplanted and that not long after she recovered, she escaped…"
Max is alive.
Those few words circled through her mind. He'd conveniently neglected to tell her this vital bit of information. Why? Was he planning something behind her back? What else did he know? Syl was pacing the small study with a look of pure fury on her face. Her knuckles were white with tension as she gripped the cellular phone in her fingers. Her annoyance with the person on the other end of the line wasn't anything new, however the news he was feeding her today made her want to reach down the line and shove the receiver down his throat.
"So you knew that Max escaped how long ago?" Syl asked with deadly calm.
Lydecker, obviously unconcerned by her hostility, coolly replied, "There have been other circumstances that have taken priority over my informing you of Max's whereabouts. However, since you seem eager to grill me for information, I'll tell you everything I know about the others."
Syl wondered what he meant when he referred to 'the others', but she held her tongue. As far as she was concerned, he shouldn't know anything but the current whereabouts of Max, Krit and herself. Otherwise, why hadn't he pulled up Jondy and the rest of them before now?
"Max escaped three months after they transferred the base of operations to Seattle. Zack survived capture but he put a bullet in his head to give his heart to Max. When she escaped, they burned the place to the ground. Most of the prototypes escaped, now they've got a clean-up crew from the NSA in on the action. Which is why I haven't been in contact with you."
"But what about Zack?" Syl pressed. She refused to believe that her brother was dead. He gave his heart to Max. Her throat closed up over the images her imagination conjured up over what had driven her brother to make that sacrifice. Despite his protests, she realized just how much he loved Max. Even though it wasn't reciprocated, his love for Max seemed just as strong as hers was for Krit. If it came to that, she'd give her life for his in a heartbeat. When Lydecker finally answered, Syl let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
"Zack got transferred just before the place went down. They gave him cybernetic implants. He has trouble with timelines and memories. The bullet scrambled everything. After Manticore was dissolved, Zack got sold to a guy called British Eddy. I didn't get much out of him. You want to find out more, I suggest you ask Max."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Syl grated out. Thus far, he hadn't redeemed himself for keeping her in the dark over the status of her siblings. And by implicating Max, he just dusted any points he'd ever scored in her books.
"She was the one who relieved Eddy of his prize merchandise. And after Zack's Eye's Only indoctrination, I doubt Max would have kept him around for long…"
Lydecker didn't get to finish. Syl saw red. How could she? The phone was a tangle of shattered plastic and circuitry in her clenched fist. She threw the bits of useless electronic at the wall and stormed out of the study ready to do battle. She was grateful that her sister was alive, but boy had she better be ready to defend herself. She was in for the interrogation of her life.
Payphone outside a Mini-Mart/Max's Apartment
Good thing she needed to go for groceries. Or she would have had to make up some lame excuse to Jondy over why she needed to go out. Krit had dropped her on the corner and taken off to indoor soccer practice. The guys could only get together on weekends. Most of them worked odd hours during the week and four of them were married with family commitments. Minimum practices aside, the team did quite well. They'd made it to State twice - Krit doing his absolute best at not using his body's superior capabilities.
She had waited until he disappeared around the corner before calling. The last thing she needed was for him to get suspicious, and hang around. It wasn't that she was going to keep their conversation from him. She had every intention of telling him about Max, just as soon as she had a chance to grill her properly.
Syl gripped the payphone tightly, there was a cracking noise and she forcefully tried to relax her grip. A lapse in judgement had resulted in a destroyed cellular phone. Rather than risk abusing the house phone she decided to use a payphone. She still hadn't figured out how she was going to get another cell without Krit giving her a lecture over loosing her cool. The last thing she needed right now was a 'we're-not-made-of-money', speech. He was determined to live like a normal-law-abiding-couple. Which meant she wasn't allowed to go breaking-and-entering every time she needed something.
He had a point. In a town like Wallace, they'd be bound to draw attention if they started relieving neighbours of their possessions. Maybe a quick trip up State was in order. There had to be a few trailer parks and track stops along the way.
She kicked at a soda can while she waited impatiently for Max to pick up the phone. Her roommate, Original Cindy, said she was in the bathroom.
"Hey Syl…"
"I just want to get one thing straight right now. I'm glad you made it out of there and that you burned the place to the ground for good measure, but if you did anything to hurt Zack…"
"I'd never hurt Zack," Max interjected before her sister could continue ploughing headlong into what Max knew was a self-righteous threat. She couldn't have any idea of how hard it was for her to make that impossible decision. "You don't know the first thing about what happened."
"He put a gun to his head to save you," Syl said cuttingly. She couldn't believe that Max thought she could reason her way out of her selfishness. It was obvious that she chose to protect Logan and sent Zack away. How did she expect him to survive when he had no idea who he was? He literally gave his life for her and this was how she repaid him?
"He was going to kill Logan. I didn't have a choice. He doesn't remember. We gave him a normal life, a good job…"
"I don't know who you think you are. What right do you think you have doing that to Zack?" Syl growled. "How could you know what he wanted? You didn't even know how much he loved you."
Max didn't protest, she didn't know what to say. Everything Syl was saying rang all too true. She'd argued them herself. In the end, it had come down to the fact that Zack was a danger to Logan. She had made the hard decision, and even though she was beginning to regret it, there hadn't been any alternative at the time.
"Well, say something," Syl demanded.
"There wasn't anything I…" Max started helplessly.
"Like hell you didn't. I still don't get why you did it Max. He gave everything for you." Syl didn't even notice the angry tears streaming down her cheeks. How dare she send him away. How dare she make up a lie of a life for him.
"You don't understand…" Max couldn't bring Logan into the argument. It'd only add full to fire. Syl was already out for blood. Best keep the responsibility squarely on her own shoulders.
"Oh, I do. I actually believed you when I listened to you argue over Brin. I guess having a brother with as much of a memory as he does a face was just too much for you," Syl raged.
Max was beginning to seethe. There was only so much she'd let her sister get away with. She was going too far.
If she had known the root of Syl's anger, she might have had a better defense. She could have reasoned if it was her in the dilemma and Krit instead of Logan, would she have been so quick to condemn her actions.
"That had nothing to do with it," Max shot back.. "And you don't even know him now. He's been brainwashed, Syl. He nearly killed me." It was only a half-truth. If she hadn't been in the way of his objective, he wouldn't have lifted a finger to hurt her, but Syl didn't need to know that.
Syl softened a little. That fear had already entered her mind more than once. Zack could very well be a completely different person. She shouldn't have been so quick to shred her sister over a situation she had yet to experience for herself. "I just want to know where he is, Max. If you never want to see him again - fine. Just let those of us who do, get the chance."
Sighing, Max leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She knew it would come back to bite her in the ass someday. She just hadn't planned on it being so soon. "He's living on a ranch in Idaho. His alias is Adam Thompson. The guy who owns the ranch is Buddy Walker. Syl, I swear I'll never ask you to do anything for me ever again. Just please leave me out of this. He's sacrificed enough on my account. It'd be better if he never remembers me."
Syl was about to say, 'you're dead right there', but held her tongue. Feeling a little calmer, she gave her sister the assurance she wanted. "I can't guarantee that he won't have total recall. But I can promise I won't be the one to bring you up."
After hanging up the phone, Max sat for a long time staring at the handset. She wondered how good a decision had been to keep the information about Zack to herself. She reasoned that she had no way of contacting Syl. But then her conscience kicked in. If she really wanted to know, she could've asked Lydecker. He'd know how to contact Syl and Krit. Somehow she instinctively knew that. The guy knew more than they gave him credit for. There were so many things she'd kept to herself; Ben, Tinga's family, Jace and baby Max.
Zack was the only other person who knew about Case. It was a sure bet that he wouldn't have told a soul. He been adamant about what a huge mistake Tinga had made in having a family. He hadn't given Case more than a second glance. It pained her to think what Syl would say if she knew everything. She might be forgiven for not speaking up about Ben and Jace, but the fact that Tinga had a son… Max stopped kicking herself over the past. Case was safer not knowing them. The only person who knew of Case's new identity was Logan, and he'd be the last person to sell the kid out. With NSA breathing down their backs, the less exposure they had, the better.
Syl shoved her hands into the pockets of her denim jeans. She better head back to the house. The wind was picking up and it was a good ten blocks walk about to their street. She still hadn't really thought about what she needed to stock up on. Her call to Lydecker had filled all her attention. Wondering into the store, she headed for the small bakery at the back.
As she went over her conversation with Max. She felt a little guilty over coming down so hard on her. She'd kept a few things herself over the years. She knew how close Max and Jondy had been when back at Manticore. Yet, she'd never said a word about Max to Jondy. She never told her sister anything about Max's life, not once since telling her Max was dead.
She couldn't honestly argue that it was an oversight either. Part of her wondered if she'd lose Jondy to Max. With a wary smile, she grabbed a loaf of bread and headed for the deli. Tossing her hair over her shoulder, she made a mental note to have a long talk with Jondy. There was a lot they had to talk about.
