Title: M.I.A

Author: Lexie Jayne

Rating: PG

Characters: Jondy/Zane; Max/Alec; Syl/Krit; Logan, Zack.

Summary: Jondy vanishes, risking the lives of her loved ones, Max is faced with a new future and Terminal City faces it's biggest challenge yet the return of old enemies and allies. WIP. JZ, SK, MA

Feedback: Would be lovely if you feel inclined.

Notes: Chapter Eight, brought to you by Channel Ten's cancellation of The OC reruns. And the fact I couldn't go and see a late showing of Elektra... nevermind. Anyways, the plot thickens in this chapter and I can officially say there will be some M/A from this point onwards. Heh.

ChocRocks, I hope it wasn't too painful rereading all my stuff. Some of the older stuff needs a lot of reworking. Hehe. I'll have to update faster from now on. Angel of Darkness231, I will definitely try to include your X5 when the rest of the X5s turn up. Lakergirl08, Rose, Steph and Crazy-VampireSlayer, thank you so much for your lovely comments. It really makes my day. Lozz422, here's your update. Now, promise me you'll update Family Reunion soon? 

Warnings: Language

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to James Cameron. I make no profit from this fan based venture.


Max paced the room off Main Hall. She had been pacing for twenty two minutes; the room had nothing but two chairs and a wooden table pushed against one wall; the same wall had a window looking out at Main Hall. A map of Seattle was pinned to one wall, with Terminal City circled in red. This was the office where everything was planned and plotted out.

Twenty three minutes. Max's three siblings, her niece and her… Alec - whatever he was - were draped over the table and chairs, watching Max pace silently.

Twenty four minutes

Krit looked at Syl and rolled his eyes before jumping to his feet and grabbing Max's arm. "Maxie, we've been watching you pace for twenty four minutes. We need to think about this."

Syl snorted. "Since when have you been one to think about anything?"

Before Krit could retort, Max threw up her hands. "How could this have happened? We need to get Zack out. He doesn't remember anything about Manticore. He won't understand anything about Ames White or what White wants with him." Max bit her lip. "He could be dead. We need to get him out now. He can't get involved. I can't lose him again…"

Zane was on his feet before anyone else could say anything, and Tanner was stuffed into Syl's arms.

"So, Jondy's rescue has to wait while you get your affairs in order, but Zack's rescue suddenly gets top priority?" Zane demanded, his eyes flashing.

"Zane," Syl said quietly, adjusting Tanner to her hip. "We're going to find Jondy and we're gonna get her back."

"The amount of time its take Max to get ready to plan Jondy's rescue, she's going to be dead," Zane said bitterly.

"We're getting Zack and Jondy back, Zane, I promise," Max said. "I just…"

"You've got a guilt complex because you stuck Zack out in back ass Iowa playing Old Macdonald," Krit said to Max before turning back to Zane. "Cool it. Syl and I will help you bail Jondy out, if all else fails."

Zane nodded once, his face totally blank, watching Tanner. Tanner was gripping to Syl, watching Zane carefully.

"I miss her," Zane said, mostly to himself. "It's not right being here with Tanner, and not knowing where she is, and what she's doing, and how she's feeling. And if she's still in San Francisco, and I'm here, she's not going to know."

Syl gazed at her older brother with compassion. "She'll know you've taken Tanner somewhere safe. And that's what matters to her. She'll understand." Syl touched Zane's cheek. "She will."

"And if she's dead?" Zane said softly. "I've gotta raise my daughter alone, and one day explain to her I don't know who killed her or how she died, but she has to live knowing that her mother was murdered and I did shit all to save her."

"Don't talk like that. You did what anyone would've done. You got your daughter – her daughter – to safety and found back up," Krit said, shaking his head. "And Jondy's tough. She'll hang in there – She is your girlfriend after all."

Syl punched Krit in the arm. "Shut up, moron. Zane, Krit does have a point. Remember back at Manticore, when they tried to see who could tolerate pain the longest? Jondy was the third last one to quit…"

"…the only two who did better were Zack and Eva," Max joined in, her voice soft and soothing.

"And," Syl continued, not even acknowledging Max had spoken. "She moved to Chicago with you, and helped run the refuges while she was pregnant... she survived three days with Micah before she even had Tanner… everyone else would have gone to the hospital to escape him…"

Zane nodded his eyes still sad. "I know. I know she's strong. But I don't know what she's up against."

"It's definitely White," Alec spoke up. "One of the X6s who came in a few days ago mentioned that White was dragging transgenics off the street and keeping them in some prison place. His partner was taken. If it wasn't White, then…"

"We're back to square one," Max said. "Alec, I want full reports of all military convoys over the past three weeks. I want to know White's exact location. Syl, Krit, will you take care of weapons for everyone?"

"No, I'll go with Krit," Zane spoke up. "Syl, you mind watching Tanner for me? I just need to clear my head."

Syl nodded, smiling at Tanner and smoothing down her dark curls. "Of course I can."

Zane gave her a tired smile. "Great. Max will show you where Tanner and I are staying. She'll need a bottle and a nap soon. She's back to sleeping with a pacifier, too."

Syl nodded. "Gotcha."

Alec watched Max walk away, leading Syl back into Main Hall, and off to where the apartments were. Krit followed Alec's gaze and grinned as Tanner called out something to them, in her baby language.

"You and Maxie, huh?" Krit grinned, turning around to see Zane studying the map of Seattle. "Better you than that trust fund guy."

"Logan?" Alec offered.

"Yeah, that guy. He had no idea about her or where she came from," Krit looked at his feet before meeting Alec's eyes. "Maxie needs someone who knows where she came from and what she went through. She might have enjoyed seeing the high life, but when it all comes down to it, she needs someone who knows her."

"You love her," Alec observed, looking into Krit's eyes, so similar to Max's.

"No, I love Syl like you love Max. I love Max like the baby sister who used to get us all into trouble after lights out. But a Manticore woman is a Manticore woman," Krit shrugged. "Sway, Tinga, Brin, Syl, Max… I know my sisters."

Alec shook his head. "Nah, Max and I… we're not like that."

"Bullshit." Zane looked up from the corner. "She likes you too."

"Not as much as she likes Logan," Alec rolled his eyes. "And he's banging Asha. Max is seriously in denial about that."

"If it makes you feel better," Zane said, focusing on the map of Seattle, circling the warehouses and storage areas on the outskirts of Seattle, "she questioning her feelings for Logan because of her feelings for you."

Alec and Krit looked over at Zane.

"Really?" Krit said incredulously.

"Really?" Alec said, looking doubtful.

"Really," Zane said, looking up. "We were talking about it the other night. She wants to know if you're a worthwhile risk."

The grin that spread across Alec's face was equal parts blinding and dopey. "Really?"

"Really."

"Man, I'm glad they don't pay you two by the word," Krit said. "Zane, we need to do the weapons thing. Alec, you need to do all that stuff Max said."

"Yeah, yeah," Alec said dismissively. "I gotta go." He hurried away from Max's two brothers, in search of the woman who had been on his mind for the last year. He hadn't been ready to admit he had feelings for Max until now, but she was the one who named him, who got him out of Max, who gave him an identity.

And he was in love with her.

"No booty calls before lunch!" Krit called after him, with a smirk on his face. Zane rolled his eyes at his younger brother. "What?"

"You're telling me you and Syl don't… before lunch?"

"You're telling me you and Jondy do?" Krit grinned. "You think I can case Logan's joint now?"

Zane shook his head. "Whatever. Go and play with some guns. Maybe accidentally shoot yourself."

"You don't mean that, big brother."

"Go and be a pain in the ass elsewhere, Krit."

---

Jondy woke up to see Zack – Adam – pacing the small cell. The blankets in his cot were rumpled, she noted, so he had slept a little. She didn't make any sound as she watched him pace – the cell was only four really good steps across. In any other circumstances, Jondy would have thought Zack looked silly, pacing in such a small space.

Zack – Adam, she had to remember that, at least until Adam remembered he was Zack – looked tired and worried as he watched the hallway beyond the bars of the cell.

"You know, you shouldn't waste your energy," Jondy spoke up, sitting up. Her head felt a little clearer today, but she still felt horrible. Her voice was scratchy and weak, and she had a catalogue of injuries that would probably warrant a visit to the Emergency Room when she got out.

If she got out.

Adam looked around at her, and gave her a tired smile. "You're awake."

"Awake and back with the living," Jondy said, standing up slowly, running her fingers through her hair. "Sit down. If the opportunity arises to escape, and you're worn out because you've been pacing, you'll kick yourself."

Adam chuckled, sitting down on the edge of his cot. "I guess that makes sense."

"Old military lesson," Jondy replied, sitting next to him.

"You were in the miliary?" Adam gave her a sideways look.

"You think I was dragged in here because I dropped out of high school?" Jondy rolled her eyes. "I guess you could say I went to a military school until I was nine."

"You were really young," Adam gave her a sideways. Her tangled dark hair around her face, her thin face and the bruises little all her exposed skin, he had presumed she was a drug dealer or a hooker or something. But listening to her talk, she had a soothing quality about her. In the back of his mind, something told him he was glad she was here. Like he knew her or something…

"You have a family out there?" Adam asked her.

"A boyfriend and a daughter," Jondy said softly, closing her eyes for a second. "A baby girl. She's almost eight months old now." The look on her face was close to what Adam would call grief. He rested a hand on her shoulder, which Jondy took as an invitation to lean her head against his shoulder.

"I'm scared for her," she whispered. "Ames White… he told me he'd kill her… I have to believe she's still alive… I do believe she's safe with her father, but… what if she's not? What if Zane and Tanner are dead and I couldn't even save them?"

Adam slid an arm around Jondy's shoulders. "I lost my memory awhile back," he said softly. "I don't remember anything at all. And you know, I work with these real nice people and live with Buddy and Mary. They said I'd worked for them my whole life; and lived with them since I was a kid. Told me I had no brothers or sisters or family, I was an only child."

"And?" Jondy said, wiping her eyes on the back of her hand.

"Well, the only thing I remember is a girl with blonde hair," Adam shrugged. "She had blonde hair and she was afraid of dogs and she called me 'brother'. I don't know; I guess my memory is either whacked or I have a sister out there, and I don't know where she is or if she's scared or alone or what. And she could be my only family. And if anything happens to her and I didn't know about her…"

"When we get out," Jondy smiled sadly, "I'll find your family for you. You know the girl's name?"

"It began with S… maybe Sara? Sal?" Adam looked blank for a second. "Not Sal… Syl. I think her name was Syl."