A/N: No more questions!!!!!! *calms down* sorry dudes, I'm just a bit stressed at the mo'. Anyway, any questions you have will no longer be answered except in the story. You HAVE to read it to find out. *smiles sweetly* Am I evil or what?
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Chapter nineteen: When We Were Young
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'The escape was not my idea. I mean… escape to what? We didn't know anything else. It was Zack who said we had to leave. So, I guess he saved my life. I didn't think we should separate. But he wouldn't listen. And I never even got a chance to thank him'
-Max (Pilot)
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'Here dead we lie because we did not
choose
To live and shame the land from which we
sprung
Life, to be sure, is nothing much to lose,
But young men think it is, and we were young.'
- ?
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From her perch on a burnt out car, Max smiled as she watched Dalton sneaking up on Erin as she talked with Sketchy. They'd been getting along so great together- Erin seemed to be really fitting in. There was something about her that let Erin get along with everyone. Even Mole liked her in his own way. Now that was weird. He tolerated O.C. and Sketchy, and her hated Logan with a fiery passion, but he got along with Erin just fine! Everyone was able to relax around her as if she'd been there with them all the way. Everyone thought she was a great person, everyone except Logan. Max frowned. Why did he hate her? If he wasn't complaining about Alec, who incidentally seemed to get on with Erin the most, he was complaining about Erin. Max pushed thoughts of Logan away. She'd been having conflicting feelings about him since Jam Pony. He was getting more possessive, more controlling everyday, and those pictures! Max winced. Well, love was about what was on the inside right?
Max focused on Erin again as Dalton tackled Erin to the ground and they rolled about on the floor wrestling. Sketchy jumped into the fray and as if by telepathy, both Dalton and Erin turned on Sketchy, tickling him and making him laugh. His laughter echoed around the garage sounding strange. Heads turned to witness the tangle of limbs and then turned away with amused expressions. At least they were having fun. Max paused and her smile grew larger. Why couldn't everyone else?
"Hey" Zack appeared by her side and sat down next to her.
Max's plans were put on hold when her brother sat down beside her. No, not her brother- Alec, Logan and Cindy had all pointed out this fact to her and Max was slowly beginning to realise that they were right. But as usual, Max tried t ignore that fact.
Zack followed her gaze and smiled "They seem to be enjoying themselves."
Max nodded "Erin and Sketchy seem to
have taught Dalton what being a
kid's all about."
Zack chuckled softly and Max shivered wrapping her arms around herself. "Those two aren't exactly the most grown up
people around."
Max smiled "They can be, they just seem able to relax more." The smile faded "Maybe the other kids will catch on- have some form of a childhood while they still can."
Zack's smile faded too "Maybe." The only childhood either of them knew was Manticore and then later on the run. It wasn't the happiest time of their lives.
They both sat in silence then, their faces grim as they remembered Manticore, the escape and more importantly, remembering someone who made their childhood that little bit normal by telling them stories.
*Flashback*
Max smiled at her brother as they gathered around his bed. "Tell us the story Ben."
Ben smiled that patient smile of his as they got comfortable. "Only the best soldiers get to go to the Good place. The one's who fail… you know what happens to them?"
Max leant forward in excitement despite having heard the story hundreds of times before. "They disappear" she said knowingly. Only Max or Zack ever spoke during Ben's stories. Sometimes, while he was making shadows on the cold grey walls, he'd tell her the story on her own. It would make her feel special when she wasn't acting as the SIC. When they were in the barracks after lights out she was just Maxie- the littlest sister.
Ben nodded and smiled knowingly "To the Bad Place. Where they open you up and drink your blood until you're almost dead. Then they leave you there for the Nomlies. They crawl up from the basement through special tunnels. And when you're not looking… BAM! They break through the wall and drag you away."
Zack spoke up, his voice grave "Well, what do the Nomlies do with you?" He was thinking up plans of attack and defence. The Nomlies wouldn't get his family.
Ben's face was deadly serious. He didn't like the answer. "They keep you as prisoner of war and eat you up, little by little, forever."
*End flashback*
Zack turned to Max with a slightly worried expression. "Do you think we need to do something about the kids?"
Max nodded. "Definitely. I'll talk with Alec in the morning. They're gonna need some form of routine and discipline." 'We don't need them going psycho' she added silently as she watched her three friends laughing on the floor, 'not like Ben.'
Next chapter: Afraid…
There was no way she could stay here now. They wouldn't trust her and she didn't trust Logan one bit. He might try it again. She heard Logan land behind her, his exoskeleton making mechanical noises as he hit the floor running. Just her luck- the damn thing had suspension.
A/N: Tramps-Like-Us: Okay, I'll get you a sheep, or I could start a sheep fund. I have no idea how much they cost. I'll warn you if Alec is gonna be less clothed than usual, okay? I still don't know if I'd be able to write a nekkid scene.
Elin: Erin kinda freaks out on Logan in the next one. *grin* Violence ensues…
Messymissy: I agree with you entirely on Logan. He needs to be knocked down a few pegs. You're gonna like the next couple of chapters…
