For those I confused last chapter:
Okay so apparently I've watched either too many Lifetime or Health Class movies, the injection in the ass….Hormones to stimulate the production of eggs. I had major issues with the fact that they would do the whole breeding partner thing, introducing sex and pregnancy into an X-5's life just doesn't work with me, the hormonal and physical changes in the female and the possibility of intimacy…Yea total issues with it, but I do agree that they would have done something to replace the DNA lab. Removing genetic material and implanting it in surrogates makes sense to me and Renfro would be fully aware of how much that would hurt Max. So in short Max's eggs, Zack's sperm equal new generation of Manticore soldiers.
Chapter Two
Six days later:
She lay back on the cot. There wasn't much else for her to do. She paced, she worked out attempting to exhaust herself into a sleep that was still rare.
She tried not to think.
Not to notice the headaches and the slight nausea that had come with the daily injections, not think about what they were planning. Not think about Logan's smile as he saw 'her' again, not think about how his lips would linger over her twin's, not think about how in the end he really would think she was a monster as she'd always feared even though it wasn't her. Not think about how she'd talked everyone into this plan…Zack was dead because of her, Logan would be soon, someone with half of her genetic makeup would be forced to live the life she despised.
She tried to brush that off, tried not to feel guilty about it. So what if the kid was half her, 453 was identical to her genetically, so was the kid who had put her in here in the first place.
All she could do right now was lay on the cot. Think about how much time he had left. Think about the fact that 47 days ago she had been with him. Less than two months ago, she had been with him. She hadn't thought all those times when she should have run that he was going to be the one to get hurt. Hell, he had needed her around to keep him out of trouble.
Things were different now though, if she'd only just ran. Just left Seattle for awhile, long enough for them to stop looking for her there. She hadn't though, she hadn't wanted to leave him, she'd wanted to make it so they could have their life, together instantly. He was going to pay the price for it now. Her wanting to be with him was going to kill him.
-o-o-o-o-o-
Nine days later:
"How did he know?" The ice blonde said with her back to Max as the door closed. The two X-series that had accompanied her in stood against the door making sure she didn't try anything stupid.
"Ma'am?"
She turned, "Don't start with that 452, we both know it didn't work. 453 hasn't reported in, in four days."
Max ordered the small smile to not creep out.
"He knew. How did he know she wasn't you? You have the exact same genetic makeup." She shook her head trying to figure it out, her DNA and fingerprints were identical and 453 knew how to act, imitate the effects of purposeful forgetting. She knew Eyes Only had experienced it before with 599...It should have worked.
"I have no idea ma'am"
She spun around and faced the wall again, "Deck…Lydecker's gotta be with him. He could always tell you two apart." She turned around again and cursed, "Dammit that makes no sense. He was heading to Mexico the last time we…" She let out a long sigh, regaining her composure. "We're going to get him 452, I want you to be sure of that."
Max forced her eyes not to close from the blinding pain of the headache the hormone injections caused paired with the constant worry for Logan's safety, she would not waver under Renfro's glare.
"Get her out of here" Renfro said with a nod to the guards who had escorted Max in.
Max allowed the small smile to creep out once the doors shut behind her. This is what she got for doubting Logan, thinking he wouldn't be able to tell some second-rate phony apart from her. At least she hoped he had, she hoped her twin wasn't just biding her time waiting to get more intel before making her move.