A/n: hope you like this one. I think it's a much more fun way of killing a hoverdrone than the version we actually got to see on the show. It'd work perfectly too.

Chapter 13: Therapy

Max rode her bike through the streets of Seattle, deep in thought. On automatic pilot, she headed for the space needle, wishing she had her motorcycle so she could really clear her head. The fight with Jonas's security hadn't even taken the edge off her emotions; she burned with rage that Logan was in danger and his own family would do nothing to help him.

But it's not just that, she admitted to herself, dodging a beat up truck in traffic. The real reason I'm so pissed is that I'm… scared. I'm scared I'll lose Logan, that I'll never see him again, never get the chance to tell him… what? What do I need to tell him so badly? That his cooking and his shower aren't the only reasons I come over? That I care? That I need him? What! Damn, I need Original Cindy to tell me what's going on in my head, I don't get this emotion stuff.

Max cut through a line of cars at a sector checkpoint and headed down a narrow alley towards Jam Pony, oblivious to the sound of car horns from behind her. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she never even noticed the hoverdrone following her until it opened fire. Several bullets passed so close that she could feel the warm breeze of their passing.

She swerved her bike, causing it to overbalance, and even as she fell she glanced behind her to see the stealth drone lining up for another shot. Oh, shit, she thought, so that's what Jonas was on about. Dragging her bike back up, she began to pedal with all her Manticore-given speed, zigzagging to present a harder target. She took a hard turn into another alley much too fast, needing all her feline balance and reflexes to keep the bike from crashing into the wall. It took the hoverdrone a few seconds to follow. Aha, thought Max, it's not as manoeuvrable as I am. I know the perfect place to lose this sucker.

Adrenaline pulsed through her body as she accelerated even more, skidding on litter and swerving around overflowing dumpsters. She soon found what she was looking for; a few old planks leaning against a pile of garbage, one of her favourite shortcuts. She rode straight up the impromptu ramp and flew into the air.

Time seemed to slow down as Max experienced a moment of total clarity and focus. Her fear and denial seemed to evaporate, as she finally realised exactly what she had to tell Logan. She wondered at the revelation; it suddenly seemed so simple to her. There was only one label for the strength of emotion she felt for him. She tried to think the words, testing out the sound of them. I… lo…

Max landed on some second story scaffolding on a derelict apartment building and the real world came tumbling back to her. She pumped her feet on the pedals as the drone fired again, dodging the spray of bullets by inches. She turned the bike sharply through a huge broken window and weaved through the gutted apartment inside. She sped through the missing front door and gritted her teeth to roll down the stairs just beyond. She coasted forward through the front doorway, also with no actual door, and crossed the street outside, causing a minor traffic accident as she sped into the alleyway opposite. The drone had followed her through the building and took a few seconds to realise which direction she'd taken, by which time she was already halfway down the alley. She took a couple of swift turns before abandoning her bike and leaping onto a fire escape, getting to a level where the washing criss- crossed the street.

The drone hovered steadily into view, scanning the area for her. Max got ready for it to get into position, waiting patiently before she struck.

She leapt out above the drone and jumped across the narrow street, stairway to ledge, dropping a tattered grey bedsheet over it as she did. The sheet was pulled into the fan, clogging it so the drone could no longer stay airborne. As it crashed, striking sparks from the street, Max dropped down after it. She picked up a metal pole lying in the trash and landed several heavy blows on the drone until its engine stopped. The last strike took out the camera lens.

Max dropped the pole. "Thanks, buddy, that was a great way to relive stress. Let's do this again sometime, I have a very tense life. No? Maybe not. Let's put you to bed then." She tossed the drone into a dumpster and dusted off her hands before retrieving her bike and heading back towards Logan's place.

There's nothing like being chased and shot at for relieving tension, she thought absently. Except maybe going to see Logan.

Damn. I'd almost forgotten how worried I am for a minute there.

Tell me what you thought.