Previously:

Assorted 8x10 glossy photos fell onto the desktop. Each photo was accompanied by a post-it note with a brief description. Logan removed the last photograph and stared mutely at the Manticore symbol. He retrieved the letter from the envelope and unfolded it, smoothing the paper before him. Neat penmanship covered the page in large, bold letters.

Everything started with this. You know how to contact me.

Logan paused a moment, studying the pictures and the notes. He reached for the phone and dialed the familiar number.

"Lydecker? I got your little package. What do you want?"

Chapter 9

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, interrupted finally by a deep sigh.

"I take it the photos arrived and you've had a chance to look over my comments," Lydecker stated coolly.

Logan could never get used to the fact that Lydecker always had the same tone of command in his voice. It didn't matter that he was no longer with Manticore or that the very people who'd hired him were probably now hunting him. He was always the Colonel, always in charge.

Logan cleared his throat before responding. "Yes, I did. Now what the hell do you mean, 'Everything started with this?'"

His reply was delivered in trademark-Lydecker monotone. "I recently came across some interesting information. The photos now in your possession are of a burial site, in Seattle. The site dates back to the 1800's. It seems there is a connection between Manticore and a breeding cult that was formed some thousands of years ago. I believe you've heard of them; they call themselves Familiars?"

Logan's eyes darted back and forth to encompass the photographs as his mind worked. "A connection between the Familiars and Manticore?" he repeated out loud, more for his own benefit than Lydecker's. His gaze fell upon the painting on the wall in one of the pictures. "The Manticore symbol was used as far back as the 1800s?"

"The symbol you're looking at was around long before Manticore was established. According to the files I've uncovered, that symbol represents the king, if you will, of the cult. Ancient legend tells of a mythical panther god and snake goddess that were worshipped by the followers of the Conclave."

Lydecker chuckled dryly. "I'm sure this all sounds quite fantastical. Even I was skeptical at first. Mr. Cale, I have evidence that will persuade you, I'm sure. But I'm afraid I can't discuss that over the phone. We'll have to meet in person. Trust me on this, Mr. Cale, there is a definite link between transgenics and Familiars. After you've reviewed the research, perhaps you'll consent to arrange a meeting between myself and Max."

Logan shook his head and then mentally chastised himself for doing so when Lydecker couldn't see. "We'll have to see if the information is valid, then go from there." He took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. "When and where for this information, Deck?" And what price will I have to pay for it? he added silently. With Lydecker, you never got something for nothing.

"I've said too much as it is. This line could be compromised. I'll contact you shortly with details of the meet. Goodbye, Mr. Cale."

With a click, the call disconnected, leaving the irritating buzz of the dial tone echoing in his ear. Logan let out a short laugh. Of course he'd be calling all the shots, this is Lydecker. He collected the photographs and stacked them next to his computer. Facing the screen, he began tapping furiously at the keyboard in search of answers.

"Maaax. What was so important that it couldn't have waited a half hour? Or less, I could've done less," Alec whined as they rode in the elevator to the penthouse floor of Fogle Towers.

"I am not possibly putting peoples' lives in danger just to satisfy your male urges." Max turned to Alec then, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly. "Besides, 'half an hour maybe less?'" she asked incredulously. "I can't believe you actually said that to me."

Alec dipped his head and nuzzled her neck, wrapping his arms around her waist. His lips brushed her ear as he teased, "I promise it would have been the best half hour of your life, Maxie."

Max tensed under his touch and he smirked against her cheek. She turned her head slightly, her intention being to kiss him; that was before she noticed the self-assured grin plastered on his face. "Smug bastard," she muttered, kissing him despite herself.

The elevator came to a stop and Max disentangled herself from the arms enveloping her. "Let's just see what he wants, and then we'll find out if you can keep that promise." Max opened the door and the two stepped into Logan's penthouse.

"Trying to bait me into starting something I can't finish? Don't tease, Max." Alec leered roguishly and cupped her ass, pulling her against him. He leaned down to kiss her, their lips mere centimeters apart, when they were interrupted by Logan clearing his throat loudly. Alec swore under his breath.

"Perfect timing, as always," he muttered. Max laughed, placed her hands on his chest and pushed him playfully.

'We'll finish this later,' she mouthed to him before turning to face Logan. "So what is it that you needed to talk to us about?"

"Well, actually, I have information for you, Max," Logan replied, walking toward the den as he spoke. "Today an...informant of mine sent me some interesting photos."

"Another upstanding congressman been makin' it with a workin' girl?" Alec ventured, smirk firmly in place. Logan only glared at him before handing the manilla envelope to Max.

Shrugging out of her jacket and draping it over the back of a chair, Max took a seat on the couch and spread the contents of the envelope over the surface of the coffee table. Alec perched on the armrest, leaning over her shoulder.

Logan watched with thinly veiled disgust at the casual intimacy between the two transgenics. His eyes followed the circular movement of Alec's fingers as they caressed the soft skin at the back of Max's neck.

The ease with which they molded together was a stab in the gut to Logan. He hated that Max had grown distant since her return from Manticore; even more so since their 12-hour window some months back. The temporary cure should have allowed them at least a small measure of comfort, giving them precious hours to savor each other.

Logan clenched his hands tightly at his sides. Gossamer issues aside, he couldn't deny the hurt he felt when Max had hesitated; couldn't ignore the way she had quickly turned away, guzzling her wine in the pretense of enjoyment, the uncertainty in her eyes, step and manner when he'd tried to consummate their relationship.

It soon became obvious why. Having gone to see Max one morning, he watched, devastated, as Max accompanied Alec out of her apartment building. He saw the light in her eyes, the soft smile on her face as Alec threw an arm around her shoulder; leaning in and whispering intimately, laughing together in the cool morning air. It had shattered him, knowing she'd moved on.

And the level of familiarity between Max and Alec had grown considerably since the last time he'd seen them together. It seemed like they'd always bickered before, conversations made up mostly of sharp barbs and snarky retorts. There had never before been this comfortable silence, the tender touches. It didn't help that they were undeniably one of the best looking couples he'd ever seen; Manticore certainly knew how to make them pretty. And it left him feeling inadequate and...bitter.

A sudden blur of movement brought his attention back to the two X5s sitting on his couch. Alec was waving his hand in front of Logan's face, snapping his fingers.

"Earth to Logan," Alec said, one eyebrow raised in what Logan could almost believe to be concern. "You alright, man? Max has been calling your name for a while now but you were totally spaced."

Logan barely bit back an uncharacteristic growl at seeing the despised object of his thoughts appear in front of him. "Sorry, Max," he paused before adding an obligatory, "Alec." He shook his head and brought a hand to his eyes, rubbing them as if to chase away sleep. "I haven't been sleeping well lately. What is it you were saying?"

Alec returned to the couch, this time taking up the space next to Max. She relaxed into his side, letting his arm slide around her shoulders. "What do these pictures have to do with anything? They just look like a bunch of old bones to - " Max ended abruptly upon noticing the familiar symbol painted on the wall. She exchanged a quick glance with Alec, then looked up at Logan, her eyes wide. "Manticore?"

Alec took the picture from Max's hand, examining it closely. "This has gotta date way back. What the hell is the Manticore symbol doing on something this old?"

"That's a great question, but it gets even more interesting," Logan responded, finally smiling. He reveled in the moment, knowing that he had information that the two super-soldiers wanted and could only get from him. "The pictures you're looking at are of a Kiloma Indian burial site located right here in Seattle. My informant has reason to believe that it is linked with the Familiars' Breeding Cult."

Alec's face showed his disbelief. "You're saying that Manticore and the Breeding Cult are connected somehow? I can't see that, what with White hunting us down - him being a Familiar and all."

Max nodded her agreement. "Did this informant tell you how this might be possible? It sounds like a load of bull to me."

Alec chewed thoughtfully on his bottom lip, head tilted to one side. "I gotta hand it to ya, Logan, you have contacts all over. But what I'm wondering is how this informant of yours knew you would be interested in this."

Max's eyes snapped up to Logan's and she thought she recognized a strange emotion flash across his features; guilt. But why would he look guilty? she wondered briefly. Before she could contemplate it further, Logan composed himself, leaned back in his chair and let out a tired sigh. Dismissing her initial observation, Max chalked it up to her overly suspicious mind. Talk of Manticore always raised her defences.

Logan crossed his arms over his chest, looking pointedly at Alec. "When Max and I were trying to find a cure for the virus, I put out a general request through the informant net for any information regarding Manticore," he stated smugly. It was, after all, the truth. It just didn't happen to pertain to how he got the photographs. Even Lydecker would be proud.

Max nodded and leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. Logan tried not to grimace when Alec's hand slid with her and began to massage her shoulders. "Okay, I get that. But it still doesn't explain how Manticore teamed up with the Familiars. White thinks we're scum and I'm pretty sure all his buddies feel the same way. What proof does your informant have that the two groups were ever connected?"

Logan glanced at Alec out of the corner of his eye. The proud smile that blossomed on the transgenic's face made Logan seethe in anger. One stupid suggestion from him, and everything I say gets dragged through the mud.

"Well, I haven't gotten that information quite yet." Alec groaned audibly and Logan was surprised when Max didn't reprimand him for such rude behavior. "I'm setting up a meeting with the informant to get the proof they claim to have. I just thought you should know about this. Maybe something they have will tell us why White wants you so badly."

Alec snorted derisively and got to his feet. "White wants us alright. Dead." Irritation was written all over his face and showed in his movements as he ran a hand through his hair, coming around to rub his jaw. His eyes narrowed slightly and he didn't even try to contain his annoyance.

"You couldn't have just told us this over the phone? It's not like you're giving us anything to go on here. No leads, no chase. What did you expect to achieve by dragging us here - from work I might add - when you had nothing concrete?" His last words were spoken too quietly for Logan to discern, but Max heard him. "Fucking waste of time that could have been better spent."

Glancing at Alec for a moment, Max conceded his point. She conveyed her agreement with soft eyes and a slight nod.

Logan gave Alec a hard look. "It's not like you could see the pictures over the phone."

Exasperated, Max turned to Logan. "Look Logan, Alec's right. I know I've done it in the past, but Normal started cracking down on us." The fact that Normal had left Sky in charge of Jam Pony for the day was besides the point. Logan needed to realize they weren't at his beck and call at his say so. She was in total agreement with Alec. Their time could have been better spent.

"I can't just bail because you say you need me. The same goes for Alec. The photographs could have waited until you had more detailed information. When you have something solid, let us know. But now we've gotta jet."

Getting to her feet, she donned her jacket. With a nod Alec fell in step beside her and they strode towards the door. Once they reached the privacy of the elevator, Alec pulled Max into his arms and grinned widely.

"Queen Max agreed that I was right?" he crowed. "The world is coming to an end!" She jabbed him hard in the stomach. "Hey! We couldn't go a whole twenty-four hours without you inflicting bodily harm? Hands off, Max! I've got a promise to keep and that requires an undamaged body in full working order. You wouldn't want to risk my being injured, would you?" he added, wiggling his eyebrows playfully.

Max felt her body tighten at the husky timber of his voice. She was already imagining just how he meant to fulfill that promise when she realized she hadn't properly responded to his comment.

Alec felt her body's strong reaction and caught the rosy flush that colored her skin, enticing him. But before he could act on his urges, she shifted in his embrace, her muscles tensing. Alec knew from thorough experience that when Max readied herself such as she was currently doing, pain - his pain - shortly followed. Inhibited due to the small space in which they were enclosed, Alec closed his eyes in resignation and awaited the inevitable.

When the blow that he'd expected never came and all he heard was silence, Alec carefully opened one eye. His brows furrowed together when he opened both eyes to see only the wall of the elevator directly in front of him. "What the - " He looked down as he felt a tug on the button of his jeans to see Max grinning mischievously. On her knees. Undoing his pants. In a public elevator.

Alec rolled his eyes upward and tilted his head back. "Thank you," he mouthed toward the ceiling.

Leaning heavily against the elevator wall, muscles slack and legs still quivering, Alec stared at Max appreciatively. Her eyes were gleaming as she ran her tongue over her lips and gave him a sultry smile.

"Vixen," he growled when he was eventually able to speak coherently.

Max nipped at his ear and purred contentedly. "And you love it." She bent to pull his boxers up, followed by his pants, and fastened them.

"What red-blooded male wouldn't?" he replied matter-of-factly as he tucked his shirt into his waistband. "God, Max, that was incredible. And risqué. I never thought of you as an exhibitionist, but you won't hear me complaining."

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a middle-aged couple, arms laden with grocery bags. As they brushed past the two heated transgenics, Max heard the woman ask her husband, "What on earth is that odor?"

The man muttered dolefully in reply. "Something you haven't smelled in years."

Alec and Max exited the building, their laughter echoing behind them.

TBC