Part Eleven: Tinga
Sketchy staggered out of Crash close to midnight, and threw up alone in an alley. He got a good look at the thugs that mugged him. Some crazy dude even got pictures. Too bad neither of them knew anyone in the city that cared. Sketchy would have been complaining about that all day at Jam Pony, except that shortly afternoon they found out that Herbal's friend Snuffy had been killed. Another dead ex-con shot down with no leads, no witnesses, and no one to avenge them.
It was a subdued, mournful night at Crash. Muggers were running unhindered through the streets. The economy was still in a depression. Many of the patrons knew one of the murdered ex-cons. Sadly, no one knew more than one of the victims and no one made the connection. Of course even if they had, who there had the courage or self-confidence to do anything about it?
At the higher levels of the city it was also a quiet night. The bureaucrats breathed a sigh of relief as they watched their television programs uninterrupted. If no one was in their face demanding they right some wrong or avenge some downtrodden, then everything must be alright, or close enough they didn't have to bother with it.
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Meanwhile, 200 miles away on a train just entering Oregon, a triad of genetically enhanced killing machines converge.
"Ben?"
Max was awake instantly. The voice was familiar, but she still came awake with a start and took a moment to get her bearings. She looked around and found familiar faces. Ben was sitting between her and the aisle holding a one finger up in a universal gesture of "shh" which was far too late.
"Tinga?" Max asked.
"Hey, little sister. What are you doing here?" Tinga asked.
Max stood up and embraced her sister. Ben stood up, got a hug and gave Tinga his seat.
"We were headed down to Mexico," Ben offered. "Where are you going?"
"Back to Portland." Tinga looked down at her hands; her brow was knitted in concern.
"What's up?" Max asked.
Tinga looked around then shook her head. "Long story," was all she said.
"You know, I hear that Portland is the place for tea. You've been there before. Think you could point out a nice spot?" Ben replied casually.
"Sure," Tinga played along.
"Excellent. We'll treat you to dinner, write a review of the place and write the whole thing off as a business expense!" Ben smiled and subtly showed Tinga his new ID and press pass.
"Thank you, Alex," Tinga acknowledged.
Max reluctantly showed Tinga her badge as well. As expected, Tinga raised an eyebrow at the name. The last name would require explanation, but not in public. The sign language that they learned as children was extensive, but they just didn't have words in it for some of the things they needed to explain. The exact same things they hadn't known words for when they first escaped; words like pregnant, desperation, love, family, sorrow, son and husband. Now that they were together they probably should pick up an American Sign Language dictionary and add all that to their vocabulary. It shouldn't take much time, they were after all, genetically enhanced.
The train pulled into the station. Four X5s disembarked in Portland. Three of them sought out a quiet corner for tea and explanations. Max discreetly dropped a letter in the mail slot and followed Tinga to a dark café in a bad part of town.
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Tux was named after the penguin, not the outfit. It was a smallish, dark restaurant in downtown Portland. Most of the 'patrons', if they could be called that, were the homeless trying to see how much time out of the rain that they could buy for the price of a cup of coffee. Tinga chose the place because they were too absorbed in their own misery to care about anyone else. Ben liked it because these were the type of people that no one would miss if they had to kill a few of them. Max was too concerned about whatever it was that was obviously bothering Tinga to care. They took the corner booth near the emergency exit.
A grungy waiter came over quickly, presumably to verify that they really were going to order something. X5 appetites and constitutions being what they are they each quickly ordered a dinner hoping the waiter would leave just as quickly. He did.
"You first," Max began.
Tinga glanced around then began her explanation in hushed tones. "Charlie, my husband, put out a missing poster on me. I've got to get him and Case out of here before Lydecker notices."
"Case?" asked Max.
"My son," Tinga whispered. Max sat speechless for a moment.
"I'd have given a lot to see Zach's face when he found out about that," said Ben.
"Funny, I'd have given a great deal to not have been there. So, what's the deal with you two?" Tinga asked.
"It was the IDs that we could get to get out of Seattle quickly. Lydecker knew I was there, and he had apparently given up trying to be subtle." Max explained.
"So, why did you stay in Seattle so long?" Tinga asked.
Max sighed and looked down at her hands. "Logan."
Tinga felt sympathy for her little sister, she was obviously in mourning. "The guy that drove the car?"
Max nodded.
"So, what happened?" Tinga asked. Ben just quietly waited for information,
"Longer story. Not relevant to the current situation. What are we going to need to do to get Charlie and Case out of here?"
"One relevant fact. You need to be careful," Ben added.
Tinga looked at Ben questioningly. Ben glanced meaningfully at Max's stomach. Tinga's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Max nodded in confirmation.
"Logan's?" Tinga asked. When Max nodded she continued. "I guess he didn't take it well."
"I didn't tell him."
"Wait a minute. The guy in the wheelchair?" Ben asked, obviously surprised.
"Yeah, so?" Max looked at Ben.
"Damn!" swore Ben, alarming Max.
"Ben, what did you do to Logan?" Max demanded.
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Admit it, you thought the chapter was going to end here.
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"Nothing. Like I said, he never saw me. I left the disk on his keyboard. It's just … in a wheelchair. I thought you said he was shot a year ago?"
"Almost a year ago," Max confirmed.
"I figured he couldn't have been the father."
"Couldn't be anyone else," Max replied rather irritated. She didn't want to be discussing this, but she sensed somehow that there was something here, about Ben, that she should know. "Why?"
"If I had known that he was the SOB that made you cry I'd have taught him a lesson. That's all. Maybe next time we go through Seattle," Ben replied calmly.
"You will not!" Max hissed. "He didn't make me cry. … He made me happier than I had ever been. I just …didn't want to leave him. But, he's not into playing it safe, and that won't do for the little one. But that's many months off. Right now, we need to concentrate on Tinga's child and mate. Not mine!" The waiter approaching with their order gave Max the last word.
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Inside a lofty penthouse in the very best part of Seattle, Logan Cale sat and stared out the window. He found the blank disk. He wasn't surprised that Max was able to get in and out without seeing him. She didn't even want to talk to him anymore. Had he really screwed things up so badly she couldn't stand to look at him? Considering that he could barely stand to look at most of him these days, he wasn't surprised at that part.
He had thanked Scott for his efforts. He knew who the blonde brother that didn't look like a brother, or look at Max like a brother, was. Zack. With Lydecker crawling all over the city, and bodies with barcodes showing up all over the place, Logan could hardly blame Zack for wanting to get Max out of Seattle. It was what was best for Max, he was sure.
Still, he missed her. It was so lonely here without her. The thought that she wouldn't be dropping by for food and conversation anymore was overwhelming. He still had some hope of walking again, thanks to Dr Sam Carr, but any hope of making it up to Max left with her. He would never know her touch again. Never have a chance to try and win her love for real. Funny how he had thought that walking meant more to him than anything; until he lost someone he hadn't even realized he had taken for granted until she was gone.
He wondered how long it would be before she and Zack …Logan couldn't even finish the thought. He stifled a sob and sat in the dark wrestling his darkest demons and knowing that this time Max wasn't going to come and hold him.
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To be continued ...