Facing Death
By: lfbrox
Story: Set in early second season. Logan can walk (just because I like him to). And lots of transgenics are on the run and the other X-series are all out too. Lydecker, Renfro and White are the enemies – as a team this time.
Rating: R
AN: Here we go. Here is the next one. Enjoy and leave a review. We're almost done. Just a few chapters left. Thanks to Sammi for doing her part in the midst of her birthday stress.
Chapter 14: Trapped
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"K Max. Go check on sleeping beauty over there." Alec said and stepped closer to the young Manticorians to keep an eye on them while Max moved slowly towards Logan.
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Center:
He lay on the ground with his back against the wall. His clothes were full of sand and dirt and looked disheveled. He wasn't wearing his glasses and he was even scruffier than usual. Max approached him slowly, not wanting to confirm her fears. But she kept moving, needing to know if she had killed him.
"Logan." She whispered when she finally stopped in front of his figure on the floor and bent down to him. She didn't dare to touch him in order to see his face more fully. She didn't dare feel his pulse. So she bent her head down towards his face and heard his steady breathing.
"Thank god." Max said and let out a shaky breath of relief. He was still alive. Still breathing. Her eyes moved over his exposed skin and released another deep breath when she could see no signs that the virus had broken out. / Could it be that it's really gone/ Max asked herself. He didn't look flushed or pale. He wasn't sweating and showed no signs of the virus. He was merely unconscious. Maybe from the tazers or maybe from the fall to the floor. Was it possible? Were they cured? She still didn't dare to touch him but the smallest of a smile appeared in her face as she felt herself relax a little. Feeling content for the moment to just sit there and watch him. To kneel next to him and hear him breathing.
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Observation Point:
"So that's the infamous 452 and the great Eyes Only. Not what I expected to see." Refro remarked dryly, watching the scene between the two.
"What did you expect Elizabeth? That she transforms back into a soldier the second she is addressed as a CO? You have to give it the time necessary to create such a change. She will eventually feel that the missing piece inside of her is not missing any longer. Once she has the rest of the soldiers under her command she will feel that this is what has been lacking in her life. Power, influence and superiority over the others. And she will realize that Mr. Eyes Only himself has stopped her from being all that she can be. Give it time. If it doesn't happen soon we'll just have to assist her in recovering her inner soldier." Lydecker said trying to calm her down.
"I'm not a patient woman Deck. It better happen soon." Renfro replied then buzzed for Officer Cook to come in.
"Yes Ma'am." The officer inquired.
"We can't wait for the other teams to come in. Close the tunnels now." Renfro ordered.
"There are two groups that have just entered the cave through the west tunnel ma'am. You want them to be locked out?" Officer Cook requested to know.
"No. Let them come in. Close the other tunnels and as soon as the groups are in close the west tunnel. Dismissed." Refro ordered and turned to look at the monitors to see if Deck was right and 452 would progress the way they wanted her to.
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Center:
"And where do you think you are going?" Alec inquired, noticing a small group of soldiers – X7's and X8's mixed – moving around.
"We are securing the exits just as X5-452 told us to do, sir." One of the older X7's answered.
"I heard what she said, smartass." Alec replied feeling once again inferior to Max. "But she didn't mean for you to go to the end of the tunnel and secure it she meant for you to secure it from any unexpected visitors from inside this – whatever it is." Alec explained, speaking loudly enough for the other teams that were walking briskly toward the other tunnels to hear.
"It's a cave sir." One of the X8's in the group in front of him explained with respect towards Alec evident in his voice.
"How do you know?" Alec asked, guessing him to be another Manticore smartass.
"We came from the outside sir. We had the coordinates that told us where to go to regroup sir." The X8 continued to explain.
"Coordinates to regroup?" Alec said, more to himself than to ask for confirmation.
"Yes sir." The X8 replied.
"Good. Go and secure the tunnels. I have a feeling we get a lot more company soon." Alec said and dismissed the groups to their task and went to talk to Zack and Max when the X8 interrupted him.
"Sir. Look at this." The X8 said pointing towards the tunnel through which they had entered the cave. A massive wall made out of rocks was quickly covering the entrance – or in their case their exits.
"I guess they have everybody they need then." Alec said and quickly walked over to Max.
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"Hey Max. Is Logan okay?" Alec asked as he walked over to her and Logan with an annoyed-looking Zack following him.
"He's still unconscious. But I guess he's okay." Max said, not taking her eyes of Logan.
"Finally beat that virus, huh?" Alec said and moved next to Max to check Logan's pulse.
"I don't know." Max answered, sounding less than enthusiastic.
"What do you mean? You touched him and he's still breathing. If you weren't cured the guy would be dead by now." Alec said, not believing how much of a drama-queen Max was. Here she was with the man she loved and the virus cured – granted in a less than perfect situation – and she still moped around like the world would end soon.
"Maybe our skin didn't touch when I knocked him over. Maybe I was just imagining it. It all happened too fast. Better not risk it and touch him now and kill him after we've been lucky – again." Max said, sounding desperate and defeated.
"Max. You were on your way to the doctor so he could confirm that the virus is gone. This isn't some kind of miracle cure we've got here. So stop being so negative. Let's wait till he wakes up and see what he remembers." Alec said and nudged her shoulder.
"I guess." Max said and gave Alec a faint smile at his gesture.
"Okay. Could we get to the situation we got here?" Zack asked from behind them. He was annoyed at the whole scene in front of him and didn't even try to hide it.
"Right. Bad news Max." Alec said and got up.
"Tell me something new." Max replied but made no move to get up and leave Logan out of her sight. She merely glanced up to where Zack and Alec stood and waited for them to tell her what their newest problem was – other than the obvious.
Seeing that Max would remain seated next to Logan and not get up Alec started to explain the situation when a group of 5 X7's and X8's stepped up to them.
"Ma'am, sirs. A group of 8 X6's and a group of 6 X7's have arrived before the last tunnel closed. The X7's reported that another 3 groups of 6 X7's are still in the woods outside of the cave and will arrive at the coordinates shortly." The oldest of the X7's reported. They stood at attention and watched the 3 X5's closely. With their sensitive hearing – which was even better developed than that of X5's – they had heard the whole conversation between Max and Alec. They knew that the X5's had been on the outside for a long time now. So them using names instead of their designations didn't surprise them so much.
What surprised them was seeing X5-452 – or Max as the other X5's call her - worry so much about a civilian. During their training they had learned about interpersonal relationships of ordinary human beings, but they were also told that those relationships was what made the ordinaries so vulnerable. They were taught that they could never fall victim to such sentimentalities – they were too strong and too smart to go into that trap. And here was X5-452 – their secret hero even though they were also taught that she was an enemy and a traitor. But apparently she was still part of the Manticore team. Otherwise she wouldn't have followed the regrouping coordinates.
"Coordinates?" Max asked, now reluctantly getting up to stand in front of the group of young soldiers.
"Regrouping coordinates Max." Alec explained from behind her.
"Apparently they don't just want to re-indoctrinate us." Max thought out loud. "But what do they want? We need to get out of here as soon as possible before they figured out what they will do with us – or to us" Max stated.
"If we all work together we will find a way outta here in no time. We are like, what 42 trained Manticore soldiers. Shouldn't be a problem." Alec replied looking around the cave. Now with all tunnels closed up the center of the cave looked like huge arena. With no way out.
Having heard every word that was exchanged just now all the young soldiers looked at each other questioningly. They all came here voluntarily to regroup and be returned to base. Why were the X5's talking about escaping? But they were commanding officers and none of the younger soldiers dared to interrupt them.
They were all still kids. They had grown up in Manticore and experienced nothing but orders, training and blind obedience. So when Max shouted "Group", all the young soldiers got in line and straightened their bodies. Even though they had witnessed her caring about a civilian she was still Manticore and older and more experienced. So they figured they had to obey.
"I'm X5-452. You call me Max. We have a situation here that needs to be taken care of immediately. We got captured by Manticore. So far we have no idea what they will do with us. But we will not wait here to find it out. We all have to find a way out of here." Max explained as she walked along the line of the young soldiers in front of her.
"Ma'am. Permission to speak." One of the older X7's stepped forward and waited for 452 to grant his request.
"The name is Max. And you don't need my permission to speak. Okay?" Max said and stepped closer to the young soldier to hear what he wants.
"Yes Ma'am." The X7 said not able to bring himself to call her Max. Max just rolled her eyes in frustration. They were so brainwashed that they didn't even dare to call someone by their name. But she nodded his way as a gesture for him to start talking.
"Ma'am. May I ask for the reason for the planned escape? This is the regrouping point so shouldn't we wait right here until we receive further orders ma'am?" The X7 asked boldly.
"Because Manticore didn't want you all to come here to rescue you and bring you back home or to a new base. They are not what you think they are. You know that Manticore is a secret government project with the goal to create the perfect soldier. What you don't know is how many of us had to die already due to the fact that they use us like lab rats. They don't care if we live or die. Haven't you wondered why there are only 42 of all the hundreds of transgenic X-Series soldiers here in this cave? Why did they drop you off in the woods with regrouping coordinates? Why not the other ones as well?" Max asked, trying to get them to think instead of telling them what to think.
"Because we are the best. Because we are special." The young X7 answered with determination.
"Let me guess what's so special about you." Max said, now walking up and down the line of young soldiers again. "Every once in a while you start shaking. When it's really bad you break down and shake violently or pass out. You are unable to keep your balance. You lose your heightened abilities. Am I right so far?" Max asked and she could already see that some had lowered their heads as if Max could see that she was right when she looked into their eyes.
"But then again maybe not all of you. Maybe some have other medical problems. Maybe some even have psychological problems. Those defects were already present when we were kids back at Manticore. I got out before they killed me because of my seizures. Some of my siblings in my unit weren't so lucky. Some were shot right in front of our eyes. That's why we escaped. We saw the real face of Manticore. I guess now they found a way to get rid of all the defected soldiers without letting the others – the healthy and worthy ones - know that they would kill you without giving it a second thought. You weren't sent on a special mission only to return home to base. You were sent away and you never return to base. They are merely taking out the trash. Getting rid of you in the most convenient of ways. Get you all together in an underground cave and kill you all at once. The ones left on base think you moved on to a new facility to work on a special project. They are not presented with a reason to hate Manticore like we did. Like we still do. Like you all should. So if you don't want to die you help us find a way out of here. If you still believe what Manticore wants you to believe then stay put, but don't stand in our way when we get the hell outta here. So what's it gonna be? You staying or you leaving?" Max finished and came to a halt in front of the group watching them closely.
They seemed confused. Unsure what to do. What to believe. No one seemed to be saying anything anytime soon and Max knew that their time was running out. So taking matters into her own hand she squared her shoulders
"Okay. You don't have to come with us, but if you believe some of what I said is true, then help us find a way out. You have learned in your Manticore training that being trapped is the worst situation you can find yourself in. Be it by your own people or your enemies. So we have to find a way out. Once we do, it's up to you to leave or stay behind. So line up." Max said, sounding more authoritative than she liked. She didn't want them to think of her as their CO but it looked like that it was the only way to get them to do something.
The young soldiers hesitantly lined up in 4 lines standing in front of Max like a small army. Max did a quick count and motioned for Alec and Zack to come and stand next to her.
"First line. Go to the south entrance and search from there towards the south-east entrance." Max said and motioned to her left where the south entrance tunnel used to be. The first line of 10 young soldiers nodded and hurried off to do as they were told.
"Second line. You take the south-east entrance and search from there toward the east entrance. Go." Max pointed with her head toward that entrance and the second group of ten sprinted towards their task.
"Alec. Go and keep an eye on those groups. Zack you take the next two groups." Max ordered.
"Yes Ma'am." Alec saluted with a smirk on his face and followed the two groups.
"Ha, ha, ha." Was Max only reply before she turned back to the other 19 soldiers in front of her.
"Third line you go to the east entrance and search towards the west entrance. And the last line searches from the west entrance back to where line one started at the south entrance. Now go." Max said and watched as each group obediently turned and went to work.
Zack gave her a brief nod and followed the last to groups to keep an eye on them. So far Max had acted as a real leader. A soldier. He couldn't hide his smile when thinking about being reunited with his favorite "sister" back at Manticore. Just like the old times – only better. She wouldn't want to escape anymore because this time she would know that being at Manticore is her destiny. And maybe. Just maybe she would develop a new kind of trust and love for him. So far this mission seemed very successful to him. But he didn't know the whole extent of the plan other than they wanted Max back at Manticore.
"I want you to check every ridge, every loose rock. There's got to be some way to open those tunnels or some other way to get out of here." Max yelled so everybody in the cave could hear her.
Her command was followed by a round of "Yes Ma'am's". She gave up on the idea that they would call her Max. Maybe once they are free and away from Manticore can they develop a normal life.
"I always knew you had it in you – commanding people around and observing their work instead of working yourself." Came a smooth voice from behind her. A voice that made her knees go weak because she thought she might never hear it again. And yet here it was. Leave it to Logan to try to be funny in the middle of chaos.
"Logan!" Max said while spinning around to look at him. There he was. Sitting up on the dirty floor, rubbing his head where it hurt and smiled out of sheer joy to see her alive.
"Those Manticore guys sure know how to aim right to knock a mere mortal out." He joked again but his smile faded when he saw Max looking at him in a mix of shock and awe but stayed planted on her feet in the middle of the cave making no attempt to come closer.
"Max. Are you okay?" He asked her. Shouldn't she be rushing towards him to hug and kiss him now? He was alive. The virus was cured. He had no idea where the hell he was or what was going on around him but that was the least he expected. He didn't expect her to do nothing. She stood there looking like she just saw a ghost. Motionless. No expression on her face but wonder.
"Yeah. You?" She asked her voice cracking.
"I'm fine. I might have a little headache for a few days but other than that." He smiled again and attempted to get up to go over to where she stood if she planned on staying in her spot. But his legs were still too wobbly to support his body and he slumped back down on the floor with a groan.
That seemed to snap Max out of her daze and she rushed over to him, still careful not to get too close. "Logan. Are you okay? What's wrong?" She asked, reaching out a hand to him but pulling it back the second she realized what she was about to do.
"Yeah. I guess those tazer effects are still in my system." He said and looked at her expectantly.
"How do you feel?" Max asked again.
"I think we've covered that before Max." Logan said and tried to reach for her but she pulled away before he could touch her.
"Max. What is going on? Why are you pulling away?" Logan asked, now a little frustrated at himself and the situation.
"Logan." Max said in a raspy voice and she had to clear her throat before continuing. "What exactly do you remember before you got knocked out?" She asked, hoping that he might remember something that would help them figure out whether they had touched skin to skin or not.
"Ahm. Okay. We were fighting in my apartment. Then your brother Ben – who apparently got turned – tried to tazer me and you jumped at me to get me out of the tazer stings. The last thing I remember is your cheek touching mine before I knocked my head on the floor and passed out." Logan finished, seeing Max's eyes tear up.
"So I didn't imagine it? We really touched? Skin on skin? And nothing happened?" Max said, moving closer to him but still not touching him.
"Nothing other than that I'm still alive Max." Logan said and held out his hand for her to take it. He wanted her to make the first move. He thought she was scared or was having second thoughts but now he knew that she was just not sure if what she remembered was true.
"Are you sure it's gone Logan?" Max asked staring at his outstretched hand and then back into his eyes.
"I've never been so sure about anything else in my life Max. The virus is gone." Logan said but still made no move to get closer to her, to touch her. If she needed the time he was more than willing to wait.
Max slowly raised her hand again and moved it hesitantly towards Logan's outstretched hand. Her entire life seemed to focus on her hand and his hand as they inched closer to one another. She couldn't hear anything around her except her heart pounding in her chest. Her heavy breathing. She tried to forget how scared she was. Tried to forget the consequences if they were wrong.
Happy Endings are not for cowards. She thought to herself and moved the last inches forward and finally covered his hand with hers.
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AN: I know this is a bad cliffhanger. But the next chapter is already done and as soon as I get it back from Sammi I will post it. So don't start the hating because the next one will be there in a few days. Thanks for reading.