A/N: It's been a while, but I finally had time to move things forward. Reviews are welcome as always.

Chapter 5

"As for the X5s, she thinks your idea is great. And get this – to get samples of their DNA, all they have to do is swish some Scope around in their mouths for about a minute and spit it in a transport container. She says it keeps in that medium without refrigeration for up to three months. Isn't that crazy? It will actually be feasible to test any of your siblings who would be willing to help," gushed Logan. It was almost as though he'd forgotten to act weird about asking the others to help. Then he darkened. "I mean, if we can find them."

"Logan," Max crooned as she leaned forward on the low chair and placed her hand on his. "Zack will be in touch with us as soon as he can be, and I'm sure he's going to help."

"Oh, God. I didn't even think about that," he exhaled as he rubbed his hand forward in his hair, biting absently on the side of his thumb as he finished. "What if he doesn't want to help?"

"Logan. Seriously, you're killing the mood." Max slid off the edge of the chair and nearly hopped into his lap. "We'll figure it all out," she promised as she kissed him.

He placed her hand on his chest. "It beats so fast when you do that."

"I plan to do this a lot, so your heart had better get used to it," she confirmed.

"And you'll have plenty of time to do it. Later." He said as he carefully removed her hand. "I still have a lot of work to do now." She frowned. The moment was completely over now. Logan digressed further. "I need to talk to Bennett. I think he can help us with transport, and really, he and Marianne might be up for a trip to L.A."

Max stood and walked back toward the kitchen. "The more the merrier. I like Marianne. She's nothing like your aunt," she mused out loud.

Logan leaned back around the corner. "Yeah," he chuckled, "Thus her appeal."

Max reappeared with two steaming mugs of coffee. "What about my job? I don't think Normal's gonna be down with me takin' off so much time. I don't think a doctor's note is gonna cut it for three months in Hawaii, ya know?" She handed over Logan's mug.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that," he started, reaching back to scratch his head as he took his first sip.

"Oh yeah?"

"Um, yeah." She moved over to sit on the arm of the chair beside him. "I know you need your space and your own way to make a living and all that, but what if you worked for me, or more specifically for Cale Industries?"

Max scrunched her face into a frown but paused a second before answering. "I don't think that's a very good idea." He could tell she was trying to be diplomatic as she continued. "It's not that I don't appreciate the offer, but I'm starting to feel like I owe you too much, and I know that doesn't matter to you, but I know that you know it matters to me."

"I do," Logan affirmed. "But short of me buying Jam Pony, which I've looked into, I'm not sure how to help you keep your job." He gave a brief shake of his head accompanied by a bewildered shrug. "Unless you want to bank on the fact that Normal will take you back in three or four months, that there will be a spot and he'll allow you to fill it."

"Yeah. I guess that's a pretty big gamble." She drummed her fingers on the chair's leather upholstery.

"And you know better than me," continued Logan, "If you should be straight up with him or just ask for the time off."

"It's really hard to know with him. Guess I'll have to play it by ear."

"Well, let me know if there's anything you want me to do, okay?"

"I will," she said as she stood and walked toward him and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm gonna blaze, though. Got some stuff I gotta check on tonight."

He grabbed her hand and pulled her down into a proper embrace. "Yeah, sure," he sighed as he released her. "Thanks for the picnic – for the whole day, actually."

"No prob," she winked and she slinked toward the door. She slid her Jam Pony bike out of its keeping place and headed to the street. As she passed through the Sector Checkpoint, she flashed her messenger Sector Pass and slipped through the lines. Approximately half an hour after she left Logan's, she found herself in the apartment she guessed she still shared with Original Cindy.

"Hey, Boo. Didn't 'spect to see you back here tonight," shot Cindy as Max hung her bike and shrugged out of her leather jacket.

Max flipped her a tube of toothpaste. "I know you like Crest, but all he had was Colgate."

"Beggars can't be choosers, Sugah," Cindy crooned. "Besides, anything's better than the baking soda mess Kendra whipped up." She turned the tube over in her hands. "But you didn't tell me what you're doing back here. I know it wasn't to bring me this."

Max shot Cindy a grin as she headed into her room. "True," she called back over her shoulder. She returned a second later with her helmet in hand. "I needed to feel a little wind in my face tonight."

"So no kiss and tell?" her roommate pushed.

Max shook her head with a little smirk crossing her face. "Not tonight."

"Whatchu gonna do about your bike for work?"

"I'll stop by before work to pick it up, I guess." She shrugged. "Or something."

"Be careful. Although I guess it is easier to get out of Sector Police lockup when Ritchie Rich is footin' the bill," mused Cindy in a parting shot.

"See you tomorrow," Max affirmed as she pushed the Ninja toward the elevator, which thankfully was working. She didn't have to risk anyone seeing her carrying the bike down the stairs.

Once she hit the street, she turned toward the Space Needle and opened up the throttle. When she saw its shadow in the distance, she pulled into her regular hiding spot and secured the bike. Then, she continued toward the landmark and climbed to her regular place. As she slipped through the maintenance hatch, she immediately crouched into a strike position, seeing another figure sitting in her usual spot.

Hands raised, the person slowly turned toward her. "Easy, Max. It's just me," Zack whispered.

She straightened and walked toward him. "What are you doing up here?"

"What do you think I'm doing up here?" He shrugged. "I'm lookin' for you."

She brushed a lock of hair out of her face and allowed her feline senses to adjust to the low light as a cloud covered the half moon. "You could have come to Cindy's. Or Logan's."

He nodded. "Yeah, but I just wanted to see you."

She rolled her eyes. "Okay, well, you've seen me now."

"I got your note," he said as he raised from his own crouching position.

"Oh," she blinked, "Already?"

He nodded again. "So you guys saw the steps and the swing and all that?"

Max smiled. "Yeah, we did. Logan was grateful. He wanted to thank you. You should stop by."

Zack snorted. "I'm sure."

"Zack. He's trying."

"He needs something from me, from us. Maybe that's why."

"Oh please, Zack. You're the one who has a problem with him, not the other way around."

"Whatever." He reached into his jacket and pulled out a plastic container. "Just give him this."

"What is it?" Max asked aloud as she took the offering. "And what he needs is the locations of the other X5's, not your leftover whatever this is."

"It's my DNA, Max. In mouthwash just like your doctor ordered."

Her eyes were saucers. "Are you following me, us?"

"Just take it to Logan; it's what he needs."

"We already tried it with my stem cells and he had an immune reaction cuasing rejection. We have to make sure we find the best match. It could be any one of us. Well, of you all. It's not me."

Zack wrapped his hand around Max's and the vial. He stared deeply into her eyes and began speaking very pointedly. "Logan's grandfather and father were very important men. Very generous men, as well. They've always been interested and invested in the Department of Defense. His uncle still is."

"So?" Max shot back, as defiantly as possible, not permitting her mind to go the places Zack was asking her to take it.

"They gave more to the cause than money."

Max felt the blood drain out of her face as she could not longer block what Zack was telling her. "No. Zack, no."

"Give him that vial. It will be the closest match he'll find among us."

She took a step but stumbled backward. He caught her arm and steadied her. "It's not true. How could you even know? We were modeled after great men and women of history, not benefactors, if they even were."

Zack shrugged, "And Lydecker and his wife. I've seen my file, Max. I know who and what I'm made of."

Max shook her head. "You're wrong."

"Maybe I am, but take it. See if it works."

She took steps toward the hatch and started down the ladder but stopped. "What about his mother? I'm not …" She couldn't even fathom thinking it.

"No. Not as far as I know."

"He can't know this; you can't say a word."

"I won't. But will you climb in his bed so easily knowing who and what he comes from?"

She left his question in the air as she descended into the night, mounted the Ninja and roared away, still not sure if she would be heading in the direction of Fogle Towers tonight.