The Surprise

Chapter 10: Paranoia; bound to cause problems.

A/N: Thanks to Laker Girl, Little Kat, Mel, Jumoke and Down-Ass-Bitch for replying to my pleas and reviewing! (Sorry if I have left anyone out.)

Also I meant to have this up on Friday but my cousin decided that I should help her move house which pretty much took up my weekend. Blame her!

The next morning at the meeting everything appeared to have settled down. Max and Alec were always smiling at each other and giving each other these little looks.

When everyone started to come in they were just sitting talking at the table. Jondy and Zane were the first to get there. "Hey guys," they said as they took their places at the table. Jondy grinned at Alec giving him a knowing look and Max kept a note of it. She didn't know why but ever since last night she had felt uneasy about the amount of time they were spending together.

A frown appeared on Max's face when Alec started talking to Jondy. 'Get a grip Max! Anyone would think you didn't want Alec to be friends with your sister!' Listening to the voices in her head she smiled and began going through things that needed to be addressed today.

During the meeting she found out that everyone had gotten everything done and were actually ahead of schedule which made her feel slightly guilty about snapping at Alec as she realised that she shouldn't have sat about then assumed that no-one else had done anything.

"So Dix, any developments on how to tell the transgenics to come on Terminal city?"

"Yes actually, you know the signals Manticore taught us to look for and use if we found our selves out of the base?" He continued not waiting an answer knowing that they all had. "Well I have found a way of putting a similar code into a TV programme using a system of flashing lights that to the ordinaries will just look like a minor glitch in the reception. The code basically gives them directions to Terminal City saying that it is urgent."

From looks, similar to her own Max knew that everyone else was just as impressed as she was.

"Great job Dix. Any downsides?"

"Well, it will be hard finding a show that we can put it into. We need something that will not show up on the government broadcasting facility, you know how monitored these things are these days, and something people will watch. Either that or we will have to create a cable hack but it would probably be too obvious."

"Is there anything we could put it into that might work?" asked Zane.

"The only thing that would have a chance of working would be if we could put it into an Eyes Only broadcast. Everyone listens to that guy and it can't be traced anyway. Only problem is that it will probably be very hard to hack into the broadcast and put it in. "

Everyone one turned round to Max to see what she thought only to see that she looked like she was having a fight with herself.

"Max. . . . " said Alec. "You know we should. It's the only option," he said.

"No, I finally got him out of my life and I have had enough problems doing that."

Seeing that everyone with the exception of Krit and Syl were confused Alec decided to explain. "We know Eyes Only."

"That's brilliant!" said Jace, "Now we can use his equipment and put the code into his broadcast, hassle free."

"Not quite," said Alec. "Logan Cale, the 'Great and Powerful Eyes' is Maxie's ex. There was a particular nasty break-up that involved door slamming, name-calling and crying with the crying coming from him."

The shocked silence was broken by Jondy excitedly saying, "Is that the one who had a genetically engineered retro virus so that it you touched him he would fall dead?"

"Pretty much," said Max coming out of her daze.

"Talk about issues," muttered Jace.

"Talk bout not being able to take a hint," replied Zane.

"But I went through hell and besides, he is really creepy now. After the break up he spent the next few eyes only broadcasts talking about how love is eternal and that commitment is the way forward."

"But Max we have to go, it is a secure option that eliminates the risk of the familiars catching on to what we are doing. They have been monitoring all other shows making sure nothing gets through," said Alec. "Max you know you have do as I seriously doubt that he will do it for anyone apart from you."

"Max," he said pausing for effect. "You know you have to."

"I know, I know but it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it," she said giving in.

Everyone smiled gratefully at her. "I'll go later on, now back to business."

The meeting went quite successfully. There were not too many supplies needed and TC had a current population count of 576 transgenics with a wide range of skills. Knowing that that was still not enough for an army Max decided she should try to get her little challenge for the day over and done with.

So later that evening, Max didn't have anything that urgently needed to be done so headed for Logan's. Alec had offered to go with her but she had refused saying that it was something that she would rather do on her own so him, Jondy and Zane had all went to help get dinner sorted in the cantine.

The route to Logan's house still seemed familiar to her though now she did not feel quite as comforting to her.

When she got to the fancy building and arrived at Logan's apartment, she did something she had never done before. She knocked and waited on him to answer.

She was greeted with a look of complete surprise that was then attempted to be covered up with a smarmy smile that made Max feel sick to her stomach.

"Can I come in?" she said.

"Why of course," he sad opening the door further and allowing her to step inside. Not wanting him to get the wrong idea Max didn't walk too far in and stopped walking in the hallway.

"I must admit that I am quite surprised to see you here Max though I'm glad you did, there is something I have wanted to show you."

Logan walked over to his video cabinet and lifted a tape labelled "IMPORTANT." He put it into the video player casually sauntered over and sat on the sofa. "Won't you sit down?" he said gesturing to the space beside him.

Getting annoyed Max said, "Look Logan, I'm not here to watch videos, this isn't a social call I need your help."

Not knowing how exactly to respond to this Logan nodded showing that he wanted her to continue.

She explained the current situation and the events of the past few days as quickly as she could so that she could get around to asking him the question.

"So we were wondering if we could use one of your Eyes Only broadcasts to inform all the transgenics to head to TC. We wouldn't have asked but even as transgenics it would have taken us a few days to get a complete hack and access into your system, they are too short for us to get a complete trace of the signals you are using."

Logan got up. "So do you see now why I wouldn't let you or Alec near my computer? Yous always complained about me taking so long but as soon as you try to do it without me you realise that you need me," he said smugly.

"Screw you Logan I said it would take longer I never said we couldn't do it!" said Max turning around and heading for the door.

"Max wait I'm sorry, of course I will do it just stay a while longer. You can tell me when and where and there is still something I need to show you."

Max stopped. She was determined as ever to keep walking but a voice in her head that sounded surprisingly like Alec, told her that they needed this and that it would be silly just to put them behind just because Logan is a smug, superior asshole.

Eventually she listened to the voice of reason and stayed. She sat down. "Well Dix, the transgenic who organised this will come here to alter your broadcast tomorrow evening so what ever you have planned make sure you already have it pre-recorded," she said wanting to get out of there as fast as possible.

"So what was this thing you wanted to show me?"

An eerie smile appeared on Logan's face. "So tell me Max, how have you and Alec been getting on recently?"

"Fine thanks, not that it is any of your business."

"Well because I have a feeling that after you watch this there might be trouble in paradise. This tape has lead me to believe that Alec is not as committed as you would like to believe."

No matter what Max had though he was going to say it hadn't been that. She swallowed trying to hide how nervous she was and not giving Logan the pleasure of seeing just how unsure of Alec she currently was. Unsure of what she was about to see Max took a deep breath.

Logan pressed play, she looked up, and what appeared to be Jam Pony. When she saw who just entered Jam Pony on the screen she walked in, relief washed over her.

"Well?" asked Logan. "Anything to say in his defence? I doubt it; after all he just walked into Jam Pony with a beautiful brunette ad left again with you nowhere in sight. Or does Alec usually walk about with his arm around strange girls? I can also assure you that this was only taken from Jam Pony surveillance about a week ago."

"That 'beautiful brunette' is my sister Jondy. They had went down to tell Normal that we wouldn't be in for a while. I wasn't there because I was at home packing and looking after Jen."

After seeing the smile drop from Logan's face she continued. "Why Logan? Did you just not want to see me happy, could you just not stand to see me with someone else, out having a life? So what was your plan here? Did you think that I would see the errors of my ways and see Alec for 'what he really is' while you played the comforting shoulder to cry on Logan? Because if so you are even more of a dick than I thought."

It was now clear to Logan just how mad Max was and that possibly his 'oh-so- brilliant idea' hadn't exactly gone to plan.

"Well maybe I am a dick Max but I'll never be as bad as him. There may not have been anything on that tape to prove that he is going to break your heart but I'd bet everything I own that he will. People like Alec never change so when you finally do see Alec as I do you and your heart is I thousands of pieces, remember that I warned you."

"You are just a petty, jealous little man and I hope you rot in hell," she retorted before storming out the door.

Max waited until she was all the way downstairs and about to get on her bike before she allowed herself to cry. She wasn't quite sure why she was upset, she knew Alec would never do anything to hurt her but for some reason Logan's words had struck a chord with her.

When Max returned to TC se went straight to headquarters to find Dix. She found him in an office near her own. "We are on for tomorrow, Foggle Towers, penthouse apartment. Take the fire escape and Syl to help you with your equipment. She knows Logan; don't spend anymore time with him than necessary.

"Great Max thanks, you look upset are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said. Although Dix was unconvinced he decided to let it go and continued on with his work on the computer.

Max went outside to look for Alec, something she felt that she was doing a lot of recently. She found him in the bar with everyone. They were in the corner laughing and joking and Max couldn't help but notice that Alec and Jondy seemed awfully cosy and appeared to be having their own conversation, separate from the rest of the group.

She heard Logan's words echoing in her head " . . .he'll break your heart . . . people like Alec never change . . "

She turned round to leave but Alec had already spotted her and was on his way over. "How did it go?" asked after greeting her with a kiss.

"I don't want to talk about it but we are sorted for tomorrow."

"Brilliant, so are you going to come join us for few drinks? We got everything that we were supposed to do today done, along with everyone else so we are pretty much on schedule."

"Good but I'm just going to go get Jen and head up to the apartment."

"Yeah I was in seeing her earlier and she seems to have adjusted pretty well, I'll come with you." He called over to them telling them he was going and said his goodbyes before heading for the nursery with his arm around Max's shoulders. This did not help Max as he had done it in the same fashion that she had seen him do with Jondy on the Jam Pony surveillance feed.

She unwillingly shuddered. "You ok?" Max nodded and tried to clear he head, determined not to let Logan get to her.

There you go. I have the next one ready to go so if I get enough reviews I will post it. (Unless someone else decided to move house.) Thanks! Also I tried to be objective in this chapter and try not to do too much Logan bashing but I'm afraid my utter hatred for the man may have sneaked into it. What do you think?