Jail Bird

That was Max. Somehow I'd pictured her differently, taller maybe, more… just more I guess. Kind of like the picture in the art book Syl had at the ranch.

Tall and strong bearing a shield and holding a sword. The dark hair in plaits with a fierce look on her face. A warrior, a Valkyrie…

Everything Krit said about Max just brought those images to mind. Syl had tempered his words but I knew he spoke that way because he loved her. They all love her, Max. The fallen soldier and now a phoenix, born from the ashes…

There I go again, making up stories about people but I can't help it. I know everything. Krit told the stories often enough it felt as if I were there. Max had lived it, all of it, with them. So why was Max so withdrawn? She used her anger to distance herself from people and it's blatantly obvious she's lonely.

It's in her eyes. How come nobody else sees it? Does Logan? Tall four eyes with his little spy toys… how does that even help? He thinks it does, telling the truth but nobody cares, not the ones who can make a difference. I guess he knows that since he's been doing it for ever.

Then there's the virus. Manticore really doesn't like him to have come up with such a nasty thing. He must hate it, being so close to Max and unable to touch her. He has to see how close Alec is to her. How he can touch her while Logan cant and the way she depends on Alec. It should motivate Logan to find a cure. Get all those contacts 'EyesOnly' has at his fingertips moving instead of mooning and moping the way he does. They'd both be happier. Max probably wouldn't be such a hardass.

What she sees in him… Logan's ordinary. I mean he's not like them-us-them! Whatever, but she's got all these Transgenics around her 24/7 and Logan's not fast, he's not strong and comparing brains well! Logan must feel pretty inadequate. I don't get what Max sees in him.

The guy is tall, can't complain there and I guess he has a pretty face, blue eyes and all. Maybe he has a winning personality, I don't know but Max likes something about the ordinary.

Only Logan's jealous of Alec.

That's funny, watching them watch each other when the other's not looking. I could sit back and enjoy the show especially when Max is around.

Then there's Alec. Watching him is… its- well, I'm not sure 'uncomfortable' is the right way to describe how I feel when I study him. He is the prettiest one at Terminal City. I mean, Krit and Zane are gorgeous. Tall, dark and mysterious comes to mind and Alec… yeah; I guess he falls in that category as well. He's got that smart mouth to keep people at a distance but his eyes are haunted.

I can recognize that look. Everyone at the ranch has these moments. Its like they're staring off into the past and it's not good. Then they'll give themselves a little shake and go off like nothing ever happened. Alec has that look- maybe that's why I feel like this… as if I can soothe his mind-. Ok that's just stupid. I shouldn't even be thinking about them, I should be worried about getting back and- and- and there was that other Transgenic.

She had a whole bank of monitors to herself. I wonder what she was doing and she didn't move when all the action was going on. I noticed that before we left. Nobody paid her any attention which made me curious not to mention I still couldn't figure out why my gaze kept skipping over her.

"Sector Pass."

Oh, time to hand over-. Ok maybe it's in my other-.

"No…" there aren't anymore pockets to check and I know I had it with me. The Sector cop isn't looking pleased and my flirty smile isn't working. There's the security camera pointed right at me but I can take care of tha-.

"Shit." I can't get rid of a hover craft. Not if I'm not touching it or something it's touching.

"Watch that mouth! Now where's that pass?" he asked again but I didn't have it.

-X-