From: "Veronica Bowles" <yellowrubberduck31@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 18:28:21 -0400
Subject: New post
Source: direct
TITLE: Choices-05 "Beautiful Life."
AUTHOR: Mystic25
EMAIL: yellowrubberduck31@hotmail.com
DISTRIBUTION: Archive, just keep my info as is.
GENRES: Story/Romance/Angst
RELATIONSHIPS: Max/Logan married
CONTENT: violence
KEYWORDS: Alternate Universe
RATING: PG14
SPOILERS: none
SUMMARY: The birth of Max and Logan's second child is
hindered when a militia takes the hospital hostage.
DISCLAIMER: The Dark Angel characters belong to the guy who
raised the Titanic. All others are mine.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know...I inject a lot of drama into these.
But Max and Logan just having a normal labor and delivery
experience? Can't see that happening.
*****
Seattle
2:43 p.m.
"Charlie?" Max spoke into her cell phone to her brother-in-law.
"Hey Max." Charlie answered. "How are you?"
"Pretty good." Max answered back "Just wanted to let you guys
know that your niece will be making her appearance soon."
she said this through slightly gritted teeth. She was sitting
in the passenger seat of her Impala as Logan drove her to
Metro Medical.
She started having contractions when she climbed out of bed
in the morning. Logan had awoken immediately when she told him,
almost breaking a few things in the process.
"That's wonderful!" Charlie was elated.
Max could hear him telling Tinga in the background. Her sister's
voice soon came over the receiver "Which hospital?"
"Metro." Max answered, cursing under her breath when a
contraction hit.
"We'll be there as soon as possible baby sister." Tinga
stated. "Just got to find a sitter for Case."
Max ended the call turning to her husband "She's coming."
Logan squeezed her hand "Going to be a high social affair,
already called Bling, he's on the way, and you got Tinga
and Cindy coming." he swerved into the ambulance bay of
Metro.
"Just got new tires on this girl baby." Max stated
"Don't burn'em out."
She climbed out of her seat, Logan immediately at her
side "You ready for this?" she turned to him.
He kissed her softly "Most defiantly."
*****
Maternity Ward
Room 3-B
3:22 p.m.
"Hey guys." Dr. Anna Janston, Max's obstetrician stated
when entering the hospital room.
She came over to the bed "See they got you all set up
in here."
"Oh yea." Max agreed, pointing to the IV inserted in her
arm "I'm wired for action."
Her doctor laughed "Glad to hear it." she turned towards
Logan "and how's the father doing?"
"Pretty good Dr. Janston." Logan stated. "Just ready
to help her, and waiting for those 'You ruined my life'
ravings."
Max shot him a look "Didn't take labor for me to
figure that one out." at his hurt look she added
"I'm kidding baby, relax."
"I'm wounded that you would even think things like
that sweetheart." he teased, kissing her.
"Suck it up." she said pulling back with a smile.
"But I apologize now for any dissin' I do on you
between now and when this kid is born."
He smiled back "Thank you."
"So Max-" Dr. Janston's voice interrupted "I understand
you want to have a V-back."
Max looked at her and nodded "Yea. As much as I loved
being cut open, I think I'll go natural this time."
"You do understand that if you start having a seizure
we'll have to deliver by c-section?"
"I know." Max agreed "But I can manage pain pretty
well. The last time I didn't know what to expect so
it caught me off guard."
Her doctor nodded "As long as you understand the risks
involved."
Her patient shook her head in agreement.
"Okay then." Janston pulled on some latex gloves she
brought with her. "I'm just going to check how far
along you are." she lifted up the blue hospital gown
slightly, feeling with her hand. After a second she
lowered it back down. "You're about six centimeters
already." her voice was slightly astonished "I can't
believe how fast it's going. Can't even tell that you're
having contractions."
"Like I said, I manage pain pretty well." Max said.
Memories of setting her own broken leg with no
anesthetic on a training mission flashed in her mind.
Dr. Janston stood up "I'm going to change into my scrubs.
It looks like it's going to be fast for you." she stood
and left the couple alone.
*****
Two hours later
"Come on Max, you can do this, push this baby out!" Dr. Janston
encouraged to her patient.
Max took a moment to get her bearings. She was squeezing Logan's
hand so hard she was afraid she was going to break it.
Logan did feel pain from the super death grip she had on him,
but he would take broken metacarpals over letting go.
After the last push she took a minute to rest.
"You're doing great baby." Logan informed, kissing her
sweaty hair.
"Okay honey." the doctor called out from the end of
the bed "One more time and this baby will be out. Deep
breath and-whoa!" her voice was surprised because Max
had already completed what she asked her to do. The
baby came out so fast that Dr. Janston almost dropped
her.
"Trying to get a jump start on things?" Janston teased.
She raised the crying infant in the air "It's a girl!"
she laid the baby on Max's chest, and suctioned out
her nose and mouth out with a bulb syringe.
Max reached out and touched her daughter's tiny head
"Hey there." her voice was choked full of emotion.
Logan kissed the infant's head "Hey sweetie. I'm your
daddy. This beautiful lady here." he smiled at his wife
"is mommy. Bet she looks a lot different from the outside."
Max laughed, as he leaned down to kiss her. "I love you."
she said.
"Love you too sweetheart." he replied.
"I hate to interrupt this moment." Dr. Janston broke in
"But I need to clean up your daughter." she gently picked
up the baby. "I'll bring her right back."
"You better." Max threatened lightly.
A nurse took a look under Max's gown "You did great Mrs.
Cale, no tearing or anything." she smiled at her "I'll just
clean you up a little."
Tinga walked in the door "Are we up for some visitors?"
she walked the rest of the way in the room with Charlie
close behind. She walked over to the bed and kissed Max.
"Hey baby sister."
Max smiled "Glad you could make it."
Tinga rubbed Max's stomach where she once had a bulge
"Wouldn't miss it for anything."
"You were right." Max pointed out "It was a girl."
Tinga smiled again "I knew it." she looked over at
Charlie "Didn't I tell you?"
"You got her started Max." Charlie teased "No she's
gonna gloat for days." he kissed Max on the forehead.
"Comes with the territory." Logan kidded to his
brother-in-law.
Max shoot her husband a look "Ha ha."
"How much did she weigh?" Tinga asked, sitting on
the edge of the hospital bed.
"8 lbs. 1 oz." Dr. Janston called out.
"She weighed more then Jess." Max stated with a smile.
"That's because you carried her to term honey." Logan
pointed out. Their son had been born almost a full month
early, but went home only two weeks later thanks to his
mother's hyped up DNA.
Dr. Janston came over and handed Max her baby, now
wrapped in a blanket and with a little head warmer
on her.
"She's beautiful." Tinga said, stroking the baby's
soft cheeks. Her little eyes opened, revealing the
deep blue irises of her father.
"She got your eyes babe." Max said with a smile.
She loved her husband's eyes, and had been
disappointed, happy of course in Jesse, but upset
that he didn't get Logan's eye color.
"They could change." Logan pointed out "A lot
of newborns have blue eyes."
Max shook her head "They won't" she looked down
at her daughter.
"You pretty sure of that huh?"
She looked at him "Just have a feeling."
"What's her name?" Tinga asked.
Max was about to respond when she caught sight of Bling
and Cindy approaching the hallway "Look who came
straggling in."
"Hey boo." Cindy said hugging her "Traffic was a bitch,
plus Normal gave me three extra runs." she looked at
the baby. "Congratulations." she touched the little
girls cheeks.
"She's a looker." Bling said stealing a kiss. "Like
her mama."
"Hitting on my wife?" Logan teased his friend.
Bling blew him off "Just complimenting man. I don't do
that kinda stuff."
"Our little suga got a name?" Cindy asked
Max nodded "Say hello to Alexis Marie Cale." she
looked over at Logan "Marie was Logan's sister's
name, and I've always like the name Alexis. They
both just kinda fit together."
"It's beautiful." Tinga said with a smile "Different
enough so that she can be a individual, but something
that doesn't isolate her." she kissed her nieces head
"I'm your aunt Tinga Lexi, welcome to the world."
"I'm your surrogate auntie baby boo." Cindy stated
"May not be blood related, but I'll love you just the
same."
"No fair, they started the aunt naming party without
us."
Max turned to see Jondy and Syl standing there looking
rather put upon. "How'd you get here so fast?" Max asked.
Jondy smiled "Me and Syl were just a jump away in
Montana. Booked it over hear a few days ago when
we remembered our sis was nine months, and could
deliver any time." she walked into the room
heading straight for the bed "And by the looks of
things we were right."
Syl kissed Max "She's beautiful." she looked at the
baby "It's a girl isn't it?"
Max laughed "Yea."
"Tinga was actually RIGHT?" Jondy teased "What a world."
Tinga glared at her. "Very funny."
"What were you guys doing in Montana?" Max asked in confusion.
Syl smiled at her sister "Had to pick up someone."
"You broke up with Craig?" Max asked.
Syl blew her off "Not anything like that girl."
Max was about to ask again, but silenced when she
saw the figure at the door. "Oh my god."
"Don't take the name of the Lord in vain Maxi." Krit
teased walking over to her bed.
Max hugged him with one arm. "It's so good to see
you."
"And you too." Krit stated pulling back. He looked at
the baby. "Wow. I never pictured you with one of these."
"We have a son as well." Logan pointed out.
Krit looked at him "You must be the guy who knocked
up my sister." he sensed Logan's uneasiness "Don't
worry, not all Maxi's brothers dislike you."
Logan actually smiled "I'm glad. My name's Logan
Cale by the way."
"Krit." the other man answered. "So this makes my sister
Max Cale?" he smiled slightly "Has something of a ring."
"Your approval means the world to us." Max teased Krit.
Lexi began to cry in her arms.
"I think she's ready for her first feeding." the nurse
said with a smile. She walked around to the head of
the bed. "Do you need any help?"
Max shook her head negatively "I breast fed my other
baby." she removed the top flap of her gown, and
positioned the baby so she could eat.
The nurse smiled "Then I'll leave you alone." she
touched Max's shoulder "Congratulations to you both."
"Thank you." Logan stated, as the nurse left. He looked
down at his wife and new daughter. "What a scene" he sat
on the end of the bed. "Watching both girls I love."
he kissed Max's head lightly.
"Yet another reason I say Zack has due cause to hate you."
Jondy teased, slapping Logan's shoulder "I mean you LOVE
our sister, how bad is that?"
The nurse came back in with a covered tray. "I'm just
going to set this in here when you're ready for it
Mrs. Cale." she put it on the little table by the bed.
"Also there's someone else here to see you." she
turned where Zack stood beside her.
"Speak of the devil." Syl muttered under her breath.
"Ambush!" Krit called out, hurling himself at Zack's
form.
"Get up off me Krit!" Zack ordered, pushing the man
away.
"What's the matter commander?" Krit teased "Afraid
you'll loose?"
"What are you doing here?" he barked, ignoring his
comment.
"Came to see Maxi." Krit stated "Thought the last
visit was too long ago."
Zack looked at Max in the bed, and then back up at
Krit "You could've been followed." he whispered.
"Take it easy Zack." Tinga said, eavesdropping "Baby
sister Max just gave birth, we all just wanted
congratulate her in person."
Zack looked around the room at his siblings. "What
if-"
"What if you just shut up and come meet your new niece."
Max interrupted.
Zack stealthily made his way over to the bed, and looked
down at the baby.
"Her name is Alexis Marie." Max pointed out to him. She
looked at the baby "Lexi, this is my oldest brother,
your uncle Zack." she looked up at Zack "the hot headed
one."
Logan couldn't help the smile that spread across his face
at that remark.
*****
The crowd in the room slowly dissipated. Tinga went down to
the cafeteria, dragging Zack with her so Logan and Max could
spend some time alone. Case's baby-sitter had to leave on a
family emergency so Charlie volunteered to go back home so his
wife could spend more time with her sister. Krit struck up
conversation with an obstetrician he met in the elevator, and
convinced her to give him a tour of the walk-in clinics.
Jondy and Syl took a walk down to the children's ward.
Bling had to get back to work, as well as Cindy, but they
both promised to come back in the morning.
Max hardly ate anything off her tray. It didn't even look
edible. So she convinced Logan to pick up some chinese
at a take out place about five miles from the hospital.
In all the earlier commotion Max wasn't even aware that
she had a roommate. The girl looked to be about her age
or slightly younger. She had been sleeping for a while,
but with the fifty some odd people in the room, it
soon became too hard.
The nurse had brought Lexi into the room for the night.
Since this wasn't a private birthing suite it was against
regulations, but Max had worked her charm on the doctors.
"She's beautiful."
Max turned to see her roommate sitting up. Her shoulder length
blonde hair was pulled into a loose ponytail.
Max smiled "Thanks. What did you have?"
"Boy." the girl stated "Named him Michael, after my dad."
"Is he coming to see his grandchild?" Max asked
The girl looked at her "He died from cancer when I was
seven."
"I'm sorry." Max said sincerely. "What about your husband?"
"I'm not married." she pointed out. "Me and my boyfriend
got carried away one night." she laughed dryly "After he
found out he knocked me up, he split. I didn't know what
to do, so I moved back in with my mom. We got into this
big argument one day, over how I couldn't raise a baby
alone. I left that night and moved into a one room near
the Strip. Been living there ever since."
"Don't have any other relatives?" Max asked her.
She shook her head "Just my mom. I was an only child."
she laughed again "Always wanted a big family like yours."
"Isn't as great as it seems." Max argued.
"At least you had someone your age to talk to." she
responded, looking at Max "and a man that loves you.
I'd give anything to have that. It hurts to know that
my baby will have to grow up without a father."
"You'll still be a good mom, despite the lack of
a male influence on the kid." Max's words were sincere.
The girl looked at her "You really think so?"
"Yea." Max began "I do."
The girl smiled "Thanks, that means a lot. My names
Sara Phillips by the way."
"Max Cale." Max responded with a smile of her own.
The door opened, and Logan came back in, holding a
paper bag. He set it on the tray in front of Max's
bed.
"Thanks baby." Max stated, opening the bag "What
they serve here leaves much to the imagination."
Logan kissed her "Your welcome." he stole a glance
at his sleeping daughter "Worked your stuff on the
nursing staff huh?"
"Mmmhmm." Max said taking a bite out of a piece of
szchewan chicken. "She was to far away for my liking."
Logan walked the short distance to Lexi's plastic
sleeping area. He marveled at how perfect she was.
Maybe it was a father's prejudice, but he didn't
care. He touched one tiny hand gently with his finger.
"Is this your first?"
Logan looked up for a second to see his wife addressing
the woman in the next bed.
"Yea." Sara answered "How about you?"
Max shook her head negatively "We have a one year old son."
She turned to Logan "Baby this is Sara Phillips, she had
a boy. Sara this is my husband Logan."
Logan walked over to Sara's bed "Congratulations." he held
out his hand to her.
Sara shook it with a smile "Thank you." she looked over at
Max "Your wife is being a great up-beater. I don't have much
in the way of family, so I'm not use to having a lot of support."
"I'll let her know that." Logan replied, and turned to see
Max with her cell phone to her ear.
"Who are you calling sweetheart?"
Max covered the receiver with her hand "Kendra. Almost
forgot to tell Jess 'bout his new little sister."
She removed her hand "Hey Walter, is Kendra there?"
she listened for a minute, making a disgusted face
"Really? That long?" "Yea, uh-huh. I'm sure it was.
Just put her on 'kay?" while she waited she covered the
mouthpiece again and addressed Logan "Apparently the
love birds have broken the record. They're up to fourteen
hours." she laughed slightly as Logan made a face.
"Kendra? Hey, It's Max. Just wanted to give you the 411.
Girl, 8 lbs, 1 ounce. Alexis Marie" there was a whoop of
exhilaration on the other end. "Okay I'll tell him" she
looked at Logan "Kendra says you da man." she laughed and
shook her head. "Girl, put Jess on please." there was a
fumbling sound for a few minutes as Kendra worked to put
the phone up to Jesse's ear.
"Hi!" came the high pitched voice of the one year old.
Max smiled. Jess had just started talking about a month
ago, and already started to master one word phrases.
"Hey babe. It's mommy. Me and daddy are bringing home
your new baby sister soon. Until then you have to stay
with Aunt Kendra and Uncle Walter." she shuddered when
she said that last part. She spat in the man's coffee
for god sakes! She smiled "Yea I know. I can pick you
up better now. Okay honey, I'm going to eat my dinner,
you talk to daddy, and I'll see you when I go home.
I love you." she handed the phone over to Logan.
"Hi!" again came the squealed greeting.
"Hey kiddo." Logan said into the phone "You being good?"
he smiled "I'm glad. Me and mommy don't have to worry
about you." "Yea. Her name is Lexi." he gave his son the
baby's shortened name so he could say it easier. "You
can see her in a day or two. When she comes home to
live with us. Okay I'm going to talk to mommy some.
We'll see you soon son." "Love you too Jess." he ended
the call.
He turned to Max "He yelled "love you daddeee." right into
my ear." Logan smiled "He's getting better at phrases."
"Must be my families genes at work." she teased.
Logan took a pillow off the bed and whacked her lightly
with it.
Max turned towards Sara "Did you see that? That's spousal
abuse."
Logan laughed gently "My wife, the defenseless victim."
his tone was colored lightly in sarcasm.
"Okay." Max stated snagging Logan's shirt collar and
pulling him down to her "How about 'whack me again and
I'll kick your ass?"
Logan smiled "That sounds more like you."
She lightly smacked him upside the head.
"Spousal abu-"
"Shut up." she interrupted drawing him down to her
for a kiss.
He returned it whole heartidly. After they broke apart
Logan turned towards Sara "Like the show so far?"
Sara laughed "Oh yea."
The room came alive as Lexi awoke crying.
"Speaking of your family genetics." Logan walked over
to the baby, and gently picked her up. "She's developing
your sleeping patterns babe." he rocked his daughter for
a second, before sensing what was wrong. "Someone needs
to be changed."
"I think the nurses keep some extra diapers in that
closet over there." Sara informed pointing to a closed
white door.
Logan looked at her with gratitude "Thank you." he
retreated to get them.
*****
"I can't believe he did something like this." Zack stated
angrily about his younger brother.
"Is it so terrible that he would want to see her after
all this time?" Tinga objected, taking a sip of hospital
swill.
She and Zack sat in a far booth of the cafeteria. Besides
them there were about twelve other people there.
"There are now five of us in one city." Zack informed
"How long do you think it'll be before someone notices?"
he words were laced in sarcasm.
"I've lived here for almost a year, and nothing's happened."
Tinga reminded her brother.
Zack shot her a glare "But you almost got yourself killed."
he spoke of her willingness to go back to Manticore to protect
her son. "You compromised yourself for phony sentimentality-"
"My husband and son are not a hindrance to my safety." Tinga
replied strongly. "They are just as much a part of my family
as you or Max are." she laid both hands on the table, ready
for a full heated war of words. "I may have sacrificed my
safety, but I don't regret for a second the choice I made
about coming back."
"What about the next time?" Zack argued "You may not be
so lucky. If you or Max got so caught up in living normal
lives that you let your guard down, what then? I can't
keep fixing the jams you all create."
Tinga snorted "You'll always try to fix things Zack, for
all of us. And as for Max you know just as well as I do
that you can't turn your back on her, any more then I could."
"She's too wreakless for her own good." Zack said
"Why?" Tinga wanted to know "Is it because she found a
place where she belonged, a home, a man who loves her?
Isn't that why we escaped? To have the things we were denied?"
"She had men who loved her." Zack argued
"I'm talking about romantic love." Tinga informed "The
kind I have with Charlie and that she has with Logan.
You may not like him Zack, but our baby sister loves
him, and that's not gonna change."
Zack looked at her angrily "Your just as bad as she is."
"Gonna throw me in the stockade commander?" Tinga asked
sarcastically. Suddenly she caught something moving out
of the corner of her eye.
Zack sensed her change of mood "What is it?"
Tinga tunneled her vision to the back door "There's
men coming in the door. They're in all black, and
carrying seim-automatics." she looked at Zack "Do you
think they found us out?" she was referring to Manticore.
Zack stood up "I'm not waiting to find out. We need to
get out of here."
Tinga stood as well "We have to warn the others, and
Max. She's not going to be strong enough to fight them
if they are here for us."
The doors burst opened and ten men aimed their guns
at the crowd simotaniously. "NOBODY MOVE!" one of them
aimed towards the cafeteria "Everybody on the floor!"
Zack and Tinga slowly backed their way into the hall.
One of the men saw them "Where do you think you two
are going?"
Both siblings took off in a sprint, the guy right on
their tail. It was a tactic they learned at Manticore.
If they took out this guy in front of the others, they
would retaliate with massive firepower and somebody
would die.
He chased them into the hall, and Zack and Tinga suddenly
stopped dead in their tracks.
The guy looked at them through the sight on his gun
"That's more like it-" he broke off as Tinga side kicked
him square in the ribs. He fell to the floor.
Zack yanked the weapon out of his hand, and knocked the
man out with the butt of the gun.
"We need to restrain him." Tinga informed "He'll run
straight back to the others when he wakes up."
Zack pulled a roll of surgical tape from off a cart.
He bound the man's feet and hands together. Tinga
took a wad of gauze and shoved it in his mouth as
a gag. They picked him up by his hands and feet and
shoved him into a storage closet.
Locking the door Zack turned to Tinga "You find the
others. I'll get Max."
Tinga nodded and sprinted down the opposite hall.
*****
Max was out of her bed, showing Sara how to hold
Michael when she breast fed him when the Zack burst
through the door.
Max whirled around to face him "What the hell are you
doing coming in here like rambo?"
"We gotta get you out of here Max." he came over to
her.
Max looked at him "And give me one good reason?" she
looked at Logan who was sitting in a rocking chair
with Alexis.
"I'll give you more then one." Zack came over to the
window and peaked out through the blinds. "There's
a group of men downstairs with semi-automatics."
"Are they Manticore?" Max asked
Zack looked at her "How the hell would I know? Me and
Tinga took one out, but there are at least ten more
that can take his place."
"What's going on?" Sara asked scared "What do they
want?"
Max turned to her "We don't know Sara."
The door opened again as Krit, Tinga, Jondy and Syl
all came inside.
"They aren't here for us." Tinga stated, out of breath
from her running. "Jondy overheard that they're part of
some new militia group, called the Aryan Freedom Fighters."
"I heard of them." Logan said "They have a strong hatred
of local government. Last month some of them blew up a bank
to protest the poor use of government funds."
"Sound like fun guys." Max stated dryly.
Zack looked at her "That's why you have to leave." he grabbed
her arm, but she snapped it away.
"I can't just leave." she looked at Sara "There are innocent
people here. They'd be killed."
"Casualties of war." Zack argued.
"This isn't a game Zack!" Max shouted at her brother "We
aren't on some training mission back at Manticore. These
people weren't brought up for the sole purpose of killing."
"Maxi's right." Krit agreed "They're all civilians. Even
the security guards won't be able to take out such a large
militia."
"That's why we have to help them." Max stated matter-of-factly.
Zack whirled on her "Why? So Lydeker can find us out and
haul us all back to Wyoming?"
"At least he'd be happy all those hours of training didn't
go to waste." Jondy teased. Then her expression turned
serious "I'm siding with Max on this one. Even if we didn't
try to help out the others, they aren't just going to let
us leave."
"Those men aren't a match for the four of us." Zack pointed
out.
"Five." Max corrected.
Krit looked at her "You aren't strong enough for this."
Max blew him off "I'm as strong as the rest of you. We
all went through the same training."
"Max." Logan began coming over to her "Listen to him.
You just gave birth." he stole a glance at Lexi.
Max looked over her shoulder at Sara and Michael, and
back up at Logan. "And so did a lot of women on this
floor. They just brought new lives into the world,
and theirs stand a strong chance of being erased.
I'm not going to just sit around and watch it happen."
Her voice held such fierce passion that Logan knew that
no matter what he said, she wasn't going to change her
mind. "I'm not going to say I'm supportive of this
decision, but seeing as how you have you own stubborn
mind, I don't think it'll really matter."
Max touched her husband's face "Thank you." she went over
to the closet and yanked out her overnight bag and brought
it over to the bed.
Logan looked confused "What are you doing?"
"I can't move fast in this large piece of cotton." Max
answered unearthing a pair of jeans and black button up from
the bag. Clothes in hand, she retreated into the small bathroom.
After a few minuets she emerged, dressed, with a slight grimace
on her face.
Logan noticed and came over to where she was "You okay baby?"
"Yea." she reassured "Just a little sore." She sat down on the
bed and quickly laced up her black boots.
"Are you sure you're up for this?" Logan asked straight out.
"As ready as I can be." she announced standing up. She looked
around the room at her siblings "So how do we play this?"
"I heard commotion on the way up here." Syl informed "Something
about finding the mainframe system."
"They might be trying to use the hospital's surveillance
equipment as a communication device." Logan pointed out
"Someone would have to get there before they do and disable
the main module."
"We don't have enough knowledge of computers for that." Zack
argued.
Logan looked at him "I do, and Jondy has know-how about wires
so she could rig a small charge to de-activate it completely."
"Yes!" Jondy stated with a small smile "a chance to make
fireworks."
Max turned to her husband "I'll go with her. You can use
our cells to pass information along." At his disapproving
look she added "I'll be fine, and I want you to stay here
with Sara. She needs someone here with a phone. Those bastards
probably cut the hospital line."
"Okay." Logan finally agreed with a sigh "Just turn your
ringer down low."
Max nodded "One of us should be near the nursery, those
babies are completely defenseless."
"I'll do it." Tinga volunteered.
Krit gave a slight nod "Me and Syl will take the defensive.
Haul out as many of these slime suckers as we can."
"I'm coming with you." Zack stated cocking the semi-automatic
he got off the militia member. He looked at all his younger
brother and sisters "The rendezvous point will be this room,
if you meet with any resistance, incompassitate first."
"Let's get this bitch started." Max stated. She flipped the
ringer to the 'low' setting on her cell phone.
The others began to move to their positions. Jondy stopped
in the doorway when she saw Max not moving "You commin' Maxi?"
Max held up her hand for a second. She walked over to Logan
"Dial the whole number first, then just *69 the others, it'll
save time."
"Phone bills gonna be sky high." he said dryly.
She smiled for his benefit, then her expression turned
serious "If anything should happen." she looked down at
their daughter asleep in Logan's arms. "Tell Lexi how much
I loved her." she couldn't keep the tremor out of her voice.
"Max." Logan began, not wanting to hear this. "You don't have
to talk about it in past tense. Just be careful." he couldn't
believe the downslide this day was taking.
She placed both arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I love you."
"Love you too." he said pulling back "You're the love
of my life."
"Right back at ya." she kissed her sleeping daughter's head
"Mommy'll be right back." she turned, wiping away an errant
tear that had fallen down her cheek.
Max walked over to Jondy "Time to rock-n-roll."
Both women moved out the door, and Max locked it before
closing it.
Logan set Lexi back down in the 'crib'. Walking next to
the bed he retrieved his laptop computer, thanking god
that he decided to bring it along.
"Does she do this a lot?" Sara asked "Risk her life for the
sake of others?"
Logan looked at the woman "Yea, all the time." he turned
back to his booted laptop. Working at a fast pace he hacked
into the mainframe of the hospital. He pulled out his cell
phone and dialed Max's number.
After the first ring she picked up "What is it?"
"I got into the blue prints of the hospital." Logan
stated "There are small splinter communication modules
on every floor, but they all feed into a main one on
the tenth floor."
"Is it in a room?" Max's voice asked from the other
end.
"No." Logan responded "The entire floor is taken up with
the surveillance equipment. This hospital is more paranoid
then me."
Max smiled from her end "Never thought I'd live to see
the day." she paused "We're at the elevator now, no one
else is around that we can see. I'll call you back when
we reach the floor."
"Be care-"
"I will, I promise." Max interrupted, ending the call.
Logan hung up as well, but kept the phone on. He started
hacking into files, looking for a way to bypass the security
system so it could be shut down.
*****
Max and Jondy were the only ones in the elevator. When
it reached the tenth floor they both ran down the deserted
hallway. One of the security guards was lying in a pool
of blood on the tile floor. Max stopped and knelt down at
his side.
Jondy felt for a pulse, looking up quickly "It's too late,
he's dead."
Max nodded sadly. She picked up the weapon that lay at
his feet. The clip was half full, and she tucked it in
the waistband of her jeans. She looked solemnly at the
dead man "Rest in Peace my brother."
They stood up again and approached a doorless entry.
The space was filled top to bottom with computers, and
TV monitors, just like Logan had said. There was a
solitary figure dressed in black sitting at a swivel
chair.
Max signaled Jondy to go around to the other side of
the man.
Tapping him on the shoulder the guy turned "Watching
too much TV is bad for you." Max punched him right
between the eyes. The blow stunned him, but he didn't
fall.
He shook his head and aimed the gun at her hatefully
"You really shouldn't have done that bitch."
Jondy delivered a blow to the back of his neck, and
this time he fell unconscious to the floor. "My sister's
not a bitch you shit."
After tying him up with his own belt, Max dialed Logan's number
on her cell "We're in."
"Any trouble?" Logan wanted to know
"Not that we couldn't handle." Max stated, looking at the
man on the floor.
Logan wanted to ask her what she meant by that, but this
wasn't the time. "There should be a system almost the center
of the room."
"Found it." Max said sitting in front a large computer.
"Okay, it should already be on the entry screen. Somewhere
on there is a file about changing the main frame. Bring it up."
Max clicked the keys for a few seconds, and soon found
what she was looking for. "It's asking for a password."
"Infinite or set?" Logan asked
"Set." Max answered "eight spaces."
"Most likely a numerical sequence." Jondy stated
"Jondy thinks it's numeric." Max said into the phone
"Damn." Logan cursed "It could take forever to figure it
out. There are endless combinations of numbers."
Max looked around for number sequences by the module.
Looking for something ANYTHING that could be a password.
On a whim she typed in '46372847.' and was surprised
when it got accepted "I'm in."
Logan was just as dumbfounded "How did you guess work
so fast?"
"I typed in the serial number of the security system."
Max answered. She laughed dryly "Guess these guys are
into the whole 'no one will suspect the obvious
answer' thing."
"Where are you at now?" Logan asked
Max looked at the screen "It brought up a command box, asking
me what changes I want to make on the system." she looked at
the long list "There's a lot of stuff here. I'm guessing just
typing 'abort' won't work."
"It will." Logan interrupted, reading the information he
accessed "But you have to do it for every single file."
"Shit." this time it was Max who cursed "This is gone
take a while." she started placing 'abort' next to all
fifty odd items on the screen.
After about seven minuites of this, she finally reached
the end of the screen.
"Upload new commands?" Max read. Her finger hit the 'enter'
key. All the TV's flickered off and the screen she was
sitting by went black.
"It worked." Max informed Logan "System is down."
"Good." Logan answered back "Now let Jondy mess around
a little with the wires. The police will just suspect
this militia sabotaged the system."
Max looked at her sister "Ready to play around?"
Jondy smiled "Oh yea." She knelt down and removed the
plastic cover off of the main module. A complex system
of red, blue and green wires greeted her.
"Now comes the easy part." Jondy stated "Give me some
amo from that gun you have."
Max pulled it out and handed her two gold bullets
from the clip.
Jondy took it and broke them in half with one fluid motion.
She held her thumb over the open shells to keep the powder
contained inside from coming out. With the other hand she
pulled out a stick of gum. She chewed briefly to make it
soft and then spit it out in her hand. She then poured the
powder onto the gum and stuck it into the mass of wires.
"You might want to back up for this one Maxi." Jondy
warned, whipping out a lighter "I don't have anything to
use as a line, so this is going to be a very close show."
Max nodded and back up about three feet. Jondy scooted
about a foot back. She wadded up a piece of paper, light
it with the lighter and threw it where she had placed the
gum.
The powder ignighted, and blew out the circuits. Pieces of
metal and wires flew out as dabree.
"Woo hoo!" Jondy cheered "Burn baby burn!"
"Everyone okay?" Logan asked through the phone after
the explosion.
"Yea." Max reassured "Jondy's just having a glory moment."
"What the fuck is this?" Max looked up in time to see the
barrel of a gun cocked in her face.
*****
"Max? What's going on?" Logan asked, hearing the other voice
in the background.
The man standing over her placed the barrel right up against
her forehead. "You better shut that off."
Max did as he said, placing it back in her pocket.
The guy held out his hand "Give it to me."
She looked up at him "Come and get it."
He smiled greasily, looking right at her chest "First
let me get something else."
"Sorry buddy." Max said with a growl "Private property."
she reached out and grabbed his neck in a crushing squeeze,
while Jondy ripped both hands behind his back. Max then
pulled out the concealed sig in her jeans and pointed it
at the man. "What should we do with contestant number two?"
He looked at her sleazily "I could think of a few things
baby."
Max looked at Jondy "Apparently someone didn't remember
what being a smart ass got him last time. Let's clarify
shall we?" she yanked back on his gun, jamming the butt
of it into his crotch. He gasped and doubled over.
Jondy stood over him "Sweet dreams looser." she kicked
him in the head, knocking him out.
*****
"Krit get down!" Syl whispered walking a little ahead
of him "I see movement."
Zack crept over to where Syl was crouched behind a wall.
"Where is it?"
Syl nodded in the direction of the long hallway "Down
a little ways, near the ICU ward door."
Zack turned to her "You and Krit pull back, I'll see
who it is, but be on alert."
"Don't fire unless you have too." Krit advised, having
since crept up next to them "There are critical patients
right through those doors."
Zack didn't reply, he switched the safety off the AK-47.
Rising to his feet he aimed the gun ahead of him, keeping
his hand poised on the trigger. He tunneled his vision
and saw the man take aim on him.
Zack hit the floor, barely missing the round of bullets.
He positioned the gun on his shoulder and squeezed one
off into the man's foot.
The guy immediately fell to the ground, crying out and
grasping at the injury. He tried to pick up the gun, but
Zack quickly stepped on it. "Don't you DARE move you fucker
or I'll blow you away!" he words were fierce.
The guy stared down the sight of the gun, and up at Zack
"You're just a kid." he said this in a laughing manner.
Zack cocked the trigger loudly, so the guy would hear
it "If you're trying to intimidate me, it's not working."
Syl and Krit approached them.
"Get his gun." Zack ordered. He kept his eyes locked on the
downed man as Syl picked up his weapon and aimed it at him.
The man looked up at her "You even know how to fire one
of these things sweetheart?" he grabbed his chest in surprise
when Syl shot at him, not to kill, but landing the bullet in
the dog tags that were around his neck. The tip of the shell
just barely penetrated one of the metal tags.
"That was practice." Syl informed, staring him down
through the sight of the gun. "Next one's for real."
"Get up!" Zack spat to the man.
The guy blew him off "You may be good shots, but you're
still just some punk kids."
Zack gave a nod at Krit, who then went over to the man
and picked him up with one hand by his neck and slammed
him against the closet wall.
"Enough talk." Zack growled jabbing the barrel of gun
into the man's sternum. "You're going to tell us where
the other members of your group are, or we're give you a
couple of new holes." he was so close to the man's face
he could make out the two day beard stubble on his chin.
"I don't know where they are." the guy squeaked out.
Zack moved the gun from his chest and shoved the barrel
in near the large artery in his neck. "You're not exactly
in the best scenario to be lying right now."
The guy laughed slightly "I don't know kid, they give me
orders via my walkie talkie." he glanced down at the
device clipped to his waste "But it kinda got busted when
you ambushed me there, so I can't help you."
"Bet Jondy could fix it." Krit pointed out.
Zack looked at him "What time is it?"
Syl glanced briefly at her watch "4:56."
"Told her to be back with Max and the rendezvous point
at five." Zack said "They're probably on the way back."
"Ooo..rendevous." the guy teased sarcastically "Someone
liked playing 'solider' when he was a boy."
Zack backhanded him in the face "I didn't ask you to talk."
he placed the gun at his back "This is how it's gonna work,
we're taking you back with us so our girl can fix your
communication, then we can find out what the hell you all are
planing. You just keep quiet, smile, and wave to anyone you
pass. If anything turns sour." he punctuated his last remark
by jabbing the gun into his back "You go from being Ms. America
to a cadaver for the medical students."
The guy looked from Syl to Zack "You're the ones with the fire
power." his words were half angry, half sarcastic.
"Let's not forget that." Zack retorted. He pushed his captive
foreword "Now move."
*****
Maternity Ward
Max's room
Max came through the wooden door with Jondy trailing behind.
Logan immediately stood up "What the hell happened? I was
worried when I lost the connection."
"I'm a big girl Logan." Max pointed out "Just had to take
care of something tall, dark and ugly."
He came over to her "Big girl or not, I still have the
right to worry." he touched her face tenderly, before
kissing her.
"PDA!" Krit's voiced wafted as he entered the room.
Max and Logan broke apart "Not in uniform bro." she turned to
face him "Where's Zack and Syl?"
"Bringin' up the rear." Krit responded as the doors
opened again revealing the other two siblings, their
weapons trained on their captive.
Max looked at him "What gutter did you drag this slime
out of?" she quickly shut the door and locked it again.
"He's one of the members of this 'militia'" Syl responded
"Found him creeping around near the ICU."
"Why didn't you just put him IN the ICU?" Max asked
"He might be of use to us." Krit answered, shoving the
man into a chair. "He has communication with his other
junkies." Krit snatched up the walkie talkie "but it
needs a little surgery." he threw it at Jondy "See
what you can make of it Jondy."
Jondy caught the small back device "No nitrate or timers,
but I guess I can give it a shot." she sat on the floor
and examined it.
"Max." Zack began, his gun trained on the man in the
chair "Get something to restrain this shit before he
tries to act stupid again."
Max tore up her blanket into strips. She knelt next
to the guy and bound his legs to the chair's and his
arms to each other behind him.
"Where's Tinga?" Zack asked
"She decided to stay at the nursery." Max responded, adding
more layers to his bonds to make the restraints tighter.
"Those babies are open targets."
"Looks like you have your own nursery here." the man
stated looking over at Lexi "Cute kid. Can I hold her?"
Max suddenly got up from her crouched position and locked
her hand on his neck in a death squeeze. "If you EVER
lay a hand on my baby I'll to rip your testicles out and
force feed them to you!" she squeezed harder "Is that
understood?" she abruptly let go.
"What is it with you people and trying to choke me?" he
wheezed.
"Max." Logan's voice made her turn. He held Lexi in his arms
who was now crying "I think she's hungry."
Max shot a scowl at the man and walked over to Logan.
She took the crying baby from him and sat down on her bed.
She started to unbutton her shirt, but caught sight of
the militia solider staring at her. In one fluent motion she
pulled out the concealed sig and aimed at him "I can shoot
your eyeballs out of their sockets for ya to fix that staring
problem." He soon faced the opposite direction.
She put the gun on safety and finished unbuttoning her shirt,
positioning Alexis so she could eat. Her daughter began to
nurse immediatly, having not eaten anything in several
hours. Logan sat beside her on the opposite side of the
bed.
"Max?" It was Sara's voice coming from the other bed.
She sounded like she was crying.
Max looked at the other woman in concern "You okay hon?"
Sara shook her head "This is just too hard." she hastily
wiped tears from her eyes. "First my shit ass boyfriend
splits on me after he gets me pregnant, then I have that
blow up with my mom, and now this." she paused and jerkily
ran one hand through her hair. She looked over at Michael
near her bed. "I wanted my son to have a better life then
this."
"That's the way of the world babe." the man sneered.
Max raised the gun again, taking the safety off loudly
so that he would hear it "We're still bein' a smart ass
when we have HOW many loaded weapons aimed at our head?"
She turned back to Sara, the gun still trained on him.
"Don't listen to that chicken shit. The world screwed
you over before, but you have a shot at a new beginning
now. Your son." she looked at the newborn "is that chance.
His life won't be perfect, but with you're help it can
be better then how it started."
Sara smiled through her tears "You almost make it sound
believable."
Lexi finished nursing, her baby breath warm on Max's
exposed skin. "It can be." she could hear the sounds of
Zack 'interrogating' the militia member.
"Just trying to make a few bucks." the man stated "A lot
of high class doctors work here."
"Isn't exactly a noble career." Syl pointed out
The man looked at her "But it's effective in keeping
the cash flowin'" he looked at her sleazily "Bet you
could find ways to keep the cash flowin' too baby doll."
Syl ignored his remark "You got a name scuz? Or do we
have to keep making up some for ya?"
"It's Richard babe." he replied
"Last name too Rich." Krit informed
Richard blew him off "Like I'd tell you kid, I'm not
stupid."
Zack placed the gun at his head "Are you disrespecting
a superior officer solider?" he used the same tone as
he did back at Manticore.
Richard looked at him "Oh so you kids suddenly out rank me?"
"We have guns. You don't. I'd say that was a true assessment."
Max replied.
There was a soft banging at the door. "Guys. Open up, it's
Tinga."
Krit kept his weapon aimed at Richard and unlocked the door
for his sister.
Tinga came halfway in and saw the captive "What's this?"
"P.O.W" Zack informed
"I wasn't aware that this was a war." Max pointed out
"As I recall *Commander* you didn't want to get involved
in this in the first place."
Zack looked at her "You involved me Maxi. Now we have to see
this through to the end."
"Glad to see you didn't fall asleep in combat strategies big
brother." Krit commented.
Zack shot him an unreadable look, and then moved his gaze
back to Richard "You're just in time for the show Tinga,
Richard No Name here is going to be a squealer."
"Can't do it with a busted radio." he reminded out front.
"Got it!" Jondy proclaimed, standing up and waving the
radio around "Just had two wires that came out."
Zack placed the gun at Richard's neck "You just ran
out of excuses."
Jondy came over with the radio in her hand "What's the
frequency?"
"666" Richard spat out
Zack backhanded him in the face "We can't accept that
response."
Richard spat out the blood from his mouth that Zack's
maneuver had drawn. "Set the dial to five."
Jondy turned the round plastic dial to the indicated
number. She placed her hand over the receiver for a second,
listening until she heard noise in the background.
"Yea?" came the unknown voice on the other end. "Who
the fuck is this?"
Jondy placed the radio up to Richard's mouth "It's for
you."
"And remember." Syl jammed the gun barrel into his neck
"who's calling the shots on this end."
"This is Erikson, What's the twenty on the location for
the doctors you swiped?" Richard asked.
"Got them hauled on the fifth floor." came the reply. "In
the break room. Stan's guarding them." there was laughing
on the other end "He's tryin' to prove himself a man."
Richard laughed as well "That idiot-" he was cut off by
Syl pushing the gun deeper into his neck "Convo time later
Erikson." she hissed in a whisper "Get the room number."
"What's the number of that place, case I wanna have a
consultation?" Richard wheezed.
"532." the person responded "Right next to the elevator."
He was about to say something else when Jondy switched the
radio off "Sorry creep, daytime minutes are all used up."
Erickson scowled at her "Do all you kids have smart mouths?"
"Family trait." Max growled from across the room.
"It's really none of your business anyways." Tinga informed
walking right up to him and looking him in the eye.
Richard leered at her "I must be in heaven with so many
sexy angels."
"Someone must hit you hard." Tinga stated "You're hallucinating,
but a knock out pill will make it all go away." she punched
him across his face, knocking him unconscious.
Zack looked at his sister "What's the situation outside?"
"This floor seems to be relatively quiet." Tinga stated.
"I think these guys just want a quick exchange, people
for green."
Logan peered out the window he was leaning against. Swarms
of police vans, and sector cops were outside. "The calvery's
makin' camp on the lawn." he dropped the section of the blinds
he was holding up, and turned towards them "If these guys want
money, they aren't going to get it. Sector Police have no qualms
with shooting them."
"Or the people they use as shields." Max said, remembering
that hostage situation at the convention. This would be about
the hundredth time in her life that she was labeled as 'disposable.'
Logan looked at his wife "That's why we have to let those
doctors out, unharmed if possible, or this hospital's gonna
see more blood then it ever has before."
"We could easily take out the other members." Syl informed
"They've never dealt with our bloodline before." she paused
"But what worries me is when the bullets start flying." she
stole a glance at her newborn niece "the metal doesn't know
the difference between soldiers and civilians."
"It's a risk we have to take little sister." Zack stated
"If any of us want to make it out of here alive."
Krit nodded in agreement "Then let's do it."
Zack walked over to Max, who now held the sleeping baby in her
arms. "Reminds me so much of that night, when we escaped."
"Kind of." Max agreed, stealing a glance at Logan "But things
are different now. We were just kids, revved up or not. We
knew nothing of the world." she touched Lexi's head. "When we
jumped the fence, it was a major reality check."
"You seemed to adjust well." Zack pointed out, a trace of
bitterness in his tone. "Just seemed to shake off all that
conditioning and hell in the blink of an eye."
"It took time." Max retorted "But I found things out that
they didn't teach. Like what being human is suppose to feel
like. The soul beneath the solider."
Zack glanced briefly at Logan "Or at least half of it
anyway." his words were colored in slight bitterness again.
He looked back to Max, stealing a look at the Alexis "All
that sentimentality I warned about in one package deal." he
touched the forehead of his tiny niece. His eyes then roamed
back up to Max's face "But you always were wreakless."
"I'm not one to conform." Max shot back, knowing that would
touch a nerve.
Zack touched her face, making her flinch slightly "Don't
I know it." he actually kissed her in a brotherly fashion
on her cheek. "I won't lie to you Maxi, there are some things
about your life that I will never be comfortable with. But-"
he broke off to look at the baby again "I will love my new
niece and my nephew, and try to tolerate their wreakless
parents." he looked at Logan "both of them."
Max was aware of how much it took for Zack to say this out
loud. Truth be told it wasn't a heart felt "I'm sorry for
being an ass little sister." and an acceptance for Logan with
open arms, but those only existed in perfect worlds, and
they didn't live in one of those. And coming from Zack, it
was as sincere as he would ever get.
The ackward silence was broken a few seconds later by Krit.
"Hate to ruin the moment guys, but we need a strategy here."
Max looked to Zack "We could easily take out 'Stan'"
"And the others?" Jondy asked, still standing by the unconscious
form of Erikson.
"Just get them as they come." Zack informed "Once we let those
doctors out they're bound to start scurrying over in our direction."
"Meet and Greet the militia huh?" Syl stated "I'm game for a social
evening."
"One of us has to get Sara out." Max said, looking over at the
woman she was growing more and more attached to as the day wore
on. "We might not be able to get back up here before-"
"I'd just slow you down." Sara's voice interrupted. "I'm to
tired and sore to run around all over the place."
Max came over to her bed "It's not so bad girl, I'm grittin'
my teeth right now, but I'm making it."
Sara shook her head "It's different with you. You look like you're
made for things like this." she paused "It's not like I've never
been on the bad side of things before." she looked up at Max "Go,
get your family out of here."
Max knew that she wasn't going to change her mind. She could
physically drag her and the baby out the door, but that would
more then likely kill them. "When we're in the clear, I'll have
someone comeback for you guys."
"If that don't turn out." Sara began truthfully. "Call my mom
in Olympia." she looked over at Michael "I don't want my son
to wind up living on the streets."
"Count on it." was all Max said hugging her.
After a minute they pulled back "I'm glad I met you." her
words were sincere "You're like the sister I never had."
Max smiled briefly and got off the bed. "So 'Take Out'
is the name of the game." she stated to the others in
the room.
Zack gave a clipped nod "We should split up." he looked
over at Logan. "Syl and Krit go with Logan. Escape and evade,
find the nearest exit and get the hell out."
"I'm not running Zack." Logan informed. "May not have the
strength of you and your siblings, but this is my family
as well."
Zack made his way over to him and got in his face.
"You know NOTHING about combat training. If something
were to happen-"
"Then I would have fulfilled a promise to die with my
with my wife." he looked the other man in the eyes.
"I can't just go on living my life if I just ran like
a coward while she got pumped full of iron and bled
all over the pristine white floor."
"And your kids? What'll happen to them if you both die?"
Zack pointed out.
"I don't know Zack." Logan answered honestly. "I'm hoping
it doesn't come to that." memories of when his own parents
were killed in the bloody government upheaval after the Pulse
flashed across his mind.
"Gotta go with Logan on this one." Tinga stated, looking at Zack
"There's a better chance if we stay together."
"More man power." Max went on, agreeing with Tinga.
Zack sighed in frustration at the way his younger siblings
were ganging up on him "Okay then." he looked around the
room "We go at this united."
*****
Outside Metro
"..Anything?" Charlie asked the passing officer. He had seen
a report of the hostage situation on the news at home and
had driven like a madman back over to Metro.
The man in blue turned to him "Nothing yet Mr. Ritchell.
I'd advise you to calm down."
"My wife is in there sir." Charlie informed angrily "And
my sister-in-law just had a baby here this afternoon,
I have damn good reasons not to be *calm*"
"Daddy?" Case's voice piped up by Charile's side.
Charlie looked down at his son "What is it Case?"
"Why are you yelling at that police man?"
"I'm just worried about everyone." Charlie reconciled to
the six year old "Mommy, Aunt Max, Uncle Logan, and your
new little cousin Alexis. I just want them to be safe."
Charlie looked back up to the officer "I'm not going to
set a bad example for my kid by chewing you out anymore,
but I want to know everything that happens here." his
words were fierce.
"I can't tell you what I don't know sir." the officer
answered and walked away, leaving them alone.
"Don't worry daddy." Case reassured "Mommy and her brothers
and sisters will fight the bad people. Just like in her
stories."
Charlie knelt down at his son's level "This isn't one
of mommie's stories Case. This is really happening."
But then Charlie remembered that Tinga's stories were
real as well. When he met her she was 'Penny' who worked
at a bakery near his job. But then she left, and he found
out things about her...what she was, her real name. But
when he saw the courage her sister and brother had to save
her from that base, he could live with her past. He still
loved her after all. Charlie looked back at Case "I still
worry, 'cause even mommy can get hurt." He hugged Case to
him.
*****
Jam Pony X-Press
"..At this time police do not have a clear picture of how many
members of this 'Aryan Freedom Fighter's' Militia are in the
hospital. One of the members ordered that $200,000 in ransom
money be delivered to them in exchange for the ten doctors they
have taken hostage. The militia says law enforcement has one
more hour to deliver to cash before they kill the hostages,
and anyone else. We'll keep you posted around the-" the news
woman's voice broke off when one of the employees switched off
the TV.
"You best put that back 'fore I put the smackdown on your ass."
Cindy snarled to the guilty party.
"What's you're interest girl?" Kenny, a new worker stated
"Just another hostage thing..not much to look at."
"Max is in there." Cindy growled "My boo just had herself a
baby girl in that hospital."
"Sorry." Kenny answered "I didn't even know she was married."
Cindy just shook her head at the stupidity of the man.
"People." Normal called out "Less squaler, more deliveries."
He gestured at Cindy "You. Over here."
Cindy sighed, wondering what he wanted as she approached
him. "What is it? If it's 'bout employees not watchin'
TV durin' business hours I don't wanna here it. That rule
is shit when any of my girls are involved in anything that
comes across the six 'o clock."
"That's why you should go down to Metro and see what the
deal is." Normal answered.
Cindy looked at him surprised "You're actually givin' me
the heads up to ditch work?"
"It's obvious you're concerned about her." Normal began
"You aren't of any use to me just sitting around here
not working."
Cindy shook her head in an 'uh-huh' fashion "So this
is just lookin' out for yo' buisness?"
Normal looked at her "Does it matter? I'm giving you an
opportunity." he shooed her away from the desk "take it
before I change my mind."
Cindy still had that surprised look on her face as she
walked back and grabbed her bike from where she chucked
it on the floor, and walked it out the building.
*****
Metro
Zack peered around the corner of the wall he was hiding behind.
He detected no movement in front of him. Faint traces of blood
and empty shells were scattered on the tile floor.
He waved his siblings, giving them the all clear that it
was safe to continue.
Syl crept right behind Zack, the 47 cocked, in case they
met up with someone. Like the maternity ward, this floor
was empty.
Max leaned down to examine the body of another security
guard. Logan moved to stand beside her as she looked at
the woman.
"She's alive." Max stated softly, touching the gaping wound
in her stomach "but barely."
"I can see the elevator the slime was talkin' about." Krit
announced, spying the aluminum doors about twenty feet
away.
"Move it out." Zack ordered, he looked over his shoulder
"Max-"
"I'm on it." she said, ripping off a section of the
security guards jacket and placing it over the bullet
wound "It's crude." she looked up at Logan, who was
holding Lexi. "But it'll have to do." she stood back
up and they moved over to where Krit was standing.
"Do you see the room?" she asked her brother.
Krit nodded "It's right where Erikson said it would
be" he looked over at who he guessed was 'Stan' standing
at the door with an M16 rifle in one hand.
"That's the sloppiest stance of attention I've ever
seen." Syl announced looking over at Stan.
"Looks like he's gotta pee, but can't leave his
post." Krit said in response.
"C'mon then." Jondy began "Let's go nail him in the
gut a few times to take the 'pressure' off."
They moved closer to the door, Zack in the lead, and Max
lagging behind. After a few more seconds she stopped walking,
and knelt down in a hunched position, cursing under her breath.
"What is it baby?" Logan knelt next to her.
His statement caught Jondy's attention "Maxi? Hey guys hold up,
we go a bit of a situation."
Krit turned, and saw Max kneeling on the floor "What's wrong
little sister?" he didn't try to hide the concern in his voice.
"I'm okay." Max reassured them. "I just had a baby guys, that
kinda hurts for a while." she stayed in that position a little
longer before standing back up with a grimace.
"You gonna make it?" Logan asked touching her back with one
hand.
She nodded "Came this far, might as well go all the way."
She finally reached the spot where her siblings were positioned
by the last inner wall in front of the room where the hostages
were in.
"Bad attention or not." Zack stated looking at the militia
member "He's probably got some skills on that M16. We need
a diversion so that he'll wind up pointing the barrel in
another direction."
As if they had practiced it, all eyes locked on Jondy.
She smiled "I see it's unanimous then." she reached into
her jacket pulling out a small ball of aluminum foil that
was connected to a piece of twine. "Got a little arasol
spray in here. Won't create a big boom, but it'll
be enough to turn his head. She pulled out her lighter,
looking over at Max "Better cover my niece's hearing
equipment sis. Blast might shatter her eardrums."
Max walked over to Logan, placing both hands over Lexi's
tiny ears. "We're set."
Jondy lit the fuse and threw it about five feet from where
Stan was. The device exploded in the hall.
It produced the desired results and Stan turned, aiming
his M16 where the explosion went off "Who's there?"
Syl took the advantage and shot Stan's foot. The gun slipped
out of his hand as he fell. He tried to grab it again, but
Krit beat him to it and kicked it away. "I don't think that's
a good idea." the M16 was resting on his foot. He pushed it
in one maneuver, throwing it in Jondy's direction.
She caught it expertly and cocked it at Stan. "Whatcha got
in the room Stanley?"
"How the hell do you know my name?" he barked.
"Got it off a guy you know." Max answered "He's takin'
a little nap right now." she kicked him a little with
one foot. "Gonna join him in a few minutes after we
do a little convo. time."
"What is it you think I know?" Stan sneered, clutching
at the injured foot Max just kicked.
"What those guys in there are being pawned for." Logan
answered, stepping closer.
Stan looked at him and Alexis "You always bring your
kid to these things?"
"Stay on topic." Jondy demanded jamming the M16 into
his stomach. "How much are these white coats worth to
you?"
"Around the ballpark of two large." Stan answered back
with a sneer "health care is so expensive ain't it?"
"Especially in prison." Logan shot back.
Stan looked at him hatefully "Oh you did not want to do
that boy." he removed part of his leather glove revealing
a wrist band that contained a small canister of mace.
He sprayed it at Logan, who moved a hand in front of his
face to block the affects.
Max came over to her husband "Are you okay baby?"
Logan shook his head "Not in my eyes, just everywhere
else-" he broke off when he realized what that meant.
"My god Lexi." the baby was wailing in his arms, large
tears pooled around her eyelids. "I think some got
on her."
Zack kicked Stan in the ribs "You shit. That's my niece."
He took the butt of the 47 in his hand and swiped it across
Stan's face, knocking him out.
Max tried her best to clean the mace off her daughter.
Tinga approached her "Don't baby sister. It'll just go
deeper. You need to flush it out with water."
Max looked up at Tinga "That room's a lounge. There should
be a sink in there." she ran over to the door and simply
kicked the thing down in one maneuver.
"Mrs. Cale?" Dr. Janston's voice began surprised. "How did
you get here?"
Krit entered the room, and the doctors immediatly became
intimidated at the sight of the gun.
"I don't have time to explain." Max began "I need you
to take care of something."
Logan walked in then, Lexi crying historically in his
arms.
Janston came out of her stunned trance and snapped into
'doctor mode' She took Alexis from Logan "what happened?"
"She got Mace in her eyes." Logan announced as Janston
walked over to the sink.
"Were they open? or did she blink the substance in?"
Janston asked turning on the water from the faucet to
it's highest setting.
"We don't know." Max answered back hastily "Didn't have
time to check."
Dr. Janston collected water in her hand and poured it
over the baby's eyes and mouth. She soon turned over
to one of her colleagues "Rick, toss me that bulb syringe
behind you on the counter."
The male podiatrist threw her the small blue syringe
"It must be Baranger's. She had it with her on break."
Janston caught the syringe "I've never been so glad
of her untidiness before." she filled the head of the
syringe with water and shot the stream over Lexi's
face.
"Conversation's later." Zack ordered, stepping in the
room. "Just take care of my niece."
Janston looked at him briefly, and then at Max "I take it this
is a brother of yours."
Max nodded slightly, her eyes locked on her baby. After a few
minutes of dousing her with water Janston stopped, and shined
her low beam maglight in both of Lexi's eyes. "I still see some
redness, but that should clear in time. Pupils are dilated."
she took the stethoscope from around her neck and placed it
on the baby's chest "Respiration sounds good." she looked up
at Max "I think she just got a little spray of the stuff on
her. All the noises is probably what made her cry more then
the mace."
Max sighed relieved, picking up her daughter "Will there
be any side affects?"
Janston shook her head "She was treated almost immediately
after initial contact. I'm pretty positive that no permanent
damage was suffered."
Max reveled in the relief that she felt at that moment.
She hugged Lexi to her and felt Logan touch her shoulder,
both of them locked in their own moment, admist all the
chaos.
Tinga stepped into the room, walking over to Max "Is she
okay?" she touched her tiny niece.
Max nodded slightly,looking at her sister "She was more scared
then anything else." she looked briefly at her daughter and then
back up to Tinga "Stan still asleep?"
"Yea." Tinga responded "Zack nailed him pretty good."
Everyone jumped slightly as the door to the break room, that
up until that point had been hanging half hazardly on one hinge,
finally dropped to the floor under the weight. For the doctors,
it was just a surprise, but for the Manticore siblings, it caused
them to react purely on instinct. All of them carrying weapons
whipped around and aimed them in the direction of the door.
"Thus concludes the test of our reflexes boys and girls."
Krit commented when they realized that there was no danger.
Zack and Syl pointed the barrel of their weapons to the
floor, and Max put the safety back on the sig. before
shoving it back into the waistband of her jeans. She turned
to face Janston, who was looking at her in surprise.
"Don't ask." Max began. "You don't want to know the reason
we all have experience in handling fire arms. The important
thing is that we DO." she looked around the room at the other
hostages. "And we're going to make sure you and the other
doctors get an escort service out those doors."
"But why?" The physician who was identified earlier as being
named 'Rick' asked "Why are you doing this instead of just saving
your own skins?"
Max did not have an immediate response to that, neither
did any of her brothers and sisters.
"Bigger picture." It was Logan who finally revealed an
explanation. "If we just saved ourselves, how many countless
would die?" he looked around the room at the ten doctors
who were there. "But if we get you all out we not only save
ten-" he paused briefly "we save everyone."
Max couldn't help the feeling of deja vu that over came
her at his words. No matter the situation her husband would
always try to save their broken world, to protect the innocent,
or in this case the ones made hostages. "What he said pretty
much covers it." she agreed.
Rick looked doubtful "Not many people are trying to save the
down trodden these days. It's just every man for himself."
"Some of us aren't men." Syl pointed out sarcastically, looking
around the room at Tinga, Jondy, and Max with her little niece.
"Plus you know I feel like kickin' some ass."
"Oh yea." Jondy agreed "My day wouldn't be complete without
an ass kicking session."
"This 'session' as you like to call it needs a plan of action."
Zack informed, walking further into the room.
"Battle Royal." Krit said, and caught sight of everyone looking
at him "What? I was kidding."
Zack looked away from his younger brother, and swept his
gaze across the room, turning his body in a complete clock
wise circle. "This won't work if we go in it blindly." he
spoke in the tone that all his siblings recognized. It was
assertive, and one that usually resulted in them telling
him to 'back the hell off', but this time, they listened.
"We don't know how many men this militia has left in the
building. Two of us need to be in the front of the hostages
as we head out and two in back. Preferably those of us with
weapons."
As if it was a children's game, they began to chose their
positions.
"I'll lead." Krit volunteered.
Jondy cocked the M16 "I'll be your shooting buddy bro."
Max looked at Zack "You and I will handle the rear."
Zack nodded in agreement "You're gonna need more amo
power then that sig." he looked down at the 47 in his
hand.
"Since I'm odd one out." Tinga stated "I'll look out for
Lexi."
"We need all the man power we can get sis." Syl informed.
"I'll watch my daughter." Logan stated looking at Tinga
"But you can hang close since my arms will be occupied."
Tinga nodded in agreement, and turned to Max "Hope you
don't mind me watching your husband's back baby sister."
"I'll let it slide this time." Max answered with a half smile.
She checked the clip on the gun. Only about four shells remained.
But hopefully between that and her fighting abilities it would
be enough.
"Move into position." Zack ordered.
For several seconds it was a mass movement of bodies, before
some semblance of order was re-established.
Krit cocked the small semi automatic he got off Erikson
"Time to kick the partay into high gear guys." he stepped
out into the deserted hall, tunneling his vision to make
sure there weren't any surprises. Seeing that it was clear
he motioned silently for the others to follow.
*****
Metro
Ground Floor
They had made it all the way to the lobby with relative ease.
Only having to nail a few guys in the process. Max had traded
her sig. for a tommy she pilfered off a militia soldier after
knocking him out. She stood poised behind the inner wall of
the cafeteria with Zack, watching the movement of the four
remaining Aryan members in the lobby.
Through the glass doors of the hospitals entrance the sector
vans and police cruisers were visible. She turned to Zack "Not
one of them has even come in here yet. What the hell's the hold
up?"
"They want an excuse." Logan whispered from behind her. "Law
enforcement would rather shoot them all dead then waist jail
cells for them."
"Well they better make room." Max shot back to him "After what
we went through to bring them in."
She moved closer behind another wall to obtain a better vantage
point. Zack stayed behind with the hostages. He aimed the sight
of the gun at a militia solider, his hand poised on the trigger.
The man fell that Zack aimed for, crying out as the bullet
tore through his side. The other members looked stunned, but
before they could retaliate three shots rang out from Jondy
and Krit's weapons. The remaining soliders dropped to the
ground in a heap.
Max crept out slowly to asses the carnage. Two of the men
were dead, and the other barely clinging to life. She turned
to give the all clear, not noticing the doors suddenly bursting
open and the sector police charging in. Seeing her with a
weapon, they took aim on her.
She turned in time to face five armed cops pointing their
guns at her. Shots rang out, and she fell, hitting the floor
in a boneless heap, and did not get back up.
"NOO!!" Logan's cry echoed off the walls of the lobby. He ran
to where she lay as fast as his feet could carry him, though
to him it seemed like slow motion.
She lay on her side and did not move. Blood pooled on the tile
floor a hideous crimson.
"Max." he shook her "C'mon baby, don't do this to me." she
remained still. Their earlier conversation flashed in his mind
/"If anything should happen, tell Lexi how much I loved her."/
Oh God, no. "You have to tell her." he spoke this part out loud,
unaware that the others came over to them. "She needs to hear it
from you." he touched her motionless figure, the tears that had been
pooling in his eyes finally leaking out. "Please baby. We need you.
*I* need you."
Alexis woke up and started to cry, sensing something
was wrong.
Zack knelt next to Logan. "Get up Maxi, you're stronger
then this. Get up and fight." the clipped manner of his
voice cracked ever so slightly.
"C'mon baby sister." Tinga encouraged, touching her hand
"I just got you back. I don't want to be separated again."
a single tear fell from her eye. "We made it."
Logan gave Lexi to Jondy and cradled his wife's upper body.
"Max please." one hand stroked her curls "You and me and Lexi
are suppose to go home tomorrow." A few tears splashed on her
closed eyelids. "She needs her mom, and I need my wife-" his
breath caught "You can't die on me baby. Remember we said we'd
die together?" he touched her face "I'm still here, so you
can't go."
He pulled her closer to him, crying into her neck, a
desolate hollow sound of only those suffering immense
pain can make.
"I love you Maxi." Jondy knelt next to her "Now and
forever."
Logan felt that someone had ripped his heart out of
his chest and left a gaping hole. One that would never
stop aching. At first he thought he had imagined it, but
no, he felt it again. Pulling her back he looked at her
"Max?" It wasn't his imagination, she was moving. "C'mon
babe, come back to me, please."
Her eyes opened again and she looked up into his face
"Logan?" she touched him.
He hugged her fiercely again, tears of relief replacing
the ones of sorrow. She hugged him back strongly, obvilous
to the world around them.
But the sibling side of her world was not. "Don't you
scare us like that again little sis." Krit ordered with
a gentle fierceness hugging her.
She returned the gesture, sitting up from the cradle
of Logan's arms. "I won't." Logan helped her stand
up. When he looked at her he saw a small patch of blood
on her arm from a simple graze wound. Scattered all
around her were four bullets that had missed her completely.
"That's amazing." one of the sector cops stated approaching
her, and looking at her wound "You bled so much because my
shot nicked an artery. The others didn't even hit you."
"Lucky me." Max spat. She wasn't about to be nice to the
man who shot her.
"I'm sorry ma'am." the officer appolgized "I saw you with a
weapon, and just thought-" he broke off. "Your friends told
us what happened after, but the damage was done." he looked
at her in sincere apology.
Max didn't say a word as the man walked away. One of the
doctors that had been a hostage began to patch the minor
flesh wound on Max's arm. After he was done she walked over
to Jondy, who silently gave her back Alexis.
"I think my heart fell out back there." Jondy commented
looking at her sister. "I didn't want my niece growing
up without her mom."
Max simply hugged the other woman with one arm. "We're
tough girl, remember?" she looked over to where Charlie
entered the lobby and made a b-line for Tinga, Case right
behind him. "Don't give up without a fight."
*****
Crash
One Week Later
"Peeasse Unky!" Jesse cried out, his arms out stretched in
a 'pick me' up fashion.
"He won't quit until you give in." Max commented to Zack
about the persistence of her son.
Zack sighed and finally picked the baby up "You have the
worst stubborn streak." he informed his nephew who started
messing with his blonde hair.
"He's not as bad as you *unky*" Krit teased from his seat.
Zack shot him a glare "If I didn't have him I'd show you
the meaning of 'bad'."
"All talk." Krit teased, watching Zack become more upset.
He handed off Jess to Syl "Take your nephew." he stood
back up and looked at Krit "I'm gonna tear you a new
A hole solider."
Krit snorted "I'd like to see you try."
"All right then." Zack stated, his cockiness getting the
better of him "let's play escape and evade." he sprinted
after the younger man, who started running away from him.
Syl shook her head, sitting down at the table with Jess
in her lap.
"My money's on Krit." Jondy stated quietly "He's got
cheetah DNA or something." she sipped her beer, smiling
"use to call him 'cat man' behind his back in drill class."
Syl laughed "Have to remember to rag on him about that at
the next reunion."
Across the room Max and Cindy were discussing events and
life over foozball.
"All I can say is that I'm glad that I didn't come in there."
Cindy stated stopping the ball with the last row of players.
"Would've have lost it seein' my boo doin' an oscar performance
of the dead."
"It was something I'm glad you didn't have to see." Max
answered, making a goal. She looked over at Logan "There
was enough of an audience already." she scored the winning
point. "C'mon, drinks are on me."
"Better be." Cindy pointed out "After you beat me there."
Max and Cindy walked over to the bar. "Glass of beer for
my girl." she stated pounding on the counter "and mineral
water for me."
The bartender placed both drinks on the counter. Max took
hers, smiling at her daughter in her carseat on top of the
counter. "This is becoming a traditional spot for my kids to
sit." She kissed Lexi's head and felt the familiar death
grip of Jess on her leg.
"Up!" he demanded.
Max bent down to pick him up "You wanna sit up here baby?"
she placed him on the counter next to the carseat. He
immediately looked over at the baby "Hi 'exi." he squealed.
He peered over the sides at her, shaking her slightly when
she didn't wake up. "'exi!"
"It's her naptime Jesse." Case piped up, crawling into an
empty stool. "She's still little. She needs to sleep."
Max ruffled her nephews hair, and looked over at her son
"He's right hon. When you were that small you slept a lot
too." she spied Logan coming towards them and set Jess
on the floor "Go jump on daddy."
Jesse ran over and used his death grip on Logan's leg this
time. "Good grip Jess." Logan commented picking him up.
He kissed the top of his head "Your getting stronger."
"'ommy said too." Jesse announced in a high voice.
"She did?" Logan looked over at his wife "Max? Are you
teaching him how to jump people?"
She blew him off "Where did you get that idea?"
He came over to her with Jess in his arms, and looked at
Max "Somehow that doesn't reassure me." he kissed her,
setting Jesse back on the counter.
"PD-" Krit's voice began, but ceased when Zack hurled
him to the floor.
"Your getting sloppy solider." Zack's voice was not angry, but
actually had a hint of brotherly mischief.
Krit expertly jumped to his feet. "That would make it the
CO's fault for bad training." he ducked, from an impending
attack.
Zack waved his hand tiredly, "I'll get you later, on that
ten hour haul back to your place."
"Out of shape commander?" Tinga teased approaching them
with Charlie.
"No." Krit began "He LET me win." this time Zack knocked
him upside the head.
"I've gotta head out." Zack announced "I've held up here
for too long." he looked to Krit "Keep out of trouble."
"Sir yes sir." Krit responded crisply, giving a mock salute.
Zack hugged him briefly, muttering "idiot" under his breath.
After saying goodbye to Syl and Jondy Zack stood in front
of Tinga "You and Max and that 'wreakless abandon' thing."
he paused "Sometimes I think it could work." He hugged her.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Tinga stated pulling
back. "But I'm not the only one that needs to hear it."
she looked over at Max and Logan.
Zack made his way over to them. "Time to disappear."
Max turned to face him. "Think you'll ever reappear
again?"
Zack shrugged "Not unless a need arises."
"Like my phony sentimentality getting me in trouble again?"
Max asked straight out.
"More or less." Zack answered, pulling her to him.
Max hugged him back strongly. "Thanks for swingin' by
to bust some chops."
He pulled back and kissed her forehead "Wreakless or not,
you're still my little sister." he looked over at Logan,
and something passed between them. The tension was still
there, but there was a small air of respect along with it.
"See ya around." he stated to the other man, before turning
to leave.
"Yea." Logan said, slightly surprised as he watched Zack's
retreating figure. "That's one guy that's hard to peg."
Max shrugged "That's just his nature." she pulled him to
her. "He doesn't believe much in what he calls the 'sentimental
lie'."
Logan looked at his kids, and then back up to her "I call
it a life baby, not something fake."
She smiled "A beautiful life?" they shared a kiss.
He pulled back and cupped her face "beauty is in the eyes
of the beholder."
A small smile crept across her face again "Guess that's
out then." she looked at him "Do you care?"
He processed her statement, wondering what would it be like
if Max wasn't a genetically engineered solider, or if Lexi's
birth hadn't been filled with pain as well as joy. If it didn't
have to take risking his life and his familie's to get Zack to
have some semblance of tolerance to him.
He thought about all this, and gave her an honest answer.
"No Max, I don't." he hugged her to him tightly, and she
responded wrapping her arms around his neck. "'Cause then
the love of my life wouldn't be here. She doesn't exist
in that kind of world."
Max hugged him tighter to her. "Then I'm glad." she kissed
him. /A beautiful life would be nice/ she looked at her
husband /But I like my own better./
*****
End
I kept coming to a sappy conclusion, but changed it for
sake of keeping it real. Zack and Logan are never going
to be buddy buddy. Did I scare anyone with that little
angst part? I was trying to have some sort of emotional
climax..couldn't just let them go home free. The young
mother Sara will be brought up in another chapter.
Anwayz..after three weeks I'm done. Let me know if you
like.
The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted.
Choices
By: Mystic25