Chapter 6

"Got one for me?" Max asked Normal to introduce herself into work for the day.

"Oh, lovely! To what do I owe the pleasure of your presence here? Oh, wait… you work here, don't you? At least you used to."

"Cut me some slack, Normal. Maybe I was preparing for a wrestling match."

"Riiiight," he returned with a sarcastic nod. "And even if that were true, what makes you think I would care? I don't pay you to go beat up people!"

She shrugged. "It works for Alec, right?"

"The difference there being that Alec is likable. People, like myself, enjoy rooting for him! Not to mention his skills in the arena and the fact that he's made me a good amount of pocket change. Now you on the other hand…your attitude is altogether unappealing."

Max threw him a glare. "Do you have a package for me or not?"

"See!" Normal said, pointing at her face, "That is exactly what I'm talking about! If I'm not dealing with a bunch of worthless lackeys, I'm dealing with wretched creatures like yourself!"

"I had a doctor's appointment," Max offered.

"That's fabulous! What is that, the 4th one this month? Care to tell me what disease you are dying of? Make it good, I'd appreciate my intelligence being insulted only slightly today."

Max rolled her eyes. "Hate to break it to ya, Normal, but the nature of my illness is none of your business. Ever heard of doctor-patient confidentiality? Plus, I seriously doubt I could insult your intelligence any further than you yourself already have just by acting the way you do."

"Do you want to work here?" Normal asked her.

Max took a moment to think about it. "Not really," she admitted.

"Okay, then! Bip Bip!"

"You still have to give me a package!" she reminded him, her face plainly reading 'duh'.

"Maybe I didn't make myself clear. Let me try again," he explained. "You are fired. Effective immediately! Now get out of here!"

Max stared at him with her jaw dropped. "You're kidding me! You're low on staff as it is! Just hand me a package."

Normal didn't say anything for once and only held his expression in place.

"Okay!" Max tried again, "I promise I won't be late tomorrow! Scout's honor. Just cut it out already and tell me where I'm headed."

"I already did!" Normal responded. He pointed to the exit. "You're headed out the door."

While the two stubborn Jam Pony employees were arguing over the situation, Alec returned from a run. "Hey, guys. What's going on?" he asked, his face and voice void of the frustration he'd felt from Max earlier that morning.

Max turned to explain the ridiculous situation. "He's trying to tell me that I'm fired just because I was late."

"Yet again," Normal added. "And let's not forget that you told me to my face that you don't want this job."

"No one does!" Max replied in her defense.

Alec winced with her reply. It seemed he wasn't the only person she was being completely disrespectful toward today. Not that Normal's presence demanded respect, but she could at least pretend that she wanted to work there.

"Listen, Normal," Alec said as he patted the man on the back. "Max was late because of me."

Max was about to open her mouth to protest. She didn't need Alec saving the day for her all the time, especially not at work of all places. But as she opened her lips to speak, Alec's next action forced her silence.

He wasn't thinking, but he silenced her speech the only way he knew how. He planted his lips firmly and swiftly over her mouth and enjoyed a quick taste of Max. He pressed against her with passion and tasted her fully as she returned the kiss.

It was short, considering how long it had lasted the last times their lips had met, but it was enough to leave Max feeling flushed and wanting more, Alec breathing heavily to try and control the desire that was overwhelming him for Max, and Normal staring speechless at the two of them.

"Wha…" Normal trailed once he realized they were finished. He truly didn't know what to say.

Alec found his composure again and smiled at Normal. "See, last night Max was massaging me, you know, cuz I was training too much for my next match."

Normal nodded, trying to follow the story if anything to escape the image of the odd couple before him kissing from running rampant in his mind. "Okay."

"And, well," Alec continued, "We're together now. Maxie, babe," he said with a smirk, putting his arm around her in a seemingly affectionate fashion, but to her it was really a way to piss her off even more. "Were you worried about how Normal would take the news?"

Max put on an affectionate smile although she didn't have to fake enjoying the feel of his arm around her. "Gee!" she said, flashing a huge grin, "How'd you know, Alec?"

"Anyway," Alec continued, "You'll want to keep Max on staff, Normal, especially after today."

"And why is that?" Normal asked.

"Today's my last day."

Max and Normal both were for once in agreement as they stared at him shocked. "What?" Normal asked.

"Yea, I'll be needing a hiatus," Alec continued.

"I thought you said you just became a couple. Why would you leave so suddenly?" Normal asked, more confused now than he had been when he'd been subjected to the sight of them sharing a kiss.

Max tried to explain. She owed Alec, anyway, since he'd helped her out. "This big match of his is in Canada," she tried to explain. "He asked me to come, but I just didn't know how hard that would be for you, Normal, having two people leave. So I offered to stay. Plus, I still have those doctor appointments!"

Normal held up his hands in protest. "Listen. I think that I am now going to go see a doctor. I haven't had to think this much in a while. Whatever, I don't care. Just…fine. Go. Here are packages. Tell me later."

Max and Alec remained staring at him, wondering if this meant that everything was fine.

"Bip!" Normal exclaimed as he tossed Max a package.

"And you!" he said to Alec, tossing one at him. "This means you don't get a break today. Now get out of my face."


"Are you seriously leaving tomorrow?" Max asked Alec once both were finally off work. They were standing in Logan's penthouse, for apparently, what would be the last time in quite a while.

"Yea," Alec nodded. "Why not? I see no reason to put this off any further. Besides, if you're truly in danger, what good would waiting around like sitting ducks do?"

Max hated that he really did have a good point. "Fine," she replied. "So, I guess this is goodbye, then."

Alec held her face gently in his hand. "Max, it's going to be some time, but don't doubt me so much! I'm a transgenic, remember? I bet I'll find her in a matter of hours."

Max laughed at his ever present cocky attitude despite how anxious she was at the situation. "We both know that's impossible, even for a transgenic."

"Maybe so," Alec admitted. "But I'll do my best. It won't take me that long. Then it's only a matter of my powers of persuasion. You don't doubt those, do you?" he asked her, a smirk on his face.

"I've seen them in full action, haven't I?" Max answered.

"You've benefited from them," he told her.

"Just...be safe," Max told him with a concerned look on her face. "The last thing I need is to have to worry about you on top of everything else."

Alec grinned. "You gonna miss me?"

Max couldn't believe she was getting emotional over this. She really was going to miss him and his company. She wanted him to hold her for tonight. She couldn't shake the terrible feeling that this was a real goodbye. That something was going to happen so that they would never have this moment again, where they were safe and together.

The worried look in Max's eyes brought a similar one to Alec's. He didn't want her to be distressed over this, or anything. Maybe pissing her off would at least take away the fear that was prevalent in her eyes. "So I can't believe you haven't kicked my ass yet for puttin' one on you earlier today."

She looked down, avoiding his gaze. Damnit, why am I so stubborn? Forget it, Max. This could be the last time you see him. When she looked back up at him, her eyes were calmer and she looked like she wanted something.

"What is it, Max?" he asked her.

"Do you remember how I woke up this morning?"

"Irritated and moody?" he tried, joking as usual.

"I think it was something like this..." she said casually, as she pulled him toward her and the couch. "See, I was here," she said, laying down. "And you..."

"I was here," he answered as he laid beside her. He didn't think about it but enjoyed that Max wanted them to be like this. He put his arms around her again and she moved comfortably toward his touch. "I'm here," he said in a whisper as he kissed her gently on the top of her head. He wanted her to know that he wasn't going to disappear or abandon her like Logan had. Nothing would keep Alec from Max.


Max couldn't deny that the time without Alec was driving her nuts. She herself had no leads to aid her search for Logan, so she was left with Jam Pony as her only true activity to look forward to each day.

Which was going amazing, courtesy of Alec's story. At the time, it had helped her get out of a jam, but by now, it was just annoying. Gossip spread like wildfire through any workplace, and Jam Pony was no exception. Everyone, especially the members of Alec's fan club, like Alycia, kept asking her about him. Max didn't appreciate everyone reminding her of Alec's absence.

"How's the match going? Do they televise those in Canada?" Sketchy asked her while they were on a run together.

Max rolled her eyes for probably the 50th time that day. "Why is everyone asking me that?! It's not like I've talked to him sometime between now and 2 seconds ago when the last person asked me!"

Sketchy noted the fury in Max's eyes. "Well...because you're his girlfriend..." he tried to explain.

It only made Max more upset. "Yea! His girlfriend! Not his agent or manager or whatever else you people expect of me! I don't keep tabs on him, okay! He's an independent man, and if you're so concerned about how he his doing, just call him yourself!"

"You mean, you haven't called him yet?" Sketchy asked. He flashed Max a proud grin. "Man! I wish the girls I dated were more like you! They call me 24/7 and I can't catch a break! Hence, why I don't have one."

"You sure that's the reason?" Max asked him, making sure to knock on the door immediately after so he wouldn't get a chance to argue with her about why he was single at the moment. "Jam Pony messenger!" she greeted with a fake smile. "Sign here, please!"


Renfro reached out to touch the child in front of her. The child's large brown eyes showed her apprehension and recoil to Renfro's touch, but otherwise, the kid held a strong face and posture. It only made Renfro more pleased. Her project was already showing her instinctive skills at holding up the necessary Manticore mask.

"Hello, Eclipsa!" Renfro greeted her.

"Hello," the child responded with a soldier's salute.

"I don't really like that name so much, do you? Too much of a mouthful, wouldn't you say?" Renfro asked. Immediately, she regretted the question. There it was again, the consideration that her soldiers were actually people. Why should Renfro care if the kid liked the name? The truth was, Renfro didn't want the top secret project being broadcast to anyone who might meet up with the girl. Only Renfro knew her true purpose. To everyone else, the child was just another in Manticore's long line of experiments.

Renfro was relieved that the child again showed proper behavior in remaining silent. Even though she'd been addressed a question, it seemed the girl knew that it was not appropriate to have opinions in this facility.

"I think we will call you Ellie. What do you say?" This time, Renfro was testing the soldier.

"Yes Ma'am," came the appropriate reply.

"Good!" Renfro said. "Now I have an important question to ask you, and I want you to be honest with me. What do you think of when you hear the name Sandeman?"

Ellie gave a blank stare. "Nothing, Ma'am."

Renfro nodded. She hadn't known what to expect, so the answer neither pleased nor upset her. "I'm going to have you go through some training today, Ellie. You see, you're a very special girl. You have many talents that most people aren't lucky enough to have. So we're going to make sure that you use them to their full potential."

Ellie nodded obediently.

"But first, I need you to take your medicine." Renfro watched as Ellie swallowed the pill as ordered. "Good! I'll be back to check in on you later!"


a/n: thanks for r&r! Well I am trying to speed things up, though hopefully it doesn't read too rushed. I don't know how I feel about this fic anymore! I had a really good idea, I think, and I'm not sure that I'm executing it as well as I'd like. Anyway, let me know what you think of this